Biodiversity and biogeography of the coral boring barnacles of the genus Berndtia (Cirripedia: Acrothoracica) in the West Pacific,with description of three new species

Acrothoracican barnacles of the genus Berndtia are exclusive coral borers and the type species is Berndtia purpurea Utinomi, 1950a, reported in the corals Lepastrea purpurea and Psammocora profundacella in Wakayama, Japan. We confirmed the type is only from the coral Lepastrea purpurea and is distributed from Japan, Taiwan to Hong Kong. In contrast, B. purpurea from Psammocora belongs to a new species Berndtia haradai sp. nov., which is distributed from Japan to Okinawa. The other new species identified in the present study, Berndtia denticulata sp. nov. is common in Okinawa but also collected on the Pacific side of the Philippines. Berndtia utinomii sp. nov. is found on NE coast of Taiwan, Kochi and Wakayama in Japan and Vietnam but is absent from Okinawa. All described species are diagnostic in the coloration and morphology of the opercular bars in live specimens, morphology of posterior lobes of operculum and the number of notches in maxillules.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8B6FE5B4-C5DD-48DE-B91A-39BBBAF87636     

Contribution to the systematic revision of the African cyprinid fish genus Labeo: species from the Lower Zaire river system

The species of the genus Labeo from the Lower Zaire river system have been revised on the basis of 284 preserved fishes, including type material of 18 nominal species cited or described from this region. Morphometrics, meristic counts, morphological observations and radiographs have been used for this study. All results obtained are supported by statistical analyses. From the 18 nominal species reported, only 12 species are recognized as valid. Two major groups were identified: one group has rows of conical papillae on the inner surface of lips; and the other group presents rows of transverse plicae on the inner surface of lips. The first group has two species: L. lineatus and L. weeksii. One synonymy is proposed: L. lineatus (partim) = L. weeksii. In the second group, 10 species have been identified: L. longipinnis, L. degeni, L. barbatus, L. macrostoma, L. falcipinnis, L. cyclorhynchus, L. parvus, L. greenii, L. nasus and L. sorex. One unidentified taxon apparently represents a species new to science, but this must be confirmed by a wider revision of the genus which is the subject of further research. Some synonymies in this group are proposed: L. brichardi (partim) = L. barbatus; L. lineatus (partim) = L. degeni. Other synonymies already established by Reid (1985), have been confirmed: L. lividus = L. barbatus; L. brichardi (partim) = L. macrostoma; L. variegatus = L. cyclorhynchus. One synonymy has been restored: L. velifer = L. longipinnis. Finally, one synonymy remains in question: L. chariensis = L. parvus. A key to species is provided.     

New species of Corcyrogobius,Thorogobius and Wheelerigobius from West Africa (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

Three new West African species of gobiid fishes are described from the Gulf of Guinea in the tropical eastern Atlantic. These are Corcyrogobius lubbocki sp. nov., Thorogobius rofeni sp. nov. and Wheelerigobius wirtzi sp. nov. Generic features are discussed. T. rofeni, known from only the holotype, was trawled on the upper continental slope, an unusually deep occurrence for a gobiid species.     

New records of bats (Chiroptera: Mammalia) from Malawi,east-central Africa,with an assessment of their status and conservation

This paper reports 97 new species-locality records of bats from Malawi. Of particular interest are four species of bats (Rhinolophus swinnyi, Triaenops persicus, Eptesicus flavescens, Tadarida nigeriae) which have not been recorded previously from Malawi. The relative status of bats in Malawi was estimated and the species were placed in five categories ranging from ‘rarely-recorded’ to ‘very commonly-recorded’. Of the 59 species of bats known to occur in Malawi, 28 are rarely-recorded in Malawi. The relative status and species-locality records of bats were analysed to assess which species, and which localities, need special conservation effort. Seventeen species which are rare throughout their ranges in Africa as well as being rarely-recorded or seldom-recorded in Malawi, are considered to require special effort. Checklists of bats are given for 11 localities, including Liwonde NP in the Upper Shire Valley (29 spp.), two localities on the Shire Highlands (28, 22 spp.), Thyolo on the boundary between the Shire Highlands and Phalombe Plain (22 spp.), and Chiromo in the Lower Shire valley (30 spp.), which have particularly rich bat faunas. Localities in need of urgent conservation effort include Ntchisi FR in the Central Region, and Chiromo. Ninety-two percent of the species of bats known to occur in Malawi have been recorded from the Southern Region. Most of these species will probably continue to survive in southern Malawi provided that the National Parks (especially Liwonde NP) are maintained and well-managed, and there is no further destruction of the indigenous vegetation at Chiromo and Thyolo, and on the Shire Highlands.     

Revision of the isopod crustacean genus Mothocya Costa,in Hope, 1851 (Cymothoidae: Flabellifera), parasitic on marine fishes

The genus Mothocya is fully revised. Irona Schioedte and Meinert is placed in synonymy with Mothocya. All named species but one, including 18 new species, are described and figured in detail. A further eight undescribed species are listed. With one exception Mothocya species are all gill parasites found principally on atherinomorph fishes of the families Hemiramphidae, Belonidae, and Atherinidae. Brief accounts are given of the biogeography, biology and host-parasite interaction of the species of Mothocya. Keys to the species are provided for the different major biogeographic regions.     

Freshwater sponges of the West Indies: Discovery of Spongillidae (Haplosclerida,Spongillina) from Cuba with biogeographic notes and a checklist for the Caribbean area

The paper reports the first finding of freshwater sponges from the Greater Antilles. Spongillidae belonging to four species of the genera Ephydatia, Anheteromeyenia, and Radiospongilla were found in a variety of freshwater habitats in western Cuba. Anheteromeyenia cheguevarai nov. sp. is described. Morphological traits of sponges from West Cuba were characterized by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and compared to the spongillofauna of the Nearctic and Neotropical regions and the pan‐Caribbean area. The specific richness and the discovery of a new species suggest a high diversity of the Antillean freshwater sponges although the investigated area of Cuba is relatively small.     

A new species of the genus Cytheridella (Crustacea,Ostracoda) from Nigeria,West Africa

Cytheridella tepida sp. nov., a freshwater ostracod, is described from Nigeria, West Africa. It has been compared with five extant species of the genus Cytheridella. Cytheridella tepida was collected from slow-flowing streams characterized by warm water. Some other ecological notes on its habitat are given.     

The species of Cellaria (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida) with large avicularia from West Africa

The three species of Cellaria with large avicularia (the size of an autozooid) known from West Africa have been studied: C. atlantida Cook, C. cookae n. sp. and C. salicornioides Lamouroux. All three are figured by SEM. Cellaria cookae n. sp. is mainly distinguished by its avicularium, with arched and pointed rostrum and mandible and a cryptocyst with a rectangular lyrula. Cellaria atlantida is characterised by its bell shaped Cellaria avicularium. The recognition of C. salicornioides var. normani is considered to be unjustified, as the distinctive character, which is the existence of lateral branching, is only a feature of young colonies and tends to disappear later.     

New records of fishes from the Bonaparte Seamount and Saint Helena Island,South Atlantic

A small collection of fishes from the Bonaparte Seamount (15°40′S, 6°55′W, 130 km west of Saint Helena Island, least depth 105 m), comprising 14 specimens from nine species in eight families, is described. This appears to be the first collection of fishes reported from the seamount. In addition, seven new records for St Helena (15°58′S, 5°43′W) are reported as well as additional specimens of several rarely caught endemics. The scorpaenid Pontinus nigropunctatus, previously known only from St Helena, is now also reported from Bonaparte Seamount while the serranid Holanthias fronticinctus, also considered a St Helena endemic, has been found to comprise 20% of the diet of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) at the Seamount. The carangid Decapterus muroadsi which was previously recorded in the Atlantic only at St Helena is now also recorded from the Bonaparte Seamount. A second specimen of the primarily Indo-Pacific carangid Uraspis helvola is recorded from St Helena (third record for the Atlantic). Particularly interesting new records at St Helena, which represents significant range extensions, are of Corniger spinosus (Holocentridae), and of Carangoides ruber and Seriola fasciata (Carangidae). The potential role of shallow seamounts around Ascension and St Helena as ‘stepping stones’ between the two islands is discussed.     

Radiation in the halophytic coenoses of the Peri-Tethys: taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Ita (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The weevil genus Ita Tournier, 1878 Tournier, H. 1878. Sur deux genres nouveaux de Curculionides. Ann Soc Entomol Belg (C R)., 21: XVIII–XIX.  [Google Scholar] is revised, its phylogeny inferred and its historical biogeography discussed. Its nomenclatural history is detailed and its taxonomic placement within the Curculionidae is examined; the genus is ascribed to the subfamily Curculioninae, tribe Itini. The type specimens of all the described names referable to this genus were examined and lectotypes designated. Ten new species are described. The synonymy Xeronoma Iablokov-Khnzorian, 1964 Iablokov-Khnzorian, SM. 1964. New genera and species of Coleoptera from Transcaucasus and middle Asia. Zool Sb Zool Inst Akad Nauk Armyanskoi SSR, 13: 151–186.  [Google Scholar] = Ita Tournier, 1878 Tournier, H. 1878. Sur deux genres nouveaux de Curculionides. Ann Soc Entomol Belg (C R)., 21: XVIII–XIX.  [Google Scholar] syn. nov. is proposed. The natural history is detailed: all the species for which data are available live in halophytic habitats and are associated with the former family Chenopodiaceae. Inference on phylogeny and hypotheses on historical biogeography are proposed: the genus has probably differentiated not later than the upper Miocene along the south-eastern coasts of the Paratethys; a subsequent radiation occurred as a consequence of the tectonic evolution of the region and through events of dispersion and dispersal.