The rediscovery of Danielssenia intermedia Wells 1965 (Copepoda,Harpacticoida): a missing link between the ‘danielsseniid’ genera and Paranannopus Lang 1936 (Paranannopidae)

Danielssenia intermedia Wells 1965, originally described from a single male specimen from the Fladen ground in the North Sea, is redescribed on the basis of new material of both sexes from off Cullercoats, also in the North Sea. Although D, intermedia has many similarities to the genera Danielssenia Boeck and Psammis Sars, it must be placed in a new genus Fladenia based on distinctive features of the female antennule, the mandible, maxilliped, first and fifth legs and the sexual dimorphism of both rami of legs 2–4. The characteristics of Fladenia are such that it serves to link the other genera of the danielsseniid complex with Paranannopus Lang. The proposal that all these genera should be placed in the family Paranannopidae Por is reinforced by close similarities in the structure of the female genital field.     

Life history of Paraselenis (Spaethiechoma) dichroa (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) in natural conditions of Atlantic Forest from Brazil

Cassidinae Gyllenhaal? is the second largest subfamily of Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera), which presents characteristic morphology, biology and behaviour. The current study describes the life cycle of Paraselenis(Spaetiechoma) dichroa (Germar), ?determining biological and behavioural aspects as well as the action of natural enemies on populations, when the species has maternal care. The study was conducted between February and April 2015 in the National Forest of Passa Quatro, municipality of Passa Quatro, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Daily observations were made (morning and afternoon) to evaluate the offspring of females on Ipomoea sp. and Merremia macrocalyx (O’Donell?) (Convolvulaceae), as well as the actions of natural enemies on the young. The eggs are deposited on the midrib and abaxial surface of leaves (n = 25). Egg clusters are pedunculated, arranged in groups and devoid of any cover. On average, each female produced 27.3 ± 5.6 (n = 16) eggs, with a mean incubation period of 12.7 ± 2.9 days (n = 10 females with their young). The larvae remained grouped in the leaves throughout development, except when they fed. They retained faeces and exuviae as a stacked faecal structure on their mobile urogomphi (caudal process) like a faecal shield. The mean number of larvae per female was 12.7 ± 10.1 (n = 19) and the larval period lasted 24.9 ± 4.5 days (n = 12). Pupation occurred on the stem of the plant (n = 16). On average there were 8.1 ± 8.5 individuals for pupae progeny (n = 14). The mean duration of the pupal stage was 10.4 ± 3.3 days (n = 5). Overall, 3% of adults emerged (n = 13 individuals), with a total cycle time of 41.3 ± 8.4 days (n = 6). Adults are sexually dimorphic in the elytral shape. Females remain with the offspring throughout development. The natural enemies of immatures were Emersonella pubipennis Hansson? (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), Tachinidae (Diptera) and Stiretrus decastigmus (Herrich-Schaeffer?) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), Conura sp. Spinola? (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) and Brachymeria sp. Westwood? (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae). The information presented here on the natural history of P. dichroa are important as they may serve as a starting point to understand evolutionary questions and multispecies interactions.     

Helminths of some tree frogs of the families Hylidae and Phyllomedusidae in an Atlantic rainforest fragment,Brazil

Despite the fact that Brazil is the most-studied country regarding helminths of amphibians, only around 8% of Brazilian anurans have had at least one study made of their helminth fauna. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the helminth community of nine species of Atlantic Rainforest anurans of two different families, eight of them with no previous study, and six of which are endemic to Brazil. The analysed hosts for their parasites were: Dendropsophus minutus (n = 48), Scinax auratus (n = 36), D. branneri (n = 33), D. elegans (n = 26), Hypsiboas albomarginatus (n = 22), Pithecopus nordestinus (n = 19), D. decipiens (n = 12), D. haddadi (n = 11) and S. x-signatus (n = 11). A total of 781 helminths were collected from 106 (48.6%) of 218 analysed hosts, 656 Centrorhyncus sp. cystacanths and 125 nematodes: 76 adults (25 Cosmocerca sp.; three Cosmocerceidae gen. sp.; 20 Cosmocerca parva, 20 Cosmocercella phyllomedusae, five Aplectana sp., two Oswaldocruzia sp. and one Rhabdias sp.), 43 encysted larvae (nine Porrocaecum sp. and 34 Brevimulticaecum sp.) and six Physaloptera sp. larvae. Anurans may display many roles within the helminth life cycles, as they act as both predator and prey to a wide variety of animals. Consequently, we have found helminths that use anurans as definitive, intermediate and paratenic hosts. Opposing other surveys in which nematodes are the most prevalent and abundant parasites, acanthocephalans were the most prevalent taxa. These findings highlight the lack of knowledge regarding the helminth fauna of anurans and reveal many gaps with respect to their infection patterns in amphibians.     

Morphology and natural history of the cryptogenic sponge associate Polydora colonia Moore, 1907 (Polychaeta: Spionidae)

The polychaete Polydora colonia is a widely distributed symbiont of sponges that has been reported as introduced into the Mediterranean Sea. Polydora colonia is re-described based on specimens associated with the sponges Microciona prolifera and Halichondria bowerbanki from New York and aspects of its reproduction and feeding biology are described for the first time. The morphology of P. colonia agrees with previous reports of this species. Females of P. colonia deposited egg capsules (14–19 eggs/capsule) in their tubes on sponges and adelphophagy was observed. Larvae appear to be competent to settle on hosts at the 13-chaetiger stage. One commensal ciliate and one parasitic copepod were found associated with P. colonia. P. colonia as an introduced species is evaluated based on current evidence. Sponge material was observed in the gut of > 50% of the worms examined but further studies are needed to evaluate whether P. colonia is selectively feeding on M. prolifera.     

First record of the genus Koreanurina Najt and Weiner (Collembola: Neanuridae: Pseudachorutinae) from China,with description of two new species from Changbai mountain

The genus Koreanurina Najt and Weiner, 1992 is recorded for the first time from China. It is redefined and its similarity with the subfamily Caputanurininae is stressed. Two species are described from Changbai Mountain in North-East China: Koreanurina weinerae sp. nov. and K. alba sp. nov. The first species differs from the other species of the genus, mostly by its post-antennal organ located on the lateral edge of head (versus dorsolaterally), its central plate on head wider and the presence of only 1 + 1 chaetae on Th I (versus 2–3 + 2–3). K. alba sp. nov. differs from the other species of the genus mostly by the absence of body pigment, and the presence of only 1 + 1 chaetae posteriorly to the furcal rest (versus 2 + 2).

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:65366D33-890A-4E67-B581-5D32406C078F     

East–west differentiation in the Marcusenius macrolepidotus species complex in Southern Africa: the description of a new species for the lower Cunene River,Namibia (Teleostei: Mormyridae)

This paper critically compares the Southern African bulldog fish species Marcusenius macrolepidotus (Peters, 1852), inhabiting the eastern Lower Zambezi River, and Marcusenius altisambesi Kramer et al., 2007, inhabiting the central Upper Zambezi River, with bulldog fish samples from the western lower Cunene River, a 2600-km range from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic. The three species or forms are well differentiated in morphology and molecular genetics, and differentiation is also present in electric organ discharges. Marcusenius altisambesi and the Cunene sample, which we recognize as Marcusenius multisquamatus sp. nov., are closely related and form a sister taxon to M. macrolepidotus. This result is based on the analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences and genomic Inter-simple-sequence-repeat fingerprinting. Morphological adaptations to life in a torrential escarpment river seem to be present in M. multisquamatus sp. nov. when compared with M. altisambesi, which lives in a reservoir river that periodically floods the savannah. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8FE68494-9ED9-428E-B181-E814D25493F2     

Discrete dimorphism among castes of the bald-faced hornet Dolichovespula maculata (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in different phases of the colony cycle

Morphological and physiological caste differences were compared from colonies of Dolichovespula maculata in middle and late phases of the colony cycle. The females showed three patterns of ovarian development and only females classified as queens were inseminated. In both phases, queens were larger than workers for most measures. Discriminant analyses showed high distinction of caste in both phases. We also found highly pronounced qualitative differences: workers had hairs covering the entire body whereas queens had no hair and also some colour differences in the gaster. These results indicate that D. maculata presents pre-imaginal differentiation as seen in other Vespinae, and that size variation occurs from colony to colony such that queens of one colony may be comparable to workers of a different colony although the castes are always distinguishable within colonies.     

Revision of the spider genus Ischnocolus Ausserer, 1871 (Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae: Ischnocolinae)

The genus Ischnocolus is redefined based on type material, and extra specimens. Representatives of the genus are distinguished by clavate tarsal trichobothria arranged in median apical row; by the maxillae with lighter colour on prolateral edge. Males of the genus Ischnocolus Ausserer are recognized by the cheliceral intumescence, sigmoid ventral furrow on palpal tibia, unequal cymbium lobes, tibial apophysis absent, great number of spines on ventral side of tibia I, and male superior tarsal claws bipectinate. Species included are: Ischnocolus valentinus (Dufour) [= I. holosericeus L. Koch, I. triangulifer Ausserer, I. algericus Thorell, I. fuscostriatus Simon, I. maroccanus (Simon), I. mogadorensis (Simon), I. numidus Simon, I. tripolitanus Caporiacco, Avicularia andalusiaca Simon], Ischnocolus hancocki Smith, Ischnocolus jickelii L. Koch (senior-synonym of Chaetopelma adenense Simon) and Ischnocolus ignoratus sp. nov. Ischnocolus tomentosus Thorell is considered incertae sedis. The following species are considered species inquirenda: I. tunetanus Pavesi and I. fasciculatus Strand. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:207143F4-A235-4411-96D4-D4787ABF271F     

Comparative larval morphology of the European bone-skippers,Thyreophora cynophila (Panzer, 1798) and Centrophlebomyia furcata (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Piophilidae), with notes on their coexistence and natural history

Considered at times as extinct, the European bone-skippers Thyreophora cynophila and Centrophlebomyia furcata (Diptera: Piophilidae) have been recently rediscovered in Spain, coexisting in some areas. Nevertheless, apart from their typical association with big mammal carcasses, little is known about them and the other species of subtribe Thyreophorina. In the present paper, the larval morphology of T. cynophila is described for the first time and compared with that of C. furcata. The morphology of cephalopharyngeal skeleton, the number and arrangement of the spines of ventral creeping welts, and the morphology and presence or absence of tubercles in the two last segments of the body, are the main characters allowing for larval identification of both species. Some preliminary field and laboratory observations on the behaviour and life cycle of the two species are also provided.     

Ultrastructure of spermatozoa and spermatogenesis in Octopus minor (Sasaki, 1920) (Cephalopoda: Octopoda)

Octopus minor is widely distributed along the coastal areas of the west Pacific Ocean. This paper investigates spermatozoa, spermiogenesis from the testes, and spermatophores using light and electron microscopy. Mature spermatozoa are about 650 µm long. The head includes mainly the acrosome and nucleus. The acrosome consists of a striated cone surrounded by a single helix. The nucleus is cylindrical, homogeneous and of high electron density. The neck is short and connected with the head through the internal nuclear fossa. The axoneme connects the head, neck and tail. The tail is divided into middle, principal and final pieces. The ‘9 + 9 + 2’ structure is surrounded by a mitochondrial sheath, which includes 9–11 mitochondria in transverse section. The sperm morphology is compared with the ultrastructure of other cephalopod spermatozoa, and taxonomic and phylogenetic implications are discussed.     

Erection of Unicapsulocaudum mugilum gen. et sp. nov. (Myxozoa: Ceratomyxidae) based on its morphological and molecular data

Unicapsulocaudum mugilum gen. et sp. nov. was isolated from the gallbladder of marine Mugil cephalus L., 1758 from the coast of Xiamen, East China Sea, China. Morphological studies indicated that its spores are 2.9 ± 0.3 μm long and 25.4 ± 3.8 μm thick, each with a single pyriform polar capsule (5.2 ± 1.2 μm long and 2.6 ± 0.3 μm thick) positioned inside the bulky anterior end, and containing polar filaments with two turns. The spore is distinct from that of all other known myxozoans in having an ophidian-like form with a horn-like protuberance and a long tapering tail. Molecular studies indicated that the sequence of its small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) does not match any myxozoans sequenced to date. Molecular phylogenetic studies based on both Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods indicated that Unicapsulocaudum mugilum sp. nov. clustered with Ceratomyxa amazonensis, Ceratomyxa tunisiensis, Ceratomyxa leatherjacketi and Myxodavisia bulani as an older evolutionary ceratomyxid lineage. Considering its morphological characters, habitat and phylogenetic relationships with other main Ceratomyxidae species, we propose the erection of a new genus Unicapsulocaudum in Ceratomyxidae.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D6E74FC4-1C50-450B-985C-9802930CA2D5     

Phylogenetic relationships of Mesobuthus eupeus (C.L. Koch, 1839) inferred from COI sequences (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

In this study, the first molecular phylogenetic analysis of Mesobuthus eupeus in Iran is presented based on sequence data of a ～ 700-base-pair fragment of cytochrome C oxidase, subunit I. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The results support monophyly of M. eupeus, but there is a clear divergence between northern and southern clades. The northern clade includes four subspecies – M. e. eupeus, M. e. philippovitschi, M. e. afghanus and M. e. thersites; whereas the southern clade is comprised of two others – M. e. phillipsi and M. e. kirmanensis. Accordingly, possible scenarios for the evolution and phylogeographic structure of M. eupeus based on the geological history of the Iranian Plateau were proposed. The observation of two distinct lineages supports the proposal that M. eupeus might be a species complex composed of species with highly similar morphological features.     

Distinctive but functionally convergent song phenotypes characterize two new allopatric species of the Chrysoperla carnea-group in Asia,Chrysoperla shahrudensis sp. nov. and Chrysoperla bolti sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Chrysoperla shahrudensis sp. nov. is discovered in northern Iran, co-occurring with at least five other cryptic species of the Chrysoperla carnea-group. It is distinguished by the volley period and tonality of its courtship duetting song. Another Asian species from alpine meadows of northern Kyrgyzstan, previously C. ‘adamsi-K’ but here named Chrysoperla bolti sp. nov., has a song distinct from but convergent with both C. shahrudensis and North American Chrysoperla adamsi. Coordinated duets can be established in the laboratory between individuals of C. shahrudensis and recorded songs of either C. bolti or C. adamsi. Such functional song equivalence in distinct allopatric species suggests that repeated episodes of parallel speciation can drive the origin of cryptic species diversity in lacewings. Morphology, life history, and ecology of larvae and adults of C. shahrudensis and C. bolti are then formally described. Adding C. shahrudensis to a large mitochondrial DNA data set for ≈ 21 species shows it to be similar to neither C. adamsi nor C. bolti, further supporting independent, convergent evolution of song rather than song similarity due to relationship. Although C. bolti and C. shahrudensis are both from Asia and share some basic temporal song features, the two taxa are distinct, allopatric biological species.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D9B7BDC9-6C09-468B-A6B-D378628EC557     

Reproductive features of the deep water hermit crab Sympagurus dimorphus (Anomura: Parapaguridae) inhabiting pseudoshells in the SW Atlantic Ocean

We herein provide information on reproductive aspects (the gonopore morphology of both sexes, the size of embryonic eggs and the fecundity) of the hermit crab Sympagurus dimorphus from deep waters of Argentina. Sampling was performed in different oceanographic and fishery campaigns between 2007 and 2010, at 38°01′–39°03′S, 55°–56°05′W, 85–150 m depth, in the SW Atlantic Ocean. Mean shield length (SL) of females was 9.41 ± 1.68 mm (range: 6.6–10.5 mm). Female gonopores measured 0.74 ± 0.10 mm (range: 0.45–0.90 mm), were oval in shape, and were more rounded and larger than male gonopores (0.51 ± 0.007, range: 0.4–0.63 mm). The egg volume for each of the three stages of embryonic development was 0.94 ± 0.20 mm³ for stage I, 1.14 ± 0.31 mm³ for stage II, and 2.07 ± 0.41 mm³ for stage III. Egg volume doubled from the initial to the final stage of the embryonic development. The fecundity (number of eggs) varied from 831 (6.62 mm SL) to 2246 (10 mm SL) for females carrying eggs in stages I+II, and between 158 (158 mm SL) and 1279 (9.4 mm SL) in stage III. The reproductive characteristics of the observed profile are intimately related to S. dimorphus use of a pseudoshell resource and a deep water habitat.     

New findings of Hexalona-branch representatives in Brazil,with a description of Prenda gen. nov. (Crustacea: Anomopoda: Aloninae)

Altogether, Coronatella and Hexalona-branches are considered the main lineages of Aloninae – a subfamily of common bottom-dwelling microcrustaceans in freshwater environments. Although the taxonomic features of Brazilian members of the Hexalona-branch have been summarised for species from the costata-group and affinis-group, a revision of other widely distributed species in the world is still lacking in this country. The aim of this paper was to study the morphology of Brazilian populations from the guttata-group and intermedia-group, and to describe a new genus from the Hexalona-branch. The parthenogenetic females of Alona cf. guttata from Brazil have similar morphology when compared to data from the literature, but the armature of the terminal claw of its males seems to be different from those of Alona guttata sensu stricto, Alona barbulata and Alona werestschagini. The intermedia-group is formed by Alona elisae sp. nov., which seems to be endemic to the Cerrado of Brazil Central, and Alona isabellae sp. nov., which is widely distributed in Brazil; this species has a labral keel armed with 2–4 setulae, and postabdomen with setulae of lateral fascicles longer than the level of marginal denticles, morphological traits that differentiate it from Alona elisae sp. nov. Another endemic species from the Hexalona-branch is Prenda arvensis gen. nov. and sp. nov., which has two main head pores, a reduced seta on endite 1 of the first limb, sixth limb is a wide lobe. The potential of biodiversity from the Hexalona-branch from Brazil is still underestimated, and a global revision of the guttata-group and intermedia-group is very important for the progress of Aloninae taxonomy and systematics.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0A2E4A30-0C9C-43E8-8E72-1DEDA6AFF3C3     

Integrative taxonomy of the gymnophthalmid lizard Neusticurus rudis Boulenger, 1900 identifies a new species in the eastern Pantepui region,north-eastern South America

ABSTRACT

The gymnophthalmid lizard genus Neusticurus Duméril and Bibron, 1839 currently contains six described species. One of them, Neusticurus rudis Boulenger, 1900 has a long history of taxonomic confusion, and uncertainty remains about the number of species involved under that name, especially in the Pantepui region. Our molecular phylogenetic (concatenation and species tree) and morphological (morphometrics, external and hemipenial morphology) analyses confirm Neusticurus rudis as a species complex with several candidate species in the eastern Pantepui region. Neusticurus rudis is here redescribed based on the re-examination of the holotype and 10 specimens from the vicinity of the type locality (ca. 15 km airline) in Guyana. The geographic distribution of N. rudis sensu stricto is restricted to east of the Venezuelan Gran Sabana, extending from the slopes of Mount Roraima in Venezuela through the slopes of Maringma-tepui and Wayalayeng to Mount Ayanganna in Guyana, between 678 and 1500 m elevation. Populations tentatively assigned to N. rudis also occur from Mount Wokomung in the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana to the Iwokrama Forest Reserve in Guyana, between 159 and 1234 m elevation. A new Neusticurus species is described from the uplands and highlands of the eastern Pantepui region, west of the Venezuelan Gran Sabana in Brazil and Venezuela, between 900 and 2200 m elevation. Populations provisionally assigned to the new species were also found from the La Escalera region to Chivatón, the summit of Abakapá-tepui and the slopes and summit of Auyán-tepui, Venezuela, between 1100 and 2203 m elevation. Our results suggest the Gran Sabana as a possible recent biogeographical barrier for the genus in the region and indicate that tepui-summit Neusticurus populations derive from uplands populations that shifted their habitat preference.

www.zoobank.org/lsid:zoobank.org:pub:33DCF862-11CF-4FD0-B4D6-706E2C6A339E