Carybdea branchi, sp. nov., a new box jellyfish (Cnidaria: Cubozoa) from South Africa.

A common and conspicuous member of the medusan fauna of South Africa has been the subject of repeated taxonomic confusion. After having been mistakenly identified by earlier workers as either Carybdea alata or Tamoya haplonema, this large and colourful carybdeid is described herein as Carybdea branchi, sp. nov. It is distinguished from its congeners on numerous characters: body to about 8cm in life, densely scattered with nematocyst warts over the whole body and abaxial keels of the pedalia; a bulge or lateral thorn on the pedalial canal bend; with 2 dendritic velarial canals per octant, highly diverticulated; with a long manubrium; with greatly bushy epaulette-like phacellae, comprising 20 or more roots tightly clustered; with well developed mesenteries; and with conspicuous brownish pigmented areas over the proximal and distal regions of the pedalia and over the phacellae. A comparative table of the primary diagnostic characters of species in the genus Carybdea is given

A modern description of Crambionella stuhlmanni (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae) from St. Lucia Estuary, South Africa

A new record of Crambionella stuhlmanni is reported from the east coast of South Africa. The material is described using quantitative morphological data, and mitochondrial (CO1) and nuclear (ITS-1) sequence data. The species can be diagnosed by a combination of morphological features including the presence of conical projections on velar lappets, the absence of orbicular appendages among mouthlets and the short length of the terminal club on the oral arm. Mitochondrial sequence data unambiguously delineate C. stuhlmanni as a separate species from C. orsini, and phylogenetic analyses support its placement within the monophyletic genus, Crambionell

A New Dolphin Species, the Burrunan Dolphin Tursiops australis sp. nov., Endemic to Southern Australian Coastal Waters

Small coastal dolphins endemic to south-eastern Australia have variously been assigned to described species Tursiops truncatus, T. aduncus or T. maugeanus; however the specific affinities of these animals is controversial and have recently been questioned. Historically ‘the southern Australian Tursiops’ was identified as unique and was formally named Tursiops maugeanus but was later synonymised with T. truncatus. Morphologically, these coastal dolphins share some characters with both aforementioned recognised Tursiops species, but they also possess unique characters not found in either. Recent mtDNA and microsatellite genetic evidence indicates deep evolutionary divergence between this dolphin and the two currently recognised Tursiops species. However, in accordance with the recommendations of the Workshop on Cetacean Systematics, and the Unified Species Concept the use of molecular evidence alone is inadequate for describing new species. Here we describe the macro-morphological, colouration and cranial characters of these animals, assess the available and new genetic data, and conclude that multiple lines of evidence clearly indicate a new species of dolphin. We demonstrate that the syntype material of T. maugeanus comprises two different species, one of which is the historical ‘southern form of Tursiops’ most similar to T. truncatus, and the other is representative of the new species and requires formal classification. These dolphins are here described as Tursiops australis sp. nov., with the common name of ‘Burrunan Dolphin’ following Australian aboriginal narrative. The recognition of T. australis sp. nov. is particularly significant given the endemism of this new species to a small geographic region of southern and south-eastern Australia, where only two small resident populations in close proximity to a major urban and agricultural centre are known, giving them a high conservation value and making them susceptible to numerous anthropogenic threats

International genome-wide meta-analysis identifies new primary biliary cirrhosis risk loci and targetable pathogenic pathways.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a classical autoimmune liver disease for which effective immunomodulatory therapy is lacking. Here we perform meta-analyses of discovery data sets from genome-wide association studies of European subjects (n=2,764 cases and 10,475 controls) followed by validation genotyping in an independent cohort (n=3,716 cases and 4,261 controls). We discover and validate six previously unknown risk loci for PBC (Pcombined<5 × 10(-8)) and used pathway analysis to identify JAK-STAT/IL12/IL27 signalling and cytokine-cytokine pathways, for which relevant therapies exist

Spectacularia vanoppenae gen. et sp. Nov, a new hydromedusa (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Dipleurosomatidae) from the Great Barrier Reef

A new genus and species of Hydromedusae is described from the waters off North Queensland. It is placed in the Dipleurosomatidae because of its irregularly branched radial canals, gonads on the radial canals separated from the stomach, hollow marginal tentacles and lack of cirri or cordyli. It differs from all other medusae in its two rows of small, simple, wart-like gonadal papillae. It differs from the other dipleurosomatids in its unique combination of other characters, namely, 5-6 radial canals leaving the stomach, branching dichotomously an irregular number of times; about half as many tentacles as canal branches reaching ring canal, not in correspondence with canal branches; with about 8 globular or heart-shaped stalked clubs between successive tentacles; and lacking ocelli. This report represents the first record of the Dipleurosomatidae in Australian waters

Nematocysts of the Cubozoa

Nematocysts (stinging organelles) are an important part of cnidarian identification, but the cnidomes of many species remain poorly known because of identification difficulties and confusing nomenclature. Currently, the cnidomes of 20 cubozoan species are documented in whole or in part (including four undescribed species and five newly described species); 18 of these are re-examined in detail, and the cnidomes of 13 species are newly presented. Type material was used for these studies where possible. A new category of nematocyst is designated, namely ‘p-rhopaloid’, characterized by having a v-shaped notch in the undischarged shaft, as in p-mastigophores, but having a lobed discharged shaft, as in rhopaloids; this type of nematocyst is found in both the Carybdeida and Chirodropida. Measurements, shape descriptions, and photographs are presented for all cnidomes studied. Also presented are a glossary to nematocyst terminology, descriptive sections on nematocyst nomenclature and preparation, and a key to the nematocysts of the Cubozoa. Special remarks sections for taxonomists and forensic specialists are given, along with a summary of phylogenetic patterns. This catalogue will be useful to taxonomists, envenomation physicians, and toxinologists, as well as anyone wishing to identify cubozoan specimens or stings

Nematocysts of the Cubozoa

Nematocysts (stinging organelles) are an important part of cnidarian identification, but the cnidomes of many species remain poorly known because of identification difficulties and confusing nomenclature. Currently, the cnidomes of 20 cubozoan species are documented in whole or in part (including four undescribed species and five newly described species); 18 of these are re-examined in detail, and the cnidomes of 13 species are newly presented. Type material was used for these studies where possible. A new category of nematocyst is designated, namely ‘p-rhopaloid’, characterized by having a v-shaped notch in the undischarged shaft, as in p-mastigophores, but having a lobed discharged shaft, as in rhopaloids; this type of nematocyst is found in both the Carybdeida and Chirodropida. Measurements, shape descriptions, and photographs are presented for all cnidomes studied. Also presented are a glossary to nematocyst terminology, descriptive sections on nematocyst nomenclature and preparation, and a key to the nematocysts of the Cubozoa. Special remarks sections for taxonomists and forensic specialists are given, along with a summary of phylogenetic patterns. This catalogue will be useful to taxonomists, envenomation physicians, and toxinologists, as well as anyone wishing to identify cubozoan specimens or stings

Carybdea alata auct. and Manokia stiasnyi, reclassification to a new family with description of a new genus and two new species

The species recognition criteria have been confused for cubomedusae, leading to underestimates of biodiversity and nomenclatural errors in the group. At least nine different species have been described with crescentic gastric phacellae, T-shaped rhopaliar niche ostia, and/or 3 velarial canals per octant; all were subsequently included in the synonymy of the oldest name, Carybdea alata, which lacks both a type specimen and an unambiguous identity. To stabilize the nomenclature of the group, the new genusAlatina is proposed based on a common form for which type material and DNA sequences are available. Two species from northern Australia are herein described for the genus. The other nine species previously associated with the name Carybdea alata are herein reevaluated and determinations are made as to their validity. The validity of another species, Manokia stiasnyi, has been questioned, and was not previously appreciated as belonging to this morpho group. Reexamination of the holotype confirms that the taxon is distinct, and allied to Alatina; a redescription is provided. A new family, Alatinidae, is proposed to accommodate Alatina and Manokia. The family Carybdeidae and the genus Carybdea are redefined

Aldersladia magnificus: a new genus and species of hydromedusa (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Leptomedusae: Aequoreidae) from tropical and subtropical Australia

A new genus and species of acquoreid hydromedusa is reported from the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia. It differs from other genera in the family in having one or more conspicuous, solid, gelatinous papillae underlying the radial canals and gonads