Distal Spines Research Articles

A New Species and New Record of Freshwater Turbellarians of the Genus Gieysztoria (Platyhelminthes: Rhabdocoela) from China.

A new species of Dalyelliidae, Gieysztoria pellucida Wang and You, is described based on material collected in southern China through an integrative approach combining morphological, histological, and molecular (18S and 28S rDNA) data. Gieysztoria pellucida sp. nov. is morphologically characterized by a fan-shaped (about 270° when pressed) stylet, consisting of 13 similar distal spines and a broad girdle without fenestrae region. This stylet is distinct from that of any other similar species in the Aequales group to which this species belongs. In addition, specimens identifiable as Gieysztoria garudae Van Steenkiste, Van Mulken, and Artois, 2012 were discovered from the same location as G. pellucida sp. nov. Gieysztoria garudae has previously been known only from India; the present study thus represents the first record of the species from China.

A new species of thorny lacewing (Neuroptera: Rhachiberothidae: Paraberothinae) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber with novel raptorial foreleg structure

A new species, namely Astioberotha coutreti sp. nov., of the thorny lacewing subfamily Paraberothinae, is described and illustrated from a complete individual preserved in mid-Cretaceous amber from Tanai, northern Myanmar. Astioberotha coutreti sp. nov. preserves nearly all the diagnostic characters of this subfamily, and differs from the type species of the genus Astioberotha owing to the fore femur with one long basal spine and 34 additional smaller spines; protibia bearing five distal spines; probasitarsus with two spines on inner edge located near mid-length; forewing with numerous maculation spots; intra-RP crossvein between RP3 and RP4 present (4rp3-rp4). Astioberotha coutreti sp. nov. together with the recent description of several other Paraberothinae species from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, are used to discuss the palaeobiogeography of the subfamily.

Paramisophria walteri a new Arietellidae (Copepoda, Calanoida) from Midway Island

ABSTRACT A new species of the genus Paramisophria T. Scott 1897 (Copepoda: Calanoida) was collected from coastal waters off Midway Island. Paramisophria walteri sp. nov., along with Paramisophria variabilis, Paramisophria platysoma and Paramisophria bathyalis, are the only representatives of the genus sharing four armature elements on the third exopod article of the male left leg 5. The new species can be easily distinguished from P. variabilis by differences in the armature elements on third exopod article of the male left leg 5 (terminal spine pinnate, plus three subequal spines, compared with terminal spine naked, plus two subequal spines and one short process in P. variabilis). The new species can be easily distinguished from P. platysoma by its symmetrical prosome (prosome asymmetrical in P. platysoma), and the endopodal lobes of the female leg 5 each bearing one long plumose seta (setae are lacking in P. platysoma). Significant differences between the new species and P. bathyalis include the 4 + 1 armature elements of the maxillulary praecoxal arthrite (5 + 1 in P. bathyalis); and the third exopod article of the male right leg 5 with three distal stout spines, compared with one slender inner seta plus two thin subequal outer setae in P. bathyalis. Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Paramisophria are re-examined and discussed.

A mysterious dwarf: Suthepiidae nov. fam., a new harvestman family from mountains of northern Thailand (Arachnida: Opiliones: Laniatores)

A new family of laniatorean harvestmen from northern Thailand is proposed, Suthepiidae fam. nov., which comprises one new genus and one new species, Suthepia inermis sp. nov. This family stands out by characters hitherto unknown or rarely recorded for Opiliones, and close relatives of this taxon are presently not discernible. Important characters are a short and compact penis with a massively enlarged distal part with a rich armament of sclerites and membranes which can be moved and everted by hemolymph pressure during mating; the pedipalp of males and females is without raptorial adaptations, i.e. elevated sockets (= apophyses) carrying strong distal spines are completely absent, therefore no prey capture basket is present; the male pedipalpal tarsus is enlarged and compressed, its dorso-distal double apophysis presumably contains a gland; the pedipalpal claw is weak, not longer or stronger than long hyaline setae on the dorso-distal apophysis of the tarsus. The only specimens presently known were found in litter of a few forested mountain stocks, between 450 m and 1400 m altitude. A brief overview of Southeast Asian laniatorean families is presented.

A new species of Bathynomus A. Milne-Edwards, 1879 (Malacostraca: Peracarida: Isopoda: Cirolanidae) from the upper Miocene of the Guadalquivir Basin (Spain).

Today representatives of the giant cirolanid isopods of the genus Bathynomus inhabit tropical to warm-temperate waters of the West Atlantic and the Indo-West Pacific. In not so distant geological past, however, the genus was present also in the Mediterranean, as documented by numerous fossils from the Plio-Pleistocene of Italy. Herein, a somewhat older occurrence of the genus is reported, from the North-East Atlantic. Based on a single posterior moult from the upper Miocene (Tortonian) of southwestern Spain, a new species is described. Bathynomus civisi sp. nov. differs from its congeners by both uropod rami having the obtuse distolateral corner produced as a distinct tip and a wider gap between the second and third side distal spines than between others. The new species is so far known only from the type locality in close vicinity of Arroyo Trujillo, in the municipality of Cantillana (Seville, Spain), where the marls of the Écija Formation are exposed. At the time of deposition of these marls, the area represented a part of the Norbetic Strait, a corridor connecting the North-East Atlantic with the Mediterranean. The new occurrence reported herein further supports the environmental preferences of the genus throughout its geological past for deep-marine settings.

A new species of Boholina (Crustacea, Copepoda, Calanoida) and a first record for stygobiotic calanoid fauna from a cave in Thailand.

A new species of Calanoida belonging to the genus Boholina Fosshagen & Iliffe, 1989 was found in a freshwater pool within a cave of the Satun province, South Thailand. It is the first record of the genus and of a stygobiotic representative of calanoid fauna in this country. The new species is most similar to B. crassicephala Fosshagen & Iliffe, 1989, based on position of genital pores, structures of P4 and P5 in both sexes, relative length of subapical spine vestige on the male right P5, and shape of the male left P5 endopods. However, this new species is distinguished from its known congeners by: (1) relatively longer distal outer spines on the male right P5 exopods, (2) smaller endopods of the male left P5 and (3) elongated apical spines on the distal exopodal segment of the female P4 and P5. Furthermore, the distinctive characteristic of the Thai Boholina is the presence of inner minute seta on the distal segment of the male right P5 exopod. Detailed descriptions of the new species and a key to all six known species of the genus Boholina is provided.

New species of Duplominona Karling, 1966 and Pseudominona Karling, 1978(Platyhelminthes: Proseriata) from the Caribbean.

Nine new species of Duplominona and one new Pseudominona (Platyhelminthes, Proseriata, Monocelididae) are described from the Caribbean coast of Panama and from Puerto Rico. Duplominona aduncospina n. sp.; D. terdigitata n. sp.; D. pusilla n. sp.; D. bocasana n. sp. (from Panama) and D. dissimilispina n. sp.; D. chicomendesi n. sp.; D. macrocirrus n. sp.; D. diademata n. sp.; D. puertoricana n. sp. (from Puerto Rico) can be distinguished from the numerous congeneric species based on fine details of the sclerotized structures of the copulatory organ. Duplominona aduncospina n. sp. is characterised by a cirrus provided with 3-4 rows of recurve spines, 2-3 μm long. D. terdigitata n. sp. shows a tripartite tail, and needle-shaped cirrus spines, 1.5-9 μm long. Cirrus spines of D. pusilla n. sp. are scale-like, 1.5-3 μm long. D. bocasana n. sp. has triangular spines, 1.5-6 μm long. D. dissimilispina n. sp. has needle-shaped spines, 3.5-15 μm long. D. chicomendesi n. sp. has a small cirrus, with few, strongly curved spines, 2-7.5 μm long. D. macrocirrus n. sp. has a large cirrus, provided with spines 3-9 μm long, with the longest spines placed medially. D. diademata n. sp. has a cirrus with two separate spiny areas, with spines 7-13 μm long. D. puertoricana n. sp. has a very long cirrus, with poorly sclerotised proximal spines, and distal spines to 6 μm long. A taxonomic key of the genus Duplominona is provided. Pseudominona cancan n. sp. from Panama differs from P. dactylifera from Bermuda, the only species known in the genus so far, for its shorter cirrus and fewer, triangular spines 3-5 μm long, and for the position of the vagina, close to mouth. A specimen attributed to P. dactylifera collected in Puerto Rico is described. Distribution of the new species suggests a complete separation of Panamanian and Puerto Rican proseriate fauna, confirming previous reports of restricted ranges and high endemicity of mesopsammic Platyhelminthes.

Two new species of parasitic copepods from the genera Nothobomolochus and Unicolax (Cyclopoida: Bomolochidae) from Australian waters.

A 2016 collaborative survey of commercial fish parasites in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia led to the discovery of two new species of parasitic copepods belonging to the family Bomolochidae. Females of Nothobomolochus johndaveorum n. sp. were found attached to the gill filaments of Gerres subfasciatus and Gerres oyena. The new species most closely resembles N. leiognathicola and N. quadriceros. All 3 species possess 3 modified setae on the first antennulary segment that are approximately the same length and have a robust seta on the second antennulary segment adjacent to the 3 modified setae giving a superficial appearance of 4 modified setae on the antennule. The new species can be distinguished from these two species in its possession of longer inner setae on the first two endopodal segments of leg 4: the seta on endopodal segment 1 extends past the midline of the distal segment in the new species vs to the proximal margin of the distal segment in the other two species, and the seta on segment 2 extends well beyond the distal margin of the endopod in the new species vs just to the margin in the other two species. Females and males of Unicolax longicrus n. sp. were found in the nasal sinuses of Sillago maculata and Sillago ciliata. The new species differs from 6 of its 7 congeners in having a leg 4 exopod formula of II, I, 4 rather than II, I, 3 or II, I, 5. The new species resembles U. anonymous in this feature, but differs in its possession of a leg 5 that is relatively longer and less wide, and, whereas U. anonymous possesses inner and outer distal spines on leg 5 that are approximately the same length, those of the new species are relatively longer and asymmetrical. Unicolax longicrus n. sp. is unique among its congeners in its possession of a leg 4 with highly elongated endopodal segments 2 and 3, from which its name is derived. In addition to describing the two new species, host and locality reports for all species of Nothobomolochus and Unicolax are reviewed.

New data on the Oriental Xantholinini 39. New species and new records from the Philippines (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

Thyreocephalus dustucheus Bordoni, 2002 EXAMINED MATERIAL. Philippines, S Luzon, Bicol, Camarines Sur, Tigaon, I. Lumaawig I.2015, 1 ex. (cB); Mindanao, Compostela, Masala, I. Lumawig I.2015, 2 exx. (MZF), 1 ex.cB); Mindanao, Bukidnon, Kabanglasan, I. Lumawig XII.2014, 1 ex. (MZF). NOTE. This is an endemic Philippine species (Bordoni, 2002). New record for Mindanao. This is the first record since the description of the species. I provide a figure of the head and pronotum (Fig. 1).
 Thyreocephalus omaleus Bordoni, 2002 EXAMINED MATERIAL. Philippines, NE Luzon, Sierra Madre, Quirino, leg. ? IX.2012, 1 ♂ (cI); N Luzon, Cagayan, leg. ? VI. 2011, 1 ♂ (cB). NOTE. This is an endemic species of the Philippines (Bordoni, 2002). New record for Luzon. This is the first record since the description of the species. I provide a figure of the head and pronotum (Fig. 2).
 Metolinus libertatis Bordoni, 2002 EXAMINED MATERIAL. Philippines, Negros, Mt Canla-on, D. Mohagan II.2009, 1 ♂. (cI), 1 ♀. (cB). NOTE. This species was described from Panay (Libertad Fluss). New record for Negros. This is the first record since the description of the species.
 Metolinus finettii sp. n. EXAMINED MATERIAL. Holotype ♂: Philippines, Palawan, San Vicente env., C. Finetti I.2009 (cB). DESCRIPTION. Length of body 3.7 mm; from anterior margin of head to posterior margin of elytra: 2.1 mm. Body shiny, entirely light brown; antennae and legs yellowishbrown. Head quadrangular. Eyes large and protruding. Surface of head with traces of transverse micro-striation and very few, isolated punctures. Pronotum longer than head, anteriorly a little dilated where it is as wide as head, with oblique anterior margins and rounded sides. Surface with dorsal series of 3-4 fine punctures and lateral series of 2-3 very fine punctures. Elytra sub-rectangular, longer and a little wider than pronotum, with sub-rectilinear an sub-parallel sides, and rounded humeral angles. Surface with very fine, sparse puncturation arranged in three series, one near the suture, one median and one lateral. Abdomen without micro-sculpture, with very fine and very sparse puncturation on the sides. Tergite and sternite of the male genital segment as in Figs 3-4. Aedeagus (Fig. 5) 0.74 mm long, with large median lobe; parameres long and narrow; inner sac with two basal, long spines, a median series of short, little spinulae and a group of distal spines.

Redescription of Chribellphoruraallanae (Christiansen & Bellinger, 1980) (Collembola, Onychiuridae), with comments on the systematic position of the genus.

Chribellphoruraallanae (Christiansen & Bellinger, 1980), a poorly known Nearctic springtail, is redescribed and important morphological characters are illustrated (Figs 1–7). The genus is characterized by the following characters: postantennal organ with one vesicle divided into five lobes, antennal segment IV with apical vesicle closely flanked by two papillae, sense organ of the third antennal segment with four papilla, four guard setae, two straight sensory clubs and two sensory rods, very similar in shape and length, labial palp of 0-type, abdominal sternum IV divided ventrally into two subsegments, furcal remnant as a finely granulated area with three rows of setae posteriorly, tibiotarsi with clavate setae in distal whorl and anal spines present. The taxonomic status of this Chribellphorura is also discussed.

Caligus mulli n. sp. (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on two Mullid fishes from the eastern Mediterranean and adjacent Atlantic waters.

A new species of caligid copepod, Caligus mulli n. sp., is described based on specimens collected from surmullet Mullus surmuletus Linnaeus from Atlantic waters off the Azores, Portugal, and from red mullet Mullus barbatus barbatus (Linnaeus) caught in the Mediterranean Sea, off the south-eastern coast of Turkey. Sixteen specimens (both sexes) were collected from the gill cavity of M. surmuletus, and one female was collected from the gill cavity of M. barbatus barbatus. The new species is described from both fish hosts. Detailed comparisons are presented with two closely related species, C. ocyurus Cressey, 1991 and C. biaculeatus Brian, 1914: the former can be distinguished by differences in shape of the dorsal cephalothoracic shield and postantennal process, while the latter differs in relative size of the distal spines on leg 4 and in the shape of the sternal furca. The new species can easily be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following additional characteristics: (1) the corpus of the female maxilliped bears a prominent projection proximally and the myxal area is ornamented with a hyaline flange and two sensillae, and (2) the male maxilliped has a conical proximal projection on the corpus and a bifid myxal process opposing the claw.

Amazighopsidae, a new family of decapod macruran astacideans from the late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) of Gara Sbaa, Southeastern Morocco

We investigate a new decapod macruran discovered in deposits identified at the top of Gara Sbaa slope, located in SE Morocco, along the “Hamada des Kem Kem”, close to the Algerian border. These fossiliferous levels are known in the literature as part of the Late Cretaceous Kem Kem beds. We report the new family Amazighopsidae, created to accommodate Amazighopsis cretacica n. gen., n. sp. Indeed, some morphological characters, such as a short rostrum with the serrate upper margin, cervical and antennal grooves not forming the characteristic W-shaped pattern, the telson without diaeresis, lateral margins of the telson with one movable median spine and two movable distal spines, and the uropodal exopod without diaeresis, are so peculiar and unique to justify the erection of the new family tentatively ascribed to the infraorder Astacidea.

Troglocaris (Xiphocaridinella) kumistavi sp. nov., a new species of stygobiotic atyid shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae) from Kumistavi Cave, Imereti, Western Georgia, Caucasus

A new species of stygobiotic atyid shrimp genus Troglocaris (Xiphocaridinella) Dormitzer, 1853 from underground stream and lakes of Kumistavi (Prometheus) Cave, Tskaltubo, Imereti region, Western Georgia is described based on morphology and DNA analysis. Troglocaris (Xiphocaridinella) kumistavi sp. nov. clearly differs from all Caucasian congeners by (1) long slender dorsally and ventrally armed rostrum with sting-like tip turned upward, (2) very slender fingers of pereiopod II both in males and females and (3) distally expanded telson with 5–7 pairs of distal spines. These features are rather unique within the known Caucasian Troglocaris (Xiphocaridinella) and show some morphological similarities with Dinaric species of the genus. Neotype of Troglocaris (Xiphocaridinella) kutaissiana (Sadowsky, 1930) is also designated based on the material from Tskaltsitela Cave, Kutaisi, Georgia.

Myanmarorchestia victoria sp. nov. (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Talitridae), a new species of landhopper from the high altitude forests in Myanmar.

Myanmarorchestia victoria sp. nov. is described from high altitude habitats in Myanmar. The new species differs morphologically from its congeners by palp of maxilliped narrow; sexually dimorphic gnathopod Ⅱ, propodus of male chelate and propodus of female mitten-shaped; and dimorphic uropod Ⅱ, outer ramus of male with small teeth distally, outer ramus of female with three distal spines. Analysis of DNA barcode sequences and niche distinctiveness support recognition of the new species.

A new species of squat lobster of the genus Munida (Galatheoidea, Munididae) from the Red Sea

During a deep-water expedition to the Red Sea in 2013, an unusual specimen of squat lobster belonging to the genus Munida was collected off Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, at a depth of 320 m. This specimen is unique in having the pterygostomial flap visible from the dorsal side, the feature linking it to two eastern Pacific species, M. bapensis Hendrickx, 2000 and M. macrobrachia Hendrickx, 2003. The new species (M. tuerkayi) is readily distinguished from the eastern Pacific species by having the gastric region with numerous instead of less numerous spines, by having sternite 7 with three distinct carinae on each side, and by having the antennular basal article with two distal spines subequal instead of different in size. Munida tuerkayi was found associated with live colonies of the scleractinian coral Eguchipsammia fistula (Alcock, 1902).

A new species of the leafhopper genus Matsumuratettix Metcalf (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Deltocephalini) from Thailand.

Matsumura (1914) established Epitettix with the type species E. hiroglyphicus Matsumura, 1914 from Taiwan. Metcalf (1952) proposed the new name Matsumuratettix for Epitettix Matsumura, which was preoccupied by Epitettix Hancock, 1907. Dash & Viraktamath (1995) synonymised Pruthiorosius Ghauri with Matsumuratettix Metcalf. Currently, Matsumuratettix comprises a single species, M. hiroglyphicus (Matsumura, 1914). The genus is easily distinguished from other Old World Deltocephalini by the aedeagal shaft being strongly laterally compressed over the distal two-thirds and with asymmetrical distal spines. In this paper, a new species is described from Thailand and a key to distinguish the two known species is provided.

Additions of new species and records to the Tanaidomorpha (Crustacea: Tanaidacea) of Taiwan.

This study reports two new species and one new species record of tanaidomorphan tanaidaceans from Taiwan. The leptocheliid Leptochelia taitungensis sp. nov. can be separated from the most similar species, Leptochelia tarda, in the Leptochelia dubia/savignyi group by having long distal spines on the maxilliped endites and the male having two-articled uropod exopods. The tanaidid Zeuxo shitipingensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from Z. normani in the Zeuxo normani species-complex by having a triangular left mandible lacinia mobilis, only one seta on the pleopod endopod inner margin, and the uropod endopod with five to six articles in most adult specimens. Morphological comparisons between Leptochelia taitungensis sp. nov. and its congeners within the dubia/savignyi group, as well as between Zeuxo shitipingensis sp. nov. and its congeners, are tabulated.

Marine darcythompsoniids of the Turkish coasts with a description of Leptocaris emekdasi sp.nov. (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Darcythompsoniidae) from the Aegean coast of Turkey

The marine harpacticoid fauna of Turkey is inadequately known, despite the fact that the country has a vast shoreline. An intensive study of harpacticoid copepods from the intertidal zone of Turkish coasts resulted in the discovery of Leptocaris emekdasi sp. nov., L. igneus and L. biscayensis as Turkish fauna. The female specimen of L. emekdasi sp. nov. described in this study was collected from intertidal zone of the Aegean coast of Turkey. This new species is morphologically most closely related to L. insularis, and can be distinguished from its congeners by the presence of surface protuberances on the second to fourth thoracic somites, genital double somite and anal somite; by having more robust and shorter distal spines on the antennary exopod; by the unisegmented maxillulary palp; by the bare and shorter inner seta on P1 enp-2; and by the patch of sclerotized surface areas on the anterior surface of coxae of P1-P4.

No increase in fluctuating asymmetry in ground beetles (Carabidae) as urbanisation progresses

Environmental stress can lead to a reduction in developmental homeostasis, which could be reflected in increased variability of morphological traits. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is one possible manifestation of such a stress, and is often taken as a proxy for individual fitness. To test the usefulness of FA in morphological traits as an indicator of environmental quality, we studied the effect of urbanisation on FA in ground beetles (Carabidae) near a Danish city. First, we performed a critical examination whether morphological character traits suggested in the literature displayed true fluctuating asymmetry in three common predatory ground beetles, Carabus nemoralis, Nebria brevicollis and Pterostichus melanarius. Eight metrical (length of the second and third antennal segments, elytral length, length of the first tarsus segment, length of the first and second tibiae, length of the proximal and distal spines on the first femurs) and one meristic (the number of spines on the second tibiae) traits were examined. Most of them showed FA but not consistently. Females generally displayed a higher level of FA than males. Finally, we examined the changes in the level of FA in bilateral morphological traits along an urbanisation gradient (forest - suburban forest - forest fragments in urban park) to test whether environmental stress created by urbanisation is reflected in FA. Ground beetles common along a Danish urbanisation gradient did not seem to indicate differences in habitat quality by their level of FA.

A new species of Schizopera (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Miraciidae) from Colombia

ABSTRACTObjective. The present contribution aims at the description of a new species of the genus Schizopera. Materials and methods. Water samples were collected in littoral areas with mangrove and macrophytes, and in the limnetic zone. Twenty five liters of water were taken. Water samples were filtered with a zooplankton net (45μm) and preserved in 70% ethanol. The filtered samples were concentrated to 100 ml and examined in a Bogorov camera. Copepods were separated. Observations and drawings of S. evelynae sp. nov. were made at a magnification of 1000X. Results. Schizopera evelynae sp. nov. seems to be closely related to S. giselae Jiménez -Álvarez 1988 and to S. pratensis Noodt 1958 based on the armature formula of P1-P4, but can be separated from these two species based on the relative length of P1ENP, length/width ratio of P1ENP2, relative length of the outer proximal and distal spines on P4EXP3, shape of the exopod and relative length of the exopodal setae of the female P5, shape and length/width ratio of the male P2ENP2, and male P5 baseoendopodal lobe:exopod length ratio. A key to the species of Schizopera from America is given. Conclusion. A new species of the genus Schizopera is described. The Colombian material shares most characters with S. giselae and S. pratensis.