Review of the deepwater cardinalfish genus Microichthys Rüppell 1852, with the description of a new species from the Azores Islands (Teleostei: Epigonidae)

Ichthyological Research - The epinonid fish genus Microichthys Rüppell 1852 is reviewed. The genus includes three valid species: M. coccoi Rüppell 1852 and M. sanzoi Spartà 1950 from...     

The second confirmed record of the scorpion genus Chactas Gervais, 1844 (Scorpiones,Chactidae) from Ecuador with description of a new species from the Amazonian Province of Sucumbíos

A new species, Chactas moreti sp. n., is described from Ecuadorian Amazonia. It can be distinguished from Chactas mahnerti Lourenço, 1995, the other known species of this genus from Ecuador by its smaller body size, distinct morphometric values, overall darker blackish-brown coloration, totally smooth vesicle, and a concave anterior margin of carapace. This is the second confirmed record of the genus Chactas Gervais from Ecuador. The geographical pattern of distribution of the genus is also discussed.     

A checklist of the genus Tomosvaryella Aczél (Diptera: Pipunculidae) from the Middle East with the description of a new species

A checklist of 39 species of the genus Tomosvaryella Aczél (Diptera, Pipunculidae) known from the Middle East is provided. A new species, T. hamata Majnon Jahromi &; Kehlmaier sp. n. is described from southern Iran and diagnostic characters of male and female terminalia are illustrated. Tomosvaryella dentiterebra (Collin, 1949 Collin, J. E. (1949): Results of the Armstrong College Expedition to Siwa Oasis (Libyan Desert), 1935, under the leadership of Prof. J. Orner-Cooper. Diptera Empididae, Dolichopodidae, Aschiza and Acalypterae. Bulletin de la Societe Fouad I^erd'Entomologie, 33, 75–225. [Google Scholar]) is redescribed and male and female terminalia are illustrated for the first time. A phylogenetic maximum-likelihood analysis and uncorrected pairwise genetic distances of 18 out of 22 Iranian species of Tomosvaryella based on DNA barcodes of the mitochondrial COI gene are presented and also discussed.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FF8C116D-0C92-431A-B52C-11F3711B6A62     

The Afrotropical genus Afroaltica Biondi & D’Alessandro (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae): new data and description of a new species from Limpopo (Republic of South Africa)

A second flea-beetle species attributable to the South-African genus Afroaltica Biondi & D’Alessandro 2007, is here described: A. parvula n.sp. External habitus with scanning electronic micrographs and line drawings of some diagnostic morphological characteristics are reported. New localities for A. subaptera Biondi & D’Alessandro 2007, are also provided. Because of these new records, both new diagnostic characters and an update of the distribution of the genus Afroaltica are also supplied.     

A synoptic review of the genus Thaumaspis Bolívar (Orthoptera,Tettigoniidae, Meconematinae) with the description of a new genus and four new species

Two new species of the new genus Athaumaspis gen. n., Athaumaspis minutus sp. n. and Athaumaspis tibetanus sp. n. from Vietnam and China are described. The subgenus Pseudothaumaspis of Thaumaspis is elevated to generic status and another two new species Pseudothaumaspis bispinosus sp. n. and Pseudothaumaspis furcocercus sp. n. are described, the remaining species of Thaumaspis are reviewed and keyed with the four new species.     

Review of the West Indian genus Monotalla Bechyné (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae,Alticini) with description of five new species

The West Indian genus Monotalla Bechyné is reviewed, redescribed and illustrated. Five new species are added: Monotalladominicasp. n. (Dominica); Monotallalecticofoliasp. n. (St. Lucia); Monotallamaieraesp. n. (St. Lucia); Monotallaobrienorumsp. n. (Grenada); and Monotallaviridissp. n. (St. Lucia). A key to Monotalla species is provided.     

Revision of the Afrotropical Phaeogenini (Ichneumonidae,Ichneumoninae), with description of a new genus and?twelve new species

We revise the 10 genera and 23 species of the tribe Phaeogenini (Ichneumonidae: Ichneumoninae) known to occur in the Afrotropical region. We describe the following 13 new taxa: Kibalus Rousse, van Noort & Diller, gen. n.; K. toro Rousse, van Noort & Diller, sp. n.; K. mubfs Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; Arearia oxymoron Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; Chauvinia nyanga Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; Dicaelotus asantesana Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; D. hoerikwaggoensis Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; D. tablemountainensis Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; Heterischnus mfongosi Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; H. mkomazi Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; Lusius flummox Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; Tycherus amatola Rousse & van Noort, sp. n.; and T. nardousberg Rousse & van Noort, sp. n. New distribution records: Heterischnus africanus (Heinrich, 1936) from South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda; H. krausi Schönitzer, 1999 from Rwanda; Lusius tenuissimus (Heinrich, 1938) from Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. A doubtful record of Aethecerus foveolatus Gregor, 1940 from Sao Tome is additionaly reported in the appendix. We provide illustrated diagnoses and identification notes. Online interactive dichotomous and matrix Lucid keys to genera and species are available at http://www.waspweb.org.     

Revision of the Agrilus beatissimus species–group (Coleoptera,Buprestidae) with description of five new species from Southeast Asia

The newly defined Agrilus beatissimus species–group comprising seven species from Southeast Asia is revised. The key to species is provided and complemented with illustrations of habitus, genitalia and type specimens. The following five new species are described: Agrilus bilyanus sp. nov. (Thailand); A. campana sp. nov. (Laos); A. galazopos sp. nov. (Laos); A. plurifrons sp. nov. (Laos, Myanmar) and A. undatus sp. nov. (Laos). Comprehensive commented references, data on type specimens and new faunal records are cited. The distribution is updated for A. beatissimusDescarpentries and Villiers 1963 and A. dunoyeriBaudon 1968.     

First record of the genus Bankisus Navás, 1912 in China, with the description of a new species (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae)

A new species of Bankisus Navás, 1912,(Bankisus sparsussp. n.)is described and illustrated with the genus newly recorded from China. A key to species of Bankisus is provided.     

The genus Nelcyndana Stål (Hemiptera, Cicadidae, Taphurini) with description of three new species from Borneo

The type species of Nelcyndana, Nelcyndana tener (Stål, 1870) from the Philippines, is redescribed and illustrated. The taxonomic position of the genus Nelcyndana in the tribe Taphurini is discussed. Three new species from Borneo are described and illustrated: Nelcyndana borneensis sp. n., Nelcyndana vantoli sp. n., and Nelcyndana mulu sp. n. Distributions maps for the three Borneo species are presented and a key for the identification of the four Asian species of the genus is provided.     

First record of the ant subfamily Aenictinae (Hymenoptera,Formicidae) from Saudi Arabia,with?the description of a new species

The ant subfamily Aenictinae is recorded for the first time from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and for the second time from the Arabian Peninsula. A new species Aenictus arabicus sp. n., is described from the worker caste. Aenictus arabicus belongs to the Aenictus wroughtonii-group and appears to be most closely related to Aenictus rhodiensis Menozzi, but can be easily distinguished from the latter by the following characters: overall smaller size; cephalic index (head width/head length) small; occipital corners in lateral view rounded; antennal scape when laid back surpassing approximately two-thirds of head length; funicular segments 2–8 each at least 2× as long as broad; subpetiolar process well developed; petiole and postpetiole distinctly imbricate; gaster and clypeus entirely yellow, teeth of mandibles reddish- brown. Aenictus arabicus was collected from leaf litter, next to a tree of Psidium guajava L. The new species also is similar to Aenictus sagei and Aenictus wroughtonii. Affinities and a key to related species of the species group are given.     

The first record of genus Neocsikia Ôhira & Becker (Coleoptera,Elateridae, Dimini) in China,with the description of a new species

The click-beetle genus Neocsikia Ôhira & Becker, 1972 is newly recorded from Xizang, China upon the discoveries of Neocsikia nepalensis Ôhira & Becker, 1972 and N. xuhaoi Qiu, sp. nov. Neocsikia nepalensis is redescribed based on the type material from Nepal and material collected in Nyalam County, Xizang, China. Neocsikia xuhaoi Qiu, sp. nov. is described based on the material collected in Mêdog County, Xizang, China. Both species are illustrated and their principal diagnostic features are provided. A key to the species of Neocsikia is presented.https://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1B7F59D5-02BC-4739-9B71-B560DA341FF3     

Revision of the plant bug genus Xenocylapus Bergroth (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Cylapinae), with a description of Henryfulvius gracilis – a new cylapine genus and species from Ecuador

The genus Xenocylapus Bergroth, 1922 is revised. Nine new species, Xenocylapus aculeatus sp. nov., X. aquilonius sp. nov., X. bicolor sp. nov., X. globulus sp. nov., X. heissi sp. nov., X. panamaensis sp. nov., X. serrulatus sp. nov., X. tenuis sp. nov., and X. waorani sp. nov., are described from Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama. New genus and species Henryfulvius gracilis gen. nov., sp. nov. is described from Ecuador. Illustrations of the male genitalia, color photographs of dorsal and lateral views of the adult of most species, scanning electron micrographs of selected structures of X. tenuis, and keys to species of the genus Xenocylapus are provided.     

Types of species of Apionidae (Coleoptera) described by Carl Peter Thunberg (1743–1828) with description of?a new genus

The type specimens of species of Apionidae described by Carl Peter Thunberg are reviewed and lecto- and paralectotypes are designated for Apion craccae Thunberg, 1813, Apion limbatum Thunberg, 1813, Apion punctigerum Thunberg, 1815 and Apion astragali Thunberg, 1815. A new genus Thunbergapion (type species Apion limbatum Thunberg, 1813) is described, figured and placed in the tribe Aplemonini Kissinger, 1968. The new combination Thunbergapion limbatum (Thunberg, 1813) is proposed. A key to the known South African genera of the tribe is given. The following new synonymies are established: Oxystoma craccae (Linnaeus, 1767) = Apion craccae Thunberg, 1813 syn. n., Ischnopterapion (Ischnopterapion) loti (Kirby, 1808) = Apion punctigerum Thunberg, 1815, syn. n., and Pseudoprotapion astragali (Paykull, 1800) = Apion astragali Thunberg, 1815, syn. n.     

A small cichlid species flock from the Upper Miocene (9–10 MYA) of Central Kenya

Hydrobiologia - Fossil cichlids from East Africa offer unique insights into the evolutionary history and ancient diversity of the family on the African continent. Here we present three fossil...     

Wrasses of the Galápagos Islands, with the description of a new deepwater species of Halichoeres (Perciformes: Labridae)

Halichoeres raisneri, new species, is described from three specimens captured by the Johnson Sea Link submersible at 114-125 m off Wolf Island, Galápagos. Distinctive features of the new species include a dorsally projecting fleshy flap along the posterior three-quarters of the upper lip and the absence of a canine tooth at the corner of the upper jaw. The body color of freshly caught females is pale pink with two yellow stripes and five prominent pink spots above the uppermost stripe. Similarities between the new species and other labrids are discussed, and a key to the 16 nominal species of Labridae known from the Galápagos Islands is provided. Decodon melasma is recorded from the Archipelago for the first time.     

Oxynoemacheilus cemali,a new species of stone loach (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from the Çoruh River drainage,Turkey

Oxynoemacheilus cemali sp. nov. is described from the Çoruh River drainage in the eastern Black Sea basin. One molecular marker (coI), 25 morphometric and four meristic characters were analysed. Oxynoemacheilus cemali is distinguished from O. kosswigi, O. banarescui, O. samanticus and O. angorae in the Black Sea basin by having a suborbital groove in males, an axillary lobe at the pelvic-fin base, no dorsal adipose crest on the caudal peduncle, a slightly-forked caudal fin and 7–15 dark grey dorsal saddles. Morever, Oxynoemacheilus cemali is distinguished by commonly having 9–15 irregularly-shaped dark-grey bars on the flank posterior to the dorsal-fin origin or, rarely having a mottled pattern or 4–6 irregularly shaped dark-grey bars on the flank posterior to the dorsal-fin origin. Oxynoemacheilus cemali is also distinguished from the closely related species O. araxensis and O. cyri, distributed outside the Black Sea basin, by having 15 and 31 diagnostic nucleotide substitutions in the coI barcode region, respectively.     

An integrative assessment of the taxonomic status of putative hybrid leopard frogs (Anura: Ranidae) from the Chortís Highlands of Central America,with description of a new species

Integrative taxonomy seeks to approach the complex topic of species diagnosis using independent, complementary lines of evidence. Despite their ubiquity throughout North and Central America, taxonomy of the American leopard frogs (Anura: Ranidae: Rana: subgenus Pantherana) remains largely unresolved, and this is arguably nowhere truer than in the Central American country of Honduras, where there are two nominal species, the taxonomy of which remains unresolved. Leopard frogs from several mountainous areas along the continental divide in Honduras have previously been considered putative hybrids between Rana brownorum and R. cf. forreri, as opposed to two alternate hypotheses: one that they represent a high-altitude eco-morph of a single widespread species that included both lowland forms, or a second that there is an undescribed highland species distinct from either of the recognized lowland forms. We examine this set of hypotheses using three independent lines of evidence. First, we used species distribution modelling to examine potential geographic isolation of the highland form and the two putative parental lowland species, and found strong ecological separation between the highland and lowland forms. Second, mitochondrial and nuclear DNA supports the distinction of the highland form from both putative parental species, with mtDNA data refuting the hypothesis that representatives of either species may represent a matrilineal founder. Morphologically, the highland form is significantly smaller than, and otherwise readily differentiated from, both R. brownorum and R. cf. forreri, as well as all other Rana found in Honduras and adjacent areas. As a result, we formally describe the highland leopard frog as a new species.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BE53F587-3618-4433-9651-E495808E5474