Zootaxa

The marine sponge Hymeniacidon perlevis is a globally-distributed species, likely because it has been extensively spread through human means. The status of this species in the Western Atlantic has been difficult to discern due to the presence of a morphologically similar species Hymeniacidon heliophila. Here, we have collected Hymeniacidon specimens from the H. heliophila type location and compared their morphology and genotypes to material from Europe, North and South America, and publicly available datasets. Specimens from the type location closely matched the original description of H. heliophila, and were morphologically indistinguishable from H. perlevis. Multilocus sequencing data confirm that these samples are indistinguishable from H. perlevis, and that the name H. heliophila should therefore be considered a junior synonym of H. perlevis. Analysis of a global cox1 dataset further revealed significantly higher genetic diversity in Europe than in the remainder of the world combined, supporting a European origin for the species and suggesting that all other genotyped populations are introductions. In the Western Atlantic, we confirm the presence of H. perlevis in the Gulf of Mexico, but contrary to some past reports, are unable to confirm its presence in the Caribbean. Our results clarify the taxonomy, biogeography, and recent history of one of the worlds most widespread marine sponges.

The genus Phakellia comprises predominantly fan-shaped deep-sea sponges, but its species diversity and boundaries remain unresolved. Here, we use an integrative approach combining morphological and molecular data to investigate the Phakellia robusta species complex and describe two new species, Phakellia pallida sp. nov. and Phakellia pusilla sp. nov. Overlap in external and spicular morphology makes these taxa challenging to identify. Molecular analyses based on mitochondrial (cox1) and nuclear (28S) markers support the recognition of the three taxa as distinct species, and reveal their close evolutionary relationship. The two new species co-occur in the NE Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, with overlapping depth ranges, although P. pallida sp. nov. is generally found at greater depths. Our results also suggest that several previous records of P. robusta from the Mediterranean and southern parts of the NE Atlantic may instead correspond to either P. pallida sp. nov. or P. pusilla sp. nov., indicating that its distribution requires reassessment. In addition, a group I intron previously reported in the cox1 gene of P. robusta was polymorphically detected at the same insertion site in some, but not all, individuals of P. pusilla sp. nov., but it was absent from P. pallida sp. nov. individuals. Overall, our results reveal pseudocryptic diversity within Phakellia and highlight the value of integrative approaches for resolving species boundaries and reassessing deep-sea sponge diversity and distributions.

Catenulids are free-living flatworms, common in eutrophic freshwaters such as ponds, ditches, or peatbogs, with most of the diversity described from tropical regions to date. Although the majority of the species have been described from warmer climates, most molecular studies have been done on specimens from temperate zones in Europe. We addressed this gap by sampling for exotic species in localities available in a temperate climate. In this study, we investigated catenulid diversity in the greenhouses at the University of Warsaw Botanic Garden and recorded two species known only from tropical areas (Stenostomum paraguayense and Suomina evelinae) and one exotic species recorded previously from a greenhouse in Poland (Stenostomum corderoi). Additionally, in the latter species, we provide evidence for environmentally induced coloration of sensory pits, which has not been reported thus far. We placed the collected species on a phylogeny using barcoding of 18S, 28S, and COI genes and retrieved paraphyly of the family Catenulidae, with S. evelinae forming a sister group to the genus Paracatenula, and hence we propose a revision of its systematic position. In total, we recorded six species, including three with a wide cosmopolitan distribution (C. turgida, S. grande and S. tuberculosum), and provided sequences for five of them, three of which had no previous molecular records (S. paraguayense, S. evelinae and S. corderoi). Thus, we confirm that greenhouses represent an important source of exotic species for taxonomic work on microscopic invertebrates.

Species-level delimitation within the genus Trichomycterus remains one of the main systematic challenges within the Trichomycterinae, particularly in lineages characterised by conservative external morphology, high apparent intraspecific variation, and historical diagnostic criteria based primarily on body proportions, colouration and a few meristic characters. In central Chile, Trichomycterus areolatus has traditionally been interpreted as a widely distributed and morphologically variable species, whilst T. maculatus, originally described from "Santiago du Chili", has remained subordinate to this broad conception without a modern phylogenetic reassessment. Here we reassess the specific boundaries of T. areolatus sensu lato using an integrative approach that combines complete mitogenomes, estimates of genetic divergence and comparative morphology of the cephalic laterosensory system associated with the neurocranium. Phylogenetic analyses reveal T. areolatus sensu lato to be non-monophyletic and identify a deeply divergent lineage, geographically coherent and attributable to T. maculatus. This lineage differs from restricted T. areolatus by extensive mitochondrial divergence, comparable to that observed between recognised species of Trichomycterinae, and by discrete characters of the cephalic lateral line system, primarily related to the continuity of the supraorbital canal and the arrangement of the associated pores. The congruence between mitogenomic, nuclear and morphological evidence supports the revalidation of Trichomycterus maculatus Valenciennes, 1846, and calls for a more restricted geographic circumscription of T. areolatus. These results demonstrate that the diversity of Trichomycterinae in central Chile has been underestimated, modify previous interpretation of the distribution of the species involved, and highlight the value of integrating mitogenomics and neurocranial/laterosensory characters into the taxonomy of morphologically conservative siluriform lineages.

The fieldwork was carried out between December 2023 and June 2025, with the aim, among others, of confirming the possible presence of the North African Gerbil (Gerbillus campestris) in Melilla. To this end, 56 camera trap stations were installed, each equipped with a camera trap. Of the total number of camera trap stations installed, the presence of Gerbillus campestris was detected in six of them, representing a capture success rate of 10.71%. Following the detection of the species, a specimen was captured using cage traps. For identification purposes, samples of epithelial tissue from the ear and faeces were collected. These samples were sent to the Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic, for analysis. There, DNA was extracted from the samples using the Innu PREP DNA Mini Kit 2.0 (IST Innuscreen GmbH, Germany) according to the manufacturer's protocol. The results obtained confirm, for the first time through records of the species, the presence of Gerbillus campestris in Melilla and, therefore, in Spain and Europe.

Polytypic species with large ranges may harbor unrecognized diversity because taxonomy ranks populations differing subtly in plumage as subspecies. The Ruddy Foliage-gleaner (Clibanornis rubiginosus) exemplifies this problem. It ranges from Mexico to Brazil, with 15 subspecies, and forms a non-monophyletic complex with two congeners, yet its songs had not been compared. We measured ten spectral and temporal variables on 104 recordings covering 14 of 15 subspecies. Bayesian linear mixed models showed three song groups: eight subspecies west of the Andes share a single-note song, whereas Amazonian and Guianan populations add a short introductory note and sing longer, lower-pitched songs. Within this group, watkinsorum sings the lowest-pitched and longest song and is phylogenetically closer to C. cinnamomeigula than to its Amazonian neighbors. The third group is C. cinnamomeigula alone, a white-eyed taxon in an otherwise dark-eyed group. Its high-pitched, vibrato song resembles none other in the genus. One-note and two-note songs differ in kind without intermediates, and every two-note taxon sequenced to date falls in one clade, so C. rubiginosus is paraphyletic. We recognize four species, C. rubiginosus sensu stricto, C. cinnamomeigula, C. watkinsorum, and C. obscurus. This raises Clibanornis from five species to eight and divides its only polytypic species.

Indomethacin and temperature shocks are both widely used to induce ephyra production in Cassiopea polyps, yet the combined effect of these stimuli on strobilation rate, ephyra viability, and polyp survivorship has not been systematically examined. We designed a full factorial experiment crossing five indomethacin concentrations (0, 10, 25, 50, and 75 {micro}M) with four temperature treatments (22, 25, 28, and 31{degrees}C) across three independent experimental trials, exposing a total of 288 individual Cassiopea xamachana polyps for 29 days. Overall, 207 of 288 polyps (71.9%) released at least one ephyra. Temperature was the stronger predictor of strobilation: higher temperatures substantially increased the probability of producing a healthy ephyra (log-odds: +0.327 per {degrees}C; {chi}{superscript 2} p = 6.5 x 10-5), while indomethacin had a smaller but significant positive effect (log-odds: +0.024 per {micro}M; {chi}{superscript 2} p = 0.035). The two stimuli acted independently without significant interaction on healthy ephyra production ({chi}{superscript 2} p = 0.87), although their interaction on total ephyra production (including unhealthy releases) was significant ({chi}{superscript 2} p = 1.0 x 10-9). Notably, low indomethacin concentrations (10 and 25 {micro}M) significantly increased the proportion of unhealthy ephyrae relative to seawater controls (paired t-tests: p = 0.035 and p = 0.006, respectively), while higher concentrations (50-75 {micro}M) did not. Polyp survivorship declined significantly at 28{degrees}C and 31{degrees}C but was unaffected by indomethacin. Trial replicate was the most statistically significant predictor of every outcome measured with the third trial producing near-universal strobilation but zero viable ephyrae, a result of an unidentified perturbation. These results indicate that temperature elevation to 28-31{degrees}C is the most reliable induction strategy for C. xamachana and that low indomethacin concentrations should be avoided when ephyra quality is paramount. We also note that cryptic batch-level variables can overwhelm controlled factors and should be addressed in future experimental designs.

The Alaskan Beaufort Sea lagoon system supports a diverse invertebrate community shaped by a complex glacial and biogeographic history, yet it remains severely understudied relative to the rapid environmental changes it is experiencing. As Arctic amplification accelerates habitat loss, shifts dispersal pathways, and facilitates the introduction of boreal and invasive species, accurately documenting current biodiversity is increasingly urgent. In this study, we used DNA barcoding of the mitochondrial cox1 gene for various invertebrates, and the nuclear 28S rRNA gene for Porifera, to examine invertebrate genera across coastal sites in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, including the unique Boulder Patch kelp community in Stefansson Sound. We sequenced specimens belonging to five phyla: Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Porifera, and Priapulida. Specimens were identified by morphology, and their cox1 or 28S rRNA gene sequences were matched against the GenBank and Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) databases. Molecular identification revealed substantially higher species diversity than morphology alone in three of five phyla: Annelida (12 versus six species), Arthropoda (14 versus 11), and Mollusca (five versus four). In Porifera and Priapulida the number of species were the same for morphological and molecular identification; however, we still found different species identifications between the two methods. Other notable findings include the discovery of multiple cryptic species within Terebellides sp., Pontoporeia femorata, Onisimus litoralis, and Micronephthys minuta, as well as the first published sequences for Acanthostepheia incarinata, Haliclona gracilis, Onisimus affinis, and Saduria sibirica. Our results highlight the extent to which morphology-based surveys underestimate invertebrate diversity in Arctic ecosystems and underscore the need for comprehensive surveys and molecular reference databases to support future molecular-based biodiversity monitoring in this rapidly changing region.

Smoke flies (Diptera: Platypezidae: Microsania) are among the most specialized pyrophilic insects, exhibiting a strong and rapid reaction to smoke. Although their attraction to smoke has been known for a century worldwide, their immature stages and breeding habitat remained undiscovered. We hand-netted smoke flies at seven prescribed forest burns in boreal Finland between 2022 and 2024 and took soil samples in 2026. Smoke fly swarming and reproductive behaviour was observed at all burn sites. We obtained smoke flies of five out of the six Finnish species, with Microsania pallipes dominating (94%). Following the behavioural observations at burn sites, we later screened soil samples and found larvae identified as Microsania mtDNA COI barcodes in the burnt soil. We provide a first description of the larva of Microsania straeleni (Microsaniinae). Our discovery of the larval habitat in burnt soil resolved the long-standing knowledge gap on smoke fly breeding sites. The morphological characteristics of the immature stages will help elucidate the phylogenetic placement of the Microsaniinae within the Platypezoidea lineage.

Brine flies of the genus Ephydra (Diptera: Ephydridae) are ubiquitous extremophile animals whose larval forms are able to thrive in high-stress environments, including hypersaline and high carbonate waters. Despite their historical and ecological importance, little is known about their evolutionary history. Here, we focus on an understudied population of Ephydra living in former industrial salt evaporation ponds of the San Francisco Bay Area (SFBA), a region which has undergone significant environmental changes in the past century. We observed and collected Ephydra specimens and took salinity measurements of waters they inhabited during a 6-month period in 2024. We found that E. millbrae and E. gracilis demonstrate strong salinity preferences. We also analyzed DNA from Ephydra spp. specimens from distant sites and a timespan of ~40 years, generating the most comprehensive gene genealogy of the group to date based on a single mitochondrial locus. Our analysis of phylogenetic signals suggests that salinity envelopes are influenced by evolutionary relationships in Ephydra. This study provides new information about the natural history of extremophile flies in the SFBA and fills in current gaps in our knowledge about the evolutionary history of the genus more broadly.

The spiraling tooth of the narwhal (Monodon monoceros) has long intrigued scientists, but the growth rates of its "tusk" are poorly constrained due to the difficulty to age narwhal. To learn more about the population dynamics and life history of this exploited species, previous studies have used sectioned teeth to age narwhals and calibrate other ageing methods based on aspartic acid racemization, radiocarbon or trace element analysis. However, few such studies have been conducted due to the method's difficulty and the need to sacrifice the tooth. In this study, computed tomography (CT) was used on five teeth as a non-destructive means of estimating the age of narwhals, revealing different growth rates between erupted and embedded teeth during adolescence. Moreover, in combination with our reanalysis of all relevant literature, CT data clarify the annual growth rates of narwhal tusks, which peak before the age of 10 (~100 mm yr-1). This approach will be useful for investigating private and museum collections, and might also better constrain the use of trace element proxies in narwhal teeth and support sustainable harvest management.

Hydrozoa is a group of relatively simple animals with a well-developed nervous system. The nervous system in all hydrozoan medusae is highly conserved and includes outer and inner nerve rings at the bell margin, a neural network in the manubrium, and radial neural pathways that connect them. However, one element of the nervous system shows substantial variability among species: the subumbrella neural network. We examined the structure of the nervous and muscular systems in the subumbrella of 14 species of hydrozoan medusae. The main conclusion of this study is that the distribution of neural networks in the subumbrella strongly correlates with the distribution of smooth radial muscles. This correlation suggests that smooth radial muscles are the primary target of the subumbrella nervous system. Most species in the order Anthoathecata show a trend toward secondary loss of the neural networks and radial smooth muscle fibers in the subumbrella region, concentrating neural elements and smooth muscles only in the radial pathways along the radial canals. By contrast, all studied species in the order Leptothecata have neural networks in the subumbrella area, as well as radial smooth muscle fibers spread throughout the entire subumbrella region. The correlation between radial smooth muscles and the nervous system is also observed in the radial pathways along the radial canals. All species with thick bundles of smooth radial muscles along the radial canals have clearly defined, dense neural pathways running along or even embedded within the smooth muscle bundles.

Data on the diversity, relative abundance and distribution of the ichthyofauna of Namibia's only marine protected area, the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area (NIMPA), are limited and there is no active monitoring programme in place. Generating a baseline for these species is essential to inform management plans and policy. Baited remote underwater video system (BRUVs) surveys were conducted between 2022 and 2024 in the central eastern NIMPA. Data from 114 BRUVs samples, collected in water less than 45 m deep, were analysed in this study. Of the 17 fish species recorded, five were elasmobranchs, and three fish species - Galeorhinus galeus (CR), Notorynchus cepedianus (VU) and Argyrosomus inodorus (VU) - are classified as threatened on the IUCN Red List. The most frequently recorded elasmobranch, Haploblepharus pictus, was ubiquitous and typified all habitat types and depth categories. The most frequently recorded actinopterygian fish (Clinus spp.) was sighted at 37% of sites. Depth was an important predictor of fish species abundance and community composition, but habitat was not. Both ichthyofaunal relative abundance and diversity appeared lower than in similar surveys in neighbouring South Africa and other temperate waters. Future research should aim to identify the drivers of the observed patterns. The findings provide an important baseline for long-term monitoring of the NIMPA, necessary to better describe biodiversity and inform the development of management strategies.

Mesozooplankton is a vital component of pelagic food webs, serving as a key trophic link between primary producers and higher marine organisms, and driving coastal and oceanic biogeochemical cycles. This study investigated the abundance, biovolume, community structure, and spatial distribution of mesozooplankton in relation to hydrographic variables in the Northeastern Arabian Sea (NEAS 15{whitebullet}N - 21{whitebullet}N) during the Spring Intermonsoon (March 2019) on board FORV Sagar Sampada. Sampling across 14 stations comparing coastal (> 50 m) and oceanic (< 1000 m) waters revealed distinct environmental gradients. Both Sea Surface Temperature (SST: 24.33{whitebullet}C - 28.68{whitebullet}C) and Sea Surface Salinity (SSS: 35.25 - 36.65) exhibited a declining trend toward northern latitudes, whereas Dissolved Oxygen (DO: 4.55 - 5.24 ml * L-1) increased northward. Chlorophyll concentrations were significantly higher in coastal regions (mean 1.45 mg * m-3) than in oceanic waters (mean 0.36 mg * m-3). Correspondingly, mesozooplankton biovolume (excluding large gelatinous taxa) was threefold higher in coastal waters (mean 1.39 mL * m-3) compared to oceanic waters (mean 0.38 mL * m-3). Mean numerical abundance was also higher coastally (605 ind. * m-3) than oceanically (524 ind. * m-3). A total of 21 mesozooplankton taxa were identified. Copepods dominated the community structure across both regimes (coastal: 61.07%; oceanic: 56.69%). In coastal waters, Chaetognatha (14.76%), Cladocera (9.39%), and Decapod larvae (5.69%) were the secondary drivers, with localised salp and siphonophore swarms observed at 17{whitebullet} - 19{whitebullet}N. In oceanic waters, Ostracoda (22.93%) and Salpidae (12.51%) were major secondary contributors. These results indicate that during the Spring Intermonsoon, the NEAS exhibits moderate productivity representative of a receding winter cooling regime.

Ardisia mela is formally described from the forests of the Crystal Mts, Gabon based on a specimen collected in 1968 and informally described in 1979 by Taton as Species 2. Despite the proximity of the collection to a road, and a resurgence of botanical surveys in the Crystal Mts in recent years, the species appears not to have been refound, and as it occurs in a logging concession and areas of cleared forest can be seen in the vicinity of the collection site, the species is considered threatened and provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered using the 2012 IUCN standard.

University campuses function as important refugia for biodiversity within an increasingly urbanizing landscape. Magadh University (MU) is among the oldest universities of Bihar, India, located in Bodh Gaya, a place of spiritual tourism, near a UNESCO heritage site. The campus hosts a mosaic of heterogeneous habitats, rich vegetation and dense canopy cover along with varied range of anthropogenic interferences. This study mainly focusses on measuring the alpha diversity of avifaunal species and persistence across four seasons from July 2025 to June 2026 at MU. A total of 78 bird species belonging to 41 families and 16 orders were recorded using a combination of point count, line transect and acoustic monitoring. The study revealed that the order Passeriformes was the most species-rich (47.44%). Muscicapidae was the most species-rich family (6 species). Relatively high Shannon diversity (H') = 3.278, low Simpson's dominance (D = 0.062) and a high Pielou's evenness (J) = 0.751 indicated the avian community was distributed across diverse assemblage. Species richness estimates from Chao1 (78.5), iChao1 (79.02) and ACE (79.53) were comparable to recorded 78 species, indicating sampling completeness. Observed species were further classified into five major feeding guilds, majority of which were insectivorous species. 77 of the observed species were classified as Least Concern while Coracias benghalensis was categorized as Near Threatened. These findings demonstrate that the MU campus supports significant taxonomic, functional and temporal avian assemblage, highlighting the conservation values of the campus landscapes within rapidly urbanizing regions.

Monogenean ectoparasites, particularly Neobenedenia species, cause severe economic losses in mariculture. Here, ectoparasites isolated from cultured hybrid groupers (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus[female] x E. lanceolatus[male]) were confirmed as Neobenedenia melleni based on ITS1 phylogeny. In vivo screening of six structurally diverse compounds identified compound D (CAS No. 206111-37-7), a 5,6-dihydropyridine derivative, as the most effective antiparasitic agent, achieving 76.54% efficacy at 0.5 mg/L in a 90 min bath treatment. Dose-response assays demonstrated that 0.7 mg/L compound D achieved 95.23% antiparasitic efficacy without causing evident tissue damage or cytotoxicity to GF-1 cells. Ultrastructural observation by scanning electron microscopy revealed marked tegumental alterations, including deep fissures and extensive surface folding, in treated parasites. Molecular docking against ten candidate proteins identified {beta}-tubulin as the most favorable docking target, with a binding energy of -6.53 kcal/mol and three hydrogen-bond interactions, suggesting that {beta}-tubulin may be involved in the antiparasitic activity of compound D. Overall, these findings highlight compound D as a promising lead candidate for short-bath therapy against N. melleni and suggest that cytoskeletal disruption through {beta}-tubulin interaction represents a plausible mechanism of action.

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is one of the most dangerous palm pests worldwide. Here we report the invasion process of R. ferrugineus in Uruguay. Beyond morphological and molecular identification, we infer the geographic origin of the invasive population, describe the succession of introduced and native palms attacked, provide an easy-to-use key to differentiate the invader R. ferrugineus from the native Rhynchophorus palmarum, and model the ecological niche of R. ferrugineus in Uruguay and neighboring countries. First detected in 2022, the Uruguayan population of the weevil is the first to establish on mainland America, following the earlier island records from Curacao and Aruba. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Uruguayan R. ferrugineus sequences clustered within a single clade, most closely related to sequences from southern China, and clearly distinct from the sequences of Curacao and Aruba, indicating at least two independent introduction events into the Americas from different source regions. After four years, R. ferrugineus has spread across an area of nearly 80,000 square kilometers and in January 2026 it reached Argentina, invading two points near the border with Uruguay. Over the first two years after the invasion, attacks focused on Phoenix canariensis, yet the three most common native palms in Uruguay, Butia odorata, Butia yatay, and Syagrus romanzoffiana, are currently being attacked. The diagnostic key to differentiate the pair R. palmarum / R. ferrugineus is based on three characters: the tip of the rostrum, the tegminal plate, and the ratio between the interocular space and the width of the rostrum at the base. Niche models showed that Uruguay and the neighboring areas of Argentina and Brazil are suitable for R. ferrugineus, and these are precisely the areas where both the highly susceptible P. canariensis and the native B. odorata, B. yatay, and S. romanzoffiana are present. Neighboring countries should therefore be prepared for the expansion of R. ferrugineus in the short term.

The global expansion of Black Soldier Fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens (L.), production systems for organic waste management has increased the need to better understand its reproductive biology in order to optimize mass-rearing programs. In this study, we macroscopically characterized chronological morphological changes in the internal genitalia of adult H. illucens reared on a sustainable alternative larval diet based on coffee pulp and corn bran. Morphological assessments and dissections were conducted on female and male reproductive tracts at 3, 6, and 9 days after adult emergence. Overall, the general organization of both reproductive systems was consistent with previous descriptions. A notable observation was the presence of a tripartite fertilization chamber in females, composed of three distinct compartments apparently associated with the three spermathecae. The functional significance of this anatomical organization remains to be determined. Females showed progressively advanced ovarian development and reached the clearest morphological indicators of reproductive maturity at 9 days, while males showed the greatest testicular distention and opacity at the same age. Compared with maturation times reported in previous studies using conventional larval diets, these observations suggest a later pattern of reproductive maturation under the coffee pulp-based diet. The observed differences may be associated with the nutritional composition and carbohydrate-to-protein balance of the larval diet. These results provide chronological and iconographic information that may contribute to the optimization of laboratory rearing protocols and the use of coffee by-products in H. illucens bioconversion systems.

Phylogeny and taxonomy are related but not identical: phylogeny estimates common ancestry, whereas taxonomy must also provide diagnosable, stable, informative, and useful classifications. We examine this distinction using turtle and whale barnacles of the superfamily Coronuloidea, a group with an extensive fossil record, marked ecological specialization, a long history of morphology-based classification, and a recent topology-driven reclassification that merged recognized higher taxa to preserve monophyly. These changes reduced diagnosability and biological coherence, weakened historical continuity, and relied on placements insufficiently tested against morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Our reanalysis of published molecular datasets shows that critical relationships are sensitive to marker composition and taxon sampling. Together with morphological considerations on extant and fossil forms, these results indicate that topology alone is insufficient for coherent higher classification. We argue that higher taxa should be evaluated using complementary criteria: diagnosability, stability, utility, and monophyly, rather than by mechanically translating a preferred tree into Linnaean ranks.