Setal Pattern Research Articles

The identities of Pinnotheres villosulus Guérin-Méneville, 1832, P. edwardsi De Man, 1887, and P. trichopus Tesch, 1918, with description of a new Indo-West Pacific genus of pinnotherid crab (Decapoda: Brachyura: Pinnotheridae)

Abstract Nepinnotheres villosulus (Guérin-Méneville, 1832) [Guérin-Méneville, 1829–1837] [type locality: Timor] and Nepinnotheres edwardsi (De Man, 1887) [type locality: Mergui Archipelago], as currently understood, are both reportedly widespread in Southeast Asia and northern Australia, and unique in the genus in having females densely covered by a setal tomentum that completely obscures the surfaces of the carapace and pereiopods. Based on the limited information contained in the type accounts, N. edwardsi and N. villosulus appear indistinguishable, but this cannot currently be confirmed by comparing type material because the holotype of N. villosulus, the senior name, is lost. A neotype is therefore designated for N. villosulus to fix its identity and taxonomic status as a senior synonym of N. edwardsi. In addition to the unique setation pattern of female N. villosulus, males of the species also present important differences from those of male Nepinnotheres sensu stricto. Pinnotheres trichopusTesch, 1918 [type locality: Elat, Great Kei Island, Indonesia], is also shown to be a junior synonym of P. villosulus. Moreover, recent molecular phylogenetic analyses determined that N. villosulus is phylogenetically distant from Nepinnotheres sensu stricto. As such, we establish a new genus for N. villosulus.

Two new species of Riethia Kieffer, 1917 from Chile and Ecuador (Chironomidae: Chironominae, Pseudochironomini)

Two new species of Riethia Kieffer, 1917, R. chilensis sp. nov. (Chile) and R. ecuadoriensis sp. nov. (Ecuador) are described and figured as adult males. The two species differ from the presumable closest relative, R. truncatocaudata (Edwards, 1931), by uniformly coloured legs, without bands, and stout curved hypopygial superior volsellae; they can be separated from all other Riethia by the shape and setation pattern of the inferior volsella. The two new species differ from each other in body colouration, including abdomen, and in the presence/absence of microtrichia on superior volsellae.

Ecological and morphological correlations in the setation patterns of Gammarus Fabricius, 1775 (Amphipoda) from the southern Zagros Mountains, Iran

Abstract The southern limits of the Zagros Mountains (Iran) include various aquatic habitats ranging from cold purely fresh to warm saline springs, many of them in isolated watershed basins. Diverse habitats could be correlated with morphological variation in freshwater taxa, as in for example, highly variable patterns of setation in amphipods. We measured length and density of the setae on selected appendages in six species of Gammarus Fabricius, 1775 collected from 14 locations (two species being sympatric) and tested for correlation with seasonal mean water temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and pH of their respective habitats. The results were analyzed using analysis of variance, linear model, and correlation analysis. These regions showed significant variation in the selected ecological factors, and the species had significantly different patterns of setation. It may be supposed that increasing setation in gammarids can improve ventilating activity and hence their respiratory efficiency at higher temperatures and salinity conditions. This correlation may reflect selective pressure on the speciation of gammaridean amphipods in the southern Zagros region.

First pyraloid (Insecta, Lepidoptera) caterpillar from Dominican amber

Only three fossils in the Pyraloidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) have been confirmed to date, two adults and one larva. The first confirmed larva, in the subfamily Pyraustinae (Crambidae), was described from Baltic amber. Recently, another pyraloid larva from Dominican amber has come to our attention. We describe this second confirmed larval fossil as Penestola wichardi Solis, Léger & Neumann, sp. nov., based on larval morphological characters, such as setal patterns and the shape of their sclerotized bases or pinacula, and place it in the subfamily Spilomelinae (Crambidae).

Two new species in Leptocheliidae (Crustacea: Peracarida: Tanaidacea) from Japan, with notes on their phylogenetic position and aspects of morphology

We describe two new species of leptocheliid tanaidaceans, Chondrochelia sublitoralis sp. nov. and Neoleptochelia japonica sp. nov., from Japan. Chondrochelia individuals were collected from 113 to 185 m depth in the Kumano Sea. Chondrochelia sublitoralis sp. nov. resembles Chondrochelia africana, Chondrochelia corsica, Chondrochelia taitungensis, and Chondrochelia tanykeraia in having females with slender chelipeds but differs from them in the length ratio of antennular articles and the setal pattern on maxillipeds, cheliped, pereopods 4–6, and pleopods. Males differ from Chondrochelia durbanensis, for which information on females is lacking, in having pereopod-1 propodus lacking ventrodistal spiniform setae and a uniarticulate uropodal exopod. Chondrochelia sublitoralis sp. nov. varies intraspecifically in the number of female antennular articles, five in larger and four in smaller females. Neoleptochelia japonica sp. nov., collected from the coast of Okinawa Island, differ from Neoleptochelia javaensis (previously the sole species in Neoleptochelia) in the setal pattern on antennae, maxillipeds, cheliped, and pleopods in females; and that on the cheliped in males. Male pereopods 1–3 show a unique subchelate condition that we speculate may function for clasping during copulation. Several females in both species had the second thoracomere demarcated on the carapace, whereas others did not. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences determined for C. sublitoralis sp. nov. and N. japonica sp. nov. showed intraspecific K2P distances of 0–0.4% and 0–0.5%, respectively. We inferred the phylogenetic positions of the two species in Leptocheliidae based on COI data.

Cyphomyia mexicana sp. nov., a new species of soldier fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) in Mexican amber

ABSTRACT A new soldier fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) in Mexican amber is described as Cyphomyia mexicana sp. nov. Diagnostic features of the new fossil include a tapering antennal flagellum, with the last three flagellomeres nearly cylindrical in shape, the terminal flagellomere appearing as an arista-like style, the presence of three transverse light bands fused on the posterior portion of the scutum, and the scutellum entirely covered by short and appressed setae. While the new fossil species has the typical wing venation and body shape found in extant Neotropical species of Cyphomyia, the body, wing colour and setal pattern on the thorax and abdomen resembles that of a group of species containing C. wiedemanni Gerstaecker, 1857. The fossil cannot be assigned to any extant or extinct species of Cyphomyia, due to its unique antennae. This is the first fossil species of Cyphomyia in amber and the fourth fossil species of Stratiomyidae from Mexican amber. Cyphomyia rohweri, the only other fossil species assigned to the genus, is more similar to undescribed stratiomyids from Florissan beds, which are not Cyphomyia, so, in this paper, we place C. rohweri as incertae sedis in the Clitellariinae. https://zoobank.org:act:FD826123-076E-45E6-9827-915EB1B8F628

Zavrelia parapentatoma (Chironomidae: Diptera), a curious new species from North America, revealed by molecular methods

In this study, we describe Zavrelia parapentatoma sp. nov. based on specimens collected near a cattail marsh in Michigan, USA. At first glance, the new species resembles Zavrelia pentatoma Kieffer & Bause, 1913 closely. However, a detailed morphological and molecular assessment revealed the differences. Morphologically the two species can be separated mainly based on the shape and pattern of long spinulae between long anal crests of adult males and setal patterns on the pupal abdomen. Larvae of both species also have some subtle morphological differences that are discussed in this study. Our molecular analysis of cytochrome oxidase (COI) genes and methods for delimiting species further supported the presence of a new species. In this study, we describe all the life stages, provide life history observations for this new species, and provide keys to adult males and immatures of the genus Zavrelia.

Morphological Description of Ocean-Collected Portunus sp. First Crab (Crustacea: Brachyura: Portunidae) from the Obhur Creek, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

Twenty-one specimens of Portunus sp. first crab were obtained from plankton samples collected from the Obhur Creek, Central Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. These specimens have been morphologically described herein. The setal patterns of the first crabs of the present specimens were compared with those of the first crabs of P. sanguinolentus. Presence of two to three rows of setae on the coxa of maxillule and coxa and basial of the first maxilliped are found in both the species of Portunus first crabs compared herein. These features seem to be taxonomically significant as these features are found in one of the other genera of Portunidae – Thalamita.

A new species of shrimp, genus Ambidexter Manning & Chace, 1971 (Decapoda: Processidae), from southeastern Caribbean Sea, Venezuela, with key to genus

A new species of processid shrimp, Ambidexter cochensis sp. nov. is described from Venezuela, on the basis of several specimens collected in seagrass beds at a depth less than 1 m. This new species is closely related to A. swifti Abele, 1972 from eastern Pacific, which mainly differs by the number of carpal articles of the second pereiopod, the setation pattern on the telson and the structure of the appendix masculina of the male second pleopod. A key to genus is presented.

A new species of Nitokra Boeck, 1865 (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Ameiridae) from the Caribbean coast of Colombia.

Biological samples obtained from a coastal system of northern Colombia yielded male and female specimens of an undescribed harpacticoid copepod of the diverse ameirid genus Nitokra Boeck, 1865. The new species is a member of the genus group III. We describe the new species based on adult male and female individuals. Nitokrapuebloviejensis sp. nov., appears to be most closely related to N.vietnamensis Tran & Chang, 2012, but they can be separated by the following characters: 1) number of setal elements on second segment of mandibular palp, 2) P1ENP/EXP ratio, 3) relative lengths of P2, P3ENP/EXP, 4) number of elements on male P5EXP and ENP, and 5) segmentation of male antennule. In addition, N.puebloviejensis sp. nov. can be confused with two other congeners: N.taylori Gómez, Carrasco & Morales-Serna, 2012 from South Africa and Colombia and N.kastjanensis Kornev & Chertoprud, 2008 from the White Sea, but the new species can be distinguished from them by: 1) number of setae on the maxillule coxa, 2) P1ENP/EXP ratio, 3) P2,P3ENP/EXP ratio, 4) female and male P5 setophore, 5) setation pattern of female P5EXP and ENP, 6) structure of female P6, 7) ornamentation of female anal operculum, 8) number of setae on male P5EXP, and 9) the male antennule segmentation. Most importantly, the presence of a group of five short setae on the medial surface of the maxilliped syncoxa allows the new species to be readily distinguished from its congeners. Only two subspecies and one species of this genus have been hitherto recorded from Colombia. A key to the 23 known American species of Nitokra is provided.

Pelonium aulaeum n. sp., a new checkered beetle from French Guiana (Coleoptera: Cleridae)

Pelonium aulaeum n. sp., a new species of Pelonium Spinola, 1844, from French Guiana, is described and figured. The new species is distinguishable from its congeners on the basis of colour, setal pattern and elytral sculpturing.

Molecular markers and SEM imaging reveal pseudocryptic diversity within the Ponto-Caspian low-profile amphipod invader Dikerogammarus bispinosus

The Ponto-Caspian amphipod Dikerogammarus bispinosus was originally described from the Black Sea basin. Its recent discovery in the Caspian Sea basin was puzzling because it was unknown whether it was an invasive or an overlooked native species in this area. Here, we examined specimens collected from both the Black and Caspian Sea basins by means of molecular species delimitation based on nuclear (28S) and mitochondrial (COI) DNA sequences, as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Our analyses reveal that D. bispinosus comprises three evolutionary independent lineages that are molecularly and morphologically distinct. One lineage occurs throughout rivers in the Black Sea basin, while the other two inhabit the Caspian Sea and were found in sympatry, further reinforcing that they are distinct species. Our time-calibrated phylogeny indicates that these lineages split during the Late Miocene-Pliocene, a period corresponding with the separation of the Black and Caspian basins via the Caucasus mountain uplift. SEM imaging revealed morphological differences with respect to setal patterns on the gnathopod propodi among all three lineages. Therefore, our results clearly indicate not only that D. bispinosus is native in the Caspian region, but that it has been overlooked for a long time. Additional populations covering the entire range of this species complex need to be further studied in order to gain a more complete picture of its evolutionary history and resolve its taxonomy.

Acroneuria kirchneri Stark amp; Kondratieff, 2004 is a synonym of Acroneuria kosztarabi Kondratieff amp; Kirchner, 1993 (Plecoptera: Perlidae).

Acroneuria Pictet, 1841 (Plecoptera: Perlidae) is a genus of stoneflies which presently includes 18 summer emerging Nearctic species. Diagnosis of species relies primarily on male aedeagal setal patterns, details of the ovum chorion, and larval dorsal maculations. Several species are morphologically cryptic in one or more life stages. In 2010, an apparently rare species, A. kosztarabi Kondratieff Kirchner, 1993, was petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. A status survey conducted in 20162017 produced new specimen collections from near the type locality and surrounding areas. Examination of new material and the holotype of A. kirchneri Stark Kondratieff, 2004 demonstrates that it is a junior subjective synonym of A. kosztarabi. All life stages of A. kosztarabi are redescribed using color photographs and scanning electron microscope photomicrographs. Supporting data include maximum likelihood and pairwise genetic distance analyses based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I fragment data. Acroneuria kosztarabi, previously known only from the type locality, is now reported from six states in the southeastern United States ranging from central North Carolina to western Tennessee and north to northern Virginia and northern Ohio.

Setal descriptions, locations, and abundances: Their impacts on decorating behaviors in the spider crab Libinia (Crustacea: Epialtidae).

The setal abundances and distributions of the spider crab Libinia are examined, using two species. These spider crabs decorate their bodies with environmental materials and camouflage from predators. These decorations attach to hooked setae, but other types setae are prevalent in body regions where decorations occur. Adult crabs undergo a terminal molt and lose the ability to regrow setae. Little is known about setal changes over the lifetime in these crabs and if hooked setae abundance decreases with age, resulting in a loss of camouflage strategy in larger individuals. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and abundance of hooked and non-hooked setae in the decorated body regions and if these setal patterns vary by species and body size. Scanning electron microscopy is used along with computer software to describe, count, and measure the setal coverage of hooked and non-hooked setae in body regions. Small individuals have more hooked setae than larger individuals and the two species have different setal abundances of hooked and non-hooked setae. Non-hooked setae cover much surface areas of crabs, attach decorations, and remain on the crabs even when hooked setae are damaged and broken. Setal morphologies and fouling are described among different sized crabs and the two species, with setal types and morphologies being similar but fouling being different. Large individuals likely employ a different camouflage strategy than small individuals due to losing hooked setae but retaining non-hooked setae.

A new species of the porcelain crab genus Petrolisthes from the Pacific coast of Panama, with taxonomic notes on closely related species (Decapoda: Anomura: Porcellanidae).

A new species of porcelain crab, Petrolisthes lazarus sp. nov., is described from the Pacific coast of Panama, based on two female specimens. The new species is morphologically most similar to another eastern Pacific species, P. crenulatus Lockington, 1878, especially in the general configuration of the carapace, chelipeds and ambulatory legs. However, P. lazarus sp. nov. can be separated from P. crenulatus by the differences in the proportions of the carapace, the shape of the frontal region of the carapace, and the setation pattern of the cheliped. In addition, P. lazarus sp. nov. and P. crenulatus appear to be allopatric, the latter species presently being known only from Mexico. Among other eastern Pacific taxa, P. lazarus sp. nov. may have some affinities with P. ortmanni Nobili, 1901 and P. lewisi (Glassell, 1936), from which it can be easily distinguished by the chelipeds lacking a dense field of setae on the outer (lateral) surface of the palm and with different proportions of some articles, especially the carpus. The four species can also be distinguished from each other by their diagnostic, although somewhat variable colour patterns.

Adhesive pads of gecko and anoline lizards utilize corneous and cytoskeletal proteins for setae development and renewal.

The formation of the complex pattern of setae in adhesive pads of geckos and anoline lizards has been analyzed by ultrastructural, autoradiographic, and immunohistochemical methods. Setae terminate with spatulated ends responsible for adhesion that allow these lizards to climb vertical substrates and conquer arboreal niches. Setae derive from a complex interfaced molding between two specialized epidermal layers of the shedding complex that determines the cyclical skin molting, Oberhautchen and clear layers. Setae result from the action of setae cytoskeleton and the surrounding cytoplasm of clear cells. An intense protein synthesis, indicated by histidine and proline autoradiography, takes place during setae formation. Corneous and cytoskeletal proteins such as beta-proteins (CBPs), intermediate filament keratins (IFKs), actin, RhoV, tubulin, plakophilin-1, are produced during setae formation. Microfilaments of actin and microtubules of tubulin grow inside the elongating setae. Microtubules associated with filaments of unknown IKFs are produced in the cytoplasm of clear cells, forming a helical cytoskeleton that surrounds the growing setae. Oberhautchen and clear cells are tightly joined by numerous desmosomes and plakophilin-1 is mainly localized along the perimeter of these cells. These observations suggest that actin and tubulin are present in a dynamic form in the forming setae and in the surrounding cytoplasm of clear cells. Aside the localized micro-deformations of the cell membranes leading to setae formation the cytoskeleton determines the accumulation of CBPs inside the growing setae and the spatula. How the genome determines the specific pattern of cytoskeletal organization with the resulting species-specific setae branching remains unknown.

Revision of the genus Parvimysis (Mysida, Mysidae) with descriptions offive new species from coastal waters of the Caribbean.

Detection of previously unknown, dimorphic setal patterns on the carpus of the fifth thoracic endopod in types of Parvimysis bahamensis Brattegard, 1969, representing the type species of the genus Parvimysis Brattegard, 1969, required revision of this genus together with taxonomic verification of materials previously assigned to this species from all around the Caribbean. Study of this material together with new samples from marine waters of Curaçao led to the detection of five new species. Four of these species have a dimorphic carpus of the fifth endopod and are here described as P. pricei sp. nov., P. laminata sp. nov., P. brattegardi sp. nov., and P. ornata sp. nov. One species with non-dimorphic setal patterns is described as P. nuda sp. nov. Two species groups are defined based on structural differences of the carapace, mandibular and maxillary palpus, oostegites and telson: the P. bahamensis group with six species from marine waters of the Caribbean and an additional one from brackish-freshwaters of Surinam, versus the P. amazonica group with seven species from freshwaters of Amazonia. A key to the 14 species currently known from the genus Parvimysis is provided.

Description of the larva and pupa of <i>Haploglossa picipennis</i> (Gyllenhal, 1827) and larva of <i>H. nidicola</i> (Fairmaire, 1852) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) with taxonomic remarks

The poorly known mature larvae (L3) of Haploglossa piczpennis (Gyllenhal, 1827) and H. nidicola (Fairmaire, 1852) and also hitherto unknown pupal cocoon and pupa of H. picipennis are described in detail, with the illustrations of structural features and setal pattern provided. The differences of the mature larvae between these two species and other known Aleocharinae larvae belonging to the tribes Athetini, Homalotini, Hoplandriini, Liparocephalini, Lomechusini and Oxypodini are presented. The diagnostic larval characters for the genus Haploglossa are proposed for the first time. The differences between pupa of H. picipennis and pupa Of Pella laticollis (Markell, 1844) are listed. Data on the distribution and ecological requirements of both H. picipennis and H. nidicola are also provided.

A description of Ucides occidentalis Ortmann, 1897 (Crustacea : Decapoda : Ocypodidae) zoea I.

ABSTRACTIn order to facilitate the ecological study of the economically important red mangrove crab Ucides occidentalis, we describe the zoea I phase using samples hatched from gravid females taken from the Guayas River Estuary of Ecuador. No other phases of this species’ larval development have been described. The morphological differences between this developmental phase in U. occidentalis and its single congener U. cordatus that may be diagnostic include the number of segments in the pleon, the setation pattern of the basial endopodite of the maxillule, and, in maxillipeds I and II, the segmentation of the terminal plumose natatory setae.

First zoeal stage of Plesionika crosnieri Chan Yu, 1991, P. ortmanni Doflein, 1902, and P. semilaevis Bate, 1888, with remarks on the early larvae of Plesionika Bate, 1888 (Crustacea, Decapoda).

The morphology of first stage zoea larvae of three pandalid shrimps Plesionika crosnieri Chan Yu, 1991, P. ortmanni Doflein, 1902, and P. semilaevis Bate, 1888 are described for the first time from larvae obtained in laboratory culture. The zoea I is compared amongst those species of the genus Plesionika with larval morphology known. It is found that the length of the rostrum, the number of anteroventral denticles on the carapace, presence of exopodal setae in the maxillule, and setation pattern of the peduncle of antennule, endopod of antenna, and coxa/basis of maxillipeds are useful characters in distinguishing these larvae.