[Entomology • 2018] Gilen orientalis • The Unicorn Exists! A remarkable New Genus and Species of Perilissini (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from South East Asia

 Gilen orientalis

Reshchikov & Van Achterberg, 2018  

 

DOI: doi.org/10.2478/aemnp-2018-0041

Abstract 

Gilen gen. nov. (type species G. orientalis sp. nov.) from South East Asia is described and illustrated. The new taxon has a produced mid-longitudinal facial projection, which differentiates it from all other known genera of Ichneumonidae. It belongs to the tribe Perilissini in the subfamily Ctenopelmatinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) and is recorded from Laos, Northern Thailand and Vietnam.

Keywords: Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, new genus, new species, parasitoid, facial projection, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Oriental Region

Gilen gen. nov.  

 Gilen orientalis sp. nov.

Etymology. The generic name ʻGilenʼ refers to a mythical single horned creature (Thai name: กิเลน) known in Thai and other Asian cultures. It refers to the unique mid-longitudinal facial projection. The gender is masculine.

Alexey Reshchikov and Cornelis Van Achterberg. 2018. The Unicorn exists! A remarkable New Genus and Species of Perilissini (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from South East Asia. Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae. 58(2):523-529. DOI: doi.org/10.2478/aemnp-2018-0041 [November 2018]

www.biotaxa.org/AEMNP/article/view/42742

 Researchgate.net/publication/329277057_A_remarkable_new_genus_and_species_of_Perilissini_from_Southeast_Asia

[Botany • 2024] Allium elazigense (Amaryllidaceae) • A New Species of Allium sect. Codonoprasum from eastern Anatolia, Turkey

Allium elazigense Sonay, Gül & E. Bagci, 

in Sonay, Gül et Bağcı, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.5735/085.061.0128   

 facebook.com/YNSVY

Abstract

Allium elazigense Sonay, Gül & E. Bagci, a new species of sect. Codonoprasum, is described and illustrated from eastern Anatolia, Turkey. It resembles A. chloranthum, but differs from it by several morphological characters. Allium elazigense has a brownish outer tunic that forms a collar on the spiral-shaped spathe valves with a dark brown midrib, greenish-creamy perigon, oblong outer tepals and spathulate-oblong inner tepals, short anthers and a short ovary, a cylindrical-oblong, stipitate capsule, and narrowly semi-cylindrical cymbiform seeds. Based on IUCN criteria, its conservation status is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR).

 

Allium elazigense Sonay, Gül & E. Bagci sp. nov. 

Veysel Sonay, Emel Gül, and Eyüp Bağcı. 2024. Allium elazigense (Amaryllidaceae), a New Species from Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. Annales Botanici Fennici. 61(1), 199-206. DOI: doi.org/10.5735/085.061.0128  (19 July 2024)

 facebook.com/YNSVY/posts/10227891298401829

[Arachnida • 2024] Jingneta qishan, Leptonetela jingde, ... • Four New Species of leptonetid Spiders (Araneae: Leptonetidae) from Anhui Province, China

Jingneta qishan Tong,

in Li, Chen et Tong, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1218.136555 

Abstract

Four new species of leptonetid spiders from Anhui Province, China are recognized: Jingneta qishan Tong, sp. nov. (♂♀), Jingneta wukuishan Tong, sp. nov. (♂), Leptonetela jingde Tong, sp. nov. (♂♀) and Rhyssoleptoneta lishan Tong, sp. nov. (♂♀). An identification key to leptonetid spiders from Anhui is provided.

Key words: Asia, biodiversity, identification key, Jingneta, Leptonetela, new taxa, Rhyssoleptoneta, taxonomy

Jingneta qishan sp. nov.,

male, habitus, dorsal view

C, D left palp, prolateral and retrolateral views. 

Scale bars: 0.4 mm (A, B); 0.3 mm (C, D).

 female, habitus, dorsal view

 C, D genitalia, ventral and dorsal views. 

 sc = scape. 

Scale bars: 0.4 mm (A, B); 0.1 mm (C, D).

 Shuhui Li, Qiang Chen and Yanfeng Tong. 2024. Four New Species of leptonetid Spiders (Araneae, Leptonetidae) from Anhui Province, China. ZooKeys. 1218: 99-119. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1218.136555 

[Arachnida • 2022] Jingneta siyu • A new eyeless Leptonetid spider (Araneae: Leptonetidae) from Beijing, China

Jingneta siyu

 Liu & Zhang, 2022

  Researchgate.net/publication/361529964

A new troglobitic spider of the genus Jingneta Wang & Li, 2020 is described from Siyu Cave, Beijing, China: Jingneta siyu sp. nov.. Detailed description and illustrations are provided.

 Photos of living Jingneta siyu sp. nov.
A. J. siyu sp. nov. on rock face. B, D. Subadult male in an artificial environment. C. J. siyu sp. nov. hanging upside down on web.

 LIU Bo & ZHANG Feng. 2022. A new eyeless Leptonetid spider from Beijing, China (Araneae, Leptonetidae) 北京无眼弱蛛1新种记述(蜘蛛目:弱蛛科). Acta Arachnologica Sinica. 31(1): 44–48. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1005-9628.2022.01.007 

 Researchgate.net/publication/361529964_A_new_eyeless_Leptonetid_spider_from_Beijing_China

[Arachnida • 2020] Jingneta gen. nov., Falcileptoneta shuanglong, Jingneta caoxian, Longileptoneta gutan, ... • Taxonomic Notes on Leptonetidae (Araneae) from China, with Descriptions of One New Genus and Eight New Species

 

Jingneta caoxian Wang & Li, 

in Wang, Li et Zhu, 2020.

DOI: doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2020.214 

Abstract

Species of the spider family Leptonetidae Simon, 1890 from China are revised based on molecular and morphological data analyses. A new genus, Jingneta Wang & Li gen. nov., is erected, with Leptoneta cornea Tong & Li, 2008 as the type species. Twenty-two Chinese species previously assigned to the genus Leptoneta Simon, 1872 are revised, with eight transferred to Falcileptoneta Komatsu, 1970, seven transferred to Jingneta gen. nov ., five transferred to Leptonetela Kratochvíl, 1978, and one species each transferred to Longileptoneta Seo, 2015 and Masirana Kishida, 1942. Eight new species are described: i.e., Falcileptoneta shuanglong Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂), Jingneta caoxian Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂♀), J. jingdong Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂♀), Longileptoneta gutan Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂♀), L. huangshan Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂♀), L. shenxian Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂♀), L. yeren Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂), and L. zhuxian Wang & Li sp. nov. (♂♀). In total, 127 leptonetid species from six genera are documented from China: nine species of Falcileptoneta, nine species of Jingneta gen. nov ., 101 species of Leptonetela, six species of Longileptoneta, one species of Masirana, and one species of Rhyssoleptoneta Tong & Li, 2007. 

Keywords: Asia, Morphology, New combination, Taxonomy

Jingneta caoxian sp. nov., 

male holotype 

A: Habitus, dorsal view; B: Palpal bulb, ventral view; C: Palp, prolateral view; D: Palp, retrolateral view. 

PS: Prolateral sclerite; E: Embolus; MS: Median sclerite.

 female paratype 

A: Habitus, dorsal view; B: Habitus, ventral view; C: Internal genitalia, dorsal view. 

At: Atrium; SS: Spermathecae stalk; SH: Spermathecae.

Genus Jingneta Wang & Li gen. nov.

Type species: Leptoneta cornea Tong & Li, 2008 from China. 

Etymology: The generic name is derived from the pinyin word “Jing”, referring to Beijing City (Jing is a short name for Beijing), where the genus is distributed, and “-neta” as part of the genus Leptoneta. The gender is feminine. 

Diagnosis: Jingneta gen. nov. males are similar to those in the genus Longileptoneta, by strong spines on femur of male palp but can be distinguished by tibia with one or two horn-shaped or spine-like apophyses; cymbium branched distally, lacking transverse depression; bulb with two sclerites, prolateral sclerite absent. 

 Chun-Xia Wang, Shu-Qiang Li, Wen-Hui Zhu. 2020. Taxonomic Notes on Leptonetidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from China, with Descriptions of One New Genus and Eight New Species. Zoological Research. 41(6): 684-704. DOI: doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2020.214 

[Entomology • 2020] Xya leucophrys • Two New Species of the Genus Xya Latreille, 1809 (Orthoptera: Tridactyloidea: Tridactylidae) from Japan

 

Xya leucophrys

Sato & Ichikawa, 2020

  Researchgate.net/publication/349455360 

A new species of pygmy locust in the genus Xya (Tridactylidae), X. leucophrys sp. nov., is described from central Honshu, Japan.

Xya leucophrys sp. nov.

Rie Sato and Akihiko Ichikawa. 2020. A New Species of the Genus Xya Latreille, 1809 (Orthoptera: Tridactyloidea: Tridactylidae) from Japan. Japanese Journal of Systematic Entomology. 26 (2): 290–293. [December 30, 2020]  

 Researchgate.net/publication/349455360_A_New_Species_of_Xya_from_Japan

[Entomology • 2020] Xya xishangbanna & X. yunnanensis • Two New Species of the Genus Xya Latreille, 1809 (Orthoptera: Tridactyloidea: Tridactylidae) from Yunnan, China with a key to all Xya species in China

 

Xya xishangbanna

Cao, Rong & Naveed, 2020

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.947.51067 

Abstract

This contribution to the taxonomy of Xya Latreille, 1809 (Orthoptera, Tridactyloidea, Tridactylidae) adds descriptions and photographic illustrations of two new species: Xya xishangbanna sp. nov. and Xya yunnanensis sp. nov. from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China. Xya xishangbanna sp. nov. can be diagnosed by the shiny dark brown hind femora, and the epiproct with a shallow bottom of the middle “v-shaped” crack in the upper part and straight sides; Xya yunnanensis sp. nov. can be diagnosed by the compound eye bearing no narrow band along the inner margin, and the epiproct with the bottom of the side edge with a sharply angled protrusion and a narrow lower anchor-shaped base less than 1/2 the width of the upper one. Distributional information and bionomics for these two new species and photos for the habitat are given. A key to all Chinese species of Xya is provided.

Keywords: key, new species, Orthoptera, pygmy mole cricket, taxonomy, Tridactylidae, Xya

Xya xishangbanna sp. nov. 
1 body in dorsal view ♂ 2 body in lateral view ♂ 3 body in ventral view ♂ 4 body in dorsal view♀ 5 head in frontal view ♀ 6 end of abdomen in posterior view ♂ 7 gonopore in ventral view ♀.

Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

 Chengquan Cao, Hua Rong and Hassan Naveed. 2020.  Two New Species of the Genus Xya Latreille, 1809 (Orthoptera, Tridactyloidea, Tridactylidae) from Yunnan with a key to all Xya species in China. ZooKeys. 947: 103-112. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.947.51067 

[Arachnida • 2025] Damarchus sirindhornae • A New Species of Wishbone Spider Genus Damarchus (Mygalomorphae: Bemmeridae) from Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand

Damarchus sirindhornae Kunsete & Warrit,

in Kunsete, Sivayyapram, Thanoosing, Traiyasut et Warrit, 2025.   

 Tropical Natural History. Suppl. 8;  

แมงมุมรังซ้อนสิรินธร  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.58837/tnh.25.8.266793

Abstract

The wishbone spider genus Damarchus, belonging to the family Bemmeridae, encompasses four recognized genera: Atmetochilus, Damarchus, Homostola, and Spiroctenus. Current distribution records indicate that Atmetochilus and Damarchus are exclusively found in Asia. To date, ten species of Damarchus have been documented, with three species reported in Thailand. However, our field surveys conducted since 2015 have identified multiple undescribed species within the genus that remain unclassified. Through detailed morphological analyses, we describe a new species, Damarchus sirindhornae Kunsete & Warrit, sp. nov., discovered in Doi Inthanon National Park. This species is classified within the workmani-group but can be distinguished from other members of the group by the absence of spines on the male coupling spur and the absence of secondary receptacles on the female spermathecae.

Keywords: Mygalomorphae, taxonomy, protected area

Damarchus sirindhornae Kunsete & Warrit, sp. nov.

Chawakorn Kunsete, Varat Sivayyapram, Chawatat Thanoosing, Prapun Traiyasut and Natapot Warrit. 2025. A New Species of Wishbone Spider Genus Damarchus from Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand (Mygalomorphae: Bemmeridae).  Tropical Natural History. Suppl. 8; 390-398. DOI: doi.org/10.58837/tnh.25.8.266793 [2025-10-20]

  facebook.com/kenshirewbofu/posts/25108586048754517

[Funga • 2025] Laccaria carminostipes, L. mangshanensis & L. sinolateritia • Three New Species and Two New Records of the Genus Laccaria (Basidiomycota: Agaricales) from subtropical China based on morphological and multi-locus phylogenetic evidence

Basidiomata of Laccaria carminostipes (a-c);
L. mangshanensis (d-f); L. sinolateritia (g-i)

 Y.D. Xu & Z.M. He,;

L. japonica Popa & K. Nara (j-k); L. versiforma H.J. Cho & Y.W. Lim (l).   

in Xu, Zhang, Chen et He, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.123.156526 

Scale bars: 1 cm.

 

Abstract

Laccaria is a large genus within the family Hydnangiaceae, and many potential species remain to be discovered in China. The present study describes three new species, L. carminostipes, L. mangshanensis and L. sinolateritia, and reports two new records, L. japonica and L. versiforma, which were originally discovered in Japan and Korea, respectively. These species were collected from subtropical mixed forests and identified based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Our phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated nucleotide sequences of ITS, LSU, TEF1 and RPB2 demonstrated that the three new species each formed a distinct clade, clearly separated from other known Laccaria species. A detailed description and illustrations of these species are also provided.

Key words: Laccaria, morphological characters, phylogenetic analysis, spore ornamentation, taxonomy

Basidiomata of Laccaria carminostipes (a. MHHNU 31553; b. MHHNU 31552; c. MHHNU 34706, respectively);
L. mangshanensis (d, e. MHHNU 8850; f. MHHNU 8856, respectively);
L. sinolateritia (g, h. MHHNU 11956; i. MHHNU 11958, respectively);
L. japonica (j. MHHNU 9589; k. MHHNU 34711, respectively); L. versiforma (l. MHHNU 10896).

Scale bars: 1 cm.

 Laccaria carminostipes Y.D. Xu & Z.M. He, sp. nov. 

Etymology. ‘carminostipes’ (Latin), referring to the carmine stipe surface.

 Laccaria mangshanensis Y.D. Xu & Z.M. He, sp. nov.

 Laccaria sinolateritia Y.D. Xu & Z.M. He, sp. nov.

Etymology. ‘sino’ referring to China, ‘lateritia’ (Latin) referring to its red to brownish orange fruiting body.

You-Di Xu, Ping Zhang, Zuo-Hong Chen and Zheng-Mi He. 2025. Three New Species and Two New Records of the Genus Laccaria (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) from subtropical China based on morphological and multi-locus phylogenetic evidence. MycoKeys. 123: 147-170. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.123.156526 

[Botany • 2024] Echeveria sotoi (Crassulaceae) • A New Species from coastal Michoacán, Mexico

Echeveria sotoi  Rosales & Quirarte,

in Rosales-Martínez, Quirarte-Tejeda et Hernández-Campos, 2025.

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.633.2.3

facebook.com: Santiago Rosales

Photographs: Jaime Quirarte.

 

Abstract

Echeveria sotoi (ser. Gibbiflorae, Crassulaceae) is described as a new species endemic to the coast of Michoacán, Mexico. It is morphologically similar to E. gibbiflora, from which it differs by having a generally taller but much thinner stem, narrower and oblanceolate to oblanceolate-obovate leaves without purplish-glaucous colourations, thinner peduncles, horizontally spreading to obliquely ascending cincinni, flowers with frequently longer corollas but usually shorter sepals, and narrower nectary scales. The species was assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) following the IUCN criteria. A distribution map is provided for the species of E. ser. Gibbiflorae native to Michoacán.

 

Aquila, biogeography, comparative morphology, microendemic species, Pacific Lowlands, taxonomy, Eudicots

Echeveria sotoi.
A, B. Plant with inflorescence; C. Distal portion of a cincinnus; D, E. Leaf; F. Flower bud; G. Flower dissection; H. Calyx, nectary scales, and gynoecium; I. Calyx.

Photographs: Jaime Quirarte.

Gerardo Soto and Echeveria sotoi in calcareous xerophilous scrub with Cephalocereus nudus, Bursera denticulata, and Agave kristenii.

Photograph: Jaime Quirarte.

Echeveria sotoi Rosales & Quirarte sp. nov.  

Eponymy:—The authors are honoured to name this species after Mr. Gerardo Soto Mendoza (Aquila, Michoacán) (Fig. 4), a passionate nature lover who discovered this species back in 2013. He was kind enough to provide us with plants for study and cultivation and guide one of us (Jaime Quirarte) to their natural habitat. Moreover, he has contributed to the knowledge and protection of biodiversity in the Sierra-Costa region of Michoacán, documenting the natural history of various animals (especially jaguars and other felines) and collecting seeds for the Comisión Nacional Forestal (CONAFOR).

C. Santiago ROSALES-MARTÍNEZ, Jaime A. QUIRARTE-TEJEDA and J. Daniel HERNÁNDEZ-CAMPOS. 2024. Echeveria sotoi (ser. Gibbiflorae, Crassulaceae), A New Species from coastal Michoacán, Mexico.  Phytotaxa. 633(2);125-137. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.633.2.3 [2024-01-05]

facebook.com/SantiagoRosales609878/posts/2067284833652660

[Entomology • 2024] Maikona mayodiana • Discovery of the Genus Maikona Matsumura, 1928 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Agaristinae) from India with the Description of A New Species

Maikona mayodiana

 Irungbam & Fric, 2024

  

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5481.5.7  

  Researchgate.net/publication/382360867

 facebook.com/Jatishwor 

 

Abstract

The genus Maikona Matsumura, 1928 is reported for the first time from India with the description of a new species, Maikona mayodiana n. sp., from the Mayodia pass, Arunachal Pradesh, India. The diagnoses of the new species with similar congeners along with illustrations of its habitus, and genitalia are provided. A distributional map of the members of the genus is also provided.

Lepidoptera, Arunachal Pradesh, East Asia, new record, northeast India, taxonomy

Maikona mayodiana n. sp.

 

Jatishwor Singh IRUNGBAM and Zdenek Faltynek FRIC. 2024. Discovery of the Genus Maikona Matsumura, 1928 (Noctuidae: Agaristinae) from India with the Description of A New Species. Zootaxa. 5481(5); 582-590. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5481.5.7 [2024-07-19]

 facebook.com/Jatishwor/posts/10161415829698749 

 Researchgate.net/publication/382360867_Discovery_of_the_genus_Maikona_from_India

[Crustacea • 2022] Iansaoniscus leilae & I. paulae • Two New troglobitic Species of Iansaoniscus (Isopoda: Pudeoniscidae) from Brazilian caves

Iansaoniscus paulae

Cardoso, Bastos-Pereira & Ferreira, 2022

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.43.81308 

Abstract

Iansaoniscus species are troglobitic terrestrial isopods of the Pudeoniscidae family. In this work two new species are described from caves in the Bahia state, northeastern Brazil; I. leilae sp. nov. from Toca do Gonçalo cave, in the municipality of Campo Formoso; and I. paulae sp. nov. from Lapa do Bode cave in the municipality of Itaeté. Additionally, ecological notes and conservation status are provided for both new species.

Keywords: Cave fauna, Neotropics, Oniscidea, terrestrial isopods, troglobites

Iansaoniscus leilae sp. nov. habitat
A Toca do Gonçalo cave entrance B cave floor in the inner portion of the cave, where specimens were found C water table at the cave lower level D adult specimen inside the cave, frontal view E adult specimen inside the cave, lateral view F diesel pump installed inside the cave in the 70’s G electric pump installed inside the cave in 2010.

Iansaoniscus paulae sp. nov. habitat
 A limestone bordering the Paraguaçu river, where the Lapa do Bode cave’s entrance is located B one of the entrances of Lapa do Bode cave C a secondary entrance of Lapa do Bode cave D adult specimen inside the cave.

 Giovanna Monticelli Cardoso, Rafaela Bastos-Pereira and Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira. 2022. Two New troglobitic Species of Iansaoniscus from Brazilian caves (Crustacea, Isopoda, Pudeoniscidae). Subterranean Biology. 43: 127-143. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.43.81308 

[PaleoMammalogy • 2025] Epiaceratherium itjilik • Mid-Cenozoic rhinocerotid dispersal via the North Atlantic

  Epiaceratherium itjilik  

Fraser, Rybczynski, Gilbert & Dawson, 2025 

 

DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02872-8 

Artwork: Julius Csotonyi  facebook.com/JuliusCsotonyi

nature.ca

Abstract

The North Atlantic Land Bridge (NALB), which connected Europe to North America, enabled high-latitude dispersal, particularly during globally warm periods such as the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum, a period of dramatic faunal reorganization. It has been generally accepted by palaeontologists, based on faunal comparisons between Europe and North America, that terrestrial vertebrates did not disperse via the NALB more recently than the early Eocene. Here we describe a new Early Miocene rhinocerotid species from the Canadian High Arctic with proximity to the NALB and present novel phylogenetic hypotheses for rhinocerotids. The new species, Epiaceratherium itjilik sp. nov., is differentiated from the four other members of the genus by characteristics of the P3, M1-2, mandible and lower premolars. E. itjilik also possesses an enlarged fifth metacarpal and reduced third trochanter of the femur. Global-scale biogeographic analyses reveal a high number of dispersals between Europe and North America, in both directions; cumulatively, they near the number of dispersals within Eurasia. Notably, multiple dispersals occurred in the Oligo-Miocene, suggesting that the NALB may have been crossable for mammals for at least 20 million years longer than previously considered, consistent with emerging geological and palaeoclimatological models. In combination with a NALB that was interrupted by only narrow, shallow waterways until the Miocene, we suggest that the formation of seasonal ice as early as the mid to late Eocene may have facilitated movement of terrestrial organisms between Europe and North America. We thus provide insight into the importance of the NALB as a persistent high-latitude connector of geographically disparate terrestrial faunas, underscoring the pivotal role of the Arctic in mammalian evolution.

  Epiaceratherium itjilik sp. nov.

Artist's recreation of Epiaceratherium itjilik in its forested lake habitat, Devon Island, Early Miocene, 23 million years ago. The plants and animals shown, including a leporid, rabbit and the transitional seal Puijila darwini, are all based on fossilized remains found at the site.

Artwork: Julius Csotonyi

Danielle Fraser, Natalia Rybczynski, Marisa Gilbert and Mary R. Dawson. 2025. Mid-Cenozoic rhinocerotid dispersal via the North Atlantic. Nature Ecology & Evolution. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02872-8 [28 October 2025]

 facebook.com/JuliusCsotonyi/posts/10161429773766396

https://nature.ca/en/about-the-museum/media-centre/a-rhino-from-the-arctic

[Arachnida • 2025] Eutichurus luisdiaz, E. muisca, E. tibacuy, ... • Unveiling the Diversity of Eutichurus Simon, 1897 (Araneae: Cheiracanthiidae) in Colombia: New Species, records and comments on their distribution

Eutichurus luisdiaz

Casas, Villarreal-Blanco, Morales, Osorio & Martínez, 2025

 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5691.3.2 

 Researchgate.net/publication/395523154 

 www.instagram.com/sistematicartropodos_ua

 

Abstract

The taxonomic knowledge of Eutichurus Simon, 1897 in Colombia, currently represented by eight species, is increased with the description of six new species: Eutichurus luisdiazi sp. nov. (♂♀), Eutichurus tibacuy sp. nov. (♂♀), Eutichurus meta sp. nov. (♂♀), Eutichurus yariguies sp. nov. (♀), Eutichurus muisca sp. nov. (♂), and Eutichurus andresgarcia sp. nov. (♂). In addition, new morphological data are provided for Eutichurus arnoi Bonaldo, 1994, whose male is described for the first time. Furthermore, the first accurate locality record for E. cumbia Bonaldo & Ramírez, 2018 in Tabio, Cundinamarca is presented. New records from Colombia are also provided for Eutichurus marquesae Bonaldo, 1994, Eutichurus tropicus (L. Koch, 1866) and Eutichurus valderramai Bonaldo, 1994. We provide an updated taxonomic key and new distribution maps for all the species included in this study, as well as new photographic documentation for several species previously known to occur in Colombia (E. arnoi, E. cumbia, E. putus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898, E. tropicus, E. marquesae, and E. valderramai). Additionally, specimens of E. putus, E. sigillatus Chickering, 1937 and E. furcifer, from non-Colombian localities, are photographed here for the first time, accompanied by comments regarding their geographic distribution. With the new species proposed herein, the genus is now represented by 14 species in the country.

Araneae, Dionycha, Taxonomy, Morphology, Neotropical Region

 A–D. Habitat and specimen of Eutichurus luisdiaz sp. nov.
A–B General view of the area and vegetation of La Guajira, Colombia (A landscape view, B vegetation view).
Male C–D natural habitus (C juvenile specimen on a log (UARC:AR311), D adult dorsal view (UARC: A296).

Eutichurus luisdiazi sp. nov. (♂♀),

 Eutichurus tibacuy sp. nov. (♂♀), 

Eutichurus meta sp. nov. (♂♀), 

Eutichurus yariguies sp. nov. (♀), 

Eutichurus muisca sp. nov. (♂), 

Eutichurus andresgarcia sp. nov. (♂)

Cristian M. CASAS, Eduardo VILLARREAL-BLANCO, Adriana MORALES, Carlos OSORIO and Leonel MARTÍNEZ. 2025. Unveiling the Diversity of Eutichurus Simon, 1897 (Araneae: Cheiracanthiidae) in Colombia: New Species, records and comments on their distribution. Zootaxa. 5691(3); 399-448. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5691.3.2 [2025-09-10] 

 Researchgate.net/publication/395523154_Unveiling_the_diversity_of_Eutichurus_in_Colombia_new_species_records_and_comments_on_their_distribution 

 www.instagram.com/p/DOwZBvLkSt1/?img_index=1%2Fsistematicartropodos_ua

[Mollusca • 2025] Theobaldius? konkanensis • A New Species of cyclophorid land snail (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda: Cyclophoridae) from the coastal regions of Maharashtra, India

Theobaldius? konkanensis 

Bhosale, Thackeray, Yadav, Khandekar, White & Raheem, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.1080/13235818.2025.2462864 

instagram.com/thackeraywildlifefoundation

 

ABSTRACT

We describe a new species of cyclophorid land snail, Theobaldius? konkanensis n. sp., from the coastal and lower elevational region of the northern Western Ghats in Maharashtra, India. Theobaldius? konkanensis n. sp. can be differentiated from other species of Theobaldius Nevill, 1878 by the combination of a conoidally depressed shell with a more elevated spire, a deep notch on the apertural margin overhung by a prominent raised fold, and an operculum with the edges of the whorls conspicuously raised and bearing short spines. We provide a detailed description of the new species, focusing on the shell, operculum, jaw and radula, and the external morphology of the living animal; we map its distribution using recently collected data, and compare it with other species of Theobalidus and other cyclophoroidean genera.

KEYWORDS: Konkan, northern Western Ghats, operculum, taxonomy, Theobaldius?

Theobaldius? konkanensis n. sp.

 

Amrut Bhosale, Tejas Thackeray, Omkar Yadav, Akshay Khandekar, Tom S. White and Dinarzarde C. Raheem. 2025. A New Species of cyclophorid land snail (Caenogastropoda: Cyclophoridae) from the coastal regions of Maharashtra, India. Molluscan Research. 45(2); 157-169. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/13235818.2025.2462864 [11 Mar 2025] 

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[Herpetology • 2025] Hemiphyllodactylus venkatadri • A New Species of Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, India

Hemiphyllodactylus venkatadri 

Bhupathi, Ray, Narayana, Karuthapandi, Jaiswal, Kar & Mohapatra, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.38.e167113 

Abstract

A new species of the genus Hemiphyllodactylus (slender geckos) is described from the Tirumala Hill ranges in the Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve of the southern Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, southern India. This novel species exhibits 9.7–12.9% divergence in uncorrected pairwise distances of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) sequence data from its closely related congeners in peninsular India, namely H. jnana (9.5–12.6%), H. nilgiriensis (10.9–12.9%), and H. peninsularis (10.5–11.2%), and had previously been suggested as an undescribed species by earlier researchers based on molecular phylogenetic analyses. The new species, represented by five individuals, reached a maximum observed snout–vent length (SVL) of 33.7 mm and differs from its peninsular Indian congeners by the following combination of characters: 12–16 chin scales; 16–17 dorsal scales; 9–11 ventral scales at midbody; males with 6–8 precloacal pores and 5–7 femoral pores on each thigh, separated by 7–10 poreless scales; and lamellar formula of manus 2-2-2-2 and pes 2-2-2-2. This is the second species of the genus Hemiphyllodactylus to be reported from Andhra Pradesh, after H. arakuensis.

Key Words: cryptic diversity, Hemiphyllodactylus venkatadri sp. nov., molecular phylogeny, slender geckos, taxonomy

Holotype (FBRC-ZSI-17) of Hemiphyllodactylus venkatadri sp. nov. in life.

 Hemiphyllodactylus venkatadri sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis. Hemiphyllodactylus venkatadri sp. nov. is characterized by a small adult body size (SVL 22.3–33.7 mm; n = 5), consistent with the generally slender habitus typical of the genus Hemiphyllodactylus. Diagnostic differentiation from congeners is instead based on the combination of morphological characters such as 12–16 chin scales; postmentals not enlarged; supralabials 9–12, infralabials 9–12; 16–18 dorsal scales, 9–16 ventral scales at mid-body are contained within one longitudinal eye diameter, 6–8 precloacal pores separated by 7–10 poreless scales from a series of 5–7 femoral pores on each ...

Etymology. The specific epithet Venkatadri is a toponym for the type locality in the Tirumala Hill ranges in the Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve in Andhra Pradesh, India. The name Venkatadri is derived from two Sanskrit words: Venkata, meaning ‘one who removes sins’—one of the names of Lord Vishnu in the Hindu religion associated with the sacred Tirumala—and Adri, meaning mountain.

Suggested common English name. Venkatadri slender gecko.

 Bharath Bhupathi, Sumidh Ray, B. Laxmi Narayana, M. Karuthapandi, Deepa Jaiswal, Niladri B. Kar and Pratyush P. Mohapatra. 2025. A New Species of Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, India. Herpetozoa. 38: 333-343. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.38.e167113