New record of the soft-bodied genus Franciscideres (Kinorhyncha) from Argentina, with notes on its movement and morphological variation.

Samples collected from Monte Hermoso, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina revealed the presence of specimens of the genus Franciscideres Dal Zotto et al., 2013, previously known only from Brazil. This morphotype seems to differ from the only known species, Franciscideres kalenesos Dal Zotto et al., 2013, in the following characters: (1) presence of ventrolateral tubes on segment 1, (2) introvert features, (3) each segment composed of a closed cuticular ring, (4) trunk cuticle ornamented by a secondary fringe of knob-like structures, (5) posterior margin of segment 10 ventrally terminating in two lateral and one broad triangular lobes, (6) posterior margin of segment 11 centrally terminating in four lobes (7) lateral terminal spines armed with thorn-like processes, (8) pores/sensory spots/gland cells distribution and (9) sexual dimorphism in segments 10 and 11. Because of the lack of full information about F. kalenesos from Brazil, we consider the new exemplars as Franciscideres cf. kalenesos. Additionally, we provide new information about the movement of this species using light microscopy and we compare these movements with those of other meiofaunal inhabitants.

Assessment of seawater quality and bacteriological pollution of rocky shores in the central coast of San Jorge Gulf (Patagonia, Argentina).

We assessed seasonal and spatial variability of seawater quality and bacterial pollution in two sewage-impacted and two reference rocky shores in the area of Comodoro Rivadavia, the largest city in central Patagonia. Samples taken from winter 2015 to autumn 2017 at different intertidal levels showed that the impacted sites experienced a decrease of salinity-more pronounced towards the autumn-, a slightly higher turbidity, the lowest values of dissolved oxygen, and significantly higher concentrations of nitrates throughout the year. They also were up to ten times above the legal limit of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) for recreation and fishing areas. Enterococci increased particularly during winter. All bacteriological indicators decreased markedly during spring. Principal component analysis arranged the reference sites mostly by their higher salinity, and the impacted sites by concentration of FIB, nitrates and phosphates. Impacted and reference sites overlapped towards lower levels, where the explicative variables were more stable.

A strong colonizer rules the trematode guild in an intertidal snail host.

We examined the extent to which supply-side, niche, and competition theories and concepts help explain a trematode community in which one species comprises 87% of the trematode individuals, and the remaining 15 species each have <3%. We collected and dissected the common and wide-ranging snail host Heleobia australis over four seasons from three distinct habitats from the intertidal area of the Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina. Inside a snail, trematodes interact with each other with outcomes that depend on facilitation, competition, and preemption, suggesting that dominant species should be common. The abundant trematode species, Microphallus simillimus, is a weak competitor, but has life-history traits and strategies associated with higher colonization ability that could increase its probability of invading the host first, allowing it to preempt the rare species. Rather than segregate by habitat, trematode species aggregated in pans during the summer where dominant trematode species often excluded subordinate ones. Despite losses to competition, and a lack of niche partitioning, M. simillimus ruled this species-rich trematode guild through strong recruitment and (potentially) preemption. Therefore, extremely skewed species abundance distributions, like this one, can derive from extremely skewed colonization abilities.

Strobelitatea, a replacement name for Strobeliella Cazzaniga, 1981 (Gastropoda: Tateidae), non Nordsieck, 1977 (Gastropoda: Clausiliidae).

When I proposed the name Strobeliella for a genus of supposedly microphallic snails in the family Hydrobiidae, I was unaware that it was a junior homonym of Clausilia (Strobeliella) published four years before by Nordsieck (1977).

A new Batillipedidae (Tardigrada, Arthrotardigrada) from Argentina.

A new species of marine tardigrade, Batillipes acuticauda sp. n., has been found in midlittoral sand sediments collected at Monte Hermoso beach (Buenos Aires province, Argentina). The new species differs from all other members of Batillipedidae by its combination of caudal apparatus, lateral processes and toe patterns. It is the first description of an arthrotardigrade from Argentina.

First molecular identification of Ascocotyle (Phagicola) longa in its first intermediate host the mud snail Heleobia australis.

This is the first study that used species-specific DNA primers to confirm the presence of the heterophyid Ascocotyle (Phagicola) longa Ransom, 1920 in its first intermediate host. The larval stages (rediae and cercariae) of this parasite were morphologically and genetically identified in the gonad of the intertidal mud snail Heleobia australis (d'Orbigny, 1835) (Cochliopidae) in the Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina. In addition, we asked whether the prevalence in H. australis varied between seasons. Mullets - the second intermediate host of this heterophyid - migrate in estuaries during the warmer seasons and it is expected that piscivorous birds and mammals - the definitive hosts - prey more intensively on this species at those times. Thus, the number of parasite eggs released into the tidal flat within their feces should be higher, thereby increasing the ingestion of the parasite by H. australis.We therefore expected a higher prevalence of A. (P.) longa in H. australis in the Bahía Blanca estuary during spring and summer than autumn and winter. We found that 16 out of 2,744 specimens of H. australis had been infected with A. (P.) longa (total prevalence of 0.58%). Nonetheless, the prevalence showed no significant variation between seasons. Hence, we discuss an alternative scenario where the lack of seasonal changes might be mostly related to the permanent residence of definitive hosts in the estuary and not to the seasonal recruitment of mullets. Finally, we highlight the need for more experimental and comparative approaches in order to understand the diagnosis and geographical distribution of this worldwide heterophyid.

Karyological and electrophoretic differences between Pomacea flagellata and P. patula catemacensis: Caenogastropoda: Ampullariidae

The widespread Mexican apple snail Pomacea flagellata (Say 1827) and the strictly endemic "tegogolo" P. patula catemacensis (Baker 1922) (restricted to Lake Catemaco), are the only known American Ampullariidae that have haploid complements n=13. Pomacea patula catemacensis has suffered a critical reduction in abundance due to immoderate fishing for human consumption. Chromosome slides were obtained from colchicine-injected Pomacea snails collected from nine locations along the coastal zone of the Gulf of Mexico, including Lake Catemaco, for use in principal component analysis (PCA). Total proteins in foot homogenates were analyzed through isoelectric focusing (IEF) and native-PAGE electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. The chromosome number 2n=26 was confirmed for snails from all locations, with a uniform 9 m + 4 sm formula. However, P. patula catemacensis showed significantly larger chromosomes (absolute size) than any population of P. flagellata. Pomacea patula catemacensis also differed from all populations of P. flagellata in a PCA with standardized data, i.e., independently of the absolute size difference between species. Proteins with an acid isoelectric point were dominant in the foot of both species. The electrophoresis analysis showed that P. flagellata has 17 protein bands, with an upper bound at IEF=7.6, while P. patula catemacensis has only 15 bands, with an upper bound at IEF=7 and a more evenly spaced band pattern. Molecular weights ranged from 40 to approximately 130 kDa in both species. Proteins with high values (>94 kDa) were the most abundant. Pomacea patula catemacensis showed a band of 93 kDa, which was absent from all specimens of P. flagellata. Samples of P. flagellata did not cluster according to any geographical pattern in the statistical analyses, nor did they show any taxonomically useful differences in their electrophoretic patterns that merit sub-specific discrimination.

Karyological and electrophoretic differences between Pomacea flagellata and P. patula catemacensis: Caenogastropoda: Ampullariidae

The widespread Mexican apple snail Pomacea flagellata (Say 1827) and the strictly endemic "tegogolo" P. patula catemacensis (Baker 1922) (restricted to Lake Catemaco), are the only known American Ampullariidae that have haploid complements n=13. Pomacea patula catemacensis has suffered a critical reduction in abundance due to immoderate fishing for human consumption. Chromosome slides were obtained from colchicine-injected Pomacea snails collected from nine locations along the coastal zone of the Gulf of Mexico, including Lake Catemaco, for use in principal component analysis (PCA). Total proteins in foot homogenates were analyzed through isoelectric focusing (IEF) and native-PAGE electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. The chromosome number 2n=26 was confirmed for snails from all locations, with a uniform 9 m + 4 sm formula. However, P. patula catemacensis showed significantly larger chromosomes (absolute size) than any population of P. flagellata. Pomacea patula catemacensis also differed from all populations of P. flagellata in a PCA with standardized data, i.e., independently of the absolute size difference between species. Proteins with an acid isoelectric point were dominant in the foot of both species. The electrophoresis analysis showed that P. flagellata has 17 protein bands, with an upper bound at IEF=7.6, while P. patula catemacensis has only 15 bands, with an upper bound at IEF=7 and a more evenly spaced band pattern. Molecular weights ranged from 40 to approximately 130 kDa in both species. Proteins with high values (>94 kDa) were the most abundant. Pomacea patula catemacensis showed a band of 93 kDa, which was absent from all specimens of P. flagellata. Samples of P. flagellata did not cluster according to any geographical pattern in the statistical analyses, nor did they show any taxonomically useful differences in their electrophoretic patterns that merit sub-specific discrimination.(AU)

Karyotype description of Pomacea patula catemacensis (Caenogastropoda, Ampullariidae), with an assessment of the taxonomic status of Pomacea patula

Mitotic chromosomes of the freshwater snail Pomacea patula catemacensis (Baker 1922) were analyzed on gill tissue of specimens from the type locality (Lake Catemaco, Mexico). The diploid number of chromosomes is 2n = 26, including nine metacentric and four submetacentric pairs, therefore, the fundamental number is FN = 52. No sex chromosomes could be identified. The same chromosome number and morphology were already reported for P. flagellata, i.e., the other species of the genus living in Mexico. The basic haploid number for family Ampullariidae was reported to be n = 14 in the literaure; so, its reduction to n = 13 is probably an apomorphy of the Mexican Pomacea snails. Lanistes bolteni, from Egypt, also shows n = 13, but its karyotype is much more asymmetrical, and seems to have evolved independently from P. flagellata and P. patula catemacencis. The nominotypical subspecies, P. patula patula (Reeve 1856), is a poorly known taxon, whose original locality is unknown. A taxonomical account is presented here, and a Mexican origin postulated as the most parsimonious hypothesis.

Karyotype description of Pomacea patula catemacensis (Caenogastropoda, Ampullariidae), with an assessment of the taxonomic status of Pomacea patula

Mitotic chromosomes of the freshwater snail Pomacea patula catemacensis (Baker 1922) were analyzed on gill tissue of specimens from the type locality (Lake Catemaco, Mexico). The diploid number of chromosomes is 2n = 26, including nine metacentric and four submetacentric pairs, therefore, the fundamental number is FN = 52. No sex chromosomes could be identified. The same chromosome number and morphology were already reported for P. flagellata, i.e., the other species of the genus living in Mexico. The basic haploid number for family Ampullariidae was reported to be n = 14 in the literaure; so, its reduction to n = 13 is probably an apomorphy of the Mexican Pomacea snails. Lanistes bolteni, from Egypt, also shows n = 13, but its karyotype is much more asymmetrical, and seems to have evolved independently from P. flagellata and P. patula catemacencis. The nominotypical subspecies, P. patula patula (Reeve 1856), is a poorly known taxon, whose original locality is unknown. A taxonomical account is presented here, and a Mexican origin postulated as the most parsimonious hypothesis. (AU)

Karyotype description of Pomacea patula catemacensis (Caenogastropoda, Ampullariidae), with an assessment of the taxonomic status of Pomacea patula.

Mitotic chromosomes of the freshwater snail Pomacea patula catemacensis (Baker 1922) were analyzed on gill tissue of specimens from the type locality (Lake Catemaco, Mexico). The diploid number of chromosomes is 2n = 26, including nine metacentric and four submetacentric pairs; therefore, the fundamental number is FN = 52, No sex chromosomes could be identified. The same chromosome number and morphology were already reported for P. flagellata, i.e., the other species of the genus living in Mexico. The basic haploid number for family Ampullariidae was reported to be n = 14 in the literature; so, its reduction to n = 13 is probably an apomorphy of the Mexican Pomacea snails. Lanistes bolteni, from Egypt, also shows n = 13, but its karyotype is much more asymmetrical, and seems to have evolved independently from P. flagellata and P. patula catemacensis. The nominotypical subspecies, P. patula patula (Reeve 1856), is a poorly known taxon, whose original locality is unknown. A taxonomical account is presented here, and a Mexican origin postulated as the most parsimonious hypothesis.

Karyotype description of Pomacea patula catemacensis (Caenogastropoda, Ampullariidae), with an assessment of the taxonomic status of Pomacea patula.

Mitotic chromosomes of the freshwater snail Pomacea patula catemacensis (Baker 1922) were analyzed on gill tissue of specimens from the type locality (Lake Catemaco, Mexico). The diploid number of chromosomes is 2n = 26, including nine metacentric and four submetacentric pairs; therefore, the fundamental number is FN = 52, No sex chromosomes could be identified. The same chromosome number and morphology were already reported for P. flagellata, i.e., the other species of the genus living in Mexico. The basic haploid number for family Ampullariidae was reported to be n = 14 in the literature; so, its reduction to n = 13 is probably an apomorphy of the Mexican Pomacea snails. Lanistes bolteni, from Egypt, also shows n = 13, but its karyotype is much more asymmetrical, and seems to have evolved independently from P. flagellata and P. patula catemacensis. The nominotypical subspecies, P. patula patula (Reeve 1856), is a poorly known taxon, whose original locality is unknown. A taxonomical account is presented here, and a Mexican origin postulated as the most parsimonious hypothesis.

Old species and new concepts in the taxonomy of Pomacea (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae).

The taxonomic history of the South American genus Pomacea Perry, 1810, and some shifts of systematic concepts during recent decades are briefly reviewed. Too many pre-evolutionist, shell-defined species created a gibberish, the only acceptable solution of which being perhaps a conventional, somewhat authoritarian decision based on expertise. The addition of other sources of morphological, biochemical, ecological or genetic information should not solve the problem if it is not accompanied by a sound reappraisal of the species concepts. Since the assumptions of each concept differ, any correspondence between them is irrelevant, and may drive to incompatible results. The shell variability of Pomacea canaliculata was acknowledged for most authors throughout more than a century. A recent insight into its life-history traits demonstrated they are as variable as the morphology. These findings stress the need of determining the ecological identity of any pest apple-snail population at a local scale, because its invading ability may be not exactly correlated to its taxonomical identity. Probably, all the canaliculata-like apple snails constitute a single, very variable "species" in most senses, even though different subsets may be recognized under other incommensurable concepts.

Triatoma patagonica (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), a new host for Triatoma virus.

Previous authors demonstrated that Triatoma virus (TrV) is able to infect several species of triatomines when injected with viral inoculum obtained from its original host, T. infestans. Both vertical (transovarian) and horizontal (faecal-oral) mechanisms of viral transmission were also described. In this paper we report the experimental TrV infection of a wild species from southern Argentina, T. patagonica. The inoculum consisted of clarified gut contents of infected T. infestans rubbed on the chicken skin whereupon T. patagonica individuals were fed. The results demonstrate that this is another potential host for the virus, and that the oral route is also effective for experimental interspecific infections.

Triatoma patagonica (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), a New Host for Triatoma virus

Previous authors demonstrated that Triatoma virus (TrV) is able to infect several species of triatomines when injected with viral inoculum obtained from its original host, T. infestans. Both vertical (transovarian) and horizontal (faecal-oral) mechanisms of viral transmission were also described. In this paper we report the experimental TrV infection of a wild species from southern Argentina, T. patagonica. The inoculum consisted of clarified gut contents of infected T. infestans rubbed on the chicken skin whereupon T. patagonica individuals were fed. The results demonstrate that this is another potential host for the virus, and that the oral route is also effective for experimental interspecific infections

Old species and new concepts in the taxonomy of Pomacea (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae)

The taxonomic history of the South American genus Pomacea Perry, 1810, and some shifts of systematic concepts during recent decades are briefly reviewed. Too many pre-evolutionist, shell-defined species created a gibberish, the only acceptable solution of which being perhaps a conventional, somewhat authoritarian decision based on expertise. The addition of other sources of morphological, biochemical, ecological or genetic information should not solve the problem if it is not accompanied by a sound reappraisal of the species concepts. Since the assumptions of each concept differ, any correspondence between them is irrelevant, and may drive to incompatible results. The shell variability of Pomacea canaliculata was acknowledged for most authors throughout more than a century. A recent insight into its life-history traits demonstrated they are as variable as the morphology. These findings stress the need of determining the ecological identity of any pest apple-snail population at a local scale, because its invading ability may be not exactly correlated to its taxonomical identity. Probably, all the canaliculata-like apple snails constitute a single, very variable "species" in most senses, even though different subsets may be recognized under other incommensurable concepts.

Old species and new concepts in the taxonomy of Pomacea (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae)

The taxonomic history of the South American genus Pomacea Perry, 1810, and some shifts of systematic concepts during recent decades are briefly reviewed. Too many pre-evolutionist, shell-defined species created a gibberish, the only acceptable solution of which being perhaps a conventional, somewhat authoritarian decision based on expertise. The addition of other sources of morphological, biochemical, ecological or genetic information should not solve the problem if it is not accompanied by a sound reappraisal of the species concepts. Since the assumptions of each concept differ, any correspondence between them is irrelevant, and may drive to incompatible results. The shell variability of Pomacea canaliculata was acknowledged for most authors throughout more than a century. A recent insight into its life-history traits demonstrated they are as variable as the morphology. These findings stress the need of determining the ecological identity of any pest apple-snail population at a local scale, because its invading ability may be not exactly correlated to its taxonomical identity. Probably, all the canaliculata-like apple snails constitute a single, very variable "species" in most senses, even though different subsets may be recognized under other incommensurable concepts.(AU)

Old species and new concepts in the taxonomy of Pomacea (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae).

The taxonomic history of the South American genus Pomacea Perry, 1810, and some shifts of systematic concepts during recent decades are briefly reviewed. Too many pre-evolutionist, shell-defined species created a gibberish, the only acceptable solution of which being perhaps a conventional, somewhat authoritarian decision based on expertise. The addition of other sources of morphological, biochemical, ecological or genetic information should not solve the problem if it is not accompanied by a sound reappraisal of the species concepts. Since the assumptions of each concept differ, any correspondence between them is irrelevant, and may drive to incompatible results. The shell variability of Pomacea canaliculata was acknowledged for most authors throughout more than a century. A recent insight into its life-history traits demonstrated they are as variable as the morphology. These findings stress the need of determining the ecological identity of any pest apple-snail population at a local scale, because its invading ability may be not exactly correlated to its taxonomical identity. Probably, all the canaliculata-like apple snails constitute a single, very variable [quot ]species[quot ] in most senses, even though different subsets may be recognized under other incommensurable concepts.