Three New Species of Etamphidelus Andrássy, 1977 (Nemata: Alaimidae) in Southern Chile

Three new species of Etamphidelus are described from Orange Bay, Hoste Island, Chile. All three are distinguished from previously described species by their numerous longitudinal cuticular ridges. E. acucephalus n. sp. is further distinguished by its extremely narrowed anterior body region and posteriorly situated amphids. E. fueguensis n. sp. is distinguished from E. acucephalus by its anteriorly located amphideal fovea, fewer cuticular ridges, smaller V-an/tail ratio and presence of males. E. yamani n. sp. is more similar to E. fueguensis n. sp. differing from it by a wider head end, more posteriorly located excretory pore, longer V-an/tail ratio, more numerous cuticular ridges and smaller spermatozoa. E. puccinelliae (Lorenzen, 1966) Andrássy, 1977 is transferred to Paramphidelus puccinelliae (Lorenzen, 1966) n. comb. The generic diagnosis of Etamphidelus is amended, and a key to species is presented.     

High diversity of Lauraceae from the Oligocene of Ningming,South China

Lauraceae is among the largest and floristically most important woody plant families in subtropical and tropical zones. However, the Cenozoic fossil records of Lauraceae are mostly from mid-latitude regions. Here we described eight lauraceous species from the Oligocene of Ningming, Guangxi, South China on the basis of leaf compressions with cuticular structure, providing new evidence for high diversity of Lauraceae in the low latitude region of the northern hemisphere during the late Paleogene. The extant genera to which the Ningming Oligocene fossils are possibly closely related include Cinnamomum, Neolitsea, Litsea, Alseodaphne, Laurus, and Beilschmiedia. All of these extant genera except Laurus still exist in Guangxi today, whereas Laurus is currently distributed in the Mediterranean and adjacent regions. A cladistic analysis based on leaf architectural and leaf cuticular characters for Paleogene Lauraceae species in the world indicated a possible relationship between European and East Asian Paleogene species.     

Ochoterenella esslingeri n. sp. (Nematoda: Onchocercidae: Waltonellinae) from Bokermannohyla luctuosa (Anura: Hylidae) in Minas Gerais,Brazil, with notes on Paraochoterenella Purnomo & Bangs, 1999

The waltonelline Ochoterenella esslingeri n. sp., a filarial parasite of the anuran Bokermannohyla luctuosa in Minas Gerais, Brazil is described. Several characters distinguish this new species from the 15 species presently included in the genus: the cuticular ornamentation of the female that is restricted to the posterior region of the body, the irregular arrangement of the small, rounded bosses, the postoesophageal vulva, the short glandular oesophagus, the size and shape of the microfilariae, the long left spicule and high spicular ratio. Irregularly arranged, tiny, rounded bosses are common in the monotypic genus Paraochoterenella from an Indonesian ranid, which is not well defined but likely valid. In the Neotropical Realm, the type hosts of the species of Ochoterenella are Hylidae (O. esslingeri n. sp.), Leptodactylidae (two species) and the remaining 13 species were described from the giant toad Rhinella marina (Bufonidae).     

Turbellarien der GattungPromesostoma von der nordamerikanischen Pazifikküste

Two new species of the genusPromesostoma, P. infundibulum nov. spec. andP. hymanae nov. spec., are described from the mesopsammal of the San Juan Archipel (Washington, USA). They are closely related toP. dipterostylum Karling from the Californian coast. These three species have a differentiated seminal receptacle with special cuticular structures, which represents a remarkable synapomorphy. The cuticular connection between the stylet and the seminal receptacle was unknown until now in the organization of turbellarians.     

Two new species ofOdilia (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae) from Australian rodents,with comments onO. bainae Beveridge & Durette-Desset, 1992

Odilia tasmaniensis n. sp.,O. praeputialis n. sp. andO. bainae Beveridge & Durette-Desset, 1992 from the small intestine of Australian murids are described and illustrated. The two new species are distinguished from the other eight species in the genus, namelyO. mackerrasae (Mawson, 1961),O. brachybursa (Mawson, 1961),O. emanuelae (Mawson, 1961),O. melomyos (Mawson, 1961),O. polyrhabdote (Mawson, 1961),O. uromyos (Mawson, 1961),O. mawsonae (Durette-Desset, 1969) andO. bainae Beveridge & Durette-Desset, 1992.O. tasmaniensis n. sp. fromRattus lutreolus is characterised by the longitudinal cuticular ridges being continuous, the presence of 18 ridges in cross-section in the middle region of the body, the joined distal ends of the spicules forming a curved bluntly rounded tip, a short genital cone with a single ventral papilla and a pair of laterally curving dorsal raylets and the posterior end of the female tapering sharply.O. praeputialis n. sp. fromZyzomys woodwardi is characterised by continuous longitudinal cuticular ridges, the presence of 22–35 ridges in cross-section in the middle of the body, the sharply pointed joined distal tips of the spicules, a complex genital cone with a flat membraneous proconus, a ventral papilla projecting from an extension of the body wall, a pair of short straight dorsal raylets and the presence of a praepuce on the posterior end of the female.O. bainae is characterised by the longitudinal cuticular ridges being continuous, the presence of 17–22 ridges in cross-section in the middle region of the body, the joined distal ends of the spicules surrounded in an oval transparent cap, a long genital cone with a single ventral papilla and a pair of laterally curving dorsal raylets, and the absence of a praepuce on the posterior end of the female.Rattus lutreolus and the pseudomyine rodentsPseudomys higginsi andMastacomys fuscus are new host records for this species.     

Fossil leaves of Buxus (Buxaceae) from the Upper Pliocene of Yunnan,SW China

A new species, Buxus pliosinica H.S. Huang, T. Su et Z.K. Zhou n. sp. (Buxaceae) is designated based on leaf architecture and cuticular features of five compressed fossil leaves from the Upper Pliocene Sanying Formation of Yunnan, SW China. Leaves of B. pliosinica are elliptic and small, with entire margin, retuse tip, intramarginal vein, and exmedially ramified tertiary veins. The leaves are hypostomatic with anomocytic stomatal apparatuses and giant stomata. Based on comparisons of leaf morphological and cuticular features, B. sempervirens Linnaeus is considered as the nearest living relative of B. pliosinica. Morphologically, these species share similar elliptic shape and size, cuneate base, retuse tip, similar ranges of petiole length, angles of 2° vein to midvein, and distance from the intramarginal vein to the margin. In terms of cuticular features, they are similar in type of stomatal apparatus, maximum length of giant stomata and range of stomatal length, but differ in the presence of indumentum. This discovery represents the first fossil record of Buxus from the SE margin of the Tibetan Plateau, and confirms the existence of Buxus in this region by the late Pliocene. Meanwhile, the newly described fossil species contributes to our understanding of the evolution of extant Buxus.     

The giant and complex genital plug of the asper group of Bothriurus (Scorpiones, Bothriuridae): morphology and comparison with other genital plugs in scorpions

The genital plugs of two species of the asper group of Bothriurus (Scorpiones: Bothriuridae) are described and compared with other genital plugs reported in the family Bothriuridae. In both species, B. asper and Bothriurus sp., the genital plug is cone-shaped and formed by fusion of the basal lobes of the hemispermatophore. Fusion is complete in B. asper and the surface of the plug has many microspines that anchor it to the female genital atrium. In Bothriurus sp., the basal lobes are partially fused, but free on the dorsal side, and the plug has a smooth surface with a dorsal curvature. Both genital plugs completely fill the genital atrium of inseminated females, pressing against the cuticular wall of the atrium. Given the large size and complex shape, the genital plug of the B. asper group is unique, not only among Bothriuridae, but in the order Scorpiones. This new type of genital plug resembles the genital plugs of the scorpion families Urodacidae and Vaejovidae. A comparison of the four major types of genital plugs reported in Bothriurus species and some other bothriurids is provided, as well as a comparison with other genital plugs reported in more distantly related families of scorpions.     

南五味子属（五味子科）植物叶表皮形态特征

在光学显微镜和扫描电镜下,观察了南五味子属（Kadsura Kaempf. ex. Juss.）全属11种,八角属（Illicium Linn.）2种,共108个样品的叶表皮特征。在南五味子属中,叶表皮细胞的形状、叶表皮表面的纹饰、气孔器的形状、气孔极区的形状、表皮毛的有无等性状能用于研究南五味子属种间关系,以及与五味子属（Schisandra Michaux）和八角属之间的关系。在八角目（Illiciales）中发现的一个新分类学性状（叶表皮表面具角质网纹）,支持将南五味子属分为离蕊南五味子亚属（Subg. Cosbaea）和南五味子亚属（Subg. Kadsura）。根据叶表皮形态特征,支持将南五味子亚属分为南五味子组（Sect. Kadsura）和肉蕊组（Sect. Sarcocarpon）,支持R. M. K. Saunders和林祁对某些种的归并处理。根据与五味子属和八角属叶表皮形态特征的比较,认为这3个属的叶表皮形态特征相似,但南五味子属叶表皮形态比五味子属和八角属的叶表皮形态复杂,不支持将五味子科（Schisandraceae）从八角目（Illiciales）中分出而成立五味子目（Schisandrales）的观点。     

Two new species of Chaco Tullgren from the Atlantic coast of Uruguay (Araneae,Mygalomorphae, Nemesiidae)

We describe two new species of the nemesiid spider genus Chaco from Rocha Province, Uruguay. These new species are diagnosed based on genital morphology, male tibial apophysis spination, and burrow entrance. We test cospecificity of one species, Chaco costai,via laboratory mating experiments. The new species are diagnosed and illustrated and habitat characteristics, and capture behavior are described. We conduct a cladistic analysis based on a previously published morphological character matrix that now includes the newly described species.     

A new species of Pseudotorellia florin (Ginkgoales) from the Middle Jurassic of Eastern Mangyshlak (Kazakhstan)

A new species of Pseudotorellia Florin, Pseudotorellia papillata sp. nov., from the Middle Jurassic of Eastern Mangyshlak (Western Kazakhstan, Tonasha Formation) is described. The main distinction of the new species from the other species of this genus is the relief cutinization of periclinal walls of cells of the lower epidermis, especially within stomatal bands, expressed in prominent cuticular ridges and papillae of irregular shape.     

The glandular units of the spermathecae of machilids (microcoryphia) : Ultrastructure and modifications during moulting

The spermathecae of 4 species of Microcoryphia (Lepismachilis targionii, Trigoniophthalmus alternatus, Machilis sp. and Machilinus rupestris) present characteristics related to the primitive phylogenetic position of these apterygote insects. They are paired organs situated in the 8th abdominal segment on each side of the rudimentary genital chamber. Each spermatheca includes 2 different tissues: (a) a simple epithelium surrounding 2 spermathecal capsules and communicating with the genital chamber by short ducts; (b) a complex glandular tissue composed of numerous functional units, each made up of several cell types — a large glandular cell with a subapical reservoir, 2 basal cells, a ductule cell and enveloping cells. One of the basal cells, called the ciliary cell, presents a dendrite-like process containing 2 apical centrioles in alignment. Several ductules of neighbouring units join together before opening in the genital chamber, independently of the ducts of the spermathecal capsules.The spermathecae undergo marked changes during moulting periods. Apolysis is followed by a partial dedifferentiation of the glandular cells, then the formation of new ductule cavities and the growth of a pseudocilium at the apex of the dendrite-like process of each ciliary cell. Afterwards, cuticular material is laid down around the pseudocilia, forming the intima of the new ductules, which results from the secretions of at least the ciliary and ductule cells. The pseudocilia degenerate before ecdysis. A comparison is made with the organogenesis of analogous organs described in different insect species.     

Zur Systematik und Ökologie (Lebenszyklen,Populationsdynamik) der Turbellarien-GattungParomalostomum

This paper contributes to the systematics, the ecology and the biology of sexual reproduction of psammobiontic macrostomid Turbellaria from a sandy beach on the eastern shore of the island Sylt. The anatomy of a new species,Paromalostomum proceracauda, is described. The cuticular structures of the genital apparatus ofParomalostomum fusculum Ax,P. dubium (de Beauchamp) andHaplopharynx rostratus Meixner are analyzed.P. fusculum is one of the most frequent turbellarians living in the sandy flats (Sandwatt) in front of the Litoralstation of the Biologische Anstalt Helgoland in List. This species shows obvious seasonal differences in it's vertical distribution. In summer,P. fusculum lives in the upper 4 cm of the sand while in winter, the animals move to the deeper strata of the sediment, were they are more protected from low temperatures.P. fusculum has an annual life-cycle. The period of reproduction lasts from May to July. The new generation hibernates in the state of male maturity and attains female maturity in spring. After the period of egg-shedding, large animals individuals are seldom found; it is supposed that they die after spawning. The mechanism of egg-shedding and the structure of the egg are described. The egg-shells ofP. fusculum are distinguished from those ofP. dubium by the presence of opercula.     

Taxonomic and Molecular Identification of Bakernema,Criconema, Hemicriconemoides,Ogma and Xenocriconemella Species (Nematoda: Criconematidae)

Populations of Bakernema inaequale, C. petasum, C. sphagni, C. mutabile, Ogma octangulare, Xenocriconemella macrodora and Hemicriconemoides chitwoodi were identified and re-described from different geographical areas in the continental United States and molecularly characterized. Two new species of spine nematodes Criconema arkaense n. sp. from Washington County and Lee County, Arkansas and Criconema warrenense n. sp from Warren, Bradley County, Arkansas are also described and named. Criconema arkaense is characterize by having a conspicuous lip region offset from the body with two annuli, short rounded tail with a thin cuticular sheath and subterminal anus. Criconema warrenense n. sp. has two lip region annuli about the same width, first annulus directed posteriorly, separated by a narrow neck annulus and a short conoid tail, unilobed non-folded annulus. The molecular characterization of Criconema arkaense and Criconema warrenense using ITS1 rDNA gene sequence and the molecular phylogenetic relationships of these new species along with the known spines nematodes are provided.     

Morphology and molecular characterization of Polystoma goeldii n. sp. (Monogenea,Polystomatidae) parasite from the urinary bladder of Physalaemus ephippifer (Steindachner) (Anura,Leptodactylidae)

Polystomatid flatworms of amphibians are represented in the Neotropical realm by species of Mesopolystoma, Nanopolystoma, Parapseudopolystoma, Polystoma, Riojatrema and Wetapolystoma but only species of Polystoma are known from Brazil, namely Polystoma cuvieri, P. knoffi, P. lopezromani and P. travassosi. During a survey of monogeneans infecting amphibians in the north-eastern region of Pará State, the Cayenne Caecilian Typhlonectes compressicauda was found to be infected with Nanopolystoma tinsleyi and the Veined Tree Frog Trachycephalus typhonius was found to harbor Polystoma lopezromani. A yet unknown species of Polystoma was also encountered in the urinary bladder of the Steindachner's Dwarf Frog, Physalaemus ephippifer. This new species, which is the second species reported from Physalaemus spp., is described herein as Polystoma goeldii n. sp. and its life cycle is also illustrated. The new species can be distinguished from Polystoma spp. from other neotropical realm by a combination of characteristics, including hamuli morphology, outer/inner hamuli length ratio, haptor/total body length ratio, genital bulb/total body length ratio, genital spine number and COI molecular characters.     

New Species of Bunonematoidea (Rhabditida) from Georgia and Tennessee

Three new species of Bunonematidae (Bunonema husseyi, Rhodolaimus dimorphus, R. stephaniae) and one of Plerygorhabditidae (Pterygorhabditis panoplus) are described from Georgia and Tennessee. The juvenile external morphology of P. panoplus is described and illustrated. A lectotype of P. pakistanensis is designated and the two species compared, and the dissimilar nature of cuticular tubercles in Bunonema and Rhodolaimus is discussed.     

Viracochiella orientalis, a new species of oribatid mites (Acariformes, Oribatida) of the family Ceratozetidae from Sakhalin

A new species, Viracochiella orientalis sp. n., from the southern part of Sakhalin is described. The species differs in the shape of cuspises with strong medial teeth and in the absence of translamellae. The smooth notogaster, shorter interlamellar and genital setae, and some other characters distinguish this species from V. tuberculata. This species differs from V. sergienkoae in the number of genital setae (V. sergienkoae has five pairs), shorter interlamellar setae, smooth trichobothria, fine pore areas without borders of sclerotization, and thin hysterosomal setae.     

Microcotyle omanae n. sp. (Monogenea: Microcotylidae), a parasite of Cheimerius nufar (Valenciennes) (Sparidae) from the Arabian Sea

Microcotyle omanae n. sp. (Monogenea: Microcotylidae) is described from the gills of Cheimerius nufar (Valenciennes) (Sparidae) from the Arabian Sea. The new species closely resembles Microcotyle arripis Sandars, 1945, M. helotes Sandars, 1944, M. caudata Goto, 1984 and M. sebastis Goto, 1984, which have also been found in the Indo-Pacific. Microcotyle omanae n. sp. differs from M. arripis, M. helotes and M. caudata by its greater number of testes, from M. arripis, M. helotes by its greater length of the genital atrium, length/width ratio of the genital atrium and length of the eggs, and from M. helotes also in greater width of the clamps, from M. caudata and M. sebastis in its greater number of clamps and additionally from M. sebastis by its smaller genital atrial spines and clamps and by the ratio between length and width of the genital atrium. Moreover, the mature specimens of the new species have greater average body length than all above mentioned species. Correlations between 15 morphometric characters and body length are analysed in the new species, and their significance for species differentiation is discussed.     

Foliar cuticle of Ruflorinia orlandoi nov. sp. (Pteridospermophyta) from the Lower Cretaceous of Patagonia

Foliar cuticle of a new species of Ruflorinia, R. orlandoi Carrizo et Del Fueyo, from the Lower Cretaceous Springhill Formation in Santa Cruz province, Argentina, is herein described with light and electronic (scanning and transmission) microscopy. The fronds of R. orlandoi nov. sp. are bipinnate and imparipinnate with a conspicuous main rachis bearing alternate to sub-opposite pinnae. Cuticular striations and hairs are present in both epidermises whereas stomata are only on the abaxial cuticle. Stomata have several papillate subsidiary cells and the guard cells are sunken. Ultrastructurally the adaxial and abaxial cuticles are composed of three and two cuticular layers, respectively. The cuticular characters here described are interpreted as a response to a possible adaptation to a wet climate as well as to the fluctuating environment produced by the gradual transition from fluvial to an estuarine and marine setting that characterizes the Springhill Formation. The discovery of this new species allows expanding the previous knowledge of the paleofloristic composition of the Springhill Formation with the addition of the first pteridospermous megafossil described for this formation. Moreover, the record of Ruflorinia orlandoi nov. sp. in the Springhill Formation highlights the importance of the Caytoniales during the Cretaceous in Patagonia.     

Four new species of the genus Perepsilonema Lorenzen, 1973 (Nematoda,Epsilonematidae) from the bay of Calvi (Corsica,Mediterranean)

Four new species of the genus Perepsilonema are described. They are characterized by general habitus, cuticular ornamentation, shape and sexual dimorphism of the amphideal fovea, shape and number of ventral copulatory spines and the shape of the spicules. The female genital system comprises two reflexed ovaries, a left and a right spermatheca and a median uterine chamber filled with sperm cells. The distal part of the uteri have secretory wall cells which contain in some specimen spherical refractive bodies.     

Epsilonematidae (Nematoda) from a cold-water coral environment in the Porcupine Seabight, with a discussion on the status of the genus Metaglochinema Gourbault & Decraemer, 1986

Thirteen species of nematodes from the family Epsilonematidae Steiner, 1927 were found to be associated with a cold-water coral reef in the Porcupine Seabight. Among them, four species were already known from various locations such as Chile and Papua New Guinea. Three new species are described here: Glochinema trispinatumsp. n. is recognized by three dorsal thorns in the pharyngeal region. This species was also recovered from the Antarctic shelf. Epsilonema multispiralumsp. n. is characterised by a multispiral amphid consisting of 3.25 coils. Bathyepsilonema lopheliaesp. n. is characterised by its body length, the position and relative width of the amphids and the nature of the cuticular ornamentation. Within the subfamily Glochinematinae Lorenzen, 1974, the number and arrangement of ambulatory setae is considered not to be of diagnostic importance. The former species Metaglochinema strigosumGourbault & Decraemer, 1993 is therefore classified under the genus GlochinemaLorenzen, 1974. The original genus diagnosis of Metaglochinema, now a monotypic genus, is adjusted. The geographic distribution of epsilonematid nematodes is briefly discussed.