Persica qeshmensis gen. nov. sp. nov from the Persian Gulf (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida: Acotylea), with remarks on reproductive structures

A new genus of acotylean polyclad, Persica qeshmensis gen. nov. sp. nov. (Acotylea, Pleioplanidae), was collected from intertidal rocky shores of the Northern Persian Gulf, Iran. The genus Persica is established on the presence of small tentacles; tentacular and cerebral eyes; spermiducal bulbs; true seminal vesicle; prostatic vesicle of atomata-type; muscular coiled ejaculatory duct, provided with a stylet, absence of a vagina bulbosa or Lang’s vesicle. Persica qeshmensis is characterised by a sandy beige to light brown background colour, with pale brown microdots, light grey ventral body surface, coiled ejaculatory duct embedded in parenchymatous cell mass, elongated sigmoid stylet, a well-developed penis sheath located in a small male atrium, and with a non-muscular blind chamber extending anteriad from the vagina to the level of the genital sucker.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FAA7AA0A-6954-47D0-A5B2-1A2EC04050C3     

Two new Pleioplana species (Platyhelminthes,Polycladida, Acotylea) from Turkey

Two new species of flatworms, Pleioplana bosphorensis sp. nov. and Pleioplana Okusi sp. nov., Acotylea, Polycladida, are described from the shallow rocky shores of the Turkish Straits System, northwestern Turkey. Both species are characterized by a prostatic vesicle of atomata-type, stylet and Lang's vesicle. Pleioplana bosphorensis possesses a body of fleshy consistency and without tentacles, with spermiducal bulbs; elongated seminal vesicle and rounded prostatic vesicle with four tubular chambers and a conical, strong, large and straight stylet. Pleioplana Okusi has a translucent body, tentacular knobs, large seminal vesicle, elongated prostatic vesicle with six tubular chambers, and a long slender slightly curved stylet.     

On neotropical Temnocephala (Platyhelminthes)

Fourteen of the 19 recorded species of neotropical Temnocephala are re-examined for new taxonomic characters and all records are tabulated. Autapomorphies found are eyespots with red, fugacious pigment, a characteristic pattern of syncytial epidermal plates and excretory pores enclosed within the boundaries of the paired post tentacular (‘excretory’) plates. The worms are rather homogeneous with regard to the genital structures (although T. brenesi has only one pair of testes) and appear to hold their tentacles in a consistent pattern. This suite of species is homogeneous, differing from worms from Australia currently assigned to the genus. Since the type of the taxon Temnocephalida, Temnocephala chilensis (Moquin-Tandon, 1846), has the suite of characters shown here, a new genus (Temnosewellia gen. nov.) is proposed to accommodate Australian representatives formerly in Temnocephala.     

Marine protozoan epibionts on the copepod Lepeophtheirus salmonis,parasite of the Atlantic salmon

Two species of ciliate suctorian protozoa belonging to the genus Ephelota, E. gemmipara and E. gigantea, were found as epibionts on the marine copepod Lepeophtheirus salmonis (salmon louse), an ectoparasite of marine salmonid fish, including the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar. Epibionts were distributed over the cephalothoracic shield, genital segment, abdomen and caudal branches of the copepods. Individuals from both species possessed two types of tentacles: long, prehensile, pointed tentacles and short, adhesive, capitate feeding tentacles. Both species contained a highly ramified and lobated macronucleus. E. gemmipara showed a rounded cellular body attached to a stalk possessing longitudinal and transversal striations but lacking a suprastylar extension. E. gigantea had an umbrella‐shaped cellular body significantly larger than in E. gemmipara, the stalk showing only longitudinal striations but possessing a conspicuous suprastylar extension. This is the first time that the presence of ciliate epibionts has been recorded at species level on the copepod Lepeophtheirus salmonis. Statistical data about the distribution of both species on the surface of the copepod are detailed and a new geographical distribution for E. gigantea is proposed.     

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.     

Classical Biological Control of Bemisia tabaci in the United States. By Juli Gould,Kim Hoelmer & John Goolsby

ABSTRACT

The present study describes two new genera, six new species and three new records from the Sea of Marmara. The new genus Marmara gen. nov. belonging to the family Sagartiidae is mainly characterized by having conspicuous muscular belts along the column and the absence of suckers and tenaculi on the body wall. The genus Charisactis gen. nov. belonging to the family Condylanthidae is mainly characterized by having an atypical mesentery arrangement, single siphonoglyph and homotrichs in tentacles. The other species newly described from the Sea of Marmara belong to the families Diadumenidae (one species from deep waters), Halcampoididae (one species from shallow waters), Edwardsiidae (one species from shallow waters) and Epizoanthidae (one species from deep waters). Three species, namely Epizoanthus arenaceus (family Epizoanthidae), Rolandia coralloides (family Clavulariidae) and Virgularia sp. (family Virgulariidae) are reported for the first time from the Sea of Marmara. The external and internal anatomical features as well as cnidom structures of the species are presented and discussed with the closely related species. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:51DA9869-D786-4A8A-8C1F-62DC1BB67923     

Disjunct distribution of Szeptyckiella gen. nov. from New Caledonia and South China undermines the monophyly of Willowsiini (Collembola: Entomobryidae)

Morphology of scales is an important taxonomical character at all levels of Entomobryidae taxonomy. A new scaled genus of Collembola, Szeptyckiella gen. nov., and three new species are described: Szeptyckiella boulouparica sp. nov. and Szeptyckiella sinelloides sp. nov. from New Caledonia, and Szeptyckiella lii sp. nov. from South China. The genus, assigned to Willowsiini, is characterized by pointed scales on the body, eyes and pigment absent, antennal apical bulb absent, dens lacking spines and scales, and bidentate mucro with a short basal spine. It is closest to Hawinella from Hawaii but the latter possesses a falcate mucro. However, its morphological characteristics and its disjunct distribution raise a number of problems. Its widely disjunct distribution is difficult to explain in terms of palaeobiogeographical or more recent dispersal events. The new genus is similar to Sinella without consideration of scales, although both genera are placed in different tribes following the current supra-generic classification of Entomobryidae. We discuss other cases of paired genera differing only by the presence or absence of scales, and placed in either Willowsiini or Entomobryini. On this basis, we assume that scale presence could independently occur in the former tribe, questioning the monophyly of the tribe Willowsiini.     

Similiclava nivea (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Similiclavidae): a new family,genus and species of athecate hydroid from the Pacific coast of North America

The hydroid Similiclava nivea, gen. nov., sp. nov., is described from colonies collected in nearshore waters of southern British Columbia, Canada. It has been observed by divers, and recorded as Clava sp., several hundred times at locations between southeast Alaska and southern Oregon, USA. While resembling the hydractiniid Clava multicornis, tentacles of S. nivea are arranged in two close whorls in extended hydranths rather than being scattered over the distal end of the hydranth. Moreover, the hypostome is dome-shaped to flattened instead of being proboscidiform. Similiclava nivea also resembles species of the hydractiniid genera Stylactaria, Hydractinia and Podocoryna, but differs in being monomorphic, in lacking spines on the hydrorhiza and in having numerous (as many as 50 or more) sporosacs borne in a broad whorl below the tentacles on normal hydranths. Molecular analysis using the mitochondrial 16S gene sequences reveals that S. nivea is closer to Clathrozoellidae than to Hydractiniidae, although it is clearly distinct from both. A new family, Similiclavidae, is established to accommodate the species. Hydroids of S. nivea were observed at relatively shallow depths (10–30 m) on rocks and epibiota attached to rocky substrates. Colonies are conspicuous because of the relatively large surface area they occupy (up to 20 cm across, and in aggregations often exceeding 100 or more hydranths) together with the height (about 15 mm high when extended) and striking white colour of living hydranths. The cnidome consists of desmonemes, microbasic euryteles and microbasic mastigophores. A substrate generalist observed on rocks, algae, sponges, barnacles, bryozoans and other hydroids in cold-temperate waters, S. nivea is most prevalent in shallow subtidal areas swept by tidal currents.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2691E02E-7E14-4820-8D91-41D9E7E8BF62     

Molecular and morphological identification of two new African species of Dugesia (Platyhelminthes,Tricladida, Dugesiidae) from Cameroon

The paper describes two new Dugesia species collected from the rivers Messassi and Ntsetsensooh in Cameroon, representing the first planarian flatworms documented from this country. Based on morphological data, the new species Dugesia bijuga Harrath & Sluys, sp. nov. is characterized mainly by the presence of two diaphragms, a barrel-shaped penis that is traversed by numerous ducts of penis glands and is provided with a short nozzle, and the presence of two atrial folds. The other new species, Dugesia pustulata Harrath & Sluys, sp. nov., is characterized mainly by absence of a penis bulb, presence of a large, elongated and weakly muscular seminal vesicle, and by the ventroposterior section of the bursal canal being thrown into distinct folds. The phylogenetic position of the two new species was determined through a molecular phylogenetic tree, based on a mitochondrial and a nuclear gene, including species from the major geographical range of distribution of the genus Dugesia. The phylogenetic tree revealed that the Cameroon lineage does not constitute a monophyletic group with the other Afrotropical species; it also showed that the African continent may house a great diversity of Dugesia species that still remains to be discovered.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:007441A5-F037-4950-9F5B-AD6ED12A40ED     

Structure and functioning of the gut in the Bullomorpha (Opisthobranchia)

Summary

A study of the form and functioning of Aglaja cylindrica and Aglaja aureopunctata. In this family the radula and gizzard plates are absent. In Aglaja cylindrica the buccal bulb has enlarged to form a pump used to suck in polychaete and nemertine worms. In Aglaja aureopunctata the buccal bulb can partially evert, enabling the species to ingest shelled opisthobranchs. In both species an oesophageal crop fulfils the role of the reduced stomach. A short review of the histology of the digestive gland is also included.     

New Polypheretima and Pithemera (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) species from the Mt. Malindang Range,Mindanao Island,Philippines

We describe four new pheretimoid earthworm species, one in Polypheretima and three in Pithemera, from Mt. Malindang, Misamis Occidental Province, Mindanao Island, Philippines, and provide diagrams of external morphology and internal anatomy. Polypheretima mindanaoensis sp. nov. belongs to the Po. elongata species group, characterised by having genital markings on xix and successive segments and pairs of spermathecal batteries in vi and/or vii. It differs from the other members of the Po. elongata species group in having no copulatory bursae. This species shows individual variation in the number of spermathecae in each battery. Individuals that lack spermathecae are presumed to reproduce parthenogenetically. Pithemera malindangensis sp. nov. and Pi. duminagati sp. nov. belong to the Pi. bicincta species group, characterised by having the first spermathecal pores in 4/5. These two species differ in size and in the distance between male pores. Pithemera donvictorianoi sp. nov. belongs to the Pi. pacifica species group, characterised by having the first spermathecal pores in 5/6. This is the only member of this species group so far reported from the Philippines, and this is the only Philippine Pithemera species whose clitellum covers two rather than two and a half segments. Current studies show that worldwide, the Philippines has the highest diversity for Pithemera, with 13 species, followed by Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, each area with six species. Indonesia has the highest diversity for Polypheretima, with 18 species, followed by Vietnam with 13 species, and then Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, each area with eight species. These findings indicate a high degree of endemicity within these areas, suggesting that many species remain to be detected in the Philippines.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2198709C-F5E1-4A0D-A185-CA506D206171     

A new heteromorphic deutonymph (Hypopus) of a sarcoptiform mite parasitic under the skin of a toucan

Summary

A study of the form and functioning of Philine angasi and Philine auriformis. Philine angasi feeds on the bivalve Chione stutchburyi by extrusion of the buccal bulb. The radula is degenerate and plays no part in the ingestion of food. Philine auriformis ingests Nucula hartvigiana, the buccal bulb acting as a suction pump. The buccal bulb is not eversible and the buccal mass carries the prey from the buccal cavity to the oesophagus. The feeding and form of these species are compared with that of Philine aperta. It is shown that the musculature of the buccal region is modified to suit the different feeding methods.     

The first Hapalotremus Simon, 1903 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Argentina: description and natural history of Hapalotremus martinorum sp. nov.

A new species of Hapalotremus Simon, 1903 from northern Argentina is described and illustrated. Hapalotremus martinorum sp. nov. differs from all other congeners by the colour pattern of live specimens. Males differ in the male palpal bulb morphology, with thickened and less curved embolus having a blunt subapical keel and less-developed apical keel. Females differ in the shape of the spermathecae, with the lateral bases more pronounced than the superiors and the upper edge more rounded. Specimens were captured inhabiting short burrows or crevices under stones in high cloud forests. Hapalotremus cyclothorax (Mello-Leitão 1923) is a junior synonym of Homoeomma montanum (Mello-Leitão, 1923), Hapalotremus scintillans (Mello-Leitão 1929) is a junior synonym of Pachistopelma rufonigrum Pocock, 1901, Hapalotremus exilis (Mello-Leitão 1923) and Hapalotremus muticus (Mello-Leitão 1923) are considered species inquirenda.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1758F6FD-8883-445D-A757-0AC7E120DCF6     

Two new species of the genus Paracyatholaimus Micoletzky (Nematoda: Cyatholaimidae) from the Yellow Sea

Two new free-living marine nematode species of Paracyatholaimus Micoletzky, 1923 Paracyatholaimus qingdaoensis sp. nov. and Paracyatholaimus huanghaiensis sp. nov. from the Yellow Sea, China are described. Paracyatholaimus qingdaoensis sp. nov. is characterized by cylindrical body with conical tail; spicules reverse S-shaped, distally pointed; gubernaculum plate, with two cusps at distal end, parallel to the spicules; 10 thick setose precloacal supplements in a 5 + 5 arrangement, anterior group of five supplements located at a protuberance. Paracyatholaimus huanghaiensis sp. nov. is characterized by a cylindrical body with conic-cylindrical tail; slender spicules curved, distally pointed; gubernaculum handle-shaped, expanding distally to a plate, with some sawteeth at distal end; three papillose precloacal supplements, each papilla protruding conically with cuticularized narrow ducts. A key for identification of species of Paracyatholaimus is proposed. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0A8E40E5-AE7A-47DA-B755-61E1D088C1E9     

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     

II.—Association between sessile colonial hydroids and fishes

Résumé

1. 1. There is a symbiosis between Sertularia operculata and Squalus acanthias, and between Seralia lendigera and Hippocampus ramulosus—there being but a single case reported for each pair of organisms. It is probable that these associations are entirely accidental.

2. 2. Of Stylactis minoi and Minous inermis, no fewer than twenty-nine specimens of the fish (presumably all ever taken) wherever found—and they have been taken from five widely distant stations on both coasts of India, and from Japan—were infested with the hydroid. Furthermore, so far as known, this particular hydroid has never been found save on this particular fish (inermis). These facts would seem to indicate that this is a purposive or obligate symbiosis.

3. 3. About one hundred specimens of Hypsagonus quadricornis were taken in Puget Sound. Thirty-seven of these were preserved, and ten of them were found to be sparsely covered with Perigonimus pugetensis. Other specimens of the fish taken outside Puget Sound and in Behring Sea all lacked the hydroid. Consideration of all these facts leads to the conclusion that the association is symbiotic and more or less accidental.

4. 4. One case has been presented of Hydrichthys mirus attached to Seriola zonata in Narragansett Bay. Parasitism is alleged, but the proofs offered, that there was some apparent degeneration on the part of the hydroid and some slight evidence of wasting away of the muscles of the fish at the point of attachment, are at best inconclusive, there being no evidence from sections presented to show actual anastomosis of the tissues of the two organisms. From the evidence presented one must conclude that this is only a case of symbiosis.

5. 5. One case is known of the attachment of a Nudiclava to a fish, Monacanthus, from the Andaman Sea. Parasitism is alleged in the title of the paper, but disclaimed in the text, since, in sections cut through the basal plate and the skin to which it was attached, such was not proven. Furthermore, the finding of food in the hydranths discounts the idea of parasitism. This case also must be classed as a symbiosis.

6. 6. True parasitism has been repeatedly shown to exist between an aberrant hydroid, Polypodium hydriforme, and the ovarian eggs of the Volga sterlet, Acipenser ruthenus. This has been definitely established by the work of four investigators, extending in time from 1872 to 1922—a half century. Except in its earliest stages, Polypodium has the nutritive cell-layer of its stolon, the endoderm, on the outside bathed in the egg-yolk. Later this becomes inverted and a large amount of yolk is carried into the common cavity. The egg is used up in nourishing the parasite.

7. 7. True parasitism has been shown between Hydrichthys boycei and numerous individuals of three species of fishes—Ambassis natalensis, Mugil sp., and an undetermined fish belonging to the Glyphidodontidæ—in Durban Bay, South Africa. The parasites were attached to various parts of the fishes, especially the fins. At the points of attachment, haustoria were sent down into flesh and into blood-vessels, and by means of these the parasite fed on the tissues of its host. Furthermore, on none of the hydranths were tentacles ever found, nor was any food ever found in them. Strange to say, the parasite never covers any large area of the fish, and apparently presently drops off leaving a scar behind.

     

The cheliceral flagellum of pseudoscorpions

Summary

Detailed examination of the flagella of all the available stages of four British species (C. ischnocheles, C. orthodactylus, C. tenuis and C. kewi) shows that the number of blades is constant for each stage, being 5, 7, 9 and 11 for the proto-, deuto-, trito-mynph and adult, respectively. The form of the blades is described and the taxonomic implications of the presence of bipinnate blades are discussed.