Zootaxa

**Integrative taxonomic revision and review of the bioacoustics of the cricket genus Eneoptera (Orthoptera, Gryllidae, Eneopterinae)**

2026-03-03T12:38:27+13:00

We revised the taxonomic and acoustic information on the species of the genus Eneoptera Burmeister, 1838 based on the examination of type specimens and additional material from natural history collections, supplemented by new collections from Colombia, Brazil and French Guiana, and observations from the iNaturalist platform. Our results led us to: (i) revalidate and redescribe Eneoptera caliginosa (Walker, 1869); (ii) propose Eneoptera gracilis Robillard, 2005 as a junior synonym of E. caliginosa (syn. nov.); and (iii) transfer Eneoptera fasciata (Scudder, 1869) to the subfamily Podoscirtinae in the genus Aphonomorphus Rehn, 1903 (comb. nov.). The new observations also allowed us to provide an updated key to the four valid species of Eneoptera.

**A new species of the ghost shrimp genus Neocallichirus Sakai, 1988 (Decapoda: Axiidea: Callichiridae) from Japan**

2026-03-03T12:39:27+13:00

A new species of the ghost shrimp genus Neocallichirus Sakai, 1988 (Axiidea: Callichiridae), N. ceratophthalmus, is described from shoreline habitats of Japan, ranging from Izu Peninsula on the mainland Honshu to southern Ryukyu Islands. This new species is the third known of the genus in Japanese waters with certainty, and is morphologically most similar to N. vaugelasi Dworschak, 2011, currently known with certainty only from the Red Sea. Distinguishing features of N. ceratophthalmus sp. nov. are found in its third maxilliped, major cheliped, and male first pleopod. The study presents a thorough description of the species, encompassing information on its developmental stages, habitat preferences, and molecular phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic investigation utilizes data from two mitochondrial markers, specifically the COI and 16S rRNA genes.

Revalidation of the two upogebiid mud shrimp species, Upogebia foresti Ngoc-Ho, 1989 and Upogebia rupicola Komai, 2005, removed from the synonymy of Upogebia carinicauda (Stimpson, 1860) (Decapoda: Gebiidea)

2026-03-03T12:40:16+13:00

Analysis of morphological data and genetic data from two mitochondrial markers, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and 16S rRNA genes, has revealed that three species are mixed up within the material from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, and can be identified as Upogebia carinicauda (Stimpson, 1860) (type locality: Hong Kong) according to the latest classification. This finding led to the revalidation of U. foresti Ngoc-Ho, 1989 (type locality: Koepang, Timor, Indonesia) and U. rupicola Komai, 2005 (type locality: Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands), which were previously considered junior synonyms of U. carinicauda. Updated descriptions of U. carinicauda and U. foresti are provided based on the current material. The distinguishing features among U. carinicauda, U. foresti, and U. rupicola are re-evaluated. A comprehensive review of previous records of U. carinicauda and the reassessment of the status of the closely related U. kempi Shenoy, 1967 (type locality: Bombay, India), are deferred due to difficulties in accessing the voucher specimens. Additionally, a brief overview of the Japanese species of Upogebia Leach, 1814, is included. Currently, 14 species of this genus are recognized in the Japanese marine fauna.

**A new species of the genus Perionyx Perrier, 1872 (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and two new records from Eastern Himalayas, India**

2026-03-03T12:41:02+13:00

A new species Perionyx manebhanjangensis sp. nov. is described from Darjeeling, West Bengal, a part of the Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot. The new species belongs to the quadrithecal group, characterized by spermathecal pores in intersegmental furrows 6/7 and 7/8. Within this group, the new species is closely related to Perionyx pallidus Stephenson and Perionyx alatus Stephenson in the presence of penial setae and last pair of hearts in segment 13. The new species can be distinguished from P. pallidus by the extent of clitellum, prostate glands and ornamentation of the penial setae, and from P. alatus by the origin of the intestine, position of the male and spermathecal pores. Moreover, two exotic peregrine species Amynthas minimus (Horst) and Eukerria saltensis (Beddard), collected from the vicinity of Mirik Lake in Darjeeling, West Bengal are recorded for the first time from India. This study provides detailed descriptions of the new species and new records, along with illustrations of key characters. In addition, a taxonomic key for the genus Perionyx is provided.

Molecular diversity of water mites of the Turkish eastern Black Sea basin, with the description of two new species (Acari, Hydrachnidia)

2026-03-03T12:41:53+13:00

This study identified water mites collected from coastal streams in the provinces of Rize and Trabzon, which flow directly into the Black Sea, using both molecular and morphological approaches. A total of 42 COI barcodes were generated and clustered into 19 BINs, corresponding morphologically to 15 species. Two species, Hygrobates turani sp. nov. and Atractides karadenizensis sp. nov. (Hygrobatidae), are described as new to science, while Sperchon milisai Pešić, 2022, and Hygrobates grabowskii Pešić, Saboori, Zawal & Dabert, 2019, are newly reported from Türkiye. The study demonstrates that only a small fraction of Türkiye’s water mite diversity can currently be identified using existing DNA-barcode libraries, highlighting the need for their further expansion and refinement in future research.

**A taxonomic study of Trechnites Thomson (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) from China**

2026-03-03T12:42:55+13:00

Seven species of Trechnites Thomson from China are taxonomically studied. Three species are newly described: T. cacopsyllae Zou, Zu & Zhang, sp. nov., T. monticola Zou, Zu & Zhang, sp. nov. and T. yunnanensis Zou, Zu & Zhang, sp. nov. An additional species, T. concinnus Kazmi and Hayat, is newly reported from China. Diagnoses or descriptions, microphotos of key characters, as well as the known distribution and hosts of each species are provided. A dichotomous key is also given to facilitate the identification of species.

**New species of Amphisbaena (Amphisbaenia: Amphisbaenidae) from the coastal zone of Northeast Brazil**

2026-03-03T12:43:48+13:00

While revising Amphisbaena specimens deposited in the herpetological collection of the Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia da Universidade Federal do Ceará (NUROF—UFC), we identified specimens belonging to an undescribed species. After a detailed comparison with their congeners, we describe a new species collected in the municipalities of Aracati and Icapuí in the coastal zone of the state of Ceará, Brazil. The new species is characterized by the presence of six pre-cloacal pores arranged in sequence, absence of shields forming the parietal region and three supralabial shields, in addition to having 257–272 body annuli and 31–34 caudal annuli. Amphisbaena eleutheria sp. nov. inhabits coastal plains, an area affected by environmental degradation and various activities related to energy generation, including at least five wind farms currently in operation.

**Brachypterous and micropterous species of the genus Hormius Nees (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Hormiinae)**

2026-03-03T12:44:41+13:00

The known brachypterous and micropterous species of the cosmopolitan genus Hormius Nees, 1819 are reviewed. Two new species of this genus, H. haeselbarthi sp. nov. and H. helleni sp. nov., are described and illustrated. The distribution of H. minialatus Tobias, 1977 is discussed. A key for determination of the Hormius subgenera and all known brachypterous and micropterous species is provided.

Description of the male Amblyomma moyi Roberts, 1953 (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae) from the short-beaked echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw) (Monotremata: Tachyglossidae), from Mt. Isa, Queensland, Australia

2026-03-03T12:45:27+13:00