Systematics and shell microstructure of the spiriferid genera Echinospirifer and Komispirifer from the Upper Devonian of southern Timan

The type species of the genera Echinospirifer Ljaschenko, 1973 Komispirifer Ljaschenko, 1973 and Mennespirifer Ljaschenko, 1973 were revised based on material from the memorial collection of A.I. Ljaschenko. Mennespirifer is recognized as a junior synonym of the genus Komispirifer; the genera Echinospirifer and Komispirifer differ in fine ornament and the structure of the shell wall.     

Continuing of the revision of Spriferid (Brachiopoda) zonal species from the Frasnian Stage (Upper Devonian) of the Russian Platform

Adolfia siratschoica (Ljaschenko) and Adolfia krestovnikovi (Ljaschenko) are accepted as zonal species of the Petino and Voronezh Horizons of the Frasnian Stage of the Russian Platform. However it was established that these species do not belong to the genus Adolfia. The former species was recognized as the nomenclatural type species of Ljaschenkovia gen. nov. and the latter species was recognized as the type species of Tokmospirifer gen. nov. The comparative analysis provided of the shell structure, microornamentation, and shell interior of the type species of Ljaschenkovia gen. nov., Tokmospirifer brevis gen. et sp. nov., and Adolfia solita Ljaschenko is presented.     

Spiriferid genus Warrenella from the Upper Devonian of Southern and Middle Timan

Nordella orbiculata (Ljaschenko, 1959) and N. subquadrata Ljaschenko, 1973 are revised based on the topotypical material from the collection of A.I. Ljaschenko. Based on data on the morphology, microornamentation, and shell structure Nordella is shown to have characters closely similar to Warrenella Crickmay, 1953 and, therefore, should be considered as its junior synonym. A new species, W. timanimedia sp. nov., is described from the Upper Devonian of Middle Timan.     

Microornamentation and types of punctation in the Devonian spiriferids of the East European Platform

The microornamentation and types of punctation of the Devonian spiriferids Tokmospirifer Oleneva, 2010, Adolfia Gurich, 1909, Echinospirifer Ljaschenko, 1973, Komispirifer Ljaschenko, 1973, Cyrtospirifer Nalivkin in Frederiks, 1924, Uchtospirifer Ljaschenko, 1957, Rotundospirifer Oleneva, 2010, Pyramina Ljaschenko, 1969, Warrenella Crickmay, 1953, Thomasaria Stainbrook, 1945 of the order Spiriferida Waagen, 1883 and Cyrtina Davidson, 1858, Cyrtinaria Oleneva, 2004, Ljaschenkovia Oleneva, 2010, Komiella Ljaschenko, 1985 of the order Spiriferinida are described. New classification of punctate spiriferids is elaborated.     

New species and records of Charisius Champion from Mexico and Central America (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae, Alleculinae)

The species of the genus Charisius Champion, from Mexico and Central America are reviewed. The flightless genus Narses Champion, with one included species, N. subalatus Champion, is placed in synonymy with the genus Charisius. Four new species are described and illustrated, C. granulatus and C. punctatus (from Guatemala) and C. apterus and C. howdenorum (from Mexico). Charisius subalatus (Champion) is redescribed and illustrated. The species C. interstitialis Champion is placed in synonymy with C. zunilensis Champion. The genus is redescribed to include the four new species and N. subalatus. New distributional records are presented for all other species of the genus and a revised key is presented for identification of all the species of the genus.     

Phylogeny, diversity, and species delimitation of the North American Round-Nosed Minnows (Teleostei: Dionda), as inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences

Accurate delimitation of species is a critical first step in protecting biodiversity. Detection of distinct species is especially important for groups of organisms that inhabit sensitive environments subject to recent degradation, such as creeks, springs, and rivers in arid or semi-desert regions. The genus Dionda currently includes six recognized and described species of minnows that live in clear springs and spring-fed creeks of Texas, New Mexico (USA), and northern Mexico, but the boundaries, delimitation, and characterization of species in this genus have not been examined rigorously. The habitats of some of the species in this genus are rapidly deteriorating, and many local populations of Dionda have been extirpated. Considering the increasing concerns over degradation of their habitat, and pending a more detailed morphological revision of the genus, we undertook a molecular survey based on four DNA regions to examine variation over the range of the genus, test species boundaries, and infer phylogenetic relationships within Dionda. Based on analyses of two mitochondrial (cytb and D-loop) and two nuclear (Rag1 and S7) DNA regions from specimens collected throughout the range of Dionda, we identified 12 distinct species in the genus. Formerly synonymized names are available for two of these species, and four other species remain undescribed. We also redefine the known range of six species. The limited distribution of several of the species, coupled with widespread habitat degradation, suggests that many of the species in this genus should be targets for conservation and recovery efforts.     

Cretaceous and Paleogene Bourgueticrinina (Echinodermata,Crinoidea) of the USSR

The theca and the columnals of twenty-two lateCretaceous species of the genus Bourgueticrinus (including two new species), of one species of the genus Democrinus, of four species of the genus Conocrinus (including one new species) and of one species of the genus Paleobathycrinus known from USSR are figured and shortly described. Biometric reconstructions of stems for B. aequalis, B. bellus, B. danicus, B. fischeri and C. tauricus nov. sp. are given. A new index is used to suggest the relative flexibility of stem. Decrease in dimension and flexibility of the arms in several species take place simultaneously with an increase of stem flexibility. This fact seems to be closely related to environmental changes.     

Species, genomes, and section relationships in the genus Arachis (Fabaceae): a molecular phylogeny

The economically important genus Arachis (Fabaceae) comprises 80 species restricted to South America. One monograph on the genus divided it into nine sections and included an intuitive assessment of evolutionary relationships. There is no comprehensive phylogenetic study of the genus. To test the current systematic treatment of the genus, we reconstructed a phylogeny for Arachis using nuclear ITS and plastid trnT–trnF sequences from 46 species representing all nine sections. ITS cloning of the allotetraploid species of section Arachis indicated the presence of A and B genome alleles and chimeric sequences. Our study revealed that species from section Extranervosae were the first emerging lineage in the genus, followed by sections Triseminatae and Caulorrhizae, and two terminal major lineages, which we refer to as erectoides and arachis. The lineage erectoides comprises members of sections Erectoides, Heteranthae, Procumbentes, Rhizomatosae, and Trierectoides. Species in the arachis lineage form two major clades, arachis I (B and D genomes species and the aneuploids) and arachis II (A genome species). Our results substantiated the sectional treatment of Caulorrhizae, Extranervosae, and Triseminatae, but demonstrated that sections Erectoides, Procumbentes, and Trierectoides are not monophyletic. A detailed study of the genus Arachis with denser taxon sampling, additional genomic regions, plus information from morphology and cytogenetics is needed for comprehensive assessment of its systematics.     

Synopsis of the Argentinian scarab genus Pseudogeniates Ohaus (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae)

The scarab beetle genus Pseudogeniates Ohaus (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Rutelini) is endemic to Argentina. The genus includes three species: Pseudogeniates cordobaensis Soula, Pseudogeniates intermedius Ohaus, and Pseudogeniates richterianus Ohaus. We characterize the genus, provide a key to species, redescribe and diagnose each species, provide spatial and temporal distributions, and discuss distributions of the species in relation to eco-regions and areas of endemism in Argentina.     

Two new species and new records of the genus Spinolyprops Pic, 1917 from the Oriental Region (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae, Lupropini) *

Two new species of the genus Spinolyprops Pic, 1917 (Tenebrionidae, subfamily Lagriinae Latreille, 1825) are described from Thailand and China (Spinolyprops cribricollis sp. n., Spinolyprops thailandicus sp. n.). The species characters within the genus are discussed, photographs of all seven Oriental species are added, a species key for the Oriental species is compiled, and a map with the distributional patterns is provided.     

A new species of Ocydromia Meigen from China,with a key to species from the Palaearctic and Oriental Regions (Diptera,Empidoidea, Ocydromiinae)

Previously only one species of the genus Ocydromia Meigen was recorded from China. Here a second species of the genus from China, Ocydromia shanxiensis sp. n., is reported. A key to the species of the genus from the Palaearctic and Oriental regions is presented.     

A review of the microgastropod genus Systenostoma Bavay & Dautzenberg, 1908 and a new subterranean species from China (Gastropoda,Pulmonata, Hypselostomatidae)

A review of the microgastropod genus Systenostoma is provided. Thai and Malaysian species are transferred to a new genus, Angustopila (type species: Systenostoma tamlod Panha & Burch, 1999). A new subterranean Angustopila species is described here. Conchologically, the new species is most similar to the cave-dwelling, Thai A. tamlod (Panha & Burch, 1999). One Thai species (Systenostoma edentata) is transferred to the genus Hypselostoma. Vietnamese members remain in the genus Tonkinospira (nomen novum) for Systenostoma Bavay & Dautzenberg, 1908 (non Systenostoma Marsson, 1887). A comprehensive map of former Systenostoma species is presented. SEM and NanoCT images, including a video of A. huoyani sp. n. internal shell morphology, provide novel perspectives of the shells of Angustopila and of the scarcely known Vietnamese Tonkinospira species. The biology of these snails is not yet known but collection localities suggest a troglophilic ecology.     

The genus Alterosa Blahnik, 2005 (Trichoptera,Philopotamidae, Philopotaminae) in northeastern Brazil,including the description of three new species and an identification key for the genus

Alterosa Blahnik, 2005 contains 35 described species distributed in southern and southeastern Brazil. Three new species of Alterosa from northeastern Brazil are described and illustrated, Alterosa amadoi sp. n., Alterosa castroalvesi sp. n. and Alterosa caymmii sp. n., the first records of the genus from northeastern Brazil. An identification key for all known species of the genus is also presented.     

A Key and Diagnostic Compendium to the Species of the Genus Tylenchorhynchus Cobb, 1913 (Nematoda: Belonolaimidae)

An identification key to 111 species of Tylenchorhynchus is given. Tylenchorhynchus is defined as containing only those species with four incisures in the lateral field. A compendium providing the most important diagnostic characters for use in identification of species is included as a supplement to the key. Some species in a related but unnecessary genus were placed in the genus Tylenchorhynchus, based on morphological structures and logical groupings of the species. Bitylenchus iphilus is transferred to Tylenchorhynchus. The diagnosis of Tylenchorhynchus is emended, and a list of all the valid species of the genus is given. The characters most useful for separating species are the stylet length, shape of lip region, number of lip annules, shape of tail and tail terminus, number of tail annules, and position of vulva (V%). As defined in the paper, the genus currently is composed of 111 valid species.     

Description of two new species of Diaphanosoma Fischer, 1850 (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Sididae) from the United States and Canada and species richness of the genus in North America

Investigation of a small number of samples with representatives of the genus Diaphanosoma from the cladoceran collection of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution (Washington, D.C., U.S.A.) has revealed two new species, D. freyi and D. heberti, from Louisiana–Missouri and Newfoundland, respectively. The former looks like one of the most primitive species of the genus. Two other species, D. fluviatile and D. brevireme, are recorded from the southern United States for the first time. Members of the D. brachyurum and D. birgei species groups, which are morphologically variable and need further detailed investigations, were represented in the bulk of the material studied. The species richness of the genus in North America appears to be high and its composition is obviously complex but remains little studied.     

A new genus and species in the tribe Empoascini (Hemiptera,Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae) from China

One new leafhopper genus, Circinans, is described with a new species Circinans striata sp. n. as the type species from southern China. Habitus photos and illustrations of male genitalia of this new species are given and differences between the new genus and closely related genera are discussed.     

Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical stalk-eyed fly Plagiocephalus Wiedemann (Diptera,Ulidiidae, Ulidiinae)

Plagiocephalus is a genus composed of three species mainly recognized by the males with stalked-eyes. Plagiocephalus lobularis is distributed from Northeastern Brazil to North of Argentina, P. latifrons is distributed from Mexico to Bolivia, and P. intermedius occurs in Costa Rica. We review the species of the genus, providing new diagnostic characters, an identification key, and new information on the terminalia of Plagiocephalus. Also, we update the geographic distribution of the species of the genus.     

Descriptions of a new Brazilian Tacora species and the female of Tacora saturata, and a key to the species of the genus (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Cicadellini)

Tacora johanni, a new species from Rondônia State, North Brazil, is described and illustrated. The new species can be recognized by the male genital features, especially the subgenital plates with the basal half distinctly expanded and with outer lateral margin round, the long and slender preapical pygofer process, and the styles with apical half strongly curved. Also, the genus is recorded for the first time from Venezuela, based on specimens of Tacora saturata Young, 1977, while the female of this species (here described in detail for the first time) shows two unusual features of the genitalia. A key to males of all known Tacora species and a map showing the known distribution of the genus are provided.