Caridean Shrimps Associated with the Slimy Sea Plume (Pseudopterogorigia americana) in Midsummer at Guana Island, British Virgin Islands, West Indies

Fifty-one slimy sea plumes (Pseudopterogorgia americana Gmelin, 1791) were sampled for caridean shrimps at Guana Island, British Virgin Islands, during one week in July 1992. Sam- pling depth ranged from 3-22 m. Nine species were collected: Hippolyte nicholsoni Chace, 1972; Latreutes sp.; Neopontonides chacei Heard, 1986; Perclimenes cf. patae Heard and Spotte, 1991; Periclimenes cf. pauper Holthuis, 1951; Periclimenes sp.; Pseudocoutierea antillensis Chace, 1972; Tozeuma cf. cornutum Milne Edwards, 1881; and Trachycaris rugosa (Bate, 1888). A total of 1,418 specimens (including fragments) was obtained. The number of shrimp species per gorgonian ranged from 1-5; one gorgonian harbored 156 shrimps. The two predominant species, N. chacei and H. nicholsoni, occupy different mean depths (12.6 and 8.2 m, respectively). Sexual dimorphism assessed with Mann-Whitney U-tests was not apparent in the specimens of N. chacei (P > 0.05), but females of H. nicholsoni were significantly larger than males (P < 0.001). Minimum carapace length (CL, the tip of the rostrum to the posterior dorsal margin of the carapace) at which male N. chacei acquire a single appendix masculina spine is 1.25 mm; male H. nicholsoni can acquire a single spine at 0.9 mm CL. Histological sections of male N. chacei showed that shrimp with 0 or 1 spine are least likely to be mature. Female N. chacei can become ovigerous at 1.9 mm CL and female H. nicholsoni at 1.2 mm CL. The taxonomic status of 5 of the 9 species collected is uncertain.

A Review of the Genus Echinococcus Rudolphi, 1801

1. The genus Echinococcus Rudolphi, 1801, is reviewed. The recorded measurements of all species are shown in tables, and their taxonomic status is discussed. 2. Three species of Echinococcus can be distinguished by morphological criteria and are considered valid: E. granulosus, E. multilocularis and E. oligarthrus. The status of E. felidis and E. patagonicus is uncertain, but both may be conspecific with E. granulosus. Six species are considered synonyms of E. granulosus: E. cameroni, E. intermedius, E. longimanubrius, E. lycaontis, E. minimus and E. ortleppi.

Distribution and Specificity of Helminths in Microtine Rodents: Evolutionary Implications

The taxonomic status of anoplocephaline cestodes of microtine rodents has been reviewed. Of the genus Andrya Railliet, 1883, five species are considered valid: A. macrocephala Douthitt, 1915; A. primordialis Douthitt, 1915; A. montana Kirshenblat, 1941 ; A. arctica Rausch, 1952; A. bairdi Schad, 1954. Of the genus Paranoplocephala Luehe, 1910, six species are regarded as valid: P. omphalodes (Hermann, 1783); P. blanchardi (Moniez, 1891); P. infrequens (Douthitt, 1915); P. variabilis (Douthitt, 1915); P. lemmi Rausch, 1952; P. neofibrinus Rausch, 1952. Andrya caucasica Kirshenblat, 1938, and A. bialowizensis Soltys, 1949, are regarded as synonyms of A. macrocephala. Paranoplocephala brevis Kirshenblat, 1938, is regarded as a synonym of P. infrequens. Three species, A. macrocephala, P. omphalodes, and P. infrequens, are holarctic in distribution, occurring mainly in species of Microtus. The uniformity of microtine rodents as hosts for various helminths has been discussed. It is concluded that Dicrostonyx is the most isolated genus from this standpoint, having two nematodes which have not been recorded from members of other genera, and harboring few helminths in common with others. This agrees with Hinton's conclusions, based on morphological characters of Dicrostonyx. From the present concept of Pleistocene glaciations, it is concluded that P. omphalodes and P. infrequens reached the St. Matthew Islands, in Bering Sea, as parasites of a vole from which Microtus abbreviatus has evolved. It appears that this vole arrived on these islands before North America was invaded, in the late Pleistocene, by the palearctic M. oeconomus and Clethrionomys rutilus,/i>. The present known distribution of P. omphalodes in North America corresponds about to that of M. oeconomus on the continent.

Studies on the Helminth Fauna of Alaska. XLI. Observations on Cestodes of the Genus Diplogonoporus Lönnberg, 1892 (Diphyllobothriidae)

The study of a collection of cestodes assigned to the genus Diplogonoporus Lönnberg, 1892 disclosed but two species, D. balaenopterae Lönnberg, 1892, and D. tetrapterus (von Siebold, 1848) (provis.). These cestodes occur characteristically in marine mammals but occasionally are found in terrestrial hosts; D. balaenopterae is recorded for the first time from the domestic dog, and it is concluded that D. grandis (Blanchard, 1894), from man, is conspecific with D. balaenopterae. The latter species is recorded for the first time from the humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski). The relatively small D. tetrapterus, a common parasite of the Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubata (Schreber), is reported for the first time from the sea otter, Enhydra lutris Linnaeus, and from the domestic mink, Mustela vison Schreber. Descriptions of representative specimens are presented, and the taxonomic status of other species assigned to Diplogonoporus is discussed. Although the diplogonadic organization of these cestodes is somewhat variable, it is nevertheless constant and serves to characterize the genus Diplogonoporus. The process of asexual reproduction by means of transverse subdivision of primary segments is described. This ability and the diplogonadic structure of these cestodes are considered to be adaptations that increase the production of eggs and thereby the probability of reproductive success in the marine habitat.

A taxonomic review of the neotropical genus Coprophanaeus Olsoufieff, 1924 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae

The Neotropical genus Coprophanaeus Olsoufieff (1924), as classified here, comprises 38 species distributed among three subgenera (Megaphanaeus Olsoufieff, Metallophanaeus Olsoufieff, and Coprophanaeus s. str. ) and eight species groups. Keys presented help to identify supraspecific and species taxa, all of which are illustrated and diagnosed. Lectotypes are designated for Phanaeus ignecinctus Felsche and Phanaeus ohausi Felsche. Coprophanaeus corythus (Harold), formerly regarded as a subspecies of C. telamon (Erichson), assumes species status. Coprophanaeus magnoi Arnaud, described as a subspecies of C. milon (Blanchard), is raised to species status. New taxonomic interpretations result in 10 new subjective synonymies (junior synonym listed first): Phanaeus machadoi Pereira and d’Andretta = Coprophanaeus saphirinus (Perty); Phanaeus costatus Olsoufieff = Coprophanaeus cyanescens (Olsoufieff); Phanaeus worontzowi Pessôa and Lane = Coprophanaeus cyanescens (Olsoufieff); Coprophanaeus kohlmanni Arnaud = Coprophanaeus morenoi Arnaud; Coprophanaeus pluto nogueirai Arnaud = Coprophanaeus pluto (Harold); Coprophanaeus edmondsi Arnaud = Coprophanaeus conocephalus (Olsoufieff); Coprophanaeus uhleri Malý and Pokorný = Coprophanaeus chiriquensis (Olsoufieff); Coprophanaeus henryi Malý and Pokorný = Coprophanaeus gilli Arnaud; Phanaeus perseus Harold = Coprophanaeus corythus (Harold); Coprophanaeus telamon nevinsoni Arnaud and Gámez = Coprophanaeus corythus; and Coprophanaeus florenti Arnaud = Coprophanaeus ohausi (Felsche). The status of the following names remains unresolved: Phanaeus strandi Balthasar; Coprophanaeus rigoutorum Arnaud; C. terrali Arnaud; C. lichyi Arnaud; C. lecromi Arnaud; C. larseni Arnaud; and C. vazdemeloi Arnaud.

The Taxonomic Value and Variability of Certain Structures in the Cestode Genus Echinococcus (Rudolphi, 1801) and a Review of Recognized Species

Although cestodes of the genus Echinococcus have been much studied in the past, there is need for an evaluation of these morphological characters used as the basis for species differentiation. The generous cooperation of other investigators in providing necessary foreign material and the results of nearly five years of field work in Alaska make possible such a study. It is the purpose of the paper to evaluate morphological characters used at the species level to differentiate these cestodes, and to review the status of species currently considered valid.