A new species of Gammarus Fabricius, 1775 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Gammaridae) from extreme high-altitude Lake Tong Tso, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

A new species of the genus Gammarus Fabricius, 1775 is described from Lake Tong Tso, an extreme high-altitude lake in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Gammarus pontual sp. nov. is considered part of the Gammarus lacustris G.O. Sars, 1863 group, which is characterized by having the inner ramus of uropod 3 longer than half the length of the outer ramus, and by having both rami covered with plumose setae. The new species stands apart from their congeners, mainly, by the following combination of characters: head with cephalic lateral lobe truncated; gnathopods 1-2 propodus weakly armed, with 1 stout seta defining palm; palm longer than posterior margin of propodus, with 1 main stout seta medially; pereopods 5-7 basis slender, posterior margin crenulate; epimeral plate 1 posterior margin produced into a short spine, facial ridge present; epimeral plates 2-3 posteroventral corner sharply pointed; uropod 3 rami covered with plumose setae, inner ramus about 80% the length of the outer ramus; telson apex with 2 stout setae on each side.

Genetic Diagnostics of FANC1BY Mutation in Representatives of the Holstein Breed and Its Crosses

The article is devoted to the development and use of a method for diagnosing the source of Brachyspina Syndrome, or short spine, in the Holstein breed and its crossbreeds. Representatives of this breed are the most highly productive animals in the world for milk. The development of a diagnostic method for breed-specific hereditary carriers is an important task in dairy farming. In this regard, the authors have proposed a Patent and a Reagent Kit for the detection of normal FANC1TY and mutant FANC1BY alleles in the Holstein breed and its crossbreeds. The frequency of occurrence of genotypes formed by these alleles in different sex and age groups of animals in the Holstein breed and its high-blooded hybrids was studied. Historical data related to the founders, from whom the spread of the mutant FANC1BY allele within the Holstein breed itself and its crossis in the USA, Canada and Russia began, has presented. The development of a diagnostic method for the mutant FANC1BY allele will make it possible to stop spreading of the Brachyspina Syndrome source. The proposed method will make it possible, in the early stages, to form healthy groups of breeding animals (bulls, replacement bulls, bull-reproducing cows), thereby laying the foundation for creating a high-quality livestock in the regions where the Holstein breed and its numerous crossbreeds are bred. cattle, Holstein breed, crossis, genotype, FANC1BY mutation, allele, Brachyspina syndrome

One new Gomphonema Ehrenberg (Bacillariophyta) from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

A new Gomphonema species is described from the Shiwan Mts. in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Southwest China. This new species differs from other known members of the genus Gomphonema by its linear-lanceolate shape, wide axial area, slit-like areolae openings, one short spine at the headpole externally, and large pseudoseptum at each end internally. Morphological features of the new species are detailed with light and scanning electron microscopy. Comparisons with other similar species are made. This species appears to be closely related to other species of this genus possessing wide axial areas.

A New Species of Acanthosaura Gray, 1831 (Squamata: Agamidae) from Central Highlands, Vietnam

Herein, we describe a new agamid species of the genus Acanthosaura from Central Highlands of Vietnam: Gia Lai Province, Kon Chu Rang NR, and Kon Tum Province: Kon Plông and Ngoc Linh Mountain based on morphological and molecular data. Acanthosaura prasina sp. nov. is distinguished from all congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters. Acanthosaura prasina sp. nov. differs from A. capra, A. murphyi, and A. nataliae by the presence of a short spine on each side of the neck and a smaller body size. From the known species of «lepidogaster» complex and A. coronata it differs in the arrangement of dorsal crests with a distinct double row of vertebral scales, from A. brachypoda in a smaller body size, longer tail and limbs, fewer supra- and infralabials and coloration patterns with a white area on lips and shoulders; from A. lepidogaster by lacking a dark marking on the nape and the absence of a distinct diastema; from A. phongdienensis by lacking a dark marking on the nape. We provide a cyt b-based estimation of diversity of the genus Acanthosaura. A. prasina sp. nov. differs from A. phongdiensis, A. coronata, A. lepidogaster, A. armata, A. crucigera, A. nataliae, A. phuketensis, and Acanthosaura sp. SK in p-distances of 15.4, 24.5, 14.7, 14.6, 16.3, 14.6, 15.4, and 24.4%, respectively. The new species currently known from three localities from Central Highlands was recorded from 800 to 1700 m a.s.l. in the evergreen polydominant forests in the mountainous regions of Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces. This is the 16th species of Acanthosaura and the ninth species of the genus from Vietnam.

Lacunicambarus chimera: a new species of burrowing crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee

Lacunicambarus diogenes (Girard 1852) was, until recently, considered to be one of the most widely distributed North American crayfish species, occurring in 31 U.S. States and one Canadian province east of the North American Rocky Mountains. Glon et al. (2018) investigated this claim and found that L. diogenes sensu lato was actually a species complex. The authors redescribed L. diogenes and restricted its range to the Atlantic Coastal Plain and Piedmont ecoregions of eastern North America. In doing so, they also revealed the existence of several probable undescribed species of Lacunicambarus that were previously considered to be L. diogenes. Here, we use morphological and molecular techniques to distinguish and describe one of these species: Lacunicambarus chimera sp. nov., a large primary burrowing crayfish found in parts of the Lower Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Upper Mississippi River Basins. Lacunicambarus chimera is morphologically similar to L. diogenes, from which it can be distinguished by the greater number of spines on the ventrolateral margin of its merus, its wider antennal scale terminating in a short spine, and the presence of a single longitudinal stripe on the dorsal side of its abdomen. We also provide an updated key to Lacunicambarus.

Treatment strategies for early-onset scoliosis

Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) is defined as a spinal deformity occurring before the age of ten years. Untreated EOS or early spinal fusion resulting in a short spine is associated with increased mortality and cardiopulmonary compromise. EOS may progress rapidly, and therefore prompt clinical diagnosis and referral to a paediatric orthopaedic or spine unit is necessary. Casting under general anaesthesia can be effective and may prevent or delay the need for surgery in curves of less than 60°. ‘Growing’ rods (traditional or magnetically-controlled) represent the standard surgical treatment in progressive curves of 45° or greater. Children with congenital scoliosis associated with fused ribs benefit from surgery with a vertical titanium prosthetic rib. Surgery with growth-friendly instrumentation is associated with a high risk of complications.Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2018;3 DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.3.170051

Trichoptera of Serra da Jibóia, Bahia, Brazil: new species of Helicopsyche (Helicopsychidae) and new records

Located in Northeast Region of Brazil, Bahia state, Serra da Jibóia is a mountain range situated between the Atlantic Forest and semiarid Caatinga ecoregions. In the present work the diversity of the caddisfly fauna from Serra da Jibóia was investigated during a seven-year period. We collected 3,472 adults, identifying 40 caddisfly species belonging to 26 genera and 11 families, of which 8 species are new records for the state. In this inventory we present the composition, abundance, and sex ratios of the species identified in the study. We also described a new species, Helicopsyche (Feropsyche) guariru n. sp., recognized by having the inferior appendage elongate, tapering to a pointed apex, and its basomesal lobe reduced to a small process bearing one or two short spine-like setae apically.

The amazing diversity of the genus Monospilus Sars, 1862 (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Aloninae) in South America

The main goal of this paper is to describe three new species of the genus Monospilus Sars, 1862 (Crustacea: Cladocera). Monospilus macroerosus sp. nov. differs from other species of the genus in several peculiar morphological traits, the most striking being the presence of a saw-shaped pecten of teeth on the postabdominal claw. This species inhabits semiterrestrial habitats (wet leaf litter on hydromorphic soil from gallery forest), exhibiting adaptations related to movement and food handling in this type of habitat. Monospilus brachyspinus sp. nov. inhabits truly aquatic habitats, where lives being associated with macrophytes and submerged leaves. It may be recognized by the postabdominal claw, which is armed with proximal spinulae modified in a short spine. In Monospilus sp., the proximal spinulae are modified in a long and slender spine. So far, Monospilus sp. occurs in southern South America, while Monospilus macroerosus sp. nov. and Monospilus brachyspinus sp. nov. occur in the Cerrado biome in Brazil, in the central portion of South America. Some conclusions about the conservation status of new species also are made.

A new species of parasitic copepod Nothobomolochus and redescription of Orbitacolax hapalogenyos (Yamaguti and Yamasu, 1959) (Cyclopoida: Bomolochidae) off Iraq

A new species of bomolochid copepod Nothobomolochus ilhoikimi sp. n., (Cyclopoida), is described based on adult females collected from the gills of hilsa shad Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton) (Actinopterygii, Clupeidae) captured in waters off Iraq. The new species differs from its congeners by having the following combination of characters in the adult female: 1) anal somite not spinulate; 2) paragnath blunt and robust; 3) maxilla with slender proximal segment and distal segment with 2 accessory processes terminally; 4) the distal exopodal segment of leg 1 with 3 small spines; and 5) the terminal endopodal segment of leg 4 carrying one long and one short spine. It closely resembles N. triceros (Bassett-Smith, 1898) but prominently differs in above features and also in host specificity. In addition, another bomolochid Orbitacolax hapalogenyos (Yamaguti and Yamasu, 1959) is redescribed based on material collected from Japanese threadfin bream Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch) (Perciformes, Nemipteridae) captured in waters off Iraq. Two species clusters, the hapalogenyos and the analogus groups are recognized in this genus.