New and little‐known species of Didemnidae (Ascidiacea,Tunicata) from Australia (Part 3)

The majority of the 58 species discussed, including 10 new species, were collected by scuba divers at 5–10?m in waters around Australia. Species are from Leptoclinides (11), Polysyncraton (11), Didemnum (19), Trididemnum (7), Lissoclinum (8), Clitella (1), and Diplosoma (1), and new species are in all except Trididemnum and Diplosoma. Additional characters (including a pyloric vesicle reported previously in the Holozoidae and several unrelated didemnid taxa) have been detected for the monotypic genus Clitella Kott, , which is recorded for only the second time. A review of known Australian ascidian species confirms the Didemnidae as the most speciose ascidian family in these waters. In this family, there appears not to be appreciable gene flow between tropical and temperate waters and few species have a continuous tropical–temperate range. A preponderance of Western Pacific non‐indigenous species is in the north, while indigenous species, some probably isolated from related tropical ones, are dominant in the temperate waters of the southern half of the continent. Although intraspecific variation and convergence obscures species differences, some aspects of the living organisms detected in in situ photographs contribute to identification. Keys to Australian didemnid species described since the publication of the Australian Ascidiacea part 4, Didemnidae (Kott ) are included.     

The colonial ascidian fauna of Fiordland,New Zealand,with a description of two new species

A total of 17 species from the families Styelidae, Polyclinidae, Polycitoridae, Pseudodistomidae, Ritterellidae and Didemnidae are described for the first time in collections from remote fiords with steep-sided walls, high rainfall and high tidal flow on the south-west coast of New Zealand. The Fiordland ascidian assemblages are composed of endemic species, species with trans-Tasman affinities, species found in southern New Zealand and species found New Zealand wide, some of which have global distributions. Two Australian native species, Diplosoma velatum Kott, 2001 and Didemnum jucundum Kott, 2001 from South Australia are new records to New Zealand and a further eight species remain undescribed. Two new colonial ascidians Aplidium coronum sp. nov. and Trididemnum shawi sp. nov. are described in this paper.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5ADC2C9D-28AC-4348-8B4D-F26-2A43DEA66     

A phylogenetic and biogeographic study of Euniphysa (Eunicidae,Polychaeta)

Fourteen species have either been described in, or referred to, the genus Euniphysa. Seven of these are here re-described based on type material and two new species, E. quadridentata and E. filibranchia, are described. Euniphysa oculata is found to be a subjective synonym of E. spinea, and E. unicusa is a subjective synonym of E. aculeata. Euniphysa taiwanensis and E. megalodus are correctly assigned to the genus, but cannot be described due to lack of material. Euniphysa misakiensis, E. tubicola and E. tubifex are transferred to Eunice. A key is given to the nine identifiable species retained in Euniphysa. Coding strategies for polymorphic and inapplicable characters, as well as problems associated with shared absences, are discussed. A phylogenetic analysis of Euniphysa based on 24 morphological characters yielded two most parsimonious trees (CI = 0.902, RI = 0.905). The tree topology separates Euniphysa into two distinct groups. Group I includes E. filibranchia n. sp., E. italica, E. jeffreysii, E. quadridentata n. sp. and E. spinea, it is supported by five equivocal similarities. Group II is supported by five unequivocal synapomorphies and two equivocal similarities, it includes E. aculeata, E. auriculata, E. falciseta and E. tridontesa. Based on the phylogenetic topology, Paraeuniphysa and Heterophysa are considered as junior synonyms of Euniphysa. The recognition of a separate family for Euniphysa is not warranted. All species of Euniphysa are fragile, shallow, warm water species. They have been collected mainly from sandy sediments of the Northern Hemisphere. The greatest diversity is from the South China Sea area; other species are found throughout the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the East Atlantic Ocean coasts suggesting the genus may have originated in the Tethys Sea. A few species have also been found in the Gulf of Mexico and the West Atlantic Ocean coast again suggesting a Tethyan origin associated with the westward drift of the North American continent.     

Phthiracarus species (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) from New Zealand,with description of a new species,redescription of Phthiracarus pellucidus and a key to 19 described species from the Australian Region

The genus Phthiracarus (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) was represented in New Zealand only by two species prior to this work. In this paper, Phthiracarus minutus sp. nov. is described and Phthiracarus pellucidus is redescribed. Phthiracarus perlucidus Niedba?a, 1994 is probably a junior synonym of Phthiracarus insularis Jacot, 1935. A key to all known species of Phthiracarus from the Australian Region is also provided to facilitate identification.     

The Thysanoptera Haplothripini (Insecta: Phlaeothripidae) of Iran

In Iran, 4 genera and 27 species are recorded of the Thysanoptera tribe Haplothripini (Phlaeothripidae, Phlaeothripinae): Dolicholepta Priesner with 1 species, Haplothrips Amyot and Serville with 23 species, Neoheegeria Schmutz with 2 species, and Plicothrips Bhatti with 1 species. Identification keys are provided to these taxa. Three new synonyms are established: H. inoptatus Priesner is a junior synonym of H. globiceps Bagnall, H. iraniensis Priesner is a junior synonym of H. maroccanus Priesner, and H. scythicus Knechtel is a junior synonym of H. leucanthemi (Schrank). Reports of H. cerealis Priesner from Iran are considered to be misidentifications of H. tritici Kurdjumov, and comments are made on the identity of several predatory species related to H. subtilissimus (Haliday) and H. globiceps Bagnall. Several character states used for recognizing taxa in Haplothrips are discussed, and available biological data for each species are presented.     

Antheluridae,a new family of Crustacea (Isopoda: Anthuridea) with new species from Australia

The Antheluridae is erected for the genera Anthelura Norman and Stebbing, Ananthura Barnard and Anthomuda Schultz. The family is characterized by mouthparts of biting form; maxillipedal endite broad; maxillipedal palp broad, of 4–5 free articles; several posterior carpal and propodal spines on pereopods 2–7; pereopod 7 with transverse anterodistal propodal setal row on mesial face; and single telsonic statocyst. Its relationships to other anthurideans, especially the Paranthuridae, is discussed. Three new Australian species are described, Ananthura billarderia from off New South Wales, Anthomuda chorizema from the southeastern coast, and Anthomuda hovea, from the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea islands and Western Australia.

Bathura Schultz, Austranthura Kussakin and Valoranthura Kensley are junior synonyms of Ananthura, and Diaphoranthura is a junior synonym of Anthomuda.     

Taxonomic status of Pseudosiphonops ptychodermis Taylor and Mimosiphonops vermiculatus Taylor (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliaidae) with description of a new species

Pseudosiphonops ptychodermis Taylor is designated a junior synonym of Mimisiphonops vermiculatus Taylor, and Pseudosiphonops Taylor is designated a junior synonym of Mimosiphonops Taylor. A new species of Mimosiphonops is described and taxonomy of the genus reviewed. Relationships between Mimosiphonops and the closely related caecilian genera Siphonops and Lutkenotyphlus are discussed.     

Australian thrips of the Haplothrips lineage (Insecta: Thysanoptera)

Keys are presented to the 11 genera and 50 species, including 21 new species, of Thysanoptera in Australia that are related to the worldwide genus Haplothrips Amyot and Serville. These taxa belong to what, in recent literature, has been called the “Haplothrips‐lineage”, that is, one of the three major radiations among the 2700 species and 350 genera of Thysanoptera Phlaeothripinae. The group is redefined, and the available tribal name Haplothripini shown to be appropriate. The character states on which the definition is based are discussed, and a list given of the 34 genera worldwide that can be included. The Australian species in these genera exhibit a diversity of biologies. Three genera involve species that invade galls induced by other thrips: Androthrips monsterae (Moulton) from New Guinea is newly recorded from Australia; Mesothrips jordani Zimmermann from South‐East Asia is newly recorded from Australia, with two new synonyms; the Asia‐Pacific genus, Euoplothrips Hood, includes two species in northern Australia. Three haplothripine genera are associated with grasses: one widespread genus, Apterygothrips Priesner, considered polyphyletic, includes only one Australian species; the only known species of Dyothrips Kudo is Oriental but extends into tropical Australia; Podothrips Hood, a circum‐tropical genus of thrips predatory on grass‐living coccoids, has 11 Australian species, six newly described. One grass‐associated genus, Bamboosiella Ananthakrishnan, is excluded from the Haplothripini. An Oriental genus of leaf‐ and flower‐living species, Dolichothrips Karny, includes one species in northern Australia, D. reuteri (Karny); Membrothrips Bhatti in which this species has been placed is considered a synonym. Karnyothrips Watson includes two species introduced to Australia, both predators of coccoids. Priesneria Bagnall includes three species from Australia, of which one fungus‐feeding species is newly described. Xylaplothrips Priesner is a widespread but ill‐defined, polyphyletic genus that currently includes three little‐known Australian species. Haplothrips is the main focus of this study, and character state variation among the Australian species is discussed. In total 24 species of Haplothrips from Australia are recognised, 14 being new species. Also included are the following, one new generic synonym, four new species synonyms, and one new combination. The 250 species worldwide in the genus are usually associated with the flowers of Asteraceae and Poaceae. In Australia, several of the species are specific to flowers, particularly of Poaceae and Cyperaceae but not Asteraceae. Almost half of these Australian species are presumed to be predatory on other small arthropods, and two have unusual host associations—with salt marsh Chenopodiaceae, and with the sori of Dicksonia tree ferns.     

An abnormal,parasitized pseudoscorpion—holotype of Pedalocreagris tethys Ćurčić (= Bisetocreagris ussuriensis (Redikorzev), n.syn.) (Arachnida: Chelonethi: Neobisiidae)

The holotype male of the pseudoscorpion Pedalocreagris tethys ?ur?i?, 1985 has been re-examined and found to be parasitized by an unidentified nematode. The supposed absence of the tactile seta of the telotarsus of leg IV in this species is shown to be a teratology, affecting only right leg IV of the holotype. Pedalocreagris ?ur?i?, 1985 is synonymized with Bisetocreagris ?ur?i?, 1983; Pedalocreagris tethys, the type species, is shown to be a junior subjective synonym of Bisetocreagris ussuriensis (Redikorzev, 1934).     

Taxonomic revision of Bagatus (Isopoda,Asellota) with a discussion of ontogenetic polymorphism in males

Summary

A taxonomic review of 15 species comprising the genus Bagatus (Asellota, Janiridae) is presented with the following species described as new (type-localities in parenthesis): Bagatus nereus (Ubatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil), B. triton (Belize, British Honduras) and B. brachydactylus (La Parguera, Puerto Rico).

Taxonomic characters and ontogenetic variation is discussed, and the status of dubious species clarified. B. crosslandi (Stebbing) is reinstated as a valid species; B. longimanus Pillai is considered a junior synonym of B. algicola (Miller) and B. falcifer (Barnard) a junior synonym of B. parvus (Omer-Cooper). Keys to species-groups and to species are provided together with notes on the geographical distribution and habitat.     

Distributional and taxonomic notes on the crab spider genus Epidius with descriptions of five new species (Araneae: Thomisidae)

Distributional and taxonomic data are provided for six species of crab spiders of the genus Epidius Thorell, 1877 of which five species, E. coloratus sp. nov., E. elongatus sp. nov. (male), E. floreni sp. nov. (male/female), E. longimanus sp. nov. (male/female) and E. mahavira sp. nov. (male/female), are newly described. Evidence is provided to demonstrate that Pothaeus Thorell, 1895 (type species Pothaeus armatu is a junior synonym of Epidius. Epidius bazarus is shown to be a junior synonym of E. armatus comb. nov.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:15B56D3E-69FB-46CD-8AFE-34919B844D14     

The identity of Seiulus rhenanus Oudms. and Typhlodromus foenilis Oudms. (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Seiulus rhenanus Oudms. and Typhlodromus foenilis Oudms. (Acari: Phytoseiidae) are considered to be distinct taxa and both sexes are described and placed, provisionally, in the genus Typhlodromella Muma. Anthoseius tortor Beglyarov is considered to be a junior synonym of Typhlodromella rhenanus (Oudms.), and Typhlodromus cryptus Athias-Henriot is considered to be a junior synonym of Typhlodromella foenilis (Oudms.).     

New Zealand chelonine braconid wasps (Hymenoptera)

The New Zealand braconid fauna is remarkable in that the only chelonine genus represented is Ascogaster; no member of the world-wide genus Chelonus has yet been found. The New Zealand species of Ascogaster are revised, keyed and illustrated. Of the 12 species, nine are new, two (crenulata Cameron, elongata Lyle) are redescribed and quadridentata, which was introduced into New Zealand for biological control of codling moth, was redescribed in a recent paper. One new synonym is established. The classification and biology of chelonines are briefly reviewed and the faunal relationships between Australian and New Zealand species of Ascogaster are discussed.     

Red Sea Phyllidiidae (Mollusca,Nudibranchia), with descriptions of new species

All the known Red Sea nudibranchs of the family Phyllidiidae are described and their taxonomic positions discussed. The genus Fryeria Gray, 1853, is regarded as a junior subjective synonym of Phyllidia Cuvier, 1797, and Reyfria gen. nov. is introduced to describe those species differing from Phyllidia primarily in the position of the anus. Of 12 species described here from the Red Sea, four are new to science. Phyllidia arabica Ehrenberg, 1831, is distinguished from Phyllidia varicosa Lamarck, 1801, and Phyllidia sp. is described as the third species confused with this group. A subspecies of P. ocellata Cuvier, 1804, is described and illustrated, as are three new species: P. melanocera, P. monacha and P. multifaria.     

New and little‐known species of Didemnidae (Ascidiacea,Tunicata) from Australia (part 4)

Forty‐eight species (including nine that are new) of the 288 Didemnidae now known from Australian waters are reported on in the present work. Dredged material is from benthic habitats in inter‐reefal areas of the Great Barrier Reef and from deeper water canyons off northeastern and northwestern Tasmania. Collections from shallower waters of Port Davey (western Tasmania) and Kangaroo Island (South Australia) were hand‐collected by scuba divers. Seven of the eight known genera of the Didemnidae are represented. Despite this emphasis on sampling in temperate waters, only 14 species (all indigenous) are recorded from around the southern half of the continent. The species diversity of this family is greater in the tropics, with 34 species being recorded. Nearly half of these are known also from the tropical western Pacific and some from the Indian Ocean as well. Tropical indigenous species are relatively few.     

Rediscovery of Disepyris semiruber (Kieffer) (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) in Southern Africa,with first description of the male

Holepyris semiruber Kieffer is redescribed and illustrated based on freshly collected specimens. Holepyris semiruber var. striatipleura Kieffer is considered a colour variant of this species and therefore a junior synonym of H. semiruber syn. nov. This species is transferred to Disepyris, D. semiruber (Kieffer) comb. nov., based on the possession of a short 2r-rs&Rs vein in the fore wing and presence of long flat spine-shaped setae on the outer (posterior) surface of the protarsi. The male is described for the first time from new specimens collected in South Africa. This species is recorded for the first time from Namibia and Zimbabwe. All photographs are available on www.waspweb.org.     

Palaearctic species of Ammoplanus (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

The Palaearctic species of the genus Ammoplanus Giraud are revised, based on material of over 1750 specimens from Europe, North Africa and Central Asia. For almost all species it was possible to examine the type material and in six species the lectotypes have been designated, in two cases (A. perrisi and A. marathroicus) the neotypes. As a result 38 species are recognized as valid, keyed out and commented on. Eight species are described as new and four species names are here placed in synonymy. Several species are of wide distribution, which made it necessary to include also those described from Central Asia and Mongolia. The keys are made to all Palaearctic species but no material is known from the regions east of Mongolia, although four undescribed species are available from South-East Asia. The Afrotropical species are listed and most of them were also examined. Two subgenera are recognized in the region; 32 species are classified in Ammoplanus sensu stricto and six in the subgenus Ammoplanellus. In the nominal subgenus the following species are described as new: A. atlasensis from Morocco, A. biscopula from Israel, A. biskrensis from Algeria, A. denesi from Turkey (Anatolia), A. freidbergi and A. kaplanae from Israel, A. minutus from Bulgaria and Turkey and A. strumae from Bulgaria and Greece. New synonymy: A. angelae becomes a junior synonym of rhodesianus (known before only from Africa), A. crudelis a synonym of A. kaszabi, A. handlirschi a synonym of A. marathroicus, A. suarezi a synonym of A. kohlii, A. subcompressus of A. gegen, A. orbiculatus of A. simplex and A. zarcoi of A. kohlii; A. wesmaeli is confirmed as a synonym of A. perrisi. Otherwise the synonymy is corrected under A. bischoffi and the names A. dusmeti and A. curvidens are re-established as valid. In a short review of the African species A. (Ammoplanellus) cradockensis Arnold, 1959 is placed as a new synonym under A. (Ammoplanellus) latiscapus Leclercq, 1959. The nomenclatural changes are explained under the relevant species.     

Two new species of terrestrial Isopoda (Crustacea,Oniscidea) from Ascension Island

A collection of eight species of terrestrial isopods from lava and cave sites on Ascension Island is described. Two species, Niambia longiantennata (Platyarthridae) and Elumoides coecus (Eubelidae), are described as new. Atlantoscia alceui Ferrara and Taiti (Philosciidae) is considered to be a junior synonym of A. floridana (Van Name) and the genus Ocelloscia Schultz and Johnson of Atlantoscia Ferrara and Taiti. At present the oniscidean fauna known from Ascension Island consists of 13 species.