The 100 most-cited articles in Zootaxa, 2024

This paper provides the first summary on the distribution of the Ukrainian Ichneumonidae based on both literature and collection resources. The checklist contains 1,840 species, of which 42 are first records from Ukraine and Apoclima rossicum Humala, 2007 is the first record from Western Palaearctic. The condition and representativeness of the national collection of Darwin wasps and prospective directions for further studies are discussed.

A taxonomic revision of the Palaearctic species of the ant genus Tapinoma Emery 1861 is provided. Due to the extreme rarity of discernable characters, the female castes of 64% of the species are not separable by primary visual perception of an expert and are thus truly cryptic. The main working rationale of the revision is Numeric Morphology-Based Alpha-Taxonomy (NUMOBAT) with formation of species hypotheses largely based on exploratory data analyses and checking these hypotheses by discriminant analysis. NUMOBAT data of all considered species comprise 648 worker samples with 2014 individuals and 30,000 primary data. Species are depicted by z-stack imaging in three standard visual positions. Numeric data on 15 phenotypical characters are presented in comparative tables and supplementary verbal descriptions are given. Analysis of nuclear DNA was based on evaluation of 15 microsatellite loci in 274 nest samples. The NUMOBAT-based classification of eight species of the Tapinoma nigerrimum and T. simrothi group which are inseparable by subjective visual inspection was confirmed by…

Ceratonotha danica gen. nov., sp. nov., a new genus and species of Erotylidae (Coleoptera), is described and illustrated from Eocene Danish amber. Ceratonotha is morphologically similar to fossil erotylids from European amber, differing from them mainly in the length of the 4th tarsomere. Cycadophila mumia Alekseev & Bukejs, 2017, described from Baltic amber, belongs in this new genus and is here transferred, becoming Ceratonotha mumia (Alekseev & Bukejs) comb. nov..

Phytoseiidae is composed of essentially predatory mites most commonly found on the aerial plant parts. Presently, it is considered to contain about 2,650 valid species, divided into nearly 102 genera of three subfamilies: Amblyseiinae, Phytoseiinae and Typhlodrominae. Approximately 250 of those have been reported from Brazil. Amblyseiinae is the largest subfamily, with about 65% of the described species. This publication summarises the morphologic, taxonomic and distributional information of the Amblyseiinae reported from Brazil, in support of future research on their conservation and practical use. A total of 195 valid species of 29 genera of Amblyseiinae is listed in this publication, 121 of which were described from this country, including seven species which are most certainly incorrect reports, based on the present state of knowledge. Two new combinations are proposed: one in Amblyseius, Amblyseius malvus (Denmark & Evans), and one in Transeius, Transeius piracicabae (Denmark & Muma). Six new synonyms are proposed (Chelaseius lativentris Karg, T. piracicabae, Euseius errabundus…

Three species of the genus Ambositra: A. epicnemia sp. nov., A. bicarinata sp. nov. and A. masneri sp. nov. are described from Eocene Rovno amber. The new combination Ambositra villumi (Brazidec & Vilhelmsen) comb. nov. is suggested for the extinct diapriid wasp Basalys villumi described from Baltic amber. The female of A. villumi is described. A detailed illustration of the single extant species Ambositra famosa Masner and the original illustrated key for all known Ambositra species is given. The diagnosis of the genus Ambositra is clarified.

This checklist aims to update the list of the inland fish fauna of Iran including newly described species and also clarify the status of some taxa including some gobies and catfishes which were ignored in the checklist provided by Eagderi et al. (2022). The checklist is arranged by classes, orders, families, and species. In total, 300 species, belonging to 110 genera, 38 families, 23 orders, and three classes were recognized from Iranian basins, with the presence of 11 reported species that need confirmation by specimens. Additional notes about the taxonomy of several taxa are provided in the discussion section.

In this study, a new species of the genus Boulenophrys is described from northwestern Guangdong, within the Nanling Moutains. The new species can be distinguished from all known congeners by a combination of morphological characteristics and the mitochondrial genetic divergence. The new species is found to breed in winter season which was not common in most amphibian groups but also present in some Boulenophrys congeners. We further discuss the inadequate surveys for these species due to the oversight of such multi-seasonal breeding pattern.

Ten described species of sea anemones (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia: Actiniaria) serve as hosts to charismatic clownfishes (or anemonefishes) on coral reefs throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific. Although not diverse in number, the clownfish-hosting sea anemones have large biogeographic ranges, exhibit extensive intraspecific phenotypic appearances, and have been surrounded by a great deal of historical and contemporary taxonomic and nomenclatural confusion. We believe these factors have created challenges for field scientists making real-time species-level identifications of host sea anemones. Subsequently, a surprising amount of peer-reviewed clownfish literature never accounts for the host sea anemone, omitting critical data for understanding the symbiosis ecologically and evolutionarily. Here, we leverage the revolution that has taken place in the realm of digital underwater photography over the past 30 years to provide an updated, practical field guide for the clownfish-hosting sea anemones. First however, we review and revise the nomenclature for each species to better reflect…

A new species of the genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 is described from northern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular evidence. Scincella ouboteri sp. nov. is characterized by a combination of the following characters: Size medium (SVL up to 58.6 mm); primary temporals 2; external ear opening present, with 3 or 4 lobules on anterior margin; loreals 2; supralabials 7; infralabials 6 or 7; nuchals in 2–4 pairs; midbody scales in 30–32 rows; dorsal scales smooth, in 6 rows across the back; paravertebral scales 65–73, not widened; ventral scales in 65–71 rows; 10–12 smooth lamellae beneath finger IV and 18–20 beneath toe IV; toes overlapping fingers when limbs adpressed along body; dorsal surface of body and tail bronze-brown with a black vertebral stripe, in width of two dorsal scales, two bright dorsolateral stripes extending from behind the head to middle of tail, a dark stripe running from nostril to eye and extending from posterior margin of eye along upper part of flank and tail. In phylogenetic analyses, the new species and S. ochracea form an independent lineage sister to…

This study presents a comprehensive survey of the extant diversity of harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones), a pivotal taxon for biogeography and conservation studies, across Earth's geopolitical entities (here treated as "countries"). The rationale for recognizing more than 200 of these countries lato sensu worldwide is provided. The four most diverse of these countries are here further subdivided in states/provinces resulting in over 300 controlled vocabulary terms (geographic areas that contain harvestman records). These terms have been tagged to over 6900 species/subspecies of Opiliones, resulting in the generation of over 10,000 records. Checklists aiming for exhaustiveness are presented for valid extant Opiliones species/subspecies in each of these geographic areas, as documented in the World Catalogue of Opiliones (WCO) project, and geo maps are included to visually depict the distribution density of known species. Notably, this work marks the first-ever presentation of such checklists in the taxonomic literature for several countries, notably India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea,…

The genus Andrena is the second largest genus of bees, and is undergoing a period of concentrated study that has resulted in the description or recognition of almost 200 additional species during the last decade. This process is far from complete, and substantial revisions are required even in well-studied regions; this present work contributes to this ongoing process. The following new synonymies are reported (senior name first): Andrena (Chrysandrena) fulvago (Christ, 1791) = A. (Chrysandrena) colonialis Morawitz, 1886 syn. nov., Andrena (Cnemidandrena) jagnobensis Morawitz, 1893 = A. (Cnemidandrena) nigriceps ssp. pamirensis Alfken, 1931 syn. nov., Andrena (Hoplandrena) romankovae Osytshnjuk, 1995 = A. (Hoplandrena) fagopyri Xu & Tadauchi, 2005 syn. nov., Andrena (Melanapis) fuscosa Erichson, 1835 = A. cussariensis kohatensis Cockerell, 1917 syn. nov., Andrena (Melandrena) flavipes Panzer, 1799 = A. bentoni Cockerell, 1917 syn. nov. and A. incanescens Cockerell, 1923 syn. nov., Andrena (Melandrena) marmora Nurse, 1904 = A. chionospila Cockerell, 1917 syn. nov. and A. pullipennis…

In its traditional, paraphyletic context (sans Astigmata), oribatid mites comprise more than 11,000 known species (Subas 2022). They are largely fungivores and decomposers in organic horizons of soil and have a plesiotypic ontogeny that includes four active, free-living juvenile instars. In a taxonomically organized 2014 catalogue, we summarized literature resources concerning the 805 species for which ontogenetic data (mainly morphological) were available. Herein, we supplement that catalogue with all data known to us that were published during the intervening decade. These relate to 267 species, of which 165 were described prior to 2014. As in the 2014 catalogue, representation is strongest among: the middle-derivative hyporder Nothrina; brachypyline superfamilies that are affiliated with aquatic, semiaquatic or intertidal environments (Limnozetoidea, Ameronothroidea); some eupheredermous groups (Plateremaeoidea, Damaeoidea); and Ceratozetoidea. Also as in 2014, groups that are underreprented, based on their high known diversity, are the ptyctimous Mixonomata (Euphthiracaroidea,…

Freshwater crustaceans of the genus Aegla are endemic to southern South America, and present greater richness in the river basins of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. However, recent studies have shown the enormous potential for discovering new species of Aegla in the state of Paran. In the last six year the number of species recorded has almost doubled, increasing from 9 to 16. In the present work, we expand the current knowledge about the diversity of Aegla in a set of poorly explored drainage basins in the western region of the state and describe a new species, Aegla urussanga n. sp., based on morphological and molecular evidence. A combination of morphological characters supports the new species: orbital spine absent, non-elevated epigastric prominences, robust protogastric lobes with scales, anterior dorsal margin of epimeron 2 armed and with pronounced concavity, sub-rectangular palmar crest of chelipeds, internal margin of the ventral face of the ischium of the cheliped with a proximal stout spine, a distal stout spine, and up to three tubercles with spiniform scales.…

This study presents a comprehensive catalogue of the moniligastrid earthworms (Moniligastrida, Moniligastridae) of the world. A total of 176 valid species/subspecies belonging to 5 genera are known to exist in this primitive family. Drawida is the speciose genus with 147 species/subspecies. Of the various moniligastrids, three species of Drawida are considered as peregrine outside its normal Asian range. Among the valid species, occurrence of 30.68% are known only from the type locality. It is noteworthy that the types of 125 (71.02%) species are currently known to exist in various repositories around the world. The existence of the remaining species can only be inferred from the literature since their types are either non-existent, missing, dried out, or lost. Present catalogue includes valid scientific names, synonyms, type locality, type respository details along with registration number, geographic distribution pattern within its native range, and references.

Being areas of biotic overlap located between biogeographic regions, transition zones function as natural laboratories. The present study explores the phylogenetic history of the dung beetle subfamily Scarabaeinae, in order to present an evolutionary scenario that allows inference of the biogeographic history of the Mexican Transition Zone (MTZ) and integration of the distributional patterns of its biota. The species sampling included 94 New World taxa (93 species of Scarabaeinae and one species of Aphodiinae). The phylogenetic relationships of the main clades recovered in our study were supported with PP values 0.95. Based on the BAYAREALIKE model to reconstruct the ancestral distributional patterns of Scarabaeinae, we inferred a complex scenario with 19 dispersal events, 15 vicariance events, and three extinctions. We suggest that the Ancient Neotropical and Tropical Paleoamerican patterns represent the most likely ancestral distributional patterns for the Scarabaeinae of the MTZ, which probably settle there during the Eocene-Oligocene. The rest of the Scarabaeinae distributional…

Amasa parviseta Knek & Smith, new species is described from Australia, Brazil, Uruguay, France and Spain. The species is native to Australia and appears to have spread widely in association with introduced Eucalyptus species.

We describe a new species of the genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 from northwestern Vietnam, based on a new collection of ground skinks from Mount Fansipan of the Hoang Lien Son Range in Lao Cai Province. Scincella fansipanensis sp. nov. is distinguished from other Scincella species in the Indochina region and southern China by body size (SVL), separation of prefrontals, number of midbody scale rows, paravertebral scale rows, nuchals and subdigital lamellae on toe IV, separation of toe from finger when limbs are adpressed along the body, and dorsal color pattern. The new species is further distinguished from its congeners by uncorrected genetic distances of 14.60-21.41% (COI gene). The new species is currently known only from high elevation areas of Mt. Fansipan in Vietnam.

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are among the most devastating pests of orchards, nurseries, and forest ecosystems. Anisandrus maiche (Kurentzov) has been regularly captured in ethanol-baited traps along woody edges of apple (Malus domestica (Suckow) Borkh.) orchards in western New York alongside a known apple pest, Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford). However, this species has yet to be a confirmed pest of apple trees. In winter 2024, we conducted a series of dissections of potted apple trees with visible ambrosia beetle attacks (i.e. entry holes, exit holes). Our examination revealed the presence of active A. maiche galleries housing mainly larvae, a few adults, and the fungal symbiont Ambrosiella cleistominuta C. Mayers & T.C. Harr This is a first report of Anisandrus maiche attacking apple trees.

A checklist, based on a database containing published data, of the Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) occurring in Sundaland and Wallacea is presented. The presence of (sub)species is indicated for eight main regions (Singapore & Peninsular Malaysia, South China Sea (islands in the South China Sea that are not sensibly treated as satellites of larger landmasses), Borneo, Sumatra, Java & Bali, Lesser Sunda, Sulawesi, Moluccas), 22 subregions and 80 smaller islands and island groups. In total 743 full species are recorded from the entire area with 549 species known from Sundaland and 270 from Wallacea. Of these 482 are not found outside Sundaland and Wallacea, 385 (ca. 52% of the fauna) of which are single region endemics; the majority of these are actually single island endemics. Notes are provided on taxonomic problems or indicating problematic distribution records. Prodasineura lansbergei is considered to be a nomen nudum (stat nov.). For each of the eight main regions the history of the study of odonates is briefly discussed, information is provided on the coverage of the…

A phylogenetic analysis of all extant genera of Ceratopogonidae worldwide indicates there are now 109 valid genera, including two that are unnamed. All potential morphological features were considered, with 364 adult characters surveyed. Of these 146 adult characters were considered informative and these were combined with 40 pupal features previously interpreted by Borkent (2014), 16 larval and two egg characters. The resulting phylogeny confirmed the relationships between the early lineages including Leptoconopinae, Forcipomyiinae and Culicoidini (other than Washingtonhelea) previously interpreted. The remainder are Ceratopogoninae and these are divided into 11 tribes of which four are new: Washingtonheleini, Parabezziini, Neurobezziini and Echinoheleini. The last three were previously considered as members of the Ceratopogonini. Remaining Ceratopogonini are still recognized as a paraphyletic group, with some lineages poorly resolved phylogenetically. Some genera are realigned within the tribes Sphaeromiini, Johannsenomyiini and Palpomyiini. Poorly understood genera are discussed…

The Malayan banded wolf snake, Lycodon subcinctus (F. Boie, 1827) has a complicated taxonomic and nomenclatural history. For almost a century, the combination Anoplophallus maculatus Cope, 1895 has been applied to populations of L. subcinctus from southern China, with various authors recognizing the taxon maculatus as a subspecies (i.e., Lycodon subcinctus maculatus) or junior synonym. A recent study that proposed the elevation of Chinese L. subcinctus to species rank (as Lycodon "maculatus") prompted us to re-investigate several nomenclatural issues relevant to Anoplophallus maculatus that have not been fully addressed in the literature. We show that Anoplophallus maculatus was not described as a new species, and actually refers to Megalops maculatus Hallowell, 1861, a Neotropical snake currently known as Leptodeira maculata (Dipsadinae). As a consequence, populations of L. subcinctus recently recognized as Lycodon "maculatus", have no valid binomen applied to them. To resolve this issue, we provide a new species name for populations of L. subcinctus from China and include a…

Only five species of the genus Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 have been reported from Cyprus, hitherto. Based on material surveys, the presence of 12 species is reported. Eight of them are described as new to science: T. akrotiriensis n. sp., T. apolloni n. sp., T. cerastarum n. sp., T. evagorae n. sp., T. hippomenesi n. sp., T. kykkos n. sp., T. nikoklesi n. sp., and T. oreades n. sp. In addition, T. cypridis (Santschi, 1930) n. stat. is raised to the species rank, while T. aeolius (Forel, 1911) and T. curtisetosus Salata & Borowiec, 2015 are reported from Cyprus for the first time. An identification key and color photos of all Cypriot species of Temnothorax are provided.

We apply an integrative taxonomic approach, including analyses of molecular and morphological data, along with examination of available type materials, to address the longstanding questioned taxonomic status of Dinodon yunnanensis Werner, 1922, currently considered a junior synonym of Lycodon fasciatus (Anderson, 1879). Based on our data, we revalidate Dinodon yunnanensis, under the combination Lycodon yunnanensis (Werner, 1922) comb. nov. According to the new taxonomic status of Lycodon yunnanensis comb. nov, we restrict the distribution of Lycodon fasciatus to Northeastern India, Central Bhutan, Northern and Central Myanmar, Western and Southwestern Yunnan of China, Northwestern Thailand, Northern Laos, and Northwestern Vietnam. We suggest that Lycodon yunnanensis comb. nov should be considered Least Concern (LC) following the IUCN's Red List categories. Further studies reassessing the populations of the Lycodon fasciatus complex in Xizang of China is required.

Three new earthworm species of the genus Drawida Michaelsen, 1900, namely D. jatinderi Narayanan, sp. nov., D. paliwali Narayanan, sp. nov. and D. proboscidea Narayanan, sp. nov., are described from materials collected from the Kerala state of south-western India. D. jatinderi Narayanan, sp. nov., belongs to D. travancorensis Michaelsen, 1910 species group, characterized by spermathecal pores at C setal line, male pores at mid bc setal lines, glandular prostate, spermathecal atrium present, dorsal pores, and genital markings absent. Whereas D. paliwali Narayanan, sp. nov., and D. proboscidea Narayanan, sp. nov. belong to the D. robusta robusta (Bourne, 1886) group, characterized by glandular prostates and bilobed spermathecal atria. D. jatinderi Narayanan, sp. nov., and D. proboscidea Narayanan, sp. nov. were collected from the midlands of Ernakulam district, and D. paliwali Narayanan, sp. nov., was collected from the higher altitude evergreen forest of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve of Palakkad district. Here we provide a detailed description of the external and internal…

Two new species of the genus Dollmania Tams, 1930 are described: Dollmania lola sp. n. from Ivory Coast and Dollmania reggie sp. n. from Somalia. Two new junior subjective synonyms, Dollmania purpurascens (Aurivillius, 1909) syn. n. and Dollmania plinthochroa Tams, 1930 syn. n., are established for Dollmania cuprea (Distant, 1897) based on results of molecular analysis. Thus, D. cuprea has the largest distribution in the genus including: Republic of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tanzanian Dollmania marwitzi (Strand, 1913) stat. rev. and Dollmania reussi (Strand, 1913) stat. rev. previously considered to be synonyms of D. purpurascens are raised back to the species level based on results of molecular analysis. Female genitalia of all species are illustrated for the first time. Adults, their genitalia, maps with collecting sites, phylogenetic tree, and matrix with p-distances are illustrated as well.

During a survey of the family Ichneumonidae in northwestern Iran, a total of 17 species belonging to the subfamilies Banchinae, Cryptinae, Ichneumoninae, Mesochorinae, Metopiinae, Orthopelmatinae, Phygadeuontinae and Tersilochinae were identified. Two species, Lissonota (Lissonota) rufofacies Riedel nov. sp. and Orthopelma mukriyana Riedel nov. sp. are new to science and are described and illustrated. Their diagnostic characters are provided. We also provide collecting details for the fifteen species recorded for the first time from Iran.

Two new earthworm species of Megascolex Templeton, 1844, M. quadripapillatus Narayanan & Paliwal, sp. nov. and M. jeyporeghatiensis Narayanan & Paliwal, sp. nov. are described from the under-explored Eastern Ghats Hills of Odisha state in Peninsular India. They belong to a group of species characterized by two pairs of spermathecal pores in intersegmental furrows 7/8/9, holandric, seminal vesicles in segments 9 and 12, absence of penial setae and calciferous glands. Megascolex ratus Cognetti, 1911, M. pumilio Stephenson, 1916 and the two new species described here are the members of this group. Megascolex quadripapillatus sp. nov. and M. jeyporeghatiensis sp. nov. occur in deciduous forests with brownish gravel-loamy soils. Here we provide the detailed description of the external and internal characteristics of the new species along with the illustrations of the key characters. With the new findings, the range of Megascolex genus has been extended further north in the less explored Eastern Ghats Hills of India. With this discovery, the total number of Megascolex species has…

The genus Dinometa Aurivillius, 1927 (type species Gastroplakaeis maputuana Wichgraf, 1906) is reviewed, with two new species described: Dinometa ethani sp. n. from Tanzania and Dinometa abigailae sp. n. from Kenya and Tanzania. All Dinometa species showed no significant differences in male genitalia, but D. ethani sp. n. and D. abigailae sp. n. are allopatric with D. maputuana. D. abigailae sp. n. has specific reddish spots on hindwings that distinguishes it from closely distributed D. ethani sp. n. Two D. maputuana specimens collected at the same night and locality in the Republic of South Africa have an intraspecific variation of 1.52% in cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, while all barcoded D. maputuana are 2.432.74% distant from D. ethani sp. n. Adults, male genitalia and distribution maps of all three species are illustrated.

Accurate identification of species is key to understanding their ecological roles and evolutionary history. It is also essential in cataloging biodiversity for comparisons among habitat types, responses to climate change, effective management practices, and more. The paucity of taxonomic expertise is increasing and with it the ability to competently identify species, this is particularly true for small taxa including rotifers. In an effort to improve this situation, we collated information on morphological characters from the literature on all valid species of sessile Gnesiotrocha (phylum Rotifera) currently assigned to two orders and four families. We review Order Collothecaceae, which comprises families Atrochidae (3 spp.) and Collothecidae (50 spp.) and Order Flosculariaceae, which includes families Conochilidae (7 spp.) and Flosculariidae (71 species). Based on that information, we provide dichotomous keys to the Families, monospecific species in Flosculariidae, and species of Atrochidae, Conochilidae, and Limnias. These keys will aid researchers to identify species in these…

A new fossil cockroach, Ectobius danekrae sp. nov., is described on the basis of a single male adult individual from late Eocene Danish amber. This is the third representative of the genus Ectobius Stephens, 1835 from Eocene ambers. The new species exhibits plesiomorphic characters of small right stylus and subsymmetrical claws, compared to the known fossil and living species of the genus. The references to Ectobius balticus (Germar et Berendt, 1856) and Margattea Shelford, 1911 sp. presence in Danish amber are insufficient.

A taxonomic revision of the nemacheilid genus Claea from China is provided based on molecular and morphological data. Three species are identified in this genus: C. dabryi (type species), C. wulongensis (a species originally recognized in Triplophysa), and C. minibarba sp. nov., here described from the mid-upper Chang-Jiang basin in northwestern Hubei Province, South China. This new species differs from the two congeneric species in having a deeper body, further from C. dabryi in having shorter outer rostral and maxillary barbels, and further from C. wulongensis in possessing a higher count of vertebrae, a deeper caudal-peduncle, and a narrower interorbital space. Its validity is corroborated by its monophyly recovered in a mitochondrial cytochrome b gene-based phylogenetic analysis and its significant genetic divergence of this gene with the two congeneric species.

Culumana currently comprises fourteen species of which thirteen occur in South America, mainly in Peru and Bolivia, and one on Central America. Culumana maculosa sp. nov. is described from Peru and Curtara picchua DeLong, 1979 is transferred to Culumana. A revised diagnosis of the genus Culumana is provided. In addition, Gypona bipartita Linnavuori & DeLong, 1977 is transferred to Chilenana DeLong & Freytag, 1977.

Hammerhead sharks (Family Sphyrnidae) comprise a monophyletic Miocene radiation of carcharhiniform sharks characterized by their laterally expanded and dorsoventrally compressed head ('cephalofoil'). The bonnethead shark (Sphyrna tiburo) is currently described as a single amphi-American hammerhead species composed of the subspecies Sphyrna tiburo tiburo in the Western Atlantic Ocean (WA) and S. tiburo vespertina in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EP). Variation in mitochondrial DNA and cephalofoil shape suggest a species complex, with S. tiburo occurring in the U.S., Mexico, and Bahamas; S. aff. tiburo occurring from Belize to Brazil; and S. vespertina occurring in the EP. Morphometric, meristic, and genetic variation was used to resolve the bonnethead shark complex in the Western Atlantic. Twenty-three specimens (12 S. aff. tiburo from Belize and 11 S. tiburo from U.S.) were subject to sixty-one morphometric measurements and three meristic characters (counts of the number of precaudal vertebrae, lower and upper rows of functional teeth). An allometric formula was used to standardize any…

An annotated checklist of the European Dacnusini (426 species) and the Dapsilarthra genus group of the Alysiini (16 species) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Alysiinae) is provided. In addition to a species list with synonymy, further details are given of: (i) intrageneric groupings; (ii) a reference to each species' treatment in the unindexed and multipart major revisions of Nixon & Griffith as well as the long keys of Tobias; (iii) a hypothesis about host range for the 60% of species which have been reared, and the evidence upon which it is based; (iv) whether a DNA barcode sequence is available (30% of species); (v) for species published after Griffiths' revision a reference to similar species; (vi) any further relevant notes. One new synonym is established: Chorebus luzulae Griffiths syn. nov. is synonymised with Chorebus aphantus Marshall. Mesocrina Förster is excluded from the Dapsilartha genus group and whether Grandia Goidanich and Lodbrokia Hedqvist are in the Dacnusini is considered uncertain.

Between 2015 and 2022, over 200 wells were sampled in four catchment areas of Benin, using both Cvetkov plankton nets (funnel 200 µm mesh size, 150 µm below valve) and baited traps. As artificial wells serve as ecotones (interfaces between surface and groundwater ecosystems), the ostracod fauna is mostly represented by two families; Cyprididae (mainly epigeic) and Candonidae (hypogeic). Here, we describe a new subfamily of Candonidae from the wells in Benin, the Benincandoninae subfam. nov. Hotèkpo & Martens, represented by one genus, Benincandona gen. nov. Hotèkpo & Martens. We found 35 species belonging to this evolutionary radiation, of which we describe five new species: Benincandona martini gen. et spec. nov. Hotèkpo & Martens, B. ibikounlei gen. et spec. nov. Hotèkpo & Martens, B. sakitii gen. et spec. nov. Hotèkpo & Martens, B. cebios gen. et spec. nov. Hotèkpo & Martens and B. trapezoides gen. et spec. nov. Hotèkpo & Martens. The new subfamily and genus are characterised by a unique combination of characters, such as a seven-segmented antennula and a caudal ramus with a…

This paper provides a comprehensive description of the morphological characteristics of the developmental stages (larva, protonymph, deutonymph, and adult) of Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant, 1959) and Amblyseius lentiginosus Denmark & Schicha, 1974. Both species used were sourced from laboratory-reared colonies fed with the dried fruit mite Carpoglyphus lactis (L.) (Acari: Carpoglyphidae).

We describe a new species of green pitviper from southern and central parts of coastal Vietnam based on morphological and molecular (2406 bp from cyt b, ND4, and 16S rRNA mitochondrial DNA genes) lines of evidence. Trimeresurus cyanolabris sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following morphological characters: small size, maximum known SVL of 638 mm; dorsal scales in 21 (rarely 23)-21-15 rows, moderately keeled except the outermost rows; ventral scales 166-178; subcaudal scales 52-75, all paired; hemipenis forked, calyculate, reaching the 8th subcaudal; eye bright yellow in both sexes; dorsal surface deep green lacking cross-bands; postocular white stripe missing in both sexes; ventrolateral stripe faintly present on the first few dorsal scale rows in males, absent in females; throat, chin, and lower labials in shades of blue. The new species forms a distinct clade on the phylogenetic tree of the genus Trimeresurus and differs from the morphologically similar T. rubeus by a significant divergence in cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA gene sequences (p…

The gekkonid lizard Cyrtodactylus intermedius was formerly considered to be a single widespread species in hilly areas across eastern Thailand through southern Vietnam but has recently been partitioned into a complex of 12 nominal species across its range. A population belonging to the C. intermedius group was recently found in an isolated limestone karst block in Kampot Province in southwestern Cambodia, part of which lies within the recently designated Phnom Preah Kuhear Loung Natural Heritage Site. Comparisons of morphometric, meristic, qualitative morphological and color pattern data, as well as a molecular analysis using the mitochondrial ND2 gene, revealed that this population differs from all other named members of the C. intermedius group, and so is described here as a new species. The karst-dwelling C. regicavernicolus sp. nov. was recovered as the sister species to C. laangensis, the most geographically proximate member of the complex and one that is also restricted to a small limestone karst habitat.

Two new species of gladiators are described from European amber, namely Raptophasma neli sp. nov. and Adicophasma hafniensis sp. nov. from Baltic and Danish amber, respectively. Two names are resurrected from synonyms: Adicophasma Engel & Grimaldi, 2004, nom. resurr. and A. spinosum Engel & Grimaldi, 2004, nom. resurr. Original combination is restored for A. grylloblattoides Arillo & Engel, 2006, comb. resurr. Adicophasma groehni (Zompro, 2008), comb. nov. is tranferred from Raptophasma to Adicophasma. As a result, the ancient subfamily Raptophasmatinae nowadays consists of one Jurassic monotypic genus and two Eocene genera with six species from European amber.

The biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) are a diverse group of blood-feeding flies that includes numerous pest and vector species. Major gaps exist in our knowledge of the biology and ecology of the majority of Culicoides spp., due in part to a lack of keys for identifying the biting midges of a given region. In Florida, USA, The Sand Flies of Florida (Blanton and Wirth, 1979) has been a foundational resource for biting midge identification since its publication. The identification keys to the 47 biting midge species (and one subspecies) in The Sand Flies of Florida are not illustrated, however, and frequently rely upon microscopic features (spermathecae, antennal sensory pattern, number of teeth on mandible) as discriminating characters. Here we provide an updated photographic key to 49 nominal species of Culicoides from Florida, USA. The revised key orders characters so that species of nuisance, medical or veterinary importance can be reliably identified without slide mounting, an aspect that should facilitate ecological field work. Synoptic tables summarize the…

We describe here a new species of terrestrial earthworm Eutyphoeus rihnimensis sp. nov. (family Acanthodrilidae) from specimens collected at Khawrihnim, a village in Mizoram, Northeast India. The new species is distinguished from its congener members in E. gigas group in having an outgrowth that branches into four finger-like projections from the male porophores, five pairs of supra-intestinal glands in 8188 segments, typhlosole that begins from segment 25, ventral intestinal caeca 10 that covers segments 33-34, a bidiverticulate spermathecae with a short and stout duct, and very short lateral and median diverticula among other characters. Sequence analysis based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene further warrants its distinction from known species of Eutyphoeus.

The fastidiosissimus species-group of Stenodynerus de Saussure, 1863 is revised in Western Europe and North Africa, combining morphological data and DNA barcoding. Six species are recognized: S. difficilis (Morawitz, 1867) stat. resurr. (= S. fastidiosissimus auct.), S. fastidiosissimus (de Saussure, 1855), S. laborans (Costa, 1882) stat. resurr., S. montanus Selis, sp. nov., S. muelleri (Dusmet, 1917) (= Stenodynerus gusenleitneri Giordani Soika, 1986 syn. nov.), and S. rufescens Giordani Soika, 1977 stat. nov. Lectotypes are designated for Odynerus fastidiosissimus de Saussure, 1855 and Odynerus insularis Andr, 1883 non Smith, 1859. A key for the identification of members of this species-group is provided. DNA barcodes are published for every species, representing the first available sequences for the fastidiosissimus species-group.

The introduction of non-native organisms into new areas may pose major threats to natural ecosystems. Therefore, continuous and careful national surveys for the interception of invasive non-native species are necessary. During the national survey of quarantine species in 2023, two new non-native ambrosia beetles, Anisandrus maiche (Kurentzov) and Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff), were recorded in Slovenia. Anisandrus maiche was recorded in three locations in the eastern part of Slovenia, with a total of 386 individuals. Three individuals of Xylosandrus compactus were collected in one location near the port of Koper. We discuss the possible pathways of introduction and dispersal.

Samples obtained from pet shops and a hobbyists aquaria in Japan have revealed a diverse non-marine ostracod fauna, consisting of 19 species, all contaminants of aquaria stocked with exotic fish, shrimps and/or aquatic plants. Of these, six are newly recorded for Japan, including two new species, belonging to the genera Pseudostrandesia and Tanycypris. Pseudostrandesia tenebrarum Smith & Ozawa, 2021, previously suspected to be an alien species in Japan, was again found in pet shops in this study. We also report living specimens of Potamocypris acuminata Fuhrmann & Goth, 2011, a species previously only known from Pleistocene deposits of Germany. The six new records for Japan reported herein are likely alien species as evidenced by previous records or congeneric species, with origins in East Asia, South East Asia, and the Americas. Thus, there are now seven ostracod species recognized as probable alien hitchhikers in the Japanese pet trade. This study highlights that the pet trade is a viable route for hitchhiking ostracod species to enter Japan, and such species have the potential to…

Asia is the worlds largest continent and comprises most of the Holarctic biogeographic region. The genus Andrena is principally distributed through the Holarctic, but it remains understudied in Asia. The subgenus Cnemidandrena Hedicke, 1933 is distributed across Asia with some species reaching south to the Tibetan Plateau. However, some southern members display an unusual morphology, including A. (Cnemidandrena) kishidai chagyabensis Wu, 1982 (newly recorded for Bhutan, India, and Nepal) and A. (Cnemidandrena) granulitergorum Tadauchi & Xu, 2002 (newly recorded for Nepal). The male of A. granulitergorum is described for the first time, A. (Cnemidandrena) rufina Morawitz, 1876 is reported from Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and Kashmir for the first time, and possible senior synonyms for Asian A. (Cnemidandrena) are suggested. To contribute to an improved understanding of localised Asian Andrena diversity, the following new species are described: A. (Cnemidandrena) textrix sp. nov. from China, A. (incertae sedis) liebigi sp. nov. and A. (Troandrena) monfaredi sp. nov. from Iran, and A.…

The new aphid species-Aphis (Bursaphis) kazdagensis sp. nov. living on Papaver pilosum subsp. strictum (Papaveraceae) in Çanakkale Province, Türkiye, is described based on the apterous viviparous females. Diagnosis of the subgenus Bursaphis with respect to other species is given. Aphis popovi Mordvilko, 1932 is transferred from the subgenus Aphis to the subgenus Bursaphis. An updated identification key for apterous viviparous females to all Bursaphis species is provided.

The genus Euodynerus Dalla Torre, 1904 (= Extraepipona Gusenleitner, 2014, syn. nov.; Euodynerus occultus (Gusenleitner, 2014), comb. nov.) is revised in Europe and the Maghreb, combining morphological data and DNA barcoding. New synonymies are proposed for E. (Pareuodynerus) Blüthgen, 1938 (= E. (Incolepipona) Giordani Soika, 1994, syn. nov.), E. annae (Kostylev, 1937) (= Euodynerus shirazensis Giordani Soika, 1970, syn. nov.), E. caspicus (Morawitz, 1873) (= Euodynerus caspicus armeniacus Gusenleitner, 2016, syn. nov.), E. curictensis Blüthgen, 1940 (= Euodynerus curictensis sardous Borsato, 2006, syn. nov.), E. dantici (Rossi, 1790) (= Euodynerus dantici poggii Giordani Soika, 1986, syn. nov.; = Euodynerus minoricensis Sanza, 2003, syn. nov.), E. quadrifasciatus (Fabricius, 1793) (= Euodynerus quadrifasciatus atripes Giordani Soika, 1976, syn. nov.; = Euodynerus quadrifasciatus rufipes Gusenleitner, 1984, syn. nov.; = Euodynerus quadrifasciatus eburnus Yamane, 1987, syn. nov.), E. rubrosignatus Gusenleitner, 1984, stat. nov. (= Euodynerus notatus cyrenaicus Giordani Soika, 1986,…

Seven new species of the enigmatic spider family Paratropididae are described from Ecuador. All new species belong to the genus Paratropis: P. carcosita sp. nov. (♀), P. pukallucha sp. nov. (♂♀), P. esmeraldas sp. nov. (♂♀), P. kapak sp. nov. (♂♀), P. pasochoa sp. nov. (♀), P. arenosa sp. nov. (♀) and P. cryptica sp. nov. (♂♀). A distribution map of all newly described species is presented.

We present an annotated and updated checklist of freshwater fish species occurring in the Northeastern Mata Atlântica ecoregion (NMAF), Eastern Brazil. A total of 305 native freshwater fish species are documented for this ecoregion, of which 210 are endemic. Distribution maps of 298 species are provided. There is a general pattern of increased sampling intensity in coastal zones, gradually diminishing towards the west as elevation increases. A bioregionalization algorithm identified four biogeographic units in the NMAF ecoregion: Northern Bioregion, Central Bioregion, Coastal Tablelands Bioregion and Southern Bioregion. The heterogeneous nature of the ichthyofauna in this area, along with the significant faunal overlap observed between NMAF and adjacent ecoregions, suggests that the approach of ecoregion delimitation may not be fully congruent with the current faunal compositions. This underscores the need for novel regionalization approaches that reinforce outcomes consistent with the diversity patterns evident within the ecoregion.

Stick and leaf insects (Phasmatodea) are a moderately diverse order that comprises almost 3,500 extant species of large to very large often impressively camouflaged nocturnal herbivores. The order also stands out as one of the few insect orders that have until lately lacked a robust higher-level phylogeny and still the relationships between many New World taxa in particular remain unknown. The Diapheromerinae is one of the main lineages of the Occidophasmata and comprises a bulk of the diversity of New World stick insects. The clade is endemic to the Americas and includes the longest insects of that region. During the past 25 years Diapheromerinae has experienced various often inconsistent attempts of a classification, which have resulted in a complicated history that has meanwhile constituted a heterogenous mixture of historical and contemporary views. To counter these challenges workers have made use of rank-free taxa to provisionally group supposedly monophyletic clades. Currently the Diapheromerinae are sub-divided into the two tribes Diapheromerini and Oreophoetini and recent…

In modern systematics, different sources of evidence are commonly used for the discovery, identification, and delimitation of species, especially when morphology fails to delineate between species or in underestimated species complexes or cryptic species. In this study, morphological data and two DNA barcoding markers-cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2)-were used to delimit species in the spider genus Loxosceles from North America. The molecular species delimitation analyses were carried out using three different methods under the corrected p-distance Neighbor-Joining (NJ) criteria: 1) Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP), 2) General Mixed Yule Coalescent model (GMYC), and 3) Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes (bPTP). The analyses incorporated 192 terminals corresponding to 43 putative species of Loxosceles, of which 15 are newly recognized herein, as putative new species, based on morphology and congruence between molecular methods with COI. The average intraspecific genetic distance (p-distance) was <2%, whereas the average…

We describe 46 species in six families of Buccinoidea from the Miocene of the Central Paratethys Sea (4 Colubrariidae, 5 Eosiphonidae, 1 Melongenidae, 14 Pisaniidae, 4 Prodotiidae, 18 Tudiclidae). For the first time species of the family Prodotiidae are documented from the European Neogene. Tethyspollia nov. gen. (Prodotiidae) and Gailleagrassor nov. gen. (Eosiphonidae) are introduced as new genera. Metula kovacsi nov. sp., Metula aliceae nov. sp. (Colubrariidae), Gailleagrassor paratethyca nov. sp., Calagrassor viciani nov. sp. (Eosiphonidae), Prodotia? wesselyi nov. sp. (Prodotiidae), Aplus hofae nov. sp., Janiopsis vindobonensis nov. sp. (Pisaniidae), Euthria brunettii nov. sp., Euthria walaszczyki nov. sp., Euthria dellabellai nov. sp., Euthria frausseni nov. sp., Euthria obelixi nov. sp., Euthria odiosa nov. sp. and Euthria zachosi nov. sp. (Tudiclidae) are introduced as new species. In addition, Aplus anatolicus nov. sp. and Euthria yesimae nov. sp. are described as new species from the Serravallian (Middle Miocene) of the Karaman Basin (Turkey). We provide a critical survey…

Xenophyophores are large, agglutinated foraminifera that dominate the benthic megafauna in some parts of the deep sea. Here, we describe an assemblage of largely fragmentary specimens from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), an area of the eastern abyssal Pacific hosting large, commercially significant deposits of polymetallic nodules. We recognised 18 morphospecies of which eight yielded DNA sequences. These include two new genera and three new species, Claraclippia seminuda gen. & sp. nov., Stereodiktyoma mollis gen. & sp. nov., and Aschemonella tani sp. nov., three that are assigned to known species, Abyssalia foliformis, Aschemonella monilis and Shinkaiya contorta, and two assigned to open nomenclature forms Abyssalia aff. foliformis and Stannophyllum aff. granularium. An additional ten forms are represented only by morphology. The following seven are placed in known genera, species and open-nomenclature forms: Aschemonella? sp., Homogammina sp., Psammina multiloculata, P. aff. multiloculata, P. aff. limbata form 1 sensu Gooday et al., 2018, P. aff. limbata form 2 sensu Gooday et…

We describe a new genus Cryptocroton n. gen. for Amblyomma papuanum Hirst, 1914, a tick of North Queensland, Australia, and Papua New Guinea.

Female mosquitoes of the genus Sabethes Robineau-Desvoidy, 1827 are implicated in the transmission of several arboviruses, including yellow fever virus. Here, we present an illustrated species identification key for females of the genus Sabethes recorded in Brazil, except Sa. nitidus Theobald, 1901 and Sa. harbachi Nascimento-Pereira, Guimares, Loureno-de-Oliveira & Motta, 2021 as only the males of these species are known. The key is available in dichotomous and interactive formats. An updated list of the Sabethes species of Brazil and new occurrence records for the states of the country are provided. The type localities of four speciesSa. glaucodaemon (Dyar & Shannon, 1925), Sa. amazonicus Gordon & Evans, 1922, Sa. belisarioi Neiva, 1908 and Sa. soperi Lane & Cerqueira, 1942are corrected or restricted.

The brown tree frog (Litoria ewingii) is a relatively widespread, commonly encountered pelodryadid frog from south-eastern Australia, known for its characteristic whistling call. The distribution of Litoria ewingii spans over more than 350,000 km2, encompassing a range of moist temperate habitats, and is fragmented by well-known biogeographic barriers. A preliminary analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed evidence for deep phylogenetic structure between some of these fragmented populations. In this study, we sought to re-evaluate the systematics and taxonomy of Litoria ewingii sensu lato by analysing variation in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, adult morphology and male advertisement calls throughout the species range. Our analyses reveal two additional, deeply divergent and allopatric lineages in South Australia. We herein re-describe Litoria ewingii from Tasmania, southern New South Wales, Victoria and south-eastern South Australia, resurrect the name Litoria calliscelis for a species occurring in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, and…

In this paper, we provide new taxonomic and faunistic data on the dysderid spider genera Dysdera Latreille, 1804 and Harpactea Bristowe, 1939 based on material collected in the Caucasus region. We identified a total of seventeen species, of which D. atabekia sp. n. (; Goychay and Ismayilli districts, Azerbaijan), H. abasgiana sp. n. (; Republic of Abkhazia, Georgia), and H. dunini sp. n. (; Zagatala district, Azerbaijan) are described as new to science and their distributions are mapped. Furthermore, three new records are provided: D. daghestanica Dunin, 1991 from Krasnodar Krai, D. concinna L. Koch, 1878 from Iran, and D. mazini Dunin, 1991 from Azerbaijan. By examining the type series of Harpactea caucasia (Kulczyski, 1895), we found that at least a part of Dunins records of this species refer to H. abasgiana sp. n., and his figures of this species in fact refer to an undescribed species. Brief notes are provided on the northernmost distribution limits of Dysderidae.

In terms of sheer abundance, taxonomic diversity, and species richness, Malaysia has one of the most diverse Sciaenidae in the Indo-West Pacific. Up to ten valid species of the sciaenid fish genus Johnius (e.g., J. amblycephalus (Bleeker, 1855), J. belangerii (Cuvier, 1830), J. borneensis (Bleeker, 1850), J. carouna (Cuvier, 1830), J. coitor (Hamilton, 1822), J. heterolepis Bleeker, 1873, J. macrorhynus (Lal Mohan, 1976), J. plagiostoma (Bleeker, 1849), J. sasakii Hanafi et al., 2022 and J. weberi Hardenberg, 1936), and with additional newly recorded species as J. trewavasae Sasaki, 1992, have been recorded to occur in East Malaysia (Borneo Island) coastal waters. The newly recorded species is a close congener to J. heterolepis Sasaki, 1992 and can be well distinguished by several characters and molecular evidence. The goal of this study is to review the taxonomic status of Johnius species in East Malaysia, Borneo Island, by using a literature review, morphological inference and molecular characters. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) successfully discriminates based on second anal…

We provide a taxonomic revision of the Neotropical species of Odontomachus, including description of gynes, their wing venation, and description of males. We examined 2633 workers, 156 gynes, and 142 males, resulting in four new species, which are described here: O. chicomendesi sp. nov., O. cupreus sp. nov., O. dubius sp. nov. and O. xeta sp. nov. We propose the synonym of O. mayi n. syn. under O. panamensis, resulting in 27 species of Odontomachus in the neotropics. Dichotomous keys, illustrated with high quality images, are provided for workers, gynes, and males. We describe/redescribe 21 gynes and 15 males. The worker of O. allolabis is redescribed and the status of the type specimens as parasitized is confirmed. Odontomachus chelifer shows wide variation of the petiolar node, metasternal process and male propodeum sculpturing indicating that it is possibly a complex of cryptic species. The metasternal process is an important diagnostic character for most of the species. The morphology of the worker and gynes are congruent with the current molecular phylogeny for the genus. We…

Bathydraconidae (Notothenioidei) are a group of benthic fishes endemic to the Southern Ocean. Because of their recent evolutionary radiation and limited sampling efforts due to their occurrence in remote regions, their diversity is likely underestimated. Akarotaxis nudiceps, currently the only recognized member of its genus, is an especially poorly known bathydraconid. Although A. nudiceps has a circumpolar distribution on the Antarctic continental shelf, its deep habitat and rarity limit knowledge of its life history and biology. Using a combination of morphological and genetic analyses, we identified an undescribed species of this genus, herein named Akarotaxis gouldae sp. nov. (Banded Dragonfish). The separation of this species was initially identified from archived larval specimens, highlighting the importance of early life stage taxonomy and natural history collections. All currently known adult and larval A. gouldae sp. nov. specimens have been collected from a restricted ~400 km coastal section of the western Antarctic Peninsula, although this is possibly due to sampling…

The diversity of the psyllids of Australia reflects that of the plants of this country, with large radiations and ecological dominance of Myrtaceae (e.g., Eucalyptus), Fabaceae (e.g., Acacia), Casuarinaceae (e.g., Allocasuarina, Casuarina) and Scrophulariaceae (e.g., Eremophila, Myoporum). Within Australian ecosystems, psyllids are critical components of food webs, especially with respect to providing energy-rich resources for many species of birds and insects and, historically, humans. Furthermore, in horticulture, agriculture and forestry, some Australian psyllid species are considered pests, causing leaf senescence and 'dieback', leaf deformation and inducing growth of sooty mould, with some adventive species capable of acting as vectors of plant pathogens. Several species are considered beneficial, having been introduced as biological control agents of weeds. Additionally, some Australian psyllids have established in other countries, or in regions within Australia that are not within their natural range; while others have such limited geographical ranges that they are of…

We provide illustrated dichotomous keys for the identification of final (4th) instar larvae of south-east Asian genera of Chironomidae (Diptera), predominantly from aquatic (freshwater and maritime) habitats. The region considered comprises oriental China, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia (west and east), Brunei, Singapore and Indonesia. Eight subfamilies are represented and phylogenetically validated tribes are keyed. Terminal taxa, listed in the sequence used in this guide, comprise 28 genera of Tanypodinae, 71 of Chironominae, 2 of Podonominae, 1 of Buchonomyiinae, 8 of Diamesinae, 2 of Protanypodinae, 5 of Prodiamesinae, 2 of Telmatogetoninae and 61 of Orthocladiinae. The morphology terminology is standard for larval Chironomidae to which users are referred. Illustrations of selected features are provided as photographs with important details labelled. Short summaries of ecology and concise details of selected species and regional / global distribution are provided in brackets under each entry. Some suspect new synonymy is alluded to, but will be addressed formally in more detail…

An integrative taxonomic analysis of the gekkonid lizard genus Hemiphyllodactylus was conducted using molecular, morphological, color pattern, and ecological data on a clade of 19 species, including two new species from karst landscapes in northern Laos and Vietnam. Hemiphyllodactylus houaphanensis sp. nov. (Laos) and H. vanhoensis sp. nov. (Vietnam) are karst-dwelling species whose discovery further emphasizes the unrealized herpetological diversity and site-specific endemism in karst ecosystems across Southeast Asia and the need for increased field work to protect these biodiverse landscapes.

Freshwater mussels are an important component of the macrobenthic fauna but due to modern environmental pollution and destruction, the abundance of freshwater mussels has declined rapidly, and this fauna is one of the most threatened animal groups in the world. China is the country with the second highest diversity of freshwater mussels in the world. Rhombuniopsis is a genus of freshwater mussels endemic to the ancient lakes and surrounding area in Yunnan Province, China. Species in this genus are threatened with extinction and have not been recorded alive for many years. We present a revision of Rhombuniopsis based on the morphological study of the museum materials and newly collected specimens, and propose two species new to science: Rhombuniopsis linan sp. nov. and Rhombuniopsis songmeng sp. nov. The two new species are considered extinct because the lakes they inhabited were completely dried up due to human activity. We compare our recent data with the historical studies to trace the population change of the Rhombuniopsis species in different lakes. We revise the distribution…

The Lygodactylus tolampyae complex includes several deep genetic lineages of small diurnal geckos from the West and North West of Madagascar whose taxonomy is largely unsolved. We sequenced DNA fragments of one mitochondrial and four nuclear-encoded genes for up to 70 samples across the entire known range of these geckos. We find as many as 11 mitochondrial lineages differentiated by >4% pairwise distances in the 16S rRNA gene fragment, with >9% pairwise distance for the majority of lineage comparisons. Many of these lineages were concordantly differentiated in all of the nuclear-encoded genes without any haplotype sharing, despite the syntopic occurrence of some of them. We therefore hypothesize that the complex contains seven candidate species, but a comprehensive taxonomic resolution is complicated by various hindrances. These include incomplete sampling, with two lineages each known only from a single specimen, and one further lineage with no voucher specimens available for examination. Further hurdles are the probably lost holotype of L. tolampyae and its imprecise type…

The monotypic subgenus Pandara DeLong & Freytag, 1972 of Gyponana Ball, 1920 is reviewed, and proposed to be raised to generic rank, with new diagnostic characters provided. The type-species Gyponana (P.) eleganta DeLong & Freytag, 1972 described from Santa Cruz, Bolivia is redescribed. In addition, three new species for the genus are described and illustrated: Pandara inca sp. nov. from Peru, Pandara indivisa sp. nov. from Peru and Bolivia, and Pandara parallela sp. nov. from Brazil and French Guiana. The female terminalia of a representative of this genus is described for the first time. A species identification key for males and a distribution map for the four known species are provided.

†Rhantus villumi sp. nov. is described and illustrated on the basis of a single specimen from the earliest Eocene Fur Formation, Denmark. With an estimated age of ca. 55.4 Ma, it represents the oldest member of an extant genus of the family Dytiscidae. However, the presence of Rhantus in the early Eocene is only slightly older than previous estimates, and generally agrees well with phylogenetic analyses of the subfamily Colymbetinae. The presence of a predominantly temperate genus in the presumably warm Lagerstätte is briefly discussed, supporting the hypothesis of temporary cooling, as suggested by several other invertebrate records from the Fur Formation. It is suggested that the new species could feed on mosquito larvae, which are known from the Lagerstätte. Finally, a record of another Dytiscidae species from the same locality is mentioned, but, due to poor preservation and lack of diagnostic characters, this fossil remains unidentified to genus or species level.

Lefua hoffmanni Herre 1932 has been regarded as a valid species. However, Zheng (1989) suggested that L. hoffmanni may be a junior synonym of Oreonectes platycephalus Günther 1868. The validity of L. hoffmanni based on observations of type specimens has not been thoroughly examined in previous studies. This study comprised detailed observations and comparisons of the type specimens of L. hoffmanni and O. platycephalus to verify its validity. As a result of this investigation, it was confirmed that L. hoffmanni is indeed a junior synonym of O. platycephalus. A re-description of O. platycephalus is also provided on the basis of the syntypes.

The taxonomic identity of the invasive Asian Ricaniid planthopper, Pochazia shantungensis (Chou & Lu, 1977) in Japan is reevaluated. This originally Chinese planthopper is highly polyphagous and has recently become an important pest in Korea. In 2015, this species was first documented from Sakai, Osaka Prefecture and has been widespread since then. The genital structures, wings and fifth instar nymph are described and illustrated. The host plants in Japan are also documented with photographs. The male genitalia of a similar species, P. sublimata (Jacobi, 1916), are illustrated as well. As a recently introduced pest in Japan, P. shantungensis needs to be monitored for its potential spread and for the damage it may cause to agriculture.

This paper reports four new species from Yunnan, Hunan and Guangdong in China, i.e. Phlugiolopsis procera sp. nov., Phlugiolopsis clavata sp. nov., Phlugiolopsis nanlingensis sp. nov. and Phlugiolopsis spina sp. nov. While the females of Phlugiolopsis bispinata Bian & Shi, 2018 and Phlugiolopsis breviproceris Zheng, Shi & Chang, 2023 are described for the first time. All specimens are deposited in the Museum of Hebei University.

Nine new species belonging to the Pholcus phungiformes-group are described from Korea, viz., Pholcus chugok Lee & Lee, sp. nov., Pholcus noeun Lee & Lee, sp. nov., Pholcus wonju Lee & Lee, sp. nov., Pholcus ungyo Lee & Lee, sp. nov., Pholcus hwangjeong Lee & Lee, sp. nov., Pholcus gimsatgat Lee & Lee, sp. nov., Pholcus solchi Lee & Lee, sp. nov., Pholcus mino Lee & Lee, sp. nov., and Pholcus maepo Lee & Lee, sp. nov. These new species were found from mountainous habitats in Gangwon-do and Chungcheongbuk-do, the northeastern regions of South Korea where the two major mountain ranges (Taebaeksan mountains and Sobaeksan mountains) are located together. Detailed descriptions, photographs, and a distribution map for the new species are provided with notes on their intraspecific variations of copulatory organs.

All species of Flosculariidae (Rotifera; Monogononta; Gnesiotrocha; Flosculariaceae) possess a flexible integument; they are termed illoricate. But species of four genera (Beauchampia, Floscularia, Limnias, and Ptygura) possess a distinctive hardened region on the dorsal side of their anterior end, which unfortunately has received little attention beyond the species level. In our work we study the ultrastructure of these hardened regions. In Beauchampia, Limnias, and some species of Ptygura the hardened zone takes the form of a dorsal plate (hereafter DP) with or without additional protruding processes. The DP has the shape of a ~50 µm diameter disc enfolding the anterior dorsal region of the animal, with a perimetral inward fold, smooth surface, and pores. The DP of Limnias ceratophylli shows three main ultrastructural differences from the rest of the body: (1) type of glycocalyx, (2) absence of small mounds on its surface, and (3) presence of broad cisternae at the base of the pores. In Floscularia and some Ptygura the hardened structures are reduced to a pair of dorsal…

All eight extant species ofRhabdopleuradescribed between 1869 and 2018 are provisionally accepted as valid based on a review of the literature and new data on two little-known species from the Azores. Additionally, four new species are described from the New Zealand region, increasing global diversity by 50%, and a dichotomous key to all 12 described species is provided based on morphological criteria. The distinction between colony morphologies based on erect-tube inception is regarded as particularly helpful in initial characterization of species. Erect ringed tubes are either produced directly from the surface of creeping-tubes or indirectly, i.e. a short adherent side branch from a creeping tube is interpolated between the creeping tube and an erect tube; such side branches are blind-ending. These two modes of erect-tube origination are here respectively termeddirectandindirect. Species with indirect erect-tube budding are predominant in the North Atlantic whereas species with direct erect-tube budding dominate in New Zealand waters. The only indirect-erect species from New…

The genus Chisosa Huber, 2000 previously included only three species of small to tiny North American and Caribbean spiders that are rare in collections and poorly studied. Originally placed in the subfamily Ninetinae, Chisosa is currently considered a representative of Arteminae, close to the North American genus Physocyclus Simon, 1893. This placement has been suggested by molecular data, and it affects the interpretation of morphological characters that were originally thought to support the monophyly of Chisosa: they are shared with Physocyclus and thus plesiomorphic for Chisosa. Here we describe a new species from Mexico, C. calapa sp. nov., and restudy in detail the morphology (incl. ultrastructure) of the type species C. diluta (Gertsch & Mulaik, 1940) and of C. caquetio Huber, 2019, based on newly collected material. We document further similarities with Physocyclus but find only weak morphological support for the monophyly of Chisosa (body size reduction and short legs). In addition, we document surprisingly large genetic distances among C. caquetio specimens from Curaao…

The Scaled Antbird Drymophila squamata is a suboscine passerine endemic to the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. Two subspecies, putatively diagnosed by the presence/absence of white spots on the crown, have traditionally been recognized: the nominate, ranging from Pernambuco to Bahia in northeastern Brazil, and D. squamata stictocorypha, from Minas Gerais to Santa Catarina in southeastern and southern Brazil. Here we combine morphological, acoustic, and genetic data to examine geographic variation in and revise the taxonomy of D. squamata. We show that there are two separately evolving population lineages in D. squamata, one south and the other north of the So Francisco River. The latter is unnamed and is thus described herein. We found that crown variation is not as geographically structured as previously thought, and thus we suggest that D. squamata stictocorypha is not a valid taxon. Finally, we also provide evidence of clinal variation in the species vocalizations and underscore the importance of broad geographic sampling when assessing species limits using vocalizations.

A new species of the genus Neoperla, N. donglaii sp. nov., is described from Yunnan Province of southwestern China. The new species is assigned to the N. lushana-complex of the N. (Formosita) subgenus due to the presence of paired, ventral spiny lobes of the aedeagus. The new species was compared with related species in the subgenus. Neoperla hamata Jewett, 1975 and N. idella Stark & Sivec, 2008 are newly recorded for China and N. quadrata Wu & Claassen, 1934 specifically from Yunnan Province, China. Neoperla quadrata had not been collected for 90 years.

A new species of Lusius Tosquinet, 1903 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Phaeogenini) is described from the northwestern Andes of Colombia, and additionally, the geographic distribution of Lusius ferrugineus Graf, 2000 is expanded to Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul states, Brazil. New comparative diagnoses, distribution maps, and an illustrated key to Neotropical species are also provided.

A new species of alvinocaridid shrimp is reported, from the Northwest Eifuku hydrothermal vent field at 16191667 m depth on the Mariana Arc. A comprehensive phylogenetic reconstruction of Alvinocarididae based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene including this new species reveals the paraphyly of the genus Rimicaris Williams & Rona, 1986 with four other generaAlvinocaridinides, Manuscaris, Opaepele, and Shinkaicarisnested within it. We re-examine material of these four problematic genera, and synonymise them under Rimicaris whose diagnosis has been amended, in order to maintain a monophyletic Rimicaris. Our new species, Rimicaris cambonae sp. nov. is genetically close to Rimicaris loihi (Williams & Dobbs, 1995) comb. nov. (previously Opaepele loihi) with which it co-occurs, but can be morphologically distinguished by the less elevated dorsal surface of the rostrum, this being devoid of a median carina, a stronger pterygostomial tooth on the carapace, and a blunt rather than acuminate proximolateral process on the antennular stylocerite. Species previously…

We provide updated synonymies for various genera and species of Neotropical Zygoptera based on examination of specimens and literature accompanied by justifications and supported by illustrations. The following generic synonyms are proposed: Austrotepuibasis Machado & Lencioni, 2011 and Pseudotepuibasis Stand-Prez & Prez-Gutirrez, 2020 are junior synonyms of Tepuibasis De Marmels, 2007; Fredyagrion Lencioni, 2022, Kiautagrion Lencioni, 2022, Nathaliagrion Lencioni, 2022, and Machadagrion Lencioni, 2022 are junior synonyms of Leptagrion Selys, 1876; Juenagrion Lencioni, 2023 is a junior synonym of Telebasis Selys, 1865. The following specific synonyms are proposed: Lestes fernandoi Costa, Souza & Muzn, 2006 is a junior synonym of Lestes debellardi De Marmels, 1992; Lestes tikalus Kormondy, 1959 is a junior synonym of Lestes scalaris Gundlach, 1888; Palaemnema brasiliensis Machado, 2009 is a junior synonym of Palaemnema brevignoni Machet, 1990; Hetaerina aurora Ris, 1918 is a junior synonym of Hetaerina duplex Selys, 1853; Hetaerina hebe Selys, 1853 is a junior synonym of Hetaerina…

The area around the Malagasy village of Andasibe, which includes Analamazaotra-Mantadia National Park as well as other protected areas, is characterized by very species-rich and well-studied communities of animals and plants, but new species are still regularly discovered. Three species of phytotelmic frogs of the subgenus Pandanusicola in the genus Guibemantis are known from this area, G. flavobrunneus, G. liber, and G. pulcher. Further Pandanusicola frogs from this area have been provisionally assigned to G. bicalcaratus or G. albolineatus, pending detailed taxonomic review. During preliminary exploration of the ecology of these specialized frogs that live and reproduce in the leaf axils of Pandanus screw pines, we noticed the syntopic presence of two differently colored and differently sized Pandanusicola in Andasibe that could not be unambiguously assigned to any known species. A genetic screening revealed that these correspond to yet two further species in the area. Based on our data, seven species of Pandanusicola occur in Andasibe and nearby forests: (1) G. liber, the only…

This catalogue lists 286 valid species included in 49 genera and six families of the superfamily Hydrophiloidea (Coleoptera), recorded from India. The family Helophoridae accommodates eight species (one genus), Epimetopidae five species (one genus), Georissidae seven species (one genus), Hydrochidae four species (one genus), Spercheidae two species (one genus), and Hydrophilidae 260 species (44 genera). Of these, 113 species are apparently endemic to India. We include synonyms, type localities, and distribution of the species in Indian states and biogeographic zones including localities where known. The Himalayan region supports the maximum diversity of hydrophiloids (140 species), followed by the Deccan Peninsula (96 species), Western Ghats (84 species), Gangetic Plains (84 species), Northeast (74 species), Semi-Arid (34 species), Islands (26 species), and Desert (10 species).

The present work is the third and final part in a series of monographs on the Iranian scale insect fauna (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) by the same authors: Part 1, the armoured scales (Diaspididae), was published in 2021, and Part 2, the mealybugs (Pseudococcidae and Rhizoecidae) and Putoidae, was published in 2022. Here we cover ten families: Asterolecaniidae, Cerococcidae, Coccidae, Cryptococcidae, Eriococcidae, Kermesidae, Margarodidae, Monophlebidae, Ortheziidae and Phoenicococcidae, bringing the total number of scale insect families recorded in Iran to 14. A key is provided to separate all 14 families. For each of the ten families in the present work, keys to identify the genera and species found in Iran are provided. These are accompanied by detailed descriptions, illustrations, distribution data, information on natural enemies, economic importance and the host-plants recorded in Iran. The main purpose of this work is to provide agricultural staff concerned with pest control and quarantine inspection in Iran (and elsewhere) with a reliable means of species identification. Among the…

The genus Lygodactylus Gray is a species-rich group of small, diurnal geckos distributed in Africa, Madagascar, and South America. The genus is divided into several species groups based on morphological characters, biogeographical affinities and/or phylogenetic investigations. To date, some of these groups still contain candidate species. One of these candidate species, provisionally designed as L. sp. B (a single female from Cameroon), had been placed phylogenetically within the East African Lygodactylus scheffleri-group. Furthermore, it shares typical scale characters with all members of this group. However, L. fischeri Boulenger, eponym and member of the West/Central African L. fischeri-group, also shares these scale characters with the L. scheffleri-group and with L. sp. B. While it could be ruled out that L. sp. B was conspecific with any member of the L. scheffleri-group, it could not be ruled out that L. sp. B represents a female of L. fischeri, as there is no female type material nor a clear description of a female of L. fischeri. Only when a male of this taxon was…

Previous studies have highlighted possible cryptic biodiversity in the genus Neoscopelus. This hypothesis was tested using new morphological, molecular and biogeographical data on species of this genus caught in the north Atlantic between 2010 and 2022. The information obtained has been combined with available data in an integrative approach, including a review of morphological characters reported in the ichthyological literature and DNA-based species delimitation analyses. The main outcome of the present study is the description of Neoscopelus serranoi sp. nov. from the Atlantic and southwestern Indian Oceans. The new species is morphologically very similar to Neoscopelus microchir from which differs in having a shorter anal-fin base, a shorter pelvic fin, more dorsal and pectoral-fin rays, less anal-fin rays, fewer gillrakers and fewer isthmus and lateral photophores. They also differ in geographic distribution, with the new species occurring in the Atlantic Ocean and the near southwestern Indian Ocean, whereas N. microchir was originally described from Japanese waters of the…

A genome skimming approach of sequencing was undertaken on a subfamily of terrestrial flatworms that had been neglected in genomic studies until now, namely the Microplaninae as represented here by Microplana scharffi. A single run of short-read sequencing enabled retrieval of the complete mitogenome, the two paralogous versions of the 18S gene, the elongation factor gene EF1α, plus two genes involved in the regeneration process, namely those coding for ß-CATENIN-1 and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC). The 15,297 bp mitogenome lacks a functional tRNA-Ala and has a mandatory alternative TTG start codon in its cox1 gene. The multiprotein phylogeny, inferred from mitogenome proteins, positions M. scharffi as sister-group to the Bipaliinae with maximum support, although the organisation of the mitogenomes shows features previously never observed among Bipaliinae, such as the conserved 32 bp overlap between ND4 and ND4L. Similarly to what has been observed in recent publications on other species of Geoplanidae, the two types of 18S genes display strongly different coverages and are only…

Situated in the Eastern Mediterranean, the island of Cyprus is a biodiversity hotspot hosting an important number of endemic species. In recent years, its myrmecofauna has been increasingly enriched with the detection of both new alien and native species as well as the description of new endemic taxa. Nevertheless, earlier reports of dubious taxa remaining in scientific literature constitute an impediment towards the study of the island's biodiversity. This article summarizes the results of re-examination of a collection of ants deposited in the Museum of Zoology of the University of Athens, which was a source of some faunistic records recently published as a conference poster. Specimens have been re-identified, and their metadata have been digitalised, supplementing our knowledge of the species' distribution and correcting previous misidentifications. Tapinoma festae Emery, 1925, Tapinoma glabrella (Nylander, 1849) (Dolichoderinae), Plagiolepis perperamus Salata, Borowiec & Radchenko, 2018, Plagiolepis xene Stärcke, 1936 (Formicinae), Crematogaster lorteti Forel, 1910, and…

A reviewed checklist of aphids (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aphidomorpha) species recorded in Iran is presented as a catalogue in alphabetical order considering recent taxonomic changes. In total, 572 species along with 29 subspecies within 148 genera, belonging to 13 subfamilies, 3 families and 3 superfamilies of Aphidomorpha are presented. In addition, the list of host plants and distribution of the aphid species in Iran and the related references are provided.

The pitviper species Trimeresurus caudornatus was recently described based on only two specimens from Nabang Town, Yingjiang County, Yunnan Province, China. Here, we provide additional data on this species based on a re-examination of 19 preserved specimens, 16 specimens reported in earlier literature sources, and additional photo-documented records from northern Myanmar (Burma) and adjacent China. All new specimens were previously identified as Trimeresurus albolabris sensu lato or Trimeresurus septentrionalis sensu lato. Molecular analyses based on mitochondrial DNA supported the morphological findings in establishing conspecificity with T. caudornatus. The newly identified specimens have a pairwise distance of only 0.4-2.6% from those of the type series of T. caudornatus (based on the cytochrome b gene). Based on these findings, we confirm the presence of T. caudornatus from Myanmar and update its diagnostic characters and distribution. We suggest the species should be considered as Least Concern (LC) following the IUCN's Red List categories. Further studies reassessing the…

Ceracis luci sp. nov., the first Ciidae species from the Caatinga biome, is described based on individuals collected in Licínio de Almeida, in the state of Bahia, Northeast Brazil. The species is recognizable mainly by the following characteristics: antennae with 8 antennomeres and subseriate elytral punctation; male anterocephalic edge produced forward and slightly elevated upward forming a wide lamina with a straight edge (when seen from above); male anterior edge of pronotum produced forward as a plate deeply emarginate at middle forming two horns, almost parallel to each other and with rounded apices; and female ovipositor lacking gonostyli. Ceracis luci sp. nov. is morphologically similar to Ceracis pullulus (Casey), for which we provide information on the morphology of the abdominal terminalia of males and females and new geographic distribution records.

We describe new species in the genus Ceroptres Hartig, 1840 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Ceroptresini) represented by voucher material sequenced by Ward et al. (2024). We describe 22 new species, all authored by Nastasi, Smith, & Davis: C. anansii sp. nov., C. anzui sp. nov., C. bruti sp. nov., C. curupira sp. nov., C. daleki sp. nov., C. dandoi sp. nov., C. demerzelae sp. nov., C. iktomii sp. nov., C. jabbai sp. nov., C. jarethi sp. nov., C. lokii sp. nov., C. lupini sp. nov., C. mallowi sp. nov., C. promethei sp. nov., C. sandiegoae sp. nov., C. selinae sp. nov., C. soloi sp. nov., C. songae sp. nov., C. swiperi sp. nov., C. thrymi sp. nov., C. tikoloshei sp. nov., and C. zorroi sp. nov. After our taxonomic treatment, the genus Ceroptres includes 43 species, all but three of which are known from North America. Among our new species are two reared from cecidomyiid midge galls, an association previously recorded but without valid taxonomic association. We provide new records for two additional previously described species; we record C. ensiger (Walsh, 1864) from Pennsylvania and confirm…

Sea pens (Superfamily Pennatuloidea) are a specialized group of octocorals that evolved to live embedded in a soft-sedimented seafloor using their peduncles as anchors. Rock-inhabiting sea pens ("rock pens") were first described in 2011; their peduncle is modified into a suction cup-like structure that allows them to attach onto the surface of hard substrates, an adaptation previously unknown in sea pens. There are currently four species that have been identified as rock pens based on their peduncular morphology: three of these are in the genus Anthoptilum (Anthoptilidae), and one in the genus Calibelemnon (Scleroptilidae). Herein, we explore the geographic distribution and depth ranges of rock pens using observations from remotely operated vehicles and investigate the evolutionary origins of the rock pens. We present a phylogenomic study of sea pens, based on DNA sequences from hundreds of ultraconserved elements (UCE) and compare these trees to those constructed using mitochondrial gene regions. Our results show that the ancestral sea pen had a typical elongated peduncle. The…

Observations and collections made using remotely operated vehicles (ROV) outfit with high-definition video cameras on bathyal seamounts of the North Atlantic and North Pacific have revealed a bamboo coral (Octocorallia, Keratoisididae) with consistent and recognizable colony morphology: a long unbranched "stem" from which many vertically aligned branches arise in a single plane to produce the aspect of a tall candelabrum. Additional observations encountered colonies with only 3 branches arising from the central terminal node to produce the appearance of a standing trident. Genetic analyses suggested both colony morphologies (trident and candelabrum) to be the same species at different growth stages. Herein we formally describe this taxon, Tridentisis candelabrum n. gen. n. sp., erecting a new genus to accommodate the unique and distinctive colony morphology, and discuss morphological variation observed across the documented geographic range.

The present study contributes to the taxonomy of the family Sillaginidae, with comments on the distribution of its species in the Indian Ocean and an emphasis on the taxonomy and distribution of Sillago sihama. Thirty described and putative species with Indian Ocean distribution are listed, and a distribution range for each species is provided based on published data and results from the present study. A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the barcoding portion of the mitochondrial COI gene is provided together with three approaches for molecular species delimitation, which includes 44 to 47 genetic lineages (depending on the species delimitation approach used) in the family Sillaginidae, 33 of them applying to described species and also 8 putative species, formerly misidentified as S. sihama. Inclusion of specimens from South Africa, Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and the southern Red Sea (type locality) reveals one genetic lineage representing the true Sillago sihama. Distribution of the species is confined to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, and other records under the…

Taxonomy of the genus Rhinogobius was investigated for the first time in Central Vietnam. Five species occurring in this region can be distinguished by shape of their head, number of pectoral-fin rays, vertebral counts, arrangements of scales and cutaneous sensory papillae, and coloration. Two species are described as new, Rhinogobius rong sp. nov. and R. nami sp. nov., and the remaining three were identified as R. taenigena, R. leavelli, and R. similis. Though the morphology of R. leavelli and R. similis differed slightly between localities, counts and measurements overlapped, and coloration was variable. This study tentatively identifies all of those populations as R. leavelli or R. similis, but further research using additional specimens from a wider geographic range is required to clear the identity of the Rhinogobius occurring in this region. Rhinogobius rong, R. similis, and R. leavelli are distributed in both Da Nang City and Thua Thien Hue Province, with the first two species occurring widely in coastal areas, and R. leavelli restricted to inland areas. On the other hand,…

The wolf snake species Lycodon sidiki was described based on only one specimen from Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. Herein, we report new characters and a range extension of this species based on a re-examination of eight preserved specimens deposited in the collections of the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Austria (NHMW). Based on the new information, we record this species for the first time from West Sumatra Province (Padang) and update its diagnostic characters. Furthermore, we provide distinguishing features from the closely related species belonging to the Lycodon fasciatus species group. In addition, we also update the key to Lycodon species in Sumatra Island.

A preliminary checklist of 39 species of lappet moths (Lasiocampidae) is provided for Maputo Special Reserve in southern Mozambique of which three are new to science, Diapalpus smithi sp. n., Eutricha giustii sp. n. and Rhinobombyx maputoensis sp. n., and a further ten are new country records. Several taxonomic changes are implemented in this paper: the synonymy of Sena prompta plusioides (Walker, 1862) syn. rev. with Sena prompta (Walker, 1855) is revived, Bombycopsis (Bufoidia) pallida Joannou & Krüger, 2009 syn. n. is synonymised with B. (B.) nigrovittata Aurivillius, 1927, and Lebeda mustelina Distant, 1899 is transferred to Leipoxais Holland, 1893 comb. n. Additionally, it is shown that the neotype designation by Zolotuhin & Gurkovich (2009) for Lebeda morosa Walker, 1865 is invalid although a new neotype is not selected as the original type may still be extant. All species, forms and both sexes where present are figured, as are the genitalia in the case of the new species and the comparative material examined.

Five new species of Heteropoda (Araneae: Sparassidae, Heteropodinae) from Southeast Asia are described: H. acris spec. nov. (male, female; Vietnam), H. cuspidata spec. nov. (male; Malaysia), H. papilionacea spec. nov. (female; Malaysia), H. pilata spec. nov. (female; Thailand), and H. verticalis spec. nov. (male; Malaysia). The female of H. jasminae Jäger, 2008 is described for the first time (locality: Vietnam). All these new species are diagnosed, described, and illustrated. Additionally, a distribution map for all species is given.

Using samples of talitrid amphipods collected on the coast of Chile, we describe two new monotypic genera characterized by particular types of sexual dimorphism, and we report the first record of the genus Platorchestia Bousfield, 1982 in the southeastern Pacific coast. In the subfamily Platorchestiinae, the genus Atacamorchestia gen. nov. and its new species Atacamorchestia atacamensis sp. nov. was collected in marine rocky coasts, in several localities in northern Chile. This new taxon is characterized principally by presence of T setae in male appendages, a feature shared with the genus Vallorchestia from Australia, but with a different distribution of these structures. The first specimens of Platorchestia in the Southeastern Pacific were obtained in Antofagasta, northern Chile, however they were identified only to genus level because a more in-depth taxonomic analysis will be necessary to determine their status. Finally, in the subfamily Talitrinae, Lafkenorchestia gen. nov. and its new species Lafkenorchestia oyarzuni sp. nov. were found on rocky marine shores and in estuaries…