Depressorotunda gen. nov., a new remarkable Uropodina mite genus from South-East Asia with description of four new species (Acari: Mesostigmata)

A new genus Depressorotunda gen. nov. and four new species are described from South-East Asia, namely Depressorotunda malayana sp. nov. and Depressorotunda seticaudata sp. nov. from Malaysia, Depressorotunda thailandica sp. nov. from Thailand and Depressorotunda mirifica sp. nov. from Vietnam. A key to the species of the genus Depressorotunda is provided with 28 original drawings and scanning micrographs.     

Two new species of the genus Pseudolaelaps Berlese, 1916 (Acari: Mesostigmata: Pseudolaelapidae) from Europe,with an updated key to known species

Pseudolaelaps calvescens sp. nov. and Pseudolaelaps schweizeri sp. nov. (Acari: Pseudolaelapidae) are described based on female specimens from leaf litter and soil of forest habitats in Italy (surroundings of Bergamo) and Switzerland (surroundings of Basel), respectively. The British specimens referred to Pseudolaelaps doderoi are revised, and considered to be a misidentification of P. schweizeri sp. nov. An identification key to known species of the genus Pseudolaelaps is provided.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:92F3907A-9C0A-4309-8D1E-BC5F3E7D937B     

A revision of the genus Ophiambix (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) including the description of a new species

The genus Ophiambix is revised and problems at higher taxonomic levels are discussed. The species Ophiambix aculeatus, O. meteoris and O. devaneyi are redescribed (based on new characters), and a new species O. epicopus is described from the Kermadec Islands, South Pacific. A pictorial key is presented to aid identification.     

Three new species of Gamasiphis (Acari: Mesostigmata: Ologamasidae) from Brazil,with complementary information about Gamasiphis plenosetosus Karg and a key to the world species of the genus

Gamasiphis Berlese is one of the most diverse genera of Ologamasidae, with 68 described species, corresponding to about 15% of the species of the family. Until now, a single species of this genus was known from Brazil. Gamasiphis salvadori sp. nov., Gamasiphis flechtmanni sp. nov. and Gamasiphis edmilsoni sp. nov. are described based on the morphology of adult females and males collected from litter and soil in Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil. The holotype of Gamasiphis plenosetosus Karg, 1994 was examined, given its close similarity with the latter species, and complementary morphological information about it is provided. A key for the separation of females of the 60 recognizable world species of Gamasiphis is provided.     

First record of the genus Paragigagnathus Amitai and Grinberg, 1971 (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) from Saudi Arabia with description of a new species

The genus Paragigagnathus Amitai and Grinberg (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is reported for the first time from Saudi Arabia. Paragigagnathus desertorum (Amitai and Swirski) and P. insuetus (Livshitz and Kuznetsov) were collected from Acacia sp. (Fabaceae) and Tamarix sp. (Tamaricaceae), respectively. Paragigagnathus madinaensis n. sp. is described and illustrated. The new species was found on Tamarix sp. in association with Obdulia daadi Al-Gboory (Prostigmata: Tenuipalpidae) from Al-Riyadh and Al-Madina regions of Saudi Arabia.     

Mangrove halacarid fauna (Halacaridae,Acari) of the Dampier region,Western Australia,with description of five new species

Amongst the vagile epifauna on the mangrove trees Avicennia marina and Rhizophora stylosa, Acari numerically play an important role, contributing 20-75% of the fauna. The two major groups are the prostigmatids and oribatids. Amongst the prostigmatid mites, halacarids are regularly present from the upper littoral fringe, inundated only at very high tide, to the permanently wet substrata adjacent to tide pools. Oribatids are most abundant in permanently wet substrata and often dominate the mite fauna. Five halacarid species, regularly found amongst the epibios on mangroves, are described, Isobactrus australiensis n. sp., Rhombognathus ocularis n. sp., Agauopsis dasyderma n. sp., Copidognathus lutarius n. sp. and C. piger n. sp. Isobactrus australiensis often is the only mite in the upper zone not reached by every high water.     

Some new species of the family Zerconidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Turkey

Three new species of zerconid mites, Prozercon (Prozercon) mersinensis, P. (Prozercon) yavuzi and P. (Prozercon) kafkasoricus, from Turkey are described and illustrated, and a key to adults of known species of Prozercon provided.     

Deep-sea halacarids (Acari) and description of a new species

The number of halacarid genera and the approximate number of species in deep and shallow waters are listed, together with the halacarid species recorded from depths of over 1000 m. The vertical and horizontal distribution of genera are discussed, as well as morphological adaptions to life in the abyss. Eurybathic species are rare, and endemic deep-sea genera presumably do not exist. Algibiont and arenicolous genera have not been found in the abyss. Striking morphological features such as long legs, epimeral and anal protuberances, and dense coatings with cuticular filaments are independent of water depth and hydrostatic pressure, but correlate with life in very soft sediments. The deep-sea species, Lohmannella cygna nov. spec., is described.     

A revision of Bovichtus Cuvier, 1831 (Pisces: Bovichthyidae) from Australasia,with description of a new deepwater species from the New Zealand Subantarctic

The genus Bovichtus includes four species from the Australasian region, viz. B. variegatus Richardson, B. psychrolutes Günther, B. angustifrons Regan, and B. oculus n. sp. B. decipiens Regan and Aurion effulgens Waite are junior synonyms of B. variegatus and B. psychrolutes respectively. B. oculus, described from a specimen taken in 847–902 m on the Campbell Plateau in the New Zealand Subantarctic, is the first known deep water Bovichtus species. It differs from all congeners in having a very large eye (horizontal diameter <9·0 times in SL) and, alone with B. psychrolutes, has a patch of ctenoid scales on the body behind the pectoral fin base.     

A systematic revision of the genus Laelaps s. str. (Acari: Mesostigmata) of the Ethiopian region

This paper presents the results of a systematic study of mites of the genus Laelaps s. str. collected from small mammals of the Ethiopian region. Specimens taken from approximately 100,000 small mammals were examined from a wide variety of habitats and localities. The Ethiopian fauna of Laelaps mites includes 31 species. 4 of which are described as new: L. parasimillimus, L. myomys, L. malacomys, and L. acomys. A numerical taxonomic analysis was made, the results of which were used in the preparation of a proposed classification of the African species of Laelaps. A key for identification of females is given, and females and males (where known) of all species are illustrated. Diagnostic characters are given for the female and male of each species. Collection data and, where pertinent, discussions of morphological characters and variability are provided. Also included are discussions of host-parasite associations.     

Two new species of Prozercon (Plumatozercon) (Acari: Mesostigmata: Zerconidae) from Turkey

Two new species of zerconid mites, Prozercon (Plumatozercon) orhani and P.(P.) kamili, from Turkey are described and illustrated.     

Taxonomic revision of the genus Littorophiloscia Hatch, 1947 (Crustacea,Isopoda, Oniscidea) with description of six new species

In the present revision 15 species of Littorophiloscia are recognized. Six species, namely L. tropicalis, L. koreana, L. amphindica, L. pallida, L. bifasciata and L. hawaiiensis are described as new. Littorophiloscia isabellae (Vandel, 1973) is considered to be a junior synonym of L. albicincta (Vandel, 1973), and Philoscia dartevellei Brian, 1953 and Vandeloscia orientalis Roman, 1977 are considered to be junior synonyms of L. culebrae (Moore, 1901). Alloniscus compar sens. Vandel, 1952 nec Budde-Lund, 1893 is considered to be distinct from L. riedli (Strouhal, 1966) and it has been renamed L. tropicalis sp. nov. The genera Bilawrencia Vandel, 1973, Helenoscia Vandel, 1977, Vandeloscia roman, 1977 and Sayoscia Schultz, 1983 are considered to be synonymous with Littorophiloscia. Diagnostic characters of all the species are illustrated. A map and comments on the distribution of the 15 species are included.     

A revision of Monocotyle Taschenberg, 1878 (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) with descriptions of three new species from Australia

Monocotyle is revised and three new species are proposed. Monocotyle corali sp. nov. is described from the gills of the cowtail ray, Pastinachus sephen (Forsskål) (Dasyatididae), and is distinguished from other members of Monocotyle by the large hamuli with a distinct tail on the guard and by the male copulatory organ with three loops and a wing-like accessory piece at the distal end. Monocotyle jordani sp. nov. from the gills of the southern eagle ray, Myliobatis australis Macleay (Myliobatididae), is differentiated by the male copulatory organ with a large, unique accessory piece. Monocotyle youngi sp. nov., from the gills of Himantura fai Jordan and Seale (Dasyatididae), has marginal haptoral papillae armed with 12 to 15 sclerites, a male copulatory organ with 20 loops and a unique accessory piece at the distal end. Monocotyle trygoni (Venkatanarsaiah and Kulkarni, 1980) Timofeeva, 1985 is synonymized with M. spirophallus Tripathi, 1959 and M. spirophallus is redescribed fully. There are now 16 valid species of Monocotyle and a key to species is presented. Additional data and illustrations of important taxonomic characters are provided. The developmental sequence of the male copulatory organ of M. spiremae Measures, Beverley-Burton and Williams, 1990 from juvenile to adult is described. The anterior glands and the type of secretion they contain are also documented for several species of Monocotyle.     

A new genus and species of Nematalycidae (Acari: Endeostigmata)

Osperalycus tenerphagus, a new genus and species of Nematalycidae (Acari: Endeostigmata), is described from Ohio, USA, using light microscopy and low-temperature scanning electron microscopy. Specimens were extracted from two different loam soils. This genus can be readily distinguished from the other genera of Nematalycidae by the simple setae that line the opisthosoma. The mouthparts are especially distinct in possessing three-segmented palps, an unusual vessel-shaped structure, and rutella that overlap at the midline. The discovery of rutella in this genus and in two other genera indicates that the Nematalycidae can be more confidently assigned to the Endeostigmata (Sarcoptiformes).

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A64A6612-B66C-4814-80A9-3856DEBE8C46     

Lanayrella,a new Acteonidae genus (Gastropoda,Heterobranchia) from Tierra del Fuego

ABSTRACT

We introduce herein Lanayrella gen. nov. to accommodate two Acteonidae species that have proven resistant to stable classification: Tornatella vagabunda Mabille, 1885 and Acteon ringei Strebel, 1905. The new genus is diagnosed by a protoconch fully immersed within the shell and a platform-like columellar region of the aperture, which bears a strong and sharp adapical fold. Both species are restricted to Tierra del Fuego: Lanayrella vagabunda comb. nov. on the Chilean part and Lanayrella ringei comb. nov. on the Argentinean side.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:37EA6720-0E0E-4C81-A2A8-F85FA2E53929     

A new genus with three new species of copepods from the family Diaixidae (Crustacea: Calanoida), and a redefinition of the family

Plankton samples taken in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, yielded material of a new genus containing 3 new species: Anawekia spinosa gen. nov. et sp. nov., A. robusta sp. nov. and A. bilobata sp. nov., which are described herein. The family Diaixidae now contains 12 described species in 2 genera, 9 being in the genus Diaixis. It is noted that 3 of the Diaixis species (including the type species) share some features which are not shared with the remaining 6 species, and that these latter species should probably be placed into a third genus. An amplified redefinition of the family is given.     

A revision of the genus Metarhabditis (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) with description of three known species,a key to the identification of congeners and discussion of their relationships

The taxonomy of the genus Metarhabditis is discussed with an emended diagnosis and a key to identification of its species. Three known species of Metarhabditis are described and illustrated. Metarhabditis amsactae (Ali et al. 2011) Sudhaus, 2011, a species recently transferred to the genus, is described in detail and its relationship with other congeners is discussed. The present population of Metarhabditis costai (Martins, 1985) Sudhaus, 2011 shows some minor differences with the original population in having slenderer individuals with relatively greater ‘a’ value, relatively smaller spicules and gubernaculum. Some minor differences are also noted in the present population of Metarhabditis andrassyana Tahseen et al. 2004 from the original population. The present population has distinct lateral fields, faint longitudinal striae, a nearly undifferentiated corpus and a relatively posteriorly located third genital papilla in males.