Persica qeshmensis gen. nov. sp. nov from the Persian Gulf (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida: Acotylea), with remarks on reproductive structures

A new genus of acotylean polyclad, Persica qeshmensis gen. nov. sp. nov. (Acotylea, Pleioplanidae), was collected from intertidal rocky shores of the Northern Persian Gulf, Iran. The genus Persica is established on the presence of small tentacles; tentacular and cerebral eyes; spermiducal bulbs; true seminal vesicle; prostatic vesicle of atomata-type; muscular coiled ejaculatory duct, provided with a stylet, absence of a vagina bulbosa or Lang's vesicle. Persica qeshmensis is characterised by a sandy beige to light brown background colour, with pale brown microdots, light grey ventral body surface, coiled ejaculatory duct embedded in parenchymatous cell mass, elongated sigmoid stylet, a well-developed penis sheath located in a small male atrium, and with a non-muscular blind chamber extending anteriad from the vagina to the level of the genital sucker.Fil: Maghsoudlou, Abdolvahab . University of Teheran. College of Science; IránFil: Bulnes, Verónica Natalia. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnológico Bahia Blanca. Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas y Biomedicas del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Rahimian, Hassan . University of Teheran. College of Science; Irá

Anti-microfouling Activity of Glycomyces sediminimaris UTMC 2460 on Dominant Fouling Bacteria of Iran Marine Habitats

Discovery of environmentally safe anti-fouling agent is currently of considerable interest, due to the continuous impact of biofoulers on the marine habitats and the adverse effects of biocides on the environment. This study reports the anti-adhesion effect of marine living Actinobacteria against fouling strains isolated from submerged panels in marine environments of Iran. The extract of Glycomyces sediminimaris UTMC 2460 affected the biofilm formation of Kocuria sp. and Mesorhizobium sp., as the dominant fouling agents in this ecosystem, up to 93.2% and 71.4%, respectively. The metabolic activity of the fouler bacteria was reduced by the extract up to 17 and 9%, respectively. This indicated the bactericidal potency of the extract on cells in the biofilm state that enables the compound to be effective even once the biofilms are established in addition to the inhibition of biofilm initiation. Moreover, extra polymeric substance (EPS) production by fouling bacteria was reduced by 60–70%. The absence of activities against fouling bacteria in suspension and also the absence of toxic effect on Artemia salina showed the harmless ecological effect of the anti-microfouling extract on the prokaryotic and eukaryotic microflora of the studied Iran marine ecosystem. Metabolic profiling of G. sediminimaris UTMC 2460 revealed the presence of compounds with molecular formulae matching those of known anti-fouling diketopiperazines as major components of the extract. These results suggest that the extract of Glycomyces sediminimaris UTMC 2460 could be used as a potentially eco-friendly viable candidate in comparison to the synthetic common commercial anti-microfouling material to prevent the fouling process in marine habitats of Iran

Three dispersal routes out of Africa: A puzzling biogeographical history in freshwater planarians

Aim Freshwater planarians may have a wide geographical range despite their assumed low vagility. Found across four continents, Dugesia may have either an ancient origin on a large palaeo landmass, followed by colonisation in different regions before continental fragmentation, or a more recent origin and subsequent transoceanic dispersal. We seek to resolve between these two hypotheses. Location Africa, Eurasia and Australasia. Taxon Genus Dugesia (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Dugesiidae). Methods We used data from the sequencing of six gene fragments and comprehensive taxonomic sampling of Dugesia from across its distribution range to reconstruct the phylogeny of this genus using maximum likelihood and bayesian inference methods. We conducted two phylogenetic dating analyses using Platyhelminthes fossils and palaeogeological events. Basing on the time-calibrated molecular phylogenetic framework we evaluated the contribution of vicariance and dispersal to the biogeographical evolution of Dugesia. By reconstructing the ancestral areas and present-day potential distribution using BioGeoBEARS and niche modelling, we elucidated the biogeographical history of the genus. Results The present-day distribution of Dugesia is a result of different vicariance and dispersal events. However, we also found evidence of transoceanic dispersal. Consistent with previous hypotheses, Dugesia dates to the Upper Jurassic in the Afro-Malagasy Gondwana region. We unveiled a novel biogeographical scenario for the genus, involving multiple events of colonisation in Eurasia from continental Africa via at least three dispersal routes. Main conclusions Dugesia is an ancient genus having reached its present distribution through a complex history of dispersal and vicariant events following its origin in southern Gondwana. Despite the low vagility of Dugesia, we found evidence of their overseas dispersal

Pleonexes Spence Bate, 1857 (Amphipoda: Ampithoidae) in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman

Momtazi, Farzaneh, Maghsoudlou, Abdolvahab (2020): Pleonexes Spence Bate, 1857 (Amphipoda: Ampithoidae) in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Zootaxa 4895 (3): 431-439, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4895.3.

Tytthosoceros lizardensis Newman & Cannon 1996

Tytthosoceros lizardensis Newman & Cannon, 1996 (Figures 8–9) Type locality. Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef- Australia. Other localities. Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, South Africa (Newman & Cannon 2005) and Iran (Khalili et al. 2009). Location in Iran. Specimens were collected from two intertidal localities of Qeshm Island (Fig. 1 stations 33 and 31). Both stations have sandy-rocky substrate with numerous small and large intertidal pools covered in red and brown algae, sponges and tunicates (Table 1). Material examined. Eight individuals were examined: three mature specimens as ZUTC platy 1269 - 71 HS; five specimens as ZUTC platy 1272 S (Table 1). The following description is based on observation from ZUTC platy 1269, unless otherwise stated. Description. External morphology. Body soft and delicate, long and oval, slightly tapered posteriorly and raised medially (Figs. 8 A, C). The average size of the fixed specimens is 22 × 13 mm, the largest and smallest specimens 30 × 1.7 and 16 × 10, respectively. Dorsal background darker on the raised middle region, with transverse streaks medially and laterally, mottled with a mixture of chocolate brown, reddish brown or light brown and cream. Body margin with outer narrow whitish grey band and inner black band, a light beige sub-marginal band may be visible (Fig. 8 A), body margin broken at the edge with short white transverse streaks of microdots. Pseudotentacles small, ear- like, with color pattern similar to the dorsal body, with white tips (Figs. 8 A, B); dorsal tentacular eyes scattered, with 33–37 eye spots; cerebral eyes horseshoe shaped, containing 55 to 90 ocelli on a whitish grey background. Ventral surface transparent cream, with a grey and black margin, internal structures such as uterus, vasa deferentia, genital pores and pharynx visible from the ventral surface. Pharynx 3.9 mm long, with five to six pairs of simple folds; mouth central (Fig. 8 D); main intestine extended posteriorly with lateral branches in histological sections (Figs. 8 D, 9 E). One male gonopore located posterior to the pharynx, female pore 800 µm posterior to the male pore. Sucker located ventrally, about 3.5 mm posterior to the female pore, 272 µm long (Figs. 8 D, 9 E). Dorsal epidermis with rhabdites, ventral epidermis without (Fig. 9 D). Reproductive structures. Male reproductive system (Figs. 9 A–C, E) with true seminal vesicle. Muscular seminal vesicle, 44 µm thick, oblong, 390 µm long × 241 µm wide (Figs. 8 B–C, 9 E). Prostatic vesicle (Figs. 9 A, E) small, oval, 198 µm × 102 µm, somewhat muscular, 21 µm thick, slightly oriented postero-dorsally, prostatic duct joints ejaculatory duct in the middle of the penis (Fig. 9 E); penis stylet 134 µm × 61 µm, stylet length to width ratio 1: 2.1; male atrium ciliated, wide (120 µm) and shallow (90 µm) (Figs. 9 B, E). Vas deferens forming a network of thin tubes (Fig. 8 D), testes scattered ventrally throughout the body (Figs. 9 D, E). Female system (Figs. 9 B, C, E) with deep and ciliated atrium; cement glands large; vagina thick and muscular; oviduct full of eggs (Figs. 9 B, C, E); female gonopore round, 230 µm in diameter (Figs. 9 B, C, E); ovaries distributed dorsally (Fig. 9 D). Remarks. The genus Tytthosoceros belongs to the family Pseuodocerotidae, erected by Newman and Cannon (1996) based on specimens from the Central and Eastern Indo-Pacific (the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines). Most species of the family occur in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo- Pacific region (Hyman 1954). So far, three species have been assigned to the genus Tytthosoceros: T. inca Baeza, Véliz, Pardo, Lohrmann and Guisado, 1997; T. lizardensis Newman & Cannon, 1996; T. nocturnus Newman & Cannon, 1996. Based on color and color patterns for pseudocerotids (Newman & Cannon 1996), T. lizardensis belongs to the fourth group, whichis characterized by spots, dots, and mottling by spots (Newman & Cannon 1994). With regard to the overall body shape, color patterns and anatomy of male reproductive system, our observations agree well with descriptions of Newman and Cannon (1996 a) and Khalili et al. (2009). The distribution of T. lizardensis is assumed to be rare on the reef crest and subtidal areas, on the other hand it is supposed to be abundant on intertidal areas (Newman & Cannon 1996). Khalili et al. (2009) have already reported the presence of T. lizardensis in the Iranian waters of the Persian Gulf (Fig. 1, stations 31 and 33). Six of the 38 stations (Fig. 1, stations 30–35) studied here are same those of Khalili et al. (2009) where we again found T. lizardensis in two of the six stations (Fig. 1, stations 31 and 33). Consequently, it’s reasonable to suppose that the distribution of this species on the southern coasts of Iran (the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman), for some reasons, is limited to the eastern side of Qeshm Island (Persian Gulf, Fig. 1, stations 31 and 33). In terms of the SACFOR abundance scale for animals greater than 15 cm (Connor et al. 1997), this species was distributed frequently on the aforementioned Island. Khalili et al. (2009) found their specimens associated with orange sponge (Cliona vastifica); we collected our specimens under rocks and in tidal pools, mostly covered with red algae (Solieria) and the sponge, Gelliodes carnosa (Fig. 10 D).Published as part of Maghsoudlou, Abdolvahab & Rahimian, Hassan, 2014, Contribution to the knowledge of cotylean flatworms (Turbellaria, Polycladida) from Iranian coasts: Introducing a new species, with remarks on new records, pp. 325-342 in Zootaxa 3860 (4) on pages 336-340, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3860.4.2, http://zenodo.org/record/24970

Discocelis hollemani Maghsoudlou & Rahimian, 2013, sp. nov.

Discocelis hollemani sp. nov. (Figures. 7–11) Material examined and locality. Holotype: one mature specimen with the anterior half mounted on glass slide and the posterior half, containing the copulatory apparatus, as series of sagittal sections (Six slides, ZUTC Platy. 1249). Paratypes: three mature sectioned specimens with the anterior half of each mounted on a microscope slide and the posterior half of each, containing the copulatory apparatus, as series of sagittal sections (six slides per specimen) (ZUTC Platy.1250, 1251, 1252); one mature specimen cleared and stained with alum carmin (ZUTC Platy. 1253); two mature specimens preserved in ETOH 70 % (ZUTC Platy. 1254). Etymology. The specific epithet is dedicated to Prof. John Holleman, who has been working extensively of Acotylean and Cotylean polyclads and was very helpful during the course of the present study. Type locality. All specimens were found together, in March 2011, under a rock, during the low tide, from the rocky shores of Chapahn station, the Persian Gulf, 28 ° 20´47 ʺ N, 51 ° 10´59.8 ʺ E (Fig. 1, station 2). Description. External morphology. Fixed specimens measured from 3.5 × 2 cm in the holotype, to 4 × 2.2 (SD± 0.54 × 0.25) cm in the paratype series (n= 7); body broadly oval, thick and with a fleshy consistency. Dorsal surface of living worms light yellowish-brown to wheaten, without any spots, shading to brown mid-dorsally, with translucent margins (Fig. 7 A); ventral surface beige in the holotype (Fig. 7 B), mistyrose in some paratype individuals, fading towards the margin and becoming light pink around the common gonopore (Fig. 7 C). Orange uterus prominent, appearing as a cluster round the pharynx (Fig. 7 B, in holotype and Figs, 7 C–D in paratypes). No tentacle present. Tentacular eyes visible against a white background (Fig. 7 A), as two converge half-crescentic clusters, with 25–27 eyespots in each cluster (Fig. 8 B), each 0.4 mm long, 1.2 mm apart; cerebral eyes embedded in the epidermis, and more difficult to observe in the living animal, but readily observable in a cleared paratype specimen (ZUTC platy 1253; Fig. 7 D), two clusters each subdivided into anterior and posterior groups in relation to the cerebral organ: Anterior group extend to the length half of the distance between the two tentacular eyes (0.6mm), with 20–25 eyespots in each cluster; posterior group with 8–10 eyespots in each cluster; a band of small unequal eyes, in four to five rows, about 0.4 mm thick, extend on the margin to near the posterior end of pharynx (Fig. 8 A). Digestive system: Ruffled pharynx with 12 to 13 pairs of folds, situated in the central part of the body, become somewhat larger posteriorly, begins immediately posterior to the cerebral eye clusters, 5 mm from the anterior end and 12.8 mm from posterior end of the body; pharynx 9.8 mm long, about one-third of the body length, width of pharynx 2.5 mm at the midpoint, the last posterior fold of the pharynx extends posterio-ventrally to the male complex; mouth located at the posterior end of the pharyngeal cavity, 13.3 mm from posterior end, immediately behind the mouth is the massive male complex (Figs. 7 B, 8 A). Epidermis and body wall: Ventral body wall thickness about 43 µm at the anterior region (Fig. 9 A), 28 µm around the male complex, and becomes thicker around the female system (86 µm) (Fig. 9 C); epidermis without rhabdites, composed of three layers: a longitudinal muscle layer (about 10 µm), a well-developed layer of mixed circular and diagonal muscle fibers (about 23 µm), and the innermost longitudinal muscular fibers merging with diagonal ones (11 µm). Beneath the muscular layer, in the parenchyma, distinct basophil glandular cells are distributed among numerous transverse muscle fibers (Fig. 9 A). Dorsal body wall 37 µm thick, with ciliated epidermis, intra-epithelial nuclei and numerous rhabdites; body wall musculature consisting of a longitudinal layer (8 µm), and a combination of circular and diagonal muscle fibers (24 µm) (Fig. 9 B). Male copulatory system: The male copulatory apparatus situated immediately behind the pharynx (Figs. 7 B, 8 A), the spermiducal vesicle was not seen. The male atrium is bi-lobed, round in ventral view, containing a muscular lobed penis and prostatoid organs (Fig. 8 A). In sagittal views, the male atrium is long, somewhat bowshaped, without muscular folds, with two lobes: One anterior lobe, somehow wide, descending dorsally below the pharynx, has large prostatoid organs on dorso-ventral sides of the anterior tip (Figs. 10 A and 11 A), the first lobe of the male atrium does not reach the mouth dorsally in sagittal views (Figs. 10 A, B); a longer posterior lobe, with small prostatoid organs, in two or three layers, encircle the lobe (Figs. 10 A, and 11 C). Behind the penis the male atrium opens by a slanting route to the common gonopore. The distance between the anterior lobe and the common gonopore is 2.2 mm. Prostatoids are arranged distally in a crescent cluster on penis lobes, occur in two distinct sizes and contents: the large prostatoids of dorso-lateral sides of the anterior lobe having a faintly eosinophilic content, average size about 75 × 48 µm (Fig. 10 A); the smaller prostatoids, especially those distributed distally on posterior lobe, are darker having a basophilic content (Fig. 10 B). Tear-shaped prostatoid organs filled with fine darkly staining matrix and nuclei scattered through the matrix, surrounded with muscle fibers (Fig. 9 D), and with narrow distal ends pass through the epithelium and empty into the male atrium; numerous extra vesicular glands are scattered around the prostatoid organs. Vasa deferentia visible in ventral view, parallel posterior to the pharynx, extending anteriorly, up to the level of the posterior third of the pharynx, then recurrent posteriorly and dorsally to connect to the male atrium (Figs. 7 B, 8 A). In sagittal view, the vas deferens runs posteriorly narrowing constantly, eventually entering the ejaculatory duct, in the middle of lobed penis (Fig. 10 A); without spermiducal vesicle. The posterior free end of penis devoid of prostatoids centrally. (Figs. 10 A and 11 C); the male atrium, near its posterior end, opens into 0.1 mm wide common gonopore. The common genital atrium located at the anterior end of the posterior third of the body. Female reproductive apparatus. The female reproductive apparatus is located posterior to the male system, with a horseshoe-shaped Lang’s vesicle (Fig. 8 A). The female gonopore narrows before opening into a common genital atrium, from here the female apparatus extends posteriorly in the form of the vagina externa, which ascends dorsally, while becomes wider before it turns to the vagina media, which is surrounded by abundant eosinophilic cement glands. The vagina media ascends in the form of a dorso-anteriorly running curve to form vagina interna (Figs. 10 A, B & 11 D). The vagina interna after a short distance, with a gentle descending slope ventrally receives the common oviduct (Figs. 10 A, 11 D). Regrettably, in the holotype specimen, posterior parts of the female reproductive system include the Lang's vesicle and its duct was damaged during sectioning. Therefore observations of these parts are based on the paratype specimens: The vagina interna, then continues as the duct of Lang’s vesicle which descends ventrally, then enters directly into Lang's vesicle. Lang's vesicle has two anterior and one posterior horn, 1.7mm from the common gonopore, is surrounded by abundant cement glands. The inner wall of the vagina is lined with tall and narrow ciliated epithelial cells undrlain by muscle fibers. Cuboidal epithelium supported by muscle fibers covers the duct of Lang’s vesicle. The Lang's vesicle surrounded by a thin layer of muscle fibers (Fig. 10 A). In the ventral view of paratype cleared specimen, radiating cement glands and the horseshoe-shaped Lang's vesicle are visible behind the common gonopore (Fig. 7 D). Differential diagnosis. Based on different characteristics and the character states listed in Table 1 and Figure 12, the described species differs from all other congeners except D. fulva and D. persica sp. nov. in terms of color patterns. As the species described here lacks distinct color pattern (Fig. 7 A), while all the other Discocelis species have a color pattern of pale reddish, pale brown, vinaceous cinnamon or fawn background with numerous black or dark brown spots (Beveridge 2000; Yeri & Kaburaki 1918). Furthermore, the species presented here is distinguished (details of differences presented in table 1) from D. tigrina in terms of: body shape, distance between the tentacular eye clusters, cerebral eyes patterns, the extent of the marginal eyes, the location of the mouth, the types of prostatoids and the morphology of the vagina. In our second species body is broadly oval, not tapering posteriorly; the tentacular eyes clusters 1.2 mm apart; the cerebral eyes form two clusters each subdivided into anterior and posterior groups; the marginal eyes extend near to posterior end of body; the mouth is located at posterior end of pharynx; two different types of prostatoids exist in terms of size and content; finally the vagina has two dorsal and ventral curves. D. tigrina on the other hand has an oval body tapered posteriorly; the tentacular eyes 2 mm apart; the cerebral eyes form two single elongate clusters; the marginal eyes as a thin band extend up to cerebral organ; the mouth is located in the middle of pharynx; one type, equal in size, of prostatoid exists; and finally vagina has one dorsal and one ventral curve. The species introduced here differs from D. japonica in terms of: body shape, number of tentacular eyes, distance between tentacular clusters, numbers of post cerebral eyes, extent of the marginal eyes, the location of the mouth, the structure of the male atrium, and the types of prostatoids and the morphology of vagina. In D. japonica: body is tapered posteriorly; tentacular eyes numbered 15–20 in each cluster, 2 mm apart; the posterior cerebral eyes have 15– 16 eyespots; marginal eyes extend up to cerebral organ; the mouth is located in the middle of pharynx; the male atrium has numerous villus-like projections, one type of prostatoid exists; the vagina has one dorsal and ventral curve. Except the similar character states those mentioned above for D. hollemani sp. nov. this new species has: 25–27 tentacular eyes; 8–10 eyespots in its post cerebral group and a male atrium with two distinct lobes. D. hollemani is different from D. fulva in terms of: cerebral eyes patterns, extent of the marginal eyes, the location of the mouth, the structure of the male atrium, the distribution of prostatoid organs on wall of the male atrium, the types of prostatoids and finally the morphology of the vagina. In D. fulva: cerebral eyes form two single elongate clusters; the marginal eyes extend up to the cerebral organ; the mouth is located in the middle of pharynx; the male atrium has numerous villus-like projections; prostatoids are scattered on the male atrium, posterior lobe's branch of the male atrium, dorsal to vagina, has no prostatoid organs; two different sizes of prostatoids exist; the vagina has one dorsal and ventral curve. In species describe here: cerebral eyes form two clusters each subdivided into anterior and posterior groups; the marginal eyes extend near to the posterior end of the body; the mouth is located at posterior end of the pharynx; two different types of prostatoids in terms of size and content present; prostatoids encircle the posterior lobe of the male atrium; the vagina has two dorsal and ventral curves. D. hollemani differs from D. pusilla, with regard to: the number of post cerebral eyes (numbered 1–2 in D. pusilla and 8–10 in D. hollemani); the extent of the marginal eyes (extend to the level of cerebral organs in D. pusilla), and the structure of the male atrium (the male atrium has numerous villus- like projections in D. pusilla), the distribution of prostatoids on the male atrium wall (there is few prostatoids in D. pusilla, while prostatoids are numerous in our species); and the morphology of the vagina (with one dorsal and ventral curve in D. Pusilla). The species described here also differs from D. parvimaculata in: number of cerebral eyes in anterior and posterior groups (anterior groups have 41–65 eyespots, posterior groups have 5–20 eyespots for D. parvimaculata against 20–25 anterior eyespots and 8–10 posterior eyespots for D. hollemani); the shape of the male atrium (in ventral view: three distinct lobes exist in D. parvimaculata, while there are two lobes in the species described here); the structure of the male atrium (in sagittal views, there are four distinct lobes in D. parvimaculata, while D. hollemani has two lobes in the male atrium); the distribution of prostatoids on the anterior lob of the male atrium (the tip of the anterior lobe has large prostatoid organs on dorso-ventral sides in D. hollemani, while the anterior tip of the male atrium in D. parvimaculata has not prostatoids on ventral side; and the morphology of the vagina which has one dorsal and ventral curve in D. parvimaculata and two dorsal and ventral curves in D. hollemani. Finally, D. australis which its taxonomic position will be discussed later with: muscular seminal vesicle, cerebral eyes form single elongate groups, marginal eyes extend to level of cerebral organ and one type of prostatoids is completely different with the species described here. The two species described here differ from each other in terms of: body shape (the body tapered posteriorly in D. persica, while the posterior end of the body in D. hollemani does not tapered); number of cerebral eyes both in posterior and anterior groups (anterior cerebral groups have 50–52 eyespots and posterior cerebral groups have 25– 30 eyespots in D. persica against 20–25 anterior cerebral eyespots and 8–10 posterior cerebral eyespots in D. hollemani); the extent of the marginal eyes (marginal eyes extend to the level of cerebral organ in D. persica; while extend near to the posterior end of body in D. hollemani); the structure of the male atrium (the male atrium has four lobes in D. persica and two lobes in D. hollemani); the distribution of prostatoids on the posterior lobe of the male atrium (prostatoids arranged centrally on posterior lobe in D. persica, while encircle the posterior lobe in D. hollemani); the types of prostatoids (two different sizes in D. persica, two types of prostatoids in terms of size and content in D. hollemani). Although the spermiducal vesicle was not observed in D. hollemani, but cannot be considered characteristic, because in every specimen the vasa deferentia usually dilate more or less if the animal is sexually mature (Faubel, 1983; p. 27)Published as part of Maghsoudlou, Abdolvahab & Rahimian, Hassan, 2013, Description of two new Discocelis species (Polycladida: Acotylea: Discocelidae) from the Persian Gulf with a review of the genus, pp. 247-266 in Zootaxa 3683 (3) on pages 257-263, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3683.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/24823

Imogine qeshmensis Maghsoudlou & Momtazi, 2014, sp. nov.

Imogine qeshmensis sp. nov. (Figures 3–4) Material and examined. Six specimens were collected in February 2011: two mature specimens provided serial sagittal sections, to elucidate the histological structure of the reproductive systems; one specimen was used for a whole mount as an entire animal stained with Carmine Alum. The remaining three specimens were preserved in ethanol 70 %. Holotype: one mature specimen, ZUTC Platy 1265 HS, with the anterior half preserved in ETOH 70 %, and part of the posterior half containing the copulatory apparatus as series of sagittal sections (eight slides). Paratypes: Five specimens: one sectioned specimen, ZUTC Platy 1266 HS, with the anterior half preserved in ETOH 70 %, and part of the posterior half containing the copulatory apparatus as series of sagittal sections (seven slides); one entire specimen, ZUTC Platy 1267 WM, cleared and stained with Carmine Alum; three entire worms, ZUTC Platy 1268 S, preserved in ETOH 70 %. Etymology. The specific epithet refers to Qeshm Island, where the specimens were collected. Type locality. All specimens were collected from the upper intertidal rocky shore of Hamun jetty beach, Qeshm Island, Persian Gulf, Iran, 26 ° 58´35.3 "N, 56 ° 14´53 " E (Fig. 1). Habitat included rocky-muddy substrate (Fig. 2 A) covered with rock oysters (Saccostrea cucullata), other associated animals with the specimens included sponges and red tunicates. Diagnosis. Body thick, fleshy and broadly oval; rosy brown with darker brown spots, become smaller toward margin, body margin free of spots with white opaque band. With small white knobbed tentacles. Tentacular, cerebral and frontal eyes present. Marginal eyes encircle the whole body margin. Without spermiducal bulb, ejaculatory duct joins short prostatic duct in middle of penis. Penis papilla small; male and female antra ciliated. Gonopores well separated. Type of the genus: Imogine oculifera Girard, 1853. Description. External morphology. Body broadly oval, thick and fleshy with deep marginal ruffles (Fig. 3 A). Holotype 25 × 18 in size, the average size of paratypes 17 × 12. Dorsal body color of living animals rosy brown, lighter in the middle of the body around the pharynx (Fig. 2 B), with regular dark brown spots, become smaller toward margin; body margin with wide white opaque band, 0.5 mm in thickness, free of spots (Fig. 3 A), covered with eye spots (Fig. 3 A, B). More or less translucent cream, in ventral view, vas deferens visible on eider sides of pharynx, as two dark, cream, coiled strips, extends anteriorly from the male gonopore to middle half of body (Fig. 3 B). Nuchal tentacles small, rounded, retractile and white, 2.2 apart; tentacular eyes with 18–21 large eye spots at tip of each tentacle (Fig. 3 C); small cerebral eyes embedded in epidermis between nuchal tentacles, difficult to observe, but readily observable on cleared anterior part of holotype and stained whole paratype (ZUTC Platy. 1267 WM), cerebral eye clusters more or less paired, more crowded posterior to nuchal tentacles with 55 eye spots in each posterior cluster, cerebral eyes extend anterior to nuchal tentacles; frontal eyes, with about 21 eyes in each cluster, scattered and subdivided (Fig. 3 C), frontal eyes not reaching anterior margin. Marginal eyes extend along the entire margin, denser anteriorly, in four or five rows, reducing posteriorly into two or three rows (Fig. 3 B). Ruffled pharynx located centrally, 4.7 from the anterior end, 7.3 from posterior end of the body, 12.5 mm in length, with about 12 pairs of lateral folds, mouth located in anterior part of middle third of pharynx (Fig. 3 B). Male pore located posterior to pharynx, 3.8 apart (Fig. 3 D). Epidermis and body wall. Ventral epidermis three times thicker than dorsal epidermis, 95–100 µm thick (Figs. 4 B, D). Cellular epidermis consists of thick-walled (18.5 µm) columnar cells and rhabdites, basal membrane 6.7 µm in thickness; arrangement of muscle fibers beneath basement membrane: outer, very thin circular muscle layer (3.6 µm), followed internally by thick longitudinal fibers (11.5 µm), then well-developed diagonal muscles (31 µm) and innermost longitudinal muscles merging with diagonal muscle fibers (26 µm). Transverse muscle fibers well developed (Fig. 4 B). Dorsal epidermis about 36 µm thick (Fig. 4 A); cellular epidermis consists of tall, thin-walled columnar cells, ciliated, with intra-epithelial nuclei and rhabdites; basal membrane about 7 µm in thickness; body wall musculature consists of outer, very thin circular layer, followed by inner longitudinal layer (12 µm). Clusters of granular pigment scattered beneath dorsal and ventral wall throughout the parenchyma; few sparse rhabdites observed below dorsal epidermis (Fig. 4 A). Reproductive structures. Male reproductive system with tripartite seminal vesicle, free, elongated oval prostatic vesicle, without spermiducal bulb, and penis papilla housed in a ciliated antrum (Figs. 3 D & 4 C). Testes scattered ventrally throughout body length. In ventral view, vasa deferentia arising in mid-body, converging posteriorly on either side of pharynx (Fig. 3 B). In sagittal view, vas deferens recurrent below prostatic vesicle, opens into lateral lobes of seminal vesicle (Fig. 3 D). Seminal vesicle 620 µm wide, enclosed in strong muscular layer (100 µm in thickness), located anterior to prostatic vesicle, oriented horizontally in holotype (Fig. 4 C) but, oriented slightly dorsally in sectioned paratype. Lateral lobes of seminal vesicle equal in size, 860 µm long × 200 µm wide, central lobe larger than lateral lobes, 1.2 mm long × 200 µm wide (Figs. 3 D & 4 C). Central lobe tapers posteriorly below the prostatic vesicle to form straight ejaculatory duct, near distal end of prostatic vesicle; ejaculatory duct joins short prostatic duct in middle of penis. Prostatic vesicle surrounded by muscular layer, 80 µm in thickness, 1 mm long × 400 µm width (Figs. 3 D & 4 C). Wall of prostatic vesicle with numerous narrow regular transverse ducts (extra-vesicular gland canals) leading into lumen, with polyglandular lining, glandular cell-bodies of extra-vesicular glands localized more or less distant in parenchyma surrounding male apparatus (Fig. 4 D). Penis papilla small, 170 × 250 µm, housed in ciliated, deep and narrow male antrum (Fig. 3 D). Female gonopore 230 µm posterior to male gonopore; vagina narrow, somewhat muscular and curved, with cuboidal epithelium, vagina proceeds dorsally, and then curves backward to receive uteri; vagina surrounded by numerous cement glands, with ciliated female antrum (Fig. 3 D). Lang's vesicle absent. Male and female gonopores separated (Fig. 3 D). Remarks. Faubel (1983), in his classification, emended the family Stylochidae and introduced the main diagnostic character of the family as: the ridged glandular lining of the prostatic vesicle with extra-vesicular glands. Recently, Bulnes et al. (2005) defined the family Stylochidae based on two new types of prostatic linings: the polyglandular and the mono-glandular types. In the case of mono-glandular type each extra-vesicular gland is connected via a glandular duct with a single inner tube, so the number of extra-vesicular glands and inner tubes is equal. In poly-glandular type, each long-fingered extension is connected via several glandular ducts to extravesicular glands (Bulnes et al. 2005). However, extra vesicular glands were not observed by Newman and Cannon (1996 a, b) in some members of the family including Imogine and Stylochus. Based on the presence / absence of a tripartite seminal vesicle, Marcus and Marcus (1968) divided the genus Stylochus within the Stylochidae, into the two subgenera: Imogine Girard, 1853 and Stylochus Ehrenberg, 1831. Prudhoe (1989) and Newman et al. (1993) recognized 28 species of Stylochus within the subgenus Imogine. Later, Jennings and Newman (1996 b) elevated the Imogine to generic rank. Then, several new species were assigned to this genus around the world (Bulnes 2010; Jennings & Newman 1996 a; Lee 2006; Sluys et al. 2005). The genus Imogine is defined by a tripartite and highly muscular seminal vesicle and a prostatic vesicle of the polyglandular type (Bulnes et al. 2005). Within the genus, the species are discriminated by their color pattern, body shape and consistency, presence or absence of tentacles, the number and pattern of tentacular and cerebral eyes, and the presence of frontal and marginal eyes. Due to the phenotypic variability of these characters, additional features such as the position of pharynx and mouth, the presence of spermiducal bulbs, the position of the junction between the ejaculatory duct and the prostatic duct, the form and size of the penis papilla and the histology of the male atrium have been considered (Bulnes 2010). The presence of a tripartite seminal vesicle clearly places the specimen described here as a member of the genus Imogine. Currently, this genus contains 36 species (Bolaños 2010) with two taxonomic groups within the species: those with eyes around the entire body margin and those with only anterior eyes (Newman et al. 1993). Sixteen of them, like the species describe here, have eyes around the entire body margin (Table 1). Jennings and Newman (1996 a) have summarized the main diagnostic characters of Imogine species with eyes around the body margin. These characters with some modifications are listed in Table 1. In terms of geographical distribution (Table 1), the aforementioned sixteen species occur in the following regions: Atlantic Ocean (eight species), Mediterranean Sea (one species), north Pacific (one species) and Indo West Pacific (six species). Jennings and Newman (1996 a, b) considered the geographical distribution as a character to discriminate their five new species of Imogine inhabiting the Indo-West Pacific from all other congeners with eyes around the entire body margin. We believe that history and intensity of the maritime activities in the Persian Gulf provides the possibility (through discharge of ballast water) to introduce species from other parts of world’s ocean into the region. Therefore, we compared our species from the Persian Gulf with all of the above mentioned sixteen species. Based on the information given in Table 1, and compared with the Imogine species inhabiting the Atlantic Ocean, the species described here is distinguished from: (1) Imogine arenosus by its color pattern, tentacle color and number of tentacular eyes. I. arenosus is dorsally reddish brown with white and black dots, has numerous tentacular eyes at the base of tentacles, while the species described here is dorsally rosy brown with regular dark brown spots, these spots become smaller towards the margin; the nuchal tentacles are small, retractile and white in the fixed specimens; with 18–21 tentacular eyes at the tip of each tentacle (2) I. catus in terms of color pattern, shape of tentacles, shape of the prostatic vesicle and body size. The body in I. catus dorsally has brown spots in two lateral bands, unlike the species described here. The species presented here is 25 × 18 in size, with small nuchal tentacles, and elongated oval prostatic, while I. catus is 65 × 32 mm in size with elongated tentacles and a spherical prostatic vesicle (3) The presence of cilia in the male and female antra of the species described here distinguishes this species form I. meridianus that lacks ciliated male and female antra (Bulnes 2010); in the present species the ejaculatory duct joins the prostatic duct in the middle of the penis, while in I. meridianus the ejaculatory duct joins the prostatic duct at the proximal end of the penis, (4) I. minimus differs from the species described here in terms of body size, color pattern, and size of the prostatic vesicle with respect to the seminal vesicle. The body of I. minimus is relatively small, 3 × 3 mm, the dorsal surface is light brown with dark grey flecks and brown spots, and the prostatic vesicle is twice the size of the seminal vesicle, while in the species described here seminal vesicle is equal in size with the prostatic vesicle; (5) I. pulcher differs from the species presented here in terms of color pattern, numerous tentacular and frontal eyes, and marginal eyes few and scattered in the posterior half of the body, while in the present species tentacular eyes numbered 18–21 per tentacle, with about 40 frontal eye spots, and marginal eyes extending well posteriorly as two visible rows. I. pulcher has a pyriform male antrum and an extremely small penis papilla, while in our species the male antrum is deep and narrow, and the penis papilla is not extremely small (170 µm long × 250 µm wide); (6) I. refertus has a dorsal surface which is brown with a bright orange mesh, few cerebral eyes that differ in number and distribution from our species; (7) I. zebra is clearly different from the species presented here in terms of color pattern, number of tentacular eyes, frontal eyes extending to the anterior margin, having a spherical and erect prostatic vesicle, while the prostatic vesicle in the species described here is elongated, oval and horizontal; (8) I. mediterraneus is elongated and oval unlike the species presented here that is broadly oval in form, the cerebral eyes number 50 eyes in each cluster, the prostatic vesicle is nearly twice the size of the seminal vesicle, the ejaculatory duct joins distally to the prostatic duct, while in our species the cerebral eyes numbered 91 eyes; the prostatic vesicle is equal in size to the seminal vesicle and the ejaculatory duct joins the prostatic duct in the middle of the penis papilla; (8) I. oculiferus, as type of the genus, is dorsally cream to brown with red or pink spots, with a moderately thick muscular coat and a pyriform prostatic vesicle, an ejaculatory duct which joins the prostatic duct at the base of penis, and with a spermiducal bulb (Hyman 1940), while the species described here has an elongated oval and highly musculature prostatic vesicle,, and lacks a spermiducal bulb. Compared with the Indo-West Pacific species of Imogine, the species described here is distinguished from all other congeners except I. pardalotus by: having cerebral eyes as two parallel clusters, while the Indo-West Pacific species described by Jennings and Newman (1996 a, b) have a cerebral eyes as single cluster. The number of tentacular eyes, 18–21 per tentacle, of the species described here is considerably lower than all of the species of Imogine from the Indo-West Pacific. As indicated in Table 1, the number of tentacular eyes per tentacle is: 100 eyes for I. kimae, 50 eyes for I. lesteri, 30 eyes for I. mcgrathi, 50 eyes for I. meganae and 100 eyes for I. pardalotus. I. mcgrathi also differs from the species described here by having numerous frontal eyes. I. pardalotus, unlike the species described here, has an elongated oval body, 15 × 6 mm, the dorsal color is beige with a leopard spotted pattern of greenish brown spots, irregular in shape and color, with elongate tentacles and the ejaculatory duct joins the prostatic duct at the proximal end of penis papilla (Table 1). I. meganae has yellow margins, with elongate yellow tentacles, and is clearly distinguished from the species described here that has no marginal band and small, retractile, white tentacles. I. kimae has a prostatic vesicle twice the size of the seminal vesicle and the ejaculatory duct joins the prostatic duct at the proximal end of the penis papilla, unlike our new species. Based on the Figures 1–4 of Jennings and Newman (1996 a) for I. kimae, I. mcgrathi, I. meganae and I. pardalotus, the seminal vesicle is located ventrally to the prostatic vesicle, while in the species described here the seminal vesicle is entirely anterior to the prostatic vesicle (Figs. 3 D, 4 C). The ejaculatory duct joins the prostatic duct at the proximal end of the penis papilla in I. lesteri, the situation which is not similar to our species. I. exigus is relatively smaller (7 × 4 mm) than present species (25 × 18 mm). I. exigus also has fewer cerebral eyes (7 eyes) compared with the species described here (about 91 eyes). Based on the above diagnostic features, Imogine qeshmensis is a new species. In terms of habitat, members of the genus Imogine are known to be associated with or feed on giant clams and rock oysters (Jennings & Newman 1996 a; Newman et al. 1993; Sluys et al. 2005), or other invertebrates such as barnacles (Lee et al. 2006). All specimens of the species described here associated with rock oysters. Our sampling area located at Qeshm Island is a free economic zone. The island is used for mariculture such as cultivation of shellfish and pearl oysters. The presence of the new species described here should be considered by managers of oyster farms because these flatworms kill and consume cultured bivalves, significantly contributing to mortalities (Galleni et al. 1980; Littlewood & Marsbe 1990; Newman et al. 1993).Published as part of Maghsoudlou, Abdolvahab & Momtazi, Farzaneh, 2014, A new Imogine species (Turbellaria: Polycladida: Stylochidae) associated with rock oysters (Saccostrea cucullata) from the Persian Gulf, with a review of the genus, pp. 364-374 in Zootaxa 3753 (4) on pages 366-373, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3753.4.5, http://zenodo.org/record/22860

Pleonexes qeshmensis Momtazi & Maghsoudlou 2020, comb. nov.

<i>Pleonexes qeshmensis</i> (Layeghi & Momtazi, 2018), comb. nov. <p> <i>Ampithoe qeshmensis</i> Layeghi & Momtazi, 2018: 1–5, figs 1–4.</p> <p> <i>Ampithoe</i> cf. <i>kava</i> — Al-Yamani <i>et al</i>., 2019: 100–102, figs 27–28.</p> <p> <i>Ampithoe qeshmensis</i> ― Layeghi & Momtazi, 2018: 1–5, figs 1–4.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> <i>Pleonexes qeshmensis</i> was originally described as <i>Ampithoe qeshmensis</i> by Layeghi & Momtazi (2018). However, based on the following characters, <i>Ampithoe qeshmensis</i> is transferred to the genus <i>Pleonexes</i>; reduced and round spur on peduncle of male uropod 1, expanded basis of pereopods 3 and 4, and prehensile pereopods 5–7.</p> <p> <i>Pleonexes qeshmensis</i> is distinguished from <i>Pleonexes nargessi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> by the following character states (character states of <i>P. nargessi</i> in parentheses): palm of male gnathopod 2 with robust seta (without seta), first uropod with naked outer ramus (8 setae on outer ramus), first male gnathopod without defining angle (with a defining angle), the length ratio of flagellum to peduncle on the second male antenna is 1/2 (1/5), and prehensile P5-7 (simple).</p>Published as part of <i>Momtazi, Farzaneh & Maghsoudlou, Abdolvahab, 2020, Pleonexes Spence Bate, 1857 (Amphipoda: Ampithoidae) in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, pp. 431-439 in Zootaxa 4895 (3)</i> on page 438, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4895.3.8, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/4326921">http://zenodo.org/record/4326921</a&gt

Parhyale darvishi, a new widely distributed amphipod species, in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Hyalidae)

Momtazi, Farzaneh, Maghsoudlou, Abdolvahab (2016): Parhyale darvishi, a new widely distributed amphipod species, in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Hyalidae). Zootaxa 4132 (3): 364-372, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4132.3.

FIGURE 6 in Parhyale darvishi, a new widely distributed amphipod species, in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Hyalidae)

FIGURE 6. The palm of first male gnathopod in the genus Parhyale. A: P. penicillata, B: P. fascigera, C: P. darvishi