Vallodiscus gen. nov., a new fossil resting spore morpho-genus related to the marine diatom genus Chaetoceros (Bacillariophyceae)

A new fossil marine diatom resting spore morphogenus, Vallodiscus Suto gen. nov., is described using samples from Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 338 in the Norwegian Sea, Sites 436 and 438 in the north‐west Pacific Ocean and the onland Newport Beach Section, California. Vallodiscus is characterized by a single ring of veins along the epivalve margin and a hypovalve covered with circular depressions of several sizes with gentle elevation. The morpho‐genus bears three new species and one new combination: Vallodiscus simplexus Suto sp. nov., Vallodiscus complexus Suto sp. nov., Vallodiscus lanceolatus Suto sp. nov. and Vallodiscus chinchae (Mereschkowsky) Suto comb. nov.     

Brevilinea pocosinensis Siver, Hamilton & Morales gen. et sp. nov., a new diatom (Bacillariophyceae) genus from North Carolina, USA

A new diatom genus, Brevilinea gen. nov., is described from an acidic freshwater lake situated on the Atlantic Coastal Plain of North Carolina, USA. The type for the genus, Brevilinea pocosinensis sp. nov., differs from other diatoms by the presence of a unique and reduced raphe that is restricted to the central portion of the valve. The new taxon has large and distinctive areolae that also serve to separate it from existing genera. The taxonomic placement of the new organism relative to other diatoms possessing a reduced raphe is discussed. Although Brevilinea may eventually be placed into a new family, given the current dynamic state of diatom systematics, it is premature to do so at this time.     

Stephanodiscus kusuensis, sp. nov a new Pleistocene diatom from Southern Japan

A new fossil diatom, Stephanodiscus kusuensis sp. nov., is described from a diatomite deposit from the Kusu Basin, Oita Prefecture Japan. Radiometric age estimates of the strata in which the taxon occurs are 400–500 kyr. The new species is distinct from all other known species of Stephanodiscus because it possesses a highly pronounced double concentric undulation and two distinct arrangements of central strutted processes. Cladistic analysis is used to identify the phylogenetic position of this taxon with respect to other Stephanodiscus species.     

Yakushimabryum longissimum (Pylaisiadelphaceae) gen. & sp. nov., from the Yakushima Island,Japan

Abstract

Yakushimabryum longissimum gen. & sp. nov. (Pylaisiadelphaceae, Musci), is described from Yakushima Island, Japan, on the basis of morphology and rbcL data. It is characterized by more or less glossy, yellowish green living plants, naked dormant branch buds, absence of costa in the leaves, smooth and linear leaf lamina cells, alar groups composed of a number of quadrate cells arranged in a scalariform manner, ascending branches that are often elongate into slender tips, and filamentous gemmae consisting of smooth, long-rectangular cells. Molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest an affinity neither to Clastobryopsis nor Gammiella, both of which grow in similar habitats and share alar morphology and shape of propagules, but to Isocladiella and Isopterygium, both of which have filamentous pseudoparaphyllia and different types of propagules. A key to the Japanese genera of Pylaisiadelphaceae is provided.     

Thalassiocyclus pankensis sp. nov., a new diatom from the Panke Swamp, northern Japan (Bacillariophyta)

Thalassiocyclus pankensis sp. nov. is described from Panke Swamp (Panke-numa) located in Horonobe Town, Hokkaido, northern Japan. The species is characterized by a strong transversely undulate central area of the valve face with one to three fultoportulae on the elevated part and one fultoportula on the depressed part. The external valve face has costate radial interfascicles and very wide fascicles on the marginal area. Thickened openings of mantle fultoportulae are located at the end of interfascicles with roofed board spines. The cingulum consists of five bands. The new species is compared to the only other species belonging to genus Thalassiocyclus , T. lucens (Hustedt) Håkansson & Mahood. Thalassiocyclus pankensis is the second species in the genus Thalassiocyclus and also the first report of a Thalassiocyclus species in Japan.     

Tenuifilum thalassicum gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel moderate thermophilic anaerobic bacterium from a Kunashir Island shallow hot spring representing a new family Tenuifilaceae fam. nov. in the class Bacteroidia

A novel anaerobic moderately thermophilic bacterium, designated strain 38H-str^T, was isolated from a 12 m deep hot spring of the Kunashir Island shore. Gram-negative cells were non-spore-forming, motile, straight or curved filamentous rods, occasionally forming loops and knots. The strain grew at 20–65 °C and pH range of 4.0–9.0 with an optimum at 50 °C and pH 6.5–7.0. Strain 38H-str^T required 0.5–2.5% NaCl (1.5% is an optimum) for growth. It was a chemoorganoheterotroph, growing on carbohydrates (starch, pullulan, alginate, laminarin, beta-glucan) or peptide mixtures and proteins (peptone, tryptone, gelatin, and α- or β- keratins). Major products of glucose fermentation were acetate, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. Major cellular fatty acids were iso- and anteiso-C_15:0. Phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified phospholipid, and three unidentified polar lipids were detected in cellular lipids fractions. The quinone was MK-7. The size of complete genome of strain 38H-str^T was 3.2 Mb; DNA G+C content was 38.3 mol%. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence and conserved protein sequences phylogenies, strain 38H-str^T represented a deeply branched lineage near the root of the class Bacteroidia. Based on phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic features the novel isolate was assigned to a novel family within the order Bacteroidales for which the name Tenuifilaceae fam. nov. is proposed. Strain 38H-str^T (=DSM 100343^T =VKM B-2964^T) represents the first genus and species Tenuifilum thalassicum gen. nov., sp. nov.     

Thermosediminibacter oceani gen. nov., sp. nov. and Thermosediminibacter litoriperuensis sp. nov., new anaerobic thermophilic bacteria isolated from Peru Margin

A new group of anaerobic thermophilic bacteria was isolated from enrichment cultures obtained from deep sea sediments of Peru Margin collected during Leg 201 of the Ocean Drilling Program. A total of ten isolates were obtained from cores of 1–2 m below seafloor (mbsf) incubated at 60°C: three isolates came from the sediment 426 m below sea level with a surface temperature of 9°C (Site 1227), one from 252 m below sea level with a temperature of 12°C (Site 1228), and six isolates under sulfate-reducing condition from the lower slope of the Peru Trench (Site 1230). Strain JW/IW-1228P from the Site 1228 and strain JW/YJL-1230-7/2 from the Site 1230 were chosen as representatives of the two identified clades. Based on the 16S rDNA sequence analysis, these isolates represent a novel group with Thermovenabulum and Caldanaerobacter as their closest relatives. The temperature range for growth was 52–76°C with an optimum at around 68°C for JW/IW-1228P and 43–76°C with an optimum at around 64°C for JW/YJL-1230-7/2. The pH^25C range for growth was from 6.3 to 9.3 with an optimum at 7.5 for JW/IW-1228P and from 5 to 9.5 with an optimum at 7.9–8.4 for JW/YJL-1230-7/2. The salinity range for growth was from 0% to 6% (w/v) for JW/IW-1228P and from 0% to 4.5% (w/v) for JW/YJL-1230-7/2. The G+C content of the DNA was 50 mol% for both JW/IW-1228P and JW/YJL-1230-7/2. DNA–DNA hybridization yielded 52% similarity between the two strains. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates are located within the family, Thermoanaerobacteriaceae. Based on their morphological and physiological properties and phylogenetic analysis, it is proposed that strain JW/IW-1228P^T is placed into a novel taxa, Thermosediminibacter oceani, gen. nov., sp. nov. (DSM 16646^T=ATCC BAA-1034^T), and JW/YJL-1230-7/2^T into Thermosediminibacter litoriperuensis sp. nov. (DSM 16647^T =ATCC BAA-1035^T).An erratum to this article can be found at     

High‐resolution imaging sheds new light on a multi‐tier symbiotic partnership between a “walking” solitary coral,a sipunculan,and a bivalve from East Africa

Marine symbioses are integral to the persistence of ecosystem functioning in coral reefs. Solitary corals of the species Heteropsammia cochlea and Heterocyathus aequicostatus have been observed to live in symbiosis with the sipunculan worm Aspidosiphon muelleri muelleri, which inhabits a cavity within the coral, in Zanzibar (Tanzania). The symbiosis of these photosymbiotic corals enables the coral holobiont to move, in fine to coarse unconsolidated substrata, a process termed as “walking.” This allows the coral to escape sediment cover in turbid conditions which is crucial for these light‐dependent species. An additional commensalistic symbiosis of this coral‐worm holobiont is found between the Aspidosiphon worm and the cryptoendolithic bivalve Jousseaumiella sp., which resides within the cavity of the coral skeleton. To understand the morphological alterations caused by these symbioses, interspecific relationships, with respect to the carbonate structures between these three organisms, are documented using high‐resolution imaging techniques (scanning electron microscopy and µCT scanning). Documenting multi‐layered symbioses can shed light on how morphological plasticity interacts with environmental conditions to contribute to species persistence.     

Ponticoccus gilvus gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the family Propionibacteriaceae from seawater

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain MSW-19^T, was isolated from a seawater sample in Republic of Korea. Cells were aerobic, Gram-positive, non-endospore-forming, and non-motile cocci. Colonies were circular, convex, opaque, and vivid yellow in colour. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences exhibited that the organism formed a distinct clade within the radius encompassing representatives of the family Propionibacteriaceae. The phylogenetic neighbors were the type strains of the genera Friedmanniella, Microlunatus, Micropruina, Propionicicella, and Propionicimonas. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between the isolate and members of the family were less than 95.3%. The cell wall peptidoglycan of the organism contained LL-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The isolate contained MK-9(H₄) as the predominant menaquinone, ai-C_15:0 as the major fatty acid and polar lipids including phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and an unknown phospholipid. The G+C content of the DNA was 69.6 mol%. On the basis of the phenotypic and phylogenetic data presented here, the isolate is considered to represent a novel genus and species in the family Propionibacteriaceae, for which the name Ponticoccus gilvus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain MSW-19^T (= KCTC 19476^T= DSM 21351^T).     

Squalus bassi sp. nov., a new long‐snouted spurdog (Chondrichthyes: Squaliformes: Squalidae) from the Agulhas Bank

The long‐snouted African spurdog Squalus bassi sp. nov. is described based on material collected from the outer shelf and upper continental slope off South Africa and Mozambique. Squalus bassi shares with S. mitsukurii, S. montalbani, S. chloroculus, S. grahami, S. griffini, S. edmundsi, S. quasimodo and S. lobularis a large snout with prenarial length greater than distance between nostrils and upper labial furrows, dermal denticles tricuspidate and rhomboid and elevated number of vertebrae. Squalus bassi can be distinguished from all its congeners by a combination of body and fin colouration, external morphometrics, vertebral counts and shape of dermal denticles. Similar long‐snouted congeners from the Indo‐Pacific region, including S. montalbani, S. edmundsi and S. lalannei are compared in detail with the new species. This new species has been misidentified as the Japanese S. mitsukurii and the Mediterranean S. blainvillei due to the lack of comparative morphological analyses. The validity of the nominal species S. mitsukurii in the south‐eastern Atlantic Ocean and western Indian Ocean is also clarified herein, indicating it has a more restricted geographical distribution in the North Pacific Ocean.     

Anaerostipes caccae gen. nov., sp. nov., a new saccharolytic,acetate-utilising,butyrate-producing bacterium from human faeces

Two strains of a previously undescribed Eubacterium-like bacterium were isolated from human faeces. The strains are Gram-variable, obligately anaerobic, catalase negative, asporogenous rod-shaped cells which produced acetate, butyrate and lactate as the end products of glucose metabolism. The two isolates displayed 99.9% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to each other and treeing analysis demonstrated the faecal isolates are far removed from Eubacterium sensu stricto and that they represent a new subline within the Clostridium coccoides group of organisms. Based on phenotypic and phylogenetic criteria, it is proposed that the two strains from faeces be classified as a new genus and species, Anaerostipes caccae. The type strain of Anaerostipes caccae is NCIMB 13811T (= DSM 14662T).     

A new marine diatom, Cocconeis shikinensis sp. nov. (Bacillariophyceae) from Japan

A new species of Cocconeis has been found growing on the green seaweed Caulerpa racemosa (Forsskål) J. Agardh var. laete‐virens (Montagne) Weber van Bosse from Shikine Island in the Izu Islands on the Pacific coast of Japan; we propose the name Cocconeis shiki‐nensis Hid. Suzuki and describe the species by light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM). This taxon was also collected from the plastic plates used for rearing in seed production systems of the abalone Nordotis discus hannai Ino and the horned turban Turbo cornutus Solander in the Toyama Prefectural Fisheries Research Institute facing the Sea of Japan. The main morphological features of C. shikinensis are as follows. The valves are elliptic. The valve face of the raphid valve (RV) is slightly concave and that of the araphid valve (AV) is complementary to the RV and convex. The single plastid is flat, C‐shaped and elaborately lobed. The raphe on the RV is straight. The each terminal area expands to both sides along the valve margin, forming an arrowhead‐shaped, thickened hyaline area. The striae consist of small, round areolae and are radiate and uniseriate. On the AV, the striae consist of several alveoli. Each alveolus opens internally by means of a circular foramen. The valvocopula of each valve is fimbriate and open. The cingulum attached to the AV consists of three girdle bands; a valvocopula and two bands (copula and pleura), which are open and have ligulae. The relationship between C. shikinensis and similar members of the genus Cocconeis is discussed.     

Peregrinacarus reticulatus gen. nov. spec. nov., a freshwater halacarid mite (Acari,Halacaridae) from Marion Island

Peregrinacarus reticulatus gen. nov. spec. nov. is described. The genus belongs to the subfamily Halacarinae and is related to the marine genus Halacarellus. The most marked character is the absence of a ventromedial seta on tarsus I. P. reticulatus supposedly is a very recent immigrant in diluted brackish and fresh water. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Defluviimonas denitrificans gen. nov., sp. nov., and Pararhodobacter aggregans gen. nov., sp. nov., non-phototrophic Rhodobacteraceae from the biofilter of a marine aquaculture

Three Gram-negative bacterial strains were isolated from the biofilter of a recirculating marine aquaculture. They were non-pigmented rods, mesophiles, moderately halophilic, and showed chemo-organoheterotrophic growth on various sugars, fatty acids, and amino acids, with oxygen as electron acceptor; strains D9-3^T and D11-58 were in addition able to denitrify. Phototrophic or fermentative growth could not be demonstrated. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences placed D9-3^T and D11-58, and D1-19^T on two distinct branches within the alpha-3 proteobacterial Rhodobacteraceae, affiliated with, but clearly separate from, the genera Rhodobacter, Rhodovulum, and Rhodobaca. Based on morphological, physiological, and 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic characteristics, the isolated strains are proposed as new species of two novel genera, Defluviimonas denitrificans gen. nov., sp. nov. (type strain D9-3^T = DSM 18921^T = ATCC BAA-1447^T; additional strain D11-58 = DSM19039 = ATCC BAA-1448) and Pararhodobacter aggregans gen. nov., sp. nov (type strain D1-19^T = DSM 18938^T = ATCC BAA-1446^T).     

New freshwater diatom genus,Edtheriotia gen. nov. of the Stephanodiscaceae (Bacillariophyta) from south‐central China

We describe a new genus and species of the diatom family Stephanodiscaceae with light and scanning electron microscopy from Libo Small Hole, Libo County, Guizhou Province, China. Edtheriotia guizhoiana gen. & sp. nov. has striae across the valve face of varying lengths, and are composed of fine striae towards the margin and onto the mantle. Many round to stellate siliceous nodules cover the exterior of the valve. External fultoportulae opening are short tubes; the opening of the rimportula lacks a tube. Internally a hyaline rim is positioned near the margin. Marginal fultoportulae possess two arcuate opercles. Areolae have domed cribra on the valve face. Those near the margin do not open to the interior. One to three sessile to slightly‐raised rimportulae are placed on the valve face towards the margin; they do not terminate shortened striae towards the center of the valve. This suite of features distinguishes this group from other known genera in the Stephanodicaeae. Cyclotella shanxiensis is transferred to Edtheriotia, making the new combination E. shanxiensis (Xie & Qi) Kociolek et al. comb. nov. It differs from E. guizhoiana by the presence of open pores near the margin of the valve. Features of the new genus are compared and contrasted with others in the Family Stephanodiscaceae. The two species of the genus, unlike most in the family, are known only from rivers and ponds from China and Japan.     

A new genus, Thailepidonia gen. nov., based on T. yoshiyasui sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Lecithoceridae) from Thailand

A new genus, Thailepidonia gen. nov. of the family Lecithoceridae, is described based on a new species, T. yoshiyasui sp. nov. from Thailand.     

Rhodovarius lipocyclicus gen. nov. sp. nov., a new genus of the alpha-1 subclass of the Proteobacteria

A bacterial strain (CCUG 44693T) was recovered during an industrial hygiene control. Phylogenetic analyses using the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate indicated that it represents a new lineage in the alpha-1 subclass of the Proteobacteria, with the highest sequence similarity of 93.3% to the type strain of Muricoccus roseus. In the polyamine pattern spermidine was the predominant compound. The polar lipid profile consisted of the major lipids phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl dimethylethanolamine, phosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl cholin and an unknown amino lipid. The major respiratory quinone was a ubiquinone Q-10 and the major whole cell fatty acids were 19:0 cyclo omega8c and 18:1 omega7c. The isolate also contained 18:1 2-OH and other fatty acids typical for members of the alpha-1 subclass of the Proteobacteria in addition to 10:0 2-OH in low amounts, not detected in members of closely related genera. The strain grew heterotrophically and strictly aerobically and formed red-colored colonies on tryptone soy agar. Bacteriochlorophyll a could not be detected by direct spectrophotometric analyses of aerobically grown cells. On the basis of the phylogenetic analyses, chemotaxonomic and biochemical characteristics, we propose that strain CCUG 44693T (CIP 108310T) represents a new genus of the alpha-1 subclass of the Proteobacteria for which we propose the name Rhodovarius lipocyclicus gen. nov. sp. nov.     

Amorosia littoralis gen. sp. nov., a new genus and species name for the scorpinone and caffeine-producing hyphomycete from the littoral zone in The Bahamas

The new generic and species name Amorosia littoralis gen. sp. nov. is introduced for the conidial dematiaceous hyphomycete isolated from the littoral zone in The Bahamas and reported in 2001 to produce the novel aza-anthraquinone scorpinone, and also caffeine. No satisfactory generic placement was found at the time, but subsequent morphological and molecular investigations reveal that a new generic name is required. The new genus has some similarity to several fungi described in Trichocladium, but differs substantially from the type species of that genus in the form of the conidia and the lack of ornamentation. BLAST studies using the 18S and 28S rDNA gene sequences place the new genus in the Sporormiaceae. In addition to the morphological studies, an ultrastructural examination of the conspicuous porate septa of hyphae showed that they do not belong to a basidiomycete.     

Sumatrella chelonica gen. n., sp. n., a new remarkable genus and species from Indonesia,Sumatra (Acari,Uropodina, Oplitidae)

A new genus Sumatrella gen. n. is described and illustrated based on the new species Sumatrella chelonica sp. n. collected in Sumatra, Indonesia. The new genus belongs to the family Oplitidae based on its hypertrichous internal malae and the absence of strongly sclerotized structures on the dorsal shield. The new genus is closely related to the genus Chelonuropoda Sellnick, 1954 but the transverse furrow on ventral idiosoma close to coxae IV and the strongly sclerotized C-shaped dorsal line are missing in the new genus. These characters can be found in species of Chelonuropoda.