Two new species of Macrobothridium (Cestoda: Diphyllidea) from rhinobatid elasmobranchs in the Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia, with notes on the status of the genus.

As a result of an investigation of metazoan parasites of elasmobranch fishes in the Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia, we discovered 2 new species of diphyllidean cestodes. Macrobothridium euterpes n. sp. is described from the spiral intestine of Rhinobatos rhinobatos, and Macrobothridium syrtensis n. sp. from the spiral intestine of Rhinobatos cemiculus. Macrobothridium euterpes is distinguished from the only other species in the genus (Macrobothridium rhynchobati) by the number of rostellar hooks, size, genital pore position, vagina position, and ovary shape. Macrobothridium syrtensis is distinguished from M. rhynchobati by the hook morphology, testis number, and overall size, and from M. euterpes by the number of rostellar hooks, testis number, genital pore position, vagina position, and ovary shape. These are the first 2 species added to the genus since its establishment in 1989. A standardized formula for representing the number and arrangement of rostellar hooks in diphyllidean species is presented.     

A new species of Macrobothriidae (Cestoda: Diphyllidea) from thornback ray Platyrhina sinensis in China

A new cestode, Macrobothridium sinensis n. sp., is described from the spiral intestine of Platyrhina sinensis from coast of Xiamen, China. It is the first record of the order Diphyllidea in China. The new species can be distinguished from the 3 previously described species of Macrobothridium by the testes number (16-24 vs. 29-37, 27-46, and 5-6, in M. rhynchobati, M. euterpes, and M. syrtensis, respectively) and a single-row arrangement of testes; M. sinensis is most similar to M. euterpes in strobila length (1.77-6.23 vs. 2-4.5 mm) and number of segments (6-8 vs. 5-9). In addition, M. sinensis differs from M. rhynchobati and M. syrtensis in the strobila length, ovary shape, and number of apical hooks. The uterine pore is the first described in the Diphyllidea; thus, the present uterine pore can now be used to distinguish Macrobothridium from Echinobothrium and Ditrachybothridium in the Diphyllidae.     

Description of three new species of Paractenopsyllus genus (Siphonaptera: Leptopsyllinae) from Madagascar

The males of three new and rare species of the Malagasy endemic genus Paractenopsyllus Wagner, 1938 are described. Paractenopsyllus beaucournui, P. oconnori and P. raxworthyi have been collected on endemic small mammals and the black rat. As for others species of the genus, biotopes are rain-forests of the central highlands or the northern mountains of Madagascar. Two of the described species were collected at elevations lower than typical for the genus and below the limits of the highland bioclimatic zone. Morphological affinities between these new species and those already described provide taxonomic framework for the genus. An updated identification key is provided for the diagnosis of all the 20 Malagasy species of Leptopsyllinae.     

A new genus and species of cestode (Rhinebothriidea) from Mobula kuhlii (Rajiformes: Mobulidae) from Malaysian Borneo

The cestode fauna of the shortfin devilray, Mobula kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841) was examined for the first time. The work resulted in the discovery of a new genus and species of rhinebothriidean tapeworm. Crassuseptum pietrafacei, n. gen. n. sp. is erected here on the basis of its unique scolex and proglottid morphology. Histological sections and examination by light and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that this new genus differs from all other rhinebothriidean genera in its possession of bothridia in which the proximal and distal sides are confluent, i.e., not separated by a rim of tissue, and in its possession of testes that extend to the posterior margin of the ovary. This new species is characterized in part by its possession of stalked, elongate bothridia lacking lateral constrictions, with 13-15 prominent transverse bothridial septa and 4 reduced transverse septa, craspedote proglottids, each with 2-3 layers of testes in cross section, and a vas deferens that joins the cirrus sac at its anterior margin. Histological and optical sections through bothridial septa revealed that the transverse septa are formed by septal muscles separate from bothridial radial musculature, extending from the anterior side to the posterior side of each septum. This is only the second species rhinebothriidean cestode reported from mobulids. This study adds to the number of new species and genera of elasmobranch cestodes discovered off of the island of Borneo.     

Echinobothrium clavatum n. sp. (Cestoda,Diphyllidea) from the spiral valve of Raja clavata L., 1758, including a note on its ultrastructure and a key to species of the genus

Echinobothrium clavatum n. sp. from the spiral valve of the thornback ray Raja clavata from the Irish Sea is described and illustrated. On the basis of the number of apical hooks it resembles most closely E. musteli but can be distinguished from it by the absence of spines on the rostellum and the different number of spines on the cephalic peduncle. A generic diagnosis together with a key to species of the genus is given. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy of the scolex indicates that the tegument of the rostellum is capable of taking up food by pinocytosis.     

Description of a new ascarid species in elasmobranchs from Taiwan Strait

A new ascarid of elasmobranchs, Terranova amoyensis sp. n., is described from the intestine of the red stringray, Dasyatis akajei (Müller and Henle), from Taiwan Strait. This is the second report from this genus with a gubernaculum in fish. The new species differs from its congeners mainly in the following combination of characters: the 3 lips are unequal in size and different in shape, i.e., the subventral lips are asymmetric bilaterally and larger than the dorsal lip; the latter lip is bilaterally symmetrical. The ventriculus is spherical, and the cecum is short relative to the esophagus. Spicules are unequal in size, 1.48 mm long for the right spicule and 1.34 mm for the left spicule, or 4.3 and 3.9% of body length, respectively. Nineteen pairs of caudal sessile papillae (excluding phasmids) are present, of which 13 pairs are precloacal; pairs 14 and 15 lie close together on either side of the cloaca, composing ad-cloacal papillae (the pair near the tail end are twins). The remaining 4 pairs of postcloacal papillae form a group near the tail tip (pair 18 also twins and near the phasmids). The gubernaculum is I-shaped. The excretory pore is located on top of a coniform prominence whose location is just behind or between the bases of the 2 subventral lips. The vulva is prominent at one-third of the anterior part of the body; the distance from the vulva opening to the anterior body end is 17.4 mm (13.61-21.41), 26.8% (25.14-28.93%) of the body length.     

蚌螨属1新种记述（蜱螨亚纲：蚌螨科）

报道蚌螨属Unionicola一新种。     

Description of a new trypanorhynch species (Cestoda) from Indonesian Borneo, with the suppression of Oncomegoides and the erection of a new genus Hispidorhynchus

A new species of Oncomegas Dollfus, 1929 is described from the cowtail stingray, Pastinachus atrus (Macleay), collected in the Makassar Strait, Indonesian Borneo. Oncomegas trimegacanthus n. sp. possesses 2 oval bothria, gland cells within the bulbs, prebulbar organs, a distinctive basal armature with a single macrohook on the bothrial surface of the asymmetrical basal swelling, and a heteroacanthous, heteromorphous metabasal armature with 10 hooks per principle row. It differs from congeners by its possession of additional enlarged hooks at the base of the tentacle. Because of apparent morphological similarities, we suppress the genus Oncomegoides Beveridge & Campbell, 2005 with Oncomegas, and place the type and only species, Oncomegoides celatus Beveridge & Campbell, 2005 , within Oncomegas as Oncomegas celatus n. comb. Three species of Oncomegas , namely, Oncomegas paulinae Toth, Campbell & Schmidt, 1992, Oncomegas australiensis Toth, Campbell & Schmidt, 1992, and Oncomegas aetobatidis Campbell & Beveridge, 2009, differ from other species, possessing testes posterior to the ovary and a metabasal armature consisting of tiny, relatively homeomorphous hooks, with more than 14 hooks per principle row. Based on these morphological differences, a new genus, Hispidorhynchus n. gen., is erected, with Hispidorhynchus australiensis n. comb. as the type species.     

Age and growth of three species of tuna baitfish (genus: Spratelloides) in the tropical Indo-Pacific

Sprafelloides grarilis (Temminck & Schlegel), S. delirarulus (Bennett) and S. lewisi (Wongratana) live generally less than 4 months. They lived more than 5 months at only three of 10 sites sampled. Growth varied seasonally in S. grocilis (Temminck & Schlegel) at two sites in the Solomon Islands and in S. clelicululus (Bennett) at Helix Reef, near Townsville, Australia. This variation in the growth rate of S. grucilis could not be related to specific environmental patterns, but that of S. delicurulus at Townsville might be temperature-related. Instantaneous growth rates for all species were 0.4-1.7 mm day ^-1 at an age of I month and the range of variation in growth rate was similar for all species. These rates declined to 0.1 mm day ^-1 at 3 months of age, which is the rate reported for other short-lived clupeoids at the same age. The growth rates of fish from coral atoll and coastal lagoons were similar but barrier reef fish grew significantly faster. These results indicate that Sprarelloides have an extremely flexible growth pattern and that biological variation within a site can be as great as variation between sites.     

A new genus and two new species of Aporhynchidae (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) from catsharks (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) off Taiwan

New collections of cestodes from the spiral intestines of catsharks (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) off Taiwan have led to the discovery of a new genus and 2 new species of trypanorhynchs. These taxa are relatively unique among trypanorhynchs in their lack of all elements of the rhyncheal apparatus. The new genus, Nakayacestus n. gen., is considered to belong with Aporhynchus in the Aporhynchidae. In addition to lacking the rhyncheal apparatus, these 2 genera share circum-medullary vitelline follicles, post-ovarian testes, and complex terminal genitalia consisting of accessory, external, and internal seminal vesicles. The 2 genera differ conspicuously in spinithrix configuration; whereas both species of Nakayacestus n. gen. bear scolex spinitriches that are bifid, trifid, or pectinate, species of Aporhynchus either lack scolex spinitriches entirely or possess spathulate spinitriches. The configuration of the bothria of the 2 genera also differ conspicuously. Whereas the bothria of Aporhynchus are sessile and generally do not extend beyond the lateral margins of the cephalic peduncle, those of Nakayacestus bear only a tenuous connection with the scolex proper, being conspicuously free both anteriorly and posteriorly and extending conspicuously beyond the cephalic peduncle. Futhermore, the boundary between the scolex and the strobila of members of the new genus is clearly delineated, whereas this distinction is ill-defined in species of Aporhynchus. Nakayacestus takahashii n. sp., the type of the new genus, was collected from the Broadmouth catshark, Apristurus macrostomus, and differs from Nakayacestus tanyderus n. sp., collected from the Blacktip sawtail catshark, Galeus sauteri, in being shorter, bearing a longer pedunculus scolecis, an ovary that is more posterior in the proglottid, and fewer post-ovarian testes. Furthermore, the 2 new species differ conspicuously from one another in the configuration of their scolex spinitriches.     

A new genus and species of proteocephalidean (Cestoda) from Clarias catfishes (Siluriformes: Clariidae) in Africa

A new proteocephalidean cestode is described from 2 catfishes, Clarias gariepinus (type host) and C. cf. anguillaris (Siluriformes: Clariidae), from Ethiopia (type locality), Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, and a new genus, Barsonella, is proposed to accommodate it. The genus belongs to the Proteocephalinae because its genital organs (testes, ovary, vitellarium, and uterus) are situated in the medulla. Barsonella lafoni, the type and only species of the new genus, is characterized mainly by the possession of an additional opening of each sucker; circular musculature on the anterior margin of suckers, serving as a sphincter; a small thin-walled glandular apical organ; absence of well-developed osmoregulatory canals in mature, pregravid, and gravid proglottids; and a large strobila, up to 173 mm long and 3.2 mm wide. Species of Marsypocephalus Wedl, 1861 (Marsypocephalinae), other large-sized proteocephalidean tapeworms occurring sympatrically in African catfishes (Clarias and Heterobranchus) and also possessing a sphincter-like, circular musculature on the anterior part of suckers, differ from B. lafoni in the absence of an additional sucker opening and glandular apical organ, the cortical position of the testes, well-developed osmoregulatory canals throughout the strobila, and a large cirrus sac. Proteocephalus glanduligerus (Janicki, 1928), another cestode parasitic in Clarias spp. in Africa, is much smaller than B. lafoni (maximum length 15 mm), has suckers without additional opening and circular musculature on the suckers, a large-sized glandular organ, much larger than suckers, and well-developed osmoregulatory canals. Comparison of partial sequences of the 28S rRNA gene for 7 samples of B. lafoni from 2 different hosts and 4 localities in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Tanzania has shown a very low genetic variability. In a limited phylogenetic analysis, B. lafoni formed a clade with Corallobothrium solidum Fritsch, 1886 (Proteocephalidae: Corallobothriinae), an African electric catfish parasite. This clade was the sister group of almost all Neotropical taxa from pimelodid and other catfishes.     

Description of two new species of the genus Priolepis from the Indo-Pacific with redescription of Priolepis profunda and Priolepis psygmophilia

Priolepis akihitoi is described as new from Australia, New Caledonia and Japan. The species is distinctive in having a transverse papilla pattern, second dorsal rays usually I, 11, predorsal fully scaled and dark bars dorsally on the caudal fin. Priolepis cyanocephala is described as new from eastern Australia and Lord Howe Island. It differs from other species in having a reduced transverse papilla pattern, second dorsal rays I, 10, predorsal largely naked and head with vertical bands, but no bands on the body. Priolepis profunda is redescribed based on material from northwestern Australia and Thailand, and photos of specimens from Indonesia, New Guinea and the Philippines. Priolepis psygmophilia is redescribed based on recently obtained material from the Kermadec Islands and other material from Lord Howe Island, Easter Island and Rapa Island.     

Revision of the genus Thetidos Hedley, 1899 (Gastropoda: Conoidea: Raphitomidae) in the Indo-Pacific with descriptions of three new species

The genus Thetidos was established to accommodate a single species Thetidos morsura, a minute turriform conoidean with an unremarkable paucispiral protoconch, but possessing characteristic globose whorls of the teleoconch and three strong denticles on the inside of outer apertural lip. Subsequently, Thetidos was considered synonymous with Lienardia, and has rarely been mentioned in literature until the recent discovery of a remarkably similar species Thetidos tridentata, though it is different in protoconch morphology. Both molecular data and protoconch morphology unequivocally suggested placement of the new species in Raphitomidae. Examination of shells from the Indo-Pacific identified a number of similar forms, all referable to the genus Thetidos. Six species are now recognized within the genus; of them three, Thetidos puillandrei n. sp., Thetidos minutissima n. sp., Thetidos pallida n. sp., are here described as new. Thetidos species are now known from subtidal depths from the Philippines and Sulawesi to French Polynesia. Thetidos morsura is the only species of the genus that possesses a paucispiral protoconch suggestive of a non-planktotrophic development, although it displays a wide geographic range and a high morphological variability.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1F2001CC-6BEA-4B26-AFB8-6B337E101FDB     

One new genus and three new species of Orsillinae (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) from Australia

Abstract  Two new species of Nysius Dallas, N. orarius sp. n. and N. tasmaniensis sp. n. are described from New South Wales and Tasmania (Australia), respectively. A new monotypic genus, Reticulatonysius , with type-species R. queenslandensis sp. n. is described from Queensland, and its systematic relationship with other orsilline genera is discussed.     

A new genus and three new species of cockroaches (Blattaria: Dictyoptera) from Africa

A new genus Princisaria belonging to family Blaberidae is described from Africa. A key to the African genera of the subfamily Laxatinae is given. Three new species, P. carvalhoi, P. ugandana and P. curta are described.     

A new genus and species of proteocephalidean tapeworm (Cestoda) from Pangasius larnaudii (Siluriformes: Pangasiidae) in Southeast Asia

A new proteocephalidean cestode is described from spot pangasius, Pangasius larnaudii (Siluriformes: Pangasiidae), from Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia and a new genus, Pangasiocestus , is proposed to accommodate it. The genus is placed in the Gangesiinae because its scolex possesses a large rostellum-like apical organ and its genital organs (testes, ovary, vitellarium, and uterus) are situated in the medulla, with some vitelline follicles paramuscular. Pangasiocestus romani n. gen. and n. sp., the type and only species of the new genus, is characterized mainly by its rosette-like scolex composed of 4 lobes bearing a small sucker in their center, and the apical part with a large, discoidal, rostellum-like apical organ devoid of hooks, by weakly developed inner longitudinal musculature formed by very few isolated muscle fibers, uneven size of testes in immature and mature proglottids, with lateral testes smaller and more dense than median ones, by very narrow lateral bands of vitelline follicles, formed usually by single follicles, and by the vagina anterior to the cirrus sac. This is the first proteocephalidean cestode from a pangasiid catfish identified to the species level (proteocephalidean cestodes from 3 Pangasius spp. reported in an unpublished account from Vietnam, misidentified as Proteocephalus osculatus (Goeze, 1782) [?= Glanitaenia osculata ], are not considered).