A new genus and species of Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Enicocephalomorpha: Aenictopecheidae: Aenictopecheinae, Ulugurocoris grebennikovi gen. et sp. n., based on micropterous females from Tanzania, Uluguru Mts, Budunki, is described and differentiated. The males are probably macropterous. Some general aspects of morphology of U. grebennikovi are discussed in a broader context, such as presence of cephalic trichobothria (suggested to be a groundplan character of Heteroptera), presence of “gular sulci” (suggested to have an ecdysial function), lack of cephalic neck (symplesiomorphy with other Hemiptera), presence of posterior lobe of pronotum associated with the epimeroid (a new term for so called “proepimeral lobe”), and presence of notopleural sulcus on the propleuron. Diagnostic characters of the Aenictopecheinae are summarized and distribution of their seven genera is reviewed. Ulugurocoris grebennikovi is the first representative of the basal family Aenictopecheidae in the Afrotropical Region. The type locality is situated in the Eastern Arc Mountains (Tanzania), a recently identified hotspot of Afrotropical diversity characterized by a high degree of endemism caused by high rates of speciation combined with low rates of extinction. A brief characterization of the area is provided., Pavel Štys, Petr Baňař., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Gekkotan lizards are widely distributed in tropical regions and extend into more northern regions in Asia and Europe. Unfortunately, gekkotans lack significant fossil record and many aspects of their evolutionary biology are still poorly understood. Our study provides the first information about occurrence of this group in the Czech Republic. The fossil material comes from the Lower Miocene sediments (MN 3) of the locality Merkur-North. All the gekkonid bones can be assigned to the family Sphaerodactylidae and represent a single taxon, Euleptes gallica. This taxon was previously known only from the French locality Montaigu (zone MN 2), and thus our study extends its stratigraphic and geographic range.
Frenae are forewing-holding ridges situated in the Heteroptera parallel to the lateral sides of mesoscutellum, and covered by a squamiform, overlapping, glabrous microsculpture. The situation found in Rectilamina sp. (Dipsocoromorpha: Schizopteridae: Hypselosomatinae) suggests that each single squamiform element is homologous to a strongly modified microtrichium, and that, at least in this case, there is no basic difference between microtrichium and acanthus.
The type species of the genus Glossocercus Chandler, 1935, G. cyprinodontis Chandler, 1935, was described as metacestode (larval stage) from the mesentery of the sheepshead minnow fish (Cyprinodon variegatus Lacépède) from Galveston Bay, Texas. The description was based on the morphology of the rostellar hooks; however, the features of the internal morphology of the proglottides could no be provided. In the present study we describe for the first time the features of the adult G. cyprinodontis from the intestine of Pelecanus occidentalis Linnaeus, Nycticorax nycticorax Linnaeus and Egretta rufescens Gmelin in Mexico. Glossocercus cyprinodontis possesses similar strobilar morphology with the two other congeneric species, both distributed in the Neartic and Neotropical regions, i.e. Glossocercus caribaensis (Rysavy et Macko, 1971) and Glossocercus auritus (Rudolphi, 1819). However, G. cyprinodontis differs mainly in the shape of the rostellar hooks (those of G. cyprinodontis possess the handle and the guard strongly sclerified compared to those of G. auritus and G. caribaensis) and their size (total length of 175-203 mm in G. cyprinodontis compared to 189-211 mm in G. caribaensis and 220-285 mm in G. auritus). Generic diagnosis of Glossocercus is emended: rostellar hooks in two rows with ten hooks of different shape and length in each, scolex large and globular, proglottides craspedote, wider than long, genital pores irregularly alternating, vagina transverse, surrounded by epithelial cells, ventral to cirrus-sac, uterus bar-shaped in mature proglottides, occupies all space between osmoregulatory ducts with eggs in gravid proglottides, ovary lobed in middle of proglottis, cirrus-sac elongate, between osmoregulatory canals, cirrus armed with spinitriches and apical tuft of slender spinitriches.
Three new species of dicyemid mesozoans are described for the first time from Australian octopus and cuttlefish species. Dicyemennea floscephalum sp. n. is described from Octopus berrima Stranks et Norman (southern keeled octopus) collected from Spencer Gulf and Gulf St. Vincent, South Australia, Australia and represents the first description of a species of Dicyemennea Whitman, 1883 from Australian waters. Dicyema papuceum sp. n. and D. furuyi sp. n. are described from Sepia papuensis Hoyle (Papuan cuttlefish) collected from Shark Bay, Western Australia, Australia. Dicyemennea floscephalum sp. n. is a medium to large species that reaches approximately 4.9 mm in length. The vermiform stages are characterised by having 23-28 peripheral cells, and a disc-shaped, flower-like calotte in larger individuals. An anterior abortive axial cell is absent in vermiform embryos and verruciform cells were not observed in nematogens and rhombogens. Infusoriform embryos comprise 37 cells; one nucleus is present in each urn cell. Dicyema papuceum sp. n. is a small species that reaches approximately 1.1 mm in length. The vermiform stages are characterised by having 30-33 peripheral cells and a relatively small, cap-shaped calotte. An anterior abortive axial cell is absent in vermiform embryos and verruciform cells were occasionally observed in nematogens. Infusoriform embryos comprise 37 cells; two nuclei are present in each urn cell. Dicyema furuyi sp. n. is a large species that reaches approximately 5.3 mm in length. The vermiform stages are characterised by having 22-24 peripheral cells and an elongate calotte. An anterior abortive axial cell is absent in vermiform embryos and verruciform cells were not observed in nematogens and rhombogens. Infusoriform embryos comprise 37 cells; one nucleus is present in each urn cell. Three secondary nematogens were also observed in the right renal appendages of two host individuals, confirming the occurrence of this form.
Potorolepis gulyaevi sp. n. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) is described from the Chinese horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus sinicus Andersen (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae), from southern China. The new species differs from known species of the genus by the shape, number and size of rostellar hooks, the relative position and length of the cirrus-sac and the morphology of gravid uterus. This is the first report of a member of the genus from non-marsupial mammals and the first record of a Potorolepis Spassky, 1994 from eastern Asia. The generic diagnosis of Potorolepis is amended.
Ophiotaenia georgievi sp. n. (Proteocephalidea: Proteocephalinae) is described from the intestine of endemic colubrid snake Leioheterodon geayi Mocquard (Colubridae) from Antananarivo in Madagascar. The new species is the first species of Ophiotaenia La Rue, 1911 reported from Madagascar. It differs from all Ophiotaenia species parasitic in African snakes in the possession of a three-layered embryophore of eggs (other African species have two-layered embryophore). Furthermore, O. georgievi can be distinguished by the number of testes (92-140), width of the scolex (225-235 µm), total body length (57 mm), cirrus-sac length/proglottis width ratio (19-32%), and number of lateral uterine diverticula (23-28 on each side). Ophiotaenia georgievi represents the second proteocephalidean cestode reported from Madagascar, the first one being Deblocktaenia ventosaloculata (Deblock, Rosé et Broussart, 1962), a parasite from Ithycyphus miniatus. A list of Ophiotaenia species parasitic in venomous and non-venomous snakes is provided and possible existence of other new congeneric species in snakes from Madagascar is discussed.
Based on morphological and molecular characterisation, four amoeba strains isolated from organs of freshwater fish were identified as Hartmannella vermiformis Page, 1967. Small subunit rRNA gene sequences of these strains expand the set of corresponding complete and almost complete sequences of this species to twelve. A new species-specific oligonucleotide probe inferred from recently available SSU rRNA gene sequences was designed and successfully tested in tissue lesions produced by one strain of H. vermiformis in experimentally infected fish.
Five flightless species of Micromus are known from the Hawaiian Archipelago; only one, the rare Micromus usingeri, is reported from the Island of Hawai'i. Herein, we report the natural occurrence of intermediates between this brachypterous species and its near relative, the macropterous Micromus longispinosus. We compare some morphological and life-history characteristics of the two species and the intermediates. Our study shows that: (1) The two closely related species are broadly distributed on Hawai'i, but they appear to be allopatric altitudinally. (2) M. usingeri is associated with a cool, misty, high-altitude environment, M. longispinosus with warmer, rainy conditions at lower elevations. The intermediates occur in both types of situations and generally at intermediate elevations. (3) The macropterous M. longispinosus has large, oblong, flexible, membranous forewings and hind wings. In contrast, the brachypterous M. usingeri has convex, shortened, elytra-like forewings with reticulate venation, and very small, thick, triangular, stub-like hind wings with greatly reduced venation. The wings of intermediate specimens exhibit a broad range of variation between the two species. (4) Several characteristics of wing venation are highly correlated with reduced wing size; others are not. (5) Aside from the wings, adults of M. usingeri and M. longispinosus differ in relatively few morphological features, most notably the antennal and metatibial length, prothoracic length, mesothoracic length and width, and the length of the spine-covered process on the posteroventral margin of the male T9+ectoproct. The intermediate specimens are variable in adult characteristics, but they generally fall between the two species. (6) Egg size and larval characteristics (except the body length of the fully-fed first and third instars) do not differ between the two species. (7) The evolution of the wing variation is discussed.
The mouthparts of the spoon-winged lacewing Nemoptera sinuata are adapted for the uptake of pollen and nectar. Form and function of the mouthparts are described, and the technique of food uptake is discussed in context with flower-visiting behaviour and floral architecture of the preferred flowers. The maxillae are the main organs for food uptake. The brush-shaped laciniae, galeae and maxillary palpi form a functional unit which can be extended by the action of the cardo-stipes joint. Video analyses of the mouthpart movements distinguished different patterns of maxillary motions which occur in nectar feeding or pollen collecting. The flower-visiting behaviour and the specialised mouthparts of the Nemopteridae are derived traits which probably evolved from predatory and biting/chewing mouthparts within the Neuroptera.