Tail

Abstract: Five new species of pharyngodonid (Oxyuroidea) nematodes are described from the posterior gut of Agama yemenensis (Agamidae) in Saudi Arabia: Tachygonetria paradentata n.sp., a member of the ‘T. dentata’ complex, most closely resembles T. quentini Petter, 1966 from Testudo tentoria verreauxi from South Africa in the form and disposition of cephalic sense organs; it is distinguished by having caudal alae, an anterior anal lip in the male formed by two sharply-elbowed lobes and by the fact that the terminal spine on the caudal appendage of the male is much shorter than that in T. quentini. Alaeuris asirensis n.sp. is most similar to a species described as Thelandros sexlabiata Ortlepp, 1933 from Testudo tentoria verreauxi from South Africa: the last pair of caudal papillae in the male is subterminal, and there are six lips and a slight prevulvar swelling in the female. Males of the two species are easily distinguished by the presence of caudal alae and a longer caudal appendage in A. asirensis females are distinguished by the fact that lips are less developed in the new species. The fact that two such similar species cannot be included in the same genus reflects the need for a redefinition of Alaeuris. Thelandros agama n.sp. resembles T. alatus Wedl, 1862 from Uromastix sp. in North Africa in the cephalic structure of the female and in the shape of the peduncles supporting adanal papillae in males; the new species is distinguished by its longer spicule and by the presence of caudal alae and the absence of lips in males. T. masaae n.sp. resembles T. taylori Chatterji, 1935 and T. baylisi Chatterji, 1935 from Agama sp. and Uromastix sp. in India in that the peduncles supporting the caudal papillae in the male are elongate; it differs from both and from all other members of the genus in that the vulva is located at the end of a long tube-like exvagination of the body wall and the anterior anal lip of the male is simple rather than fringed. T. petterae n.sp. resembles T. taylori and T. baylisi in having well-developed caudal alae in males and six prominent lips in females; it is distinguished from both by its flask-shaped adanal peduncles in the male. Thelandros is redefined to include only those species in which the pre- and adanal papillae are pedunculate and the opening to the spicular pouch is markedly postanal. The nine genera of the Pharyngodonidae in herbivorous and omnivorous reptiles form an evolutionary line distinct from that in insectivorous reptiles. It is suggested that this line arose in tortoises in Laurasia in the Eocene, spread with these hosts to Africa, Madagascar and South America, and subsequently underwent evolutionary radiations in each of these regions. Pharyngodonids of A. yemenensis have a double origin: the Thelandros spp. probably evolved with agamids whereas species of Tachygonetria and Alaeuris are likely captures from tortoises. ac]19831111

Abstract: There are several human atavisms that reflect our common genetic heritage with other mammals. One of the most striking is the existence of the rare ‘true human tail’. It is a rare event with fewer than 40 cases reported in the literature. The authors report a case of an infant born with the true tail. A 3-month-old baby girl, presented with an 11 cm long tail, which was successfully surgically removed. Human embryos normally have a prenatal tail, which disappears in the course of embryogenesis by programmed cell death. Recent advances in genetic research reveal that ‘of those organs lost, in evolution, most species carry ‘genetic blue prints’. Thus, rarely the appearance of ancient organs like tail may be the result of re-expression of these switched off gene.

Abstract: Two new species, including a new genus of rhigonematid nematode, are described from Archispirostreptus tumuliporus (Spirostreptida; Diplopoda) from Malawi. Brumptaemilius justini n.sp. resembles Brumptaemilius sclerophorus, the type species, and Brumptaemilius oschei in the form of the area rugosa in the male. It differs from male B. sclerophorus in having a caudal appendage which is longer and supports the last pair of caudal papillae; this pair is anterior to the caudal appendage in B. sclerophorus. Male B. justini differ from those of B. oschei in having a shorter caudal appendage, distinctly set off from the rest of the body, and in possessing a field of tiny bosses on either side in the anal region. Waerebekeia n.gen., with type species Waerebekeia simoni n.sp., resembles Brumptaemilius since males have a urceolate buccal cavity with three prominent pennate cuticular projections and three trifid teeth at its base. The genera are distinguished by the shape of the oral opening in the male (laterally el...