A new species of Pycnothelidae Chamberlin, 1917 from the Pampean mountain ranges, Córdoba, Argentina is described and illustrated: Acanthogonatus monicae sp. nov . Here, we combine morphological analyses, molecular phylogeny based on the COI gene, species delimitation methods (bPTP, ABGD), and ecological niche modeling. These approaches consistently support two independent evolutionary lineages previously assigned to A. centralis Goloboff, 1995. The new species is morphologically similar to A. centralis and A. parana Goloboff, 1995, but differs from both by genitalic characters in males and females. Additionally, an updated identification key for Argentine species of Acanthogonatus is provided.

Two specimens of the genus Tubiluchus (Priapulida) are reported from Cabo Verde, this is the southernmost record in the Eastern Atlantic for this genus. Specimens likely belong to T. lemburgi , a species known from the Canary Islands. There are some minor differences between Cabo Verde and Canary Island populations. For better comparison, the species T. lemburgi and T. corallicola are reinvestigated and characters insufficiently documented in the literature are described. Some taxonomically important characters are clarified, because they have been described using various terms in the literature. A comparison of characters between all described Tubiluchus species identifies several differences, especially in the structure of scalids, buccal papillae and pharyngeal teeth.

In this second addition to the herpetological type catalogue of the Zoological Museum of Hamburg (ZMH), Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, 53 additional newly discovered or newly described type specimens are presented, to expand upon the previously published type catalogues of 1998 and 2006. The species are listed in alphabetical order by family and original binomen or trinomen. References to original descriptions, currently accepted names, and remarks detailing additional information about type status are included. Lectotypes are designated for Leptodactylus kreffti , Epicrates monensis and Hemidactylus brookii haitianus . Currently, the collection contains 397 type specimens of 176 nominal species. Corrections of spelling mistakes and changes of status for some types listed in the previous two type catalogues are given here, in addition to some lost and missing type specimens, which were not recorded in the previous type catalogues.

We scientifically name and describe two new species of spiny frog (Mantellidae: Spinomantis ) from moderately high elevations in Ranomafana National Park, in south-east Madagascar. This region has been surveyed extensively and has a remarkably high anuran diversity with many undocumented species still being regularly discovered. We describe a previously identified candidate species, S. sp. Ca07, as Spinomantis lavabato sp. nov. and a previously undiscovered species from this region as Spinomantis lakolosy sp. nov. . The new species are morphologically cryptic within the S. bertini complex but can be recognized by a combination of subtle differences in coloration such as a lack or weak expression of sharp dorsolateral color border in both species. Bioacoustically, the new species are quite different from other species in the complex: Spinomantis lakolosy sp. nov. has the longest note duration with a powerful-sounding call that rings like a bell, which can be heard over the sound of rushing water in nearby streams; while S. lavabato sp. nov. differs by having the shortest note duration that is quiet and sounds like a trill. Furthermore, both species are substantially diverged in mitochondrial DNA, with pairwise distances in a fragment of the 16S rRNA marker of 7–9% to all other related species. Furthermore, we identify a lineage for future study in the complex from the nearby high-elevation site Andemaka within Ranomafana National Park that has an intermediate sounding advertisement call between the newly described species; although we cannot formally describe this lineage herein due to unavailability of voucher specimens, this lineage emphasizes the unexpectedly high diversity of sympatric species of the S. bertini complex in the Ranomafana area. Additionally, we identify another lineage from Ambahavala in the Anosy Chain with strong mitochondrial divergence for future study. Our findings also highlight the need for continued inventory work in high elevation rainforests of Madagascar, even in relatively well-studied regions such as Ranomafana National Park.

Sri Lanka harbours an exceptionally high diversity of goblin spiders (family Oonopidae), with 45 currently recognised species across 13 genera, of which 38 are endemic. In this study, we present a molecular phylogenetic analysis based on two nuclear ribosomal markers ( 18S and 28S rRNA), incorporating 28 species from eight genera: Aprusia , Brignolia , Ischnothyreus , Opopaea , Orchestina , Pelicinus , Silhouettella , and Xestaspis . These taxa were analysed in the context of the existing global phylogeny, enabling both regional and broader evolutionary comparisons. Our results reveal that several genera, particularly Brignolia , Opopaea , and Ischnothyreus , are paraphyletic, highlighting the need for taxonomic revision. Endemic clades such as Aprusia , Brignolia , and Xestaspis show strong evidence of recent, within-island speciation and microendemism. The genus Orchestina is recovered as monophyletic, with Sri Lankan species forming a distinct clade. The findings support the hypothesis that reduced body sclerotisation is a plesiomorphic trait in oonopids. Overall, the study underscores the exceptional microendemism and evolutionary distinctiveness of Sri Lanka’s oonopid fauna, likely driven by both ecological isolation and in situ speciation. However, given the incomplete representation of Indian and Southeast Asian taxa, and limited molecular sampling, further studies incorporating broader taxon and gene sampling are needed to fully resolve the origins and diversification of this ecologically important spider family.

The five species of Devario in Sri Lanka form a monophyletic insular diversification. Devario memorialis , D. micronema and D. pathirana are specialists that inhabit rainforest foothill streams, while D. altus sp. nov. , is confined to a single montane site (1580 m asl). Finally, D. malabaricus , a generalist species associated with open lentic and lotic habitats, is widely distributed from ~0–1500 m asl. The taxonomy of these species has been handicapped by a high degree of intraspecific phenetic variation. Here we construct a phylogeny of, and haplotype networks for, Sri Lankan Devario using a molecular dataset derived from the cox1 and cytb mitochondrial DNA markers and the rag1 and irdp nuclear DNA markers representative of all five species. We compare the mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies for evidence of discordance, showing that D. malabaricus appears to have hybridized with all the other species, except D. memorialis , in their contact zones. The phenotype of D. malabaricus varies with elevation as a cline, partly converging on the phenotype of D. altus sp. nov. , possibly through introgression with D. altus sp. nov. or adaptation to hill-stream habitats. Through a morphological analysis of 363 voucher specimens representative of all five species, we characterize the species, thereby stabilizing their taxonomy.

The Nicobar Archipelago, a biodiversity hotspot in the Bay of Bengal, harbours several poorly studied and endemic reptile lineages. Several species of snakes from these islands are known to science with just one or a handful of specimens. One such taxon, historically identified as Lycodon subcinctus Boie, 1827, has remained taxonomically unresolved, known only from a single sighting on Great Nicobar Island to date. Recent taxonomic revisions of the L. subcinctus complex enabled us to reassess the status of the population from the Nicobar Islands. Studies suggested that the species is distinct, and a re-examination of museum material and newly collected specimens, combined with molecular analyses, confirms the distinctiveness of the species and is here described as a new species, Lycodon irwini sp. nov. Given its rarity and restriction to Great Nicobar Island, and taking into account potential threats we recommend that the new species be classified as ‘Endangered’ under the IUCN Red List criteria.

Gordius nixussp. nov. is described as a new species from Pakistan. It is the first record of a gordiid nematomorph from Pakistan. It was found on snow, which is unusual for nematomorphs. So far, no further life cycle data or host records can be given. The new species resembles other Gordius species, but is characterized by a dense covering of spines in the anterior body region, which is unique among the genus Gordius.

We describe three new species of Pristimantis frogs from northwestern Peru on the basis of morphological and genetic differences. Pristimantis chinguelassp. nov. is similar in appearance to P. wagteri but it differs by having a longer supratympanic fold, head rounded in profile, groins and posterior surfaces of thighs in a different color pattern. Pristimantis nunezcortezisp. nov. may be confused with P. cryptomelas, but it is differentiable by having heels with a single low tubercle, skin on flanks areolate, and by lacking prominent postorbital ridges. Pristimantis yonkesp. nov. is externally similar to P. morlaco from Ecuador, but can be distinguished by being smaller, having an acuminate snout, oval palmar tubercle and lacking dentigerous processes of vomers. All species inhabit the paramos and adjacent elfin forests of the mountain ridges north of Abra de Porcuya, the lowest east-west pass in the Peruvian Andes. Despite habitat loss being evident in the area, we do not have enough data to assess their conservation status. We suggest all the new species should be placed in the Data Deficient category of the IUCN Red List.

A new species of Hoplias malabaricus species complex is herein described from the Munim River Basin, Maranhão state, Northeastern of Brazil. Hoplias cazumba differs from its congeners by the following combination of characters: 19–22 scales around caudal peduncle, 40–42 lateral-line scales, 39–41 vertebrae, 11–13 dorsal-fin rays and, always 15 caudal-fin rays.