Les espèces atlantiques du genre Eumunida Smith, 1883 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Chirostylidae)

Specimens of the genus Eumunida have been studied from various localities in the Atlantic Ocean. Comparisons of specimens from northwest and southwest Africa with material of E. picta from the western Atlantic Ocean has revealed two new species: E. bella nov. and E. squamifera sp. nov.

E. squamifera from the coast of Namibia, South West Africa, is distinguished from the two other atlantic species by a scaley striation of the carapace.

The northwest African E. bella and the western Atlantic E. picta, type of the genus, are closely related species, but differ from each other by the number and size of carapace marginal spines, shape of the anterior margin of the third thoracic sternum, and the ridges on the second abdominal segment. Their coloration is also different.

One specimen from the Tasman Sea identified by Gordon in 1930 as E. picta represents a further new taxon, E. australis sp. nov. It is readily distinguished from the three Atlantic species by the number of carapace anterio-lateral spines and the long acute projections of the third thoracic sternum.

All these species belong to the group A, as defined by Gordon (1930).     

Calanoides natalis Brady, 1914 (Copepoda: Calanoida: Calanidae): identity and distribution in relation to coastal oceanography of the eastern Atlantic and western Indian Oceans

Until recently, Calanoides carinatus s.l. was assumed to be very widespread in the upwelling systems of the Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific Oceans. Molecular data, reported here, show that Calanoides from the eastern Atlantic and Arabian Sea are one species and distinct from C. carinatus s.s. The name Calanoides natalis Brady, 1914 is available for this species, which is fully re-described. The illustration by Brady of the male fifth leg and the currently reported genetic data lead us to conclude that C. natalis is distributed from the Bay of Biscay southwards along the eastern Atlantic, around the Cape of Good Hope, and northwards along the western boundary of the Indian Ocean as far as the Arabian Sea. A by-product of this study is the recognition that Calanoides macrocarinatus is a junior synonym of Calanoides brevicornis. Females of C. natalis are easy to distinguish morphologically from C. carinatus s.s. but are more similar to C. brevicornis, apart from size differences. From physical oceanographic evidence we conclude that the Indian Ocean is currently the upstream part of the distribution of C. natalis. Calanoides philippinensis is known to extend into the eastern Indian Ocean at tropical latitudes. It is not known if it is C. philippinensis that has been recorded along the western coast of Australia. An apparently undescribed species of Calanoides occurs on the eastern Australian coast.     

Two zoogeographically remarkable mite species from Finland (Acari,Oribatida, Oribotritiidae)

Species of the genus Mesothuria (fam. Synallactidae) occurring in the Atlantic Ocean are revised. The genus includes 25 valid species, nine of them known from the Atlantic. The new species Mesothuria milleri sp. nov. is described from the north-east Atlantic. It is argued that the genus Zygothuria, established by Perrier in 1898 and recognized later only by Deichmann, should be maintained as a separate genus. Mesothuria and Zygothuria differ in body form, arrangement of ambulacral appendages, and structure of segments of calcareous ring and ossicles from the body wall. The six known species of Zygothuria are reviewed. Zygothuria oxysclera, a former variation of Zygothuria lactea, is proposed as a valid species. Identification keys to species of the genus Zygothuria and Atlantic species of the genus Mesothuria are provided. Data on the life history and reproductive biology of Mesothuria milleri and Zygothuria lactea are given. Both species are common in the north-east Atlantic.     

New Zealand chelonine braconid wasps (Hymenoptera)

The New Zealand braconid fauna is remarkable in that the only chelonine genus represented is Ascogaster; no member of the world-wide genus Chelonus has yet been found. The New Zealand species of Ascogaster are revised, keyed and illustrated. Of the 12 species, nine are new, two (crenulata Cameron, elongata Lyle) are redescribed and quadridentata, which was introduced into New Zealand for biological control of codling moth, was redescribed in a recent paper. One new synonym is established. The classification and biology of chelonines are briefly reviewed and the faunal relationships between Australian and New Zealand species of Ascogaster are discussed.     

Stenothoidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) of hydrothermal vents and surroundings on the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge,Azores Triple Junction zone

Four new species of Stenothoidae were collected from the Azores Triple Junction zone during different French cruises on the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge. One of the species belongs to the genus Torometopa (T. saldanhae) and is the first record of this genus in the Atlantic Ocean. The three other species belong to the genus Stenothoe (S. divae, S. marvela, and S. menezgweni). It is not possible to determine from morphological and ecological characters whether these amphipod species are endemic to hydrothermal systems or are bathyal species that may be found away from vent sites.     

On some Maerid genera (Crustacea,Amphipoda, Maeridae) collected by the Hourglass Cruises (Florida). Part 1: Genera Anamaera,Ceradocus, Clessidra gen. nov., Jerbarnia,Maera, Meximaera,with a key to world Ceradocus

This paper deals with some of the Amphipoda Maeridae, i.e. seven species in the genera Anamaera, Ceradocus, Clessidra gen. nov., Jerbarnia, Maera and Meximaera, collected during the Hourglass cruises, a 28-month sampling programme at 10 stations (5–73 m depth) on the central West Florida shelf. A new genus Clessidra is erected for Maera tinkerensis Kunkel, and Maera caroliniana Bynum and Fox is found to be a junior synonym of Meximaera diffidentia. Keys to these Atlantic maerids, and to world Ceradocus species, are provided.     

Apodidymochelia,a new genus of gammaridean amphipod from the tropical Atlantic Ocean (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Didymochellidae)

Apodidymochelia castellata, new genus, new species is the second genus and fourth species in the rare and poorly known family Didymocheliidae. Apodidymochelia is separated from Didymochelia primarily on mandible structure. This record extends the known range of the family into the Atlantic Ocean.     

New species of Lucicutia and taxonomic status of L. grandis (Copepoda,Calanoida, Lucicutiidae)

Calanoid copepod specimens attributable to Lucicutia grandis (Giesbrecht, ), L. bradyana Cleve, , L. wolfendeni Sewell, , and L. rara Hulsemann, ) were studied from antarctic and subantarctic waters collected during RV Eltanin crusies 4–11 and 23, and RV Ob cruises 1 and 3. In addition, identified specimens from the Pacific and Indian Oceans deposited in the systematic collections of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution (Washington, DC, USA) and the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (St Petersburg) were also examined. Both sexes of a new species are described from the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, L. hulsemannae. Lucicutia hulsemannae is distinguished from L. grandis, L. bradyana and L. wolfendeni by the morphology of the rostrum, genital complex, including plug, and leg 5 of both sexes. Lucicutia bradyana is not found outside the Southern Hemisphere but L. grandis is recorded from the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, tropical Indian Ocean, as well as its type locality in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Lucicutia wolfendeni is found in all oceans except the Arctic Ocean. The status of L. bradyana, previously rejected as a separate species by Hulsemann (), is restored. Lucitutia rara is considered a junior synonym of L. bradyana.     

The amphipod genus Alexandrella (Amphipoda,Stilipedidae): taxonomic status,allometric growth and description of two new species

Two new species of the genus Alexandrella are described: A. mandibulata and A. martae. One species, A. mixta, is considered a junior synonym of the type species A. dentata. The genus now comprises six species, all of which are restricted to either the Antarctic or sub‐Antarctic region or the South Pacific. Oostegites are observed to be present on pereopod 1 in two Alexandrella species. This is a novel morphological trait among the Amphipoda. Developmental information is presented for two other Alexandrella species, in which the mandibular incisor is seen to be modified from strongly toothed in marsupial young to totally smooth in mature specimens. Also the armature dorsally on their body and the morphology of the telson undergo conspicuous allometric changes. A key to all known Alexandrella species is provided.     

Diplecogaster tonstricula,a new species of cleaning clingfish (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) from the Canary Islands and Senegal,eastern Atlantic Ocean,with a review of the Diplecogaster-ctenocrypta species-group

The Diplecogaster-ctenocrypta species-group is reviewed; it comprises two species. The clingfish Diplecogaster ctenocrypta from the Canary Islands is redescribed. The new species Diplecogaster tonstricula, a facultative cleaner of other teleosts, is described on the basis of eight specimens and colour photos from Senegal and the Canary Islands, eastern Atlantic Ocean. The species is small, apparently not exceeding 23 mm total length; it is characterised by having nine dorsal-fin rays, eight anal-fin rays, 24–25 pectoral-fin rays, 14–15 principal caudal-fin rays, 13–16 rakers on third gill arch, pelvic disc without lateral papillae in region A, disc region B with two rows of weak papillae, interorbital distance 4.1–4.6 in head length, distance between disc and anus 14–17% of SL, head and body with 10–13 narrow vertical brownish bars, cheek with a white ocellus surrounded by black, and with a small black spot in the middle. The new species is compared with other species of the genus; a key to the six known species of the eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea and South African genus Diplecogaster is presented. A checklist is provided for the species of Diplecogaster and their synonyms.     

Zoogeography and evolutionary ecology of the genus Platorchestia (Crustacea,Amphipoda, Talitridae)

ABSTRACT

Species of the genus Platorchestia occur both in the northern hemisphere (18 species) and southern hemisphere (three species plus a synanthropically introduced species in South America and South Africa). The greater number of endemic Platorchestia species in the North Pacific Ocean suggests that it could be the epicentre of evolution for this genus. North-western Pacific Platorchestia includes 15 species which occupy five ecotopes: wrack (seven species), terrestrial leaf litter (five species), freshwater (one species), marsh (one species) and tentatively present in caves (one species). North-eastern Pacific Platorchestia includes only one putative driftwood specialist, with no other species found in North American coastal habitats. This compares with three good endemic Platorchestia species (plus two putative additional species) and only two ecotopes: wrack (three species) and freshwater (two species) from the North Atlantic Ocean, inclusive of the Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean Sea. Insufficient data is available to consider Platorchestia zoogeography for the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. Synanthropic dispersal involving Platorchestia in Polynesian outrigger canoes, or in solid ballast carried in the holds of wooden sailing ships has been identified as a potential complicating factor in the zoogeography of this genus. Platorchestia is proposed to have arisen on Laurasia and is therefore basically a northern hemisphere genus. Questions concerning Platorchestia zoogeography and evolutionary ecology are posed and two methods (more intensive field sampling and molecular genetics) are suggested to be the way to solve them.     

CVIII.—The African spiders of the family Ctenidae in the collections of the British Museum (Natural History)

Summary

The African Ctenidae in the Collections of the British Museum (Natural History) are revised. Thirty species are contained in the subfamilies Cteninae and Acantheinae. Ctenus batesii Pocock, 1903, is a synonym of Ctenus capulinus (Karsch), 1879, Ctenus dirus Thorell, 1899, is a synonym of Ctenus kingsleyi F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1898, Ctenus marshalli F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1898, is a synonym of Ctenus melanogastra (Bösenberg & Lenz), 1895, and Ctenus spenceri F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1898, is a synonym of Ctenus pulchriventris Simon, 1896.

The subfamily Acantheinae is recorded from Africa for the first time. A new genus, Africactenus, is erected for a group of allied species. The genotype is Ctenus agilior Pocock, 1899, and the following new species are described:—A. depressus, A. desartsi, A kribiensis, A. pococki, A. sandersoni, A. simoni, A. sladeni, A. tridentatus and A. trilateralis. Ctenus longurio Simon, 1909, is transferred to the genus Africactenus on examination of the type-material.

Certain species from the Simon Collection are listed in the Appendix and figured for the first time.     

Tanaidacea (Crustacea: Peracarida) of the northeast Atlantic: Chauliopleona Dojiri and Sieg, 1997 and Saurotipleona n. gen. from the ‘Atlantic Margin’

Two akanthophoreid taxa, Chauliopleona and the new genus Saurotipleona, are modest contributors to tanaidacean diversity in the benthos of seas from Iceland to the British Isles along the ‘Atlantic Margin’. Three of H.J. Hansen’s ‘Ingolf’ species, originally within the genus Leptognathia, are rediagnosed, i.e. Chauliopleona amdrupii, C. armata and C. hastata. One new species, C. bamberi, from British waters is described and a new genus and species, Saurotipleona julii, is described from bathyal depths in the Irminger and Iceland basins. The latter is similar to Chauliopleona in having a sternal spur on pleonite-5 but this is of a slightly different form and is ventrally directed; it also has two superodistal spines on the propodus of pereopod-5, a distinctly plesiomorphic character in the family. A distribution map and key to the identification of these species are given.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E7EF8C72-D1C6-438E-B9C2-A5CE637FB75A     

A study of the Exoprosopa busiris (Jaennicke) group of Bezzi (1924) in tropical Africa (Diptera: Bombyliidae)

The tropical African species of the genus Exoprosopa Macquart placed by Bezzi (1924) in his group 10, E. busiris are reviewed. A key, short diagnoses and outline distributions are provided for each species. E. albonigra Bezzi and E. saskae Szilády are shown to be synonyms of E. luteicosta Bezzi; E. engyoptera Hesse a synonym of E. brevinasis Bezzi; and E. ferrieri Hesse a synonym of E. decastroi Hesse. Two new species are described; E. selenops from Kenya and E. glossops from Nigeria.     

A revision of the genus Heliconema Travassos, 1919, Physalopteridae (Nematoda)

Summary

It is accepted that the genus Ortleppina Schulz, 1927, is a synonym of the genus Heliconema Travassos, 1919.

Five valid species of Heliconema are recognized: H. heliconema, H. ahiri, H. baylisi, H. brevispiculum and H. longissima.

A new species, H. baylisi is described, and H. heliconema, H. brevispiculum and H. longissima are redescribed.