A new genus of schizomids (Arachnida: Schizomida: Hubbardiidae) from Mexico,with notes on its systematics

During the systematic revision of Mayazomus, the third most diverse genus of micro whip-scorpions in North America, we found three species with peculiar morphological variation, which are different from those diagnostic characters for Mayazomus. These species share with Mayazomus the large body size and the unusual development of the male pedipalps; however, these three species share the shape of the female spermathecae with Stenochrus rather than with Mayazomus. Therefore, their phylogenetic placements create a dilemma. Here we perform analyses with morphological evidence, using two different methodologies (Parsimony and Bayesian inference) in order to hypothesize the phylogenetic relationships of the three species mentioned with each other and with respect to other North American and/or Central American genera. The results confirm our initial hypothesis that the species belong to a different genus, Olmeca gen. nov., which is recovered as the sister group of all hubbardiine genera included in these analyses, except for the genus Hubbardia. The results also indicate that despite sharing some morphological similarities, it is distantly related with Mayazomus. Three species are described herein: Olmeca brujo sp. nov., Olmeca cruzlopezi sp. nov., and Olmeca santibanezi sp. nov. Additionally, we provide a hypothesis of the relationships and biogeography of Olmeca gen. nov. with other genera.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F64CE801-7D82-4827-A5B9-0C0B41F58043     

Planktonic and periphytic bdelloid rotifers from Thailand reveal a species assemblage with a combination of cosmopolitan and tropical species

The dispersal pattern of microorganisms has been a debated topic in the last decade, because for microscopic organisms with dispersing stages, biogeographic barriers may not exist and geographic distances may have little effect on the probability of their occurrence. In this study we tested whether a group of microscopic animals, the bdelloid rotifers, sampled in a tropical country, could indeed be cosmopolitan, strictly tropical, and/or have endemic species. We sampled freshwater habitats throughout Thailand in dry and rainy seasons between 2014 and 2016, focusing on permanent water bodies, where the prevalence of species producing resting stages acting as propagules for dispersal should be minimal and thus dispersal limitation should exist, with several species being narrowly distributed. We used traditional morphological identification, geometric morphometric analyses on the shape and size of the jaws, and DNA taxonomy to identify species and to quantify the morphological and genetic distances of Thai samples in comparison with data on bdelloids from other areas in the world. We found a total of 12 species of planktonic and periphytic bdelloid rotifers, and all approaches we used, qualitative and quantitative, confirmed a group of nine potentially cosmopolitan species already known from other continents, one tropical oriental species, and two new species with a potentially narrow geographic distribution, one of which we here formally describe. We thus support the idea that for microscopic animals the moderate endemicity hypothesis suggested for protists may also hold true: most of the species we found indeed have a wide geographic distribution, but other species with narrower distributions do exist.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3DF5A913-BE6A-4EA4-88FD-C38C0F7AE00A     

A bizarre sternorrhynchan wing from the Lower Jurassic of Luxembourg (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Pincombeomorpha?)

Fossil wing of Hemiptera Sternorrhyncha with peculiar venation is described from the lower Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) of Bascharage (Grand-duchy of Luxembourg). It represents new family Xulsigiidae fam. nov., comprising a new genus and species Xulsigia karetsa gen. et sp. nov. It is placed preliminarily in extinct infraorder Pincombeomorpha for the presence of three branches of median vein. Key to families of Pincombeomorpha is given and the taxonomic position and venation features of the new fossil are discussed.

Family Xulsigiidae is registered in Zoobank under the http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3A57B428-638A-439A-AEC4-D18B5959B5CA

Genus Xulsigia is registered in Zoobank under the http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2B255A30-5A7C-4CF8-AE77-18ED6E8E03C2     

An intertidal balanomorph Hexaminius venerai sp. nov. (Austrobalanidae) colonizing a log of Podocarpoxylon from the La Meseta Formation (Eocene), Seymour Island,Antarctica: a glimpse of Antarctic antiquity

Abstract

The sessile barnacle Hexaminius venerai sp. nov. (Tetraclitoidea: Austrobalanidae) is described from the middle Eocene La Meseta Formation of Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Hexaminius venerai sp. nov. is the earliest known record of the genus in the Antarctic, the first occurrence of Hexaminius from outside Australian waters and the first record of a fossil cirripede attached to the substrate from the Antarctic. Exceptional preservation of more than 200 specimens, some of which retain opercula within the shell, is discussed. In life, the cirripedes were attached to a tree trunk tentatively identified as Podocarpoxylon, a South Hemisphere conifer. Hexaminius venerai sp. nov. is a survivor of an early phase in balanid radiation, prior to the development of strong radially-interlocked parietes.https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EAA2EB5C-BC57-41FA-93A0-046AF5FD59EB     

Early Miocene rodents of Gökler (Kazan Basin,Central Anatolia,Turkey)

Abstract

The rich and relatively diverse fossil mammalian assemblage from Gökler is of special importance for understanding of faunal evolution in Central Anatolia. Large mammals were not recovered, but insectivores and rodents are abundant. The assemblage of rodents is studied in detail and comprises mainly diversified cricetids. Dormice are abundant, but are represented by only one species. Squirrels are represented only by few specimens and also beaver remains were identified. Spanocricetodon sinuosus is referred to a new genus Latocricetodon nov. gen that is tentatively assigned to the Pseudocricetodontinae. Newly named species are Cricetodon goklerensis sp. nov., Democricetodon haltmari sp. nov., Eumyarion lukasi sp. nov. and Glirudinus matusi sp. nov. The rodent assemblage is assigned to local zone C which is correlated to the European biounit MN2 (early Miocene). Our biochronological assessment is supported by radiometric dating from two volcanic ash layers.

Latocricetodon

LSID http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3414DB1E-0C5E-4154-BE5E-02A9ED183B1A

Cricetodon goklerensis

LSID http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1B658872-6C10-4355-B87C-3E6277AF4EDA

Democricetodon haltmari

LSID http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9B13F956-7F8C-406A-9970-1F5E999E54C6

Eumyarion lukasi

LSID http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:34DED87E-855F-4969-AB84-10BED5C572BF

Glirudinus matusi

LSID http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:798ECB9A-E3B5-4C38-B5B3-FEB17AF734FE     

Description of two new species of Pseudamnicola from southern Turkey (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae)

New material of freshwater molluscs in the Mediterranean region of Turkey revealed two new species of the genus Pseudamnicola Paulucci, 1878, i.e., P. kayseriensis n. sp., and P. gullei n. sp.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3E39E467-22A5-4091-9975-17343DA8D02E     

Two new species of Torymidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) reared from flower heads of Echinops orientalis Trautvetter in south-eastern Turkey

Two new species of torymids, Pseudotorymus hasanberkayi sp. n. and Microdontomerus kahramanmarasensis sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), were reared from flower heads of Echinops orientalis Trautvetter (Asteraceae) collected in Kahramanmara? province, south-eastern Turkey. The new species are described and their diagnostic characters are illustrated.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:848B4E9D-AE8A-4EF8-8072-1F28BE21ADA1     

Description of a new species of Lytorhynchus (Squamata: Colubridae) from Iran

A new species of the genus Lytorhynchus is described from the Kabir-Koh Mountains, southwestern Iran. Known from a single specimen, it is readily distinguished from its congeners by the form of the rostrum, the number of scales, and the colouration and colour pattern.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:66BC88DF-C092-4F7D-8ECD2860EDAC17B1     

Prozercon iranensis sp. n., a new species of Zerconidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Iran

A new species of pseudoscorpion of the genus Calocheiridius Beier &; Turk, Calocheiridius iranicus n. sp., is described from Markazi province, Iran. Illustrations and measurements of the species are given. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:06332B5C-D43A-4955-AB6C- 5847D10C2BAC     

A new species of Plesiodimylus (Dimylidae,Eulipotyphla, Mammalia) from the Early Miocene of Spain

Abstract

We report a new dimylid species, Plesiodimylus ilercavonicus sp. nov., from the Early Miocene locality of Mas d’Antolino B-5 (Ribesalbes-Alcora, Castelló, Spain). This new species of Plesiodimylus is an amblyodont form of the genus and exhibits some primitive characters. The phylogenetic and palaeoenvironmental implications of this southern occurrence of Plesiodimylus in Lower Miocene sediments are discussed.

http://zoobank.org/lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E78DB979-6552-4BE2-BEC9-FA2EA05B7B39     

Description of a new species of Trogoderma Dejean, 1821 from Norfolk Island (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae)

Trogoderma norfolkiana sp. nov. from Norfolk Island is described, illustrated and compared with related species; a differential diagnosis is also provided.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:519C91E0-774C-4AA2-9870-2F6C24B32B7C     

Evolution of ciliary patterns in the Oligotrichida (Ciliophora, Spirotricha) and its taxonomic implications

Although the somatic ciliature of the Oligotrichida typically comprises only a girdle and ventral kinety, a considerable diversity of ciliary patterns occurs. The four main girdle kinety patterns are identically found in tailed and tail-less species. The contractile tail has a complicated and unique ultrastructure and is potentially useful for the cell's movement and/or stabilization during feeding. Accordingly, I assume that this structure has evolved only once, namely, in the Tontoniidae nov. fam., and that the different girdle kinety patterns developed convergently in the tailed and tail-less taxa. Further distinct features suggest the establishment of the families Cyrtostrombidiidae nov. fam. (with cyrtos-like pharyngeal fibres and lack of ventral membranelles and endoral) and Pelagostrombidiidae nov. fam. (with neoformation organelle). An attempt is made to reconstruct the evolution of the kinety patterns based on morphologic, ontogenetic, and ultrastructural data. Some genera of tail-less Oligotrichida base on differences in the ciliary pattern; Omegastrombidium nov. gen. is erected for a further girdle kinety pattern. Likewise, the tailed genus Tontonia is split, resulting in two new genera, viz., Pseudotontonia nov. gen. and Spirotontonia nov. gen. Furthermore, the genus Spirostrombidium is split due to the different origin of the parallel course of girdle and ventral kinety, and Parallelostrombidium nov. gen. is established. However, the genus Thigmostrombidium is rejected because its enlarged thigmotactic membranelles are interpreted as an adaptation to the benthic lifestyle, which occurred several times within different girdle kinety patterns.     

Two new species of Apsilochorema Ulmer, 1907 (Trichoptera: Hydrobiosidae) from India

Two new species Apsilochorema (Apsilochorema) shalimarensis sp. n. and Apsilochorema (Apsilochorema) sainii sp. n. are described and illustrated from India. With these new additions, the genus Apsilochorema Ulmer, 1907 is now represented by 14 species from India.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AAA8C469-850E-4778-BCF1-3FF5B429E559     

New species of the subfamily Conoderinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Dominican amber

Eulechriops argyrosoman. sp. (Curculionidae: Conoderinae: Lechropini) and Geratozygops platysoman. sp., Geratozygops stenosoman. sp. and Geratozygops arsinotusn. sp. (Curculionidae: Conoderinae: Zygopini) are described from Dominican amber. The small size, nearly parallel sides of the pronotum and silvery sheen distinguish Eulechriops argyrosoma from extant members of the genus, which have not been recorded from Hispaniola. Size and rostral and pronotal characters separate the three Geratozygops species from the single species (Geratozygops atropos) previously described from Dominican amber.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:89BC7F43-6C1A-4A6A-839B-CE94C7F6F140     

A new species of Cuacuba (Araneae,Theridiosomatidae) from Brazilian caves

ABSTRACT

A new species of the spider genus Cuacuba from Brazil, C. ribeira sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on eighty-six specimens collected from caves in the Vale do Ribeira region, in the states of São Paulo and Paraná. This species is recognized by the hook-shaped median apophysis on the male palp, and females by having invaginations on the sides of the median posterior edge of the epigynal plate. Cuacuba ribeira sp. nov. is the third species recorded for the genus, and like the other two, also comes from Brazilian caves.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:44036D6B-CA3F-4C15-BBA3-3E5FE81FB299     

Mesozoic diversity of relict subfamily Kempyninae (Neuroptera: Osmylidae)

A new genus and two new species of Kempyninae (Osmylidae), Ponomarenkius excellens gen. et sp. nov. and Arbusella magna sp. nov., are described from the Middle-Upper Jurassic of Daohugou (China). The finding demonstrates that extant kempynins, a typical Gondwanan group, are overshadowed by their Mesozoic relatives in taxonomic diversity and variety of wing venation. Striped patterns of both newly described species are an example of cryptic and disruptive coloration, possibly pinnate leaf mimesis. Eyespot patterns of Arbusella magna sp. nov. can be explained as a result of sexual selection. The abundance and distribution of the Mesozoic kempynins are discussed.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CF33DEB4-0A69-407D-B1B2-1EC6537E4095     

Two new species of Hedychrum Latreille from the Middle East and Pakistan (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae)

Hedychrum zenobia sp. n. is described from Syria and Iraq, and H. linsenmaieri sp. n. from Pakistan. They belong to the H. cirtanum species group hereby established, which includes some of the largest Palaearctic Hedychrum species, characterised by a modified metascutellum projecting over the propodeum, a deep mid-tibial groove in the male and an apicomedial tooth on the third metasomal sternum in the female. Hedychrum cirtanum var. minusculum du Buysson, 1898 is transferred to the genus Hedychridium Abeille de Perrin, 1878 and elevated to species rank as Hedychridium minusculum (du Buysson, 1898) stat. n.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DE7B4BF7-3E4B-4664-8F3A-1FD480F72A41