Chromosomes of thecercopithecus aethiops species group:C. aethiops (Linnaeus, 1758),C. cynosurus (Scopoli, 1786),C. pygerythrus (Cuvier, 1821), andC. sabaeus (Linnaeus, 1766)

The banded karyotypes of 34 monkeys of known geographic origin and belonging to the Cercopithecus aethiops group of species (C. aethiops, C. pygerythrus, C. cynosurus, C. sabaeus) show that chromosome evolution in this group is highly conservative. All species have 2n =60 chromosomes with very similar chromosome banding. However, differences were found both within and between species. A polymorphism of the NOR area of the “marked” chromosome pairs was found in all taxa (9 of 34 animals). All individuals referred to C. sabaeus,from both West Africa and the Barbados, are characterized by having highly positive G- and C- banded terminal sequences on chromosomes 7,10,12, and 14. Outgroup comparisons with other primates and a parsimony analysis suggest that these terminal bands are derived and are probably good taxonomic and phylogenetic indicators. Moreover, chromosome 18 is variable both between and within species in G banding and in short-arm length. The existence of within-species variation in karyotypes suggests that karyological comparisons must be based on adequate samples that include specimens coming from all the major geographic populations of the species concerned.     

BISCALITHECA KANSANA SP. N. (COENOPTERIDALES,ZYGOPTERIDACEAE), A COMPRESSION FROM THE LAWRENCE SHALE (UPPER PENNSYLVANIAN), KANSAS,U. S. A.

The organ bearing the sporangia of Biscalitheca kansana is a laminate rachis with subopposite fertile appendages, a structure previously unknown for Biscalitheca. The sporangia differ from those of the petrified Biscalitheca musata only by lacking nests of sclerotic cells. They contain spores which are called Convolutispora when found dispersed. Speculations are made that Monoscalitheca fasciculata will ultimately be regarded as a synonym of Biscalitheca musala and that some fossils called Aphlebia and Brittsia problematica may be the sterile foliage of zygopterids.     

Protoancylodiscoides malapteruri n. sp. (Monogenea,Dactylogyridea, Ancyrocephalidae), parasite branchial de Malapterurus electricus Gmelin (Siluriformes,Malapteruridae), au Cameroun

Protoancylodiscoides malapteruri n. sp. Monogène parasite branchial du poisson électrique Malapterurus electricus Gmelin a été récolté au Cameroun dans une seule localité du bassin de la Sanaga. Ce parasite est caractérisé par la présence, au niveau du hapteur, de deux onchia (l'un ventral, l'autre dorsal), de quatre types d'uncinuli et, au niveau de l'appareil génital, d'un pénis tubulaire court, non enroulé, d'une pièce accessoire particulière, d'un canal déférent entourant la branche intestinale gauche et d'un vagin à ouverture latérale droite. La position systématique de ce Monogène au sein de l'ordre des Dactylogyridea est discutée et la diagnose du genre Protoancylodiscoides est modifiée. Protoancylodiscoides malapteruri n. sp., a monogenean gill parasite of Malapterurus electricus Gmelin in southern Cameroon, is described. This worm is characterised by the presence in the haptor of two onchia (one ventral and one dorsal) and four different types of uncinuli (hooklets), and in the genital system, a short tubular penis (never coiled), a special accessory piece, a vas deferens which winds arounds the left intestinal crus and a vagina with a lateral aperture on the right side. The systematic position of this monogenean within the order Dactylogyridea is discussed and the diagnosis of the genus Protoancylodiscoides is amended.     

Albert Wollenberger,Professor, Ph.D. (Harvard), Dr. Sc. Med. (Berlin)

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry -     

Rubrioxytricha guamensis nov. spec. (Ciliophora,Spirotricha), a Novel Hypotrich Ciliate from Guam (United States), Micronesia

The oxytrichid ciliate Rubrioxytricha guamensis nov. spec. isolated from water samples collected from a small freshwater pond near the Hagåtña River in Hagåtña, Guam (United States territory), Micronesia, was investigated, using live observation and protargol impregnation. The morphology, ontogenesis, and molecular phylogeny inferred from the small‐subunit rRNA gene sequences were studied. The new species is mainly characterized by a cell size of about 100 × 35 μm in vivo, two elongate ellipsoidal macronuclear nodules and two micronuclei, a single contractile vacuole, a colorless cytoplasm, yellowish cortical granules, arranged in short rows and in small groups, an adoral zone occupying about 34% of body length and comprising 27 membranelles on average, about 27 cirri each in the right and left marginal rows, 18 frontoventral transverse cirri, four dorsal kineties including one dorsomarginal row, and one or two caudal cirri at the posterior end of dorsal kinety 3. The ontogenesis of the new species is similar to that of Rubrioxytricha indica Naqvi et al., 2006. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA gene sequences consistently place the new species within the family Oxytrichidae Ehrenberg, 1838, where it clustered with other Rubrioxytricha species, viz., R. tsinlingensis, R. ferruginea, and R. haematoplasma.     

American plaice, Hippoglossoides platessoides (Fabricius), predation on green sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (O. F. Muller), in eastern Newfoundland

Green sea urchins were the most abundant food species (62% by weight) in American plaice (all female) collected from an area in eastern Newfoundland where sandy bottom abuts urchin dominated bedrock. Of secondary importance were capelin (12.9% by weight), which were spawning in the area when the samples were obtained. The results suggest that American plaice may be important predators of urchins in such habitats.     

Regional localization of three convertases, PC1 (Nec-1), PC2 (Nec-2), and furin (Fur), on mouse chromosomes.

The genes for three convertases, PC1 (Nec-1), PC2 (Nec-2), and furin (Fur), have been regionally localized on chromosomes 13, 2, and 7, respectively, by interspecific backcross analysis. These results refine previous localizations by in situ hybridization as well as confirm and extend known regions of homology between mouse and human chromosomes.