Histomorphology and Chemical Constituents of Interdigital Gland of Vembur Sheep, Ovis aries.

The interdigital gland is a specialized skin gland located between the digits of Artiodactyla (i.e., even-toed ungulates). Its secretion participates in semiochemical communication, and protects from ultraviolet radiation as well as fungal and bacterial infections of the feet. The present study aimed at finding if there are male-female differences in the anatomy, morphology, and volatile compounds of the interdigital gland of the South Indian breed of Vembur sheep. A total of 24 sheep (12 each of male and female) were spotted at the slaughterhouse and the interdigital gland was removed for examination. The anatomical examination revealed it to resemble a tobacco pipe and to consist of a body, flexure, and excretory duct with an external orifice located at the cleft of the digits. Morphometrically, the interdigital glands differed between males and females. The gland possesses a distinct fibrous capsule, epidermis, and dermis. The fibrous capsule contains several parallel bundles of collagen fibers, nerve fibers, and blood vessels, etc. The epidermis consists of keratinized squamous epithelium formed of stratum basale, stratum granulosum and stratum spinosum. The dermis consists of hair follicles, nerve plexuses, arrector pili muscles, and apocrine and sebaceous glandular lobules. The latter, lined by a simple cuboidal epithelium, are arranged in clusters of acini in the upper portion of the dermis. The apocrine secretory lobules, made up of parenchymal cells, are found in the lower portion of the dermis. The density and diameter of the apocrine and sebaceous secretory lobules were significantly higher in the males than females. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis confirmed the apocrine and sebaceous secretory components. Twenty-three major compounds were identified in the interdigital gland postings of male and female sheep, among which butanoic acid, 2-methylpropanoic acid, 1-heptanol and octadecanoic acid were present only in the male glandular post, whereas octane, 7-hexyl-tridecane, tetradecane, heptadecane and decanoic acid were present only in the female glandular post. Tetradecanol, tetradecanoic acid and hexadecanol peaks, reportedly antibacterial compounds in pronghorn antelopes, were highly prominent in both male and female sheep. Thus, the interdigital gland of Vembur sheep has two major secretory lobules, namely, sebaceous and apocrine, larger in males than females, which secrete a variety chemical compounds that may serve as chemical communication systems and protect the sheep from foot-borne diseases.

A new mayfly species of Choroterpes (Choroterpes) Eaton, 1881 (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from southern Western Ghats, India.

A new species of Choroterpes (Choroterpes) Eaton, 1881 is described based on nymphs from southern Western Ghats, Karnataka, India. Choroterpes (Choroterpes) kumaradhara sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Oriental species of Choroterpes s.str. by the following combination of characters: (i) median emargination of labrum deeply cleft (U-shaped) with few denticle-like protuberances; (ii) the lateral margin of mandibles with a cluster of thin, long setae medially; (iii) gill I single lamellate, basal half broader and tapered to apex; (iv) median projection of dorsal lamella of gills IIVII plate-like and markedly larger and longer than laterals, ventral lamella small, trifurcated and (v) abdominal segments IIIX with posterolateral spines progressively longer posteriorly. Distribution and habitat ecology of the new species are provided.

A new record and new species of Procloeon (Procloeon) Bengtsson, 1915 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) from the Western Ghats, peninsular India.

A new species Procloeon (Procloeon) kottagudiensis sp. nov. is described based on larva and adult characters from a submontane stream of the Western Ghats, peninsular India. Diagnostic characters, distribution and habitat ecology of the described species are provided. Keys for the known larvae and male imagos of Oriental Procloeon (Procloeon) are provided.

Description of the male and female adults of Sparsorythus srokai Srinivasan et al. (Ephemeroptera: Tricorythidae) from India.

Sparsorythus srokai is known from larva and eggs from the Western Ghats (Veerapandi River, Theni district, Tamil Nadu), India. The unknown adult stage (male and female subimagoes and imagoes) is described herein. An additional locality and its habitat ecology are also given for the species.

A new species of Sparsorythus Sroka amp; Sold, 2008 (Ephemeroptera: Tricorythidae) from Western Ghats, Southern India.

A little stout crawler mayfly Sparsorythus nanjangudensis sp. nov., is described based on nymphs and male adult from Western Ghats, southern India. The new species is differentiated from all known species on the basis of the extended anterolateral margin of pronotum, absence of subapical teeth on claws and wing pads reaching abdominal segment III. Distribution and ecological notes are provided for the new species.

A new species of Caenis Stephens, 1835 (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) from Tamil Nadu, Southern India.

A new mayfly species Caenis maduraiensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated from nymph and adults collected from lentic habitat around Madurai. The nymph can be distinguished by the following characters: anterior margin of labrum with row of bipectinate setae longer laterally and a group of highly fringed setae behind emargination; and hind claw long, slender and hooked with row of denticles. Adults are characterized by prosternal triangle with slightly concave sides, tip acutely pointed; apical part of forceps abruptly narrowed to the tip, with a long apical spine, and few trichomes on surface.

Two additional new species of Clypeocaenis Soldán, 1978 (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) from the Western Ghats of Peninsular India.

Two new mayfly species of Clypeocaenis (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) are described based on nymphal and adult characters from Kaveri River, Kodagu, Karnataka, Southern India. The main characteristics that distinguish Clypeocaenis kaveri sp. nov. from other Oriental species are: (i) fore femur with 4 long spines at middle of inner margin, a row of bifid spines at outer margin and row of bifid spines at subapical surface; (ii) dorsal surface of femora with complete transverse row of bifid setae located 3/4 distance from the base; (iii) forceps smaller than penis lobe. The main characteristics that distinguish Clypeocaenis napoklu sp. nov. from other Oriental species are: (i) fore femur with 2 long spines at middle of inner margin and row of thin setae on outer margin; segment 2 with bifid spine at apex.(ii) dorsal surface of femora with incomplete transverse row of bifid setae located 2/3 distance from the base; (iii) forceps little longer than penis lobe. A key for the nymphs of described species has been provided.

Two new species of Clypeocaenis (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) from Western Ghats, Southern India.

Two new species of Clypeocaenis (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) are described from Gayathripuzha River, Kerala, and Tunga River, Karnataka, Southern India. The species are best distinguished from congeners based on leg and gill characteristics, as follows. Clypeocaenis gayathri sp. nov.: (1) fore tibia with two rows of ventral and lateral filtering setae, femur with bifid spines, middle tibia with trifurcated spines apically; (2) tracheated gill covers with spines and bifurcated ridges on margins, gills III-VI with more numerous fringed bifid fimbriae. Clypeocaenis sharadhae sp. nov.: (1) fore tibia with two rows of long filtering setae on lateral margin and one row on ventral margin arranged vertically, fore tarsus with transverse row of long setae, hind tibia with a row of lanceolate setae on lateral margin; (2) gills III-VI approximately triangular shaped, with fringed bifid fimbriae, gill III with 12 bifurcated and 2 trifurcated fimbriae.

A new mayfly species of Rhoenanthus (Ephemeroptera: Potamanthidae) from Peninsular India.

A new mayfly species, Rhoenanthus (Rhoenanthus) tungaiensis sp. nov. is described and characterized at the larval stage by fore tibiae relatively long with dense hair like setae on dorsal and lateral surface, male compound eyes large, mandibular tusks 0.8 times longer than head length, segment I of maxillary palpi 1.7 times longer than segment II, fore femur 2.9 times longer than its greatest width, gill III with 46-48 marginal fibrillae on lateral margin of dorsal lamellae and 35-37 on ventral lamellae. At the imaginal stage, the new species can be separated by inverted bell shaped markings on terga, purplish brown intercalaries in forewings, costal cross veins reddish brown and infuscated, MP2 connected to CuA basally.

A new mayfly Thraulus species (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from Peninsular India.

A new mayfly species Thraulus thiagarajani sp. nov. is described and characterized by dorsal lamella of abdominal gill I lanceolate, lamella of gills II- VII subequal to or slightly larger than dorsal lamella; posterior margin of labrum not strongly convex. Imago of the species with patterned femora and tergum. Hind wings have no coloration at base, much smaller than forewing. Costal projection is present at 0.6 of hind wing.