Tuesday, March 10, 2026

[Entomology • 2026] Methocha haaksek, M. hongkongensis, ... • The Methocha (Hymenoptera: Thynnidae: Methochinae) of Hong Kong (China), A Preliminary Faunal List with Descriptions of Five New Species and Sexual Associations rendered through Molecular Analysis

 

A. Methocha haaksek Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov. 
B & C. M. hongkongensis Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov. 
 D. M. leleji Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov. 
 E. M. wilsoni Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov. 
 F. M. zetetes Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov. 

in Barthélémy, Terayama, Poon et Sin. 2026. 

Abstract
Five new species of Methocha Latreille, 1804 are described from Hong Kong: two species based on females only, Methocha haaksek Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov. and Methocha leleji Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov.; two on males only, M. wilsoni Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov. and M. zetetes Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov.; and one with females and males associated through molecular analysis, M. hongkongensis Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov. A key to species and a phylogenetic tree of Methocha occurring in the Hong Kong SAR are provided.

Keywords: Thynnoidea, morphometrics, Cicindelinae, DNA barcoding, phylogenetic

Holotypes and paratypes, lateral habitus.
A. Methocha haaksek Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov., holotype, ♀, M459.D.Hy.1, CASC. B. M. hongkongensis Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov., holotype, ♀, M364.C.Hy.2, CASC. C. M. hongkongensis, paratype, ♂, M561CHY3, CBC. D. ♀, M. leleji Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov., holotype, ♂, M099.C.Hy.2, CASC.
E. M. wilsoni Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov., holotype, ♂, M060.C.Hy.4, CASC. F. M. zetetes Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov., paratype, ♂, M321.E.Hy.4B, CBC.

Methocha haaksek Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov. 
M. hongkongensis Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov. 
M. leleji Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov.
M. wilsoni Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov. 
M. zetetes Barthélémy & Terayama sp. nov.


 Christophe Barthélémy, Mamoru Terayama, Emily Shui Kei Poon and Simon Yung Wa Sin. 2026. The Methocha (Hymenoptera: Thynnidae: Methochinae) of Hong Kong (China), A Preliminary Faunal List with Descriptions of Five New Species and Sexual Associations rendered through Molecular Analysis. European Journal of Taxonomy. 1043(1); 118–151. DOI: doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2026.1043.3213 

Monday, March 9, 2026

[Invertebrate • 2026] Dalhousiella yabukii & Leocratides watanabeae • Single Origin and Convergent Host Use of hexactinellid Sponge Symbiosis in Hesionidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) with Descriptions of Two New Deep-sea Species


Dalhousiella yabukii and Leocratides watanabeae 
 Jimi, Downey, Mella & Hookabe, 2026


Abstract
Symbiotic associations between annelids and sponges are widespread and have evolved repeatedly across diverse families. However, their evolutionary history within Hesionidae remains poorly understood. Using the manned submersible Shinkai 6500, we conducted in situ observations and collected hesionid specimens from a hexactinellid sponge on the Getsuyo Seamount, north-west Pacific Ocean. An integrative taxonomic approach combining morphology and molecular phylogenetics revealed that they belong to two new species, Dalhousiella yabukii sp. nov. and Leocratides watanabeae sp. nov. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that sponge symbiosis in Hesionidae originated once, in the common ancestor of Dalhousiella and Leocratides. Nevertheless, the two new species are not each other’s closest relatives; instead, they form independent sister-clades, each including different congeners. Specimens of the two new species inhabited the same sponge host and probably shared similar ecological niches, suggesting convergent ecological specialization toward the limited resource of hexactinellid sponges in the deep sea. Such niche overlap and convergent evolution between closely related symbiotic species have not been previously reported in Hesionidae. Our findings shed new light on the origin and diversification of sponge symbiosis in Hesionidae and highlight the importance of integrative taxonomy and direct in situ observation for understanding deep-sea biodiversity.

Hesionini, taxonomy, symbiosis, Polychaeta, seamount


Dalhousiella yabukii sp. nov.  
Leocratides watanabeae sp. nov. 



Naoto Jimi, Rachel Downey, María Belén Arias Mella and Natsumi Hookabe. 2026. Single Origin and Convergent Host Use of hexactinellid Sponge Symbiosis in Hesionidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) with Descriptions of Two New Deep-sea Species. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 206(3); zlag028. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlag028 [09 March 2026] 

[Herpetology • 2026] Ololygon paracatu • A New Species of the Ololygon catharinae group (Anura: Hylidae: Scinaxini) from the Brazilian Cerrado


Ololygon paracatu 
 Carvalho, Valencia-Zuleta, Araujo-Vieira, Faivovich, Maciel & Brandão,  2026

 
Abstract
We describe a new species of the Ololygon catharinae group from the Cerrado biome, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Ololygon paracatu sp. nov. is morphologically similar to O. goya and O. skaios, although in phylogenetic analyses, it is recovered as the poorly supported sister taxon of O. pombali. It is distinguished from other species of the O. catharinae group by having a canthus rostralis marked and curved; subovoid snout in dorsal view and protruding in profile; inverted triangle shaped interocular blotch, exceeding the posterior margin of the eyes; inguinal region and hidden areas of thighs with dark brown irregular blotches on a pale yellow background in life; and advertisement call composed of 3–5 pulsed notes and dominant frequency of 2.5–3.5 kHz. Ololygon paracatu sp. nov. inhabits gallery forests associated with streams in the Cerrado biome.

Amphibia, Hylinae, taxonomy, phylogeny, calls, gallery forest
 
 
Ololygon paracatu sp. nov.


Daniele CARVALHO, Alejandro VALENCIA-ZULETA, Katyuscia ARAUJO-VIEIRA, Julián FAIVOVICH, Natan M. MACIEL and Reuber A. BRANDÃO. 2026. A New Species of the Ololygon catharinae group from the Brazilian Cerrado (Anura, Hylidae, Scinaxini). Zootaxa. 5757(6); 522-542. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5757.6.2 [2026-02-11]

[Mollusca • 2025] Chamalycaeus aduncus • The First Record of an Operculate Micro Land Snail from the Alycaeinae (Caenogastropoda: Cyclophoridae) in Cambodia

 

Chamalycaeus aduncus Jirapatrasilp,   

in Jirapatrasilp, Thi, Chantha, Chourn, Sophea, Jeratthitikul, Pholyotha, Siriwut, Srisonchai, Panha et Sutcharit, 2025. 
 
This study reports the first record of the operculate micro land snail from the Alycaeinae, Chamalycaeus aduncus Jirapatrasilp sp. nov., also the first new species of the genus in Cambodia, based on a recent survey in Battambang. This new species is similar to Chamalycaeus excisus (Möllendorff, 1887) and C. excisus sublimus Páll-Gergely et Auffenberg, 2019 from the Philippines, in shell size and shape, and the strongly downwards coiling of R3, but differs in having a shorter R2 without any blunt keel, a round aperture without any incision, and a beak- or hook-like basal edge of the outer peristome. 

Keywords: Battambang; Cyclophoroidea; Gastropoda; Mollusca; taxonomy

Chamalycaeus aduncus sp. nov.
A paratype CUMZ 14462/1, and B paratype CUMZ 14462/2, showing a scraping hole at the umbilical side.

. Representative SEM images of Chamalycaeus aduncus sp. nov., holotype CUMZ 14461
 A whole shell in different positions, and B Close-up images of the aperture; white arrows pointing to the beak- or hook-like basal edge of the outer peristome.

Chamalycaeus aduncus Jirapatrasilp sp. nov.

 

Parin JIRAPATRASILP, Sothearen THI, Nasak CHANTHA, Phyroum CHOURN, Chhin SOPHEA, Ekgachai JERATTHITIKUL, Arthit PHOLYOTHA, Warut SIRIWUT, Ruttapon SRISONCHAI, Somsak PANHA and Chirasak SUTCHARIT. 2025. The First Record of an Operculate Micro Land Snail from the Alycaeinae (Caenogastropoda, Cyclophoridae) in Cambodia, with Description of A New Species of Chamalycaeus von Möllendorff, 1897. Ruthenica Russian Malacological Journal. 35(2); 65-72. https://www.ruthenica.net/node/6016

[Mollusca • 2026] Operculate Land Snails (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda: Cyclophoroidea) from Padang Bindu Karst, South Sumatra, Indonesia with the Description of A New Species, Chamalycaeus dayangmerindu

 

c. Chamalycaeus dayangmerindu Aulia & Nurinsiyah, sp. nov.;
d. C. korintjiensis (Páll-Gergely, 2020), holotype (ZMA.MOLL 135672).
a. Stomacosmethis cf. jagori (E. von Martens, 1860); b. S. jagori (E. von Martens, 1860), syntype (SMF 109304); 

in Aulia, Nurinsiyah, Mujiono, Páll-Gergely et Ambarwati, 2026.  


Abstract
The study on Cyclophoroidea from Padang Bindu Karst, South Sumatra, was conducted to document the species diversity of the superfamily in the area. The samples, including leaf litter and soil samples, were collected in May–June 2021 and followed by the determination and examination on 2023 to 2024 in the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense. In total 3,780 specimens from the superfamily Cyclophoroidea were examined. Measurements of the shell and operculum were performed using L.A.S V4. 13.0 and IMAGE J. The research revealed 11 species from three families (Cyclophoridae, Diplomatinidae, Pupinidae) and four subfamilies. Plectostoma kitteli is the most abundant species followed by Stomacosmethis cf. jagori (19.84%) and Diplommatina liwaensis (6.67%). A new species, Chamalycaeus dayangmerindu Aulia & Nurinsiyah, sp. nov. is described. The study also discovered four species endemics to Sumatra with one species among them so far only recorded from Padang Bindu karst area. These findings emphasize the region’s unique biodiversity.

Key words: Biodiversity, conservation, limestone, molluscs, operculum

Shells of Alycaeinae. a. Stomacosmethis cf. jagori (E. von Martens, 1860); b. Stomacosmethis jagori (E. von Martens, 1860), syntype (SMF 109304);
c. Chamalycaeus dayangmerindu sp. nov.; d. Chamalycaeus korintjiensis (Páll-Gergely, 2020), holotype (ZMA.MOLL 135672).

Chamalycaeus dayangmerindu Aulia & Nurinsiyah, sp. nov.

Habitat. Limestone rocks.

Distribution. The species is so far only recorded from Padang Bindu Karst, South Sumatra.

Etymology. The species name Dayang Merindu was inspired by Princess Dayang Merindu, a figure from local folklore. According to the legend, Princess Dayang Merindu ignored the greeting of a man, as she was already married. Her action was then perceived as arrogance, and the man cursed her into stone. The stone associated with this tale is located inside Gua Putri, a karst cave formation in the Padang Bindu area.


 Latifah Nurul Aulia, Ayu Savitri Nurinsiyah, Nova Mujiono, Barna Páll-Gergely and Reni Ambarwati. 2026. Operculate Land Snails (Gastropoda, Caenogastropoda, Cyclophoroidea) from Padang Bindu Karst, South Sumatra, Indonesia with the Description of A New Species, Chamalycaeus dayangmerinduZooKeys. 1272: 1-31. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1272.179378 [02 Mar 2026]

[Paleontology • 2026] Sonselasuchus cedrus • Osteology and Relationships of A New shuvosaurid (Pseudosuchia: Poposauroidea: Shuvosauridae) from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation of Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, U.S.A


Sonselasuchus cedrus
Smith & Sidor, 2026

Artwork by Gabriel Ugueto

ABSTRACT
Shuvosauridae is a clade of pseudosuchian archosaurs currently represented by three named species characterized by a body plan strikingly convergent with that of ornithomimid theropod dinosaurs. This paper documents a new genus and species of shuvosaurid from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation of Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Sonselasuchus cedrus, gen. et sp. nov., is largely diagnosed by features of the maxilla, including a reduced body and anterior process, an enlarged subnarial foramen, and an expanded facet on the posterior process, although other unique cranial features are also noted herein. By contrast, its postcranial anatomy is largely similar to what has been described for other shuvosaurids, although subtle differences are noted. A phylogenetic analysis finds S. cedrus in an unresolved clade with Effigia okeeffeae and Shuvosaurus inexpectatus, likely as a result of non-overlapping missing data, particularly for the skull of Shuvosaurus. A review of the shuvosaurid fossil record indicates that shuvosaurids were persistent components of Late Triassic terrestrial vertebrate faunas in North America. S. cedrus is represented by a minimum number of 36 individuals, mostly skeletally immature, that occur within a multitaxic bonebed of almost exclusively disarticulated elements. An analysis of the relative size change of limb dimensions indicates the forelimb was growing on a negative allometric trajectory relative to the hindlimb, which is consistent with a transition in locomotory mode from quadrupedal to bipedal in S. cedrus during ontogeny.

Life restoration of Sonselasuchus cedrus as depicted by Gabriel Ugueto. Note the occurrence of individuals in both bipedal and quadrupedal stances.

SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY
ARCHOSAURIA Cope, Citation1869
PSEUDOSUCHIA Zittel, Citation1887–Citation1890

PARACROCODYLOMORPHA Parrish, Citation1993
POPOSAUROIDEA Nopcsa, Citation1923

SHUVOSAURIDAE Chatterjee, Citation1993

SONSELASUCHUS CEDRUS gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology—For the genus, ‘Sonsela’ refers to the Sonsela Member of the Chinle Formation, the type section is located at the Sonsela Buttes on the Navajo Nation; ‘suchus’ is a Latinization of the Greek word soukhos, for the Egyptian crocodile deity Sobek, reflecting the pseudosuchian affinities of the taxon. The specific epithet, ‘cedrus’ is the genus name for the common cedar (actually the juniper, Juniperus spp.) and refers to Cedar Tank, the geographic feature in Petrified Forest National Park near the type locality.

Holotype—PEFO 47305/UWBM 119436, left maxilla.

Locality and Horizon—The Kaye Quarry (PFV 410/UWBM C2226) is located west of Cedar Tank at Petrified Forest National Park, Apache County, Arizona, U.S.A. (Fig. 1). The site is within the Jim Camp Wash beds of the Sonsela Member of the Chinle Formation and is Norian in age (Marsh et al., 2024). ...


Elliott Armour Smith and Christian A. Sidor. 2026. Osteology and Relationships of A New shuvosaurid (Pseudosuchia, Poposauroidea) from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation of Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, U.S.A. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. e2604859. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2025.2604859 [08 Mar 2026]

Saturday, March 7, 2026

[Diplopoda • 2026] Rhopalomeris dulcia, R. lentiginosa, R. verhoeffi, ... • Five New Species of the Pill Millipede Genus Rhopalomeris Verhoeff, 1906 (Glomerida: Glomeridae) from Thailand


Rhopalomeris dulcia
R. verhoeffi  
Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn,

in Sapparojpattana, Jeratthitikul, Siriwut, Srisonchai, Wesener, Sutcharit et Likhitrakarn, 2026.  

Abstract
An integrative approach based on morphological characteristics and DNA data from the mitochondrial COI gene has revealed five new species of the pill millipede genus Rhopalomeris Verhoeff, 1906 from Thailand: Rhopalomeris muka Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, sp. nov.R. lentiginosa Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, sp. nov.R. dulcia Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, sp. nov.R. punctata Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, sp. nov., and R. verhoeffi Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, sp. nov. The five new species are distinguishable from their congeners by distinctive color patterns and telopod structure. The interspecific genetic divergences between the new species and other Rhopalomeris species ranged from 7.86 to 13.71%. Intraspecific genetic divergences within these five species ranged from 0 to 4.53%, with the highest divergences found in R. carnifex and R. verhoeffi sp. nov. This is consistent with both the wide distribution range and the significant intraspecific morphological variations observed in these latter two species. Furthermore, the taxonomic scope of R. carnifex in Thailand is reviewed, and intraspecific morphological variations within R. carnifex and R. verhoeffi sp. nov. are discussed. A distribution map, morphological illustrations from SEM, and an updated key to all known Rhopalomeris species are also provided.

Keywords: DNA barcoding; Indochina; integrative taxonomy; phylogeny; systematics

Rhopalomeris dulcia sp. nov., (A, B) paratype (MUMNH-GLO188), habitus, live coloration (C–E) ♀ paratype (MUMNH-GLO188), alcohol preserved, in dorsal, ventral, and lateral views (A) unrolled in sublateral view (B) rolled in sublateral view.
(A, B) image not to scale (C–E) scale bars: 2 mm

Rhopalomeris verhoeffi sp. nov., (A, B) paratype (MUMNH-GLO201), habitus, live coloration of color morph 2 (C–E) ♀ paratype (MUMNH-GLO201), alcohol preserved specimen of color morph 2 in dorsal, ventral, and lateral views (A) unrolled in sublateral view (B) rolled in sublateral view.
(A, B) image not to scale (C–E) scale bars: 2 mm

 Rhopalomeris muka Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, sp. nov.
R. lentiginosa Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, sp. nov. 
 R. dulcia Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, sp. nov. 
 R. punctata Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, sp. nov. 
 R. verhoeffi Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, sp. nov. 

Distributions of currently known Rhopalomeris species in Thailand and Myanmar

(A) Bayesian inference tree focusing on the detailed topology of Rhopalomeris carnifex (Pocock, 1889) and R. verhoeffi sp. nov., with colored drawings illustrating the color variations within each species. All millipede drawings are not to scale.
(B, C) Maps of southern Thailand showing the distributions of color morphs for (B) R. carnifex and (C) R. verhoeffi sp. nov. The different shaded colors in each pie chart represent the proportion of the corresponding color morphs in that locality.


 Pichsinee Sapparojpattana, Ekgachai Jeratthitikul, Warut Siriwut, Ruttapon Srisonchai, Thomas Wesener, Chirasak Sutcharit, and Natdanai Likhitrakarn. 2026. Five New Species of the Pill Millipede Genus Rhopalomeris Verhoeff, 1906 (Diplopoda, Glomerida) from Thailand. Contributions to Zoology. 95(1); 52–102. DOI: doi.org/10.1163/18759866-bja10090 [20 Feb 2026]

***งานวิจัยใหม่: กิ้งกือกระสุนลูกกวาด 5 ชนิดใหม่ของโลกจากประเทศไทย
และการมีรูปแบบสีที่หลากหลายซึ่งพบในบางชนิด***
...
รายชื่อชนิดใหม่ดังนี้
.
1. 𝙍𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙠𝙖 Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, 2026
กิ้งกือกระสุนลูกกวาดมหิดลกาญจน์
 ค้นพบที่ มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล วิทยาเขตกาญจนบุรี อำเภอไทรโยค จังหวัดกาญจนบุรี

2. 𝙍𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙨𝙖 Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, 2026
ค้นพบที่ ตำบลท่าขนุน อำเภอทองผาภูมิ จังหวัดกาญจนบุรี
3. 𝙍𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙪𝙡𝙘𝙞𝙖 Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, 2026
ค้นพบที่ ตำบลบ้านนา อำเภอเมืองชุมพร จังหวัดชุมพร

4. 𝙍𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙖 Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, 2026
ค้นพบที่ ตำบลไร่เก่า อำเภอสามร้อยยอด จังหวัดประจวบคีรีขันธ์
5. 𝙍𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙤𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙞 Sapparojpattana & Likhitrakarn, 2026
ตั้งชื่อเป็นเกียรติแก่ Karl Wilhelm Verhoeff ผู้ตั้งสกุลกื้งกือกระสุนลูกกวาด 𝙍𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙨
ค้นพบครั้งแรกที่ น้ำตกกะทู้ อำเภอกะทู้ จังหวัดภูเก็ต และกระจายตัวหลายพื้นที่ในภาคใต้ของประเทศไทย 

[Entomology • 2026] Staphylus neideae, S. ricardoi, ... • Integrative Taxonomic Revision of Capilla Grishin, 2023, Subgenus of Staphylus Godman & Salvin, 1896 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Pyrginae), with Descriptions of Four New Species


[M–P] Staphylus (C.) nicoleae Lemes, sp. nov.; [Q, R] S. (C.) neivae sp. nov.
[S, T] S. (C.) ricardoi Lemes, sp. nov.; [U–X] S. (C.) neideae Lemes, sp. nov.

in Lemes, Siewert, Mielke, Casagrande et Warren, 2026. 

Abstract
The taxonomy of the subgenus Staphylus (Capilla) is reviewed, including redescriptions of known species, identification keys, and detailed distribution maps. The female genitalia of Staphylus (Capillaazteca (Scudder, 1872), S. (C.) caribbea (Williams & Bell, 1940), S. (C.) corumba (Williams & Bell, 1940), S. (C.) eryx Evans, 1953, S. (C.) tucumanus (Plötz, 1884) and S. (C.) tyro (Mabille, 1878) are described and illustrated for the first time. Four new species are described: Staphylus (Capillanicoleae Lemes sp. nov. from Colombia and Venezuela, S. (C.) ricardoi Lemes, sp. nov. from Peru, S. (C.) neideae Lemes sp. nov. and S. (C.) neivae sp. nov. from Brazil. Pholisora imperspicua Hayward, 1940 is a syn. nov. of Staphylus (C.) lizeri lizeri (Hayward, 1938) and Hesperia melangon epicaste Mabille, 1903 is a syn. nov. of Staphylus (C.) melangon melangon (Mabille, 1883). Neotypes are designated for Staphylus epicaste Mabille, 1903, Nisoniades tucumanus Plötz, 1884 and Staphylus fascia Hayward, 1933. Lectotypes are designated for Pholisora azteca Scudder, 1872, Bolla machuca Schaus, 1913, Helias tyro Mabille, 1878, Staphylus anginus Schaus, 1902, Hesperia melangon 1883, Hesperia musculus Burmeister, 1875 and Helias aurocapilla Staudinger, 1876.

Keywords: Butterflies, Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1, Neotropical, Skippers

Species of Staphylus (Capilla) in dorsal and ventral views.  
A–D S. (C.) ascalon: A, B male (Brazil, São Paulo, Teodoro Sampaio, Morro do Diabo, OM 17.996); C, D female (Brazil, Minas Gerais, Passa Quatro, DZ 46.813).
E, F S. (C.) buena: male (Bolivia, Santa Cruz, Buenavista, holotype, CMNH 7188).
G–J S. (C.) caribbea: G, H male (Costa Rica, Limón Province, La Bomba, MGCL 1112082); I, J female (Costa Rica, Limón Province, Germania, MGCL 1112078).
K–N S. (C.) eryx: K, L male (Brazil, Pará, Santarém, DZ 46.566); M, N female (Brazil, Pará, Santarém, MGCL 1112109).
O–R S. (C.) corumba: O, P male (Brazil, Pará, Santo Antônio do Tauá, Reserva Sonho Azul, DZ 45.033); Q, R female (Brazil, Pará, Santo Antônio do Tauá, Reserva Sonho Azul, DZ 45.005).
S, T S. (C.) lizeri album: male (Brazil, Minas Gerais, Carmo do Rio Claro, OM 2.788). U–X S. (C.) lizeri lizeri: U, V male (Peru, Madre de Dios, Tambopata Reserve, DZ 46.176); W, X female (Colombia, Meta, Villavencio, Bosque Bavaria, DZ 45.526).
 Scale bar = 1 cm.

Species of Staphylus (Capilla) in dorsal and ventral views.
A–D S. (C.) tucumanus: A, B male (Argentina, Salta, Pichanal, DZ 45.125); C, D female (Paraguay, Presidente Hayes, Estancia Victoria, Rio Norte Lindo, OM 37.963).
E–H S. (C.) azteca: E, F male (El Salvador, La Libertad, Santa Tecla, MGCL 1112133); G, H female (Mexico, Chiapas, San Jerónimo, DZ 45.085).
I–L S. (C.) tyro: I, J male (Venezuela, Aragua, Ocumare de la Costa, DZ 22.893); K, L female (Venezuela, Aragua, Ocumare de la Costa, DZ 46.608).

M–P Staphylus (C.) nicoleae sp. nov.: M, N male (Colombia, Cundinamarca, El Boqueron, holotype, DZ 45.163); O, P female (Colombia, no specific locality, paratype, NHMUK015052554);
Q, R S. (C.) neivae sp. nov.: male (Brazil, Paraíba, São José da Mata, Campina Grande, holotype, DZ 44.944).
S, T S. (C.) ricardoi sp. nov.: male (Peru, Tingo Maria, holotype, OM 41.643).
U–X S. (C.) neideae sp. nov.: U, V male (Brazil, Minas Gerais, Brumadinho, holotype, OM 55.562); W, X female (Brazil, Minas Gerais, Brumadinho, paratype, OM 55.476).
Scale bar = 1 cm.

M–P Staphylus (C.) nicoleae sp. nov.: M, N male (Colombia, Cundinamarca, El Boqueron, holotype, DZ 45.163); O, P female (Colombia, no specific locality, paratype, NHMUK015052554);
Q, R S. (C.) neivae sp. nov.: male (Brazil, Paraíba, São José da Mata, Campina Grande, holotype, DZ 44.944). 
S, T S. (C.) ricardoi sp. nov.: male (Peru, Tingo Maria, holotype, OM 41.643).
U–X S. (C.) neideae sp. nov.: U, V male (Brazil, Minas Gerais, Brumadinho, holotype, OM 55.562); W, X female (Brazil, Minas Gerais, Brumadinho, paratype, OM 55.476).
Scale bar = 1 cm.


Staphylus (Capillanicoleae Lemes sp. nov. from Colombia and Venezuela, 
S. (C.) ricardoi Lemes, sp. nov. from Peru, 
S. (C.) neideae Lemes sp. nov. and S. (C.) neivae sp. nov. from Brazil.  


 José Ricardo Assmann Lemes, Ricardo Russo Siewert, Olaf Hermann Hendrik Mielke, Mirna Martins Casagrande and Andrew David Warren. 2026. Integrative Taxonomic Revision of Capilla Grishin, 2023, Subgenus of Staphylus Godman & Salvin, 1896 (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae, Pyrginae, Carcharodini), with Descriptions of Four New Species. Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny. 84: 123-173. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/asp.84.e179328 [24 Feb 2026]

Friday, March 6, 2026

[Mammalogy • 2026] Found Alive After 6,000 years: Modern Records of An ‘Extinct’ Papuan Marsupial, Dactylonax kambuayai (Marsupialia: Petauridae), with A Revision of the Systematics and Zoogeography of the Genus Dactylonax


Dactylonax kambuayai (Aplin, 1999) 
Pygmy Long-fingered Possum

in Flannery, Aplin, Bocos, Koungoulos et Helgen, 2026. 
Records of the Australian Museum. 78
 painting by Peter Schouten. 

Abstract
The Pygmy Long-fingered Possum, Dactylonax kambuayai, is the smallest of the striped possums (the petaurid subfamily Dactylopsilinae). It is a ‘Lazarus species’, found living when previously known only from fossils. Recently collected museum specimens, and observations and photographs of living individuals, correspond taxonomically to the only previously reported specimens of D. kambuayai, which are fossil remains from a nearby Holocene location, all occurring in low- to mid-elevation rainforests on the Vogelkop Peninsula of New Guinea. Together with the recent discovery of another Lazarus possum, ‘Petauroidesayamaruensis, they represent the only marsupials known as modern animals only from low elevations (below 1000 m) on the Vogelkop Peninsula. Both of these species are diminutive species with enigmatic natural histories. In reviewing the systematics of this species, we demonstrate the distinctness of Dactylonax as a genus-level taxon, and clarify species boundaries in this genus. Dactylonax palpator, the type species of Dactylonax, was previously considered to be a widespread montane taxon, but is recognized here as two separate species: D. palpator is restricted to the Arfak Mountains of the Vogelkop, while D. ernstmayri is widely distributed on the New Guinean Central Cordillera and the Huon Peninsula at elevations above 800 m. Dactylonax palpator replaces, or co-occurs with, D. kambuayai at elevations between around 900 m and 1,400 m on the Vogelkop. We hypothesize that colonization of montane habitats on the Vogelkop by a D. kambuayai-like ancestor gave rise to the larger bodied D. palpator, and dispersal of this lineage to montane habitats in the Central Cordillera gave rise to the highly specialized D. ernstmayri. The fact that the montane taxon of the Vogelkop Dactylonax species couplet was able to migrate eastwards, while the lowland taxon was not, suggests that an unusual elevational zoogeographic filter was in play. We observe that D. kambuayai is thus far recorded from sites where the other small petaurid of New Guinea, Petaurus papuanus, is not recorded or is uncommon.

Keywords: Marsupialia; Petauridae; Dactylonaxkambuayaipalpatorernstmayri; Lazarus taxon; Vogelkop; New Guinea; systematic review


Photograph of a living female Dactylonax kambuayai, Klalik area, Vogelkop.
Photo: Carlos Bocos.

Dactylonax kambuayai (Aplin, 1999)

Hands of the four extant genera (and three subfamilies) of family Petauridae.
Palmar surfaces of the manus, showing key differences in phalangeal proportions, claws, palmar pads, furring, and patagial development in
(a) Dactylopsila, subfamily Dactylopsilinae (represented by Dactylopsila trivirgata); (b) Dactylonax, subfamily Dactylopsilinae (represented by Dactylonax palpator);
(c) Gymnobelideus, represented by G. leadbeateri (Gymnobelideus McCoy, 1867 is type genus of the new subfamily proposed here: Gymnobelideinae Helgen & Flannery, subfam. nov., Gymnobelideus leadbeateri McCoy, 1867 is type species of Gymnobelideus, the new subfamily and its type genus are both monotypic);
(d) Petaurus, subfamily Petaurinae (represented by P. norfolcensis). Modified from Flannery (1994:61–65). Drawings by Peter Schouten.

Dactylonax kambuayai (Aplin, 1999)—a painting by Peter Schouten.
 This artwork is based on the two modern specimens in the Australian Museum (M.56796 adult female and pouch young M.56797).


Tim F. Flannery; Kenneth P. Aplin; Carlos Bocos; Loukas G. Koungoulos; Kristofer M. Helgen. 2026. Found Alive After 6,000 years: Modern Records of An ‘Extinct’ Papuan Marsupial, Dactylonax kambuayai (Marsupialia: Petauridae), with A Revision of the Systematics and Zoogeography of the Genus DactylonaxRecords of the Australian Museum. 78; 17-34. DOI: doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.78.2026.3003 [06 March 2026]

[Entomology • 2026] Calicnemia arunachala, Ca. naga, Ca. mimumkoa, Coeliccia magna, ... • Six New Species of Calicnemia Strand, 1926 and One New Species of Coeliccia Kirby, 1890 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae) from northeastern India


 Calicnemia arunachala  &  C. mimumkoa 
Sawant, Joshi & Kunte, 

in Sawant, Joshi, Pawar, Khan, Nawge et Kunte, 2026. 
 
Abstract
We erect six new species of the genus Calicnemia Strand, 1926, namely, Ca. ardena sp. nov., Ca. arunachala sp. nov., Ca. flavovittata sp. nov., Ca. mimumkoa sp. nov., Ca. naga sp. nov. and Ca. rubromacula sp. nov.; and one new species of Coeliccia Kirby, 1890, Co. magna sp. nov., from northeastern India. The new Calicnemia spp. are distinguished based on the structure of the genital ligula, colouration patterns of the thorax and abdomen, and the shape of caudal appendages. Based on the morphology of the genital ligula, we propose a third species group within Calicnemia, in addition to the two previously recognised species groups. This new species group accommodates Ca. ardena sp. nov. and Ca. rubromacula sp. nov., which possess short, bifurcated genital filaments that do not align with the diagnostic characteristics of the existing species groups. Additionally, Ca. erythromelas (Selys, 1891) previously reported from India is shown to be misidentified, and the Indian material is identified as Ca. naga sp. nov. Updated identification keys for all known Calicnemia males are provided, along with detailed illustrations of diagnostic features. Coeliccia magna sp. nov., erected from Arunachal Pradesh, is distinguished from congeners by its larger body size, complete blue antehumeral stripes, and distinct male and female morphological features. We further provide lateral thoracic illustrations of Coeliccia spp.

Odonata, Arunachal Pradesh, identification key, new species descriptions, Siang, taxonomy




 Calicnemia ardena sp. nov., Ca. arunachala sp. nov., 
Ca. flavovittata sp. nov., Ca. mimumkoa sp. nov., 
Ca. naga sp. nov., Ca. rubromacula sp. nov. 


Coeliccia magna sp. nov. 



Dattaprasad SAWANT, SHANTANU JOSHI, UJWALA PAWAR, FAHIM KHAN, VIRAJ NAWGE and KRUSHNAMEGH KUNTE. 2026. Six New Species of Calicnemia Strand, 1926 and One New Species of Coeliccia Kirby, 1890 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae) from northeastern India.  Zootaxa. 5760(4); 401-449. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5760.4.1 [2026-02-25]


[Botany • 2026] Nymphanthus vietnamensis (Phyllanthaceae) • A New Species from Central Vietnam

 

Nymphanthus vietnamensis T.A.Le, Tak.Yamam. & Tagane, 

in Vu, T. A. Le, Nong, Dinh, V. H. Le, Yamamoto et Tagane, 2026. 
 
Abstract
A new species of NymphanthusN. vietnamensis T.A.Le, Tak.Yamam. & Tagane is described from Quang Tri Province and Thua Thien Hue Province (currently Hue City), central Vietnam. It is similar to N. namkadingensis but distinguished by its branchlet with 14–30(–40) leaves (vs. 50–60 in N. namkadingensis), leaf blades with 3–6 pairs of secondary veins (vs. 8–12 pairs), pistillate pedicel of 8–9 mm long (vs. 10–16 mm long), disc of pistillate flowers with 4–6 free rectangular segments (vs. connate and annular), and subglobose capsules (vs. ellipsoid). A detailed description, photographs, and information on the distribution and ecology, vernacular name, phenology, and preliminary conservation status are provided for the species.

Flora of Vietnam, Dakrong, Phong Dien, Phyllantheae, taxonomy, Eudicots


Nymphanthus vietnamensis T.A.Le, Tak.Yamam. & Tagane sp. nov. 


TIEN CHINH VU, TUAN ANH LE, VAN DUY NONG, DIEN DINH, VAN HUONG LE, TAKENORI YAMAMOTO, SHUICHIRO TAGANE. 2026. Nymphanthus vietnamensis, A New Species of Phyllanthaceae from Central Vietnam.  Phytotaxa. 742(3); 237-242. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.742.3.6 [2026-02-24]