Three new species of Batrachospermum Roth （Batrachospermaceae, Rhodophyta） in China

Three new species of Batrachospermum Roth (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) from China are described in this paper. B. yunnanense sp. nov. has long-cylindrical trichogynes with long stalks and is diagnostic of section Virescentia. Within this section, B. yunnanense is similar to B. helminthosum Bory emend. Sheath et al., but it is dioecious and has curved carpogonial branches, while the latter is monoecious and has straight carpogonial branches. It is also similar to B. transtaganum Reis, but it differs from the latter in long carpogonia,big carposporophytes and carposporangia. It is considered that B. nothocladoideum sp. nov. is assigned to section Contorta, subsection Kushiroense, because its carpogonial branches are twisted and gonimoblast filaments are loosely agglomerated. This new species similar to B. iriomotense Kumano, but with short fascicles, long-ovoid or subpyriform cells, numerous terminal hairs, long-ellipsoid trichogynes, big carposporophytes and small carposporangia. The plant is quite tough and cartilaginous and similar to Nothocladus in gross morphology, but its carposporophytes are compact instead of diffuse. This shows that it may be a transitional species between section Contorta and genus Nothocladus. So, B. transitorium sp. nov. should belong to section Contorta, subsection Kushiroense, because of its curved or twisted carpogonial branches and loosely agglomerated gonimoblast filaments, with globose or subglobose cells in fascicles similar to B. spermatiophorum Vis et Sheath, but no colourless spermatiophores. In terms of small and numerous carposporophytes, B. transitorium sp. nov. is similar to some species of section Batrachospermum. However, their other features are unique, indicating its transitional nature between section Contorta and Batrachospermum.     

Some conifers from Aptian in Yanbian area of jilin,Northeast China

Some well-preserved conifer leafy shoots and female cones from the Lower Cretaceous Changcai Formation near Fudong of Helong, eastern Jilin, Northeast China are studied. Based on gross morphological and cuticular study, a new species, Elatides helongensis Sun et Zhao (sp. nov.) is described systematically. The new species is characterized by persistent, linear or slightly falcate leaves with obtusely acute apex, attached helically on the shoots. Female cones of the new species are terminal and oval, composed of persistent helically-arranged rhomboidal scales and erect seeds. One erect seed is growing on each scale. Leaf cuticles are hypostomatic. Monocylic stomata are ellipse, composed of 2 sunken guard cells and 4-8 subsidiary cells. Moreover, the cuticles of a young female cone of Pityostrobus yingchengensis Yang are described for the first time.     

TWO NEW SPECIES OF OPHIDIASTERID SEA-STARS FROM THE VICINITY OF DIAOYUDAO, EAST CHINA SEA

Two new species of the asteroid family Ophidiasteridae are described from two specimens collected by commercial fishery vessels of Qingdao from the vicinity of Diaoyudao (25°45' N, 123°15' E), East China Sea. Hacelia tuberculata sp. nov. shows affinities with H. tyloplax (H. L. Clark, 1914) and Linckia gracilis sp. nov. is related to L, laevigata (Linnaeus).     

A NEW SPECIES OF CILIATES, HEMIOPHRYS POLYMICRONUCLEI SP. NOV. FROM DONGHU LAKE, HUBEI PROVINCE

A new species of ciliates Hemophrys polymicronuclei sp. nov. from Donghu Lake is described. It is characterized by its colorless to yellowish, soft, flat and spindle-shaped body with four micronuclei.The right side of the body is a little more convex than the left side, and more transparent at both anterior and posterior ends. Its slit-like cytostome accounts for 1/4 of the body length on the left side without any trichocyst. There are two rows of trichites near the right anterior end ,6 - 8 straight bristles on the pellicle opposite the cytostome, 23-25 rows of kinetides on the right side of the body, two ellipsoid macronuclei and many contractile vacuoles in the cytoplasm.     

One new species and one new record species of Sphaerolaimus(Nematode,Sphaerolaimidae) in offshore wetlands,China

One new species and one new record species of Sphaerolaimus are described.Sphaerolaimus longispiculatus sp.nov.is characterized by body length 2 213-2 470 μm,amphideal fovea 12%-16%corre sponding body diameters in males and 9%-10% corre sponding body diameters in females,long slender spicules 2.8-3.8 cloacal body diameters,eight small papilliform precloacal supplements,gubernaculum without apophysis,and tail conico-cylindrical,2.5-3.7 cloacal/anal body diameters long.Sphaerolaimus gracilis is recorded from the first time in the mangroves wetlands,it can be distinguished from the original desceiption by longer spicules(66-71 μm vs 56 μm) and wider body(a=20.1-21.4 vs 25).     

Morphological study of the genus Herposiphonia(Rhodophyta,Rhodomelaceae) on the coast of eastern Guangdong,China, with a description of H. pinnata sp. nov.

We present a taxonomic study of taxa of the red algae genus Herposiphonia(Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae), collected from the coast of eastern Guangdong, China. We made detailed morphological studies and considered recent taxonomic criteria for species delimitation, and are making the first report of five diff erent species on the coast of Guangdong, including a new species. The species identified were H. caespitosa Tseng, H. hollenbergii Dawson, H. pecten- veneris(Harvey) Falkenberg, H. subdisticha Okamura and H. pinnata Ding and Tan sp. nov. H. pinnata sp. nov. is characterized by bright green thalli; most parts of the feathery thalli are free of the substratum; determinate branches and indeterminate branches are arranged in a chaotic sequence; the primary axis has bare segments; the determinate branch has 9–11 periaxial cells per segment; vegetative trichoblasts are abundant; and tetrasporangia are formed on the middle of the determinate branch with 1–8 successive segments in a single rectilinear series. This paper is also the first record of sporophyte plants of H. pecten-veneris.     

Four new species of free-living marine nematode from the sea areas of China

Two new species of genus Diplopeltoides Gerlach,1962 and two new species of genus Minolaimus Vitiello,1970 were described based on recently collected specimens from marine sediments of the South China Sea and the East China Sea,respectively.Diplopeltoides conoicaudatus sp.nov.is characterized by annulated cuticle;tiny terminal buccal cavity;short cephalic setae about 2-μm long;loopshaped amphideal fovea without sclerotized plate;slender and arcuate spicules;triangular gubernaculum possessing a small dorso-caudal apophysis;female with two opposed and reflexed ovaries.Diplopeltoides longifoveatus sp.nov.is characterized by its papilliform cephalic sensilla;long and narrow amphideal fovea with fine transverse striations;inverse S-shaped spicules with a dorsally bent manubrium;gubernaculum with dorso-caudal apophysis;cylindrical tail with round terminal end.Minolaimus multisupplementatus sp.nov.is characterized by cuticle with lateral differentiation of three longitudinal rows of large dots,spiral amphideal fovea with seven turns,pharynx cylindrical without posterior bulb,spicules arcuated with central lamella,gubernaculum arcuate and parallel to spicule,without dorso-caudal apophysis,a papilliform and29 cup-shaped precloacal supplement;tail conical with long flagelliform portion.Minolaimus apicalis sp.nov.is characterized by cuticle with lateral differentiation of three longitudinal rows of larger dots from the middle of pharynx to the conical portion of tail and a longitudinal row of pores in the pharyngeal region and precloacal region;spiral amphidial fovea with four turns and close to anterior end;pharynx cylindrical with oval posterior bulb,spicules arcuated and proximal end bent dorsally,gubernaculum with a broad curved dorsal apophysis;two sucked-like and six cup-shaped cuticularized precloacal supplements;tail conico-cylindrical with slightly enlarged tip.Updated keys to species of Diplopeltoides and Minolaimus were provided.     

Two New Species of Free-Living Marine Nematodes of the Desmodoridae from Mangrove Wetlands of Xiamen Bay,China

Mangroves are unique in their biodiversity,but studies on their meiobenthic biodiversity in China are scarce.Despite the importance of mangroves,little work has been done on the classification of nematodes in mangrove wetlands.Fujian Province is the most northern point of China’s natural mangrove distribution,and it is also one of the provinces with the earliest constructed mangrove forest.In this paper,two new free-living marine nematode species of Desmodoridae from the Xiamen mangrove wetlands in China are described.Metachromadora xiamenensis sp.nov.is characterized by a cylindrical body,and smooth head capsule set off from the rest of the body.The cuticle is finely annulated and thickened at the midbody.Lateral ridges run from the posterior end of the pharynx to the middle of the tail.The amphid foveae is loop shaped and opens at the top with a double contour amphidial,pharynx with bipartite cuticularized internal cavity.There are 18 tubular precloacal supplements and tail with three small protuberances.Molgolaimus euryformis sp.nov.is characterized by a relatively short and plump body with finely annulated cuticle,which is particularly obvious in the tail.The head is small and wide with intensive striates.The inner and outer labial sensilla are indistinct with short spicules and ventral apophysis,a gubernaculum with a block-shaped hook,a swollen conical-cylindrical tail and an absence of precloacal supplements.     

Eualus heterodactylus sp. nov., a new hippolytid shrimp from Chinese coast of the Yellow Sea （Crustacea,Decapoda, Caridea）

A new species from the caridean family Hippolytidae, Eualus heterodactylus sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on the specimens collected from Chinese coast of the Yellow Sea. The new species is a part of an informal species group characterized by the possession of epipods on the anterior three pairs of pereopods, and is distinguished from other species of this group by the dactyli of the third to fifth pereopods possessing distinctly stair-like flexor margins in males.     

Description of a Marine Nematode Hopperia sinensis sp.nov.(Comesomatidae) from Mangrove Forests of Quanzhou,China, with a Pictorial Key to Hopperia Species

A new free-living marine nematode species Hopperia sinensis sp. nov. from mangrove forests of Fujian Province, China, is identified and illustrated. Hopperia sinensis sp. nov. is characterized by its cephalic setae 2.4–2.8 μm long or 17%–20% head diameter, and amphids of 2.25–2.5 turns. Lateral differentiation appears with larger, more irregularly distributed dots behind 3–5 transverse rows of dots posterior to amphid. Buccal cavity is consisted of a shallow and weakly sclerotized cup-shaped portion with strongly sclerotized walls of 18–21 μm deep. There are three sclerotized and size-equally pointed teeth at the junction between the two parts. Spicules of 41–45 μm long are slightly curved with broadband velum and central strips at the proximal end. The gubernacula, with apparent lateral guiding pieces, are formed by one central tubular piece that is weakly sclerotized with 11–16 μm long dorso-caudally directed apophyses. There are 13–14 fine tubular precloacal supplements. Conico-cylindrical tail gradually tapers till pointed tail tip. Female is similar to male, but have a longer body and tail. Ovaries are opposed and outstretched, with anterior ovary to the left and posterior ovary to the right of the intestine. A pictorial key to all the valid known species in genus Hopperia is given.     

A Taxonomic Study of the Genus Tinocladia （Chordariales,Phaeophyta） in China Coasts I. Two new species, T. eudesmoides sp.nov, and T. zhangii sp.nov.

Two new species of the genusTinocladia Kylin (1940)T. eudesmoides Ding et Lu sp. nov. andTinocladia zhangii Ding et Lu sp. nov., are described.T. eudesmoides is mainly characterized by its longitudinally and transversely produced sub-cortical filaments from the medulla, its short uniseriate assimilating filaments, usually composed of 6–10 cells with slightly swollen and narrow ultimate cells, and its unilocular sporangia (60–115)×55–70μm, variable in size.T. zhangii is mainly characterized by its very solid frond, not rip apart by hands, its evident longer primary branches, its short and slender secondary branches, with very evident sub-cortical layer, and filaments divided repeatedly, and its large and small unilocular sporangia, with the latter borne on an evidently swollen pedicel. Project B80981816 supported by the NSFC. Contribution No. 4443 from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.     

Hypoglossum fujianensis sp. nov. (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta) from Fujian Coast, China

Hypoglossum fujianensis sp. nov. is an epiphytic alga in the intertidal zone. Plants are light red, 0.9–2 cm high. Margin of branches gives rise to uniseriate hair-like rhizoids, formed outward from the fusion of the second-and third-order cells. Blades are single layered (except the midrib) and uncorticated. Tetrasporangial sori are formed on the middle part of blades. The globular tetrasporangia are developed from lateral pericentral cells. Project 39391800 supported by the NSFC.     

Redescription and taxonomic reconsideration ofNemertopsis gracilis var.bullocki Coe, 1940

Specimens ofNemertopsis gracilis var.bullocki Coe, 1940 collected from Huian, Fujian Province, China, are described. The variety is upgraded to specific level on the basis of: the dorsal surface having a pair of blackish brown longitudinal stripes meeting anteriorly with a broad transverse band of the same color; the proboscis having 11–13 distinct proboscis nerves in its longitudinal muscle layer. Project 39170111 and 39470097 supported by NSFC.     

A new pomfret species,Pampus minor sp. nov. (Stromateidae) from Chinese waters

Thirty-two 63.0–134.4 mm standard length specimens collected during 1954–1990 from the coastal waters of the South China Sea and the continental coast of the Taiwan Strait were identified as a new species,Pampus minor Liuet Li, sp. nov. Contribution No. 3329 from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Study supported by Chinese Academy of Sciences Special Grant for Biota Research.     

Notes on Two Marine Ciliates from the Yellow Sea,China： Placus salinus and Strombidium apolatum（Protozoa, Ciliophora）

The living morphology and infraciliature of two rare marine ciliates, Placus salinus Dietz, 1964 and Strombidium apolatum Wilbert and Song, 2005, collected from the coastal waters near Qingdao, China, were investigated by in vivo observation and protargol impregnation technique. The improved diagnosis for Placus salinus is as follows: medium-sized marine Placus, in vivo (50–60)μm×(30–40)μm; cell elliptical to barrel-shaped; 28–31 somatic kineties; single macronucleus usually ellipsoid and one micronucleus located in the indention of the macronucleus; one contractile vacuole posteriorly positioned. Strombidium apolatum is characterized by: marine strombidium (40–60)μm×(30–45)μmm in vivo, cordiform in shape with somewhat pointed posterior end and conspicuous apical protrusion; extrusomes prominent, about 15μm in length and evenly arranged along the circle kinety; about 16 collar and 5–6 buccal membranelles; one elongate macronucleus and one micronucleus; circle and ventral kineties consisting of about 53 and 45 dikinetids respectively.     

Two new species of Ophidiasterid sea-stars from the vicinity of Diaoyudao,East China Sea

Two new species of the asteroid family Ophidiasteridae are described from two specimens collected by commercial fishery vessels of Qingdao from the vicinity of Diaoyudao (25°45′N, 123°15′E), East China Sea.Hacelia tuberculata sp. nov. shows affinities withH. tyloplax (H. L. Clark, 1914) andLinckia gracilis sp. nov. is related toL. laevigata (Linnaeus). Contribution No. 1163 from the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica.     

Chemical constituents of marine medicinal mangrove plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sonneratia caseolaris</Emphasis>

Twenty-four compounds including eight steroids (1–8), nine triterpenoids (9–16, 24), three flavonoids (20–22), and four benzenecarboxylic derivatives (17–19, 23) were isolated and identified from stems and twigs of medicinal mangrove plant Sonneratia caseolaris. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by extensive analysis of their spectroscopic data. Among these metabolites, compounds 1, 4–20 and 22–24 were isolated and identified for the first time from S. caseolaris. In the in vitro cytotoxic assay against SMMC-7721 human hepatoma cells, compound 21 (3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) exhibited significant activity with IC₅₀ 2.8 μg/mL, while oleanolic acid (14), 3,3′-di-O-methyl ether ellagic acid (18), and 3,3′,4-O-tri-O-methyl ether ellagic acid (19) showed weak activity. None of these compounds displayed significant antibacterial activites. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30770234); Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-YW-211-04); Department of Science and Technology of Shandong Province (No.2006GG2205023)