Observations on Australian Glaucidae (Mollusca:Opisthobranchia)

Glaucilla Bergh, 1868 is positively recorded for the first time from eastern Australia, together with Glaucur Forster, 1777. The former is allocated to G. mrginuta Bergh, 1868 and the latter to G. atlanticuc Forster, 1777. Glaucilla has multiseriate ceratal clusters (uniseriate in Glaucus) , an unarmed penis (armed with a chitinous spine in Glaucas ) and several anatomical peculiarities. Glaucid nudibranchs feed upon species of Velella, Physalia and Porpita ; nematocysts of Physalia are subsequently employed for defence. Both Glaucus and Glaucilla are potentially harmful to man.     

Systematics and phylogeny of the Aglajidae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca)

The generic limits within the Aglajidae are reviewed and modified, based on the study of 21 species. Navanax Pilsbry, 1895 is reinstated as a genus distinct from Aglaja. The generic placement of several species is altered from previous works. An evaluation of morphological characters suggests that each of six genera has distinctive external morphology. The systematic value of twelve characters is critically reviewed. The evolutionary relationships of the Aglajidae and its genera to other philinacean familes are discussed.     

海南岛润楠属一新种

描述了海南润楠属(樟科)一新种,即文昌润楠     

海南岛苏铁属一新种

海南岛苏铁属（苏铁科）一新种,即三亚苏铁。     

Factors affecting feeding selectivity in herbivorous Ascoglossa (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia)

Food preference and growth were investigated for 13 Florida Ascoglossa. In about half of the species investigated there was a significant preference for one particular food plant. Growth rates were generally highest on the preferred food, and also, species feeding on ephemeral food plants had higher growth rates than species feeding on annual or perennial food plants. A correlation exists between ascoglossan foot width and filament diameter of food plants in species feeding on filamentous algae, and in all species between length and/or diameter of leading radular tooth and size of filaments, utricles or cells of food plants. There was no correlation between food preference and caloric content or ash content of food plants. Thus, structure of food plants seems to be the most important factor in food recognition and preference in Ascoglossa.     

A new species of the genus Paralomis (Crustacea: Decapoda: Lithodidae) from the Spiess seamount near Bouvet Island (Southern Ocean), with notes on habitat and ecology

A new species of the genus Paralomis, Paralomis elongata, has been collected from the Spiess seamount near Bouvet Island in the Southern Ocean. The species shows close affinity with P. anamerae Macpherson, 1988, from the Patagonian Shelf, P. africana Macpherson, 1987, from the south-western African shelf, and P. aculeata Henderson, 1888, from Crozet Islands. Morphological differences among the species and ecological characteristics are discussed.     

Benthic hydroids (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) from off Bouvet Island (Antarctic Ocean)

Twenty-seven species of benthic hydroids have been found in a small collection from off Bouvet Island (Antarctic Ocean). The material was obtained during the XXI/2 German Antarctic expedition with R.V. Polarstern 2003–2004. Of the 27 species collected, 21 were unknown from those waters. Consequently, the number of known species of benthic hydroids from the area has risen to 32, representing a high diversity location for this group in the Southern Ocean considering the sampling effort made. All species, including those previously known from Bouvet waters, are considered with respect to geographical distribution.The present work is an addition to the special issue “Macrobenthic studies at Bouvet island”, presenting work carried out from on board RV Polarstern in 2003/2004 and published in Polar Biology 29 (2006)     

A new genus and three new species of decapodiform cephalopods (Mollusca: Cephalopoda)

We describe here two new species of oegopsid squids. The first is an Asperoteuthis (Chiroteuthidae), and it is based on 18 specimens. This new species has sucker dentition and a funnel–mantle locking apparatus that are unique within the genus. The second new species is a Promachoteuthis (Promachoteuthidae), and is based on a unique specimen. This new species has tentacle ornamentation which is unique within the genus. We also describe a new genus and a new species of sepioid squid in the subfamily Heteroteuthinae (Sepiolidae) and it is based on four specimens. This new genus and species exhibits unique modifications of the arms in males.     

A new species of Didymium (Myxomycetes) from subantarctic Macquarie Island

A series of specimens of a stalked Didymium collected during an intensive survey of fungal biodiversity on subantarctic Macquarie Island were determined to represent a species new to science. The new species Didymium macquariense is described and compared with other morphologically similar species. Micrographs of the most important morphological characters are provided.     

海南岛粉褶蕈属（粉褶蕈科，伞菌目）一新种

近漏斗形粉褶蕈Entoloma subinfundibuliforme为一新种,其显著特征是子实体中到大型,杯伞状,菌盖漏斗形,菌褶延生,担孢子4-5(-6)角,近等径,无囊状体和锁状联合。模式标本保存于广东省微生物研究所标本馆(GDGM)。     

Towards a phylogeny and evolution of Acochlidia (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia)

The Acochlidia are unique among opisthobranch gastropods in combining extremely high morphological and ecological diversity with modest species diversity. The phylogeny of acochlidians has never been addressed by cladistic means, as their evolution has remained unknown. This study gives a first overview on more than 150 biological and morphological characters that are potentially useful for phylogenetic analysis. Based on 107 characters, a parsimony analysis (PAUP) was performed for all 27 valid acochlidian species together with 11 (plus two) outgroup taxa. The resulting strict consensus tree shows a moderate overall resolution, with at least some bootstrap support for most resolved nodes. The Acochlidia are clearly monophyletic, and originate from an unresolved basal opisthobranch level. The Acochlidia split into the Hedylopsacea (Tantulum (Hedylopsis (Pseudunela (Strubellia (‘Acochlidium’, ‘Palliohedyle’))))) and Microhedylacea (Asperspina (Pontohedyle, ‘Parhedyle’, ‘Microhedyle’, (Ganitus, Paraganitus))). The formerly enigmatic Ganitidae, resembling sacoglossan opisthobranchs by having dagger‐like rachidian radular teeth, are likely to be highly derived microhedylids. The paraphyly of some of the traditionally recognized family level taxa induced a preliminary reclassification. From the phylogenetic hypothesis obtained, we conclude that the acochlidian ancestor was marine mesopsammic. The colonization of limnic systems occurred twice, independently: first in the Caribbean (with the development of the small interstitial Tantulum elegans), and second in the Indo‐Pacific, with a radiation of large‐sized benthic acochlidian species. The evolution of extraordinary reproductive features, such as hypodermic impregnation by a complex copulative aparatus in hedylopsaceans, cutaneous insemination via spermatophores in microhedylaceans, and gonochorism in Microhedylidae s.l. (including Ganitidae), is discussed. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 158 , 124–154.     

A new freshwater oligochaete species (Clitellata: Enchytraeidae) from Livingston Island,Antarctica

The new enchytraeid species Lumbricillus healyae sp. n. is described from freshwater streams, with well-oxygenated and poorly mineralised waters, situated in Byers Peninsula (Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica). Lumbricillus healyae sp. n. is morphologically close to L. antarcticus and L. incisus, and it is mainly distinguished by the structure of the spermatheca with a short, distinct ectal duct, the oval penial bulb (greatest diameter in the transverse body axis) associated with strong dorso-ventral muscular fibres, and a protrusible pseudopenis. A second undetermined Lumbricillus species is described from a small stream. Study specimens are not fully mature; however, the highly irregular form and size of the testis-sac lobes and the absence of a penial bulb encapsulated under a muscular layer are remarkable. It is probably related to a small group of Lumbricillus species reported from the Antarctic maritime region (L. colpites, L. griseus and L. aestum), characterised by the structure of the male duct, which ends in a simple pore surrounded by glands.

A new species of Macquaridrilus (Annelida: Clitellata: Naididae) from subantarctic Campbell Island

Macquaridrilus mcmurtrieae n. sp. is described from Campbell Island. This resembles the only other species in the genus, Macquaridrilus bennettae Jamieson, 1968, in most aspects, but shows significant differences in the anatomy of its genitalia. In particular, the spermathecal pores are dorsal rather than lateral, the spermathecae lack diverticulae, the ejaculatory duct is more stout and muscular, the vas deferens is shorter relative to other organs and the anterior prostate is compact rather than elongate. The presence of a cuticular sperm canal appears to be an apomorphy for the genus. The new species was collected from streams and tarns across the island.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:652AF61D-CFB2-4D07-94C8-59E6FB549D5F

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:984F2456-768D-48A1-87AD-4453768BAB8A     

A new species of fossil Scutus Montfort, 1810 from New Zealand (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Fissurellidae)

ABSTRACT

A new fossil species of the genus Scutus (Scutus mirus n. sp.) is described from five Late Oligocene to Early Miocene (Waitakian to Altonian; 25.2–15.9?Ma) localities in the South Island, New Zealand. It is one of the oldest fossil species of Scutus known and probably inhabited very shallow, sub-tropical waters surrounding Zealandia during this time. The holotype of Scutus petrafixus Finlay, 1930 is re-examined; it is possibly from All Day Bay, Kakanui (Waitakian 25.2–21.7?Ma). The New Zealand species documented herein significantly expand our understanding of the fossil record of this shallow-marine molluscan lineage, and by proxy, also indicate the presence of very shallow coastal marine environments around the late Oligocene and early Miocene in southern Zealandia.     

Origins and relationships of primitive members of the Opisthobranchia (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

An examination of possible prosobranch precursors of opisthobranchs and pulmonates suggests that archaeogastropods are poor candidates, as they lack the complex female glands which characterize all higher gastropods. Similarities between members of the Rissoacea and Cerithiacea with the Opisthobranchia and Pulmonata are here considered to be a result of parallel evolution. Much of the basis for suggesting phylogenetic aRinities between members of these taxa hinges on the supposition that pyramidellids are opisthobranchs. This contention is questioned, as the euthyneurous nervous system and hermaphroditic reproductive system share weak structural and positional homologies with opisthobranchs. The range of morphological variation within the Pyramidellidae should be more thoroughly investigated, as this taxon is poorly known. The reproductive system of members of the Littorinacea is largely homologous with that found in the least derived opisthobranchs and pulmonates. This, when considered in conjunction with other morphological and palaeontological evidence, suggests that the least derived mesogastropods, the Littorinacea, provide a more precise model of the opisthobranch-pulmonate ancestor among living prosobranchs. The specialization of the digestive system in littorinaceans suggests that morphological divergence has taken place following the cladogenesis of these taxa, and that a direct ancestor/descendent relationship cannot be implied from extant littorinaceans. The status of Acteon and other acteonids as archetypal opisthobranchs is questioned. Moditication 01 all morphological systems, with the exception of the shell and mantle complex, diminish the position of the Acteonidae as ancestral opisthobranchs. Members of the Ringiculidae more closely approach the ancestral form, but have undergone modification, as well. No extant opisthobranch retains all plesiomorphic character states. For this reason, in addition to the fact that contusion exists as to the plesiomorphic conditions of some characters within the Opisthobranchia, a hypothetical ancestral opisthobranch is characterized. It appears that parallel evolution, which confounds the relationships of certain prosobranchs and opisthobranchs, is also evident within the Opisthobranchia. Much of the confusion that has surrounded the determination of phylogenetic relationships within the Opisthobranchia relates directly to the high incidence of parallelism throughout the subclass.