Genetic structure in Brazilian breeding colonies of the Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja, Aves: Threskiornithidae)

Roseate Spoonbills (Platalea ajaja, Linnaeus) are wading birds present in two of the most important Brazilian wetlands: the Pantanal wetlands and Rio Grande do Sul marshes. Natural populations of these species have not been previously studied with variable nuclear molecular markers. In order to support decision making regarding the management and conservation of these populations, we estimated and characterized the distribution of genetic variability among five Brazilian breeding colonies. The average observed heterozygosity in Brazilian Roseate Spoonbill populations (Ho = 0.575) did not differ significantly from the value determined in a U.S. wild-caught sample of 15 individuals, using data generated by the same set of microsatellite loci. Considering that the U.S. population underwent a recent reduction in size, we discuss this result supposing that the U.S. population was not genetically affected or that both populations had suffered a bottleneck. Global F(ST) indicated the lack of genetic differentiation among colonies, indicating the occurrence of past and/or present gene flow among them. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that most of the genetic variation is distributed within the colonies. Results are explained by a recent origin of colonies or by high levels of gene flow. Management decisions should take into consideration the fact that, even in the presence of high genetic exchange, ecological adaptations to different environments are important for species survival.     

Parachordatortilis n. g. (Nematoda: Spirurida: Acuariidae), with a redescription of P.mathevossianae (Petrov & Chertkova, 1950) n. comb., a parasite of Falco tinnunculus L. (Aves: Falconiformes)

Parachordatortilis n. g. is proposed as a monotypic genus for Parachordatortilis mathevossianae (Petrov & Chertkova, 1950) n. comb. (Spirurida, Acuariidae), previously Dispharynx mathevossianae Petrov & Chertkova, 1950. The new genus can be distinguished from all other acuariid genera by having cordons with a sinistral torsion. Parachordatortilis possesses cordons consisting of two rows of delicate cuticular plates delimiting a longitudinal canal. This pattern of cordon structure suggests that Parachordatortilis is closely related to Dispharynx Railliet, Henry & Sisoff, 1912, Synhimantus Railliet, Henry & Sisoff, 1912 and Chordatortilis Machado de Mendon?a & Olivera de Rodrigues, 1985. P. mathevossianae is redescribed on the basis of light and scanning electron microscopical observations of specimens collected from a common kestrel Falco tinnunculus L. in southern Italy.     

Redescription of Monhystrella parvella (Filipjev) comb.n. (Nematoda, Monhysteridae)

The type of material of Monhystrella parvella (Filipjev, 1931) comb.n. from Abyssinia (Ethiopia) is redescribed and figured in detail. Data on the genital system and the ontogeny of this species are given. Monhystera filiformis sensu Gerlach, 1951 nec Bastian, 1865 of the Black Sea at Pomorie (Bulgaria) is synonymised with M. parvella . The Black Sea specimens have a shorter pharynx, a longer tail and differ also from the Abyssinian specimens in the shape of the tail and the spinneret outlet.     

The erection of Pelecanema n. g. (Nematoda: Spirurida: Acuariidae), with redescriptions of P. sirry (Khalil, 1931) n. comb. and P. pelecani (Johnston & Mawson, 1942) n. comb.

Pelecanema n. g. is erected for P. sirry (Khalil, 1931) n. comb., syn. Synhimantus sirry Khalil, 1931 (type-species) and P. pelecani (Johnston & Mawson, 1942) n. comb., syn. Dispharynx pelecani Johnston & Mawson, 1942. In the structure of its cordons, consisting of two rows of delicate cuticular plates, the new genus is similar to Synhimantus Railliet, Henry & Sisoff, 1912, Dispharynx Railliet, Henry & Sisoff, 1912, Chordatortilis Machado de Mendon?a & Olivera de Rodrigues, 1965 and Parachordatortilis Mutafchiev, Santoro & Georgiev, 2010. Pelecanema sirry, a parasite of Pelecanus onocrotalus L. and P. crispus Bruch (Pelecaniformes, Pelecanidae) in Africa (Egypt and Senegal) and Europe (Ukraine and Bulgaria), is redescribed using light and scanning electron microscopy on the basis of specimens from P. crispus from Bulgaria. Pelecanema pelecani, a parasite of Pelecanus conspicillatus Temminck in Australia, is also redescribed using light microscopy on the basis of specimens from its type-host and type-locality. In contrast to a previous opinion recognising Pelecanema sirry and P. pelecani as synonyms, the two species are considered distinct and P. pelecani is validated.     

Tetrameres tarapungae n.sp. (Nematoda: Spirurida), a parasite of the red-billed gull,Larus novaehollandiae scopulinus

Abstract

Tetrameres (Tetrameres) tarapungae n.sp. is described from specimens from the proventriculus of juvenile red-billed gulls from Kaikoura, New Zealand. The male is characterised by having two short rows of lateral cervical cuticular spines that do not extend beyond the middle of the oesophagus, a body length of 2.2–2.6 mm, and the larger spicule longer than half the body length. The male tail bears four pairs of subventral papillae and two pairs of lateral papillae. The pathology of the infections is described briefly.     

Kamegainema cingulum (Linstow, 1902) n. gen., n. comb. (Nematoda: Dracunculidae), a subcutaneous parasite of cryptobranchids (Amphibia: Caudata)

The monotypic Kamegainema n. gen. is proposed for Filaria cingula, a subcutaneous parasite of cryptobranchids. Examination of female specimens recently collected from the Japanese giant salamander, Andrias japonicus, revealed that it belongs to Dracunculidae. Kamegainema is closest to Protenema Petter and Planelles, 1986, the only other dracunculid genus known from Amphibia, but is readily distinguished by having prominent cuticular bosses. Kamegainema cingulum is redescribed.     

Redescription of Cosmocephalus tanakai Rodrigues & Vicente (Nematoda: Acuariidae), a parasite of the southern black-backed gull in New Zealand

Abstract

Cosmocephalus tanakai is redescribed from specimens found in the oesophagus of Larus dominicanus from the South Island of New Zealand. The male is characterised by nine pairs of pedunculate subventral caudal papillae plus two pairs of sessile papillae, and a pair of bicuspid papillae three-quarters of the way down the body. The female too has the pair of posteriad bicuspid papillae, plus a button-like terminal caudal process. A key to the species of Cosmocephalus is given.     

Redescription, synonymy, and new records of Vexillata noviberiae (Dikmans, 1935) (Nematoda: Trichostrongylina), a parasite of rabbits Sylvilagus spp. (Leporidae) in the United States

Vexillata noviberiae (Dikmans, 1935) (Trichostrongylina: Heligmosomoidea), originally described as a parasite of Sylvilagus floridanus from Louisiana, is redescribed from material collected from Sylvilagus palustris in Florida and from S. floridanus in Kansas. New morphometric and morphological data are provided. Stunkardionema halla Arnold, 1941, described from S. floridanus from Kansas and New York, is proposed as a junior synonym of V. noviberiae. These findings confirm the occurrence of V. noviberiae as a parasite of rabbits and its wide distribution range in North America.     

Redescription of Enterobius anthropopitheci (Gedoelst, 1916) (Nematoda,Oxyurida), a parasite of chimpanzees

Enterobius anthropopitheci (Gedoelst, 1916), a parasite of the chimpanzees Pan troglodytes and P. paniscus, is redescribed. E. anthropopitheci can be distinguished from the two closely related species parasitic in man, E. vermicularis (L., 1758) and E. gregorii Hugot, 1983, by the following characters: in the males, the cuticular pericloacal ornamentation, and the size and shape of the spicule; in the females, the lateral alae, which are simple in the pinworms of man, are simple only anteriorly and divided into two crests at the mid-oesophageal level in the parasite of chimpanzees. Enterobius anthropopitheci (Gedoelst, 1916), parasite des chimpanzés, Pan troglodytes et P. paniscus, dans toute leur aire de répartition est redécrite. E. anthropopitheci est très proche par sa morphologie des deux oxyures de l'Homme, E. vermicularis (L., 1758) et E. gregorii Hugot, 1983, dont il diffère toutefois par les caractères suivants: chez le mâle, ornementation cuticulaire péricloacale, taille et forme du spicule; chez la femelle, aile latérale simple sur toute sa longuer chez les oxyures de l'Homme, simple dans la région antérieure se dédoublant en deux crêtes au milieu de l'oesophage, chez l'oxyure parasite des chimpanzés.     

Redescription of Natalaspis leptocarpi n.comb. (Homoptera: Diaspididae)

Abstract

Cyllobelus rufopictus? a salticid species from equatorial Africa, has a large and complex repertoire of displays. These spiders live on and near the ground in habitats of short grass, and build opaque silk nests on dead leaves. Each male uses one of three different mating tactics depending on the female’s maturity and location (communicatory versatility). Type 1 courtship, involving special movements and postures of the legs, palps, and body, occurs if the female is an adult away from the nest; apparently this type of courtship is vision-dependent. If the male encounters an adult female inside her nest, he uses Type 2 courtship, which consists of movements by the male that cause the silk to vibrate. If the female is a subadult inside her nest, the male initially uses Type 2 courtship, then builds a second chamber on the female’s nest, and cohabits until she moults and matures. Other displays occur during male-male and female-female interactions. Biting and pinching are distinctive Type 2 courtship displays that have not been described previously for salticids, and juddering is the most distinctive Type 1 display.     

Redescription of Hemiclepsis quadrata (Moore, 1939) n. comb. (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae)

Hemiclepsis quadrata, which is the only representative of the genus so far reported in Africa, is redescribed. Illustrations showing the diagnostic features of the taxon are provided for the first time. A thorough study of the holotype and one of the paratypes, as well as additional specimens, revealed that Moore overlooked certain important taxonomic features when he described the leech as a Batracobdella species. The transfer of this species to the genus Hemiclepsis is based on the following features exhibited by this leech: dilated head region, three pairs of eyes, central proboscis pore, ten pairs of crop caeca and small genital atria.     

Redescription of Heliconema africanum (Linstow, 1899) n. comb. (Nematoda: Physalopteridae), a nematode parasite of freshwater eels (Anguilla spp.) in South Africa

The little-known nematode species Heliconema africanum (Linstow, 1899) n. comb. (Physalopteridae) is redescribed based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations of specimens collected from the stomach of the African longfin eel Anguilla mossambica (Peters) in the Nahoon River, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This species, previously misidentified as Heliconema longissimum (Ortlepp, 1922), is a common parasite of eels in South Africa. The systematic status of H. longissimum, a species originally described from unidentified Australian snakes, is unclear and probably several morphologically closely related species have been included under this name.     

Proleptusmackenzieisp.n. (Nematoda, Spirurida) from Raja fyllae in the Barents Sea

Previous work on species of Proleptus Dujardin, 1845 and related genera is briefly reviewed. Proleptus mackenziei sp.n. is described and figured. P. mackenziei is close to P. obtusus, P. acutus and P. malayi but differs from them in the host, position of the vulva which is 2/5/ of the body length from the anus and in the detailed arrangements of the papillae on the male tail.     

牛背鹭寄生缩迭脱门线虫的重新描述(旋尾目:锐形科)

2006年5月对采自河南省信阳地区的一只牛背鹭进行解剖,从砂囊内检获一批线虫,经鉴定为缩迭脱门线虫Desportesius invaginatus(Linstow,1901)。本文主要对该种线虫进行了描述。本种线虫与前人的描述基本相同,但所采标本虫体尾部较短,雌虫尾端内陷。该种线虫在河南省属首次报道,为河南省新记录种。     

Wardium longosacco (Joyeux & Baer, 1939) n. comb. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) parasite de Charadrius marginatus (Aves: Charadrii) d'Afrique du sud

The authors describe and illustrate Wardium longosacco (Joyeux & Baer, 1939) n. comb. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) collected from Charadrius marginatus from South Africa. The species with a strobila 7 cm long is characterised by one crown of ten aploparaksoid hooks 27–30 m long, a simple genital atrium, a long evaginated cirrus (120 m) which is glabrous, regularly cylindrical and slender (12–6.5 m in diameters) and a simple, tubular, membranous vagina. The species Hymenolepis clandestina sensu Deblock (1964) nec (Krabbe, 1869) is a synonym of W. longosacco (Joyeux & Baer,1939) n. comb.     

Co-occurrence of Pectinospirura argentata Wehr, 1933, Skrjabinoclava andersoni n. sp. and larvae (Nematoda: Acuariidae) in the proventriculus of Larus dominicanus Lichtenstein (Aves: Laridae), with notes on their attachment

Pectinospirura argentata Wehr, 1933, Skrjabinoclava andersoni n. sp. and acuariid larvae, collected from the proventriculus of the kelp gull Larus dominicanus from coastal Buenos Aires, Argentina, are described. This is the first record of the genus Pectinospirura Wehr, 1933 from South America and from the kelp gull. The measurements of both sexes are given because there are some differences with previously described specimens of P. argentata; the male is smaller with smaller spicules and the female is larger with smaller eggs. Skrjabinoclava andersoni n. sp. can be distinguished for all other species in the genus by the morphology of both spicules and by the cuticle which is not inflated anteriorly. This genus is reported for the first time in the kelp gull and from Argentina.