A new species of snake of the genus Sibon (Serpentes: Colubridae) of the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica

Sibon lamari, a new species of colubrid snake from northeastern Costa Rica is described on the basis of six specimens. The new form differs from the closely allied S. annulatus in color pattern, head size, subcaudal count, and number of labials bordering eye-orbit. This is the third species of Sibon, together with S. argus and S. longifrenis, possessing a green dorsal ground color in Costa Rica. Sibon lamari coexists sympatrically with S. annulatus, S. argus. S. longifrenis and S. nebulatus at the locality of Guayacán de Siquirres (Limón Province).     

A new genus and species of Coenosiini from Costa Rica (Diptera,Muscidae, Coenosiinae)

Palpilongus gen. n. is herein described for one species – Palpilongus bifurcus sp. n., from Costa Rica, based on male and females. The striking morphological characters of the species – palpus very long, about as long as prementum; upper calypter truncate and very short and setae of male sternite 5 bifurcated, confirm that this new species is also a new genus in the tribe Coenosiini. Male and female terminalia were dissected and illustrated.     

A new species of thrip, genus Frankliniella (group Cephalica; Thysanoptera: Thripidae) from Costa Rica

A new species of the Frankliniella cephalica group, from Central Costa Rica, is described under the name "Frankliniella morerai n.sp.". It is closely related to Frankliniella sandovalensis. Both species have translucent bodies, but the new species can be distinguished by these characteristics: setae io II in position 1/2, a complete comb on abdominal segment VIII, antennal segments without coloration and setae po IV longer. It was found in low density in crops of chilli, tomato, lettuce, sweet potato and coriander. A comparative table with other species of this group is included to facilitate diagnosis.     

A new species of fern, genus Danaea (Marattiales: Marattiaceae) endemic to Costa Rica

Danaea tuomistoana A. Rojas (Marattiaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species endemic to Costa Rica; it differs from D. crispa Endres et Richb. by a truncate blade, and by the pinnae, which are 2/5-1/2 incised, cuneated at the base and with a flat margin. The range of D. erecta H. Tuomisto & R.C. Moran in Costa Rica is expanded with a new locality in Puntarenas (8 degrees 57'15" N-82 degrees 50'1" W, 1,500-1,580 masl).     

A new species of Paullinia (Sapindaceae) from Costa Rica

Paullinia fournieri, a new species from Costa Rica is described, illustrated, and its relationships to other species are discussed.     

A food plant specialist in Sparganothini: A new genus and species from Costa Rica (Lepidoptera,Tortricidae)

Sparganocosma docsturnerorum Brown, new genus and new species, is described and illustrated from Área de Conservación (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica. The new genus shares a long, crescent- or ribbon-shaped signum in the corpus bursae of the female genitalia with Aesiocopa Zeller, 1877, Amorbia Clemens, 1860, Amorbimorpha Kruse, 2011, Coelostathma Clemens, 1860, Lambertiodes Diakonoff, 1959, Paramorbia Powell & Lambert, 1986, Rhynchophyllus Meyrick, 1932, Sparganopseustis Powell & Lambert, 1986, Sparganothina Powell, 1986, and Sparganothoides Lambert & Powell, 1986. Putative autapomorphies for Sparganocosma include the extremely short uncus; the smooth (unspined) transtilla; and the upturned, free, distal rod of the sacculus. Adults of Sparganocosma docsturnerorum have been reared numerous times (>50) from larvae collected feeding on rain forest Asplundia utilis (Oerst.) Harling and Asplundia microphylla (Oerst.) Harling (Cyclanthaceae) at intermediate elevations (375–500 m) in ACG. Whereas most Sparganothini are generalists, typically feeding on two or more plant families, Sparganocosma docsturnerorum appears to be a specialist on Asplundia, at least in ACG. The solitary parasitoid wasp Sphelodon wardae Godoy & Gauld (Ichneumonidae; Banchinae) has been reared only from the larvae of Sparganocosma docsturnerorum.     

A new species of Maxillaria (Orchidaceae) from Costa Rica

Maxillaria suaveolens Barringer from the Gulfo Dolce region of Costa Rica is described and illustrated.     

A new species of Lamproderma (Myxomycetes) from Costa Rica

Lamproderma magniretisporum, a new species of myxomycete from Costa Rica, is described and illustrated. This new species is characterized by its lignicolous habitat, long stalk, dark radial capillitium, large spores, and reticulate spore ornamentation. The stability of the taxonomic characters of L. magniretisporum is supported by two well-developed collections. The morphology of the sporocarp was subjected to detailed study with both the light microscope and the scanning electron microscope. Micrographs of all relevant features are presented. Taxonomic novelty Lamproderma magniretisporum G. Moreno, C. Rojas, S.L. Stephenson & H. Singer     

A new species of Trichosalpinx (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) from Costa Rica

Trichosalpinx sanctuarii, a new species of Orchidaceae, subtribe Pleurothallidinae, is described and illustrated. It most resembles T. ringens, from which it is distinguished in the text. The new species is endemic to Costa Rica.     

A new species of Dicrotendipes (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Costa Rica

The adult male of Dicrotendipes baru is described from the Dominical area of southwestern Costa Rica. The species is characterized by its elongate club-like superior volsella. This species represents the third member of the genus known from Costa Rica.     

Morphological variation in the lancehead pitviper Bothrops asper (Garman) (Serpentes: Viperidae) from Middle America

Variation of morphological characters in the pitviper Bothrops asper (Garman) was studied in terms of scutellation, color patterns, and landmark measures for 374 Middle American specimens. Gender, ontogeny, and geographic effects were examined for each character. In this species, females are larger than males and have more ventral and dorsal rows, and can be distinguished by some landmark variables. Males have a higher number of subcaudals and usually are more heavily pigmented in the supralabial region. Age does not affect scutellation, although it does influence pigmentation patterns. Geographic differences were evident in several traits. The seven Middle American populations included in these analyses can be clustered in two major groups: those from Mexico and Nuclear Central America and those from Isthmian Central America. Distinction between these groups is possible in terms of univariate statistics and differences are explained in terms of population fragmentation due to the dynamics of rainforest during Quaternary or by isolation by distance among populations within each region.     

Blakea penduliflora (Melastomataceae): A new green-flowered species from Costa Rica

Blakea penduliflora, a highland epiphyte from Costa Rica, is described, illustrated and compared with the three known Mesoamerican congeners characterized by pendent green flowers and copious nectar.     

Phylogenetic structure and species boundaries in the mountain pitviper Ovophis monticola (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) in Asia

We investigated phylogenetic structure and morphological variation in Asian mountain pitvipers of the genus Ovophis (comprising 3-4 species some of which are considered polytypic) by sequencing four mitochondrial markers (cytochrome b, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4, 12S and 16S rRNA) from 72 specimens, and analysed them in a Bayesian framework together with another 26 sequences from closely related genera. We reconstructed the region of origin and direction of dispersal of the major clades, and of Ovophis as a whole, using likelihood framework analysis. We also defined morphogroups from 280 specimens from across the range of Ovophis to allow the geographic extent of the major clades to be determined, as well as to allow inclusion of specimens lacking sequence data. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the monophyly of Ovophis as currently defined, and revealed that it contains two major lineages, eastern (mainly Chinese) and western, with both occurring in southwestern China, central and northern Viet Nam. The most likely origin of the genus, and of individual lineages, coincides with the northeastern boundary of the Indomalayan hotspot. Major diversification in this species group likely corresponded to major climatic changes arising from the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau in the early to mid Miocene. With reference to the defined morphogroups, we suggest that at least five species are present and provide appropriate names. With a few exceptions, the newly defined species boundaries do not correspond to the existing taxonomy.     

A new species of the zephyrinid nudibranch genus Janolus (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) from North America and Costa Rica

A new species of zephyrinid nudibranch of the genus Janolus Bergh 1884 is described from the Pacific Coast of North America and Costa Rica. J. anulatus sp. nov. differs from other species of Janolus by its external and internal morphology. J. anulatus has a brown or white body with pink, white, and brown spots, smooth papillae epithelium at the base and papillated in the distal part, unbranched digestive gland ducts, smooth jaws, and smooth rachidian and lateral teeth. The species is compared with other species from the Panamic Province and the Western Atlantic. A new extension range of J. barbarensis is documented.     

A new species of fern of the genus Pteris (Filicales: Pteridaceae) endemic to Costa Rica

The new fern species Pteris herrerae A. Rojas & M. Palacios, endemic to Costa Rica, is described. It differs from P. decurrens C. Presl in basal segments reduced to 1/5-1/2 of the next segment (vs. 2/3-3/4), basal pinnae not bifurcated (vs. bifurcated), pinnae apex mucronate (vs. acuminate) and segment apex undulate (vs. dentate). It differs from Pteris consanguinea in the elliptic pinnae (vs. oblong), two segments reduced on the base (vs. lack), segments entire to undulate (vs. dentate), basal pinnae without basiscopic lobes (vs. with basiscopic lobes) and segment apex entire to undulate (vs. dentate).     

A new isidiate species of Arthonia (Ascomycota: Arthoniaceae) from Costa Rica

The new corticolous species Arthonia isidiata is described from the Pacific lowlands of Costa Rica. A. isidiata is characterized by minute, cylindrical to coralloid isidia produced on the thallus surface. The species currently is known only from the type locality in Corcovado National Park, where it occurs abundantly in the coastal rainforest around Sirena Biological Station.     

A new species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the western hognose snake, Heterodon nasicus (Serpentes: Xenodontidae), from Texas

A new species of coccidian (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) is described from the feces of a western hognose snake Heterodon nasicus (Serpentes: Xenodontidae) collected from Texas, and housed in the collection of the Zoological Society of London. Oocysts of Eimeria mchenryi n. sp. are cylindrical, 35.0 ± SD 1.4 (32-37) × 17.0 ± 0.7 (16-18) μm; the shape index (length/width) is 2.05. A micropyle, oocyst residuum, and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are subspherical 9.3 (7-11.5) × 7.7 (6-9) μm, with a shape index of 1.2. There is a sporocyst residuum, but the new species is lacking Stieda bodies. The new species is distinct from those previously named from the Xenodontidae and the allied family, Colubridae.     

A new species of Cyllopsis (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) from Costa Rica

Cyllopsis emilia Chacón and Nishida, a new satyrine species, is described from a single male specimen from Cerro de la Muerte, San José, Costa Rica. This new species can be distinguished from other species of Cyllopsis by its white coloration.     

Two new species of Costus (Costaceae) from Costa Rica

As a result of a review of the Costaceae for theManual de las Plantas de Costa Rica, two new species ofCostus (C. ricus andC. osae) are here described and illustrated. The assignment of the new species ofCostus subgen.Costus is discussed.