Generic Diagnosis Research Articles

Systematic revision of Gatesona (Crassiclitellata, Lumbricidae), an endemic earthworm genus from the Massif Central (France).

The Massif Central in France could potentially harbor numerous ancient endemic lineages owing to its long history of continuous geological stability. Several endemic earthworm species inhabit the area, with Allolobophora (Gatesona) chaetophora, Helodrilus (Acystodrilus) and Avelona ligra showing hints of a common evolutionary origin. However, the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic status of the species remain to be studied through integrative molecular and morphological methods. To this end, eight species including most of the known species and subspecies of All. (Gatesona), Helodrilus (Acystodrilus) musicus, and Avelona ligra were sequenced for a set of five molecular markers. The species were grouped on the basis of the molecular findings in a phylogenetic framework. All. (Gatesona) was included within the same clade as Helodrilus (Acystodrilus) and Avelona, separated from Allolobophora sensu stricto, supporting its status as a good genus. Branch lengths and average pairwise genetic distances suggested the subspecies of All. (Gatesona) chaetophora examined should be considered species-level taxa. Thus, a generic diagnosis for Gatesona stat. nov. is provided, along with redescriptions of Gatesona chaetophora comb. nov., Gatesona rutena comb. nov. stat. nov., Gatesona lablacherensis comb. nov. stat. nov. and Gatesona serninensis comb. nov. stat. nov. The study findings highlight the need for further sampling of earthworm diversity in the Massif Central (and Southern France), in addition to an increased focus on the Eastern European species of Helodrilus.

Synorthocladiusfedericoi sp. nov., a new species occurring in the middle basin of the Adige River, northern Italy (Diptera, Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae).

An adult male Synorthocladius was collected in the middle basin of the Adige River in the city of Verona, northern Italy. A combination of atypical characters for the genus signalled a new species. Synorthocladiusfedericoisp. nov. is here diagnosed and described. The new species is known only from its type locality and is presumed to be a local biogeographical representative of the Italian Pre-Alps. An emended generic diagnosis, a key to known Synorthocladius from Europe and comments on the taxonomic position of the new species are given.

Dense, continent‐wide, molecular and morphological sampling supports old and new taxa in Australian pentaneurine Tanypodinae (Diptera: Chironomidae)

AbstractThe Chironomidae subfamily Tanypodinae in Australia is subject to continuing study in a global context and contains a mix of endemic and widespread genera. The monophyletic, globally diverse genus Larsia Fittkau has been sampled extensively in all life stages throughout Australia, and from the northern hemisphere and South America. Molecular evidence supports a previously ‘coded’ Australian taxon as its sister group, described here as a new genus, Paralarsia gen. nov., for the single species P. maiwar sp. nov. A shallower and highly sampled Australian cluster allocated to Larsia albiceps Johannsen is redescribed here, substantially conforming to prevailing generic diagnoses in each life stage. The species is common and abundant across Australia, including in ephemeral arid‐zone waters and drainages affected by historic mining. A continent‐wide species for which no cryptic species are revealed by molecular analyses is unusual and counter‐intuitive. Only one morphologically distinctive taxon, from uranium mine‐affected streams in tropical Australia, is recognised as new although in the absence of molecular data: Larsia wakbarrarn sp. nov., based on larva, pupa and pharate adults. Some pupal Larsia from south‐east Asia are differentiated and variation discussed relative to L. albiceps, and some consideration is given to neotropical diversity.

A review of the spider wasp genus Austrosalius Turner, 1917 (Hymenoptera, Pompilidae), with the description of a new species.

The Australasian spider wasp genus Austrosalius Turner, 1917 is reviewed for the first time. The genus comprises three species, of them Austrosalius mikhailovi Loktionov, sp. nov. is described and illustrated, based on female specimens from West Papua Province of Indonesia. The genus Austrosalius is newly reported from the island of New Guinea. The generic diagnosis and a key to the species are given.

Two new species of Scalithrium (Cestoda: Rhinebothriidea) from rajiform batoids of the Argentine Sea.

Two new species of Scalithrium Ball, Neifar Euzet, 2003 were found in rajiform batoids of the Argentine Sea: Scalithrium kirchneri sp. nov., parasite of the Rio skate Rioraja agassizii (Mller Henle) from waters off Buenos Aires Province, and Scalithrium ivanovae sp. nov., parasite of the La Plata skate Atlantoraja platana (Gnther) from waters off Ro Negro Province. Scalithrium kirchneri sp. nov. and S. ivanovae sp. nov. differ from their congeners by having a particular combination of features including: total length, number of loculi on the distal bothridial surface, absence of bilobed bothridia and number of testes. Additionally, S. kirchneri sp. nov. can be distinguished from S. ivanovae sp. nov. by the presence of a vaginal sphincter and seminal receptacle, by the position of the entrance of the vas deferens into the cirrus sac, and by the microthrix pattern on the proximal bothridial surface. Based on this and previous studies, we conclude that some morphological traits may not be considered as key characters for the generic diagnosis of Scalithrium due to their variability within the genus. These characters include the musculature disposition in bothridial transverse septa and position of the entrance of the vas deferens into the cirrus sac, which certainly complement other diagnostic characters at a specific level. The discovery of these two species represents the first record of the genus Scalithrium in temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere. In addition, this study is the first to undoubtedly identify batoids from the order Rajiformes as hosts for Scalithrium.

The Puzzling Falcomurus Mandal (Collembola, Orchesellidae, Heteromurinae): A Review.

Simple SummarySpringtails are tiny microarthropods found mainly in soil habitats around the globe. Falcomurus is a genus of Heteromurinae (Orchesellidae), currently with a single species from India. Here, we revise the genus, transferring Dicranocentrus litoreus Mari-Mutt and D. halophilus Mari-Mutt to Falcomurus and describing two new taxa from marine littoral habitats in Australian archipelagos. We discovered the morphology of Falcomurus is quite similar among its species, but some characters of its chaetotaxy (the distribution and morphology of body chaetae) are useful to clearly separate them from each other.Falcomurus Mandal is currently a monotypic genus of Heteromurinae described from India in 2018. Its key characters are the first antennal segment subdivided, the second undivided and the third annulated; the first abdominal segment lacking macrochaetae; and the presence of a sinuous modified macrochaeta on the proximal dens. Some details of its morphology were recently put in doubt, and so its genus status and affinities remain uncertain. Here, we revise the genus based on the type material of Dicranocentrus litoreus Mari-Mutt, as well as provide the description of two new species from Australian archipelagos and a reinterpretation of the chaetotaxy of Falcomurus chilikaensis Mandal and D. halophilus Mari-Mutt. After our revision, Falcomurus shows a well-conserved chaetotaxy and overall morphology, which allowed us to provide an updated generic diagnosis. While the antennae morphology of Falcomurus resembles that of Dicranocentrus Schött, its dorsal sensillar and macrochaetotaxy suggest it is closely related to Heteromurus Wankel, as originally stated by Mandal. The main features useful to separate Falcomurus species are the head, mesothorax and fourth abdominal segment chaetotaxy. We also provide a key to its five species, a comparative table and notes on the affinities and distribution of Falcomurus.

A third species of the rare ant genus Rotastruma (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Cambodia, with illustrated generic diagnoses and key to species

The myrmicine genus Rotastruma is a rarely collected arboreal ant group and only two species, R. recava Bolton and R. stenoceps Bolton, are known from the Oriental Region. A new species, R. epispinasp. nov., is described from Cambodia based on the worker and queen castes. The new species is distinguished from R. recava and R. stenoceps by having the propodeal spine directed upwards and elongated peduncle of the petiole. Herein, we provide an update to the identification key and diagnostic characters for the genus Rotastruma.

Redescription of the type species of the genus Cassidinidea Hansen, 1905 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Sphaeromatidae), with notes on geographic distribution of the New World species

ABSTRACT Cassidinidea ovalis (Say, 1818), the type species of Cassidinidea Hansen, 1905 is redescribed, photographed and illustrated, based on material from South Carolina. Cassidinidea lunifrons (Richardson, 1905) is herein considered as a junior synonym of C. ovalis. This species occurs on the Atlantic coast of North America from New Jersey to Florida. A map of the distribution of the North and South American species of Cassidinidea Hansen, 1905, is provided. In addition, a revised generic diagnosis and description is given for the genus.

Phylogenomics and biogeography of Cunoniaceae (Oxalidales) with complete generic sampling and taxonomic realignments.

PremiseCunoniaceae are a family of shrubs and trees with 27 genera and ca. 335 species, mostly confined to tropical and wet temperate zones of the southern hemisphere. There are several known issues regarding generic limits, and the family also displays a number of intriguing long‐range disjunctions.MethodsWe performed a phylogenomic study using the universal Angiosperms353 probe set for targeted sequence capture. We sampled 37 species covering all genera in the Cunoniaceae, and those in the three closely related families of the crown Oxalidales (Brunelliaceae, Cephalotaceae, and Elaeocarpaceae). We also performed analyses for molecular dating and ancestral area reconstruction.ResultsWe recovered the topology (Cunoniaceae, (Cephalotaceae, (Brunelliaceae, Elaeocarpaceae))) and a well‐resolved genus‐level phylogeny of Cunoniaceae with strongly supported clades corresponding to all previously recognized tribes. As previously suspected, the genera Ackama and Weinmannia were recovered as paraphyletic. Australasia was inferred as the likely ancestral area for the family.ConclusionsThe current distribution of Cunoniaceae is best explained by long‐distance dispersal with a few possible cases of Australasian–American vicariance events. Extinctions may have been important in determining the mostly Oceanian distribution of this family while some genera in the tribe Cunonieae and in New Caledonia have undergone recent bursts of diversification. New generic diagnoses, 80 new combinations, and one new name are provided for a recircumscribed Ackama (including Spiraeopsis), a much smaller Weinmannia (mostly New World), and a resurrected Pterophylla to accommodate Old World taxa previously in Weinmannia.

First record of the genus Nedinoschiza Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the Indian subcontinent with the description of a new species from the Western Ghats.

The Indo-Australian braconine genus, Nedinoschiza Cameron, 1911 is reported for the first time from the Indian subcontinent. A new species, N. indica Ranjith sp. nov. is described and illustrated with the taxonomic key for the extant Nedinoschiza species. The generic diagnosis of Nedinoschiza is revised along with the illustrations of two species viz., N. seminigra (Szépligeti) and N. pinguis Papp.

Taxonomic notes on genus Floridotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) with a description of two new species from West Bengal, India and keys to the world species

Two new species of Floridotarsonemus Attiah, 1970 (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Tarsonemidae), F. kukri Karmakar & Mondal sp. nov. and F. kanthali Karmakar & Mondal sp. nov. are described based on the specimens collected from Rhododendron indicum (Ericaceae), Cinchona officinalis (Rubiaceae) and Artocarpus heterophyllus (Moraceae) in Central Himalayan biogeographic province located in Darjeeling and Kalimpong district and Nadia district in the new alluvial zone of West Bengal, India. This registers the first record of Floridotarsonemus from the Indo-Malyan biogeographic realm. A note on the generic diagnosis of Floridotarsonemus and keys to differentiate the species of world Floridotarsaonemus are provided.

Contributions to the taxonomy of some Amazonian Stygnidae (Opiliones: Laniatores: Gonyleptoidea).

Some taxonomic changes are made in Amazonian Stygnidae, based on reinterpretation of generic boundaries: (1) the hitherto monotypic genus Jime Pinto-da-Rocha Tourinho, 2012 is newly recorded from Venezuela: Jime praecursor spec. nov. (Tobogán de la Selva, Amazonas state) is described and a new generic diagnosis is provided. The genital chaetotaxy is interpreted for the two known species of Jime, and (2) three species which have been originally described as Stygnoplus Simon, 1879 are herein newly transferred to Yapacana Pinto-da-Rocha, 1997 (hitherto monotypic): Y. ianomami (Pinto-da-Rocha Tourinho, 2012) comb. nov., Y. neblina (Pinto-da-Rocha Tourinho, 2012) comb. nov., and Y. tapirapeco (Pinto-da-Rocha Tourinho, 2012) comb. nov. A key for identification of males of the genus Yapacana is offered.

Malgacheliodes martensi spec. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Licnodamaeidae) from South Africa.

The genus Malgacheliodes is recorded in South Africa for the first time. Malgacheliodes martensi spec. nov. is described from soil of Hogsback State Forest, Eastern Cape Province. Adults of the new species differ from those of Malgacheliodes guillaumeti by the presence of ribs and furrows in the aggenital region, bacilliform leg tracheae, rounded ventral keel on leg I femur and four pairs of notogastral setae (h1 absent); while its tritonymph differs from that of M. guillaumeti by the presence of five pairs of gastronotic setae (c1 absent). The generic diagnosis of Malgacheliodes is updated. The differences in morphology of the tritonymphal instar in Malgacheliodes and other genera of Licnodamaeidae are presented.

Copepods (Cyclopoida) associated with ascidian hosts: Ascidicolidae, Buproridae, Botryllophilidae, and Enteropsidae, with descriptions of 84 new species.

The Monniot collection of copepods associated with ascidian hosts was built up over several decades of field collecting and taxonomic research on ascidians by Drs Claude Françoise Monniot (MNHN, Paris). This paper describes a total of 84 new species of copepods collected from ascidian hosts and five new genera are established. Prior to this study the family Ascidicolidae comprised two genera accommodating five valid species; here we add two new genera, Hamistyelicola gen. nov. and Bathycopola gen. nov., and eight new species in total. The family Buproridae comprised a single genus consisting of three species; here we add a new monotypic genus, Buprorides gen. nov. The family Botryllophilidae comprised 68 valid species in seven genera and here we add 45 new species; 13 of Botryllophilus Hesse, 1864, nine of Schizoproctus Aurivillius, 1885, three of Haplostomides Chatton Harant, 1924, 12 of Haplostoma Chatton Harant, 1924, seven of Haplostomella Chatton Harant, 1924 and a single new species of Haplosaccus Chatton Harant, 1924. The Enteropsidae comprised 42 species in five genera and here we add two new genera, Monnioticopa gen. nov. and Periboia gen. nov., plus a total of 30 new species; 15 of Enterocola van Beneden, 1860, two of Enterocolides Chatton Harant, 1922, five of Enteropsis C.W.S. Aurivillius, 1885, five of Monnioticopa gen. nov., two of Mychophilus Hesse, 1865, plus the type species of Periboia gen. nov. Generic diagnoses are provided for all genera represented in the collection. A further 13 known species are also reported and brief supplementary descriptive notes or full redescriptions are provided, as appropriate.

Hogsbackia africaensis/ gen. nov., sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Ceratozetoidea, Punctoribatidae), from Afromontane forest of South Africa.

A new oribatid mite genus, Hogsbackia gen. nov. (Oribatida, Punctoribatidae), with type species Hogsbackia africaensis sp. nov., is proposed and described from the indigenous Afromontane forest of South Africa. The new genus is closely related to Scotiazetes, from which it is most easily distinguished by body size ratio, number of notogastral and genital setae, type of humeral porose area Ah, position of dorsophragmata, and leg setation. The redescription of Scotiazetes bidens Wallwork, 1966 is presented, based on material from South Georgia (Antarctic region). The generic diagnosis of Scotiazetes is revised, and the genus is transferred from Ceratozetidae to Punctoribatidae. Relationships between the genera Hogsbackia gen. nov., Scotiazetes and other punctoribatid genera are discussed.

Reappraisal of Goezeella Fuhrmann, 1916 (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae), parasites of Neotropical catfishes (Siluriformes), with description of a new species from Pimelodella cristata (Heptapteridae)

The cestode genus GoezeellaFuhrmann, 1916 is reviewed on the basis of taxonomic evaluation of type and newly collected material from pimelodid and heptapterid catfishes (Siluriformes) in the Amazon River basin, South America, and its generic diagnosis is amended. The genus is typified by the exclusively ventral position of the cortical vitelline follicles, the inner longitudinal musculature formed by dense individual muscle fibres, rather than forming bundles as in other proteocephalids, a well-developed metascolex and biloculate suckers. The type species, G. siluriFuhrmann, 1916, is redescribed based on its syntype from Cetopsis coecutiens (type-host) (Cetopsidae) and specimens from Pinirampus pirinampu (Pimelodidae). The validity of G. danbrooksi de Chambrier, Rego & Mariaux, 2004 from Ageneiosus pardalis (Auchenipteridae) is confirmed and some erroneous morphological traits are corrected based on examination of its holotype. A new species, Goezeella mariae sp. nov., is described from the heptapterid catfish Pimelodella cristata (Heptapteridae). The new species differs from congeners by its overall size (much smaller compared to G. siluri), morphology of the scolex (strongly wrinkled metascolex and weakly developed interlocular septum of suckers) and number of the testes. This is the third proteocephalid cestode described from a heptapterid catfish in South America and the first helminth parasite reported from P. cristata. Goezeella is unusual among other Neotropical proteocephalids by its occurrence in catfishes of as many as four families; all species of the genus are known only from the Amazon and Orinoco River basins. Molecular data on two of the three valid species and a key to their identification are provided.

Ficoxylon fusiforme (Moraceae), a New Species from the Upper Cretaceous Nubian Sandstone, Southern Egypt

A new species of Ficoxylon Kaiser (Moraceae) is described from the Upper Cretaceous Nubian Sandstone, Aswan area, southern Egypt. The new species, Ficoxylon fusiforme, is the third report of a Cretaceous wood attributed to Ficoxylon worldwide. The two other Cretaceous records, F. cretaceum Schenk and ?F. sp. of Krausel, are also from Egypt. Ficoxylon species are common in the Tertiary, from the Palaeocene to the Pliocene. An emended generic diagnosis is proposed for Ficoxylon, which was erected in 1880 with few details. The new species is compared with the 18 currently recognized species of Ficoxylon/Ficus; it is distinguished by a combination of characters: predominantly solitary, few, relatively wide vessels; axial parenchyma bands 3–8 cells wide; 2–7 seriate, spindle-shaped, closely spaced, and slightly heterocellular rays; thin-walled, nonseptate fibers. Comments are made on the Egyptian fossil remains of Moraceae and on all Egyptian Cretaceous wood taxa reported to date. Preliminary biogeographic and climatic implications are given.

Remarks on Birjandtrombella Noei, 2020 (Acari: Trombidiformes: Prostigmata)

Birjandtrombella farniae Noei, 2020 was described from larvae ectoparasitic on moths (Lepidoptera: Crambidae, Noctuidae, Pyralidae), from Birjand city, South Khorasan province, Iran (Noei and Rabieh 2020). Based on Mąkol and Wohltmann (2012, 2013) the family Neotrombidiidae Feider, 1955 consists of four genera including Discotrombidium Feider, 1977, Monunguis Wharton, 1938, Neotrombidium Leonardi, 1901 and Anomalothrombium Andre, 1936. Discotrombidium and Anomalothrombium are based on post-larval forms only, the monotypic genus Monunguis (Parasitic on bat flies, Streblidae) is based on larva only (Womersley 1963) and Neotrombidium (Parasitic on subcortical beetles of the families Cerambycidae, Cleridae, Elateridae and Tenebrionidae, and on the ground beetle family Carabidae) is based on both larval and post-larval forms. The genus Neotrombidium includes 21 species which among them 13 species are based on larvae or adults and larvae (Mąkol and Wohltmann 2012, 2013; Noei et al. 2017) In this paper, the monotypic genus Birjandtrombella Noei, 2020 (Parasitic on Lepidoptera: Crambidae, Noctuidae, Pyralidae) is transferred from Trombellidae Thor, 1935 to the family Neotrombidiidae and the generic diagnosis is amended. The identification key to the genera of larval Trombellinae is amended, also.

New Indomalayan Nebularmis species (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae) provoke a discussion on its intrageneric diversity

Recent years have brought undeniable progress in tardigrade taxonomy, and speciose complexes were detected in a number of phylogenetic lineages. The family Echiniscidae is one such lineage; it is one of the most diverse groups of limno-terrestrial tardigrades and can be characterized as having achieved great evolutionary success. In this contribution, using populations representing several species that originated from the Indomalayan region, we reconstructed phylogenetic affinities within Nebularmis, a recently erected genus within the Echiniscus lineage. Nebularmis auratussp. nov. and Nebularmis burmensissp. nov. are described from the Eastern Yoma Mountains and the Shan Hills (Myanmar), Nebularmis bhutanensissp. nov. is described from the Eastern Himalayas (Bhutan), and Nebularmis indicussp. nov. is described from the foothills of the Western Ghats (Goa, India). Moreover, males are reported in populations of the last two species. All known members of the genus can be phenotypically differentiated based on minute details of their dorsal sculpture and claws. Moreover, a very wide tropical distribution is demonstrated for Nebularmis cirinoi, recorded for the first time from islands of the Malay Archipelago. Furthemore, novel morphological, genetic, and geographic data allowed for the clarification of the generic diagnosis. Currently available data favor a scenario under which Nebularmis evolved in Southeast Asia and later dispersed to other regions of the globe.

First record of Isogynandromyia Spungis (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Cecidomyiinae: Ledomyiini) in the Oriental Region

ABSTRACT The first record of the Ledomyiini genus Isogynandromyia Spungis in the Oriental Region is given including one new species, Isogynandromyia zhengleyii sp. nov., described and illustrated from Jiulianshan, Jiangxi Province in Southern China. The generic diagnosis is updated to include the new species with a detailed morphological description, and a key to males of all known Isogynandromyia species is also provided. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6D3A851B-BA78-4226-A3E6-8623DF786890