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Longevity in salamandrid newts – a rule, not an exception? Verified cases of Japanese Fire-bellied Newts (Cynops pyrrhogaster) reaching a lifespan of more than 40 years

We report on verified cases of longevity in the Japanese Fire-bellied Newt Cynops pyrrhogaster. Two individuals obtained as adults in 1978 died in July 2008 and November 2017, resulting in an individual minimum lifespan of 33 and 42 years, respectively, possibly even longer. Another four individuals of C. pyrrhogaster were received in 1975 and living now for more than 47 years, with two individuals received as adults likely having reached a lifespan of 50 years already. Another adult male C. pyrrhogaster was obtained in 1991 and died in 2022 at an accordingly estimated age of >34 years. Previously reported lifespans for C. pyrrhogaster in human care were 20-25 years, with only a single report of 40 years. However, other species of Cynops and Hypselotriton are also apparently long-lived, such as H. cyanurus chuxiongensis (25 years), H. orientalis (32 years), and C. ensicauda (43 years). With these documented cases, the lifespan of Fire-bellied Newts is exceeded only by few other species of Caudata, such as Andrias japonicus (70 years), Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, Salamandra salamandra (>50 years), and Proteus anguis (100 years). Our report thus indicates that decades-long lifespans in salamandrid newts, viz. substantial longevity, might be rather common and could be considered a rule, not an exception.

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New records, taxonomic notes, descriptions and redescriptions of some uncommon thecate hydroids (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Leptothecata)

The present report provides new records, taxonomic notes, descriptions and redescriptions of several species of lesser-known thecate hydroids. Five species belong to the family Sertularellidae Maronna et al., 2016, one to the Syntheciidae Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1890, and one to the Aglaopheniidae Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1890. Type material of Sertularella conica Allman, 1877 was re-examined, and a modern redescription is provided, together with notes on its problematic synonymy that now includes S. gayi unituba Calder, 1991. Fertile specimens of S. inconstans Billard, 1919 are rediscovered, and its synonymy is broadened through the inclusion of S. natalensis Millard, 1968. A new species, S. malagasiensis sp. nov., is described from the south of Madagascar. Sertularia exigua/laxa Allman, 1888, a hydroid assignable to the genus Sertularella Gray, 1848, is found to have both primary and secondary homonyms; its taxonomy is discussed, and the replacement name S. mutatnomen nom. nov. is introduced for it. Sertularella pellucida Jäderholm, 1907 is recorded for the first time from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, outside its previously-known main area of occurrence, in the Arctic Ocean. The sexually-dimorphic gonothecae of Synthecium brucei Vervoort & Watson, 2003 are described for the first time. Halicornaria setosa Armstrong, 1879 is rediscovered in material from the Red Sea, and the binomen is removed from the synonymy of Taxella eximia Allman, 1874, while transferring it to the genus Taxella Allman, 1874, as T. setosa comb. nov., on the account of its gonothecae not protected by phylactocarps.

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