ALBERT

Notes: Gyrometra kunduchi n.sp. from the body cavity of Plectorhinchus pictus from the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Tanzania is described and figured. The new species is differentiated from G. albotaenia, the only species of the genus, by the absence of an apical pit, the extent of testes and vitellaria and measurements of the various organs.

Notes: Abstract The rate of reduction of different doped and undoped manganese dioxide samples by hydrazine solution was followed by estimating the nitrogen liberated. The rate of this reaction may be used to estimate the depolarizing activity of the various manganese dioxides. Compared to the undoped sample, a higher rate of N2-evolution was observed in the case of samples doped with ions of valency higher than 4, whereas a lower rate was found for samples doped with ions of valency ⩽ 4. On the other hand, the oxidation of a Cr(III)-solution by the different doped and undoped samples exhibited the reverse trend to the oxidation of the hydrazine solution, suggesting that the mechanism of the two oxidation reactions are different.

Notes: Abstract Doped manganese dioxide samples, containing cations of different valency, were prepared. The doped and undoped samples contained small amounts of physically held and chemically bound water. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the doped samples were very similar to the pattern of the undoped sample and they all belong to theβ-modification mixed withε-MnO2 andα-Mn2O3. The specific surface area of the samples measured by nitrogen adsorption and calculated by theα s-method was in the range 2–5 m2g−1, indicating a lower porosity and a lower reactivity compared to theγ-forms. From measurements of pore radii the pores were classified as lying in the mesopore/macropore range (8–35 nm). A decrease in the mean pore radius was observed for the doped samples except for that doped with Li+ ions.

Notes: Abstract Thermal analyses were carried out for the simple complexes [Co(NH3)6]Cl3 and K3[Fe(CN)6] together with the double complex [Co(NH3)6][Fe(CN)6] using thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis (DTA) and derived DTA (DDTA). Two series of silica-supported catalyst samples were prepared with soaking periods ranging from 5 h to 7 days, and likewise investigated. Structural changes of the original samples and their thermally treated products obtained at temperatures 〈 500 °C were monitored using X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. Textural variations were also studied using the N2 adsorption technique. The decomposition of the simple complex [Co(NH3)6]Cl3 occurs in two main steps that give rise to two asymmetric endothermic peaks centred at 225 and 350 °C. The first step involves two decomposition processes in which primarily two chloride ions migrate to the inner coordination sphere, thereby releasing two coordinated NH3 that are evolved, followed by simultaneous decomposition and reduction to CoCl2 · 2NH3. The second step involves the decomposition of this latter compound to CoCl2 with some reduction to Co. K3[Fe(CN)6] decomposes in a more complex manner, yet two strong exotherms are observed at ∼ 345 and 400 °C — the former being accompanied by a loss in weight due to its decomposition, whereas the latter is accompanied by a small increase in weight where an oxidation process seems to take place with its further decomposition. The double complex [Co(NH3)6][Fe(CN)6] exhibits five consecutive decomposition steps in the temperature range 210–305 °C. The first is reproduced as an endotherm at ∼ 180 °C, whereas the remaining four steps cannot be distinguished separately by DTA due to the strong exothermic effects and only two exotherms are observed at ∼ 255 and 280 °C. The steps are identified according to the simultaneous reaction of six molecules together, leaving a final solid product with empirical formula Fe(CN)2Co. X-ray diffraction of the double complex retains the characteristics of the constituent simple complexes with the appearance of two new very strong bands with a d- spacing of 0.5483 and 0.3005 nm. The specific surface areas of the catalyst samples are found to depend on the ion moiety supported first during preparation as well as on the soaking period. The catalyst samples are predominantly microporous and the variations in surface characteristics are discussed. V I-t plots reveal the presence of two groups of pore sizes in some cases.

Notes: Abstract Specimens collected from the large intestine of the side-neck turtles, Podocnemis expansa and P. vogli, in Colombia are found to be identical to those previously identified as Atractis ortleppi Thapar, 1925 and are here redescribed in detail using light and scanning electron microscopy. This redescription, however, demonstrated fundamental differences from the genus Atractis and its type-species A. dactyluris. A new genus Podocnematractis is proposed to accommodate it as P. ortleppi (Thapar, 1925) n.comb. Other atractid specimens collected from the same hosts include specimens that are assigned to the new genus as P. colombiaensis n. sp. The new genus is characterised by having cephalic shields and well-developed lateral alae. The new species, P. colombiaensis, can be differentiated from P. ortleppi by the presence of distinct large spines arranged in rows on the posterior dorsal surface of the body. Podocnemis expansa and P. vogli are new hosts for Podocnematractis ortleppi.

Notes: Summary A new genus, Cervicaprastrongylus, is proposed for Ostertagia (Grosspiculagia) skrjabini Singh & Pande, 1963, previously renamed Ostertagia (Grosspiculagia) malviyai by Chaturvedi & Kansal in 1977. The new genus is distinguished from Hyostrongylus by the structure of the spicules, the branching of the dorsal ray, the structure of the genital cone and the arrangement of the rays of the lateral lobe of the bursa. Other species transferred to the new genus in new combinations are Hyostrongylus gabonensis Durette-Desset & Chabaud, 1974 and H. moreli Durette-Desset & Denke, 1978. The genera Bergheia, Hyostrongylus and Parostertagia are discussed and the present position of the four separate species named Ostertagia skrjabini is reviewed.

Notes: Summary A new paramphistomatid, Australotrema brisbanensis n.g., n.sp. from the intestine of Trachystoma petardi from the Brisbane River is described and illustrated. It is assigned to the subfamily Dadaytrematinae and distinguished from other members of the subfamily by the shape of the acetabulum which has a transverse opening guarded by a strong muscular sphincter. ac]19801204

Notes: Summary Abbreviata kuwaitensis n.sp. from the stomach of Gerbillus cheesmani and Meriones crassus in Kuwait is close to A. leiperi but differs from it in the shape and size of the spicules, the position of the vulva and the size of the eggs. The larval stage of Taenia endothoracicus is reported for the first time from the body-cavity of G. cheesmani. Hymenolepis diminuta was found in the intestine of Meriones crassus for the first time. Thirty Cheesman's gerbils (Gerbillus cheesmani Thomas, 1917) and 10 Sundervall's jirds (Meriones crassus Sundervall, 1842) were examined in August 1976 for helminth parasites in the State of Kuwait. One species of adult nematode and one adult and one larval cestode were found.

Notes: Summary Four new species of trichostrongylid nematodes and a hitherto unknown female from East African artiodatylids are described and figured. Ostertagia kenyensis is distinguished by the shape of the spicules and the bursal rays and O. angusdunni n.sp. from Taurotragus oryx by the shape and ornamentation of the distal tip of the spicules. Cooperia rotundispiculum n.sp. from Redunca redunca is distinguished by the shape of the spicules and Paracooperia tragelaphi n.sp. from Tragelaphus scriptus by the size of the ventral rays and the shape of the genital cone. Female specimens from Tragelaphus scriptus are tentatively assigned to the family Trichostrongylidae and have a single ovejector. ac]19790420

Notes: Abstract Two digeneans are reported from the intestine of the needlefish Ablennes hians (Valenciennes, 1846) from Kuwait. Prolecitha obesa Manter, 1961 is redescribed and an eversible acetabulum and a sinus-sac, not previously reported, are found. The synonymy of P. beloni, Lobatovitelliovarium fusiforme and Follicovitellosum indicum with P. obesa is confirmed and Cryptodiscus indicus is added to the list. Neohaplosplanchnus ablennis n. g., n. sp. is characterized by having a large acetabulum with a longitudinal opening bearing two auricular appendages at its posterior end and by having ‘salivary’ glands. The new genus is attached to the family Haplosplanchnidae, subfamily Pseudoschikhobalotrematinae, and differentiated from other genera of the family. The subfamily Pseudoschikhobalotrematinae is redefined and a key is provided to its genera.