A new species and illustrated records of Paracyclops Claus, 1893 (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Cyclopinae) from Mexico

A new species of the freshwater cyclopid genus Paracyclops Claus, 1893 collected from the state of Aguascalientes, Mexico is described based on female and male specimens. It has affinities with other forms with profusely ornamented caudal rami, such as Paracyclops carectum Reid and Paracyclops pilosus Dussart, but it can be distinguished by a combination of characters including details of the ornamentation of the coxa of leg 1, third antennular segment with incomplete suture line, inner margin of the caudal rami with scattered hair-like elements, and relatively long caudal rami, among other characters. The male is distinguished mainly by having the caudal rami completely covered by pilosity, which differs from all other known Paracyclops, including Paracyclops carectum. The new species has affinities with neotropical Paracyclops. Illustrated records and a morphological analysis of two more species of Paracyclops from Mexico, Paracyclops poppei and Paracyclops chiltoni, are also included in this contribution.     

Aspects of the natural history of Leptodactylus knudseni Heyer, 1972 (Anura: Leptodactylidae) in a pristine forest in Central Amazonia,Brazil, with comments on ontogenetic variation of its tadpoles

The Leptodactylus pentadactylus species group is comprised of medium to large species of Neotropical frogs. Leptodactylus knudseni, a member of this species group, has a wide distribution throughout the Amazon Basin. Herein we describe aspects of the reproductive biology of L. knudseni and provide notes about the ontogenetic variation of its tadpoles based on a population in a non-flooded forest near Manaus, Amazonian Brazil. Amplectant pairs of L. knudseni lay foam nests in excavated basins on the edge of temporary ponds located on clay soil and at least 50 m from a stream. The tadpole development happens initially in the foam nests with access to the pond after the rain flooding the basins. Studied clutches lacked trophic eggs and tadpoles did not produce foam. Ontogenetic variations in L. knudseni tadpoles are related to size, teeth formulae and body colour. The use of excavated basins for the deposition of foam nests has been reported in several species of the L. pentadactylus group. The absence of trophic eggs and production of foam by the tadpoles differ from other species of the L. pentadactylus group. The tadpole morphology is similar to that described for other species of the group.     

Phylogenetic relationships among genera in the Calanidae (Crustacea: Copepoda) based on morphology

Cladistic analysis of Calanidae recovered two major clades: a tropical epipelagic clade composed of species without ontogenetic vertical migration (Canthocalanus + Cosmocalanus + Nannocalanus + Undinula); and a clade of ontogenetically migrating genera (Neocalanus + Calanoides + Calanus + Mesocalanus). The latter clade is least well supported although its Calanoides and Neocalanus lineages are well supported. Morphology-based topologies are largely congruent with published molecular trees, differing chiefly in the positions of Mesocalanus and Calanus. Independent homoplasious trends in character states in the male leg 5 include: reduction in segmentation and number of setae, increasing asymmetry as well as the probable retention of larval characteristics. The monophyly of Calanoides, Neocalanus and Calanus is well supported. It is postulated that Calanidae radiated during the mid to late Triassic from a bathypelagic megacalanid which was adapted to low oxygen conditions. High latitude locations may have been the first epipelagic environments to be recolonized.     

Intraspecific variation in integumental pore signatures in the genus Pleuromamma (Copepoda: Calanoida)

Intraspecific variation in the pore signature of calanoid copepods is evident between individuals within a single geographical area (within-sample variation) and between different geographical area (geographical variation). Previous studies, however, have tended to consider only geographical variation, neglecting within-sample variation; thus the question remains on how representative the data are of biogeographic divergence within a species. Eight species of the metridinid genus Pleuromamma are examined and the extent of intraspecific variation in pore signatures is assessed here in terms of within-sample variation. In general, the degree of intraspecific variation increases with increasing number of the total integumental pores and is limited to 10% or less of the total. Intraspecific variation reflects not only genetic variability within a species but also genetic similarities between the species within a genus. This paper also re-examines published data on intraspecific variation in pore signatures. Samples as small as five individuals will identify >95% of potential sites of pores.     

A new genus and species of the family Mantridae (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) infesting the bivalve Pseudochama retroversa from the Seto Inland Sea,western Japan

Chamicola nagasawai n. gen., n. sp., belonging to the bivalve-infesting cyclopoid family Mantridae, is described from the Seto Inland Sea, western Japan. This is the first recorded occurrence in the Pacific Ocean of the family, which previously accommodated only two genera, Mantra and Nearchinotodelphys. The parasite was found in the mantle cavity of Pseudochama retroversa (Lischke) (Family Chamidae), but did not infect Chama japonica (Lamarck). The prevalence and intensity of C. nagasawai in P. retroversa ranged from 11.3 to 25.0%, and from 1.0 to 2.6, respectively. Considering the host affinity and distribution of ancestral and derived character states, the new genus seems to be more closely related to Mantra than to Nearchinotodelphys.     

On the morphology and geographical distribution of some problematic South Palearctic Cyclops (Copepoda: Cyclopidae)

Females and males of two South Palearctic Cyclops, C. ankyrae Mann, 1940 Mann, A. K. 1940. Über pelagische Copepoden türkischer Seen (mit Berücksichtigung des übrigen Planktons).. Internat Rev Hydrobiol., 40: 1–87.  [Google Scholar] and C. abyssorum divergens Lindberg, 1936 Lindberg, K. 1936. Notes sur des Cyclopides (Crustacés Copépodes) de l'Iran.. Bull Mus R Hist Nat Belg., 12(17): 1–26.  [Google Scholar] are redescribed, and their taxonomic relationships are discussed. Cyclops ankyrae can be distinguished from congeners by the spine formula of the terminal exopodal segments (2433), distinct anal operculum, bare proctodeum, presence of a longitudinal row of large spinules near the palp on the frontal surface of the mandibular coxopodite, spinule ornamentation of the maxilliped coxopodite, presence of hairs on the caudal surface of P3–P4 couplers, and lack of large spinules on the frontal surface of the P1 basipodite. Cyclops abyssorum divergens differs from C. abyssorum s. str. in the relatively short inner median caudal seta, reduced spinule ornamentation on the caudal surface of P4 coxopodite, and presence of large spinules on the maxillular palp. Cyclops singularis Einsle, 1996 is synonymized here with C. a. divergens Lindberg, 1936 Lindberg, K. 1936. Notes sur des Cyclopides (Crustacés Copépodes) de l'Iran.. Bull Mus R Hist Nat Belg., 12(17): 1–26.  [Google Scholar]. The geographic distribution of C. a. divergens is revised.     

A new species of Schizopera (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from Japan,its phylogeny based on the mtCOI gene and comments on the genus Schizoperopsis

The predominantly marine genus Schizopera Sars, 1905 has only two significant inland water species-flocks, one in the ancient African Lake Tanganyika and the other in subterranean waters of Western Australia. Discovery of Schizopera abei sp. nov. from several interstitial locations in the vicinity of the ancient Lake Biwa has wider implications for the study of morphological homoplasies in the genus, as well as for the study of freshwater invasions in harpacticoid copepods. The new Schizopera species belongs to a small group of congeners with a two-segmented endopod of the fourth leg, which used to be recognised as a separate genus, Schizoperopsis Apostolov, 1982. Our reconstructed phylogenies based on the mtCOI partial sequences suggest that this character probably evolved convergently in at least some Schizopera, thus rendering the genus Schizoperopsis polyphyletic. However, almost all basal nodes in our cladograms are weakly supported, which shows limitations of a single-gene approach for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships. The new species is the first member of its genus from Japanese inland waters, and it has no close relatives among extent congeners anywhere in the world. We speculate that its ancestor may have invaded Lake Biwa, and subsequently its surrounding subterranean waters, from brackish areas around central Japan, presumably during a period of high sea water level through its major outflow river. This discovery may provide further support for the hypothesis about the role of ancient lakes as biodiversity pumps for subterranean habitats.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1F71F7AD-B7C8-4AD3-BE44-5E1BEE4E2AA8     

Lernanthropus antofagastensis sp. nov. (Copepoda: Lernanthropidae) parasitic on Anisotremus scapularis in Chilean waters,and new records of Lernanthropus trachure (Brian, 1903)

Lernanthropus antofagastensis sp. nov., parasitic on Anisotremus scapularis, and inshore fish of Antofagasta, Chile, is described and illustrated. It resembles five other species of Lernanthropus in its dorsal plate and third leg, but can be distinguished from them by a combination of characters. L. trachuri Brian, 1903, is recorded, its male described and illustrated from specimens collected from Seriolella violacea and Trachurus murphy, taken in the same locality.     

A new species of Halolaelapidae (Acari: Mesostigmata: Rhodacaroidea) from beach wrack in Yaquina Bay,Oregon, USA,with comments on opisthonotal plasticity and cribral development in the family

Decomposing beach wrack in a backwater of Yaquina Bay, Oregon, was found to contain nymphs and adults of a previously undescribed species of the mite genus Halolaelaps (Halolaelapidae). Significant variation was noted among available specimens in the number of opisthonotal shield setae, a feature that has long been considered to be of critical importance in identifying celticus group species. The presence of a well-formed posterodorsal cribrum in this and related celticus group species prompted an examination of cribral development in the Halolaelapidae as a whole and revealed that posterodorsal cribral elements occur in various configurations in three of the four presently recognized halolaelapid genera. A narrow, transversely oriented configuration appears to be unique to members of the celticus species group.     

A new species of the dentipes-subgroup of Triconia and a redescription of T. giesbrechti and T. elongata (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Oncaeidae) from the tropical Pacific and the Korea Strait

A new species of Triconia in the family Oncaeidae, Triconia pacifica sp. nov., and a new form variant each of Triconia giesbrechti Böttger-Schnack and Triconia elongata Böttger-Schnack are described from two sites in the Pacific. Triconia pacifica can be distinguished from its sibling Triconia dentipes (Giesbrecht) by (1) morphometric characters, including the proportional lengths of distal endopod spines of swimming leg 4, and the relative length of the outer basal seta on P5, and by (2) a number of micro-structures on the appendages. The Pacific specimens of T. elongata and T. giesbrechti resemble the typical forms in morphometric characters, with some minor differences in proportional spine lengths on the swimming legs, and differ in a few micro-structures. The hitherto unknown male of T. giesbrechti is newly described. For all species/forms described, the intraspecific variability of proportional spine lengths on the endopods of P2–P4 is examined and discussed. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6B41B0E2-0A5C-458B-8F9C-25000F208E24     

Two new species and additional distributional records of Acmopolynema Ogloblin (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) from India

Two new species of Acmopolynema Ogloblin (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), Acmopolynema pteron Manickavasagam & Palanivel sp. nov. and Acmopolynema pseudotachikawai Manickavasagam & Palanivel sp. nov., are described from India; a revised key to Indian species of the genus is provided. Acmopolynema shrawastianum Hayat & Anis syn. nov. is synonymized under Acmopolynema indochinense (Soyka); Acmopolynema orchidea Triapitsyn & Berezovskiy is reported from India, and new distributional records of Acmopolynema tachikawai Taguchi from Brunei and India are also given.www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3098457A-CA39-49CD-AEF1-19E788C33B78     

Morphological studies on a new species of Orthodonella,with redescription of O. gutta (Cohn, 1866) Kahl, 1931 (Protozoa: Ciliophora: Synhymeniida) from coastal water off Qingdao,China

The morphology and infraciliature of two marine synhymeniid ciliates, Orthodonella apohamatus nov. spec. and Orthodonella gutta (Cohn, 1866 Cohn, F. 1866. Neue infusorien im seeaquarium. Zeitschrift für wissenschaftliche Zoologie, 16: 253–302.  [Google Scholar]) Kahl, 1931 Kahl, A. 1931. Urtiere oder Protozoa I: Wimpertiere oder Ciliata (Infusoria) 2. Holotricha außer den im 1. Teil behandelten Prostomata. Tierwelt Deutschlands, 21: 181–398.  [Google Scholar], collected from coastal water off Qingdao, China, were studied on living cells and using protargol silver impregnation. The diagnosis for O. apohamatus nov. spec.: marine Orthodonella with length×width about 60–160×20–35?µm in vivo; lanceolate body shape with conspicuous beak-like projection at anterior end; 42–60 (mean 53) somatic kineties, including 28–42 on ventral and 13–20 on dorsal side; synhymenium with about 54–62 dikinetids; pharyngeal basket composed of 8–13 rods; four contractile vacuoles, two in middle near left margin and two at posterior end of cell; one elongated macronucleus and one micronucleus. Based on a Qingdao population, an improved diagnosis for the poorly known species, O. gutta is suggested: marine Orthodonella in vivo about 140–200×60–100?µm; body widely ellipsoidal with contractile beak-like anterior end; 62–74 (mean 66) somatic kineties with ca 41–48 ventral and 20–26 dorsal; synhymenium consisting of 43–70 dikinetids; 11–14 pharyngeal rods; one to several contractile vacuoles distributed in caudal area of cell; numerous cortical granules tiny and colourless; one ovoid macronucleus.     

Breeding in the gray-headed tody-flycatcher (Aves: Tyrannidae) with comments on geographical variation in reproductive traits within the genus Todirostrum

The gray-headed tody-flycatcher Todirostrum poliocephalum is a passerine endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. We describe the nest and nesting behaviour of this species and investigate geographical variation in breeding traits in the genus using data from the literature, museum collections, and citizen science projects. We located 21 nests of the gray-headed tody-flycatcher, 13 of which we monitored. Nest height above the ground averaged 3.3 ± 3.4 m (n = 21). Nests were built over a 16.8 ± 5.6-day period (n = 6) by both adults. Clutch sizes ranged from two to three eggs, with a mean of 2.9 ± 0.3 eggs (n = 10). Eggs measured 16.6 ± 0.5 × 12.0 ± 0.5 mm (n = 23) and weighed 1.1 ± 0.1 g (n = 19). Mean incubation period was 17 days (n = 3) and mean nestling period was 15.5 days (n = 2). Apparent reproductive success was 30.8%, with predation being the primary cause of nest failure (46.1%). Mayfield’s reproductive success was 25.9%, and daily survival rates for eggs and nestlings were 0.957 and 0.971, respectively. Clutch sizes increased with latitude, but temperature and precipitation seasonality had very low importance in explaining clutch size variation.     

A new species of Kurixalus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from northern Vietnam with comments on the biogeography of the genus

ABSTRACT

We describe a new species of rhacophorid frogs from Nghe An Province in northern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular evidences. Morphologically, Kurixalus gracilloides sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following diagnostic characters: body size small (snout–vent length 27.9–31.2 mm in males); head width subequal to head length; snout rounded with no dermal projection; canthus rostralis distinct, curved; vomerine teeth present; single internal vocal sac; iris golden-brown; small nuptial pad in finger I; dorsal surfaces golden-brown with a saddle-shaped dark marking; large dark spots on ventral surfaces absent; dermal fringes along outer edge of limbs; conical dermal appendage at the heel; skin on dorsum rough; skin on throat and chest granular; finger webbing rudimentary and toe webbing moderately developed, webbing formula I 2–2½ II 1½–3 III 1¾–3½ IV 3–1½ V. The new species is separated from all other congeners by uncorrected genetic distances ranging from 5.4% to 12.7% based on mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. Phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA suggest that the new species is nested within a clade of Taiwanese and Yunnan Kurixalus with strong support values. The new species is currently known only from secondary bamboo forest in Pu Mat National Park, northern Vietnam, at elevations of 150 m asl. We suggest the new species should be considered as Near Threatened (NT) following the IUCN’s Red List categories.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C1BF843F-2F31-4CED-B1F9-13A9035C77C9