Review of the genus Bolbonaso Emeljanov with checklist and key to Indian Caliscelidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)

A list of species of the family Caliscelidae Amyot et Serville known from India with data on distribution and sources for identification and a key to genera are given. The genus Bolbonaso Emeljanov, 2007 is revised. A new species, Bolbonaso chandri sp. nov., is described from Eastern India (Assam and Meghalaya States). Bolbonaso tapirifacies (Parshad, 1981) is redescribed and recorded for the first time from Southern India (Karnataka State). The lectotype is designated for Chirodisca eximia (Stål, 1859) which is recorded for the first time from Pakistan. New faunistic data in Nepal are listed for Delhina eurybrachydoides Distant, 1912.     

Notes on the Amazonian genus Hyogonia China (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Proconiini) with a description of a new species

Oncometopia batesi Distant, described from northern Brazil (State unknown), is transferred to the genus Hyogonia China. Hyogonia brasiliana sp. nov. is described from Northern Brazil, Pará State, the easternmost record of the genus. The new species is easily distinguished from all other Hyogonia species by the following combination of characters: (1) pronotum without distinct transverse contrasting band; (2) pygofer with short processes that do not attain its apex; (3) both pairs of aedeagal atrial processes divergent and short, never longer than aedeagal shaft; and (4) aedeagal caudal pair of atrial processes with bases close to each other, appearing as a single bifurcated robust process. Hyogonia batesi and H. brasiliana, together with an unidentified female from Acre State, represent the first authentic records of the genus Hyogonia from Brazil. Previous records of H. reticulata (Melichar) and H. youngi Emmrich and Lauterer from Brazil are erroneous as their recorded locality ‘Cumbase’ is most probably located in Peru (San Martín Department). Other new records from countries and major federal divisions are noted as follows: the genus Hyogonia (unidentified species) from Barinas State (Venezuela); H. batesi from Ecuador (Orellana Province); H. reticulata from Amazonas and Junín Departments (Peru); and H. youngi from Ecuador (Napo Province). A key to the known species of Hyogonia is provided.     

Revision of ‘Horatia’ snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae sensu lato) from South Caucasus with description of two new genera

Four nominal species of the genus Horatia Bourguignat, 1887 were described by Russian authors from Caucasian caves (H. borutzkii Shadin, 1932, H. birsteini Starobogatov, 1962, H. ljovushkini Starobogatov, 1962 and H. sokolovi Starobogatov, 1962). Hitherto all the species were known from type series (presented by empty shells) only. Examination of newly obtained samples from the caves of South Caucasus has shown that the four species actually do not belong to the genus Horatia due to obvious differences in the morphology of the copulatory organs between H. klecakiana Bourguignat, 1887 (the type species of this genus) and the Caucasian snails. Moreover, statistical analysis of conchological variation has revealed that the species H. birsteini, H. ljovushkini, and H. sokolovi are conspecific. Two genera are described: Pontohoratia (includes P. birsteini and P. smyri sp. nov.) and Motsametia (with the single species M. borutzkii comb. nov.). The two genera can be distinguished on the basis of the structure of their copulatory organs. The distribution and ecology of the Caucasian Horatia-like mollusks are briefly outlined.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4EDFB2AE-CB1D-4113-8CC7-3A1BBB46D838     

Integrative taxonomy of the gymnophthalmid lizard Neusticurus rudis Boulenger, 1900 identifies a new species in the eastern Pantepui region,north-eastern South America

ABSTRACT

The gymnophthalmid lizard genus Neusticurus Duméril and Bibron, 1839 currently contains six described species. One of them, Neusticurus rudis Boulenger, 1900 has a long history of taxonomic confusion, and uncertainty remains about the number of species involved under that name, especially in the Pantepui region. Our molecular phylogenetic (concatenation and species tree) and morphological (morphometrics, external and hemipenial morphology) analyses confirm Neusticurus rudis as a species complex with several candidate species in the eastern Pantepui region. Neusticurus rudis is here redescribed based on the re-examination of the holotype and 10 specimens from the vicinity of the type locality (ca. 15 km airline) in Guyana. The geographic distribution of N. rudis sensu stricto is restricted to east of the Venezuelan Gran Sabana, extending from the slopes of Mount Roraima in Venezuela through the slopes of Maringma-tepui and Wayalayeng to Mount Ayanganna in Guyana, between 678 and 1500 m elevation. Populations tentatively assigned to N. rudis also occur from Mount Wokomung in the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana to the Iwokrama Forest Reserve in Guyana, between 159 and 1234 m elevation. A new Neusticurus species is described from the uplands and highlands of the eastern Pantepui region, west of the Venezuelan Gran Sabana in Brazil and Venezuela, between 900 and 2200 m elevation. Populations provisionally assigned to the new species were also found from the La Escalera region to Chivatón, the summit of Abakapá-tepui and the slopes and summit of Auyán-tepui, Venezuela, between 1100 and 2203 m elevation. Our results suggest the Gran Sabana as a possible recent biogeographical barrier for the genus in the region and indicate that tepui-summit Neusticurus populations derive from uplands populations that shifted their habitat preference.

www.zoobank.org/lsid:zoobank.org:pub:33DCF862-11CF-4FD0-B4D6-706E2C6A339E     

Deep-sea asellote isopods (Crustacea,Eumalacostraca) of the north-west Atlantic: the family Haploniscidae

The deep-sea asellote isopod species belonging to the family Haploniscidae were studied from three study sites off the North Carolina coast and one off Bermuda. The following five new species, belonging to the new genus Chandraniscus, are described: C. kussakini from Alpha-A off Bermuda (1300 m), C. eastwardae, C. costlowi and C. chardyi from the Carolina lower slope site Beta and C. negoescuae at site Sigma on the Carolina continental rise (4910 m). Three new species of Haploniscus are described: H. kensleyi from the Carolina upper continental slope at Alpha-B, H. gnanamuthi from site Alpha-A off Bermuda, H. harrietae from site Beta. A new species Chauliodoniscus wilsoni from site Sigma is also described. Three new species of the genus Hydroniscus, found in this alpha-taxonomic study, include H. buzwilsoni and H. malyutinae from site Beta and H. watlingi from both Beta and Sigma. Two new species of the genus Antennuloniscus, A. menziesi and A. lincolni, are described from site Beta over the Carolina lower continental slope.     

Two new species of freshwater crabs from Mount Elgon,East Africa (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae) and a re-diagnosis of Potamonautes niloticus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) with notes on their natural history and onchocerciasis

Two new species of potamonautid freshwater crabs from eastern Uganda, Africa are described, and Potamonautes niloticus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) is re-diagnosed with key characters illustrated photographically. A total of four species of crabs are now known to occur on Mount Elgon, which borders both Kenya and Uganda. Two of these species are endemic to the mountain and the distribution patterns of all four species indicate a distinct altitudinal preference. All taxa are compared with similar species and their distributions and natural history are reviewed. Furthermore, three of the crabs recorded from Mount Elgon have been implicated in the transmission of onchocerciasis in East Africa.     

A revision of the genus Heliconema Travassos, 1919, Physalopteridae (Nematoda)

Summary

It is accepted that the genus Ortleppina Schulz, 1927, is a synonym of the genus Heliconema Travassos, 1919.

Five valid species of Heliconema are recognized: H. heliconema, H. ahiri, H. baylisi, H. brevispiculum and H. longissima.

A new species, H. baylisi is described, and H. heliconema, H. brevispiculum and H. longissima are redescribed.     

A new large and colourful species of the genus Doto (Nudibranchia: Dotidae) from South Africa

A new species of the genus Doto is described from the Cape Peninsula of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. To date, the genus Doto is probably one of the more complex and poorly defined genera within nudibranchs. The very small body size and very similar external and internal features make this genus problematic and, therefore, poorly studied. Despite the large number of described species around the world, only three species are known to be present in South Africa: Doto coronata (Gmelin, 1791), Doto pinnatifida (Montagu, 1804) and Doto rosea Trinchese, 1881. Morphologically, Doto splendida sp. nov. is easily distinguished from all its South African congeneric species by its conspicuous colouration. In addition, mitochondrial and nuclear genes clearly separate the new species from other species from southern Africa. A molecular phylogeny based on two mitochondrial (COI and 16S) and one nuclear (H3) gene is herein presented. This phylogeny includes all available species of Doto (valid and unidentified) as well as several other traditionally closed related species retrieved from GenBank.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3764C38DF6BB-415F-958C-E3132A1A9524     

Water mites of the family Hygrobatidae Koch from southern Africa (Acari: Hydrachnidia)

New records are given of the water mite family Hygrobatidae (without the genus Atractides) from southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia). In addition to one new subgenus of the genus Hygrobates, namely Inflatibates, four new species are described, namely Hygrobates draconicus, H. laceratoides, H. okavangoensis, and H. inflatipes as well as one new subspecies, namely Hygrobates spathuliferus cederberg. The following synonyms are established: the subgenus Capobates Thor with Hygrobates Koch, Hygrobates sanguineus transvaalensis K. O. Viets with Hygrobates spathuliferus (Lundblad), and Ambiguobates permixtus agnewi K. O. Viets with Ambiguobates permixtus K. Viets. The male of Australiobates pilosus (K. Viets) is described for the first time. The synonymization of Diversibates with Australiobates can now be confirmed. Finally, keys are given for the known genera of southern Africa, as well as for all known species of the genus Hygrobates from southern Africa.     

Revision of the Australian endemic genus Hyptiogaster Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae), with descriptions of seven new species

The Australian hyptiogastrine wasp genus Hyptiogaster Kieffer is revised. Among other characters, species of Hyptiogaster can be readily distinguished from other Hyptiogastrinae by having an exserted ovipositor and the anterior face of the mesothorax truncate in lateral view. Ten species are recognised including seven which are newly described: H. arenicola Turner, H. humeralis (Schletterer), H. rufus (Westwood), H. cobarensis sp. nov., H. hulli sp. nov., H. kalbarrii sp. nov., H. kiefferi sp. nov., H. naumanni sp. nov., H. pinjarregaensis sp. nov., H. weowaniensis sp. nov. Two synonymies are proposed; H. flavosignata (Kieffer) with H. humeralis and H. crassiceps (Schletterer) with H. rufus. An illustrated key to species is presented and relationships among genera of Hyptiogastrinae and species of Hyptiogaster are discussed.     

New species of Hygiella Mesnil (Diptera: Tachinidae), parasitoids of leaf insects (Phasmatodea: Phylliidae)

The Oriental genus Hygiella Mesnil is revised: three species are described as new, Hygiella angustifrons sp. nov., Hygiella luteipes sp. nov. and Hygiella proclinata sp. nov., and two known species are re-described, Hygiella nigripes Mesnil and Hygiella pygidialis Mesnil. A key to these five species is provided. The host of H. proclinata, Phyllium siccifolium (Linnaeus) (Phasmatodea: Phylliidae), is recorded for the first time as a host of the Tachinidae. The systematic position of Hygiella is discussed and the genus is placed in the tribe Acemyini (Exoristinae) based on the structure of the male terminalia.     

Water mites of the genus Hygrobates Koch, 1837 (Acari: Parasitengona: Hygrobatidae) from Hokkaido,northern Japan

Nine species of Hygrobates (Acari: Parasitengona: Hygrobatidae) from Hokkaido, Japan are described or redescribed from newly collected material and historical specimens. Treated herein are eight species in the subgenus Hygrobates, including one new species, H. bibi sp. nov., as well as H. calliger Piersig, ; H. foreli (Lebert, ); H. japonicus Uchida, ; H. longipalpis (Hermann, ); H. longiporus Thor, ; H. nigromaculatus Lebert, ; and H. sokolowi Thor, . Also treated is H. ezoensis Uchida, in the subgenus Rivobates. A lectotype and paralectotype are designated for H. japonicus Uchida, . Hygrobates (s. str.) heteropalpis Imamura, is synonymized with H. calliger Piersig, . The name H. ezoensis Uchida, is resurrected from synonymy with H. diversiporus Sokolow, . Six species previously known from Hokkaido were collected in the study: H. foreli, H. japonicus, H. longipalpis, H. longiporus, H. diversiporus, and H. ezoensis. New records for both Hokkaido and Japan include H. nigromaculatus and H. sokolowi. A species previously recorded from Hokkaido, H. taniguchii Imamura, , was not found in this study. Three new characters are proposed as useful for the taxonomy of the genus Hygrobates: the ratio of the distance between the P‐4 ventral setae to P‐4 length, the ratio of the length of the longest terminal seta on IV‐L‐5 to the length of IV‐L‐5, and the nature of the outer border of the genital plates.     

The genus Thoradonta in Thailand (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae: Scelimeninae) with description of two new species

The genus Thoradonta Hancock (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae: Scelimeninae) is newly reported from Thailand. Two new species of the genus, Thoradonta lativertexoides sp. nov. and Thoradonta spiculobaoides sp. nov., are described and illustrated with photographs and compared with similar species. A taxonomic review of the genus Thoradonta is provided and a key to all known species of the genus is given.     

A revision of the Labiidae (Dermaptera) of the Neo-tropical and Nearctic Regions

A new genus, Helenolius (Cixiidae, Pentastirini), is described to accommodate the species H. dividens (Walker) comb. nov. and H. insulicola sp. nov. Both species are described and illustrated; they are endemic on the island St Helena.     

Tanaidacea (Crustacea: Peracarida) of the northeast Atlantic: Chauliopleona Dojiri and Sieg, 1997 and Saurotipleona n. gen. from the ‘Atlantic Margin’

Two akanthophoreid taxa, Chauliopleona and the new genus Saurotipleona, are modest contributors to tanaidacean diversity in the benthos of seas from Iceland to the British Isles along the ‘Atlantic Margin’. Three of H.J. Hansen’s ‘Ingolf’ species, originally within the genus Leptognathia, are rediagnosed, i.e. Chauliopleona amdrupii, C. armata and C. hastata. One new species, C. bamberi, from British waters is described and a new genus and species, Saurotipleona julii, is described from bathyal depths in the Irminger and Iceland basins. The latter is similar to Chauliopleona in having a sternal spur on pleonite-5 but this is of a slightly different form and is ventrally directed; it also has two superodistal spines on the propodus of pereopod-5, a distinctly plesiomorphic character in the family. A distribution map and key to the identification of these species are given.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E7EF8C72-D1C6-438E-B9C2-A5CE637FB75A     

Systematics and ecology of the caecilian Crotaphatrema lamottei (Nussbaum) (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Scolecomorphidae)

New observations on Crotaphatrema lamottei are reported based on fieldwork on Mount Oku between 2006 and 2008. This species was encountered by pitfall trapping and digging, but encounter rates were low. Six new specimens of C. lamottei add substantially to the previous hypodigm for the species and genus, and new morphometric and meristic data are presented. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequence data supports strongly the monophyly of Crotaphatrema. The genetic and morphological distance between C. lamottei and Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis is small, although there is a clear difference in colour pattern. The Data Deficient IUCN conservation status of all three species of Crotaphatrema is likely to change most readily as a result of better data on distribution.     

XXII.—On the structure of the palate and mandible of Archegosaurus decheni,Goldfuss

Summary

The genus Helixotionella is introduced for three species of spirally budded, free-living, lunulitiform bryozoans from Australia, H. spiralis (Chapman), H. rubra (Bretnall) and H. scutata sp. nov. H. spiralis, the type species, has a fossil history extending from the Upper Oligocene of Victoria, but like H. scutata, has been found to occur in Recent samples from Western Australia. H. rubra is known only from the Recent of New South Wales. All species have minute colonies and the majority of specimens has been revealed only after detailed examination of very fine fractions of bottom sediments, which themselves include a high proportion of bryozoan skeletal material.     

European species of Haustorius (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Haustoriidae), with description of a new Mediterranean species

The genus Haustorius is represented by six species in the world; three are described as American species, three European including a new species described from the Mediterranean. This new species, H. orientalis, is similar to H. algeriensis Mulot, from the Algerian coast but differs in rostrum slightly exceeding in length the antennal lobes, merus of pereiopod 7 with posterior margin lacking spines, and uropod 1 with two separate rows of spines.