Dirofilaria macrodemos and D. panamensis spp. n. (Nematoda: Filarioidea) from Central and South Americal sloths

Two new species of Diorfilaria, Dirofilaria macrodemos and Dirofilaria panamensis, are described from the subserosa of Central and South American sloths. Dirofilaria macrodemos, described from the three-toed sloth, Bradypus tridactylus, in Guyana, is characterized and differentiated from other dirofilarias by its length (female 214mm, male 64mm), relatively long tail (female 140 micron, male 110 micron), and the number and distribution of the caudal papillae (7 pairs) in the male. Dirofilaria panamensis, parasite of the two-toed sloth, Cholopeus hoffmanni, in Panama, was previously described as Dirofilaria incrassata by Caballero (1947), but can be distinguished from both D. macrodemos and D. incrassata on the basis of body size (female 66 mm long by 360 micron wide, male 34 mm long by 250 micron wide), tail length (female 80 micron, male 80 micron), and number (6 pairs) of caudal papillae in the male.     

Acanthocheilonema delicata n. sp. (Nematoda: Filarioidea) from Japanese badgers (Meles anakuma): Description,molecular identification,and Wolbachia screening

Acanthocheilonema delicata n. sp. (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae: Onchocercinae) is described based on adult filarioids and microfilariae obtained from subcutaneous connective tissues and skin, respectively, of Japanese badgers (Meles anakuma) in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. No endemic species of the genus had been found in Japan. Recently, some filarioids (e.g., Acanthocheilonema reconditum, Dirofilaria spp., and Onchocerca spp.) have come to light as causative agents of zoonosis worldwide. The new species was readily distinguished from its congeners by morphologic characteristics such as body length, body width, esophagus length, spicule length, and the length of microfilariae. Based on the molecular data of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene, A. delicata n. sp. was included in the clade of the genus Acanthocheilonema but differed from two other congeneric species available for study, A. viteae and A. reconditum. Acanthocheilonema delicata n. sp. did not harbor Wolbachia. It is likely that the fauna of filarioids from mammals on the Japanese islands is characterized by a high level of endemicity.     

Henneguya schizodon n. sp. (Myxozoa, Myxobolidae), a parasite of the Amazonian teleost fish Schizodon fasciatus (Characiformes, Anostomidae)

A new histozoic species of myxosporean (Henneguya schizodon n. sp.) is described from the Amazon River teleost fish Schizodon fasciatus Spix & Agassiz, 1892 (Characiformes, Anostomidae). The plasmodia, which showed asynchronous development, were located in the kidney of the host. The spore body was ellipsoidal and was 13.1 (12-14) micron long by 3.3 (3-4) micron wide. The total length of the spore was 28.9 (27-30) micron, and each value had a caudal process measuring 16.3 (15-17) micron. The polar capsules were 5.4 (5-6) micron long by 1.3 (1-1.5) micron wide, and each had a polar filament with 8-10 coils. The characteristics of the species were compared with nearly all the species described so far, including all the species reported from South American fishes. This comparison allows to consider the materials as a new species, and the name Henneguya schizodon n. sp. is proposed.     

Dipetalonema (Acanthocheilonema) didelphis sp. n. (Nematoda: Filarioidea) from opossums, with a redescription of D. (A.) pricei (Vaz and Pereira 1934)

Dipetalonema (Acanthocheilonema) didelphis sp. n. recovered from the subcutaneous and periesophageal connective tissues of Didelphis virginiana from several localities in the United States and of D. marsupialis from Colombia is described. Dipetalonema didelphis sp. n. resembles D reconditum and D. mansonbahri in size, in lacking a two-segmented buccal capsule, and in the female having a long, digitiform tail. Dipetalonema reconditum, however, has a much longer glandular esophagus and D. mansonbahri has a rounded cephalic extremity delimited by a necklike region. The male of D. didelphis sp. n. differs from both in the structural details of the spicules and in having a higher spicular ratio. The microfilaria is much shorter than that of either D. reconditum or D. mansonbahri. Dipetalonema (A.) pricei adults are redescribed from the paratype specimens, and the microfilaria is also described. Dipetalonema pricei most closely resembles D. dracunculoides in size and in the presence of a well-developed, two-segmented buccal capsule, but the latter species has a much longer glandular esophagus. These two species also differ in the appearance of the spicules.     

Microsomacanthus polystictae sp. n. and other cestodes of the family Hymenolepididae (Cyclophyllidea) from Steller's eider Polysticta stelleri from the Chaun lowlands (northwestern Chukotka)

8 species of cestodes belonging to the family Hymenolepididae were recorded from Polysticta stelleri (Pall.) in the Chaun lowland. A new species of hymenolepidids, Microsomacanthus polystictae sp. n., differing from close (by the length of proboscis hooks) species of the genus in the structure and size of the copulatory organ is described. Brief diagnosis of the new species: cestodes small, specimens ending with hermaphrodite proglottids 2.44 to 2.91 mm long. Proboscis hooks 0.038 to 0.042 mm long, blade 0.011 to 0.012 mm long. Strobila of maximum length with 84 proglottids. In young male proglottids the aporal testis half as large as poral and median ones, in well-developed proglottids testes 0.020 to 0.026 X 0.023 to 0.032 mm. Bursa of cirrus 0.150 to 0.190 X 0.020 to 0.028 mm. Cirrus 0.107 mm long, basis 0.008 to 0.011 mm wide, median part 0.012 to 0.014 mm wide, apical part 0.004 mm wide. Cirrus armed with spines 0.003 to 0.004 mm long. Ovary bilobate, yolk gland compact. Spermatheca small, situated medially, in front of poral ovary lobe. Copulative part of vagina sacciform, 0.086 to 0.118 mm long, 0.023 to 0.037 mm maximum width. Distally and proximally vagina with muscular sphincters. Uterus sacciform, with 35 to 40 embryos. There were no mature "eggs" in the material.     

Leptotheca sparidarum n. sp. (Myxosporea: Bivalvulida), a parasite from cultured common dentex (Dentex dentex L.) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) (Teleostei: Sparidae)

A new myxosporean, Leptotheca sparidarum n. sp., is described from the trunk kidney of two sparid fish, Sparus aurata and Dentex dentex, in several culture facilities from the Western Mediterranean coasts. It is distinguished from all the previously described species by spore morphometrics. Spores with two equal polar capsules and one binucleated sporoplasm. Spore measurements from D. dentex were 5-7.1 micron long x 8.8-12.3 micron thick x 5.88-6.18 micron wide; polar capsules 2.6-3.5 micron in diam. Spore measurements from S. aurata were 5.1-8.24 micron long x 9.41-11.76 micron thick; polar capsules 2.4-3.2 micron in diam. No significant differences were detected between either host. Prevalence could reach 21.4% in D. dentex and 19% in some stock of S. aurata. Renal tubules were the typical site of infection, which was also found in ureters and glomeruli, but seldom in the epiepithelial position of the gut. Spores were formed in disporous sporoblasts, and spore maturation seemed to proceed from the host epithelium towards the lumen. Trophozoites were attached to the host epithelial cells of renal tubules by pseudopodial-like projections, which were inserted into gaps between epithelial cells. Also, cell junctions were observed between primary cells and between neighboring spores.     

宁夏枸杞属（茄科）一新种和一新变种

描述了宁夏茄科枸杞属一新种小叶黄果枸杞和一新变种密枝枸杞。小叶黄果枸杞与宁夏枸杞相接近,但前者枝条成"之"字形曲折,叶片较小,条形、条状披针形、条状倒披针形或狭椭圆形,花1～2朵与叶一起簇生于短枝顶端,花萼杯状或筒状,常2浅裂,裂片边缘无毛;花冠筒部与冠檐近等长,雄蕊着生于花冠筒的喉部,花丝连同花冠无毛或在基部仅被稀疏短柔毛,浆果扁球形或椭圆球形,常为淡黄色,近透明,长6～10mm,直径6～8mm,种子5～8枚而与后者明显不同。在外部形态上,小叶黄果枸杞与新疆枸杞和土库曼枸杞也比较接近,但新疆枸杞和土库曼枸杞的枝条不成"之"字形曲折,花常2～3朵或更多与叶一起簇生于短枝顶端,花冠筒部长约为檐部裂片长的2倍,雄蕊着生于花冠筒的近中部,浆果红色。尤其是土库曼枸杞的花萼为宽钟形,常4～5裂,花冠裂片边缘有短而稀疏的缘毛而明显有异于小叶黄果枸杞。宁夏枸杞的变种密枝枸杞与原变种的区别在于前者植株分枝多而密,叶片小,狭长椭圆形、倒披针形或匙形,长1～1.8cm,宽1.5～2.5mm;雄蕊着生于花冠喉部,长短不等,其中两枚较短,其余3枚较长,花丝连同花冠无毛或在基部仅被稀疏短柔毛;浆果卵球形或椭圆形,长5～8mm,直径3～6mm,淡紫色,近透明,多汁,味甜,种子2～4粒。     

Osmunda (Osmundaceae) from the Triassic of Antarctica: an example of evolutionary stasis

Compressed specimens of the fern Osmunda are described from the Triassic of the Allan Hills, Antarctica. The specimens consist of a once pinnate, deeply pinnatifid fertile frond as well as several sterile specimens. Six pinnae are present on the partial fertile rachis, with two sterile pinnae above four fertile pinnae. Both sterile and fertile specimens are virtually identical to the modern species Osmunda claytoniana. Entire fronds are fragmentary; the longest is 21 cm in length. Sterile pinnae are alternate and deeply pinnatifid, with slightly toothed pinnules and dichotomous venation. Fertile pinnae are 1-1.3 cm long, once pinnate, and lack vegetative lamina. Sporangia are clustered, each 300-375 um in diameter, and possess a transverse annulus 6-8 cells long; dehiscence is by a vertical slit. Fronds arise from a rhizome 4 cm long by 1 cm wide; two croziers are present on the rhizome. Two frond segments up to 6 cm long and three deeply pinnatifid pinnae are present on the uppermost part of one rachis. Pinnules are ~4 mm long and 2-3 mm wide. The presence of this Osmunda species in the Triassic demonstrates stasis of frond morphology, both fertile and vegetative, for the genus.     

Monocercus dokuchaevi sp. n. (Cyclophyllidea: Dilepididae)--a new species of cestodes from shrews of the North-Eastern Asia

A new cestode species, Monocercus dokuchaevi sp. n. is described from shrews of the genus Sorex from the Middle Kolyma plateau (Magadan Province). The new species is most closer to M. soricis (Neiland, 1953) by having regular alteration of genital atriums in the short strobila (up to 10 mm only). The size of rostellar hooks in M. dokuchaevi is intermedial between those in M. soricis and M. arioni (Sibold, 1850). In Monocercus dokuchaevi, the length of rostellar hooks is 0.038-0.045 mm (average 0.045 mm), in M. arioni, average is 0.05 mm, in M. soricis, limits are 0.027-0.033 mm. Two other species of the genus, M. baicalensis Eltyshev, 1971 and M. estavarensis Euzet et Jourdan, 1968, have much longer rostellar hooks, 0.07-0.08 and 0.092-0.106 mm, respectively, whereas the genital atriums in these species are altered irregularly.     

A Revision of Genus Yinshania (Cruciferae)

The genus Yinshania was established by Ma Yu-chuan and Zhao Yi-zhi in 1979, when only one species, Y. albiflora Ma et Y. Z. Zhao, was discribed from Nei Monggol. In the present paper the genus Yinshania is revised and four new species, two new varieties and four new combinetions are reported. There are so far eight species and two varieties in total in this genus. Important morphological characters of the genus are analysed, which shows that the lateral nectariferous glands positioned at lateral base of the brevistamens are triangularovoid; there are dense minute pustules on the surface of valves, which is easily neglected because the pustules disappear or shrinked when dry; simple or furcate hairs are present in the most species, seldom absent; the shape of pollen grains is relatively steady, elliptic or long-elliptic, with the polar view trifidcircular, the equatorial view elliptic or long elliptic, the aperture 3-colpate, exine reticular. The type of genus Yinshania is changed. Cochlearia acutangula O. E. Schulz was published in 1929, but Y. albiflora Ma et Y. Z. Zhao in 1979. They are the same species and a new combinetion, Y. acutangula (O. E. Schulz) Y. H. Zhang, is made. Thus, the type of genus Yinshania should be changed to Y. acutangula (O. E. Schulz) Y. H. Zhang. Besides, He Ye-qi 6121 (paratype, PE), which is different from Y. acutangula var. albiflora, is separated from it and transferred the typical variety, Y. acutangula. According to the characters of fruit shape the genus Yinshania is divided into two sections, namely, Sect. Microcarpa and Sect. Yinshania, and then Sect. Yinshania is subdivided into two series. Sect. 1. Microcarpa. Silicles widely ovoid or subglobose, 1-2.2 mm long, 0.8-2.2 mm wide, the ratio of length and width about 1.1. Sect. 2. Yinshania. Silicles oblong, oblong-ovoid or long-lanceolate, ellipsoidal, 1.5-4.5 mm long, 0.3-1.5 mm wide, the ratio of length and width about 2.5-3.3. Ser. 1. Henryanae. Raches flexuose; plants densely hairy; leaves 3-5-foliolate, seldom pinnatipartite or pinnatisect. Ser. 2. Yinshania. Raches non flexuose; plants sparsely hairy; leaves pinnatisect or pinnatipartite. The genus Yinshania is a genus endemic to China, with their range from eastern Xizang to western Hubei from northern Guizhou to central Nei Monggol. The taxa are mostly of a small area. Sect. Microcarpa is concentrated in Sichuan and southern Gansu; Sect. Yinshania is spread from Xizang and Sichuan, nouthwards to Gansu, Ningxia, Shanxi, Hebei and Nei Monggol (Ser. Yinshania); and from Sichuan south-eastwards to Guizhou and Hebei (Ser. Henryanae). There are five species in Sichuan. The present paper conjectures that the distribution centre of the genus is in the Hengduan Mountains and its adjacent areas.     

Paleoactaea gen. nov. (Ranunculaceae) fruits from the Paleogene of North Dakota and the London Clay

Paleoactea nagelii Pigg & DeVore gen. et sp. nov. is described for a small, ovoid ranunculaceous fossil fruit from the Late Paleocene Almont and Beicegel Creek floras of North Dakota, USA. Fruits are 5-7 mm wide, 4.5-6 mm high, 10-13 mm long, and bilaterally symmetrical, containing 10-17 seeds attached on the upper margin in 2-3 rows. A distinctive honeycomb pattern is formed where adjacent seeds with prominent palisade outer cell layers abut. Seeds are flattened, ovoid, and triangular. To the inside of the palisade cells, the seed coat has a region of isodiametric cells that become more tangentially elongate toward the center. The embryo cavity is replaced by an opaline cast. This fruit bears a striking resemblance to extant Actaea, the baneberry (Ranunculaceae), an herbaceous spring wildflower of North Temperate regions. A second species, Paleoactaea bowerbanki (Reid & Chandler) Pigg & DeVore nov. comb., is recognized from the Early Eocene London Clay flora, based on a single fruit. This fruit shares most of the organization and structure of P. nagelii but is larger and has a thicker pericarp. This study documents a rare Paleocene occurrence of a member of the buttercup family, a family that is today primarily herbaceous, and demonstrates a North Atlantic connection for an Actaea-like genus in the Paleogene.     

A new species of ceratozamia (Zamiaceae) from Chiapas,Mexico

Ceratozamia norstogii sp. nov. from Chiapas, Mexico is described. This species is distinct from all others in the genus in that it has a straight rachis with very narrow leaflets (3–10 mm wide) which are strongly curved and almost round in cross section when dried. It is known only from Chiapas, Mexico and in cultivation.     

Scyphophyllidium uruguayense n. sp. (Eucestoda: Tetraphyllidea) in Mustelus mento (Cope, 1877) (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae) from La Paloma, Uruguay.

A new species of Scyphophyllidium inhabits Mustelus mento near La Paloma, Uruguay. It resembles Scyphophyllidium giganteum from the Atlantic Ocean and specimens identified as S. giganteum from California by having anapolytic strobilae 155-258 mm long, 250-300 craspedote proglottids, scoleces 1.2-1.4 mm wide, necks 34-41 mm long, immature and mature proglottids wider than long, gravid proglottids wider than long to longer than wide, genital pores averaging 28% of proglottid length from the anterior end, relatively flat ovaries with digitiform lobes reaching the lateralmost extent of the testicular field, vitellaria in 2 fields converging toward the proglottid midline, straight and short cirrus sacs, and postvaginal vas deferens. The bothridia of the new species have accessory bothridial suckers that are smaller than those of California specimens; European specimens reportedly lack accessory bothridial suckers. The new species possesses a uterine duct that joins the uterus at the level of the genital atrium and ventral osmoregulatory ducts medial rather than lateral to the dorsal ducts, an arrangement described for Californian but not European specimens. It differs from both European and Californian specimens by having longer cirri, more testes per proglottid, prominent scales covering the neck, and vaginae and uterine ducts coiled immediately preovarially. Pithophorus, Marsupiobothrium, and Scyphophyllidium may form a clade.     

Description of Crassolabium persicum sp. n. (Nematoda, Dorylaimida, Qudsianematidae), an interesting species from Iran

A new species of the genus Crassolabium, Crassolabium persicumsp. n., collected from Arasbaran rangelands of Iran, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by its body 1.92-2.40 mm long, lip region offset by constriction and 17-19 μm wide, odontostyle 16-19 μm long with aperture occupying less than one-third (27-30%) its length, neck 428-690 μm long, pharyngeal expansion 369-390 μm long or occupying 54-56% of total neck length, female genital system amphidelphic, uterus bipartite and 162-218 μm long or 2.3-3.5 times as long as body diameter, pars refringens vaginae well developed, V = 54-57.5, vulva longitudinal, prerectum bearing a blind sac, tail conical with rounded tip to conoid (25-36 μm, c=60-69, c'=0.5-0.9), spicules 68-72 μm long, precloacal pair of supplements far (22-27 μm) from cloacal aperture, and 13-17 shortly spaced ventromedian supplements with hiatus. The new taxon is compared in depth to its relatives in Crassolabium as well as other similar species of Aporcelaimellus and Amblydorylaimus.     

Description of Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) brazilorum sp. nov. a new fossil species from the Dominican Republic (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)

A sand fly fossil was found in amber; a vegetal resin, which allows all the external phlebotomine structures to be seen. The piece that contains the new species is 14 mm long x 8 mm wide x 3 mm high. All the structures from the head, thorax, and abdomen were examined under the microscope and measured with a calibrated micrometric eyepiece. The morphological aspects of the new species suggest its inclusion in the Pintomyia genus, Pifanomyia subgenus though it is not possible to include it in any of the series known for this subgenus. The presence of two atrophied spines on the gonostyles and gonocoxites without tufts of setae permit the exclusion of the new species from the other species of the subgenus Pifanomyia. The new species is named Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) brazilorum sp. nov.     

Dentiphilometra monopteri n. gen., n. sp. (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the abdominal cavity of the ricefield eel Monopterus albus in China

A new genus and species of philometrid nematode Dentiphilometra monopteri n. gen., n. sp., are described on the basis of the specimens found in the abdominal cavity of the ricefield eel (swamp-eel) Monopterus albus (Zouiev) from Liangzi Lake (the Yangtze River drainage system), Hubei Province, in central China. Dentiphilometra, assigned to the Philometrinae, differs from other genera of this subfamily mainly in the presence of a sclerotized oral ring armed on its inner surface by numerous small peribuccal teeth in the gravid female. The new species is characterized by minute cephalic papillae, a greatly developed anterior esophageal bulb separated from the cylindrical part of the esophagus, anterior extention of the esophageal gland anterior to the nerve ring, and by large caudal projections in females and equal spicules 0.051-0.096 mm long in males. This is the second philometrid species recorded from fishes of the Synbranchiformes.     

新疆翠雀属(毛茛科)一新种——文采新翠雀花

报道了产于中国新疆天山的翠雀属(毛茛科)一新种——文采新翠雀花Delphinium neowentsaii C. Y. Yang。该种的叶为肾形,叶柄基部不扩展,花较小,组成稀疏总状花序,花梗被贴伏短柔毛,上萼片的距圆锥状钻形,长13-15 mm,基部宽约3 mm,外面疏被短柔毛,萼片蓝色,与西伯利亚的疏花翠雀花D. laxiflorum DC.很相似,但其花瓣和退化雄蕊均为淡黄色而易于区别。     

A Newly Recorded Genus of Ericaceae and Clematis peii sp.nov. (Ranunculaceae) from China*

Andromeda is recorded for the first time in north eastern China near the border between China and DPR Korea. This monotypic genus is widely distributed in Northern America, Europe, and Northern Asia but has not been reported in China before. The genus and species, A.polifolia, is described, and the pictures of the plant and its habitats are presented. Also in this paper, a new species, Clematis peii from Xishuangbanna, southern Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to sect. Clematis and is closely related to C.chingii, but differs in its ternate leaves with nearly entire leaf margin and long anthers (nearly 3mm long) with protruding connectives. Other close allies with ternate leaves were also compared in this study.     

Capillostrongyloides arapaimae sp. n. (Nematoda: Capillariidae), a new intestinal parasite of the arapaima Arapaima gigas from the Brazilian Amazon

A new nematode species, Capillostrongyloides arapaimae sp. n., is described from the intestine and pyloric caeca of the arapaima, Arapaima gigas (Schinz), from the Mexiana Island, Amazon river delta, Brazil. It is characterized mainly by the length of the spicule (779-1,800 microm), the large size of the body (males and gravid females 9.39-21.25 and 13.54-27.70 mm long, respectively) and by the markedly broad caudal lateral lobes in the male. It is the third species of genus Capillostrongyloides reported to parasitize Neotropical freshwater fishes.     

中国异环足摇蚊属研究(双翅目:摇蚊科)(英文)

异环足摇蚊属隶属于双翅目摇蚊科直突摇蚊亚科,全世界已记录4种。本文对中国产本属进行了系统研究。记述了2新种:简异环足摇蚊A.simplex sp.nov.和扎陵异环足摇蚊A.zhalingensis sp.nov.,重新核定了亮异环足摇蚊A.lucens(Zett.)。提供了世界本属雄成虫检索表。依据中国标本和相关文献,对Cranston等1989年所描述的本属的触角比、前足比、下附器的形状等属级鉴别特征予以订正。模式标本均保存于南开大学生物系。简异环足摇蚊A.simplexsp.nov.:正模:雄性,西藏建日,9／3／1987,邓成玉采。与本属已知种的区别:后足胫节无栉;无额鬃和唇基毛; R2+3脉清晰。扎陵异环足摇蚊A.zhalingensis sp.nov.:正模:雄性,青海扎陵湖,8／20／1986,任淑智采。与本属已知种的区别:个体大;无唇基毛;翅臀叶强烈突出,半球状;下附器三角形,强烈骨化,抱器端节具有13根粗长的刚毛。