The life cycle of Hebella furax (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa): a link between a lafoeid hydroid and a laodiceid medusa

The adult medusa of a species of the hydroid genus Hebella Allman, 1888 (family Lafoeidae), with a metagenetic life cycle, is described for the first time. Hebella furax Millard, 1957 is epizoic on other hydroids and releases medusae with four radial canals and three marginal bulbs with tentacles. Adult medusae cultured in the laboratory attained 11 mm in diameter, had 8–11 radial canals, and up to 37 marginal tentacles. Cordyli were present between the tentacles, a characteristic feature of the superfamily Laodiceoidea. The pattern of branching of the radial canals indicates that adult medusae of H.furax should be referred to the genus Toxorchis, possibly to T. kellneri Mayer, 1910.     

Species of Antarctoscyphus Pena Cantero,Garcia Carrascosa and Vervoort, 1997 (Cnidaria,Hydrozoa, Sertulariidae) from recent Antarctic expeditions with R.V. Polarstern,with the description of two new species

Six species of the genus Antarctoscyphus Peña Cantero, García Carrascosa and Vervoort, have been studied, two of which are new to science (Antarctoscyphus admirabilis sp. nov. and A. fragilis sp. nov.). The material studied originates from the Weddell Sea and was collected by several French and German Antarctic expeditions with the R.V. Polarstern. Each species is described and figured, the systematic position amongst allied species discussed and available data concerning autecology and geographical distribution given. The type material of two badly known species, A. grandis (Blanco) and A. gruzovi (Stepan'yants), has been re-examined, re-described and figured. A comparative table listing main features of known species of Antarctoscyphus is presented. Finally, a general survey of biogeographical distribution of the known species is given.     

Evolution in leptolid life-cycles (Cnidaria: Hydroida)

The medusae of many hydroids remain attached to the colony, often in a vestigial state. Evolutionary origins are sometimes thus obscured. Some authorities have considered these derived hydroid life-cycles as paedomorphic; and regarded the hydroid stage as a prolonged larva. In some genera, for example in the familiar but unusual Obelia, a re-evolution of the medusa stage has been proposed.

These theories are evaluated. Primitively, the larval stage throughout the Cnidaria is the planula. Some possible processes in the re-evolution of the medusa are discussed but the hypothesis is discounted. The origin of medusoid coelenterates is taken to be wholly polypoid, medusae being evolved later as modified and released reproductive polyps. The subsequent evolutionary retention and suppression of the medusa stage is discussed and some physiological processes perhaps leading to it are considered. This direction of evolution is related to the advantages of perennation in large, iterated colonies and consequent larval philopatry. Certain confusing terminology is clarified. The term ‘leptolids’ is rescued from disuse, with the original meaning ‘hydroids and/or hydromedusae’ but implicitly including the planula stage as well, to fill a tiresome gap.     

Phorbas posidoni n.sp. (Porifera: Poecilosclerida) from the Aegean Sea,with a discussion of the family Anchinoidae

A new species of the genus Phorbas Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1864 (junior synonym Anchinoe Gray, 1867) is described from the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean). Phorbas posidoni n.sp. is distinguished from the known Mediterranean species of Phorbas primarily by its elaborate repent-ramose habit combined with an extensive, spongin-enforced, plumoreticulate skeleton of oxea-like tornotes and the usual echinating acanthostyles and arcuate chelae. As in most Phorbas the surface bears characteristic areolae. The only other elaborate Mediterranean species, P. mercator (Schmidt) differs clearly in spiculation, since it lacks microscleres and has strongyles as the main skeletal elements. Phorbas fictitius (Bowerbank), P. tenacior (Topsent) and P. paupertas sensu Topsent are all incrusting and differ in spicule form and sizes as well. Likewise, Phorbas species from the neighbouring East Atlantic each show clear differences with P. posidoni n.sp. The genus Phorbas is discussed and compared with Pronax Gray (1867) sensu Lévi (1973). It is proposed to unite the two genera because the alleged sharp difference between the two (only oxea-like tornotes in the skeletal tracts in Phorbas, only acanthostyles in the skeletal tracts in Pronax) is compromised by a range of intermediate conditions in various species.     

A new genus and three new species of free‐living marine nematodes from the Yellow Sea,China

One new genus, Paramphimonhystrella gen. nov., and three new species of free‐living marine nematodes in this genus, P. elegans sp. nov., P. minor sp. nov., and P. sinica sp. nov., are described and illustrated from the Yellow Sea, China. Paramphimonhystrella gen. nov. differs from the similar genus Amphimonhystrella by the elongated buccal cavity, cervical setae and large caudal glands. Paramphimonhystrella elegans sp. nov. is characterized by ovoid amphids and spicules with a small hook at distal end and cylindrical part of tail shorter than conical part. Paramphimonhystrella sinica sp. nov. is characterized by circular amphids, wide buccal cavity, spicules with blunt tip, and cylindrical part of tail longer than conical part. Paramphimonhystrella minor sp. nov. differs from the other two species by its smaller body (shorter than 800 µm), circular amphids, and spicules with sharp tip. The type species of this new genus is P. elegans gen. nov. and sp. nov. Types are deposited in the College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China.     

New species of Streblosoma (Thelepodidae,Annelida) from the Mediterranean Sea: S. pseudocomatus sp. nov., S. nogueirai sp. nov. and S. hutchingsae sp. nov.

ABSTRACT

In the framework of faunistic research conducted along the Apulian coast of Italy, three new species of thelepodid polychaetes are reported: Streblosoma pseudocomatus sp. nov., S. nogueirai sp. nov. and S. hutchingsae sp. nov. The taxonomic position of S. comatus is clarified and emended as Thelepus comatus. The described species are characterised by their C-shaped arrangement of uncini. The species are compared with their closest congeners and a synoptic table is provided for the species of Streblosma with C-shaped tori.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7AE78305-6949-46F3-B61A-D93792038F7A

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:03051972-0F29-4256-8804-93DB75081777

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9BCE7F71-81DD-43FE-8C95-DD7A572B9973

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BEC2919B-4CAD-4314-B829-79E02C5D53A3     

A new earthworm genus Nouraguesia gen. nov. from French Guiana with description of two new species (Oligochaeta,Glossoscolecidae)

Nouraguesia gen. nov., consisting of three species, is described from Eastern Amazonia. Species belonging to this genus are middle-sized earthworms inhabiting, based on our experience, decomposing tree logs and space filled with detritus between leaf-axils and trunk (e.g. in some palm species). The new genus is morphologically similar to the genus Andiorrhinus, but differs from it by the presence of numerous caeca encircling the intestine in segment 27. The three species belonging to the newly established genus are known from state Amapa in Brazil (N. amaparis (Righi, 1971)); and French Guiana (N. parare sp. nov., N. souadae sp. nov.).     

The Conidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of India

Summary

The polyp and immature medusa stages of Cladonema californicum Hyman, are described. The life cycle of the species was observed in the laboratory and took about 47 days to complete under laboratory conditions. Field collections from Bodega Harbor indicated that the medusae and reproductive polyp are present all year. A review of the taxonomy of the genus reveals that there are possibly only two valid species of Cladonema if one bases species separation on the medusa alone: C. radiatum and its ‘varieties’, and C. californicum. Additional work is needed to elucidate the relationships among the described varieties of the medusae of C. radiatum and the morphology of their respective polyps before further revision of the genus can be attempted.     

Distinctive but functionally convergent song phenotypes characterize two new allopatric species of the Chrysoperla carnea-group in Asia,Chrysoperla shahrudensis sp. nov. and Chrysoperla bolti sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Chrysoperla shahrudensis sp. nov. is discovered in northern Iran, co-occurring with at least five other cryptic species of the Chrysoperla carnea-group. It is distinguished by the volley period and tonality of its courtship duetting song. Another Asian species from alpine meadows of northern Kyrgyzstan, previously C. ‘adamsi-K’ but here named Chrysoperla bolti sp. nov., has a song distinct from but convergent with both C. shahrudensis and North American Chrysoperla adamsi. Coordinated duets can be established in the laboratory between individuals of C. shahrudensis and recorded songs of either C. bolti or C. adamsi. Such functional song equivalence in distinct allopatric species suggests that repeated episodes of parallel speciation can drive the origin of cryptic species diversity in lacewings. Morphology, life history, and ecology of larvae and adults of C. shahrudensis and C. bolti are then formally described. Adding C. shahrudensis to a large mitochondrial DNA data set for ≈ 21 species shows it to be similar to neither C. adamsi nor C. bolti, further supporting independent, convergent evolution of song rather than song similarity due to relationship. Although C. bolti and C. shahrudensis are both from Asia and share some basic temporal song features, the two taxa are distinct, allopatric biological species.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D9B7BDC9-6C09-468B-A6B-D378628EC557     

Species of Gyrodactylus von Nordmann, 1832 (Monogenea Gyrodactylidae) from poeciliid fishes,with a description of G. turnbulli sp. nov. from the guppy,Poecilia reticulata Peters

Gyrodactylus bullatarudis Turnbull, 1956 is described from Xiphophorus helleri × X. maculatus hybrids. Specimens from this host were morphologically indistinguishable from material of this species from Poecilia reticulata and P. sphenops, although differences in host specificity were noted. Gyrodactylus turnbulli sp. nov., a member of the G. eucaliae species group, is described from Poecilia reticulata. Gyrodactylus turnbulli has frequently been confused with G. bullatarudis, although the two species are only distantly related. They can be distinguished by differences in the structure of the dorsal bar, which is deeply notched in G. bullatarudis, and by the relative length of the ventral bar processes.     

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.     

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     

LXV.—On an Encyrtid (Leefmansia bicolor,gen. et sp. n.) reared from eggs of Sexava (Orth.) in the Dutch East Indies

Summary

Eleven species of marine mites (Halacaroidea) are recorded from intertidal and subtidal collections made along the coast of California. Four new species Copidognathus spinifer sp. nov., Copidognathus ilsebartschi sp. nov., Agaue variabilis sp. nov., and Halacarus newelli sp. nov. are described. Agaue californica (Hall) is completely redescribed. Agauopsis newelli Krantz and Halacarus magniporus Krantz, new records for California, are diagnozed and described. Agauopsis curvata Krantz is diagnozed and further described. The juvenile stages of Copidognathus curtus Hall are described. The range of Agauopsis filirostris MacQuitty is extended within California. A tabular key to the Californian species of Copidognathus is given. The distribution of the halacaroids in California is compared to that of other fauna.     

New species of Australian arid zone chelonine wasps from the genera Phanerotoma and Ascogaster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) informed by the ‘Bush Blitz’ surveys of national reserves

Here we focus on the poorly studied braconid wasp subfamily Cheloninae for the arid zone of the Australian continent, using material, in part, resulting from comprehensive surveys of three arid zone reserves. The Bush Blitz programme is a multi-institutional project with the aim of documenting the diversity of the flora and fauna in Australia’s National Reserve System, with describing new species being a key focus of the programme. In total, 11 species from the genera Ascogaster and Phanerotoma are treated, with species’ delimitation based on both molecular and morphological data. Two species are redescribed (Phanerotoma behriae Zettel, 1988a and P. decticauda Zettel, 1988a) and nine species are described as new (Ascogaster brevivena sp. nov., A. ferruginegaster sp. nov., A. prolixogaster sp. nov., A. rubriscapa sp. nov., Phanerotoma bonbonensis sp. nov., P. bushblitz sp. nov., P. lutea sp. nov., P. nigriscapulata sp. nov. and P. witchelinaensis sp. nov.). Keys to the arid zone species of these two genera are provided, along with a species richness estimation of Australian chelonine wasps.     

First record of the genus Leptodactylus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) in Cuba: Leptodactylus fragilis,a biological invasion?

The Neotropical genus Leptodactylus is currently represented by three species in the West Indies (Leptodactylus albilabris, Leptodactylus fallax and Leptodactylus validus). Based on morphological, acoustic and molecular evidence, we document the presence of a fourth species in the Caribbean region, Leptodactylus fragilis (Brocchi, 1877). The species was found at two localities in western Cuba, and molecular data suggest a northern South American origin, possibly Venezuela, for these populations. We discuss the potential invasive status of L. fragilis, based on its known distribution, relative abundance, behaviour and possible impacts on native species of Cuban amphibians.     

Marked differentiation in a new species of dwarf stonebasher,Pollimyrus cuandoensis sp. nov. (Mormyridae: Teleostei), from a contact zone with two sibling species of the Okavango and Zambezi rivers

We studied the systematic status of a form of Pollimyrus of the lower Kwando River that is flanked by the Okavango River, inhabited by Pollimyrus castelnaui (Boulenger, 1911), and the Zambezi River, inhabited by Pollimyrus marianne Kramer et al., 2003. In morphology and electric organ discharges (EODs), the Kwando phenotype proved well differentiated from both P. castelnaui and P. marianne. Sequence analysis of the cyt b gene confirmed that the three forms or species form a monophyletic clade, with P. castelnaui sister to the other two species. Genomic fingerprinting with ISSR-PCR confirmed differentiation of the Kwando form, that we recognize as a different species, P. cuandoensis sp. nov., from its sister species, P. marianne. A considerable amount of EOD and morphological variation was revealed among samples of P. cuandoensis sp. nov. from four different locations on the lower Kwando River, possibly due to hybrid introgression. This seems an ideal system for testing theories of parapatric speciation. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FB644B21-04F6-44F8-AEB6-8DC09268C17C     

Psocoptera of the Togo-Benin Gap,West Africa

Summary

The first major collection of Psocoptera from the Togo-Benin Gap containing 28 species, in 16 genera is described. Twelve of the species are new (Rhyopsocus plesiafer sp. nov., Caecilius propinquifallax sp. nov., C. fuscolineus sp. nov., Lachesilla mutabilis sp. nov., L. nigripalpa sp. nov., Ectopsocus maculosus sp. nov., Peripsocus marginatus sp. nov., P. acuminatus sp. nov., P. togoensis sp. nov., Pseudoscottiella forcipiforma sp. nov., Blaste togoensis sp. nov., and Trichadenotecnum colesae sp. nov.). Blaste muiri Smithers is synonymized with B. medleri New. The previously described psocid species, together with affinities which the new species have with the psocid fauna of other countries, are discussed in the light of the zoogeographical interest in this area.     

On a new species of the family Callionymidae (Pisces,Perciformes, Callionymoidei), Callionymus stigmatopareius sp. nov. from Mozambique

Summary

Callionymus stigmatopareius sp. nov. is described and compared with allied species of the genus Callionymus. Features which distinguish it from similar species are as follows: 1. 1the combination of 8 rays in the 2nd dorsal fin and 7 rays in the anal fin with preopercular spine formula ;

2. 2unusually long anal fin rays;

3. 3colour markings.

     

Taxonomic revision of the fruit fly genus Perilampsis Bezzi (Diptera,Tephritidae)

The Afrotropical fruit fly genus Perilampsis Austen is revised. In total, 17 species are recognized of which three are new to science: P. deemingi sp. nov., P. incohata sp. nov., and P. rubella sp. nov. Perilampsis thyene Munro is considered a junior synonym of P. amazuluana Munro. All species are described or re-described, with illustrations of wing patterns and female terminalia where deemed necessary for unambiguous identification. Their host-specificity is briefly discussed. An identification key to species is provided.