Echiniscus siticulosus (Echiniscidae: spinulosus group), a new tardigrade from Western Australian scrub

ABSTRACT

Australian fauna is widely recognised for its high levels of endemism, and tardigrade fauna does not seem to be an exception in this respect. The richness of xerothermic habitats in Australia, often occupied by heterotardigrade family Echiniscidae, entails high abundance and uniqueness of echiniscid assemblages. A new gonochoristic/dioecious echiniscid species was found in large numbers in samples from Western Australia. Echiniscus siticulosus sp. nov., characterised by dominant large cuticular pores in the dorsal sculpture and appendages in the form of spines, represents the spinulosus group but can be distinguished from the known members of this species complex by a unique combination of traits: peculiar faceting of the caudal plate formed by ridge-shaped epicuticular extensions and pore morphology. An amended phenotypic diagnosis of Echiniscus spiniger Richters 1904, the species morphologically most similar to the new species, is also presented.     

New species of Mycosphaerella from Myrtaceae in plantations and native forests in eastern Australia

The majority of Mycosphaerella species from eucalypts (Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora) in Australia have been recorded only from trees growing in plantations. This illustrates a bias in research in the past two decades toward commercial enterprise, and it emphasises a lack of understanding of the occurrence of these important fungi under natural conditions. Surveys of foliar fungi in native forests in eastern Australia, as well as adjacent plantations, thus have been initiated in recent years. In this study we describe four new species of Mycosphaerella from Eucalyptus spp. as well as other Myrtaceae. Mycosphaerella tumulosa sp. nov. (anamorph: Pseudocercospora sp.) was found on more than seven species of Eucalyptus and Corymbia in native forests and plantations in northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland and appears to be relatively common, although not damaging to these trees. Mycosphaerella multiseptata sp. nov. was recorded from several locations on species of Angophora in native forests and amenity plantings. Mycosphaerella pseudovespa sp. nov. was found in one location in native forest on E. biturbinata. The first species of Mycosphaerella to be described from Syncarpia, M. syncarpiae sp. nov., was found in native forests in numerous locations from Sydney through to northeastern New South Wales and appears to be relatively common.     

云南蠓科昆虫二新种记述(双翅目:蠓科)

记述采自云南芒市(24.4°N, 98.5°E)的蠓科昆虫2新种,分别命名为叉茎裸蠓Atrichopogon diandrous sp. nov. 和芒市毛蠓Dasyhelea mangshi sp.nov.,并予描述和绘制了形态特征图,所有模式标本都保存于医学昆虫标本馆.     

中国阔柄跳小蜂属一新种（膜翅目：跳小蜂科）

记述了阔柄跳小蜂属1新种：廖氏阔柄跳小蜂Metaphycus liaoi sp．nov．,并给出了其形态特征图。廖氏阔柄跳小蜂与Mstagnarum很相似,但廖氏阔柄跳小蜂雌虫柄节最宽处在基半部,生殖器明显长于中足胫节,雄虫第1索节短于梗节,柄节长约为宽的3倍;而M.stagnarum雌虫柄节最宽处在端半部,生殖器短于中足胫节,雄虫第1索节明显长于梗节,柄节长约为宽的4倍。研究标本,包括正模,均保存在中国科学院动物研究所动物标本馆。 正模：♀,北京市海淀区,2007-V-20～23,育自Eriococcus abeliceae,武三安采;副模：12♀♀,8♂♂,同正模。 词源：种名是为纪念已故廖定熹教授,他对中国跳小蜂分类研究做出了重大贡献。     

On Occurrence and Significance about the Fossil Plants from the Yuntaiguan Formation Located between Hunan and Hubei

This paper deals with the fossil plants from the Yuntaiguan formation located between Hunan and Hubei province. There are six genera and ten species (containing a new genus and five new species) to be discussed here, such as Protolepidodendron scha-ryanum Krejci, Barrandeina dusliana (Krejci) Stur, B. contigua sp. nov., B. lixianensis sp. nov., B. multistriata sp. nov., B. laxa sp. nov., Drepanophycus spinaeformis Goepp., “Protopteridium”? minutum Halle, Psilophyti4es sp. and Longostachys latisporophyllus gen. et sp. nov., etc. The appearance of this fossil flora concerned here can be correlated to the Protolepidodendron scharyanum-Barrandeina dusliana Assemblage. Among these fossil plants from Yuntaiguan formation, both the Protolepidodendron scharyanum and Barrandeina dusliana are also the index fossils, the prior was wide spread during the Middle Devonian in whole world and the other was only found at the late Middle Devonian in Europe. In the Yuntaiguan formation the genus Barrandeina containing no less than five species and, the other taxa were also found from the Middle or the late Middle Devonian. So that this formation should be referred to the late Middle Devonian in age and this conclusion corresponds with the result of spore-pollen analysis in the Xiushuigou formation, Xiongzi county, which is similar to the Yuntaiguan formation and has been referred to the Middle Devonian. In this paper, only four species of Barrandeina and one species of Longostachys have been described, those of the former have not been found before in China. The authors think; this will be significant on studying fossil plants and in comparison with the age of the strata.     

Three new species of Tilletia on Eriachne from north-western Australia

Three new species of Tilletia are described from species of Eriachne (Poaceae) in the arid tropics of north-western Australia. In Western Australia, T. mactaggartii sp. nov. infects E. burkittii, and T. geeringii sp. nov. infects E. festucacea. Tilletia marjaniae sp. nov. infects E. pulchella subsp. dominii in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. These species are the first records of Tilletia on Eriachne. Phylogenetic relationships of these species were inferred from internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal RNA region and large subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences.     

Kinorhynchs from the Andaman Islands

Echinoderes andamanensis sp. nov. is described from the Andaman Islands (Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean). Unlike most members of this genus, this new species lacks middorsal spines. It is further distinguished by the presence of lateral spines on segments 4, 10 and 11 in the female and 4, 10–12 in the inale. Collected with E. andamanensis were specimens of E. ehlersi previously known only from a single specimen collected in 1885 in Zanzibar. The Andaman Island females have shorter spines than the males. Additional species include Catena gerlachi , previously known only from Walcair, India. A single juvenile exuvium of Pynophyes sp. was also found. The taxonomic relationships of the species and other members of the genus are discussed.     

Phlebotomine sandflies from Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). VI--A new subgenus (Vattieromyia) including three new species: Sergentomyia (V.) sclerosiphon, S. (V.) namo and S. (V.) anka

Three new species of Phlebotomine sandflies belonging to the genus Sergentomyia Fran?a & Parrot are described from Madagascar: Sergentomyia sclerosiphon n. sp. S. namo n. sp. and S. anka n. sp. The taxa are created on the basis of the morphology of females. The males of S. sclerosiphon n. sp. and of S. anka n. sp. have been associated to the females according to the homologies of a fragment of the mtDNA cytochrome b sequences. The original morphology of the spermathecae and the sclerification of a part of the individual spermathecal ducts allow the creation of a new subgenus, Vattieromyia subg. nov., which includes these three new species.     

Spiders of the genus Lachesana and a new storenoid genus from Israel (Araneae: Zodariidae)

Zodariid spiders of two genera in Israel are revised. The genus Lachesana is represented by two species. Only one male of these was ever depicted while the females of both and their hitherto unknown retreats were never described. Pax gen. nov. has been erected to accommodate five species, some of which have formerly been placed in Slorena, Selamia or Habronestes . Diagnostic characters of the West Mediterranean Selamia and the Australian Habronestes are newly illustrated. No drawings of Pax libani and P. islamita were ever published; the male of the latter is described here for the first time. Pax palmonii sp. nov. and P. engediensis sp. nov. are described and affinities of all taxa are discussed. Illustrations, records of distribution and keys to the species are provided.     

Etheliaceae fam. nov. (Gigartinales,Rhodophyta), with a clarification of the generitype of Ethelia and the addition of six novel species from warm waters

Based upon COI‐5P, LSU rDNA, and rbcL sequence data and morphological characteristics, six new members of the noncalcified crustose genus of red algae Ethelia are described in a new family, Etheliaceae (Gigartinales), sister to the recently described Ptilocladiopsidaceae. The novel species are described from subtropical to tropical Atlantic and Indo‐Pacific Ocean basins; E. mucronata sp. nov. and E. denizotii sp. nov. from southern and northern Western Australia respectively, E. wilcei sp. nov. from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands of Australia, E. suluensis sp. nov. from the Philippines, E. umbricola sp. nov. from Bermuda and E. kraftii sp. nov. from Lord Howe Island, Australia. The generitype, Ethelia biradiata, originally reported from the Seychelles, Indian Ocean, is added to the Western Australian flora.     

PATTERNS OF EVOLUTION AND EXTINCTION IN THE LAST HARPETID TRILOBITES DURING THE LATE DEVONIAN (FRASNIAN)

Abstract: Late Devonian (Frasnian) harpetid trilobites have hitherto only been described from the western side of the Protethys Ocean, in what is now Europe and North Africa, as well as from Gondwana‐derived northwestern Kazakhstan (Mugodjar). However, late Frasnian strata in the Canning Basin, Western Australia, that were deposited on the eastern side of this ocean, contain a rich harpetid fauna. Described herein are two new harpetids: Eskoharpes gen. nov. and Globoharpes gen. nov., within which are placed six species: E. palanasus sp. nov., E. wandjina sp. nov., E. boltoni sp. nov., E. guthae sp. nov., G. teicherti sp. nov. and G. friendi sp. nov. The ontogenetic development of E. palanasus, E. wandjina and G. teicherti are described, including the first unequivocal harpetid protaspis. Globoharpes exhibits evidence of sexual dimorphism in the development of a pronounced preglabellar boss in some specimens. This structure is thought to have functioned as a brood pouch. Such structures have previously only been described in Cambrian and Ordovician trilobites, and never before in harpetids. It is suggested that the characteristic harpetid fringe functioned as a secondary respiratory structure. The Eskoharpes lineage shows evolutionary trends that mirror changes seen in ontogenetic development of the youngest species, suggesting the operation of peramorphic processes. This is the first record of heterochrony in harpetids and the first documented example of peramorphosis in Devonian trilobites. These harpetids demonstrate a stepped pattern of extinction during the late Frasnian, probably related to the effects of the two Kellwasser biocrises that have been well documented in European Frasnian sections. Highly vaulted species of Eskoharpes and the strongly vaulted Globoharpes became extinct at the Lower Kellwasser Event. The flatter species of Eskoharpes became extinct at the base of the Upper Kellwasser Event shortly prior to the Frasnian/Famennian boundary. The extinction of these harpetids, along with contemporaneous forms from Europe, which are also discussed herein, marks the end of the trilobite order Harpetida worldwide.     

大连滑刃线虫新种(线虫门,滑刃科)记述(英文)

新种大连滑刃线虫.Aphelenchoides dalianensis sp.nov.采自中国辽宁省大连市老铁山的枯死黑松.新种的鉴别特征为:体较短(雌虫:571.5～658.0 μm;雄虫:436.8～520.0μm),口针纤细(雌虫:10.0～12.7 μm;雄虫:9.2～11.8μm)具有基部球,侧线4条.雌虫阴门位于虫体60%～75%处,尾型特殊,具蜗牛触角状分叉的尾尖突;雄虫尾部向腹面弯曲成拐杖形,有1简单尾尖突,交合刺小(10.0～12.9μm),乳突3对,无交合伞.新种的近似种是大核滑刃线虫A.macronucleatus,主要区别在于大核滑刃线虫的雌虫仅具一简单尾尖突,雄虫加热杀死后呈"L"形,而非新种的"J"形.应用限制性酶切图谱(PCR-ITS-RFLP)的方法以及DNA测序为新种提供了分子生物学的证据.     

Nemerteans of the Great Barrier Reef 3. Anopla Heteronemertea (Lineidae)

Nine species of lineid heteronemerteans are recorded from the Great Barrier Reef province of Australia. Six of these are new species, including four new genera, and are fully described and illustrated. These are Aetheorhynchus actites gen. et sp. nov. , Bennettiainsularis gen. et sp. nov., Cerebratulus magnetkus sp. nov., Colemania albulus gen. et sp. nov., Mkrura tridacnae sp. nov. and Quasilineus pulcherrimus gen. ct sp. nov. Lineus tricuspidatus (Quoy & Gaimard) is re-established, illustrated and described. Gorgonorhynchus repens Dakin & Fordham and Parborlasia hutchingsi Gibson have been fully described elsewhere, but a full list of known locations is provided.     

First fossil fruits of Elaeocarpus (Elaeocarpaceae) in East Asia: Implications for phytogeography and paleoecology

The genus Elaeocarpus contains approximately 360 species and occurs in mesic forest communities from India, through to China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Australia, and New Caledonia. Elaeocarpus fossils are best known from the Eocene to the Miocene of Australia and the late Pliocene–early Pleistocene of India, but have not been documented from East Asia before. Here we describe six new species of Elaeocarpus, E. nanningensis sp. nov. from the late Oligocene Yongning Formation of the Nanning Basin, E. presikkimensis sp. nov. from the Miocene Erzitang Formation of the Guiping Basin, E. prerugosus sp. nov., E. prelacunosus sp. nov., E. preserratus sp. nov., and E. preprunifolioides sp. nov. from the late Miocene Foluo Formation of the Nankang Basin in Guangxi, South China. This is the first reliable report for the genus occurring in East Asia, and the fossils indicate that Elaeocarpus had colonized this region by the late Oligocene and represented by a morphologically diverse group of species by the late Miocene. This sheds new insights into the timing and migration patterns of the genus in East Asia. Elaeocarpus is typically a rainforest genus occurring in mesic forests. Based on the habitat of their morphologically similar modern relatives we propose that these three sedimentary basins were warm and wet adjacent to mountainous regions with the evergreen or rain forests during the late Oligocene to Miocene.     

西藏沙蜥属一新种—泽当沙蜥

根据形态特征,泽当居群与西藏沙蜥、红尾沙蜥有显著区别,为沙蜥属一新种：泽当沙蜥Ｐｈｒｙｎｏｃｅｐｈａｌｕｓ ｚｅｔａｎｇｅｎｓｉｓ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．Ｗａｎｇ,Ｚｅｎｇ ｅｔ Ｗｕ鉴别特征为鼻鳞１枚;鼻间鳞４－５枚;背鳞数少于腹鳞数;雄性尾末端黑色,雌性灰白色。     

Untangling the Echiniscus Gordian knot: paraphyly of the “arctomys group” (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae)

The genus Echiniscus C.A.S. Schultze, 1840, one of the earliest established and speciose tardigrade genera, has been hypothesized to be polyphyletic. Moreover, the presence or absence of trunk appendages, the type of cuticular sculpturing and body colour have been argued to hold taxonomic significance at the genus level in Echiniscus-line taxa. Here, by combining morphological and genetic analyses, we demonstrate that the so-called “arctomys group”, i.e. Echiniscus spp. lacking trunk appendages, comprises numerous separate evolutionary lineages within the family Echiniscidae. As a result, we erect five new echiniscid genera: Barbaria gen. nov. , presumably of Neotropical (Gondwanan) origin, previously classified as the Echiniscus bigranulatus group; the pantropical and subtropical Kristenseniscus gen. nov. (the tessellatus group), characterized by a peculiar subdivision of dorsal plates; Claxtonia gen. nov. (the wendti group), with large and evident endocuticular pillars in the form of polygons; Nebularmis gen. nov. (the reticulatus group), with an elusive dorsal sculpturing; and Viridiscus gen. nov. (the viridis group), with body colour ranging from light green through brownish to even almost black. Additionally, we briefly address appendaged Echiniscus s.s. and divide the genus into several groups based on dorsal plate sculpturing and suggest that these could also represent separate supraspecific entities.     

Leptonotus vincentae,a new pipefish species (Syngnathidae: Syngnathinae) from the south-west Atlantic Ocean near northern Patagonia

A new species of pipefish Leptonotus vincentae sp. nov. (Syngnathidae) is described on the basis of 12 specimens found in shallow waters (<2 m depth) of San Antonio Bay, Patagonia, Argentina, in the south-west Atlantic Ocean. The species is distinguished from congeners by the combination of: dorsal-fin rays 30–33, pectoral-fin rays 12–13, trunk rings 18–19, tail rings 43–46, subdorsal rings (2–4) + (5.5–8) = (8.5–10), head length 13–14% standard length, snout length 35–55% head length and snout depth 21–30% in snout length. Although this species has often been mistaken for Leptonotus blainvilleanus, most diagnostic characters of the two species differ. Both species are clearly distinguished by their snout length. L. blainvilleanus has a relatively longer snout than L. vincentae sp. nov. The new species is similar to a south-west Pacific species, Leptonotus elevatus. However, L. vincentae sp. nov. differs from this species in that it exhibits a lower number of dorsal-fin rays and a relatively longer head.     

Five new species of Stenothemus Bourgeois from Guangxi,China (Coleoptera,Cantharidae)

Five new species of Stenothemus Bourgeois, 1907 from Guangxi, China are described, S. normalis sp. nov., S. flavicans sp. nov., S. nigripennis sp. nov., S. elongaticeps sp. nov. and S. maculaticollis sp. nov.. They are illustrated with habitus photos and aedeagi of males, also abdominal sternites VIII and internal genitalia of females. A key for the identification of the above species is provided.     

Patterns of trunk spine growth in two congeneric species of acanthocephalan: investment in attachment may differ between sexes and species

Acanthocephalans have evolved a hooked proboscis and some taxa have trunk spines to attach to their definitive hosts. These structures are generated before being used, thus a key question is how investment in attachment could optimally be allocated through the ontogeny. The number and arrangement of hooks and spines are never modified in the definitive host, but it is unclear whether these structures grow during adult development. A comparison of the size of trunk spines between cystacanths and adults of Corynosoma cetaceum and C. australe indicated that spines grow in both species, but only in females, which also had significantly larger spines than males. This sexual dimorphism did not result from pure allometry because the body of females was smaller, and did not grow more than that of males. However, having a longer lifespan, females would need to withstand the extreme flow conditions prevailing in marine mammals for longer, inducing different investment and development schedules for spines. Patterns of spine growth also differed between species: fore-trunk spines grew in both species, but hind-trunk spines did only in C. cetaceum. In conclusion, investment strategies on attachment may differ, not only between congeneric species of acanthocephalan, but also between sexes of the same species.     

Systematic revision of Hoggicosa Roewer, 1960, the Australian ‘bicolor’ group of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae)

The Australian wolf spider genus Hoggicosa Roewer, 1960 with the type species Hoggicosa errans (Hogg, 1905) is revised to include ten species: Hoggicosa alfi sp. nov. ; Hoggicosa castanea (Hogg, 1905) comb. nov. (= Lycosa errans Hogg, 1905 syn. nov. ; = Lycosa perinflata Pulleine, 1922 syn. nov. ; = Lycosa skeeti Pulleine, 1922 syn. nov. ); Hoggicosa bicolor (McKay, 1973) comb. nov. ; Hoggicosa brennani sp. nov. ; Hoggicosa duracki (McKay, 1975) comb. nov. ; Hoggicosa forresti (McKay, 1973) comb. nov. ; Hoggicosa natashae sp. nov. ; Hoggicosa snelli (McKay, 1975) comb. nov. ; Hoggicosa storri (McKay, 1973) comb. nov. ; and Hoggicosa wolodymyri sp. nov. The Namibian Hoggicosa exigua Roewer, 1960 is transferred to Hogna, Hogna exigua (Roewer, 1960) comb. nov. A phylogenetic analysis including nine Hoggicosa species, 11 lycosine species from Australia and four from overseas, with Arctosa cinerea Fabricius, 1777 as outgroup, supported the monophyly of Hoggicosa, with a larger distance between the epigynum anterior pockets compared to the width of the posterior transverse part. The analysis found that an unusual sexual dimorphism for wolf spiders (females more colourful than males), evident in four species of Hoggicosa, has evolved multiple times. Hoggicosa are burrowing lycosids, several constructing doors from sand or debris, and are predominantly found in semi‐arid to arid regions of Australia. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 158 , 83–123.