Two new species of Xironogiton (Clitellata: Branchiobdellida) from western North America

Xironogiton, a genus of crayfish worm (order Branchiobdellida), is historically endemic to North America. To date, six species of Xironogiton have been described, including five and one from areas west and east of the Continental Divide, respectively. Recent collections of the crayfishes Pacifastacus connectens and Pacifastacus leniusculus from the endorheic Harney Basin in south-eastern Oregon, USA, revealed the presence of two previously unknown Xironogiton species, which we describe herein. Discovery and characterisation of Xironogiton bibendumi sp. nov. and Xironogiton malheurensis sp. nov. suggests that much work remains to understand branchiobdellidan diversity in western North America, and additional targeted sampling is needed to determine intra- and interspecific variation, and thus define species limits.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B24AA844-4A73-48F2-B269-7CD08DC8389A http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F1787846-BF04-44A6-949B-551EE3453F26     

Distribution of Entocytheridae (Crustacea: Ostracoda) in the northern prairies of North America and reports of opportunistic clitellate annelids on crayfish hosts

Northern crayfish, Orconectes virilis (Hagen, 1870), were collected from 89 sites across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota. The entocytherid ostracod Thermastrocythere riojai (Hoff, 1943) was found on O. virilis at 45 of the 89 sites, distributed primarily in the eastern and southern portion of the study area. These observations of T. riojai greatly extend the known range of the species. The widespread distribution of T. riojai suggests that the dearth of entocytherid records from other parts of Canada is a result of nontargeted sampling rather than true absence. In addition, we report on observations of 3 noteworthy associations of oligochaetes with their crayfish hosts. Se colectaron especímenes del acocil Orconectes virilis (Hagen, 1870) en 89 sitios a lo largo de Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Montana, North Dakota y Minnesota. Encontramos el ostracódo entocitérido Thermastrocythere riojai (Hoff, 1943) en O. virilis en 45 de los 89 sitios, distribuidos principalmente en la parte sur y la parte este del área de estudio. Estas observaciones de T. riojai amplían considerablemente el área de distribución conocida de esta especie. La distribución extensa de T. riojai sugiere que la escasez de registros de entocitéridos en otras partes de Canadá es el resultado del muestreo inespecífico y no de una ausencia verdadera. Además, reportamos observaciones de 3 asociaciones sobresalientes entre los oligoquetos y los acociles huéspedes.     

Improved geographic sampling provides further evidence for the separation of Glossiphonia complanata and Glossiphonia elegans (Annelida: Clitellata: Glossiphoniidae)

Historically, there has been much confusion surrounding the identity and separation of European and North American species of Glossiphonia (Annelida: Clitellata: Glossiphoniidae). Using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences from newly collected specimens of Glossiphonia complanata and Glossiphonia elegans from a broad geographic range covering southern Canada, parts of the US, Slovenia and Croatia, we confirm that G. complanata is likely confined to Europe. The species is phylogenetically distinct from G. elegans, which seems to exclusively inhabit North America. Parsimony and maximum likelihood of the COI locus show the European samples placing as the sister group to an unidentified species of Glossiphonia from Russia, while the North American samples are the sister group to all other Glossiphonia species. We also investigate the consistency of number of crop cecae for separating these species and contrary to previous reports, this character shows no differences between our specimens of the two species. Additionally, the trees show evidence of subdivisions within both G. complanata and G. elegans, with some sequences separated by high ‘intraspecific’ distances. Forces might be shaping population structure and/or potential incipient speciation within these species, emphasizing the need for future research into the biogeography and population genetics of Glossiphonia.     

A new species of Grania (Enchytraeidae,Clitellata, Annelida) and redescription of Grania pusilla from a rocky shore in SE Ireland

Two species of marine Enchytraeidae belonging to the genus Grania Southern, 1913, Grania mira sp.nov and Grania pusilla Erséus, 1974, are described from the rocky shores of southeast Ireland. Grania mira has distinctive muscular modifications of the male ducts. Grania pusilla which was previously reported only from the coasts of Norway and Sweden by Erséus (1974), is completely redescribed, including information on many additional morphological characters noted from recent taxonomic literature on Grania. It is reinstated to the level of species. The species has a penial stylet and a large glandular penial bulb. Differences in setal distribution between specimens of G. pusilla from Ireland and those from Norwegian and Swedish populations are attributed to geographical separation limiting genetic exchange. This is the first report of Grania in Ireland since Southern's discovery of Grania maricola in 1913. Grania maricola shares a structurally simple penial bulb type with G. pusilla, but the species differ in spermathecal shape, spermathecal ectal pore position and vas deferens length.     

Four new species of Mesomyzostoma (Myzostomida: Annelida)

Mesomyzostoma Remscheid, 1918 currently includes three described species that live in the coelom and/or gonads of comatulid crinoids: Mesomyzostoma reichenspergeri Remscheid, 1918, Mesomyzostoma katoi Okada, 1933 and Mesomyzostoma lanterbecqae Summers and Rouse, 2014 in Summers, Al-Hakim et al. 2014. Here we describe four new species of Mesomyzostoma and assess their phylogenetic relationships using 18S rRNA, cytochrome oxidase subunit I and 16S rRNA sequence data. We also designate a neotype for M. katoi as the original types appear to be lost. We record M. reichenspergeri from the Australian Great Barrier Reef and from northern Papua New Guinea, but samples from the type locality (Aru Islands, Indonesia) and previously recorded host are needed for confirmation. The new species of Mesomyzostoma are one Japanese species: Mesomyzostoma okadai sp. nov., and three Australian species: Mesomyzostoma lobus sp. nov., Mesomyzostoma leukos sp. nov. and Mesomyzostoma botulus sp. nov. The first infects the coelom of crinoid arms and pinnules, and the other three are found in crinoid oral discs. We also record M. leukos sp. nov. and M. botulus sp. nov. from Papua New Guinea. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that M. okadai sp. nov. is the sister group to all other Mesomyzostoma.     

Capture rates of reptiles and amphibians on black-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) colonies and on uncolonized prairie in Colorado

Prairie dog eradication negatively affects dependent wildlife. Assessing the effects of prairie dog activities on reptiles and amphibians may depend upon the efficacy of trapping designs. We compared capture rates of reptiles and amphibians on black-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) colonies and on adjacent uncolonized short-grass prairie, using funnel traps and pitfall traps with drift fences, as well as ground captures. We captured 152 reptiles and amphibians representing 10 species. We captured 51.3% of all reptiles and amphibians on colonies, compared to 48.7% from uncolonized sites. Overall, captures of reptiles and amphibians were similar on colonies and uncolonized sites for all capture methods combined. We achieved higher capture rates on uncolonized sites using funnel traps and pitfall traps but higher capture rates on colonies for ground captures. For all years on all sites combined, we captured significantly more animals in funnel traps (52.6%), surpassing pitfall trap captures (23.0%) and ground captures (24.3%). We recommend using multiple Y-shaped drift fence arrays ≥7.6 m in length, funnel traps with double-ended openings, and black-colored pitfall traps with opening diameters ≥30 cm.     

Seven new species of Amynthas (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and new earthworm records from Taiwan

Earthworm specimens collected in southern Taiwan consisted of seven new species of Amynthas and several previously known species, mostly widely distributed peregrines. The new species are A. nanrenensis of the octothecal A. corticis species group, A. monsoonus and A. huangi of the sexthecal A. aelianus species group, and four proandric octothecal species: A. chaishanensis, A. hengchunensis, A. kaopingensis and A. ailiaoensis. Amynthas chaishanensis has dorsal intrasegmental spermathecal pores, but the other three proandric species have dorsal, lateral or ventral intersegmental spermathecal pores, respectively. The proandric species are united by several features, including the enclosure of segment xi in a sac, as in A. formosae (also proandric), octothecal with spermathecae in vi–ix, spermathecal diverticula stalks generally kinked and often enclosed in membrane, and prostatic ducts divided polytomously into numerous small ductlets, which may be grouped into bundles of two to five. In A. ailiaoensis the prostatic duct trunk contains up to seven separate lumens in the ental half, surrounded by the circular muscle of the duct, while in A. chaishanensis the prostatic duct trunk contains about 40 small lumens. Of the previously known species in the collection, Pontodrilus litoralis and Metaphire houlleti are first reported from Taiwan. Additional locations for A. incongruus and A. robustus are given, and in the latter case the material appears to be the usual male‐sterile morph. Other species found are Pontoscolex corethrurus, Amynthas corticis, A. gracilis, Metaphire californica, and Polypheretima elongata.     

New earthworm species of the genus Pheretima (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from Mountain Province,Philippines

Six new species of the genus Pheretima are described from Mt. Amuyao and Mt. Lamagan, near Barlig, Mountain Province, the Philippines: Pheretima tanudanensis sp. nov., Pheretima amuyaoensis sp. nov., Pheretima salcedoi sp. nov., Pheretima lamaganensis sp. nov., Pheretima julkai sp. nov., and Pheretima barligensis sp. nov. Pheretima tanudanensis sp. nov. has spermathecal pores in 6/7, 0.18–0.22 circumference ventrally apart, copulatory bursae openings 0.21–0.22 circumference apart, intestinal origin in XVI, and non-muscular spermathecal ducts. Pheretima amuyaoensis sp. nov. and Pheretima salcedoi sp. nov. have spermathecal pores in 5/6–6/7, a condition not previously known in the genus. Pheretima amuyaoensis sp. nov. has ventral spermathecal pores 0.23–0.24 circumference apart, copulatory bursae openings 0.23 circumference apart, and the intestinal origin in XVI. Pheretima salcedoi sp. nov. has ventral spermathecal pores 0.21–0.29 circumference apart, copulatory bursae openings 0.18–0.20 circumference apart, and the intestinal origin in XV. Pheretima lamaganensis sp. nov. and Pheretima julkai sp. nov. belong to the dubia group in Sims and Easton with three pairs of spermathecal pores in 6/7–8/9. Pheretima lamaganensis sp. nov. is a small-bodied worm with more setae in VII than in XX, two pairs of spermathecae in VII, one pair of spermathecae in VIII, ventral spermathecal pores 0.27–0.28 circumference apart and copulatory bursae openings 0.21–0.22 circumference apart. Pheretima julkai sp. nov. has two pairs of spermathecae in VII, one pair of spermathecae in VIII, ventral spermathecal pores 0.20–0.23 circumference apart and copulatory bursae openings 0.18–0.20 circumference apart, typhlosole lacking. One new earthworm, Pheretima barligensis sp. nov. belongs to the darnleiensis group with four pairs of spermathecal pores in 5/6–8/9, and has ventral spermathecal pores 0.16–0.22 circumference apart, copulatory bursae openings 0.19–0.22 circumference apart, an intestinal origin in XVI, and septa 8/9–9/10 present.     

Bibliography and subject index of the prairie skink, Eumeces septentrionalis (Baird) (Sauria: Scincindae)

The prairie skink, Eumeces septentrionalis , is a small, semifossorial lizard inhabiting the tall-grass prairies and savannas of the central lowland province region of North America. This study provides an extensive bibliography and subject index as a tool for current and future workers studying E. septentrionalis and related species.     

Two new species of Beddardiella (Eudrilidae: Oligochaeta: Annelida) from Nigeria

Two new earthworms species, Beddardiella soforei n.sp. and Beddardiella numanensis n.sp., are described from Michika and Numan in north eastern Nigeria. They, like their earlier described congeners, are characterized by non-continuity of the lumen of the thecovarian duct with that of the spermatheca, the locations of two oesophageal gizzards in either V–VI or VI–VII (as against a single gizzard in V in other Eudrilinae), the location of ventral oesophageal sacs in X–XII as against IX–XI, and the location of calciferous glands in XV as against XIII. These probably represent sufficient reasons to erect a new subfamily to accommodate the genus Beddardiella. But, as a continuing analysis reveals more variations among the Eudrilinae it is recommended that this awaits a more comprehensive reclassification of the family.     

Distribution of the milliped Virgoiulus minutus (Brandt, 1841): first records from Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas (Julida: Blaniulidae)

Virgoiulus minutus (Brandt 1841) (Julida: Blaniulidae), the only indigenous representative of the family in the New World, occurs, or can be expected, in parts or all of 24 states east of the Central Plains plus the District of Columbia; it is documented for the 1st time from Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. The northern-, southern-, and westernmost localities are in Berrien County, Michigan; Putnam County, Florida; and Angelina/Rusk Counties, Texas, respectively. New England, Utah, Wyoming, Canada, and Mexico are deleted from the range, and specific localities are reported to augment previous generalized citations; those from Mexico represent misidentifications of Nopoiulus kochii (Gervais, 1847), an introduced European species that is recorded from Mexico City, Distrito Federal. Records of V. minutus from Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Missouri are the 1st definite localities from these states; a sample from ""Anechar,"" believed to be a misspelling of ""Arrochar,"" a neighborhood in Staten Island, is considered the 1st definite record from New York. The published statement of occurrence in Delaware in general is the only known record of an indigenous diplopod from this state.     

Two new earthworms of the genus Amynthas Kinberg, 1867 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from Mt Jiri,Korea

Two new species of the genus Amynthas are described from Mt Jiri (Korea): Amynthas baikmudongensis sp. nov., and Amynthas cheonghakdongensis sp. nov. The species A. baikmudongensis sp. nov. has two pairs of spermathecal pores in intersegments 5/6/7; large circular-shaped raised pads extending from 17/18, 18/19 with transverse grooves extending from approximately the centres of the pads towards the presetal half of the pad. The others species, A. cheonghakdongensis sp. nov., has two pairs of spermathecal pores in intersegments 6/7/8; and circular male porophores extending from 17/18 to 18/19.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A3E018E9-A520-4841-A1C9-E27870F24E88     

A record of Randiella from New Caledonia,the first known occurrence of the marine interstitial family Randiellidae (Annelida; Oligochaeta) in the South Pacific Ocean

Five specimens morphologically indistinguishable from Randiella caribaea Erséus and Strehlow, 1986, previously known only from the Caribbean in the Atlantic Ocean, are reported from a sandy beach at Touhou, New Caledonia. The new material reveals that R. caribaea and probably also the closely related R. minuta Erséus and Strehlow, 1986 have dorsal spermathecae, an assumedly apomorphic condition vis-à-vis the lateral spermathecae of the other species of Randiellidae. The number and position of the gonads in this family are unclear, but the new material of R. caribaea appears to have at least one testis in segment X and one ovary in segment XII.     

Influence of black-tailed prairie dog towns ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) on carnivore distributions in the Oklahoma Pandhandle

Carnivores were recorded at prairie dog towns and non-prairie dog town paired sites in the Oklahoma Panhandle over 4 sampling sessions from October 1995 to February 1997. We established carnivore presence through the use of baited tracking plates dusted with chalk and matched with infrared-triggered cameras. Five carnivore species were recorded at both prairie dog towns and paired sites across the Oklahoma Panhandle. Of these, 4 were recorded with sufficient regularity to permit analyses. Carnivores were analyzed at prairie dog towns across the entire Panhandle and in the Panhandle's westernmost county (Cimarron County) only. Canids showed no significant preference for prairie dog towns or other areas. In the Oklahoma Panhandle and Cimarron County only, occurrence of swift fox ( Vulpes velox ) between prairie dog towns and control sites was insignificant. Badgers ( Taxidea taxus ) and spotted skunks ( Spilogale putorius ) occurred significantly more often at prairie dog towns in Cimarron County but not in the Panhandle. No single mustelid species showed a significant association with either prairie dog towns or non-prairie dog town habitats. Our results indicate that whereas prairie dog towns do attract some carnivore species, the presumption that prairie dogs are ""keystone species"" for so many organisms (especially threatened or endangered species) in the current plains ecosystem may not be as clear as previously thought.     

Aquatic Oligochaeta (Annelida: Lumbriculidae, Haplotaxidae, Naididae, Tubificidae) of Utah

Thirty-six species of aquatic Oligochaeta (Lumbriculidae, Haplotaxidae, Naididae, Tubificidae) are now known form Utah. Aquatic habitats in 27 counties were sampled, with 32 oligochaete species identified. An additional 4 species were added from other published investigations. The majority of species are cosmopolitan and occur in other areas of North America. Nais barbata, N. alpina, and N. pardalis are reported from the western United States for the first time. Ilyodrilus frantzi was found to be a major component of the oliogochaete fauna in the Great Basin lentic environment. The North American distribution of Telmatodrilus vejdovskyi is extended significantly eastward. Tow undetermined species of Tubificidae are discussed.     

Genus Pseudolepturges Gilmour (1957) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae): a new species from Bolivia,key to the species of the genus and first reports of a possible Pseudomyrmex ant mimic in longhorn beetles

A new species of Pseudolepturges from Bolivia is described and illustrated; a key to the species is also provided. Based on the similar body size, orange-yellowish colour, behaviour, and close co-occurrence on a Triplaris americana tree, we suggest that Pseudolepturges triplarinus sp. nov. is a mimic of the ant Pseudomyrmex triplarinus.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6DF38C64-6986-4A79-8D9A-645DA89149F2     

Ranging behaviour of the invasive crayfish,Procambarus clarkii (Girard)

The spreading of the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii throughout the world is attributed to human introductions; however, the rapid and widespread diffusion of the species following its establishment is the result of its dispersal capabilities. This study aimed to provide further information for the comprehension of the invasive potential of this crayfish by underlining some aspects of its behavioural flexibility. Radio-telemetry was used to analyse locomotion, home-range faithfulness and dispersal of the species in an Italian irrigation ditch system. Space was used differently by the two sexes, females being more nomadic in their ranging behaviour probably due to their reproductive phase. In addition, an inter-individual variability was found in both speed of locomotion and dispersal pattern. By applying a simulation model, it was shown that (1) both sexes disperse, and (2) ranging behaviour is not the result of a passive dispersion, but that the occupancy of burrows may affect the rate of dispersion. Finally, an intra-individual variability is related to the occurrence of two spatial strategies within the same population.