Reproduction,planula development,and substratum selection in three species of Stylactaria (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) from Hokkaido,Japan

Modes of reproduction, morphology and behaviour of planulae, and substratum specificity were studied and compared in three species of the hydrozoan genus Stylactaria from Hokkaido, S. conchicola, S. uchidai, and S. multigranosi. Observed differences in these attributes provide additional characters for discrimination of the three species. Stylactaria conchicola is oviparous, its planulae are sedentary, and its hydroid is substratum specific (living only on shells of the gastropod Homalopoma amussitatum). Stylactaria uchidai differs in being ovoviviparous, in having crawling planulae, and in being a substratum generalist. Stylactaria multigranosi is parthenogenetic, its planulae are sedentary, and it is substratum specific (occurring exclusively on the gastropod Nassarius multigranosus). Only female colonies of S. multigranosi are known, and gonophores of this species differ from those of S. conchicola and S. uchidai in being eumedusoid rather than styloid. Correlations were noted between attributes of the planula larva and substratum specificity in the three species. The cnidome differences between the species suggest that penetrant nematocysts are particularly important for sedentary planulae colonizing moving substrata. These characters are also considered useful in the taxonomy of species of Stylactaria. The phylogenetic significance of different gonophore types in the genus is considered.     

Zoogeography and evolutionary ecology of the genus Platorchestia (Crustacea,Amphipoda, Talitridae)

ABSTRACT

Species of the genus Platorchestia occur both in the northern hemisphere (18 species) and southern hemisphere (three species plus a synanthropically introduced species in South America and South Africa). The greater number of endemic Platorchestia species in the North Pacific Ocean suggests that it could be the epicentre of evolution for this genus. North-western Pacific Platorchestia includes 15 species which occupy five ecotopes: wrack (seven species), terrestrial leaf litter (five species), freshwater (one species), marsh (one species) and tentatively present in caves (one species). North-eastern Pacific Platorchestia includes only one putative driftwood specialist, with no other species found in North American coastal habitats. This compares with three good endemic Platorchestia species (plus two putative additional species) and only two ecotopes: wrack (three species) and freshwater (two species) from the North Atlantic Ocean, inclusive of the Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean Sea. Insufficient data is available to consider Platorchestia zoogeography for the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. Synanthropic dispersal involving Platorchestia in Polynesian outrigger canoes, or in solid ballast carried in the holds of wooden sailing ships has been identified as a potential complicating factor in the zoogeography of this genus. Platorchestia is proposed to have arisen on Laurasia and is therefore basically a northern hemisphere genus. Questions concerning Platorchestia zoogeography and evolutionary ecology are posed and two methods (more intensive field sampling and molecular genetics) are suggested to be the way to solve them.     

Expanding the taxonomic conundrum: Three new species of groundwater crustacean (Syncarida,Bathynellacea, Parabathynellidae) endemic to the Iberian Peninsula

Two new species of the genus Iberobathynella and one new species of the cosmopolitan genus Hexabathynella are described from the Iberian Peninsula. The three new species were found in the groundwater of caves and the gravelly bank of a river, two species in the north of Spain (Cantabria and Burgos) and one in the south (Sevilla). The two new species of the genus Iberobathynella present a unique combination of characters. These character combinations for the species from Cantabria are: thoracopod 8 female with wrinkled cuticle and two teeth; seven spines on the furca; nine spines on the sympod, three barbed and one plumose seta on the exopod and two barbed setae on the endopod of the uropod; maxilla with 0, 0 and 15 setae on the three segments, respectively; five teeth on the pars incisiva and six teeth on the pars molaris of the mandible and seven segments on the antennule. The combinations of characters for the species from Burgos are: antennule with seven segments; segment 5 of the antennule with one aesthetasc; mandible with four and five teeth on the pars incisiva and pars molaris respectively; maxillule with one seta on segment 1 and 14 setae on segment 3; segment 1 of the endopod of the thoracopod 1 with two setae; uropod with six spines on the sympod, four barbed setae and one plumose seta on the exopod and no setae on the endopod; furca with five spines and the thoracopod 8 female with wrinkled cuticle and two teeth. This last species has an exclusive character for the genus: the absence of setae on the endopod of the uropod. The new species of the genus Hexabathynella has six spines of similar length on the sympod of the uropod (in all other species within the genus the distal spine is longer than the others); the form of the antennal organ in the males is shown to be a new unique character for the genus; the maxilla has three and 13 setae on segments 2 and 3, respectively; the uropod has six spines on the sympod, three barbed setae on the exopod and two smooth setae on the endopod, the endopod is twice as long as the exopod and the shape of the female thoracopod 8 is unique.     

Nesting behaviour of Australian wasps of the genus Sphex (Hymenoptera,Sphecidae)

Summary

Nests and prey are described for three species of Australian Sphex: cognatus Smith, ephippium Smith, and bilobatus Kohl. All three prey upon Tettigoniidae. The first two make relatively deep, multicellular nests and make open, accessory burrows beside the true nest entrance; however, these accessory burrows are absent in some populations of cognatus. The nests of bilobatus are shallow and contain only one or two cells. Briefer notes are presented on two species of the related genus Prionyx: globosus (Smith) and saevus (Smith); these are predators on Acrididae.     

A revision of the Chinese species of Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae): parasitoids of whiteflies,scale insects and aphids (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae,Diaspididae, Aphidoidea)

The species of Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) known from China are revised. This study is based largely on newly-collected material from Fujian and Guangdong provinces in mainland China, and from the island of Taiwan. A total of 76 species are treated, including 29 new species, one new combination and 16 new records for China. All species are fully described or diagnosed, and illustrated. Three new specific synonymies are proposed and two lectotypes are designated. Four species are described from males only, three belonging to the perflava-group (ancistrocera, echinocera, viggianii), having modified antennae, and one (magnivena) in the strenua-group having very unusual fore wings. A key to the Chinese species of Encarsia, based largely on females, is provided.     

Dhanya,a South-east Asian genus of ozaenine ground beetles

The species of the South-east Asian genus Dhanya are reviewed, and three new species are described: mulu from Sarawak; andrewesi from India; and cylindera from Philippines. Dhanya bioculata is designated as the type-species and a lectotype is designated for this species. The variety pallida is synonymized with its species seminigra. The species cavicola Moore is transferred from Pseudozaena to Itamus. Keys to the genera of South-east Asian Ozaenini and to the species of Dhanya are provided. Morphological details of Dhanya are illustrated with scanning electron micrographs and drawings, and include information on the structure of the prothoracic pits, elytral flanges, and on microsculpture. A cladistic analysis of the species is included and the relationship of the genus to its sister group, Eustra, and to the other genera of Ozaenini is discussed. Specimens of Dhanya are found under bark of fallen logs and in rotting tree stumps in lowland and upland tropical rain forest; an association with ants or termites is suggested for at least one species.     

Ophicardelus (Mollusca,Pulmonata) in eastern Australia: how many taxa?

The common south-eastern Australian estuarine ellobiid snails belonging to Ophicardelus have been considered to be one variable taxon by some authors, and three largely sympatric species by others. This study was undertaken to determine the number of taxa present. Different types of data collected included shell shape, allozyme electrophoresis, shell and radular morphology, anatomy and geographic range. These data sets were then examined for consistent discontinuities, and the results showed that the nominal species could be distinguished by a combination of shell shape and sculpture. Individuals from each nominal species also grouped together using allozyme data, although one taxon (Ophicardelus quoyi) is sometimes paraphyletic based on these data. There are several differences in the anatomy and radular morphology that separate the three taxa. These included marked differences in the penial complex, vagina, and presence or absence of a pallial gland. The three taxa also have different geographic ranges, albeit with most of their ranges in sympatry. Based on these differences, Ophicardelus ornatus, O. quoyi and O. sulcatus should be regarded as valid species.     

A review of the encyrtid wasp tribe Aenasiini,with descriptions of new Afrotropical taxa (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)

The tetracnemine tribe Aenasiini is discussed and a key is provided for the separation of the nine genera that can be attributed to this tribe. Neodiscodes is synonymized with Aenasius and the following seven species, which were originally assigned to the former genus, are transferred to Aenasius as new combinations: abengouroui (Risbec), comperei (Kerrich), lepelleyi (Kerrich), martinii (Compere), indicus (Narayanan & Subba Rao), parvus (Kerrich) and subbaraoi (Kerrich). A key is given for the separation of the four Afrotropical species of Aenasius and the male of A. comperei is described for the first time. Incisencyrtus gen. n. is described for the following three new Afrotropical species: secus (the type-species), sirus and afer. Cladiscodes incisius sp. n. is described from South Africa and it represents the first species of this genus from Africa. New distribution records are given for three Alfrotropical species of Metaphaenodiscus.     

An overview of Hexabathynella (Crustacea,Syncarida, Parabathynellidae) with the description of a new species

A new species of the cosmopolitan genus Hexabathynella is described from Spain. This new species has four setae on the expopod of the uropod, the rest of the species in the genus have between one and three. The endopod of the uropod has two smooth setae of similar length and one plumose seta, these characters only appear in the new species within the genus. The antennal organ in the males is shown to be a new unique character for the genus. It is the third species of this genus that has been found in Spain. To date the genus consists of 18 species in the world. A key for identification of the 18 species of Hexabathynella is provided. It is the only cosmopolitan genus of Bathynellacea and it is distributed in Europe (nine species), Africa (one species), South America (two species), North America (three species) and Australia and New Zealand (three species).     

Stenothoidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) of hydrothermal vents and surroundings on the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge,Azores Triple Junction zone

Four new species of Stenothoidae were collected from the Azores Triple Junction zone during different French cruises on the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge. One of the species belongs to the genus Torometopa (T. saldanhae) and is the first record of this genus in the Atlantic Ocean. The three other species belong to the genus Stenothoe (S. divae, S. marvela, and S. menezgweni). It is not possible to determine from morphological and ecological characters whether these amphipod species are endemic to hydrothermal systems or are bathyal species that may be found away from vent sites.     

Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of Mount Kilimanjaro: Nymphalidae subfamilies Libytheinae,Danainae, Satyrinae and Charaxinae

This paper, which presents an annotated checklist of the ‘lower Nymphalidae’ (Libytheinae, Danainae, Satyrinae, Charaxinae), is the fourth in a series on the butterfly fauna of Mount Kilimanjaro. Four genera of lower Nymphalidae (Danaus, Amauris, Bicyclus, Charaxes), with a total of 11 included species, are known or believed to occur within the main forest zone, from c. 1800 to 2800 m. Of these, only three species of Charaxes (Charaxes berkeleyi, Charaxes ansorgei, Charaxes xiphares) may be restricted locally to this primary forest. The lower slopes fauna, below 1800 m, is considerably richer, with a total of 11 genera and 41 species listed (8 species of which extend into the forest zone). Possible additional species, dubious earlier records, problems with African subspecies of Danaus chrysippus, a need for more work on certain Satyrinae, and classification of the genus Charaxes are discussed. An identification key to the subfamilies of Nymphalidae, and the 19 genera of Libytheinae, Danainae, Satyrinae, Charaxinae that occur in Tanzania, together with a key to the adults of all the species of these four subfamilies considered to occur or have occurred on Kilimanjaro, with 206 colour images, are included as online Supplementary Information.     

Contributions to the knowledge of the genera Haemerophygus Baudi, 1876 and Ceratanisus Gemminger, 1870 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Ceratanisini) in the Anatolian region

Previously known species of the genus Ceratanisus Gemminger, 1870 are studied, based on a comparison of specimens. This study is a first attempt to scrutinize the composition of this poorly known genus, as a preliminary approach to the tribe Ceratanisini Gebien, 1937. As a result of this study three previously described taxa are recognized as valid species and three new species from Turkey, Ceratanisus selimi sp. nov., Ceratanisus labriquei sp. nov. and Ceratanisus andiberti sp. nov., are described. A key for the separation of the genera of Ceratanisini is presented, including the new species described herein.     

Epibiontic communities on the freshwater shrimp Caridina ensifera (Crustacea,Decapoda, Atyidae) from Lake Poso (Sulawesi,Indonesia)

The epibiont communities of the freshwater shrimp Caridina ensifera, endemic to Lake Poso (Sulawesi, Indonesia), were analysed for the first time based on their morphological and biometrical characteristics and taxonomic position. Seven ciliated protozoans and a rotifer were examined: three suctorian ciliate protozoan species (Acineta sulawesiensis, Podophrya maupasi, and Spelaeophrya polypoides), three peritrichs (Zoothamnium intermedium, Vorticella globosa, and Cothurnia compressa), a haptorid (Amphileptus fusidens), and the rotifer species Embata laticeps. A mean number of 314.6 epibionts was found per shrimp specimen. The distribution of the epibiont species on the surface of the basibiont was recorded, to allow calculation of the density on the different colonized individuals of C. ensifera and on each anatomical unit of the shrimp. The most abundant species, Zoothamnium intermedium and Acineta sulawesiensis, were also the ones most widely distributed. The statistical analysis showed that Zoothamnium, Acineta, Podophrya, and Embata were the epibiont genera most widely distributed on the basibiont, and the pairs of epibiont genera Zoothamnium–Embata, Podophrya–Acineta, Spelaeophrya–Amphileptus, and Cothurnia–Vorticella followed a similar pattern of distribution. There was a significant difference between the distribution patterns of the different epibiont species on the shrimp. The analysis of the densities of the epibionts throughout the longitudinal axis of the shrimp showed a gradient from the anterior to the posterior end of the body, and a significantly different distribution of each epibiont species. Their colonization follows a certain pattern of behaviour, the species occupying the available substratum, with particular requirements of each functional group, but with a trend resulting in equilibrium among species and groups, compensating for diversity and density. The possible adaptations of the epibionts, as well as the colonization patterns are discussed.     

LXXXI.—Notes on the classification of the African monkeys in the genus Cercopithecus,erxleben

Summary

The Ethiopian species of the genus Agrypon Foerster (Anomaloninae) are revised and a key is given to the eight species. Four species, A. zebrinum, A. omum, A. seyrigi and A. hancocki, are described as new and three new synonymies are proposed. A. leucostomum (Cameron) is newly transferred to Agrypon. Notes on the phylogeny of the species are included.     

Morphology of thalassinidean (Crustacea: Decapoda) mouthparts and pereiopods in relation to feeding,ecology and grooming

The morphology of the mouthparts and pereiopods of three thalassinidean mudshrimps, Callianassa subterranea (Montagu), Jaxea nocturna Nardo and Upogebia stellata (Montagu) (Decapoda: Thalassinidea) are described. The distribution of setae is also described and related to function, in particular to feeding and grooming. The comparative morphology of the maxillipeds and pereiopods showed greatest differences between species and can be related to differences in feeding behaviour. Callianassa subterranea has mouthpart morphology and setation suitable for handling sediment particles and highly specialized pereiopods consistent with the digging activity of a deposit feeder. Upogebia stellata is the most densely setose of the three species and many of the appendages bear layered fringes of setae which are used to trap fine particles during suspension feeding. Jaxea nocturna appears to possess mouthpart and pereiopod setal combinations suitable for a fine sediment diet but is the least morphologically specialized species. It does not use its pereiopods in grooming behaviour. Specialized denticulate setae on the coxa of the third maxilliped may take over the gill grooming functions performed by the pereiopods of C. subterranea and U. stellata. In C. subterranea and U. stellata the feeding structures are adapted to a specific trophic mode but have features that allow other modes to be used, whilst J. nocturna is much less specialized and may represent a more primitive thalassinidean form.     

Taxonomy,phylogeny and distribution of the longicorn beetle genus Allotisis Pascoe (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Phoracanthini)

The genus Allotisis Pascoe is revised. Diagnosis of Allotisis is given, three known species are redescribed and six species are described as new : A. repleta, A. notabilis, A. rara, A. labyrinthina, A. monteithi and A. furva. All species are from Australia. Thoris moerens Blackburn is synonymous with A. unifasciata. A key to the nine species is provided. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that this genus be divided into two species groups, monteithi-group and unifasciata-group. Several subgroups are also identified. Biogeographic distribution of these species groups and subgroups is discussed.