scholarly journals Pseudorhabdosynochus sulamericanus(Monogenea, Diplectanidae), a parasite of deep-sea groupers (Serranidae) occurs transatlantically on three congeneric hosts (Hyporthodusspp.), one from the Mediterranean Sea and two from the western Atlantic

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amira Chaabane ◽  
Jean-Lou Justine ◽  
Delphine Gey ◽  
Micah D. Bakenhaster ◽  
Lassad Neifar
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Morphological Comparison ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Coi Barcoding ◽  
Southern Mediterranean ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Specific Identity

Little is known of the diversity of the monogenean parasites infesting deep-sea groupers, and there is even less information available about their geographic distributions within the ranges of their hosts. To improve our understanding of these host-parasite relationships we conducted parasitological evaluations of the deep-water Haifa grouperHyporthodus haifensisfrom the southern Mediterranean off Tunisia and Libya. We collected more than one species of diplectanid monogeneans from this host, but among these only one dominant species was abundant. This proved to be morphologically very similar toPseudorhabdosynochus sulamericanusSantos, Buchmann & Gibson, 2000, a species originally described from the congeneric hostH. niveatusoff Brazil and also recorded fromH. niveatusandH. nigritusoff Florida. Here, we conducted a morphological comparison between newly collected specimens and those previously deposited in museum collections by other authors. Further, we used COI barcoding to ascertain the specific identity of the three host species to better elucidate the circumstances that might explain the unexpectedly broad distribution ofP. sulamericanus. We assigned our specimens fromH. haifensistoP. sulamericanusprimarily on the basis of morphological characteristics of the sclerotized vagina. We also noted morphological characteristics of eastern and western Atlantic specimens that are not clearly described or not given in previous descriptions and so prepared a redescription of the species. We confirmed, by COI barcoding, that no sister-species relationships were evident among the three hosts ofP. sulamericanus. Our observation thatP. sulamericanusinfects unrelated host species with putatively allopatric distributions was unexpected given the very limited dispersive capabilities and the high degree of host specificity common to members ofPseudorhabdosynochus.This transatlantic distribution raises questions with regard to phylogeography and assumptions about the allopatry of Atlantic grouper species from the Americas and Afro-Eurasia. Here, we propose some hypothetical explanations for our findings.

scholarly journals A new bathyal ophiacanthid brittle star (Ophiuroidea: Ophiacanthidae) with Caribbean affinities from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Mediterranean

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4820 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-30
Author(s):  
LEA D. NUMBERGER-THUY ◽  
BEN THUY
Keyword(s):  
Deep Sea ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Brittle Star ◽  
Morphological Comparison ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Faunal Turnover ◽  
Unknown Species ◽  
Recent Species ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
New Discovery

Identifiable remains of large deep-sea invertebrates are exceedingly rare in the fossil record. Thus, every new discovery adds to a better understanding of ancient deep-sea environments based on direct fossil evidence. Here we describe a collection of dissociated skeletal parts of ophiuroids (brittle stars) from the latest Pliocene to earliest Pleistocene of Sicily, Italy, preserved as microfossils in sediments deposited at shallow bathyal depths. The material belongs to a previously unknown species of ophiacanthid brittle star, Ophiacantha oceani sp. nov. On the basis of morphological comparison of skeletal microstructures, in particular spine articulations and vertebral articular structures of the lateral arm plates, we conclude that the new species shares closest ties with Ophiacantha stellata, a recent species living in the present-day Caribbean at bathyal depths. Since colonization of the deep Mediterranean following the Messinian crisis at the end of the Miocene was only possibly via the Gibraltar Sill, the presence of tropical western Atlantic clades in the Plio-Pleistocene of the Mediterranean suggests a major deep-sea faunal turnover yet to be explored.

Redescription of Orthopristis ruber and Orthopristis scapularis (Haemulidae: Perciformes), with a hybridization zone off the Atlantic coast of South America

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4576 (1) ◽  
pp. 109 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALEXANDRE PIRES MARCENIUK ◽  
RODRIGO ANTUNES CAIRES ◽  
LEONARDO MACHADO ◽  
NAJILA NOLIE CATARINE DANTAS CERQUEIRA ◽  
RAYLA ROBERTA M. DE S. SERRA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Atlantic Coast ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Brazilian Coast ◽  
Northern Coast ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Coloration Patterns

The genus Orthopristis includes seven valid species, three from the western Atlantic and five from eastern Pacific, while the available identification guides and taxonomic keys incorrectly recognize Orthopristis ruber as the only valid species found on the Atlantic coast of South America. Efforts to expand the inventory of fish species from the northern coast of Brazil led to the identification of two distinct species of Orthopristis from Atlantic South America, based on the analysis of coloration patterns and meristic data, as well as DNA. In the present study, the limits of Orthopristis ruber are reviewed, while Orthopristis scapularis is recognized as a valid species for the northern and northeastern coasts of South America. Based on intermediate morphological characteristics and nuclear DNA markers, a hybrid zone was identified off the state of Espírito Santo, on the eastern Brazilian coast. Additionally, considerations are made on the diversity and biogeography of the coastal marine and estuarine fishes found on the Brazilian coast. 

Review of the genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) in Sri Lanka with the description of five new species

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1490 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J.MENDIS WICKRAMASINGHE ◽  
D. A.I. MUNINDRADASA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Morphometric Analysis ◽  
Mountain Region ◽  
Geographical Isolation ◽  
Morphological Comparison ◽  
Type Series ◽  
Dry Zone ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Wet Zone

Five new species of geckos are described from Sri Lanka by morphological comparison and morphometric analysis leading to review the genus Cnemaspis in the country. The type series of these species were identified from following localities: C. alwisi and C. kumarasinghei from the intermediate zone, C. retigalensis from the dry zone, C. molligodai from the lowland wet zone and C. samanalensis from the mountain region of the wet zone in the country. The high degree of endemicity (90%) shown by Cnemaspis in Sri Lanka could be attributed to geographical isolation. In addition, the taxonomic issue of C. jerdonii scalpensis is discussed and the species C. scalpensis is errected.

scholarly journals Erythraeid larvae parasitizing dragonflies in Zambia—description of Leptus (Leptus) chingombensis sp. nov. with data on biology and ecology of host-parasite interactions

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 790
Author(s):  
Rafał Bernard ◽  
Magdalena Felska ◽  
Joanna Mąkol
Keyword(s):  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Ventral Side ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Local Character ◽  
Host Parasite Interactions ◽  
Group Variation ◽  
The Common ◽  
Host Parasite

A survey of odonate fauna in Zambia (Central Province, Luano District) resulted in discovery of ectoparasitic larvae of Leptus (L.) chingombensis sp. nov. (Trombidiformes: Parasitengona, Erythraeidae) on four species of dragonflies (Odonata) representing four different families assigned to Zygoptera and Anisoptera. The morphological characteristics of the new species is supported with DNA barcode sequence. Despite some intra-group variation related to relatively large sample, the morphological and genetic consistence confirm the common specific identity of the material. A brief comparison of Leptus spp. hitherto known from the Afrotropic as larvae is given. Supplementary data to the descriptions of Leptus (L.) bicristatus Fain et Elsen, 1987, Leptus (L.) aldonae Haitlinger, 1987 and Leptus (L.) soddagus Haitlinger, 1990, based on examination of type material, are provided. In the case of L. (L.) chingombensis sp. nov., the parasite load reached high, previously not recorded for Odonata–terrestrial Parasitengona association values, attaining at 44 and 49 larvae. Clear topic preferences towards the ventral side of the host’s body were recorded, with an additional tendency to distal parts of synthorax and the ventral depression of the abdomen. We hypothesize that the infestation did not take place synchronously at dragonflies emergence, but consisted in repeated infestation events during the recurrent appearance of dragonflies in the contact microhabitat occupied by Leptus. The very local character of the finding along with the regular appearance of larvae parasitizing dragonflies, obviously favoured by specific habitat conditions, no doubts confirms the non-accidental nature of the phenomenon.

scholarly journals Revision of Claraeola (Diptera, Pipunculidae) in the Middle East based on morphology and DNA barcodes

ZooKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 873 ◽  
pp. 85-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Behnam Motamedinia ◽  
Jeffrey H. Skevington ◽  
Scott Kelso
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Dna Barcodes ◽  
Mitochondrial Coi ◽  
Coi Barcoding

The Middle East species of Claraeola Aczél (Diptera, Pipunculidae) are revised based on morphological characteristics and sequence data from the mitochondrial COI barcoding gene, using a novel COI mini-barcode protocol. Four new Claraeola species are described: C. bousynterga Motamedinia & Skevington, sp. nov., C. heidiae Motamedinia & Skevington, sp. nov., C. khuzestanensis Motamedinia & Skevington, sp. nov., and C. mantisphalliga Motamedinia & Skevington, sp. nov.Eudorylas thekkadiensis Kapoor, Grewal & Sharma, 1987 is transferred to Claraeola, C. thekkadiensis (comb. nov.). Diagnoses, illustrations, an identification key, and a distributional map are given for the Middle East species.

scholarly journals A new western Atlantic snapping shrimp of the Alpheus macrocheles group (Caridea, Alpheidae) revealed by morphological, molecular and color data

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guidomar O. Soledade ◽  
Mariana Terossi ◽  
Justin A. Scioli ◽  
Fernando Luis Mantelatto ◽  
Alexandre O. Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Color Pattern ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequences ◽  
Morphological Comparison ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
The North ◽  
Color Data ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
Northeastern Atlantic

Alpheus macrocheles (Hailstone, 1835), a species originally described from the northeastern Atlantic, has been reported from Brazil based on material from the north and northeast coasts and Espírito Santo. However, a thorough morphological comparison between Brazilian material reported as A. macrocheles and eastern Atlantic material of A. macrocheles revealed consistent differences, suggesting that the Brazilian specimens belong to an undescribed species. Alpheus ramosportoae sp. nov. is therefore now described based on material from Amapá to Pernambuco, Brazil. Morphological differences between the new species and A. macrocheles s. str. were supported by the clear divergence of 16S rRNA gene sequences (18% of genetic distance), separating the species in two distinct clades. Differences in the color pattern also were observed and illustrated.

Exploratory deep-sea fishing in the Falkland Islands, south-western Atlantic

1996 ◽  
Vol 49 (sa) ◽  
pp. 298-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Coggan ◽  
C. P. Nolan ◽  
M. J. A. George
Keyword(s):  
Deep Sea ◽  
Falkland Islands ◽  
Western Atlantic

Deep-Sea Faunal Zonation of Benthos along Beaufort-Bermuda Transect in the North-western Atlantic

1972 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 183-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Y. George ◽  
Robert J. Menzies
Keyword(s):  
Deep Sea ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Red Clay ◽  
Generic Level ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
The North ◽  
Shelf Slope ◽  
Abyssal Zone

SynopsisIn this paper the subject of faunal zonation in the ocean floor from the intertidal, and over the continental shelf, slope and rise and to the abyssal plain is examined on the basis of faunal change at the generic and species level. The region investigated over a period of five years aboard R/V Eastward is a Beaufort-Bermuda transect, approximately 75 kilometres wide and 500 kilometres long and bounded between 32° and 36°N latitude and 64° and 79°W longitude. A new method, involving numerical indices reflecting changes in the composition of taxa, endemism and diversity between adjacent depth levels, was developed for defining faunal boundaries. Isotherms and isobaths utilised by earlier authors for characterising deep-sea boundary on a global scale do not coincide with natural faunal boundaries. This study analyses the vertical distribution of 128 species of isopod crustaceans and 28 species of large epibenthic invertebrates. The zonation patterns seem to correspond with correlations in environmental conditions such as currents, topography and sediments.We suggest four major vertical faunal provinces, characterised at the generic level, namely (1) the Intertidal Faunal Province; (2) the Shelf Faunal Province; (3) the Archibenthal Zone of Transition; and (4) the Abyssal Faunal Province and internal zones within these characterised at the species level. The main aspects of interest include the presence of a narrow ‘meso abyssal zone’ with a species maximum, the demonstration of the true transitional nature of the Archibenthal Zone in biotic and abiotic factors and the characteristic low-biomass Red Clay environment showing definite faunal isolation from the continental margin.

Predicting the potential distribution ofVexillata(Nematoda: Ornithostrongylidae) and its hosts (Mammalia: Rodentia) within America

2012 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 400-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.A. Martínez-Salazar ◽  
T. Escalante ◽  
M. Linaje ◽  
J. Falcón-Ordaz
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factor ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Potential Distribution ◽  
Species Distribution Modelling ◽  
Distribution Modelling ◽  
Distributional Patterns ◽  
Suitable Habitats ◽  
Temperature Seasonality ◽  
Host Parasite

AbstractSpecies distribution modelling has been a powerful tool to explore the potential distribution of parasites in wildlife, being the basis of studies on biogeography.Vexillataspp. are intestinal nematodes found in several species of mammalian hosts, such as rodents (Geomyoidea) and hares (Leporidae) in the Nearctic and northern Neotropical regions. In the present study, we modelled the potential distribution ofVexillataspp. and their hosts, using exclusively species from the Geomyidae and Heteromyidae families, in order to identify their distributional patterns. Bioclimatic and topographic variables were used to identify and predict suitable habitats forVexillataand its hosts. Using these models, we identified that temperature seasonality is a significant environmental factor that influences the distribution of the parasite genus and its host. In particular, the geographical distribution is estimated to be larger than that predicted for its hosts. This suggests that the nematode has the potential to extend its geographical range and also its spectrum of host species. Increasing sample size and geographical coverage will contribute to recommendations for conservation of this host–parasite system.

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