Similar Genera Research Articles

Microbial Biofilms on the Sandstone Monuments of the Angkor Wat Complex, Cambodia

Discoloring biofilms from Cambodian temples Angkor Wat, Preah Khan, and the Bayon and West Prasat in Angkor Thom contained a microbial community dominated by coccoid cyanobacteria. Molecular analysis identified Chroococcidiopsis as major colonizer, but low similarity values (<95%) suggested a similar genus or species not present in the databases. In only two of the six sites sampled were filamentous cyanobacteria, Microcoleus, Leptolyngbya, and Scytonema, found; the first two detected by sequencing of 16S rRNA gene library clones from samples of a moist green biofilm on internal walls in Preah Khan, where Lyngbya (possibly synonymous with Microcoleus) was seen by direct microscopy as major colonizer. Scytonema was detected also by microscopy on an internal wall in the Bayon. This suggests that filamentous cyanobacteria are more prevalent in internal (high moisture) areas. Heterotrophic bacteria were found in all samples. DNA sequencing of bands from DGGE gels identified Proteobacteria (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Methylobacterium radiotolerans) and Firmicutes (Bacillus sp., Bacillus niacini, Bacillus sporothermodurans, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Paenibacillus sp., Paenibacillus panacisoli, and Paenibacillus zanthoxyli). Some of these bacteria produce organic acids, potentially degrading stone. Actinobacteria, mainly streptomycetes, were present in most samples; algae and fungi were rare. A dark-pigmented filamentous fungus was detected in internal and external Preah Khan samples, while the alga Trentepohlia was found only in samples taken from external, pink-stained stone at Preah Khan. Results show that these microbial biofilms are mature communities whose major constituents are resistant to dehydration and high levels of irradiation and can be involved in deterioration of sandstone. Such analyses are important prerequisites to the application of control strategies.

A new genus of the tribe Issini Spinola (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Issidae) from China

Pseudochoutagus curvativus, a new genus and species of Issidae (Hemiptera) is described based on specimens from Hainan, China. The genus is compared to the superficially similar genus Choutagus Zhang, Wang and Che.

Interrenal Disease In Bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) Caused By A New Genus and Species of Myxozoan

A myxozoan species not matching with any described genus was encountered in a survey of fish parasites of freshwater fishes in New York. The parasite was observed in the kidney tubules of bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus. A new genus is described to accommodate Acauda hoffmani n. gen., n. sp., which exhibits pyriform spores with longitudinal ridges and polar capsules perpendicular to the sutural plane. Spores measure 17.9-21.8 µm long and 6.9-11.0 µm wide, with spore valves each with 11-12 ridges. Two polar capsules measure 9.4-12.5 µm long by 2.9-4.0 µm wide and contain a filament coiled 10-15 times. Phylogenetic analysis places A. hoffmani n. gen., n. sp. as a sister to a Myxobilatus and a Hoferellus species. The clustering of these 3 similar genera in the larger 'freshwater' clade of myxozoans does not support their inclusion in the Sphaerosporidae but instead supports the distinct status of the Myxobilatidae Shulman 1953.

The tangled taxonomic history of Dictyococcus, Bracteacoccus and Pseudomuriella (Chlorophyceae, Chlorophyta) and their distinction based on a phylogenetic perspective

Fučíková K., Rada J.C. and Lewis L.A. 2011. The tangled taxonomic history of Dictyococcus, Bracteacoccus, and Pseudomuriella (Chlorophyceae, Chlorophyta) and their distinction based on a phylogenetic perspective. Phycologia 50: 422–429. DOI: 10.2216/10-69.1Phylogenetically diverse algae, especially unicellular forms from similar habitats, can have nearly indistinguishable morphology when viewed with light microscopy. Consequently, historical taxonomy of many green coccoids based on light microscopy is not only inaccurate but also highly tangled because over time taxonomists have emphasized different traits. In the case of the three morphologically similar genera, Bracteacoccus, Dictyococcus and Pseudomuriella, we present an example of molecular data helping to resolve phylogenetic relationships of coccoids and facilitating the interpretation of morphology. The three genera are shown to be distinct lineages by our phylogenetic analysis of 18S and rbcL sequence data. Our photomicroscopic observations suggest that Bracteacoccus and Pseudomuriella are morphologically cryptic genera, whereas Dictyococcus can be clearly distinguished by its chloroplast morphology. Additionally, we show that Bracteacoccus engadinensis and Dictyococcus schumacherensis are more closely related to Pseudomuriella aurantiaca than to other examined Bracteacoccus and Dictyococcus representatives, respectively. We therefore propose the transfer of these species to the genus Pseudomuriella.

Revision of the genus Omalaspis Giraud, 1860 (Hym.: Figitidae: Aspicerinae)

Omalaspis Giraud, 1860, is a genus of Aspicerinae (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae) with a Holarctic distribution. The diagnostic characters that differentiate Omalaspis from morphologically similar genera are described. From the thirteen known species of Omalaspis only O. cavroi (Hedicke, 1914), O. latreillii (Hartig, 1840), O. norica Giraud, 1860 and O. orientalis Belizin, 1968 are valid species. All these species are redescribed. Omalaspis nigra (Hartig, 1840) and O. abnormis (Kieffer, 1901) are synonymized with O. norica, and O. ruficornis Thomson, 1877 is synonymized with O. latreilli. Omalaspis laevis Hedicke, 1914 belongs to Xyalaspis, O. davydovi Belizin, 1927 is considered as ‘incertae sedis’ and O. carinata (Kieffer 1901) ‘species dubia’. Three species are considered as species inquirenda: Omalaspis femoralis Ionescu, 1963 (which belongs to Diapriidae), O. convexa Kierych, 1985 and O. sulcata (Kieffer, 1901). Six new species are described: O. asiatica Ros-Farré &amp; Pujade-Villar n. sp., O. brandaoi Pujade-Villar &amp; Ros-Farré n. sp., O. curvilineata Ros-Farré &amp; Pujade-Villar n. sp., O. gibsoni Ros-Farré &amp; Pujade-Villar n. sp., O. niponica Ros-Farré &amp; Pujade-Villar n. sp. and O. villemantae Pujade-Villar &amp; Ros-Farré n. sp. The diagnostic characters of all species are illustrated and a key to differentiate them is given. A new character is defined here exclusive to Omalaspis within the Aspicerinae, the supratorular impression.

Indopottia irieandoana sp. nov. (Pottiaceae) from Doi Inthanon, northern Thailand

Indopottia irieandoana H.Akiyama sp. nov. is reported on the basis of two specimens from Doi Inthanon, northern Thailand, as a second species of a genus recently described from southern India. The lack of a peristome precludes unambiguous familial placement based on morphology, but phylogenetic analyses of sequences from a chloroplast and a mitochondrial locus place the new taxon, with strong support, in the Pottiaceae. Its epiphytic habitat on a tree trunk and a branch near the crown of an emergent tree and a strangler tree, respectively, along with morphological features such as spatulate leaves, a single dorsal stereid in the leaf costa, smooth laminal cells, long rostrate opercula, and eperistomate, upright capsules point to a close relationship to Indopottia zanderi. The morphology is compared with that of related genera. A key to similar genera and species is provided.

The millipede family Polydesmidae in Taiwan, with descriptions of five new species (Polydesmida, Diplopoda)

Polydesmidae are represented in Taiwan by seven species in two genera. Neither of the genera is endemic to Taiwan, but six of the species are, including five new: Nipponesmus minor sp. n., Epanerchodus bispinosus sp. n., Epanerchodus curtigonopus sp. n., Epanerchodus flagellifer sp. n. and Epanerchodus pinguis sp. n. In addition, the diagnosis of the hitherto enigmatic genus Nipponesmus Chamberlin & Wang, 1953 is refined vis-à-vis the especially similar, Central Asian, Siberian and Eastern European genus Schizoturanius Verhoeff, 1931, chiefly based on new material of the type-species Nipponesmus shirinensis Chamberlin & Wang, 1953; this species is adequately redescribed and represents still another Taiwanese endemic. A key to all three currently known species of Nipponesmus Chamberlin & Wang, 1953 is given. The highly speciose Central to East Asian genus Epanerchodus Attems, 1901 is represented in Taiwan by five species, all keyed, including Epanerchodus orientalis Attems, 1901, which is long known to be highly variable in Japan and found particularly polymorphous and apparently allochthonous in Taiwan. The following synonymy is formalized: Epanerchodus orientalis orientalis Attems, 1901 = Epanerchodus orientalis takakuwai Verhoeff, 1913, syn. n. The genus Usbekodesmus Lohmander, 1932 is formally synonymized with Epanerchodus Attems, 1901, syn. n., resulting in the following new formal transfers: Epanerchodus redikorzevi (Lohmander, 1932), Epanerchodus swatensis (Golovatch, 1991), Epanerchodus varius (Geoffroy & Golovatch, 2004), Epanerchodus anachoretus (Golovatch, 1986), Epanerchodus buddhis (Golovatch, 1986), Epanerchodus occultus (Golovatch, 1986), Epanerchodus sacer (Golovatch, 1987), Epanerchodus theocraticus (Golovatch, 1990) and Epanerchodus theosophicus (Golovatch, 1986), all comb. n. ex Usbekodesmus. The distributions of all seven species of Polydesmidae occurring in Taiwan are mapped and discussed.

Phylogeny of &lt;I&gt;Discosia&lt;/I&gt; and &lt;I&gt;Seimatosporium&lt;/I&gt;, and introduction of &lt;I&gt;Adisciso&lt;/I&gt; and &lt;I&gt;Immersidiscosia&lt;/I&gt; genera nova

Discosia (teleomorph unknown) and Seimatosporium (teleomorph Discostroma) are saprobic or plant pathogenic, coelomycetous genera of so-called 'pestalotioid fungi' within the Amphisphaeriaceae (Xylariales). They share several morphological features and their generic circumscriptions appear unclear. We investigated the phylogenies of both genera on the basis of SSU, LSU and ITS nrDNA and β-tubulin gene sequences. Discosia was not monophyletic and was separated into two distinct lineages. Discosia eucalypti deviated from Discosia clade and was transferred to a new genus, Immersidiscosia, characterised by deeply immersed, pycnidioid conidiomata that are intraepidermal to subepidermal in origin, with a conidiomatal beak having periphyses. Subdividing Discosia into 'sections' was not considered phylogenetically significant at least for the three sections investigated (sect. Discosia, Laurina, and Strobilina). We recognised Seimatosporium s.l. as a monophyletic genus. An undescribed species belonging to Discosia with its associated teleomorph was collected on living leaves of Symplocos prunifolia from Yakushima Island, Japan. We have therefore established a new teleomorphic genus, Adisciso, for this new species, A. yakushimense. Discostroma tricellulare (anamorph: Seimatosporium azaleae), previously described from Rhododendron species, was transferred to Adisciso based on morphological and phylogenetic grounds. Adisciso is characterised by relatively small-sized ascomata without stromatic tissue, obclavate to broadly cylindrical asci with biseriate ascospores that have 2 transverse septa, and its Discosia anamorph. Based on these features, it can easily be distinguished from Discostroma, a similar genus within the Amphisphaeriaceae.

Sativumoides and Cladosporiopsis, two new genera of hyphomycetes from China

Sativumoides punicae gen. et sp. nov. and Cladosporiopsis ovata gen. et sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Sativumoides is characterized by macronematous, individual, percurrently extending conidiophores, integrated, monoblastic, apical, lageniform conidiogenous cells, and single, apical, pale brown to brown, garlic-bulb-shaped dictyosporous conidia with predominantly longitudinal septa. Cladosporiopsis is unique in possessing pigmented, apiosporous conidia seceding schizolytically from integrated, monoblastic, determinate conidiogenous cells; the conidia, arising from the sides or ends of ramoconidia, form short, acropetal chains. Sativumoides is compared with similar anamorphic genera including Triposporium, Iyengarina, Acrodictys, Actinocladium, Piricaudiopsis, Cheiroidea, Stephanoma, Domingoella, Acrogenospora and Shrungabeeja. The distinctions between Cladosporiopsis and similar genera including Cladosporium, Ochrocladosporium, Rachicladosporium, Rhizacladosporium, Toxicocladosporium, Ramularia, Bispora, Lylea and Devriesia are also discussed. Keys to these two novel genera and their morphologically similar genera are provided.

Revision of the genus Paraspicera Kieffer, 1907 (Hym: Figitidae: Aspicerinae)

Paraspicera Kieffer, 1907 is a genus of Aspicerinae (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae) of Nearctic distribution that includes a small number of species. The diagnostic characters to differentiate Paraspicera from other similar genera are described. From the five known species of Paraspicera only P. bakeri Kieffer, 1907 belongs to Paraspicera; the other species are transferred to the genus Aspicera Dahlbom, 1842: A. clarimontis Kieffer rev. status, A. uthaensis Ashmead rev. status, A. foveata (Belizin) n. comb., and A. kerzhneri (Kovalev) n. comb. Paraspicera bakeri is redescribed and a new species is described: P. brandaoi n. sp. The diagnostic characters of both species are illustrated. The genus Heteraspidia Belizin, 1952 is synonymyzed with Aspicera.

Two new species of the planthopper genus Flavina Stål (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Issidae) from China

In the present paper, Flavina Stål is reviewed and a key to species is provided. Two new species, F. nigrifrons Zhang and Che, sp. nov., and F. nigrifascia Che and Wang, sp. nov., are described and illustrated, and F. hainana (Wang and Wang) is redescribed and illustrated, especially to show its male genitalia. The genus is compared to Fortunia Distant and comments are given on the family placement of the superficially similar genus Mahanorona Distant.

New Monticuliporidae (Bryozoa, Trepostomata) from the Cystoid Limestone Formation (Upper Ordovician) of the Iberian Chains (NE Spain)

Bryozoans are among the most abundant fossil groups in the cool water limestones that characterize the uppermost Katian (Upper Ordovician) of Southwestern Europe and North Africa. The Cystoid Limestone Formation, the representative unit of those widespread rocks in the Iberian Chains (NE Spain), yields one of the most diversified bryozoan faunas of the whole area. Herein the first systematic description of the trepostomate family Monticuliporidae is undertaken, this is one of the most diverse families within the associations collected. Four species of the genera Monticulipora and Prasopora are described, including the new species Monticulipora cystiphragmata n. sp. and Prasopora spjeldnaesi n. sp., and an indeterminate Monticuliporidae. Monticulipora and Prasopora have shown to be very similar genera, with several species that are difficult to distinguish between them. Their diagnoses include common features such as the wall microstructure, density of mesozoecia, and number of acanthostyles. Herein a new generic diagnosis of Monticulipora is proposed, putting special emphasis on the shape and distribution of cystiphragms. The species Monticulipora kolaluensis is identified for the first time out of Siberia. Although the record of these new taxa can indicate a certain isolation of the Iberian Chains region within the North Gondwana platform, the occurrence of Prasopora carnica shows a relation to the neighbouring Carnic Alps (Italy and Austria).

Micronematobotrys, a new genus and its phylogenetic placement based on rDNA sequence analyses

A new hyphomycetous fungus, Micronematobotrys verrucosus, isolated as an endophyte from Quercus liaotungensis and Ulmus macrocarpa in the Dongling Mountain of Beijing is described as a new monotypic genus represented by M. verrucosus. This new species differs morphologically from Botrytis-like fungi and other similar genera in possessing micronematous conidiophores and colored verrucose conidia. The phylogenetic relationships of Micronematobotrys among sexual ascomycetes are examined based on 18S and 28S rDNA sequence data using maximum parsimony and Bayesian methods. The phylogenetic analyses suggest that M. verrucosus is a member of Pyronemataceae in Pezizales.

Phylogenetic placement of a new hoplonemertean species commensal on ascidians

The hoplonemertean Vieitezia luzmurubeae, gen. et sp. nov. is described from specimens collected in a national park on the north-west Iberian Peninsula, the Parque Nacional Marítimo-Terrestre das Illas Atlánticas de Galicia. The species, previously mistaken as the Mediterranean species Tetrastemma vittigerum (Bürger, 1904), is frequently associated with two common species of sea squirt, Phallusia mamillata (Cuvier, 1815) and Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767), inside which the nemertean completes its life cycle. Some of the specimens examined were protandrous hermaphrodites. Data on morphology and anatomy are provided with illustrations. Sequences of the nuclear ribosomal gene 18S rRNA and the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I were compared with those of other hoplonemertean species and all phylogenetic analyses suggested that Vieitezia is sister to the genus Gononemertes, which parasitises ascidians, within a clade also containing the genera Oerstedia and Nemertellina. In contrast, the morphologically similar genus Tetrastemma appears in a separate clade. This study stresses the need for combining molecular and morphological data when studying nemertean biodiversity.

Crypthonia, a new genus of byssoid Arthoniaceae (lichenised Ascomycota)

Crypthonia with 11 species is described as belonging to the Arthoniaceae. The new genus is characterised by (1) white to pale carneous, maculiform ascomata lacking a distinct exciple, (2) a weakly gelatinised, hydrophobic hymenium of paraphysoids, (3) a discontinuous layer of branched ascogenous hyphae in the hypothecium, (4) small, clavate to broadly clavate asci of the Arthonia-type lacking a hemiamyloid ring structure in the tholus, (5) eight small, hyaline, 1–3-septate, thin-walled ascospores per ascus, (6) loosely attached thalli with a byssoid, coloured hypothallus, and (7) a chemistry of mainly β-orcinol depsidones and tridepsides including psoromic, norstictic, and gyrophoric acids. Rugulosin occurs in C. bella and C. citrina. Crypthonia athertoniensis Frisch & G. Thor, C. bella Frisch & G. Thor, C. brevispora Frisch & G. Thor, C. citrina Frisch & G. Thor, C. olivacea Frisch & G. Thor, C. palaeotropica Frisch & G. Thor, and C. vandenboomii Frisch & G. Thor are described. C. albida (Fee) Frisch & G. Thor, C. biseptata (Aptroot & Wolseley) Frisch & G. Thor, C. mycelioides (Vain.) Frisch & G. Thor, and C. polillensis (Vain.) Frisch & G. Thor are new combinations. The delimitation from similar genera and the position within the Arthoniaceae is discussed.

Horsetails get the wind up

Horsetails get the wind up

A Review of the Genus Distictella (Bignoniaceae)1,,2

Abstract Distictella Kuntze is a genus of 18 species in the tribe Bignonieae. The species are lianas or less frequently shrubs, and can be recognized by their terete branchlets without interpetiolar glandular fields; usually bifoliolate or less frequently unifoliolate or trifoliolate leaves, often with a trifid terminal tendril; terminal or less frequently lateral inflorescences; usually glandular, campanulate, ± truncate calyces; tubular-infundibular or tubular-campanulate, strongly curved corollas that are white or less frequently purple, often with a yellow throat, pubescent externally and usually internally; ovaries and styles sericeous and poorly demarcated; woody capsules that are non-echinate, and often with both valves convex (slightly compressed) or one convex and one concave and the fruits curving; and bialate seeds (wings sometimes greatly reduced), brown to black, irregularly ridged, and glabrous. Relationships with similar genera are discussed, and a key to the species of Distictella, species...

New caulindoles from Raputia simulans Kallunki

Genus Raputia Aubl. comprises 10 species of neotropical Rutaceae in the subtribe Cuspariinae. R. simulans Kallunki occurs in the upper Amazon basin of Brazil, Colombia and Peru [1]. Due to the rarity of the genus and the complicated taxonomy amongst similar genera (Raputia and Neoraputia), no actual phytochemical study of the genus Raputia has been reported to date. In continuation of our previous studies concerning the phytochemical investigation of the dichloromethane root extract of Raputia simulans Kallunki [2], we report herein the isolation and characterization of new caulindole-type bisindole alkaloids (1–3).

An updated phylogeny of oligotrich and choreotrich ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Spirotrichea) with representative taxa collected from Chinese coastal waters

Small subunit ribosomal RNA genes of 12 ciliate morphospecies from seven genera (subclasses Oligotrichia and Choreotrichia), Parallelostrombidium, Pseudo‐tontonia, Spirostrombidium, Spirotontonia, Tintinnopsis, Favella and Strombidium were sequenced. Phylogenetic trees, constructed using Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and after likelihood yielded essentially the same topology. The tail‐less Laboea groups with the tail‐bearing Spirotontonia and Pseudotontonia, challenging the diagnostic feature of the family Tontoniidae. The three Spirostrombidium species form a monophyletic group, supporting the separation of Spirostrombidium from the morphologically related genus Strombidium. Parallelostrombidium branches off basally to the Spirostrombidium clade, to some extent supporting Agatha's division of these two similar genera. Under the approximately unbiased (AU) test, topologies constrained for Strombidium monophyly were found not to be significantly worse (P > 0.05) than unconstrained topologies in which Strombidium conicum grouped with non‐Strombidium species. Therefore, we can not refute the monophyly of Strombidium. Our analyses also support the previous reports that the genus Tintinnopsis is polyphyletic.

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic ( Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules ( Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium ( Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.