A NEW SPECIES OF CHIGGER MITE AND THE RECORD OF A GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODE IN SCELOPORUS CAUTUS (SQUAMATA: PHRYNOSOMATIDAE) FROM THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT PROVINCE IN COAHUILA, MEXICO.

The chigger species Acomatacarus coahuilensis n. sp. (Acariformes: Trombidiformes: Leeuwenhoekiidae) inhabiting the neck scales of the wary spiny lizard Sceloporus cautus Smith, 1938 (Squamata: Iguania: Phrynosomatidae), from Chihuahuan Desert Province, Coahuila, Mexico, is described herein. The new mite species is assigned to the genus AcomatacarusEwing, 1942, based on a palptarsus with 6 branched setae plus the tarsala (ω). This new species can be separated from the other species in this genus mainly based on the combination of the following characters: presence of mastisetae (MTa) on tarsus III and tibiala (φ) on tibia III, subterminala (ζ1), parasubterminala (z), and pretarsala (ζ2) on tarsus I, 2 genualae (σ1-2) on genu I, onychotriches and claw-like empodium of legs I-III, and absence of mastisetae on tibia III. In addition to the new species, the gastrointestinal nematode Skrjabinoptera phrynosoma (Ortlepp, 1922) Schulz, 1927 (Physalopteridae), was also found, which represents a new host record in the wary spiny lizard. This study reports the third species of the genus Acomatacarus recorded from Mexico and the first record of chigger mites and helminth parasites associated with Sc. cautus.

Multi-locus phylogeny of the catfish genus Ictalurus Rafinesque, 1820 (Actinopterygii, Siluriformes) and its systematic and evolutionary implications.

BACKGROUND: Ictalurus is one of the most representative groups of North American freshwater fishes. Although this group has a well-studied fossil record and has been the subject of several morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies, incomplete taxonomic sampling and insufficient taxonomic studies have produced a rather complex classification, along with intricate patterns of evolutionary history in the genus that are considered unresolved and remain under debate. RESULTS: Based on four loci and the most comprehensive taxonomic sampling analyzed to date, including currently recognized species, previously synonymized species, undescribed taxa, and poorly studied populations, this study produced a resolved phylogenetic framework that provided plausible species delimitation and an evolutionary time framework for the genus Ictalurus. CONCLUSIONS: Our phylogenetic hypothesis revealed that Ictalurus comprises at least 13 evolutionary units, partially corroborating the current classification and identifying populations that emerge as putative undescribed taxa. The divergence times of the species indicate that the diversification of Ictalurus dates to the early Oligocene, confirming its status as one of the oldest genera within the family Ictaluridae.

Genetic diversification of acanthocephalans of the genus Floridosentis Ward 1953 (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae), parasites of mullets from the Americas.

Adult worms of the genus Floridosentis are endoparasites of marine fishes of the genus Mugil and are broadly distributed in the Americas. Currently, Floridosentis includes two species, F. mugilis, distributed in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic Ocean coast, and F. pacifica, restricted to the Pacific Ocean coast. The aim of this study was to explore the species limit of both species of the genus Floridosentis, collected in 37 localities in eight countries: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Venezuela. We sequenced 253 specimens to build a comprehensive dataset for three genes: the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox 1) from mitochondrial DNA, the internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2 including the 5.8S gene (ITS region), and the D2 + D3 domains of the large subunit (LSU) of nuclear DNA. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses with the cox 1 and concatenated (cox 1 + ITS+LSU) datasets were conducted. Two species delimitation methods were implemented, the Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD), and Bayesian species delimitation (BPP), plus a haplotype network inferred with 253 specimens, allowing us to validate two nominal species of Floridosentis., F. mugilis, plus one linage distributed in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic Ocean coast, and F. pacifica, plus two additional lineages distributed along the Pacific Ocean coast. All these lineages are shared by both species of mullet (Mugil curema and M. cephalus). The currents in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, in combination with the biology of the definitive hosts, have played a key role in the distribution of the two nominal species and of the three lineages of Floridosentis across the Americas.

Genetic diversity of the Metarhizium anisopliae complex in Colima, Mexico, using microsatellites.

Metarhizium anisopliae is a complex of cryptic species with wide geographical distribution and versatile lifestyles. In this study, 45 isolates of the Metarhizium genus harbored in the "Colección de Hongos Entomopatógenos" of the "Centro Nacional de Referencia de Control Biológico" from different substrates, insect-host, and localities from Colima, Mexico, were phylogenetically identified using the 5'end of translation elongation factor 1-α (5'TEF) and intergenic nuclear region MzFG543igs. Seven species were recognized, M. acridum (n = 26), M. pemphigi (n = 1), and within the PARB and MGT clades: M. anisopliae (N = 7; sensu stricto: n = 2; sensu lato: n = 5), M. brunneum (n = 2), M. guizhouense (n = 2), M. pingshaense (n = 2), and M. robertsii (n = 5). Twenty-nine SSR markers were developed for M. acridum; according to the analysis of 12 polymorphic SSR loci, M. acridum showed low genetic diversity, revealing five genotypes with a dominant one (n = 21). Based on the analysis of 13 specific SSR loci, 14 genotypes were identified within the PARB and MGT clades. This study contributes to generating valuable information about the community structure and genotypic diversity of Metharhizum species in the state of Colima, Mexico.

Identification of leopard frogs (Anura: Ranidae: Lithobates) distributed in some localities of the Southern Mexican Plateau using mitochondrial DNA sequences.

Species of the genus Lithobates are difficult to identify, especially on the 'Rana pipiens' complex, because the morphological differences among the species are often subtle. In this study, we used 12S ribosomal RNA gene partial sequences to identify specimens of leopard frogs from some new localities (not sampled on previous studies) of the Southern Mexican Plateau, to carry out a phylogenetic analysis, and also a morphometric analysis of some morphological features were analyzed to evaluate their morphological variation. A phylogenetic analysis using partial sequences of 12S rDNA mitochondrial gene for 31 samples was carried out using Bayesian Inference, Maximum Parsimony, and Maximum Likelihood. In addition, 20 morphological lineal measurements from 97 specimens were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) to evaluate if the frogs studied are conspecific. Partial sequences of the 12S rDNA obtained from frogs distributed in the Southern Mexican Plateau show two haplotypes with a divergence of 0.4%. Phylogenetic hypothesis shows an exclusive group with a previous sequence of Lithobates montezumae. The PCA indicates that variables are not linearly correlated and specimens belong to a single group. Evidence found, let us consider that specimens studied belong to one species of the Lithobates montezumae subgroup, distributed principally in the Southern Mexican Plateau.

High genetic diversity of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana in Colima, Mexico.

The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana is used widely as a biological control agent against a wide range of insect pests globally. In this study, 44 Beauveria isolates from the state of Colima, Mexico harbored in the "Colección de Hongos Entomopatógenos" of the "Centro Nacional de Referencia de Control Biológico" and from different substrates, insect-hosts, and localities were characterized with molecular markers. All isolates were identified using a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF) and nuclear intergenic Bloc region. Forty-three isolates were identified as B. bassiana and grouped into two sub-clades, i.e., AFNEO_1 (n = 22; previously defined as a clade with African and Neotropical origin) and Bb clade (n = 21; closely associated with ex-type strain ARSEF 1564), and one isolate was identified as B. pseudobassiana. The fixation index (FST = 0.493) established the genetic differentiation between AFNEO_1 and Bb clades. High genotype richness and genetic diversity of AFNEO_1 and Bb clades were revealed in sequence analysis of Bloc region and SSR genotyping. Moreover, the AFNEO_1 and Bb clades were confirmed as two independent clonally structured assemblages. Finally, the AMOVA detected no significant association between any combination of substrate, insect-host or geographical origin. High genetic variation of B. bassiana in Colima, Mexico could suggest a functional diversity among isolates that may include those effective against a specific insect pest.

A New Species of Morelacarus (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Leeuwenhoekiidae) Associated With Sceloporus grammicus (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae) From the Mexican Plateau, Zacatecas, Mexico.

A new species of chigger mites, Morelacarus uazi n. sp., parasitizing lizards of the species Sceloporus grammicus from Mazapil, Zacatecas, Mexico, is described and illustrated. This new taxon differs from other species of the genus by having a palpal claw with 4 subequal paired prongs, and it can be further distinguished by the combination of the following characters: presence of onychotriches and mastitarsala III, absence of mastitibiala III, subterminala I, and parasubterminala I, and the palpal setal formula B/B/BBb. Additionally, an identification key for the species of the genus Morelacarus is presented. The new species represents the seventh species assigned to the genus and the first species described from a Mexican lizard.

Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of Infidum similis, Including Morphological Data and Estimation of its Genome Size.

: Infidum similis Travassos, 1916 (Dicrocoeliidae: Leipertrematinae) was found in the gall bladder of Leptophis diplotropis Günther, 1872 from El Podrido, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico. A phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequences of the 28S ribosomal RNA using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) analyses was carried out to assess its phylogenetic position within suborder Xiphidiata, alongside members of the superfamilies Gorgoderoidea and Plagiorchoidea. The phylogenetic trees showed that the genus is most-closely related to the Plagiorchoidea rather than to the Gorgoderoidea, in keeping with previous taxonomic designations. Phylogenies obtained from ML and BI analysis of the 28S rDNA gene revealed a well supported clade in which Choledocystus hepaticus (Lutz, 1928) Sullivan, 1977 is sister to I. similis. On the other hand, a tree obtained using a partial sequence of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) mtDNA gene (ML and BI analysis), with species supposed to be closely related to I. similis according to 28S, does not support this relatedness. Based on the independence of Infidum from the subfamily Leipertrematinae Yamaguti, 1958 , our results clearly demonstrated that the genus corresponds to a different family and with species closely related to C. hepaticus within Plagiorchoidea. New data are presented about the tegumental surface of I. similis by scanning electron microscopy as well as the estimation of its haploid genome size using Feulgen Image Analysis Densitometry of sperm nuclei as part of the characterization of this species. This is the first genome size estimated for a member of Plagiorchiida, and these data will provide a new source of knowledge on helminth diversity and evolutionary studies. This constitutes the first host record, and new geographical distribution, for this species in Mexico.

First description of adults of the type species of the genus Glossocercus Chandler, 1935 (Cestoda: Gryporhynchidae).

The type species of the genus Glossocercus Chandler, 1935, G. cyprinodontis Chandler, 1935, was described as metacestode (larval stage) from the mesentery of the sheepshead minnow fish (Cyprinodon variegatus Lacépède) from Galveston Bay, Texas. The description was based on the morphology of the rostellar hooks; however, the features of the internal morphology of the proglottides could no be provided. In the present study we describe for the first time the features of the adult G. cyprinodontis from the intestine of Pelecanus occidentalis Linnaeus, Nycticorax nycticorax Linnaeus and Egretta rufescens Gmelin in Mexico. Glossocercus cyprinodontis possesses similar strobilar morphology with the two other congeneric species, both distributed in the Neartic and Neotropical regions, i.e. Glossocercus caribaensis (Rysavy et Macko, 1971) and Glossocercus auritus (Rudolphi, 1819). However, G. cyprinodontis differs mainly in the shape of the rostellar hooks (those of G. cyprinodontis possess the handle and the guard strongly sclerified compared to those of G. auritus and G. caribaensis) and their size (total length of 175-203 microm in G. cyprinodontis compared to 189-211 microm in G. caribaensis and 220-285 microm in G. auritus). Generic diagnosis of Glossocercus is emended: rostellar hooks in two rows with ten hooks of different shape and length in each, scolex large and globular, proglottides craspedote, wider than long, genital pores irregularly alternating, vagina transverse, surrounded by epithelial cells, ventral to cirrus-sac, uterus bar-shaped in mature proglottides, occupies all space between osmoregulatory ducts with eggs in gravid proglottides, ovary lobed in middle of proglottis, cirrus-sac elongate, between osmoregulatory canals, cirrus armed with spinitriches and apical tuft of slender spinitriches.

Molecular phylogenetics of Floridosentis ward, 1953 (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) parasites of mullets (Osteichthyes) from Mexico, using 28S rDNA sequences.

Species of Floridosentis (Acanthocephala) are common parasites of mullets (Mugil spp., Mugilidae) found in tropical marine and brackish water in the Americas. Floridosentis includes 2 species distributed in Mexico, i.e., Floridosentis pacifica, restricted to the Pacific Ocean near Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, and Floridosentis mugilis, distributed along the coast of the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. We sampled 18 populations of F. mugilis and F. pacifica (12 from the Pacific and 6 from the Gulf of Mexico) and sequenced a fragment of the rDNA large subunit to evaluate phylogenetic relationships of populations of Floridosentis spp. from Mexico. Species identification of museum specimens of F. mugilis from the Pacific Ocean was confirmed by examination of morphology traits. Phylogenetic trees inferred with maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference indicate that Floridosentis is monophyletic comprising of 2 major well-supported clades, the first clade corresponding to F. mugilis from the Gulf of Mexico, and the second to F. pacifica from the Pacific Ocean. Genetic divergence between species ranged from 7.68 to 8.60%. Intraspecific divergence ranged from 0.14 to 0.86% for F. mugilis and from 1.72 to 4.49% for F. pacifica. Data obtained from diagnostic characters indicate that specimens from the Pacific Ocean in Mexico have differences in some traits among locations. These results are consistent with the phylogenetic hypothesis, indicating that F. pacifica is distributed in the Pacific Ocean in Mexico with 3 major lineages.

Patterns of host specificity among the helminth parasite fauna of freshwater siluriforms: testing the biogeographical core parasite fauna hypothesis.

Host specificity plays an essential role in shaping the evolutionary history of host-parasite associations. In this study, an index of host specificity recently proposed was used to test, quantitatively, the hypothesis that some groups of parasites are characteristics of some host fish families along their distribution range. A database with all published records on the helminth parasites of freshwater siluriforms of Mexico was used. The host specificity index was used considering its advantage to measure the taxonomic heterogeneity of the host assemblages and its appropriateness for unequal sampling data. The helminth parasite fauna of freshwater siluriforms in Mexico seems to be specific for different host taxonomic categories. However, a relatively high number of species (47% of the total helminth fauna) is specific to their respective host family. This result provides further corroboration for the biogeographic hypothesis of the core helminth fauna proposed previously. The statistical values for host specificity obtained herein seem to be independent of host range. However, the accurate taxonomic identification of the parasites is fundamental for the evaluation of host specificity and the accurate evolutionary interpretation of this phenomenon.

Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA reveals a complex of cryptic species in Crassicutis cichlasomae (Digenea: Apocreadiidae), a parasite of Middle-American cichlids.

We obtained nuclear ITS-1 and mitochondrial cox1 sequences from 225 Crassicutis cichlasomae adults collected in 12 species of cichlids from 32 localities to prospect for the presence of cryptic species. This trematode is commonly found in species of cichlids over a wide geographic range in Middle-America. Population-level phylogenetic analyses of ITS-1 and cox1, assessments of genetic and haplotype diversity, and morphological observations revealed that C. cichlasomae represents a complex of seven cryptic species for which no morphological diagnostic characters have been discovered thus far. Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood analyses of concatenated datasets (906 bp) recovered eight lineages of C. cichlasomae, all with high posterior probabilities and bootstrap branch support. Values of genetic divergence between clades ranged from 1.0% to 5.2% for ITS-1, and from 7.2% to 30.0% for cox1. Morphological study of more than 300 individuals did not reveal structural diagnostic traits for the species defined using molecular evidence. These observations indicate that some traditional morphological characters (e.g., testes position) have substantial intra-specific variation, and should be used with caution when classifying C. cichlasomae and their sister taxa. Additionally, phylogenetic analyses did not reveal a strict correlation between these cryptic species and their host species or geographic distribution, however it appears that genetic distinctiveness of these cryptic species was influenced by the diversification and biogeographical history of Middle-American cichlids.

Detecting a complex of cryptic species within Neoechinorhynchus golvani (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) inferred from ITSs and LSU rDNA gene sequences.

Neoechinorhynchus golvani is an intestinal parasite of freshwater and brackish water fishes distributed in Mexico. The genetic variability of 40 samples representing 12 populations from north, south, and central Mexico, and 1 from Costa Rica, was estimated by sequencing 2 nuclear genes (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2, and LSU rDNA, including the domain D2 + D3). The length of both genes ranged from 700 to 779 base pairs (bp) and from 813 to 821 bp, for ITSs and LSU, respectively. The genetic divergence among populations ranged from 19.5 to 35.3% with ITSs and from 9.28 to 19.58% with LSU. Maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony analyses were performed for each data set and also for 2 combined data sets (ITSs + LSU rDNA with and without outgroups), showing strong similarities among trees, with high bootstrap support in all cases. Genetic divergence, in combination with phylogenetic analyses, suggested that the acanthocephalan N. golvani represents a complex of cryptic species, which is composed of at least 3 lineages. The first lineage, corresponding with N. golvani, shows a wide distribution, including localities from northeastern Mexico, southwards through central and southeastern Mexico, and further down to Costa Rica. This lineage is associated with cichlid fishes in strictly freshwater environments. Lineages 2 and 3 are distributed in brackish water systems along the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific slopes, respectively; both are associated with eleotrid fishes, and apparently represent 2 cryptic species. The diversification of the eleotrid and cichlid lineages seems to be the result of independent host-switching events from the ancestral population.

A new cryptogonimid (Digenea) from the Mayan cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus (Osteichthyes: Cichlidae), in several localities of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.

Oligogonotylus mayae n.sp. is described from the intestine of the Mayan cichlid Cichlasoma urophthalmus (Günther) in Ría Lagartos, Ría Celestún, and Estero Progreso, Yucatán State. This is the second species described for Oligogonotylus Watson, 1976, the other being O.manteri Watson, 1976. The new species is readily distinguished from O. manteri by the anterior extension of the vitelline follicles. In O. Manteri, Vitelline follicles are found entirely in the hindbody, extending posteriorly to mid-testicular level. Vitelline follicles in the new species extend from teh anterior margin of posterior testis to the region between the bentral sucker and the pharynx. comparison of approximately 1,850 bases of ribosomal DNA (ITS1, ITS2, 5.8S, and 28S), and 400 bases of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) strongly supports the status of O. mayae as a new species, as compared to O. manteri collected from cichlids in other localities of Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.

Description of a new species of Crassicutis Manter, 1936, parasite of Cichlasoma beani Jordan (Osteichthyes: Cichlidae) in Mexico, based on morphology and sequences of the ITS1 and 28S ribosomal RNA genes.

A new species of Crassicutis Manter, 1936 is described from the Sinaloan cichlid Cichlasoma beani (Jordan) (Osteichthyes: Cichlidae) in the upper Río Santiago basin. Crassicutis choudhuryi n. sp. differs from most of the other nominal species by having testes located in a symmetrical position. The only other species of the genus that includes some specimens exhibiting this trait is Crassicutis intermedius (Szidat 1954), a species found in 5 species of siluriforms and 1 species of characiform in South America. However, this species differs from Cr. choudhuryi n. sp. by having testes almost half of the size, and vitelline follicles extending anteriorly to the region between the acetabulum and the intestinal bifurcation. The new species is morphologically very similar to Crassicutis cichlasomae Manter, 1936, but clearly differs from this species because of the constantly symmetrical position of the testes. Additionally, Cr. choudhuryi n. sp. is found in the Santiago River basin on the Pacific slope of Mexico, parasitizing specifically the endemic Ci. beani that does not co-occur with any other cichlid. Cr. cichlasomae exhibits more hosts (about 25 species of cichlids only in Mexico) and a wider distribution range that extends from northeastern Mexico southward to Central America, Cuba, and Brazil. To corroborate that our specimens were not conspecific with Cr. cichlasomae, sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) and the 28S ribosomal RNA genes of individuals from several populations (recently collected in southeastern Mexico) were obtained and compared to the species described herein. Sequence divergence (1.3% for the 28S and 4.0% for the ITS1) gives further support to the erection of a new species.

The phylogenetic position of Allocreadiidae (Trematoda: Digenea) from partial sequences of the 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA genes.

Species of Allocreadiidae are an important component of the parasite fauna of freshwater vertebrates, particularly fishes, and yet their systematic relationships with other trematodes have not been clarified. Partial sequences of the 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA genes from 3 representative species of Allocreadiidae, i.e., Crepidostomum cooperi, Bunodera mediovitellata, and Polylekithum ictaluri, and from 79 other taxa representing 78 families of trematodes obtained from GenBank, were used in a phylogenetic analysis to address the relationships of Allocreadiidae with other plagiorchiiforms/plagiorchiidans. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses of combined 18S and 28S rRNA gene sequence data place 2 of the allocreadiids, Crepidostomum cooperi and Bunodera mediovitellata, in a clade with species of Callodistomidae and Gorgoderidae, which, in turn is sister to a clade containing Polylekithum ictaluri and representatives of Encyclometridae, Dicrocoelidae, and Orchipedidae, a grouping supported by high bootstrap values. These results suggest that Polylekithum ictaluri is not an allocreadiid, a conclusion that is supported by reported differences between its cercaria and that of other allocreadiids. Although details of the life cycle of callodistomids, the sister taxon to Allocreadiidae, remain unknown, the relationship of Allocreadiidae and Gorgoderidae is consistent with their larval development in bivalve, rather than gastropod, molluscs, and with their host relationships (predominantly freshwater vertebrates). The results also indicate that, whereas Allocreadiidae is not a basal taxon, it is not included within the suborder Plagiorchiata. No support was found for a direct relationship between allocreadiids and opecoelids either.

Phylogenetic analysis on genera of Corallobothriinae (Cestoda: Proteocephalidea) from North American ictalurid fishes, using partial sequences of the 28s ribosomal gene.

Partial sequences of the 28S rDNA (ribosomal gene) were obtained from a total of 11 populations of 5 species (in 3 genera) of North American corallobothriine proteocephalideans. These included Corallobothrium fimbriatum (3 populations), Corallobothrium parafimbriatum (1 population), Corallotaenia minutia (1 population), Megathylacoides giganteum (2 populations), and Megathylacoides lamothei (4 populations). These sequences were used in a phylogenetic analysis to test the monophyly of Corallobothriinae and to investigate the interrelationships of the North American species. The results indicate that Corallobothriinae, as conventionally understood, is not monophyletic and that only the North American corallobothriines, parasites of ictalurid catfishes, form a monophyletic group. Corallobothrium parafimbriatum is sister taxon to a clade that includes Corallotaenia intermedia and C. minutia and not to its congener C. fimbriatum. Also, M. giganteum from Mexico appears to be more closely related to M. lamothei than to its conspecific in Canada. This and the amount of sequence divergence indicate possible cryptic speciation in its endemic host, the Lerma catfish, Ictalurus dugesi.