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Although cone snails are among the most studied group of gastropods, new species are still regularly described. Here, we focus on Afonsoconus Tucker & Tenorio, 2013, a lineage that includes only two species from the Indo-Pacific Ocean. The analysis of molecular (partial mitochondrial cox1 gene sequences) and morphological (shell and radular tooth) characters revealed that the samples collected by dredging in deep water during a recent expedition carried out in the Mozambique Channel are different from the samples collected in the Pacific Ocean. We thus introduce here a new species, Afonsoconus crosnieri sp. nov., from the SW Indian Ocean including records from the Mozambique Channel, the Comoros and Glorieuses Islands, Madagascar, South Africa and Reunion Island.
During a survey of the fishes in the region of the Wonga-Wongué Presidential Reserve, 14 new populations of the subgenus Chromaphyosemion Myers, 1924 were found. These observations extend the previously known distribution range of the subgenus 120 kilometres southward. None of these populations could be related to any described species. Based on the colouration of the males and females, together with a genetic marker (mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b sequences), the populations studied are grouped into six new species which are described in this article, all close to Aphyosemion alpha Huber, 1998 with which they share the presence of a black alpha-shaped mark on the pre- and post-opercular region. The group composed of A. alpha and the six new species is referred to here as the A. alpha species group. All the new species, A. aurantiacum Chirio, Legros & Agnèse sp. nov., A. barakoniense Chirio, Legros & Agnèse sp. nov., A. flammulatum Chirio, Legros & Agnèse sp. nov., A. flavocyaneum Chirio, Legros & Agnèse sp. nov., A. pusillum Chirio, Legros & Agnèse sp. nov. and A. rubrogaster Chirio, Legros & Agnèse sp. nov., are further unambiguously diagnosed by unique combinations of colour patterns, making it possible to generate an identification key for the A. alpha species group. It is likely that the coastal dunes of Wonga-Wongué that form a sandy relief, could have led to the fragmentation and then isolation of the hydrographical networks that flow into the Atlantic Ocean, making possible a significant number of allopatric speciations.
Three new species of Willowsia collected from Guizhou Province, China are described here: W. sexachaeta sp. nov., W. christianseni sp. nov., and W. tanae sp. nov. They have spinulate scales on the body. Colour pattern and dorsal chaetotaxy are the main diagnostic characters for these species. A table summarizing the main differences between all Chinese Willowsia species is given.
Twenty species of the genus Chilocorus Leach, 1815 currently known from China are recorded, including two new species described here: C. nigricaeruleus Li & Wang sp. nov. and C. strenotubus Li & Wang sp. nov. Diagnoses and detailed descriptions of the new species are given. Each species is illustrated in detail, including genitalia. Distribution maps, a key to the Chinese species and a world checklist of Chilocorus are given.
Comparison of morphological and genetic data from New Zealand forest cave wētā suggests we should recognise the genus Miotopus proposed by Hutton (1898). A new species within this genus is described (Miotopus richardsi sp. nov.). Both Miotopus diversus (Hutton, 1898) and Miotopus richardsi sp. nov. are common in native forests and widespread in New Zealand. Here we provide their known distributions and key traits.
Although extensively studied by different authors over the past 150 years, the taxonomy of Canthon Hoffmannsegg, 1817 and allied genera (which are here informally referred to as 'Canthon sensu lato') still remains problematic. With the aim of resolving some of the questions surrounding these taxa, the present work reviews the taxonomy of one of them, the genus Sylvicanthon Halffter & Martínez, 1977. As defined here, Sylvicanthon is distributed mainly throughout the vast areas of tropical rainforests in the Neotropical region and includes 15 species divided into two groups: the enkerlini group, with a single species, S. enkerlini (Martínez et al., 1964) comb. nov., and the candezei group, with five subgroups: the candezei subgroup, with S. candezei (Harold, 1869), S. genieri sp. nov. and S. foveiventris (Schmidt, 1920); the aequinoctialis subgroup, with S. aequinoctialis (Harold, 1868) comb. nov. and S. proseni (Martínez, 1949) stat. et comb. nov.; the bridarollii subgroup, with S. bridarollii (Martínez, 1949), S. seag sp. nov., S. edmondsi sp. nov. and S. attenboroughi sp. nov.; the furvus subgroup, with S. furvus (Schmidt, 1920), S. monnei sp. nov., S. mayri sp. nov. and S. obscurus (Schmidt, 1920); and the securus subgroup, with a single species, S. securus (Schmidt, 1920) comb. nov. Three species originally included in Sylvicanthon are here (re)transferred to Canthon: Canthon xanthopus Blanchard, 1846 and C. machadoi (Martínez & Pereira, 1967) comb. nov., as well as C. cobosi (Pereira & Martínez, 1960) stat. et comb. nov., which had been previously in synonymy under C. xanthopus. Descriptions, redescriptions, illustrations and comparative tables on the external morphology (including the genital capsule) of the genus and its species are presented, as well as a detailed discussion on their biogeography, comparative morphology, hypotheses on their phylogenetic relationships, data on natural history and a detailed historical revision of the classification of 'Canthon sensu lato'. Finally, we also discuss the socalled 'species problem' (i.e., the definition of the scientific term 'species') and its consequences to dung beetle taxonomy and favour the solution offered by the Biological Species Concept.
The family-group names of animals (superfamily, family, subfamily, supertribe, tribe and subtribe) are regulated by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Particularly, the family names are very important, because they are among the most widely used of all technical animal names. A uniform name and spelling are essential for the location of information. To facilitate this, a list of familygroup names for fossil fishes has been compiled. I use the concept ‘Fishes’ in the usual sense, i.e., starting with the Agnatha up to the †Osteolepidiformes. All the family-group names proposed for fossil fishes found to date are listed, together with their author(s) and year of publication. The main goal of the list is to contribute to the usage of the correct family-group names for fossil fishes with a uniform spelling and to list the author(s) and date of those names. No valid family-group name description could be located for the following family-group names currently in usage: †Brindabellaspidae, †Diabolepididae, †Dorsetichthyidae, †Erichalcidae, †Holodipteridae, †Kentuckiidae, †Lepidaspididae, †Loganelliidae and †Pituriaspididae.
A revision of the genus Cicynethus Simon, 1910 (Araneae, Zodariidae), a tale of colour patterns
(2018)
The genus Cicynethus Simon, 1910 is revised. Apart from the type species C. peringueyi Simon, 1893, only known from a juvenile, it contains five species, all of which are here described or redescribed based on adults: C. acer sp. nov. (♂♀), C. decoratus (Lawrence, 1952) comb. nov (♂), C. floriumfontis Jocqué, 1991 (♂♀), C. mossambicus sp. nov. (♂♀) and C. subtropicalis (Lawrence, 1952) comb. nov. (♂♀). The species are characterized by the genitalia, but also by the colour pattern. The distribution of the genus is extended to northern Mozambique. Cicynethus hongfuchui is transferred to Storenomorpha hongfuchui (Barrion, Barrion-Dupo & Heong, 2013) comb. nov. Cicynethus acanthopus Simon, 1910 is considered a species incertae sedis. A key to the species is provided.
Cochlostoma revised: the subgenus Lovcenia Zallot et al., 2015
(Caenogastropoda, Cochlostomatidae)
(2018)
Five species of the subgenus Lovcenia of Cochlostoma (Cochlostomatidae) are recognized, three of which are described as new to science: C. (L.) tropojanum sp. nov., C. (L.) jakschae sp. nov. and C. (L.) lanatum sp. nov. A lectotype is designated for C. (L.) erika (A.J. Wagner, 1906). The shell and the genital tracts are described for all species and the distributional data are summarized.
The ‘gigas’ group of dragon millipedes, formerly placed in the genus Desmoxytes Chamberlin, 1923, is revised and assigned to the new genus Gigaxytes gen. nov. Desmoxytes gigas Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994 is the type species of the new genus and is redescribed as G. gigas (Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994) gen. et comb nov. Three new species are described: G. fusca gen et sp. nov. from Thailand and Myanmar; G. parvoterga gen et sp. nov. and G. suratensis gen et sp. nov. from Thailand. All Gigaxytes species are endemic to small distribution areas in limestone habitats in South Thailand and South Myanmar. Illustrations of external morphological characters and an identification key to all known species are provided as well as a distribution map.
The ‘acantherpestes’ group of dragon millipedes, formerly placed in the genus Desmoxytes Chamberlin, 1923, is revised and assigned to the new genus Nagaxytes Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha gen. nov. Desmoxytes acantherpestes Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994 is the type species of the new genus and is redescribed as N. acantherpestes (Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994) gen. et comb. nov. Three new species are described from Thailand: N. erecta Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha gen. et sp. nov. and N. gracilis Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha gen. et sp. nov. from Kanchanaburi Province, and N. spatula Srisonchai, Enghoff & Panha gen. et sp. nov. from Tak Province. All new species are endemic to western Thailand and all are restricted to limestone habitats. Complete illustrations of external morphological characters, an identification key, and a distribution map are provided.
A new species of the genus Birdantis Stål, 1863 (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), B. bhaskarai sp. nov. from Larat Island (Tanimbar), is described. Birdantis collaris (Walker, 1870) stat. rev. and B. trilineata (Schmidt, 1926) stat. rev. are reinstated as valid species, respectively from status of subspecies and as junior synonym of B. delibuta Stål, 1863. These four species, as well as the other one previously described from the Maluku Islands, B. decens Stål, 1863, are illustrated from their type specimens. An identification key, a distribution map, illustrations of habitus and details of male genitalia are provided. The synonymy between Myrilla Distant, 1888 and Birdantis is formally reinstated and all species formerly placed in the subgenus Birdantis (Myrilla) are transferred to Birdantis sensu stricto. Birdantis is transferred to the subfamily Aphaeninae Blanchard, 1847 and now contains eighteen species distributed in Maluku (five species), New Guinea and neighbouring islands (ten species) and Australia
(three species).
The genus Disparalona Fryer, 1968 comprises a well-defined species complex, the hamatagroup, which might have sibling species in South America. This hamata-group needs urgent revision. Besides that, a complete morphological evaluation of the endemic species D. leptorhyncha (Daday, 1905) is lacking. Thus, the aim of the present study is to revise populations of species of the hamatagroup in South America and to redescribe D. leptorhyncha. Our findings pointed to an occurrence of species which are part of the Disparalona (Mixopleuroxus) linage. Currently, the Neotropics have the highest diversity to the genus, with three species of the hamata-complex – D. (M.) hamata (Birge, 1879), D. (M.) lucianae sp. nov., D. (M.) tenuispina sp. nov. – in addition to D. (M.) leptorhyncha. These species can be differentiated from each other by the morphology of their rostrum, labrum, and postabdomen.
Nanium Townes, 1967 is a small New World parasitoid wasp genus in the subfamily Ctenopelmatinae Förster, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Previously, it comprised five species: one from North America and four from Costa Rica. The current study reviews the Neotropical species of the genus, and includes descriptions of two new species, N. medianum Reshchikov & Sääksjärvi sp. nov. from Ecuador and N. atitlanensis Reshchikov & Sääksjärvi sp. nov. from Guatemala. A key to the species is provided.
The new genus Neodiplopeltula gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate those species from the genus Diplopeltula Gerlach, 1950 that possess the following morphological characters: amphids in the shape of an elongated loop, a well-developed subcylindrical stoma and outstretched ovaries. The genus Diplopeltula is considered genus inquirendum et incertae sedis. Four species placed in Neodiplopeltula gen. nov. are redescribed. The following taxonomic changes are proposed: Neodiplopeltula asymmetrica (Allgén, 1935) gen. et comb. nov.; Neodiplopeltula barentsi (Steiner, 1916) gen. et comb. nov.; Neodiplopeltula bathmanni (Jensen, 1991) gen. et comb. nov.; Neodiplopeltula cuspidiboja (Leduc, 2017) gen. et comb. nov.; Neodiplopeltula indica (Gerlach, 1962) gen. et comb. nov.; Neodiplopeltula intermedia (Gerlach, 1954) gen. et comb. nov.; Neodiplopeltula obesa (Nguyen Vu Thahn, Nguyen Thahn Hien & Gagarin, 2012) gen. et comb. nov.; Neodiplopeltula onusta (Wieser, 1956) gen. et comb. nov.; Neodiplopeltula ovalis (Ditlevsen, 1928) gen. et comb. nov. and Neodiplopeltula tchesunovi (Fadeeva & Mordukhovich, 2013) gen. et comb. nov. New synonyms include: Diplopeltis asymmetricus Allgén, 1935 and Diplopeltis ovalis Ditlevsen, 1928 are synonimised with Neodiplopeltula barentsi (Steiner, 1916) gen. et comb. nov.; Diplopeltula tchesunovi Fadeeva & Mordukhovich, 2013 is synonimised with Neodiplopeltula onusta (Wieser, 1956) gen. et comb. nov.; the male of Diplopeltula cuspidiboja Leduc, 2017 is synonimised with Neodiplopeltula barentsi gen. et comb. nov. and the female with N. bathmanni gen. et comb. nov. A key to the species of Neodiplopeltula gen. nov. is provided.
Umbyquyra gen. nov., a new Theraphosinae genus with stridulatory bristles on the palpal trocanther of pedipalp trochanter and first leg, is proposed. The genus differs from the other genera with stridulatory bristles on the same segments, Acanthoscurria Ausserer, 1871, Cyrtopholis Simon, 1892, Longilyra Gabriel, 2014 and Nesipelma Schmidt & Kovarik, 1996, by having a palpal bulb with a very short and acuminate embolus and four short keels; separated tibial apophysis; and female spermathecae resembling those of Cyrtopholis, with two seminal receptacles with elongated ducts emerging from a common area. Cyrtopholis palmarum Schiapelli & Gerschman, 1945 and C. schmidti Rudloff, 1996 from Brazil and Acanthoscurria acuminata Schmidt & Tesmoingt in Schmidt, 2005 from Bolivia are transferred to the new genus. The female of Umbyquyra palmarum (Schiapelli & Gerschman, 1945) gen. et comb. nov. and the male of U. schmidti (Rudloff, 1996) gen. et comb. nov. are described for the first time. Cyrtopholis zorodes Mello-Leitão, 1923 is considered a junior synonym of Acanthoscurria gomesiana Mello-Leitão, 1923 and Cyrtopholis meridionalis (Keyserling, 1891) is considered a nomen dubium. Eight new species from Brazil are described: Umbyquyra paranaiba gen. et sp. nov., U. cuiaba gen. et sp. nov., U. araguaia gen. et sp. nov., U. sapezal gen. et sp. nov., U. belterra gen. et sp. nov., U. caxiuana gen. et sp. nov., U. tucurui gen. et sp. nov. and U. tapajos gen. et sp. nov. Data and maps on the geographic distribution are provided.
The bathyal kinorhynch fauna along the Northwest American continental rise is explored, with emphasis on species of Echinoderidae Zelinka, 1894. Seven species of Echinoderes Claparède, 1863 are described as new to science: E. anniae sp. nov., E. dubiosus sp. nov., E. hamiltonorum sp. nov., E. hviidarum sp. nov., E. juliae sp. nov., E. lupherorum sp. nov. and E. yamasakii sp. nov. Three known species, Echinoderes hakaiensis Herranz, Yangel & Leander, 2017, E. cf. unispinosus Yamasaki, Neuhaus & George, 2018 and Fissuroderes higginsi Neuhaus & Blasche, 2006, are reported. The numerous new species indicate that the deep-sea still holds a great, undiscovered diversity of kinorhynchs, and that Echinoderes, as is also the case in more shallow, coastal waters, represents an important component of the deep-sea kinorhynch fauna. The presence of E. hakaiensis in the deepsea sediments demonstrates that the species may occur at a great depth range, and suggests that depth may play a less important role for the distribution of some kinorhynch species. The finding of the Northeast Atlantic species E. cf. unispinosus and the Southwest Pacific species Fissuroderes higginsi could indicate that kinorhynch species in the deep-sea may cover considerably larger distributional ranges than is assumed for coastal species of Echinoderidae.
The family Plectopylidae is divided into two subfamilies: Sinicolinae subfam. nov. (included extant genera: Gudeodiscus Páll-Gergely, 2013, Endothyrella Zilch, 1959, Halongella Páll-Gergely, 2015, Sicradiscus Páll-Gergely, 2013, Sinicola Gude, 1899) and Plectopylinae Möllendorff, 1898 (included genera: Chersaecia Gude, 1899, Hunyadiscus Páll-Gergely, 2016, Naggsia Páll-Gergely & Muratov, 2016, Plectopylis Benson, 1860). The Eocene fossil Plectopyloides Yen, 1969 is classified into the Sinicolinae. The Plectopylinae are revised mainly based on historical type and non-type material, and the material of the Florida Museum of Natural History, collected in Thailand in the 1980s. The following species-group taxa are described as new: Chersaecia auffenbergi sp. nov., Chersaecia densegyrata sp. nov., Chersaecia mogokensis sp. nov., Chersaecia reversalis sp. nov., Chersaecia scabra sp. nov., Chersaecia shiroiensis subnagaensis subsp. nov., Hunyadiscus tigrina sp. nov., Naggsia oligogyra sp. nov., Plectopylis crassilabris sp. nov., Plectopylis malayana sp. nov. and Plectopylis thompsoni sp. nov. The genus Endoplon Gude, 1899 is treated as a synonym of Chersaecia. Consequently, the two species classified in Endoplon are members of Chersaecia: Chersaecia brachyplecta (Benson, 1863) comb. nov. and Chersaecia smithiana (Gude, 1897) comb. nov. The genus Plectopylis is redefined, and includes only species with fused anterior and posterior lamellae. Thus, the following species are moved from Plectopylis to Chersaecia: Chersaecia feddeni (Blanford, 1865) comb. nov., Chersaecia goniobathmos (Ehrmann, 1922) comb. nov., Chersaecia leucochila (Gude, 1897) comb. nov., Chersaecia magna (Gude, 1897) comb. nov. and Chersaecia woodthorpei (Gude, 1899) comb. nov. Altogether thirteen species and varieties are moved to the synonymy of valid species: Helix (Plectopylis) brachydiscus Godwin-Austen, 1879 syn. nov., Helix (Plectopylis) ponsonbyi Godwin-Austen, 1888 syn. nov., Plectopylis (Chersaecia) kengtungensis Gude, 1914 syn. nov., Plectopylis (Chersaecia) degerbolae Solem, 1966 syn. nov., Plectopylis lissochlamys Gude, 1897 syn. nov., Helix repercussa Gould, 1856 syn. nov., Plectopylis achatina var. obesa Gude, 1898 syn. nov., Plectopylis achatina var. infrafasciata Gude, 1898 syn. nov. Plectopylis achatina var. venusta Gude, 1898 syn. nov., Plectopylis achatina var. castanea Gude, 1898 syn. nov., Plectopylis achatina var. breviplica Gude, 1898 syn. nov., Plectopylis achatina var. repercussoides Gude, 1899 syn. nov., Plectopylis linterae var. fusca Gude, 1898 syn. nov. Plectopylis (Chersaecia) simplex Solem, 1966 is a subspecies of Chersaecia perarcta (Blanford, 1865), whereas Plectopylis muspratti Gude, 1897 is a subspecies of Chersaecia nagaensis (Godwin-Austen, 1875).
Ants of the Tetramorium solidum group occur in Africa, with the vast majority of species endemic to the arid regions of southern Africa. The first revision of the genus was published more than 30 years ago and ant surveys have since considerably expanded the number of specimens available for study. The revision of this group reveals five new species, expanding the total number to 19. Almost all the species in this group occur in the southern parts of the Afrotropical region, with the exception of T. setuliferum Emery, 1895 and T. rothschildi (Forel, 1907). These two species have broad distributions within African grasslands and savannas, with T. setuliferum occurring in southern Africa and T. rothschildi in East Africa and the Sahel. Five new species are described in this revision: T. aisha sp. nov., T. brigitteae sp. nov., T. duncani sp. nov., T. lerouxi sp. nov. and T. margueriteae sp. nov. An illustrated key is presented and descriptions of new species are provided, supported by montage images and distribution maps.
Recently, the status of a new species of atyid shrimp from Pohnpei (Micronesia) was discussed in relation to C. brachydactyla De Man, 1908 and C. mertoni J. Roux, 1911. By combining morphological data with a phylogenetic analysis with closely related species, this species is here described as Caridina variabilirostris sp. nov. Notes on its ecological distribution are also provided. The new species is characterized by a highly variable rostrum and is present in rivers all over Pohnpei Island. The status of this new species is clarified and it is shown that neither C. brachydactyla De Man 1908 nor C. mertoni J. Roux, 1911 occur on Pohnpei Island.
In this paper we describe Macrobiotus canaricus sp. nov., a new tardigrade species of the Macrobiotus hufelandi group from the Canary Islands. Moreover, with the use of DNA sequencing, we confirm that Macrobiotus recens Cuénot, 1932 represents the hufelandi group, even though eggs laid by this species do not exhibit the typical hufelandi group morphology. Our study is based on both classical taxonomic methods that include morphological and morphometric analyses conducted with the use of light and scanning electron microscopy, and on the analysis of nucleotide sequences of four molecular markers (three nuclear: 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2, and one mitochondrial: COI). Our analyses revealed that M. canaricus sp. nov. is most similar to Macrobiotus almadai Fontoura et al., 2008 from the Archipelago of the Azores, from which it differs by the absence of granulation patches on the external and internal surfaces of legs I–III as well as by the absence of a cuticular pore in the centre of the external patch on legs I–III. Molecular sequences allowed us to pinpoint the phylogenetic positions of M. canaricus sp. nov. and M. recens within the M. hufelandi group.
We describe two new frog species of the genus Guibemantis Dubois, 1992 (Mantellidae) from northern Madagascar. Both species are placed in the subgenus Pandanusicola Glaw & Vences, 1994 and, like most of their relatives, appear to only inhabit the leaf axils of Pandanus plants. Guibemantis albomaculatus sp. nov. is distinguished from other closely related species by light colored dorsolateral stripes and abundant small white spots found on its flanks and limbs. Guibemantis woosteri sp. nov. also has light-colored dorsolateral stripes and small white spots, but differs by having strongly banded forelimbs and a reddish coloration around the eye orbits. Mitochondrial DNA sequences corroborate the identity of these two new species, which appear to be regional endemics in northern and north-eastern Madagascar, respectively. These descriptions bring the species count in Pandanusicola to thirteen.
Glemparon Jaschhof, 2013, a previously monotypic genus confined to Sweden, is shown here to be considerably richer in species, with most species found to occur in the Australasian region. Eighteen new species are described: G. tomelilla sp. nov. (from Sweden); G. aotearoa sp. nov., G. birhojohmi sp. nov., G. cervus sp. nov., G. didhami sp. nov, G. kaikoura sp. nov., G. nativitas sp. nov., G. orautahi sp. nov., G. otago sp. nov., G. pureora sp. nov., G. rakiura sp. nov., G. rotoiti sp. nov., G. rotoroa sp. nov., G. tewaipounamu sp. nov., G. waipapa sp. nov., G. waipoua sp. nov. (all from New Zealand); G. manuka sp. nov. and G. warra sp. nov. (both from Tasmania, Australia). Glemparon sagittifer Jaschhof, 2013 is redescribed. Genitalic illustrations are provided allowing for the effective identification of all the species known thus far. Morphological data obtained here are used for revising the generic definition. Dicerura Kieffer, 1898 is hypothesized as the sister group to Glemparon. The case of Glemparon is discussed as a perfect example of the fact that our collective ignorance of porricondyline diversity in most parts of the world is a major impediment to a better understanding of the European species.
Four new species of Lobolibethra Hennemann & Conle, 2007 (Diapheromerinae: Diapheromerini: “Clonistria-group”) are described and illustrated. Lobolibethra carbonelli sp. nov. and L. pozuzoae sp. nov. from eastern Peru are described from both sexes and the eggs, L. tricarinata sp. nov. from southeast Ecuador is described from the female and male, and L. verruculosa sp. nov. from eastern Peru is described from the male. The previously unknown males of the Peruvian L. mainerii (Giglio-Tos, 1910) and L. mutica Hennemann & Conle, 2007 are described and illustrated. Dyme iconnicoffi Caudell, 1918 is shown to represent the previously unknown male of L. mainerii (Giglio-Tos, 1910) and is synonymised (syn. nov.). An updated key is presented for the eleven known species of Lobolibethra.
Flower flies (Diptera, Syrphidae) of French Polynesia, with the description of two new species
(2018)
The flower flies (Diptera, Syrphidae) of French Polynesia are revised. A total of nine syrphid species were recorded from the five archipelagos of French Polynesia. Among them are two species new to science, Allograpta jacqi Mengual & Ramage sp. nov. and Melanostoma polynesiotes Mengual & Ramage sp. nov., and a new record for this country, Syritta aenigmatopatria Hardy, 1964. We provide DNA barcodes for all flower fly species of French Polynesia, making the syrphid fauna of this country the first one in the world to be entirely barcoded. New data on biology, flowers visited and some taxonomic notes are provided. An identification key for the species of Syrphidae in French Polynesia is given, as well as an identification key for the species of Melanostoma Schiner, 1860 in the Australasian and Oceanian Regions.
Afrocampe gen. nov. is described for its only species, A. prinslooi gen. et sp. nov., from Eastern and Western Cape, South Africa. This new genus is recognized as a member of the subfamily Tetracampinae Förster, 1856 of Tetracampidae Förster, 1856 based on the possession of 5-segmented tarsi in females and 4-segmented tarsi in males, the short straight calcar, the mesoscutum with distinct notauli, the mesoscutellum with two pairs of setae, the reduced mesopleural suture and the short stigmal and long postmarginal veins of the fore wing. Afrocampe gen. nov. is characterized by a large mesosoma, a non-convex first gastral tergite, an evenly acute calcar, a 5-segmented antennal funicle, a head lacking occipital carina and facial grooves and a long fore wing with distinctly delimited speculum, a bare admarginal area with a distinct admarginal row of setae on the underside and with 3 setal tracks (hair rows) radiating from the apex of the stigmal vein. The combination of these characters suggests a special status of the new genus within the subfamily Tetracampinae. Moreover, Afrocampe gen. nov. bears some resemblance to the Australian tetracampine genus Niticampe Bouček, 1988. The position of the latter in Tetracampinae, as well as habitus features of the former, are discussed.
Based on a study of 2150 specimens of the genus Trechus Clairville, 1806 from the Bale Mts, Mount Chillalo, and Mount Enkuolo, southern Ethiopia, the current knowledge regarding systematics and distribution of the genus in the area is summarized. Twenty-six new species are described and figured in detail: Trechus abalkhasimi sp. nov. (southeastern slope of Bale Mts, below Mt Abalkhasim); T. adaba sp. nov. (western Bale Mts, above Adaba); T. angavoensis sp. nov. (western Bale Mts, above Dodola); T. balesilvestris sp. nov. (western Bale Mts, above Adaba); T. bombi sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, Harenna Forest); T. colobus sp. nov. (western Bale Mts); T. depressipennis sp. nov. (northeastern margin of Sanetti Plateau, Bale Mts); T. dodola sp. nov. (western Bale Mts, above Dodola); T. fisehai sp. nov. (northern slope of Bale Mts, above Goba); T. grandipennis sp. nov. and T. hagenia sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, Harenna Forest); T. haggei sp. nov. (northeastern margin of Sanetti Plateau); T. harenna sp. nov. and T. harryi sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, Harenna Forest); T. iridescens sp. nov. (southeastern slope of Bale Mts, below Mt Abalk-hasim); T. mattisi sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, Harenna Forest); T. mekbibi sp. nov. (southern and western part of Bale Mts); T. minitrechus sp. nov. (northeastern slope of Mt Enkuolo); T. nanulus sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, Harenna Forest); T. nigrifemoralis sp. nov. and T. oppositus sp. nov. (western Bale Mts, above Dodola); T. rira sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, upper Rira Valley); T. sanettii sp. nov. (southeastern slope of Sanetti Plateau, Bale Mts); T. tragelaphus sp. nov. (western Bale Mts, above Dodola); T. transversicollis sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, Harenna Forest); T. wiersbowskyi sp. nov. (southern escarpment of Bale Mts, upper Rira Valley). New distributional data are provided for T. baleensis (Basilewsky, 1974), T. bastianinii Magrini & Sciaky, 2006, T. batuensis Magrini & Sciaky, 2006, T. chillalicus Jeannel, 1936, T. clarkeianus (Basilewsky, 1974), T. culminicola Jeannel, 1936, T. ericalis Magrini, Quéinnec & Vigna Taglianti, 2013, T. gallorites Jeannel, 1936, T. gypaeti Vigna Taglianti & Magrini, 2010, T. oromiensis Magrini, Quéinnec & Vigna Taglianti, 2012, T. relictus Magrini, Quéinnec & Vigna Taglianti, 2012 and T. rotundicollis (Basilewsky, 1974). Cothresia robini Basilewsky, 1974 is considered a junior synonym of T. chillalicus Jeannel, 1936. A key to all species known to occur in the Bale Mts and adjacent volcanos is presented.
Twenty-two new species of the genus Eviulisoma Silvestri, 1910, from the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania, are described: E. acaciae sp. nov., E. aequilobatum sp. nov., E. akkariae sp. nov., E. angulatum sp. nov., E. articulatum sp. nov., E. biquintum sp. nov., E. breviscutum sp. nov., E. cetafi sp. nov., E. chitense sp. nov., E. commelina sp. nov., E. coxale sp. nov., E. ejti sp. nov., E. grumslingslak sp. nov., E. kalimbasiense sp. nov., E. navuncus sp. nov., E. nessiteras sp. nov., E. ottokrausi sp. nov., E. paradisiacum sp. nov., E. sternale sp. nov. and E. zebra sp. nov. from the Udzungwa Mts, E. culter sp. nov. from the Rubeho Mts and E. kangense sp. nov. from the Kanga Mts. Eviulisoma kwabuniense Kraus, 1958, and E. dabagaense Kraus, 1958, both from the Udzungwa Mts, are redesribed based on new material. Notes are provided on E. iuloideum (Verhoeff, 1941) based on type material. Eoseviulisoma Brolemann, 1920, is synonymized under Eviulisoma, based on newly collected material of E. julinum (Attems, 1909), type species of Eoseviulisoma. New material of Suohelisoma ulugurense Hoffman, 1964, type species of Suohelisoma Hoffman, 1964, has revealed that the gonopod structure is more similar to that of Eviulisoma than originally thought, but Suohelisoma is retained as a valid genus. Four species groups are recognized among Eviulisoma species from the Udzungwa Mts, but the need for a revision of the entire genus is emphasized. Two types of epizootic fungi are recorded from Eviulisoma spp., and an enigmatic amorphous mass, which may be a kind of plugging substance, is recorded from the gonopod tips and excavated sixth sternum of several species.
A new genus of jumping spiders, Bavirecta gen. nov. is proposed to include the type species B. flavopuncta gen. et sp. nov. and Bavirecta exilis (Cao et al., 2016) gen. et comb. nov. Distinguishing characters of Bavirecta gen. nov. include: 1) tubular abdomen, 2) enlarged front legs, 3) straight and
pointed embolus, broadest proximal lobe with black blotches, 4) prolateral tegular lobe, 5) widely separated anterior atria. Furthermore, two new species, Schenkelia aurantia sp. nov. (♂♀) and Brancus calebi (♂) sp. nov., are described and diagnosed. Mogrus frontosus (Simon, 1871) is redescribed based on a male collected from Mandaitivu Island of Jaffna District in Sri Lanka. The genera Brancus Simon, 1902, Mogrus Simon, 1882 and Schenkelia Lessert, 1927 are reported for the first time from Sri Lanka
(Brancus and Schenkelia are recorded for the first time outside Africa).
The systematic position of Tonza Walker, 1864 is re-evaluated, based on the characteristics of immature stages and DNA barcodes. Larvae and pupae of Tonza citrorrhoa Meyrick, 1905 are described and illustrated for the first time. Larvae of this species form a loose web among the leaves and branches of the host plant, Putranjiva matsumurae Koidz. (Putranjivaceae Endl.). The immature stages of Tonza exhibit four unique apomorphies including: in the larva, the prolegs on A5 and A6 absent, and the seta L2 on the A1–A8 very small; in the pupa, four minute knobs are positioned in the middle portion on abdominal segments V and VI; while its caudal processes possess a W-shaped spine with numerous minute spines. These characteristics clearly distinguish Tonza from other yponomeutoid families and hence, we propose a new family group name, Tonzidae Kobayashi & Sohn fam. nov., for the genus Tonza. Existing DNA barcode data suggest a relationship with Glyphipterigidae Stainton, 1854. The family level status of Tonzidae fam. nov. provides a hypothesis that needs to be tested with larger molecular data.
The new genus Phasmomantella gen. nov. is created to accommodate the new species P. nuichuana gen. et sp. nov. described from five adult females from Núi Chúa National Park in southern Central Vietnam. A second species, Phasmomantella pallida (Roy, 2001) gen. et comb. nov., is transferred from Euchomenella where it was originally described based on a single male specimen from the Nha Trang region in the Khánh Hòa Province. Phasmomantella gen. nov. is placed in the tribe Euchomenellini of the subfamily Deroplatyinae. A comprehensive diagnosis and detailed descriptions are presented along with high-resolution photographs, measurements and a distribution map. The standardised measurements are illustrated and a new key is proposed for the tribe Euchomenellini. The unique biogeography and habitats of the collection site within Núi Chúa National Park are discussed in the light of possible endemism and importance for nature conservation.
Four new species of Xiphocentron (Antillotrichia) Brauer, 1870 from the Atlantic forest are diagnosed, described and illustrated. All of them have a small mesal sclerite and a set of spines, differing in size, density and position, on the inner face of the inferior appendage. Moreover, tergum IX varies mostly in the shape of the posterior margin. Four species are described as new for science. Xiphocentron (Antillotrichia) copacabana sp. nov. is distinguished mainly by the projected basoventral margin of the inferior appendage, the spines are clustered in two regions and the quadrate posterior region of tergum IX. Xiphocentron (Antillotrichia) maracanan sp. nov is differentiated by the inferior appendage, with a strongly angled apical region of 90º. Xiphocentron (Antillotrichia) redentor sp. nov. differs by the inferior appendage, with a linear row of thick spines, and the tergum IX, with a posterior margin forming smoothly rounded lobes. Xiphocentron (Antillotrichia) tijuca sp. nov. is diagnosed by the subbasal region of the preanal appendage, which is markedly projected medially, and by the inferior appendage, which is thin subapically, enlarged apically and strongly bent dorsad.
Cestodes (Platyhelminthes) from Australian birds from the South Australian Museum collections were studied with a focus on common endemic terrestrial hosts. Despite the variable state of preservation of the examined worms, we could identify several new taxa, including Sobolevitaenia whittingtoni sp. nov. and Spiniglans beveridgei sp. nov. (Dilepididae) in Corvus mellori Mathews, 1912 (Corvidae); Notopentorchis musealis sp. nov. (Paruterinidae) in Hirundapus caudacutus (Latham, 1801) (Apodidae); Monopylidium australiense sp. nov. (Dilepididae) in Menura novaehollandiae Latham, 1801 (Menuridae); Dictymetra gerganae sp. nov. (Dilepididae) in Podargus strigoides (Latham, 1802) (Podargidae); Dictymetra longiuncinata sp. nov. in Esacus magnirostris (Vieillot, 1818) (Burhinidae) and Cracticotaenia adelaidae sp. nov. (Metadilepididae) in Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1801) (Artamidae) and Corcorax melanorhamphos (Vieillot, 1817) (Corcoracidae). Several other presumably new taxa that cannot be fully described are also reported. This diversity found in common hosts suggests the presence of a rich, and presently almost completely unknown, fauna of cestode parasites in Australian birds. As field collection permits allowing to explore this fauna are extremely difficult to obtain, this is a demonstration of the usefulness of museum collections to describe at least part of it.
It appeared necessary to undertake a redescription of Laophontodes typicus T. Scott, 1894, but with the absence of the type specimen, several additional individuals collected from a number of regions were studied. The specimens chosen were from the western coast of Sussex and the Scottish Firth of Forth (UK), the Skjerstad fjord (Norway), the Patagonian continental slope (Chile) and the Great Meteor Seamount (subtropical north-eastern Atlantic Ocean). All specimens examined had been previously determined as L. typicus and deposited in the collections of renowned research institutions.
However, detailed morphological comparison revealed that only the Sussex material can be assigned to L. typicus; the remaining specimens represent distinct species whose original assignment to L. typicus was erroneous, due to a morphological ambiguity. Thus, the current status of L. typicus must be regarded as a species complex. The Sussex material enabled a detailed redescription of L. typicus. Additionally, five new species are described, namely L. scottorum sp. nov., L. sarsi sp. nov., L. gertraudae sp. nov., L. monsmaris sp. nov. and L. norvegicus sp. nov. They exhibit some morphological similarity, but equally present discrete characters justifying their establishment as distinct taxa. The descriptions are
accompanied by a detailed discussion that explains the justification of the splitting of L. typicus.
Representatives of the subgenus Helochares (s. str.) Mulsant, 1844 of China are revised. One new species, H. (s. str.) songi sp. nov., is described from Guangxi, China. All species known from China are redescribed. A diagnosis and a differential diagnosis are provided for each species. Helochares
fuliginosus d’Orchymont, 1932 is recorded for the first time from China and Cambodia. Additional distribution records of H. atropiceus Régimbart, 1903 and H. pallens (MacLeay, 1825) are provided from China. The habitus and aedeagus of all species are illustrated, and a key for the identification of Chinese species of the subgenus is provided.
In this article, the subgenus Canthon (Goniocanthon) Pereira & Martínez, 1956 is diagnosed within the tribe Deltochilini Lacordaire, 1856 and redefined with three species: 1) C. (Goniocanthon) bicolor Castelnau, 1840, from the Guyanas and northern South America, included for the first time in this subgenus; 2) C. (G.) smaragdulus (Fabricius, 1781), including two subspecies, C. (G.) smaragdulus smaragdulus, senior synonym of Canthon speculifer Castelnau, 1840 (neotype here designated), from the southern portion of the Atlantic Forest and C. (G.) smaragdulus subviridis Schmidt stat. rev. (lectotype here designated) from the northern portion of the Atlantic Forest; 3) C. (G.) fulgidus Redtenbacher, 1868, which includes three subspecies, C. (G.) fulgidus fulgidus from the southern Amazon (lectotype here designated), C. (G.) fulgidus martinezi subsp. nov., from the central and southern Amazon and C. (G.) fulgidus pereirai subsp. nov., from the western Amazon.
We present records of 99 Odonata species from the Réserve Naturelle des Gorilles de Lésio-Louna (RNGLL) in the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) collected during a short survey from 14 January to 01 February 2017. It is the first systematic Odonata inventory for the RNGLL and for the Congolese part of the species-rich Batéké Plateau. A short introduction is given about the existing knowledge of dragonflies and damselflies from the country. Amongst the recorded species eight are new for the country list, raising it to at least 208 species. Some of the recorded species are endemic and characteristic for sandy streams and rivers of the Batéké Plateau. The potential diversity of the plateau in comparison to other regions of the country is discussed.
A total of 20 Odonata species were recorded from 15 water bodies (3 natural water bodies and 12 manmade reservoirs) in a desert landscape west of the Namak Lake in the northwest of the Central Plateau of Iran, from 27 May to 20 June, 2017. The study area included Qom province and the northern part of Esfahan province (34.07 to 35.14 N, 51.33 to 50.89 E). For Qom province, 17 out of 18 species found are new provincial records. In addition Selysiothemis nigra, Orthetrum chrysostigma and Orthetrum taeniolatum are new findings for Esfahan province. The species around the manmade reservoirs are characterized by a broad ecological amplitude ("generalists") while species assemblages of natural water bodies consisted of more sensitive species. In the arid climate of central part of Iran, manmade reservoirs are major habitats for Odonata species. Although these reservoirs have increased the amount of habitat for generalist species, they do not foster sensitive and specialist species. Furthermore, considering the more intense droughts predicted for these areas in the future, and the current scenario of environmental degradation, some sensitive species may be in danger of local extinction.
A record of male and female specimens of Sinolestes editus Needham, 1930 collected in Dak Hro village (14°19'45'' N, 108°24'23'' E, alt. 1,420m a.s.l.), Dak Roong Commune, K’Bang District, Gia Lai Province, Central Highlands of Vietnam is present with a detailed description of the morphology of these two specimens.
More Odonata found at the Cardamonean foothills in Koh Kong Province of Cambodia in 2014-2018
(2018)
Still unpublished data on Odonata of the coastal foothills of the Cardamom Mts. in Koh Kong Province, SW Cambodia obtained in 2014-2018 are provided. Tetrathemis flavescens Kirby, 1889 is for the first time reported for Cambodia and Risiophlebia guentheri Kosterin, 2015 for SW Cambodia. The photographic records from this area of Gynacantha basiguttata Selys, 1882, Gynacantha demeter Ris, 1911, Heliaeschna crassa Krüger, 1899, Amphithemis curvistyla Selys, 1891 and Pornothemis serrata Krüger, 1902 have been confirmed by specimens. The known local faunas of two neighbouring rivulets in Koh Kong Province, rich in Odonata, are updated and summarised.
Records of Odonata from Gunung Melatai, Nanga Gaat and the Kastima Logging area, all in Sarawak’s Kapit Division, are presented. The most notable records are of Matronoides cyaneipennis Förster, 1897 and Heliogomphus blandulus Lieftinck, 1929. A distribution map for Matronoides cyaneipennis and updated distribution maps for three species from the Coeliccia borneensisgroup are given. Tentative identifications to species of previously published records of Idionyx females are given. The genus Heliogomphus in Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore is reviewed and a simple one marker molecular analysis is presented for the genus in this region. Based on reexamination of specimens from the genus and the molecular results, an additional member of the genus is reported from Borneo: H. sp. cf olivaceus Lieftinck, 1961. Although both morphological and molecular results remain incomplete, it does appear likely that there is at least one more species of Heliogomphus present in Borneo than has been recognised until now, and that H. borneensis Lieftinck, 1964 may be a junior synonym of H. kelantanensis (Laidlaw, 1902).
Macromidia genialis buusraaensis subspecies nova (Odonata, Synthemisidae s.l.) from eastern Cambodia
(2018)
Macromidia genialis buusraaensis subspecies nova is described from 10 males and 2 females from three localities of Mondulkiri Province, the eastern Cambodia (the type locality: a brook downstream Buu Sraa Waterfall 12°34' N 107°25' E). The new subspecies is close to M. g. shanensis Fraser, 1927 and differs from it by an additional, and the broadest, yellow spot on S7. It is partly syntopic with Macromidia rapida Martin, 1907. A brief overview of the current knowledge of the genus Macromidia Martin, 1907 is provided.
Results of a brief examination of the spring aspect of Odonata at the Abrau Peninsula and some nearby localities on 2127th May 2018 are presented. Lestes dryas and Caliaeschna microstigma are reported for the Peninsula for the first time, revealing the world northernmost record of the latter. Some old data of Odonata at Novorossiysk and some recent erroneous data on the Krasnodarskiy Kray are referenced and discussed. The known Odonata fauna of the Abrau Peninsula reaches 38 species.
The Odonata found during work on the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in Tropical Agriculture (BEFTA) Project in Riau Province, Sumatra, Indonesia are reported. Prior to the BEFTA project we are only aware of published records of 37 species of Odonata from Riau Province (these are listed in an appendix). Seventy five species have been recorded during the BEFTA project, including five that have not (Archibasis incisura, Archibasis rebeccae and Pseudagrion williamsoni), or not definitely (Argiocnemis species and Mortonagrion species cf aborense), been recorded in Sumatra before. Macromia dione is recorded for the first time since its description. The number of species now known from Riau Province is 88; 51 of these are reported from the province for the first time here.
We present an annotated list of 28 Odonata species (19 Anisoptera, 9 Zygoptera) from Timor Island based on 464 records via photographs and 56 specimens held in collections at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, Australia and the Museum Wiesbaden, Germany. Additionally 43 records of eight species (7 Anisoptera, 1 Zygoptera) from Rote Island and one record from Romang were reported. Most Timorese records are from Oecusse Special Administrative Region/Timor-Leste, a region which to date was "terra incognita". Further records from Timor-Leste are predominantly from Lautem Municipality and Baucau Municipality as well as from the Indonesian Kupang Regency. Four species are new records for Timor Island increasing the checklist to 40 species: Brachythemis contaminata (Fabricius, 1793), Tholymis tillarga (Fabricius, 1798), Gynacantha sp. cf. dobsoni Fraser, 1951and Ischnura aurora (Brauer, 1865). We provide the first photographs of live Nososticta impercepta Seehausen & Theischinger, 2017 as well as some descriptions of habitats in Oecusse. At Rote Island five species were reported for the first time as well: Brachythemis contaminata, Crocothemis servilia (Drury, 1773), Rhyothemis phyllis (Sulzer, 1776), Macrodiplax cora (Brauer, 1867) and Potamarcha congener (Rambur, 1842). The record of Orthetrum testaceum (Burmeister, 1839) from Romang Island appears to be the first Odonata documented from this island. The status of Rhyothemis phyllis is discussed with regard to the ssp. ixias Lieftinck, 1953 from the islands of Sumba and Flores. We provide distribution maps of each species as well as suggestions for targeted field research in the future. All historical records of Nososticta selysii (Förster, 1896) from Timor are now assigned to Nososticta impercepta.
Divergent selection between ecologically dissimilar habitats promotes local adaptation, which can lead to reproductive isolation (RI). Populations in the Poecilia mexicana species complex have independently adapted to toxic hydrogen sulfide and show varying degrees of RI. Here, we examined the variation in the mate choice component of prezygotic RI. Mate choice tests across drainages (with stimulus males from another drainage) suggest that specific features of the males coupled with a general female preference for yellow color patterns explain the observed variation. Analyses of male body coloration identified the intensity of yellow fin coloration as a strong candidate to explain this pattern, and common-garden rearing suggested heritable population differences. Male sexual ornamentation apparently evolved differently across sulfide-adapted populations, for example because of differences in natural counterselection via predation. The ubiquitous preference for yellow color ornaments in poeciliid females likely undermines the emergence of strong RI, as female discrimination in favor of own males becomes weaker when yellow fin coloration in the respective sulfide ecotype increases. Our study illustrates the complexity of the (partly non-parallel) pathways to divergence among replicated ecological gradients. We suggest that future work should identify the genomic loci involved in the pattern reported here, making use of the increasing genomic and transcriptomic datasets available for our study system.
As adapter molecules to convert the nucleic acid information into the amino acid sequence, tRNAs play a central role in protein synthesis. To fulfill this function in a reliable way, tRNAs exhibit highly conserved structural features common in all organisms and in all cellular compartments active in translation. However, in mitochondria of metazoans, certain dramatic deviations from the consensus tRNA structure are described, where some tRNAs lack the D- or T-arm without losing their function. In Enoplea, this miniaturization comes to an extreme, and functional mitochondrial tRNAs can lack both arms, leading to a considerable size reduction. Here, we investigate the secondary and tertiary structure of two such armless tRNAs from Romanomermis culicivorax. Despite their high AU content, the transcripts fold into a single and surprisingly stable hairpin structure, deviating from standard tRNAs. The three-dimensional form is boomerang-like and diverges from the standard L-shape. These results indicate that such unconventional miniaturized tRNAs can still fold into a tRNA-like shape, although their length and secondary structure are very unusual. They highlight the remarkable flexibility of the protein synthesis apparatus and suggest that the translational machinery of Enoplea mitochondria may show compensatory adaptations to accommodate these armless tRNAs for efficient translation.
The gecko genus Phyllopezus is distributed mainly along South America’s "Dry Diagonal" (Caatinga, Cerrado, and Chaco). The genus has been the subject of recent taxonomic analyses and includes four described species and seven candidate species referred to here as Phyllopezus pollicaris sensu lato. In Paraguay, Phyllopezus is known from the Chaco and Cerrado where it is abundant, and also from a small isolated population from a rocky hill formation named "Cordillera de Los Altos" (Los Altos mountain range). Here we analyzed genetic samples from across its range, including new samples from Paraguay, using DNA barcoding analysis of the mitochondrial 16S gene and phylogenetic analyses using both Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood methods. We found genetic and morphological differences among geckos from the Los Altos mountain range and the remaining Phyllopezus populations. Using both molecular and morphological evidence we describe a new Phyllopezus species, sister to P. przewalskii. Genetic differentiation among described and putative Phyllopezus species is greater than their morphological differences, which likely accounts for these cryptic taxa remaining undescribed for so long.