Two novel species and two new records of Distoseptispora from freshwater habitats in China and Thailand

During investigations into freshwater fungi from the Great Mekong Subregion, four Distoseptispora taxa were collected from China and Thailand. Based on morphological characteristics, and phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, ITS, SSU, TEF1-α, and RPB2 sequence data, two new species Distoseptispora bangkokensis and D. lancangjiangensis are introduced, and two known species D. clematidis and D. thysanolaenae were first reported in freshwater habitat. Illustrations and descriptions of these taxa are provided, along with comparisons with extant taxa in the genus.

Two new freshwater species of Bacillaria (Bacillariophyta) from Dongting Lake, China

Two new species in the genus Bacillaria, B. sinensis sp. nov. and B. dongtingensis sp. nov., are described from Dongting Lake, China. Both share the linear-lanceolate valve outline and the fault sites (i.e., branching and/or fusion of transapical ribs), the latter a character of the genus. Even though B. sinensis and B. dongtingensis are found at the same specific locality (sympatric), they differ by two characters: (1) the valves of B. sinensis have asymmetrical flanges on both sides of the raphe, while the raphe flange of B. dongtingensis is only on one side of the raphe; and (2) the valves of B. sinensis lack spines on the valve margins while B. dongtingensis has spines on both margins. Bacillaria sinensis and B. dongtingensis both possess two forms of fault sites on the same valves, i.e., they have both branching of transapical ribs and fusion of transapical ribs on the broader side of valve. This feature is not found in other species of Bacillaria, so it is unique. Bacillaria sinensis and B. dongtingensis are the first two species of Bacillaria reported from a typical and ‘normal’ freshwater habitat.

Aquatisphaeria thailandica gen. et sp. nov. (Tetraplosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales) from freshwater habitat in Thailand

A novel hyphomycetous genus collected from submerged wood in a freshwater stream in Thailand is introduced. The fungus is similar to Tetraplosphaeriaceae species in having subglobose conidial body and elongated setose appendages arising from conidial body. However, its unique combination of macronematous conidiophores and conidia composed with several columns of cells differs it from other genera in Tetraplosphaeriaceae. The phylogenetic analysis based on a combined LSU, ITS and SSU sequence data indicated that our two strains formed a distinct lineage in the family and they cannot be assigned to any existing genera. Therefore, we introduce a new genus Aquatisphaeria to accommodate the new taxa with A. thailandica as the type species. The detailed description, illustration and comparison with related taxa are provided.

Description of larvae of Eleotris perniger (Teleostei: Eleotridae) in transition from saltwater to freshwater from Montserrat, West Indies

Larvae of the Smallscaled Spinycheek Sleeper (Eleotris perniger) in transition from saltwater to freshwater were identified using COI and 16S gene sequences and the morphology and color pattern were then described. Available freshwater habitat for this species on Montserrat is minimal and continued existence is threatened by potential water withdrawals.

Lichenicolous fungi on Verrucaria s. lat. in Ukraine with the description of Zwackhiomyces khodosovtsevii sp. nov. and a key to the lichenicolous fungi on Verrucaria s. lat.

A revision of lichenicolous fungi on Verrucaria s. lat. in Ukraine is provided. As a result, 12 species of lichenicolous fungi on Verrucaria s. lat. are reported from Ukraine. Among them, Zwackhiomyces khodosovtsevii on Verrucaria cf. nigrescens is described as new to science and Lichenopeltella coppinsii on V. muralis, Stigmidium marinum on V. mucosa as well as S. rivulorum on V. dolosa, are newly reported to Ukraine. Ten species are reported from xerotic terrestrial habitats mainly from Southern Ukraine. Only Stigmidium marinum and S. rivulorum were found in a marine and freshwater habitat respectively. Toninia subfuscae should be removed from the Ukrainian list of lichenicolous fungi due to misidentification. Didymosphaeria geminella is considered as a new synonym for Polycoccum dzieduszyckii. A worldwide key for lichenicolous fungi on Verrucaria s. lat. is provided.