Thermosphaeroma subequalum,n. gen., n. sp. (crustacea: Isopoda) from Big Bend National Park,Texas

A new species of the Sphaeromatidae (Thermosphaeroma subequalum) is described from thermal waters (32° –35dgC) in Big Bend National Park, Brewster Co., Texas. A new genus, Thermosphaeroma, is proposed to include the Texas species and other sphaeromatids from hot springs in the American Southwest and Mexico: Exosphaeroma dugesi (Dolffus, 1893) from Aguascalientes, Mexico, and E. thermophilum (Richardson, 1897) from Socorro, New Mexico.Supported by National Park Service Contract PX 7000 3 0502, awarded to Owen T. Lind, Baylor University.     

Spathacanthus magdalenae sp. nov. (Acanthaceae), a riparian forest species from Veracruz,Mexico

Spathacanthus magdalenae Cast.‐Campos (Acanthaceae) is described and illustrated as a new riparian forest species from central Veracruz and from the eastern slopes of the volcano Cofre de Perote, Mexico. The new species is similar to Spathacanthus parviflorus, but differs in wider leaves and longer corolla tube. A key to all four species of Spathacanthus is provided.     

Coltriciella sonorensis sp. nov. (Basidiomycota, Hymenochaetales) from Mexico: evidence from morphology and DNA sequence data.

Coltriciella sonorensis is described here as a new species from Mexico. It is characterized by pleuropodal, flabelliform basidiomes, rounded to elongated or daedaloid pores, a well-developed sub-hymenium, and oblong to cylindrical basidiospores, slightly attenuated towards the apex. The specimen was collected on soil in an open Quercus stand in mixed Quercus–tropical deciduous forest in the Sierra de álamos–Río Cuchujaqui Biosphere Reserve, Sonora, Mexico. From a phylogenetic perspective, the species appears to be related to C. oblectabilis, also occurring in Mexico.     

Review of the Central American Species of the Subgenus Quedionuchus of the Genus Quedius (Col. Staphylinidae)

All species of the subgenus Quedionuchus Shp. of the genus Quedius Steph. (Staphylinidae), known to occur at present in Central America are treated. A key is given. Seven species are described as new: Q. ollin (Mexico), tecpatl (Mexico), cipactli (Guatemala), xochitl (Mexico), ehecatl (Mexico), calli (Mexico) and coatl (Mexico). Lectotypes are designated for the following 4 species: nigerrimus (Shp.), angustus (Shp.), femoralis (Shp.) and spinipes (Shp.). The species are described and illustrated, and the known data on their bionomics and geographical distribution are given.     

Branchinecta oterosanvicentei n. sp. (Branchiopoda: Anostraca), a new fairy shrimp from the Chihuahuan desert, with a proposal for the conservation of the Branchinectidae of Mexico

Branchinecta oterosanvicentei, new species, a fairy shrimp endemic to the south of Coahuila, Mexico is described and figured. Differential features between the new species and the related B. lindahli are discussed on the basis of a SEM micrographs. The main diagnostic characters of Branchinecta oterosanvicentei are: (1) a pulvinus covered by scales localized on the middle of the median side of the proximal article of antenna, and (2) a network of prominent cortical crests on the cyst surface. Of seven Branchinecta species occurring in Mexico, four (B. belki, B. mexicana, B. oterosanvicentei, and B. sandiegonensis) have a restricted geographic range. Because, in addition, extreme fluctuations in the number of mature individuals per population occur, the survival of all of these species is threatened, and measures should be taken to protect them. Branchinecta mackini has a wide distribution in North America, but even this form is rare in Mexico.     

A New Acanthocyclops Kiefer, 1927 (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) from Central Mexico with Comments on the Distributionof the Genus in Middle America

A new species of Acanthocyclops Kiefer is described from central Mexico. It differs from its congeners by a combination of characters including mainly: 11–13 antennular segments, a spine formula of 3444 and modified setae on legs 2–4. The presence of a compound distal antennular segment is aberrant within the Cyclopoida. The new species seems to be related to Nearctic forms of the vernalis –robustus clade. Ancestors of this lineage probably reached central Mexico as a result of glaciation events and the new species is a remain of stranded postglacial populations; some of these forms were succesful in colonizing tropical lands. A key for the identification of the species of Acanthocyclops recorded in Mexico is included. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Clestobothrium gibsoni</Emphasis> n. sp. (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidae) from the bullseye grenadier <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bathygadus macrops</Emphasis> Goode &; Bean (Macrouridae) in the Gulf of Mexico

Clestobothrium gibsoni n. sp. is described from the intestine of the bullseye grenadier Bathygadus macrops (Macrouridae) collected in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. The new species can be distinguished from both C. crassiceps (Rudolphi, 1819), the type-species of the genus, and C. neglectum (Lönnberg, 1893), the second species in the genus, by its unique ovary, which is transversely elongate and tapered on both ends rather than being U-or H-shaped, and by having more testes (60-65 vs 40-50 and 35-45 per proglottid). The new species is also compared to Bothriocephalus acheilognathi Yamaguti, 1934 and B. kivuensis Baer & Fain, 1954, two species with similar scoleces which have previously been assigned to Clestobothrium . The generic diagnosis of Clestobothrium is amended to include species with either anoperculate or operculate eggs. This is the first report of an adult tapeworm from a species of Bathygadus , and the first report of a species of Clestobothrium Lühe, 1899 (Bothriocephalidae) from the Gulf of Mexico.     

THE GENUS PLATOMA (GIGARTINALES,RHODOPHYTA) WITH A DESCRIPTION OF P. ABBOTTIANA SP. NOV.1

Platoma abbottiana (Gymnophlaeaceae; Gigartinales), a new species of benthic red algae, is described from Isla Mejía and is the second member of this genus reported from the Gulf of California, Mexico. Vegetative anatomy and reproductive details of the carpogonial and auxiliary cell branches of the new species are described and illustrated. Geographical distributions of the seven previously described Platoma species are given. Their distinguishing morphological characteristics are compared to those of the new species. The correct time and place of valid publication of the generic name, Platoma, and some of its binomials are discussed.     

Development of microsatellite markers for the white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa C.F. Gaertn., Combretaceae)

We developed nine new microsatellite markers for the white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa C.F. Gaertn.), a mangrove species widely distributed in the Western Hemisphere. The loci were developed from a sample collected in Baja California Sur, Mexico, and were screened for polymorphism in 108 individuals from the Pacific Coast of Mexico and Costa Rica. The level of polymorphism was relatively low, from two to four alleles. These are the first set of polymorphic markers described for L. racemosa and should be of value in studying regional genetic differentiation among natural populations of this species.     

Paracapillaria epinepheli n. sp. (Nematoda: Capillariidae) from the red grouper Epinephelus morio (Pisces) from Mexico

A new nematode species, Paracapillaria epinepheli, is described from the stomach of the marine fish Epinephelus morio (Valenciennes), the red grouper, (Serranidae, Perciformes) from coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico in Yucatan, southeastern Mexico. It is characterised mainly by its small body (body length of male and female 2.73–3.22 mm and 5.94–6.35 mm, respectively), number (31–36) and structure of the stichocytes, length of the spicule (0.180–0.195 mm), structure of the male caudal bursa (considerably reduced), structure and size of the eggs (size 0.057–0.063 × 0.027–0.030 mm), and by their site within the host. It is the second Paracapillaria species known to occur in the marine and estuarine fishes of the Gulf of Mexico.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agave manantlanicola</Emphasis> (Agavaceae), a new species from western Mexico

Agave manantlanicola, a new endemic species from the high altitude mountains of the Sierra de Manantlán in western Mexico, is described and illustrated. The species belongs to the subgenus Littaea and Gentry’s Amolae group. The new species is compared to other morphologically similar species from western Mexico, including Agave attenuata subsp. attenuata, A. attenuata subsp. dentata, A. bakeri, A. chazaroi, and A. vazquezgarciae. Information about its distribution, habitat, and conservation status is included.     

Revision of the amphiamerican Neotetraonchus Bravo-Hollis, 1968 (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae), with a description of N. vegrandis n. sp. from the gill lamellae of the blue sea catfish Ariopsis guatemalensis (Siluriformes: Ariidae) off the Pacific Coast of Mexico

Neotetraonchus Bravo-Hollis, 1968 is revised and reassigned to the Dactylogyridae Bychowsky, 1933 based on examinations of specimens representing four species from the gill lamellae of sea catfishes (Ariidae). The monotypic Neotetraonchidae Bravo-Hollis, 1968 is placed in synonymy with the Dactylogyridae. Neotetraonchus bychowskyi Bravo-Hollis, 1968 (type-species), is redescribed from the tete sea catfish Ariopsis seemanni (Günther) (type-host) in the eastern Pacific Ocean off Panama (new geographical record). Neotetraonchus vegrandis n. sp. is described from the blue sea catfish A. guatemalensis (Günther) off the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Neotetraonchus bravohollisae Paperna, 1977 is redescribed from the hardhead sea catfish A. felis (L.) in the Gulf of Mexico off the Yucatan Peninsula. Neotetraonchus felis (Hargis, 1955) Paperna, 1977 is redescribed from A. felis in the Gulf of Mexico off Mississippi and the Yucatan Peninsula (new geographical record). Morphological similarities between species of Neotetraonchus suggest the likely presence of geminate species pairs flanking the Isthmus of Panama.

---

A new species of Leptodiaptomus (Copepoda, Diaptomidae) from Northwestern Mexico with comments on the distribution of the genus

A new species of the freshwater planktonic copepod genus Leptodiaptomus is described for a small pond in Northwestern Mexico. Leptodiaptomus dodsoni n. sp. can be easily distinguished mainly by the presence of an unusually large sinusoid spine on male antennular segment 13, and by the features of the fifth legs of both sexes. This genus is known to be distributed mainly in North America with 19 recognized species. Of these, six ocur in Mexico, and the new species seems to be closely related to most of them. It is probable that this group of species (including the new one) represents the southwards radiation of the genus from North America. Compared to the Caribbean and South American, the North American influence seems to be the most relevant for diaptomid copepods in Mexico. At least two Mexican species of Leptodiaptomus, including L.dodsoni, are restricted in distributional range to high-altitude temporal ponds, and both could be considered endemics.      

CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN THE LEGUMINOSAE. III. SPECIES OF THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES AND MEXICO

Turner, B. L., and Olin S. Fearing. (U. Texas, Austin.) Chromosome numbers in the Leguminosae. III. Species of the Southwestern United States and Mexico. Amer. Jour. Bot. 47(7) : 603–608. Illus. 1960.—Chromosome counts for 43 species of the Leguminosae from the southwestern United States and Mexico have been reported. These include first reports for 42 taxa of which 16 are for the subfamily Mimosoideae. Olneya tesota (2n = 18) is the only new generic count listed. Chromosome reports of particular significance include a single polyploid count for a North American species of Acacia, as well as diploid and tetraploid counts for closely related taxa in this genus. Four species of the genus Schrankia were found to be diploid with In = 26, indicating a base of x = 13 instead of the x = 8 reported by some previous workers. Leucaena pulverulenta was found to have a diploid count of 2n = 56 indicating a base of x = 14.     

Taxonomy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Koeberlinia</Emphasis> (Koeberliniaceae)

Koeberlinia has a natural amphitropical distribution that includes the deserts of central Bolivia, northern Mexico, and the southwestern United States. Despite the long recognition of only one species, K. spinosa, field, herbarium, and SEM studies support the recognition of two species. Koeberlinia spinosa of northern Mexico and adjacent United States is recognized to consist of three varieties: K. spinosa var. spinosa of northeastern Mexico and the adjacent United States, K. spinosa var. tenuispina of the Sonoran Desert of southwestern Arizona, adjacent California, and northwestern Mexico, and K. spinosa var. wivaggii from south central Texas and northern Mexico to Arizona, which is described as new. Koeberlina holacantha, endemic to the deserts of Bolivia, is proposed as new.