Seasonal cycle of zooplankton abundance and biomass in Hamsilos Bay,Sinop, Southern Black Sea,Turkey

In this investigation, zooplankton was studied between July 2015 and June 2016 in Hamsilos Bay to examine spatial and temporal variations in abundance, biomass and taxonomic composition. The recorded mean zooplankton abundance and biomass were 3770.35 ind. m^?3 and 25.06 mg m^?3 in the inner station, 3928.11 ind. m^?3 and 28.19 mg m^?3 in the middle station and 3948.22 ind. m^?3 and 28.74 mg m^?3 in the outer station, respectively. The high abundance and biomass values observed in September 2015 were attributed to Oithona davisae (4575 ind. m^?3 at the inner station) and Penilia avirostris (33.4 mg m^?3 at the outer station), respectively. Copepoda was the most abundant during the entire period of the survey. In terms of abundance and biomass, Copepoda was followed by meroplankton and Cladocera. Most species within the zooplankton community exhibited evident seasonality throughout the year in Hamsilos Bay. This was particularly apparent for O. davisae, Centropages ponticus, Cladocera and meroplankton, which were abundant in summer–autumn, and for Pseudocalanus elongatus, which was more abundant during winter and spring. It has been determined that O. davisae, which is a non-indigenous cyclopoid copepod species of the Black Sea, has successfully inhabited southern Black Sea and has established a permanent population in this area.     

First observation and seasonal dynamics of the new invasive planktonic copepod Oithona davisae Ferrari and Orsi, 1984 along the southern Black Sea (Anatolian Coast)

The zooplankton species Oithona davisae is indigenous to coastal areas of Japan and the China Seas. It has, however, successfully invaded many other coastal marine regions such as San Francisco Bay, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea and the Black Sea. It is transported most probably in ballast water tanks. This is the first report of O. davisae in the coastal regions of the southern Black Sea (Anatolian coast). Based on monthly plankton sampling at two stations (Sürmene Bay), the seasonal dynamics of O. davisae were investigated. The highest abundance occurred at the coastal station (49,761 ind. m^?3) in December and in October at the offshore station (8896 ind. m^?3). The egg-carrying copepod O. davisae is more abundant in September (4571 ind. m^?3) at the coastal station and in August (952 ind. m^?3) at the offshore station. Expansion of this invasive copepod along the Black Sea coasts is reported by another country also. According to our results this invasive species may replace its native congener, Oithona nana. It can be hypothesized that O. davisae is one of the key species for energy transfer to the upper level of the food web from the microbial loop, which has recently become important in the Black Sea.     

Planktonic copepod community of a reef zone in the southern Gulf of Mexico

ABSTRACT

In this study, the variation of seasonal and inter-annual density and diversity of the copepod community in the Parque Nacional Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano (PNSAV) was analysed. Samples were collected under nortes, rainy and dry weather conditions in 2011, as well as under nortes and dry weather conditions in 2012 and 2013 in four transects. Surface trawls with 330-μm conical nets were made. The temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen were measured in situ. The values obtained were 23.07 ± 0.53 to 29.29 ± 0.27°C for temperature, 33.43 ± 0.49 to 35.91 ± 0.09 for salinity, and 2.52 ± 0.08 to 6.56 ± 0.08 mg l^?1 for dissolved oxygen. The copepods collected belonged to 19 families, 28 genera and 62 species. Copepods represented between 69.74% and 76.79% of the abundance of crustaceans present in zooplankton. The highest number of copepods occurred under nortes weather conditions in 2011 with 401,885 ± 28,092 copepods/100 m³ of the species Temora stylifera. In 2012, 256,325 ± 76,872 copepods/100 m³ of the species Paracalanus aculeatus were obtained and in 2013, 311,526 ± 76,872 copepods/100 m³ of the species T. turbinata. The highest specific richness was found in the southern zone with 28 species. In 2013 the highest density was found in the northern zone with 100,323 ± 28,888 copepods/100 m³. The highest diversity was found under dry weather conditions in 2011 with 3.71 bits/individual. In the 3 years of study, 24 species were dominant; 12 of these, appeared in the 3 years of sampling: T. stylifera, T. turbinata, Labidocera scotti, P. aculeatus, O. latus, Pontellopsis villosa, Centropages velificatus, Parvocalanus crassirostris, Corycaeus speciosus, Undinula vulgaris, Oithona plumifera, and Farranula gracilis. Canonical correlation analysis showed the formation of five groups explained by the neritic or oceanic affinity of the species and their tolerance to changes in salinity or temperature.     

Environmental humidity and leaf-litter depth affecting ecological parameters of a leaf-litter frog community in an Atlantic Rainforest area

We studied a leaf-litter frog community from an Atlantic Rainforest area in the state of Espírito Santo, south-eastern Brazil. Frogs were sampled using 4 × 4-m plots. We recorded 348 individuals from 13 species. The estimated overall density of leaf-litter frogs in the study area was 6.6 frogs/100 m² with an estimated overall frog biomass of 0.04 g/ha. Brachycephalus didactylus was the species with the highest estimated density and highest abundance. Five of the litter frog species recorded are considered endemic to the Atlantic Forest and two species are endemic to the state of Espírito Santo, including Euparkerella robusta, which is considered threatened as the result of habitat loss. The overall abundance of leaf litter was positively related to relative humidity and depth of the leaf litter. The relationship between frog body mass and frog abundance was significant, suggesting that a general biological trend in this relationship occurs in our study area.     

Protozoan ciliate epibionts on the freshwater apple snail Pomacea figulina (Spix, 1827) (Gastropoda,Ampullariidae) in an urban stream of south‐east Brazil

The objective of this study was to record and analyze the prevalence of ciliated protozoa associated with prosobranchian snails of the species Pomacea figulina collected from an urban stream in south‐eastern Brazil. Four collections were carried out between December, 2005, and March, 2006, from which 23 snails and 10 ‘empty’ shells were obtained. The shells and opercula were scraped over Petri dishes and the ciliates were observed using bright field and phase contrast microscopy. Seven species of ciliates were recorded on the snails of P. figulina. Of the 23 snails analyzed, 82.60% (n = 19) were infested with at least one species of ciliate. No ciliates were found on the ‘empty’ shells and opercula. The results are discussed in terms of ecological aspects involved in this association.     

A revision of Astyanax (Characiformes: Characidae) in Central and North America,with the description of nine new species

Since the restriction of Astyanax fasciatus to Brazil, most authors have assigned Central American and southern Mexican forms of Astyanax to A. aeneus. However, molecular studies support the hypothesis that more than one taxon is involved. With the aim of clarifying the number and status of species hidden behind the name ‘A. aeneus’, this revision comprises 80 populations of Astyanax (and ‘Bramocharax’) from Panama to Texas, with comparative material from South America, based on morphological characters (mostly osteological). Astyanax aeneus is hereby restricted to the Pacific slope, from Río Papagayo, Guerrero, to Honduras. Several species are resurrected from synonymy or redescribed: A. altior (restricted to north-western Yucatán), A. argentatus (Texas and northern Mexico), A. belizianus (central-southern Belize, Izabal, Caribbean Honduras), A. brevimanus (upper Usumacinta and Grijalva, Chiapas, Quiché, Alta Verapaz), A. finitimus (Veracruz, Tabasco, northern Chiapas), A. mexicanus (restricted to Colima and the Balsas River basin), A. nicaraguensis (Caribbean Nicaragua to Sixaola, Panama), A. orstedii (south-eastern Nicaragua, Costa Rica and westernmost Panama), A. panamensis (Pacific Panama), and A. petenensis (Campeche, Petén). Nine species are newly described: A. acatlanensis sp. nov. (inland Oaxaca and Puebla), A. bacalarensis sp. nov. (Quintana Roo, northern Belize, Petén), A. cubilhuitz sp. nov. (Alta Verapaz), A. macal sp. nov. (Maya Mountains, Belize), A. ocotal sp. nov. (Lake Ocotal, highland Chiapas), A. rioverde sp. nov. (San Luis Potosí), A. salvatoris sp. nov. (Tamazulapan, Oaxaca), A. tamiahua sp. nov. (northern Veracruz) and A. tehuacanensis sp. nov. (Papaloapan, Oaxaca). Others were already recognised as different from A. aeneus, among these A. cocibolca and A. nasutus, as well as species included before in the genus Bramocharax.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:ABC57223-DF66-49B6-8FE0-87CFF5D3EA03     

Effect of tropical monsoon on fishery abundance of Indian squid (Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvaucelii)

Indian squid, Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvaucelii (Loliginidae) constitute an important component of the inshore cephalopod fisheries along the eastern Arabian Sea. Local environmental variation plays an important role in species–environment interactions in neritic squids, which inhabit nearshore/coastal waters. Such ‘active’ and ‘passive’ responses of squids to environmental changes is crucial in understanding their relationships and influence on the biological processes, distribution and abundance of the fast-growing short-lived coastal loliginids. The empirical relationship between squid abundance and the variability in rainfall and sea surface temperature (SST) were explored in a tropical monsoon fishery. Monthly catch rates (catch per fishing hour) of squids in commercial trawl during 1987–2009 were used as the abundance index. Linear regression models with ARIMA errors were fitted with catch per unit hour time series as dependent variable and rainfall and SST as exogenous variables. While rainfall was observed to have a negative effect on squid abundance, the SST recorded a positive impact. ARIMA models provided satisfactory fit to observed data and forecast of 22 months. Given that the squid life-cycle is a function of their environment, this result is relevant in forecasting squid biomass for the management of tropical monsoon fisheries.     

Relating abundance of purpleback flying squid Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) to environmental parameters using GIS and GAM in south-eastern Arabian Sea

The distribution pattern of purpleback flying squid and the relationship between its abundance and environmental variables in the south-eastern Arabian Sea were analysed using a geographical information system (GIS) and a generalised additive model (GAM). Highest abundances were observed during December and January within 10 and 13°N and 71 and 72°E around the Lakshadweep Islands. The mean abundance in the area was 4.21 tonnes/km² and the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) was estimated as 0.63 million tonnes. GAM indicated that very high squid abundance was associated with low values of dissolved oxygen (6.01–6.27 mg/L), sea surface temperature (28.03–28.62°C), pH (7.75–8.56), salinity (30.42–34.48 psu), chlorophyll-a (0.4–0.6 mg/m³), zooplankton biomass (0.23–0.64 mL/m³), and shallow 20°C isotherm (101.2–134.7 m) and mixed layer depth (17.8–29.8 m). As a carnivore from paralarval stages, S. oualaniensis depends on secondary and tertiary production to sustain its population for which primary production is used up. In the tropical Arabian Sea where temperature differences are not so pronounced, S. oualaniensis distribution was found to be related to a low but very narrow sea surface temperature (SST) band. There is sufficient fishable biomass in the area to possibly launch a new targeted oceanic squid fishery from the western seaboard of India.     

Reflection of the Neogene–Quaternary phylogeography in the recent distribution limiting climatic factors of eight Mediterranean Phlebotomus species (Diptera: Psychodidae)

The diversification of Mediterranean Phlebotomus species occurred during the Neogene and Quaternary periods. The climatic and geographical history of the Mediterranean area plausibly influenced the climatic requirements of recent sand fly species. Our aim was to investigate the European zoogeography and the climate-based ecological groups of eight Phlebotomus species considering the phylogeography of the studied taxa. Jaccard index calculation, hierarchical cluster and principal component analyses were performed. The results of Jaccard-coefficient calculations may indirectly refer to the former existence of three possible glacial refuges of sand fly populations in Europe: an Iberian, an Apennine and a Balkan Peninsula–Asia Minor refuge. Three main climatic groups of the studied sand fly species were distinguished, namely the so-called ‘Trans-Mediterranean’, ‘East Mediterranean’ and ‘West Mediterranean’ groups. Our results suggest that the ancestor of Phlebotomus similis and Phlebotomus sergenti was adapted to the hot, dry summer Mediterranean climate during the late Neogene. The third member of this climate group, Phlebotomus papatasi because of co-adaptation shows similar climatic requirements as P. similis and P. sergenti. The five Larroussius species studied should have evolved under moister climatic conditions. Species of the ‘West Mediterranean’ group were adapted to the milder and wetter oceanic climate of Atlantic coasts. The species of the ‘East Mediterranean’ group diversified under the less balanced climate of the East Mediterranean. The recent climatic requirements and the European distribution of the studied species is the consequence of the complex Quaternary–Neogene geographical and climatic history of their former habitats in the Old continent. The adaptation of the ancestors of the studied sand fly species to the changing geographical and climatic factors of Europe are discussed.     

Polygyny,oviposition, life cycle and longevity of the three subspecies of leaf-cutting ants,Acromyrmex subterraneus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

ABSTRACT

Research related to the comparative biology of phylogenetically close ant species has received little attention, although it is the basis for understanding the systematics of some sibling groups. The objective was to study the polygyny, oviposition, life cycle and longevity of the three subspecies of leaf-cutting ants. For that, we studied: oviposition rate – queens from three colonies were individually placed in plastic containers, and at 24-hour intervals, the laid eggs were quantified over a period of 96 hours; the workers’ life cycle – the development of immature ants was observed every 24 hours and, as a result, the duration of each stage of development was determined; the workers’ longevity – newly emerged adults were tagged and returned to the fungus chamber of their respective nests, and daily observations were made in each of the nest’s chamber. Laying rates were variable in the three queens studied, with a mean of total eggs laid of 271 for Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus, 113 for Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus and 119 for Acromyrmex subterraneus molestans.The incubation period was 21.2 days in A. s. brunneus, 22.8 days in A. s. subterraneus and 20.4 days in A. s. molestans. The larval phase and pupal phase lasted on average 22.5 and 21.2 days in A. s. brunneus, 22.8 and 15.8 days in A. s. subterraneus and 17.2 and 14.2 days in A. s. molestans, respectively. Life cycle was different in the studied taxa, from 62 to 77 days in A. s. brunneus, from 59–68 days in A. s. subterraneus and from 51 to 55 days in A. s. molestans. The workers’ longevity varied between subspecies A. s. brunneus, A. s. subterraneus and A. s. molestans.     

Strong phenological differences between two populations of a Neotropical funnel-web wolf spider

Comparisons of phenological patterns among populations within a species are uncommon in arachnids. Aglaoctenus lagotis is a wolf spider that lives in funnel-webs across South America. The aim of this study was to describe the phenological patterns of two distant populations of A. lagotis (central Argentina, CA, and southern Uruguay, SU). Individuals of each population were sighted along transects, every month for two years. The CA and SU populations differed in their phenological patterns (Wald χ² = 966.94, df = 66; p <0.001). The CA population showed a spring–summer unified reproductive season and immature individuals overwintered. SU showed the sexual period during autumn, the maternal period during spring–summer and the females, mostly mated, overwintered. These strong differences imply temporal isolation in mating possibilities between both populations. The differences encountered could be due to phenotypic plasticity or have a phylogenetic basis. Interpopulation studies of other features of A. lagotis would show whether they also vary, suggesting speciation.     

‘On the rocks’: reproductive biology of the endemic toad Xanthophryne (Anura: Bufonidae) from the Western Ghats,India

Xanthophryne is a toad genus endemic to the northern Western Ghats of India, with two extant sister species – Xanthophryne koynayensis and Xanthophryne tigerina. Both species are local endemics and endangered. We studied reproductive biology of these toads and found that they are specialized to the lateritic rocky outcrops at mid-elevations in high rainfall areas. Xanthophryne toads have sporadic, multiple spawning bouts lasting 2–4 days during early monsoon. In this explosive breeding behaviour, we observed male toads to engage in ‘pelvic thrusts’, a unique and novel behaviour among anurans. Females oviposit in shallow pools in depressions of lateritic boulders where their tadpoles metamorphose. These ephemeral rocky pools have limited resources and they desiccate rapidly with a break in the rains. To mitigate the stochastic risk of desiccation and subsequent large-scale egg/tadpole mortality, females may disperse their reproductive investment spatially and temporally in multiple clutches, and tadpoles metamorphose rapidly. Here, we describe the amplexus, spawning and male advertisement call, and provide a comparative account of the life history traits of the two Xanthophryne species. These toads face numerous threats and are in need of urgent conservation action. These toads, seemingly well adapted to the isolated rocky outcrops, offer an excellent opportunity to understand endemism, mating systems, anuran ecology and behaviour.     

Female-limited polymorphism and its significance in Appias (Catophaga) nero corazonae Schröder and Treadaway, 1989 (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

Diagnostic characters are presented for Appias nero corazonae, a pierid butterfly from the Sulu Archipelago, Philippines, that exhibits female-limited polymorphism. The potential significance of A. n. corazonae for genetic investigations into Darwinian transference, the hypothetical process whereby bright colouration first evolves in the males of a species and is later ‘transferred’ to the females, is discussed.     

Temporal variation and structure of macro-epifauna associated with macrophytes in the Bizerte lagoon (Tunisia,SW Mediterranean Sea)

The temporal variation in composition and abundance of the macro-epifauna associated with seaweeds (Ulva lactuca, Cladophora sp., Gracilariopsis longissima and Gracilaria bursa-pastoris) and seagrass (Cymodocea nodosa) was investigated at Menzel Jemil station in the Bizerte lagoon. Twelve replicate samples (25 x 25 cm frame) were collected monthly from October 2009 to September 2010. Sampling data yielded 21,575 invertebrate specimens from floating seaweeds and the seagrass, belonging to 40 taxa, of which 18 species were arthropods, 13 molluscs, three echinoderms, three fishes, two polychaetes and one cnidarian. Crustaceans were the most dominant and the most species-rich group and Idotea balthica basteri the most abundant species, accounting for 28.94% of the total abundance. Minimum (9.25 ± 5.56 species) and maximum (19.75 ± 3.2 species) values of mean species richness were observed in December and June, respectively. Species richness and density of macro-epifauna showed similar trends to plant biomass and the highest values of both indices coincided with periods of maximal plant biomass. Mean values of Shannon’s index H′ and evenness J′ were low, ranging from 0.34 ± 0.02 bit to 1.08 ± 0.06 bit, and from 0.23 ± 0.03 to 0.52 ± 0.07, respectively. The high dominance of herbivores and detritivores highlighted the substantial role played by macrophytes as food source for associated macro-epifauna species. Multivariate analyses also indicated significant seasonal differences for the macro-epifauna assemblage and revealed significant relationships with environmental variables. According to the canonical correspondence analysis, concentrations of phosphates and nitrites, and temperature were the variables that explained the variation of the macro-epifauna abundance in the Bizerte lagoon.     

Does nutritional status constrain adoption of more costly and less risky foraging behaviour in an Amazonian shelter-building spider?

Individual nutritional status may increase marginal foraging costs and potentially drive animal foraging strategies. Here, we investigated how it might affect foraging strategies of the shelter-building spider Hingstepeira folisecens (Hingston 1932) (Araneidae). This spider can catch prey using two strategies with different relative costs: ‘pulling’ (higher energy expenditure) and ‘pursuing’ (lower energy expenditure). We conducted experiments by offering prey at a fixed distance from the shelter entrance to investigate if spiders with lower nutritional status would exhibit riskier but less costly foraging behaviours more frequently than spiders with better status. The nutritional status did not affect the foraging behaviours adopted by H. folisecens. Additionally, the frequency of both foraging behaviours was similar. Therefore, our results did not provide any evidence that individual nutritional status is a factor driving the selection of foraging behaviours in H. folisecens. We suggest that the malnourished spiders should adopt additional strategies to compensate for the costs of pulling behaviour, especially when prey is far from the shelter. Furthermore, it is possible that other factors, like relative prey size in relation to web size, can help us to understand the threshold that determines when such individuals must adopt one of two possible behaviours.     

Distinctive but functionally convergent song phenotypes characterize two new allopatric species of the Chrysoperla carnea-group in Asia,Chrysoperla shahrudensis sp. nov. and Chrysoperla bolti sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Chrysoperla shahrudensis sp. nov. is discovered in northern Iran, co-occurring with at least five other cryptic species of the Chrysoperla carnea-group. It is distinguished by the volley period and tonality of its courtship duetting song. Another Asian species from alpine meadows of northern Kyrgyzstan, previously C. ‘adamsi-K’ but here named Chrysoperla bolti sp. nov., has a song distinct from but convergent with both C. shahrudensis and North American Chrysoperla adamsi. Coordinated duets can be established in the laboratory between individuals of C. shahrudensis and recorded songs of either C. bolti or C. adamsi. Such functional song equivalence in distinct allopatric species suggests that repeated episodes of parallel speciation can drive the origin of cryptic species diversity in lacewings. Morphology, life history, and ecology of larvae and adults of C. shahrudensis and C. bolti are then formally described. Adding C. shahrudensis to a large mitochondrial DNA data set for ≈ 21 species shows it to be similar to neither C. adamsi nor C. bolti, further supporting independent, convergent evolution of song rather than song similarity due to relationship. Although C. bolti and C. shahrudensis are both from Asia and share some basic temporal song features, the two taxa are distinct, allopatric biological species.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D9B7BDC9-6C09-468B-A6B-D378628EC557     

Evaluation of the taxonomy of Helix cincta (Muller, 1774) and Helix nucula (Mousson, 1854); insights using mitochondrial DNA sequence data

Phylogenetic relationships of the Aegean Helix cincta and Helix nucula with congeneric species found in Greece were inferred using mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Twenty-three specimens from mainland Greece, Aegean Islands, Cyprus and North Africa were analysed, revealing that (1) H. nucula is monophyletic, (2) H. cincta from Greece and Cyprus is paraphyletic, and so questions arise regarding the taxonomy of this species, and (3) H. cf. cincta from Tunisia might be considered as a distinct evolutionary lineage. Moreover Helix valentini, an endemic species of Kalymnos Island group, is clustered within the lineage of H. c. anatolica, so supporting the synonymy of the two ‘species’, and the elevation of H. c. anatolica to species level. Hence, our results stress the need for a taxonomic reconsideration of H. cincta in the Aegean Sea, indicating that sequence data can prove useful in overcoming taxonomic issues at both species and subspecies level.     

Revision of Aleiodes (Hemigyroneuron) parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) with reappraisal of subgeneric limits,descriptions of new species and phylogenetic analysis

The parasitic rogadine braconid wasp subgenus Hemigyroneuron, previously and inappropriately synonymized with Aleiodes (Chelonorhogas) as a result of misidentification, is here synonymized with Aleiodes (Pholichora). A key to the 26 species of Aleiodes (Hemigyroneuron) is presented, including 16 which are described and illustrated as new: A. (H.) amoretae Butcher and Quicke, A. (H.) faddenae Butcher and Quicke, A. (H.) glandularis Butcher and Quicke and A. (H.) plurivena Butcher and Quicke from South Africa; A. (H.) bakeri Butcher and Quicke from Indonesia; A. (H.) bengalensis Butcher and Quicke from India; A. (H.) cusackae Butcher and Quicke from Uganda; A. (H.) elgon Butcher and Quicke, A. (H.) meruensis Butcher and Quicke and A. (H.) pappi Butcher and Quicke from Kenya; A. (H.) fenwickae Butcher and Quicke from Congo; A. (H.) pseudospeciosus Butcher and Quicke from Brunei; A. (H.) roberti Butcher and Quicke from Thailand; A. (H.) sharkeyi Butcher and Quicke from Madagascar; A. (H.) trianguliscleroma Butcher and Quicke from Malawi and Kenya; and A. (H.) ugandaensis Butcher and Quicke from Uganda. A. (H.) apicale (Brues) comb. nov., A. (H.) dubiosus (Fullaway) comb. nov., A. (H.) speciosus (Baker) comb. nov. and A. (H.) suffusus (Baker) comb. nov. are redescribed and illustrated. Males of most species of A. (Hemigyroneuron) are shown to possess a glandular pore opening near the mid-posterior margins of metasomal tergites 4–6, though the situation in A. (H.) dubiosus is different. Results of morphological phylogenetic analysis are presented and indicate clear separation between African and Asian species groups. Two of the new species have been reared from Geometridae and one apparently from Pieridae.     

Description of four new species of the Cirolana ‘parva group’ (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae) from Thailand,with supporting molecular (COI) data

Four new species of the Cirolana ‘parva group’ from shallow coastal habitats in Thailand are described: Cirolana andamanensis sp. nov. and C. phangnga sp. nov., from the Andaman Sea, and C. siamensis sp. nov. and C. thailandica sp. nov. from the Gulf of Thailand. Molecular (The cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene) analysis incorporating taxa from the Cirolana ‘tuberculate group’ shows a monophyletic clade (Bayesian inference = 1 and maximum likelihood = 100%) within the Cirolana ‘parva group’ with two clades reflecting morphological characters. Cirolana andamanensis sp. nov. with antennula peduncle articles 1 and 2 entirely fused; male pereopod 1 without a setal fringe; uropod peduncle ventrolateral margin with 1 sensory seta. Cirolana phangnga sp. nov., C. siamensis sp. nov. and C. thailandica sp. nov. share the morphological characters of antennula peduncle articles 1 and 2 distinctly articulated; pereopod 1 in male with a setal fringe on the carpus and propodus; uropod peduncle ventrolateral margin with 3 sensory setae. Uncorrected p-distances strongly support the separation of these species, originally based on morphology, and show that the highest value of 32.1% is between C. thailandica sp. nov. and C. andamanensis sp. nov., while the lowest value of 22.5% is between C. phangnga sp. nov. and C. siamensis sp. nov.