Phylogeny of the Permian family Metalegoceratidae (Goniatitida,Ammonoidea)

The paper discusses the evolution of the Permian ammonoid family Metalegoceratidae, and a new phylogenetic reconstruction is proposed. Three subfamilies are recognized in this family: Metalegoceratinae Plummer et Scott, 1937; Pericycloceratinae Zhao et Zheng, 1977; and Eothinitinae Ruzhencev, 1956. The genus Metalegoceras Schindewolf, 1931 is subdivided into three subgenera: Metalegoceras s. str., Mesometalegoceras subgen. nov., and Artimetalegoceras subgen. nov. Five species of the endemic South Chinese metalegoceratids are described: Pseudometalegoceras shangraoense (Zhao et Zheng, 1977), P. liratum (Zhao et Zheng, 1977), P. platyventrum (Zhao et Zheng, 1977), P. spirale (Zhao et Zheng, 1977), and Pericycloceras costatum (Zhao et Zheng, 1977).     

New Upper Cambrian Lingulata (Brachiopoda) from the Agyrek mountains (northeastern central Kazakhstan)

Two new genera, Repkinella and Aristotreta, and five new species from the class Lingulata (Brachiopoda) are described from the Upper Cambrian olistolith limestone enclosed in the Upper Ordovician olistostrome from the Agyrek mountains (northeastern Kazakhstan). The family Curticiidae Walcott et Schuchert is referred to the order Lingulida, not order Acrotretida, where it was previously placed.     

Revision of the tribe Colpopterini Gnezdilov, 2003 (Homoptera, Fulgoroidea: Nogodinidae)

The tribe Colpopterini Gnezdilov, 2003 is revised, upgraded to the subfamily Colpopterinae, stat. n., and transferred from the family Issidae Spinola to Nogodinidae Melichar. The tribe Colpopterini is recorded from the Afrotropical Region for the first time—Bumerangum deckerti gen. et sp. n. is described from Southern Africa. The tribe Colpopterini s. str. comprises 6 genera: Bumerangum gen. n., Caudibeccus Gnezdilov et O’Brien, 2008, Colpoptera Burmeister, 1835, Jamaha Gnezdilov et O’Brien, 2008, Neocolpoptera Dozier, 1931, and Ugoa Fennah, 1945. The genera Cheiloceps Uhler, 1895, Tempsa Stål, 1866, Eupilis Walker, 1857, and Gabaloeca Walker, 1870 are transferred to the tribe Issini Spinola of the family Issidae. Issus longulus Lethierry, 1890 is transferred to the genus Colpoptera Burmeister. A key to the genera and a list of the species of the tribe Colpopterini are given. Morphological data confirming independent evolution of similar ovipositor types in the families Issidae and Nogodinidae are provided. The term “styletization” is suggested for describing the transformation of the ovipositor from a rounded to an elongate type.     

The first euthemistid damsel-dragonfly?from the Middle Jurassic of China (Odonata,Epiproctophora,?Isophlebioptera)

Sinoeuthemis daohugouensis gen. et sp. n. is the first record of the isophlebiopteran family Euthemistidae from Middle Jurassic of northeast China, while previously this family was restricted to the early Late Jurassic Kazakhstan. This new finding allows us to emend the family diagnosis with hindwing characters. This new species shows a mixture of characters alternatively present in different genera of the two families Euthemistidae and Sphenophlebiidae.     

Freshwater Pearl mussels of the genus Margaritifera (Mollusca: Bivalvia) described as M. elongata (Lamarck, 1819) and M. borealis (Westerlund, 1871) should be classified with M. margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758)

The shells of Pearl mussels from the basins of the Solza, Keret’, and Umba rivers flowing into the White Sea have been measured to determine the ratio of shell convexity to its maximum height. This ratio is the main character that, according to Bogatov et al. (2003), allows one to distinguish between three species of the genus Margaritifera: M. margaritifera, M. elongata, and M. borealis. It has been found that the above ratio gradually increases as the shell grows. Therefore, this character is unsuitable for species diagnosis, the more so that no hiatus in it between the three forms of pearl mussels has been revealed in any of the samples studied. On this basis, it may be concluded that Northern Europe, including Russia, is inhabited by only one species of pearl mussels, M. margaritifera.     

Materials for the revision of the family Caristiidae (Perciformes): 1. Description of Paracaristius heemstrai gen. et sp. nov.

All representatives of the oceanic mesobenthopelagic family Caristiidae are rare. This family comprises of two genera and six species, but the status of these taxa remains indistinct. On the basis of examinations of collections from both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, and from published data a new genus Paracaristius is established. It differs by a wide suborbital space, the upper jaw is fully covered with suborbitalia, and there is a weak dentition of the roof of the mouth cavity. Within this genus two species are attributed, P. maderensis (Maul, 1949), initially attributed to the genus Caristius (Gill et Smith, 1905), and P. heemstrai sp. nova.     

New archaeocynipids (Hymenoptera,Cynipoidea, Archaeocynipidae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia

A new genus and three new species of parasitic hymenopterans of the family Archaeocynipidae are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia: Khasips alisectus gen. et sp. nov., K. sculptus sp. nov., and K. kovalevi sp. nov. The placement of archaeocynipids in the system of Cynipoidea is discussed.     

On the taxonomy of the Genus Coenosia Meigen, 1826 (Diptera,Muscidae) in the Russian Fauna,with a Description of Coenosia tschernovi sp. n.

Coenosia tschernovi sp. n. is described and illustrated from the Altai and Tuva republics. Coenosia nigrotincta Hennig, 1961 and C. xuei Cui et Li, 1996, are redescribed; the latter species is recorded from Russia for the first time. The new “apukaensis” group is erected for several similar Asian species. Coenosia altaica Sorokina, 2009 is considered a junior synonym of C. subgracilis Xue et Cui, 2001. Supplements to the key to the Siberian representatives of Coenosia Meigen, 1826 (Sorokina, 2009), to include new and recently found species, are given.     

Larval descriptions of the family Porcellanidae: A worldwide annotated compilation of the literature (Crustacea,Decapoda)

For most of the family Porcellanidae, which comprises 283 species, larval development remains to be described. Full development has been only described for 52 species, while part of the larval cycle has been described for 45 species. The importance of knowing the complete larval development of a species goes beyond allowing the identification of larval specimens collected in the plankton. Morphological larval data also constitute a support to cladistic techniques used in the establishment of the phylogenetic status (see Hiller et al. 2006, Marco-Herrero et al. 2013). Nevertheless, the literature on the larval development of this family is old and widely dispersed and in many cases it is difficult to collect the available information on a particular taxon. Towards the aim of facilitating future research, all information available on the larval development of porcellanids has been compiled. Following the taxonomic checklist of Porcellanidae proposed by Osawa and McLaughlin (2010), a checklist has been prepared that reflects the current knowledge about larval development of the group including larval stages and the method used to obtain the larvae, together with references. Those species for which the recognised names have been changed according to Osawa and McLaughlin (2010) are indicated.     

Desertiguana gobiensis gen. et sp. nov., a new lizard (Phrynosomatidae, Iguanomorpha) from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia

A new lizard, Desertiguana gobiensis gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a left mandibular fragment from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia. Comparative analysis of mandibular structures shows that it belongs to the family Phrynosomatidae sensu Frost et Etheridge, 1988. Some questions of relationships of this family with other Iguanomorpha (Iguanidae sensu lato) are discussed.     

The Position of the Palaeozoic Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tunguskagyrus</Emphasis> Yan,Beutel et Lawrence in the Family Triaplidae sensu n. (Coleoptera,Archostemata: Schizophoroidea)

Re-examination of the late Permian Tunguskagyrus planus Yan, Beutel et Lawrence, 2018 has shown that it does not belong to the family Gyrinidae (Adephaga) but should be placed in the family Triaplidae sensu n. (Archostemata) as a congener to “Triaplus” sibiricus Volkov, 2013 (Tunguskagyrus sibiricus (Volkov, 2013), comb. n.). Both these Palaeozoic species, in contrast to the Triassic members of Triaplus Ponomarenko, 1977, have no large metacoxal femoral plates and, therefore, would be better placed apart from the Mesozoic representatives of Triaplus (in a different genus). The synonymy of the family names Triaplidae Ponomarenko, 1977 (= Catiniidae Ponomarenko, 1968, syn. n., nom. praeocc., non Catiniidae Bocquet et Stock, 1957 (Crustacaea, Copepoda), = Coleocatiniidae Ponomarenko et Prokin, 2015, syn. n.) is established. Thus, the family now comprises Avocatinus Ponomarenko, 1969, Catinius Ponomarenko, 1968, Catinoides Ponomarenko, 1969, Macrocatinius Ponomarenko, 1969, Triaplus Ponomarenko, 1977, Triassocatinius Ponomarenko, 1969 and Tunguskagyrus Yan, Beutel et Lawrence, 2018.     

A new Discohelicid (Gastropoda) from the Callovian beds of Russia

A new subgenus and species of the family Discohelicidae, Discohelix (Amerevohelix) alekseevi subgen. et sp. nov., from the clayey-carbonate beds of the Middle Callovian of the Moscow Region is described.     

Meteorona kishinouyei,a new family,genus and species (Cnidaria,Cubozoa, Chirodropida) from Japanese Waters

A new family, genus and species of cubozoan box jellyfish belonging to the order Chirodropida is reported from the eastern Japan. Meteorona kishinouyei gen. et sp. n. possesses the following unique morphological characters with respect to other known species in the Chirodropida: having one tentacle per scalpel-like unbranched pedalium and slightly raised unbranched gastric saccules. A comparative table of the primary diagnostic characters of genus and order in the Chirodropida is given. The order Chirodropida is redefined. The family Chiropsellidae is established. Discussion is provided on the implications for these findings on our current understanding of Cubozoan systematics.     

A new genus and species of the cockroach family Blattulidae from Lebanese amber (Dictyoptera,Blattina)

A new genus and species of the cockroach family Blattulidae, Ocelloblattula ponomarenkoi gen. et sp. nov., are described from the Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber. In the wing venation, the new genus is extremely similar to the Jurassic genus Blattula Handlirsch, differing from the latter in a number of characters in its body structure. This find reveals much about the body structure of the extinct family Blattulidae, which is related to ancestors of the suborders Mantina and Blattina.     

Interesting findings of spiders of the families Gnaphosidae and Liocranidae (Aranei) from the semidesert of the northern Caspian Lowland

Spiders were studied near Dzhanybek Village in Western Kazakhstan Province, the Republic of Kazakhstan. The family Gnaphosidae is represented by 41 species. The female of Drassodes rostratus Esyunin et Tuneva, 2002 is described for the first time, the male palp and the female epigynum are illustrated in detail. D. rostratus is shown to be a valid species but not a junior synonym of Drassodes auritus Schenkel, 1963. The genitalia of Haplodrassus isaevi Ponomarev et Tsvetkov, 2006, a new species for Western Kazakhstan, are described and illustrated. The family Liocranidae is represented by three species. Agraecina lineata (Simon, 1878) is described as a new genus and a species of liocranids for the Republic of Kazakhstan.     

A new kinorhynch genus,Mixtophyes (Kinorhyncha: Homalorhagida), from the Guinea Basin deep-sea,with new data on the family Neocentrophyidae

A new homalorhagid genus and species, Mixtophyes abyssalis gen. et sp. nov., is described from the deep-sea of the Guinea Basin in the Atlantic Ocean. The new genus and species was collected during the R/V Meteor Diva2 M63/2 Cruise, and it is characterized by a trunk with segment 1 consisting of a tergal and a single sternal plate, without any subdivisions or differentiations, segment 2–10 of one tergal and two sternal plates and segment 11 of a tergal and a sternal plate. Lateral terminal spines are present in both sexes. As part of the study of the new taxon, the type material of Neocentrophyes intermedius and N. satyai was re-examined, and new information is provided for both species. Based on the information from Mixtophyes abyssalis gen. et sp. nov. and re-examination of the two Neocentrophyes species, emended diagnoses for Neocentrophyes and Neocentrophyidae are proposed, and an updated identification key to homalorhagid genera and species of Neocentrophyidae is provided. Mixtophyes abyssalis gen. et sp. nov. is tentatively assigned to Neocentrophyidae, but evaluation of our current hypotheses about homalorhagid evolution and phylogeny also indicated that the family most probably is paraphyletic and that revision of homalorhagid classification is required when new results from phylogenetic analyses become available.     

The genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Keppleritiana</Emphasis> gen. nov. (Stephanoceratidae,Ammonoidea) from the Upper Bajocian of the Northern Caucasus

A new ammonite genus of the subfamily Garantianinae, family Stephanoceratidae, from the Upper Bajocian Strenoceras niortense Zone in the Bolshoi Zelenchuk River basin (Karachay-Cherkessia), with two new species from two different localities, is established. The type species Keppleritiana rostovtsevi gen. et sp. nov. is homeomorphic to some species of the Upper Bathonian–Lower Callovian genus Kepplerites (Fam. Kosmoceratidae) but is distinguished by the presence of a ventral furrow in adults. An isolated valve of an aptychus possibly belonging to this species is illustrated. Keppleritiana graebensteini sp. nov. has a more archaic morphology and is apparently ancestral to the type species. The macroconchs and microconchs of both species are described.     

Mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber pelecinid wasps (Hymenoptera,Pelecinidae) support the hypothesis of an Asian origin of the family

A new species of pelecinid wasp, Eopelecinus marechali sp. nov., is described and figured from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber based on a single well-preserved female specimen. Contrary to Eopelecinus inopinatus Jouault et al., 2020a, unique other Eopelecinus known from this deposit, the new species is based on a complete female specimen. This discovery confirms that the Pelecinidae were highly diverse during the Cretaceous and highlights the underestimated diversity of the genus Eopelecinus in Burmese amber biota. Eopelecinus marechali sp. nov. differs from all other Eopelecinus species by its unique metasomal ratio. A summary on the fossil pelecinid species with distributions and ages is provided. Based on the particular geological history of the West Burmese Terrane and the fossil record of the family, the hypothesis of an Asian origin of the family is discussed. The records of Eopelecinus in both Laurasia and Burmese amber biota, during the mid-Cretaceous, suggest that possible transfers of fauna have taken place between these two geological blocks.     

New beetle species of the genus Lasiosyne (Coleoptera, Lasiosynidae) from the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous of Russia and Mongolia

Six new species of the genus Lasiosyne Tan et al., 2007, the type genus of the family Lasiosynidae Kirejtshuk et al., 2010, are described from Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous deposits of Mongolia and East Siberia: L. shartegiensis sp. nov., L. insculpta sp. nov., L. longitarsa sp. nov., L. cataphracta sp. nov., L. punctata sp. nov., and L. decora sp. nov. A modified diagnosis of the genus is proposed.