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New species and records of Sericini from the Indian subcontinent (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) II
(2019)
The current paper presents new locality records, including first state records for Mizoram and Nagaland, of 50 species of Sericini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from the Indian subcontinent. Nine new species are described herein: Maladera naveeni sp. nov., M. sujitrae sp. nov., M. thirthahalliensis sp. nov., M. viraktamathi sp. nov., Neoserica (s. lat.) reuteri sp. nov., Oxyserica goertzae sp. nov., Selaserica hosanagarana sp. nov., Serica (s. str.) eberlei sp. nov. and S. (s. str.) tashigaonensis sp. nov.
The New Caledonia archipelago is known for its high level of endemism in both faunal and floral groups. Thus far, only 12 species of non-marine ostracods have been reported. After three expeditions to the main island of the archipelago (Grande Terre), about four times as many species were found, about half of which are probably new. Here, we describe a new species, Cyprinotus drubea sp. nov., which is characterised mainly by the hyper-developed dorsal hump on the right valve, much larger than in any other known Recent species in this genus. After a literature study of the other presumed species in Cyprinotus Brady, 1886, we retain seven Recent species in the genus, including the present new species. Cyprinotus crenatus (Turner, 1893), C. dentatus (Sharpe, 1910), C. flavescens Brady, 1898, C. inconstans Furtos, 1936, C. newmexicoensis Ferguson, 1967, C. ohanopecoshensis Ferguson, 1966, C. pellucidus (Sharpe, 1897), C. scytodus (Dobbin, 1941) and C. sulphurous Blake, 1931 are here all referred to the genus Heterocypris s. lat. Claus, 1892. Cyprinotus unispinifera Furtos, 1936 is assigned to the genus Cypricercus Sars, 1895. Cyprinotus tenuis Henry, 1923, C. fuscus Henry, 1919 and C. carinatus (King, 1855) are here classified as doubtful species. A checklist of the 14 non-marine ostracods, now including Cyprinotus drubea sp. nov. and Cypris granulata (Daday, 1910), thus far reported from New Caledonia, is provided. Herpetocypris caledonica Méhes, 1939 and H. caledonica var. minor Méhes, 1939 are synonymised with Candonocypris novaezelandiae (Baird, 1843).
Two new species of the genus Lepidocyrtus Bourlet, 1839 from southern China are described here: L. (Acrocyrtus) huizhouensis sp. nov. from Guangdong Province and L. (Setogaster) wanningensis sp. nov. from Hainan Province. Lepidocytus (Acrocyrtus) huizhouensis sp. nov. is the fourth species of the subgenus reported from China and L. (Setogaster) wanningensis sp. nov. is the first report of the subgenus from China.
Chrysidea pumiloides Zimmermann, 1956 and its Malagasy allies are taxonomically revised. As a result, C. pumiloides and C. phoebe Zimmermann, 1956 are redescribed; two new species, C. vazimba sp. nov. and C. merina sp. nov., are described from museum collections, and another new species, C. rioae sp. nov., is described based on a male recently collected in Southern Madagascar, at Berenty Reserve. The habitus of the holotypes and the male genitalia are illustrated and the key to Malagasy Chrysidea Bischoff, 1913 is updated.
The cleptoparasitic bee genus Epeolus Latreille, 1802 is for the first time reviewed for species occurring in the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico, and a single dichotomous identification key to the females and males of species present or likely to be present in these regions is presented. A total of 25 species have been confirmed as present across the region, although another 10 likely occur south of the Mexico–United States border. Three species are newly described—E. hanusiae sp. nov., E. nomadiformis sp. nov. and E. odyneroides sp. nov.—and redescriptions are provided for species occurring exclusively south of the United States of America (species occurring north of Mexico were recently revised elsewhere) except E. danieli (Genaro, 2014) comb. nov., which was recently described. One subspecies is elevated to species level (E. obscuripes Cockerell, 1917 stat. nov.). The following five names are newly synonymized under those of four valid species: Trophocleptria schraderi Michener, 1954 syn. nov. under E. boliviensis Friese, 1908, Tro. odontothorax Michener, 1954 syn. nov. under E. claripennis Friese, 1908, E. rugosus Cockerell, 1949 syn. nov. and E. xanthurus Cockerell, 1917 syn. nov. under E. luteipennis Friese, 1916, and E. schmidti Friese, 1925 syn. nov. under E. obscuripes. A diagnosis is provided for the presumably monophyletic and almost entirely Neotropical species group originally regarded as a separate genus, Trophocleptria Holmberg, 1886. Differential diagnoses accompany the descriptions / redescriptions of Neotropical species of Epeolus, and known collection records and information about their ecology are presented.
Thirty-six species of various thecate hydroids occur in two recent, deep-water collections from off New Caledonia. Of these, nine are new, namely Solenoscyphus subtilis Galea, sp. nov., Hincksella immersa Galea, sp. nov., Synthecium rectangulatum Galea, sp. nov., Diphasia alternata Galea, sp. nov., Dynamena opposita Galea, sp. nov., Hydrallmania clavaformis Galea, sp. nov., Symplectoscyphus acutustriatus Galea, sp. nov., Symplectoscyphus elongatulus Galea, sp. nov. and Zygophylax niger Galea, sp. nov. The male and female gonothecae of Caledoniana decussata Galea, 2015, the female gonothecae of Caledoniana microgona Galea, 2015, as well as the gonothecae of both sexes of Solenoscyphus striatus Galea, 2015 are described for the first time. The systematic position of the genera Solenoscyphus Galea, 2015 and Caledoniana Galea, 2015 is discussed on both morphological and molecular grounds, and both are confidently placed within the family Staurothecidae Maronna et al., 2016. In light of the molecular data, the genera Billardia Totton, 1930 and Dictyocladium Allman, 1888 are assigned to the families Syntheciidae Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1890 and Symplectoscyphidae Maronna et al., 2016, respectively. The previously undescribed gonothecae of Hincksella neocaledonica Galea, 2015, and the male gonothecae of Sertularella tronconica Galea, 2016, were found. Thyroscyphus scorpioides Vervoort, 1993, a peculiar hydroid with putative stem nematothecae, is redescribed and assigned to the new genus Tuberocaulus Galea, gen. nov. Noteworthy new records from the study area are: Tasmanaria edentula (Bale, 1924), Hincksella sibogae Billard, 1918, Dictyocladium reticulatum (Kirchenpauer, 1884), Salacia sinuosa (Bale, 1888) and Billardia hyalina Vervoort & Watson, 2003. Most species are illustrated to facilitate their identification, and the morphology of the new ones is compared to that of their related congeners.
Two new species of the leucopholine genera Engertia Dalla Torre, 1913 and Philacelota Heller, 1900 are described. Engertia allolepis sp. nov. from Ambon Island in the Moluccas, Indonesia, can be distinguished from the other species of the genus by the heterogeneous setosity on the elytra as well as by a very robust and arcuate aedeagus. Philacelota leucothea sp. nov. from Luzon Island, Philippines, differs from the other species of Philacelota in the scaled whitish vestiture of the pronotum and elytra, as well as in the unidentate protibiae and in the shape of parameres. The length of the 3rd antennomere is the only reliable character for the separation of the genera Engertia and Philacelota. A revised dichotomous key for identification of males and females of all species of Engertia and Philacelota is given. The genus Philacelota is reported from the Philippines for the first time.
Four earthworm species, the endogeic Octolasion tyrtaeum (Savigny, 1826), the anecic Lumbricus terrestris Linnaeus, 1758 as well as the epigeic Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826) and Dendrobaena veneta (Rosa, 1886), were examined for the presence of astome ciliates. Based on the integrative taxonomic approach, five ciliate species were recognized in their gastrointestinal tracts: Metaradiophrya lumbrici (Dujardin, 1841), M. varians (de Puytorac, 1954), Anoplophrya lumbrici (Schrank, 1803), A. vulgaris de Puytorac, 1954 and A. nodulata (Dujardin, 1841). Their distinctness was assessed using the multivariate morphometric approach and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Although the two species of Metaradiophrya Jankowski, 2007 on the one hand and the two former species of Anoplophrya Stein, 1860 on the other, were not distinctly separated by the multivariate morphometric analyses, they were clearly delimited by the 18S rRNA gene sequences. Species within each genus also differed by their hosts, M. lumbrici and A. lumbrici occurred only in anecic earthworms while M. varians and A. vulgaris occured exclusively in epigeic earthworms. Only a single species, A. nodulata, was detected in endogeic earthworms. It was morphologically distinct from and did not cluster with the two other species of Anoplophrya but was nested within the paraphyletic assemblage containing other astomes from endogeic earthworms. This indicates that the evolution of endosymbiotic ciliates from earthworms has very likely proceeded through a specialization to various ecological groups of their host organisms.
Virpazaria Gittenberger, 1969 is distributed in the Balkan Peninsula (Albania, Montenegro and Croatia) and inhabits the shallow subterranean habitat (MSS) on limestone base rock. Reviewing historical and recently collected material, two species, Virpazaria (Virpazaria) gittenbergeri Fehér & Erőss sp. nov. and Virpazaria (Virpazaria) pesici Fehér & Deli sp. nov., are introduced as new to science. The conservation status of the new species are assessed using IUCN criteria. Two taxa, Virpazaria (Virpazaria) pageti alexanderi Reischütz & Subai, 2012 and Virpazaria (Aemiliella) ripkeni pastorpueri Reischütz et al., 2011, are synonymized with their nominate subspecies. Some new distribution records, as well as geological and geomorphological data about the known locations for Virpazaria, are presented.
The Afrotropical (including Malagasy Subregion) species of the genus Asobara Foerster, 1863, are revised. In addition to the redescribed 15 known species, 25 new species are described and illustrated, viz., Asobara abyssiniensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. caboverdensis van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. carinata Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. cracentis van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. elongitarsis van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. fletcheri Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. harrinsmithensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. kawandensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. kibalensis van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. laticlypeata van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. mediana van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. mellicephalata van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. natalensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. notleyi Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. robusta van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. sarae Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. somersetensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. stubbsi Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. taylori Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. vanalpheni van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. vanharteni van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. victoriana Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. zaprionae van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. zimbabwana Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. zululana Peris-Felipo, sp. nov. Moreover, the following new combination is suggested: Asobara pulchricornis (Szépligeti, 1911) comb. nov. A key to all Afrotropical (including Malagasy) species is provided for the first time.
Small usually beautifully coloured mussels from the Kattegat were to date identified as Modiolus adriaticus (Lamarck, 1819) since C.G.Johs. Petersen’s account of the shell-bearing molluscs was published in 1888. However, these mussels from Danish and Swedish waters represent a very distinct new species which also is endemic. The present paper serves to describe this new species, Modiolus cimbricus sp. nov., which belongs to the genus Modiolus Lamarck, 1799. The genus Gibbomodiola Sacco, 1898, to which Modiolus adriaticus has been moved, is here synonymized with Modiolus Lamarck, 1799.
In this study, a total of 108 Aphidiinae species, belonging to 18 genera, associated with 240 aphid species in 16 countries of the Middle East and North Africa are reviewed. 743 host aphidparasitoid associations are listed. New material was collected from various regions of Saudi Arabia during 2011–2013. Three species including Aphidius avenae Haliday, 1834, Aphidius platensis Brèthes, 1913 and Praon barbatum Mackauer, 1967 are first recorded for the fauna of this country. Lysiphlebus marismortui Mescheloff & Rosen, 1990 syn. nov. is classified as the junior synonym of Lysiphlebus confusus Tremblay & Eady, 1978. An illustrated up-to-date key to all known species of Aphidiinae that occur in the Middle East and North Africa is provided. The findings are discussed in relation to the overall parasitoid-aphid associations in the target investigated region.
A recent survey of the mangroves around Hong Kong revealed the presence of seven species of the genus Elaphropeza Macquart, 1827. All belong to a group of yellow species that occur exclusively in mangroves. Three species were previously known: Elaphropeza calcarifera Bezzi, 1912 and E. xanthocephala Bezzi, 1912, both from Taiwan, and E. riatanae Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007 from Singapore. Four species are new to science: Elaphropeza furcatella sp. nov., E. guenardi sp. nov., E. hongkongensis sp. nov. and E. hongshulin sp. nov. All seven species are described or an extended diagnosis is provided. All species are figured and NGS barcodes are made available. A key is given for the Hong Kong species and their siblings from Singapore and Taiwan. Remarkable is that five of the seven species are more or less closely related to species occurring in Singapore. Genetic distances and morphologic differences are congruent. The species turnover between the northern part and the southern part of the South China Sea is high, with only one of the seven species present in both regions.
Cave research in Hungary has developed a lot in the last decade. As a part of this progress, enchytraeid specimens were collected from Hungarian caves and were subsequently characterized by comparative morphological and molecular taxonomic analyses. Molecular phylogenetic studies based on ITS, CO1 and H3 sequences and morphological results confirmed that these specimens represented two species new to science. The descriptions of Fridericia baradlana sp. nov. and Fridericia spelaeophila sp. nov. are presented in this paper.
We provide the first comprehensive taxonomic revision of the poorly known South American butterfly genus Zischkaia Forster, 1964, hitherto regarded as including three described species. A phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequence data shows that Zischkaia is monophyletic and consists of two morphologically diagnosable clades. Morphological characters and DNA 'barcodes' support the recognition of twelve species in the genus, a significant increase even for the relatively poorly studied subtribe Euptychiina. Consequently, nine new species are described and named herein, including Z. arctoa Nakahara, sp. nov., Z. chullachaki Nakahara & Zacca, sp. nov., Z. baku Zacca, Dolibaina & Dias, sp. nov., Z. arenisca Nakahara, Willmott & Hall, sp. nov., Z. argyrosflecha Nakahara, L. Miller & Huertas, sp. nov., Z. abanico Nakahara & Petit, sp. nov., Z. josti Nakahara & Kleckner, sp. nov., Z. mielkeorum Dolibaina, Dias & Zacca, sp. nov. and Z. warreni Dias, Zacca & Dolibaina, sp. nov. In addition, a neotype is designated for Satyrus pacarus Godart, [1824], and lectotypes are designated for Euptychia amalda Weymer, 1911, Euptychia fumata Butler, 1867 and Euptychia saundersii Butler, 1867.
The Swedish species of Ophion Fabricius, 1798 are revised. More than 4800 specimens and relevant type material were studied; 234 sampled specimens produced COI sequences. The study recognises 41 species, 18 of which are described as new to science, mainly from Fennoscandian material: Ophion angularis Johansson & Cederberg sp. nov., Ophion arenarius Johansson sp. nov., Ophion autumnalis Johansson sp. nov., Ophion borealis Johansson sp. nov., Ophion broadi Johansson sp. nov., Ophion brocki Johansson sp. nov., Ophion confusus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion ellenae Johansson sp. nov., Ophion inclinans Johansson sp. nov., Ophion kallanderi Johansson sp. nov., Ophion matti Johansson sp. nov., Ophion norei Johansson sp. nov., Ophion paraparvulus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion paukkuneni Johansson sp. nov., Ophion splendens Johansson sp. nov., Ophion sylvestris Johansson sp. nov., Ophion tenuicornis Johansson sp. nov. and Ophion vardali Johansson sp. nov. Barcoding analysis also indicated the possible presence of at least three additional, partly cryptic species, but these cannot be separated morphologically with certainty at this point. Ophion costatus Ratzeburg, 1848 and Ophion artemisiae Boie, 1855 are interpreted and defined. Ophion slaviceki Kriechbaumer, 1892 is excluded from synonymy with Ophion luteus Linnaeus, 1758 stat. rev. Ophion polyguttator (Thunberg, 1824) stat. rev. and Ophion variegatus Rudow, 1883 stat. rev. are excluded from synonymy with O. obscuratus Fabricius, 1798. Ophion variegatus is redescribed and a neotype is designated. Ophion albistylus Szépligeti, 1905 (syn. nov.) is synonymized with Ophion pteridis Kriechbaumer, 1879 and Ophion frontalis Strobl, 1904 (syn. nov.) is synonymized with Ophion areolaris Brauns, 1889 syn. nov. Eleven species are reported from Sweden for the first time: Ophion artemisiae, Ophion crassicornis Brock, 1982, Ophion costatus, Ophion dispar Brauns, 1895, Ophion forticornis Morley, 1915, Ophion kevoensis Jussila, 1965, Ophion ocellaris Ulbricht, 1926, Ophion perkinsi Brock, 1982, Ophion subarcticus Hellén, 1926, Ophion variegatus Rudow, 1883 and Ophion wuestneii Kriechbaumer, 1892. The study shows that a number of species that previously have been treated as highly variable taxa, actually consist of several valid species that are separable using morphological characters. An illustrated key for the determination of the Swedish Ophion species is provided.
The Neotropical genus Mesoconius Enderlein, 1922 is revised with the redescription or diagnosis of 20 previously described South American species, the description of one new species of the M. infestus group (M. triunfo sp. nov.) from Mexico and the description of 32 new species in four species groups from Andean South America (M. eques group: M. albiseta sp. nov., M. albitergum sp. nov., M. anchitarsus sp. nov., M. cosanga sp. nov., M. epandribarba sp. nov., M. hirsutimamma sp. nov., M. nigripleuron sp. nov., M. noteques sp. nov., M. pasachoa sp. nov., M. rufipleuron sp. nov. and M. suzukii sp. nov.; M. infestus group: M. acca sp. nov., M. albipedis sp. nov., M. nigricephala sp. nov. and M. notacca sp. nov.; M. nono group: M. aurantium sp. nov., M. bipleuron sp. nov., M. garyi sp. nov., M. nono sp. nov., M. reinai sp. nov., M. uchumachi sp. nov., M. woytkowskii sp. nov. and M. zorro sp. nov.; M. oblitus group: M. apa sp. nov., M. apicalis sp. nov., M. gelbifacies sp. nov., M. keili sp. nov., M. lobopoda sp. nov., M. nigra sp. nov., M. quadritheca sp. nov., M. rex sp. nov. and M. ruficrus sp. nov.). Calobata eques Schiner, 1868 is transferred from Cliobata Enderlein, 1923 to Mesoconius and all South American species previously treated as Zelatractodes Enderlein, 1922 are transferred to Mesoconius. Mesoconius aeripennis Enderlein, 1922 is synonymized with M. eques, M. enderleini Frey, 1927 is synonymized with M. infestus Enderlein, 1922 and Aristobata melini Frey, 1927 is synonymized with M. filipes (Enderlein, 1922). Mesoconius garleppi (Enderlein, 1922) is newly recognized as a subjective junior homonym and given the replacement name Mesoconius ottoi nom. nov. A maximum likelihood tree is provided for 29 species of Mesoconius sequenced for the barcode region of CO1 and a key is provided for all South American species of Mesoconius.
This paper provides descriptions of two new species of Calcigorgia gorgonians collected from the Sea of Okhotsk between 1973 and 2008. The new species are Calcigorgia herba sp. nov. and С. lukini sp. nov., belonging to the deep-water coral fauna of the temperate Northern Pacific. The taxonomy structure of the genus is reviewed and a comparative table is provided for all known species of Calcigorgia. The following taxonomic changes are made: the diagnosis of the genus was corrected from that given in Matsumoto et al. (2019); synonymization of C. simushiri Dautova, 2018 with C. spiculifera Broch, 1935 and inclusion of additional specimens in C. japonica Dautova, 2007 (both performed by Matsumoto et al. 2019) are assumed erroneous. The finding of previously undescribed species emphasizes the need for further surveys, particularly in deeper waters, to improve knowledge of the Octocorallia fauna in Far East seas. The distribution of Calcigorgia (Octocorallia, Acanthogorgiidae) is reviewed and presented based on field and collection studies published since 1935 as well as miscellaneous data from previous literature.
A new monotypic genus of Iassinae Walker, 1870 tribe Hyalojassini Evans, 1972 is proposed based on Guaricicana borgesi gen. et sp. nov. from the states of Paraná and Rio de Janeiro, southern and southeastern Brazil, respectively. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of males and females are provided, as well as comparisons with the presumably more closely related genus, Daveyoungana Blocker & Webb, 1992.
This study was conducted to describe and illustrate two new species of groundwater amphipods from the northern parts of the Zagros Mountains in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (28S rDNA) fragments as well as several morphological traits were used to characterize Niphargus urmiensis sp. nov. and Niphargus fiseri sp. nov. The phylogenetic analyses showed that the nucleotide differences between the recently described species and their close allies are attributed to their distinctiveness. The molecular analysis also introduced that the new species are placed within the clade comprising Iranian species as a sister taxon. The genetic distances between N. urmiensis sp. nov. and N. fiseri sp. nov. are 7.6% and 1.6%, respectively based on the COI and 28S rDNA gene fragments.
Eleven species of Ctenopelma Holmgren, 1857 are reported from China. Five species are new to science: C. labiatum Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, C. lii Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., from Liaoning province, C. rufofasciatum Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., reared from Cephalcia lariciphila (Wachtl, 1898) from Beijing, C. pineatum Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., reared from Acantholyda posticalis (Matsumura, 1912) and Cephalcia lariciphila from Beijing and Henan, Shanxi, Shan’xi, Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, and C. spiraculare Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., reared from Cephalcia lariciphila from Henan and Shanxi provinces. One species, C. nigrum Holmgren, 1857, reared from Cephalcia lariciphila in Beijing, is a new record for China. Ctenopelma tomentosum (Desvignes, 1856) was reared from Neurotoma sibirica Gussakovskij, 1935 (new host record) in Liaoning province. A key to species of Ctenopelma known in China is provided.
The birdwing butterfly Trogonoptera brookiana (Wallace, 1855) is a well-known conservation icon, yet questions remain about the infraspecific status of regional populations. The eastern Peninsular Malaysian population has been described as the subspecies mollumar d’Abrera, Doggett & Parker, 1976, but its status as a subspecies distinguishable from the taxon trogon (Vollenhoven, 1860) in Sumatra has been disputed. Wing characters and measurements of specimens from the two regions were therefore examined quantitatively using discriminant function and correspondence analyses. Eastern Peninsular specimens differ on average from Sumatran specimens in having more extensive green, especially in the female. This is reflected in many of the measurements and characters analysed. Females from the Peninsula also have a characteristically blacker upperside ground colour in which the outer areas of both wings barely contrast with the black veins and forewing cell. The extent of these differences enables a reliable differentiation of the females of both regions. The magnitude and consistency of differences are comparable to that between other subspecies of undisputed status. Behavioural differences also exist. The name mollumar therefore merits subspecific status. In addition, we consider the male forms walshi Haugum & Low, 1982 and walshoides Haugum & Low, 1982 to be chemically discoloured specimens of trogon rather than biological forms.
The Neotropical Distictus Townes, 1966 is diagnosed, redescribed and its species revised. A neotype is designated for the type species, D. tibialis (Brullé, 1846). The genus is characterized mainly by having the body subcylindric; clypeal margin with median tooth; areolet medium-sized, pentagonal, with crossvein 3r-m distinct; first metasomal tergite short and stout, with anterolateral tooth. Distictus aurantium Santos & Aguiar, 2008 is shown to lack some of these character states and is transferred to Mallochia Viereck, 1912. A total of 12 valid species are recognized, ten of which are new: D. apaensis sp. nov., D. ardens sp. nov., D. asterios sp. nov., D. ateles sp. nov., D. caligaris sp. nov., D. commatus sp. nov., D. daelus sp. nov., D. notabilis sp. nov., D. paratibialis sp. nov. and D. terrosus sp. nov. Other valid species are D. tibialis and D. mexicanus Kasparyan & Ruíz-Cancino, 2005. All species are described and illustrated. New distribution records, maps and separate keys for females and males of the species are provided.
The genus Rhaphium Meigen, 1803 is recorded for the first time from mangroves in Hong Kong. Three species are described as new to science: Rhaphium hongkongense sp. nov. and Rhaphium spinulatum sp. nov., both tentatively belonging to the Rhaphium crassipes group sensu Negrobov & Grichanov (2010), and Rhaphium canniccii sp. nov. assigned to a new species group, the Rhaphium micans group. The status of Rhaphium mediocre (Becker, 1922) described from Taiwan and Rhaphium eburnea (Parent, 1926) from Shanghai is discussed. NGS barcodes for the new species are provided.
Revision of the genus Cerapanorpa (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) with descriptions of four new species
(2019)
The genus Cerapanorpa Gao, Ma & Hua, 2016 is taxonomically revised. Cerapanorpa is confirmed to be endemic to the mountain regions in central China. Nineteen species are recognized in the genus, including four new species: Cerapanorpa baimaensis sp. nov., Cerapanorpa xuebaodinga sp. nov., and Cerapanorpa yanggashana sp. nov. from the Minshan Mountains, and Cerapanorpa taizishana sp. nov. from the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Six species are transferred from Cerapanorpa back to Panorpa Linnaeus, 1758. An updated key to species is presented.
Neopanorpa van der Weele, 1909 is the second largest genus in Panorpidae, and over 170 Oriental species have been reported hitherto. In this paper, we describe two new species: Neopanorpa luojishana sp. nov. and Neopanorpa xingmini sp. nov. from Southwest China. We also report the first discovery of the male of Neopanorpa ocellaris (Navás, 1908) from Guangxi and Guizhou, China, a species recorded from Sikkim previously. Neopanorpa brevivalvae Chou & Wang, 1988 is synonymized with Neopanorpa lungtaushana Cheng, 1957. In addition, Neopanorpa furcula nom. nov. is proposed for Neopanorpa furcata Zhou, 2005, a junior homonym preoccupied by Neopanorpa furcata (Hardwicke, 1825). The biogeographical implications of some Neopanorpa species are discussed in brief.
Morphological and allozyme analyses suggested the occurrence of a pseudocryptic species in the Lasioglossum villosulum (Kirby, 1802) species complex (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). We analysed the morphology of more than 1500 specimens and the DNA barcode fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of 102 specimens of this species complex from several Palaearctic countries. Our phylogenetic tree reconstructions, based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference revealed one clade corresponding to all specimens morphologically identified as Lasioglossum medinai (Vachal, 1895) and one divergent specimen morphologically identified as Lasioglossum berberum (Benoist, 1941). The other specimens, morphologically identified as L. villosulum, aggregated into at least three other lineages in our phylogenetic trees. The tree-based species delineations methods based on the Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent (GMYC) model and the Bayesian Poisson Tree Process (bPTP) identified five to ten candidate species within the L. villosulum species complex, with L. medinai and L. berberum consistently recognized as separated from all other candidate species. Diagnostic morphological differences were found among L. medinai, L. berberum and the remaining specimens identified as L. villosulum. No diagnostic morphological differences were found to distinguish the different phylogenetic candidate species or lineages found within L. villosulum and L. medinai. Thus, both genetic and morphological approaches support the existence of L. medinai and L. berberum as distinct species from L. villosulum.
Five chrysopetalid species are reported from samples collected at bathyal depths in three NE Atlantic regions: the Bay of Biscay, the Horseshoe Abyssal Plain and the Gulf of Cadiz. Arichlidon reyssi (Katzmann et al., 1974), Dysponetus caecus (Langerhans, 1880) and D. profundus Böggemann, 2009 are free-living forms found mainly on biogenic substrates (e.g., coral and sunken wood). A brief description and taxonomical remarks are given for each of these species and their geographical distributions and habitat records were updated accordingly. Natsushima bifurcata Miura & Laubier, 1990 and Craseoschema thyasiricola gen. et sp. nov. are symbionts inhabiting the mantle cavity of chemosynthesis-based bivalves known from four mud volcanoes from the Gulf of Cadiz. Craseoschema thyasiricola gen. et sp. nov. was found inside a thyasirid bivalve and presents mixed morphological characteristics of free-living and symbiotic forms within Calamyzinae Hartmann-Schröder, 1971. A full description of the new species is given together with DNA sequences of the genes COI, 16S and H3 that were used in a phylogenetic analysis to indicate the position of the new genus within the family.
A cladistic analysis of the genus Atlantodesmus Hoffman, 2000 is presented. With a total of 11 taxa and 30 morphological characters, and under implied weighting (k = 3), two equally most parsimonious trees (length = 58 steps; total fit = 23.150; CI = 0.64; RI = 0.64) recovered the monophyly of the genus. The resulting synapomorphies are: absence of a ventral projection on the post-gonopodal sternites; presence of folds on the dorsal edge of the prefemoral region of the gonopod; and one homoplastic transformation: presence of a cingulum. In addition, Atlantodesmus sierwaldae sp. nov. is described from the state of Minas Gerais, in the Brazilian Cerrado, and a key to the males of the genus is provided.
We examined the type specimens and historical collections holding puzzling Atlantic and Mediterranean material belonging to the genus Schizoretepora Gregory, 1893. We performed a detailed study of the colonial characters and re-describe the resulting species and those that have rarely been found or have poor original descriptions. As a result of this revision, nine species are found in the northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean. Six of them are re-described and illustrated: S. aviculifera (Canu & Bassler, 1930), S. calveti d’Hondt, 1975, S. imperati (Busk, 1884), S. sp. nov.? (= S. imperati sensu O'Donoghue & de Watteville 1939) (in open nomenclature, specimen lacks ovicells), S. pungens (Canu & Bassler, 1928) and S. solanderia (Risso, 1826). For S. dentata (Calvet, 1931), no material remains; furthermore, S. hassi Harmelin, Bitar & Zibrowius, 2007 and S. serratimargo (Hincks, 1886) have recently been described and redescribed, respectively. This new arrangement attains a coherent geographical distribution: S. imperati seems restricted to the eastern Atlantic, S. dentata and S. calveti are deepwater species from Atlantic islands, S. pungens and S. aviculifera dwell on the African coasts of the Western Mediterranean, S. hassi and S. sp. nov.? (=S. imperati sensu O’Donogue & de Wateville 1939) are confined to the Eastern Mediterranean, and S. solanderia and S. serratimargo live on the European coasts of the Mediterranean.
In this study we describe a new species of the click-beetle genus Lacon Laporte, 1838 from the relict Hyrcanian forest in northern Iran. Lacon mertliki sp. nov. is morphologically similar to L. lepidopterus (Panzer, 1801) but differs from the latter in the body coloration and pubescence, the shape of pronotum and scutellar shield, and male and female genitalia. We provide brief data on its ecology as well as an identification key to all Lacon species in Iran. Additionally, we synonymize Lacon nadaii Platia & Németh, 2011 with Lacon unicolor (Candèze, 1874).
Macrostemum is the second largest genus of Macronematinae with about 104 described species distributed in the Neotropical (18), Afrotropical (20), Australasian (7), Palearctic (2), Nearctic (3) and Oriental (54) regions. Despite its great diversity, knowledge about its immature stages is scarce: worldwide, only 7 species (6.7%) have larvae and/or pupae described. From the Neotropics, only one species, Macrostemum ulmeri (Banks, 1913), has described larvae and pupae. The objectives of this study are to describe and illustrate a new species, Macrostemum araca sp. nov., based on adult males and females from Serra do Aracá, Amazonas, Brazil, and the larvae and pupae of M. brasiliense (Fischer, 1970) from an Atlantic Forest fragment in São Paulo state using the metamorphotype method. In addition, this species is recorded for the first time for Minas Gerais state.
During a recent investigation of the benthic macrofauna from coastal lagoons of southern Benin (Ahémé, Nokoué and Porto-Novo lagoons), a new species of the amphipod genus Quadrivisio Stebbing, 1907, Q. laleyei sp. nov. was collected by means of different quantitative and non-quantitative methods (plastic baskets, wooden artificial substrates, uprooted plants and Surber net) in their intertidal macrophyte zone. The new species can be easily distinguished from most of the other species of the genus by the setation of the mandibular palp and telson and a reduced number of articles (4–6) on the accessory flagellum of the first antenna. The new species closely resembles to Q. lutzi (Shoemaker, 1933) but clearly differ by a reduced armature of the urosomites 1 and 2 and by the geographical distribution (Q. lutzi being known only in Central and South America). Ecological data and an updated key to a species in the genus Quadrivisio are provided.
The 'D. bakoue species complex' Rafael, 1984 ('D. montium species group' Da Lage et al., 2007) comprises seven Afrotropical species. Using complete mitochondrial genome sequences and detailed morphological analysis, we revised thephylogenetic relationships between these species including two new ones. We found the 'D. bakoue species complex' to be a junior synonym of the 'D. seguyi species complex' Lachaise, 1971 and its seven species polyphyletic. We thus classified the species into three complexes, the 'D. seguyi species complex' comprises D. seguyi Smart, 1945, D. malagassya Tsacas & Rafael, 1982, D. curta Chassagnard & Tsacas, 1997 and D. chocolata sp. nov., the new 'D. tsacasi species complex' comprises D. tsacasi Bock & Wheeler, 1972 and D. seguyiana Chassagnard & Tsacas, 1997, and the new 'D. vulcana species complex' comprises D. vulcana Graber, 1957 and D. mylenae sp. nov. Drosophila bakoue Tsacas & Lachaise, 1974 could not be assigned to any of the defined complexes. The two new species are endemic to Madagascar and we report the presence of D. seguyi and D. curta in Mayotte and Madagascar, respectively. The results hence represent a significant step towards understanding the diversity and evolution of this species group in Africa and the islands of the Western Indian Ocean.
Ampharete oculicirrata sp. nov. (Annelida: Ampharetidae) is described from samples collected by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Marine Scotland Science, in the West Shetland Shelf NCMPA in the NE Atlantic. This species is characterised by a very small body size, thin and slender paleae, twelve thoracic and eleven abdominal uncinigers, presence of eyes both in the prostomium and the pygidium, the latter provided with a pair of long lateral cirri. The external micro-morphology of the new taxon was studied using scanning electron microscopy and compared with species described or reported from the North Atlantic. Two complementary keys to all species of Ampharete in the area are also provided.
The gigas species group of the subgenus Canthidium (Neocanthidium) is defi ned and described. This species group is composed of three described species [C. gigas Balthasar, 1939, Brazilian Atlantic Forest, including intrusions into Cerrado, C. bokermanni (Martínez et al., 1964), Chaco and western Cerrado in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina, and C. kelleri (Martínez et al., 1964), Brazilian Cerrado and neighbouring open areas] and three new species: Canthidium stofeli sp. nov. from the western and southern regions of the Brazilian Amazon, Canthidium feeri sp. nov. from French Guiana, and Canthidium ayri sp. nov. from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We present descriptions and redescriptions, illustrations, an identifi cation key and comments on the distributions of the species of the gigas group.
A new species of Tethya Lamarck, 1815 is described from a depth of 1000 m on the continental slope of the Great Australian Bight (GAB), southern Australia. The GAB slope was explored as part of systematic benthic surveys to understand unexplored communities in the light of current oil and gas exploration activity in the area. Tethya irisae sp. nov. was present at 1000 m in six of eight longitudinal depth surveys. Three molecular markers were obtained: COI, 28S (D3–D5) and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2. COI and 28S phylogenetic analyses show that the new species fits clearly within the genus Tethya. This is the 28th species of Tethya reported from Australia; it is unusual in that it has a stalk. The presence of a stalk as a morphological character to split genera in this family is questioned. The description of this new species is an opportunity to revisit the molecular phylogeny of the Tethyida Morrow & Cárdenas, 2015 using comprehensive datasets of COI and 28S markers. As in previous analyses, four Tethya clades were retrieved; we discuss the possibility of using external colour to support some of these clades. Despite unclear phylogenetic relationships amongst Tethyidae Gray, 1848 from Australia, our results suggest that tethyid genera Tethytimea Laubenfels, 1936, Tectitethya Sarà, 1994, Laxotethya Sarà & Sarà, 2002, Stellitethya Sarà, 1994, and Xenospongia Gray, 1858 derive from species of Tethya. We show that asters have been secondarily lost at least twice in the Hemiasterellidae Lendenfeld, 1889: in Liosina Thiele, 1899 and a potential new genus from northern Australia. We formally propose the reallocation of Liosina from Dictyonellidae van Soest, Diaz & Pomponi, 1990 to Hemiasterellidae Lendenfeld, 1889.
In the present paper three empidoid fly species new to science are described from the island Sal of the Cabo Verde archipelago. Aphrosylus salensis sp. nov., a marine dolichopodid fly, is found in the splash zone of a rocky sea shore. Crossopalpus salensis sp. nov. (Hybotidae) is recorded from two different sebkhas. Crossopalpus complicatus sp. nov. is reported from an irrigated wasteland. A key to the species of these two genera occurring on Cape Verde is provided. The presence of the morphospecies Tachytrechus tessellatus (Macquart, 1842), a presumed Old World tropical species, is confirmed.
Revision of the land snail genus Landouria Godwin-Austen, 1918
(Gastropoda, Camaenidae) from Java
(2019)
A revision of the land snail genus Landouria Godwin-Austin, 1918 (Camaenidae) from Java reveals that this group represents the most diverse land snail radiation on that island. Only six species of Landouria were recognized from Java in the last revision of the genus based on shell characters. Our investigation, which also considers the genitalia as well as DNA sequences, shows that the diversity in Java is much higher. Based on newly collected specimens as well as museum material, twenty-eight species of Landouria from Java are described and figured. To stabilize the nomenclature, neotypes are designated for L. winteriana (Pfeiffer, 1842) and L. rotatoria (Pfeiffer, 1842). Sixteen species are described as new to science, i.e., L. naggsi sp. nov., L. parahyangensis sp. nov., L. nusakambangensis sp. nov., L. petrukensis sp. nov., L. tholiformis sp. nov., L. madurensis sp. nov., L. abdidalem sp. nov., L. sewuensis sp. nov., L. tonywhitteni sp. nov., L. sukoliloensis sp. nov., L. nodifera sp. nov., L. pacitanensis sp. nov., L. zonifera sp. nov., L. pakidulan sp. nov., L. dharmai sp. nov. and L. menorehensis sp. nov. Landouria conoidea (Leschke, 1914) comb. nov., L. intumescens (Martens, 1867) comb. nov., L. moussoniana (Martens, 1867) comb. nov., L. schepmani (Möllendorff, 1897) comb. nov. and L. leucochila (Gude, 1905) comb. nov. are considered valid species of the genus Landouria for the first time. Plectotropis kraepelini Leschke, 1914 syn. nov. is considered a probable synonym of L. winteriana (Pfeiffer, 1842), P. trichotrochium Möllendorff, 1897 syn. nov. is a synonym of L. epiplatia (Möllendorff, 1897) and the preoccupied name Helix squamulosa Martens, 1867 syn. nov. is a synonym of L. madurensis sp. nov. We estimate that there are actually more than fifty species of Landouria in Java because many shell samples could not be classified and because no material is available from several regions of the island. A molecular phylogeny reveals that the species from Java do not form a monophyletic group, but that at least one species from Timor is nested within Javanese clades. This means that the Oriental Landouria crossed Wallace's line, the supposed border between the Oriental and Australo-Papuan regions, at least twice and supports the conclusion that Wallace's line does not represent a more severe barrier for terrestrial organisms than other straits through the archipelago. Within the Javanese clades, species from western and eastern Java are mixed, indicating frequent dispersals also within Java.
Three new species of the genus Mimetus Hentz, 1832 are described and named as M. bucerus sp. nov. (♂), M. lingbaoshanensis sp. nov. (♂♀) and M. yinae sp. nov. (♂♀). Detailed morphological descriptions, photos of the body and copulatory organs, line drawings of copulatory organs, as well as the distribution maps are provided.
Walter Biese described Littoridina santiagensis Biese, 1944 (Cochliopidae) from Estero Dehesa in 1944 based exclusively on external shell features and a second allopatric population in Yeso Spring three years later. Since 2011 different samplings have been carried out at the type locality and have only provided specimens of the morphologically similar invasive mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum Gray, 1843 (Tateidae), raising doubts about the identity of the species. The recent finding of two snail morphotypes in Yeso Spring, a thick shelled form congruent with type specimens of L. santiagensis and a slender one morphologically associable to P. antipodarum, allowed comparative studies, including the taxonomic analysis of additional populations with similar shell morphology occurring in central Chile. A DNA barcoding (COI) approach identified the slender form from Yeso Spring in Maipo Basin and a second population from the contiguous Rapel Basin indeed as the invasive P. antipodarum; however, L. santiagensis was recovered among species of Potamolithus Pilsbry, 1896 (Tateidae), justifying the Potamolithus santiagensis (Biese, 1944) comb. nov. Besides recognition of three other populations as belonging to Potamolithus, the molecular analysis also suggests trans-Andean dispersal of this group of snails in the Southern Cone of South America.
Jeekelosoma Mauriès, 1985, is upgraded from subgenus status under Eviulisoma Silvestri, 1910 to full genus status. The type species, Jeekelosoma abadi (Mauriès, 1985) is redescribed based on topotypical material from a cave in Morocco. Jeekelosoma heptarachne sp. nov. and J. viginti sp. nov. are described from two further Moroccan caves.
Seventy-four species, forms and varieties of Cubitermes Wasmann, 1906 have been studied, including taxa placed in synonymy with other species. Within this group of taxa, the enteric valve, mainly of the workers and soldiers, provided the best and the only clear-cut criteria for distinguishing some major subsets that are proposed here as species groups.The genus Cubitermes is re-described; the morphologies of the enteric valves are described in detail including the number of spatulae at the downstream end of the primary cushions; the possible presence of crests or bulges near the downstream end of the primary cushions; the overall shape of the primary cushions; the number of lateral supporting bristles; the kind of symmetry of the valve; and the structure of the secondary cushions. These characteristics are used to define nine species groups. For now, these groups have no taxonomic ranking but are helpful as regards species recognition. Identification keys for species groups are provided for soldiers and workers together with a partial key for imagines. Geographical ranges of the groups are also provided. On the basis of enteric valve morphology, some synonymies can no longer be validated: (a) C. planifrons Sjöstedt, 1924 is not a synonym of C. fungifaber (Sjöstedt, 1896); (b) C. kemneri Emerson, 1928 is not a synonym of C. zenkeri (Desneux, 1904); and (c) C. fungifaber var. elongata Sjöstedt, 1924 does not belong to the species C. fungifaber. Cubitermes planifrons and C. kemneri become valid again and C. fungifaber var. elongata is an invalid name.
Micro-computed tomography for natural history specimens: a handbook of best practice protocols
(2019)
Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT or microtomography) is a non-destructive imaging technique using X-rays which allows the digitisation of an object in three dimensions. The ability of micro-CT imaging to visualise both internal and external features of an object, without destroying the specimen, makes the technique ideal for the digitisation of valuable natural history collections. This handbook serves as a comprehensive guide to laboratory micro-CT imaging of different types of natural history specimens, including zoological, botanical, palaeontological and geological samples. The basic principles of the micro-CT technology are presented, as well as protocols, tips and tricks and use cases for each type of natural history specimen. Finally, data management protocols and a comprehensive list of institutions with micro-CT facilities, micro-CT manufacturers and relative software are included.
Several taxonomic groups within Empidoidea Latreille, 1809 have been subject to unclear phylogenetic assignments along with multiple parallel hypotheses causing difficulties in classification and morphological identification. This study reviews the internal classification of the Ragadidae and includes a diagnosis and description of all included subfamilies and genera based on the results of an analysis of morphological characters using maximum parsimony. Illustration of important characters and a key to all genera in the family is given. The genus Hormopeza Zetterstedt, 1838 is found to be most closely related to Anthepiscopus Becker, 1891 and Iteaphila Zetterstedt, 1838, and the subfamily Iteaphilinae Wahlberg & Johanson, 2018 is therefore expanded to also include that genus. Hormopeza is consequently excluded from Ragadinae Sinclair, 2016. This study provides diagnoses, descriptions and keys in a contribution to a thorough classification of the empidoid groups and increased ease in morphological recognition.
The African shieldbug genus Afrius Stål, 1870 is revised. Cantheconidea migratoria Distant, 1913 and A. williamsi Miller, 1952 are proposed as junior synonyms of A. (Subafrius) flavirostrum (Signoret, 1861) whereas Canthecona marmorata Dallas, 1851, Canthecona annulipes Dallas, 1851 and A. rubromarginatus Bergroth, 1903 are proposed as junior synonyms of A. (Afrius) purpureus (Westwood, 1837) based on the general morphology and genitalia of the species. The three valid species, viz. A. (Subafrius) flavirostrum, A. (Afrius) kolleri Schouteden, 1911 and A. (Afrius) purpureus, are redescribed with details of male and female genitalia morphology, and a lectotype is designated for A. (Afrius) kolleri. A key to identify the species as well as an update of the geographical distribution for each species are provided, including new records for A. (Afrius) purpureus.
Polysyncraton Nott, 1892 is the second largest genus of didemnid ascidians; it has a wide distribution ranging from temperate to tropical waters. Seventy-one specimens of Polysyncraton from eight museum collections and recently collected samples were analyzed. This resulted in the description of three new species (P. cabofriense Oliveira & Rocha sp. nov. from Brazil, P. globosum Oliveira & Rocha sp. nov. from Australia and P. snelliusi Oliveira & Rocha sp. nov. from Suriname) and emended descriptions of three further species (P. amethysteum (Van Name, 1902), P. magnilarvum (Millar, 1962) and P. purou C. Monniot & F. Monniot, 1987).
The new genus and species Campydoroides manautei Holovachov gen. et sp. nov. is placed in the suborder Campydorina and is characterised by a transversely striated cuticle without lateral alae, body pores or epidermal glands; somatic sensilla only on pharyngeal region and on tail; a truncate labial region with papilliform inner labial, outer labial and cephalic sensilla; a stirrup-shaped amphid with transverse slit-like opening; a conoid stoma with strongly cuticularised walls and large protrusible dorsal tooth; a cylindrical pharynx with distinct basal bulb but without valves; a large ovoid cardia; didelphic, amphidelphic female gonads with antidromously reflexed ovaries and without spermatheca; a transverse vulva; a straight vagina without pars refringens vaginae or epiptygmata; an elongate tail with caudal glands and spinneret. The new genus is similar to the genera Campydora Cobb, 1920 and Udonchus Cobb, 1913 in having papilliform labial and cephalic sensilla, a stirrup-shaped amphid with a transverse slit-like opening, a stoma with a well-developed protrusible dorsal tooth, and a muscular pharynx with a strongly developed basal bulb, but can be easily separated from both in details of a stoma morphology. The systematics of the suborder Campydorina is revised. Halirhabdolaimus Siddiqi, 2012 is synonymised with Syringolaimus de Man, 1888.
The alpha-taxonomy of triphorids is still largely based on the study of the shell, and the scarcity of studies dealing with their anatomy is a result of the difficulty of sampling live animals and their very small size. Whereas radula and operculum are important structures in the taxonomy at the generic level, the jaw of triphorids has never been properly studied, being regarded as presenting a morphological homogeneity. The present research explored the basic anatomy (especially internal hard structures: operculum, jaw and radula) of 12 species from Brazil, distributed in 11 genera: Cheirodonta Marshall, 1983 (with a new generic allocation, Cheirodonta dupliniana (Olsson, 1916) comb. nov.), Cosmotriphora Olsson & Harbison, 1953, Iniforis Jousseaume, 1884, Latitriphora Marshall, 1983, Metaxia Monterosato, 1884, Monophorus Grillo, 1877, Nanaphora Laseron, 1958, Nototriphora Marshall, 1983, Sagenotriphora Marshall, 1983, Similiphora Bouchet, 1985 and Strobiligera Dall, 1924; in addition, the basic anatomy of the Caribbean species "Inella" harryleei Rolán & Fernández-Garcés, 2008 was analysed. Radular examination showed that the majority of species studied is properly allocated in their genera after comparisons in the literature with respective type species, albeit a few species are clearly in need of a new generic allocation. The jaw of triphorids is remarkably heterogeneous, displaying different patterns of scales and micro-pores between outer and inner sides.
Coronuloid barnacles are epibionts of several marine vertebrates (including cetaceans and sea turtles) as well as invertebrates, and are assigned to two families of turtle barnacles (Chelonibiidae Pilsbry, 1916 and Platylepadidae Newman & Ross, 1976) and one family of whale barnacles (Coronulidae Leach, 1817). Chelonibiids and coronulids have a scanty, albeit significant fossil record extending back to the Eocene and Pliocene, respectively; in turn, the fossil record of platylepadids is limited to a single record from the Upper Pleistocene. Here we report on an isolated carinolateral compartment of Platylepas Gray, 1825, the type genus of the family, from Lower Pleistocene (Gelasian) epibathyal deposits exposed at Milazzo (Sicily, Italy). This specimen is here designated holotype of a new species, †Platylepas mediterranea sp. nov. We argue that, like most extant members of Platylepas, †P. mediterranea sp. nov. lived partially embedded in the skin of a sea turtle. This record of an extinct platylepadid – the first from the Mediterranean region and the second worldwide – pushes back the fossil record of Platylepadidae to the lowermost Quaternary, thus possibly supporting an even earlier (e.g., Neogene) timing for the origin of this family and adding a new chapter to the evolutionary history of one of the most diverse and successful lineages of epizoic crustaceans.
Necropsies of Baltic grey (Halichoerus grypus) and ringed seals (Pusa hispida) presented a rare opportunity to study their acanthocephalan fauna. Both species hosted adults of three species of the genus Corynosoma Lühe, 1904, namely C. magdaleni Montreuil, 1958, C. semerme (Forsell, 1904) Lühe 1911 and C. strumosum (Rudolphi, 1802) Lühe 1904. A comparative morphological analysis of these three species of Corynosoma, combining both light and scanning electron microscopy, was performed for the first time. Sexual dimorphism in the size and shape of the trunk was observed in both C. magdaleni and C. semerme, but there was insufficient material to investigate this phenomenon in C. strumosum. Genital spines were not observed in any of the female acanthocephalans. Three possible explanations for the presence of genital spines in some females, but not others are (i) cryptic speciation, (ii) phenotypic variation and (iii) loss by extraction or shearing when the copulatory cap is released. Copulatory caps were observed on female C. semerme. The size and morphology showed considerable variability and all caps were strongly autofluoresecent.
Two new Brazilian sharpshooter species of the genus Tretogonia Melichar, 1926 are described and illustrated: Tretogonia diminuta sp. nov. and T. elegantula sp. nov., both from the State of Paraná. A redescription of T. dentalis Emmrich, 1988 is provided based on a male from the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. This is the first Brazilian record of T. dentalis, a species originally described from Paraguay. Photographs and line drawings are provided for the three species, as well as notes on the taxonomy and biology of the genus.
This paper is based on three collections of Ptiliidae from Sarawak totalling more than 2000 specimens made by staff and affiliates of the Natural History Museum, London, between March–July 1978. One new genus Niptella gen. nov with its type species Niptella gutta gen. et sp. nov. and 24 new species are described and figured: Sindosium collinsi sp. nov., Bambara hammondi sp. nov., Bambara subtortuosa sp. nov., Bambara tortuosa sp. nov., Erro brookei sp. nov., Cissidium globulum sp. nov., Cissidium longum sp. nov., Cissidium marshallae sp. nov., Cissidium pauxillum sp. nov., Cissidium subfoveolatum sp. nov., Cissidium triangulum sp. nov., Discheramocephalus nigritus sp. nov., Kuschelidium sarawakense sp. nov., Ptinella alisonae sp. nov., Acrotrichis acuta sp. nov., Acrotrichis belli sp. nov., Acrotrichis bidens sp. nov., Acrotrichis geiseri sp. nov., Acrotrichis globosa sp. nov., Acrotrichis hanskii sp. nov., Acrotrichis muluensis sp. nov., Acrotrichis plaga sp. nov., Storicricha resticula sp. nov., Storicricha umbella sp. nov. New records and information are provided for Dipentium latum Darby, 2019; Ptiliola semitaria Darby, 2018; Baeocrara minima Darby, 2019; Acrotrichis agricola Darby, 2019; Acrotrichis britteni Johnson, 1969; Acrotrichis bubalis Darby, 2019; Acrotrichis cognata (Matthews, 1877) and Acrotrichis cursitans (Nietner, 1856).
This paper is part of a project of studying benthic diatom biodiversity on marine coastal regions of Sweden with focus on rare and less known species. Two new species of Cocconeis Ehrenb. are described from Vrångö, a small island in the west coast of Sweden. Both species were found as epiphytic on the green alga Ulva intestinalis L. Cocconeis magnoareolata Al-Handal, Riaux-Gob., R.Jahn & A.K.Wulff sp. nov. is a small species not exceeding 9 μm in length and characterized by having large subquadrangular areolae on the sternum valve. Cocconeis vrangoensis Al-Handal & Riaux-Gob. sp. nov. appears similar to some taxa of the 'Cocconeis scutellum complex', but differs by its stria density on both valves and variable features of the areola and valvocopula ultrastructure. Detailed descriptions based on light and electron microscopy examination, a comparison with closely related taxa, as well as a description of the habitat of both species are here presented.
Although Gastrotricha have previously been recorded in bottom sediments of greenhouses as well as in micro-reservoirs of Bromeliaceae, palm houses provide a more specific microhabitat for these animals that often originate from different regions of the world. This paper presents an investigation of gastrotrich assemblages associated with aquatic plants. Eight species of the epiphytic chaetonotids were found in the Jubilee Greenhouse of the Botanical Garden in Kraków (Poland), including three species new to science, Chaetonotus (Chaetonotus) invitatus sp. nov., C. (Hystricochaetonotus) horridus sp. nov. and C. (H.) inaequabilis sp. nov. Two other species are new to Poland, C. (C.) paucisquamatus Kisielewski, 1991 and C. (Zonochaeta) cestacanthus Balsamo, 1990, both recorded here for the first time outside their terra typica. These observations confirm that greenhouses and palm houses provide many ecological niches and favourable conditions for the development of a number of unintentionally introduced species which cannot be found outside their original climate conditions.
We re-examined the type material of five of the seven described species of the marine tardigrade genus Angursa Pollock, 1979, namely, A. abyssalis Renaud-Mornant, 1981, A. bicuspis Pollock, 1979 (type species), A. capsula Bussau, 1992, A. lanceolata Renaud-Mornant, 1981, and A. lingua Bussau, 1992. In addition, we describe A. seisuimaruae sp. nov. from the Sea of Kumano, Japan. Based on new data obtained, we amend the diagnosis of this genus, provide a taxonomic key to species, and discuss their geographical distributions.
We present a review of Dendrocephalus (Dendrocephalinus) with an updated diagnosis for the subgenus and a key to all known species. We provide new records of Dendrocephalus alachua, which was previously supposed to be extinct, and we describe a new species, Dendrocephalus proeliator sp. nov., which is separated from all other species based on the form of the male frontal appendage. Dendrocephalus proeliator sp. nov. appears to be morphologically intermediate between D. alachua and D. lithaca. In addition, we provide conservation assessments for all four species in the subgenus, according to IUCN Red List standards. We also report for two species the first known examples of direct male-male agonistic behaviour and competition for access to areas frequented by receptive females.
The list of the species of Hoya R.Br. occurring on the Indonesian island of Sumatra is updated and the type citation is clarified. Sixteen taxa are added to the latest checklist. Hoya danumensis subsp. amarii S.Rahayu & Rodda subsp. nov., H. rigidifolia S.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov., H. solokensis S.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov., and H. sumatrana S.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov. are newly described. Hoya parviflora Wight, H. parvifolia Schltr., and H. purpureofusca Hook. are lectotypified.
Four new species of Brueelia Kéler, 1936 are described and illustrated. All of them parasitize African endemic host species in the families Passeridae, Ploceidae, and Estrildidae (Passeriformes). They are: Brueelia pofadderensis sp. nov. ex Passer melanurus damarensis Reichenow, 1902 and P. m. vicinus Clancey, 1958; B. semiscalaris sp. nov. ex Granatina granatina (Linnaeus, 1758); B. sima sp. nov. ex Malimbus nitens (Gray, 1831); B. terpsichore sp. nov. ex Euplectes jacksoni (Sharpe, 1891) and E. progne delamerei (Shelley, 1903). In addition, Brueelia bicurvata (Piaget, 1880) is redescribed and reillustrated from non-type material. A summary of all published records of lice in the Brueelia complex from Africa since 1980 is provided. We also estimate the unknown diversity of African species of Brueelia based on an index of host specificity calculated for each host family independently. The unknown diversity is estimated to be over 1000 species of Brueelia from African hosts, compared to the < 50 species in this genus currently recorded from Africa.
Due to the possession of huge contort strongyles, and a lack of triaenes in an otherwise 'astrophorine' spicule complement, the phylogenetic position of the endemic, monospecific New Zealand sponge genus, Lamellomorpha Bergquist, 1968, has remained enigmatic. The genus was established within Jaspidae de Laubenfels, 1968 (in the abandoned order Epipolasida Sollas, 1888), but it was not until 2002 that the genus was transferred formally to Astrophorina Sollas, 1887, albeit incertae sedis, by Hooper & Maldonado (2002). In this study, we recognise specimens of Lamellomorpha from the Subantarctic New Zealand region and Chatham Rise, considered by Bergquist to be conspecific with the type species, L. strongylata Bergquist, 1968, first described from the Three Kings-Spirits Bay region of Northland, as the new species, L. australis Kelly & Cárdenas sp. nov. These two species of Lamellomorpha have differences in external morphology and colour, skeletal architecture and spicules, natural products, geographical distribution, and depth ranges. Sequencing of the COI Folmer barcode/mini-barcode and of 28S (C1–C2 domains) of these two species suggests phylogenetic affinities of Lamellomorpha with the tetractinellid suborder Astrophorina and the family Vulcanellidae Cárdenas et al., 2011. Two Subantarctic New Zealand species of the vulcanellid genus Poecillastra Sollas, 1888, P. ducitriaena Kelly & Cárdenas sp. nov. and P. macquariensis Kelly & Cárdenas sp. nov., provide further support for the close relationship of Lamellomorpha and Poecillastra.
Three new species of Thinophilus Wahlberg, 1844 are described from marine sites on the Andaman Sea coasts in peninsular Thailand: T. inaequalis Samoh & Grootaert sp. nov. belonging to the 'Thinophilus simplex-group' sensu Grootaert, 2018, T. plektron Samoh & Grootaert sp. nov., an unplaced species characterised by a long flattened apical spur on the hind tibia, and T. subapicalis Samoh & Grootaert sp. nov. belonging to the 'Thinophilus spinatus-group' sensu Grootaert, 2018. New records are given for following species occurring in peninsular Thailand: T. apicatus Grootaert, 2018, T. chaetulosus Grootaert, 2018, T. clavatus Zhu, Yang & Masunaga, 2006, T. evenhuisi Grootaert, 2018, T. lenachanae Grootaert, 2018, T. longicilia Evenhuis & Grootaert, 2002, T. nigrilineatus Grootaert, 2018, T. simplex Grootaert, 2018, T. superbus Grootaert, 2018, and T. yeoi Grootaert, 2018.
Insect taxonomy is fundamental to global biodiversity research, but few studies have been conducted to track progress in this field using objective criteria. This study reports publishing trends in the taxonomy of four diverse, globally-distributed insect families from 1946 to 2012 to elucidate recent progress and the current status of insect taxonomy. Publications included in the Zoological Record online literature database were analyzed for Cicadellidae (leafhoppers), Miridae (plant bugs), Pyralidae (moths) and Staphylinidae (rove beetles). Data on numbers of new species, article length, species description length, authorship and collaborations, and taxonomic journals were extracted and compiled for each year. The results showed that (1) the number of taxonomic papers increased before 1980, followed by a steep decline with subsequent partial recovery; (2) the number of papers describing new species generally mirrored the trend in numbers of new species, suggesting no overall change in the proportion of larger, synthetic works (monographs) and more such work is encouraged; (3) the average number of new species described per publication decreased over the time period investigated, but with an increase in the average description pages per new species; (4) researchers from Europe and North America continue to produce the most taxonomic research on three of the four families, but the main center for Cicadellidae taxonomy has recently shifted to Asia; (5) collaboration among authors within and across continents has increased as indicated by increases in coauthored papers; and (6) journal prevalence differed for the four families and the top 10 most utilized journals for each family were given out for reference. Based on the analysis of the publication trend of the four families, we found that the overall trend toward increasing rates of species discovery is encouraging. But more human resources training and financial support on taxonomic work are required in order to complete a global faunistic inventory in a reasonable timeframe. Future study that conducts more in-depth and comprehensive analysis based on more families is required to reflect the overall trend of the insect taxonomy.
Globba subsect. Nudae K.Larsen is revised. Seven species are recognised and three names are lectotypified. A key to the species and descriptions are provided. Three new species are described and illustrated: G. aranyaniae Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov., G. lithophila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov., and G. macrochila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. Four names based on types from Bangladesh, India and Myanmar remain doubtful. The morphological expression of andromonoecy in this group is described in detail. Provisional IUCN conservation assessments of all species are supplied.
The majority of Ceraphronoidea (Insecta: Hymenoptera) species were described in the late 1800s and early 1900s, with most of these early descriptions relying on text alone. Few type specimens have been illustrated and even fewer have been photographed, posing a challenge to taxonomists working on the group today. Here, we attempt to remove the barriers obstructing Ceraphronoidea research by creating a photographic catalog of the type specimens present at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN) in Paris, France. We discuss the history of the ceraphronoid specimens present in the collection and provide comments on unpublished species notes from former Ceraphronoidea taxonomist Paul Dessart. We synonymize Ceraphron myrmecophilus Kieffer, 1913 syn. nov. with Aphanogmus abdominalis (Thomson, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronidae) based on the male genitalia morphology, body shape and presence of foveae on the median length of the mesoscutellum. We also report the discovery of the missing male holotype of Ceraphron testaceus (Risbec, 1953) (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronidae) and several potential types of Aphangomus aphidi (Risbec, 1955) (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronidae).
The new Southeast Asian genus Cambonilla gen. nov. (Zodariidae, Araneae): 'bis repetita placent'
(2019)
The new genus Cambonilla Jocqué gen. nov. is described on the base of two species, each known from both sexes. A cladistic analysis based on morphology, showed that the new genus is the sister-group of Heliconilla Dankittipakul, Jocqué & Singtripop, 2012 with which it shares the granulated carapace with branched setae and the marbled ventral abdominal pattern, but differs by the abdominal, tubular sclerotized protrusion around the pedicel in males and the absence of posterior ventral abdominal spines in the female. The type species Cambonilla securicula Jocqué gen. et sp. nov. was found in rainforest along the Mekong River in Cambodia and Laos. The second species Cambonilla symphonia Jocqué & Henrard gen. et sp. nov., provided with conspicuous femoral stridulating organs, was recorded from the same localities but in Cambodia only. An illustrated key to the genera of tropical Asia is presented.
Mangroves of the Indo-West Pacific have remained poorly explored, so even the diversity of the onchidiid slugs, which are some of the most abundant animals in mangroves of the Indo-West Pacific, is not well known. Thanks to several years spent exploring mangroves in the Indo-West Pacific (more than 260 stations), especially in South-East Asia, the diversity of mangrove gastropods can now be addressed through revisions following an integrative taxonomy approach (nomenclature, field observations, comparative anatomy and DNA sequences). A new genus of onchidiid slugs is described, Paromoionchis Dayrat & Goulding gen. nov., which includes five species, three of which are new: Paromoionchis boholensis Dayrat & Goulding gen. et sp. nov., P. daemelii (Semper, 1880) com. nov., P. goslineri Dayrat & Goulding gen. et sp. nov., P. penangensis Dayrat & Goulding gen. et sp. nov. and P. tumidus (Semper, 1880) comb. nov. Paromoionchis gen. nov. is distributed from western India to the subtropical waters of Japan (33° N) and southeastern Australia (33° S). The creation of new taxon names is supported by rigorous nomenclature: the types of all existing species names in the family were examined, the original descriptions carefully studied and nomenclatural issues addressed. The diversity and biogeography of this new genus is discussed in a broader context.
The taxa of Cryptocephalinae (Clytrini), Synetinae and part of Galerucinae introduced by Carl Peter Thunberg are reviewed based on the examination of primary type specimens deposited in the Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University. The following taxonomic changes are proposed: Coptocephala unifasciata unifasciata (Scopoli, 1763) = Cryptocephalus melanocephalus Thunberg, 1787 syn. nov.; Melitonoma decemnotata (Thunberg, 1787) comb. nov. (from Cryptocephalus Geoffroy, 1762); Miopristis flexuosa (Thunberg, 1821) = Miopristis namaquensis Medvedev, 1993 syn. nov.; Protoclytra ( Lacordairella) taeniata (Thunberg, 1821) comb. nov. (from Camptolenes Chevrolat, 1836) = Camptolenes fastuosa (Lacordaire, 1848) syn. nov.; Smeia undata (Thunberg, 1821) comb. nov. (from Miopristis Lacordaire, 1848) = Smeia virginea (Lacordaire, 1848) syn. nov. = Melitonoma pictipennis Jacoby, 1898 syn. nov.; Teinocera catenata (Thunberg, 1821) comb. nov. (from Miopristis) = Teinocera subclathrata (Lacordaire, 1848) syn. nov.; Exosoma lusitanica (Linnaeus, 1767) = Crioceris haemorrhoa Thunberg, 1827 syn. nov.; Megalognatha festiva (Fabricius, 1781) = Crioceris virens Thunberg, 1827 syn. nov.; Monolepta bioculata (Fabricius, 1781) = Cryptocephalus bioculatus Thunberg, 1827 syn. nov.; Monolepta melanogaster (Wiedemann, 1823) = Cryptocephalus capensis Thunberg, 1827 syn. nov.; Palaeophylia tricolor (Fabricius, 1781) = Crioceris tetrapuncta Thunberg, 1787 syn. nov. = Crioceris dimidiata Thunberg, 1827 syn. nov. Lectotypes are designated for Cryptocephalus bioculatus Thunberg, 1827 and Crioceris dimidiata Thunberg, 1827. Melitonoma decemnotata comb. nov. is redescribed. Labidostomis insidiosa Péringuey, 1888 is resurrected from synonymy with Teinocera catenata comb. nov. and provisionally placed as a valid species in the genus Miopristis Lacordaire, 1848. Crioceris betulina Thunberg, 1787 is proposed as nomen oblitum for Syneta betulae (Fabricius, 1792) (nomen protectum). Colour photographs of the type specimens of all taxa are provided.
Populus primaveralepensis A.Vázquez, Muñiz-Castro & Zuno sp. nov., a new species from relict gallery cloud forest in Bosque La Primavera Biosphere Reserve (Mexico), is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to P. subsect. Tomentosae Hart., and is morphologically similar to P. luziarum A.Vázquez, Muñiz-Castro & Padilla-Lepe, but differs from it in having taller trees without root suckers, white and ringed young stems and branches, a branching angle of ca 45º, leaves with higher blade to petiole ratio, leafs frequently elliptic or ovate to widely ovate (vs widely ovate to ovatedeltoid), denser inflorescences, and shorter capsules. The conservation status of the species was assessed as Critically Endangered (CR).
This is the second part of a study of a large collection of Siphonophoridae Cook, 1895 from Brazil. Here, those without an abrupt division between the head and rostrum are considered. Two species have been distinguished and are described as Siphonophora setaepromissa sp. nov. and S. tuberculata sp. nov. Siphonophora hebetunguis (Attems, 1951) from the same region has many similarities with the two new species and is redescribed from type material. Comparisons have also been made with S. fuhrmanni Carl, 1914, and comments are made on the genera Cordillerium Verhoeff, 1941, Pterozonium Attems, 1951, Rhinosiphora Verhoeff, 1924, and Siphonophora Brandt, 1837. Finally, some suggestions for characters to look at in future collections of siphonophorids are made based on experience of this collection.
Revised definitions are given for the genus Mysidium Dana, 1852, and its eight previously known species, based on material from Curaçao, Bonaire and SE-Brazil, along with the evaluation of published data. Type material of Diamysis columbiae Zimmer, 1915, M. cubanense Băcescu & Ortiz, 1984 and M. rubroculatum Băcescu & Ortiz, 1984 is examined. A lectotype is designated for D. columbiae Zimmer, 1915, a senior synonym of Mysidium columbiae (Zimmer, 1915). Two new species are described, M. triangulare Wittmann sp. nov. from Curaçao and M. antillarum Wittmann sp. nov. from Curaçao and Bonaire. Known ranges are extended by first records of M. cubanense from Curaçao and Bonaire and of M. integrum W.M. Tattersall, 1951 from SE Brazil. Three morphologically different groups are established at the subgeneric level: (1) the nominotypical subgenus Mysidium Dana, 1852 with M. gracile (Dana, 1852), M. integrum, M. cubanense, M. rubroculatum and M. triangulare sp. nov. from the West Atlantic plus M. rickettsi Harrison & Bowman, 1987 from the East Pacific; (2) Occimysidium Wittmann subgen. nov. represented only by M. pumae Ortiz, Hendrickx & Winfield, 2017 from the Pacific coast of Mexico; and finally (3) Orientomysidium Wittmann subgen. nov. comprising M. columbiae and M. antillarum sp. nov. from the West Atlantic. The poorly known M. iliffei Băcescu, 1991 is not assigned to any subgenus. A key to the resulting three subgenera and ten nominal species of the genus Mysidium is given.
Five new species of the genus Drosophila Fallén, 1823 belonging to the tripunctata group are described and illustrated: D. warmi sp. nov., D. kurillakta sp. nov., D. chichu sp. nov., D. saraguru sp. nov. and D. ayauma sp. nov. from the forests of Podocarpus National Park. The first species is ascribed to subgroup II of Frota-Pessoa (1954), the second species to subgroup IV, and the last three species are not assigned to any subgroup. The flies were captured using plastic bottles containing pieces of yeast fermented banana.
Five new species in four new genera from Western Australia are described. All species have valve characters that are reminiscent of the genus Heterocypris Claus, 1892 and also have similar valve outlines, with highly arched valves. However, all species have a hemipenis morphology that is totally different from the typical form in Heterocypris. In Patcypris gen. nov. (with type species P. outback gen. et sp. nov.), the lateral lobe is large and shaped as a pickaxe, while the medial lobe is divided into two distal lobes. Trilocypris gen. nov. (with type species T. horwitzi gen. et sp. nov.) is characterised by a hemipenis that has three, instead of two, distal lobes. In Bilocypris gen. nov. (with type species B. fortescuensis gen. et sp. nov. and a second species, B. mandoraensis gen. et sp. nov.), the lateral lobe of the hemipenis is spatulate, rather than boot-shaped, and the medial lobe is bilobed. Billcypris gen. nov. (with type species B. davisae gen. et sp. nov.) has a large and sub-rectangular lateral lobe and a pointed medial lobe. We discuss the taxonomic value of the traditional and new morphological characters and speculate that the diversity of this cluster of genera and species may be greater than currently known.
We present an updated, subjective list of the extant, non-marine ostracod genera and species of the world, with their distributions in the major zoogeographical regions, as well as a list of the genera in their present hierarchical taxonomic positions. The list includes all taxa described and taxonomic alterations made up to 1 July 2018. Taxonomic changes include 17 new combinations, 5 new names, 1 emended specific name and 11 new synonymies (1 tribe, 4 genera, 6 species). Taking into account the recognized synonymies, there are presently 2330 subjective species of non-marine ostracods in 270 genera. The most diverse family in non-marine habitats is the Cyprididae, comprising 43.2% of all species, followed by the Candonidae (29.0%), Entocytheridae (9.1%) and the Limnocytheridae (7.0%). An additional 13 families comprise the remaining 11.8% of described species. The Palaearctic zoogeographical region has the greatest number of described species (799), followed by the Afrotropical region with 453 species and the Nearctic region with 439 species. The Australasian and Neotropical regions each have 328 and 333 recorded species, respectively, while the Oriental region has 271. The vast majority of non-marine ostracods (89.8%) are endemic to one zoogeographical region, while only six species are found in six or more regions. We also present an additional list with 'uncertain species', which have neither been redescribed nor re-assessed since 1912, and which are excluded from the main list; a list of taxonomic changes presented in the present paper; a table with the number of species and % per family; and a table with numbers of new species described in the 20-year period between 1998 and 2017 per zoogeographical region. Two figures visualize the total number of species and endemic species per zoogeographical region, and the numbers of new species descriptions per decade for all families and the three largest families since 1770, respectively.
The rare hyolith Alfaites romeo gen. et sp. nov. is described from the lower half of the middle Cambrian (Drumian) Buchava Formation of the Skryje-Týřovice Basin in the Barrandian area of the Czech Republic. This new taxon is based on excellently preserved external and internal moulds of three opercula and several conchs collected from carbonate nodules and shale. This rare species has been established at three separate outcrops in the lower part of the Biozone of Paradoxides (Eccaparadoxides) pusillus (Barrande 1846). Morphology of conch and both external and internal surface of operculum are well known. However, specific morphology excludes assignment to any predescribed hyolithid family.
Rhodopsin-based voltage imaging tools for use in muscles and neurons of Caenorhabditis elegans
(2019)
Genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) based on microbial rhodopsins utilize the voltage-sensitive fluorescence of all-trans retinal (ATR), while in electrochromic FRET (eFRET) sensors, donor fluorescence drops when the rhodopsin acts as depolarization-sensitive acceptor. In recent years, such tools have become widely used in mammalian cells but are less commonly used in invertebrate systems, mostly due to low fluorescence yields. We systematically assessed Arch(D95N), Archon, QuasAr, and the eFRET sensors MacQ-mCitrine and QuasAr-mOrange, in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans ATR-bearing rhodopsins reported on voltage changes in body wall muscles (BWMs), in the pharynx, the feeding organ [where Arch(D95N) showed approximately 128% ΔF/F increase per 100 mV], and in neurons, integrating circuit activity. ATR fluorescence is very dim, yet, using the retinal analog dimethylaminoretinal, it was boosted 250-fold. eFRET sensors provided sensitivities of 45 to 78% ΔF/F per 100 mV, induced by BWM action potentials, and in pharyngeal muscle, measured in simultaneous optical and sharp electrode recordings, MacQ-mCitrine showed approximately 20% ΔF/F per 100 mV. All sensors reported differences in muscle depolarization induced by a voltage-gated Ca2+-channel mutant. Optogenetically evoked de- or hyperpolarization of motor neurons increased or eliminated action potential activity and caused a rise or drop in BWM sensor fluorescence. Finally, we analyzed voltage dynamics across the entire pharynx, showing uniform depolarization but compartmentalized repolarization of anterior and posterior parts. Our work establishes all-optical, noninvasive electrophysiology in live, intact C. elegans.
Wolves (Canis lupus) are currently showing a remarkable comeback in the highly frag-mented cultural landscapes of Germany. We here show that wolf numbers increasedexponentially between 2000 and 2015 with an annual increase of about 36%. Wedemonstrate that the first territories in each newly colonized region were establishedover long distances from the nearest known reproducing pack on active militarytraining areas (MTAs). We show that MTAs, rather than protected areas, served asstepping-stones for the recolonization of Germany facilitating subsequent spreadingof wolf territories in the surrounding landscape. We did not find any significant differ-ence between MTAs and protected areas with regard to habitat. One possible reasonfor the importance of MTAs may be their lower anthropogenic mortality rates com-pared to protected and other areas. To our knowledge, this is the first documented casewhere MTAs facilitate the recolonization of an endangered species across large areas.
During the last decades mammalian intracranial structures like the ethmoidal region have rarely been a focus of morphological studies, as they required invasive techniques. Contrary, the ontogeny of the fetal nasal capsule could easily be investigated based on histological material. Since the early 21st century modern imaging techniques like high-resolution computed tomography (μCT) reveal non-destructive insights into the mammalian skull. Furthermore, visualization software enables the virtual reconstruction of the tissues and additionally their morphometric analyses. However, the use of morphometric approaches on the nasal cavity is still scarce. Moreover, the turbinal skeleton is generally regarded as a unit, or the rostral respiratory part is compared to the caudal olfactory part; but the distinct olfactory turbinals have been considered only in a few studies.
The present study focuses on the highly diverse facial shape of the dog (Canis lupus familiaris) that evolved during domestication. Due to human-controlled breeding and care the natural selective pressure in prehistoric dogs has been replaced continually by artificial selection. As a consequence, harmful mutations on gene loci which e.g., control facial length growth got fixed within an extremely short time. According to veterinarian studies the turbinals of short snouted breeds continue their growth after the elongation of the facial bones has stopped prematurely. However, such investigations are based on low-resolution CT or MRT data and the morphological descriptions are vague. Referring to the elongation of the face in dolichocephalic breeds no former study has dealt with the detailed morphology of their turbinal skeleton so far.
The current study is based on comparative anatomical, morphometric, morphofunctional, and ontogenetic patterns of the dog’s turbinal skeleton. The 32 macerated skulls and four histological serial sections represent eleven breeds which cover different snout lengths (brachycephalic, mesaticephalic, dolichocephalic; according to two length indices), functional groups (scent hound, sighthound, companion/toy), and breeding histories (ancient pure-breeding associated with an unchanged appearance, modern time fashion breeding). The nasal cavity of the selected skulls was μCT-scanned and virtual 3D models of the turbinal skeleton were reconstructed. The breeds have been compared with each other in their number of olfactory turbinals, in the morphology of all turbinals and the lamina semicircularis as well as in their morphometrics and ontogeny. Based on morphological and ontogenetic patterns a new terminology of the interturbinals was established. The morphometric data covers the measurement of the relative turbinal surface area (IAT) and the calculation of the surface density (SDEN) and the turbinal complexity (TC). For the latter parameter a new morphometric approach was developed. For the ontogenetic comparison histological serial sections of perinatal dog stages have been consulted. As the dog’s ancestor macerated skulls of three adult Eurasian wolves (Canis lupus lupus) function for outgroup comparison and represent the grundplan with which the breeds are compared.
The results support former studies concerning a species-specific number of the fronto- and ethmoturbinals: in the Eurasian wolf and all postnatal dogs under study three ethmoturbinals and three frontoturbinals are observed. Additionally, two types of interturbinals are distinguished, namely four prominent interturbinals which are present in nearly all individuals and show a homologous pattern, and a variable number of additional interturbinals which differ in their shape among the dogs. Generally, longer snouted breeds have more additional interturbinals, so the total number of olfactory turbinals is increased to a maximum of 16 in the borzoi, whereas several short snouted breeds have only nine olfactory turbinals due to the loss of additional interturbinals and one prominent interturbinal. Regarding ontogeny the growth of the respiratory and the olfactory turbinals and the lamina semicircularis is highly associated with the growth of the facial bones after birth. As the viscerocranium of brachycephalic breeds is subjected to a postnatal growth inhibition the ethmoidal region stops growing prematurely, too. The turbinals of both functional parts develop less accessory lamellae that results in the reduction of the three morphometric parameters IAT, SDEN, and TC. The increase of all these three parameters with increasing snout length proves a correlation between both variables in the maxilloturbinal, all olfactory turbinals, and the lamina semicircularis in the dog. With the help of the perinatal dog stages plesiomorphic patterns which are present in all adult specimens (e.g., separation of ethmoturbinal I into two laminae, the presence of the uncinate process) were distinguished from less established morphological traits which get preferably reduced in association with brachycephaly (e.g., the anterior process of the posterior lamina of ethmoturbinal I, the caudal processes of frontoturbinal 1 and 2 within the frontal sinus due to the latter’s reduction). Obviously, the driving mechanism behind these and further variations are mutations on gene loci which control ontogenetic processes: the in other studies already described postnatal growth inhibition in the dermal bones of the midface of brachycephalic breeds seems to have a similar effect on the ethmoidal region. The results of the present study serve as basis for the evaluation how far the bony turbinals’ morphology, morphometrics, and ontogeny might be associated with physiological, genetic, neurological, and phylogenetic patterns. Additionally, the growth patterns of the hard tissues need to be compared to those of the soft tissues (i.e. the nasal epithelium).
Petroleum products including crude oils and refined distillates are unique environmental pollutants consisting of thousands of compounds with varying physical-chemical properties and resulting toxicity for aquatic biota. Hence, for a reliable risk assessment individual petroleum product toxicity profiles are needed. Furthermore, the influence of oil spill response strategies like the application of chemical dispersants has to be implemented. The present study addressed the toxicity of water-accommodated fractions (WAFs) of two different oil types on fish early life stages on different biological organization levels in the laboratory model species Danio rerio. Experiments with a 3rd generation dispersant used in loading rated resembling the exposure in experiments with chemically dispersed oils were included, enabling a direct comparability of results. This approach is of high importance as especially the investigation of dispersant toxicity in relevant exposure concentrations is rather scarce. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to different WAFs shortly after and up to 120 hour post fertilization (hpf). Besides phenotypic effects including edema and spine deformations, reduced responses to dark stimuli, increased CYP1A activity and marginal AChE inhibition were observed in sublethal effect concentrations. Both oil types had varying strength of toxicity, which did not correlate with corresponding chemical analysis of target PAHs. Chemically dispersed oils induced stronger acute toxicity in zebrafish embryos compared to native (initial) oil exposure, which was further reflected by very low exposure concentrations for biomarker endpoints. Based on a comparison to the dispersant alone, a higher toxicity of dispersed oils was related to a combination of dispersant toxicity and an elevated crude oil compound bioavailability, due to dispersion-related partitioning kinetics. In contrast to LEWAF and CEWAF neither typical morphological effects nor mechanism-specific toxicity were observed for the dispersant alone, indicating narcosis as the responsible cause of effects.
In pursuit of food, hungry animals mobilize significant energy resources and overcome exhaustion and fear. How need and motivation control the decision to continue or change behavior is not understood. Using a single fly treadmill, we show that hungry flies persistently track a food odor and increase their effort over repeated trials in the absence of reward suggesting that need dominates negative experience. We further show that odor tracking is regulated by two mushroom body output neurons (MBONs) connecting the MB to the lateral horn. These MBONs, together with dopaminergic neurons and Dop1R2 signaling, control behavioral persistence. Conversely, an octopaminergic neuron, VPM4, which directly innervates one of the MBONs, acts as a brake on odor tracking by connecting feeding and olfaction. Together, our data suggest a function for the MB in internal state-dependent expression of behavior that can be suppressed by external inputs conveying a competing behavioral drive.
The sponge genus Latrunculia is a prolific source of discorhabdin type pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids. In the continuation of our research interest into this genus, we studied the Antarctic deep-sea sponge Latrunculia biformis that showed potent in vitro anticancer activity. A targeted isolation process guided by bioactivity and molecular networking-based metabolomics yielded three known discorhabdins, (−)-discorhabdin L (1), (+)-discorhabdin A (2), (+)-discorhabdin Q (3), and three new discorhabdin analogs (−)-2-bromo-discorhabdin D (4), (−)-1-acetyl-discorhabdin L (5), and (+)-1-octacosatrienoyl-discorhabdin L (6) from the MeOH-soluble portion of the organic extract. The chemical structures of 1–6 were elucidated by extensive NMR, HR-ESIMS, FT-IR, [α]D, and ECD (Electronic Circular Dichroism) spectroscopy analyses. Compounds 1, 5, and 6 showed promising anticancer activity with IC50 values of 0.94, 2.71, and 34.0 µM, respectively. Compounds 1–6 and the enantiomer of 1 ((+)-discorhabdin L, 1e) were docked to the active sites of two anticancer targets, topoisomerase I-II and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1), to reveal, for the first time, the binding potential of discorhabdins to these proteins. Compounds 5 and 6 are the first discorhabdin analogs with an ester function at C-1 and 6 is the first discorhabdin bearing a long-chain fatty acid at this position. This study confirms Latrunculia sponges to be excellent sources of chemically diverse discorhabdin alkaloids.
Microplastics (MP) are contaminants of emerging concern in aquatic ecosystems. While the number of studies is rapidly increasing, a comparison of the toxicity of MP and natural particulate matter is largely missing. In addition, research focusses on the impacts of hydrophobic chemicals sorbed to plastics. However, the interactive effects of MP and hydrophilic, dissolved chemicals remain largely unknown. Therefore, we conducted chronic toxicity studies with larvae of the freshwater dipteran Chironomus riparius exposed to unplasticised polyvinyl chloride MP (PVC-MP) as well as kaolin and diatomite as reference materials for 28 days. In addition, we investigated the effects of particles in combination with the neonicotinoid imidacloprid in a multiple-stressor experiment. High concentrations of kaolin positively affected the chironomids. In contrast, exposure to diatomite and PVC-MP reduced the emergence and mass of C. riparius. Likewise, the toxicity of imidacloprid was enhanced in the presence of PVC-MP and slightly decreased in the co-exposure with kaolin. Overall, parallel experiments and chemical analysis indicate that the toxicity of PVC-MP was not caused by leached or sorbed chemicals. Our study demonstrates that PVC-MP induce more severe effects than both natural particulate materials. However, the latter are not benign per se, as the case of diatomite highlights. Considering the high, environmentally irrelevant concentrations needed to induce adverse effects, C. riparius is insensitive to exposures to PVC-MP.
Flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) are necrophagous insects initially colonizing on a corpse. The species-specific developmental data of the flies collected from a death scene can be used to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). Thus, the first crucial step is to correctly identify the fly species. Because of the high similarity among species of flesh flies, DNA-based identification is considered more favorable than morphology-based identification. In this study, we demonstrated the effectiveness of combined sequences (2216 to 2218 bp) of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and II genes (COI and COII) for identification of the following 14 forensically important flesh fly species in Thailand: Boettcherisca nathani Lopes, Fengia ostindicae (Senior-White), Harpagophalla kempi (Senior-White), Liopygia ruficornis (Fabricius), Lioproctia pattoni (Senior-White), Lioproctia saprianovae (Pape & Bänziger), Parasarcophaga albiceps (Meigen), Parasarcophaga brevicornis (Ho), Parasarcophaga dux (Thomson), Parasarcophaga misera (Walker), Sarcorohdendorfia antilope (Böttcher), Sarcorohdendorfia inextricata (Walker), Sarcorohdendorfia seniorwhitei (Ho) and Seniorwhitea princeps (Wiedemann). Nucleotide variations of Thai flesh flies were evenly distributed throughout the COI-COII genes. Mean intra- and interspecific variations ranged from 0.00 to 0.96% and 5.22% to 12.31%, respectively. Using Best Match (BM) and Best Close Match (BCM) criteria, identification success for the combined genes was 100%, while the All Species Barcodes (ASB) criterion showed 76.74% success. Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) phylogenetic analyses yielded similar tree topologies of monophyletic clades between species with very strong support values. The achieved sequences covering 14 forensically important flesh fly species including newly submitted sequences for B. nathani, F. ostindicae and S. seniorwhitei, can serve as a reliable reference database for further forensic entomological research in Thailand and in other areas where those species occur.
Background: Developmental biology relies to a large extent on the observation and comparison of phenotypic traits through time using high resolution microscopes. In this context, transparent model organisms such as the zebrafish Danio rerio in which developing tissues and organs can be easily observed and imaged using fluorescent proteins have become very popular. One limiting factor however is the acquisition of a sufficient amount of data, in standardized and reproducible conditions, to allow robust quantitative analysis. One way to improve this is by developing mounting methods to increase the number of embryos that can be imaged simultaneously in near-to-identical orientation.
Results: Here we present an improved mounting method allowing semi-automated and high-content imaging of zebrafish embryos. It is based on a 3D-printed stamp which is used to create a 2D coordinate system of multiple μ-wells in an agarose cast. Each μ-well models a negative of the average zebrafish embryo morphology between 22 and 96 h-post-fertilization. Due to this standardized and reproducible arrangement, it is possible to define a custom well plate in the respective imaging software that allows for a semi-automated imaging process. Furthermore, the improvement in Z-orientation significantly reduces post-processing and improves comparability of volumetric data while reducing light exposure and thus photo-bleaching and photo-toxicity, and improving signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
Conclusions: We present here a new method that allows to standardize and improve mounting and imaging of embryos. The 3D-printed stamp creates a 2D coordinate system of μ-wells in an agarose cast thus standardizing specimen mounting and allowing high-content imaging of up to 44 live or mounted zebrafish embryos simultaneously in a semi-automated, well-plate like manner on inverted confocal microscopes. In summary, image data quality and acquisition efficiency (amount of data per time) are significantly improved. The latter might also be crucial when using the services of a microscopy facility.
Small-scale phenotypic differentiation along complex stream gradients in a non-native amphipod
(2019)
Background: Selective landscapes in rivers are made up by an array of selective forces that vary from source to downstream regions or between seasons, and local/temporal variation in fitness maxima can result in gradual spatio-temporal variation of phenotypic traits. This study aimed at establishing freshwater amphipods as future model organisms to study adaptive phenotypic diversification (evolutionary divergence and/or adaptive plasticity) along stream gradients.
Methods: We collected Gammarus roeselii from 16 sampling sites in the Rhine catchment during two consecutive seasons (summer and winter). Altogether, we dissected n = 1648 individuals and quantified key parameters related to morphological and life-history diversification, including naturally selected (e.g., gill surface areas) as well as primarily sexually selected traits (e.g., male antennae). Acknowledging the complexity of selective regimes in streams and the interrelated nature of selection factors, we assessed several abiotic (e.g., temperature, flow velocity) and biotic ecological parameters (e.g., conspecific densities, sex ratios) and condensed them into four principal components (PCs).
Results: Generalized least squares models revealed pronounced phenotypic differentiation in most of the traits investigated herein, and components of the stream gradient (PCs) explained parts of the observed differences. Depending on the trait under investigation, phenotypic differentiation could be ascribed to variation in abiotic conditions, anthropogenic disturbance (influx of thermally polluted water), or population parameters. For example, female fecundity showed altitudinal variation and decreased with increasing conspecific densities, while sexual dimorphism in the length of male antennae—used for mate finding and assessment—increased with increasing population densities and towards female-biased sex ratios.
Conclusions: We provide a comprehensive protocol for comparative analyses of intraspecific variation in life history traits in amphipods. Whether the observed phenotypic differentiation over small geographical distances reflects evolutionary divergence or plasticity (or both) remains to be investigated in future studies. Independent of the mechanisms involved, variation in several traits is likely to have consequences for ecosystem functions. For example, leaf-shredding in G. roeselii strongly depends on body size, which varied in dependence of several ecological parameters.
Description of Hemicordulia tuiwawai sp. nov. from Kadavu Island, Fiji (Odonata: Corduliidae)
(2019)
Hemicordulia tuiwawai sp. nov. (Odonata: Corduliidae) is described and diagnosed based on material collected from Kadavu Island, Fiji; holotype: Wainitayuki River about 750 m above Baidamudamu village, -19.0916, 178.1038; 37 m a.s.l., 06 June 2016, M. Marinov leg. This species is distinguished from its congeners in the field by the contrasting colouration – dark green metallic body with bright yellow spots on the synthorax and base of the abdomen. This pattern is comparable to H. pacifica Selys, 1871. However, Hemicordulia tuiwawai sp. nov. can be recognised by the larger size and unique shape of the caudal appendages and genital hamule (in males) and vulvar scale (in females).
Records of Odonata from the southwest of Sri Aman Division and the extreme east of Serian Division in Sarawak are presented. The sampled areas are interesting not only because they are poorly known for Odonata but also because many are just to the south and west of the Lupar Line which is a division between the ancient Sunda shelf and more recent geological formations. Differences between the odonate faunas on either side of the Lupar Line are discussed. Eightyfive species of Odonata were recorded during the surveys reported on. The single most notable record is that of Coeliccia southwelli Dow & Reels, 2011, which represents a considerable extension to the known range of this species. Other interesting records include Telosticta dupophila (Lieftinck, 1933), T. species cf longigaster Dow & Orr, 2012, Podolestes parvus Dow & Ngiam, 2019 and Heliogomphus species cf olivaceous Lieftinck, 1961. Variation in the markings of Stenagrion dubium (Laidlaw, 1912) across its range is discussed and a gene tree using the COI marker is presented to illustrate the high variability of this species in this marker. However the variability in COI does not appear to be correlated with other characters.
Odonatological results of a trip across the southern Far East of Russia, from nearly the border of North Korea to Khabarovsk from July 1st to 16th, 2014, are presented. In total, 50 species were recorded, including those with limited presence in Russia, such as Paracercion calamorum, P. hieroglyphicum, P. plagiosum (for this species the 3rd Russian locality is reported), Pseudocopera tokyoensis, Stylurus annulatus (2nd Russian locality), Sinictinogomphus clavatus; Trigomphus citimus, Macromia daimoji (3rd Russian locality), M. manchurica, Deielia phaon, Lyriothemis pachygastra (2nd Russian locality). For S. annulatus, M. manchurica and D. phaon the northernmost known localities in the world are reported. D. phaon, earlier reported from one locality in Russia, have been found in five localities in Primorye and for the first time reported for Khabarovskiy Kray in general and Bol'shekhekhtsirskiy State Nature Reserve in particular. A trend of mutual exclusion of two abundant Shaogomphus postocularis epophthalmus and S. schmidti is supposed: the lowermost Ussuri River / Amur River, respectively. Variation in Paracercion spp. and Macromia amphigena fraenata is discussed.
During four field trips in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan from 2010 to 2018, the author collected data of a total of 55 species (see Tab. 2 in Appendix). This study provides first insights into new or rare species in this ecoregion. Ischnura fountaineae and Cordulia aenea were found for the first time in Armenia. We also highlight the rediscovery of some species that were mentioned in the older literature but had not been confirmed since. An autochthonous population of Lestes macrostigma was discovered in Azerbaijan sixteen years after the single previous record by Dumont (2004). Original information is provided on the distribution of some rare species encountered in these countries. Finally, the identification of a puzzling Cordulegaster sp. observed in south Armenia is discussed briefly.
The Odonata collection deposited at the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) includes specimens of 634 taxa labeled as types. Fifteen of these have been incorrectly labeled as types (pseudotypes) and eight are apparently lost, leaving a total of 611 types currently deposited at MCZ. From these, 489 represent primary namebearing types (syntype/s, holotype, lectotype and neotype), 21 are probable primary types, and 101 are secondary types (paratype/s, paralectotype/s).
A checklist of 49 damselfly species from 12 families (Odonata: Zygoptera) recorded from Kon Ka Kinh National Park is provided. A first description of the female Protosticta socculus Phan & Kompier, 2016, is given. Burmargiolestes cf. laidlawi Lieftinck, 1960 and three apparently new species, two Coeliccia and one Protosticta species, are recorded, all of which are to be described in the future.