Light-Matter Interaction near the Schwinger Limit Using Tightly Focused Doppler-Boosted Lasers.

Strong-field quantum electrodynamics (SF QED) is a burgeoning research topic dealing with electromagnetic fields comparable to the Schwinger field (≈1.32×10^{18}  V/m). While most past and proposed experiments rely on reaching this field in the rest frame of relativistic particles, the Schwinger limit could also be approached in the laboratory frame by focusing to its diffraction limit the light reflected by a plasma mirror irradiated by a multipetawatt laser.

The status of Lecithochirium grandiporum (Rudolphi, 1819) (Digenea: Hemiuridae), a rarely reported and poorly known species from the Mediterranean moray eel Muraena helena L. in the Western Mediterranean.

A redescription of the poorly known Lecithochirium grandiporum (Rudolphi, 1819) is given based on numerous specimens collected from the stomach of the moray eel Muraena helena in the waters off the Scandola Natural Reserve, Corsica, in the Western Mediterranean. This species, abundant in all specimens of the moray eel studied in this region, is shown to be a valid species and not stunted specimens of L. fusiforme Lühe, 1901, a common parasite of the conger eel Conger conger which has developed in the wrong host.

A revision of Lomasoma Manter 1935 (Digenea: Fellodistomidae), with new data on the type-specimens of four species and the description of L. triglae n. sp. from Chelidonichthys lucernus (L.) (Pisces: Triglidae) in the Western Mediterranean.

Type-specimens of Lomasoma wardi (Manter, 1934), L. monolenei (Manter, 1934), L. gracile (Manter, 1934) (emend.

The occurrence of the Japanese species Dinosoma lophiomi Toman, 1973 (Digenea: Hemiuridae) in Lophius piscatorius (Teleostei) from the western Mediterranean.

Hemiurid worms from the stomach of the angler Lophius piscatorius off Corsica are described and considered to belong to a Japanese species, Dinosoma lophiomi Toman, 1973, which was originally described from an Indo-Pacific lophiid host. The apparent disjunctive distribution of this species and apparent differences in the terminal genitalia between the European and Japanese specimens are discussed. This is the first record of Dinosoma Manter, 1934 from the Mediterranean Sea.

Prosorhynchoides gracilescens (Rudolphi, 1819) (Digenea: Bucephalidae) from Lophius piscatorius L. is a species complex: a redescription of this species (sensu stricto) from the western Mediterranean and the description of P. borealis n. sp. from the northern North-East Atlantic.

The bucephalid digenean Prosorhynchoides gracilescens (Rudolphi, 1819) is a common intestinal parasite of the angler fish Lophius piscatorius in European marine waters. Detailed studies of new material collected off the coasts of both Marseilles and Corsica in the western Mediterranean, and comparison with museum material from the northern North-East Atlantic, indicated that the accepted concept of this species comprises two distinct taxa. The Mediterranean form occurs in relatively small numbers and has small eggs, a large rhynchus and a vitelline distribution that finishes well short of the rhynchus, whereas the NE Atlantic form, which comprises the majority of records, occurs often in large numbers, has larger eggs, a relatively smaller rhynchus and a vitelline distribution that tends to reach the rhynchus.

Four closely related but forgotten species of Rhipidocotyle Diesing, 1858 (Digenea: Bucephalidae) in fishes from European seas.

The following species of Rhipidocotyle are described: R. minima (Wagener, 1852) from Chelidonichthys gurnardus, C. lastoviza and Aspitrigla cuculus at various localities off the British Isles; R.

Three poorly known and rarely reported bucephalid species (Digenea) in fishes from the Western Mediterranean.

Three poorly known bucephalid species are described from off Corsica, in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Bucephalus gorgon (Linton, 1905) (syn. B.

Two species of the fish digenean genus Rhipidocotyle Diesing, 1858 (Bucephalidae) reported for the first time from European seas.

Two species of Rhipidocotyle are described from waters off the Scandola Nature Reserve, Corsica, France: these are the first records of these species from the Mediterranean Sea. R. capitata (Linton, 1940) from Auxis rochei and R.

Redescriptions of Magnibursatus blennii (Paggi & Orechhia, 1975) n. comb. and Arnola microcirrus (Vlasenko, 1931) (Digenea: Derogenidae) from marine teleosts off Corsica.

Two species of halipegine derogenids are redescribed in detail from marine fishes off Corsica. Following a study of specimens from blennies off Corsica and museum material, Tyrrhenia Paggi & Orecchia, 1975 is considered to be a synonym of Magnibursatus Naidenova, 1969, and its type-species, T blennii Paggi & Orecchia, 1975, is transferred to the latter genus as M. blennii (Paggi & Orecchia, 1975) n.

Redescription of Pleorchis polyorchis (Stossich, 1889) (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae), a rare and poorly known parasite of the intestine of Sciaena umbra l. (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from the western Mediterranean Sea.

Pleorchis polyorchis (Stossich, 1889), the type-species of the genus, is described on the basis of new material from Sciaena umbra from off Corsica, France. This is only the second description of this species. The results of this study indicate that there are apparent errors in the original description in relation to the number of testes, the anterior limit of the vitellarium, the extent of the post-testicular field and the shape of the intestinal caeca, and that the type-species is closer to its congeners than previously believed.

Cephalolepidapedon saba Yamaguti, 1970 (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae), the redescription of a species newly reported in European waters.

The lepocreadiid Cephalolepidapedon saba Yamaguti, 1970 is redescribed from Scomber japonicus in the western Mediterranean. The circum-oral spine rings and terminal genitalia are described in detail for the first time and the short excretory vesicle is confirmed. This is the first record of this distinctive parasite from European waters.

Four species of Stephanostomum Looss, 1899 (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from Seriola dumerili (Risso) (Teleostei: Carangidae) in the western Mediterranean, including S. euzeti n. sp.

Four species of Stephanostomum are described from various sites in Seriola dumerili from off Corsica, France. S. ditrematis (Yamaguti, 1939), from the stomach, pyloric caeca and duodenum, has 36 circum-oral spines.

Ancylocoelium typicum Nicoll, 1912 (Digenea: Monorchiidae), a poorly known parasite of Trachurus spp. (Teleostei: Carangidae) from the western Mediterranean and north-eastern Atlantic, and observations on its taxonomic position.

The monorchiid digenean Ancylocoelium typicum Nicoll, 1912, a parasite of the horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus (Carangidae), was essentially known from two descriptions based, respectively, on one and three specimens. It is redescribed and figured in detail based on numerous specimens from the rectum of three Trachurus spp. off Corsica in the western Mediterranean.

Tormopsolus orientalis Yamaguti, 1934 (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from Seriola dumerili (Risso) (Perciformes: Carangidae) in the western Mediterranean Sea.

Tormopsolus orientalis Yamaguti, 1934, is redescribed from Seriola dumerili from off Corsica, Majorca and Aguilas, SE Spain. The vitellarium is interrupted at the level of the ovary and both testes, and a bipartite seminal vesicle is found in many specimens. Oral sucker papillae are always seen.

First report of a species of Folliculovarium Gu and Shen, 1983 (Bucephalidae: Prosorhynchinae) from European marine waters, with the description of F. mediterraneum n. sp.

Folliculovarium mediterraneum n. sp. is described and figured in detail from the intestine of the Mediterranean moray eel Muraena helena (Muraenidae) in the Scandola Nature Reserve, off Corsica in the Western Mediterranean.

Opecoelidae (Digenea) from western Mediterranean fishes: three rare species.

Three little-known opecoelid digeneans from marine fishes off Corsica, France, are redescribed and their relationships discussed. Plagioporus novella Maillard & Lambert, 1978 from Conger conger is transferred to Podocotyle as P. novella (Maillard & Lambert, 1978) n.

Lecithostaphylus retroflexus (Molin, 1859) (Zoogonidae) and Tergestia acanthocephala (Stossich, 1887) (Fellodistomidae) (Digenea) from the epipelagic teleost Belone belone (L.) in the western Mediterranean.

Numerous individuals of the poorly known species Lecithostaphylus retroflexus (Zoogonidae) and Tergestia acanthocephala (Fellodistomidae) have been recovered from the teleost fish Belone belone gracilis from off the Scandola Nature Reserve, Western Mediterranean. They are redescribed, incorporating previously undescribed features: for L. retroflexus, a post-oral ring, a bipartite seminal vesicle, the shape of the excretory vesicle, the subterminal excretory pore and the flask-shaped gland-cells associated with the distinctly pedunculate ventral sucker; and for T.

Cercaria sevillana n sp, a new cercaria (Digenea: Microphallidae) from Nassarius reticulatus (L) (Mollusca: Prosobranchia) in Portugal.

Cercaria sevillana n. sp. (Digenea: Microphallidae) was discovered infecting the gonads and digestive gland of the prosobranch Nassarius reticulatus (L.