DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1292.196683

Authors: Murtada Naser, Amaal Yasser, Maciej Karpowicz, Patricio R. de Los Ríos-Escalante

Abstract: Copepods are a major component of aquatic zooplankton and play essential roles in ecosystem functioning, yet their diversity in Iraq has remained poorly documented and taxonomically fragmented. This study presents the first comprehensive checklist of free-living Copepoda in Iraq, based on published records spanning 1921–2025. Only free-living taxa of Calanoida, Cyclopoida, and Harpacticoida were included, excluding parasitic forms and unidentified larval stages. A total of 51 confirmed species were compiled, comprising 26 Calanoida, 20 Cyclopoida, and 5 Harpacticoida. These include 22 freshwater-associated taxa (43.1%) and 29 marine-origin taxa (56.9%), the latter largely associated with Arabian Gulf estuarine and coastal plankton communities. Calanoida represent the most diverse order, comprising both freshwater taxa from inland waters and numerous marine-origin taxa associated with southern Iraq, whereas Cyclopoida dominate inland freshwater rivers and marshes. Harpacticoida remain markedly underrepresented, indicating substantial undersampling of benthic and meiofaunal habitats. The fauna reflects the coexistence of freshwater taxa associated with the Tigris–Euphrates Basin and marine taxa associated with the northwestern Arabian Gulf. Notable records include the endemic Phyllodiaptomus irakiensis and the invasive estuarine cyclopoid Limnoithona tetraspina, highlighting both regional endemism and emerging anthropogenic pressures. This checklist establishes the first modern national baseline for Iraqi copepod biodiversity and demonstrates that actual diversity remains substantially underestimated, particularly in estuarine, coastal, groundwater, and benthic ecosystems.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1290.182593

Authors: Aaron De la Sota, Max Hidalgo, Guillain Estivals, Dario Faustino-Fuster, Vanessa Meza-Vargas, Pierre Caminade, Leah Bêche, Ricardo Britzke R, Dirk Steinke, Nicolas Hubert

Abstract: The Amazon Basin, the largest on Earth, hosts an exceptionally rich fish fauna shaped by its ancient evolutionary history, vast environmental heterogeneity, and steep altitudinal gradient. Despite this diversity, major taxonomic gaps persist, including the Linnean shortfall—the large number of undescribed species—and the Wallacean shortfall, reflecting limited knowledge of species distributions. During the past two decades, DNA barcoding using the mitochondrial COI gene has helped uncover substantial cryptic diversity in Amazonian fishes, particularly along the Andean slope, where Siluriformes exhibit striking levels of undocumented diversity. In this study, we investigated catfish communities from the families Astroblepidae and Loricariidae in the headwaters of the Madre de Dios and Huallaga rivers in Peru, spanning elevations from 500 to 2,500 m. Using DNA barcoding and multiple species-delimitation methods, we identified 27 MOTUs, most of which could not be assigned to recognized species. Our aim was to examine diversity patterns, species co-occurrence, and phylogenetic community structure along the Andean slope. This framework allows us to evaluate how ecological processes—such as competition, niche partitioning, and ecological specialization—shape community assembly. Combined with evidence of close phylogenetic relationships among MOTUs, our results highlight the likely importance of in situ diversification in driving species turnover and structuring catfish biodiversity across Andean elevational gradients.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1289.204655

Authors: Grady A. Duffy, Jennifer A. Wainwright, Brett C. Gonzalez, Todd Bond, Alan J. Jamieson

Abstract: Princaxelia Dahl, 1959, is a genus containing predatory pardaliscid amphipods, typically captured in small numbers from hadal trenches (> 6,000 m ocean depth). Here, two new species, Princaxelia malohi Duffy & Wainwright, sp. nov. and Princaxelia kahat Duffy & Wainwright, sp. nov., are added to the genus based on key morphological features to bring the total number of species of Princaxelia to seven. DNA barcodes at the 16S and COI region are also provided for all type specimens where possible to add to the limited but growing number available. Princaxelia malohi sp. nov. was described from five specimens captured using baited landers between 8,200–8,350 m water depth in the Tonga Trench. They exhibit the first identified record of Princaxelia from this hadal feature. Key diagnostic features include the presence of two plumose setae on the inner plate of maxilla 1 and one projection near the base of the dactylus in gnathopods 1 and 2. The second species, Princaxelia kahat sp. nov., is described from between 8,000–8,964 m in the Mariana Trench, and is the second species described from this hadal feature. Key diagnostic features for this species include the presence of six plumose setae on the inner plate of maxilla 1, and three to four projections near the base of the dactylus in gnathopod 1, and four to five projections on the base of the dactylus in gnathopod 2. A morphological matrix and key to the genus is updated to aid in future identification of species of Princaxelia and notes on in situ observations are also included.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1288.129555

Authors: Manfredo A. Turcios-Casco, Franklin Castañeda, Don E. Wilson, Bruce Miller, Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske, Eric A. Ramos, Travis W. King, Richard K. LaVal, Nicté Ordóñez-Garza, Danny Ordoñez, Gustavo Graciolli, Daniel Thornton, Marcio Martínez, Nereyda M. Estrada-Andino, Hefer D. Ávila-Palma

Abstract: Our account of the mammals of Honduras presents distribution based on verifiable data, with notes on natural history, ecology, and conservation. Notable additions include information from a recent checklist of bat ectoparasites for Honduras and basic acoustic descriptions of vocal signatures for some bat species. A total of 227 extant native mammalian species within 146 genera and 42 families, including three introduced rodent species, are verified to occur in Honduras. We anticipate that an additional 28 species could eventually be verified in Honduras, bringing the total to 255. A discussion of the importance of additional studies and the conservation of Honduran mammals is included. In closing, we discuss why some questionable records have persisted over time, with local and regional extinctions, and new threats. We hope this review will serve as a new baseline for the next generation to continue to study mammals systematically in the country.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1280.172170

Authors: Javed Khan, Muhammad Qayash Khan, Sultan Ayaz, Saman Yaqub, Sarwar Jahan, Abdur Rauf, Jasim Iqbal, Noor Bahadar

Abstract: The taxonomic identity and distribution of Pakistan’s Microhyla in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has not been confirmed at species level using molecular data; historical records relied on morphology alone and often referred to the now-restricted M. ornata. A combination of field surveys, morphology, bioacoustics, and mitochondrial DNA was utilized to confirm species identity and map the distribution of Microhyla taraiensis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. 125 individuals were collected in 13 districts spanning three climatic zones (arid, semi-arid, and hilly/temperate) from lowland plains to lower montane elevations. Adults and tadpoles were examined morphologically; advertisement calls were recorded from one male; and mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI fragments were sequenced and analyzed with maximum-likelihood phylogenetics. Three COI sequences from Pakistan were identical to one another and matched the M. taraiensis mitogenome from Nepal, and the 16S sequence formed a well-supported clade with Nepalese M. taraiensis, distinct from M. ornata and M. nilphamariensis. Verified records document M. taraiensis at 19 localities in KP, primarily in shallow, human-modified wetlands (paddy fields, irrigation channels, roadside ditches, floodplain ponds), indicating a wider western distribution along the Himalayan foreland than previously documented. These data constitute the first genetically validated records of M. taraiensis in Pakistan, refine regional biogeography at the Indomalayan–Palearctic boundary, and provide a baseline for future genomic, acoustic, and ecological work. Future efforts should pair genome-scale markers with temperature-standardized call libraries, denser spatial sampling, and curated vouchers to assess population structure, refine range limits, and evaluate potential contact with congeners.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1280.182768

Authors: Daniel Jablonski, Frank Tillack, Kristin Mahlow-Tillack, Alice Petzold, Madita Wilzo, Abhijit Das, Muhammad Idrees, Chitra B. Baniya, Rafaqat Masroor, Sylvia Hofmann

Abstract: The Himalaya and Hindu Kush remain among the least scientifically explored mountain regions of Asia. Within their vertebrate fauna, pitvipers of the Gloydius himalayanus (Günther, 1864) complex have long presented taxonomic challenges due to limited sampling in remote areas and the absence of integrative analyses. Here, we present a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the G. himalayanus complex using an integrative framework that combines genetic and distributional data, external morphology, osteology, and ecological evidence. Our dataset also uniquely incorporates both newly collected material and DNA sequences obtained from 19th- and early 20th-century museum specimens, including one of the syntypes of G. himalayanus (BMNH 1946.1.19.64), underscoring the enduring value of historical collections in modern taxonomy. Analyses of four mitochondrial and three nuclear genes from populations across the western and central Himalaya and the Hindu Kush, many of which were genetically studied for the first time, recover five well-supported monophyletic lineages: G. himalayanus sensu stricto, G. chambensis, and three previously unrecognised lineages from the Hindu Kush of north-western Pakistan, the Hazara region of north-eastern Pakistan at the western margin of the Himalaya, and the Himalaya of western and central Nepal. Genetic distances in protein-coding mtDNA markers indicate species-level divergence among these lineages, ranging from 9.2–12.6% in cyt b and 8.1–14.1% in ND4, with additional support from partial allelic differentiation in phased nuclear markers, morphology, and osteology. Based on these results, we formally describe three new species, substantially expanding the known diversity of Gloydius along the southern Himalaya. To stabilise the nomenclature, we designate a lectotype for Halys himalayanus Günther. By integrating modern and historical data, this study demonstrates the lasting scientific relevance of natural history collections and emphasises the urgent need for conservation of these narrowly distributed and potentially regionally threatened mountain snakes.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1279.188643

Authors: Qin Li, Zhekang Liu, Xiaoyu Li, Huashan Yin, Gerard Delvare, Ekaterina V. Tselikh

Abstract: The hymenopteran parasitoid complex of the families Eurytomidae and Pteromalidae associated with Lixus subtilis Boheman, 1836 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) developing on sugar beet is studied in China (Xinjiang region). Eurytoma curculionum Mayr, 1878 (Eurytomidae) was reared from the larvae of Lixus subtilis and recorded for Xinjiang, China, for the first time. A new species, Chlorocytus papahemii sp. nov. (Pteromalidae), a hyperparasitoid of E. curculionum, is described from China. Illustrations and a detailed morphological description of the new species, as well as a redescription of the types of related Chlorocytus species, are provided. An identification key for females of the Chlorocytus harmolitae species is given.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1277.185967

Authors: Vien Hong Thi Nguyen, Cuong The Pham, Truong Quang Nguyen, Minh Le, Minh Duc Le, Anh Van Pham

Abstract: As a result of our field surveys in April and July 2025 in the Kim Bang Proposed Species and Habitat Conservation Area, we provide an extended morphological description of three syntopic anuran species, namely Microhyla heymonsi, M. mukhlesuri, and Occidozyga lingnanica based on newly collected specimens. In addition, we present data on the diet and trophic niche overlap of these syntopic anuran species. Using the stomach-flushing method, we analyzed stomach contents of 26 individuals of M. heymonsi, 42 individuals of M. mukhlesuri, and 48 individuals of O. lingnanica. We found 878 prey items, belonging to five insect orders (Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Thysanoptera) and Araneae in the diet of Microhyla mukhlesuri; 501 prey items, belonging to three insect orders (Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera) in M. heymonsi; and 280 prey items, belonging to eight insect orders (Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Thysanoptera), Decapoda, Isopoda, Gastropoda, Araneae, and Gobiiformes in Occidozyga lingnanica. The highest frequency of occurrence (%F) of prey items identified in O. lingnanica was Coleoptera (48.25%), whereas the highest frequency of occurrence of prey items identified in M. heymonsi and M. mukhlesuri was Isoptera (55.81% and 40.91%, respectively). The trophic niche breadth was highest in O. lingnanica (Bsta = 0.33), followed by M. mukhlesuri (Bsta = 0.06), and the lowest values of niche breadth was recorded for M. heymonsi (Bsta = 0.02). The overlap of trophic niche (Ojk) was 97% between M. mukhlesuri and M. heymonsi, 49% between M. heymonsi and O. lingnanica, and 47% between O. lingnanica and M. mukhlesuri.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1277.172390

Authors: Natália Raschmanová, Vladimír Šustr, Mária Fedičová, Michal Hurka, Martina Žurovcová, Ľubomír Kováč

Abstract: Urban environments exhibit narrower environmental temperature profiles, with increases in mean temperature compared with natural environments. In this context, urban populations will exhibit narrow thermal tolerance ranges, driven by a reduction in the ability to tolerate low temperatures and a more modest increase in the ability to tolerate high temperatures. Also, in the case of morphology, body size may vary with temperature in such urban-natural systems. Generally, there is a lack of knowledge on adaptive intraspecific variation in cold tolerance and body size of Collembola in these contrasting environments. In this study variation in these traits were explored in the common parthenogenetic springtail Isotomiella minor (Schäffer, 1896). The populations from warm urban habitats to tolerate lower temperatures less well than those inhabiting colder natural habitats was expected. Furthermore, whether the body size of populations may be related to habitat temperature was also explored. Significantly higher cold resistance was observed in the natural populations of I. minor compared to the populations from urban sites. The difference in the LD50 values between the populations also corresponded with their survival-temperature curves. The LD50 values correlated significantly with the soil temperature means at the sites. The body size of the Isotomiella populations decreased significantly with increasing soil temperature. Since elevation was the primary driver influencing temperature differences at sites, urbanisation effect could not be fully specified in our study. In conclusion, soil temperature, in combination with other environmental factors, plays a crucial role in the cold tolerance and body size of Isotomiella minor in urban and natural environments.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1275.180665

Authors: Hai-Long Liu, Bing-Bing He, Shuang-Fei Li, An-Tai Wang, Zhang-Li Hu, Yu Zhang

Abstract: We describe two new species of the genera Cryptophallus Bock, 1913 and Limnoplana Faubel, 1983, which have not been reported for nearly a century. Herein, the genus Limnoplana represents a rare group of polyclads inhabiting brackish waters. Cryptophallus sinensis sp. nov. is characterized by: i) a grayish-brown dorsal surface with a slightly darker median region, ii) numerous cerebral eyespots forming two scarcely separate clusters, and iii) an ejaculatory duct joining the prostatic duct at the distal end of the penis. Limnoplana obscuriviridis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by: i) the presence of a true seminal vesicle, ii) a heart-shaped brain, iii) gonopores positioned closer to the posterior end of the body, and iv) a U-shaped Lang’s vesicle with two swollen ends. We provide the first partial DNA maker sequences for these two new species and employ them to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of their corresponding genera. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses show that Cryptophallus and Limnoplana are nested within the Stylochoidea clade. In addition, we have revised the genus Cryptophallus; its familial affiliation remains unresolved, and additional species are required to clarify its phylogenetic position.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1272.183226

Authors: Roberto Caldara, Jiří Skuhrovec, Roberto Casalini, Gael J. Kergoat, Roland Godon, Julien Haran, Rafał Gosik

Abstract: Tychius is a speciose and widespread weevil genus, whose phylogenetic relationships are largely unknown. Here we assess the validity of the subgenus Apeltarius using an integrative approach combining larval morphology and molecular data. The mature larva and pupa of Tychius (Apeltarius) amplicollis Aubé, 1850 are described and illustrated in detail for the first time. Comparisons with known immature stages of several species of Tychius s. str. reveal that the larva and pupa of T. amplicollis exhibit all diagnostic features characteristic of the genus Tychius, showing closest affinity to T. (Tychius) quinquepunctatus (Linnaeus, 1758). Phylogenetic analysis of a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene confirms their close relationship and supports the inclusion of T. amplicollis in the genus Tychius. Newly obtained biological data show that the life history and host-plant associations of T. amplicollis match those of other Tychius species, with Fabeae (Fabaceae) as hosts. Based on this evidence, we propose that Apeltarius be treated as a junior subjective synonym (syn. nov.) of Tychius. Because there are no other subgenera in the genus Tychius we propose the following combinations: Tychius amplicollis Aubé, 1850; Tychius multilineatus (Desbrochers des Loges, 1873); Tychius quinquelineatus Tournier, 1874; Tychius strigulatus (Desbrochers des Loges, 1875).

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1269.172969

Authors: Attila Sándor Takács, Wolfgang Stark, Csaba Szabóky, Miklós Bozsó, Klaudia Kőszegi, Gábor Lendvai, Ignác Richter, Gábor Sramkó, Sándor Jordán

Abstract: We describe Coleophora cytisicolella sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), a new species from material collected in Austria and Hungary during recent fieldwork. The collected specimens were found only in these countries within the Pannonian Biogeographical Region, and were exclusively associated with Chamaecytisus austriacus (L.) Link (Fabaceae). The taxonomic status of the new species was determined by applying traditional macro- and micromorphological methods and genetic analysis, including genitalia examinations and DNA barcoding (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I). In addition to the results of morphological comparisons and genetic analysis, we present further information on the habitat, life history, and larval food plant of this species. Our results revealed that the examined individuals belong to a species new to science, which is a member of the Coleophora genistae Stainton, 1857 species group, and described here as C. cytisicolella sp. nov. Based on the molecular results, the closest relative of the new taxon is Coleophora bruttia, a species described from southern Italy. Although the examined barcoding sequence poorly differentiated these taxa, the micromorphological features of the genitalia revealed their separate status.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1268.177920

Authors: Daniel Jablonski, Rami Khashab, Riyad A. Sadek

Abstract: The ecological and biogeographic limits of arid-adapted reptiles in the Eastern Mediterranean remain poorly understood. Here, we document the first confirmed occurrence and genetic affiliation of the desert racer, Psammophis schokari (Forskål, 1775), in Lebanon, representing the northern limit of its confirmed distribution in the western Levant, where its presence has long remained uncertain. Seventeen records from 11 localities (17–1,148 m a.s.l.) reveal that the species occupies a wide ecological gradient encompassing lowland agricultural areas, semi-arid foothills, and even seasonally snow-covered sites. Mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences place the Lebanese populations within the widespread “Middle Eastern lineage”, yet their haplotypes show a closer affinity to those from North Africa than to currently sampled populations from the southern Levant. This pattern is consistent with historical Afro–Levantine connectivity and suggests that Lebanon may have been reached during one or more Pleistocene dispersal/colonization episodes from northern Africa. The frequent occurrence of individuals in non-desert habitats and even during winter months demonstrates a high degree of ecological flexibility and tolerance to cooler Mediterranean conditions. Our results thus highlight the ability of P. schokari to persist and expand beyond typical desert environments and thereby shedding light on the northern biogeographic limits of arid-adapted snakes in the Middle East. This study fills a significant distributional gap for the genus Psammophis in the Levant and underscores the need for broader sampling to clarify the species’ past colonization routes and evolutionary history across the region.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1264.140174

Authors: Mauricio Bonilla-Flores, Ivana Karanovic, Paula Echeverría-Galindo, Peter Frenzel, Liseth Pérez, Nicole Börner, Katharina Dulias, Junbo Wang, Antje Schwalb

Abstract: A new ostracod species, Heterocypris exodonta Bonilla-Flores & Karanovic, sp. nov. is described from a high-altitude temporary pond near Nam Co, Southern Tibetan Plateau. Detailed morphological analyses of valves, soft body, and the partial mitochondrial COI (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) sequence distinguish this species from its close congeners, Heterocypris incongruens and Heterocypris salina. Key taxonomic features include the morphology of the female genital lobe and the structure of the internal opening of normal pores, particularly variations in the female genital aperture at the intersection of the seminal duct and the oviduct. Pore openings in H. exodonta Bonilla-Flores & Karanovic, sp. nov. and H. incongruens exhibit a turbine shape, while in H. salina they display a simple aperture. Phylogenetic analysis based on the COI dataset supports the new species description and suggests potential synonymy and cryptic species within the H. salina and H. incongruens complexes. Ecologically, these species mainly inhabit temporary water bodies with high oxygen levels and likely follow an r-type ecological strategy, being opportunistic in colonizing new habitats, reproducing via parthenogenesis, and undergoing rapid population growth. This study enhances the understanding of Southern Tibetan Plateau ostracod biodiversity, providing crucial morphological and molecular data for species identification, particularly for parthenogenetic species lacking standard male morphological characters. Additionally, this research offers methods to prevent misidentifications and misinterpretations in (paleo-)ecological studies, contributing significantly to the broader knowledge of taxonomy and ecology of ostracods from the Southern Tibetan Plateau. Due to the high morphological plasticity of Heterocypris incongruens, our findings highlight the need for caution when identifying similar species, as external resemblance may conceal genetic divergence.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1263.147805

Authors: David Tempelman, Wilco C. E. P. Verberk, Maria J. Sanabria

Abstract: Understanding aquatic insect species responses to environmental change necessitates robust data on species occurrences. Using over 140,000 citizen-science records from the Netherlands, we analysed trends in adult caddisflies (Trichoptera) to explore temporal changes in 146 species with differing life-history traits, particularly summer diapause. Diapause, a state of suspended development, allows certain Trichoptera to withstand unfavorable environmental conditions. Our analyses indicate a disproportionate rise in observations of species with summer diapause, which is independent of ease of detection (i.e. a species’ body size and rarity). This is exemplified by the increased prevalence of the caddisfly, Glyphotaelius pellucidus (Retzius, 1783), a species with an adult summer diapause. We interpret these results from the perspective of climate change. Summer droughts and high water temperatures have become more prevalent in recent decades, representing harsh conditions for aquatic larvae. Having an adult summer diapause helps species to avoid these harsh conditions, which is consistent with the observed changes. Conversely, species lacking summer diapause, such as Mystacides longicornis (Linnaeus, 1758), may be more vulnerable to warming. Our results underscore the value of citizen-science data in elucidating shifts in insect populations and offer insight into the adaptive significance of life-history traits.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1263.150420

Authors: Patina K. Mendez

Abstract: Undergraduate research groups can face challenges in their involvement in multi-year or long-term research projects in maintaining momentum for projects, keeping consistency among student researchers, minimizing errors, and retaining institutional knowledge. Management of a large student group with a wide range of projects requires workflows that streamline sample processing for both multi-year projects and developing localized Trichoptera taxonomic identification resources for a specific study region. This paper presents workflows for undergraduate researchers to facilitate (1) sample sorting and identification of adult caddisflies from 4 years of pan trap samples, and (2) developing taxonomic “species pages” that include species description and illustrations for 300+ species of California caddisflies. For the past ten years, almost 80 undergraduate members of the research team have contributed to museum and ecological studies to gain skills recognizing adult Trichoptera, using keys, and gaining familiarity with taxonomic resources such as species descriptions. Undergraduate researchers participate for 2–3 semesters, learn to collaborate, and develop research skills to identify samples. Research team activities have contributed to a 4-year dataset of monthly adult activity in an intermittent stream that will be used for continuing research questions. Moreover, they have compiled a resource for species-level identifications for California caddisflies.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1263.150346

Authors: Pedro López Del Castillo, Germán M. López Iborra, Liliana María Gómez Luna, Perla Alonso Eguía-Lis

Abstract: Four microhabitats within pools (cobbles, sand, leaf litter, and bank vegetation) and one microhabitat in riffles (cobbles) were sampled in both rainy and dry seasons to identify groups of caddisfly species that share larval microhabitats across 15 sites in streams in eastern Cuba. A total of 4,367 individuals representing 13 families, 22 genera, and 36 taxa (species and morphospecies) were collected. To explore the distribution of caddisfly species by microhabitat, a k-means clustering method was used. This analysis grouped the samples into seven clusters based on species abundance across microhabitats, seasonality, altitude, and stream order. The results show that caddisfly abundance is strongly influenced by microhabitat type, seasonal variation, and river characteristics. Riffles consistently had the highest abundance of caddisflies across all sampling periods. Functional feeding groups showed variable abundance and behavior. Scrapers were strongly influenced by seasonality with high abundance in the rainy season, while generalists showed no significant seasonal effect on abundance. This study provides detailed biological trait information for specific caddisfly species, which is essential for using multimetric indices to accurately determine the health of freshwater ecosystems.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1263.150229

Authors: Tatiana Latorre-Beltrán, Ivan Arismendi, Blanca Rios-Touma, William Joseph Gerth, Alexander Petty

Abstract: Understanding the spatial patterns of energy flow from mountain streams via emerging aquatic insects remains limited due to a lack of empirical data. Upon emergence, adult flying insects disperse in both longitudinal (upstream/downstream) and lateral (into terrestrial habitats) directions. Here, we quantified the dispersal patterns of adult aquatic insects in both dimensions using a combination of sticky and Malaise traps. To assess longitudinal dispersal, we deployed sticky traps in transects along three streams, with Petri dish arrays designed to capture insects flying upstream, downstream, or laterally across the channel. Lateral dispersal was measured using the same trap design placed at increasing distances (up to 32–64 m) from the stream edge, complemented by Malaise traps at one site. Trichoptera exhibited the highest family-level richness among captured taxa, and the genus Micrasema showed a clear exponential decay in abundance with distance from the stream, consistent with lateral dispersal theory. Our findings contribute empirical evidence on the spatial extent of aquatic insect emergence and dispersal, informing future studies on stream–riparian energy flow across larger spatial and temporal scales.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1263.148253

Authors: Mathias Kuemmerlen, Wolfram Graf, Johann Waringer, Simon Vitecek, Mladen Kučinić, Ana Previšić, Lujza Keresztes, Miklós Bálint, Steffen U. Pauls

Abstract: Environmental change threatens freshwater biodiversity through altered temperature and precipitation patterns. Available data is frequently insufficient to determine impacts at the species level leading to misinterpreted species’ vulnerability. Conversely, phylogenetic relationships, current distributions and ecological traits of the caddisfly subfamily Drusinae are well known. Thus, species distribution models (SDMs) were set up for 47 Drusinae species to assess individual and trait-specific climate change (CC) vulnerability. Species were grouped by larval feeding guild, stream zonation preference and level of endemism. Models were calibrated with predictors describing climate, topography and geology at a spatial resolution of 1 km2 and were projected for five general circulation models under four future climate scenarios. To limit dispersal, distribution projections were restricted to a maximum of 500 km until the year 2080. Relative predicted range change fluctuated between -100% and 197%, with extinction predicted for five species. Altitudinal shifts varied between -2% and +15%, with distribution centroids shifting between 28 km and 119 km. Our results identify stream zonation, a non-phylogenetic trait, as the best indicator of CC vulnerability. Furthermore, two important conclusions are highlighted: monitoring is best done at the species level while the biodiversity of springs and low order streams requires considerably more attention.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1263.147980

Authors: Gabriela Jijón, Connor Hough, Danyon Gedris, Paul B. Frandsen, John M. Chaston

Abstract: Diet is known to be a major factor in the gut microbiome of many groups of insects. Larvae from the insect order Trichoptera have varied feeding behaviors, encompassing all functional feeding groups, making them an excellent group for studying the links between diet and gut microbe community variation. However, no previous study has examined these links in caddisflies. Here, we characterize the gut microbiome composition of four caddisfly genera belonging to four different functional feeding groups over two sampling periods using 16S metabarcoding. We found that the sampling date had the strongest influence on gut microbiome variation. Host functional feeding groups and phylogeny also influenced gut community composition; however, improved sampling is necessary to confirm this relationship. Our preliminary results point to interesting differences among larvae from different feeding groups and suggest future areas for research, including performing species-level identification of the caddisfly larvae, using more taxa within and between functional feeding groups, using temporal and larval stage-matched replicates, assessing the degree of microbiome residency in caddisfly guts, and performing deeper sequencing.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1263.141377

Authors: David C. Houghton

Abstract: The adult stage of Trichoptera is valuable for assessing the biotic integrity of streams; however, it is not clear which specific metric(s) have the greatest value for doing so. In this study, >500,000 adult caddisfly specimens reflecting 299 species were sampled and identified from 903 stream sites throughout the northcentral United States. Specimen data were compiled into 31 water quality metrics encompassing taxonomic richness, diversity indices, pollution tolerance, percent dominant taxa, and relative abundance of functional feeding groups. Each metric was individually tested for its ability to predict the known percentage of undisturbed habitat upstream of each sampling site using simple linear regression modeling. Most metrics were statistically significant but had R2 values <0.30. The highest performing models were taxonomic richness at the species (R2 = 0.40), genus (0.52), and family (0.59) levels and the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) (0.37). The family level of taxonomic resolution produced models with a higher R2 value than genus or species for all four of the metrics where taxonomic resolution was tested. Multiple linear regression models of all 31 metrics (R2 = 0.65) and of combined family richness, HBI, and the ratio of shredders to filtering collectors (0.62) exhibited modest improvements over using family richness exclusively. These results indicated that simple taxonomic richness metrics constitute the most effective predictors of undisturbed upstream habitat when using adult caddisfly data, and that family richness may be the most effective of all due to low stochastic variation and ease of use.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1263.147968

Authors: Yee Qi Chan, Bryna Jia Ying Liang, Yuchen Ang, John C. Morse, Yixiong Cai, Darren C. J. Yeo

Abstract: In land-scarce Singapore, where fresh water is a critical resource, Trichoptera communities can serve as a biomonitoring tool, yet are poorly known. This study seeks to address this gap by establishing a preliminary understanding of trichopteran diversity and distribution in Singapore’s freshwater streams. From October 2023–January 2024, 11 stream sites across forested nature reserves (N = 5), buffer parks (N = 4), and urban areas (N = 2) were surveyed for trichopteran larvae. Only eight sites (four in forest streams, four in buffer streams) yielded Trichoptera, totalling 107 larval specimens comprising six families (Calamoceratidae, Ecnomidae, Hydropsychidae, Leptoceridae, Odontoceridae, and Polycentropodidae). Leptoceridae were most abundant, Ecnomidae were the rarest, and Hydropsychidae were the most widely distributed. In this study, Trichoptera were absent from the urban streams, which had greater depth and total dissolved solids, but similar Trichoptera assemblages and environmental parameters were recorded in both forest and buffer streams. Although differences between the latter two stream types were not statistically significant, buffer streams had the highest abundance and taxonomic richness. Comparison with past literature also reveals differences in recorded Trichoptera diversity, thus, this study presents an updated record for Trichoptera in Singapore’s streams. These findings further add to a baseline for future biomonitoring, research, and informing long-term freshwater conservation efforts in Singapore.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1263.177866

Authors: Blanca Ríos-Touma, Paul B. Frandsen, Ralph W. Holzenthal, David C. Houghton, Ernesto Rázuri-Gonzales, Steffen U. Pauls

Abstract: Since 1974, caddisfly researchers have convened every three years to share developments in all aspects of Trichoptera research, including faunistics, taxonomy, systematics, evolutionary biology, ecology, and biomonitoring. The 18th International Symposium on Trichoptera took place in Quito, Ecuador, from July 1-5, 2024. It represented the first caddisfly symposium to be held in South America. From the first meeting of Trichoptera workers initiated by the late Hans Malicky in Lunz am See, Austria, in 1974, the symposium has now been held on all continents except Africa. This special issue constitutes the proceedings from this international conference, highlighting novel insights into the study of the "underwater architects".

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1262.172081

Authors: Anh Van Pham, Cuong The Pham, Truong Quang Nguyen, Hoa Thanh Thi Nguyen, Thuong Thanh Hoang, Minh Duc Le, Thomas Ziegler

Abstract: As a result of our field surveys, a new population of the Dao Frog, Amolops daorum (Bain, Lathrop, Murphy, Orlov & Ho, 2003), was found in Son La Province, northern Vietnam, and its identification was based on molecular and morphological analyses. To date, knowledge about the natural history of this species is scarce, including data on its dietary ecology. Using the stomach-flushing method, we analyzed stomach contents of 132 individuals (81 males and 51 females) of A. daorum. We found 501 prey items (458 invertebrates, one vertebrate, and 15 unidentified items), belonging to 11 insect orders (Blattodea, Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Lepidoptera, Odonata, Orthoptera, Plecoptera), insect larvae, Araneae, Opiliones, Mollusca, Polydesmida, Scolopendromorpha, and a frog. The dominant prey items of the species were Coleoptera (19.16%), Hymenoptera (17.76%), insect larvae (16.57%), Hemiptera (9.98%), Araneae (7.98%), Diptera (6.99), and Orthoptera (5.79%). The importance index for these categories ranged from 5.61% to 18.45%. Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were the categories with the highest frequency of prey items, found in 55 and 54 stomachs, respectively. There was an overlap of 82.83% in the diet between males and females. Coleoptera, insect larvae, Hymenoptera, Araneae, and Orthoptera represented the most important prey categories for both sexes.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1261.160796

Authors: Kimberley J. Shropshire, Douglas W. Tallamy

Abstract: We provide a list of all named Lepidoptera in the USA and Canada. Data include ranges, host plants, and synonymies. Information is annotated, including detailed range notes and host-plant records. Data are also provided in unique, easily filtered fields. The list establishes 12,541 native species, 325 exotic species, and 189 species straying occasionally into North America. In addition, we list 146 known but undescribed species, 112 species with uncertain or unresolved status, and 450 excluded species. 7423 of the described species in North America have host record data. Information is presented here as an Excel spreadsheet.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1260.128800

Authors: Federica Fonda, Liam Vezzani, Luis Ángel Mena Aguilar, Carlos Andrés Venegas-Elizondo, Alexander Bolaños Brenes, Dayron Manuel Lopez, Giuseppe Romeo, Dario Sonetti, Matteo Dal Zotto

Abstract: Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, hosting almost 4% of all known mammals. Although the local mammals have undoubtedly been more investigated than those of other Central American countries, some regions still appear poorly known to date, such as the Nicoya Peninsula, NW Costa Rica. Our research focuses on the Karen Mogensen Wildlife Refuge, an important component of the Nicoya Peninsula Biological Corridor. This investigation represents the first comprehensive study of mammals of this area, with the aims to provide baseline information on the mammal community and tourism management. The investigation during a 6-year period (2018–2023) revealed the presence of 60 species, belonging to 50 genera, 23 families, and 8 orders, indicating a high species richness of the area. Among these, we highlight the occurrence of the globally Vulnerable Alouatta palliata and Cebus imitator and the Near Threatened Leopardus wiedii and Vampyrum spectrum, along with the recently recognised Lontra annectens, whose status is still Not Evaluated. The influence of tourism on activity patterns of mammals was also investigated. Using camera trapping, 13 species were detected in 537 trap-days and divided based on functional traits. No evidence of impacts caused by the presence of tourists was found on these species. This suggests that the current conservation policies of the Wildlife Refuge appear to be incorporating ecotourism in a wise and thoughtful manner. The information gathered will be a useful tool for the development and implementation of conservation strategies and actions at the local scale in the near future.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1254.165665

Authors: Ivan N. Marin, Dmitry M. Palatov

Abstract: A new species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Niphargidae) is described from the deep pebble beach interstitial habitats along the northern Black Sea coastline, revealing a new type of environment for this amphipod genus and providing new insight into the diversity of this unusual biotope. Niphargus primoricus sp. nov. belongs to “stygius–longicaudatus” species group corresponds to a distinct phylogenetic lineage, recently called “tarkhankuticus” ingroup (clade), which currently includes several species from the coastal areas of the Black Sea (Crimean Peninsula, southern Caucasus, and northern coast of the Republic of Türkiye [Turkey]). Molecular genetic analysis revealed that the speciation within this ingroup started in the Pliocene, approximately 5.76–3.6 Mya, and correlated with the Black Sea transgression. The divergence of the “tarkhankuticus” clade from the related European congeners probably occurred in the Late Miocene (~ 11–10 Mya), and is likely related to the separation of the Paratethys into different basins (Euxinian, Alpine and Pannonian). The new species has a wide distribution, currently inhabiting nearly 190 kilometers along the Black Sea coastline, from Gelendzhik to Khosta, and is characterized by a low level of genetic divergence between populations. The deep pebble interstitial coastal biotopes in the area are also inhabited by specific gammarid amphipods, for example, Dursogammarus dromaderus Marin & Palatov, 2022 and Litorogammarus dursi Marin, Palatov & Copilaş-Ciocianu, 2023 (Amphipoda: Gammaridae), whose biology has not been studied, and it is unknown how they spread along the coastline.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1253.154757

Authors: Ruiqi Wang, Lu Chen, Jinliang Chen, Haochen Huang, Gangzhi Peng, Honglin Peng, Xinzhang Gao, Bangqing Chen, Naiyi Liu

Abstract: The diversity of the genus Boulenophrys, with around 72 species identified so far, is still thought to be highly underestimated, as it contains a large number of undescribed cryptic species. The favorable ecological environment of the Dalaoling National Nature Reserve, located in Yichang City, Hubei Province, is home to many characteristic species. This work describes a new species from central China, namely: Boulenophrys dalaolingensis Wang, Chen & Liu, 2025, sp. nov. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by the combination of nine external characters: (1) medium-sized body (SVL 49.9–56.2 mm in seven males, SVL 50.3–60.0 mm in three females; (2) vomerine teeth absent; (3) margin of tongue smooth, with weakly notch behind; (4) relative finger length III>II=I>IV; (5) tibio-tarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaching posterior corner of the eye; and (6) toes with more than 1/4 web. Molecularly, the new species forms an independent clade with strong support in the phylogenetic trees of the genus based on two partial mitochondrial sequences: 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that it is a new species that has not been systematically described. Our work increases the number of species in the genus Boulenophrys to 73.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1251.153705

Authors: Fengjing Liu, Yayong Wu, Jindong Zhang, Guang Yang, Shuo Liu, Xue Chen, Jiang Chang, Qiang Xie, Bo Cai

Abstract: A new species of the genus Diploderma is described from the upper Dadu River Valley in the Hengduan mountains of Sichuan Province, China. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial ND2 gene revealed that the new species, Diploderma bifluviale sp. nov., forms a distinct lineage within the Diploderma flaviceps group with an uncorrected genetic distance of ≥3.88%. Morphologically, the new species differs from its congeners by a combination of characters, including a shorter snout-vent length (SVL 62.51–72.55 mm), a shorter tail (TAL/SVL ratio 1.37–1.56), concealed tympanum, absence of a gular spot, and lemon-chiffon dorsolateral stripes with serrated edges in males. Additionally, Diploderma bifluviale sp. nov. exhibits unique coloration traits such as a wheat-colored tongue and the fourth toe with claw reaching either the tympanum or the area between shoulder and tympanum when hind limbs adpressed forward. The species inhabits semi-arid shrublands in warm-dry valleys at elevations of 2,187–2,525 m – a habitat that is distinct from those of its closest relatives. This discovery highlights the understudied biodiversity of the upper Dadu River. Diploderma bifluviale sp. nov. represents the 49th species of the genus and expands our understanding of morphological and ecological diversity within the D. flaviceps group.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1250.151740

Authors: Gabriel Araúz, Vasilisa Chemyreva, Tomás Ríos, Dumas Gálvez, Roberto A. Cambra, Enrique Medianero, William T. Wcislo, Hermógenes Fernández-Marín

Abstract: Leaf-cutter ant nests attract a wide variety of guests and parasites due to considerable food resources, substrate and shelter available within nests. Limited information is known about their taxonomy, bionomics, and natural history, including interactions with the ants, and degree of host specificity of these symbionts. Here we describe two new species of Szelenyiopria Fabritius, 1974 (Diapriidae, Diapriinae, Diapriini) wasps which are koinobiont endoparasitoids of the larvae of a leaf-cutter ant, Acromyrmex coronatus (Fabricius, 1804) (Myrmicinae, Attini) in Chiriquí, Panama. For both new Szelenyiopria species, S. fortunensis Araúz & Fernández-Marín, sp. nov. and S. chiriquiensis Araúz & Fernández-Marín, sp. nov., we provide information on parasite–host interactions. The most abundant and frequent parasitoid type was solitary, while gregarious parasitoidism, where two or more wasps emerged from a single ant larva, was associated with certain times of the year. We provide an updated key to females of all species of Szelenyiopria, their geographic distribution, and host–parasite interactions. Szelenyiopria previously had been identified as parasitoids of several ant genera including some Acromyrmex species, but our data indicate that some species of Szelenyiopria may be specialized on A. coronatus ants. Rates of parasitism suggest that the wasps have a negative effect on colonies and populations of the ants.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1247.151795

Authors: Kwang-Tsao Shao, Hui-Ling Ko, Yung-Chieh Chiu, Hsin-Kai Huang, Ya-Fang Chen, Yen-Wei Chang

Abstract: Fish eggs and larval stages are essential components of marine ecosystems and play important roles in sustaining marine food webs. However, the egg and larval stages often lack distinct diagnostic characteristics, making it challenging to identify species solely based on their morphology. In this study, we applied a DNA barcoding approach targeting the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene to establish a comprehensive reference for fish eggs and larval material in coastal waters off Taiwan. A total of 7602 records of fish eggs and larvae were collected from marine coastal waters surrounding Taiwan between 2004 and 2023 and identified using a DNA barcoding approach. By comparing our newly generated DNA barcoding sequences with records from public reference databases, we identified 1112 different fish taxa encompassing 24 orders, 158 families, 500 genera, and 844 fish species. This DNA barcoding referencing effort will facilitate future studies on the early life stages of Taiwanese coastal marine fish communities. In addition, it will also provide an important baseline for the development of new methods, such as eDNA and DNA metabarcoding diet analysis. This database provides comprehensive spatial and temporal distribution data of fish eggs and larvae in the waters surrounding Taiwan, contributing to a better understanding of fish spawning seasons, spawning grounds, and resource fluctuations. This database enhances the accuracy of species identification and serves as a scientific foundation for biodiversity conservation and fishery resource management.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1244.146861

Authors: Bernd Grundmann, Katarína Loziaková Peňazziová, Tomáš Csank, Laura Mlynárová, Patrik Pastorek, Jozef Oboňa

Abstract: In this paper the results of a Phoridae collection from Košice Zoo in eastern Slovakia are reported. An unusual trap method was employed – BG-Sentinel 2 mosquito traps combined with CO2 as an attractant. Between July and October 2023, 73 species of the Phoridae family were recorded, 24 of which are new to the Slovak fauna (1 species from the genus Woodiphora and 23 species from the genus Megaselia). As a result, the total number of Phoridae species documented in Slovakia has increased to 254.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1239.146538

Authors: Leonardo D. Fernández, Erwin Domínguez, Antonio Parra-Gómez, Enrique Lara

Abstract: Peatlands in southern Chile, particularly in the remote Aysén region, are unique ecosystems that remain understudied despite their ecological significance as natural laboratories. These near-pristine environments serve as essential water reservoirs and harbor largely unexplored microbial diversity. Testate amoebae, a group of shelled protists, play key roles in nutrient cycling and are highly sensitive to environmental changes, making them valuable bioindicators. However, the ecological drivers shaping their diversity and community composition in Chilean peatlands remain poorly understood. This study investigated the spatial distribution and diversity of testate amoebae across five peatlands in the Aysén region (44°S and 49°S; Southern Patagonia, Chile). We recorded 73 morphospecies, including typical southern taxa such as Alocodera cockayni, Apodera vas, Argynnia gertrudeana, Certesella certesi, and C. martiali. Redundancy analysis revealed that organic phosphorus, pH, and sulfate are the most influential factors shaping testate amoeba communities. Beta diversity analysis indicated significant spatial turnover among sites, suggesting that local environmental gradients strongly influence species distribution. Interestingly, Sphagnum-dominated peatlands exhibited higher diversity compared to those with mixed vegetation (vascular plants and bryophytes). Our findings fill a critical gap in understanding microbial biodiversity in Chilean peatlands and highlight the importance of conserving these ecosystems as reservoirs of microbial diversity and natural archives of environmental change.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1238.124535

Authors: Francesco Martoni, James M. H. Tweed, Mark J. Blacket, Diana M. Percy

Abstract: Norfolk Island is a small, isolated archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, 1400 km east of the Australian mainland. The history of human colonisation and land use on the island has resulted in a substantial reduction in the extent and quality of indigenous habitat. A quarantine survey of Norfolk Island in 2012–2014 provided the first records of psyllid species, reporting six taxa from the island. Additional collection records are provided that increase the number to 14 species, of which nine are regarded as adventive, four as native of which two are endemic, and one whose additional distribution is unknown. Two species are formally described here and are the first psyllid species to be described from Norfolk Island. These new species, Pseudophacopteron aewagriini Percy & Martoni, sp. nov. (Aphalaridae) and Acizzia aliceae Percy & Martoni, sp. nov. (Psyllidae) are both considered endemic to Norfolk Island and are associated with native plants, the endemic Alyxia gynopogon (Apocynaceae) and the native Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindaceae), respectively. In addition to an updated checklist, identification keys to adults and immatures of the psyllids found on Norfolk Island and DNA barcodes for all species are provided. Both new species have had complete mitochondrial genomes sequenced in a previous study and here a full annotation of the mitochondrial genome of Acizzia aliceae Percy & Martoni, sp. nov. is supplied. Lastly, the barcode data was analysed in a maximum likelihood constraint framework with previous genome data to investigate the phylogenetic origins of the Norfolk Island taxa.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1237.141007

Authors: Jose L. Fernandez-Triana, Caroline Boudreault, James B. Whitfield, Amelie Höcherl, M. Alex Smith, Winnifred Hallwachs, Daniel H. Janzen

Abstract: The parasitoid wasp genus Dolichogenidea is currently the second most speciose within the subfamily Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), with 366 world species known so far, but with hundreds awaiting to be described. Here, the fauna of the Neotropical region is revised, with an emphasis in the Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), Costa Rica. In addition to 23 species previously recorded from the Neotropics, 102 additional species are described as new, increasing the regional and world richness to 125 and 468 species, respectively. All species are diagnosed and described by using a combination of basic morphology (dichotomous key and brief diagnostic descriptions) and, when available DNA COI barcodes, biology (host data and wasp cocoon strategy), and distribution data. Neither morphology, biology, nor molecular data alone were sufficient to unambiguously separate all taxa, as all approaches were found to have limitations, but the combination of all three approaches provided stronger support to species delimitation. Morphology allowed the inclusion of all known species, therefore building a foundation upon which to improve as more molecular and biological data become available and new species are discovered; however, it was not sufficient (or it was very difficult to use) to separate at least 15% of all species keyed out in the dichotomous key. DNA barcoding was better able to separate species, and it is likely to become the most efficient way to identify species in the near future; however, DNA failed to identify 8.3% of the species with molecular data available, in addition to one third of the described species currently lacking molecular data. Biological data is currently the most incomplete, with only 42% of the species having associated host information, with a strong data availability bias towards ACG specimens. A total of 11 Lepidoptera families are here recorded to be parasitized by Neotropical Dolichogenidea, mainly Depressariidae (34% of all host data available), Gelechiidae (17%), Crambidae (14%), Tortricidae (10%), Thyrididae (8%) and Pyralidae (7%). Most of the wasps seem to be monophagous or at most oligophagous, as 56% are known to only parasitize a single host species, whereas 23% parasitize two host species and 10% parasitize three hosts; in almost all cases, the hosts species belong to one genus (or related genera) in the same Lepidoptera family. Most species of Dolichogenidea are found between 400–1,500 m, but a few have been found at higher elevations, including a few examples higher than 3,000 m (Costa Rica) and 4,000–4,100 m in the Andes (South America). The following nomenclatural acts are proposed: 1) the genus Exoryza is synonymized under Dolichogenidea, syn. nov.; 2) a total of 16 species are transferred to Dolichogenidea as comb. nov., one species formerly in the genus Apanteles: Dolichogenidea croceicornis (Muesebeck, 1958) and all 15 species formerly placed within Exoryza (six of them from the Neotropics): Dolichogenidea asotae (Watanabe, 1932), Dolichogenidea belippicola (Liu & You, 1988), Dolichogenidea hylas (Wilkinson, 1932), Dolichogenidea mariabustosae (Fernandez-Triana, 2016), Dolichogenidea megagaster (de Saeger, 1944), Dolichogenidea minnesota (Mason, 1981), Dolichogenidea monocavus (Valerio & Whitfield, 2004), Dolichogenidea oryzae Walker, 1994, Dolichogenidea reticarina (Song & Chen, 2003), Dolichogenidea richardashleyi (Fernandez-Triana, 2016), Dolichogenidea ritaashleyae (Fernandez-Triana, 2016), Dolichogenidea rosamatarritae (Fernandez-Triana, 2016), Dolichogenidea safranum (Rousse & Gupta, 2013), Dolichogenidea schoenobii (Wilkinson, 1932) and Dolichogenidea yeimycedenoae (Fernandez-Triana, 2016); 3) Dolichogenidea yeimycedenoae (Fernandez-Triana, 2016) becomes a senior secondary homonym of Dolichogenidea yeimycedenoae Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault, 2019; therefore, Dolichogenidea cedenoae Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault, 2025 is a replacement name for Dolichogenidea yeimycedenoae Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault, 2019; 4) the following 102 species, all authored by Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault, are described as sp. nov.: D. aceituno, D. alanflemingi, D. alejandromarini, D. alerce, D. alexamasisae, D. alexandrei, D. alixhamiltonae, D. amazonas, D. anacamposae, D. andreamezae, D. angelsolisi, D. anikenpalolae, D. anniapicadoae, D. annlisterudae, D. annychaverae, D. antioquia, D. antjevirkusae, D. arenal, D. bernardoespinozai, D. beryllacosteae, D. bradzlotnicki, D. caldas, D. carlosalvaradoi, D. carlosviquezi, D. chichicastenango, D. christinaagapakisae, D. claudiadoblesae, D. dole, D. encruzilhada, D. ericpalolai, D. ericsimoni, D. escobarae, D. felipechavarriai, D. frankjoycei, D. fredhicksi, D. helenedumasae, D. heredia, D. ingredolsonae, D. isabelleae, D. isidrochaconi, D. jaimelewisi, D. jasonkelleyi, D. jennyphillipsae, D. jessiehillae, D. johnrobinsoni, D. jorgecarvajali, D. jorgecortesi, D. josephfridmani, D. joshdarfleri, D. juanmatai, D. junhyongkimi, D. kasiiya, D. katiemccluskeyae, D. kenzabaddouae, D. lacochaparamo, D. leahdennisae, D. limoncocha, D. luishamiltoni, D. luzmariaromeroae, D. machupichu, D. mehdirheljari, D. moniqueae, D. moniquegilbertae, D. ninamasisae, D. nothofagus, D. oiketicus, D. palenque, D. papallacta, D. paulfryi, D. pedroleoni, D. puschendorfi, D. putumayo, D. puyo, D. rexhamiltoni, D. robertofernandezi, D. robinsherwoodae, D. robmacewani, D. robpringlei, D. rociocordobae, D. rodrigogamezi, D. ronaldzunigai, D. rubymacpearsae, D. rudyamadori, D. sallydaleyae, D. sarahoconnorae, D. scottmilleri, D. shelleymcsweeneyae, D. sigifredomarini, D. stephmae, D. stevestroudi, D. susanabramsae, D. teremariae, D. tiboshartae, D. timrichi, D. tomdaleyi, D. tristanpalolai, D. tucuman, D. verobrondexae, D. virgendelparamo, D. weaversway, D. yungas, D. yvesbraeti.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1236.138858

Authors: Kássio de Castro Araújo, Nayla Letícia Rodrigues Assunção, Mirco Solé, Etielle Barroso de Andrade

Abstract: Anurans are among the most diverse groups of vertebrates globally, and environmental heterogeneity plays a key role in shaping their diversity patterns. This study aimed to update the anuran checklist of the Serra da Capivara National Park, Piauí State, northeastern Brazil, and investigate the influence of local heterogeneity on anuran abundance and richness. We recorded 16 anuran species across five families – Bufonidae, Hylidae, Leptodactylidae, Microhylidae, and Phyllomedusidae – most of which are typical Caatinga species or widely distributed taxa. Our results indicate that local heterogeneity did not significantly affect species richness; however, it had a notable impact on anuran abundance. We highlight the importance of heterogeneous habitats in supporting larger anuran populations and enhancing population stability. This study contributes to the understanding of biodiversity patterns and the primary environmental factors affecting anuran communities in Serra da Capivara National Park, offering insights to inform current and future conservation strategies.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1234.146453

Authors: Makoto Kato, Atsushi Kawakita

Abstract: Heterosmilax is a unique dioecious genus of Smilacaceae (Liliales, Monocotyledon) in that both male and female flowers are sympetalous, ellipsoid, and almost closed. Our field observations in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan showed that H. japonica flowers are visited and pollinated exclusively by females of one cecidomyiid gall midge species, whose larvae breed in fallen male flowers and feed initially on pollen and later on floral tissue. This is the first example of obligate gall midge-associated brood-site pollination mutualism in which the pollinator brood site is fallen male flowers. The pollinator gall midge is described as Dasineura heterosmilacicola sp. nov. (tribe Dasineurini, supertribe Lasiopteridi). A molecular phylogenetic analysis reveals that it derived from a flower parasite or flower-bud galler. The sympetalous ellipsoid male flowers are thought to have adapted to allow pollen dusting on the post-abdomen of the pollinator midge, in addition to protecting and incubating internal pollinator larvae in the fallen flowers.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1234.143893

Authors: Zachary G. MacDonald, Julian R. Dupuis, James R. N. Glasier, Robert Sissons, Axel Moehrenschlager, H. Bradley Shaffer, Felix A. H. Sperling

Abstract: We describe a highly isolated population of hairstreak butterfly from Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada, as a new species, Satyrium curiosolus sp. nov., previously recognized as Satyrium semiluna (Half-moon Hairstreak). We propose “Curiously Isolated Hairstreak” as the common name due to its disjunct and unusual distribution. Previous whole-genome analyses revealed S. curiosolus has extremely low genomic diversity and is highly divergent from the nearest S. semiluna populations in British Columbia and Montana, more than 400 km distant. Further analysis suggested prolonged inbreeding and isolation for up to ~40,000 years BP. Ecological niche modeling indicated that S. curiosolus occupies environmental conditions that are distinct from S. semiluna, suggesting niche divergence driven by long-term geographical and ecological separation. While host plant and ant associations have not been definitively resolved, they likely differ between S. curiosolus and S. semiluna. As part of this description, we provide whole-genome consensus sequences for each individual of the type series and identify 21,985 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are divergently fixed between S. curiosolus and S. semiluna, including 117 unlinked SNPs distributed across the genome as putative diagnostic markers. Previously listed as Endangered in Canada as the Waterton population of S. semiluna, S. curiosolus should retain this conservation status due to its extreme isolation, small population size, and flatlined genomic diversity. We propose species recognition as a testable hypothesis under the General Lineage Concept and recommend further research to explore the taxonomy, ecological relationships, and conservation of the greater species complex, including S. curiosolus, S. semiluna, and S. fuliginosa.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1233.120598

Authors: Rafael Jordão, Julianna Freires Barbosa, Felipe Ferraz Figueiredo Moreira

Abstract: A four-year survey for Notonectidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) was conducted in eleven conservation units and adjacent areas distributed over six states in northeastern Brazil. Nearly 1400 specimens of the following 18 species, four genera, and two subfamilies have been collected: Buenoa amnigenus (White, 1879), B. femoralis (Fieber, 1851), B. fuscipennis (Berg, 1879), B. koina Nieser & Pelli, 1994, B. konta Nieser & Pelli, 1994, B. mutabilis Truxal, 1953, B. pallipes (Fabricius, 1803), B. platycnemis (Fieber, 1851), B. pseudomutabilis Barbosa, Ribeiro & Nessimian, 2010, B. salutis Kirkaldy, 1904, B. tarsalis Truxal, 1953, B. unguis Truxal, 1953 (Anisopinae); Enitharoides brasiliensis (Spinola, 1837), E. tricomerus Barbosa, Ribeiro & Nessimian, 2017, Martarega bentoi Truxal, 1949, M. brasiliensis Truxal, 1949, M. membranacea White, 1879, and Notonecta disturbata Hungerford, 1926 (Notonectinae). Altogether, they represent 30 new records from the states of Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Pernambuco, Piauí, and Sergipe, and seven new records from northeastern Brazil, increasing the number of species recorded from the region from 11 to 18. A key to these species is provided, as well as illustrations, diagnoses, taxonomic notes, and a summary of their known geographic distributions.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1233.140726

Authors: Dirk Ahrens, Alexander Haas, Thaynara L. Pacheco, Peter Grobe

Abstract: We provide short tutorials in how to read out specimen label data from type- as well as handwritten labels in a rapid and easy way with a mobile phone. We apply them in general, but test them in particular for insect specimen labels, which are generally quite small. We provide alterative procedure instructions for Android and Apple based environments, as well as protocols for single and bulk scans. We expect that this way of data capture will be of great help for a simple digitization in taxonomy and collection management, independent from large industrial digitization pipelines. By omitting the step of taking/maintaining images of the labels, this approach is more rapid, cheaper, and environmentally more sustainable because no storage with carbon footprint is required for label images. We see the biggest advantage of this protocol in the use of readily available commercial devices, which are easy to handle, as they are used on a daily basis and can be replaced at relatively low cost when they come into (informatic) age, which is also a matter of cyber security.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1232.143989

Authors: Clayton R. Traylor, Michael D. Ulyshen, J. Winston Cornish, Gabriel Tigreros, Joseph V. McHugh

Abstract: Deadwood-dependent (saproxylic) insects represent a large proportion of forest biodiversity, are major contributors to ecosystem processes, and are conservation priorities due to their sensitivity to changing forest conditions. Despite relevance across much of the world, research on saproxylic biodiversity has been concentrated in Europe where interest was first generated. A major impediment for this field elsewhere is a lack of resources to determine which species are saproxylic. Here, we attempt to facilitate research on saproxylic beetles (Coleoptera) in the southeastern USA by compiling information from 18 published studies and theses in the region. A list of 1,393 taxa (species or genera) from 74 families is provided with deadwood associations. This includes 891 taxa from 71 families that were reared or emerged from deadwood, and 831 taxa from 61 families that were collected from bulk trapping methods and considered to be saproxylic, or were previously included in a list of regional deadwood taxa. Additionally, for 293 taxa from non-economically important families that were considered to be saproxylic in a recently published study, known saproxylic habits, microhabitat associations, and conservation notes are listed. Sixty-eight of these species represent new state records in Georgia, USA. Although a checklist of saproxylic species is needed for the southeastern USA, it is precluded by a dearth of knowledge about the natural history and distribution of species in the region. Increasing our understanding of these species’ habitat requirements is essential for understanding biodiversity responses to changing forest conditions and assessing conservation needs.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1231.136445

Authors: Mao Sato, Shohei Ito, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Keita Koeda

Abstract: The deep-sea cardinalfish Epigonus glossodontus Gon, 1985, previously known only from the Hawaiian Islands, was observed using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) on steep seafloors surrounding Kitadaito and Minamidaito islands, both being oceanic islands belonging to the Daito Islands, Japan in the northwestern Pacific. A total of 44 hours of ROV observations found sparse populations, each of several individuals, around or within small caves, fissures, and recesses, specifically at depths of 340–588 m within the surveyed depth of 284–1009 m. Seven individuals (36.0–114.8 mm standard length) were successfully collected during the ROV observations around the Daito Islands. A subsequent record of the species (97.5 mm standard length) from the Kyushu-Palau Ridge indicated that the species is widely distributed. A glossy bluish-green body color with black-margined scales was revealed by the field observations, the glossy color fading immediately after death.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1229.118127

Authors: Dawn R. Cook-Price, Olga N. Petko, Sunchai Makchai, Taksin Artchawakom, Pongthep Suwanwaree

Abstract: This study aims to survey mammal diversity on Ko Pha-ngan, located 80 km off the east peninsular coast of Surat Thani province, Thailand. Thirteen camera trap sites, 32 transects, six drift line fence traps, five mist net trap sites, and nine live trap sites placed in human settlement, human-disturbed forest, and national park forest from February 2021 to September 2023 were utilized. A total of 28 mammal species of eight orders, 17 families, and 21 genera were found. Among them, 11 species are flying mammals while the remaining are terrestrial. Of the species detected, Manis javanica (pangolin) is critically endangered, while Nycticebus coucang (slow loris monkey) is endange by IUCN Red List. Additionally, Rusa unicolor (sambar deer) is vulnerable and Pteropus cf. hypomelanus (island flying fox), Trachypithecus obscurus (dusky leaf monkey), and Ratufa bicolor (giant black squirrel) are near threatened. These findings highlight the need to conserve and protect both national park forest and human-disturbed forest from anthropogenic pressures due to the finite area of an island, in which potential local extinction risk is higher.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1225.123647

Authors: Ivan Hadrián Tuf, Lucie Novotná, Pavel Fryčka

Abstract: Pitfall traps containing a fixative solution are commonly used by ecologists to study ground-dwelling invertebrates. The effect of the solution on the animals being caught is a frequent topic of studies. Our study compares the effect of formaldehyde solution, water, and the random probability of catch simulated by using dry traps. Ninety pitfall traps were placed in a floodplain forest ground: one-third used 4% formaldehyde solution as a fixative, one-third used water, and one-third was left without any liquid to simulate the random probability of a catch. A layer of dry wood chips was used in the dry traps to reduce predation between the caught animals. The traps were placed in the field between April and May 2022 and emptied twice a week. Both the numbers of animals and the species caught were found to be significantly affected by the fixative solution in use. Significantly more woodlice were caught in traps filled with water; these traps also attracted significantly more Porcellium conspersum and Trachelipus rathkii compared to the dry traps. Average day temperature and the order the traps were checked (i.e. date) had an influence on the animals caught as well. Additional laboratory experiments with Porcellio scaber confirmed that terrestrial isopods avoid formaldehyde pitfall traps more than those with water.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1225.125027

Authors: Andrej Mock, Karel Tajovský, Adrián Purkart, Ivan Hadrián Tuf

Abstract: Woodlice (terrestrial isopods) represent an unmissable, often very numerous components of macrosaprophages inhabiting soil, rocky environments, rotting wood and subterranean habitats, as well as the dwellings of various organisms, including humans. The paper provides a comprehensive summary of the literature on woodlice in Slovakia, including a list of species with unpublished data on two exotic species first recorded in Slovakia. Research on Slovakian terrestrial isopods has been documented in 213 papers (from 1794 to 2024) and 25 theses. To date, 48 species from 14 families have been recorded in Slovakia. Of these, 30 species are autochthonous, while 18 species have been introduced into anthropogenic habitats, with eight species found exclusively in greenhouses. The list also includes an analysis of habitat preferences, bioindicator potential, and biogeographic comments. Notably, two species, Buddelundiella cataractae and Reductoniscus costulatus, are recorded in Slovakia for the first time. Carpathian elements are sparsely distributed within the mosaic of well-preserved natural forests. Hyloniscus mariae is likely the only surface-dwelling endemic species in the northern parts of the Carpathian range. Other species, such as Hyloniscus transsilvanicus, Trichoniscus carpaticus and Trachelipus difficilis, have a broader distribution within the Carpathians. Additionally, Mesoniscus graniger, Orthometopon planum and a few other taxa reach their northern distribution limits in Slovakia. Current research is predominantly focused on the fauna of subterranean habitats and urbanized landscapes.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1225.118414

Authors: Primož Zidar, Primož Mihelič

Abstract: The second antennae, an important sensory organ of terrestrial isopods, are often attacked and amputated by predators or members of the same species. If an amputation does happen, the antenna usually regenerates after the very first or the next moult that follows. However, the new regenerated antenna is smaller than the original one. This raises the question of whether a smaller regenerated antenna is potentially also less functional as the sensory elements of the antenna undergo regeneration as well. In this study, the regeneration process of the second antenna of Porcellio scaber was followed after two consecutive amputations. The original antennae were compared with the regenerated ones under light and scanning electron microscopes in view of the dimensions of segments and the size and number of sensory elements on them. As expected, all regenerated antennae were reduced in size, however, the reduction of different antennal segments was different. The second segment of the flagellum was reduced by almost half as much as the first segment of the flagellum or the last segment of the peduncle. After the next consecutive amputation, the reduction of the regenerated antennae does not increase further. The size and shape of the apical organ and lateral seta did not change during the regeneration process, neither after the first nor after the next amputation. In contrast, the number of plural receptor elements, such as aesthetascs and tricorn sensilla, decreases in accordance with reduced segment size. Therefore, since only the number of the most common sensory structures is reduced during regeneration, the regenerated antenna probably retains its sensory functionality.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1225.147808

Authors: Ivan Hadrián Tuf, Karel Tajovský, Stefano Taiti

Abstract: none

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1224.141248

Authors: Yen-Ting Lin, Yu-Hsiang Lin, Yu-San Han

Abstract: A new species of cirri-bearing eel, Cirrhimuraena taiwanensis sp. nov. (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae), is described based on a specimen collected from the estuary of the Langyang River (Yilan County), northeastern Taiwan. The new species is distinct from all congeners, except C. odishaensis and C. orientalis, in possessing a single row of mandibular teeth. Cirrhimuraena taiwanensis sp. nov. differs from C. odishaensis in having significantly shorter pectoral fins and fewer vertebrae, and it is distinguished from C. orientalis by its larger head, notably more total vertebrae, and a dorsal fin that originates well behind the gill opening. In the neighbor-joining tree based on COI sequences, the new species forms a distinct monophyletic group; thus, it is clearly separable from congeners both morphologically and genetically. With this addition, there are now 13 species in the genus Cirrhimuraena.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1221.127890

Authors: Camila López-Rivera, Laura Natalia Robayo-Sánchez, Alejandro Ramírez-Hernández, Jerson Andrés Cuéllar-Saénz, Juan Diego Villar, Jesús Alfredo Cortés-Vecino, Fredy A. Rivera-Páez, Paula Andrea Ossa-López, Erika M. Ospina-Pérez, Jose J. Henao-Osorio, Alexandra Cardona-Giraldo, Javier Racero-Casarrubia, Miguel E. Rodríguez-Posada, Darwin M. Morales-Martinez, Marylin Hidalgo, Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves

Abstract: Flies belonging to the families Streblidae and Nycteribiidae are highly specialized arthropods that feed on the blood of bats. Their morphology varies and has adapted throughout their coevolutionary history with hosts. Bat flies are often associated with specific bat species and can establish distinct infracommunities. Interaction networks have been used to better understand these associations, revealing interaction modules between bats and their parasites. The Magdalena River basin is the largest in Colombia, encompassing a wide variety of climatic and ecological conditions, with up to 98 bat species reported. We conducted field trips to capture bats and bat flies in different locations along the basin and reviewed literature records and biological collections to gather additional data on interactions between bats and bat flies in this region. We found a high diversity of bats and bat flies in the Magdalena River basin, revealing a medium specialization and modularity in these interactions. We identified bat fly infracommunities and negative associations between certain bat fly species, suggesting competition for resources within hosts. The specialization is similar to that reported in degraded and fragmented habitats where the availability of shelters decreases, favoring the overcrowding of bats, forming multi-species colonies. In conclusion, our study provides important information on the interactions between bats and bat flies in the Magdalena River basin, expanding knowledge about the diversity and structure of these communities in inter-Andean landscapes.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1215.128183

Authors: Tam T. T. Vu, Milka Elshishka, Anh D. Nguyen, Thi Mai Linh Le, Aleksandar Mladenov, Vlada Peneva

Abstract: Labronema Thorne, 1939 is a large and diverse dorylaimid genus with complicated taxonomy. Two new species, Labronema porosum sp. nov. and Labronema bidoupense sp. nov. from natural habitats in Vietnam were characterised both morphologically and molecularly (18S rDNA and 28 rDNA), and line drawings and microphotographs are provided. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the new species clustered together with Labronema ferox Thorne, 1939, the type species of the genus. The two new taxa belong to a group of Labronema species with medium body (L = 1.5–2.5 mm) and odontostyle (31–39 μm) length, and a lip region offset by a constriction. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, this study shows that the populations from Vietnam previously identified as L. glandosum Rahman, Jairajpuri, Ahmad & Ahmad, 1986 in fact represent L. porosum sp. nov. Evolutionary relationships of Labronema species are discussed. A key to the species of Labronema with a medium-sized odontostyle (31–39 μm) is provided as well as a list of the species of the genus considered valid.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1211.122565

Authors: Verónica Carolina Rosas-Espinoza, Eliza Álvarez-Grzybowska, Arquímedes Alfredo Godoy González, Ana Luisa Santiago-Pérez, Karen Elizabeth Peña-Joya, Fabián Alejandro Rodríguez-Zaragoza, Leopoldo Díaz Pérez, Francisco Martín Huerta Martínez

Abstract: In Mexico, land use changes have significantly impacted the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in a negative way. In light of this, we evaluate the alpha and beta components of the taxonomic diversity of amphibians and reptiles in a heterogeneous landscape in west-central Mexico. Additionally, we provide a checklist of amphibian and reptile species recorded over nine years of observations within the studied landscape and surrounding areas. The land cover/use types with the highest species richness and alpha taxonomic diversity differed between amphibians and reptiles. Overall beta taxonomic diversity was high for both groups, but slightly higher in reptiles. This taxonomic differentiation mainly corresponded to a difference in the turnover component and was greater in pristine habitats compared to disturbed ones. The checklist records 20 species of amphibians (ten of which are endemic) and 48 of reptiles (30 endemics). Additionally, the study expands the known geographical distribution range of one species of frog and three species of snakes. Our findings suggest that heterogeneous landscapes with diverse land cover/use types can provide essential habitats for the conservation of amphibian and reptile species.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1209.125838

Authors: Laorsri Sanoamuang, Kamonwan Koompoot

Abstract: The genus Mongolodiaptomus is widely distributed in stagnant water bodies in Southeast Asia. During a comprehensive collection of freshwater copepods from different areas in Thailand, a previously unknown species of calanoid copepod, Mongolodiaptomus phutakaensis sp. nov., was recorded. Representatives were found in a natural swamp located in the Kok Phutaka community forest in Khon Kaen Province, northeastern Thailand. The new species belongs to the “M. loeiensis species group” and most closely resembles M. loeiensis and M. mekongensis by having a distinct shape of the second exopodal segment of the male right P5, with enlarged proximal and distal parts of the outer margin as well as a bent and twisted principal lateral spine. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by various characters in the males. The ventral surface of the right caudal ramus has two chitinous teeth and two knobs. The intercoxal plate is slightly produced distally and without any spine. The right P5 basis lacks a hyaline membrane on the inner margin but has a distinct spur-like chitinous process at the mid-distal margin on the posterior surface. The left P5 basis has a thin, longer hyaline lamella on the inner margin. The new species is rare, having been observed in only one out of approximately 5,000 surveyed locations in Thailand. A detailed morphological comparison and an up-to-date key to the Mongolodiaptomus species are presented. Their taxonomic characters, interspecies relationships, and biogeography are discussed.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1207.127297

Authors: Andrés Osvaldo Porta, Juan Pablo Loureiro, Marcela Karina Castelo

Abstract: Pinniped respiratory mites of the species Orthohalarachne attenuata have been recorded from various locations around the world but not from continental Argentina. In the present work, we document for the first time the presence of O. attenuata on Arctocephalus australis on the Argentine mainland. A total of 23 adult and 381 immature mites were collected from the nose and nasopharyngeal cavity during a necropsy. The mite ambulacrum is described in adults and larvae. This structure consists of a pretarsus, an extensible pulvillum, a pair of claws and paradactyli (pretarsus opercula). The ambulacral structures also have some peculiarities, such as the presence of longitudinal furrows in the claws, straight claws in legs II and III (as opposed to curved in legs I and IV), and the fin-shaped paradactyli. The morphology of the ambulacrum of this mite is interpreted as an adaptation for anchoring to different surfaces of the host, and the protective structures present in the larvae as an adaptation for the dispersal phase in the external environment.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1207.116758

Authors: Dawn R. Cook-Price, Sunchai Makchai, Sasitorn Hasin, Pongthep Suwanwaree

Abstract: Insular amphibian species are often overlooked, rendering them vulnerable to habitat encroachment and other anthropogenic threats. The aim of this study was to compile a comprehensive list of amphibian species on Ko Pha-ngan in Surat Thani Province, Thailand. Data were collected via transect surveys and drift line fence traps in three different habitat types from February 2021 to September 2023. Our efforts detected 12 unique amphibian species in each of the three habitat types. The highest number of detections was observed in the Ko Pha-ngan-Than Sadet National Park protected areas. The common tree frog (Polypedates leucomystax) and the common Asian toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) were the two most abundantly found species on the island, whereas the Koh Tao caecilian (Ichthyophis kohtaoensis) and the newly described false Doria’s fanged frog (Limnonectes pseudodoriae) where the least commonly found species. In addition, Microhyla heymonsi and Fejervarya limnocharis tadpoles were observed developing in high-salinity water bodies. Many species have shown a high tolerance in human-dominated landscapes. This study sheds light on the need for additional monitoring to better understand the dynamics of endemic species in addition to the impact tourism-driven development and habitat destruction has on a species with an insularly finite habitat.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1205.115506

Authors: Gerardo Guerrero-Jiménez, Frida S. Álvarez-Solis, Elaine Aguilar-Nazare, Araceli Adabache-Ortiz, Aleksandra Baquero-Mariaca, Robert L. Wallace, Marcelo Silva-Briano

Abstract: Diapausing embryos encased within cladoceran ephippia result from sexual reproduction and increase genetic diversity. They are also important means by which species bypass harsh environmental conditions and disperse in space and time. Once released, ephippia usually sink to the benthos and remain there until hatching. Using the Sars’ method (incubating sediments to identify cladoceran hatchlings), ephippial egg bank biodiversity can be evaluated. Yet, even when samples are incubated under a variety of conditions, it is not possible to warrant that all have hatched. Few keys are available that facilitate the identification of cladocerans by using only ephippial morphology. Our goal was to analyze some cladoceran ephippia from Mexico, to develop a means to identify them using easily recognizable characteristics. Ephippia of 23 cladoceran species from waters in Aguascalientes (México) in 11 genera (Alona, Biapertura, Ceriodaphnia, Chydorus, Daphnia, Dunhevedia, Ilyocryptus, Macrothrix, Moina, Pleuroxus, and Simocephalus) were analyzed. In our analysis six morphological features were selected that permitted the identification of ephippia to species(-group) level. The results demonstrate that with a proper catalog of features, some ephippia can be identified.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1202.120478

Authors: Stefan P. Cover, Christian Rabeling

Abstract: Four new inquiline social parasites are described in the dolichoderine ant genus Tapinoma from the Nearctic region, and keys are provided for queens and males of the Nearctic Tapinoma species. The new social parasite species represent the first inquiline species in the genus Tapinoma and the first confirmed inquilines known from the ant subfamily Dolichoderinae. The four new species appear to be workerless inquilines that exploit a single host, Tapinoma sessile (Say), and they represent at least two distinct life history syndromes. Tapinoma incognitum Cover & Rabeling, sp. nov. is highly derived morphologically and is a host-queen-tolerant inquiline. In contrast, T. inflatiscapus Cover & Rabeling, sp. nov. shows a lesser degree of morphological modification and appears to be a host-queen-intolerant social parasite. The life history of T. pulchellum Cover & Rabeling, sp. nov. is presently unknown, but its close similarity to T. incognitum suggests that it is also a host-queen-tolerant inquiline. The life history of T. shattucki Cover & Rabeling, sp. nov. is still uncertain. Our findings provide novel insights into the complex biology of ant inquiline life history syndromes.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1201.118549

Authors: Sergey A. Belokobylskij, Salvatore Guarino, Sara Savoldelli, Costanza Jucker, Ezio Peri, Gavin R. Broad, Giuliano Cerasa

Abstract: Heterospilus sicanus (Marshall, 1888) is redescribed and illustrated based on the holotype of Dendrosoter sicanus Marshall, 1888 and on recently collected material from its type locality (Sicily, Italy). Previous host records for this species are unreliable. Here, the host of H. sicanus, the rare ptinid beetle Gastrallus pubens Fairmaire, 1875, is recorded for the first time, having been reared in a historic library in Palermo, Italy. Heterospilus sicanus is compared with the similar species Telebolus (= Heterospilus) corsicus Marshall, 1888, which was described in the same monograph from Corsica (France), and it is also redescribed and illustrated. Atoreuteus ceballosi Docavo Alberti, 1960, syn. nov. is synonymised under Heterospilus sicanus (Marshall, 1888), and Hormiopterus (= Rhaconotus) ollivieri Giraud var. flava Fahringer, 1931, syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Heterospilus cephi Rohwer, 1925. A key for determination of the Western Palaearctic Heterospilus species with a striate vertex is provided and the distributions of H. sicanus and H. corsicus are discussed.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1200.118422

Authors: Varvara Vedenina, Nikita Sevastianov, Evgenia Kovalyova

Abstract: The songs of seven grasshopper species of subfamily Gomphocerinae from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Kazakhstan were studied. We analysed not only the sound, but also the stridulatory movements of the hind legs to more entirely describe the songs. In Mesasippus kozhevnikovi, Chorthippus macrocerus, and C. hammarstroemi, the legs are moved in a relatively simple pattern; four other species, Myrmeleotettix palpalis, Stenobothrus newskii, C. pullus, and Megaulacobothrus aethalinus demonstrate more complex leg movements. In six of the seven species studied, the courtship songs contain more sound elements than the calling songs. The highest number of courtship sound elements was found in M. palpalis and M. aethalinus. The different parts of a remarkably long stridulatory file in M. aethalinus are thought to participate in the production of different sound elements. The songs in S. newskii are shown for the first time. This species produces sound not only by common stridulation but also by wing beats. A relationship of S. newskii to some other species of the genus Stenobothrus, which are able to crepitate, is discussed. We also analyse the frequency spectra of the songs. A maximum energy of the song power spectra in six species studied lies in ultrasound range (higher than 20 kHz). In only M. aethalinus, the main peaks in the song power spectra lie lower than 20 kHz. The courtship behaviour in M. palpalis, C. macrocerus, and C. hammarstroemi was shown to include conspicuous visual display (movements of antennae, palps and the whole body).

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1190.109586

Authors: Camila G. Meneses, Kier Mitchel E. Pitogo, Christian E. Supsup, Rafe M. Brown

Abstract: A first review of the history, status, and prospects for Philippine herpetology conducted more than two decades ago (2002) summarized the diverse topics studied and highlighted the development and achievements in research up to the year 2000. This study revisits and re-assesses what Philippine herpetology has accomplished, both as a discipline and a community, during the last two decades (2002–2022). A total of 423 herpetological publications was collated, revealing a substantial increase in annual publications, rising from approximately four per year during 2002–2008 to around 28 per year in 2009–2022. Half of the published studies focused on squamate reptiles (lizards 30.5%, snakes 21%) and 28.4% on amphibians, 5.9% on turtles, and 2.6% on crocodiles. The remaining 11.6% of studies focused simultaneously on multiple taxa (i.e., faunal inventories). Diversity and distribution (35.2%) and ecological (26.5%) studies remained popular, while studies on taxonomy (14.9%), phylogenetics and biogeography (11.8%), and conservation (11.6%) all increased. However, geographical gaps persist urging immediate surveys in many understudied regions of the country. Finally, we found a balanced representation between Filipino and foreign first authors (1.0:1.1), yet a substantial gender gap exists between male and female first authors (7.1:1.0). Nonetheless, the steep increase in publications and the diversity of people engaged in Philippine herpetology is a remarkable positive finding compared to the 20 years preceding the last review (1980–2000). Our hope is that the next decades will bring increasingly equitable, internationally collaborative, and broadly inclusive engagement in the study of amphibians and reptiles in the Philippines.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1182.102866

Authors: Matthew S. Bird, David T. Bilton, Musa C. Mlambo, Renzo Perissinotto

Abstract: Southern Afrotemperate Forest is concentrated in the southern Cape region of South Africa and whilst it is relatively well known botanically, the fauna, specifically the aquatic invertebrate fauna, is poorly documented. The majority of remaining intact forest habitat is contained within the Garden Route National Park (GRNP), which straddles the provincial boundary between the Western and Eastern Cape. This study undertakes a survey of the water beetle fauna inhabiting the GRNP. The aquatic ecosystems within temperate forests of the region are poorly researched from an ecological and biodiversity perspective, despite being known to harbour endemic invertebrate elements. We collected water beetles and in situ physico-chemical data from a total of 31 waterbodies across the park over two seasons (summer and late winter) in 2017. The waterbodies sampled were mostly small freshwater perennial streams and isolated forest ponds. A total of 61 beetle taxa was recorded (29 Adephaga, 32 Polyphaga) from these waterbodies. The water beetle fauna of these forests appears to be diverse and contains many species endemic to the fynbos-dominated Cape Floristic Region, but very few of the species appear to be forest specialists. This is in contrast to the fynbos heathland habitat of the region, which harbours a high number of water beetle species endemic to this habitat, often with Gondwanan affinity. Our study is the first to document the water beetles of Afrotemperate Forests in the southern Cape region and provides an important baseline for future work on such habitats in the region and in other parts of southern Africa.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1180.107065

Authors: Godwin Degabriele, Adriano Cavalleri, Arturo Goldarazena, David Mifsud

Abstract: This work records the presence of 13 species of tubuliferan thrips from the Maltese Islands. Eleven of these species, namely Bolothrips dentipes, B. insularis, Priesneriella mavromoustakisi, Gynaikothrips uzeli, Haplothrips acanthoscelis, H. aculeatus, H. setiger, H. tritici, Karnyothrips flavipes, Liothrips reuteri and Neoheegeria dalmatica are new records for the Maltese Islands. Two species: Gynaikothrips ficorum and Karnyothrips flavipes can be described as subcosmopolitan in distribution, another three species: Haplothrips aculeatus, H. setiger and H. tritici are distributed across the Holarctic and Palaearctic regions, while a further seven: Bolothrips dentipes, B. insularis, Haplothrips acanthoscelis, Liothrips oleae, L. reuteri, Neoheegeria dalmatica and Priesneriella mavromoustakisi have a European and/or Mediterranean distribution. Gynaikothrips ficorum and G. uzeli are considered as alien species. A key to the Tubulifera of the Maltese Islands as well as chorological data for these recorded species are provided in this work.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1179.101388

Authors: Mathias Just Justesen, Aslak Kappel Hansen, Miloš Knížek, Åke Lindelow, Alexey Solodovnikov, Hans Peter Ravn

Abstract: Species in the genus Cryphalus are small and notoriously difficult to identify. Even among the relatively well studied European species, erroneous identifications are evident from literature and in museum collections. These misidentifications relate to the small size and similar appearance of Cryphalus species but they are also a product of insufficient diagnostic characters. This is especially unfortunate since some European species are considered pests. Based on the study of more than 1000 specimens and a thorough literature review, robust morphological and molecular evidence supporting all five hitherto recognised native species of Cryphalus in Europe is provided. A key for the reliable identification of these repetition species including new diagnostic characters recognised for the first time, including those from male genitalia, has been constructed. Each native species is provided with a detailed morphological description and their economic significance, distribution, and ecology discussed. Significant genetic variability is observed between certain clusters that should be further explored in a broader geographic context. Lastly, the need for a taxonomic revision of the genus Cryphalus for the entire Palearctic region due to the presence of many similar looking species which are often confused, thus distorting the knowledge of each species is highlighted.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1179.103479

Authors: Erika M. Ospina-Pérez, Fredy A. Rivera-Páez, Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves

Abstract: Bat flies (Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) have been used to study co-evolutionary patterns between ectoparasites and bats. In the world, Nycteribiidae and Streblidae are represented by approximately 276 and 237 species, respectively. In regions such as the Orinoquia located in the north of South America (Colombia and Venezuela), the richness of bats is high (more than 100 documented species), but studies on Nycteribiidae and Streblidae are scarce and discontinuous. To contribute to the knowledge of ectoparasitic flies in the Orinoquia, records of flies and their interactions with bats were reviewed, including new records and associations using interaction networks. We documented 124 species of Streblidae and only 12 of Nycteribiidae for the Orinoquia in approximately 102 bat species reported in Colombia and Venezuela. New records for six species of bat flies in Colombia were found (Mastoptera guimaraesi, Noctiliostrebla maai, Paradyschiria parvuloides, Trichobius jubatus, Trichobius parasiticus, and Basilia ferrisi) associated with six species of bats (Cynomops planirostris, Desmodus rotundus, Myotis handleyi, Molossus rufus, Noctilio albiventris, and Phyllostomus hastatus). The bat-ectoparasite interaction networks in the Orinoquia revealed a pattern of antagonistic relationships, with high specialization, modularity, and low connectivity and nesting. The identified networks are between bat fly species belonging to different ecomorphological groups with unique host species. This supports the idea of ecological niche partitioning among ectoparasitic bat flies and hosts. Our study expanded the knowledge of the distribution of some fly species and the associations with bat hosts in Colombia, by presenting morphological descriptions and new observations, which are key to understanding the ecology, diversity, and distribution of these species.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1173.107204

Authors: Zohreh Mirzaee, Saber Sadeghi, Francesco Ballarin, Thomas Schmitt, Marianna Simões, Martin Wiemers

Abstract: The biology and distribution patterns of the Sahelian mantid species Nilomantis floweri are still insufficiently known. For the first time, records are confirmed of this species from Iran and the distribution map of its native range is updated. Records are compiled from the Sahel zone of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Iran. Detailed information on its biology, oothecal characteristics, male genitalia variation, and intraspecific molecular diversity in the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase are provided, and ecological niche modelling was used to gain insight into the overall species distribution and understand its climatic niche limits. Genetic analysis revealed only one haplotype shared between Iran and Oman. The Iranian populations likely represent two distinct clusters, both more related to the diverse Oman haplotypes than to each other. Based on new data, N. floweri appears to be mostly associated with coastal areas in southwestern Asia, with the vast majority of records found along the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Oman Gulf coasts. This distribution contrasts markedly with N. floweri records in the Sahel, where most collections have been reported in the transitional zone between the southern Sahara and arid thorn savannah, far off the coast. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of this still enigmatic mantid species.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1169.97812

Authors: Ivan N. Marin, Alexei V. Tiunov

Abstract: Terrestrial crustaceans are represented by approximately 4,900 species from six main lineages. The diversity of terrestrial taxa ranges from a few genera in Cladocera and Ostracoda to about a third of the known species in Isopoda. Crustaceans are among the smallest as well as the largest terrestrial arthropods. Tiny microcrustaceans (Branchiopoda, Ostracoda, Copepoda) are always associated with water films, while adult stages of macrocrustaceans (Isopoda, Amphipoda, Decapoda) spend most of their lives in terrestrial habitats, being independent of liquid water. Various adaptations in morphology, physiology, reproduction, and behavior allow them to thrive in virtually all geographic areas, including extremely arid habitats. The most derived terrestrial crustaceans have acquired highly developed visual and olfactory systems. The density of soil copepods is sometimes comparable to that of mites and springtails, while the total biomass of decapods on tropical islands can exceed that of mammals in tropical rainforests. During migrations, land crabs create record-breaking aggregations and biomass flows for terrestrial invertebrates. The ecological role of terrestrial microcrustaceans remains poorly studied, while omnivorous macrocrustaceans are important litter transformers and soil bioturbators, occasionally occupying the position of the top predators. Notably, crustaceans are the only group among terrestrial saprotrophic animals widely used by humans as food. Despite the great diversity and ecological impact, terrestrial crustaceans, except for woodlice, are often neglected by terrestrial ecologists. This review aims to narrow this gap discussing the diversity, abundance, adaptations to terrestrial lifestyle, trophic relationships and ecological functions, as well as the main methods used for sampling terrestrial crustaceans.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1168.104636

Authors: Laorsri Sanoamuang, Santi Watiroyram

Abstract: Phyllodiaptomus (Phyllodiaptomus) parachristineae sp. nov., a new diaptomid copepod, was collected from 30 sites in the lower Mekong River Basin floodplain in northeastern Thailand and nine sites in Cambodia. The new species is the 13th species of the genus to have been recorded across Asia. It has a wide range of habitats, occurring in small to large, temporary to permanent water bodies, and it can be found at any time of the year. The morphology of the new species is most similar to that of the males of P. (P.) christineae, having a comb on the antepenultimate segment on the right antennule, symmetrical caudal rami, a narrow hyaline lamella on the left P5 basis, a distal accessory spine on the right P5 Exp-2, and a single-lobed Enp on the right P5. On the other hand, the males of the new species have second and third urosomites without hair-like setae on the ventral margin, a rounded distal margin of the P5 intersclerite plate, a semi-circular lamella on the right P5 basis, a strong principal lateral spine inserted at the proximal 1/3 of the right P5 Exp-2, and a two-segmented left P5 Enp. Morphological differences among species in the subgenus Phyllodiaptomus (Phyllodiaptomus) as well as the distribution and habitats of the 13 species and two subspecies of Phyllodiaptomus in Asia are discussed.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1165.101983

Authors: Khine Mon Mon Kyaw, Sadahisa Yagi, Johei Oku, Toshiya Hirowatari

Abstract: The genus Palumbina Rondani, 1876 belongs to the family Gelechiidae, which was until recently believed to comprise 26 species worldwide and mainly occurring in the Oriental region. Previously, only P. pylartis (Meyrick, 1908) had been recorded from this genus in Japan. In this study, five other species were identified. Four species were recorded for the first time in Japan, and another was newly described: P. acerosa Lee & Li, 2018; P. grandiunca Lee & Li, 2018; P. macrodelta (Meyrick, 1918), P. operaria (Meyrick, 1918) and P. muraseae Kyaw & Yagi, sp. nov. The host plant and larval feeding habits of P. pylartis, P. acerosa, P. grandiunca, and P. muraseae Kyaw & Yagi, sp. nov. were revealed. The immature stages of P. grandiunca, P. pylartis, and P. muraseae Kyaw & Yagi, sp. nov., including larval and pupal morphology, were first documented for the genus in which the larval chaetotaxy of P. pylartis and P. grandiunca is well observed. In their larval chaetotaxy, the details of their interspecific variation in the relative position and length of some setae are described. The pupal morphology of the species examined in this study is almost identical to the genus Thiotricha except for different traits on the abdominal segments A7 and A10. The traits of larval chaetotaxy and pupal morphology are also discussed for the subfamily. Photographs of the adult, male and female genitalia, and information on their biology and immature stages are provided.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1158.96886

Authors: Dianwei Li, Chengzhi Zhang, Yuwei Cao, Ming Gao, Shiqi Chang, Menghao Xu, Zhimin Jin, Hongwei Ni

Abstract: Rodents are well known as both seed predators and dispersers of various plant species in forest ecosystems, and they play an important role in the regeneration of vegetation. Thus, the research on seed selection and vegetation regeneration by sympatric rodents is an interesting topic. To understand the characteristics of preferences of rodents for different seeds, a semi-natural enclosure experiment was performed with four rodent species (Apodemus peninsulae, Apodemus agrarius, Tscherskia triton, and Clethrionomys rufocanus) and the seeds of seven plant species (Pinus koraiensis, Corylus mandshurica, Quercus mongolica, Juglans mandshurica, Armeniaca sibirica, Prunus salicina, and Cerasus tomentosa) to investigate the differentiation in niches and patterns of resource utilization of sympatric rodents. The results showed that all the rodents had consumed many seeds of Pi. koraiensis, Co. mandshurica, and Q. mongolica but differed significantly in how they selected the different seeds. The rate of utilization (Ri) of Pi. koraiensis, Co. mandshurica, and Q. mongolica exhibited the highest values. The Ei values indicated that the rodents tested exhibited differences in their priorities used to select the seeds from different plant species. All four species of rodents exhibited obvious preferences for certain seeds. Korean field mice preferentially consumed the seeds of Q. mongolica, Co. mandshurica, and Pi. koraiensis. Striped field mice favor the seeds of Co. mandshurica, Q. mongolica, P. koraiensis, and Nanking cherry. Greater long-tailed hamsters prefer to consume the seeds of Pi. koraiensis, Co. mandshurica, Q. mongolica, Pr. salicina, and Ce. tomentosa. Clethrionomys rufocanus likes to eat the seeds of Pi. koraiensis, Q. mongolica, Co. mandshurica, and Ce. tomentosa. The results supported our hypothesis that sympatric rodents overlap in food selection. However, each rodent species has a marked preference for food selection, and different rodent species differ in their food preferences. This reflects the role of distinct food niche differentiation in their coexistence.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1158.94152

Authors: Nathan V. Whelan, Ellen E. Strong, Nicholas S. Gladstone, Jason W. Mays

Abstract: Terrestrial gastropods are among the most imperiled groups of organisms on Earth. Many species have a complex taxonomic history, often including poorly defined subspecies, most of which have not been the focus of modern systematics research. Genomic tools, geometric morphometrics, and environmental niche modeling were used to assess the taxonomic status of Patera clarkii nantahala (Clench & Banks, 1932), a subspecies of high conservation concern with a restricted range of approximately 3.3 km2 in North Carolina, USA. A genome-scale dataset was generated that included individuals with morphologies matching P. c. nantahala, P. c. clarkii, and one individual with an intermediate form between P. c. nantahala and P. c. clarkii that was initially hypothesized as a potential hybrid. Mitochondrial phylogenetics, nuclear species tree inference, and phylogenetic networks were used to assess relationships and gene flow. Differences in shell shape via geometric morphometrics and whether the environmental niches of the two subspecies were significantly different were also examined. Molecular analyses indicated an absence of gene flow among lineages of P. clarkii sensu lato. Analyses rejected our hypothesis that the intermediate shelled form represented a hybrid, but instead indicated that it was a distinct lineage. Environmental niche models indicated significant differences in environmental niche between P. c. clarkii and P. c. nantahala, and geometric morphometrics indicated that P. c. nantahala had a significantly different shell shape. Given multiple lines of evidence, species-level recognition of P. nantahala is warranted.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1151.97126

Authors: Altangerel T. Dursahinhan, Daniel A. Kenkel, Scott L. Gardner

Abstract: Published studies and ten new unpublished records included herein reveal that approximately 174 species of endoparasites (helminths and protozoans) are known from 65 of 163 species of rodents that occupy the subterranean ecotope globally. Of those, 94 endoparasite species were originally described from these rodents. A total of 282 host-parasite associations are summarized from four major zoogeographic regions including Ethiopian, Palearctic/Oriental, Nearctic, and Neotropical. Thirty-four parasite records from the literature have been identified to only the level of the genus. In this summary, ten new records have been added, and the most current taxonomic status of each parasite species is noted. Interestingly, there are no data on endoparasites from more than 68% of described subterranean rodents, which indicates that discovery and documentation are at an early stage and must continue.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1148.93458

Authors: Valery M. Gavrilov, Tatiana B. Golubeva, Andrey V. Bushuev

Abstract: This study contains an analysis of basal metabolic rate (BMR) in 1817 endothermic species. The aim was to establish how metabolic scaling varies between the main groups of endotherms during evolution. The data for all the considered groups were combined and the common exponent in the allometric relationship between the BMR and body weight was established as b = 0.7248. Reduced to the common slope, the relative metabolic rate forms the following series: Neognathae – Passeriformes – 1.00, Neognathae – Non-Passeriformes – 0.75, Palaeognathae – 0.53, Eutheria – 0.57, Marsupialia – 0.44, and Monotremata – 0.26. The main finding is that the metabolic rate in the six main groups of mammals and birds consistently increases as the geological time of the group’s divergence approaches the present. In parallel, the average body temperature in the group rises, the duration of sleep decreases and the duration of activity increases. BMR in a taxon correlates with its evolutionary age: the later a clade diverged, the higher is its metabolic rate and the longer is its activity period; group exponents decrease as group divergence nears present times while with increase metabolic rate during activity, they not only do not decrease but can increase. Sleep duration in mammals was on average 40% longer than in birds while BMR, in contrast, was 40% higher in birds. The evolution of metabolic scaling, body temperature, sleep duration, and activity during the development of endothermic life forms is demonstrated, allowing for a better understanding of the underlying principles of endothermy formation.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1141.96883

Authors: Dianwei Li, Jiahui Liu, Chengzhi Zhang, Yuwei Cao, Ming Gao, Zhimin Jin, Hongjia Shan, Hongwei Ni

Abstract: To discover the differences in hoarding strategies of rodents for different seeds in different habitats, we labelled and released three different types of seeds, including Pinus koraiensis, Corylus mandshurica, and Quercus mongolica, in temperate forests of northeastern China and investigated the fate of seeds in four different habitats that included a broad-leaved forest, mixed-forest edge, mixed forest, and artificial larch forest. Our research showed that the hoarding strategy of rodents was found to vary substantially in different habitats. The survival curves of seeds from different habitats showed the same trend, but the rates of consumption in different habitats varied. More than 50% of the seeds in the four habitats were consumed by the tenth day. It took 20 days to consume more than 70% of the seeds. The rate of consumption of P. koraiensis seeds reached 96.70%; 99.09% of the C. mandshurica seeds were consumed, and 93.07% of the Q. mongolica seeds were consumed. The seeds were consumed most quickly in the artificial larch forest. In general, most of the early seeds were quickly devoured. After day 20, the consumption gradually decreased. Rodents found the seeds in the artificial larch forest in a shorter average time than those in the other types of forests. The average earliest discovery time was 1.4 ± 0.9 d (1–3 d). The average earliest discovery time in all the other three habitats exceeded 7 d. The median removal times (MRT) was distributed around the seeds at 14.24 ± 10.53 d (1–60 d). There were significant differences in the MRT among different habitats. It was shortest in the artificial larch forest at 7.67 ± 6.80 d (1–28 d). In contrast, the MRT in the broad-leaved forest was the longest at 17.52 ± 12.91 d (4–60 d). There were significant differences in the MRT between the artificial larch forest and the other habitats. There was less predation of the three types of seeds at the mixed-forest edge, and the most seeds were dispersed. The rates of predation of the P. koraiensis, C. mandshurica, and Q. mongolica seeds were 28.33%, 15.83%, and 44.0%, and 59.17%, 84.17%, and 48.0% of the seeds were dispersed, respectively. The average dispersal distances of all the seeds were less than 6 m, and the longest distance recorded was 18.66 m. The dispersal distances and burial depths differed significantly among the four types of habitats. The distance of seed dispersal was primarily distributed in 1–6 m.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1132.94579

Authors: Jindřich Roháček, Andrey A. Przhiboro

Abstract: The first data about Sphaeroceridae occurring on eight montane and foothill peat bogs of various types in the North Caucasus (Russia) are presented. A total of 38 species has been recorded and their affinity to peat-bog habitats is discussed. A single species is classified as a tyrphobiont, viz. the strongly brachypterous Pullimosina (Pullimosina) turfosa sp. nov. being strictly associated with Sphagnum hummocks in peat bogs. This new species is described and illustrated in detail and its relationships, biology, and wing reduction are discussed. Only three species are considered tyrphophilous or probably tyrphophilous, viz. Ischiolepta nitida (Duda, 1920), Phthitia (Kimosina) longisetosa (Dahl, 1909), and Spelobia ibrida Roháček, 1983. The majority of recorded species do not have close affinity to peat bogs and are treated as tyrphoneutral, and Rachispoda hostica (Villeneuve, 1917) is probably tyrphoxenous due to occasional occurrence in a peat bog. Species composition of Sphaeroceridae on Caucasian peat bogs is discussed in comparison to those known from peat bogs in other parts of Europe. Taxonomic notes are given on Minilimosina (Svarciella) species of the M. vitripennis group. Six species (including P. turfosa sp. nov.) are new additions to the fauna of Russia.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1128.90016

Authors: Hume B. Douglas, Stéphane Dumont, Karine Savard, Graham S. Thurston, Marilyn H. S. Light

Abstract: First North American records are presented for Bruchus affinis Frölich, 1799 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae), as confirmed by morphology from multiple sites in Canada: British Columbia, Ontario, and Québec. Diagnostic information is presented for B. affinis in North America. This insect is expected to reduce plant reproductive output in infested Lathyrus latifolius L., Lathyrus sylvestris L., and other potential Lathyrus (Fabaceae) hosts. Impacts on broad bean (Vicia faba L.) production are expected to be small. Potential reproductive impact on native North American Lathyrus species remains unknown. The United States of America and Canada are now known to be home to 69–79 species of adventive Chrysomelidae including 16–18 Bruchinae. We have found two dead, teneral B. affinis individuals inside Lathyrus seeds imported from Europe, and we hypothesise that this species was introduced to Canada from Europe via seeds for planting sometime before 2007. At our study sites, Lathyrus flowering began in mid June followed by oviposition in late June with first adults emerging in late August, requiring about 60 days from egg to adult stage. Dinarmus basalis (Rodani, 1877) (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae) was newly recorded as parasitoid of Bruchus affinis in Canada, and caused about 10% mortality in B. affinis at our sites.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1127.85737

Authors: Andriamirado Tahina Ramahandrison, Bakolimalala Rakouth, Michaël Manuel

Abstract: Water beetles of the families Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Noteridae, and Dytiscidae (aquatic Adephaga) of the Makay in central-western Madagascar were surveyed in three campaigns during the years 2016–2018. A total of 74 species was collected from 62 sampling sites, all except one being newly recorded from the Makay. Copelatus malavergnorum sp. nov. (irinus group) and C. zanabato sp. nov. (erichsonii group) (Dytiscidae, Copelatinae) are described and their habitus and male genitalia are illustrated. A systematic account is given, including description of habitat preferences for each species. Analyses of species composition and dominance, species diversity and endemism highlighted the strong singularity of the aquatic Adephaga fauna inhabiting the sandstone massif of inner Makay (notably with several local endemic dytiscids) with respect to its peripheral lowlands. These comparisons were also performed between groups of sites categorised according to vegetation context (forested, semi-forested, non-forested). Rather unexpectedly, inner Makay although well-preserved and little deforested has relatively low endemism level and low species diversity (H1 Hill number twice lower than in the geographically close and geologically similar massif of Isalo). Species diversity was higher in the deforested and man-impacted peripheral sites, which yielded a rich contingent of western Madagascar lowland species including a few undescribed or rarely observed dytiscids.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1124.90077

Authors: Laila Zouhair, Patrick Grootaert, Kawtar Kettani

Abstract: Trichina Meigen, 1830, Euthyneura Macquart, 1836 and Oedalea Meigen, 1820 are reported for the first time in North Africa from northern Morocco, with seven species including two ones new to science, based on material collected at nine sites located in the Moroccan sector of the Mediterranean Intercontinental Biosphere reserve (MIBR). These new records represent also the first evidence of the occurrence of Trichininae and Oedaleinae subfamilies throughout North Africa and bring the total of Moroccan hybotid fauna to 51 species. The new species are described and illustrated. A key to Moroccan Trichina species is provided.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1123.86704

Authors: Yizheng Zhao, Hui Wang, Huimin Huang, Zhijun Zhou

Abstract: Barcode libraries are generally assembled with two main objectives in mind: specimen identification and species discovery/delimitation. In this study, the standard COI barcode region was sequenced from 681 specimens belonging to katydids (Tettigoniidae), cave crickets (Rhaphidophoridae), and leaf-rolling crickets (Gryllacrididae) from Zhejiang Province, China. Of these, four COI-5P sequences were excluded from subsequent analyses because they were likely NUMTs (nuclear mitochondrial pseudogenes). The final dataset consisted of 677 barcode sequences representing 90 putative species-level taxa. Automated cluster delineation using the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) revealed 118 BINs (Barcodes Index Numbers). Among these 90 species-level taxa, 68 corresponded with morphospecies, while the remaining 22 were identified based on reverse taxonomy using BIN assignment. Thirteen of these morphospecies were represented by a single barcode (so-called singletons), and each of 19 morphospecies were split into more than one BIN. The consensus delimitation scheme yielded 55 Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs). Only four morphospecies (Imax > DNN) failed to be recovered as monophyletic clades (i.e., Elimaea terminalis, Phyllomimus klapperichi, Sinochlora szechwanensis and Xizicus howardi), so it is speculated that these may be species complexes. Therefore, the diversity of katydids, cave crickets, and leaf-rolling crickets in Zhejiang Province is probably slightly higher than what current taxonomy would suggest.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1122.76486

Authors: Mitsuko Hiruma, Kahoko Tochigi, Ryosuke Kishimoto, Misako Kuroe, Bruna Elisa Trentin, Shinsuke Koike

Abstract: The winter diets of northern ungulates are sensitive to changes in environmental conditions and ungulate population densities. We hypothesized that the winter diets of smaller browser ungulates might not readily change in response to fluctuating environmental conditions. We analyzed long-term trends in the winter diet of the Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) by analyzing rumen contents of 532 individuals over a span of 16 years among five populations along with changes in the population densities of sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan. The winter diet composition of the serow was stable over the long term despite the increase in deer population density. The little-flexible nature of the serow diet may explain the long-term stability in the winter diets.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1121.86888

Authors: Rafał Gosik, Peter Sprick

Abstract: The mature larva of the weevil species Orobitis cyanea (Linnaeus, 1758), one of only two Palaearctic members of the supertribe Orobitiditae, is re-described, while the pupa is described for the first time. The biology of this species was studied at two sites in Germany. It was reared from seed capsules of Viola canina L. (Violaceae), and feeding holes were observed on V. riviniana Rchb. Adults of Orobitis cyanea and O. nigrina Reitter, 1885, specialists of Viola, show a well-developed escape mechanism, to which contribute a smooth surface, a rounded, nearly spherical body shape, and a seed-imitating thanatosis behaviour. The molytine weevil Leiosoma cribrum (Gyllenhal, 1834), the only other known weevil specialist of Viola in Europe, has a smooth surface, also, and is the most spherical species of the genus. The unique characters of the larva and pupa of Orobitis cyanea are discussed in regard to the systematic position of this taxon.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1116.86906

Authors: Milton Norman D. Medina, Melbert James G. Baul, Analyn A. Cabras

Abstract: A catalog of the genus Cylindrepomus Blanchard, 1853 in the Philippines, along with the description of a new species from northern Mindanao, is presented. Notes on the ecology, threats, and conservation of the new species are also provided.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1104.79823

Authors: Franco Andreone, Ferdinando Boero, Marco A. Bologna, Giuseppe M. Carpaneto, Riccardo Castiglia, Spartaco Gippoliti, Bruno Massa, Alessandro Minelli

Abstract: In Italy, differently from other countries, a national museum of natural history is not present. This absence is due, among other reasons, to its historical political fragmentation up to 1870, which led to the establishment of medium-sized museums, mostly managed by local administrations or universities. Moreover, a change of paradigm in biological research, at the beginning of the 20th century, contributed to privilege experimental studies in universities and facilitated the dismissal of descriptive and exploratory biology, which formed the basis of the taxonomic research carried out by natural history museums. Consequently, only a few museums have a provision of curatorial staff, space and material resources adequate to maintain their original mission of discovering the natural world, by conducting a regular research activity accompanied by field campaigns. The creation of a national research centre for the study of biodiversity, facilitating interconnections among the existing natural history museums could be a solution and is here supported, together with a centralised biorepository to host collections and vouchers, to the benefit of current and future taxonomic research and environmental conservation. Such an institution should find place and realisation within the recently proposed National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) planned within the National Plan of Recovery and Resilience (PNRR). Pending upon the creation of this new national centre, a network among the existing museums should coordinate their activities.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1103.84415

Authors: Morgan F. Bennett-Smith, Micaela S. Justo, Michael L. Berumen, Raquel Peixoto, Benjamin M. Titus

Abstract: Merten’s carpet sea anemone, Stichodactyla mertensii Brandt, 1835, is the largest known sea anemone species in the world, regularly exceeding one meter in oral disc diameter. A tropical species from the Indo-Pacific, S. mertensii drapes prominently over coral reef substrates and is a common host to numerous species of clownfishes and other symbionts throughout its range, which extends from the Red Sea through the Central Pacific Ocean. Long thought to reproduce via sexual reproduction only, recent genetic evidence suggests it may rarely reproduce asexually as well, although this process had never been confirmed through direct observation and the mechanism was yet to be described. Here, we directly observed and documented in situ asexual fragmentation via budding, in real time, by a Red Sea S. mertensii in a turbid inshore reef environment. While asexual reproduction is not unusual in sea anemones as a group, it is typically expected to be uncommon for large-bodied species. Herein, we describe S. mertensii fragmentation, provide high resolution images of the event from the Saudi Arabian coastline at multiple time points, and confirm asexual reproduction for this species.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1102.79148

Authors: Wen-Jing Li

Abstract: While reading the paper ‘The distribution and behavioral characteristics of plateau pikas ( Ochotona curzoniae)’(Qiu et al. 2021), I found the authors of this paper appear to have a mistake of surface temperature. 

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1102.79102

Authors: Gergely Osváth, Edgár Papp, Zoltán Benkő, Zsolt Kovács

Abstract: This paper reviews the bird skin collection housed in the Zoological Museum of Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The collection includes 925 specimens, belonging to 193 species from 53 families and 20 orders, collected between 1859 and 2021. Due to its historical background and the presence of rare species, it is considered to be one of most important ornithological collections in Eastern Europe. Such a collection can serve as a basis for valuable ornithological studies. Furthermore, a map representation with new distribution data for bird species is provided, which represents a source of information for the status of the avifauna of the Carpathian basin in the 19th and 20th centuries.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1101.81113

Authors: Katalin Szlavecz, Thomas Carefoot

Abstract: The 11th International Symposium on Terrestrial Isopod Biology and this special issue of ZooKeys is dedicated to the memory of our colleague, Dr. Jonathan C. Wright, who passed away on December 16, 2019. Jonathan was a scientist, educator, musician, public servant, husband and father.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1101.86064

Authors: Pallieter De Smedt, Stefano Taiti, Spyros Sfenthourakis, Ivanklin Soares Campos Filho

Abstract: /

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1101.76132

Authors: Ivan Hadrián Tuf, Nelly Weissová

Abstract: Although terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea) are primarily soil- and surface-dwelling invertebrates, they can also be found on tree trunks and walls. This study evaluated distribution patterns of terrestrial isopods on a brick wall during the first hours of night in autumn. Four species of terrestrial isopods were recorded with Armadillidium versicolor being the dominant one. Terrestrial isopods were distributed from ground level up to a height of 2 m, but preferred a 70–80 cm height band. The highest number of active individuals was observed 3 h after astronomical dusk. Potential predators of terrestrial isopods were abundant during the same time and at the same height.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1101.73834

Authors: Lamia Medini-Bouaziz, Sonia Hamaied, Ahmed Ouni, Mohamed El Gtari

Abstract: The terrestrial isopod Porcellio albinus is a burrowing species, dwelling in the desert of south Tunisia. Field studies were carried out in the coastal area of Zarat, Tunisia, to examine the surface activity rhythm of P. albinus in relation to daily and seasonal variations in environmental conditions. The activity of P. albinus was followed once a month, from November 2012 through October 2013. Hourly capture frequency was compared across the different seasons of the year. Porcellio albinus is a strictly nocturnal species showing a nycthemeral rhythm regulated by the rhythmic and natural variations of the duration of the dark period. A positive correlation is observed between the circadian rhythm of the locomotor activity of the species and the duration of the dark period outside its burrow, P. albinus has a single daily activity peak. Individuals concentrated their activity in the first part of the night in winter and in the second part in summer. This peak is more spread out in spring and autumn. The differences in the activity rhythm of P. albinus between different seasons may be determined by two important factors, namely temperature and the length of the dark period.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1101.77549

Authors: Barbora Ďurajková, Richard Hladký, Ivan Hadrián Tuf

Abstract: This study was focused on behaviour of the Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber) and the Plum Woodlouse (Porcellionides pruinosus) under the influence of stressors in the form of increased temperature, the vibrating surface, or their combination. Two types of experiments were performed. First, woodlice placed in a labyrinth were observed, to determine the degree of turn alternation, the speed of passing through the labyrinth, and the corrections of turn alternation, when exposed to stressors. In the second experiment how woodlice aggregate in the aforementioned potential stressors was recorded and whether the change in aggregation behaviour can be an indicator of the degree of stress. Increased temperature and the combination of increased temperature and vibrations were stressors only for P. scaber. The results show that vibrations are not a stress factor for P. scaber or P. pruinosus. Porcellio scaber passed through the labyrinth more slowly at increased temperatures, and although they made more turn-corrections, they alternated turns less intensely. Its aggregation behaviour was mainly influenced by temperature, which confirms that the aggregation behaviour of P. scaber actually indicates a degree of stress.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1101.76711

Authors: Primož Zidar, Žiga Fišer

Abstract: Avoidance behaviour enables woodlice to escape suboptimal environmental conditions and to mitigate harmful effects of pollutants. However, several studies have shown that at least in some woodlice species the tendency to aggregate can lead to suboptimal responses as the between-conspecific attraction can outweigh the aversive stimuli. The present study evaluated the influence of gregariousness on the behaviour of Porcellio scaber in a heterogeneously polluted environment. The hypothesis was that the tendency for aggregation outweighs the tendency for exploratory activity, therefore animals in groups will be less active. Consequently, this will affect their avoidance of polluted environmental patches. To test this hypothesis, isolated individuals or pairs of individuals were monitored in free-choice arenas where animals could select between uncontaminated and pyrethrin-contaminated soils. Animals were video recorded for 3 h in darkness using infrared light and analysed for avoidance behaviour and locomotor activity. In general, isolated animals were more locomotory active and avoided the contaminated soil more than paired animals. It can be concluded that aggregation behaviour suppresses exploratory behaviour and consequently also the avoidance of polluted environments. This should be accounted for when interpreting results of avoidance tests with groups of gregarious animals, which may underestimate the effect of pollutants.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1080.76522

Authors: José Norberto Lucio-García, Uriel Jeshua Sánchez-Reyes, Jorge Víctor Horta-Vega, Jesús Lumar Reyes-Muñoz, Shawn M. Clark, Santiago Niño-Maldonado

Abstract: Leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) constitute a family of abundant, diverse, and ecologically important herbivorous insects, due to their high specificity with host plants, a close association with vegetation and a great sensitivity to microclimatic variation (factors that are modified gradually during the rainy and dry seasons). Therefore, the effects of seasonality (rainy and dry seasons) and microclimate on the community attributes of chrysomelids were evaluated in a semideciduous tropical forest fragment of northeastern Mexico. Monthly sampling was conducted, between March 2016 and February 2017, with an entomological sweep net in 18 plots of 20 × 20 m, randomly distributed from 320 to 480 m a.s.l. Seven microclimatic variables were simultaneously recorded during each of the samplings, using a portable weather station. In total, 216 samples were collected at the end of the study, of which 2,103 specimens, six subfamilies, 46 genera, and 71 species were obtained. The subfamily Galerucinae had the highest number of specimens and species in the study area, followed by Cassidinae. Seasonality caused significant changes in the abundance and number of leaf beetle species: highest richness was recorded in the rainy season, with 60 species, while the highest diversity (lowest dominance and highest H’ index) was obtained in the dry season. Seasonal inventory completeness of leaf beetles approached (rainy season) or was higher (dry season) than 70%, while the faunistic similarity between seasons was 0.63%. The outlying mean index was significant in both seasons; of the seven microclimatic variables analyzed, only temperature, heat index, evapotranspiration and wind speed were significantly related to changes in abundance of Chrysomelidae. Association between microclimate and leaf beetles was higher in the dry season, with a difference in the value of importance of the abiotic variables. The results indicated that each species exhibited a different response pattern to the microclimate, depending on the season, which suggests that the species may exhibit modifications in their niche requirements according to abiotic conditions. However, the investigations must be replicated in other regions, in order to obtain a better characterization of the seasonal and microclimatic influence on the family Chrysomelidae.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1068.58193

Authors: Lohitashwa Garikipati, Jason E. Bond

Abstract: The list of known Mantodea in Belize is updated, with notes of 12 new country records, bringing the total known species of Mantodea in Belize to 21. Further information on habitat and microhabitat observations are included. A regional dichotomous key and Lucid interactive key are provided to known species in Belize. A list of other possibly endemic species is provided. Remarks on the merit of further sampling efforts in central America are made, based on recent studies. Our findings suggest that our understanding of Central American Mantodean diversity could be vastly improved by further documentation.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1063.71914

Authors: Oleksiy Bidzilya, Peter Huemer, Jean-François Landry, Jan Šumpich

Abstract: Gelechia omelkoi sp. nov. is described from the Ukok plateau and South Chuisky ridge in the Altai Mountains of Russia. The adult of the new species, including its male genitalia, is illustrated and compared with species most similar in morphology and DNA barcodes—G. sororculella (Hübner, 1817) and G. jakovlevi Krulikovsky, 1905 from the Palaearctic region, as well as G. mandella Busck, 1904 from Canada. This last species is redescribed based on adult specimens, including the genitalia of both sexes, and a lectotype is designated. Gelechia sirotina Omelko, 1986 is recorded from the Altai Republic for the first time. An updated list of six species of Gelechia from the Altai Mountains of Russia is given. Dorsal habitus photographs of all species are provided. The male genitalia of the lectotype of G. jakovlevi is illustrated for the first time.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1062.67964

Authors: Imelda G. Amador-Castro, Francisco J. Fernández-Rivera Melo, Jorge Torre

Abstract: San Pedro Mártir island is of high biological, ecological, and fishery importance and was declared a biosphere reserve in 2002. This island is the most oceanic in the Gulf of California, and information on its rocky reefs is scarce. The present study aimed to generate the first list of conspicuous invertebrate and fish species based on in situ observations and to examine the community structure of the shallow rocky reefs of the reserve. In addition, we estimated the ecological indicators of richness, abundance, Shannon diversity, and Pielou evenness to evaluate the conservation status of the biosphere reserve. Data were collected annually from 2007 to 2017 through 2,192 underwater SCUBA transects. A total of 35 species of invertebrates and 73 species of fish were recorded. Most of the species are widely distributed along the eastern Pacific. Overall, 64% of the species found in this study are commercially important, and 11 species have been listed as protected. The abundance of commercially important invertebrate species (i.e., the sea cucumber Isostichopus fuscus and the spiny oyster Spondylus limbatus) is decreasing, while commercially important fish species have maintained their abundance with periods of increase. The ecological indicators and the abundance and size of the commercial species indicate that the reserve is in good condition while meeting its conservation objectives.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1057.65877

Authors: Robin Casalla, Rudolf H. Scheffrahn, Judith Korb

Abstract: Rugitermes ursulae sp. nov. is described from a sample collected inside a dead branch in a tropical dry forest of Colombia’s Caribbean coast using molecular information and external morphological characters of the imago and soldier castes. Rugitermes ursulae sp. nov. soldiers and imagoes are the smallest among all described Rugitermes species. The imago’s head capsule coloration is dark castaneous, while the pronotum is contrastingly pale yellow. Our description includes soldier characters, such as subflangular elevation and shape of the antennal sockets, that can help in identification of samples lacking imagoes.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1056.63733

Authors: Bruno F. Fiorillo, Jorge Henry Maciel, Marcio Martins

Abstract: The natural history of a cerrado snake community in a protected area in southeastern Brazil (Santa Bárbara Ecological Station; SBES) is described. A visual guide and an identification key are also provided to assist researchers and local people in identifying snakes in that region. Sampling was performed through pitfall traps, time-constrained search, accidental encounters, and observations by local people for two years, which corresponded to 240 days of sampling. Among the 388 individuals found in the field, 33 snake species belonging to 21 genera of seven families were recorded. Most species were restricted or found at least once in non-forest vegetation types (campo sujo, campo cerrado, and cerrado sensu stricto) and a few were restricted to forest habitats (cerradão). Our results show that most species (1) occupy open areas; (2) present both diurnal and nocturnal activity; (3) are primarily terrestrial; (4) include lizards, mammals and/or anurans in the diet; (5) present seasonal reproductive activity; and (6) use mainly visually oriented defensive tactics. Despite its small size (3,154 ha), the SBES harbours preserved habitats and a rich and typical Cerrado snake fauna, including threatened species. Furthermore, most of the SBES snakes occur in non-forest environments (54%) and some species are sensitive to habitat disturbance.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1053.67288

Authors: Sonja Mudri-Stojnić, Andrijana Andrić, Zlata Markov-Ristić, Aleksandar Đukić, Ante Vujić

Abstract: The current work represents summarised data on the bee fauna in Serbia from previous publications, collections, and field data in the period from 1890 to 2020. A total of 706 species from all six of the globally widespread bee families is recorded; of the total number of recorded species, 314 have been confirmed by determination, while 392 species are from published data. Fourteen species, collected in the last three years, are the first published records of these taxa from Serbia: Andrena barbareae (Panzer, 1805), A. clarkella (Kirby, 1802), A. fulvicornis (Schenck, 1853), A. intermedia (Thomson, 1870), A. lapponica (Zetterstedt, 1838), A. pandellei (Pérez, 1895), A. paucisquama (Noskiewicz, 1924), A. simillima (Smith, 1851), Panurginus herzi (Morawitz, 1892), Epeoloides coecutiens (Fabricius, 1775), Nomada leucophthalma (Kirby, 1802), Chelostoma nasutum (Pérez, 1895), Hoplitis claviventris (Thomson, 1872), and Dasypoda pyrotrichia (Förster, 1855). Almost all the species recorded so far in Serbia belong to the West-Palaearctic biogeographical region, except Megachile sculpturalis (Smith, 1853), which is an alien invasive species native to East Asia. According to the European Red List of bees, 221 species listed in this paper were assessed as Data Deficient; threatened species mostly belong to the families Apidae with 13 species, Colletidae with eight species, and Halictidae with five species. This study contributes to the knowledge of the distribution of bee species in Europe. The present work provides a baseline for future research of wild bee diversity in Serbia and neighbouring regions at the local and regional levels, and a basis for their conservation.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1044.62478

Authors: Noelline Tsafack, Xinpu Wang, Yingzhong Xie, Simone Fattorini

Abstract: Understanding how species sort themselves into communities is essential to explain the mechanisms that maintain biodiversity. Important insights into potential mechanisms of coexistence may be obtained from observation of non-random patterns in community assembly. The spatial niche overlap (Pianka index) and co-occurrence (c-score) patterns in carabid species in three types of steppes (desert steppe, typical steppe, and meadow steppe) in China was investigated. Non randomness was tested using null models. Niche overlap values were significantly higher than expected by chance in the desert steppe, where vegetation cover is less abundant and less uniformly distributed, which possibly forces species to concentrate in certain places. In the typical and meadow steppes, results were influenced by the scale of the analysis. At a broad scale, niche separation was found as a result of species segregation among different sectors (habitats) within these steppes, but when the analysis was conducted at a finer scale, species appeared to be no more segregated than expected by chance. The high co-occurrence averages found in the meadow and typical steppes indicate that the distributions of the species found in a site may be negatively affected by the presence of other species, which suggests that some species tend to exclude (or reduce the abundance of) others. The very low c-score average observed in the desert steppe suggests that competition is not involved there. Thus, in more homogeneous landscapes (such as the typical and meadow steppes), competition might play some role in community structure, whereas spatial variation in the abundances of species is more driven by the uneven spatial distribution of vegetation in the landscape where productivity is lower and less uniformly distributed.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1044.63803

Authors: Pascale Zumstein, Helge Bruelheide, Andreas Fichtner, Andreas Schuldt, Michael Staab, Werner Härdtle, Hongzhang Zhou, Thorsten Assmann

Abstract: As woody plants provide much of the trophic basis for food webs in forests their species richness, but also stand age and numerous further variables such as vegetation structure, soil properties and elevation can shape assemblages of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). However, the combined impact of these numerous variables on ground beetle diversity and community structure has rarely been studied simultaneously. Therefore, ground beetles were studied in 27 plots in a highly diverse and structurally heterogeneous subtropical forest ecosystem, the Gutianshan National Park (southeast China) using pitfall traps and flight interception traps. Both trapping methods collected partly overlapping species spectra. The arboreal fauna was dominated by lebiines and to a smaller extent by tiger beetles and platynines; the epigeic fauna comprised mostly representatives of the genus Carabus and numerous tribes, especially anisodactylines, pterostichines, and sphodrines. Ground beetle species richness, abundance, and biomass of the pitfall trap catches were analyzed with generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), fitted with seven environmental variables. Four of these variables influenced the ground beetle assemblages: Canopy cover, herb cover, pH-value of the topsoil and elevation. Contrary to our expectations, woody plant species richness and stand age did not significantly affect ground beetle assemblages. Thus, ground beetles seem to respond differently to environmental variables than ants and spiders, two other predominantly predatory arthropod groups that were studied on the same plots in our study area and which showed distinct relationships with woody plant richness. Our results highlight the need to study a wider range of taxa to achieve a better understanding of how environmental changes affect species assemblages and their functioning in forest ecosystems.

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DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1044.62340

Authors: Kathryn N. Riley Peterson, Robert A. Browne, Terry L. Erwin

Abstract: Although tropical regions harbor the greatest arthropod diversity on Earth, the majority of species are taxonomically and scientifically unknown. Furthermore, how they are organized into functional communities and distributed among habitats is mostly unstudied. Here we examine species richness, diversity, and community composition of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and compare them between flooded (FP) and non-flooded terra firme (TF) forests in the Yasuní area of Ecuador. The forest understory was sampled using flight intercept traps (FITs) and systematic hand collections at night in June and July 2011 and 2012, and FITs in October and November 2011. A total of 1,255 Carabidae representing 20 tribes, 54 genera, and 143 morphospecies was collected. Mean number of individuals and mean species richness did not differ significantly between FP and TF; however, numbers of Cicindelini (tiger beetles) and Pentagonicini were higher in TF forest while numbers of Lachnophorini and Scaritini were higher in FP forest. Overall, FP had significantly higher rarefied richness but extrapolation of rarefaction curves using the Chao1 nonparametric diversity estimator show that this difference may decrease with additional sampling. The inverse Simpson index was significantly higher for FP than TF forest. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination and dissimilarity coefficient values show that FP and TF forests maintain unique assemblages with minimal overlap in community composition. Given ongoing anthropogenic pressures, particularly petroleum extraction, and those resulting from climate change, a greater understanding of the richness, diversity and community assemblages of Yasuní rainforest are needed to better conserve the fauna of this megadiverse area of Amazonia.

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