Zootaxa

The genus Trichiurus is the most economically valuable fish in the family Trichiuridae, currently recognized to include 10 valid species. However, historically numerous morphologically similar congeners have been erroneously assigned as synonyms or subspecies of T. lepturus. In this study, we examined 16 hairtail specimens collected from the southern waters of Java Island, Indonesia. Integrated morphological and mitochondrial phylogenetic analyses (COX1 and 16S rRNA), compared against global Trichiurus sequences, revealed that these specimens form an independent lineage that diverged early from other congeners. Consequently, we describe this lineage as a previously undescribed cryptic species. Diagnostic characters include: first anal-fin spine below 36th-37th dorsal-fin rays; anus below 35th-36th dorsal-fin rays; anteriormost tip of supraoccipital well posterior to posterior distal margin of eye; anterior margin of the pectoral-fin spine non-serrated; fangs on both jaws with barb-like processes; upper jaw long, mean 16.6% (15.5-17.6%) of preanal length; snout short, 12.0% (10.9-13.1%) of preanal length; eye small, diameter 5.3% (4.3-5.7%) of preanal length; and absence of hyperostosis on dorsal cranium. We herein propose the name Trichiurus javaensis sp. nov., and provide a formal morphological description and diagnostic characterization of this species.

For over four decades, the bivalve Anomalocardia flexuosa has been recorded in Hong Kong coastal waters. However, the known native distribution of this heavily exploited commercial species is restricted to the Atlantic coast of South America, raising questions about the biogeographical validity of the Hong Kong populations. By employing an integrative taxonomic approach combining morphological re-evaluations and molecular phylogenetic analysis of the COI gene, we confirm that the species in Shui Hau, Hong Kong, China, has been historically misidentified. The population belongs to Cryptonema producta (syn. Anomalocardia producta).

The ichneumonid subfamily Eucerotinae has been thought to be almost absent from the tropics, with the only known Afrotropical species found in Madagascar. We report the subfamily to be present in the mainland Afrotropics, and describe a new species, Euceros species 1 from Uganda and Cameroon (name not yet shown in preprint). The subfamily had likely not been observed in the mainland Afrotropics before due to low abundances and insufficient sampling. More Eucerotinae likely remain to be discovered in tropical Africa and Asia, although tropical America may genuinely have few eucerotine species. Much more extensive sampling will be needed before it is possible to make confident estimates of how eucerotine diversity is distributed globally.

Two threatened new species of Podostemaceae belonging to the genus Inversodicraea, I. joulei and I. lebbiei, both from the Republic of Sierra Leone, are described and illustrated. A first record in Sierra Leone of the genus Lestestuella is also reported. Inversodicraea is the most species-rich genus of Podostemaceae in Africa and now comprises 38 species. Inversodicraea joulei is easily recognised because it has a persistent spine distally on the median rib of each fruit valve, and scattered, membranous scale-leaves with broadly rounded apices, while Inversodicraea lebbiei is distinct in having narrowly triangular robust scale-leaves which are inrolled, spreading distally, and completely covering the stem, arranged in five ranks. Inversodicraea joulei is known from a single location with three sites while I. lebbiei is known from two locations each with one site. Using the latest IUCN Red List guidance, Inversodicraea joulei is assessed as Critically Endangered and I. lebbiei is assessed as Endangered, due to threats from dam construction projects, agricultural practices and mining activities, resulting in high levels of siltation on rocks in the fast-flowing rivers where these species grow.

The fully mycoheterotrophic, non-photosynthetic Afrothismia fonensis Cheek & G.Delhaye sp. nov. (Afrothismiaceae), is described and illustrated from two sites in submontane forest in or adjacent to the Pic de Fon Foret Classee, Simandou Range, Republic of Guinea. This is the first record of the genus and family in West Africa west of Nigeria. The new species is remarkable for its small size, and for being unique in the genus in the entirely connate intertepaline lobes (in other species of the genus they are free or only partly united) and the longitudinal ridges on the outer perianth tube (unknown in other species). The provisional extinction risk assessment for Afrothismia fonensis is Critically Endangered (CR B1ab (iii)+2ab(iii)+D1) using the IUCN 2012 categories and criteria, due to less than 50 individuals being recorded, and due to the both the very small range and the immediate threats from foraging by red river hogs, trampling by cattle and from de-watering of the adjacent Oueleba iron-ore body where mining began in 2025. It should be noted that mitigation actions are expected to adequately address the risks associated with mining activities, and direct impacts to both areas of Afrothismia fonensis habitat have been fully avoided through relocation of planned infrastructure. We review the importance of the Boyboyba forest, Simandou range, as the West African centre of diversity for non-photosynthetic heteromycotrophs. This new discovery is examined in the context of other recently discovered range extensions to Guinea of Central African genera and families.

Giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) is one of the least studied pangolin species worldwide, with no published hematological and biochemical data available. We report the first blood parameters from a rehabilitated adult male from Campo Maan National Park (southern Cameroon). Hematological and biochemical findings are described and discussed in relation to available data from other pangolin species. These preliminary results provide the first reference framework for this species and highlight their relevance for clinical assessment, health monitoring, and conservation management.

BackgroundAdult vestimentiferan tubeworms inhabiting hydrothermal vents and cold seeps lack a mouth and anus and rely entirely on organic matter produced by sulfur -oxidizing autotrophic bacterial symbionts in their trophosomes. These symbionts, which predominantly belong to the genus Proteobacteria, are acquired horizontally from the environment. However, the effects of rearing conditions that differ from natural habitats on the microbiome composition or abundance of these bacteria remain unclear. MethodsWe conducted a metagenomic analysis of Lamellibrachia satsuma reared in an aquarium under sulfide-supplemented and sulfide-free conditions. ResultsImmediately after collection, the microbiome was dominated by known symbionts within {gamma}-Proteobacteria, exhibiting low species diversity. After 6 months of rearing, the abundance of these symbionts significantly decreased under both conditions, whereas overall bacterial diversity increased. In particular, -Proteobacteria became more abundant under sulfide-supplemented conditions, while {delta}-Proteobacteria predominated in the absence of sulfide. Despite these changes, symbionts were not entirely lost, and the hosts survived for 6 months, likely due to their low metabolic rate. These findings suggest that the microbiome of L. satsuma can respond flexibly to changes in the rearing environment. They also indicate that the hosts metabolism can be maintained even with a smaller quantity of symbiotic bacteria.

Intraspecific morphological variability presents a complex challenge for biological systematics and biomonitoring, particularly for organisms with high phenotypic plasticity, such as zooplankton. Morphological differences between individuals of the water flea species Bosmina longirostris (Crustacea: Cladocera) are difficult to distinguish visually, parthenogenetic females look morphologically uniform within the species; nevertheless, they demonstrate differences attributable to their geographic origin and developmental stage. A reference dataset of microscopic images was created for the study, including populations from two geographically separated regions (seven ones from European Russia and seven ones from Sakhalin Island in the Pacific Ocean (Far East of Russia) and two age groups, demonstrating the ability of a neural network classify to successfully the intraspecific morphological variation. This study demonstrates that deep learning methods are prospective for the detection and understanding of fine morphological intraspecific differences in the cladocerans.

Plants, as structural elements of habitats, contribute greatly to the maintenance of local biodiversity through their biological interactions. In this study we explore whether their rarity, according to Rabinowitzs (1981) three criteria, is related to the richness and diversity of arthropods and other plants they are associated to, in a gypsum-rich steppe. We first analysed whether the geographic abundance and ecological specialisation of 32 characteristic and dominant plant species are related to the diversity (richness and phylogenetic diversity (MPD)) and degree of local specialisation of arthropods associated with them (1,694 taxa). Then, we focused on a non endemic and non specialized plant in the study area (Krascheninnikovia ceratoides) to explore the effect of population size on two types of interactions: aerial arthropods and plant facilitation. Results indicate that: 1) plant species abundance (geographical range) is not related to the richness or MPD of communities of associated arthropods, 2) plant species ecological specialization (edaphic endemisms or gypsophiles) do not contribute differentially to the maintenance of singular arthropod communities, and 3) the community of aerial arthropods and plants interacting with K. ceratoides in a small population are not necessarily less diverse than those in patches of similar size in a large population. Results also revealed that the two plant species with fewer interactions (one rare, one widespread) do show the highest singularity in their interactions with arthropods. Our study illustrates the important contribution of rare plants to the conservation of local biodiversity.

Gastropods are a highly diverse and often overlooked taxonomic group of significant ecological and economic importance. Some terrestrial gastropods are critical pests of commercial agriculture and home gardens worldwide. Malacopathogenic nematodes offer an effective biological control method of managing pest slugs and snails as a natural enemy. Pellioditis (syn. Phasmarhabditis) hermaphrodita and Pellioditis (syn. Phasmarhabditis) californica are two species of biocontrol nematodes that have been commercialized, sold as Nemaslug(R) and Nemaslug(R) 2.0 respectively on three continents. Although there is interest in bringing Nemaslug(R) products to the US, they are currently not permitted due to limited knowledge on their North American distribution and effects on non-target and native species. In this study, we investigated the impact of P. hermaphrodita and P. californica on Ariolimax columbianus across two slug-host life stages, in laboratory infectivity assays. The objectives were to 1. determine whether P. hermaphrodita and P. californica nematodes impact survival of A. columbianus, and 2. evaluate whether there are differential effects on survival in juvenile and adult life stages of A. columbianus, in laboratory infectivity trials. We found that P. hermaphrodita caused significant mortality in A. columbianus with 100% mortality observed in both juvenile and adult slug hosts. The P. californica treatment had significant effects on the juvenile A. columbianus group only, with 80% mortality. By contrast, only 16% of unexposed control juveniles and 4% of control adult slugs died during the experiment. These results indicate that P. hermaphrodita and P. californica are lethal to the native, non-target Pacific banana slug (A. columbianus) under laboratory conditions, with mortality differing between juvenile and adult host life stages. Given the ecological importance of A. columbianus, these findings raise concerns for potential non-target effects of P. californica and P. hermaphrodita on terrestrial gastropod communities and emphasize the need for testing biocontrol agents against multiple life stages.

Prosopis juliflora is an invasive alien plant species and a problematic weed that poses significant ecological and socio-economic challenges in Ethiopia, particularly in the Afar rangelands. The study explored the diversity and effects of insect herbivores communities feeding on the flowers and pods of P. juliflora to determine their role in limiting reproductive success across three selected ecological sites: Amibara, Gewanne, and Aysayita. A total of 118 adult insect specimens were collected between January and November 2021 using a sweep net and hand collection methods. Community structure, analysis via the Shannon Wiener diversity index, strongly influenced damage pattern. Amibara exhibited the highest insect diversity resulting in significant reproductive damage, including 5.98% of flower loss and 10.39% pods tunneling, primarily caused by Chrysomelidae and Pyralidae. Conversely, Gewanne was showed lower diversity, but higher sap-sucking (13.39 % shriveled pods; 5.11 % flower curling) were caused by Aphididae. Overall, 18.41 % of the pods, and 11.59 % of the flowers were exhibited insect related injury. These finding confirm that more internal seed predation and nutrient depletion were revealed significantly reduce viable seed production. The result was suggested that natural insect communities currently function as partial biological control agents. This indicates strong potential for developing integrated biological control strategies to manage P. juliflora invasion in Ethiopia rangelands.

Reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) are threatened by fishing and other anthropogenic threats. Which, when coupled with conservative life history traits, have made this species vulnerable to extinction. Spatiotemporal ecological knowledge, such as site fidelity and visitation patterns to key aggregation sites, are imperative for effective conservation management of M. alfredi. A novel method of environmental sensing, remote underwater photo systems (RUPs), was employed to understand drivers of M. alfredi habitat use and resighting patterns. RUPs were deployed at four cleaning sites around Laamu Atoll, Maldives. Between March 2021 and May 2023, 455,458 photos were analysed. Generalised linear models revealed increases in M. alfredi presence in response to high chlorophyll-a concentrations, low illumination moon states, the Southwest Monsoon, and in the morning, while human presence had no effect. Branchial spot patterns allowed for 81 M. alfredi individuals to be identified, from 629 sightings, representing 51.59% of Laamu Atolls previously identified population (n = 157). Cleaning stations are visited more intensively during periods of increased productivity of the Southwest Monsoon, likely in response to greater foraging opportunities near the study areas. Additionally, moon state, used as a proxy for tidal strength, was associated with increased visitation during new moon periods, suggesting that weaker tidal states may facilitate presence. These data support integrating RUPs with observational surveys to improve inferences about habitat use and our understanding of cleaning sites frequented by M. alfredi. This study aims to inform the implementation of Laamu Atolls first marine protected area management plan.

Molecular data have revolutionised taxonomic and ecological research on the hyperdiverse communities of aquatic benthic microinvertebrates known as meiofauna. However, reference sequence databases remain highly incomplete, with variable barcode genes or fragments studied from taxon to taxon. Furthermore, there is a typical tradeoff between universality of primers and phylogenetic resolution, with rRNA markers being robustly recoverable but failing to resolve species-level divergences, and mitochondrial markers showing the reverse trend. Here, we introduce Oxford Nanopore rRNA and COI amplicon sequencing (OrCa-seq), a rapid, low-cost protocol for parallel long-range PCR amplification and multiplexed sequencing of four amplicons, spanning the nearly-complete rRNA cistron ([~]7-8 kb) and the widely studied Folmer region of COI (represented as overlapping 313 and 658 bp amplicons). This protocol, with its associated bioinformatic workflow, was designed for conducting biodiversity inventories of meiofauna and can be easily carried out in field research and educational contexts, with data available from 96-well plates of specimens within a day of lysis. To validate the method, we processed six plates of student-isolated freshwater and limno-terrestrial meiofauna, characterising the recovery of target genes and taxa with both automated and human-curated BLAST database comparisons. These data demonstrate the universal applicability of OrCa-seq across effectively all meiofauna, including the very smallest species. Nonetheless, recovery efficiency for each amplicon shows variation by taxon, with the full-length Folmer COI amplicon standing out as the most challenging. We present exemplar phylogenetic trees integrating reference sequences, demonstrating the utility of these data in confirming morphological determinations and in identifying anonymous specimens in a reverse taxonomy context. While developed in a specific educational context for use on meiofauna, the OrCa-seq approach should be readily scalable to larger research datasets, adaptable to many specimen types, and to any combination of taxon-or target-specific primers. As such, it represents a compelling multi-locus extension to the ever-growing repertoire of nanopore DNA barcoding protocols.

Belemia belongs to Nyctaginaceae and comprises two species of delicate vines. Both species are endemic to Brazil. Belemia fucsioides, the type species, described in 1981, occurs in a restricted area of the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. Belemia cordata, described in 2020, is known from only two records from the same area in the Cerrado of northern Brazil. Here, we describe the taxonomic history of Belemia and provide the first synopsis for the genus. We include species description, distribution map, identification key, and anatomical data. We used field observations over the past decade and modeled anthropogenic changes in the species range to conduct a conservation assessment in accordance with the IUCN Red List criteria. Conservation assessments indicate significant concerns for Belemia, classified as either endangered (B. fucsioides) or critically endangered (B. cordata). The species are threatened primarily by habitat loss to land used for agriculture, forestry, and livestock production. This study contributes to ongoing initiatives exploring plant diversity in the Neotropics and supports efforts to identify threats to biodiversity.

The Dinaric karst of Croatia encompasses a network of over 10,000 caves and represents one of the worlds most important subterranean biodiversity hotspots. It is inhabited by remarkably diverse and often endemic species, including planarian flatworms, which are among the rarest macroinvertebrates encountered in cave habitats. Although the presence of cave planarians has long been known, no integrative research on this group has been conducted to date, and the evolutionary relationships between these animals and their surface water counterparts are currently unresolved. To address these gaps, we combined field sampling, phylogenetic analysis based on COI and 18S genes, and phenotypic characterization. Our results show that cave planariids in Croatia belong to at least three genera and are more widespread and diverse across both Croatia, and the broader Dinaric karst, than previously assumed. We increased the number of cave records in the Dinaric karst from 26 to 37 and documented cf. Atrioplanaria and Phagocata in Croatian caves for the first time. Phylogenetic reconstructions suggest numerous independent cave colonization events, including multiple instances within the genera Crenobia and cf. Atrioplanaria. Variation in pigmentation and eye reduction, both within and between populations, further reveal heterogeneous evolutionary trajectories of cave-associated phenotypes. The biogeographical patterns and high genetic diversity we report here point to a complex evolutionary history of planariids in the Dinarides. Our newly generated molecular phylogenies and systematic documentation of trait variability establish Planariidae as a valuable model for studying mechanisms underlying convergent evolution of pigment loss and eye reduction in cave environments.

The release and management of pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in the UK for recreational shooting exerts a range of effects on the ecosystem into which they are released. We studied possible effect of nutrient deposition on epiphytic tree flora at 20 pheasant release sites distributed through England (18) and Wales (2) during winter and spring 2023/24. Sites were all Ancient Semi-natural Woodlands (ASNWs) and had substantial (600-8000 pheasants) in a single release pen. We measured N-sensitive and N-tolerant indicator bryophyte and lichen species on tree trunks near to the pen and then in plots along a transect 100m, 250m, 500m and 1km+ away from the pen. To achieve a gradient of pheasant use, the transects were located in the opposite direction to the game managed / shooting area. We recorded 1.9 times more coverage of N-tolerant lichens and bryophytes combined on selected tree species at the pen-edge compared to the control plots. The relationship showed a decline from the pen edge to 250m away but then stabilised. We also detected higher levels of coverage of N-sensitive tree flora at 100m and 250 m compared to the penedge plot. These measures were also higher at these mid distances compared to the 500m and 1000m plots. We suggest far plots were nearer wood edges and were affected by ambient inputs of aerial N from farmland and other external sources. The overall interpretation is that concentrations of pheasants in and around release pens for several months from late summer until early winter in ASNWs does affect the balance of N-sensitive and tolerant tree flora up to potentially 250m and this is a consideration when locating release pens in and near to sensitive woods.

The use of marine space by human activities is globally increasing, resulting in a competition with spatial management measures for marine conservation. Within the European Union (EU) these measures are currently implemented by the union member states to achieve the UN sustainable development goal (SDG) of protecting at least 10 % of the national marine waters. Further, the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRL) are the two main legal means for the implementation of ambitious spatial conservation targets for benthic habitat types, which can range from 10 - 90 %. This study analysis how the targets of the MSFD and NRL are currently met in the German waters of the North Sea and which areas the full implementation of both legislations might require. A spatial optimisation tool ("prioritizr" in R) was used to identify optimised solutions for the conservation of up to 75 % of NRL benthic habitats. The current spatial conservation measures (which ban demersal trawling within certain zones of designated marine protected areas, MPA) are not sufficient to reach the targets of the MSFD and NRL. Extending the exclusion of demersal trawling to the entire area of the MPAs would achieve a sufficient coverage for all habitats except for offshore sand and mud habitats. These could be further protected, when including areas for offshore wind farms, where trawling is also banned. However, to date it is unclear, if and how these (or other human use) areas could be included into spatial conservation regimes, a debate that needs to be resolved to allow for the achievement of the ambitious MSFD and NRL targets.

Microplastics (MP) are widespread in aquatic ecosystems and pose a threat to freshwater biodiversity. While numerous studies examine physiological effects on aquatic organisms, less is known about how MP alter chemically mediated interactions that regulate predator-prey dynamics. Predator-induced defenses in Daphnia depend on detecting kairomones and represent an important form of adaptive phenotypic plasticity. Whether MP interfere with these responses, and through which mechanisms, remains unclear. Here, we show that polystyrene MP impair predator-induced defenses across Daphnia species by disrupting predator-cue-mediated plasticity at the behavioral, morphological, and molecular levels. In D. longicephala, chronic exposure to PS fragments weakened Notonecta-induced morphological defenses, whereas additive-containing PS fragments nearly suppressed defense formation and reduced body size. Consistent with these phenotypic effects, proteomic analyses revealed alterations in pathways related to molting and chitin metabolism, linking MP exposure to impaired defense formation. In D. magna, PS particles attenuated fish kairomone-induced diel vertical migration, with stronger effects for larger particles, consistent with reduced effective availability or perception of predator cues. Natural limestone particles caused only minor effects, indicating particle-specific rather than general particle-driven responses. Our findings demonstrate that MP can disrupt adaptive predator-prey interactions with potential cascading consequences for freshwater food webs.

Romania represents one of the few European Union member states in which all four Old World vulture species historically maintained breeding populations: the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus), Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) and Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus). Until the 2026 reintroduction efforts initiated by Foundation Conservation Carpathia and Rewilding Romania, Romania remained the last EU country whose former vulture guild had not been targeted for active recovery. Despite this exceptional significance in a European conservation context, no comprehensive synthesis of the historical and contemporary distribution of these species in Romania has been undertaken. We conducted a comprehensive review to gather all available vulture occurrence data and present a fully georeferenced database of 1,170 occurrence records spanning 1818-2025. We systematically searched museum collections, historical ornithological literature, modern field surveys and citizen-science platforms. The database documents substantial breeding populations across the Carpathian arc and Dobrogea until the early twentieth century, followed by near-total breeding collapse between the 1920s and 1960s driven by persecution, secondary poisoning and agrarian transformation. In total, 149 confirmed or probable breeding records have been documented for the four species combined, with the most recent confirmed breeding records dating to 1929 (Gyps fulvus), 1929 (Gypaetus barbatus), 1942 (Aegypius monachus) and 1966 (Neophron percnopterus). Non-breeding occurrences increase markedly after 2010, consistent with dispersal from expanding Balkan source populations. The F[a]g[a]ra {square} and Retezat Mountains emerge as the historically most important breeding strongholds for all four species. Our dataset constitutes the most detailed historical baseline currently available for vulture conservation in Romania and is intended to identify key historical sites with high potential for future reintroduction and recovery. Our results show that Romania historically supported the full guild of European obligate scavengers, and that its collapse occurred within barely four decades (1920s-1960s). The dataset highlights the value of reconstructing historical baselines in regions where functional extinction preceded the onset of modern monitoring, and provides an empirical foundation for reassembling a keystone scavenger guild at a continental scale.

Primary and old-growth forests are globally valued for their biodiversity, ecosystem services, and cultural significance. The EU Biodiversity Strategy and EU Forest Strategy for 2030 require strict protection of remaining primary and old-growth forests, yet they cover only about 3% of EU forest area and remain highly threatened. The European Commissions guidelines define old-growth forests using three main indicators--native tree species, deadwood, and large/old trees--supported by five complementary indicators. Implementing these indicators for boreal and hemiboreal old-growth forests in northern Europe currently lack science-based operational criteria that meet EU legal standards. We provide recommendations for implementing European Commissions indicators with science-based operational criteria and thresholds to minimize misclassification and ensure cost-effective conservation. Key thresholds include native species dominance, [≥]5% deadwood of the total wood volume, and [≥]20 large/old trees per hectare. Additional guidance is offered for regeneration patterns, structural complexity, microhabitats, and indicator species, emphasizing that all indicators should be applied collectively.