Two new species of Parapentaneura (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanypodinae) from Brazil,with keys to the males and immature stages

Two new species of Parapentaneura Stur, Fittkau et Serrano, 2006 (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanypodinae) from southeastern Brazil are described and figured as male, pupa and larva: P. brunnescens and P. flavescens. Keys to the males, pupae and larvae of known species of Parapentaneura are provided.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E6860EBE-B781-4DDA-9650-6E6EA3A0309E     

Systematic revision and molecular phylogeny of the land snail genus Fruticocampylaea (Gastropoda: Hygromiidae) from the Caucasus region

This paper presents a systematic revision and a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Caucasian land snail genus Fruticocampylaea. The genus is newly delimited based on the reduction of the cavities adjoining the seminal duct in the penial papilla. Shell and genitalia of all five species (F. narzanensis, F. kobensis, F. tushetica sp. nov., F. christophori, F. daghestana) are described and figures provided. All synonyms and all locality records are listed. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences (fragments of cox1, 16S rDNA, ITS2 and 28S rDNA) confirm the monophyly of Fruticocampylaea. The reduction of the dart apparatus and the conical plug, via which the dart apparatus inserts into the vagina, as well as the molecular phylogenetic analyses, suggests a sister group relationship between Fruticocampylaea and Circassina (without Abchasohela). Furthermore, the molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that the Fruticocampylaea species originated in a rapid radiation. The uplift of the Greater Caucasus in the Late Miocene or Pliocene or climatic changes at the end of the Pliocene or in the early Pleistocene may have caused the radiation of Fruticocampylaea. Low intraspecific variability can be explained by population bottlenecks during Pleistocene glacial periods followed by postglacial population increase.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AB15158D-21A3-4945-8D49-F7DE8E406E2B     

A surprisingly derived hydrometrid (Hemiptera,Gerromorpha) from the Crato Formation,Early Cretaceous of Brazil

In the present paper, we review the fossil record of the Hydrometridae (Hemiptera, Gerromorpha) and present a new species from the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation of Northeastern Brazil, Christometra paradoxa gen. et sp. nov. This species is based on a new specimen (a female), as well as a previously figured one (a male), providing a rare case of preservation of sexually dimorphic features in the fossil record. This is the third species coming from this deposit, which is Aptian-Albian in age and the oldest deposit to have yielded hydrometrids so far. Only five other Mesozoic species are known, being slightly younger in age (Cenomanian). So far, phylogenetic analyses have recovered Cretaceous hydrometrids as basal relative to Cenozoic genera but, Christometra paradoxa exhibits several advanced characteristics that unite it in a clade together with the extant genera Hydrometra and Bacillometroides, in a more derived position than any previously known fossil hydrometrid.

The present publication is registered in the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (Zoobank), under the registration number http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3CFA88AB-3CBC-4CCC-8196-698ECC863947. The registration number for the nomenclatural act of the genus is http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:84744426-1259-4864-8E3F-E43E0DAB2021, and that of the species is http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:23700AB2-F7AD-4F50-A5E7-CB28868079B2.     

A new species of Tetartopeus Czwalina, 1888 from Turkey,and some additional records from the West Palaearctic region (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae)

Tetartopeus frischi sp. n. from the U?ak Province in western Anatolia, Turkey, is described and illustrated. Additional records of ten species of Tetartopeus are reported from the West Palaearctic region, among them several new country records. An updated key to the Turkish species of Tetartopeus is presented.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8B832717-E48D-444A-9E1A-2946DA1BCA68     

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     

Integrative taxonomy reveals phenotypic plasticity in the freshwater mussel Contradens contradens (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in Thailand,with a description of a new species

The freshwater mussel Contradens contradens (Lea, 1838) occurs in most types of freshwater habitats throughout Thailand. The species shows extensive variation in shell morphology, which has led to the recognition of six different subspecies. In this study, the validity of these six subspecies plus one unknown species was assessed using an integrative taxonomic approach. Geometric morphometric analyses revealed significant differences in shell shapes among these six nominal morphological subspecies, although a considerable degree of overlap was detected in some groups. In contrast, the phylogenetic tree obtained from the concatenated data of mitochondrial COI and nuclear H3 gene sequences and molecular species delimitation analyses revealed only three supported clades. These clades are proposed herein as three distinct species, and strongly corresponded to the biogeographically disjunct drainage systems in Thailand. They consisted of the (i) C. contradens clade found in the Chao Phraya Basin and other rivers that drain into the Gulf of Thailand, (ii) C. crossei clade that is restricted to the Middle Mekong Basin, and (iii) a clade containing only the newly discovered species from Huai Luang River in the north-east of Thailand, which is described herein as Contradens rolfbrandti Jeratthitikul & Panha, sp. nov. Speciation among these congeners was probably caused by the restriction of gene flow due to the past geomorphology of the river systems. The intraspecific variation in the shell shape detected here does not reflect the evolution of the mussel, but rather is evidence of phenotypic plasticity.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:649B6093-E1DD-4FD8-8185-A4696C43AD36; http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:777DDE86-8397-4FF3-AA78-0BE0F34611F4     

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     

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     

A new species of Onychopterochelius Blüthgen (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from Turkey

Onychopterocheilus sarikamisensis sp. n. is described and illustrated from eastern Turkey. The species is related to O. hellenicus (Morawitz, 1885) but differs by the shape of the clypeus and antennae, and by the pale colouration of the maculations.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A3E75353-EC16-458F-908FAB9240E8016B     

Phylogenetic confirmation of the genus Robbea (Nematoda: Desmodoridae,Stilbonematinae) with the description of three new species

ABSTRACT

The Stilbonematinae are a monophyletic group of marine nematodes that are characterized by a coat of thiotrophic bacterial symbionts. Among the ten known genera of the Stilbonematinae, the genus Robbea Gerlach 1956 had a problematic taxonomic history of synonymizations and indications of polyphyletic origin. Here we describe three new species of the genus, R. hypermnestra sp. nov., R. ruetzleri sp. nov. and R. agricola sp. nov., using conventional light microscopy, interference contrast microscopy and SEM. We provide 18S rRNA gene sequences of all three species, together with new sequences for the genera Catanema and Leptonemella. Both our morphological analyses as well as our phylogenetic reconstructions corroborate the genus Robbea. In our phylogenetic analysis the three species of the genus Robbea form a distinct clade in the Stilbonematinae radiation and are clearly separated from the clade of the genus Catanema, which has previously been synonymized with Robbea. Surprisingly, in R. hypermnestra sp. nov. all females are intersexes exhibiting male sexual characters. Our extended dataset of Stilbonematinae 18S rRNA genes for the first time allows the identification of the different genera, e.g. in a barcoding approach.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D37C3F5A-CF2B-40E6-8B09-3C72EEED60B0     

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     

A new species of the genus Vulda Jacquelin du Val from Turkey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Xantholinini)

Vulda assingi sp. n. from Bozda?lar, Manisa province, western Anatolia, is de-scribed, illustrated and distinguished from congeners recorded from Turkey. Additional records are reported for two species. A total of six species is now known from Turkey.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B3E6C251-50D4-4985-9655-2EAC57869F18     

New species of Primozygodactylus from Messel and the ecomorphology and evolutionary significance of early Eocene zygodactylid birds (Aves,Zygodactylidae)

Zygodactylids (Zygodactylidae) are the extinct sister taxon of passerines (Passeriformes) and among the more abundant small arboreal birds in the early Eocene German fossil site Messel. Four species of the taxon Primozygodactylus have previously been identified and here two new species are described. In addition, new fossils of the poorly known P. eunjooae are reported. The fossils corroborate the presence of two very long central tail feathers for Primozygodactylus, and the feathering of the taxon corresponds with that of extant birds foraging in scrub and undergrowth. Species diversity of zygodactylids falls short of that of passerines, the most species-rich extant avian clade, and in bill shapes they also do not reach the diversity seen in extant Passeriformes. Because zygodactylids closely resemble passerines in skeletal morphology, the evolutionary success of passerines is unlikely to be due to particular skeletal features. Passerines and zygodactylids coexisted in Europe from the early Oligocene to the middle Miocene, and both groups probably differed in ecological characteristics. The zygodactyl foot of zygodactylids may have represented an adaptation for clinging to tree trunks, and if nesting in tree cavities, zygodactylids may have succumbed to competition for safe nesting places with avian or mammalian competitors.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7F142141-7E1F-4568-89BF-E2363D128C36     

A new piscivorous ornithuromorph from the Jehol Biota

We report on a new species of basal ornithuromorph bird, Piscivoravis liigen. et sp. nov., based on a well-preserved and nearly complete specimen from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in western Liaoning Province, northeastern China. The new specimen preserves several unique anatomical features previously unreported in Early Cretaceous ornithuromorphs, such as a robust furcula with strongly tapered omal tips, a broad sternum without craniocaudal elongation and large and strongly curved manual unguals. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Piscivoravis is more derived than Archaeorynchus, but in a basal polytomy with Jianchangornis, Patagopteryx, and the clade including all more derived ornithuromorphs. The preserved wing and tail feathers provide new information on feather diversity and evolution in Early Cretaceous ornithuromorphs. The preservation of fish bones ventral to the dentary and in the stomach provides direct evidence that the new species was piscivorous – previously only reported in Yanornis, and as in some living birds, was capable of moving food bidirectionally through the alimentary canal.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:92F23126-9E89-4E51-9700-C6608E0D66EB     

Rhagada revisited: on the taxonomy of species from the Kimberley and Dampierland,Western Australia (Pulmonata,Camaenidae)

The genus Rhagada is the second most diverse camaenid genus in Australia. We examined anatomical and mitochondrial characters of previously unidentified material from the Kimberley that was earmarked to potentially represent new species in recently published molecular phylogenetic studies. Our comparisons revealed that specimens from Gibbings Island (‘R. sp. Gibbings’) were morphologically and genetically most similar to Rhagada cygna from the Dampier Peninsula. Hence, ‘R. sp. Gibbings’ is considered to be identical to R. cygna. In addition, we found that R. cygna as so delimited is not clearly distinguished from the second species on the Dampier Peninsula, Rhagada bulgana. Both species differ rather subtly in anatomical and mitochondrial characters, indicating their close relationships and potentially incomplete evolutionary differentiation. Furthermore, we describe two new species based on comparative morphology and mitochondrial sequences: Rhagada worora n. sp. from the Prince Regent Reserve in the Kimberley and Rhagada karajarri n. sp. from Dampierland. The present study confirms that species in Rhagada are best identified by means of both morphological and molecular data.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:556E1866-6F9E-4CC0-8ACF-CD56E929501F     

A new species of Hercostomus Loew, 1857 (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from Turkey

A new species of Hercostomus is described from Turkey: Hercostomus anatoliensis sp. n. The new species is close to Hercostomus parvilamellatus (Macquart, 1827), but is distinguished by its genitalia.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:38B210E3-610D-4BAB-91AC-A212A8054474     

On the genus Sunius Curtis, 1829 of Turkey III. Four new species from western Anatolia,Turkey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae)

Four new micropterous species of the genus Sunius Curtis, 1829 are described and illustrated from western Anatolia: Sunius akdaghensis sp. n. from Kütahya province, Sunius ciceki sp. n. from Bal?kesir province, Sunius ozgeni sp. n. and Sunius cagatayi sp. n. from Denizli province. Additional records are presented for three species. The genus Sunius is now represented in Turkey by 36 species.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F3808D28-65E9-4619-A350-781C971701EC     

Nomenclature of the horned turbans previously known as Turbo cornutus [Lightfoot], 1786 and Turbo chinensis Ozawa & Tomida, 1995 (Vetigastropoda: Trochoidea: Turbinidae) from China,Japan and Korea

Based on the examination of old literature, the names of two species of Batillus Schumacher, 1817, a subgenus of Turbo Linnaeus, 1758, are revised. Turbo cornutus [Lightfoot], 1786 should be restricted to the species endemic to southern China and Taiwan. Turbo chinensis Ozawa & Tomida, 1995 is the junior synonym of T. cornutus. The species of Japan and Korea has long been misidentified with T. cornutus. Turbo japonicus Reeve, 1848 has been used for two very different species: one from Mauritius and another from Japan, with the species from Mauritius being valid, and a member of the subgenus Marmarostoma Swainson, 1840, while the Japanese/Korean species, lacking an available name, is provided with a new replacement name, T. sazae nom. nov.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7E99BA4B-CEB5-4510-BC5E-7852232926B8