Search

The annelid clade Amphinomidae, commonly known as “fireworms,” is notorious for causing skin inflammations after physical contact. These injuries are caused by the chaetae of the animals, which are calcified and particularly brittle. The incorporation of calcium carbonate particles and their disintegration cause the chitinous lamellae within a chaeta to break apart and result in a prominent inner cavity. Although the chaetae of Amphinomidae are well studied, data concerning their sister group, Euphrosinidae, are scarce. In this study, we examined the chaetae of two species of Euphrosine for the first time regarding the variety of chaetal types, their ultrastructure, elemental composition, and arrangement. This allows us to get a better understanding of chaetal characteristics in the ground pattern of Amphinomida. We were able to determine bifurcate chaetae as the primary chaetal type in Amphinomida and provide evidence that their aciculae must have evolved secondarily. Calcification is a common feature among amphinomidan chaetae and regarded as autapomorphy of Amphinomida. Finally, a single dorsal formative site in each notopodium and neuropodium, found in Euphrosine foliosa, likely represents the ancestral state in Amphinomida. There is no evidence for venom production or secretory cells associated with the chaetae of Euphrosine, which is in accordance with what was previously observed in Amphinomidae. Our study also complements further studies into chaetal characteristics such as the number and arrangement of formative sites.

The Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico is a carbonate platform well-known for extensive karst networks of densely stratified aquifer ecosystems. This aquifer supports diverse anchialine fauna, including species of the globally distributed atyid shrimp genus Typhlatya. Four species (T. campecheae, T. pearsei, T. dzilamensis and T. mitchelli) are endemic to the Peninsula, of which three are federally listed in Mexico. This first integrative evaluation [i.e., molecular (public and newly generated), morphological, broad geographic and type locality sampling, and environmental data] of Yucatán Typhlatya reveals considerable species identity conflict in prior phylogenetic assessments, broad species ranges and sympatry within cave systems, five genetic lineages (three known and two new to science) with the endangered T. campecheae herein classified as junior synonym of the vulnerable T. pearsei. Ancestral/divergence reconstructions support convergent evolution of a low-salinity/stenohaline ancestor of a post-Paleogene arc Yucatán+Cuba Typhlatya clade within a euryhaline/anchialine-adapted atyid clade, and secondary adaptation of the coastal-restricted euryhaline [2-37 psu] T. dzilamensis (unknown conservation status), of which the remaining four species lineages are low-salinity/stenohaline adapted found in both inland and coastal regions. This study demonstrates the need for integrative/interdisciplinary approaches when conducting biodiversity assessments in complex and poorly studied aquifers.

Indirect methods for conducting faunal inventories present great promise, and genomic inventories derived from environmental sources (eDNA) are improving. Invertebrate ingested DNA (iDNA) from terrestrial leeches in the family Haemadipsidae has shown potential for surveying vertebrates and biodiversity monitoring in protected areas. Here we present an initial, and critical, evaluation of the limitations and biases of current iDNA protocols for biodiversity monitoring using both standard and NGS barcoding approaches. Key findings include the need for taxon relevant multi-locus markers and reference databases. In particular, the limitations of available reference databases have profound potential to mislead and bias eDNA and iDNA results if not critically interpreted. Nevertheless, there is great potential for recovery of amplifiable DNA from gut contents of invertebrate museum specimens which may reveal both temporal patterns and cryptic diversity in protected areas with increased efficiency. Our analyses of ingested DNA (iDNA) from both freshly stored and previously collected (legacy) samples of terrestrial leeches successfully identified vertebrates from Myanmar, Australia and Madagascar and indicate the potential to characterize microbial communities, pathogen diversity and interactions at low cost.

Two-jawed (duognathous) terrestrial leeches in the Haemadipsidae are major pests across their wide geographic range, represented by numerous endemic species in Australia and across many islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. However, haemadipsid taxonomy, based largely on externally visible characters, remains in conflict with phylogenetic relationships. We capitalize on the power of microcomputed tomography (μCT), allowing for the first description of an extant soft-bodied species – Chtonobdella tanae sp. n. – using this technology. Several fixation strategies for soft-bodied invertebrates in μCT scanning applications are also evaluated. Expanding on prior work, higher taxonomy of duognathous haemadipsids also was evaluated with phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data. Whereas monophyly of duognathous leeches was supported, substantial conflict remained with respect to named genera. Consequently, the genus Chtonobdella was revised to include all duognathous leech species previously distributed in 31, mostly monotypic genera.

Aphroditiformia represents one of the most successful radiations of annelids, and is therefore an interesting model to understand morphological and functional evolution. Previous phylogenetic analyses yielded most families as monophyletic but excluded anchialine and interstitial species while failing to recover relationships within Sigalionidae. Here we address these shortcomings through the analysis of four molecular markers and 87 morphological characters sampled across 127 species under the assumptions of parsimony and model-based methods. Of the 34 newly sequenced taxa, five anchialine and 24 interstitial species were included, with increased representation of Sigalionidae. An additional 28 elusive Sigalionidae taxa were included, represented only by morphological partitions. Molecular and morphological partitions were evaluated under exhaustive sensitivity analyses, testing the effects of alignment algorithms and optimization criteria on tree topologies. Our trees congruently recovered six clades corresponding to the families within Aphroditiformia: Acoetidae, Aphroditidae, Eulepethidae, Iphionidae, Polynoidae and Sigalionidae, respectively. An anchialine polynoid lineage was nested among strictly deep sea species, and interstitial pisionids and pholoids formed two independent clades nested within Sigalionidae. Additionally, Sigalionidae resulted in four clades, defined by combinations of apomorphies, and hereby we propose the subfamilies Pelogeniinae, Pholoinae, Pisioninae, Sthenelanellinae, as well as the provisionally included polyphyletic Sigalioninae.

This study revises the taxonomic status of the formerly monotypic Archinomidae, which is nested within paraphyletic Amphinomidae according to recent phylogenetic work. We focused our taxonomic sampling to evaluate the affinities of Notopygos and genera classified as ‘fusiform’ in body shape, including Archinome and Chloeia. Prior to this study, the phylogenetic placement of Notopygos had not been evaluated. We inferred the phylogenetic relationships of Notopygos within Amphinomidae based on nuclear and mitochondrial markers, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genetic divergences of five Notopygos species, including the newly described Notopygos kekooa sp. n. from the Gulf of California. The phylogenetic and morphological evidence, now including Notopygos species, justified the establishment of two subfamilies within Amphinomidae. In accordance with ICZN Article 36 (Principle of Coordination), both subfamilies are presented as status novus in the nomenclature ranks.

The Euphrosinidae (Polychaeta: Amphinomida) collected during cruises of the R/V Polarstern, and described by Hartmann-Schroder & Rosenfeldt (1988, 1992) are re-examined. In all, four of five species are here assigned to two previously described taxa: Euphrosine monroi, and Euphrosinella cirratoformis and a fifth species, Euphrosine antarctica, is newly referred to the genus Euphrosinopsis, as a new combination. Euphrosinopsis antarctica n. comb., has priority as type species of the genus, rendering Euphrosinopsis antipoda as the junior synonym. We suggest that Euphrosine magellanica is a misidentified Euphrosinella cirratoformis. Previous Antarctic records of Euphrosine cirrata are also referred to the genus Euphrosinella Detinova, 1985, and are likely E. cirratoformis. Diagnoses or additional descriptive information and appropriate illustrations are provided for all taxa.

Over the last few decades, advances in molecular techniques have led to the detection of strong geographic population structure and cryptic speciation in many benthic marine taxa, even those with long-lived pelagic larval stages. Polychaete annelids, in particular, generally show a high degree of population divergence, especially in mitochondrial genes. Rarely have molecular studies confirmed the presence of 'cosmopolitan' species. The amphinomid polychaete Hermodice carunculata was long considered the sole species within its genus, with a reported distribution throughout the Atlantic and adjacent basins. However, recent studies have indicated morphological differences, primarily in the number of branchial filaments, between the East and West Atlantic populations; these differences were invoked to re-instate Hermodice nigrolineata, formerly considered a junior synonym of H. carunculata. We utilized sequence data from two mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 16S rDNA) markers and one nuclear (internal transcribed spacer) marker to examine the genetic diversity of Hermodice throughout its distribution range in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Guinea. Our analyses revealed generally low genetic divergences among collecting localities and between the East and West Atlantic, although phylogenetic trees based on mitochondrial data indicate the presence of a private lineage in the Mediterranean Sea. A re-evaluation of the number of branchial filaments confirmed differences between East and West Atlantic populations; however, the differences were not diagnostic and did not reflect the observed genetic population structure. Rather, we suspect that the number of branchial filaments is a function of oxygen saturation in the environment. Our results do not support the distinction between H. carunculata in the West Atlantic and H. nigrolineata in the East Atlantic. Instead, they re-affirm the older notion that H. carunculata is a cohesive species with a broad distribution across the Atlantic Ocean.

Seven isolated cases of haemadipsid leech parasitism in anuran amphibians living in the rainforests of eastern Madagascar are described. Boophis madagascariensis, Boophis roseipalmatus, Gephyromantis luteus, and Mantidactylus sp. aff. grandidieri were found to be new host records for Malagabdella species, and this study represents the first description of amphibian–leech interactions in Madagascar, the second report of leeches as ectoparasites of Malagasy vertebrates, and the fourth reference of haemadipsid as amphibian parasites.

Borda, E., Kudenov, J.D., Bienhold, C. & Rouse, G.W. (2012). Towards a revised Amphinomidae (Annelida, Amphinomida): description and affinities of a new genus and species from the Nile Deep-sea Fan, Mediterranean Sea. —Zoologica Scripta, 41, 307–325. The discovery of a new amphinomid species from wood falls deployed near cold seeps (1694 m) at the Nile Deep-sea Fan (Mediterranean Sea) highlights the need to revise Amphinomidae to better characterize amphinomid diversity. The phylogenetic affinities of the new amphinomid and 12 other species from nine Amphinomida genera were inferred using data from two nuclear (18S rDNA and 28S rDNA) and two mitochondrial (COI and 16S rDNA) genes. The phylogenetic analyses indicated a close relationship of the new species with other amphinomids associated with temporary pelagic substrata, including Amphinome sensu stricto (emended herein) and Hipponoa. The new species belongs to a distinct lineage and we, here, erect a new genus to accommodate it. Cryptonome gen. n. is the second amphinomid genus established for species from chemosynthetic environments. Cryptonome conclava sp. n. is distinguished morphologically from all previously described rectilinear Amphinomidae by lacking notochaetal hooks, having a reduced caruncle, modified neurochaetae and branchiae on nearly all segments. Taxonomic issues regarding amphinomid species presently assigned to Amphinome and the erroneous placement of related xylophylic taxa in Eurythoe are also outlined. We emend and restrict the five known oceanic flotsam species with stalked heart-shaped caruncles to Amphinome sensu stricto. An additional 15 species previously assigned to Amphinome may belong to other genera (e.g. Linopherus) and are here tentatively considered incertae sedis. Finally, Eurythoe turcica and Eurythoe parvecarunculata are transferred to Cryptonome gen. n. as new combinations. A revised key to a subset of rectilinear amphinomid genera (relevant to this study) is presented.

In June 1970, a diverse group of scientists attended the International Symposium on the Biology of the Sipuncula and Echiura at the Marine Biological Station in Kotor, Yugoslavia. Forty-two years later, in June 2012, an aspiring generation of like-minded scientists convened the Second International Symposium on the Biology of the Sipuncula (ISBS2) along the banks of the Fort Pierce Inlet to the Indian River Lagoon in Fort Pierce, Florida, USA. The primary objective of the second symposium was to convene the world’s dedicated sipunculan biologists in one place for a long-overdue face-to-face communication of past, present, and future research. This proceedings volume includes a brief summary of workshop discussions and field events as well as a compilation of selected research papers presented by an international group of 16 scientists from 12 nations in attendance at the ISBS2. Herein, we highlight molecular, developmental, morphological, ecological, and biogeographic diversity of adult and larval sipunculans. In addition, we introduce several of the outstanding research challenges associated with resolving sipunculan interrelationships, establishing standard sets of taxonomic characters, refining methods for identification of cryptic species, reconstructing an evolutionary framework of developmental life history patterns, and addressing implications of recent phylogenetic and phylogenomic hypotheses that have relocated the ancient radiation of unsegmented sipunculan body plans within the predominantly segmented Annelida. Collectively, although we represent a small group of sipunculan biologists (of whom a matching number did not attend the ISBS2), we hope this volume will not only draw attention to an intriguing and notably understudied clade of marine worms but also attract new researchers to help us promote them as valuable experimental models and to include them among broader interdisciplinary efforts to better understand the biological diversity of marine invertebrate animals worldwide. Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences , number 42, x + 235 pages, 151 figures, 23 tables, 2018.

O tema abordado neste artigo é uma aproximação entre Lv 19,9-13 e o mandamento de Yahweh “sejam santos”, levando em conta Lv 19,1-2, a fim de iluminar um tempo em que a indiferença pelo outro, “os anawin de nossos tempos”, é marcado pela proposta de homem que defende o sistema capitalista, que a partir de seus principios reforça a condenação da vida e a aprovação de qualquer ato que torne possível o poder sobre o outro.

The relationships, as well as identification of species, within Helobdella (Glossiphoniidae) were explored through phylogenetic analysis and through an overview of the historical systematics of the genus. The phylogeny was determined using morphological data and the mitochondrial gene sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit I. A broad representation of 15 ingroup species was sampled, including 10 individuals from South America. Outgroup taxa included five species of Haementeria. Cladistic analysis of all available data resulted in one most parsimonious tree. Results shed light on genetic divergence of members classified as the same species, including those that are not monophyletic. Historically, external morphological characters have played a significant role in contributing to the confusion in the classification of H. triserialis, H. papillata, H. lineata and H. fusca in North America. Re-evaluation of Verril's Clepsine papillifera var. b and var. d in a phylogenetic context provides a solution. Additionally, the genera Adaetobdella, Acritobdella, Dacnobdella and Gloiobdella created by Ringuelet are returned to Helobdella based on overlapping morphological characters.

Since its description from the Galapagos Rift in the mid-1980s,Archinome rosaceahas been recorded at hydrothermal vents in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Only recently was a second species described from the Pacific Antarctic Ridge. We inferred the identities and evolutionary relationships ofArchinomerepresentatives sampled from across the hydrothermal vent range of the genus, which is now extended to cold methane seeps. Species delimitation using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) recovered up to six lineages, whereas concatenated datasets (COI, 16S, 28S and ITS1) supported only four or five of these as clades. Morphological approaches alone were inconclusive to verify the identities of species owing to the lack of discrete diagnostic characters. We recognize fiveArchinomespecies, with three that are new to science. The new species, designated based on molecular evidence alone, include:Archinome levinaen. sp., which occurs at both vents and seeps in the east Pacific,Archinome tethyanan. sp., which inhabits Atlantic vents andArchinome jasonin. sp., also present in the Atlantic, and whose distribution extends to the Indian and southwest Pacific Oceans. Biogeographic connections between vents and seeps are highlighted, as are potential evolutionary links among populations from vent fields located in the east Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and Atlantic and Indian Oceans; the latter presented for the first time.

Prior studies report in various mammalian species that a neutral flavour can become strongly preferred after being associated with a positive consequence of its consumption. Two experiments were performed to study flavour preferences conditioned by a protein source in weaned pigs. In experiment 1, pigs were trained to drink (30 min/day) one flavour (CS+) mixed into a 2% protein solution (Soybean Protein Concentrate; SPC or Porcine Digestible Peptides; PDP) and another flavour (CS-) mixed into water during 6 alternate sessions. The pigs in the SPC and PDP groups consumed more CS+ than CS- in the two-choice tests with both flavours presented in water (552 vs. 409 mL, 571 vs. 414 mL, respectively). In the last choice SPC and PDP animals preferred the CS+ over the CS- when both flavours were present in feed rather than water (650 vs. 536 g and 678 vs. 513 g, respectively). No differences were observed between the conditioning effects of the two proteins. In experiment 2, pigs were trained (30 min/day) with a garlic flavour (CS) mixed with 4% PDP in sessions 1, 3, 5 and 7 unflavoured tap water in sessions 2, 4, 6 and 8 (Conditioned group) or with garlic flavour in water in sessions 1, 3, 5 and 7 and 4% PDP without added flavour in sessions 2, 4, 6 and 8 (control group). In subsequent choice tests conditioned pigs consumed more PDP+Garlic than PDP in Tests 1 (550 mL vs. 372 ml, P

A scourge of tropical and subtropical jungles, bloodfeeding terrestrial leeches of Haemadipsidae have long confused systematists and defied sensible biogeographic interpretation. The family Haemadipsidae usually includes problematic taxa that neither fit the typical IndoPacific distribution of the group, nor properly match diagnostic characters used to define the family. Historically, four additional families—Xerobdellidae, Diestecostomatidae Mesobdellidae and Nesophilaemonidae—have occasionally been recognized for New World and European representatives, though agreement on the composition of those families has not been consistent. Here, we expand the phylogenetic sampling of non-IndoPacific (among other) genera to include Meso American Diestecostoma species and Nesophilaemon skottsbergii from the Juan Fernandez Archipelago in order to critically assess prior hypotheses in a molecular phylogenetic analysis of arhynchobdellid leeches. The result, based on nuclear 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA and mitochondrial COI indicates that there are two distantly related lineages of bloodfeeding terrestrial leeches. The otherwise monophyletic family Haemadipsidae is found to exclude species of Xerobdella, Mesobdella and Diestecostoma. Xerobdellidae is formally resurrected to accommodate species of those three genera. Morphological characteristics corroborate the distinction of Haemadipsidae and Xerobdellidae on the basis of sexual and nephridial characters. Idiobdella seychellensis belongs in Haemadipsidae notwithstanding its lacking respiratory auricles. Nesophilaemon skottsbergii too is in Haemadipsidae notwithstanding its geographic proximity to the xerobdellid Mesobdella gemmata. The characters used to define haemadipsoid families are reevaluated. Feeding preferences and biogeographic patterns are also examined.

A remarkable diversity of life history strategies, geographic distributions, and morphological characters provide a rich substrate for investigating the evolutionary relationships of arhynchobdellid leeches. The phylogenetic relationships, using parsimony analysis, of the order Arhynchobdellida were investigated using nuclear 18S and 28S rDNA, mitochondrial 12S rDNA, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequence data, as well as 24 morphological characters. Thirty-nine arhynchobdellid species were selected to represent the seven currently recognized families. Sixteen rhynchobdellid leeches from the families Glossiphoniidae and Piscicolidae were included as outgroup taxa. Analysis of all available data resolved a single most-parsimonious tree. The cladogram conflicted with most of the traditional classification schemes of the Arhynchobdellida. Monophyly of the Erpobdelliformes and Hirudiniformes was supported, whereas the families Haemadipsidae, Haemopidae, and Hirudinidae, as well as the genera Hirudo or Aliolimnatis, were found not to be monophyletic. The results provide insight on the phylogenetic positions for the taxonomically problematic families Americobdellidae and Cylicobdellidae, the genera Semiscolex, Patagoniobdella, and Mesobdella, as well as genera traditionally classified under Hirudinidae. The evolution of dietary and habitat preferences is examined.

Haemadipsidae is a clade of notorious bloodfeeding annelids adapted to tropical and sub-tropical rainforests found throughout the Indo-Pacific. This family traditionally includes duognathous (two-jawed) endemics, each placed in their own genus, from continental and volcanic islands including: Australia, Indonesia, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Seychelles, and South Pacific islands, while trignathous (three-jawed) Tritetrabdella species and the speciose Haemadipsa are exclusive to the Indian subcontinent ranging into east and south-east Asia. One of the more compelling aspects of haemadipsids is their distribution on post-Gondwanan landmasses. In this study, the phylogenetic relationships, taxonomy and biogeographic patterns of Haemadipsidae were examined. Over 5 kb of sequence data from three genes (nuclear 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA and mitochondrial COI) for 37 haemadipsid exemplars, representing 12 of the 15 recognised genera, were analysed under the criteria of maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. The results show that widespread duognathous species form a monophyletic group derived from trignathous ancestry and are sister to a new trignathous clade for Haemadipsidae. This phylogenetic hypothesis rejected Gondwanan vicariance as an explanation for the diversification of haemadipsids. Haemadipsidae is accepted as the formal name for these Indo-Pacific leeches. Whereas the subdivisions Haemadipsinae and Domanibdellinae are clarified, there is a need to establish a new subfamily, Tritetrabdellinae, for the newly identified trignathous clade that is sister to Domanibdellinae. This study provides a basis for continued elucidation of the evolutionary relationships and classification of these terrestrial annelids.

Macrobdella ditetra were found to take blood meals from the salamander Siren intermedia collected from Tuskegee National Forest in Alabama, U.S.A. This is a new host record for M. ditetra, the first record of leech parasitism in this family of salamanders, and only the second article reporting an ectoparasite from this family.

The phylogenetic relationships of Glossiphoniidae, a leech family characterised by its high degree of parental care, were investigated with the combined use of morphological data and three molecular datasets. There was strong support for monophyly of most accepted genera in the group, many of which are consistent with eyespot morphology. The genera Desserobdella Barta & Sawyer, 1990 and Oligobdella Moore, 1918 are suppressed as junior synonyms of Placobdella Blanchard, 1893 and thus recognising each of Placobdella picta (Verrill, 1872) Moore, 1906, Placobdella phalera (Graf, 1899) Moore, 1906, and Placobdella biannulata (Moore, 1900), comb. nov. The species Glossiphonia elegans (Verrill, 1872) Castle, 1900 and Helobdella modesta (Verrill, 1872), comb. nov. are resurrected for the North American counterparts to European non-sanguivorous species. Glossphonia baicalensis (Stschegolew, 1922), comb. nov. is removed from the genus Torix Blanchard 1898 and Alboglossiphonia quadrata (Moore, 1949) Sawyer, 1986 is removed from the genus Hemiclepsis Vejdovsky, 1884. The biogeographic implications of the phylogenetic hypothesis are evaluated in the context of what is already known for vertebrate hosts and Tertiary continental arrangements.

Twelve species of leeches were collected from Reserva Nacional Yerba Loca, near Santiago, IX Region de la Araucania and X Region de los Lagos, Chile. Included were representatives of the unusual Chilean taxa Americobdella valdiviana, Mesobdella gemmata, and two species of Patagoniobdella, each of whose phylogenetic placement and classification has been prob- lematic. Eight species of Glossiphoniidae were found, including two new species in the genus Helobdella. Helobdella wodzickiorum , n.sp. possesses a large, prominent atrium and male sperm ducts extending to somite XXIII, whereas Helobdella pichipanan, n.sp. has micro- morphic male genitalia, a weakly developed atrium, and ejaculatory ducts that extend only to XII/XIII. The phylogenetic positions of A. valdiviana, M. gemmata, and Patagoniobdella spe- cies are discussed.

Recent cave diving explorations in Cenote Crustacea have led to discoveries of several undescribed annelids inhabiting sediments that lie within the halocline and marine layers. Taxonomic and genetic evaluations support their placement within Acrocirridae and Flabelligeridae, establishing new records from anchialine systems for these families. This study highlights the need for continued exploration and investigations of these mysterious labyrinths.