Leptospira weilii serovar Topaz, a new member of the Tarassovi serogroup isolated from a bovine source in Queensland, Australia

This paper reports on a Leptospira isolate of bovine origin and its identification as belonging to a previously unknown serovar, for which the name Topaz is proposed. The isolate (94-79970/3) was cultured from bovine urine from a north Queensland dairy farm in Australia. Strain 94-79970/3 grew at 30 °C in Ellinghausen McCullough Johnson Harris (EMJH) medium but failed to grow at 13 °C in EMJH medium or in the presence of 8-azaguanine. Serologically, strain 94-79970/3 produced titres against the Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Tarassovi, the reference strain for the Tarassovi serogroup; however, no significant titres to any other serovars within the serogroup were obtained. Using 16S rRNA and DNA gyrase subunit B gene analysis, strain 94-79970/3 was identified as a member of the species Leptospira weilii. We propose that the serovar be named Topaz, after the location where the original isolate was obtained. The reference strain for this serovar is 94-79970/ 3 (=KIT 94-79970/35LT722).

Tan spot: A new disease of pyrethrum caused by Microsphaeropsis tanaceti sp. nov

The isolation frequency of Microsphaeropsis sp. in spring in association with necrotic lesions on leaves in Tasmanian pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium) fields has increased substantially since first identification in 2001. Examination of morphological features and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) resulted in the identification of a new species, herein described as Microsphaeropsis tanaceti sp. nov. The pathogenicity of three M. tanaceti isolates to two pyrethrum cultivars was confirmed by inoculating glasshouse-grown plants in three experiments. No significant differences in the susceptibility of the two cultivars to infection by M. tanaceti were found. Symptoms were tan-coloured spots which coalesced around the margins of the leaves. Therefore, the name 'tan spot' is proposed for this new disease of pyrethrum. The sensitivity of seven M. tanaceti isolates to difenoconazole and azoxystrobin, commonly used fungicides for the management of foliar diseases in spring, was assessed under in vitro conditions. Sensitivity testing for difenoconazole was conducted using a mycelial growth assay on potato dextrose agar, whilst testing for sensitivity to azoxystrobin used a conidial germination assay on water agar. Microsphaeropsis tanaceti was found to be more sensitive to azoxystrobin than difenoconazole, with complete inhibition of conidial germination at concentrations above 0.625 µg a.i. mL-1. By comparison, concentrations of 50 µg a.i. difenoconazole mL-1 or greater were required for significant inhibition of mycelial growth. It therefore appears likely that there is currently some control of tan spot as a result of the use of azoxystrobin and to a lesser extent, difenoconazole, for the control of other diseases.

A new semi-dwarfing gene identified by molecular mapping of quantitative trait loci in barley.

Semi-dwarfing genes have been widely used in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) breeding programs in many parts of the world, but the success in developing barley cultivars with semi-dwarfing genes has been limited in North America. Exploiting new semi-dwarfing genes may help in solving this dilemma. A recombinant inbred line population was developed by crossing ZAU 7, a semi-dwarf cultivar from China, to ND16092, a tall breeding line from North Dakota. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling plant height, a linkage map comprised of 111 molecular markers was constructed. Simple interval mapping was performed for each of the eight environments. A consistent QTL for plant height was found on chromosome 7HL. This QTL is not associated with maturity and rachis internode length. We suggest the provisional name Qph-7H for this QTL. Qph-7H from ZAU 7 reduced plant height to about 3/4 of normal; thus, Qph-7H is considered a semi-dwarfing gene. Other QTLs for plant height were found, but their expression was variable across the eight environments tested.

Portrait of man (name handwritten on verso illegible).

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New synonymies for Australian Cleridae (Coleoptera)

The following synonymies are proposed based on examination of primary types (lectotypes are designated for all taxa except those marked with a '*'): Lemidia spinnipennis Lea, 1907 syn. n. and Lemidia bicolor Schenkling, 1906 syn. n. = Lemidia biaculeata (Westwood); Lemidia mastersi Lea, 1907 syn. n. = Lemidia circumcincta Schenkling, 1906; Lemidia albonotata Pic, 1941 syn. n. = Lemidia laticeps Lea, 1907; Lemidia australiae Lea, 1907 syn. n. = Lemidia maculata Schenkling, 1902; Lemidia bilineatra Lea, 1907 syn. n. = Lemidia maculicollis Gorham, 1877; Lemidia decolor Pic, 1941 syn. n. = Lemidia munda Blackburn, 1892; *Phlogistus conspiciendus Elston, 1926 syn. n. = Mimolesterus ventralis (Westwood); Thanasimus cursorius Westwood, 1853 syn. n. and Stigmatium dispar Kuwert, 1894 syn. n. = Stigmatium acerbum (Newman); Stigmatium fasciatoventre Chevrolat, 1874 syn. n., Stigmatium flavescens Chevrolat, 1874 syn. n. and *Xestonotus eximius Kuwert, 1894 syn. n. = Stigmatium laevium Macleay, 1872; Stigmatium versipelle Gorham, 1876 syn. n. and Xestonotus (Cyclotomocerus) australicus Kuwert, 1894 syn. n. = Stigmatium varipes Chevrolat, 1876; Tarsostenus pulcher Macleay, 1872 syn. n. = *Tarsostenus carus (Newman, 1840). The available name Tarsosternus pulcher Macleay, 1872 is deemed a lapsus calami and emended to Tarsostenus pulcher Macleay, 1872.

Letter from D. G. Seixas to M. L. M. Peixotto regarding Hebrew name of Mr. Solomons

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Phalangopsidae crickets from the Indian Region (Orthoptera, Grylloidea), with the descriptions of new taxa, diagnoses for genera, and a key to Indian genera

The Indian region is presently the second region after the Neotropics in terms of diversity of phalangopsid crickets. Yet their study is impeded by the lack of necessary taxonomic tools for taxon identification. In the present paper, all generic diagnoses are clarified, using morphological and genitalic characters; female genitalia are described and illustrated for all genera with known females. New taxa are described from southern India: Kempiola flavipunctatus Desutter-Grandcolas n. sp., Opiliosina meridionalis Desutter-Grandcolas n. gen., n. sp., Phalangopsina bolivari Desutter-Grandcolas n. sp., P. chopardi Desutter-Grandcolas n. sp., P. gravelyi Desutter-Grandcolas n. sp., and Speluncasina Desutter-Grandcolas n. gen. The list of phalangopsid crickets from the Indian Region is updated, and a key to phalangopsid genera proposed. A lectotype and a paralectotype are designated to fix the name of Phalangopsina dubia (Bolivar, 1900). Opilionacris annandalei Chopard, 1928, previously transferred to the African genus Phaeophilacris Walker, 1871, is transferred to the genus Speluncasina Desutter-Grandcolas n. gen., while Larandopsis jharnae Bhowmik, 1981 and L. newguineae Bhowmik, 1981 described from New Guinea are transferred to the eneopterine genus Lebinthus Stal, 1877. Finally Luzaropsis confusa Chopard, 1969 is removed from its synonymy with L. ferruginea Walker, 1871.

Systematic status of Fejervarya ((Amphibia, Anura, Dicroglossidae) from South and SE Asia with the description of a new species from the Western Ghats of Peninsular India

We carried out a large-scale phylogenetic analysis of fejervaryan (dicroglossid frogs with `Fejervaryan lines' on the ventral side of the body) frogs, distributed in South and SE Asia, using published and newly generated sequences of unidentified individuals from the northern Western Ghats. The results corroborate the presence of a larger fejervaryan clade with a sister relationship to a clade composed of Sphaerotheca. Two sister clades could be discerned within the lager fejervaryan clade. The unidentified individuals formed a monophyletic group and showed a strong support for a sister relationship with Minervarya sahyadris. The species was found to be highly divergent (16S rRNA-4% and tyr-1%) from its sister lineage Minervarya sahyadris, and the clade composed of these two lineages were found to be deeply nested within the larger clade of Fejervarya. Based on this, the genus Minervarya Dubois, Ohler and Biju, 2001 is synonymized under the genus Fejervarya Bolkay, 1915. The unidentified lineage is recognized, based on phylogenetic position, genetic divergence and morphological divergence, as a distinct species and named here as Fejervarya gomantaki sp. nov. The presence of rictal glands was observed to be a synapomorphic character shared by the nested clade members, Fejervarya sahyadris and Fejervarya gomantaki sp. nov. Based on the presence of rictal gland and small size, Minervarya chilapata, a species from a lowland region in the Eastern Himalayas, is synonymized under Fejervarya and evidence for morphological separation from the new species, Fejervarya gomantaki sp. nov. is provided. For the fejervaryan frogs, currently three generic names (Frost, 2015) are available for the two phylogenetic subclades; the genus Fejervarya Bolkay, 1915 for the species of fejervaryan frogs having distribution in the South East Asia; the genus Zakerana Howlader, 2011 for the species of fejervaryan frogs having distribution in the South Asia and the genus Minervarya Dubois, Ohler and Biju, 2001 nested within the `Zakerana clade'. In the phylogenetic analysis Minervarya sahyadris, the new species described herein as Fejervarya gomantaki sp. nov. are nested within the `Zakerana clade', if the `Zakerana clade' for the fejervaryan frogs having distribution in the South Asia is provided a generic status the nomen `Minervarya' should be considered as per the principle of priority of the ICZN Code. Taking into consideration the overlapping distribution ranges of members of the sister clades within the larger fejervaryan clade and the absence of distinct morphological characteristics, we also synonymize the genus Zakerana Howlader, 2011, a name assigned to one of the sister clades with members predominantly distributed in South Asia, under the genus Fejervarya Bolkay, 1915. We discuss the need for additional sampling to identify additional taxa and determine the geographical ranges of the members of the sister clades within Fejervarya to resolve taxonomy within this group.

A new Kingfisher from Panama

Among the birds obtained in the course of the Smithsonian Biological Survey of Panama are 28 kingfishers of the Ceryle americana group. Comparison of this large series, and examination of the birds from numerous localities in northern South America and within the wide distribution area (Panama to southern United States) originally assigned to Ceryle septentrionalis Sharpe, show that two well-marked races have been united under this name...(Document contains 4 pages)

Basque legacy in the New World: on the surnames of Latin American presidents

[EN] In this article we explain the etymology of the surnames of Basque origin that some presidents of Latin American countries have or have had in the past. These family names were created in the language called Euskara, in the Basque Country (Europe), and then, when some of the people who bore them emigrated to America, they brought their surnames with them. Most of the family names studied here are either oiconymic or toponymic, but it must be kept in mind that the oiconymic ones are, very often, based on house-nicknames, that is, they are anthroponymic in the first place. As far as possible, we have related the surname, when its origin is oiconymic or toponymic, to its source, i.e. to the house or place where it was created.

Two new species of Zospeum Bourguignat, 1856 from the Basque-Cantabrian Mountains, Northern Spain (Eupulmonata, Ellobioidea, Carychiidae)

Two new species of the genus Zospeum Bourguignat, 1856 are described from caves in the Sierra de Aitzgorri (Gipuzkoa) and the Sierra Salvada (Burgos) in Northern Spain. The taxa Z. vasconicum sp. n. and Z. zaldivarae sp. n. have recently, without a formal name, been included in a molecular study of worldwide members of the Carychiidae. In the present paper, the shell morphology and variation of these species is described and illustrated.

Fixation of the type species of the genus Sinilabeo and description of a new species from the upper Yangtze river basin, China (Pisces : Cyprinidae)

The type species of the cyprinid genus Sinilabeo was misidentified as Varicorhinus tungting, and the species under the generic name belong to Bangana and Linichthys. In order to make Sinilabeo available, its type species is fixed under Article 70.3.2 of the 1999 edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature as S. hummeli, a new species herein described from the upper Yangtze River basin in Chongqing City and Sichuan Province, South China. A re-definition is provided for Sinilabeo. It resembles Qianlabeo in having an upper lip only present in the side of the upper jaw and uncovered by the rostral fold, but missing in the median part of the upper jaw that, instead, bears a thin, flexible, and cornified sheath, covered by the rostral fold, a character that can separate both from all other existing genera of Asian labeonins. However, Sinilabeo is distinguished from Qianlabeo in the presence of a rostral fold disconnected from the lower lip; a broadly interrupted postlabial groove only restricted to the side of the lower jaw; an upper lip, which is only present in the side of the upper separated from it by a groove; 9-10 branched dorsal-fin rays; two pairs of tiny maxillary barbels.

New data on the morphology and systematic status of Spinitectus petrowi and Spinitectus gigi (Nematoda : Cystidicolidae) parasitic in catfishes in central China

Two little-known nematode species of the genus Spinitectus Fourment, 1883, S. petrowi Belous, 1965 (prevalence 25%, intensity 1-8) and S. gigi Fujita, 1927 (prevalence 10%, intensity 2-3), were collected from the gastrointestinal tract of the yellow catfish, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco (Richardson), from Liangzihu Lake, Hubei Province, central China, in September of 2002. The light and scanning electron microscopical examination of this material, supplemented by a few museum specimens of S. gigi collected from the catfish Clarias fuscus (Lacepede) in southern China, made it possible to study in detail the morphology of these parasite species and to redescribe them. The first species, whose correct name is S. petrowi Belous, 1965, exhibits some morphological features (e.g., unusually short vestibule, shape of pseudolabia and of the left spicule) not found in most other congeners; a unique feature is the presence of peculiar pairs of transversely oriented peg-like cuticular spines with rounded ends on the ventral surface of the female tail. Spinitectus gigi was found to have 28-31 cuticular spines in the first ring, relatively long distances between the 2nd-7th rings of spines, and anterior rings divided into 2 sectors; the excretory pore is located at the level of the 4th ring of cuticular spines; males posses 4 pairs of preanal- and 6 pairs of postanal caudal papillae and a pair of small phasmids. Spinitectus bagri Wang, Wu et Yu, 1993 and S. wulingensis Yu et Wang, 1997 are considered junior synonyms of S. petrowi, whereas S. clariasi Ky, 1971, S. ophicephali Ky, 1971 and S. yuanjiangensis Wang, Wit et Yu, 1997 are regarded to be junior synonyms of S. gigi. Spinitectus petrowi was not previously reported from China.

The life of John Brainerd, the brother of David Brainerd, and his successor as missionary to the Indians of New Jersey ... By Rev. Thomas Brainerd.

http://name.umdl.umich.edu/ABB4262

Discoplana malagasensis sp. nov. a New Turbellarian (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida: Leptoplanidae) symbiotic in an ophiuroid (Echinodermata), with a cladistic analysis of the Discoplana/Euplana species

A new species of polyclad flatworm from Papua New Guinea is described. It is found symbiotic in the ophiuroid Ophiothrix purpurea von Martens, 1867 (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea). Apparently it belongs to the taxon Discoplana Bock, 1913 and can be distinguished from the six previously described Discoplana species by its very short ejaculatory duct and a penial papilla covered with a penial sheath, but without any true sclerotised structures such as a stylet or spines. The cladistic analysis of the Discoplana/Euplana species, based on morphological features and including two outgroups, reveals that all species of Discoplana, except D. pacificola, form a monophyletic taxon, that is not a synonym of Euplana Girard, 1893. Therefore the name Discoplana is conserved and the new species will be described as Discoplana malagasensis sp. nov. A key for the Discoplana/Euplana group is provided. In this key the biogeographical distribution and possible synonyms are given.