Sponges from the Permian of Hambast Mountains,south of Abadeh,central Iran

Upper Permian (Murghabian) sponges from the Surmaq Formation exposed in the Hambast Mountains, south of Abadeh, central Iran are described. The sponge fauna of the Surmaq Formation is composed of at least 26 taxa, including 12 species of sphinctozoans, 12 species of inozoans, one operculospongid, and one lithistid species. The following taxa were determined to genus or species level: Sphinctozoa: Family Sebargasiidae: Amblysiphonella hambastensis n. sp., Discosiphonella iranica n. sp., Family Colospongiidae: Colospongia cortexifera Senowbari-Daryan and Rigby, Exaulipora permica (Senowbari-Daryan), Platythalamiella sp. 1, Platythalamiella? sp. 2, Parauvanella minima Senowbari-Daryan, Colospongia? or Neoguadalupia? sp., Family Guadalupiidae: Cystothalamia surmaqensis n. sp., Imbricatocoelia cf. paucipora Rigby, Fan and Zhang, Family Thaumastocoeliidae: Sollasia ostiolata Steinmann, Family Cryptocoeliidae: Stylocoelia circopora Wu. Inozoa: Family Peronidellidae: Preperonidella cf. Preperonidella recta grossa (Wu), Heptatubispongia symmetrica Rigby and Senowbari-Daryan, Hambastella sincassa n. gen., n. sp., Hambastella cumcassa n. sp., Family Maeandrostiidae: Maeandrostia kansasensis Girty, Maeandrostia? dubia n. sp., Surmaqella pustulata n. gen., n. sp., Family Auriculospongiidae: Pseudopalaeoaplysina huayingensis Wang, Qiang and Zhang, Family Disjectoporidae: Disjectopora beipeiensis Fan, Rigby and Zhang, Lichuanopora cf. bancaoensis Fan, Rigby and Zhang, Family Khmeriidae: Imilce newelli Flügel. Lithistida: Family Astylospongiidae: Raanespongia iranica n. sp. Among the sphinctozoans A. hambastensis n. sp. is an extremely abundant species. Among the inozoans the genus Hambastella n. gen., with both species, is the most abundant genus. The genera Disjectopora, Lichuanopora, and Pseudopaleoaplysina, were described as hydrozoans by early workers, but are assigned to the inozoans in this paper. The Upper Permian sponge fauna, as well as the composition of other reef organisms, from the Hambast Mountains in central Iran is different from that of the assemblage in the Lower Permian reefal limestones of Bagh-e Vang from the Shotori Mountians (northeast Iran).     

Uncovered Diversity of a Predominantly Andean Butterfly Clade in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: a Revision of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Praepedaliodes</Emphasis> Forster (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae,Satyrinae, Satyrini)

The genus Praepedaliodes Forster, 1964, the only representative of the mega-diverse mostly Andean Pedaliodes complex lineage in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, is revised. Prior to this study, four species were known, P. phanias (Hewitson, 1862), P. granulata (Butler, 1868), P. amussis (Thieme, 1905) and P. exul (Thieme, 1905). Here, a further six are described, all from SE Brazil, expanding to 10 the number of species in this genus. Lectotypes are designated for P. phanias, P. granulata and P. amussis. The genus is most diverse in the Serra da Mantiqueira (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais) and in the Serra Geral (Paraná, Santa Catarina) with seven species occurring in both ranges. Praepedaliodes phanias is the most widespread species and the only one found in the western part of the Atlantic Forest; only this species and P. duartei Dias, Dolibaina & Pyrcz n. sp. occurring to near sea level. Other species, P. zaccae Dolibaina, Dias & Pyrcz n. sp., P. francinii Freitas & Pyrcz n. sp., P. sequeirae Pyrcz, Dias & Dolbaina n. sp., P. landryi Pyrcz & Freitas n. sp. and P. pawlaki Pyrcz & Boyer n. sp. are strictly montane and the highest species richness is reached at 1400–1800 m. One species, P. sequeirae n. sp., is a narrow endemic found only at timberline in the Agulhas Negras massif above 2300 m. Immature stages are described for two species, P. phanias and P. landryi n. sp. Molecular data (barcode region of cytochrome oxidase, subunit I) and adult morphology, including male and female genitalia, support the genus as monophyletic, belonging to a predominantly Andean clade of the Pedaliodes Butler, 1867 complex. Morphological evidences, in particular female genitalia comparative analysis, indicate the genera Physcopedaliodes Forster, 1964 and Panyapedaliodes Forster, 1964 as possibly the closest relatives to Praepedaliodes. Molecular data are inconclusive in this respect.     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plagioporus</Emphasis> Stafford, 1904 from darters (Perciformes: Percidae), with a redescription of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plagioporus boleosomi</Emphasis> (Pearse, 1924) Peters, 1957

A form of Plagioporus Stafford, 1904 is described from the intestine of three North American species of darters (Perciformes: Percidae) from River West Twin, Wisconsin, USA, that we consider to be conspecific with Plagioporus boleosomi (Pearse, 1924) Peters, 1957 based on similarities in the sucker ratio, extent of the forebody, shape and position of the testes, vitellarium distribution and terminal genitalia. Three new species of Plagioporus are described from the intestine of darters as follows: Plagioporus fonti n. sp. from Percina nigrofasciata Agassiz in Florida, USA, Plagioporus limus n. sp. from Etheostoma squamosum Distler in Arkansas, USA and Plagioporus aliffi n. sp. from Etheostoma blennioides newmanni Miller in Arkansas, USA. Morphologically Plagioporus fonti n. sp., Plagioporus limus n. sp. and Plagioporus aliffi n. sp. are most similar to one another and to P. boleosomi, Plagioporus lepomis Dobrovolny, 1939 and ‘P. etheostomae’, a nomen nudum for a species described from Etheostoma blennioides Rafinesque in Kentucky, USA, all of which are collectively distinguished from congeners in having a combination of confluent vitellarium in the post-testicular space and absence of vitelline follicles with their entire length distributed in the forebody. Plagioporus fonti n. sp., P. limus n. sp. and P. aliffi n. sp. are respectively distinguished from one another and their closest congeners in having the anterior extent of the vitellarium in the anterior half of forebody to slightly anterior to the ventral sucker as opposed to one approximately at the level of the posterior margin of the ventral sucker, possession of an excretory vesicle reaching the anterior testis as opposed to one only reaching the posterior testis and having a longer than wide oral sucker and a wider than long ventral sucker. A Bayesian inference (BI) analysis of partial 28S rDNA sequences was conducted using the three new species and 24 sequences of opecoelids retrieved from GenBank, including ten species of Plagioporus. Plagioporus aliffi n. sp., Plagioporus fonti n. sp. and P. boleosomi comprised a moderately supported sister group to a clade containing all species of Plagioporus except Plagioporus limus n. sp. and Plagioporus shawi (Mcintosh, 1939) Margolis, 1970. Plagioporus limus and in turn P. shawi were resolved as sister to all other congeners with high and moderate support, respectively.     

Description of Four New Species of Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthaegilips</Emphasis> Ashmead, 1897 (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Anacharitinae) from Colombia

There are four new species of the Neotropical Anacharitinae genus Acanthaegilips Ashmead, 1897: A. boyacensis sp. n., A. curvis sp. n., A. timidus sp. n., and A. truncatus sp. n. The diagnostic characters of this new species and data about their morphological variability and similarities with other Acantahegilips species are discussed. An updated key of genus Acanthaegilips is included.     

New species of the Lithobiid genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hessebius</Emphasis> Verhoeff, 1941 (Lithobiomorpha,Lithobiidae) from Eastern Kazakhstan

Two new species, Hessebius golovatchi Farzalieva, sp. n. and Hessebius zalesskajae Farzalieva, sp. n., are described based on material from the Dzungarian Alatau Mountains, Eastern Kazakhstan. The female of H. golovatchi sp. n. differs from all the previously known species of the genus in the presence of 3 + 3 spurs on the gonopod, while H. zalesskajae sp. n. is similar to H. perelae Zalesskaja, 1978 but differs in some structural details of the male and female gonopods.     

Gall midges of the supertribe stomatosematidi (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae) in the Palaearctic region,with descriptions of new taxa from the late Eocene Rovno Amber. 2. The genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Didactylomyia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rovnodidactylomyia</Emphasis> gen. n.

One new genus (Rovnodidactylomyia Fedotova et Perkovsky, gen. n.) and four new species (Didactylomyia dlusskyi sp. n., Rovnodidactylomyia zosimovichi gen. n. et sp. n., R. sidorenkoi sp. n., and R. iconica sp. n.) are described from an amber sample of the late Eocene Period (Rovno District, Ukraine). Two species from a Baltic amber sample of the late Eocene Period, described earlier in the genus Bryocrypta, are attributed to the genus Rovnodidactylomyia (R. girafa (Meunier, 1904) comb. n. and R. capitosa (Meunier, 1904)). The first fossil species of the genus Didactylomyia is described for the first time; two contemporary Palaearctic species are recorded. Keys to the species of the genus Didactylomyia are given.     

New species of the tenebrionid-beetle genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tagonoides</Emphasis> Fairm., <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gnaptorina</Emphasis> Rtt. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agnaptoria</Emphasis> Rtt. (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae) from China

Six new species Tagonoides belousovi sp. n., T. yunnana sp. n., Gnaptorina australis sp. n., Agnaptoria elongata sp. n. (Yunnan), A. lecta sp. n., and A. ruida sp. n. (Sichuan), and a new subspecies Gnaptorina potanini minxiana subsp. n. are described from China. Morphological adaptations of tenebrionids of the tribe Blaptini associated with phytophagous habit are discussed.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otiorhynchus</Emphasis> Germ. (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) from Turkmenistan and adjacent territories

Data on 15 species of the subgenus Pseudotiorhynchus Magnano, 2004 of the genus Otiorhynchus Germar, 1822 from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran are given. Otiorhynchus lukarevskayae Davidian, sp. n., O. karakalensis Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n., O. konstantini Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n., O. muratovi Savitsky et Davidian, sp. n., O. kopetdagicus Savitsky et Davidian, sp. n., and O. shakhensis Savitsky et Davidian, sp. n. from Turkmenistan, and O. khorasanus Savitsky et Davidian, sp. n. from Iran are described as new to science. A new synonymy is established: Pseudotiorhynchus Magnano, 2004 = Crassorhynchus Magnano, 2004, syn. n. Otiorhynchus iranensis Magnano, 2004 is transferred from the subgenus Protarammichnus Voss, 1960 to the subgenus Pseudotiorhynchus. Lectotype of O. conicirostris Stierlin, 1886 is designated. A key to 15 species of the subgenus Pseudotiorhynchus is given. The new subgenus Microhanibotus Savitsky et Davidian, subgen. n. is established for the new species O. ghilarovi Davidian et Savitsky, sp. n. from the Western Kopet Dagh in Turkmenistan. Microhanibotus subgen. n. is closely related to the subgenera Pseudotiorhynchus, Hanibotus Reitter, 1912 and Nubidanus Reitter, 1912.     

New species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spathius</Emphasis> Nees (Hymenoptera,Braconidae) from Japan and neighboring territories

Eight new species of the genus Spathius Nees from Japan and the Russian Far East are described and illustrated: S. enigmatus sp. n., S. ishigakus sp. n., S. konishii sp. n., S. multigranulatus sp. n., S. omotodakus sp. n., S. pseudaspersus sp. n., S. pumilio sp. n., and S. tsushimus sp. n.     

New and little-known crickets of the subfamily Phalangopsinae (Orthoptera,Gryllidae). 11. The genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parendacustes</Emphasis> (Part 2)

Discussions concerning the composition of the genus Parendacustes Chop., in particular, its subgenus Minizacla Gor., are continued. Eleven new taxa of this subgenus are described: P. trusmadi sp. n., P. mulu sp. n., P. brevispina sp. n., P. modispina sp. n., P. longispina sp. n., P. forficula sabah subsp. n., P. doloduo sp. n., P. buton sp. n., P. pallescens sp. n., P. kendari sp. n., and P. lindu sp. n. New data on P. makassari Gor. are also provided.     

A new species of the leaf-beetle genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptocephalus</Emphasis> Geoffroy (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae) from Southeastern Kazakhstan

A new species of the genus Cryptocephalus is described from the Malaysary Mountains (Southeastern Kazakhstan). The new species belongs to the subgenus Asionus and is closest to the group of species with a deep impression on the male anal (V) sternite (C. halophilus, C. impressipygus and C. mniczechi). Cryptocephalus malaysaryensis sp. n. clearly differs in the structure of the aedeagus and abdominal sternite V of the male.     

A review of the chrysomelid genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hyperaxis</Emphasis> Gemm. et Har., 1874 (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae) from Vietnam

A review of species of the genus Hyperaxis Gemminger et Harold from Vietnam is given. Five new species (H. dentifemur sp. n., H. longipilosa sp. n., H. sonlanga sp. n., H. phanrangi sp. n. and H. buonloica sp. n.) and a new subspecies (H. buonloica darlaki subsp. n.) are described. A key to all the 11 species of the Vietnamese fauna is given. The genitalia are figured for all species. Lectotype is designated for Hyperaxis pallidipes Pic.     

Descriptions of eight new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ligophorus</Emphasis> Euzet &; Suriano, 1977 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) from Red Sea mullets

Eight new species of Ligophorus Euzet &; Suriano, 1977 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) are described from two species of mullets from the Red Sea. Ligophorus bykhowskyi n. sp. and L. zhangi n. sp. from Crenimugil crenilabris (Forsskål) differ from other species of the genus in the structure of the male copulatory organ, which has a simple accessory piece and a wide copulatory tube that arises from a large, single-chambered, expanded base. Ligophorus simpliciformis n. sp., L. bipartitus n. sp., L. campanulatus n. sp., L. mamaevi n. sp., L. lebedevi n. sp. and L. surianoae n. sp. from Liza carinata (Valenciennes) are differentiated on the basis of the morphometrics of the hard parts of the haptor and male copulatory organ. The eight species represent the first records of species directly attributed to Ligophorus from the Red Sea. Measurements of the haptoral hard-parts and the male copulatory organ of the new species are analysed with the aid of Principal Component Analysis. Three morphological types of male copulatory organ, five types of anchor, and two types of ventral and three types of dorsal bars were distinguished among these species. L. bykhowskyi and L. zhangi from C. crenilabris have the same type of male copulatory organ and anchors. Those species from Liza carinata have only one common morphological character, a thick copulatory tube, but have two types of accessory piece, four types of anchors and three types of bars. All species of Ligophorus found on mullets in the Red Sea have an accessory piece without a distal bifurcation and thus differ from most species of this genus from other regions of the world’s oceans.     

On discovery of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nanomicrophyes</Emphasis> Pic, 1908 (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) in China

A new subgenus Sinomicrophyes subgen. n. with four new species Nanomicrophyes belousovi sp. n. (type species), N. korolevi sp. n., N. oblongus sp. n., and N. kabaki sp. n. from Western China is erected in the genus Nanomicrophyes Pic, 1908 previously known from a single species distributed in the Caucasus. A map of the genus Nanomicrophyes range is provided with a brief discussion of the N. cyanipennis (Weise, 1880) distribution.     

Trilobites of the Galgenberg Member (Tannenknock Formation), middle Cambrian Stage 5, Franconian Forest,Germany: a paradigmatic lowermost middle Cambrian West Gondwanan fauna

Earliest middle Cambrian rocks in the Franconian Forest, formerly known as the ‘Galgenberg Formation’, include a moderately diverse fauna with a characteristic West Gondwanan, Atlas-type trilobite assemblage with often surprisingly well-preserved specimens. The hitherto inadequately characterised and poorly described assemblage includes Kingaspidoides frankenwaldensis, K. sp. aff. usitata, K. alberti sp. nov., K. meieri sp. nov., K.? sp. A, Ornamentaspis cf. crassilimbata, Latikingaspis sp. aff. alatus, Enixus sp. aff. juvenis, Acadoparadoxides sp. A, Parasolenopleura wurmi sp. nov., Parasolenopleura parabolica sp. nov. and Acanthomicmacca franconica Geyer, 2016. In addition to precise documentation of the species’ morphology and ontogenetic development, this study exemplifies allometric developments during the ontogeny of ellipsocephaloid and early solenopleurid trilobites, particularly Kingaspidoides and Parasolenopleura, and effects of deformation and distortion caused by diagenesis and tectonics. It further discusses the aspects of the trilobites’ ecology and taphonomy, and it characterises generic differences within the Kingaspis clade, particularly of Kingaspidoides, Latikingaspis and Ornamentaspis.     

On the northernmost distribution of leaf beetles of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreomela</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae): New species from mountains of southern Siberia

Three new species of leaf beetles are described: Oreomela dudkorum sp. n. (Terektinskii Ridge, Central Altai Mountains), O. tuvensis sp. n. (mountains of southeastern Republic of Tuva), and O. romantsovi sp. n. (Western Sayan Mountains). The representatives of this genus, and especially of the nominotypical subgenus, were found in Russia and in the territories mentioned for the first time. Thus, the distribution boundary of this genus is shifted 3–4° northwards. The representatives of Oreomela have most probably migrated from Tien Shan to the mountains of southern Siberia via the Mongolian Altai Mountains.     

Review of the Western Palaearctic Ichneumon-flies of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhorus</Emphasis> Förster, 1869 (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae: Ctenopelmatinae). Part III. The species with the reddish metasoma and black face

In the third part of the revision of the genus Rhorus Förster, 1869, the Palaearctic species with the red metasoma and blackish face are considered and keyed. Ten new Western Palaearctic species are described: Rhorus akdara sp. n., Rh. antennalis sp. n., Rh. brunnifemur sp. n., Rh. dbari sp. n., Rh. hissaricus sp. n., Rh. goderdzi sp. n., Rh. petropolitanus sp. n., Rh. punctatissimus sp. n., Rh. suomi sp. n., Rh. trochanteratus sp. n., together with two new species from East Siberia, Rh. ribesii sp. n. and Rh. sakha sp. n. Rh. binotatus (Kriechbaumer, 1897) and {ptRh. fasciatus} (Gravenhorst, {dy1829}) are redescribed.