The 50 most-cited articles in Zootaxa, 2022

A classification of the entire Phylum Nematoda is presented, based on current molecular, developmental and morphological evidence. The classification reflects the evolutionary relationships within the phylum, as well as significant areas of uncertainty, particularly related to the early evolution of nematodes. It includes 3 classes, 8 subclasses, 12 superorders, 32 orders, 53 suborders, 101 superfamilies, 276 families, 511 subfamilies, 3030 genera, and 28537 species. All valid species named from the time of publication of the previous classification and census (2010) to the end of 2019 are listed, along with the number of valid species in each genus. Taxonomic authorities are provided for taxon names of all ranks. The habitats where the species in each genus are found are listed, and an alphabetic index of genus names is provided. The systematics of nematodes is reviewed, along with a history of nematode classification; evolutionary affinities and origins of nematodes; and the current diagnosis of the group. Short overviews of the general biology, ecology, scientific and economic…

The efficacy of an allometric growth model to correct for ontogenetic body size variation has been known for decades, yet this method remains relatively obscure and rarely applied. We optimize the implementation of this method through a newly developed and easy-to-use R package GroupStruct and further extend its application from intraspecific to interspecific datasets. Using empirical examples, we show that different size correction methods (i.e., ratios, residuals, and allometry) can result in vastly different conclusions. Our results demonstrate that choosing the appropriate size correction method is crucial as it can have significant impacts on downstream analyses and has the potential to alter biological interpretations.

This paper summarizes the trends in nematode species description and systematics emerging from a comparison of the latest comprehensive classification and census of Phylum Nematoda (Hodda 2022a, b) with earlier classifications (listed in Hodda 2007). It also offers some general observations on trends in nematode systematics emerging from the review of the voluminous literature used to produce the classification. The trends in nematodes can be compared with developments in the systematics of other organisms to shed light on many of the general issues confronting systematists now and into the future.

This paper details a system for classifying the trophic relationships of the entire Phylum Nematoda, together with a table specifying the categories of every valid genus. This system encompasses both the diets of nematodes and how the food is obtained. The types of evidence used to evaluate trophic relationships and the inferences that can be drawn from each are evaluated. The general morphological and ecological characteristics of each trophic type are detailed, and a morphological key is presented. This information will enable the trophic relationships of any valid genus of nematodes to be assessed, along with currently undescribed genera, provided their affinities to existing genera can be ascertained. The system and list can add value to ecological, environmental and biodiversity studies where there is no morphological information, for example in environmental sequencing or metabarcoding studies.

The cosmopolitan mite family Laelapidae includes both free-living predatory species and species associated with arthropods, mammals or birds. This work presents a list of free-living and arthropod-associated species of laelapids, with corresponding taxonomic information and references. It includes 1088 species (in addition to three subspecies) assigned to 73 genera, 61 new combinations and two new synonymies at the generic level. Laelaps (Apolaelaps) Silvestri is raised to the generic level. Many of the species described before about 1950 are poorly characterised and cannot be classified with confidence at the family or generic level. Hence, ten genera, one subgenus, 121 species (ca. 70% of which were reported as Hypoaspis Canestrini or Laelaps (Hypoaspis) Canestrini) and one subspecies, are considered incertae sedis, because of their inadequate morphological characterisation in the literature. Some of these may not even belong to the Laelapidae or to the groups of interest for this publication. A total of 89 species, 30 genera, one subgenus, one tribe and one subfamily previously…

The taxonomic knowledge of the pselaphine tribe Batrisini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from the Tibet Autonomous Region is summarized, with 80 species placed in 13 genera. Two genera and 68 species are described as new, aided with illustrations of habitus and diagnostic characters: Arthromelodes alpitorus sp. nov., A. angulatus sp. nov., A. aniqiao sp. nov., A. bicolor sp. nov., A. complexus sp. nov., A. cona sp. nov., A. crassicornis sp. nov., A. criniger sp. nov., A. cylindricus sp. nov., A. flosculus sp. nov., A. gyamda sp. nov., A. intricatus sp. nov., A. lage sp. nov., A. langjicuo sp. nov., A. latithorax sp. nov., A. lebus sp. nov., A. lotus sp. nov., A. markam sp. nov., A. monba sp. nov., A. nepaeformis sp. nov., A. nomurai sp. nov., A. songxiaobini sp. nov., A. speciosus sp. nov., A. torus sp. nov., A. zhangmu sp. nov., A. zhentangensis sp. nov., Batriscenaulax campestris sp. nov., Batrisiella acclivis sp. nov., Batrisiella beibeng sp. nov., Batrisiella bomea sp. nov., Batrisiella concisa sp. nov., Batrisiella curvitibialis sp. nov., Batrisiella ganma sp. nov., Batrisiella…

An annotated checklist of the anomuran crustaceans recorded from Indian waters is compiled from available published literature. A total of 231 species belonging to 58 genera, 15 families and five superfamilies are listed. The highest number of species was seen in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Ecoregion (114 species, 37 genera, 14 families), followed by the South India Ecoregion (111 species, 41 genera, 14 families), West India Ecoregion (93 species, 36 genera, 14 families), Eastern India Ecoregion (76 species, 29 genera, 12 families), Maldives Ecoregion (34 species, 15 genera, 10 families) and Northern Bay of Bengal Ecoregion (22 species, nine genera, five families). Notes on the questionable identifications and records of some anomuran crabs are also provided.

A list of corrections as well as the addition of new taxa described since Borkent Dominiak (2020) published a catalog of the Ceratopogonidae of the world is provided. We record a further 70 extant and 7 fossil species and 2 new fossil genera. Beyond the summary provided by Borkent Dominiak (2020, Table 1), the family now includes 6276 extant and 303 fossil species and 23 fossil genera. The number of species names that are nomina dubia is now 181.

The genus Bactrocera Macquart comprises a large group of some 750 species distributed across the Asia-Pacific and Afrotropical regions. Most of these have been described and revised by Drew (1989), Drew & Hancock (1994) and Drew & Romig (2013, 2022). A taxonomic study of such a large and diverse group of species provides valuable information that can be used in the elucidation of concepts on biogeography and evolution that are presented in this paper. While a wider discussion of this genus and its many complexes of sibling species awaits a future publication, in this paper we discuss the Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) complex in light of current knowledge of biogeography and evolution in the Asia-Pacific region. Within the dorsalis complex, 70 species were recognized in South-East Asia by Drew & Romig (2013) and eight listed for Papua New Guinea and Australia by Drew (1989). Seventy-nine species are now included in this paper. Within this complex, two major groups occur, one with species responding to methyl eugenol and the other to cue lure. The 34 non-cue lure responding group of…

Rovnodryinus khomychi new genus and new species is described from Upper Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine). It is the first apterous pincer wasp found in amber. This new taxon is attributed to the subfamily Apodryininae and the new tribe Rovnodryinini. The key to the subfamilies and tribes of Dryinidae is modified to include the new tribe. The new genus, known by a female, is characterized by the mesosoma almost completely composed of fused sclerites, the absence of wings and the presence of ocelli in the anterior half of the face. A close relationship of the new genus with the extant Apodryininae is underlined. R. khomychi is the first apodryinine found in the Northern Hemisphere. The tribe Rovnodryinini is the first higher taxon known only from Rovno amber. Tritophania patruelis Jacobi and the tribe Elicini (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Tropiduchidae) are reported from Rovno amber for the first time.

The first publications on the Afrotropical tardigrade fauna date back to the beginning of the 20th century. However, the knowledge on the faunal composition, diversity and evolution of African tardigrades, including the speciose family Echiniscidae, is still fragmentary. Here, we present an extensive systematic, biogeographic, and ecological survey of echiniscid fauna of the southernmost part of the Afrotropical realm. Sampling was conducted in several biodiverse regions of South Africa: South African Woodlands and Savannahs, Cape evergreen sclerophyllous forests and scrubs, semi-desert Karoo, and the Afromontane Drakensberg and Swartberg ranges. The application of tools of integrative taxonomy allowed for the identification of 36 distinct echiniscid species grouped in five genera. Among these, as many as 19 species representing three genera, are described here as new to science: Echiniscus attenboroughi sp. nov., E. capensis sp. nov., E. dentatus sp. nov., E. draconis sp. nov., E. gracilis sp. nov., E. imitans sp. nov., E. intricatus sp. nov., E. irroratus sp. nov., E.…

A catalogue of Psychodidae of Mexico is presented. A total of 99 species in 30 genera of the subfamilies Bruchomyiinae, Phlebotominae, Psychodinae, and Trichomyiinae are listed, with bibliographic citations and distributional data by country and in the case of Mexico by states.

The hilly region in eastern Guangdong, China lacks comprehensive scientific investigations for decades, especially in terms of herpetofauna. In recent years, several highly threatened amphibians have been gradually discovered from this region. In this work, three new species of the genus Boulenophrys are described, which are endemic from only one or two known localities in eastern Guangdong. These discoveries enrich the diversity of Boulenophrys in eastern Guangdong. With the large number of threatened urodeles and anuran species occurring in this densely populated area, the unique herpetological diversity in eastern Guangdong is facing the impacts of habitat degradation and fragmentation, and conservation actions are urgently required.

Numerous photographs of live fishes posted by anglers and divers on social media and citizen science databases are important sources of information for ichthyological research. However, validating records that extend the known ecology and bathymetric or geographic distribution of species should rely on a rigorous identification process. The family Gobiidae, with their small size, superficial resemblance among species and high species richness are particularly difficult to identify. Therefore, the identification from photographs of live individuals of Mediterranean marine gobies from the continental shelf was studied. A dichotomous identification key is provided based on photographs of live individuals, allowing positive identification of 41 out of the 66 species reviewed in this publication. Then, for all 66 species we provide a brief description of important characters, which can be used for provisional identification for those species that could not be positively identified using the key. Pending further progress in identification of live individuals, we suggest that records…

The Oxynoemacheilus bergianus species group is revised based on tree topology (ML, NJ, MP), distance (K2P and ASAP) and Poisson tree process analyses of DNA barcode data tested against morphometric and morphological characters including colour patterns. The O. bergianus species group is distinguished from other Oxynoemacheilus groups based on morphological characters: its constituent species have a slender caudal peduncle, a suborbital flap in the male, a mottled or blotched colour pattern, and lack bold, black spots on the caudal-fin base. It is also supported as a monophyletic unit in our molecular analysis. The O. bergianus group includes 10 molecular clades following congruently well-supported NJ, MP and ML based entities. Species described as O. bergianus, O. banarescui, O. erdali, O. fatsaensis, O. samanticus, and O. simavicus from Turkey, O. lenkoranensis from Azerbaijan, and O. longipinnis and O. parvinae from Iran belong to this species group. The group includes also four unnamed molecular clades. We were unable to detect external differences between any of the molecular…

Andrena is one of the most diverse bee genera, comprising about 1,600 described species of ground-nesting solitary bees. Many Andrena species are plant specialists, and several taxa have been indicated to be important pollinators of wild and/or crop plants. The Eastern Mediterranean Basin and Israel in particular are one of the main world diversity hotspots of Andrena. Based on extensive examination of museum specimens combined with DNA barcoding, we hereby describe twenty-five Levantine species of Andrena new to science: Andrena anathema Pisanty sp. nov., A. ardentia Pisanty sp. nov., A. asluji Pisanty sp. nov., A. curviocciput Pisanty & Wood sp. nov., A. dividicincta Pisanty sp. nov., A. dorchini Pisanty sp. nov., A. euphorbiae Pisanty sp. nov., A. gageae Wood & Pisanty sp. nov., A. herodesi Pisanty & Wood sp. nov., A. hulae Pisanty sp. nov., A. igraeca Pisanty & Wood sp. nov., A. inusitata Pisanty sp. nov., A. janthinoides Pisanty sp. nov., A. longistilus Pisanty & Wood sp. nov., A. lunaris Pisanty & Wood sp. nov., A. macula Pisanty & Wood sp. nov., A. obtusa Pisanty sp. nov., A.…

Forty species of shore and shallow water brachyuran crabs are reported from the remote oceanic Archipelago Trindade and Martin Vaz (TMV), 11 of which were previously known from Trindade Island, 28 are recorded from the Archipelago for the first time, and one is a new species, Epialtus parvulus sp. nov. This brings the total known shore and shallow water decapod fauna of TMV to 99 species. The opportunity is taken here to elaborate on the taxonomy of the species reported from TMV. One new genus, Mecataleptodius, is recognized for two species, Cancer parvulus Fabricius, 1793, its type species, and Cataleptodius olsoni Manning Chace, 1990, endemic to Ascension Island. The following seven nominal species are synonymized: Acanthonyx dissimulatus Coelho in Coelho Torres, 1993; A. scutiformis (Dana, 1851a); Dromia gouveai Melo Campos Junior, 1999; Epialtus portoricensis Rathbun, 1923; Ranilia guinotae Melo Campos Junior, 1994; R. saldanhai H. Rodrigues da Costa, 1970; and Omalacantha garthi (Lemos de Castro, 1953). TMV is a subset of the western Atlantic crab fauna (23 species or 57.5%),…

This checklist is the fifth and last compilation on the decapod crustaceans reported to So Paulo (Brazil) coastal area, resulting from long-term multidisciplinary projects, which combined morphological analyses and molecular techniques. The current research includes 75 decapod species, herein referred as shrimps/lobsters-like (shrimps, ghost-shrimps, lobsters, and related groups), reported to So Paulo coastal area. These species occur in marine, estuarine, and amphidromous habitats and are classified into 21 families as follow: Aristeidae (2 spp., 2 genera), Atyidae (4 spp., 2 genera), Axianassidae (1 sp., 1 genus), Callianassidae (1 sp., 1 genus), Callichiridae (6 spp., 4 genera), Crangonidae (1 sp., 1 genus), Glyphocrangonidae (1 sp., 1 genus), Luciferidae (2 spp., 2 genera), Nephropidae (4 spp., 2 genera), Palaemonidae (15 spp., 9 genera), Palinuridae (2 spp., 1 genus), Pandalidae (1 sp., 1 genus), Pasiphaeidae (1 sp., 1 genus), Penaeidae (10 spp., 6 genera), Sergestidae (3 spp., 3 genera), Sicyoniidae (4 spp., 1 genus), Scyllaridae (5 spp., 3 genera), Solenoceridae (4 spp., 3…

Myotis is the most diverse genus of bats in the world, with more than 30 species recognized in the Neotropics. However, many of these species represent cryptic complexes and are evidence of the existence of hidden diversity in several regions. Using an integrative approach based on molecular, morphological, and bioacoustic data, we performed a systematic review of Myotis species from Chile. Phylogenetic inference using cytochrome-b indicated the existence of three monophyletic lineages, and qualitative and quantitative morphological analyses supported these lineages as distinct and morphologically diagnosable taxa. Analysis of discriminant functions using parameters of echolocation calls also indicates the existence of three distinct bioacoustic clusters. Thus, all lines of evidence congruently indicate the existence of three distinct taxa. As a result, we recognize Myotis arescens as a valid and distinct species and define its taxonomic limits from the other species from Chile, Myotis atacamensis and Myotis chiloensis.

In each mayfly individual, the surface of the subimaginal cuticle significantly differs both from imaginal and larval cuticles, being different on different parts of the body. Most of the subimaginal body, including femora and tibiae, is covered with microtrichia. Tarsal segments are either also covered with microtrichia, or their microtrichia are transformed into microlepides of various shapes. The most usual forms of microlepides are the pointed and the blunt ones. Arrangements of microtrichia, pointed microlepides, blunt microlepides and other forms of microlepides on certain tarsomeres represent good taxonomic characters, which in some cases allow characterization of high level taxa, and in some cases distinguish closely related species. Arrangement of microlepides and microtrichia on subimaginal tarsi of examined mayfly species is given. The following new synonyms are proposed: Afroptilum boettgeri (Kopelke 1980) = Xyrodromeus africanus Lugo-Ortiz McCafferty 1997, syn. n.; Labiobaetis vinosus (Barnard 1932) = L. tenuicrinitus (Kopelke 1980), syn. n.; Baetis parvulus Crass 1947…

Oman, a country in Southwest Asia, situated on the southeastern quarter of the Arabian Peninsula presents a high level of biological diversity especially marine elements. Although arid habitats cover most parts of Oman (82%), the region has several freshwater systems that are vital for the survival of people as well as for different groups of animals and plants. Research works on Oman biodiversity including terrestrial and marine, have been steadily increasing over the last few decades, but freshwater ecosystems have not been well investigated. Oman comprises parts of three freshwater ecoregions including the Oman Mountains, Southwestern Arabian Coast, and Arabian Interior having xeric freshwaters and endorheic (closed) basins which support a variety of inland fishes. The current checklist provides for each species of inland waters of Oman all recognized and named taxa, documenting recent changes and controversies in nomenclature, its records, taxonomic status, synonyms, etymology, common English name, short description, range expansion, and detailed distribution map based on…

The genus Paramacrobiotus was erected in 2009 from the genus Macrobiotus, and 43 Paramacrobiotus species have been described to date. Although the first genome sequence in the genus was reported for the TYO strain of Paramacrobiotus sp., which is a dioecious species and has five bivalent chromosomes, its precise taxonomic identification remained undetermined. Here, we report its morphology, confirming the presence of a microplacoid, cuticular bulge on the inner side of legs IIII, and granulation on the inner side of legs IV under both light and electron microscopy, and smooth areoles on the egg shell, indicating that it differs from other described species. In addition, the previously described karyotype 2n=10 of this strain is clearly distinct from other species of the genus Paramacrobiotus, supporting the hypothesis that the strain represents a new species. Molecular analyses for the small and large ribosomal subunit (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA), the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2) and cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) were also performed. The TYO strain is most similar in the…

Based on a collection of deep-water caridean shrimps captured by commercial baited traps and gill nets operated in Nemuro Strait, southwestern part of the Sea of Okhotsk, three new species of the thorid shrimp genus Lebbeus White, 1847, L. rufomaculosus n. sp., L. subtilis n. sp. and L. tenuipes n. sp., are described and illustrated. Integrative approach using morphological comparison and genetic analyses with the mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA genes is taken to clarify specific identities of those newly recognized taxa. In addition, an aberrant male specimen of L. fujimotoi Matsuzaki, Hibino Komai, 2015 is reported, of which the identity is confirmed by genetic analyses.

The species of Eilema Hübner, [1819] sensu lato, present in Europe and North Africa, are studied on the basis of morphological characteristics and molecular genetics. Images of adults, genitalia of both sexes, immature stages, as well as phylogenetic trees obtained from the combined analysis of three different genetic markers are presented. Data on life cycles, food plants, and geographic distribution are also included. The morphological differences observed within Eilema sensu lato have led the authors to create the genera Indalia gen. nov. and Pseudokatha gen. nov. New combinations are stablished: Manulea iberica (Mentzer, 1980) st. rest., comb. nov.; Indalia marcida (Mann, 1859) comb. nov.; Indalia predotae (Schawerda, 1927) comb. nov.; Indalia albicosta (Rogenhofer, 1894) comb. nov.; Indalia interposita (Rothschild, 1914) comb. nov.; Indalia uniola (Rambur, [1866]) comb. nov.; Indalia lutarella (Linnaeus, 1758) comb. nov.; Indalia pygmaeola (Doubleday, 1847) comb. nov.; Pseudokatha rungsi (Toulgoët, 1960) comb. nov., and Eilema albicosta witti Kobes, 1993 syn. nov.

The Nearctic cynipid oak gall wasp genus Druon Kinsey comb. rev. is re-established, with 5 new species and 10 species previously placed in the genus Andricus Hartig 1840: D. alexandri Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., D. flocculentum (Lyon), comb. nov., D. fullawayi (Beutenmller), comb. nov., D. garciamartinonae Pujade-Villar, sp. nov., D. gregori Melika, Nicholls Stone, sp. nov., D. hansoni Cuesta-Porta, Melika Pujade-Villar, sp. nov., D. ignotum (Bassett), comb. nov., D. linaria Kinsey, comb. rev., D. pattoni (Bassett), comb. nov., D. protagion Kinsey, comb. rev. (D. malinum Kinsey, syn. nov., D. polymorphae Kinsey, syn. nov.), D. quercusflocci (Walsh), comb. nov., D. quercuslanigerum (Ashmead), comb. nov., D. receptum Kinsey, comb. rev., D. rusticum Kinsey, comb. rev. and D. serretae Pujade-Villar, Cuesta-Porta Melika, sp. nov.. All species are known only from their asexual generation except for D. ignotum and D. quercuslanigerum, for which alternating asexual and sexual generations are known. The sexual generation of D. ignotum and a new morphological variety of D.…

This paper is the fifth monograph of the series that describes the global records of limno-terrestrial water bears (Tardigrada). Here, we provide a comprehensive list of non-marine tardigrades recorded from Australasia, providing an updated and revised taxonomy accompanied by geographic co-ordinates, habitat, and biogeographic comments. It is hoped this work will serve as a reference point and background for further zoogeographical and taxonomical studies.

The systematics of bamboo corals of the Family Keratoisididae are evaluated using both DNA sequences and morphological data. Sequence data were obtained from 398 specimens, from which 77 unique haplotypes representing the mtMutS and 18S gene regions were identified. These were aligned with sequences downloaded from GenBank from an additional 12 keratoisids and 6 octocoral outgroups. Phylogenetic analyses recovered seven well-supported major clades, the most recently derived of which consists of several subclades. Each clade and subclade can be characterized by a suite of morphological characters that include axis construction, branching pattern, polyp form, and sclerite type and arrangement. This analysis also shows that keratoisid genera described >100 years ago are paraphyletic and need revision and that a large number of new genera will need to be described.

The Lygodactylus madagascariensis species group, constituting the subgenus Domerguella, currently contains five valid species of inconspicuous dwarf geckos from Madagascars humid forests, but at least 18 deep genetic lineages have been revealed by recent molecular studies. Given the high morphological similarity of these lineages, taxonomic resolution of this astonishing diversity requires efforts to correctly delimit species, as well as assigning the available nomina to the species-level lineages identified. We here combine DNA sequences of one mitochondrial and two nuclear-encoded gene fragments with morphometric measurements and scale counts, and report evidence for a species status of most of the previously identified lineages. In particular, we rely on sympatric and often even syntopic occurrence of several of these lineages without evidence for genetic admixture, and consistent with subtle morphological differences. Furthermore, the very high divergences of 7.423.8% pairwise distances in the relatively conserved mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, combined with a lack of haplotype…

We catalogue 1,695 Indian Pyraloidea species in 509 genera. Of these, Pyralidae comprises 518 species in 182 genera, which represents 8.35% of the global Pyralidae diversity of 6,197 species. Crambidae are represented by 1,177 species in 327 genera, accounting for 11.29% of the global Crambidae diversity of 10,418 species. Botys medullalis Snellen, distributed in Indonesia, is reinstated to species status as Sciorista medullalis (Snellen), stat. rev., comb. nov. Sylepta [sic] picalis Hampson, 1903, syn. nov. is synonymised with Syllepte picalis Hampson, 1899. A replacement name Archernis polynesiae N. Singh & Mally, nom. nov. is proposed for Archernis fulvalis Hampson, 1913a, a junior homonym of Archernis fulvalis Hampson, 1899e. We review the chronology and quantity of species descriptions of Indian Pyraloidea by various authors. Summaries of all subfamilies of Pyralidae and Crambidae present in India provide information on adult and larval morphology, food plant associations, and diversity and distribution in major biogeographic zones of India.

Ixodes brevisetosus n. sp. from Papua New Guinea, Ixodes contrarius n. sp. from Costa Rica, Ixodes guglielmonei n. sp. from Argentina and Chile, Ixodes insulae n. sp. from Australia, Ixodes moralesi n. sp. from Guatemala and Panama, Ixodes rio n. sp. from Brazil, Ixodes robbinsi n. sp. from Canada and the United States and Ixodes tinamou n. sp. from Peru (Acari: Ixodidae) are described based on females, nymphs and larvae from various avian hosts (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae; Falconiformes: Falconidae; Galliformes: Cracidae, Odontophoridae, Phasianidae; Passeriformes: Acanthizidae, Cardinalidae, Emberizidae, Fringillidae, Furnariidae, Melanocharitidae, Orthonychidae, Paridae, Passeridae, Petroicidae, Thamnophilidae, Troglodytidae, Turdidae; Strigiformes: Strigidae; Tinamiformes: Tinamidae) and a rodent (Rodentia: Muridae). Females, nymphs and larvae of all new species are similar to those of Ixodes auritulus Neumann, 1904, but can be distinguished by the shape of the scutum and basis capituli, relative length of idiosomal setae, auriculae and internal projection on palpal segment…

Centrophorus uyato (Rafinesque, 1810) has a complicated nomenclatural history which has led to multiple scientific names being ascribed to this species. In the Mediterranean Sea, and elsewhere in its range, this species was previously referred to as C. granulosus (Bloch Schneider, 1801). The first paper in this revision series clarified that C. granulosus refers to a much larger species of gulper shark which attains at least 1.7 m length and is absent from the Mediterranean Sea. Further complicating the nomenclature of this species is the fact that the original description clearly refers to a Squalus species, and not a Centrophorus species. In this third part of the revision of the genus Centrophorus, this problematic species is redescribed. A detailed synonymy is provided and it is confirmed that C. machiquensis, C. bragancae and C. zeehaani are junior synonyms of this species. To preserve nomenclatural stability within the genus, the name Centrophorus uyato is retained for this species with a neotype from close to the original type locality off Italy being designated.…

The land flatworm Obama nungara, a species originating from South America and already invasive in many European countries, is recorded from La Runion, a French island in the Indian Ocean. This is the first record of O. nungara from this locality and also the first record of the species for Africa. Three specimens were collected in 2021 and 2022, in the communes of Saint Paul, Saint Joseph and Le Tampon, respectively; the three localities are widely separated, with two in the Western part and one in the South-eastern part of the island. This suggests that the species is already present in several locations in La Runion, and it is likely that the species is already present since 2020. The specimen from Saint Paul had the same cox1 haplotype as specimens previously recorded from several countries of Europe; it is hypothesized that the species was imported from Europe, probably from France. We mapped climatic suitability of the species in La Runion and found that O. nungara could potentially invade a large part of the island. One record was apparently associated with the transport of…

The Oxynoemacheilus angorae species group is revised and 10 species are recognised, two of which are described herein as new. Oxynoemacheilus anatolicus, O. angorae, O. eregliensis, O. germencicus, O. isauricus, O. nasreddini, O. mediterraneus, and O. theophilii are endemic to west and Central Anatolia. Oxynoemacheilus cinicus and O. mesudae, both from Byk Menderes River drainage, are synonyms of O. germencicus. As First Revisers, we give priority to Oxynoemacheilus germencicus over O. cinicus. Oxynoemacheilus atili described from Lake Beyehir basin is a synonym of O. eregliensis. Oxynoemacheilus axylos, new species, from endorheic Lake Tuz basin (Cihanbeyli, Glyaz, Melendiz, and Samsam) is distinguished by possessing an almost truncate caudal-fin, a stout caudal peduncle, and elevated dorsal and ventral adipose crests. The new species is also distinguished by a minimum K2P sequence divergence of 1.6% in the mtDNA-COI barcode region from O. eregliensis, its closest relative. Oxynoemacheilus eliasi, new species, from the Kk Menderes and Gediz River drainages, is distinguished by…

The Neotropical bee genus Tetragona Lepeletier Serville, 1828 is characterized among stingless bees by having a yellow pigmented maculation on body, especially on the clypeus, lower region of the paraocular area and mesosome, velvety genal area, a long and slender mesotibial spur and a glabrous propodeal triangle. The T. clavipes species-group is mainly characterized by having workers with elongated setae on T6, with about 2x the length of setae on T5 and hyaline wings. This group is composed of five species, two of which are described here as new: T. clavipes (Fabricius, 1804), T. perangulata (Cockerell, 1917), T. quadrangula (Lepeletier, 1936), T. mourei sp. nov. and T. korotaii sp. nov.). In this study, we synonymize T. dissecta Moure, 2000 and T. elongata Lepeletier Serville, 1828 under T. clavipes and we provide an identification key for the workers to the species in T. clavipes species-group.

An updated checklist of fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) from Mexico is presented. The checklist includes the following valid taxa: the subfamilies Amydetinae Olivier in Wytsman, 1907, Chespiritoinae Ferreira, Keller and Branham, 2020, Photurinae Lacordaire, 1857, Pterotinae LeConte, 1861, and Lampyrinae Rafinesque, 1815, in addition to 8 tribes (including incertae sedis), 2 subtribes, 25 genera, and 232 species. We also propose Photinus cubilguitzi Prez-Hernndez Zaragoza-Caballero nom. nov. as a replacement name for Photinus moestus (Gorham, 1884) nec Photinus moestus (Perty, 1830). At least 152 documented species (65.6% of the total) are restricted to Mexico, another 21 have also been recorded in Canada and the United States of America, and 59 in different Latin American countries. Remarkably, Photinini contains 64.6% (150 species) of the Mexican lampyrid fauna, and at least 54.7% (127 species) belong to the Photinus genus. The Mexican Transition Zone had higher Lampyridae species richness and endemism than the Nearctic and Neotropical biogeographic regions in the country, while…

Species are usually described by morphological terms. In order to simplify and shorten descriptions these are often abbreviated (e.g., SVL for snout-vent-length). However, there has been no systematic attempt to define and standardize such terms or their abbreviations. Here we present an initial list of 594 unique abbreviations from a total list of 1,223 abbreviations collected from >50 reptile species descriptions, resulting in a non-redundant list of 344 abbreviations. Most of these abbreviations describe either meristic characters such as scale counts (46%) or measurements such as SVL (snout-vent-length) (30%). The remainder describe presence/absence states, colors, or formulas such as ratios. We highlight the common problem of synonyms and homonyms, i.e., different terms and abbreviations for the same character or the same term for different characters. We propose to standardize definitions of terms and abbreviations in future species descriptions. In order to future-proof species descriptions for machine-readability such as text-mining, standardization is needed for all species…

A systematic study is made of Early Cretaceous (late Aptian/earlyAlbian) ostracod assemblages from the Santo Antnio section. This section is characterized by sediment belonging to the post-rift sedimentary sequence of the Romualdo Formation in the southern-central region of the Araripe Basin, Brazil and represents on of the first marine ingression in the interior of the continent, during the beginning of the formation of the Atlantic Ocean. The Santo Antonio section presents ostracods in greater diversity than previously known. Nineteen samples were analyzed, yielding a total of 8,370 specimens. Fifteen taxa were identified, including six brackish ostracods: Pattersoncypris salitrensis, Pattersoncypris angulata, Pattersoncypris micropapillosa, Damonella grandiensis, Alicenula cf. leguminella and Theriosynoecum cf. quadrinodosum; and nine typically brackish-marine species, including seven new ones: Dicrorygma cf. minuta, Dicrorygma (Orthorygma?) dimorpha, Mongolianella aptianensis sp. nov., Mantelliana speculum sp. nov., Paracypris undulareventralis sp. nov., Microceratina…

Strategies to invade and exploit hosts for survival are an essential part of the parasitic lifestyle. Species of the Polysphincta genus group (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), which utilize spiders as hosts, are examples of parasitoids that present several behavioral strategies in host immobilization and egg laying. In this study, we characterized the oviposition behavior of the Darwin wasp Hymenoepimecis cameroni Townes, 1966 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) on their host spider, performed the taxonomic description of the female, and redescribed the male parasitoid. We observed eight H. cameroni females endeavoring to parasitize young Leucauge volupis (Keyserling, 1893) spiders. Each female made up to 12 successive attempts at oviposition, totaling 36 observed attacks, with only two successful attacks. The main oviposition behavior of H. cameroni individuals consists of flying close to the web and performing a direct attack on the spider, which often results in the spider escaping into the vegetation. We observed that in seven events where the spiders fled into the vegetation, the…

We performed a molecular phylogenetic analysis for the ground skink populations of the genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 on Yonagunijima Island, Southern Ryukyus and representative samples of Scincella species known from other islands of the East Asian Archipelago. Partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and cytochrome b sequence data were used. Additionally, we examined the nuclear genetic variation between the Yonagunijima samples and those of closely related species. The genetic distances were largely equivalent between the Yonagunijima population and the two closest species, S. boettgeri from other southern Ryukyu Islands and S. formosensis from Taiwan. Moreover, there were nuclear haplotypes unique to the Yonagunijima population. We thus recognize the Yonagunijima population as a distinct species and describe it as Scincella dunan sp. nov. Morphologically, S. dunan sp. nov. is similar to S. boettgeri, but differs in some morphometric and meristic characters, and dorsolateral stripe pattern. These findings further support the biogeographically unique status of…

An ongoing study of the ambrosia beetle tribe Xyleborini has resulted in numerous taxonomic changes mostly representing new generic/species combinations which remove species from the once all-encompassing Xyleborus Eichhoff, 1864 to other genera based on revised taxonomic concepts. These changes are here listed. Terminalinus Hopkins, 1915 is removed from synonymy with Cyclorhipidion Hagedorn, 1912 and reinstated as a valid genus. Five species are removed from synonymy and reinstated as valid species: Amasa brevipennis (Schedl, 1971), Amasa fulgens (Schedl, 1975), Ambrosiophilus immitatrix (Schedl, 1975), Ambrosiophilus semirufus (Schedl, 1959), Microperus leprosulus (Schedl, 1936). The following 97 new or restored combinations are proposed: Ambrosiophilus bispinosulus (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov., Ambrosiophilus compressus (Lea, 1894) comb. nov., Ambrosiophilus latecompressus (Schedl, 1936) comb. nov., Ambrosiophilus pertortuosus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov., Ambrosiophilus tomicoides (Eggers, 1923) comb. nov., Ambrosiophilus tortuosus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov., Euwallacea obliquecauda…

A new snake of the genus Achalinus Peters, 1869 is described based on an adult male specimen from Son La Province, Vietnam. Achalinus vanhoensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: 1) maxillary teeth 32; 2) suture between the internasals distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals; 3) loreal fused with prefrontal, prefrontals stretch towards the supralabials; 4) dorsal scales in 252323 rows, keeled; 5) supralabials six (left) and seven (right); 6) infralabials six; 7) temporals 2+2, the two anterior temporals in broad contact with eye; 8) ventrals 176; 9) subcaudals 84, entire; 10) cloacal entire; 11) dorsum in preservative dark purple grey above; 12) venter somewhat lighter with yellow-edged scales in the chin region, including infralabials; 13) posterior edges of ventrals and subcaudals with yellow margin. In the molecular analysis, the new species is recovered as a sister taxon of Achalinus timi, a species endemic to Vietnam, and genetically the two species are around 5% divergent from each other based on a…

Vespa crabro Linnaeus is newly reported as an adventive species in British Columbia, Canada which is the first record of this invasive species in western North America. The specimen of V. crabro was identified using morphological diagnostic keys and by comparison to authoritatively identified specimens. DNA barcoding provided support that the British Columbia specimen is conspecific with sequenced specimens of V. crabro. It is not possible to be certain of the origin of the specimen, but the DNA barcode was identical to sequence from specimens of V. crabro from South Korea. DNA barcoding was also performed on morphologically identified specimens of Vespa simillima and Vespa soror collected previously in British Columbia and the sequences were closest to V. simillima and V. soror Genbank sequences, respectively. There is no evidence that any of these species have established populations in the province. We provide diagnostic morphological characters to distinguish Canadian Vespa species from each other including Vespa mandarinia which has recently established populations in British…

The taxonomic status of the resident and anadromous trout species native to the Kura and Aras river drainages is evaluated, and three resident species are recognised in the upper reaches of Kura and Aras drainages in Turkey. Salmo murathani, new species, is described from slow flowing tributaries of the Aras River. It is distinguished by the general body color dark greyish in life; the numerous black spots on body, present on the back and on the middle and upper parts of the flank, and on the anterior part of the lower flank in males and females larger than about 230 mm SL; the number of black spots increases with size, in both males and females; and various meristic and morphometric characters. Salmo araxensis, new species, is described from fast flowing tributaries of the Aras River. It is distinguished by the general body color greyish to brownish in life; only few black spots on the body, restricted to the back and the upper part of the flank, their number not increasing with size in both sexes; and various meristic and morphometric characters. Salmo ardahanensis, new species,…

Mussels of the genus Bathymodiolus Kenk & Wilson belong to the foundation fauna at hydrothermal vents in the global deep sea. In the western Pacific and Indian oceans, the three nominal taxa B. septemdierum Hashimoto and Okutani, B. brevior Cosel, Métivier & Okutani and B. marisindicus Hashimoto are currently recognized as separate species despite morphological and genetic evidence for their conspecificity. All three are listed with the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List based on highly restricted ranges. We compile and supplement existing morphometric and molecular data to revise the Bathymodiolus septemdierum species group. We redescribe B. septemdierum as a single species with B. brevior and B. marisindicus recognized as junior synonyms. Given the exceptionally broad range of B. septemdierum, we propose removal of these three taxa from the IUCN Red List.

A new species of crown-of-thorns sea star (CoTS), Acanthaster benziei sp. nov., is described based on four specimens collected from Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast where it inhabits coral reefs. Species delimitation from congeners in the species complex, i.e., Acanthaster planci, Acanthaster mauritiensis and Acanthaster cf. solaris, is primarily based on distinct and diagnostic mitochondrial DNA sequence regions. Species separation of Acanthaster benziei is additionally justified due to diagnostic morphological characters: fewer arms; narrower and thinner spines; fanned spine tips in primary and latero-oral spines; a wider tip or tapering shape in circumoral spines; and rhombus-shaped oral pedicellariae.

A new genus in the spider family Ctenidae Keyserling, 1877 is described from Asia: Bowie gen. nov. belongs to the subfamily Cteninae and all members formerly described were placed so far in the genus Ctenus Walckenaer, 1805. After morphological as well as preliminary molecular characters were checked, it was clear that a new genus had to be erected to accommodate this predominantly Asian lineage of ground-dwelling spiders. As is the case in most Ctenidae generally, it was not easy to find apomorphic characters diagnosing this new taxon. Therefore, a combination of morphological characters is used to define all congeners. An important and newly introduced character in this respect is among others the fused patellar crack of the male palp. Forty-nine valid species are transferred to the new genus (first country/province records of particular species underlined): Bowie martensi (Jger, 2012) comb. nov. (Nepal), B. bomdilaensis (Tikader Malhotra, 1981) comb. nov. (India), B. indicus (Gravely, 1931) comb. nov. (India), B. cladarus (Jger, 2012) comb. nov. (Myanmar), B. pingu (Jger Minn,…

Most oak gallwasps (Hymenoptera; Cynipidae, Cynipini) have lifecycles involving obligate alternation between a sexual and an asexual generation. Many species are currently known from only one of these generations, with the alternate generation either unknown or separately described with a different name. Here we describe previously unknown generations for 12 Nearctic oak cynipids. We describe the sexual generation for ten species previously known only from an asexual generation: Acraspis quercushirta (Bassett, 1864), Acraspis villosa Gillette, 1888, Amphibolips spinosa Ashmead, 1887, Andricus balanaspis (Weld, 1922), comb. nov., Antron quercusnubila (Bassett, 1881), Bassettia pallida Ashmead, 1896, Neuroterus floccosus (Bassett, 1881), comb. rev., Philonix fulvicollis Fitch, 1859, Phylloteras poculum (Osten Sacken, 1862) and Sphaeroteras carolina (Ashmead, 1887), comb. rev.. We describe the asexual generation of Bassettia flavipes (Gillette, 1889), comb. nov. and Melikaiella tumifica (Osten Sacken, 1865), both previously known only from a sexual generation. Three described taxa…

The genus Dendrodoris is ascribed to the family Dendrodorididae, whose members are characterized lacking spicules in the dorsum as well as a radula, one of the most important taxonomic traits to distinguish and define nudibranch species. The absence of this taxonomic character makes difficult to delineate species based on morphologic traits, and consequently, several cryptic species may remain unreported resulting in a potential underestimation of the real diversity of the genus. Species delimitation analyses based on molecular data constitute an important tool to unveil cryptic species, especially when morphology may be misleading. However, for the genus Dendrodoris, only two molecular studies have been performed to date, both based on Indo-pacific species and the molecular marker COI. In the present study, we performed a multilocus approach using the molecular markers COI, 16S and H3 based on 47 Dendrodoris specimens from the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. As a result, we detected monophyly for five of the previously accepted species plus the presence of an…

A new species of erotine net-winged beetles, Helcophorus ekaterinae sp. nov., is described from late Eocene Rovno amber of Ukraine. The new species is placed in the subgenus Thibeteros Kazantsev, 2019, whereas the second known fossil Helcophorus species, H. berendti (Winkler, 1987), from Baltic amber, belongs in Helcophorus sensu stricto. Photographs of extant species of both subgenera, H. (s. str.) miniatus Fairmaire, 1881 and H. (Th.) tricolor Kazantsev, 2013, are provided. This is the first record of a Lycidae from Rovno amber.

We describe a new species from the Pelodiscus axenaria complex from Hunan and Jiangxi Provinces, China. Also, the application of the name P. axenaria (Zhou, Zhang Fang, 1991) is clarified by designating a neotype for this species. Besides its genetic divergence, the new species differs from all other Pelodiscus species, including the two other taxa constituting the complex (P. axenaria, P. huangshanensis), in the following combination of morphological traits: (1) small adult size, <15 cm carapace length; (2) carapace distinctly keeled, more or less strongly tuberculated, usually olive clay-coloured and adorned with greenish black marbling; (3) plastron yellowish white, typically immaculate except for a blurred-edged blotch behind each axilla that does not extend to the entoplastron and some slight black suffusion along its anterior border; (4) underside of the leathery margin of the carapace with varying amounts of dark pigmentation; (5) head olive clay-coloured with numerous black splotches; (6) chin grey brown with pale stipples, throat dark grey, finely spotted with black; (7)…