Modern classification and distribution of the family Issidae Spinola (Homoptera,Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea)

The modern classification of the family Issidae s. str. is presented according to which the family consists of 3 tribes: Issini, Hemisphaeriini, and Parahiraciini and comprises a total of 994 species and subspecies in 159 genera. The largest tribe, Issini, is distributed worldwide and comprises 129 genera with 755 species and subspecies. The tribes Hemisphaeriini and Parahiraciini are much smaller and mostly distributed in the Indo-Malayan Realm with some taxa also present in the Eastern Palaearctic and the Oceania. The tribe Hemisphaeriini consists of 15 genera with 187 species and subspecies while Parahiraciini includes 14 genera with 38 species. The Palaearctic and Indo-Malayan Realms have the richest faunas of Issidae. In contrast, Equatorial Africa has a very poor fauna of the family, whereas the Australian fauna is still almost undescribed. Chimetopon camerunensis Schmidt is recorded for the first time from Central African Republic and Gabon, and Sarima erythrocyclos Fennah, from Taveuni Island (Fiji).     

Description of three new Triaenodes species from Fiji (Trichoptera,Leptoceridae)

The following three new species are illustrated and described from Fiji: Triaenodes rebellus Eriksson & Johanson, sp. n., Triaenodes oscitus Müller & Johanson, sp. n., and Triaenodes forcipatus Puranen Li & Johanson, sp. n. All species are endemic to Viti Levu. A key to the male Triaenodes species of Fiji is provided. With this report, the number of Triaenodes species known from Fiji is doubled.     

Contributions to the fauna and systematics of the Stenopelmatoidea (Orthoptera) of Indochina and some other territories: VIII

Material on the Indo-Malayan Gryllacridinae (Stenopelmatidae) of the genera Zalarnaca Gor., Dinolarnaca gen. n., Phryganogryllacris Karny, Neanias Br.-W., and Aancistroger B.-Bien. is considered. A new genus, a new subgenus, 17 new species, and 2 new subspecies are described. Some insufficiently known taxa are redescribed. Systematic position of several species and subspecies is clarified.     

First record of the genus Wilkinsonellus (Hymenoptera,Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from Fiji with description of three new species

Wilkinsonellus Mason is a relatively small Pantropical genus of braconid parasitoid wasps within the subfamily Microgastrinae. Most of the currently described species are from the Palaeotropics; however, previous records were absent from Fiji. Here, the first three Wilkinsonellus species from Fiji are described: Wilkinsonellus corpustriacolor sp. n., Wilkinsonellus fijienis sp. n. and Wilkinsonellus nescalpura sp. n. The material was collected by Malaise traps set up in a quite variety of ecosystems (wet zone, dry zone and coastal forests) throughout the archipelago. With these records, Fiji represents the easternmost known distribution of the genus in the Indo-Pacific Region. A key to all of the currently known Wilkinsonellus species is included to facilitate species identification.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the Fauna and systematics of the Stenopelmatoidea (Orthoptera) of Indochina and some other territories: X

A new genus, 26 new species, and 2 new subspecies of the Rhaphidophorinae (Rhaphidophoridae) from the Indo-Malayan Region and the nearest islands are described. These species and subspecies belong to the genera Eurhaphidophora Gor., Neorhaphidophora Gor., Diarhaphidophora gen. n., Stonychophora Karny, and to the first group of the genus Rhaphidophora A.-Serv.     

Molecular and morphometric analysis of nominal Brachidontes exustus (Mollusca,Mytilidae) in Brazilian waters

Brachidontes exustus (Mollusca, Mytilidae) is mainly distributed in Central America, where it has been recognized as a _lataforma species. This study aimed to determine whether B. exustus extends beyond the Amazon Barrier and southward along the Brazilian West Atlantic coast. Mitochondrial genes coding for cytochrome-c oxidase, subunit I (COI) and 16S subunit of ribosomal _lataforma__ cid (16S rRNA) were analyzed with _lata parameters on Brazilian populations (Salvador, Arraial do Cabo and Fernando de Noronha) of scorched mussels previously recorded as B. exustus. Multivariate morphometric _latafor showed partial discrimination of species. Molecular _latafor confirmed B. exustus at Salvador, a population highly similar to Cartagena (Colombia), both belonging to the Atlantic Clade of the B. exustus complex. This fact adds evidence to the idea of the Amazon outflow as a semipermeable barrier. In the southeast of Brazil, B. exustus was not found; instead, B. darwinianus is the species represented at Arraial do Cabo (state of Rio de Janeiro), associated with brackish _lataf. Scorched mussels from Fernando de Noronha are most closely related to B. puniceus from Cape Verde with 4.4% differentiation. Demonstrating an independent evolutionary history since at least the beginning of the Pleistocene, its proposed new name is B. noronhensis.     

Three new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pterophorus</Emphasis> Schäffer (Lepidoptera,Pterophoridae) from the Indo-Malayan Region

Three new species of the plume-moth genus Pterophorus Schäffer, 1766 (Lepidoptera, Pterophoridae) are described from the Indo-Malayan Region: Pterophorus vikhrevi sp. n. from Malaysia (Sabah Island), P. ceylonicus sp. n. from the Republic of Sri Lanka, and P. laocaiensis sp. n. from Vietnam. A list of all the species of this genus known for these countries is given.     

Studies of pacific island plants,XXX. Notes on Fijian Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae

In the Apocynaceae the new combinationAlstonia pacifica (Seem.) A. C. Sm. is required. In the Asclepiadaceae the genusGymnema R. Br. is found not to occur in Fiji; for the two Fijian species previously referred to it the new combinationsLeichardtia stenophylla (A. Gray) A. C. Sm. andTylophora subnuda (A. Gray) A. C. Sm. are proposed. The species ofTylophora occurring in the Fijian Region are reviewed and a new Fijian species,T. venulosa, is described.     

Pempheris gasparinii,a new species of sweeper fish from Trindade Island,southwestern Atlantic (Teleostei,Pempheridae)

Pempheris gasparinii sp. n. is described from five specimens, 59.1–68.0 mm in standard length. It is only known to occur in the shallow reefs of Trindade Island, 1200 km east of the Brazilian coast, in the southwestern Atlantic. Pempheris gasparinii is the third recognized species of Pempheris in the Atlantic Ocean. This new species is morphologically similar to its close relative, Pempheris poeyi, differing by the number of lateral-line scales (51–54 in Pempheris gasparinii vs. 47–49 in Pempheris poeyi), scales below lateral line (10–11 vs. 9), circumpeduncular scales (11–12 vs. 13), head and caudal peduncle lengths (2.7–3.3 vs 3.5–4.0 in head length). Moreover, Pempheris gasparinii shows a 4% genetic divergence from Pempheris poeyi at the cytochrome oxidase I locus (COI), consistent with a lineage split at the beginning of the Pleistocene. This new species represents the 12^th endemic fish species from Trindade Island.     

A New Owl Species of the Genus Otus (Aves: Strigidae) from Lombok,Indonesia

The avifauna of Indonesia is one of the richest in the world but the taxonomic status of many species remains poorly documented. The sole species of scops owl known from Lombok has long been assigned to the widespread Moluccan Scops Owl Otus magicus on the basis of superficial similarities in morphology. Field work in 2003 has shown that the territorial song of the scops owls inhabiting the foothills of Gunung Rinjani differs dramatically from that of O. magicus and is more similar to those of Rufescent Scops Owl O. rufescens and Singapore Scops Owl O. cnephaeus. Detailed comparisons of sound recordings and museum specimens with those of other scops owls in Wallacea and the Indo-Malayan region have confirmed the distinctiveness of the Lombok population. We describe Otus jolandae as a new species, the Rinjani Scops Owl. It is locally common at elevations from 25–1350 m. and occurs within Gunung Rinjani National Park. The new species is known from seven specimens collected by Alfred Everett in 1896. Otus jolandae represents the first endemic bird species from Lombok.     

Distribution and routes of drift migrations in larvae of three species of flatfish Bothus (Bothidae) in open waters of the northern Atlantic

On the basis of large collections, comprehensive data on the distribution of larvae of three species of flatfishes of the genus Bothus (B. ocellatus, B. robinsi, and B. podas) in the northern Atlantic are provided, and the routes of their drift migrations are discussed. Special attention is focused on discussing problems of identification of larvae of the listed species and the specification of evidence on meristic characters of adult flatfishes of these species used for the diagnostics of their larvae. It is shown that larvae of two American species of Bothus carried out from the shelves to the system of western boundary currents are widely distributed in the northern Atlantic drifting in waters of the Northern Subtropical Gyre (NSG). Some of them reach the Azores, and some are drifted along the periphery of the circulation system of the NSG currents towards North America. Unlike larvae of American species, larvae of the eastern Atlantic B. podas perform no transatlantic drift migrations, and the area of their distribution is confined to the waters of the eastern Atlantic. Such differences in the extent of latitudinal passive migrations between B. podas and western Atlantic species are explained according to Torson (1965) by differences in temperature conditions during the drift of larvae of species under comparison that directly affect the decrease (during water temperature increase) or increase (at temperature decrease) of the pelagic phase in their development. The latitudinal drift of larval B. podas from West Africa westwards proceeds due to currents that gradually warm during their motion, which causes a decrease of the dates of their staying in the pelagial. The transatlantic drift of larval American Bothus spp. from North America eastwards is observed in gradually cooling currents, which leads to an increase in the duration and extent of their passive migrations.     

Orthophallonema; A new genus for Leptosomatum ranjhai Timm, 1960

Leptosomatum ranjhai Timm, 1960 can no longer be assigned to Leptosomatum sensu Bongers, 1983 because the sexual dimorphism in the amphids of Leptosomatum is absent in L. ranjhai. The new genus proposed for this species, Orthophallonema, is characterized by the presence of serially oriented lateral epidermal glands, ortho- and loxometanemes (Lorenzen, 1978), and ventral and subventral pre-cloacal sensilla in the male. New material of O. ranjhai (Timm, 1960) comb. nov. is recorded from the Caribbean and a related species from Fiji is described but not named.     

Goeppertia mendesiana sp. nov. (Marantaceae) from Bahia,Brazil, with a key to the species of Goeppertia with ornamented leaves in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil

Goeppertia mendesiana, a new species from the Atlantic Forest of Bahia, Brazil, is described and illustrated. It resembles G. widgrenii (Körn.) Borchs. & Suárez, but differs from that species by its villose petioles and peduncles (vs glabrous in G. widgrenii) and by the absence of bracteoles and interphylls, a rare feature in the genus. The ecology, distribution and conservation status of the new species is presented, along with a key to the species of Goeppertia with ornamented leaves in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.     

Cardiocondyla pirata sp. n. – a new Philippine ant with enigmatic pigmentation pattern (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

A new species of the ant genus Cardiocondyla Emery, 1869 – Cardiocondyla pirata sp. n. – is described from the Philippines. The species belongs to an Indo-Malayan group of six species that is characterized by workers having a strongly bilobate postpetiolar sternite and a thickset mesosoma with strongly convex dorsal profile as well as wingless, ergatoid males with sickle-shaped mandibles. The female castes show a pigmentation pattern not known from any ant worldwide. If having any adaptive value, a possible function of this structure is supposed to be visual dissolution of body shape in order to irritate predators.     

Evolutionary diversification of Western Atlantic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bathygobius</Emphasis> species based on cytogenetic,morphologic and DNA barcode data

A number of fish groups, such as Gobiidae, are highly diversified and taxonomically complex. Extensive efforts are necessary to elucidate their cryptic diversity, since questions often arise about the phylogenetic aspects of new species. Clarifications about the diversity and phylogeny of the Bathygobius species from the southwestern Atlantic are particularly needed. Evidence has been accumulating on the Brazilian coast regarding the possible presence of new species while doubts remain about the taxonomic status of others. The taxonomic identification of some species of Bathygobius has been problematic, given their generally conservative external morphology, and several species are recognized as cryptic. This situation hinders understanding the real diversity in this taxon. Taken together, genetic, cytogenetic and morphometric analyses have been effective in identifying new species of this genus. Here we describe the karyotypic features and morphological patterns of three Western South Atlantic species of Bathygobius. Furthermore, its cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene sequences were compared with those of species from Central America, North America and the Caribbean. The broad analyses performed demonstrated an unsuspected diversity, leading to the identification of an un-described new species (Bathygobius sp.2) and the geographic redefinition of another, Bathygobius sp.1, undoubtedly a branch of B. geminatus, hitherto inaccurately identified as B. mystacium on the coast of Brazil.     

A new species of the bristletail genus Pedetontus silv. (Thysanura, Machilidae) from Thailand

A new bristletail species, Pedetontus phuketi sp. n., is described from Phuket Island, Thailand. It is most similar to P. hainanensis Yu, Zhang W.-W. et Zhang J.-Y., 2010 described from Hainan Island (China). The genus Pedetontus comprises 33 described species in two subgenera: Pedetontus s. str. (6 species) and Verhoeffilis (27 species). The subgenus Verhoeffilis has originated in the southeastern part of the Palaearctic Region. Its representatives migrated to North America in the Paleocene through the Bering Land Bridge which was sunken in the Eocene, so that the Nearctic centre of Pedetontus speciation became isolated and the subgenus Pedetontus s. str. has been formed. The Bering Land Bridge was formed at the end of the Miocene, and the backward migration of bristletails of the subgenus Pedetontus s. str. from the Nearctic to the Palaearctic occurred. Pedetontus palaearcticus was formed on Kamchatka. The southward migration of bristletails of the subgenus Verhoeffilis has led to formation of 10 Indo-Malayan species.     

Two new species of deepwater flathead <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bembras</Emphasis> Cuvier, 1829 from the Andaman Sea,eastern Indian Ocean

Two new species of Bembras Cuvier 1829, Bembras leslieknappi sp. nov. and Bembras andamanensis sp. nov., are described from single specimens collected from the Andaman Sea off Myanmar, eastern Indian Ocean, in 2015. The two new species are distinguished from each other and five known congeners by the numbers of anal-fin rays and pectoral-fin rays (15 and 20 in B. leslieknappi vs. 14 and 20–21 in B. andamanensis), forward-slanting body scale rows above the lateral line (80 vs. 74) and upper limb gill rakers (3 vs. 4), as well as by head (41.5 vs. 42.1% SL), snout (14.3 vs. 13.8% SL) and orbit (10.4 vs. 10.9% SL) proportions, and color of the second dorsal (dusky, with blackish spots only on first spine and bases of many soft rays vs. pale, with many scattered blackish spots), pectoral (with a blotch vs. without it) and caudal (both with a broad band) fins.     

Deepsea herrings (Bathyclupeidae) of the northwestern Pacific ocean

Deepsea herrings of the northwestern Pacific (waters of Japan and Taiwan) are revised. Three species are recognized in this area, and two of them described as new: B. gracilis Fowler, 1938, B. japanotaiwana sp. n., and B. nikparini sp. n. B. japanotaiwana was previously mistakenly identified as the western Atlantic species B. argentea; actually it is especially similar to B. malayana, from which it differs in the bicolor oral cavity and in some meristic characters. B. nikparini is especially close to the Caribbean species B. schroederi, from which it differs in a greater number of developed gill rakers and smaller number of rays in the anal fin.