New findings of Hexalona-branch representatives in Brazil,with a description of Prenda gen. nov. (Crustacea: Anomopoda: Aloninae)

Altogether, Coronatella and Hexalona-branches are considered the main lineages of Aloninae – a subfamily of common bottom-dwelling microcrustaceans in freshwater environments. Although the taxonomic features of Brazilian members of the Hexalona-branch have been summarised for species from the costata-group and affinis-group, a revision of other widely distributed species in the world is still lacking in this country. The aim of this paper was to study the morphology of Brazilian populations from the guttata-group and intermedia-group, and to describe a new genus from the Hexalona-branch. The parthenogenetic females of Alona cf. guttata from Brazil have similar morphology when compared to data from the literature, but the armature of the terminal claw of its males seems to be different from those of Alona guttata sensu stricto, Alona barbulata and Alona werestschagini. The intermedia-group is formed by Alona elisae sp. nov., which seems to be endemic to the Cerrado of Brazil Central, and Alona isabellae sp. nov., which is widely distributed in Brazil; this species has a labral keel armed with 2–4 setulae, and postabdomen with setulae of lateral fascicles longer than the level of marginal denticles, morphological traits that differentiate it from Alona elisae sp. nov. Another endemic species from the Hexalona-branch is Prenda arvensis gen. nov. and sp. nov., which has two main head pores, a reduced seta on endite 1 of the first limb, sixth limb is a wide lobe. The potential of biodiversity from the Hexalona-branch from Brazil is still underestimated, and a global revision of the guttata-group and intermedia-group is very important for the progress of Aloninae taxonomy and systematics.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0A2E4A30-0C9C-43E8-8E72-1DEDA6AFF3C3     

Ooencyrtus marcelloi sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), an egg parasitoid of Heliconiini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae) on passion vines (Malpighiales: Passifloraceae) in Central America

A new species belonging to the genus Ooencyrtus Ashmead is described. Ooencyrtus marcelloi sp. nov. has been reared from eggs of Heliconiini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae) collected in Panama on Passiflora spp. The new species is compared with its closest Ooencyrtus species, i.e. O. caligo Noyes, O. neustriae Mercet, O. flavipes (Timberlake), O. camerounensis (Risbec), O. endymion Huang and Noyes and Ooencyrtus sp. “undet. C.” (from India). This represents the second record of Ooencyrtus from Heliconinae and the first record of this genus from Panama.     

Taxonomy of Palaearctic scythridids: description of Falkovitshella hindukushi sp. nov. and Scythris wadiqeltella sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Scythrididae)

Two new species are here described and illustrated: Falkovitshella hindukushi sp. nov. from north-eastern Afghanistan, and Scythris wadiqeltella sp. nov. from Palestine. Scythris inconspicuella Sinev is newly recorded from China, markedly extending its known range. http://www.zoobank,org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2BC5092F-D004-4CB3-85C7-1CAA54AAE536     

Taxonomic study on Sathytes Westwood (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from China. Part I

This is the first part of a series dealing with the taxonomy of the genus Sathytes Westwood from China. Fifteen Chinese species are recognized and all described here as new: Sathytes cristatus sp.nov., Sathytes excertus sp.nov., Sathytes perpusillus sp.nov., Sathytes rarus sp.nov., Sathytes tangliangi sp.nov., Sathytes tibialis sp.nov., Sathytes usitatus sp.nov. and Sathytes yunanicus sp.nov. from Yunnan; Sathytes larinus sp.nov. and Sathytes wuyishanus sp.nov. from Fujian; Sathytes longitrabis sp.nov. from Shaanxi; Sathytes longwangshanus sp.nov. and Sathytes paulus sp.nov. from Zhejiang; Sathytes magnus sp.nov. from Xizang; and Sathytes sichuanicus sp.nov. from Sichuan. Illustrations of major diagnostic characters of the new species are given. A total of 33 species worldwide are placed into seven newly defined groups. A checklist of Sathytes is also provided.     

Two new nematodes,Pseudelzalia longiseta gen. nov., sp. nov. and Paramonohystera sinica sp. nov. (Monhysterida: Xyalidae), from sediment in the East China Sea

Pseudelzalia longiseta gen. nov, sp. nov. and Paramonohystera sinica sp. nov. from subtidal sediment in the East China Sea are described. Pseudelzalia is characterized by 6 labial papillae and 10 cephalic setae, cylindrical buccal cavity, elongate (>2 anal body diameter) spicules, and conico-cylindrical tail devoid of terminal setae. It differs from Elzalia by the absence of terminal setae. Pseudelzalia longiseta sp. nov. is 647–853 μm long, has 7–8 μm long cervical setae, 11–14 μm long caudal setae, 25–41 μm long spicules about 2.1–2.7 anal diameter, and pointed tail-tip. Paramonohystera sinica possesses 12 cephalic setae, a character found in four congeners: Paramonohystera buetschlii (Bresslau and Schuurmans Stekhoven in Schuurmans Stekhoven, 1935, Paramonohystera pilosa Boucher, 1971, Paramonohystera concinna Lorenzen, 1977 and Paramonohystera halerba Fadeeva and Belogurov, 1987. It differs from P. buetschlii by shorter body (933–1023 μm versus 2000–2200 μm); from P. pilosa by the much shorter spicules (79–88 μm versus 167 μm) and narrower head (13–16 µm versus 32 µm); from P.concinna by smooth cephalic setae (versus segmented); and from P. halerba by the absence of two rows of setae on the ventral side of the tail (versus present). Based on the evaluation of nominal species, we recognize 14 valid species and provide an emended diagnosis and a tabular key for Paramonohystera.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:474B8F17-AED7-4078-8176-DFC499B78526     

Chelodesmid studies. XVIII. On some new or poorly-known taxa in the tribe Batodesmini (Polydesmida: Chelodesmidae)

Summary

Some new and poorly-known taxa of batodesmine diplopods are described from northern South America, with notes on their affinities. New genera include Igaraparana, based on I. batesi, sp. nov. from Amazonian Colombia; Curimagua, based on C. granulata, sp. nov. from Edo. Falcon, Venezuela; and Cheirogonus, based on C. pittieri, sp. nov. from Panama. The inadequately proposed species Leptodesmus interrupticolor Silvestri (southeastern Ecuador) is redescribed and figured from type material, and referred to Cordilleronomus as its third species. The enigmatic genus Tunochilus Chamberlin, 1950, is clarified and referred to the Batodesmini from its incorrect location in the Cryptodesmidae, with notes and drawings made from a paratype of the type species T. marginis; the presumptive congener T. marcuzzii is described as new from material taken at Caracas, Venezuela.     

Redescription of Leydigia parva Daday, 1905 and assignment to Parvalona gen. nov. (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae)

A morphological investigation of Leydigia parva Daday, (Chydoridae: Anomopoda: Cladocera), based on specimens from Paraguay (type specimens) and Brazil, clarifies its position in the subfamily and prompts its assignment to a new genus, Parvalona. The affinity of this rare benthic chydorid with Leydigia Kurz, 1875 and Alona Baird, 1843, in which this taxon was placed earlier, is discussed.     

The first Hapalotremus Simon, 1903 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Argentina: description and natural history of Hapalotremus martinorum sp. nov.

A new species of Hapalotremus Simon, 1903 from northern Argentina is described and illustrated. Hapalotremus martinorum sp. nov. differs from all other congeners by the colour pattern of live specimens. Males differ in the male palpal bulb morphology, with thickened and less curved embolus having a blunt subapical keel and less-developed apical keel. Females differ in the shape of the spermathecae, with the lateral bases more pronounced than the superiors and the upper edge more rounded. Specimens were captured inhabiting short burrows or crevices under stones in high cloud forests. Hapalotremus cyclothorax (Mello-Leitão 1923) is a junior synonym of Homoeomma montanum (Mello-Leitão, 1923), Hapalotremus scintillans (Mello-Leitão 1929) is a junior synonym of Pachistopelma rufonigrum Pocock, 1901, Hapalotremus exilis (Mello-Leitão 1923) and Hapalotremus muticus (Mello-Leitão 1923) are considered species inquirenda.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1758F6FD-8883-445D-A757-0AC7E120DCF6     

Phorbas posidoni n.sp. (Porifera: Poecilosclerida) from the Aegean Sea,with a discussion of the family Anchinoidae

A new species of the genus Phorbas Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1864 (junior synonym Anchinoe Gray, 1867) is described from the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean). Phorbas posidoni n.sp. is distinguished from the known Mediterranean species of Phorbas primarily by its elaborate repent-ramose habit combined with an extensive, spongin-enforced, plumoreticulate skeleton of oxea-like tornotes and the usual echinating acanthostyles and arcuate chelae. As in most Phorbas the surface bears characteristic areolae. The only other elaborate Mediterranean species, P. mercator (Schmidt) differs clearly in spiculation, since it lacks microscleres and has strongyles as the main skeletal elements. Phorbas fictitius (Bowerbank), P. tenacior (Topsent) and P. paupertas sensu Topsent are all incrusting and differ in spicule form and sizes as well. Likewise, Phorbas species from the neighbouring East Atlantic each show clear differences with P. posidoni n.sp. The genus Phorbas is discussed and compared with Pronax Gray (1867) sensu Lévi (1973). It is proposed to unite the two genera because the alleged sharp difference between the two (only oxea-like tornotes in the skeletal tracts in Phorbas, only acanthostyles in the skeletal tracts in Pronax) is compromised by a range of intermediate conditions in various species.     

A new species of Metatrichoniscoides (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscoidea) from the coast of South Wales,U.K.

Summary

A new species of terrestrial isopod, Metatrichonixoides celticus is described and differentiated from other European species of the same genus. M. celticus occurs on the coast of South Wales, U.K. and its supralittoral habitat is outlined.     

A new deep-water calanoid copepod and the phylogeny of the genus Nullosetigera nom. nov. in the Nullosetigeridae nom. nov. (pro Phyllopus: Phyllopodidae) from Japanese waters

Nullosetigeridae nom. nov. is proposed for Phyllopodidae Brodsky, 1950, nom. nud., and Nullosetigera nom. nov. is introduced for Phyllopus Brady, 1883, non Rafinesque, 1815. A new species, Nullosetigera auctiseta, is described from Japanese waters. Nullosetigera mutica comb. nov. (Sars, 1907) and N. mutata comb. nov. (Tanaka, 1964) are redescribed. Phylogenetic analysis implies that two groups, N. auctiseta–N. mutica group and N. mutata–N. impar–N. bidentata–N. helgae group, exist within the genus Nullosetigera and that the new species first diverges with N. mutica. The relatively advanced species, N. impar, N. bidentata, and N. helgae are the most widespread, and are vertically distributed from the epipelagic to the bathypelagic layers.     

A case of biodiversity overestimation in the Balkan Belgrandiella A. J. Wagner, 1927 (Caenogastropoda: Hydrobiidae): molecular divergence not paralleled by high morphological variation

Belgrandiella A. J. Wagner, 1927 is a genus comprising minute snails with conic or turriform shells that are facultative stygobionts, inhabiting subterranean waters and springs. Few specimens or even empty shells of this taxon can be found, so the taxonomy is based mostly on the shell morphology and geographic distribution. Anatomy is known for a few taxa, and its usefulness is restricted. This, coupled with a popular idea that isolation is the first factor shaping divergence and speciation of the spring/cave fauna, resulted in dozens of nominal species of Belgrandiella, known from shells at a given locality. Herein we present shells, anatomy and four molecular markers (nuclear H3, 18S and 28S and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I) in Belgrandiella from 16 localities in Slovenia, northern Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Five sites are type localities of Boleana umbilicata, Belgrandiella kusceri, Belgrandiella krupensis, Belgrandiella zermanica and Belgrandiella robusta, respectively. Considering the shell and geographic distribution, we have determined B. cf. robusta Belgrandiella cf. croatica, Belgrandiella cf. fontinalis, Belgrandiella cf. kuesteri, Belgrandiella cf. pageti and Belgrandiella cf. koprivnensis The shells of all, as well as penes and female reproductive organs of two putative, species have been illustrated. Molecular analysis indicates four distinct clades, most probably of species rank for B. kusceri, B. cf. kuesteri, B. cf. fontinalis and B. cf. koprivnensis. Four nominal species (B. krupensis, B. robusta, B. umbilicata and B. zermanica) and one genus (Boleana) must be synonymised with Belgrandiella kusceri, and there are no more than four valid, biological species in the studied Belgrandiella. The molecular divergence is completely unmirrored by high morphological variability. Hence the level of endemism is markedly overestimated in these snails.     

The Indo-Australian and E. Palaearctic braconine wasp genus Euurobracon (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

An illustrated key to the females of Euurobracon is provided. Three new species and two new subspecies are described: E. interstitialis sp. nov. from Malaysia; E. denticephalus sp. nov. from Dutch New Guinea; E. latitempus sp. nov. from New Guinea; E. cephalotes sumatranus ssp. nov. from Sumatra; impossibilis curticaudis ssp. nov. from Papua New Guinea. E. quadriceps var. apicalis Roman is raised to specific status. The following new synonyms are proposed: Euurobracon maculipennis (Cameron, 1910) (= E. triplagiata (Cameron, 1900)); E. melanospilus (Cameron, 1910) (= E. yokahamae (Dalla Torre, 1898)); E. merinotoides (Enderlein, 1920) (= E. forticornis (Cameron, 1905)); E. montivagus (Cameron, 1910) (= E. cephalotes cephalotes (Smith, 1858); stat. nov.); Collastes nigropectus (Cameron, 1911) (= E. yokahamae (Dalla Torre, 1898)). Two species are excluded from Euurobracon for the first time: E. nitidulus Brues, 1922 and E. mandibularis Brues, 1924. Each species of Euurobracon is fully described.     

Terrapotamon gen. nov., a new genus of freshwater crabs from Malaysia and Thailand,with description of a new species,Terrapotamon aipooae sp. nov. (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamidae)

A new genus, Terrapotamon gen. nov., is established to accomodate two species of freshwater crabs, Potamon abbotti Rathbun, 1898 from southern Thailand, and a new species, Terrapotamon aipooae sp. nov. from West Malaysia. Members of this genus are characterized by their inflated carapaces, very acutely triangular external orbital angles, and structure of their first male gonopods.     

Species of Gyrodactylus von Nordmann, 1832 (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) from freshwater fishes in southern England,with a description of Gyrodactylus rogatensis sp. nov. from the bullhead Cottus gobio L.

Eleven species of Gyrodactylus were found infecting five species of freshwater fishes collected from Rogate (West Sussex, England). These were G. arcuatus and G. gasterostei from Gasterosteus aculeatus, G. pungitii from Pungitius pungitius, G. aphyae, G. laevis, G. limneus, G. macronychus and G. minimus from Phoxinus phoxinus, G. pavlovskyi and G. sedelnikowi from Noemacheilus barbatulus and G. rogatensis n.sp. from Cottus gobio. G. (Limnonephrotus) rogatensis is a member of the G. wageneri species group, and can be distinguished from closely related species (G. aphyae, G. pungitii and G. gasterostei) by its relatively long marginal hooks and by the abruptly tapering toes of its marginal hook sickles. Each parasite was collected from a single host species, and each was narrowly site-specific. With the exception of G. rogatensis, all of the gyrodactylids collected at Rogate also occur in Continental Eurasia, suggesting that they colonized Britain with their hosts via the Doggerland land bridge after the Devensian glaciation. This study demonstrates both the potential of Gyrodactylus for studies of parasite-host coevolution, and the need for critical taxonomic analysis of members of the genus.     

Brevimulticaecum scleropagi sp. nov. (Ascarididae: Nematoda) from the fish Scleropages jardini in Papua New Guinea

Summary

Examination of ascaridoid nematodes from the osteoglossid fish Scleropages jardini in Papua New Guinea revealed that they belong to a new species and named Brevimulticaecum scleropagi nov. sp. Multicaecum heterotis Petter, Vassiliades and Marchand, 1979 from the African osteoglossid fish Heterotes niloticus was moved to the genus Brevimulticaecum in new combination and reported from the same host in Nigeria and Sudan for the first time. The new species is near to B. heterotis but differs from it in having lips that are not lobed, in the absence of the cervical alae, the much smaller size and measurements of the various organs.     

Primno evansi sp. nov. (Amphipoda: Hyperiidea) from the eastern North Atlantic

A new species of hyperiid amphipod, Primno evansi, is described from samples collected on R.R.S. Discovery Cruise 140, August to September 1983, in the eastern North Atlantic. The genus Primno, which has a wide geographic distribution, is now represented by five species with two of these occurring in the eastern North Atlantic. Primno evansi is closest to P. brevidens.