Latest Articles from ZooKeys Latest 5 Articles from ZooKeys https://zookeys.pensoft.net/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 15:34:15 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://zookeys.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from ZooKeys https://zookeys.pensoft.net/ A new millipede-parasitizing horsehair worm, Gordius chiashanus sp. nov., at medium altitudes in Taiwan (Nematomorpha, Gordiida) https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/49100/ ZooKeys 941: 25-48

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.941.49100

Authors: Ming-Chung Chiu, Chin-Gi Huang, Wen-Jer Wu, Zhao-Hui Lin, Hsuan-Wien Chen, Shiuh-Feng Shiao

Abstract: Gordius chiashanus sp. nov., a newly described horsehair worm that parasitizes the Spirobolus millipede, is one of the three described horsehair worm species in Taiwan. It is morphologically similar to G. helveticus Schmidt-Rhaesa, 2010 because of the progressively broadening distribution of bristles concentrated on the male tail lobes, but it is distinguishable from G. helveticus because of the stout bristles on the mid-body. In addition, a vertical white stripe on the anterior ventral side and areoles on the inside wall of the cloacal opening are rarely mentioned in other Gordius species. Free-living adults emerged and mated on wet soil under the forest canopy in the winter (late November to early February) at medium altitudes (1100–1700 m). Mucus-like structure covering on the body surface, which creates a rainbow-like reflection, might endow the worm with high tolerance to dehydration. Although Gordius chiashanus sp. nov. seems to be more adaptive to the terrestrial environment than other horsehair worm species, cysts putatively identified as belonging to this hairworm species found in the aquatic paratenic host, Ephemera orientalis McLachlan, 1875, suggest the life cycle of Gordius chiashanus sp. nov. could involve water and land. The free-living adults emerged from the definitive hosts might reproduce in the terrestrial environment or enter an aquatic habitat by moving or being washed away by heavy rain instead of manipulating the behavior of their terrestrial definitive hosts.

HTML

XML

PDF

]]>
Research Article Tue, 16 Jun 2020 17:26:09 +0300
New hairworm (Nematomorpha, Gordiida) species described from the Arizona Madrean Sky Islands https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/22798/ ZooKeys 733: 131-145

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.733.22798

Authors: Rachel J. Swanteson-Franz, Destinie A. Marquez, Craig I. Goldstein, Andreas Schmidt-Rhaesa, Matthew G. Bolek, Ben Hanelt

Abstract: Gordiids, or freshwater hairworms, are members of the phylum Nematomorpha that use terrestrial definitive hosts (arthropods) and live as adults in rivers, lakes, or streams. The genus Paragordius consists of 18 species, one of which was described from the Nearctic in 1851. More than 150 years later, we are describing a second Paragordius species from a unique habitat within the Nearctic; the Madrean Sky Island complex. The Madrean Sky Islands are a series of isolated high mountains in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States (Arizona and New Mexico), and are well known for their high diversity and endemicity. The new species is described based on both molecular data (COI barcoding) and morphological characters of the eggs, larvae, cysts, and adults. Adult females have unique small oblong mounds present on the interior of the trifurcating lobes with randomly dispersed long hairs extending from the furrows between the mounds. Marked genetic differences support observed morphological differences. This species represents the second new hairworm to be described from the Madrean Sky Islands, and it may represent the first endemic hairworm from this biodiversity hotspot.

HTML

XML

PDF

]]>
Research Article Thu, 1 Feb 2018 03:28:24 +0200
A new orthopteran-parasitizing horsehair worm, Acutogordius taiwanensis sp. n., with a redescription of Chordodes formosanus and novel host records from Taiwan (Nematomorpha, Gordiida) https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/12673/ ZooKeys 683: 1-23

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.683.12673

Authors: Ming-Chung Chiu, Chin-Gi Huang, Wen-Jer Wu, Shiuh-Feng Shiao

Abstract: A description of a new species of horsehair worm, Acutogordius taiwanensis sp. n., a redescription of Chordodes formosanus, and novel host records for the latter are provided. Acutogordius taiwanensis sp. n. is morphologically similar to A. protectus with moderately flat areoles on its tail tips, but is distinguishable by small mid-body ornamentations. Despite the distinct differences in the post-cloacal crescents between 14 male samples, their conspecific status, along with that of nine female samples, was upheld by a phylogenetic comparison of partial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences. Chordodes formosanus is another common horsehair worm species in Taiwan, which was previously believed to specifically parasitize Hierodula mantids. However, in this study, five C. formosanus were observed emerging from an Acromantis mantid, and two long-horned grasshopper hosts (Leptoteratura sp. and Holochlora japonica). These five worms showed high degrees of similarity in COI sequences and morphology, but one of these individuals bore abnormal crowned areoles, which has never been observed in C. formosanus, and may be attributed to the incomplete development of this particular individual.

HTML

XML

PDF

]]>
Research Article Thu, 6 Jul 2017 04:36:11 +0300
First report of the Gondwana genus Beatogordius from India, with further records of two Chordodes species (Gordiida, Nematomorpha) https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/10506/ ZooKeys 643: 53-61

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.643.10506

Authors: Arun K. Yadav, Andreas Schmidt-Rhaesa, Limatemjen

Abstract: Three horsehair worms (Nematomorpha) are recorded from Nagaland, India. The first species is Chordodes combiareolatus, which was recently described from Nagaland. The second is Chordodes cf. furnessi, earlier reported from Meghalaya, and some new observations are added. The third is a new species, described as Beatogordius nagalandis sp. n. This is the first report of the genus Beatogordius in India and this observation fits well into the Gondwana distribution of the genus. The species is quite similar to B. chinensis, reported from South China.

HTML

XML

PDF

]]>
Research Article Thu, 5 Jan 2017 02:23:28 +0200
Chordodes ferox, a new record of horsehair worms (Nematomorpha, Gordiida) from South Africa https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/6810/ ZooKeys 566: 1-11

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.566.6810

Authors: Andreas Schmidt-Rhaesa, Renzo Perissinotto

Abstract: Three females and one male specimen of a previously unconfirmed species of horsehair worms (Nematomorpha) from South Africa are described using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The females correspond to the description of Chordodes ferox Camerano, 1897, a species previously described from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa) and an adjacent, not further specified region of the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). Characteristic is the presence of enlarged and elevated simple areoles around the base of a thorn areole, in combination with further cuticular characters. This is the latest of a total of six species of horsehair worms reported from South Africa so far. Two species of praying mantids, Polyspilota aeruginosa (Goeze, 1778) and Sphodromantis gastrica Stål, 1858, have been identified as hosts of C. ferox, while its distribution range in the region and the period of adult emergence from the host remain largely unknown.

HTML

XML

PDF

]]>
Research Article Thu, 18 Feb 2016 03:42:17 +0200