Revision of the spider genus Ischnocolus Ausserer, 1871 (Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae: Ischnocolinae)

The genus Ischnocolus is redefined based on type material, and extra specimens. Representatives of the genus are distinguished by clavate tarsal trichobothria arranged in median apical row; by the maxillae with lighter colour on prolateral edge. Males of the genus Ischnocolus Ausserer are recognized by the cheliceral intumescence, sigmoid ventral furrow on palpal tibia, unequal cymbium lobes, tibial apophysis absent, great number of spines on ventral side of tibia I, and male superior tarsal claws bipectinate. Species included are: Ischnocolus valentinus (Dufour) [= I. holosericeus L. Koch, I. triangulifer Ausserer, I. algericus Thorell, I. fuscostriatus Simon, I. maroccanus (Simon), I. mogadorensis (Simon), I. numidus Simon, I. tripolitanus Caporiacco, Avicularia andalusiaca Simon], Ischnocolus hancocki Smith, Ischnocolus jickelii L. Koch (senior-synonym of Chaetopelma adenense Simon) and Ischnocolus ignoratus sp. nov. Ischnocolus tomentosus Thorell is considered incertae sedis. The following species are considered species inquirenda: I. tunetanus Pavesi and I. fasciculatus Strand. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:207143F4-A235-4411-96D4-D4787ABF271F     

The Neotropical genus Cyriocosmus Simon, 1903 and new species from Peru,Brazil and Venezuela (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Theraphosinae)

Cyriocosmus peruvianus sp. nov., C. itayensis sp. nov., C. aueri sp. nov., C. giganteus sp. nov. from Peru, Loreto region, C. hoeferi sp. nov. from Brazil, C. williamlamari sp. nov. and C. nicholausgordoni sp. nov. from Venezuela are described, illustrated, diagnosed and both sexes, if known, keyed. New Peruvian species can be distinguished from all congeners, except C. bertae Pérez-Miles, 1998 and C. pribiki Pérez-Miles and Weinmann, 2009, by the uniformly coloured carapace and abdomen without stripes and by the short paraembolic apophysis in male palpal bulb. The female of Cyriocosmus ritae Pérez-Miles, 1998 is described for the first time from a known Peruvian population near Iquitos.     

The genus Grammostola Simon 1892 (Araneae: Theraphosidae): a new species from western Argentina,new synonymy and distributional data

Explosive breeding is a common reproductive strategy, especially in anurans. In some cases of explosive breeding in anurans, intense aggressive interactions occur among males attempting to gain access to females, and for terrestrial species that mate in water, females may die by drowning during long mating struggles. Such occurrences are obviously detrimental to females, and may also cause a decrease in the reproductive success of males through depletion of energy without obtaining access to a live female. However, the males of the small Amazonian frog Rhinella proboscidea can promote the ejection of oocytes from the abdominal cavities of dead females and fertilize them. This behaviour can minimize losses to both partners during explosive reproduction events. The existence of such a “functional necrophile strategy” shows that there may be possible selection in favour of stronger and more persistent males in explosive breeders.     

A new and enigmatic representative of Leucocythere Kaufmann, 1892 from the Eastern Cape Province (South Africa) (Crustacea,Ostracoda)

Leucocythere helenae sp. nov. is described from a small, semi-permanent dam near Grahamstown (RSA). It belongs to Leucocythere s.s., but is at the same time characterized by a number of aberrant features, especially the shape and size of the large copulatory process on the hemipenis and the relatively short setae on the P(3) of the male. A cladistic analysis is conducted and it appears that within Leucocythere, the African species have the most plesiomorphic character states. The discovery of L. helenae sp. nov. in South Africa furthermore falsifies previous hypotheses on the age and origin of the Leucocytherini in general and Leucocythere s.s. in particular. It should now be accepted that the latter genus is not of Pleistocene age, but much older, although the lack of fossil material prevents more exact dating. Also, when the cladogram is studied in conjunction with the present day distribution map of Leucocythere, the concept of a Palaearctic origin of this genus must be rejected. The most plausible hypothesis to date on the origin of this group appears to be a generalized distribution of a leucocytherid ancestor over Europe, Asia and Africa (at least), with subsequent speciation through vicariance.     

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     

Two new species of the genus Alloclubionoides (Araneae: Amaurobiidae) in Korea

Two new species of the genus Alloclubionoides from two National Parks of Korea are described with detailed illustrations, leg spination, trichobothrium patterns and scanning electron micrographs. Alloclubionoides wolchulsanensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Alloclubionoides spiders by a heart-shaped conductor with rounded base in the male palp and a large genital opening situated in the middle of the atrium, and a broadly cylinder-like copulatory duct in female. Alloclubionoides jirisanensis sp. nov. resembles Alloclubionoides napolovi (Ovtchinnikov, 1999 Zhang, ZS, Zhu, MS and Song, DX. 2007. Three new species of the genus Ambanus Ovtchinnikov, 1999 from China (Araneae: Amaurobiidae: Coelotinae). Zootaxa., 1425: 21–28.  [Google Scholar]) but can be distinguished from it by the ‘Y’-shaped conductor dorsal apophysis and wound distal part of conductor.     

Notes on four corinnid species from Korea,with the description of Trachelas joopili new species (Arachnida: Araneae: Corinnidae)

Four species and two genera of corinnid spiders are recognized from Korea and are described and illustrated. Castianeira shaxianensis Gong, 1983 Gong, J. X. 1983. Neue und wenig bekannte Clubionidae aus China (Arachnida: Araneae).. Verh Natur Vereins Hamburg., 26: 61–68.  [Google Scholar] has previously been synonymized with C. paikdoensis Kim, 1997 Kim, J. P. 1997. A new species of the genus Castianeira (Araneae: Corinnidae) from Korea.. Korean Arachnol., 13(1): 1–5.  [Google Scholar] and is misidentified with C. flavimaculata Hu, Song and Zheng, 1985 in Korea. Trachelas acuminus (Zhu and An, 1988 Zhu, M. S. and An, R. 1988. Two new species of the genus Clubiona from China (Araneae: Clubionidae).. J Hebei Norm Univ (Nat. Sci. Ed.)., 1988: 72–75.  [Google Scholar]) is synonymized with Trachelas coreanus Paik, 1991 based on the copualtory duct, the position of the spermatheca and the shape of the circular genital opening of the female situated posteriorly near the epigastric furrow. Trachelas joopili, a new species, is described and is distinguished by the largely triangular apophysis and slender coiled modified cymbium at the basal and distal part, a large horn‐shaped tibial apophysis, and slender linear embolus, twice coiled along with slender distal cymbium. A map showing the distribution of these species and a key to the species of two genera (Castianeira and Trachelas) from Korea are provided.     

A new species-group of Clubiona Latreille, 1804 and descriptions of four new species from Borneo (Araneae,Clubionidae)

A new species-group, the apiculata-group, of Clubiona Latreille, 1804 is erected to accommodate four new spider species closely related to the hystrix- and pahilistapyasea-groups from tropical forests of Borneo. These new taxa are Clubiona apiculata sp. nov., Clubiona conica sp. nov., Clubiona cylindriformis sp. nov. and Clubiona cultrata sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6063425C-2445-4173-91B7-0F730B30708F     

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.     

Three new species of Aprusia (Araneae: Oonopidae) from Sri Lanka with a phylogenetic analysis of the genus

The South Asian goblin spider genus Aprusia Simon, 1893 currently consists of five species. All species are narrow endemics with very restricted distributions. In this paper, the Sri Lankan species are revised and three new species described from both sexes: Aprusia koslandensis n. sp., Aprusia rawanaellensis n. sp. and Aprusia vankhedei n. sp. We also provide some notes on the poorly known species A. strennus and A. vestigator. In addition, we present a key to adult Aprusia and a distribution map of the Sri Lankan species, highlighting their diversity in the highly fragmented forests of the island. To test the monophyly of Aprusia and infer relationships among its species, a matrix of 49 morphological characters scored for 11 taxa (seven ingroup and four outgroup) was assembled and analysed. The monophyly of Aprusia is recovered and supported by three unambiguous synapomorphies: the presence of smooth male endites, the presence of leg spines on the prolateral side of the femur I and the procurved ridge of the postepigastric scutum.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:40352A9B-F455-4F41-B293-FF57BACA2997     

Redescription of Alloclubionoides paikwunensis (Kim and Jung, 1993) and a new spider species Alloclubionoides solea sp. nov. from Korea (Araneae: Agelenidae)

The identity of Alloclubionoides paikwunensis (Kim and Jung, 1993 Kim, JP and Jung, CH. 1993. A new species of the genus Coelotes (Araneae: Agelenidae) from Korea. Kor Arachnol., 9: 1–6.  [Google Scholar]) is clarified by examination of type specimen and the female of the species is redescribed with additional collections and illustrated. Alloclubionoides solea sp. nov. from the Dadohaehaesang Marine National Park, southern Korea is described with detailed illustrations, leg spination, trichobothrium patterns and scanning electron micrographs. The new species can be distinguished from other Alloclubionoides spiders by the male palpal organs, which feature an embolus with a crescent-shaped distal part surrounded by a large conductor, and by the female genitalia, which feature a large genital opening situated in the side of atrium and broadly spiral copulatory ducts. Furthermore, Coelotes samaksanensis Namkung, 2001 Namkung, J. 2001. The spiders of Korea, 648Seoul (South Korea): Kyo-Hak Pub. Co.. in Korean [Google Scholar] is found to be a junior synonym of A. paikwunensis.     

Terrestrial isopods from the Oued Laou basin,north-eastern Morocco (Crustacea: Oniscidea), with descriptions of two new genera and seven new species

Thirty-four species of terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Oniscidea) from the Oued Laou basin, in the Rif area of north-eastern Morocco, are recorded. One genus (Paractenoscia) and seven species (Trichoniscus microphthalmus, Paractenoscia cavernicola, Bathytropa rifensis, Soteriscus gibbosus, S. laouensis, Porcellio pseudornatus, and Eluma praticola) are described as new. The genus Soteriscus, unavailable according to article 13.3 of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), is here revalidated by choosing S. gaditanus as type species. Six species (Graeconiscus thermophilus, Ctenoscia minima, Platyarthrus parisii, Porcellio humberti, Porcellio flavocinctus and Eluma caelata) have been fully illustrated to facilitate their identifications. Ctenoscia dorsalis Verhoeff is considered to be a junior synonym of C. minima Dollfus. Porcellio ornatus from southern Spain is also figured for comparison with P. pseudornatus sp. nov. The composition and origin of the oniscidean fauna of the Rif region is briefly discussed.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DCBF3103-1463-4A32-9BC0-A4CFE8B762AE     

A revision of Monocotyle Taschenberg, 1878 (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) with descriptions of three new species from Australia

Monocotyle is revised and three new species are proposed. Monocotyle corali sp. nov. is described from the gills of the cowtail ray, Pastinachus sephen (Forsskål) (Dasyatididae), and is distinguished from other members of Monocotyle by the large hamuli with a distinct tail on the guard and by the male copulatory organ with three loops and a wing-like accessory piece at the distal end. Monocotyle jordani sp. nov. from the gills of the southern eagle ray, Myliobatis australis Macleay (Myliobatididae), is differentiated by the male copulatory organ with a large, unique accessory piece. Monocotyle youngi sp. nov., from the gills of Himantura fai Jordan and Seale (Dasyatididae), has marginal haptoral papillae armed with 12 to 15 sclerites, a male copulatory organ with 20 loops and a unique accessory piece at the distal end. Monocotyle trygoni (Venkatanarsaiah and Kulkarni, 1980) Timofeeva, 1985 is synonymized with M. spirophallus Tripathi, 1959 and M. spirophallus is redescribed fully. There are now 16 valid species of Monocotyle and a key to species is presented. Additional data and illustrations of important taxonomic characters are provided. The developmental sequence of the male copulatory organ of M. spiremae Measures, Beverley-Burton and Williams, 1990 from juvenile to adult is described. The anterior glands and the type of secretion they contain are also documented for several species of Monocotyle.     

Two new species of Bonnetina tarantulas (Theraphosidae: Theraphosinae) from Mexico: contributions to morphological nomenclature and molecular characterization of types

Two new species of tarantulas from Mexico are described and illustrated: Bonnetina tenuiverpis and Bonnetina juxtantricola, from the states of Mexico and Guerrero, respectively. Male palpal bulbs, tibial apophyses and spermatheca are among the most taxonomically informative characters. Male bulb microstructure is revealed from scanning electron microscopy; both new and homologous structures to other Theraphosinae genera are identified and described. Nomenclatural changes for male tibial apophyses are also proposed. The holotype male and allotype female of one of the species are molecularly characterized and matched from CO1 partial sequence.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BBDBBEDE-6983-4F5C-B34C-4622DF494C84