Zootaxa

**A new species of Tenagobia (Romanogobia) Nieser, 1977 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Micronectidae) and new records of water bugs (Gerromorpha & Nepomorpha) from South America and Madagascar**

2026-05-21T12:50:24+12:00

Water bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Leptopodomorpha, Gerromorpha & Nepomorpha) are commonly found on the surface, margins, water column, or the bottom of water bodies globally. Most of them are generalist predators, feeding upon invertebrates or vertebrates, but the ingestion of algae and detritus has also been recorded in some species. Although most of their diversity is found in tropical areas, still significant knowledge gaps persist on the composition and distribution of this fauna in those regions. Here, we describe a new species of Tenagobia (Romanogobia) Nieser, 1977 (Nepomorpha: Micronectidae) and provide new records of 24 species of water bugs from Venezuela, Brazil, and Madagascar.

Garra jiulongi, a new labeonine species (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from the upper Salween-Nujiang River basin, Yunnan, China, with remarks on the intraspecific variability of snout morphology

2026-05-21T12:51:42+12:00

Based on morphological comparisons and molecular evidence, a new species, Garra jiulongi is described from the upper reaches of the Salween-Nujiang River drainage in Baoshan City, Yunnan, China. It is the sixth Garra species known from the Salween-Nujiang River basin and, notably, the first Garra species whose type locality is situated in the Chinese section of the drainage. Garra jiulongi sp. nov. is closely allied to G. gravelyi in sharing similar meristic counts, but can be distinguished from it by pulvinus enlarged and its width 53.5–64.2% of disc width, and head broader, its width 68.2–77.8% of head length. It can be further distinguished from all other Salween and Chinese congeners by the following combination of characteristics: proboscis unilobed, 12 circumpeduncular scales, 32–34 lateral-line scales, 3.5 transverse scale rows between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line, 9–10 predorsal scales, two pairs of barbels, and breast scaleless. Furthermore, this study critically assesses the intraspecific variability of snout morphology in Garra. We highlight that key snout structures exhibit significant and synchronised plasticity. Such variability renders simplistic, fixed categorisations unreliable. Consequently, we argue that snout morphology should be integrated with a broader suite of morphological characters and non-morphological evidence to ensure robust taxonomic results.

Mapinguaritermes marizalensis, a new species of Syntermitinae (Blattodea, Termitidae) from Brazilian Amazon

2026-05-21T12:52:59+12:00

In this study, Mapinguaritermes marizalensis sp. nov. (Termitidae: Syntermitinae) is described based on external and internal morphological characters of workers and soldiers, as well as molecular data. The new species was collected in the Juruá River basin, central Brazilian Amazonia, and can be readily distinguished from the other congeners, M. peruanus and M. grandidens, by the soldiers’ conspicuously larger and subrectangular head capsules, as well as shorter and more robust mandibles. However, it shares several characteristics of the gut, such as the ornamentation of the crop, P1 and the enteric valve, with its congeners. Molecular data (COII gen) were used to consolidate the phylogenetic placement of the species within the subfamily.

**Four new species and ten new records of Ecnomus McLachlan (Trichoptera: Ecnomidae) from southern China**

2026-05-21T12:54:27+12:00

Four new species of the genus Ecnomus McLachlan, 1864 from China are described: E. jianfengensis Zheng & Sun, sp. nov. (Hainan), E. zhengyangorum Zheng & Sun, sp. nov. (Hainan), E. changhuaensis Zheng & Sun, sp. nov. (Hainan), and E. deformitas Zheng & Sun, sp. nov. (Yunnan). Detailed morphological descriptions, diagnostic characters, and illustrations are provided for each new species. Additionally, ten species are newly recorded from China: E. alkestis Malicky & Chantaramongkol, 1997, E. argonautos Laudee & Malicky, 1999, E. cationg Oláh & Malicky, 2010, E. jojachin Malicky & Chantaramongkol, 1993, E. mammus Malicky & Chantaramongkol, 1993, E. puro Malicky & Chantaramongkol, 1993, E. suadrus Malicky & Chantaramongkol, 1993, E. uttu Malicky & Chantaramongkol, 1993, E. venimar Malicky & Chantaramongkol, 1993, and E. volovicus Malicky & Chantaramongkol, 1993. These newly recorded species are re-illustrated and supplemented with updated distributional data. An overview of the historical and current research on the classification of the species groups of Ecnomus is provided.

**A new species of Microeledone from Galápagos Islands and an amended diagnosis of the Megaleledonidae (Octopoda: Incirrata)**

2026-05-21T12:56:07+12:00

The octopod fauna of the deep tropical Pacific Ocean remains poorly known, as is the octopod family Megaleledonidae Taki. A single female megaleledonid specimen collected at 1773 m depth near the equatorial Galápagos island of Darwin is named Microeledone galapagensis sp. nov. This small, squat, short-armed octopod has few arm suckers and gill lamellae. Its lack of a crop diverticulum, ink sac, and anal flaps suggests that it pertains to Thaumeledone. However, its smooth skin, which dorsally is nearly free of pigment, large rachidian tooth, and large funnel organ ally it with the monotypic Microeledone. Its reverse countershading and dense pigmentation on the inner dorsal mantle musculature distinguish this species from Microeledone mangoldi Norman, Hochberg & Boucher-Rodoni, 2004a. This species belies the definition of the Megaleledonidae as large-bodied, Southern Ocean endemics, leading us to revise the family diagnosis. The short arms carrying few suckers in this genus and Thaumeledone are hypothesized to relate to heterochrony, potentially increasing energy available for reproduction and contributing to niche partitioning.

**New genera of black fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaridae) from China―Part 2: Genus Cardiosciara Shah, Heller & Huang gen. nov.**

2026-05-21T12:57:21+12:00

Cardiosciara Shah, Heller & Huang gen. nov., formerly included within Cratyna Winnertz, 1867, is described and distinguished based on clear morphological and genetic differences. Diagnostic features of the new genus include long maxillary palpi, a setose posterior pronotum, an undifferentiated tibial organ, bare posterior wing veins, and male genitalia with a distinctive tegmen that is deeply notched apically with a dark, often heart-shaped overlapping structure. Four new species are described: Cardiosciara amoris sp. nov., C. bicordis sp. nov., C. digna sp. nov., and C. ignota sp. nov. In addition, a previously published species, Cardiosciara salomonis (Mohrig & Mamaev) comb. nov., is transferred here. The distinct status of the new species is supported by both morphological characteristics and sequence data from cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene obtained through DNA barcode analysis. A checklist of all currently known species of Cardiosciara gen. nov. is provided.

A new species of chemosymbiotic clam (Bivalvia: Vesicomyidae) from the Nankai Trough and Mariana Forearc

2026-05-21T12:58:32+12:00

Chemosymbiotic vesicomyid clams in the subfamily Pliocardiinae are a major component of deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems, yet their diversity remains incompletely documented. Here, we report a new species of pliocardiine clam collected from two cold seeps, the 2,526 m deep Oomine Ridge site in the Nankai Trough, Japan and the 2,915 m deep Summit Site of South Chamorro Seamount, Mariana Forearc. This ovate species (maximum shell length 34.4 mm) is included in the genus Waisiuconcha Beets, 1943. It is most similar to Waisiuconcha helios Krylova & Janssen, 2006 but differs by having a larger shell, a subumbonal pit, a steeply inclined anterior cardinal tooth of the right valve (3a), a long and straight anterior cardinal tooth of the left valve (2a), as well as a thick and straight posterior cardinal tooth of the left valve (4b). Anatomical examination revealed a single prominent papilla-like projection on the inner vulva of the inhalant siphon previously only known from Calyptogena Dall, 1891. As such, we describe our species as Waisiuconcha takashii sp. nov. We also present a phylogenetic reconstruction using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, including the first molecular data available for Waisiuconcha. The finding of a single pliocardiine species at two seeps ~2,400 km apart adds evidence to members of the subfamily having high dispersal capabilities, expanding our knowledge of seep fauna in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

**A new species of caddisfly, Leptocerus bannamradensis (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae), from Ban Nam Rad Spring, Surat Thani Province, based on morphological and molecular data**

2026-05-21T12:59:50+12:00

A new species of Leptocerus, L. bannamradensis sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on the male genitalia and molecular data. The male genitalia of L. bannamradensis sp. nov. are similar to those of L. glaukos Malicky & Chantaramongkol 2002 known from Sai Yok Waterfall, Kanchanaburi Province but differ distinctly in the inferior appendages: The basodorsal process of each inferior appendage is long and curved ventrad in L. bannamradensis sp. nov. while it is straight in L. glaukos. Additionally, fragments of mitochondrial genes, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA), of the new species and Leptocerus dirghachuka, L. lampunensis were analysed.

**A new species of Calogalesus Kieffer, 1912 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae: Diapriinae) from Japan, with a key to world species**

2026-05-21T13:01:11+12:00

The genus Calogalesus Kieffer, 1912 is newly recorded from Japan. Calogalesus matris sp. nov. is described as new to science based on specimens from the Ogasawara Islands and Okinawa Island, Japan. A taxonomic key to world species of Calogalesus is presented. New DNA barcodes allowed the recognition of size-related morphological variation.

**A new species of Acanthochitona (Polyplacophora: Acanthochitonidae) from the Indian coast**

2026-05-21T13:02:20+12:00

A new species of chiton, Acanthochitona pambanensis sp. nov., is described based on a small specimen collected from the intertidal zone of Pamban, Tamil Nadu, on the southeast coast of India. The new species is distinguished from other species of the genus Acanthochitona recorded from the Indian and neighbouring coasts. This new species also emphasises the limited exploration and documentation of polyplacophoran diversity along the Indian coast. It further highlights the need for more research on chitons, which could reveal a greater species diversity in the region.

Erratum: SANGJIN HAN & SEUNGGWAN SHIN (2026) A new species and new records of Scathophagidae (Diptera) from high-altitude wetlands in South Korea, with an assessment of DNA barcoding utility. Zootaxa, 5807 (3): 401–426.

2026-05-21T13:03:55+12:00