The genus Nanopterodectes Mironov, 2009 (Acari, Proctophyllodidae), with descriptions of three new species from antbirds (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) in Brazil

Three new species of the recently discovered, and hitherto monotypic, feather mite genus Nanopterodectes Mironov, 2009 are described: N. acutirostris n. sp. from Stymphalornis acutirostris Bornschein, Reinert & Teixeira, N. mentalis n. sp. from Dysithamnus mentalis (Temminck), and N. leucopterus n. sp. from Pyriglena leucoptera (Vieillot). This feather mite genus is currently restricted to passerine birds of the Neotropical family Thamnophilidae in Brazil. A key to the known species of Nanopterodectes is presented for both sexes.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trouessartia</Emphasis> Canestrini, 1899 (Astigmata: Trouessartiidae) from passeriform birds in Brazil

Two new feather mite species of the genus Trouessartia Canestrini, 1899 (Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae) are described from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in Brazil: T. calcealgiana n. sp. from Philydor atricapillus (Wied) (Furnariidae), and T. gigaphallus n. sp. from Tyrannus melancholicus Vieillot (Tyrannidae). Both species have unique features, such as the large hook-like seta sR on trochanters III in T. calcealgiana, and the large male genitalia in T. gigaphallus, which are at least twice as long as normally found in most species of Trouessartia.     

Descriptions of two new species of feather mites (Acarina: Psoroptidia: Pteronyssidae) from Ivory Coast

Two new feather mite species of the family Pteronyssidae Oudemans, 1941 collected from birds captured in Ivory Coast are described: Pteronyssoides cyanomitrae n. sp. from Cyanomitra obscura (Jardine) (Passeriformes: Nectariniidae) and Conomerus pygmaeus n. sp. from Hylia prasina (Cassin) (Passeriformes: Macrosphenidae). Pteronyssoides cyanomitrae n. sp. belongs to the nectariniae species group and differs from the closest species, P. garioui Gaud & Mouchet, 1959, in having, in males, the adanal shield present and setae f longer than setae d on the tarsus III; females of this species have the hysteronotal shield with two small median incisions on the anterior margin barely extending beyond the level of setae e2. Conomerus pygmaeus n. sp. is the first species of this genus found on a passerine host, and seems to be more similar to C. sclerosternus Gaud, 1990. This new species has the following distinctive characters: in females, the opisthosoma has small lobe-like extensions and the central sclerite is fused posteriorly with the lateral opisthosomal sclerites; in males, coxal fields I–IV lack large sclerotised areas.     

New Record of Feather Mite,Neopteronyssus bilineatus Mironov, 2003 (Arachnida: Pteronyssidae), from a Grey-Capped Pygmy Woodpecker,Yungipicus canicapillus in Republic of Korea

This study intended to record a species of feather mite, Neopteronyssus bilineatus Mironov, 2003, (Arachnida: Pteronyssidae), from a grey-capped pygmy woodpecker, Yungipicus canicapillus (Blyth, 1845), in the Republic of Korea. Mite samples were collected from the flight feathers of a woodpecker, preserved directly in 95% ethyl alcohol, and then observed by a light microscope after specimen preparation. Morphology of Neopteronyssus bilineatus is distinguished from other pici group species by opisthosoma part with 2 longitudinal bends, tarsal seta rIII 3 times longer than tarsus III in males, and 2 elongated hysteronotal plates extending beyond the level of setae e2 in females. In the present study, a species of feather mite, N. bilineatus, was newly recorded from Y. canicapillus in Korean fauna.     

Allocaeculus sandbergensis sp. n. (Acari: Caeculidae), a new prostigmatid mite from Slovakia

In January and in May 2012 three individuals (two adults and one nymph) from the genus Allocaeculus (family Caeculidae) were found in the area of the National nature reserve Devínska Kobyla near Sandberg (SW Slovakia). This mite family has not been recorded in Slovakia yet. Data about its nearest occurrence come from the Czech Republic and Austria. Based on the specimens, Allocaeculus sandbergensis sp. n. is described.     

Descriptions of Chitwoodius brasiliensis n.sp., Chitwoodius rusticulus n.sp., and Vancterlindia venata n.sp. (Dorylaimida: Tylencholaimidae: Vanderlindiinae)

Chitwoodius brasiliensis n.sp. is described from soil around plant roots in Vicosa, MG State, Brazil. It has a body 1.9 mm (1.6-2.5) long, odontostyle and odontophore 33 μm (31-37) and 34 μm (31-36) long, respectively, and males with spicules 59-61 μm long. Chitwoodius rusticulus n.sp. from Colombian rain forest differs from other species of the genus in having a weakly muscular anterior part of the oesophagus, a pore-like vulva, and an unsclerotized vagina. Vanderlindia venata n.sp. from lucerne soil in South Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, differs from the type and only other known species of its genus in having a smaller and less slender body (L = 3.34 mm [3.15-3.71], a = 50 [46-53]), odontostyle 2.3-2.5 times lip region width long, and stylet guiding ring located at 1.2-1.4 times lip region width from anterior end.     

Discocriconemella repleta n.sp., and the male of Criconemoides inusitatus Hoffmann, 1974 (Criconematidae: Nematoda)

Discocriconemella repleta n.sp. from Brazil is described. The male of Criconemoides inusitatus Hoffmann, 1974, is described here for the first time.     

Thalassomermis megamphis n. gen., n. sp. (Mermithidae: Nemata) from the Bathyal South Atlantic Ocean

Thalassomermis megamphis n. gen., n. sp. (Mermithidae: Nemata) was extracted from sediment collected off the coast of Brazil at a depth of approximately 1,000 m. Although the food of this new nematode is unknown, the reduction of the stoma and esophagus and presence of a trophosome indicate that it is parasitic in its juvenile stages. Thalassomermis megaraphis n. gen., n. sp. is assigned to Mermithidae because of its similarity to that family in the appearance of the cephalic sensory receptors, the long and tubular vagina, and copulatory muscles of the male extending posteriorly throughout most of the length of the tail. Thalassomermis megamphis n. gen., n. sp. differs from all other members of Mermithidae by the large, lenticular, intracuticular amphidial fovea with coiled, emergent terminal filaments as well as the small amphidial aperture situated over the center of the fovea.     

Truyolsodontos estauni n. gen., n. sp., Truyolsodontidae,a new family of lamniform sharks from the Cenomanian of northern Spain

Truyolsodontos estauni n. gen., n. sp. is described based on fossil teeth from the middle and upper Cenomanian of northern Spain. The species Protoscyliorhinus magnusLandemaine, 1991 is withdrawn from the genus Protoscyliorhinus and placed in this new one. For the new genus, the new family Truyolsodontidae is proposed.     

New mites Terraphagus antipodus gen. n., sp. n. and Neohyadesia minor sp. n. (Acarina: Astigmata: Algophagidae) from islands of the Southern Ocean

Mites are a diverse and important component in the soils of the Southern Ocean islands, but for many groups, their taxonomy and biogeography is little studied. This paper reports the Algophagidae, a poorly known family, from the New Zealand region for the first time. The study used soil samples from seabird burrows, brackish algal wrack samples and a museum collection to recover specimens. Terraphagus antipodus gen. n., sp. n. is described from grey petrel Procellaria cinerea burrow soil on the Antipodes Islands, New Zealand. The axillary organ is confined to the dorsum; the epigynal apodeme ends are fused with the ends of coxal apodeme II; seta 2a and ω2 are absent, and the famulus is bilobed. Males have the sternum fused to coxal apodemes II; the tarsal setae of legs I, III and IV of the male are modified for mate guarding. The short stout legs I and II end in huge spines in females as e, d, q, s, wa and hT. From brackish algal wrack, Lake Forsyth/Wairewa, Canterbury, New Zealand, another algophagid Neohyadesia minor sp. n. is described and illustrated. The new species is the smallest known algophagid. A neohyadesid collected in 1961 is newly reported here from Eudyptes sp. penguin rookery mud from North Head, Macquarie Island. These records further extend the known microhabitats of the family to the allochthonous marine seabird nutrient flow into islands in the New Zealand region and make Neohyadesia Hughes and Goodman, 1969 present in all Southern Ocean provinces.     

Tabanidae (Diptera) of Amaz?nia XXI. Descriptions of Elephantotus gen. n. and E. tracuateuensis sp. n. (Diachlorini) from the Brazilian coast

Elephantotus, a new genus of Tabanidae from the Amazon coast, Brazil, is described based on a new species E. tracuateuensis. Five females were collected in Pará State, and a male in Maranhão State. Arguments are presented for separating the new genus from Dasybasis, as well as the possibility of its occurrence being related to the nesting sites of coastal birds. The new species is characterized by its large size (x = 2.15 cm, n = 5 females), glabrous eyes, reddish-brown tegument, light brown frontal callus not touching the edges of the eyes, extending up to the vertex that has traces of ocelli, basal plate of the antennal flagellum with obtuse angle, without a tooth or spine, wings hyaline, with brown basal cells, without appendix in the fork of vein R₄₊₅, and genital furca wide with extended flaps.     

Protoresinacarus brevipedis gen. n., sp. n. from Early Cretaceous Burmese amber: the first fossil record of mites of the Family Resinacaridae (Acari: Heterostigmata: Pyemotoidea)

A new genus and species of mites, Protoresinacarus brevipedis gen. n., sp. n. (Acari: Heterostigmata: Pyemotoidea), is described from Early Cretaceous Burmese amber. This represents the first fossil record of a member of the family Resinacaridae. It is represented by 21 phoretic females adjacent to an adult mantidfly (Neuroptera: Mantispidae). This is the first record of phoresy of pyemotid mites on members of the insect order Neuroptera. The fossil mites differ from extant members of the family in possessing distinctly shorter legs I, which do not reach beyond the apex of the gnathosoma, and by the long setae v ₁, v ₂ and c ₂.     

Leinendera achaeta sp. n., a new species of robber fly from Brazil (Diptera,Asilidae, Asilinae)

The third species of the Neotropical genus Leinendera Carrera, 1945, Leinendera achaeta sp. n., is described from Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The habitus, wing and male terminalia are described and illustrated, and a key to the three Brazilian species is provided.     

A new canestriniid mite, Haitlingeria longilobata n. g., n. sp. (Acari: Astigmata: Canestriniidae), parasitising Serrognathus platymelus castauicolor Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) from South Korea

Haitlingeria longilobata n. g., n. sp. (Acari: Astigmata: Canestriniidae) is described from Serrognathus platymelus castauicolor Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) from South Korea. Diagnostic features include: the presence of two long lobes on the male opisthosoma; the idiosoma length is similar to the idiosoma width; the hysterosoma is ornamented by distinct reticulate pattern; a suture is present separating the propodosoma from the hysterosoma; the adanal suckers are well developed on the male; there are four pairs of ultralong setae; and solenidion φ on tibia I is very long.     

Achilaophonte maxima gen.n., spec.n., a new taxon of the Laophontidae (Copepoda,harpacticoida) from the high Antartic (Weddell Sea)

Male and female of a new genus and species of the family Laophontidae, Archilaophonte maxima, are described. The specimen was found in the high Antartic (Weddell Sea) and apprears to be the most primitive genus up to now within the superfamily Laophontoidea as defined by Huys (1990). Based on its setation of legs and mouth parts, however, it can be placed unequivocally into the family Laophontidae. Archilaophonte maxima gen. n. shows close affinities to the laophontid genus Esola Edwards 1891. Both genera form a monophyletic group which is interpreted here as the first and most primitive offshot in the evolution of the Laophontidae. The synapomorphies of the former lineage are the shape of the protopodite of the P1 and shape and setation of the female P5.     

Pterotylenchus cecidogenus n. gen., n. sp., a New Stem-gall Nematode Parasitizing Desmodium ovalifolium in Colombia

Pterotylenchus cecidogenus n. gen., n. sp. from stem-galls of Desmodium ovalifolium Wall. in Colombia is described and illustrated. The new genus belongs to Anguinidae and is related to Orrina Brzeski, 1980 but is unique in having large vulval flaps. P. cecidogenus has females with body 0.59-0.8 mm long, stylet 9-11 μm long, no median oesophageal bulb, a crustaformeria of 32-36 cells, a short post-vulval uterine sac, and a conical pointed tail.     

A new troglomorphic species of Harmonicon (Araneae,Mygalomorphae, Dipluridae) from Pará, Brazil,with notes on the genus

A new species of Harmonicon F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896 (Araneae, Dipluridae) is described, from a medium-sized lateritic cave in Parauapebas, Pará, Brazil. The male holotype and only specimen known of H. cerberus sp. n. was found near the entrance of Pequiá cave. This taxon is the fourth species described and the southernmost record for the genus. The new species displays some troglomorphic characteristics, such as reduction and merging of the posterior median and both pairs of lateral eyes and pale yellow to light brown coloration. Both characters are diagnostic when compared to the normal separated eyes and reddish to dark brown of other Harmonicon species. Other diagnostic characteristics are isolated, long, rigid setae distal to the lyra and the shape of the copulatory bulb. This is the second troglomorphic mygalomorph species from Brazil and the first from the Amazonian region.     

Change in rank of Megaperidae (Trematoda) to Megaperinae within the Apocreadiidae and description of Haintestinum amplum n. g., n. sp.

Haintestinum amplum n. g., n. sp. is described from the scrawled cowfish, Acanthostracion quadricornis, collected in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico off Florida, USA. The new species is relatively large and shares characters of the Apocreadiidae and Megaperidae but conforms to the diagnosis of neither. It belongs in a new genus possessing a pharynx with lobed anterior margin and intestine terminating in paired ani, like in megaperids, and, when compared with apocreadiids, it shares important anatomical features, including an I-shaped excretory vesicle, canicular seminal vesicle, eye-spot remnants, and pretesticular uterus and lacks a cirrus and cirrus sac. The H-shaped intestine and large funnel-shaped oral sucker without a U-shaped sphincter encircling half the anterior aperture are the most notable diagnostic characters of the new monotypic genus. Additionally, the phylogenetic position of the Megaperidae is investigated for the first time, using analysis of partial 28S rDNA gene sequences from H. amplum, two species in the Megapera, Thysanopharynx elongatus, and previously published 28S sequences of species from members of the Apocreadiata, Haploporoidae, Lepocreadiata, and Opisthorchiata. The resulting analysis demonstrated a close relationship among the new genus and the three species of megaperids, and the megaperids were most closely allied with Schistorchis zancli of the apocreadiids. Moreover, we now consider Megaperidae as the subfamily Megaperinae within the Apocreadiidae.     

A new feather mite species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picalgoides</Emphasis> Černý, 1974 (Astigmata: Psoroptoididae) from a passerine host in Costa Rica

A new feather mite species, Picalgoides giganteus n. sp. (Psoroptoididae: Pandalurinae), is described from the tawny-throated leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus Sclater (Passeriformes: Furnariidae) in Costa Rica. Among the 10 species of Picalgoides Černy, 1974, including the new one, this is the third recorded from a passerine host; the remaining seven nominal species are associated with hosts of the order Piciformes. Brief data on the host-parasite associations of Picalgoides spp. are provided. Megninia megalixus Trouessart, 1885 from the short-tailed green magpie Cissa thalassina (Temminck) is transferred to Picalgoides as P. megalixus (Trouessart, 1885) n. comb.     

Morphology and geographical variation of Pseudokuhnia minor n.g., n.comb. (Monogenea: Polyopisthocotylea)

A new genus, Pseudokuhnia, is established for Kuhnia minor, family Mazocraeidae. It differs from Kuhnia in the presence of two dorso-lateral vaginae, supported by surface ridges; differently shaped large genital hooks, large hamuli and ovary; an opisthaptor which is ventral to and well separated from the body proper; and a rudimentary antero-supplementarium of the clamps. The Atlantic population of P. minor differs from the Pacific population mainly in the larger size of the hamuli and the smaller size of the large and small genital hooks.