The Afrotropical thermophilic ant genus Ocymyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The taxonomy and biology of the Afrotropical thermophilic ant genus Ocymyrmex is reviewed and updated. A new key to workers for the 37 recognized species is presented and species-groups within the genus are delimited. Revised genus-level diagnoses for all castes are given and a check-list with known distributions of all species is included. Nine new species are described. The previously known biology of the genus is reviewed in the introduction and fresh biological and ecological information on a number of species is given in the introduction and under the individual species headings.     

News from a small island – first record of a freshwater shrimp (Decapoda,Atyidae, Caridina) from Peleng,Banggai Islands,Indonesia

The Indonesian island Sulawesi is well known for its fascinating fauna. Among the atyid and palaemonid freshwater shrimps described from Sulawesi are also a number of endemic species. In contrast, freshwater shrimps have never been reported from the nearby and smaller Peleng Island. Here we describe Caridina thomasi sp. nov. as a first record of an atyid freshwater shrimp from Peleng and compare it with atyids from Sulawesi and other localities. The new species is probably endemic to the island and shows some characters never described in the genus Caridina before. However, a molecular phylogeny of atyid shrimps from the Indo‐West Pacific based on mitochondrial DNA (16S) places C. thomasi within a clade of typical species of Caridina. We tentatively assign the new species to the genus Caridina and discuss the possibility of future changes in the classification of species in this genus.     

Redescriptions of two termites from Burmese amber

Summary

Danothrips Bhatti 1971 is revised and its relations with Chaetanaphothrips Priesner are discussed. The genus is redefined in view of the increased number of species within the genus, and a key is provided to distinguish the species. Six species are included: setifer Bhatti 1971 theifolii (Karny 1921), theivorus (Karny 1921), trifasciatus Sakimura 1975, and two new species, alis and moundi. The range of distribution of trifasciatus, originally described from Hawaii, is considerably extended by its new findings from the Lesser Antilles (St. Vincent Island) and Indonesia (Andalas).     

Three new species of the genus Belbolla (Nematoda: Enoplida: Enchelidiidae) from the Yellow Sea,China

Three new species of free‐living marine nematodes of the genus Belbolla: Belbolla huanghaiensis sp. nov., Belbolla stenocephalum sp. nov. and Belbolla warwicki sp. nov. from the Yellow Sea, China, are described and illustrated. Belbolla huanghaiensis can be separated from other species in the Belbolla genus by the number of oesophageal bulbs (nine), the length of the spicules and gubernacular apophysis, and the size of the two winged precloacal supplements. Belbolla stenocephalum can be separated from other species by the number of oesophageal bulbs (eight), the length of the spicules and the structure of gubernacular apophysis. Belbolla warwicki sp. nov. is characterized by the number of oesophageal bulbs (seven), reduced precloacal supplements and the structure of gubernacular apophysis. A key to the genus Belbolla is provided to facilitate species identification. Types are deposited in the College of Life Science and Technology, Ocean University of China.     

A taxonomic revision of the Oriental spittlebug genus Paphnutius Distant (Homoptera: Cercopidae)

The spittlebug genus Paphnutius is transferred from the Tomaspidini to the Considiini. The genus is revised and redescribed to contain nine species. A key to species is given and all species are redescribed and illustrated with their distributional data provided. One new species is described and one new generic synonymy, six new specific synonymies and four new combinations are established. Five lectotypes are newly designated. Paphnutius costimaculus Metcalf and Horton is considered as a species incertae sedis.     

Three new species of free-living nematodes from the Bohai Sea,China

Three new species of free-living marine nematode, Setosabatieria jingjingae sp. nov., Amphimonhystera circula sp. nov. and Belbolla zhangi sp. nov., from the Bohai Sea, China, are described and illustrated. Setosabatieria jingjingae can be separated from the other two species in the genus by the number of amphid turns, the structure of the spicules and the number of pre-cloacal supplements. A pictorial key and tabular information are provided to facilitate species identification in this genus. Amphimonhystera circula is characterized by circular amphids, a simple gubernaculum and the shape of the tail. Belbolla zhangi is characterized by the number of oesophageal bulbs, the shape of the spicules and gubernacular apophysis, and the size of the two pre-cloacal supplements. The types are deposited in the Natural History Museum (London).     

Australian thrips of the Haplothrips lineage (Insecta: Thysanoptera)

Keys are presented to the 11 genera and 50 species, including 21 new species, of Thysanoptera in Australia that are related to the worldwide genus Haplothrips Amyot and Serville. These taxa belong to what, in recent literature, has been called the “Haplothrips‐lineage”, that is, one of the three major radiations among the 2700 species and 350 genera of Thysanoptera Phlaeothripinae. The group is redefined, and the available tribal name Haplothripini shown to be appropriate. The character states on which the definition is based are discussed, and a list given of the 34 genera worldwide that can be included. The Australian species in these genera exhibit a diversity of biologies. Three genera involve species that invade galls induced by other thrips: Androthrips monsterae (Moulton) from New Guinea is newly recorded from Australia; Mesothrips jordani Zimmermann from South‐East Asia is newly recorded from Australia, with two new synonyms; the Asia‐Pacific genus, Euoplothrips Hood, includes two species in northern Australia. Three haplothripine genera are associated with grasses: one widespread genus, Apterygothrips Priesner, considered polyphyletic, includes only one Australian species; the only known species of Dyothrips Kudo is Oriental but extends into tropical Australia; Podothrips Hood, a circum‐tropical genus of thrips predatory on grass‐living coccoids, has 11 Australian species, six newly described. One grass‐associated genus, Bamboosiella Ananthakrishnan, is excluded from the Haplothripini. An Oriental genus of leaf‐ and flower‐living species, Dolichothrips Karny, includes one species in northern Australia, D. reuteri (Karny); Membrothrips Bhatti in which this species has been placed is considered a synonym. Karnyothrips Watson includes two species introduced to Australia, both predators of coccoids. Priesneria Bagnall includes three species from Australia, of which one fungus‐feeding species is newly described. Xylaplothrips Priesner is a widespread but ill‐defined, polyphyletic genus that currently includes three little‐known Australian species. Haplothrips is the main focus of this study, and character state variation among the Australian species is discussed. In total 24 species of Haplothrips from Australia are recognised, 14 being new species. Also included are the following, one new generic synonym, four new species synonyms, and one new combination. The 250 species worldwide in the genus are usually associated with the flowers of Asteraceae and Poaceae. In Australia, several of the species are specific to flowers, particularly of Poaceae and Cyperaceae but not Asteraceae. Almost half of these Australian species are presumed to be predatory on other small arthropods, and two have unusual host associations—with salt marsh Chenopodiaceae, and with the sori of Dicksonia tree ferns.     

XLI.—Note on a Megalosaurian tibia from the lower Lias of Wilmcote,Warwickshire

Summary

A new species of Dolichomiris Reuter from India and another from South Africa are described, while costicollis Berg is excluded, bringing the total number of species in the genus to seven. All species are figured and keyed. D. linearis Reuter is recorded from Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia and the New Hebrides. Lectotypes are designated where necessary. A revised key to the genera of Stenodemini is presented.     

New fanworm species (Polychaeta: Sabellidae: Fabriciinae) in the genus Pseudofabriciola Fitzhugh

Three new species are described: Pseudofabriciola quasiincisura from Belize, P. peduncula from Papua New Guinea, and P. sofla from the Gulf of Mexico off Florida. The total number of species in the genus is increased to 11. Pseudofabriciola quasiincisura and P. peduncula are intertidal, whereas P. sofla is from 26 m depth. An additional species from the Gulf of Mexico off Florida (88m depth), known only from a single specimen lacking the branchial crown, is described briefly but not named. Pseudofabriciola sofla and the unnamed species were originally described by Uebelacker (1984) as Fabricia sp. A. An emended definition for Pseudofabriciola is provided. Cladistic relationships of the species described herein are evaluated relative to others in the genus. The depth distribution of Pseudofabriciola, which displays the greatest known range within the Fabriciinae, is also re-examined.     

Deep-sea tanaidaceans (Crustacea: Peracarida) from the Albatross cruises 1885-86 with keys to the suborder Neotanaidomorpha

Previously unidentified tanaidacean material from the US Albatross cruises 1885–86 revealed a number of new species. Most species belonged to the suborder of Neotanaidomorpha, of which two new species were found. Neotanais gardineri n. sp. is described. The species N.insolitus is transferred to the genus Venusticrus. Additional information of previously described species of Neotanais is given. The existence of a cheliped ischium within the Neotanaidae is noted. A species list for the new material from the Albatross Expedition is given as well as complete keys to the females of the suborder Neotanaidomorpha. Species of the suborder Tanaidomorpha were also found. The new species Collettea wilsoni is described (Family indet). Also found were two undesribed species of Anarthruridae (Anarthrurinae), as well as a large number of Agathotanais ingolfi.     

The genus Thoradonta in Thailand (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae: Scelimeninae) with description of two new species

The genus Thoradonta Hancock (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae: Scelimeninae) is newly reported from Thailand. Two new species of the genus, Thoradonta lativertexoides sp. nov. and Thoradonta spiculobaoides sp. nov., are described and illustrated with photographs and compared with similar species. A taxonomic review of the genus Thoradonta is provided and a key to all known species of the genus is given.     

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.     

An overview of Hexabathynella (Crustacea,Syncarida, Parabathynellidae) with the description of a new species

A new species of the cosmopolitan genus Hexabathynella is described from Spain. This new species has four setae on the expopod of the uropod, the rest of the species in the genus have between one and three. The endopod of the uropod has two smooth setae of similar length and one plumose seta, these characters only appear in the new species within the genus. The antennal organ in the males is shown to be a new unique character for the genus. It is the third species of this genus that has been found in Spain. To date the genus consists of 18 species in the world. A key for identification of the 18 species of Hexabathynella is provided. It is the only cosmopolitan genus of Bathynellacea and it is distributed in Europe (nine species), Africa (one species), South America (two species), North America (three species) and Australia and New Zealand (three species).     

The genus Lindaspio (Annelida: Polychaeta: Spionidae), and a new species from an oil field off Congo,western Africa

A new species of the genus Lindaspio (Polychaeta: Spionidae) is described from an oil field off Congo (tropical eastern Atlantic). Lindaspio sebastiena n. sp. is easily distinguished from the two other known species of Lindaspio, L. dibranchiata Blake and Maciolek (1992) and L. southwardorum Blake and Maciolek (1992), by the presence of a conical palp, the first noto-hooks beginning on setiger 55, the number of dorsal spines on setigers 2–4 and the absence of a caruncle. A new diagnosis of the genus is put forward, and the two spionid genera, Lindaspio and Scolecolepides, are discussed.     

On a new genus and species of centipede (Chilopoda,Geophilomorpha, Chilenophilidae) from the British Isles

A new genus and species of geophilomorph centipede, Nothogeophilus turki is described from the Scilly Isles and the Isle of Wight. The precise relationships of this new genus are not clear. The species is, presumably, an introduction.     

Species of Arachnopusia (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata) collected by discovery investigations

Eighteen species of the cheilostome bryozoan genus Arachnopusia Jullien are described from Antarctic, Subantarctic and southern cold temperate localities. Eleven species are considered to be new to science. The morphology of Arachnopusia species is discussed, with particular reference to features of taxonomic value, and the zoogeography of the genus is considered briefly.     

Review of the genus Chauliopleona Dojiri and Sieg, 1997 (Crustacea,Peracarida, Tanaidacea) and description of three new species

The tanaidacean genus Chauliopleona Dojiri and Sieg, is reviewed. A generic diagnosis is given and the type species Chauliopleona dentata Dojiri and Sieg, is redescribed. Three species, Leptognathia armataHansen, , L. amdrupii Hansen, and L. hastata Hansen, are placed into this genus. Three new species, one from the Angola Basin, one from the deep sea of the tropical East Pacific and one from Antarctica are described. A key for the genus is provided.     

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).