Incidence of tarsonemid mites on Cocos nucifera L. (Arecaceae) from Oman with description of a new species of Nasutitarsonemus Beer and Nucifora (Acari: Tarsonemidae)

Coconut is an important crop grown in the coastal plain of the Dhofar region, south-eastern Oman, on the edge of the Arabian Peninsula desert. It holds a particular place in the landscaping of the region and is also of great interest for the production of coconut drinking water. One of the main pests of coconut in this region is the coconut mite (Aceria guerreronis Keifer). In surveys conducted to understand the dynamics of that mite and its association with other arthropods, the incidence of tarsonemid mites was determined. Steneotarsonemus furcatus de Leon was the most commonly found tarsonemid on fruits as well as on growing tips of coconut seedlings, always at low levels. A few representatives of an undescribed tarsonemid species were also found. That new species is here described as Nasutitarsonemus omani Lofego and Moraes, sp. nov. A key to the species of this little-known genus is provided.     

Water mites from spring- and ground-water habitats in the Sultanate of Oman

Eight species of water mite were collected in 1996 during a biological survey with various sampling techniques by J. H. Stock, J. J. Vermeulen (both Amsterdam) and Abdul M. Al Nofli (Oman) from ground-water habitats of the Sultanate of Oman (Arabian peninsula). All species are recorded for the first time from the Arabian peninsula. Four species, representing the genera Monatractides, Bharatohydracarus (two species), and a genus and subfamily new to science, are described for the first time. The systematic and zoogeographical significance of these new records is discussed.     

A preliminary survey of the insect fauna of the Hajar Mountain Range,Oman

The Hajar Mountain Range of Northern Oman is an important centre of species endemism, and of biogeographical interest as a crossroads between the Afrotropical and Palaearctic regions. Despite this, the invertebrate fauna of the region is largely unknown, with very little dedicated research or surveys having been undertaken until now. Here we present the invertebrate species collected and identified from five different survey locations within the Hajar Mountains. This preliminary checklist contains 296 records, of which 36 are new records for Oman. Our surveys also discovered two new species of ant: Lepisiota omanensis collected from Jebel Qahwan Reserve and at the base of Jebel Akhdar, and Anochetus annetteae from Hibra Village in the Nakhl Region.     

A remarkable new species of the genus Lepisiota Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Oman and the United Arab Emirates with a key to the Arabian species

Lepisiota omanensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on the worker caste collected in Jebel Qahwan Oman, and Ain Al Waal, United Arab Emirates. The new species belongs to the L. gracilicornis group and is separated easily from all Arabian Lepisiota species, and other species in the gracilicornis group, by the exceptionally long, acute and strongly curved propodeal spines. Lepisiota elegantissima Collingwood & van Harten is recorded for the first time from Oman. Lepisiota simplex (Forel) stat rev. is recognised at species rank. Ecological and biological observations are provided. A revised key to the Arabian species of Lepisiota is given. A checklist of the Arabian Lepisiota species is presented.     

Nesomyrmex micheleae,a new ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Dhofar Governorate,Oman, with a synoptic list,distribution map and key to the Arabian Nesomyrmex

ABSTRACT

A new species of the myrmicine ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler, 1910, N. micheleae Sharaf sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Oman based on the worker caste. The new species is a member of the N. angulatus species group and can be diagnosed by the golden yellow gaster that contrasts with the dark brown body; the irregular longitudinal rugulose sculpture on the cephalic surface; and the finely punctate mesonotum and propodeal dorsum. A synoptic species list, an updated key and a distribution map to the Arabian Nesomyrmex species are presented. Continued ant species discoveries are central to large-scale diversity patterns, conservation biology and macroecology.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FBCEACA7-E543-4B10-AB9D-D63319DCB31F http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1D2EC498-3B2E-43CD-A3C0-1C6C237471E2     

Reef and coral communities of Oman,with a description of a new coral species (Order Scleractinia,genus Acanthastrea)

The coastline of Oman extends 2000 km from 16.5°N to 26.5°N in the north-west Indian Ocean. Most of it is long, exposed sandy beach or mixed sand and shallow rocky areas subject to severe scour, and there is a seasonal, cold-water upwelling whose influence increases towards the equator. Three areas of the mainland support corals, separated by long stretches of shallow sandy or muddy sublittoral. Three categories of coral or reef development are recognized: (A) coral reefs develop with characteristic profiles of reef flat and reef slope; (B) corals provide framework but there is no reef growth and no characteristic reef profile; and (C) no true reef development occurs, but mixed coral/phaeophyte communities are attached directly on to old, often non-limestone substrate. A and B are common in the north and central regions but are rare in the south. Type C is found in the centre and especially the south where the poor reef development is more typical of marginal, high-latitude coral areas. Ninety-one coral species from 47 genera were recorded (77 species from 37 genera being zooxanthellate), although diversity declines towards the equator. Regional comparisons show the Oman fauna to be fairly similar (up to 63% similariy) to that of the Arabian Gulf, but relatively dissimilar to faunas of the Gulf of Kutch (20%) and Lakshadweep (35%), the only other areas known to have significant amounts of corals in the Arabian Sea. A new species of Acanthanstrea with calices 5–8 cm wide is described.     

Three new species of Euragallia Oman, 1938 from Brazil (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Agalliinae)

Four new species of Clinotanypus Kieffer, 1913 (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanypodinae) from Brazil are described and figured as male and immatures: Clinotanypus caritus, Clinotanypus gymnos, Clinotanypus setosus and Clinotanypus striatus. Keys to the Neotropical males, pupae and larvae of known species of Clinotanypus are provided. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DAE70C2F-15CA-4B72-9AE5-F601EAD76A7C     

A phylogenetic review of the genus Atopobathynella Schminke, 1973 (Crustacea,Malacostraca, Bathynellacea) with three new species from southeastern India

To date, the genus Atopobathynella Schminke, 1973, contains 12 Gondwanan species, including two species from India. Three new species of this genus, viz. A. indica sp. nov., A. nelloreensis sp. nov., and A. inopinata sp. nov., from southeastern India are described herein. The various characters and their states in Atopobathynella, in relation to other parabathynellid species known so far, are discussed; especially its closeness with the genus Kimberleybathynella is highlighted. A morphological phylogenetic analysis of the genus Atopobathynella,along with its closely related genus Kimberleybathynella is also done, and the inter-relationships among the 15 species of Atopobathynella and six species of Kimberleybathynella are deduced, using the software PAUP 4.0b10. This analysis, based on 39 unordered characters, has yielded 23 most parsimonious trees, with a length of 138 steps, a consistency index (CI) of 0.3768, a homoplasy index (HI) of 0.6232, a retention index (RI) of 0.6211, and a rescaled consistency index (RC) of 0.2341. The cladogram thus obtained suggests the grouping of ((A.wattsi, A. glenayleensis), (A. readi, ((((A. gascoyneensis, A. hospitalis), A. hinzeae), (((A. compagana, A. chelifera), A. valdiviana), (((A. operculata, A. paraoperculata), A. nelloreensis), (A. indica, A. inopinata)))), (A. schminkei, (((((K. gigantea, K. kimberleyensis), K. argylensis), K. pleochaeta), K. mandorana), K. hexapoda)))), outgroup). It also shows that the five Indian species are nestled between the Australian Atopobathynella and Kimberleybathynella species. The Indian species appear to be much derived as compared to their Australian counterparts. A brief note on the origin of Bathynellacea is also added at the end.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:18BD9A75-5D38-470F-B8C2-D56F645831C4     

Digenetic trematodes from mullets of Visakhapatnam (India)

In the course of a survey carried out on the digenetic trematode fauna of three species of mullets Mugil cephalus, Liza macrolepis and Valamugil cunnesius collected from various brackish water localities at Visakhapatnam, 15 species of adult digenetic trematodes and 9 species of metacercariae were encountered.

The adult digeneans are distributed over 7 families as follows: Transversotrematidae (1), Haploporidae (6), Haplosplanchnidae (2), Lepocreadiidae (1), Gorgoderidae (1), Bunocotylidae (3) and Bivesiculidae (1). Five new species, Haploporus indicus, H. pseudoindicus, Lecithobotrys mugilis, Carassotrema bengalense and Saturnius valamugilis are described. Other species reported are: Transversotrema patialense, Pseudohapladena bengalense, Saccocoelioides martini, Haplosplanchnus purii, H. caudatus, Phyllodistomum lewesi, Crassicutis karwarensis, Saturnius segmentatus, Aphanurus harengulae and Paucivitellosus sp.

The nine species of metacercariae collected from mullets belonged to 5 families: Clinostomidae (1), Heterophyidae (5), Acanthostomatidae (1), Cryptogonimidae (1) and Didymozoidae (1). The various metacercariae collected are: Clinostomum sp., Haplorchis yokogawai, Centrocestus formosanus, Stellantchasmus falcatus, Stictodora sp., Galactosomum ussuriense, Atrophecaecum burminis and Exorchis sp.

The characteristic features of the trematode fauna of mullets are discussed. Support is given to Manter's ecological bridge theory that mullets act as links in the intertransfer of parasites between marine and freshwater habitats.     

First record of the genus Koreanurina Najt and Weiner (Collembola: Neanuridae: Pseudachorutinae) from China,with description of two new species from Changbai mountain

The genus Koreanurina Najt and Weiner, 1992 is recorded for the first time from China. It is redefined and its similarity with the subfamily Caputanurininae is stressed. Two species are described from Changbai Mountain in North-East China: Koreanurina weinerae sp. nov. and K. alba sp. nov. The first species differs from the other species of the genus, mostly by its post-antennal organ located on the lateral edge of head (versus dorsolaterally), its central plate on head wider and the presence of only 1 + 1 chaetae on Th I (versus 2–3 + 2–3). K. alba sp. nov. differs from the other species of the genus mostly by the absence of body pigment, and the presence of only 1 + 1 chaetae posteriorly to the furcal rest (versus 2 + 2).

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:65366D33-890A-4E67-B581-5D32406C078F     

Scutovertex alpinus Willmann, 1953 (Acari: Oribatida: Scutoverticidae) – redescription and geographical distribution

Scutovertex alpinus, a rare species, is redescribed in detail. This species is one of the smaller representatives of the genus with an average body length of 494 μm and a body width of 276 μm. Specific characters are a narrow, short, triangular median ridge between the narrow lamellae, sensillus clavate and spinose, distinct small cuticular foveae distributed over gastronotic region, and 10 pairs of short spiniform notogastral setae. Three pairs of notogastral saccules; a fourth saccule anterior notogastral seta h₃ is developed asymmetrically in many cases. Leg chaetome: I (1-4-3-4-18), II (1-4-3-4-15), III (2-2-1-3-15), IV (1-2-2-3-12). Solenidia: I (1-2-2), II (1-1-2), III (1-1-0), IV (0-1-0). The comparison with several congeneric species points to a close relation to Scutovertex pileatus. Scutovertex alpinus inhabits mosses, cushion plants and tussocks in Alpine regions. The known geographic distribution is limited to Alpine regions of the eastern Alps and to one location in Germany (Harz).     

Muhaka icipe,an enigmatic new genus and species of Kleidotomini (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae) from an East African coastal forest

A remarkable new eucoiline genus and species, Muhaka icipe, is described herein. The genus is clearly a Kleidotomini, but is distinguished from other genera in the tribe by a unique head and scutellar morphology. The genus belongs to the ‘wedge-head’-syndrome group of species that, to date, is unique to Afrotropical eucoilines. The new genus and species is reminiscent of Stentorceps Quinlan and Nanocthulhu Buffington, but is readily distinguished from these genera. Muhaka was collected from a threatened kaya (sacred forest) of coastal Kenya. The biological importance of this and other kaya forests, as well as their protection, is discussed.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6918ED2C-69A4-48FC-A1E4-2B5DFF58E876     

IX.—On a new species of Serpulid Polychæte from the Shoreham Harbour Canal,Sussex

Summary

The zoogeography of the Cayman Islands is discussed. Two species of Lutzomyia were found on Cayman Brac and they are described and their relation to other forms discussed. One is a Cuban species, or a close relative, and the other is allied to a Jamaican sand-fly.

A nematode parasite was found in one sand-fly.     

Deep‐water ascidians from the North Atlantic (RV Academic Keldysh,cruise 46 and 49)

Ascidians from two locations in the North Atlantic are discussed. Predominantly small specimens of five known species were taken by Sigsbi trawl in the vicinity of the wreck of the Titanic (the region referred to as the Titanic location), and two large specimens of a Corynascidia species were taken by manned submersible MIR‐2 on the mid‐Atlantic Ridge (the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone). Definitions of the species are reviewed and their relationships and intraspecific variations are discussed and revised.     

Stephonyx californiensis sp. nov. (Amphipoda: Lysianassoidea: Uristidae), a new bathyal scavenger species from the Central Gulf of California,Mexico, and comments on the bathymetric and geographic distribution of the Stephonyx species group

A new species of scavenger amphipod of the genus Stephonyx is described and illustrated. The specimen was caught at 1150 m depth with a modified rectangular lobster trap positioned on the sea bottom in the central Gulf of California, Mexico. The new species is characterised by the absence of eyes; the lateral cephalic lobes medially developed and acute; antennae subequal in length; gnathopod 1 chelate, dactylus simple with three distal stout setae, inner margin sinuous with minute setae; gnathopod 2 subchelate, carpus with ventral margin crenulate, propodus subovate, palm deeply excavate, and dactylus slightly shorter than palm; maxilliped inner plate laceolate, with seven marginal nodular robust setae, distally; telson, each lobe with two dorsal robust setae, distal margin truncated, with one penicillate and two simple setae, in addition to two short spines. Stephonyx californiensis sp. nov. is morphologically similar to S. arabiensis, S talismani, S. laqueus and S. perexcavatus. The new species increases the number of Stephonyx species around the world to 14, with one species inhabiting from the continental shelf to abyssal depths (to 3000 m), 11 species occurring in bathyal depths (201–2000 m), and two other species restricted to abyssal depths (2001–4000 m).

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:346C3B15-E56A-4E17-9C5F-C9FDBB2AED92     

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.     

Breeding biology of Phyllomedusa azurea Cope, 1862 and P. sauvagii Boulenger, 1882 (Anura) from the Cerrado,Central Brazil

Phyllomedusa azurea and P. sauvagii are treefrogs from seasonal dry environments of Central Brazil. We report on reproductive and other natural history features of these species. The study was carried out in Serra da Bodoquena, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The reproductive period was determined by the presence of vocalizing males, amplectant pair or presence of tadpoles. The reproductive effort was measured as the ratio of gonad mass in relation to body mass (BM). The reproduction of both species was correlated with the rainy season. Female P. sauvagii produced more eggs and their eggs were larger than those of P. azurea. Both species showed sexual dimorphism in relation to the snout–vent length (SVL) and BM. The mating behaviour of both species was similar. Males in both species showed similar reproductive efforts, but females of P. azurea invested more in gonads compared to the males of P. sauvagii. Phyllomedusa azurea showed a significant relation between SVL versus number of the mature eggs (NME), and P. sauvagii between SVL versus NME and BM versus ovarian mass.     

Nasal botflies of migrating wildebeest from western Zambia

Summary

A migratory population of wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) in Liuwa Plain National Park in the Western Province of Zambia was sampled for nasal bots (Diptera: Oestridae: Oestrinae) during 1975–78. Infestations from 32 antelope included Gedoelstia spp. (two species), Oestrus aureoargentatus and O. variolosus. A total of 1913 second and third instar larvae was recorded from the sinuses and nasal septa with individual parasite loads varying from 4 to 144 bots. No obvious pathogenicity was attributable to these oestrids, all four species of which were judged to be multivoltine in this habitat. The significance of this voltinism in relation to the migratory course of the wildebeest is discussed together with a consideration of parasite densities and the potential threat of myiasis to domestic livestock in the area.