Two new free-living nematode species of Setosabatieria (Comesomatidea) from the East China Sea and the Chukchi Sea

Two new free-living marine nematode species of the genus Setosabatieria from the sandy intertidal zone of Xiamen, in the East China Sea and a shallow water area in the Chukchi Sea, Arctic Ocean are described and illustrated. Setosabatieria longiapophysis sp. nov. is characterized by four longitudinal files with 7–9 cervical setae per file, 15–16 minute papillate precloacal supplements and relatively long straight apophyses of gubernaculum. Setosabatieria major sp. nov. is identified by its relatively large body of 2701–3144 µm, the number (10–11) of cervical setae per file, 26–28 minute papillate precloacal supplements and spicules with a central septum at both the proximal and distal end. A pictorial identification key to all known species of Setosabatieria is provided.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B8A2BEC9-5CD4-4AA9-9CA8-D1AE1FDE4887     

Two new species of Pogonognathellus (Collembola: Tomoceridae) from China,with a discussion of East Asian species

Thirteen species of the genus Pogonognathellus Paclt, 1944 Paclt, J. 1944. Nomina nova in Collembola. Entomol Listy, 7: 92 [Google Scholar] have been reported worldwide, two from East Asia. Two new species of the genus from Jilin Province, northeast China are described here. Pogonognathellus heterochros sp. nov. is characterized by its unique body colour. Pogonognathellus mai sp. nov. is most similar to Pogonognathellus beckeri (Börner, 1909) but differs from it mainly in maxilla and tenaculum. A key to the East Asian species is provided, and the confusion among these species is discussed. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:902CD044-0A58-4CCF-A1B1-449C9DE10938     

Two new species of Lauratonema (Nematoda: Lauratonematidae) from the intertidal zone of the East China Sea

Two new species of free-living marine nematodes of the genus Lauratonema Gerlach, 1953 from an intertidal sandy beach of the East China Sea are described and illustrated. Lauratonema macrostoma sp. nov. is characterized by a spacious buccal cavity, depth 2.1–2.3 times width; cup-shaped amphids; small blade-like spicules (14–16 µm long, 0.55–0.65 anal or cloacal body diameter [a.b.d.]) and unequal length of outer labial setae and cephalic setae (13–17 µm and 9–12 µm respectively). Lauratonema dongshanense sp. nov. can be distinguished by the small buccal cavity with a strong cuticularized transverse strip structure; cup-shaped amphids; small blade-like spicules (14–15 µm long, 0.58–0.67 a.b.d.), unequal length of outer labial setae and cephalic setae (8–10 µm and 5–7 µm respectively); the presence of a small precloacal papilla. A dichotomous key for the genus Lauratonema is given.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B5BA6C15-E72A-4C62-97B4-1823E71A9355     

A new damsel-dragonfly from the Mesozoic of China with a hook-like male anal angle (Odonata: Isophlebioptera: Campterophlebiidae)

A new genus and species of campterophlebiid dragonfly, Angustiphlebia mirabilis gen. nov. et sp. nov., is described from the Jiulongshan Formation in China. It has some remarkable venational structures, i.e. a hypertrophy of the male hind wing anal angle, a quite long gaff, and a secondary branch of the anal anterior near subdiscoidal cell in hind wing, supporting the hypothesis of a sister-group relationship with the genus Oreophlebia. These new data will help to solve the phylogenetic relationships within the Campterophlebiidae. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:16E602E6-3567-44D7-BF64-95A6597E55DE     

A new species of Friesea (Collembola: Neanuridae) from the Antarctic Continent

A new species of Friesea was found in East Antarctica and is described here as Friesea eureka sp. nov. This is the first new collembolan species to be described from the Antarctic continent in 30 years, even though ice-free areas have been intensively surveyed over that time. It brings to five the number of described species of the genus Friesea known from the Antarctic continent and Peninsula, so is the most speciose genus of Collembola in the region. However, one of these, F. grisea Schäffer, comprises a number of cryptic species of different molecular lineages. The new species is distinguished by having 4 + 4 ocelli plus 1 + 1 hardly visible, a very reduced furca, up to four or five faintly clavate tenent hairs, four anal spines and four spinose chaetae in adult. The restricted distribution of the species emphasises the importance of protecting ice-free areas on the continent as they often contain at least one locally endemic faunal species

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:865B9AE6-0428-4364-99A4-AF38A764D6D9     

The morphological and molecular analyses of a new South American urban tardigrade offer new insights on the biological meaning of the Macrobiotus hufelandi group of species (Tardigrada: Macrobiotidae)

Worldwide knowledge of tardigrade fauna is still limited, and many areas such as South America are not well studied. The collection of new substrates in Argentinean urban areas provided an opportunity to describe the new tardigrade species Macrobiotus kristenseni sp. nov. This species has been studied with an integrative taxonomic approach, analysing its morphology by light and scanning electron microscopy, and considering two genes (cox1 and 18S rRNA) for DNA barcoding and phylogenetic purposes. The species belongs to the Macrobiotus hufelandi group of species, and it is characterized by egg processes in the shape of elongated cones with truncated and enlarged apexes, and by a high genetic distance with respect to closely related species (cox1: 18.2–33.4%). Morphological and molecular data show that the Macrobiotus hufelandi group of species has to be considered a true biological entity; one of the more widespread tardigrade lineages in continental environments. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2CA51ABA-5570-4AFB-8182-CE499D97B0F1     

Description of two new species of Zosime (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Zosimeidae), including remarks on its phylogeny and distribution on the Great Meteor Seamount plateau (North-east Atlantic Ocean)

Quantitative sampling during the POS397 GroMet expedition in 2010 allowed analysis of the community structure of Zosimeidae on the Great Meteor Seamount (GMS) plateau. Twelve species of Zosime Boeck, 1873 were identified; 11 were recorded in the middle, nine in the northern, and 10 in the southern region. Similarity and diversity analyses showed no differences in community structure between these regions. The community seemed unaffected by geographical features; similarities between regions could reflect the uniform sediment structure and the complex water current system. Zosime can be characterised as monophyletic, due to the apomorphic one-segmented endopod of the mandible, armed with at most four setae. Two new species are described. Zosime carsteni sp. nov. (incrassata group) is defined by blunt spinules on the outer spines of exopods 1–3 of pereiopods 2–4 and the spinose nature of the innermost distal element of endopod 3 of pereiopods 1–4. Zosime eliasi sp. nov. (typica group) is defined by a flexible outer seta on the maxillipedal endopod. As both species bear an eight-segmented antennule (most plesiomorphic condition known so far), the recently erected anneae group is included into the typica group. An updated key of Zosime at the species level is given.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0BA28922-C575-4AAD-AD64-FDDBA22C34CC     

A new nurse frog from Southwestern Amazonian highlands,with notes on the phylogenetic affinities of Allobates alessandroi (Aromobatidae)

ABSTRACT

Few studies have focused on the diverse fauna of southwestern Brazilian Amazonia. This region, spared from large-scale human occupation until the second half of the twentieth century, has been threatened by expanding agriculture, logging, and mining. Here, we describe a new nurse frog (Allobates, Aromobatidae) from the open highland habitats of Serra dos Pacaás Novos, one of the few large remnants of relatively intact native vegetation in the Brazilian state of Rondônia. The new species is diagnosed by its metallic orange dorsal colouration, weakly expanded discs on hands, and presence of two subarticular tubercles on Finger IV. A phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequence data recovered the new species as more closely related to nurse frogs from the Madeira and Tapajós River basins; this pattern may reflect a history of dispersal uphill from a lowland ancestor. Our results also indicate that the generic assignment of Allobates alessandroi (Grant and Rodriguez, 2001), a high-elevation species from the Andes of Peru, needs to be reassessed; we discuss the phylogenetic affinities of this species based on morphological attributes.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:79131D82-B1B6-455D-AD9A-676D7E0783BC     

A new species of the genus Zhangixalus (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae) from Vietnam

ABSTRACT

A new rhacophorid species is described from Vietnam on the basis of nine specimens collected in Quan Ba District, Ha Giang Province, northeastern Vietnam. The new species is morphologically similar to Zhangixalus pinglongensis, Z. dorsoviridis, and Z. nigropunctatus, however, it differs from the latter by having the flank cream with large black blotches on axilla and groin. The genetic distance between the new species and Zhangixalus pinglongensis, Z. dorsoviridis and Z. nigropunctatus is >3.57% (16S mtDNA gene fragment). Zhangixalus jodiae sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species of Zhangixalus and other small rhacophorid species from Southeast Asia by a combination of the following characters: size small (SVL 36.1–39.8 mm in males); head as long as wide; vomerine teeth present; dorsal surface of head and body green without spots; axilla cream with large black blotches, groin and front-rear parts of the thigh, ventral surface of tibia black with orange blotches; lower jaw region greyish, chest and belly cream.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:89597718-024F-4FFC-B0AE-2005F12CF66C     

Integrative taxonomy at the nexus of population divergence and speciation in insular speckled rattlesnakes

ABSTRACT

We describe two diminutive species of rattlesnakes (genus Crotalus) from small nearshore islands off the coast of Baja California in the western Gulf of California, Mexico. In order to test the hypothesis that some island populations represent cohesive species entities, we applied linear discriminant analysis and uniform validation procedures to multiple classes of intrinsic trait data. By using previously recognised species to establish a threshold for species recognition, we found that assignment of specimens to either new species was as probable as with other established rattlesnake species within the speckled rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) complex. We also found that assignment of specimens from other island populations was not as probable as for the established species, and these populations are referable to C. pyrrhus. The species endemic to Piojo Island is most closely related to other island and mainland populations of C. pyrrhus whereas the species endemic to Cabeza de Caballo Island is apparently most closely related to C. angelensis, a nearby island endemic of large body size. However, patterns from both mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies, and phenotypic variation, indicate that evolutionary trajectories of both of these species have been influenced by introgression from C. angelensis. We speculate that collective evidence based on contrasting patterns of nuclear and mitochondrial evolution supports a hybrid origin of the species from Cabeza de Caballo Island followed by exceptionally rapid mitochondrial evolution. Consistent with small body size, both species show a reduction in various scale counts relative to other species of the C. mitchellii species complex, suggesting that dwarfism is not simply a plastic response to insular conditions.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn.lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FBC8A11B-04A3-4231-85CA-3972DF5A42FF     

A new genus and two new species of Pudeoniscidae Lemos de Castro 1973 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) from Brazil

To date, the family Pudeoniscidae includes six species and three genera, Pudeoniscus, Brasiloniscus and Iansaoniscus, with distributions restricted to Brazil. Here, we redefine the family Pudeoniscidae based on the discovery of a new genus and two new species, Oxossioniscus pataxo sp. nov. and Oxossioniscus akoko sp. nov., from the Brazilian Atlantic forest in the state of Bahia, and on the examination of Pudeoniscus birabeni and Pudeoniscus obscurus. Moreover, P. obscurus is re-described and new records are provided for P. birabeni.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A0123730-C623-49CE-8665-AE17FDDF994A.     

First record of the genus Koreanurina Najt and Weiner (Collembola: Neanuridae: Pseudachorutinae) from China,with description of two new species from Changbai mountain

The genus Koreanurina Najt and Weiner, 1992 is recorded for the first time from China. It is redefined and its similarity with the subfamily Caputanurininae is stressed. Two species are described from Changbai Mountain in North-East China: Koreanurina weinerae sp. nov. and K. alba sp. nov. The first species differs from the other species of the genus, mostly by its post-antennal organ located on the lateral edge of head (versus dorsolaterally), its central plate on head wider and the presence of only 1 + 1 chaetae on Th I (versus 2–3 + 2–3). K. alba sp. nov. differs from the other species of the genus mostly by the absence of body pigment, and the presence of only 1 + 1 chaetae posteriorly to the furcal rest (versus 2 + 2).

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:65366D33-890A-4E67-B581-5D32406C078F     

New montane,subterranean congeners of a littoral millipede,genus Thalassisobates (Diplopoda: Julida: Nemasomatidae)

Two new species are described in the hitherto monotypic genus Thalassisobates Vehoeff, 1908: T. emesesensis sp. nov. from the mesovoid shallow stratum of La Gomera (Canary Islands), and T. almeriensis sp. nov. from a cave in Almería, southern continental Spain. Notes on the morphology and distribution of T. littoralis (Silvestri, 1903 Silvestri, F. 1903. “Isobates littoralis Silvestri n.sp. (in litt.). – Fasc. XCIX, N.9”. In Berlese, A.: Acari Myriopoda et Scorpiones hucusque in Italie reperta  [Google Scholar]) are given, and the monophyly and relationships of Thalassisobates are discussed. Other examples of arthropod genera with a similar habitat duality: marine littoral on one side, and subterranean montane on the other, are given. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6455CE47-E9DB-4A9D-8074-D0D87A7816C2     

Two new species of the genus Paracyatholaimus Micoletzky (Nematoda: Cyatholaimidae) from the Yellow Sea

Two new free-living marine nematode species of Paracyatholaimus Micoletzky, 1923 Paracyatholaimus qingdaoensis sp. nov. and Paracyatholaimus huanghaiensis sp. nov. from the Yellow Sea, China are described. Paracyatholaimus qingdaoensis sp. nov. is characterized by cylindrical body with conical tail; spicules reverse S-shaped, distally pointed; gubernaculum plate, with two cusps at distal end, parallel to the spicules; 10 thick setose precloacal supplements in a 5 + 5 arrangement, anterior group of five supplements located at a protuberance. Paracyatholaimus huanghaiensis sp. nov. is characterized by a cylindrical body with conic-cylindrical tail; slender spicules curved, distally pointed; gubernaculum handle-shaped, expanding distally to a plate, with some sawteeth at distal end; three papillose precloacal supplements, each papilla protruding conically with cuticularized narrow ducts. A key for identification of species of Paracyatholaimus is proposed. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0A8E40E5-AE7A-47DA-B755-61E1D088C1E9     

Two new species of Xironogiton (Clitellata: Branchiobdellida) from western North America

Xironogiton, a genus of crayfish worm (order Branchiobdellida), is historically endemic to North America. To date, six species of Xironogiton have been described, including five and one from areas west and east of the Continental Divide, respectively. Recent collections of the crayfishes Pacifastacus connectens and Pacifastacus leniusculus from the endorheic Harney Basin in south-eastern Oregon, USA, revealed the presence of two previously unknown Xironogiton species, which we describe herein. Discovery and characterisation of Xironogiton bibendumi sp. nov. and Xironogiton malheurensis sp. nov. suggests that much work remains to understand branchiobdellidan diversity in western North America, and additional targeted sampling is needed to determine intra- and interspecific variation, and thus define species limits.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B24AA844-4A73-48F2-B269-7CD08DC8389A http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F1787846-BF04-44A6-949B-551EE3453F26     

New species of Streblosoma (Thelepodidae,Annelida) from the Mediterranean Sea: S. pseudocomatus sp. nov., S. nogueirai sp. nov. and S. hutchingsae sp. nov.

ABSTRACT

In the framework of faunistic research conducted along the Apulian coast of Italy, three new species of thelepodid polychaetes are reported: Streblosoma pseudocomatus sp. nov., S. nogueirai sp. nov. and S. hutchingsae sp. nov. The taxonomic position of S. comatus is clarified and emended as Thelepus comatus. The described species are characterised by their C-shaped arrangement of uncini. The species are compared with their closest congeners and a synoptic table is provided for the species of Streblosma with C-shaped tori.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7AE78305-6949-46F3-B61A-D93792038F7A

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:03051972-0F29-4256-8804-93DB75081777

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9BCE7F71-81DD-43FE-8C95-DD7A572B9973

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BEC2919B-4CAD-4314-B829-79E02C5D53A3     

The tetrigid genus Eucriotettix Hebard (Orthoptera: Scelimeninae) from China with description of two new species

Two new species of the tetrigid genus Eucriotettix Hebard from China, namely Eucriotettix tridentatus sp. nov. and Eucriotettix torulisinotus sp. nov. are described. The distribution and an updated key to the species of the genus from China is given.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E7E5EA3B-92ED-450F-9D1C-74569148D4F8