Zootaxa

**Taxonomic studies on Lepidocyrtus Bourlet, 1839 (Collembola: Entomobryidae) from India: one new species, one new record, and redescription of two species**

2026-01-13T10:50:18+13:00

This study describes one new species and presents one new record of Lepidocyrtus Bourlet from India, also providing detailed taxonomic accounts for other two members of the genus found in the country. Lepidocyrtus (Cinctocyrtus) cyaneuropygus sp. nov. can easily be distinguished from other species of the subgenus by bluish pigment on the last two abdominal segments, labial triangle formula and chaetotaxy. The new species shares similarities with Lepidocyrtus (Cinctocyrtus) sandakanicus Yoshii in labial triangle chaetae. However, it can be distinguished by differences in chaetotaxy and other morphological characters. Lepidocyrtus (Ascocyrtus) concolourus Nguyen is recorded for the first time from India (Gujarat), and complements to the original description are provided based on current taxonomic standards. Besides, taxonomic notes have been added for two poorly described species, viz., one endemic species from India, Lepidocyrtus (Cinctocyrtus) satkosiaensis Mandal, Suman & Bhattacharya, and the cosmopolitan Lepidocyrtus (Cinctocyrtus) medius Schäffer. An identification key to the Indian species of the subgenus Cinctocyrtus Yoshii & Suhardjono is also provided.

**A new snake of the genus Hebius (Serpentes: Natricidae) from the Ngoc Linh Mountain Range, Vietnam**

2026-01-13T10:51:03+13:00

We describe a new keelback snake of the genus Hebius from the Ngoc Linh Mountain Range, Central Highlands, Vietnam, based on morphological characters and molecular evidence (Cytb). Hebius ngoclinhensis sp. nov. is diagnosed by the following combination of morphological features: dorsal scale rows 19-19-17; first dorsal scale row smooth; ventrals 143–148; subcaudals 95–97, paired; two preoculars; two or three postoculars; one loreal; eight or nine supralabials; ten infralabials; cloacal plate divided; maxillary teeth 24–26, gradually enlarged, with two distinctly enlarged teeth posteriorly; 17 keeled dorsal scale rows at midbody; dorsal surface of body and tail dark brown with numerous irregular dark yellow spots; a distinct reddish-brown dorsolateral stripe on the 4^th–7^th dorsal scale rows on each side; ventral surface of body and tail reddish-orange to orange; and lateral margins of ventrals and subcaudals dark brown. In addition, the new species differs from its congeners by an uncorrected p-distance in Cytb sequences of at least 9.3%.

**Revisionary notes of the genus Hypodoryctes Kokujev, 1900 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae: Doryctinae) from Vietnam, with descriptions of five new species**

2026-01-13T10:51:56+13:00

Hypodoryctes Kokujev, a relatively small genus previously comprising ten species is revised. This paper includes descriptions and illustrations of five new species of Hypodoryctes from Vietnam, viz. Hypodoryctes albicyclus Long, sp. nov.; H. bicolor Long, sp. nov.; H. nebicolor Long, sp. nov.; H. netango Long, sp. nov.; and H. vietnamicus Long, sp. nov. A checklist and distribution of all known species of Hypodoryctes are provided. A key to Hypodoryctes species from the Eastern Palaearctic and Oriental regions is also given.

**Two new leech species of the genus Haemadipsa Tennent, 1859 from Tibet, China and characterization of their mitochondrial genomes (Clitellata: Hirudiniformes: Haemadipsidae)**

2026-01-13T10:53:18+13:00

This paper presents two novel terrestrial leech species, Haemadipsa nigrilineata sp. nov. and Haemadipsa medogensis sp. nov., collected from forested regions in Tibet, China. On the basis of morphological observations, mitogenomic sequence analysis and the mitochondrial COI gene sequence phylogenetic inference, both species are herein described as new within the genus Haemadipsa Tennent, (Haemadipsidae). These two species are in line with the general diagnosis of the genus Haemadipsa in terms of living environment, annulation pattern, having five pairs of eyespots, and the position of the gonopores (XI b5/b6 and XII b5/b6). The diagnostic features for the new species include: Haemadipsa nigrilineata sp. nov. possesses a continuous jet-black longitudinal stripe along the dorsal midline and has a vaginal sac large and quadrate; Haemadipsa medogensis sp. nov. exhibits scattered irregular patterns on the dorsum and the vaginal sac is significantly large, being two to three times as long as it is wide, and the epididymis presents a dagger-like shape. Complete mitogenome sequencing revealed circular genomes of 14,755 bp for Haemadipsa nigrilineata sp. nov. and 14,892 bp for Haemadipsa medogensis sp. nov. Both genomes exhibit canonical invertebrate mitochondrial architecture, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and a non-coding control region. The phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial genome showed that Haemadipsa medogensis sp. nov. is sister to H. crenata while Haemadipsa nigrilineata sp. nov. forms an independent lineage sister to H. hainana, H. yanyuanensis, Haemadipsa medogensis sp. nov. and H. crenata.

**Towards deconstruction of the Sternopygus macrurus species complex (Gymnotiformes: Sternopygidae): description of a new species from the Pacific Coast of Colombia**

2026-01-13T10:54:04+13:00

A new species of longtail electric knifefish, Sternopygus embera sp. nov., is described from the trans-Andean Río Baudó and Río San Juan basins of the Pacific coast of northwestern Colombia. The new species is diagnosed from all congeners by a unique combination of characters, including the complete lack of a humeral spot, morphology of the Weberian apparatus, lack of pigment bars or saddles, possession of endopterygoid teeth, vertically-oriented ascending endopterygoid process, a short snout, convex dorsal margin of neurocranium in adults, and 22–23 precaudal vertebrae. Despite sharing more external morphological similarities with species of the S. macrurus complex, the new species is phylogenetically nested within the larger-bodied and longer-snouted trans-Andean S. aequilabiatus species group, based on phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial barcode gene. Alternative hypotheses for these contrasting results, including mitochondrial introgression, incomplete lineage sorting, and paedomorphosis, are discussed. The description of this species is a step towards deconstructing the S. macrurus complex ahead of a future systematic revision.

**A new minute species of Suphisellus Crotch, 1873 (Coleoptera: Noteridae) from South America, with new records and notes on other species of the genus**

2026-01-13T10:54:53+13:00

Suphisellus cucuminoi sp. nov. from Argentina is described and illustrated in detail. Externally, the new species is similar to S. hieroglyphicus Zimmermann, 1921, but can be readily distinguished by: (1) its smaller size, (2) a less convex dorsal body shape, and (3) the shape of the male genitalia. The first reliable record of S. hieroglyphicus from Argentina is provided, along with a brief diagnosis and the designation of a lectotype. Notes on Suphisellus flavopictus (Régimbart, 1889) are also provided. Suphisellus minimus Gschwendtner, 1922 is treated as a species inquirenda.

**First record of Genus Sphenoderia Schlumberger, 1845 (Phylum Cercozoa: Euglyphida) from India**

2026-01-13T10:55:37+13:00

The genus Sphenoderia Schlumberger, 1845 has been recorded for the first time in India. The type species Sphenoderia lenta Schlumberger, 1845 is noticed in the forest biotope of Arunachal Pradesh, and Sphenoderia minuta Deflandre, 1931 and Sphenoderia labiata Thomas & Gauthier- Lièvre, 1959 are recorded from the aquatic habitat of Meghalaya. All three species have been documented from the Northeastern region of India, highlighting the rich biodiversity found in this area. For each species, detailed descriptions and morphometry are provided based on the examination of specimens from the present study. Additionally, a global distribution review of the genus has also been discussed.

**A review of the enigmatic monotypic genus Spathicranuloides Schedl, 1972, with a diagnosis for the subtribe Tesserocerina Strohmeyer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae)**

2026-01-13T10:56:16+13:00

The monotypic genus Spathicranuloides Schedl represents an unusual pinhole ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae) genus endemic to Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea. The genus and its only species Spathicranuloides moikui Schedl, 1972 were designated subjectively without an explicit description of its distinctive morphology. The genus and species are reviewed, illustrated, and redescribed. Spathicranuloides is compared with the other genera of Tesserocerini, particularly the genus Chaetastus Nunberg, with which it shares many morphological characters. A diagnosis for Tesserocerina is provided, and the placement of Spathicranuloides within Tesserocerina is confirmed and justified.

**First description of a bentfin devil ray embryo Mobula thurstoni (Lloyd, 1908) from Los Hermanos Archipelago, Venezuela (Southern Caribbean)**

2026-01-13T10:56:57+13:00