Zootaxa

Abstract"Open ended" or "dark taxa" are species-rich clades that are so abundant and diverse that conventional taxonomic methods tend to struggle with the onslaught of specimens and species. New approaches based on presorting specimens to putative species with low-cost DNA barcodes may make tackling these taxa manageable. However, this will still require limiting the geographic scope of taxonomic revisions, given that most countries and biogeographic regions will have too many specimens and species for comprehensive coverage. We demonstrate the power of this approach by carrying out a revision of the Mycetophilidae fungus gnats (Diptera) of Singapore. The material revised here was obtained from 496 samples collected with 71 Malaise traps placed at 107 sites in different habitats in Singapore: mangroves, swamp forests, freshwater swamps, primary rainforests, and different types of secondary forests (old, maturing, young, urban). Based on molecular and morphological data for 1,454 specimens, we delimit 120 species of 23 genera. Of these, only five were species previously described. The remaining 115 species are new to science and described here. We name, however, only 98 of these species since 14 species are currently only known from females and we cannot prepare a fully satisfying morphological diagnosis (Manota spp. A-G and Neoempheria spp. A-G), and three species lack molecular data (Epicypta sp. A, Epicypta sp. B, and Neoempheria sp. H). To assess congruence between species delimited with DNA barcodes (3% clusters) and morphology, we determined a match ratio and found it to be overall high (95%) with even higher match ratios (99%) observed for MOTUs clustered at 5% with Objective Clustering and MOTUs obtained with ABGD set to (P=0.060). Overall, the ratio of undescribed to described is an astonishing 20:1. Only revising the Singapore fauna increases the number of described species of Oriental Mycetophilidae by about 25%, highlighting the size of the taxonomic impediment for fungus gnats. Most of the Singapore Mycetophilidae diversity belongs to three genera--Neoempheria Osten-Sacken (31 species), Epicypta Winnertz (29 species) and Manota Williston (14 species), but we also describe a new genus-- Integricypta, gen. n., which is the putative sistergroup of Aspidionia Colless--belonging to the Mycetophilinae Mycetophilini based on three species. The species sequenced, illustrated, and named are: Leptomorphus rafflesi, sp. n.; Monoclona simhapura, sp. n.; Azana demeijeri, sp. n.; Azana leekongchiani, sp. n. (Sciophilinae); Tetragoneura crawfurdi, sp. n.; Tetragoneura chola, sp. n.; Tetragoneura dayuan, sp. n.; Tetragoneura farquhari, sp. n.; Ectrepesthoneura johor, sp. n. (Tetragoneurinae); Mohelia zubirsaidi, sp. n.; Allactoneura tumasik, sp. n.; Allactoneura limbosengi, sp. n.; Manota banzu, sp. n.; Manota tantocksengi, sp. n.; Manota bukittimah, sp. n.; Manota chiamassie, sp. n.; Manota danmaxi, sp. n.; Manota mahuan, sp. n.; Manota temenggong, sp. n.; Clastobasis sritribuana, sp. n.; Clastobasis bugis, sp. n.; Clastobasis oranglaut, sp. n. (Leiinae); Parempheriella mait, sp. n.; Parempheriella longyamen, sp. n.; Parempheriella peranakan, sp. n.; Mycomya sachmatich, sp. n.; Neoempheria merlio, sp. n.; Neoempheria sabana, sp. n.; Neoempheria sangabo, sp. n.; Neoempheria shicheng, sp. n.; Neoempheria ujong, sp. n.; Neoempheria subaraji, sp. n.; Neoempheria kokoiyeeae, sp. n.; Neoempheria mandai, sp. n.; Neoempheria malacca, sp. n.; Neoempheria sinkapho, sp. n.; Neoempheria singapura, sp. n.; Neoempheria xinjiapo, sp. n.; Neoempheria puluochung, sp. n.; Neoempheria merdeka, sp. n.; Neoempheria neesoon, sp. n.; Neoempheria pulau, sp. n.; Neoempheria cinkappur, sp. n.; Neoempheria temasek, sp. n.; Neoempheria polunini, sp. n.; Neoempheria fajar, sp. n.; Neoempheria riatanae, sp. n. (Mycomyinae); Brachycampta glorialimae, sp. n.; Brachycampta murphyi, sp. n.; Brachycampta limtzepengi, sp. n.; Rymosia teopohlengi, sp. n.; Exechia tanswiehiani, sp. n.; Exechia alinewongae, sp. n.; Mycetophila chngseoktinae, sp. n.; Mycetophila georgettechenae, sp. n.; Mycetophila aishae, sp. n.; Platyprosthiogyne phanwaithongae, sp. n.; Platyprosthiogyne gohsookhimae, sp. n.; Platyprosthiogyne rahimahae, sp. n.; Platyprosthiogyne lynetteseahae, sp. n.; Platyprosthiogyne neilaae, sp. n.; Platyprosthiogyne snehalethaae, sp. n.; Platurocypta adeleneweeae, sp. n.; Platurocypta tanhoweliangi, sp. n.; Epicypta constancesingamae, sp. n.; Epicypta jennylauae, sp. n.; Epicypta limchiumeiae, sp. n.; Epicypta janetyeeae, sp. n.; Epicypta kohkhenglianae, sp. n.; Epicypta daintoni, sp. n.; Epicypta holltumi, sp.n.; Epicypta ridleyi, sp. n.; Epicypta chezaharaae, sp. n.; Epicypta tanjiakkimi, sp. n.; Epicypta gehminae, sp. n.; Epicypta jackieyingae, sp. n.; Epicypta khatijunae, sp. n.; Epicypta purchoni, sp. n.; Epicypta foomaoshengi, sp. n.; Epicypta ganengsengi, sp. n.; Epicypta nanyangu, sp. n.; Epicypta nus, sp. n.; Epicypta peterngi, sp. n.; Epicypta maggielimae, sp. n.; Epicypta yupeigaoae, sp. n.; Epicypta annwee, sp. n.; Epicypta wallacei, sp. n.; Epicypta lamtoongjini, sp. n.; Epicypta catherinelimae, sp. n.; Epicypta grootaerti, sp. n.; Epicypta joaquimae, sp. n.; Aspidionia cheesweeleeae, sp. n.; Aspidionia janetjesudasonae, sp. n.; Aspidionia fatimahae, sp. n.; Integricypta fergusondavie, sp. n.; Integricypta teosoonkimae, sp. n.; Integricypta shirinae, sp. n.; Integricypta hoyuenhoeae, sp. n. (Mycetophilinae). The previously described species are Metanepsia malaysiana Kallweit, Eumanota racola Soli, Parempheriella defectiva (Edwards), Neoempheria dizonalis (Edwards) (all known from Sumatra and/or the Malaysian peninsula), and Chalastonepsia hokkaidensis Kallweit a species spread in east Asia. The mycomyine genus Vecella Wu & Yang is here proposed as a new synonym to Parempheriella, with P. guadunana (Wu & Yang), n. comb. corresponding to an additional Palearctic species of Parempheriella. Barcodes for a second set of 1,493 Singapore mycetophilid specimens suggest the presence of an additional 18 MOTUs. We thus estimate that approximately 85% of all the Singapore species that routinely enter Malaise traps are identified or described here. The revision concludes with a discussion of the biogeography and generic composition of the mycetophilid fauna at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula. Zusammenfassung"Open-ended" oder "Dark Taxa" sind artenreiche Klade, die so abundant und arteinreich sind, dass die herkommlichen taxonomischen Methoden angesichts der gro{beta}en Anzahl von Exemplaren und Arten nicht gut funktionieren. Neue Ansatze, die auf das Vorsortierung von Exemplaren mit DNA Barcodes bis zum Artniveau basieren, erlauben es jetzt aber solche Taxa zu revidieren. Allerdings kann auch mit DNA Barcodes, nur die Fauna eines vergleichsweise kleinen Gebietes bearbeiten werden, weil fur die meisten Lander und biogeografischen Regionen zu viele Exemplare und Arten abgedeckt werden mussten. Wir demonstrieren hier wie eine solche Revision durchgefuhrt werden kann. Wir revidieren hier die Pilzmucken (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) von Singapur, die mit Malaisefallen gefangen werden konnen. Das hier uberarbeitete Material stammt aus 496 Malaise-Fallenproben, die mit 71 Malaise-Fallen an 107 Sammelstellen in verschiedenen Habitaten gefangen wurden: Mangroven, Sumpfwalder, Su{beta}wassersumpfe, Primarregenwalder und Sekundarwalder. Basierend auf molekularen und morphologischen Daten fur mehr als 1454 Tiere grenzen wir 120 Arten mit molekularen und morphologischen Daten ab, wobei nur 5 dieser Arten bereits beschrieben sind. Die verbleibenden 115 werden hier beschrieben. Allerdings benennen wir nur 98 Arten, da fur zwei Arten molekulare Daten fehlen und fur 14 weitere Arten derzeit nur Weibchen bekannt sind. Daher konnen wir derzeit keine zufriedenstellende morphologische Diagnose erstellen. Daruber hinaus fehlen molekulare Daten fur drei Arten (Epicypta sp. A, Epicypta sp. B und Neoempheria sp. H). Was die Artgrenzen betrifft, so stimmen die molekularen und morphologischen Daten in den meisten Fallen uberein (match ratio: 95% fur 3% MOTUs). Eine noch hohere "match ratio" von 99% wird fur 5% und ABGD MOTUs (P=0,060) beobachtet. Insgesamt ist das Verhaltnis zwischen unbeschrieben und beschrieben erstaunlich hoch (20:1), und die Uberarbeitung der singapurer Fauna erhoht die Anzahl der beschriebenen Arten in der Orientalischen Region um uber 25%. Dies unterstreicht den Ausma{beta} des "taxonomic impediments" fur Pilzmucken. Die meisten der Mycetophilidenarten in Singapur gehoren zu drei von 22 Gattungen - Neoempheria Osten-Sacken (31 Arten), Epicypta Winnertz (29 Arten) und Manota Williston (14 Arten), aber wir beschreiben hier auch eine neue Gattung, Integricypta, gen. n. basierend auf drei Arten. Die Gattung gehort zu den Mycetophilinae Mycetophilini und ist die mutma{beta}liche Schwestergruppe von Aspidionia Colless. Die sequenzierten, illustrierten und benannten Arten sind: Leptomorphus rafflesi, sp. n.; Monoclona simhapura, sp. n.; Azana demeijeri, sp. n.; Azana leekongchiani, sp. n. (Sciophilinae); Tetragoneura crawfurdi, sp. n.; Tetragoneura chola, sp. n.; Tetragoneura dayuan, sp. n.; Tetragoneura farquhari, sp. n.; Ectrepesthoneura johor, sp. n. (Tetragoneurinae); Mohelia zubirsaidi, sp. n.; Allactoneura tumasik, sp. n.; Allactoneura limbosengi, sp. n.; Manota banzu, sp. n.; Manota tantocksengi, sp. n.; Manota bukittimah, sp. n.; Manota chiamassie, sp. n.; Manota danmaxi, sp. n.; Manota mahuan, sp. n.; Manota temenggong, sp. n.; Clastobasis sritribuana, sp. n.; Clastobasis bugis, sp. n.; Clastobasis oranglaut, sp. n. (Leiinae); Parempheriella mait, sp. n.; Parempheriella longyamen, sp. n.; Parempheriella peranakan, sp. n.; Mycomya sachmatich, sp. n.; Neoempheria merlio, sp. n.; Neoempheria sabana, sp. n.; Neoempheria sangabo, sp. n.; Neoempheria shicheng, sp. n.; Neoempheria ujong, sp. n.; Neoempheria subaraji, sp. n.; Neoempheria kokoiyeeae, sp. n.; Neoempheria mandai, sp. n.; Neoempheria malacca, sp. n.; Neoempheria sinkapho, sp. n.; Neoempheria singapura, sp. n.; Neoempheria xinjiapo, sp. n.; Neoempheria puluochung, sp. n.; Neoempheria merdeka, sp. n.; Neoempheria neesoon, sp. n.; Neoempheria pulau, sp. n.; Neoempheria cinkappur, sp. n.; Neoempheria temasek, sp. n.; Neoempheria polunini, sp. n.; Neoempheria fajar, sp. n.; Neoempheria riatanae, sp. n. (Mycomyinae); Brachycampta glorialimae, sp. n.; Brachycampta murphyi, sp. n.; Brachycampta limtzepengi, sp. n.; Rymosia teopohlengi, sp. n.; Exechia tanswiehiani, sp. n.; Exechia alinewongae, sp. n.; Mycetophila chngseoktinae, sp. n.; Mycetophila georgettechenae, sp. n.; Mycetophila aishae, sp. n.; Platyprosthiogyne phanwaithongae, sp. n.; Platyprosthiogyne gohsookhimae, sp. n.; Platyprosthiogyne rahimahae, sp. n.; Platyprosthiogyne lynetteseahae, sp. n.; Platyprosthiogyne neilaae, sp. n.; Platyprosthiogyne snehalethaae, sp. n.; Platurocypta adeleneweeae, sp. n.; Platurocypta tanhoweliangi, sp. n.; Epicypta constancesingamae, sp. n.; Epicypta jennylauae, sp. n.; Epicypta limchiumeiae, sp. n.; Epicypta janetyeeae, sp. n.; Epicypta kohkhenglianae, sp. n.; Epicypta daintoni, sp. n.; Epicypta holltumi, sp.n.; Epicypta ridleyi, sp. n.; Epicypta chezaharaae, sp. n.; Epicypta tanjiakkimi, sp. n.; Epicypta gehminae, sp. n.; Epicypta jackieyingae, sp. n.; Epicypta khatijunae, sp. n.; Epicypta purchoni, sp. n.; Epicypta foomaoshengi, sp. n.; Epicypta ganengsengi, sp. n.; Epicypta nanyangu, sp. n.; Epicypta nus, sp. n.; Epicypta peterngi, sp. n.; Epicypta maggielimae, sp. n.; Epicypta yupeigaoae, sp. n.; Epicypta annwee, sp. n.; Epicypta wallacei, sp. n.; Epicypta lamtoongjini, sp. n.; Epicypta catherinelimae, sp. n.; Epicypta grootaerti, sp. n.; Epicypta joaquimae, sp. n.; Aspidionia cheesweeleeae, sp. n.; Aspidionia janetjesudasonae, sp. n.; Aspidionia fatimahae, sp. n.; Integricypta fergusondavie, sp. n.; Integricypta teosoonkimae, sp. n.; Integricypta shirinae, sp. n.; Integricypta hoyuenhoeae, sp. n. (Mycetophilinae). Die Tiere, die zu den bereits beschriebenen Arten gehoren, gehoren zu den folgenden Arten: Metanepsia malaysiana Kallweit, Eumanota racola Soli, Parempheriella defectiva (Edwards), Neoempheria dizonalis (Edwards) (alle Arten sind derzeit aus Sumatra und/oder der malaysischen Halbinsel bekannt), und Chalastonepsia hokkaidensis Kallweit, eine in Ostasien verbreitete Art. Die Gattung Vecella Wu & Yang wird hier als neues Synonym fur Parempheriella vorgeschlagen, wobei P. guadunana (Wu & Yang), n. comb., wobei die Gattung damit eine zusatzlichen palaarktischen Art erhalt. Die DNA Barcodes fur eine zweite Stichprobe mit 1.493 Pilzmucken deuten darauf hin, dass in Singapur 18 zusatzliche Arten mit Malaisefallen gefangen werden konnen. Es sieht aber dennoch so aus, als wurden wir bereits hier circa 85% aller Arten beschreiben, die regelma{beta}ig in Malaise-Fallen geraten. Die Revision endet mit einer Diskussion der Biogeographie und taxonomische Zusammensetzung der Mycetophilidenfauna im sudlichen Teil der Malaiischen Halbinsel.

This study presents the first comprehensive systematic revision of the sponge family Tetillidae in the temperate Northeast Pacific. The findings reveal a previously unrecognized clade of Tetilla species that informs the familys generic classification, including a common California species whose identity has long been uncertain. Remarkably, eight species were discovered from only 11 samples from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, suggesting these islands harbor considerable undiscovered sponge diversity. I also report the first likely case of species introduction in the family: the Asian species Tetilla japonica introduced to Southern California. In total, this work refines our understanding of nine previously described species and formally describes eight new species as Craniella amlia sp. nov., Craniella shemya sp. nov., Craniella columbiana sp. nov., Craniella rocheta sp. nov., Craniella uniiguni sp. nov., Craniella vermisigma sp. nov., Tetilla losangelensis sp. nov., and Tetilla vancouverensis sp. nov. Multi-locus DNA sequence data are presented for 13 species, including several low-coverage mitochondrial genomes and complete ribosomal sequences assembled de novo from Illumina sequencing. Together, these results significantly advance our understanding of global tetillid diversity, systematics, and the biogeography of sponge diversity in the Northeast Pacific.

BackgroundA numer of Haliclona species (Demospongiae, Haplosclerida) in the Austin and McDaniel collections at the Royal British Columbia Museum (RBCM) are identified only to genus or genus and species. The collections are representative of over 40 years of sampling principally by the late Dr. William C. Austin and one of us (Neil McDaniel) through SCUBA diving on the west coast of British Columbia and specimens provided by others to Dr. Austin. We have selected representative Haliclona species in the collections for detailed examination and placement in subgenera and species (where species were not identified). Haliclona is recognized to have several subgenera, thus identification of specimens to genus and species is incomplete. Our study updates this status for the species examined. MethodsMethods of collection included intertidal scrapings or removal of non-encrusting specimens usually accompanied by in-situ photos, similar methods at SCUBA diving depths (subtidal to 35 m) and from other dredging, trawling and biological sampling activities. ResultsWe describe eleven new Haliclona (Demospongeae Haplosclerida Chalinadae) species and a range extension for Haliclona (Flagellia) edaphus de Laubenfels, 1930 for shallow waters of Southwestern British Columbia, Canada. New species include Haliclona (Gellius) hartmani n. sp., Haliclona (Gellius) shishalhensis n. sp., Haliclona (Reniera) gesteta n. sp., Haliclona (Rhizoniera) aborescens n. sp., Haliclona (Rhizoniera) blanca n. sp., Haliclona (Rhizoniera) boothensis n. sp., Haliclona (Rhizoniera) filix n. sp., Haliclona (Rhizoniera) kunechina n.sp., Haliclona (Rhizoniera) meandrina n. sp., Haliclona (Rhizoniera) penelakuta n. sp., and Haliclona (Rhizoniera) vulcana n. sp. We also redescribe Haliclona mollis (Lambe, 1893 [1894]) and propose placing it in the subgenus Haliclona. Except for Lambes syntype slides of Haliclona mollis which are deposited at the Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada, all holotypes and voucher specimens of species described are deposited at RBCM.

Oceanic islands present very interesting environments, known by possessing relatively distinct fauna and flora. However, taxonomic accounts from Brazilian oceanic islands focused on important groups, such as the family Syllidae, began to be published only in recent years. In this paper we provide descriptions and illustrations of two new species, Brevicirrosyllis sp. nov. from Trindade Islands and Westheidesyllis sp. nov. from Rocas Atoll, two incertae sedis genera previously included in the Eusyllinae subfamily. We also provide updated identification keys for both genera.

Isidoidae Heestand Saucier, France & Watling, 2021 is a rare octocoral family currently represented by a single genus and species, Isidoides armata Nutting, 1910 recorded in the western Pacific Ocean. The taxonomic status and diversity of Isidoides remain unclear, due to the lack of diagnostic taxonomic features and limited taxon sampling. Based on 23 Isidoides specimens obtained from the northwestern to southwestern Pacific, we carried out morphological and phylogenetic analyses to reveal the taxonomic status of species and develop reliable features for species identification. The 23 specimens could be classified into five well-separated groups by the phylogenomic analysis of ultraconserved elements (UCEs), four groups by 28S rDNA, and two groups by mtMutS-cox1. Integrating morphology and molecular data, we uncovered unexpected diversity of Isidoides composed of the known species Isidoides armata and four new species, viz., I. elegans sp. nov., I. gracilis sp. nov., I. incrassata sp. nov. and I. pseudarmata sp. nov. The morphological analysis showed high intraspecific morphological variation in colony color and the size, shape and arrangement of polyps. By contrast, the sclerite forms with their surface sculpturing are more reliable features for species identification. Our phylogenetic analyses indicate that UCE phylogenomics has higher resolution than the nuclear 28S rDNA and the mitochondrial genes mtMutS and cox1 for species delimitation within Isidoidae.

Sponges (phylum Porifera) possess biochemical, cellular, and physiological traits with valuable biotechnical applications. However, our ability to harness these natural innovations is limited by a classification system that does not fully reflect their evolutionary history. In this study, we uncover numerous cryptic species within the genus Halichondria that are morphologically indistinguishable from the well-known Ha. panicea. Many of these species have habitat preferences and geographic distributions that strongly suggest they have been dispersed by human activity. Most of these species are broadly sympatric with their closest relatives, and these overlapping distributions allow us to use patterns of DNA variation to infer reproductive isolation between clades in nature. With reproductively isolated species thus delineated, we can use DNA states as taxonomic characters to formally describe them. Though much remains to be learned about these newly discovered species, the natural "common gardens" of these sponges in California, New York, and other locations provide opportunities to test hypotheses about their diversification in future work.

Ninety hybotid species are recognized in the Botanic Garden Jean Massart (Brussels), representing 52 % of the hybotids ever recorded in Belgium. Two species new to science are described: Platypalpus massarti sp. nov. and P. pictitarsoides sp. nov. Following species are reported for the first time in Belgium: Drapetis infitialis (Collin, 1961), Platypalpus negrobovi Grootaert, Kustov & Shamshev, 2012 and Trichina opaca Loew, 1864. In addition, comments are given on a selected number of species: Bicellaria intermedia Lundbeck, 1910, Platypalpus aurantiacus (Collin, 1926), Platypalpus longimanus (Corti, 1907), Platypalpus nanus (Oldenberg, 1924), Platypalpus rapidoides Chvala, 1975, Platypalpus subtilis (Collin, 1926), Stilpon subnubilus Chvala, 1988 and on the genus Hybos Meigen, 1803. The holotype of P. cryptospina (Frey, 1909) is revised. Only 30 species or 33% of the species present are in a Safe/Low risk Red Data Book category meaning that the other 66% are in a more or less Threatened category.

The ghost shrimp Callichirus major (Say, 1818) is widely distributed in the Atlantic Ocean from [~]23{degrees}N to [~]26{degrees}S, and has also been reported from the tropical eastern Pacific. Evidence has been accumulating over many years that C. major is actually a species complex. Yet, the name C. major is widely and frequently used in many kinds of research. The current lack of clarity in the use of the name C. major has resulted in nomenclatural instability, but also in unreliability and miscommunication of the available ecological and distributional information. Existing morphological and molecular evidence is reviewed and new evidence presented for the specimens from the southern localities previously assigned to C. major s. l. actually being a new species. That new species is herein described based on morphological and molecular evidence. Additionally, a neotype is selected for C. major in order to settle the defining characters of C. major s. str. and, therefore, ensuring the correct use of this name.

Citizen science provides us with much information about charismatic taxa such as the opisthobranchs, thus contributing enormously to enlarging the geographic distribution of species. This study collects new records of elusive sea slugs and snails in the Western Mediterranean coast (especially in the Catalan coast and the French Mediterranean coast) and contributes to new ecological information regarding phenology, diet, and behaviour. Out of the 36 species reported here, 20 correspond to new records in the Catalan coast (NE Spain), three are new records of pelagic pteropods for the Spanish coast, and 10 other species are new records for the French Mediterranean coast. All records have been registered at the online database of the NGO named Catalan Opisthobranch Research Group (GROC). This study highlights the importance of sampling at night and, especially, in shallow, often-understudied waters, which usually gather high species diversity. We believe the high-quality pictures and related species information will serve future researchers and divers find and recognize these species in the Mediterranean basin.

The ciliated protist communities show richness as well as uniqueness. This is true both for aquatic and soil ciliates. Delhi region lies in the subtropical semi-arid zone wherein the temperatures are highest in May-June and lowest in January. It also receives its monsoonal rainfall during the month of July-August. Thus, the region offers ideal conditions for the growth and proliferation of aquatic living beings. During the past three decades, a series of investigation has been carried out on the freshwater free-living ciliate fauna from fourteen sites at the river Yamuna and different freshwater bodies in Delhi. Samples were brought to the laboratory, ciliates were identified using live-cell observations and silver staining methods. A large number of Spirotrich species and a lower proportion belonging to class Heterotrichea, Litostomaea, Phyllopharyngea, Oligohymenophorea, Prostomatea, and Colpodea were identified. A total of 55 species belonging to 7 classes, 16 orders, 26 families, 40 genera were identified and documented. Ciliate diversity was found to be highest in the water sample from Okhla bird sanctuary (OBS). All ciliate species recorded during the present study have been listed and their general characteristics have been discussed.

Contribution to the inventory of arthropods of Reunion Island This work is a synthesis of new taxa for the Reunion Island identified between 1963 and 2022 and not published to date. The collections were carried out mainly by researchers and technicians from CIRAD or FDGDON. Sampling mainly targeted at crop pests and their natural enemies. The list includes 101 taxa new for Reunion. The Hymenoptera and Hemiptera are the most represented orders.

Camponotus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is one of the most diverse ant genera in the world (>1000 species); however, only six species have been described in Chile, with the last description being in 1935. Recently, various specimens have been collected that do not match the descriptions of known species, suggesting the existence of new species that need to be described. In the present study, two new species are proposed for Chile. Descriptions, diagnoses, and photographs are included for the new taxa. With these new species, the myrmecological fauna of the genus Camponotus present in the country is increased by 33%.

We describe two new species of arboreal ants of the genus Cephalotes Latreille, 1802, from Ecuador: Cephalotes esthelae Ilguan & Troya, sp. nov. and Cephalotes sacha Yumbay & Troya, sp. nov. The former, a member of the grandinosus-group, was collected from lowland Choco and Amazonian forests, while the latter, belonging to the atratus-group, is an inhabitant of the Amazonian region, including Yasuni National Park. Diagnoses and detailed morphological descriptions of workers and soldiers are provided, illustrated by high-resolution images. Species identification was further corroborated with mitochondrial CO1 sequences, which confirmed their distinctiveness from morphologically similar congeners. Both species exhibit unique combinations of mesosomal and gastric characters. In addition, we provide the first description of the soldier of the rarely collected C. dentidorsum De Andrade, 1999. These discoveries expand the known diversity of the genus in Ecuador to 33 species, highlighting this regions role as a hotspot for Neotropical myrmecofauna. A fully illustrated key and checklist of all Cephalotes species known from Ecuador is also presented. The new taxa occur in well-preserved but increasingly threatened forests, ecosystems subject to high rates of deforestation and mining activity, potentially endangering their populations. The integration of molecular and morphological evidence provides a robust framework for delimiting species such as in this morphologically complex and species-diverse genus. We highlight the need of further exploration of under-collected regions such as the Choco and Andean-Amazonian foothills. Continued taxonomic and molecular investigations will be crucial to elucidate phylogenetic relationships, assess biogeographic barriers such as the Andes, and inform conservation strategies for Ecuadors arboreal ant fauna.

Marine biodiversity documentation from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) remains neglected despite the region having diversity of marine coastal habitats. The regions intertidal is one such habitat where species documentation remained heavily deficient due to lack of assessments and general apathy towards the habitat. This study addresses the issue of data deficiency of one of the largest taxa, Gastropoda through a decade long citizen science project, Marine Life of Mumbai. There exist large gaps in taxonomic research that have led to inconsistencies in species identification and inadequate ecosystem representation. This study addresses these issues by focusing on one of the largest taxa, the Molluscan class Gastropoda within the MMR. We present the spatial distribution of gastropod assemblages from 28 rocky, sandy and muddy intertidal sites within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, on west coast of India. A total of 163 species were recorded from 2164 observations of marine gastropods. Among these, 29 species, 34 genera and one family Limapontiidae are new records for the region. Additionally, this study reports rediscoveries of 7 species from their type locality, with 5 species of Heterobranchs recorded after 78 years: one species from Neogastropoda, Lataxiena bombayana, after 131 years and one from Siphonariida, Siphonaria bassiensis after 31 years, from their type locality. These species are herein illustrated with detailed morphological descriptions and their local distribution on 28 sites in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Through this study we elucidate that the citizen science efforts and the subsequent taxonomic analysis provide an effective and low-cost method for filling data gaps from large, understudied geographical areas.

A new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) is described based on two male specimens collected from Kerala, at the southern end of the Western Ghats in India. We compared P. armageddonensis sp. nov. with the three closely similar Protosticta species recently described from the Western Ghats, namely P.anamalaica Sadasivan, Nair & Samuel, 2022, P. cyanofemora Joshi, Subramanian, Babu & Kunte, 2020, and P. monticola Emiliyamma & Palot, 2016, to provide comprehensive differential diagnosis. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters, including the structure of prothorax, caudal appendages, genital ligula, and markings on the 8th abdominal segment. A revised key of Protosticta spp. of the Western Ghats, based on mature male specimens is provided.

We present new distributional records of Argiope spiders in India, based on more than 10,000 digital images of the genus from the region curated by iNaturalist (www.inaturalist.org). Notable range expansions to India are documented for three species: A. chloreides Chrysanthus, 1961, A. mangal Koh, 1991, and A. sector (Forssk[a]l, 1776). Second, previously unrecorded field characters, updated distributional data, and a re-examination of published descriptions of type material, support the resurrection of A. undulata Thorell, 1887 as a valid species, long treated as a synonym of A. pulchella Thorell, 1881. Finally, we report the first in situ photographic records of live specimens of the rarely documented A. caesarea Thorell, 1897 and A. macrochoera Thorell, 1891. These varied findings for a small and conspicuous taxon highlight the value of online community-science platforms for documenting the arachnofauna of a biodiverse region, as well as illustrate the need for continued taxonomic review, even within well-known genera.

In this paper it is described a new Sympetrum species - Sympetrum bigeminus sp. nov. from Romania. The male of this new species is similar almost to identity with Sympetrum sanguineum from which differs only in the more conspicuous lateral thoracic sutures. The females are different from Sympetrum sanguineum by the vulvar scale, which is prominent (well visible in lateral view), incurved, with a deep concavity, and shortly bilobed, thus showing morphological characters of a different and distinct species.

The present effort is a systematic review of the most diverse diaptomid copepods from the South America, the Notodiaptomus Kiefer 1936. We proposed to review and identify new morphological characteristics for 37 currently accepted species, assess nomenclatural status, and to examine their relatedness relations. The identification of 2700 morphological hypotheses for males and females are encoded in DEscription Language for TAxonomy (DELTA), used for a historical evaluation of the genus, and arrive at the first parsimony-based phylogeny for Notodiaptomus. We present synonymy of all species, status of type material, updated record of occurrences, taxonomic remarks, and dichotomous and interactive key for males and females. The rescue of the common and exclusive ancestor based on 80 synapomorphic characters recovers the monophyly of the organisms of the considered species, supports the discussion of the exclusive conditions and the historically indicated taxonomic relationships. Through this we wish to help establish an additional step on the consistency of the taxonomy of these species, contributing to answer important questions about the origin of some of the characteristics presented.

Phylloneura Fraser, 1922 is a genus of damselflies which was till date regarded monotypic. It is represented by the nominate species, Phylloneura westermanni (Hagen in Selys, 1860) which is endemic to the Western Ghats in India. In our study, we came across a population of Phylloneura near Ponmudi hills, Thiruvananthapuram, which displayed morphological and behavioral differences from P. westermanni. We describe it as a species new to science with detailed photographs and illustrations. We also provide notes on its reproductive behavior.

Protosticta Selys, 1885 is a speciose genus of damselflies distributed in the tropical and subtropical forests of Asia. During an ongoing study to document the odonate diversity of the Western Ghats, we came across a colony of Protosticta species in Wayanad, Kerala, that appeared different from all other species hitherto described. We describe this population as a new species after detailed morphological comparison with closely similar species occurring in the region.