The 100 most-cited articles in Zootaxa, 2020

A list of all valid 6,206 extant and 296 fossil species of Ceratopogonidae described worldwide is provided, along with all their synonyms. A full citation and the country of origin of the type is given, with some larger countries also providing a more specific state or province. For the first time, worldwide, nomina dubia are identified. Numbers of species of each genus and subgenus are listed. Within subfamilies and tribes, genera are listed alphabetically. Five species have newly recognized authors, four have new names and 28 new combinations are recognized, with these listed in a table. A commentary on the state of the systematics in the family and particularly of Culicoides Latreille is given. The museums of the world are listed with the types of various authors of Ceratopogonidae species indicated. Authors providing regional catalogs, as well as summation of various collections are tabulated. The rate of description since 1758 indicates a steady progression of description, with, for example, 1,231 valid species described since the compilation of the world species by Borkent…

A checklist of the dragonflies and damselflies occurring in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India (including Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is presented. In total 588 (including 559 full species) taxa are known to occur in the region of which 251 taxa (species subspecies) are single country endemics. Recent taxonomic changes relevant to the area are summarized. Sixteen taxa are synonymized and a checklist of all synonyms established since 1950 is provided. Information is given on available larval descriptions including a list of genera present in the region for which no larvae have yet been described. Numerous species occurring in the area are still poorly known and a list of genera for which a revision is urgently needed is provided. The following new synonyms are established: Calicnemia sudhaae Mitra, 1994 = Calicnemia imitans Lieftinck, 1948 syn. nov.; Ceriagrion fallax cerinomelas Lieftinck, 1927 = Ceriagrion fallax Ris, 1914 syn. nov.; Ceriagrion fallax pendleburyi Laidlaw, 1931 = Ceriagrion fallax Ris, 1914 syn. nov.; Coenagrion kashmirus Chowdhary Das, 1975 =…

References to the descriptions and redescriptions of the 742 species of Ixodidae published from 1758 to December 31, 2019 are compiled, with the goal of enabling tick taxonomists to readily access this diffuse and often confusing literature. Additionally, data resulting from this effort are critically analyzed to demonstrate the problems attending correct identification of several tick species that are of medical, veterinary and/or evolutionary importance, and to highlight the need for new or enhanced diagnostic techniques. Recent morphological and molecular studies indicate that some ixodid species names represent more than one taxon; therefore, it is expected that new species will be described in the near future, based partly on material already deposited in museums around the world.

The world fauna of the flat wasps (Bethylidae) is represented by about 3,000 valid species. The skeletal morphology of bethylids is still not adequately understood and the terminology is generally not standardized between its internal taxa and with other Hymenoptera families. The same scenario exists in most of the families in this order. To address this problem, we describe the external skeletal morphology of Bethylidae. We review the terms used to describe skeletal features in the Hymenoptera in general and a consensus terminology is proposed for Bethylidae, which is linked to the online Hymenoptera Anatomy Ontology. The morphology of the studied specimens is illustrated with photos and line drawings. We also discuss the morphological variation at both subfamilial and generic ranks. Our analyses challenge hundreds of inappropriate, confused or imprecise terms traditionally used for Hymenoptera morphology. As a result, we have applied hundreds of updates of the terminology available online at the Hymenoptera Anatomy Ontology.

Morocco is a well known hot-spot of biodiversity in the Mediterranean basin. While some taxa like vascular plants are relatively well recorded, important groups of pollinators like bees are still understudied. This article presents an updated checklist of the bee species of Morocco and includes a summary of global and regional distribution of each species. A total of 961 species belonging to six bee families and 68 genera are recorded: Andrenidae (8 genera, 217 species); Apidae (15 genera, 241 species); Colletidae (2 genera, 74 species), Halictidae (12 genera, 144 species), Megachilidae (28 genera, 271 species) and Melittidae (3 genera, 14 species). Among them, 67 species are recorded for the first time in Morocco. Around 70% of the bee fauna of Morocco consists of widespread Palaearctic species. Only 18% of Moroccan species recorded are restricted to North Africa and 8% are Moroccan single-country endemics (81 species). Afrotropical elements in the Moroccan fauna are few, with only 3% of Morocco species co-occuring in that region. This checklist is intended to stimulate new…

The current status of the inland waters ichthyofauna of Turkey is revised, and an updated checklist of the freshwater fishes is presented. The latest checklist included all species listed in the available previous study that was published in 2015, which is now updated after a period of five years. We revised the validity of previously accepted species and added newly described and reported species in Turkey. Some previously erroneously reported species and not established alien fishes were excluded from this checklist. A total of 384 fish species belonging to 20 orders and 34 families have been reported in the inland waters of Turkey. Among these, 15 species (3.9%) are non-native and 208 species (54.2%) are considered as endemic to Turkey. A total of 119 species previously reported from Turkey have been excluded from Turkish ichthyofauna list, either in the present study or in previous studies.

The distributions of the Afrotropical Anopheles mosquitoes were first summarized in 1938. In 2017, an extensive geo-coded inventory was published for 48 sub-Saharan African countries, including information such as sampling methods, collection dates, geographic co-ordinates and the literature consulted to produce the database. Using the information from the 2017 inventory, earlier distribution lists, museum collections and publications since 2016, this paper presents an updated, simplified list of Anopheles species by mainland countries and associated Afrotropical islands, with comments where applicable. It is intended as a supplement to the 2017 geo-coded inventory.

An updated and extensively revised checklist of the arthropods of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) is presented 11 years after the publication of the original in 2008. It integrates and quantifies all the terrestrial and surrounding marine arthropod species (plus those of Tardigrada and Onychophora), reported in the zoological literature for Hispaniola through the middle of 2019. A total of 9,920 valid species (8,202 extant and 1,718 fossil) are listed, which represents an increase of 1,683 species (1,369 extant and 314 fossil) from the original list. The largest component is Insecta (6,784 extant and 1,136 fossil), including 2,206 extant species of Coleoptera, 1,042 species of Hemiptera, 929 species of Diptera, 913 species of Lepidoptera and 774 species of Hymenoptera. Emphasis is on reviewing and updating the original list, including all newly recorded taxa and all pertinent taxonomic changes proposed since then. Important corrections have been made, and explanatory notes have been added. For example, multiple authors have confused the Lesser Antillean island of Dominica…

An annotated checklist for the freshwater fishes from Paraná State, Brazil is provided. A total of 440 freshwater fish species are recorded for the state, distributed across five ecoregions: Upper Parana, Lower Parana, and Iguassu, all within the rio Paraná basin, and corresponding to the state's Inland Slope, and Southeastern Mata Atlantica and Ribeira de Iguape, corresponding to the Atlantic Slope, encompassing minor coastal drainages emptying in the Baía de Paranaguá or in the Baía de Guaratuba, and the rio Ribeira de Iguape basin, respectively. The Upper Parana ecoregion ocuppies the larger in area in the state, and is divided into the following sub-ecoregions: Floodplain, Paranapanema, Piquiri, and Ivaí. Species richness for each ecoregion is as follows: 273 species for the Upper Parana (Paranapanema sub-ecoregion, 217 species; Floodplain sub-ecoregion, 193 species; Piquiri sub-ecoregion, 154 species; Ivaí sub-ecoregion, 132 species), 154 species in the Lower Parana, 127 species in the Iguassu, 68 species in the Southeastern Mata Atlantica, and 50 species in the Ribeira de…

Eurythenes S. I. Smith in Scudder, 1882 are one of the largest scavenging deep-sea amphipods (max. 154 mm) and are found in every ocean across an extensive bathymetric range from the shallow polar waters to hadal depths. Recent systematic studies of the genus have illuminated a cryptic species complex and highlighted the benefits of using a combination of morphological and molecular identification approaches. In this study, we present the ninth species, Eurythenes plasticus sp. nov., which was recovered using baited traps between the depths 6010 and 6949 m in the Mariana Trench (Northwest Pacific Ocean) in 2014. This new Eurythenes species was found to have distinct morphological characteristics and be a well-supported clade based on sequence variation at two mitochondrial regions (16S rDNA and COI). While this species is new to science and lives in the remote hadal zone, it is not exempt from the impacts of anthropogenic pollution. Indeed, one individual was found to have a microplastic fibre, 83.74% similar to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), in its hindgut. As this species has a…

Following an exhaustive review of published molecular data and morphological characters, we propose a new generic classification for the Cyprinodontiform family Aphaniidae. The generic concept applied is based on monophyly, reasonable compactness, and morphological diagnoses. The proposed genera are monophyletic and compact groups that can be diagnosed by a combination of morphological characters. All species in Aphaniidae are morphologically homogeneous and have similar scale patterns, fin positions, and meristic characters. However, only a handful of morphological characters, including colour patterns, permit identification. We propose separation of Aphaniidae into eight monophyletic genera: Anatolichthys, Aphaniops, Aphanius, Kosswigichthys, Paraphanius, and Tellia, in addition to the new genera Esmaeilius and Apricaphanius, which are described for the species of the A. sophiae and A. iberus species groups, respectively. The original description of Aphanius hormuzensis does not fulfil the criteria of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, therefore this taxon is…

We present an annotated list of 11 Scolytinae and Platypodinae species newly or recently introduced to France. Four species are recorded for the first time as interceptions: Euplatypus hintzi (Schaufuss), Euplatypus parallelus (Fabricius), Xyleborus affinis Eichhoff and Xyleborus ferrugineus (Fabricius). Two are possibly naturalised: Xyleborus bispinatus Eichhoff and Cryphalus dilutus Eichhoff, while Cyclorhipidion distinguendum (Eggers) and Xyloterinus politus (Say) are confirmed as species newly established in Europe. Moreover, an unidentified species of Amasa Lea, collected previously in Spain, is recorded for the first time in France: Amasa sp. near truncata (Erichson). We point out that literature references to Amasa truncata as an invasive species in New Zealand and South America are incorrect, as the photographs of these non-native populations do not match the holotype of A. truncata. For each species we have updated its global distribution, detailed all French records, and summarized biology, ecology, host trees and potential risks as pests.

We present a revision of the Neotropical bat genus Chiroderma, commonly known as big-eyed bats. Although species of Chiroderma have a wide distribution from western México to southern Brazil, species limits within Chiroderma are not clearly defined, as attested by identification errors in the literature, and there is no comprehensive revision of the genus that includes morphological and molecular data. Our review is based on phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial (COI and CYTB) and two nuclear (RAG2 and DBY) genes, coalescence analyses of mitochondrial genes, and morphological analyses including type specimens of all named taxa. We recognize seven species in three clades: the first clade includes (1) C. scopaeum Handley, 1966, endemic to western México and previously considered a subspecies of C. salvini; and (2) C. salvini Dobson, 1878, a taxon associated with montane forests, distributed from México to Bolivia; the second clade includes (3) C. improvisum Baker and Genoways, 1976, endemic to the Lesser Antilles, and (4) C. villosum Peters, 1860, widely distributed on the…

A taxonomic conspectus is presented for the genus Oxysarcodexia Townsend, 1917, which is one of the most species-rich genera of New World flesh flies. It has its center of diversity in the Neotropical Region, with some species reaching into the Nearctic and a few species introduced to the Australasian and Oceanian Regions. Species within this genus are primarily dung-breeders, but some species have also been bred from vertebrate carcasses. Oxysarcodexia is defined and diagnosed, and a diagnosis, distributional data and known biological data are provided for each species together with figures of the habitus and male terminalia. Oxysarcodexia currently comprises 91 valid species, including six species newly described herein: O. alectoris sp. n. (French Guiana), O. angulosa sp. n. (Costa Rica), O. ariozanoi sp. n. (Brazil), O. graminifolia sp. n. (Colombia and Ecuador), O. maiae sp. n. (Ecuador), and O. rimata sp. n. (Ecuador). Two nominal species based on a male holotype, Oxysarcodexia bomplandi (Hall, 1937) and O subsericans (Walker, 1858), were left unidentified pending examination…

Fourteen species of Anastatus (Anastatus) Motschulsky, 1859 (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) are treated from China, of which A. (Anastatus) flavaeratus Peng and Tang n. sp. and A. (Anastatus) pariliquadrus Peng and Tang n. sp. are described based on brachypterous females. Two new synonyms are proposed, A. flavipes Sheng and Wang, 1997 under A. japonicus Ashmead, 1904 n. syn., and A. huangi Sheng and Yu, 1998 under A. gastropachae Ashmead, 1904 n. syn. The species previously reported from China under the name A. acherontiae Narayanan, Subba Rao and Ramachandra, 1960 is newly identified as Anastatus echidna (Motschulsky, 1863). Anastatus colemani Crawford, 1912, is excluded from the Chinese mainland fauna, and A. dendrolimus Kim and Pak, 1965, A. kashmirensis Mathur, 1956, and A. tenuipes Bolívar y Pieltain, 1925 are excluded from the Chinese fauna. Two previously recorded extralimital species, A. bifasciatus (Geoffroy, 1785) and A. colemani are treated as possibly present in China even though their presence was not confirmed and the records likely are based on misidentifications. Anastatus…

This checklist is the third part of a series derived from a long-term multidisciplinary project on the biodiversity of decapod crustaceans from marine and coastal environments of São Paulo state (Brazil). We integrated molecular techniques (DNA markers) and morphological analyses of adult specimens for accurate identifications. We compilated 185 species from the literature, but we confirmed the presence of 168 species: 130 of which we sampled, analyzed and obtained sequences (COI and/or 16S totalizing 113 sequences) and 38 that were not directly collected but were confirmed by analyses. In addition, 27 had their distribution removed from São Paulo due to uncertainties, and absence of material as voucher. Five species were reported for the first time on the coast of São Paulo (Calappa ocellata, Neohelice granulata, Teleophrys pococki, Teramnonotus monodi, Tetraxanthus rathbunae) and one on the Brazilian coast (Pseudomedaeus agassizi). Most of the non-sampled species previously reported on the coast of São Paulo might be considered doubtful records stablished in the past by inaccurate…

The genus Hemidactylus in Angola is represented by six species, all of them part of taxonomically and nomenclaturally challenging species complexes. We present a detailed taxonomic revision of the group in the region and describe two new species, Hemidactylus nzingae sp. nov. and Hemidactylus paivae sp. nov., both occuring in and potentially endemic to the highlands of Angola. Phylogenetic analysis using a combination of mitochondrial (ND2) and nuclear (MXRA5, PDC, RAG1) markers, as well as morphological and scalation data support the recognition of the new species. In addition, data support the revalidation of Hemidactylus bayonii Bocage, 1893, and Hemidactylus benguellensis Bocage, 1893. We also provide a redefinition of Hemidactylus longicephalus Bocage, 1873 with which we synonymize Hemidactylus mabouia molleri Bedriaga, 1892, from São Tomé in the Gulf of Guinea. Given that the type material of H. bayonii, H. benguellensis, H. longicephalus and H. mabouia molleri have all been lost or destroyed, we designate neotypes for all of these nomina for purposes of nomenclatural…

Members of the Crotalus durissus species complex are widely distributed from Mexico to Argentina in areas with mainly seasonally dry tropical deciduous forest. Although four species (C. culminatus, C. durissus, C. simus and C. tzabcan) are currently recognized, species limits remain to be tested. Previous genetic studies suggest that C. durissus and C. simus may be paraphyletic and that at least one cryptic species may be present. We analyzed 2596 bp of DNA sequence data from three mitochondrial and one nuclear gene to infer phylogenetic relationships in the Neotropical rattlesnakes. We also examined museum and wild specimens as well as captive animals to analyze morphological characters. Our results suggest that the current taxonomy of the Crotalus durissus species complex does not reflect evolutionary history. We found strong support for five independent lineages within Crotalus simus (sensu lato), with genetic and morphological evidence for three previously recognized taxa and two new species, as well as three major lineages within C. durissus that each represent species…

The Acalyptratae are a diverse, heterogenous assemblage of dozens of families of "higher flies" in the Schizophora (Diptera). There are ten acalyptrate superfamilies, two of which are reviewed and redefined here at the family-group level: Diopsoidea and Nerioidea. The superfamily Diopsoidea includes seven families: Diopsidae (two subfamilies and two tribes), Gobryidae, Megamerinidae, Nothybidae, Psilidae (three subfamilies), Somatiidae and Syringogastridae. The superfamily Nerioidea also includes seven families: Cypselosomatidae, Fergusoninidae, Micropezidae (five subfamilies), Neriidae, Pseudopomyzidae, Tanypezidae and Strongylophthalmyiidae. All 14 families are redescribed, figured and keyed, including notes on subordinate family-level groups. Homologies for external and genitalic characters are established, and the superfamilies and their family-level groups are discussed. A morphological phylogenetic analysis is provided, including representatives from all family-level groups in both ingroup superfamilies, as well as twelve outgroup taxa from five other acalyptrate…

This paper presents a catalogue of oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) recorded from Continental Southeast Asia (CSEA) covering a period of 55 years from 1965 to the first half of 2020. This subregion comprises countries that are located on the southeastern coast of the Asian continent, namely, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. For each species, information is compiled on references to the original description, subsequent re-combinations of specific name with other genera, and junior synonyms used in CSEA literature, if any, as well as type habitat, habitats recorded later, and distribution within outside CSEA. A historical review of explorations and taxonomic studies in the various countries is also provided. A total of 820 valid species including subspecies and seven doubtful species are known so far from CSEA. The valid species belong to 313 genera and subgenera, 94 families and 36 superfamilies in all of the five infraorders and two hyporders of the Suborder Oribatida. The Hyporder Brachypylina is most diverse with 620 species, followed by Mixonomata (88),…

At present the genus Lygodactylus is represented by three species in Angola confirmed by voucher specimens-L. angolensis, L. bradfieldi, and L. capensis-and two others believed to be present, but without specimens with precise localities, L. chobiensis and L. lawrencei. We present a detailed taxonomic revision of the group in Angola and describe three new species, Lygodactylus baptistai sp. nov. L. nyaneka sp. nov. and Lygodactylus tchokwe sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis using the mitochondrial marker ND2, as well as morphological data support the recognition of the new species. In addition, data suggest that specimens historically assigned to L. capensis in Angola represent misidentifications of L. nyaneka sp. nov. and L. tchokwe sp. nov. We revisit the identity of Lygodactylus laurae, a junior synonym of L. angolensis. We also present the first confirmed record of L. lawrencei in the country, using both morphological and molecular data. The description of the new species and the revision of the taxonomic identity of the Angolan populations of the genus, raises the number of species…

A new species of pincer wasps, Bocchus schmalhauseni sp. nov. (Dryinidae) is described from Rovno amber (Ukraine). The amber piece was collected in the Vladimirets District in the north-west of the Rovno region. Taking into account this new record, a total of five species of Dryinidae are registered from Rovno amber. A key to the fossil species of Bocchus Ashmead is presented. The possible reasons for the different distribution of Dryinus species on both coasts of Subparathetys are discussed.

We carried out a taxonomic revision of Ahaetulla species inhabiting Peninsular India, using a multiple criteria approach (including genetics, morphology, and geography). Our work included populations of the A. nasuta complex (widespread across the entire region, including the Western Ghats), the A. pulverulenta complex (in the Western Ghats, within Peninsular India) and the A. dispar complex (endemic to the Southern Western Ghats) which all revealed undocumented cryptic diversity. Here, we describe five new species and effect nomenclatural changes to some recognised taxa. In the A. nasuta complex, we describe four species from several latitudinal blocks of the Western Ghats and make nomenclatural emendations to the plains populations in the Indian peninsula. We effect nomenclatural change in the A. pulverulenta population of the Western Ghats and describe a new species from the A. dispar group. Our study highlights the use of a multi-criteria approach in unraveling cryptic diversity. This study also reveals a striking case of discordance between morphological and genetic divergence,…

The Chinese stiletto fly fauna is poorly known, with few species previously described and no endemic genera. A new genus and species of charismatic stiletto fly is described from northern China. Although the species was previously known from a poorly preserved specimen, the true form of this apparent bumble bee-mimic was not known until images of a live individual were discovered amongst photographs posted on iNaturalist, an online citizen scientist and biodiversity social network.

Populations in the Rufous Antpitta (Grallaria rufula) complex occupy humid montane forests of the Andes from northern Colombia and adjacent Venezuela to central Bolivia. Their tawny to cinnamon-colored plumages are generally uniform, featuring subtle variation in hue and saturation across this range. In contrast to their conservative plumage, substantial vocal differences occur among geographically isolated or parapatric populations. Working within the framework of a comprehensive molecular phylogeny, we reexamined species limits in the G. rufula complex, basing taxonomic recommendations on diagnostic differences in vocalizations and considering identifiable differences in plumage where pertinent. We identified 16 populations for species designation, including seven populations previously described as subspecies and, remarkably, six new species described herein. Within one of these species, we identified less robust vocal differences between populations that we designate as subspecies. Geographic variation exists within another species, but its critical evaluation requires…

We obtained whole genome shotgun sequences and phylogenetically analyzed protein-coding regions of representative skipper butterflies from the genus Carcharodus Hübner, [1819] and its close relatives. Type species of all available genus-group names were sequenced. We find that species attributed to four exclusively Old World genera (Spialia Swinhoe, 1912, Gomalia Moore, 1879, Carcharodus Hübner, [1819] and Muschampia Tutt, 1906) form a monophyletic group that we call a subtribe Carcharodina Verity, 1940. In the phylogenetic trees built from various genomic regions, these species form 7 (not 4) groups that we treat as genera. We find that Muschampia Tutt, 1906 is not monophyletic, and the 5th group is formed by currently monotypic genus Favria Tutt, 1906 new status (type species Hesperia cribrellum Eversmann, 1841), which is sister to Gomalia. The 6th and 7th groups are composed of mostly African species presently placed in Spialia. These groups do not have names and are described here as Ernsta Grishin, gen. n. (type species Pyrgus colotes Druce, 1875) and Agyllia Grishin, gen. n.…

A new species of Megophrys is described from Cao Bang Province, northeastern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular data. Morphologically, the new species is distinguishable from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: Size small (SVL 34.9-38.9 mm in males); tympanum visible; vomerine teeth absent; tongue not notched posteriorly; male with a single vocal sac; toes with rudimentary webbing; subarticular tubercles and lateral fringes absent on all digits; nuptial pads present on fingers I and II in males, with spicules; dorsal skin with scattered granules and tubercles; flank with tubercles; dorsum with a X-shaped dorsal ridge; dorsolateral folds prominent; a small horn-like tubercle present at the outer edge of the eyelid; dorsal surface yellowish brown with a dark brown triangle between the eyes, and a dark brown marking along the X-shaped ridge on the back. In the phylogenetic analyses, the new species is unambiguously nested within the subgenus Panophrys with interspecific uncorrected genetic p-distances (16S rRNA gene) varying from 4.26% (compared with…

This is an annotated checklist of the marine fish species of Lebanon (Levant coast, eastern Mediterranean). It comprises a total of 367 fish species distributed in 159 families and 27 orders, out of which 70 species are non-indigenous and 28 are recorded for the first time from Lebanon. The checklist includes all names and citations of species found in the literature, as well as references to specimens available in museum collections. It also includes an updated zoogeographic distribution and conservation status for each species. Threats were estimated based on surveys and observations made over the last two decades; broadly categorized conservation actions were also suggested.

The nomenclatural history of the collared and white-lipped peccaries, two well-recognized taxonomic entities, has been confusing. From the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century, several genera were created, most of them without an explicit designation of type species. Due to differing opinions as to whether the two species should be included in a single genus or, if separate genera were recognized, which generic name should be applied to each of the two taxa, the validity of generic and specific names oscillated until even recently. This paper aims to solve these nomenclatural issues by reviewing the different taxonomic arrangements of these two peccaries and applying appropriately the International Code on Zoological Nomenclature. We contend that the valid generic name for the white-lipped peccary is Tayassu Fischer, 1814 (type Sus pecari Link, 1795), while Dicotyles Cuvier, 1816 (type Dicotyles torquatus Cuvier, 1816) is the valid genus for the collared peccary, with Pecari Reichenbach, 1835 as its junior synonym.

The extant genera and subgenera of the order Scolopendromorpha are critically reviewed and provided with updated diagnoses and a new identification key; the most recent revisions of scolopendromorph genera are concisely summarised. Rhoda Meinert, 1886 and Cryptops (Chromatanops) Verhoeff, 1906 are suggested to be a junior synonyms of Scolopendropsis Brandt, 1841 and Cryptops (Cryptops) Leach, 1814, respectively. The subgeneric status is formally fixed for Cryptops (Paracryptops) Pocock, 1891 and Cormocephalus (Campylostigmus) Ribaut, 1923; the taxonomic status of the former genus Kanparka Waldock Edgecombe, 2012 is discussed. As a result of synonymies, the number of scolopendromorph genera and subgenera is currently 37. The formal status of the former tribes Scolopendrini Leach, 1814, Asanadini Verhoeff, 1907 and Arrhabdotini Attems, 1930 is briefly discussed; the presence of the sexual dimorphism among the taxa of generic level is overviewed.

Members of the Leptodactylus mystaceus species complex are widely distributed in forests and open formations of South America east of the Andes. Species of the complex are morphologically similar or indistinguishable among each other, but acoustic data have been the cornerstone for species discrimination across their geographic ranges. In this paper, we re-examine the monophyly, species diversity, and relationships in the L. mystaceus complex on the basis of morphology, coloration, acoustics, and DNA sequences. Morphological and color patterns originally used to the allocation of species to the L. mystaceus complex are also reassessed. Our results revealed three new species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, which are named and described herein, based mainly on acoustic and molecular data. Populations assigned to the lineage widely distributed across the South American Dry Diagonal (DD), reported in this study as L. cf. mystaceus, is likely paraphyletic with respect to the nominal species (Amazonian lineage), but additional data are still needed to address the taxonomic…

The neotropical fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is an important lepidopteran pest with a broad geographical distribution (Goergen et al. 2015, Early et al. 2018, Sharanabasappa et al. 2018). Larvae of S. frugiperda feed on more than 350 plant species, including several economically-important crops such as maize, sugarcane or rice (Montezano et al. 2018). Following its invasion of the African continent and of South Asia in 2016 and 2018 respectively, FAW has caused important crop losses and associated livelihood impacts (Baudron et al., 2019). During 2019, FAW rapidly spread across Southeast Asia and FAW-attributed feeding damage was recorded on maize in Viet Nam. In Viet Nam, maize is the second most important staple food crop after rice, is extensively used for livestock production and poultry feed, and thus plays a central role in sustaining rural livelihoods (Dang et al. 2004). Hence, the recent FAW invasion and the anticipated pest-induced yield losses will carry important repercussions for local maize value chains and are likely to degrade farmers'…

Invasive species threaten the ecological and economic wellbeing of a country (Pimentel et al. 2001). In the last decade, several mealybugs and soft scale insects have been accidentally introduced to India, of which some have become serious pests (e.g., Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, Paracoccus marginatus Williams Granara de Willink, Phenacoccus madeirensis Green and Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi Gimpel Miller); others are widening their host ranges and spreading rapidly. Kilifia acuminata (Signoret) and Protopulvinaria longivalvata Green seem relatively harmless but Trijuba oculata (Brain) and Pulvinaria urbicola Cockerell cause economic damage (Joshi Rameshkumar 2013; Joshi 2017).

The Detarieae, a small tribe of tropical arborescent Leguminosae, has been reported as host of two species of jumping plant-lice: the Neotropical Macrocorsa beeryi (Caldwell) on Hymenaea courbaril and the Afrotropical Retroacizzia mopanei (Pettey) on Colophospermum mopane. Here we add from Brazil 18 new species of Colophorina, Jataiba gen. nov. and Mitrapsylla from Copaifera, as well as nine species of Jataiba gen. nov. and Platycorypha from Hymenaea. In addition to Jataiba, a new genus which is created for five new species on Copaifera and one on Hymenaea, we erect the new genus Apsyllopsis for Psyllopsis mexicana, which is synonymised with Psyllia beeryi Caldwell. Two new combinations are proposed: Apsyllopsis mexicana (Crawford), comb. nov. from Psyllopsis, and Epiacizzia favis (Brown Hodkinson), comb. nov. from Euphalerus. The new taxa are described and illustrated, and keys are provided for the identification of adults and immatures, as far as known. Immatures of Apsyllopsis and Colophorina induce galls on the leaves whereas those of the other taxa are free-living. Colophorina…

The genus Panaspis in Angola is represented by four species, most of them part of taxonomically and nomenclaturally challenging species-complexes. We present a taxonomic revision of the group in the region and describe one new species, Panaspis mocamedensis sp. nov., endemic to the lowland areas of the Namibe province, southwestern Angola. Phylogenetic analysis using a combination of mitochondrial (16S, cytb) and nucleares (RAG1, PDC) markers, as well as morphological and meristic data support the recognition of the new species. In addition, these data support the presence of nominotypical Panaspis cabindae, P. wahlbergi and P. maculicollis in Angola. Reexamination of the Angolan population of P. breviceps was based on morphological analysis, as no molecular data from Angola is available for this species. According to our results, this population likely represents the nominotypical form, but due to its complex taxonomic and nomenclatural history and the lack of molecular data, this population needs to be reconsidered when molecular data become available. The description of a new…

The taxonomy of the Asian tree frog genus Feihyla has been in a state of flux ever since its proposal in 2006. Allocation of species to Feihyla remains confusing, particularly with respect to the closely related genus Chirixalus (formerly Chiromantis sensu lato). At the same time, several Chirixalus species are known only from cursory descriptions and remain poorly studied. In this study, we review the systematics of the genus Feihyla and clarify the generic placement of its members along with all other species currently assigned to Chirixalus. Based on integrative evidence gathered from new collections, examination of types and original descriptions, morphological comparisons, phylogenetic relationships inferred from a multi-gene (three mitochondrial + two nuclear) 1,937 bp dataset, as well as reproductive modes including egg-laying, nesting behaviour, and clutch morphology, our results show that the six species formerly attributed to Feihyla represent three morphologically and phylogenetically distinct groups: (1) the type species of the genus, F. palpebralis, along with F. fuhua…

A checklist of 73 gobiid species (Teleostei: Gobiidae) recorded to date from the Mediterranean Sea is established following the evidence approach for checklists. The Mediterranean gobiofauna currently has 62 known native species and 11 alien species. An identification key to gobiid species known from the area is provided. The principles of character selection for the key are discussed.

An annotated checklist of the mantis shrimps (Stomatopoda) occurring in India is compiled from published literature and specimens collected from coastal areas of Gujarat state. A total of 72 species, 35 genera, 10 families and 5 superfamilies reported from Indian waters are listed. Four species were recorded for the first time from Gujarat while one species, Erugosquilla hesperia (Manning, 1968), is confirmed for the first time from India. The maximum number of species was reported from Tamil Nadu (48 species), while fewest species were reported from Karnataka (2 species). The results also suggest that the east coast is more diverse (66 species) than the west coast of India (32 species).

As part of an ongoing revision of the Southeast Asian fauna two distinct species groups were identified and hypothesized as new genera. These species groups were monophyletic as evidenced by a Bayesian analysis of DNA sequences from four genes for 181 xyleborine taxa augmented by 18 species newly included in this phylogenetic analysis. The species groups and newly discovered species demonstrated unique combinations of diagnostic characters and levels of DNA sequence difference commensurable to other xyleborine taxa. Hence, two new genera and three new species were described: Fraudatrix gen. n., Tricosa gen. n., Tricosa cattienensis sp. n., T. indochinensis sp. n., T. jacula sp. n.. The following new combinations are proposed: Fraudatrix cuneiformis (Schedl, 1958) (Xyleborus) comb. n., Fraudatrix melas (Eggers, 1927) comb. n., F. pileatula (Schedl, 1975) (Xyleborus) comb. n., F. simplex (Browne, 1949), (Cryptoxyleborus) comb. n., Tricosa mangoensis (Schedl, 1942) (Xyleborus) comb. n., T. metacuneola (Eggers, 1940) (Xyleborus) comb. n. Keys to the females of the species included in…

Agassiz, L. (1862) Contributions to the natural history of the United States of America. Vol. 4. Little Brown, Boston, 380 pp.Aguirrezabalaga, F., Altuna, A., Borja, A., Feliu, J., GarcíaCarrascosa, A.M., Romero, A., San Vicente, C., Torres-Gómez-de-Cádiz, J.A., Uriz, M.J. Ibánez, M. (1984) Contribución al conocimiento de la fauna marina de la costa Vasca. Π. Lurralde, Investigación y espacio, 1984, pp. 83-133.Alder, J. (1856) A notice of some new genera and species of British hydroid zoophytes. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 2, 18, 353-362. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222935608697652Allman, G.J. (1873) Interim report on the hydroids collected by L.F. de Pourtalès during the Gulf Stream exploration of United States coast survey. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, 3 (7), 185-186.Allman, G.J. (1874) Report on the Hydroida collected during the expeditions of H.M.S. 'Porcupine.' Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, 8, 469-481. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1874.tb00566.xAllman, G.J. (1877) Report on the Hydroida collected…

The species of the former antlion subtribe Periclystina (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) are revised. Prior to this work Periclystina comprised 10 genera and 63 species endemic to Australia (62 spp.) and New Guinea (1 sp.). In this work two former genera are synonymized and four new genera are proposed (for a total of 12 valid genera), and six former species are synonymized and 16 new species are proposed (for a total of 73 valid species). A parsimony analysis utilizing 62 morphological characters is used to infer phylogenetic relationships among all 73 species, and suitable outgroups. Based on the results of the phylogenetic analysis, the tribal and/or generic assignments of 55 (75%) of former Periclystina species are modified here. Periclystina and its two largest genera-Austrogymnocnemia and Glenoleon-were all recovered as polyphyletic in their former circumscriptions. Ten species-placed here in six genera: Anomaloplectron, Csiroleon, Fissuleon gen. nov., Franzenia, Fusoleon and Latileon gen. nov.-clustered phylogenetically with Acanthoplectron and are transferred to the tribe…

Myxosporea (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) are common fish parasites with complex life cycles that involve annelid hosts. Two economically important salmonid-infecting myxosporeans from rivers of the northwestern United States, Ceratonova shasta (Noble, 1950) and Parvicapsula minibicornis Kent et al., 1997, have life cycles that require a freshwater annelid host, identified previously as Manayunkia speciosa Leidy, 1859. This species was described originally from Pennsylvania, with subsequent records from New Jersey, the Great Lakes and west coast river basins. Despite apparent widespread distributions of both suitable fish hosts and the nominal annelid host, both parasites are restricted to river basins in the northwestern US and have never been recorded from the Great Lakes or the eastern US. In this study, we sampled 94 infected and uninfected annelids from two northwestern US rivers to confirm the identity of the host. We found these new specimens had mitochondrial COI sequences with no more than 4.5% distance from each other, but with at least 11% divergence from M. speciosa sampled from…

The occurrence of different sponge species bearing the same Linnean binomial name combination, i.e. homonyms, is to be avoided for obvious reasons. In a review of sponge taxon names of the World Porifera Database, we detected 121 homonymic cases (115 species-group names, 6 genus-group names), involving a total of 272 nominal taxa. It is the object of the present study to remove their occurrence by proposing new names for the junior homonyms following the rules of the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature as laid down in the Code (ICZN, 1999) and the on-line edition http://iczn.org/iczn/index.jsp . Homonym cases are discussed and, where applicable, junior homonyms are either replaced by nomina nova or reassigned to their earliest available synonyms. The order in which the homonyms are treated is alphabetical on original species name, with genus names separately treated at the end. A summary table with all proposed name changes is also presented to allow quick access to the junior homonyms and their proposed new names. A total of 116 nomina nova are proposed, including…

The genera Psalistops Simon, 1889, Trichopelma, Simon, 1888 and Cyrtogrammomma Pocock, 1895 are revised and included in cladistics analyses including almost all species of these genera. In order to test previous morphological hypotheses on the relationships of Barychelidae, Paratropididae and Theraphosidae and because of the controversial taxonomic position of Psalistops and Trichopelma, a set of terminal taxa representing all subfamilies of Paratropididae (Paratropidinae, Glabropelmatinae), Barychelidae (Barychelinae, Sasoninae, Trichopelmatinae) and most theraphosid subfamilies were included, as well as a diplurid, a nemesiid, and a pycnothelid, the later used to root the cladogram. The matrix with 66 terminal taxa, 2 continuous and 93 discrete characters was analysed with TNT 1.5. We found that Trichopelmatinae is not a monophyletic group, and Psalistops is transferred to Theraphosidae, as well as the barychelid genus Cyrtogrammomma and the paratropidid genus Melloina Brignoli. Cyrtogrammomma was retrieved as the sister group of Trichopelma, and Melloina as the sister group of…

Blastopathes medusa gen. nov., sp. nov., is described from Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, based on morphological and molecular data. Blastopathes, assigned to the Antipathidae, is a large, mythology-inspiring black coral characterized by clusters of elongate stem-like branches that extend out at their base and then curve upward. Colonies are not pinnulate and contain single branches, which could represent new branch cluster formations. Morphological and molecular (mitochondrial DNA and targeted capture of nuclear loci) evidence supporting the establishment of a new genus is discussed. This is the first study to utilize the target capture of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and exonic loci to elucidate phylogenetic relationships among black corals and to identify and place a new genus and species.

Seven genera and more than 98 species of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are found in southwestern Asia (Harbach 1988). The most recent checklist of Iranian mosquitoes includes 69 species representing either seven or 11 genera depending on the classification used for aedines (Azari-Hamidian et al. 2019). Orthopodomyia pulcripalpis (Rondani) was the most recent genus and species to be added to the Iranian mosquito fauna (Azari-Hamidian et al. 2017).

Our analysis of Alona cf. affinis (Cladocera: Chydoridae) populations from European Russia, Siberia and Far East of Russia bearing denticles at the posteroventral corner, based on both their morphology and genetic study considering variability of mitochondrial COI and 16S and nuclear 18S genes, revealed that they belong to a separate taxon described here as Alona sibirica sp. nov. Previously populations with denticles at the posteroventral corner were recorded from Sweden, Finland, Ukraine, European Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, but never reported outside the temperate regions of Eurasia, so A. sibirica sp. nov. is presumably the only species of the A. affinis group with denticles at the posteroventral corner of the valves. The primary distribution area of the new species is North-East Palaearctic, while Eastern Europe and Central Asia are the areas of the species penetration, where it is less common and frequently coexisting with A. affinis s. str.

The spider family Phrurolithidae is revised in Azerbaijan, Iran and Tajikistan. The new genus Bosselaerius gen. n. is described to encompass three species: B. hyrcanicus sp. n. (type species, ♂ ♀, Azerbaijan, Iran), B. tajikistanicus sp. n. (♀, Tajikistan) and B. daoxianensis (Yin, Peng, Gong Kim, 1997) comb. n. (♂, China). Furthermore, a new species of Phrurolithus C.L. Koch, 1839, namely P. azarkinae sp. n. (♂ ♀, Azerbaijan, Iran) is described, a redescription is provided for the poorly-known P. luppovae Spassky, 1941 (♂, Tajikistan), with its female being described for the first time, and P. pullatus Kulczyński, 1897 is recorded in Iran for the first time, representing the easternmost recorded locality for this species. Finally, 27 species of Chinese Phrurolithidae currently classified in Phrurolithus are transferred to Otacilia Thorell, 1897 on the basis of somatic characters and the morphology of the copulatory organs. Distributions of all treated species are mapped.

This study aimed to raise and address nomenclatural issues surrounding Neotropical species in the genus Gnamptogenys, in addition to describing new species accumulated in myrmecological collections. New and reinstated names recognized here include G. pernambucana (Santschi) sp. rev., stat.n., G. lenis sp. n., G. latistriata sp. n., and G. avus sp. n. The queen and intercaste of G. lavra Lattke and the queen of G. pernambucana are described for the first time. For these five species we provide complete descriptions and diagnoses, comments on taxonomy and natural history, distribution data, and high-resolution images, including the first images of G. lavra. An updated identification key for all the Neotropical species of Gnamptogenys is also provided, including the new and revived species as well as G. aspera Morgan and G. pilosa Lattke, not present in previous keys for the genus.

Biogeographic regionalisations extract patterns of co-occurrence from different taxa to form a hierarchical system of geographical units of different scales. This system is useful for revealing biogeographic patterns and can be used as the basis for scientific communication between different fields. The history of Chinese freshwater biogeography is not well known to most modern biogeographers and is reviewed herein. We produce the first quantitative bioregionalisation of the freshwater zoogeographic areas of mainland China based on multiple animal groups. The combined occurrence data of amphibians, freshwater fish and freshwater crabs were subjected to cluster and network analyses. The two different methods yielded largely similar results. We propose four freshwater zoogeographical subregions (Beifang, Tarim, China, and the Tibetan subregion), three dominions for the China subregion (Jianghuai, Dongyang, and the new Dian dominion), three provinces for the Dian dominion (West Hengduan, Diannan Highlands and the new Yungui Plateau province) and two provinces for the Dongyang dominion…

Dusky salamanders (Desmognathus) constitute a large, species-rich group within the family Plethodontidae, and though their systematic relationships have been addressed extensively, most studies have centered on particular species complexes and therefore offer only piecemeal phylogenetic perspective on the genus. Recent work has revealed Desmognathus to be far more clade rich-35 reciprocally monophyletic clades versus 22 recognized species-than previously imagined, results that, in turn, provide impetus for additional survey effort within clades and across geographic areas thus far sparsely sampled. We conceived and implemented a sampling regime combining level IV ecoregions and independent river drainages to yield a geographic grid for comprehensive recovery of all genealogically exclusive clades. We sampled over 550 populations throughout the distribution of Desmognathus in the eastern United States of America and generated mitochondrial DNA sequence data (mtDNA; 1,991 bp) for 536 specimens. A Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction of the resulting haplotypes revealed forty-five…

Given the importance of acoustic communication in intraspecific recognition during mating activity, acoustic traits have been widely used to clarify the taxonomy of anurans. They have been particularly useful in the study of taxa with high morphological similarity such as the Neotropical genus Physalaemus. Here, we reviewed the acoustic repertoires of the species of Physalaemus based on homology hypotheses in order to make comparisons more properly applicable for taxonomic purposes. We covered all the known clades and species groups for the genus, analyzing 45 species (94 % of the currently recognized taxa). Different call types were labeled with letters (i.e., A, B, and C) to avoid speculative functional propositions for the call types. In order to identify correctly the observed frequency bands, we propose a method to interpret them based on the predicted graphic behavior on audiospectrogram and on the mathematic relationship among bands considering each kind of band production (e.g., harmonics and sidebands). We found different acoustic traits between the major clades P. signifer…

A new species of the xenodermatid snake genus Achalinus Peters, 1869 is described from Yunnan Province, Southwest China, based on a single male specimen. The new species is assigned to the genus Achalinus on the basis of absence of preocular and postocular, subcaudals arranged in single row, and results of phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA CO1 sequence data. Achalinus pingbianensis sp. nov. differs from its congeners by the combination of following morphological characters: absence of a loreal, internasals subequal to that between prefrontals and dorsal scales strongly keeled, 23 rows throughout. Currently, 13 species are in the genus Achalinus, further taxonomical and phylogenetic studies based on more extensive samples and more markers will help understand the cryptic diversity and clarify their interspecific relationships.

The subfamily Panchaetothripinae has been consistently recovered as a monophyletic group within Thripidae, comprising 144 species in 43 genera. Usually associated with plant leaves, 21 species from 12 genera have previously been recorded in Brazil, several being pests of a wide range of cultivated plants. Here we record four species as new to Brazil, Bradinothrips williamsi, Caliothrips nanus, C. punctipennis and Parthenothrips dracaenae. Moreover, Caliothrips cangaceiro sp. n. is described, Hoodothripiella ignacio is considered a new synonym of Elixothrips brevisetis, and Caliothrips marginipennis is a new synonym of C. punctipennis. Furthermore, the previously unknown males of B. williamsi and Hoodothrips constrictus are described. Caliothrips fasciatus is withdrawn from the Brazilian Thysanoptera list of species. Illustrated keys to adults of species recorded in Brazil are provided, together with notes on biology and brief descriptions. Parthenothrips kobusi Deventer, known only from Java, is not a member of the Panchaetothripinae and is reclassified as Bolacothrips kobusi…

A morphological cladistic analysis was carried out on talitroid Amphipoda. Each character state was carefully analysed to determine whether it could be most parsimoniously ascribed to a synapomorphy or to a homoplasy. Within the Talitroidea, two new epifamilies, the Protorchestoidae and the Talitroidae, six new families, the Uhlorchestiidae, the Protorchestiidae, the Arcitalitridae, the Brevitalitridae, the Curiotalitridae and the Makawidae and three new subfamilies in the Talitridae, the Talitrinae the Floresorchestiinae and the Pseudorchestoidinae are established. A formal classification is provided to the level of subfamilies. Families and subfamilies are diagnosed.

The updated checklist of Adriatic Sea fishes with a critical assessment of each species using an evidence approach is provided. Each fish species in Adriatic Sea listed in the last published checklist and those reported in published new records not included in the most recent Adriatic checklist, have been included. Of the total of 466 fish species, the presence in the Adriatic Sea was confirmed for 444 species by at least one positive record of the species in the area, the presence of 10 species is still unconfirmed, and 12 fish species are excluded from the list. An evidence approach protocol is recommended for general use for compiling checklists of marine fishes.

The importance of adult male morphology in elucidating the phylogeny of scale insects (Coccomorpha) was first suggested by Balachowsky and Ferris in the late 1930s. However, the first extensive comparisons of adult male morphology were made by Jancke (1955) and Theron (1958), both of whom looked at the morphology of various groups of Coccomorpha. Theron's study, under the guidance of K.L. Boratyński, set a new standard for detail and accuracy (although he did not describe the setae). These studies were closely followed by Beardsley (1962), who described the adult males of 30 mealybug species from Hawaii, and then by three more of Boratyński's students who produced highly significant monographs on particular families, namely Ghauri (1962) who described 26 species of Diaspididae, Giliomee (1967a) who described 22 species of Coccidae and Afifi (1968) who described 17 species of Pseudococcidae and 7 species of Eriococcidae. Since then, the adult males of more than 300 neococcoid species have been described in considerable detail (Appendix A). Adult males of a further 48 species are…

The skink genus Marisora ranges from Mexico to northern South America and occurs on some islands in the Caribbean Sea. We conducted a revision of the genus Marisora from Mexico and Central America, using new morphological and molecular data, and find support for the five previously described species (Marisora alliacea, M.aurulae, M. brachypoda, M. magnacornae, and M. roatanae) and describe four new species: Marisora lineola sp. nov., M. aquilonaria sp. nov., M. syntoma sp. nov., and M. urtica sp. nov. We show that two species previously known only from Central American islands, M. magnacornae and M. roatanae, also occur on the adjacent mainland and that two species recently placed in Alinea belong to this evolutionary clade: Marisora berengerae n. comb. and Marisora pergravis n. comb. Together with M. falconensis and M. unimarginata, these 13 species of Marisora arose mostly in the Pliocene and are largely allopatric but are sympatric and nearly sympatric at several locations in Central America where they maintain their morphological and genetic distinctiveness.

The use of color photographs in crayfish species descriptions, state faunal books and popular articles is relatively recent. Except for verbal color descriptions, color and color patterns have not often been explored by crayfish researchers. Carotenoids and carotenoproteins are responsible for much of the color found in the integument and exoskeleton of crayfishes and other crustaceans. Research has shown variation in color may be the result of the environment, diet, molt stage and age, genetics, or a combination of these. Crayfishes possess color vision, may use polarization vision, and have the possibility of fluorescent vision. They also have very good low light vision. Crayfishes have a multichromatic range in color sensitivity; it ranges from blue to red, with no UV sensitivity. Color vision may be an important factor in intraspecific and interspecific competition, territoriality, camouflage, sexual selection, and communication. A distinction is made between base or background colors displayed in crayfishes and their exhibited color patterns. While actual base or background…

A recent study (Simon et al. 2019) confirmed that Spirobranchus kraussii is neither a widely distributed tropical species of Indo-Pacific origin nor a Lessepsian migrant to the Mediterranean, but a large complex of species, some of which might be indeed invasive. Thus, a common intertidal gregarious serpulid, previously attributed to S. kraussii in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, is described herein as Spirobranchus sinuspersicus sp. nov., using a combination of morphological and molecular data. The new species differs from S. kraussii by smaller size, fewer abdominal chaetigers, arrangement of abdominal chaetae and shape of opercular endplate talon. Results of phylogenetic analyses of a dataset combining 18S nucleotide and Cyt-b amino-acid sequences of S. sinuspersicus sp. nov. and Spirobranchus spp. available from GenBank supported monophyly of S. kraussii complex (including S. cariniferus) nested within Spirobranchus and thus, provided molecular support for synonymy of Pomatoleios with Spirobranchus proposed based on morphological criteria. The new species forms a…

Antipatharians, also known as black corals, represent a small group of anthozoan hexacorallians found in all oceans of the world. They are generally considered a deep-water taxon; however, some of the most diverse communities are known from tropical shallow waters. With a few poorly detailed exceptions, shallow-water black corals from the Indian Ocean and especially those from Madagascar are mostly unknown. In this study, we report for the first time a highly diverse black coral assemblage of the Western Indian Ocean thriving in shallow waters and upper mesophotic depths (10-52 m depth) along the SW coast of Madagascar. A total of 22 species belonging to six genera (Antipathes, Arachnopathes, Cirrhipathes, Cupressopathes, Myriopathes and Stichopathes) and two families (Antipathidae and Myriopathidae) are described, of which 20 are found in the northern pass of the Great Reef of Toliara, thus representing the most diverse site of the areas investigated. Most of the shallow-water species from the Indian Ocean were originally described more than a century ago, sometimes without being…

Portugal is home to a rich but understudied bee fauna that was recently comprehensively documented for the first time. As part of ongoing work to improve the knowledge of Portuguese bees, efforts have been made to survey poorly recorded parts of the country and to continue to review existing material in museum collections. These efforts have resulted in 28 species newly discovered in Portugal, as well as eight species added from the literature and two taxa recently raised to full species status. Three additional species, Andrena (Lepidandrena) baetica spec. nov., Andrena (Micrandrena) omnilaevis spec. nov., and Andrena (Notandrena) foeniculae spec. nov. are described from material collected in southern Iberia, north-western Iberia, and southern Iberia, respectively. Andrena omnilaevis spec. nov. is the new name for north-western Iberian material previously identified as Andrena (Micrandrena) semilaevis Pérez. The male of Stelis hispanica Dusmet, previously only known from the holotype female, was also found and is described here. The taxon Andrena (Melandrena) limata mixtura Warncke…

We present the first record for Spain of the black twig borer, Xylosandrus compactus, an ambrosia beetle of Asian origin, collected from an infested carob tree located in Calvià (Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain). X. compactus is included in the EPPO Alert List, and it has been recently reported causing damages in a Mediterranean maquis ecosystem in Italy and Southern France. Here, we discuss about the first steps of management of this Invasive Alien species (IAS), the eradication plan and the hypothesis of the path of introduction in this Western Mediterranean island.

Pseudechiniscus is a morphologically homogeneous heterotardigrade genus with a relatively low number of morphological features useful for the species discrimination. The species of the Pseudechiniscus suillus-facettalis complex are some of the most challenging tardigrades to identify. Here, we examine several populations from Antarctica, Italy, Madagascar and Norway that would have most likely been attributed to Pse. suillus prior to the recent redescription of the species. Populations were analysed using integrative taxonomy-a combination of classical morphology and morphometry, as well as genetic data. Besides minute differences in dorsal sculpture and morphometry, we found clear, species-specific differences in ventral sculpture which are very useful in discrimination of Pseudechiniscus species. Based on morphology (mainly ventral sculpture) and significant genetic distances in COI and ITS-2 sequences, we describe five new species: Pse. angelusalas sp. nov. from Madagascar, Pse. dastychi sp. nov. from Antarctica, Pse. ehrenbergi sp. nov. from Italy as well as Pse. indistinctus…

The present paper is a contribution to the taxonomy of the genus Strandesia. Here, we describe three new species: S. thomazi nov. sp., S. galeati nov. sp. and S. nakatanii nov. sp. We also describe the male of Strandesia obtusata (Sars, 1901); this is the first record of sexual populations of a Brazilian Strandesia species. Nine other Strandesia species from the Amazon, Araguaia, Pantanal and Paraná river floodplains are redescribed. We also propose that Strandesia trichosa Roessler, 1990 is a synonym of Strandesia psittacea Sars, 1901. Most of the species analyzed here are endemic to the Neotropical region, with the exception of Strandesia bicuspis (Claus, 1892) G.W. Müller, which occurs also (as an alien invasive species) in the Palaearctic. This genus occurs in water bodies with a wide range of abiotic variables and in many different aquatic macrophyte species. The species analyzed here have a highly conservative soft part morphology, but an impressive variety of carapace shapes.

We present the first comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Gryllus field cricket species found in the United States and Canada, select additional named Gryllus species found in Mexico and the Bahamas, plus the European field cricket G. campestris Linnaeus and the Afro-Eurasian cricket G. bimaculatus De Geer. Acheta, Teleogryllus, and Nigrogryllus were used as outgroups. Anchored hybrid enrichment was used to generate 492,531 base pairs of DNA sequence from 563 loci. RAxML analysis of concatenated sequence data and Astral analysis of gene trees gave broadly congruent results, especially for older branches and overall tree structure. The North American Gryllus are monophyletic with respect to the two Old World taxa; certain sub-groups show rapid recent divergence. This is the first Anchored Hybrid Enrichment study of an insect group done for closely related species within a single genus, and the results illustrate the challenges of reconstructing the evolutionary history of young rapidly diverged taxa when both incomplete lineage sorting and probable hybridization are at play. Because…

This paper announces a database on the taxonomy, distribution and host plants of mites of the family Tenuipalpidae Berlese (Acari: Tetranychoidea), available online at https://www.tenuipalpidae.ibilce.unesp.br/. In the Tenuipalpidae Database the recorded world distribution and range of host plants are provided for each tenuipalpid species, including synonyms, with a list of all relevant publications.

In the present study, we described a novel myxosporean species, Myxobolus jialingensis n. sp. (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae), which infected the urinary bladder and hepatopancreas of yellowhead catfish Tachysurus fulvidraco in China. The mature spores of M. jialingensis n. sp. were pyriform with the length of 15.8 ± 0.7 (15.4-17.0) μm and width of 8.0 ± 0.3 (7.8-8.9) μm. Two pyriform polar capsules were slightly unequal in size: the larger polar capsule was 7.4 ± 0.3 (6.7-8.0) μm in length and 3.1 ± 0.2 (2.8-3.6) μm in width; and the smaller polar capsule measured 7.3 ± 0.3 (6.6-8.1) μm in length and 3.3 ± 0.2 (2.9-3.6) μm in width. The polar capsules were directed toward the apex of the spore, packing seven to eight spirals of the polar filaments. The small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (18S rDNA) sequence of M. jialingensis n. sp. was unique among all myxozoans, and the highest similarity was 96.1% with M. voremkhai. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rDNA sequences revealed that myxosporeans infecting the close host affinity (belonging to the same order) had close phylogenetic relationship…

A new species of Leptobrachella, Leptobrachella wulingensis sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected from the Wuling mountains in Hunan Province, China. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of having a SVL body size range of 24.5-32.8 mm in four adult males and 29.9-38.5 mm in three adult females; dorsal surface brown to reddish brown with indistinct markings; ventral surface creamy white, often with pale brown speckling on chest and margins; flanks with small to moderate black spots; skin on dorsum shagreened with sparse large warts, sometimes with short longitudinal ridges; toes with rudimentary webbing and narrow lateral fringes; dermal ridges under toes interrupted at the articulations; and iris bicolored with a bright orange or golden upper half, fading to silver in the lower half. Uncorrected sequence divergence between L. wulingensis sp. nov. and homologous 16S rRNA sequences available for all known species in the genus are ≥ 2.3%-2.9%.

Up to current knowledge, the spider genus Sinopoda Jäger, 1999 is distributed in South-, East- and Southeast-Asia. New material treated in this paper include new records from Brunei, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Forty-seven new Sinopoda species are described: S. aenyk spec. nov. (female; Laos), S. arboricola spec. nov. (male, female; Malaysia), S. assamensis spec. nov. (female; India), S. bifurca spec. nov. (male, female; China), S. bispina spec. nov. (male; Myanmar), S. caeca spec. nov. (female; Laos), S. chiangmaiensis spec. nov. (male, female; Thailand), S. cornuta spec. nov. (male, female; Indonesia), S. deminutiva spec. nov. (male; Laos), S. emei spec. nov. (female; China), S. empat spec. nov. (male; Malaysia), S. flexura spec. nov. (female; Indochina), S. hainan spec. nov. (male; China), S. hanya spec. nov. (male; Malaysia), S. incisura spec. nov. (female; China), S. inthanon spec. nov. (male; Thailand), S. kalaw spec. nov. (female; Myanmar), S. kambaiti spec. nov. (male; Myanmar), S. kamouk spec. nov. (female; Laos), S. kieo spec. nov. (female; Laos), S. kinabalu…

A checklist of earthworm species hitherto recorded from North Eastern Region (NER) of India is presented. In total, 128 species/subspecies belonging to 26 genera spread over 9 families are listed. Of these, 72 species are recognized as endemics, 18 as near endemics, 5 as native peregrines and 32 as exotics. The checklist includes literature citation to the original description, type locality, important synonyms and the state-wise distributional records for each species/subspecies.

The white-lipped tree viper, Trimeresurus albolabris Gray, is one of the most common species of the genus Trimeresurus with a wide distribution from India eastwards to China and southwards to Indonesia. However, this species was previously split into five geographical clades with significant genetic divergence. Recent surveys in Yingjiang County, Yunnan Province, China resulted in the discovery of one cryptic species of the subgenus Trimeresurus. Combining molecular, morphological and ecological data, we describe it as a new species Trimeresurus caudornatus sp. nov. The new species differs from other Trimeresurus species by a combination of the following characteristics: (1) Head and body generally dark green, postocular stripes absent in both genders, upper labials light green; (2) ventrolateral stripe faint green yellow, present on the first row of DSR in both genders; (3) iris golden yellow in both genders; (4) dorsal tail mostly dark red, lateral and ventral green; an orange red stripe along the ventral part of the tail; (5) DSR 21/22 -21-15, VEN 161-163, SC 52-72; (6) first…

Exploratory cruises by the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer have resulted in a substantial contribution in our understanding of deep-sea echinoderm biodiversity, biology, and ecology in the North Atlantic. This includes the description and in situ feeding observations of two, new corallivorous goniasterid species, Evoplosoma nizinskiae n. sp. and Sibogaster bathyheuretor n. sp. Significant in situ observations include a synchronous feeding event including multiple goniasterid asteroids and a cidaroid urchin on a large demosponge, providing new data for understanding echinoderm feeding behavior, including agonistic behavior, in deep-sea settings and new, in situ feeding observations for 28 deep-sea species including the myxasterid Pythonaster atlantidis, the korethrasterid Remaster palmatus and the poorly understood hippasterine goniasterids, Gilbertaster caribaea and Sthenaster emmae.

A new species of cynipid herb gall wasp, Aulacidea turcica Azmaz Katılmış sp. n., (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Aulacideini) is described from Turkey. Based on morphological characters, A. turcica belongs to the genus Aulacidea. Both sexual females and males of this species are known and the females induce galls on the stem of Digitalis ferruginea. This is the first record of host use in the genus Digitalis and possibly the family Plantaginaceae by a species of Aulacidea. Five species belonging to Aulacideini were previously known from Turkey. SEM images and data on the diagnosis, distribution, and biology of the new species are provided.

A freshwater palaemonid shrimp from the São Francisco river basin in Brazil has been found to be a new species and is herein nominated as Macrobrachium veredensis sp. nov. It is morphologically similar to M. brasiliense (Heller, 1862), which is found in many rivers of South America. However, M. veredensis sp. nov. has a smooth carapace and few spinules on the second pereopods, while M. brasiliense has the anterolateral surface of the carapace with small spinules and the palm of the second pereopods with spines, spinules and setae. Despite their similar morphology with these subtle differences, the remarkable genetic different evidenced in DNA analysis. Molecular analyses were based on 43 sequences with 528 base pairs (bp) for 16S rDNA, and 16 new sequences with 581bp, without pseudogenes, for COI mtDNA. The nucleotide divergence between M. veredensis sp. nov. and M. brasiliense (7.0-8.5% for 16S and 11.8-12.5% for COI.), the phylogenetic topology and the haplotype network configuration and it is endemism to a region of the São Francisco river basin support the recognition of a new…

The genus Marmosops comprises small marsupials of the family Didelphidae (≤ 200 g), widely distributed in a variety of lowland rainforest and montane forest habitats, extending from Panama to southern Bolivia and southeastern Brazil. The smallest species of the genus are included in the "Parvidens" group, which includes M. pakaraimae, M. parvidens and M. pinheiroi. Although the monophyly of this group and species relationships are well defined, molecular studies have indicated that M. pinheiroi may represent a species complex, which has never been tested based on morphological analysis. In this study, we present the taxonomic review of M. pinheiroi based on the largest sample ever analyzed of this species. The external and craniodental morphology of 613 specimens of M. parvidens and M. pinheiroi from the northern, eastern, central and southern Brazilian Amazonia and northern Cerrado were examined. Besides, 28 craniodental dimensions were measured from adult specimens to support univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. Our results corroborate the validity of M. parvidens and…

We describe a new species of mud turtle of the genus Kinosternon from the Pacific Coastal Plain of the Mexican states Sinaloa and Nayarit. The new species shares morphological characters with the recently described Kinosternon vogti, which are unique to these two turtles and separate them from the other species of the genus. The new species differs from K. vogti by skin coloration, size, and the scutellation of both carapace and plastron. We also present a molecular phylogeny of the family Kinosternidae based on two mitochondrial and four nuclear loci. Our results show that the new species is most closely related to K. vogti, and together they form the sister group to the K. hirtipes and K. integrum species groups of Kinosternon.

We describe a new snake of the genus Achalinus based on an adult female specimen from Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam. Achalinus tranganensis sp. nov. is differentiated from its congeners genetically and by a unique combination of the following characters: 1) maxillary teeth 29; 2) suture between the internasals distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals; 3) loreal distinctly wider than high, extending from the nasal to the eye; 4) dorsal scales in 25-23-23 rows, keeled; 5) two pairs of prefrontals; 6) supralabials six; 7) infralabials six; 8) temporals 2+3, the two anterior temporals in contact with eye; 9) ventrals 171; 10) subcaudals 73+, unpaired; 11) cloacal plate entire; 12) dorsum in preservative reddish to greyish brown above; 13) the lower part of head side and chin region somewhat paler than the dorsum; 14) venter greyish cream, with the anterior region of each ventral and subcaudal somewhat darker. Based on molecular comparisons using a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), the new species differs from other members of the genus by at…

Limia mandibularis, a new livebearing fish of the family Poeciliidae is described from Lake Miragoane in southwestern Haiti on Hispaniola. The new species differs from all other species in the genus Limia by the presence of a well-developed lower jaw, the absence of preorbital and preopercular pores, and preorbital and preopercular canals forming an open groove each. The description of this new Limia species from Lake Miragoane confirms this lake as an important center of endemism for the genus with a total of nine described species so far.

We present a catalogue of the species of Tortricidae Latreille, 1802 recorded from India. The documented fauna consists of 487 species belonging to 168 genera in three subfamilies: Chlidanotinae (14 species), Tortricinae (175 species), and Olethreutinae (298 species). Five species included in the catalogue were previously "named" but not properly described and are considered nomen nuda. We include these species because they are almost certainly distinct taxa and represent a part of the tortricid fauna. The catalogue is based primarily on literature in which Indian tortricid species have been described or mentioned. For each species the type locality, geographic distribution (within and outside of India), known host plants, and references to illustrations are provided.

The diversity of Mediterranean nudibranchs has yet to be thoroughly studied: new species are constantly described, and molecular approaches have revealed some cryptic species. A new facelinid species has been discovered based on specimens collected from the Tyrrhenian Sea (Mediterranean Sea). Integrative results of molecular analyses and of anatomical investigations support the description of Dondice trainitoi sp. nov. The characteristic chromatic body pattern and the black epithelium covering the masticatory jaws allow an unambiguous identification of the new taxon. Preliminary phylogenetic analyses based on multi-locus molecular markers (nuclear H3 gene and mitochondrial markers 16S rDNA and COI) surprisingly revealed paraphyly of the genus Dondice and the need of further studies including more taxa assigned to the currently accepted family Facelinidae. Furthermore, following an integrative taxonomy approach, considerations on the ecological behaviour characterizing most of the species involved in this study provide useful insights for understanding the evolutionary history of…

The genus Omma Newman (type species Omma stanleyi Newman) is revised and redefined based on extant species, with examination of additional fossil species. As a result, only the species O. stanleyi Newman is retained in Omma and a new genus, Beutelius gen. nov. (type species Omma mastersi MacLeay), is described to accommodate the remaining Australian species: B. mastersi (MacLeay), comb. nov., B. sagitta (Neboiss), comb. nov. and B. rutherfordi (Lawrence), comb. nov. A new species, Beutelius reidi sp. nov., is described from Melville Range Nature Reserve in New South Wales, Australia. Diagnoses and new records for extant Ommatinae, including the male of B. sagitta and female of B. mastersi, are provided, as well as a key to extant genera and species.

An integrative taxonomic analysis of the 10 species of the Cyrtodactylus sinyineensis group based on squamation, color pattern, and the mitochondrial gene NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) and its flanking tRNA regions, recovered the newly discovered populations from Datt Kyaik and Taung Wine Hills in Kayin State as the new species Cyrtodactylus dattkyaikensis sp. nov. and C. taungwineensis sp. nov. The Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic estimates supported C. dattkyaikensis sp. nov. as the sister species of C. bayinnyiensis and C. taungwineensis sp. nov. as the sister species of C. sinyineensis. Each new species is differentially diagnosable from all other C. sinyineensis group species based on their morphological placement in multivariate space and several statistically significant mean differences is meristic squamation and color pattern data. The C. sinyineensis group ranges across an archipelago of karstic habitat-islands in the Salween Basin of southern Myanmar. The discovery of these new species continues to underscore the unprecedented high degree of diversity and…

The first annotated checklist of ensiferan and caeliferan Orthoptera of Slovakia is presented. Altogether, we found 129 species (59 Ensifera, 70 Caelifera) in the fauna of Slovakia, based on a critical revision of museum collections, all records published since 1826 and our own unpublished data from mapping in 1994-2019 (~2000 sites located in 97.5% of the mapping grid cells). Forty-four species reach the limit of their distributional range within the country, and 31 have their northern limit there. Four species are endemic to Slovakia. In total, 11 species were erroneously reported from the country and are not included in this checklist. The relatively rich species spectrum reflects the diversity of habitats in an area of about 50 thousand km2 and elevations from 94 to 2,655 masl. We found 30 species exclusive for the Pannonian and 18 for the Alpine biogeographical region in the study area. We emphasize changes compared to previous species lists published in 1977 and 1999, when nine species were first recorded after 1999, and eight other species have been missing for more than 50…

The species-rich, megophryid frog genus Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 is distributed throughout the uplands of mainland Southeast Asia but is conspicuously absent from the Cardamom Mountains of southwestern Cambodia, where it has been known only by a single, undetermined metamorphic specimen collected nearly two decades ago. We report two adult female specimens of Leptobrachella collected a decade later at a second locality in the Cardamom Mountains and use mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA, and morphology to show that it represents a distinct species. Leptobrachella neangi sp. nov., named after its collector, is most closely related in mitochondrial and nuclear DNA to L. fuliginosa (Matsui, 2006) and L. melanoleuca (Matsui, 2006) from western Thailand, but has uncorrected pairwise distances of 8.69-10.99% in a mitochondrial 16S gene fragment from its two sister species. The new species is also readily distinguished from these and other congeners by having the combination of (1) SVL 35.4-36.3 mm in two adult females, (2) distinct dorsolateral glandular line absent, (2) belly transparent,…

An integrative taxonomic analysis based on mitochondrial and morphological data recovered the population of Cyrtodactylus on Koh Rong Island, Preah Sihanouk Province, Cambodiaa as an endemic insular species belonging to the Cyrtodactylus intermedius group. This brings the number of species in the C. intermedius group to at least 10 and the number of species in Cambodia to at least seven. Species of this relatively small group vary widely in habitat preference, occurring in general, terrestrial, karstic, or granitic habitats. Ancestral character state mapping recovered a general habitat preference as the ancestral condition from which all others independently evolved even though this did not covary with morphology. The description of another new species of reptile from Cambodia continues to underscore the potentially significant amount of unrealized biodiversity in Indochina and Southeast Asia and the continued need for field surveys in unexplored or poorly explored areas.

In the present work, five new species of Xangoniscus are described, increasing to eight the number of the known troglobitic species for the genus. Xangoniscus species can be distinguished from each other by the shape of pleonites epimera, the number and size of aesthetascs in the distal article of antennula, the modifications on pereopods, the shape of male pleopods and the proportion between uropod rami. Species from this genus are known for the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia with Xangoniscus aganju representing the northernmost occurrence, and X. lundi n. sp. and X. dagua n. sp. the southernmost occurrences. Of the six caves where specimens were collected, four are not registered in the national speleological database, what points to all the potential to yet be discovered regarding number of cavities and the associated biodiversity in Brazil. Some of the here mentioned type localities are not located inside protected areas, therefore exposing the species to risks related to the adjacent land use and consequent influence on water table level and input of food resources. The…

The nemacheilid genus Seminemacheilus is revised. Six species are recognised, three of them described herein as new. All species are endemic to Central Anatolia. Seminemacheilus lendlii from the Sakarya River drainage and the endorheic Lake Aksehir and Eber basins, S. ispartensis from Lake Eğirdir basin and S. ahmeti from Sultan Sazlığı are valid species. Although Seminemacheilus lendlii and S. ispartensis have almost identical COI sequences, they are distinguished by the shape of the caudal peduncle and the presence of scales on the caudal peduncle in S. ispartensis (vs. absent in S. lendlii). Seminemacheilus attalicus, new species, from Kırkgöz drainage, is distinguished by having a slightly emarginated caudal fin, a central pore in the supratemporal canal and a marbled flank pattern. Seminemacheilus ekmekciae, new species, from Lake Tuz basin is distinguished by having a roundish caudal fin, a short post-dorsal length and large brown blotches fused into stripes on the flank. Seminemacheilus tubae, new species, from Lake Beyşehir basin, is distinguished by having a truncate caudal…

Identification keys for females, and for males where known, to the 39 genera and 11 subgenera of Mymaridae in America north of Mexico are given. The genera are illustrated with over 1010 photographs and/or scanning electron micrographs. The 202 currently named and valid species reported from America north of Mexico are catalogued. Reliable host records are reported for 16 genera and almost 90 species from rearings in the region. The five genera represented by more than one subgenus in the region are: Anagrus Haliday, Anaphes Haliday, Erythmelus Enock, Kalopolynema Ogloblin, and Polynema Haliday. Five other genera are represented only by unnamed and possibly undescribed species. About 1000 literature references, mainly the North American ones, are listed. Three new species are described: Callodicopus floridanus Huber, sp. n., Neostethynium americanum Huber, sp. n., and Stephanocampta xanthogaster Huber, sp. n. Cosmocomoidea marilandica (Girault), stat. rev., is placed in synonymy under C. dolichocerus (Ashmead). Platypatasson Ogloblin is given subgeneric status as Platystethynium…

Although the French Polynesian reefs are among the most well studied reefs of the world, sponges are still poorly known, with only 199 species or OTUs of sponges having been described from French Polynesia, 167 at an OTU level and 32 at a species level. From those 199 species, just five are calcareous sponges. As it is possible that this number is underestimated, the aim of the present work was to study the diversity of calcareous sponges from French Polynesia. Hence, different French Polynesian archipelagos were surveyed by SCUBA from 3 to 60 m of depth. Identifications were performed using morphological and molecular (ITS and C-LSU) tools. We found a total of nine species of Calcarea, comprising five different genera. Five species are new to science: Clathrina fakaravae sp. nov., Clathrina huahineae sp. nov., Ernstia variabilis sp. nov., Leucascus digitiformis sp. nov., and Leucandra tahuatae sp. nov. With the present work, the number of identified sponges from French Polynesia at a species level increased from 32 to 41. The only calcareous sponge previously known from French…

Trachusa interrupta (Fabricius, 1781) s.l. has so far been regarded as a widespread resin bee in the tribe Anthidiini, whose range extends from northwest Africa and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to Central Asia and China in the east. It was thought that the pattern of yellow maculations on head, meso- and metasoma was quite variable. Several forms which were described since the 18th century have been regarded as synonyms. A comprehensive analysis of hundreds of specimens from all parts of its distribution found that T. interrupta s. l. actually represents a complex of closely related species. The study which included the examination of type material and the analyses of morphometric data of 15 measurements of the head, antennae and wings through multivariate statistical methods showed that there was relatively little variation in the colour pattern. Different colour patterns mostly represent different taxa which form distinctive clusters in Discriminant Function Analysis of morphometric data. The complex hereby consists of three widespread species, Trachusa interrupta (Fabricius,…

Remarks on the endemicity of the Italian stonefly-fauna are presented. Notes on conservation issues are also given, together with the updated list of stoneflies of Italy.

Agricultural soils and open fields from Western Uttar Pradesh (India) were surveyed to determine the presence of entomopathogenic nematodes. From the entomopathogenic nematodes isolated, Heterorhabditis isolates were selected and further characterized using morphological, morphometrical and molecular approaches. The results showed that three isolated nematodes were Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and were associated with Photorhabdus laumondii subsp. clarkei bacteria, while the rests were identified as Heterorhabditis indica. The biocontrol potential of H. bacteriophora against three agricultural pests was evaluated. Nematode infectivity experiments showed that the nematode isolates DH7 and DH8 were highly pathogenic against cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and tobacco cutworm (Spodoptera litura), and less pathogenic against white grub (Holotrichia serrata) larvae. This study sets the basis for establishing new biocontrol agents to be used in pest management programs in India.

Ten new species of the feather mite genus Trouessartia Canestrini, 1899 (Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae) are described from various passerines of the superfamily Passeroidea in Georgia: Trouessartia americana sp. n. from Setophaga americana (Linnaeus), T. helmitheros sp. n. from Helmitheros vermivorum (Gmelin, JF), T. mniotilta sp. n. from Mniotilta varia (Linnaeus), T. pensylvanica sp. n. from Setophaga pensylvanica (Linnaeus) (type host) and S. palmarum (Gmelin, JF), T. ruticilla sp. n. from S. ruticilla (Linnaeus), T. seiurus sp. n. from Seiurus aurocapilla (Linnaeus), T. tigrina sp. n. from Setophaga tigrina (Gmelin, JF) (Parulidae), T. passerinae sp. n. from Passerina caerulea (Linnaeus) (type host) and P. cyanea (Linnaeus), T. ciris sp. n. from P. ciris (Linnaeus) (Cardinalidae), and T. spizellae sp. n. from Spizella passerina (Bechstein) (Passerellidae). Based on a specific combination of morphological characters, all new species and six previously known species are arranged into a new species group capensis in the genus Trouessartia. The most important diagnostic characters of…

Specimens belonging to Trochosa hispanica Simon, 1870 collected in different parts of the range were compared to determine whether they belong to the same species or represent a series of cryptic species. No significant differences were found between different populations. Most of the females examined have a kind of mating plug blocking the pathway of embolus, but not the copulatory openings like in other spiders. A character previously unknown in the Lycosidae, a row of glabrous cuticular spots on male tibia I, is documented. The holotype female of Trochosa adjacens O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1885 from SW Xinjiang is illustrated for the first time. Three species described in three different genera in the same paper are synonymized with Trochosa hispanica: Arctosa nava Roewer, 1955 syn. n., Geolycosa flavichelis Roewer, 1955 syn. n., and Loculla austrocaspia Roewer, 1955 syn. n. Two species treated in Trochosa C.L. Koch, 1847 and Trochosula Roewer, 1960 are synonymized with Arctosa tbilisiensis Mcheidze, 1946: Trochosa impercussa Roewer, 1955 syn. n. and Trochosula afghana Roewer, 1960…

We present a comprehensive inventory of amphibians from Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh based on morphological, molecular and bioacoustic data. Representatives of 15 anuran species were collected, corresponding to roughly four fifths of the known amphibian species of Madhya Pradesh. The main results of this study are: (1) Description of advertisement calls of eleven species, including the first-time description of advertisement calls of Sphaerotheca pashchima. (2) Identification of cryptic species using acoustic and molecular techniques. (3) Five new significant range extensions and new state records. (4) Description of geographical variation in call properties in three anuran species. This study also provides morphological descriptions with ecological and natural history notes for each species that may be useful in management planning for amphibian conservation in Panna Tiger Reserve.

The generic level segregation of the formerly unified taxa Nyctobrya Boursin, 1957 and Bryopsis Boursin, 1970 is discussed; the second one is reinstated as a genus, on the basis of apomorphic features in the male genitalia (Bryopsis stat. rev.). The large genus Bryophila Treitschke, 1825 is briefly characterized, in order to assess the specific identity of the formerly misinterpreted Bryophila perloides Guenée, 1852, the only European member of its species-group. So far as is known, B. perloides (stat. rev.) inhabits the southernmost, pericoastal area of Andalusia (Spain), and is known to date from five specimens. It is, thus, to be included in the Iberian and European checklists of Noctuidae. All other described species of the perloides species-group are North African. They are reviewed and their types checked; the adults, as well as their genitalia, are illustrated. Genitalia of all holotypes/syntypes are studied. Also, lectotypes are designated for B. perloides, B. squamosa Schwingenschuss, 1936 and B. barbaria Schawerda, 1934.

The morphology of the spermatheca is described in 109 species of 86 genera representing all four currently recognised subfamilies of Coreidae, covering the undivided Hydarinae, both tribes of Pseudophloeinae, all three tribes of Meropachyinae and 27 of the 32 tribes of Coreinae. Three types of spermatheca are recognised. Type I is bipartite, consisting only of a simple tube differentiated into distal seminal receptacle and proximal spermathecal duct and lacks the intermediate part present in most Pentatomomorpha, in which it serves as muscular pump. Type II is also bipartite but more elaborate in form with the receptacle generally distinctly wider than the duct. Type III is tripartite, with receptacle, duct and an often complex intermediate part. Four subtypes are recognised within type III. Type I is found only in Hydarinae and type II only in Pseudophloeinae. Type III is found in both Coreinae and Meropachyinae. Subtype IIIA ("Coreus-group") unites many tribes from the Eastern Hemisphere and only one (Spartocerini) from the Western Hemisphere. Subtypes IIIB ("Nematopus-group") and…

The new genus of the macrobiotoid family Richtersiidae Guidetti, Rebecchi, Bertolani, Jönsson, Kristensen Cesari, 2016 Crenubiotus gen. nov. is described, based on Crenubiotus crenulatus comb. nov. (Richters, 1904a) and on Colombian specimens formerly attributed to Macrobiotus cf. crenulatus and here described, after re-examination, as Crenubiotus revelator sp. nov. The new genus is characterised by an additional ventral thickening on the anterior portion of the ventral lamina, dorsal apophysis absent or very reduced, modified stylet furcae, claws equal in structure to those of Richtersius Pilato Binda, 1989, and very probably also Adorybiotus Maucci Ramazzotti, 1981 and Diaforobiotus Guidetti, Rebecchi, Bertolani, Jönsson, Kristensen Cesari, 2016; and, in the known species, cuticular pores, two macroplacoids, large well dentate lunules and a characteristic egg. The new species Crenubiotus revelator sp. nov. differs from Crenubiotus crenulatus comb. nov. in having smaller cuticular pores, a medio-ventral tooth in the buccal armature, more slender buccal tube, slightly more caudal…

The Cuban fossil avifauna, prior to this study, included 30 extinct and extirpated valid taxa. In the present contribution, we review the fossil avifauna from Las Breas de San Felipe, and in so doing increase the diversity of Cuban fossil birds to 36 species with the description of a New World vulture, Coragyps seductus sp. nov., three accipitrids, Gigantohierax itchei sp. nov., Buteogallus royi sp. nov., and Buteo sanfelipensis sp. nov., a small caracara, Milvago diazfrancoi sp. nov., plus Buteogallus cf. B. fragilis (L. Miller, 1911), which is recorded for the first time in Cuba and the Antillean Subregion. Of the total of 34 bird species now registered from Las Breas de San Felipe, 21 (61.8 %) are extinct and 13 (38.2 %) correspond to species that still live in Cuba, other Antillean islands, or in the American continent. Raptors dominate the assemblage, with 26 (76.5 %) species. These are mostly from Accipitridae and Falconidae, and 19 (55.9 %) are diurnal and 7 (20.6 %) nocturnal. This abundance of raptors in Las Breas de San Felipe is similar to the composition from other…