Two new species and new records of Otocepheidae (Acari, Oribatida) from Yunnan, Southwest China

This work includes taxonomic data on four species of oribatid mites of the family Otocepheidae from Yunnan, China. Two new species of the genera Basiceramerus and Eurostocepheus are described, respectively. Basiceramerus ovatussp. nov. differs from B. bangladeshensis Corpuz-Raros & Gruèzo, 2008 by the wavy marginalis passing the base of the adanal setae, prodorsal condyles well separated from median ones, a ventral ridge present, and the anal plate foveolate; it differs from B. igorotus Corpuz-Raros & Gruèzo, 2011 from Vietnam by the wavy marginalis passing the base of the adanal setae, a connected tutorium and lamelliform expansion, a ventral ridge present, a smooth genital plate, and seta an2 located close to the median margin of the anal opening; it differs from B. igorotus from the Philippines by the lamellar setae inserted behind the tip of the lamella, separated prodorsal condyles, lyrifissure im posterior to gla, genital plate smooth, anal plate foveolate, and the wavy marginalis passing the base of the adanal setae. Eurostocepheus (Eurostocepheus) sinutussp. nov. differs from other known species of this genus by having a ventral groove between the genital aperture and the ventral ridge, eight pairs of notogastral setae, and distinctly shorter and thinner notogastral setae p1, p2, p3, h3. Eurostocepheus (Eurostocepheus) aquilinus Aoki, 1965 and E. (E.) mahunkai Mondal & Kundu, 1999 are reported for the first time from China.

Maturation and Fecundity of Large Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium malcolmsonii and Macrobrachium gangeticum in the Ganga River System in India

The Ganga is the largest perennial river in India. The prawns’ fishery resources are declining in middle stretch of the river Ganga near Patna. The present paper deals with the maturation and fecundity of large size Macrobrachium species like Macrobrachium gangeticum (Bate) and Macrobrachium malcolmsonii (Edwards) were estimated for the period of two years. Maturity and fecundity of prawn were evaluated according to the size of prawn, ovary and breeding frequency. The initial stage developing ovaries of M. gangeticum were observed small & light yellowish green colour but at stage II to mature gonad of M. gangeticum were found deep yellow green mass in the carapace, whereas in M. malcolmsonii the developing stage of ovaries was observed large yellowish in colour and matured female gonad were found comparatively in large and deep yellow in the carapace. The gravid females observed long setae at the base of genital aperture and 1- 4 pleopodes in both species. After mating, eggs were transferred by both the female prawn from ovary to brood pouch. Berried prawn M. gangeticum one week old fertilized eggs were looked as yellowish green finally brawn color. Whereas, in M. malcolmsonii, one week fertilized eggs were looked as yellowish-grey then finally changed deep gray. M. gangeticum and M. malcolmsonii female releases of eggs, her ovaries displayed either stage resting or zero characteristics. The species of M. gangeticum possess minimum of 8000 eggs with size 75 mm and the maximum 76,240 eggs with respective size 190 mm, whereas M. malcolmsonii the minimum fecundity observed 8100 eggs with size 75 mm and the maximum fecundity was 81,200 eggs of 190 mm size. The total weights of the eggs per female prawn as well as the mean number of eggs were improved with cumulative length and weight. The breeding frequency of both species were found four times and in first breeding the number of eggs was found slight, but it increased comparatively in second and third breeding and got decreased again in fourth breeding.

Immunological female role tested on artificial plugs in three scorpion species

Within arachnids, genital plugs are morphologically diverse, and they can be formed by male, female or be a contribution of both sexes. Although several species of scorpions with genital plugs are known, the physiological effects on the female after being plugged have not been well studied yet. This work compares three scorpion species, two with genital plugs and one without. We first describe the genital plugs morphology of twoUrophoniusspecies. Second, through the placement of artificial genital plugs in the female genital atrium, we tested 1) whether there are interspecific differences in the immune encapsulation response on the artificial genital plug, 2) if there are an effect in the hemocyte load in the hemolymph, and 3) if individual’s immunological parameters and body weight are correlated. Additionally, we describe and quantify the hemocytes in these species. In both species ofUrophonius, genital plugs were found covering the female genital aperture and blocking the genital atrium. The plugs consist of three zones that are distinct in morphology and coloration. We found different patterns of encapsulation and melanization on the artificial plug according to the species, with a greater and more specific response in females of plug producing species. Also, these species showed a decrease in the hemocyte load one month after the placement of the artificial plug, possibly due to the recirculation of the hemocytes into the genital area. In addition, correlations were found between the body weight and the immunological parameters, as well as between different immunological parameters. Our results suggest that females contribute to the formation of genital plugs by adding material and generating the darkening of the genital plugs in certain zones. This comparative study can help to provide a wider framework of different physiological consequences related to a particular postcopulatory mechanism such as the genital plugs.

Phenotypic features of Helicina variabilis (Gastropoda: Neritimorpha) from Minas Gerais, Brazil

Helicina variabilis Wagner, 1827 (Neritimorpha, Helicinidae) is redescribed based on a sample collected in Nanuque, northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The species description, previously based only on the shell, is expanded to the phenotypic features. The study revealed absorption of the internal shell whorls; a diaphragm muscle connected to the floor of the pallial cavity; a monoaulic pallial oviduct, with the female genital aperture inside the anal aperture, and the lack of a seminal receptacle and provaginal sac; and the pleural ganglia of the nerve ring connected with each other. The significance of these findings is discussed in the light of current taxonomic and phylogenetic knowledge.

The genus Hyalomma Koch, 1844. VIII. Redescription of three Hyalommina Schulze, 1919 species (Acari: Ixodidae) from South Asia with notes on their biology

The South Asian ticks Hyalomma (Hyalommina) brevipunctata Sharif, 1928, Hyalomma (Hyalommina) hussaini Sharif, 1928 and Hyalomma (Hyalommina) kumari Sharif, 1928, are morphologically fairly similar. The males can be distinguished from each other by size, color and their punctation patterns. The females are easily distinguished by the shape of the genital aperture and its preatrial fold, and they also differ in size, color and punctation patterns. The immature stages can be distinguished by the measurements of various characteristics and the ratios of these, the shape of the scutum, gnathosoma and hypostome, number of denticles on the hypostome and size of the spurs on coxae. All parasitic stages of the three species are illustrated and redescribed here. Their distributions are restricted to South Asia, although there are some records from Central Asia. Large and medium-sized ungulates are the principal hosts of the adults, whereas the immature stages infest various species of small mammals. All are three-host species. Data on their disease relationships are also provided.

Taxonomy and anatomy of Amphiboloidea (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia: Archaeopulmonata)

The taxonomy of the pulmonate superfamily Amphiboloidea is investigated with particular reference to Australasian taxa. Anatomical features of the alimentary, reproductive and central nervous systems differ substantially between taxa, and conchological, opercular and radular characters are also described. Four genera are recognised in Amphibolidae; Amphibola Schumacher, 1817, Salinator Hedley, 1900, Lactiforis gen. nov. and Naranjia gen. nov.. Two additional genera are assigned to new families; Phallomedusa gen. nov. (Phallomedusidae fam. nov.) and Maningrida gen. nov. (Maningrididae fam. nov.). Phallomedusidae fam. nov. is characterised by a paucispiral, keeled operculum and syntremous diaulic reproductive system with a complex, spiral penis. Maningrididae fam. nov. has an expanded operculum with a marginal nucleus and a syntremous diaulic reproductive system with two novel copulatory structures at the genital aperture. Taxonomic descriptions and a key are provided for eight Australian species; Salinator fragilis (Lamarck, 1822), Salinator tecta sp. nov., Salinator rhamphidia sp. nov., Salinator rosacea sp. nov., Lactiforis tropicalis sp. nov., Phallomedusa solida (Martens, 1878), Phallomedusa austrina sp. nov., and Maningrida arnhemensis sp. nov. and three non-Australian taxa; Amphibola crenata (Martyn, 1786), Lactiforis takii (Kuroda, 1928) and Naranjia cf. swatowensis (Yen, 1939).

A multiple gestation in a Delphinus delphis stranded on the north-western Spanish coast

The present study is the first record of twinning in Delphinus delphis. The first foetus was a female of 72 cm total length which had a curved caudal area. This animal was located in the left uterine horn, very close to the genital aperture. The second foetus was a male of 46 cm total length and its external morphology was deformed. It was located in the uterus and the nose was shorter than the female foetus. Documented incidences of twinning in cetaceans are rare.

Redescription of Benedenia epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1937) Meserve, 1938 (Monogenea: Capsalidae) from cultured and aquarium marine fishes of Japan

The monogenean Benedenia epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1937) Meserve, 1938 is redescribed and reported for the first time from the fins, eyes, and body surface of cultured marine fishes of Japan. Because of close similarity in the general morphology of the reproductive system and median sclerites, comparable morphometrics, and the presence of a flap slightly left of the common genital aperture, Benedeniella congeri Yamaguti, 1958 (= Neobenedeniella congeri (Yamaguti, 1958); Benedenia congeri (Yamaguti, 1958)) and Benedenia sp. of Tsutsumi and Ito, 1965 are synonimized with this species. Twelve new hosts are presented, bringing the total number of known hosts to 25 (11 Tetraodontiformes, 9 Perciformes, 3 Scorpaeniformes, 1 Pleuronectiformes, and 1 Anguilliformes). The ability of B. epinepheli to cause death of cultured fishes during heavy infection, and its low host specificity, ubiquitous distribution in western Japan, and the high susceptibility of marine aquarium fishes are indicative of the parasite's great potential to become a disease problem.

Sexual dimorphism in the baiji, Lipotes vexillifer

Dimorphism was detected in body length and in skull dimensions of the baiji, Lipotes vexillifer. The age of a sample comprising 22 females and 14 males was estimated. A single-phase Laird growth model was fitted to the body length versus age data for females. Two curves were required for the males, one for those with 4 dentinal growth layer groups (GLGs) and another for those above that age, i.e., with more than 4 GLGs. Males and females have about the same growth rate until they have about 4 GLGs, after which males grow more slowly than females. Sexual dimorphism was also found in 9 external measurements, based on t-tests. Analysis of covariance showed that once the effect of body length was removed, only 1 of the 9 measurements, from the tip of the upper jaw to the genital aperture, differed significantly between males and females. Differences in skull measurements resulted mainly from an early slowdown in the rate of longitudinal growth of the male, before the increase in body length slowed. Females and males could be correctly sexed by discriminant analysis using the body length, condylobasal length, and zygomatic width, and also the condylobasal length, width of the rostrum at the base, and the zygomatic width, except for one young female. Eight skull length measurements were greater in adult females than in adult males after the effect of body length was removed, and five skull width measurements were greater in males when the effect of condylobasal length was removed. Asymmetry in the position of the blowhole and in skew of the skull is pronounced and is independent of body length and sex.