Heterotrophic flagellates (Protista) from marine sediments of Botany Bay,Australia

Heterotrophic flagellates (protozoa) occurring in the marine sediments at Botany Bay, Australia are reported. Among the 87 species from 43 genera encountered in this survey are 13 new taxa: Cercomonas granulatus n. sp., Clautriavia cavus n. sp., Heteronema larseni n. sp., Notosolenus adamas n. sp., Notosolenus brothernis n. sp., Notosolenus hemicircularis n. sp., Notosolenus lashue n. sp., Notosolenus pyriforme n. sp., Petalomonas intortus n. sp., Petalomonas iugosus n. sp., Petalomonas labrum n. sp., Petalomonas planus n. sp. and Petalomonas virgatus n. sp.; and seven new combinations, Carpediemonas bialata n. comb., Dinema platysomum n. comb., Petalomonas calycimonoides nom. nov., Petalomonas christeni nom. nov., Petalomonas physaloides n. comb., Petalomonas quinquecarinata n. comb. and Petalomonas spinifera n. comb. Most flagellates described here appear to be cosmopolitan. We are unable to assess if the new species are endemic because of the lack of intensive studies elsewhere.     

Some flagellates (Protista) from tropical marine sediments

An account is given of 114 new or otherwise interesting species of benthic marine flagellates from Fiji, Northern Australia (Queensland), Hawaii, Panama and Brazil. Most species are heterotrophs drawn from the euglendis, dinoflagellates, kinetoplastids, bicosoecids, heteroloboseids, and a variety of taxa of uncertain affinities. The work emphasizes the rich variety of protist taxa in marine benthic sites. New names are Amphidinium corrugatum, Anisonema glaciale, Bodo cephalophorus, B. platyrhynchus, B. saliens, Bordnamonas tropicana, Cafeteria ligulifera, C. marsupialis, C. minuta (Ruinen, 1938) nov. comb., Cryptaulax elegans, Dinematomonas inaequalis = Dinema inaequale, Dinematomonas maculata (= Dinema maculatum), Dinematononas valida (= Dinema validum), Diplonema ambulator, Diplonema metabolicum, Discocelis punctata, Dolium sedentarium, Goniomonas amphinema, Goniomonas pacifica, Gyrodinium oblongum, Heteronema exaratum, H. splendens, H. vittatum, Mastigamoeba psammobis, M. skujae nom. nov., Massisteria marina, Metopion fluens, Metromonas grandis, M. simplex (Griessmann, 1913) nov. comb., Notosolenus alatellus, N. navicula, N. ostium, N. scutulum, N. urceolatus, N. tamanduensis, N. triangularis, Percolomonas cuspidata, P. descissa (Perty, 1852) nov. comb., P. elephas (Klug, 1936) nov. comb., P. membranifera, P. pyriformis (Klebs, 1892) nov. comb., P. salina (Entz, 1904) nov. comb., P. spinosa (Klug, 1936) nov. comb., P. sulcata (Stein, 1878) nov. comb., Petalomonas boadicea, P. marginalis, P. minor, P. poosilla, P. raiula, Phyllomitus granulatus, P. vesiculosus, Platychilomonas psammobia, Ploeotia adhaerens, P. corrugata, P. decipiens, P. heracleum, P. discoides, P. longifilum, P. oblonga, P. pseudanisonema, P. punctata, P. robusta, P. scrobiculata, P. tenuis, Protaspis obliqua, P. verrucosa, P. gemmifera, P. tegere, Pseudoperanema (= Peranema) dolochonema, Thecamonas filosa, T. mutabilis (Griessmann, 1913) nov. comb., T.trahens, Urceolus cornutus, U. cristatus.     

Zenkevitchiidae fam. nov. (Crustacea: Gammaroidea), with description of new subterranean amphipods from extremely deep cave habitats

Previous phylogenetic analysis based on combined mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences detected paraphyly of the Typhlogammaridae. To test this hypothesis a portion of large subunit (LSU-rDNA) gene sequences were obtained for typhlogammarid species from Caucasus. The Bayesian approach to LSU-rDNA sequences provided evidence for an independent origin of the Dinaric and Caucasus ‘typhlogammarid’ clades. A new family, Zenkevitchiidae fam. nov., is proposed to reconcile the observed phylogeny with the concept of monophyly. Using light microscopy, two mouthpart morphotypes of the Zenkevitchiidae fam. nov. species with quite different setae are identified. Taking into account these two morphotypes, a new classification is proposed – Adaugammarus revazi comb. nov., and Adaugammarus sandroruffoi comb. nov. Additionally, two new stygobiont zenkevitchiid amphipod species – Adaugammarus kasiani sp. nov. and Kruberia relicta sp. nov. – are described from Krubera Cave in Abkhazia. A distribution map and an identification key for the Zenkevitchiidae fam. nov. species of Transcaucasia are provided.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:90177B0C-BED0-4601-8CFC-3F774B22065C     

Chinese psyllids in the genus Cacopsylla (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea) associated with Spiraea (Rosaceae)

The Chinese Cacopsylla species associated with Spiraea are revised. Three new species (Cacopsylla falcata sp. nov., C. nocturna sp. nov. and C. qilianensis sp. nov.) are described, and two [C. hyalinonemae Li and Yang, 1989 and C. spiraeicola (Li, 2011) comb. nov.] are redescribed. A new combination is also proposed for Cacopsylla tetrotaenialis (Li and Yang, 1989) comb. nov. Among the five species, C. falcata and C. qilianensis are affirmed to develop on Spiraea, as fifth instar immatures were found. The host plants of the other species remain uncertain. Based on morphological grounds, it is suggested that C. falcata and C. nocturna are closely related, but that the five species associated with Spiraea do not constitute a monophyletic group.     

The morphology of Cercaria cerastodermae I nom. nov. (Monorchiidae) (=Cercaria lepidapedon rachion (Cobbold, 1858) sensu Lebour, 1908) a rare digenean parasite of the cockle in Britain

Summary

The mother sporocyst, daughter sporocyst, cercaria and metacercaria of Cercaria cerastodermae I nom. nov. are described from the haemocoel of the digestive gland and gonad of Cerastoderma edule (L.) in Britain. The daughter sporocyst is unusual in having elaborate subtegumental projections that join a central broad chamber which extends to surround individual metacercariae.     

On Anomalotrema Zhukov, 1957, Pellamyzon Montgomery, 1957, and Opecoelina Manter, 1934 (Digenea: Opecoelidae), with a description of Anomalotrema koiae sp. nov. from North Atlantic waters

In order to clarify the systematic position of some opecoeline digeneans parasitic in scorpaenid and gadid fishes from the northern North Atlantic, a study of the genera Anomalotrema Zhukov, 1957, Pellamyzon Montgomery, 1957, and Opecoelina Manter, 1934, was carried out. Anomalotrema is retained in the subfamily Opecoelinae and A. koiae sp. nov. is described for the worms from scorpaenids and gadids which prompted the investigation. This species is distinguished from the Pacific species, A. putjatini Zhukov, 1957, on morphological and biological grounds. Pellamyzon is transferred to the Plagioporinae. A new subfamily, the Opecoelininae subfam. nov., is erected for Opecoelina, which is considered to contain only two or three valid species, O. scorpaenae Manter, 1934, O. helicoleni Manter, 1934 (possibly a synonym of O. scorpaenae) and O. pacifica Manter, 1940. Both O. theragrae Lloyd, 1938, and O. radifistuli (Acena, 1941) are transferred to the genus Podocotyle Dujardin, 1845, as P. theragrae comb. nov. and P. radifistuli comb. nov. O. pharynmagna Annereaux, 1943, is judged to be a synonym of P. radifistuli, and both O. vixiintestina Oshmarin, 1965, and O. vixigastera Oshmarin, 1965, are considered unrecognizable. The possible evolutionary relationships of the subfamilies within the Opecoelidae are commented on.     

On the occurrence of blood flukes (Sanguinicolidae: Trematoda) in British freshwater fish

Summary

A new genus, Cahara, is described, based upon Dalpada brevivitta Walker, as its type species C. brevivitta (Walker) comb. nov., C. confusa (Distant) comb. nov. and C. jugatoria (Lethierry) comb. nov. are redescribed and illustrated. C. murreeana sp. nov., C. montana sp. nov., C. kightleyi sp. nov., C. chaubattia sp. nov., C. bhowaliana sp. nov. and C. metallica sp. nov. are described as new. The genus Cahara occurs in the subhimalayan region of India, Pakistan and Nepal. Its members feed on deciduous trees, apple, walnut, fir, deodar, Bauhinia, etc. Superficially, the species resemble one another, as well as members of Dalpada s. lat. in their coloration and some have been confused with species like Dalpada versicolor in the past, but certain characters, like the shape of the head, the simple second antennal segment and more particularly the male and female genitalia, distinguish the genus Cahara from all others. A key to the species of Cahara is provided.     

Two new genera of Epilachnini Mulsant from New Guinea and Aru Islands (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The species formerly classified in the genus Afidentula Kapur from New Guinea and Aru Islands are revised. As a result of detailed analysis of mouth parts and genital structures of the species, two new genera are proposed: monotypic Lalokia gen. nov. from Aru Islands and New Guinea, with Lalokia aruensis (Crotch) (comb. nov.), and Papuaepilachna gen. nov. from New Guinea including Papuaepilachna bivacana (Bielawski) (comb. nov.), P. kapuri (Bielawski) (comb. nov.), P. nasti (Bielawski) (comb. nov.), P. tenmana (Bielawski) (comb. nov.), P. watalai (Jadwiszczak) (comb. nov.) and P. wiebesi (Bielawski) (comb. nov.). All species are illustrated and an identification key to the species of Papuaepilachna is provided. A key to the genera of Epilachnini from New Guinea and Aru Islands is also provided. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F721B07F-CBF0-4516-853D-1FD434FE06F1     

A revision of the species of the Neoserica (sensu lato) vulpes group (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini)

This paper revises the species belonging to the Neoserica (sensu lato) vulpes group and results in one new combination, Neoserica (sensu lato) vulpes (Arrow, 1946) comb. nov., and 24 new species originating mainly from south-western China: N. baishuiensis sp. nov., N. baoshana sp. nov., N. biuncinata sp. nov., N. dundai sp. nov., N. ganhaiziana sp. nov., N. heishuiana sp. nov., N. kereni sp. nov., N. laocaiana sp. nov., N. lateriuncinata sp. nov., N. leiboensis sp. nov., N. luzhouana sp. nov., N. ningyuanensis sp. nov., N. nykli sp. nov., N. parausta sp. nov., N. pseudovulpes sp. nov., N. rubellula sp. nov., N. ruzickai sp. nov., N. shinkaisiensis sp. nov., N. sichuanica sp. nov., N. usta sp. nov., N. weishanensis sp. nov., N. xiaguanensis sp. nov., N. kunmingensis sp. nov. and N. yangjiapingensis sp. nov. A key to species and illustrations of genitalia and habitus of adults are given, including distribution maps of all species.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3FE6CC54-DB3A-4201-A6F9-332E4A397268     

Extremalona timmsi gen. nov., sp. nov., a new cladoceran (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae) from an acid saline lake in southwest Western Australia

A new species of Cladocera, Extremalona timmsi gen. nov., sp. nov., was found in acid saline lakes in the southwest of Western Australia. Extremalona gen. nov. belongs to the Coronatella-branch of Aloninae, but differs from all members of the group by the oval body with small high-set head (tip of rostrum located at half-height of the body), the exopodite III with uniform, well-developed setae 4–6 and male antennule with six lateral and nine terminal aesthetascs, and by numerous other characters. In our opinion, Extremalona gen. nov. is one of the ancestral genera of the Coronatella-branch of Aloninae, sharing numerous common features with the elegans-group of Alona s.l. Our data confirm a high level of endemism in Australian Chydoridae and Cladocera in general.     

Two new nematodes,Pseudelzalia longiseta gen. nov., sp. nov. and Paramonohystera sinica sp. nov. (Monhysterida: Xyalidae), from sediment in the East China Sea

Pseudelzalia longiseta gen. nov, sp. nov. and Paramonohystera sinica sp. nov. from subtidal sediment in the East China Sea are described. Pseudelzalia is characterized by 6 labial papillae and 10 cephalic setae, cylindrical buccal cavity, elongate (>2 anal body diameter) spicules, and conico-cylindrical tail devoid of terminal setae. It differs from Elzalia by the absence of terminal setae. Pseudelzalia longiseta sp. nov. is 647–853 μm long, has 7–8 μm long cervical setae, 11–14 μm long caudal setae, 25–41 μm long spicules about 2.1–2.7 anal diameter, and pointed tail-tip. Paramonohystera sinica possesses 12 cephalic setae, a character found in four congeners: Paramonohystera buetschlii (Bresslau and Schuurmans Stekhoven in Schuurmans Stekhoven, 1935, Paramonohystera pilosa Boucher, 1971, Paramonohystera concinna Lorenzen, 1977 and Paramonohystera halerba Fadeeva and Belogurov, 1987. It differs from P. buetschlii by shorter body (933–1023 μm versus 2000–2200 μm); from P. pilosa by the much shorter spicules (79–88 μm versus 167 μm) and narrower head (13–16 µm versus 32 µm); from P.concinna by smooth cephalic setae (versus segmented); and from P. halerba by the absence of two rows of setae on the ventral side of the tail (versus present). Based on the evaluation of nominal species, we recognize 14 valid species and provide an emended diagnosis and a tabular key for Paramonohystera.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:474B8F17-AED7-4078-8176-DFC499B78526     

A revision of the Labiidae (Dermaptera) of the Neo-tropical and Nearctic Regions

A new genus, Helenolius (Cixiidae, Pentastirini), is described to accommodate the species H. dividens (Walker) comb. nov. and H. insulicola sp. nov. Both species are described and illustrated; they are endemic on the island St Helena.     

Membraniporoidea,Microporoidea and Cellarioidea (bryozoa,Cheilostomata) collected by Discovery Investigations

Thirty eight species of anascan Cheilostomata are described from the collections of Discovery Investigations, and other British antarctic expeditions. Ten new species are described, including Stomhypselosaria watersi introduced for Cellaria dubia (Busk) sensu Waters (1904). Two new genera are introduced, and Swanomia nom. nov. is proposed for Mawsonia Livingstone 1928, non Woodward 1907.     

Taxonomic observations on the genera Xenocheira Haswell and Ericthonius Milne Edwards (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Australian coastal waters

The type-species of the genus Xenocheira Haswell, X. fasciata Haswell, is redescribed (including the true male) from Tasmanian material. Pirlot's putative male X. fasciata from Indonesia is allocated to a new species, X. pirloti nom. nov. and K. H. Barnard's ‘X. fasciata’ from the Great Barrier Reef referred to Grandidierella gilesi Chilton. Another Xenocheira species from Western Australia is identified tentatively as X.? seurati Chevreux. Two new species of Ericthonius Milne Edwards are described, one from Tasmania (E. tacitus sp. nov.) and one from Western Australia (E. coxacanthus sp. nov.). The first record of E. pugnax Dana from mainland Australia is claimed for material from Western Australia. The taxonomic relationships of these species are evaluated and discussed.     

Rediscovery of Disepyris semiruber (Kieffer) (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) in Southern Africa,with first description of the male

Holepyris semiruber Kieffer is redescribed and illustrated based on freshly collected specimens. Holepyris semiruber var. striatipleura Kieffer is considered a colour variant of this species and therefore a junior synonym of H. semiruber syn. nov. This species is transferred to Disepyris, D. semiruber (Kieffer) comb. nov., based on the possession of a short 2r-rs&Rs vein in the fore wing and presence of long flat spine-shaped setae on the outer (posterior) surface of the protarsi. The male is described for the first time from new specimens collected in South Africa. This species is recorded for the first time from Namibia and Zimbabwe. All photographs are available on www.waspweb.org.     

Studies on gorgoderid digeneans from Australian and Assian Freshwater fishes

Pseudophyllodistomum gen. nov. is proposed for a section of Phyllodistomum Braun, 1899. The new genus is distinguished by the simple form of the uterus, the eggs which reach over 60 μm long in length, the saccular excretory bladder, the 2[3 + 3 + 3) + (3 + 3 + 3)] = 36 flame-cell formula, the metacercaria which may have fully developed genitalia and is parasitic in decapod crustaceans, the use of corbiculid bivalves as first intermediate hosts, and the cercaria which has a long tail not enclosing the cercarial body. Two species, P. johnstoni sp. nov. and P. murrayense sp. nov., are described from Australian freshwater fish and five new combinations of previously described Phyllodistomum species from Asian freshwater fish are proposed — P. macrobrachicola (Yamaguti, 1934) comb. nov., P. lesteri (Wu, 1938) comb. nov., P. srivastavai (Rai, 1964) comb. nov., P. lucknowense (Pandey, 1970) comb. nov. and P. mingense (Tang, 1985) comb. nov. The first intermediate host of P. johnstoni is a Corbiculina species. The long-tailed cercariae infect the gonads of palaemonid prawns, Macrobrachium spp., in which they grow to unencysted metacercariae which may have fully developed genitalia. The metacercaria of P. murrayense also infects a Macrobrachium species. The evolution of the Gorgoderinae is discussed and it is suggested that, prior to the erection of Pseudophyllodistomum, Phyllodistomum may have encompassed as many as five different phylogenetic lines, each with similar adult morphology but distinguishable by life-cycle characters. It is postulated that more study will lead to further division of Phyllodistomum.     

A new leaf-resembling genus of bush-cricket from West Africa (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

Trimusculotrema warnaki gen. et sp. nov. is described from the skin of Himantura uarank Forsskål. Trimusculotrema is distinguished from other genera in the Benedeniinae by the following combination of anatomical features: accessory sclerites and anterior hamuli small; haptor with two or three intrinsic, concentric muscle bands; haptor papillate ventrally; cirrus sac with internal seminal vesicle and spermatophore matrix reservoir; separate male and female pores opening ventrally and dorsally respectively; vagina short. On the basis of these features Benedenia micracantha Euzet and Maillard, 1967 from the skin and B. leucanthemum Euzet and Maillard, 1967 from the gills of Dasyatis marmorata Steindachner off Senegal are transferred to the new genus as Trimusculotrema micracantha comb. nov. and T. leucanthemum comb. nov. The presence of haptoral papillae, noted previously in some species of Entobdella, perhaps indicates that the new genus is more closely related to entobdellids than to benedeniids. Several living specimens of T. uarnaki had 7 (2–17) eggs in early cleavage projecting from the body, their appendages gripped in a muscular sphincter at the uterine opening. These egg bundles appear to be shed from the parasite soon after laying.     

A revision of the subtribe Hippomelanina,part II: Gyascutus (Gyascutus) LeConte (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

The subgenus Gyascutus (Gyascutus) is revised and 12 species are recognized: G. planicosta (LeConte) with three subspecies— G. p. planicosta (LeConte), stat. nov.; G. p. obliteratus (LeConte), stat. nov., with G. pistorius Casey as a syn. nov.; and G. p. cribriceps Casey, stat. nov.; with syn. nov. as follows: G. acutangulus Casey, G. amplus Casey, G. amplus aerata Casey, G. egregius Casey, and Hippomelas (G.) lariversi Barr; G. insularis (Helfer), comb. nov.; G. castaneus (Helfer), comb. nov.; G. fulgidus (Barr), comb. nov.; G. pacificus (Chamberlin), comb. nov.; G. paragranulatus Nelson, sp. nov.; G. granulatus (Van Dyke), comb. nov.; G. westcotti Nelson, sp. nov.; G. carolinensis Horn with syn. nov. as follows: G. juniperinus Wickham, G. obesus Casey, G. obesus aeneoviridis Casey, G. compactus Casey, G. compactus solidus Casey, G. cylindrinus Casey, G. debilis Casey, and G. tenuis Casey; G. dianae (Helfer), comb. nov.; G. allenrolfeae (Verity), comb. nov.; and G. jeanae (Nelson), comb. nov. All species and subspecies are described and information on type localities, variation, distribution, biology, and comparisons is presented. Keys to the species and subspecies are provided. Photographs of each species and drawings of body parts, including male genitalia, are included.     

Sibling species in the marine pollution indicator genus Pontonema Leidy (Nematoda: Oncholaimidae), with a description of P. mediterranea sp. nov.

Species of the marine nematode genus Pontonema have been found to dominate the macrobenthos under abnormally high conditions of particulate organic enrichment. Populations from organically enriched habitats in six localities (Kiel fjord, Germany; the Garroch Head sewage-sludge dump ground in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland; Cornelian Bay, N.E. England; the Tyne estuary, N.E. England; Sete, N.W. Mediterranean, France; Blanes Bay, N.W. Mediterranean, Spain) have been compared. Multivariate analyses of 16 morphometric characters in males, and 13 in females, shows that each population is significantly different morphologically from every other population. However, there is morphological overlap between the populations, and it is considered pragmatic to recognize three species in this group, based on a few stable morphological characters: P. vulgare (Bastian, 1865) from the Baltic, P. alaeospicula Bett and Moore 1988 from the UK sites, and P. mediterranea sp. nov. from the Mediterranean. P. mediterranea sp. nov. is described. The species were not found to have established sympatry in this study, unlike many other opportunistic taxa from organically enriched habitats, and the significance of this is discussed.