Description Of New Taxa Research Articles

Systematic revision of the freshwater snailMargarya Nevill, 1877 (Mollusca: Viviparidae) endemic to the ancient lakes of Yunnan, China, with description of new taxa

The systematics of the viviparid freshwater snail genus Margarya endemic to the ancient lakes of Yunnan, China, is revised based on comparative analyses of morphological features, including shell, operculum, radula, and genital anatomy, and molecular phylogenetic analyses of partial sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA (16S) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes, as well as the nuclear Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2). The taxonomic utility of key anatomical and morphological features in this group is evaluated. The genus Margarya as delimited previously is split into three genera in order to retain monophyletic taxa: (1) Margaryas.s., consisting of four species, i.e. the type species Margarya melanioides plus Margaryafrancheti, Margaryaoxytropoides, and Margaryamonodi; (2) the previously introduced subgenus Tchangmargarya is elevated to an independent genus containing two species, Tchangmargarya yangtsunghaiensis and the new species Tchangmargarya multilabiata sp. nov.; and (3) a new genus, Anularya gen. nov., is described, also containing two species, i.e. Anularya mansuyi and Anularya bicostata. Molecular phylogenies based on analyses of three gene fragments have identical topologies, supporting the monophyly of these genera. The sister group of Margarya s.s. is Cipangopaludina, whereas the sister group of Anularya is Sinotaia; Tchangmargarya is sister to a clade containing all the aforementioned groups. Features of the operculum and the right male tentacle (penis) are particularly informative on the generic level, whereas shell and radular characters are especially useful to differentiate species. The phylogenetic relationships recovered here are consistent with orogenic patterns of the Yunnan Mountains. Changes in the river system and water area of ancient lakes caused by tectonic activities probably play an important role in speciation and shaping the current pattern of species distribution in Yunnan.

<p><strong>Zoological nomina in the century of extinctions: new proposals</strong></p>

The taxonomic urgency, caused by the combination of the taxonomic gap (wide incompleteness of the taxonomic inventory of living beings on earth) and the biodiversity crisis (major threats of extinction on a large part of the current biodiversity) imposes heavy responsibilities on the scientific community of biologists and particularly of taxonomists. In order to become more efficient in the work of description and naming of the species and other taxa, some changes in traditional working practices should be implemented. Among them, a simplification and standardisation of some nomenclatural Rules and practices, and in particular of the way of writing the scientific names of taxa (nomina) should be considered. Although traditionally considered important, authorship plays no role in the implementation of the nomenclatural Rules concerning availability, allocation and validity of nomina, and the traditional emphasis put on authorship in nomenclature plays in fact a negative role in taxonomy. Removing the names of authors, but not the date, from the nominal-complex by which each taxon is designated would de-emphasise the role of authorship in nomenclature. It would reduce the burden of nomenclatural taxonomic inflation and synonymy load due to nomenclatural mihilim and unwarranted descriptions of new taxa that will later have to be treated as synonyms. Other proposals regarding the standards and length of writing nominal-complexes in publications are offered, which should be beneficial not only to scientific publications using nomina of taxa, but also to the computerisation of nomenclatural information and its electronic diffusion. These proposed changes, some of which are drastic, should not be implemented at once, but in several steps, in order to be progressively adopted by the community of taxonomists.

Comments on Triassic pterosaurs with discussion about ontogeny and description of new taxa.

Eudimorphodon ranzii was the first Triassic pterosaur to be described and several specimens have been referred to this taxon mainly based on the presence of multicuspid teeth. Since this dental feature has been observed in several other pterosaurs, the revision of some specimens assigned to Eudimorphodon shows that they represent new taxa as follows: Arcticodactylus cromptonellus (comb. nov.), Austriadraco dallavecchiai (gen. et sp. nov.) and Bergamodactylus wildi (gen. et sp. nov.). A preliminary analysis of pterosaur ontogeny resulted in the recognition of six distinct ontogenetic stages (OS1-6). According to this classification, the holotype of Arcticodactylus cromptonellus has reached OS2, and although being ontogenetically much younger than others, the conspicuous anatomical differences lead to its exclusion from Eudimorphodon. The holotypes of Austriadraco dallavecchiai, Bergamodactylus wildi and Carniadactylus rosenfeldi have reached at least OS5, which demonstrates that the anatomical differences among them cannot be explained by ontogeny. Moreover, Bergamodactylus wildi reaches about 60% of the maximized wingspan of Carniadactylus rosenfeldi and further concurs that these specimens collected in distinct Triassic Islands of Europe are not conspecific. The present study increases the diversity of Triassic flying reptiles and further pushes the origins of this clade back to at least the Middle Triassic.

Phalangopsidae crickets from Tropical Africa (Orthoptera, Grylloidea), with descriptions of new taxa and an identification key for African genera.

New Phalangopsidae crickets are described from tropical Africa, including three new genera and ten new species: Afrophaloria Desutter-Grandcolas, n.gen., Afrophaloria amani Desutter-Grandcolas, n. sp., type species, Afrophaloria apiariensis Desutter-Grandcolas, n. sp., Afrophaloria hempae Desutter-Grandcolas, n. sp., Kameruloria gabonensis Desutter-Grandcolas, n. sp., Kameruloria nigricornis Desutter-Grandcolas, n. sp., Kameruloria trimaculata Desutter-Grandcolas, n. sp., Paragryllodes amani Desutter-Grandcolas, n. sp., Phasmagryllus Desutter-Grandcolas, n.gen., Phasmagryllus elegans Desutter-Grandcolas, n. sp., type species, Upupagryllus Desutter-Grandcolas, n.gen., Upupagryllus subalatus Desutter-Grandcolas, n. sp., type species, and Upupagryllus alatus Desutter-Grandcolas, n. sp. All these taxa, except Paragryllodes amani Desutter-Grandcolas, n. sp., belong to the subfamily Phaloriinae. The subfamily is redefined, to take into account their morphological (apterous taxa) and ecological (straminicolous taxa) diversity. A key for phalangopsid African genera is proposed, and the status of Larandeicus Chopard, 1937 briefly discussed.

Annotated checklist of brachyuran crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda) of the Iberian Peninsula (SW Europe)

Almost 50 years have passed since a group of reputed carcinologists (viz. Lipke B. Holthuis, Isabella Gordon and Jacques Forest) finished the posthumous work of Ricardo Zariquiey Alvarez (1968) on decapod crustaceans of the Iberian Peninsula. No lists of decapod fauna specifically covering this area have been published since then, and an update is needed. The current list of brachyuran crabs of the Iberian Peninsula comprises 140 species, which is 35 species more than the 105 valid species listed in Zariquiey Alvarez (1968). Systematic changes have affected the original classification, so now there are 20 superfamilies, 36 families and 77 genera. Additional species have been recorded in Iberian waters due to natural range expansions from nearby areas (Mediterranean and Atlantic), introductions by anthropogenic activities, and description of new taxa. Also, two species were synonymized. Several of these changes, based on evidence from larval morphology and/ or molecular data, are detailed in this review. Although descriptions of crab species new to science are not expected to occur at a significant rate, an increase in the number of species in the Iberian Peninsula is expected to result from the introduction of alien species.

A review of the scopelocheirid amphipods (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Lysianassoidea), with the description of new taxa from Australian waters

Scopelocheiridae is a small family of scavenging lysianassoid amphipods. There is a distinct shallow water group (Scopelocheirinaesubfam. n.) and a distinct deep-sea group (Paracallisominaesubfam. n.). We catalogue three genera and eight species in the scopelocheirines and move Scopelocheirus onagawae Takekawa & Ishimaru, 2000 to the genus Aroui. The deep-sea paracallisomines are not often collected and consequently their morphological diversity is not well understood. We catalogue seven genera and 15 species. We provide diagnostic descriptions and a key to all genera in the Scopelocheiridae. We describe two new genera, Austrocallisoma gen. n. and Tayabasa gen. n., and three new species from Australian waters, Austrocallisoma jerryi sp. n., Paracallisoma woolgoolga sp. n. and P. zivianii sp. n.

New fossil bird remains from the Chichinales Formation (Early Miocene) of northern Patagonia, Argentina

Here we describe isolated avian remains coming from the Chichinales Formation, at the Paso Córdoba locality, Río Negro province, Patagonia, Argentina. Present report constitutes the first analysis of an Early Miocene bird association in South America outside the Santa Cruz and Chubut provinces, and one of the scarce reports of avian remains for the Colhuehuapian SALMA. The remains represent a new genus and species of phorusrhacid (Patagorhacos terrificus gen. et sp. nov.), a new species of rheid (Opisthodactylus horacioperezi sp. nov.), and an indeterminate charadriiform. Although different in composition, the presence and relative abundance of rheids and phorusrhacids is a pattern that is also present in other Early Miocene Patagonian assemblages, especially those from the Santacrucian SALMA. In spite of such similarities, the description of new taxa indicates that the Chichinales faunas were different to some degree from other Early Miocene bird assemblages.

Review of the genus Abiskomyia Edwards (Diptera: Chironomidae:Orthocladiinae), with description of new taxa from the Russian Far East and bordering territories.

A systematic review of the genus Abiskomyia Edwards, 1937 is presented based on materials from the Russian Far East and bordering territories. Three new species: A. korbokhon sp. nov., A. levanidovi sp. nov., A. rivalis sp. nov. and one subspecies A. virgo orientalis subsp. nov. are described and figured. Emended generic diagnoses and keys to determination of adult males, pupae and fourth instar larvae of all known species and subspecies of the Abiskomyia of the Palaearctic region are provided.

Повышение ранга подсемейства Eremazinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Scarabaeidae) с описанием новых таксонов из мезозоя Китая

Повышение ранга подсемейства Eremazinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Scarabaeidae) с описанием новых таксонов из мезозоя Китая

Annotated catalogue of Australian weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea)

This catalogue presents the first-ever complete inventory of all described taxa of Australian weevils, including both valid and invalid names. The geographical scope spans mainland Australia and its continental islands as well as the subantarctic Heard and McDonald Islands, the Pacific Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands and the Indian-Ocean Christmas Island. 4111 species in 832 genera (including one extinct species and one fossil) are recognised as occurring in this territory, distributed over seven families, 20 subfamilies and 94 tribes. The families and subfamilies are arranged in a currently accepted phylogenetic sequence but the tribes, genera and species in alphabetical order. Introductory chapters outline the discovery and composition of the Australian weevil fauna, the burden of synonymy, the format and conventions of the catalogue and the taxonomic and nomenclatural changes proposed. Sixteen new genera and six new species are described, two new names and 25 new generic and 72 new species synonymies and 189 new combinations are proposed and 46 type species designations are effected. The records of 356 taxa are annotated to justify or explain various taxonomic and nomenclatural acts and issues, covering descriptions of new taxa, new synonymies and generic combinations, artificial taxon concepts, changes in classification and a number of nomenclatural matters. The catalogue of the taxa present in Australia is followed by a list of 19 species incorrectly recorded from Australia or introduced as biocontrol agents but not established, and by one species inquirenda. All these records are also annotated. Two appendices list the 102 species introduced into Australia, both accidental and deliberate (as weed control agents). A bibliography with full references of all original descriptions and pertinent other citations from the literature is provided, and an index to all names concludes the catalogue.

Annotated check-list of the genera of fossil land
 snails (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora) of western and central Europe
 (Cretaceous – Pliocene), with description of new taxa

Annotated check-list of the genera of fossil land
 snails (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora) of western and central Europe
 (Cretaceous – Pliocene), with description of new taxa

Annotated check-list of the genera of fossil land snails (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora) of western and central Europe (Cretaceous – Pliocene), with description of new taxa

Annotated check-list of the genera of fossil land snails (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora) of western and central Europe (Cretaceous – Pliocene), with description of new taxa

DNA as genetic material and as a nutrient in halophilic Archaea.

DNA as genetic material and as a nutrient in halophilic Archaea.

Molecular phylogenetics and comparative anatomy of Kimberleytrachia Köhler, 2011 – a genus of land snail endemic to the coastal Kimberley, Western Australia with description of new taxa (Gastropoda, Camaenidae)

Kimberleytrachia Köhler, 2011 is a genus of camaenid land snail endemic to the Western Australian Kimberley region. It comprises twelve previously recognised species, all of which occur within the high precipitation zone along the north-western coast between the Admiralty Gulf and King Sound and within less than about 50 km distance from the coast. By evaluating the variation in shell and genital anatomy as well as the differentiation in the mitochondrial markers 16S and COI, we assess the monophyly of Kimberleytrachia with respect to other camaenid genera from north-western Australia. In addition, we newly describe six species (K. jacksonensis n. sp., K. leopardus n. sp., K. nelsonensis n. sp., K. serrata n. sp., K. setosa n. sp. and K. silvaepluvialis n. sp.) based on comparative morphology and mitochondrial DNA differentiation. We found that a rather smooth, weakly elevated shell and, in particular, the complex penial anatomy are key morphological characteristics of Kimberleytrachia. Its constituent species are differentiated by a combination of shell and genital features and their morphological disparity appears to be more pronounced when species occur in sympatry. While island species are usually narrowly endemic to one or a few islands, the mainland species have much larger distributional ranges. One new species from the Maret and Berthier Islands, Bonaparte Archipelago, is phylogenetically and morphologically so distinct from Kimberleytrachia that it is recognized as a new monotypic genus, Succochlea n. gen.

On the taxonomy of the tribe Pisachini (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Nogodinidae) with the description of new taxa from China and Vietnam.

Goniopsarites gen. nov. is described from China in the tribe Pisachini with G. fronticonvexus sp. nov. as the type species. The genus Pisacha is revised, four new species P. yinggensis sp. nov., P. baculiformis sp. nov., P. falcata sp. nov., P. balteiformis sp. nov. are described, and P. encaustica (Jacobi, 1916) comb. nov. & stat. rev. is reestablished which has been treated as P. naga according to specimens from Taiwan. Identification keys to three genera of the tribe Pisachini and to all species of Pisacha are presented.

Strategic taxonomy in a biodiverse landscape: a novel approach to maximizing conservation outcomes for rare and poorly known flora

In the face of escalating threats to the world’s biodiversity, there is a pressing need for accelerated taxonomic effort to better inform conservation planning and decision making, particularly in areas of exceptional species richness. We present a novel perspective on setting taxonomic research priorities and expediting the description of new taxa based on our experience in the biodiversity-rich state of Western Australia, which has a current known taxonomic backlog of 1,470 undescribed vascular plant taxa, a significant proportion of which are regarded as being of conservation concern. Biodiversity surveys associated with a mineral resources boom have led to the discovery of many new taxa, and have increased demand for reliable taxonomic information and better knowledge of rare and threatened taxa. In direct response to this, we developed a strategic taxonomy initiative to expedite the taxonomic description of species of conservation concern, particularly those that could be susceptible to mining activities. Over the six years of the initiative, 154 new taxa from 23 families and 45 genera were formally described, 86 % of which occur in areas subject to resource development or are otherwise of conservation concern. In addition, conservation assessments conducted on both newly described and newly discovered taxa resulted in the addition of 155 taxa to the Threatened and Priority Flora list for Western Australia. Whilst this initiative resulted in significant biodiversity conservation outcomes, promoted collaborations and built taxonomic capacity, there were inherent drawbacks to this targeted approach. An approach that combines strategic, high-throughput taxonomy with longer-term revisionary research is necessary to effectively reduce the taxonomic backlog in species-rich regions with incomplete taxonomic inventories.

On cockroaches of the subfamily Epilamprinae (Dictyoptera: Blaberidae) from South India and Sri Lanka, with descriptions of new taxa.

The new genus Indoapterolampra, gen. nov. and two new species (I. rugosiuscula sp. nov. and Morphna lucida sp. nov.) are described. Rhabdoblatta praecipua (Walker, 1868) is removed from the synonymy with 'Polyzosteria' terranea Walker, 1868. The latter species is considered Epilamprinae gen. sp. The lectotype of Phoraspis (Thorax) porcellana Saussure, 1862 is designated. A key for the genera of Epilamprinae from South India and Sri Lanka is provided. Detailed morphological descriptions of the studied taxa are given. The structure of the male genitalia of I. rugosiuscula sp. nov., M. lucida sp. nov., M. plana (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865), M. decolyi (Bolivar, 1897) and R. praecipua and that of the female genital complex of M. decolyi, P. (T.) porcellana and Phlebonotus anomalus (Saussure, 1863) are described for the first time. Some aspects of the cockroach evolution are briefly discussed.

The genus Albinaria Vest in Turkey, especially the species from coastal S. W. Anatolia with adjacent Greek islands, with the description of new taxa (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Clausiliidae)

The genus Albinaria Vest in Turkey, especially the species from coastal S. W. Anatolia with adjacent Greek islands, with the description of new taxa (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Clausiliidae)

The family Nicoletiidae in the Canary Islands, with description of new taxa (Insecta: Zygentoma)

The knowledge of the family Nicoletiidae in the Canary Islands was limited to two reports of Proatelurina pseudolepisma (Grassi, 1887), a species which belongs to the subfamily Atelurinae. This study provides new data on the occurrence of representatives of Nicoletiidae on these islands and descriptions of two endemic troglobic taxa: Canariletia holosterna gen. n. et sp. n., from the island of Gran Canaria, and Coletinia majorensis sp. n., found in Fuerteventura. The latter belongs to a group of species whose males have asymmetric antennae, so it is compared with those Coletinia of this group. Canariletia gen. n. shows a unique combination of characters inside Nicoletiidae, so its position within this family is discussed, considering the new genus as incertae sedis, but probably related to the Palaearctic and Afrotropical genera included in the subfamily Coletiniinae sensu Mendes, 1988.

Taxonomic Review of the Goblin Spiders of the GenusDysderoidesFage and Their Himalayan Relatives of the GeneraTrilacunaTong and Li andHimalayana, New Genus (Araneae: Oonopidae)

The study of many museum specimens of goblin spiders from the Himalayan range and neighboring countries allows for the description of new taxa of the family Oonopidae. The genus Dysderoides Fage is taxonomically reviewed. It comprises small, blind, loricate troglobitic spiders: the type species (D. typhlos Fage, from India) and at least five new species from northern India (D. synrang Grismado and Deeleman) and Thailand (D. muang Grismado and Deeleman, D. kaew Grismado and Deeleman, D. kanoi Grismado and Deeleman, and D. lawa Grismado and Deeleman). The genus Trilacuna, previously known from China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Sumatra, is newly diagnosed by the loss of the furrow connecting the posterior spiracles in males, and is represented in the Himalayan region by seven species: T. aenobarba (Brignoli), from Bhutan (here transferred from Epectris Simon), and six new: four from northern India (T. meghalaya Grismado and Piacentini, T. besucheti Grismado and Piacentini, T. mahanadi Grismado and Piacentini, and T. loebli Grismado and Piacentini), one from India and Nepal (T. bangla Grismado and Ramírez), and one from Pakistan (T. hazara Grismado and Ramírez). The new genus Himalayana Grismado comprises species very similar to those of Trilacuna, but differs in the characters of the postepigastric scuta and by having an additional acute dorso-prolateral projection on the male palpi. Six new species are assigned to Himalayana: H. kathmandu Grismado (type species), H. castanopsis Grismado, H. parbat Grismado, and H. martensi Grismado (all from Nepal); and H. siliwalae Grismado and H. andreae Grismado (from India). The study of the internal female genitalia of T. meghalaya and T. bangla revealed a complex copulatory system, and an entelegyne condition, apparently uniform for the entire genus and probably for Dysderoides and Himalayana as well. The males of the three genera have a complex set of paraembolic laminae with brushes of filiform structures, among which discharges a gland through a thin, tortuous cuticular tube. The genitalic and somatic morphology of the three genera suggest that they conform a monophyletic group, here named “Dysderoides complex,” and that their closer relatives can be found among Prethopalpus Baehr et al., and other genera related to Silhouettella Benoit. The loss of the membranous diagonal area on the base of the anterior lateral spinnerets is proposed as a synapomorphy of an advanced group of loricatae oonopids usually referred as gamasomorphines. Furthermore Triaeris glenniei Fage, described from a single female from a cave in Uttarakhand, is redescribed and transferred to Camptoscaphiella Caporiacco.