A new species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from China, with taxonomic comments on A. liangshanensis and Chinese populations of A. marmoratus

Amolops shuichengicus sp. nov., a new species of the A. mantzorum group is described from Guizhou, southwest China, on the basis of significant molecular divergences in 16S + CO1 genes and the combination of morphological characteristics: small body size, SVL 34.6–39.6 mm in adult males and 48.5–55.5 mm in adult females; dorsal skin relatively smooth; presence of vomerine teeth; presence of cream maxillary gland from lower edge of eye to the anterior of supratympanic fold; presence of supratympanic folds and glandular dorsolateral folds; tympanum indistinct; absence of a circummarginal groove on the disk of the first finger; presence of supernumerary tubercles below the base of fingers III and IV; absence of outer metatarsal tubercle and tarsal glands; males without vocal sacs. In addition, evidenced by the phylogenetic analyses in this study and literature data, we suggest that A. liangshanensis should be synonymized with A. loloensis and the records of A. marmoratus in Yunnan, China should be referred to A. afghanus. Following our proposal, the genus Amolops contains 57 species, with 32 recorded from China.

Bilateral primary eyelid meibomian gland epithelioma in a dog: a case report

In this paper an extremely rare case of primary bilateral eyelid meibomian gland epithelioma in a dog is presented. Meibomian tumors arise from the meibomian (tarsal) glands on the inner aspect of the eyelid, and meibomian gland adenomas and adenocarcinomas are the most frequent neoplasia arising from those glands. A 10-year-old male dog was admitted, with ophthalmic signs of periorbital swelling of the right eye. During the last two years, the dog had a progressive engorgement of the upper eyelid of the right eye, and during the past few months, strabismus and exophthalmos were also noticed, as well as a slighter enlargement on the lower eyelid of the left eye. Upon ophthalmic examination strabismus and periorbital swelling at the lateral canthus of the right eye, accompanied by mild exophthalmos and lagophthalmos, were recorded. Also, deep ulcerative keratitis with corneal oedema and neovascularization were noticed. Intense chemosis, epiphora and a small pinkish mass arising from the palpebral conjunctiva of the left lower eyelid were also seen. Neoplasia of both eyelids was suspected, and a series of diagnostic examinations were carried out. Orbital exenteration of the right eye was performed in the first place, followed by surgical removal of the mass of the left eyelid one month later. Based on clinical and histopathological findings, meibomian gland epithelioma was diagnosed. No relapse or metastases (local or distant) were observed in re-examinations within 18 months after the surgery. This study shows that although meibomian gland epithelioma is rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cases of orbital and eyelid tumors. Even though this tumor shows low malignancy, prompt surgical intervention and extended excision is the treatment of choice, in order to preserve vision in some cases. To the authors’ knowledge, the present case is the first report of bilateral meibomian gland epithelioma in the veterinary literature.

A new species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from southwestern Guangdong, China

A new species, Amolops yunkaiensis sp. nov. is described based on a series of specimens from Ehuangzhang Nature Reserve and Yunkaishan Nature Reserve, southwestern Guangdong Province, China. The new species can be distinguished from all known congeners by molecular divergence in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA, 12S rRNA and CO1 genes, and a combination of the following characters: relatively small body size, SVL 31.8–34.1 mm in adult males, 35.2–39.0 mm in adult females; numerous raised large warts on dorsum and flanks; dorsal body olive-brown or light brown with dark brown blotches; absence of vomerine teeth; absence of tarsal glands; presence of a pair of subgular vocal sacs, nuptial spines on the first finger, and sparse translucent tubercles on the lower jaw, forechest, posterior belly and ventral thigh in male. Hence, the genus Amolops contains 52 species, 29 of which occur in China.

The Exocrinology of the Queen Bumble Bee Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Bombini)

Chemical analyses are presented of prominent exocrine glands of queen Bombus terrestris including mandibular, labial and hypopharyngeal glands in the head, Dufour’s gland and tarsal glands. A plethora of about 500 substances were identified belonging to various ali­phatic compounds including hydrocarbons, various classes of esters, alcohols, methyl ketones and fatty acids. A group of chiral hydroxy acids and their butanoic acid esters are reported for the first time in bees.

Morphology and histology of tarsal glands in bumble bees of the genera Bombus, Pyrobombus, and Megabombus

The last tarsal segment and pretarsus of adult bumble bees are described. The tarsal gland on the fifth tarsomere of each leg in all individuals of a colony consists of simple glandular epithelium surrounding a reservoir in which its secretory products accumulate. Movement of the pretarsus in and out of the fifth tarsomere helps to discharge the secretion of the gland onto the ventral surface of the arolium. Study of the fine structure of the glandular cells reveals the presence of cytoplasmic organelles involved in secretion. The apical surface of the cells bears numerous microvilli associated with a smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Ergastoplasm is mainly located in the basal region. The spherical or ovoid nucleus is generally located basally and the cytoplasm contains uniformly distributed Golgi complexes, ribosomes which vary in number from one area to another, more or less electron-dense multivesicular bodies, mitochondria, and pinocytotic vesicles and coated vesicles in the cytoplasm of the apical area. Interdigitations and desmosomes contribute to the cohesion of cells within the epithelium. The tarsal gland of bumble bees is compared with that of other insects, and the function of its secretion is considered.