A new alpheid shrimp, Alpheus mannarensis sp. nov. (Crustacea; Decapoda; Alpheidae) from Gulf of Mannar, Southern India

A new species of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798, A. mannarensis sp. nov. is described and represented based on the materials collected from the shallow and rocky reefs, Gulf of Mannar (Thoothukudi waters), Southern India. This is the first report of Alpheus species from the Gulf of Mannar region. The new species is assigned to the Alpheus brevirostris group, and is distinguished from other species of this group by the combination of the following features: rostral ridge lower than orbital hood in lateral view and postrostral carina not extended to the middle of the carapace, palm of major chela with a transverse groove near the base of dactylus, the ultimate segment of the third maxilliped slender, fingers of minor chela of male slightly longer than palm, the first carpal segment of second pereiopods shorter than second segment, merus of third pereiopods slender and unarmed, dactylus of third pereiopods slender and subspatulate, and unique colour patterns of longitudinal light lines on the reddish body.

Application of morphometric study to discriminate Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn subsp. pinetorum (C. N. Page & R. R. Mill 1995) J. A. Thomson in Poland

Pteridium aquilinum subsp. pinetorum is one of two morphologically distinct taxa of the genus Pteridium identified in Poland. In order to confirm their distinctively recognizable morphology, nine features defining each of these taxa were subjected to a morphometric analysis. These features, including taxonomic characters of vegetative structures, were measured or counted for their most comprehensive descriptions. The measurements were also expressed as ratios of two characters (length of the first and second pairs of leaflets) to prevent the size of fronds from influencing the results. Unique features of bracken, such as: frond and pinnae shape and orientation; basal pinna structure; ultimate segment of pinnae and pinnula shape and size; frond expansion sequencing; frond lamina texture, shape and pubescence were treated descriptively. Canonical discriminant analysis was employed for a morphometric study of quantitative characters. On their basis, two taxa – P. aquilinum subsp. aquilinum and P. a. subsp. pinetorum were determined.

A review of the Pagurixus boninensis species group, with descriptions of six new species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae)

McLaughlin & Haig (1984) divided the genus Pagurixus Melin, 1939 in two informal species groups on the basis of the presence or absence of setal row(s) on the ventral surface of the ultimate segment of the antennular peduncle. The first group, characterized by the presence of the setal rows, is herein named the P. boninensis species group, and the second, characterized by the absence of setal rows, is named the P. anceps group. In this paper, species of the P. boninensis group are reviewed. Thirteen species are recognized in this species group, of which six are new: Pagurixus laevimanus (Ortmann, 1892), P. maorus (Nobili, 1906), P. boninensis (Melin, 1939), P. tweediei (Forest, 1956), P. festinus McLaughlin & Haig, 1984, P. nomurai Komai & Asakura, 1995, P. pulcher Osawa, Fujita & Okuno, 2006, P. brachydactylus n. sp. , P. carinimanus n. sp. , P. concolor n. sp. , P. paulayi n. sp. , P. pseliophorus n. sp. and P. ruber n. sp. These species are further arranged into two subgroups based on the presence or absence of a lateral ridge on the carpus of the left cheliped. The new species are fully described and illustrated. Redescriptions or updated descriptions and illustrations are given for each previously described species in order to facilitate comparisons. The affinities and important morphological variations of the species are discussed and their overall distributions are updated. Because of the sexual dimorphism exhibited by species of this genus, separate identification keys to males and females are presented.

Two new species of Pagurixus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae) from submarine caves of the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan

Two new species of Pagurixus Melin, 1939, P. pulcher and P. longipes, are described from the submarine caves of the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan. These species belong to the different informal species group of the genus characterized by the presence or absence of two distinct, longitudinal rows or series of setae on the ventral surface of the antennular ultimate segment. Pagurixus pulcher is most closely allied to P. nomurai Komai & Asakura, 1995, but is differentiated by the more slender ocular peduncles, setation on the ultimate segment of the antennular peduncle, and shape of the anterior lobe of the sixth thoracic sternite. The extremely long and slender carpus of the left cheliped and dactyli of the ambulatory pereopods clearly distinguish P. longipes from other species belonging to the species group characterized by the absence of longitudinal rows or series of setae on the ventral surface of the antennular ultimate segment.

Tree fern indusia: studies of development and diversity

Early developmental stages of the sorus in Cyathea fulva show that the indusium is initiated from cells of the protoderm on the abaxial leaf surface, closer to the midvein than the margin of the ultimate segment. This contrasts with earlier work on Alsophila tricolor that reported a marginal origin of the indusium and possible phyletic relations with the marginal sorus in the Dicksoniaceae. This new information is considered in an assessment of the numerous forms of the indusia in five genera of the Cyatheaceae. A series of photographs shows the principal forms and the diversity of sori and indusia in Sphaeropteris, Alsophila, Nephelea, Cyathea, and Cnemidaria, including species of both the paleotropics and neotropics. The figures illustrate the inadequacy of the earlier system of classification of these plants in three main genera based upon the type of indusium. The primary role of the indusium is considered to be the retardation of water loss during sporangial development and sporogenesis.

NEW COCCIDS FROM KANSAS

Antonina Nortoni, Parrott and Ckll.Sac white, subglobular, cottonlike, completely enveloping female.♀ oval, plump, cream-coloured, with slight tinge of brown on margin. Boiled in caustic potash, becomes transparent, with the exception of the antennae, the two pairs of spiracles, and ultimate segment, including anal region, which are a dark yellowish-brown. There are many single glands, especially towards and about posterior segments; they are less numerous anteriorly. On outer side of each spiracle there is a crescentic group of rather large circular glands, placed very close together. Antennae aborted, short, thick, composed of three segments measuring respectively 18–25, 13–16 and 27-28 mm. Mouth-parts large Spiracles chitinous, large and extended. Anal orifice circular, situated in a depression, surrounded by a strong chitinous ring. Anal ring with six long, stout hairs measuring from 53 to 89 mm. in length.