Zootaxa

Deep-water hydroids (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) of Galicia (NW Spain), exclusive of Plumularioidea

2026-01-23T14:06:48+13:00

This report focuses on the benthic hydroids, exclusive of Plumularioidea McCrady, 1859, collected during two oceanographic surveys carried out in deep waters off Galicia (NW Spain) in 2004 and 2009. A total of 31 species belonging to 20 genera and 14 families of the order Leptothecata Cornelius, 1992 were identified. The families Zygophylacidae Quelch, 1885, Lafoeidae Hincks, 1869, Sertulariidae Lamouroux, 1812 and Haleciidae Hincks, 1869, each with four species, were the most specious. Zygophylax levinseni (Saemundsson, 1911), Stegopoma bathyale Vervoort, 1966, Egmundella grimaldii Leloup, 1940, Acryptolaria conferta (Allman, 1877) and Acryptolaria conferta minor Ramil & Vervoort, 1992 are reported for the first time from Galician waters. The known bathymetric range for Cuspidella grandis Hincks, 1869, A. conferta minor, Obelia geniculata (Linnaeus, 1758) and Halecium marocanum Billard, 1934 is extended. The eurybathic condition of the Galician hydroids studied herein is remarkable, with their bathymetric ranges exceeding 300 m. Biogeographical contingents included two main groups: species with a wide distribution (60%) and Atlantic species (37%). Nearly half of the species (48.39%) were collected from bottoms represented by hard substrates.

**The genus Empidideicus Becker, 1907 (Diptera: Mythicomyiidae) in Morocco**

2026-01-23T14:07:40+13:00

Twelve species of the genus Empidideicus Becker are found to occur in Morocco, including five new species: Empidideicus (Empidideicus) bartaki Evenhuis & Kettani, sp. nov., E. (E.) kettaniae Evenhuis & Maamri, sp. nov., E. (E.) michaeli Evenhuis, Kettani & Maamri, sp. nov., E. (E.) seguyi Evenhuis, sp. nov., and E. (E.) syntomus Evenhuis, sp. nov., which are described and illustrated herein. Additionally, the species E. (E.) carthaginiensis Becker (previously known only from Tunisia), E. (E.) hispanus François (previously known only from Spain), and E. (E.) pallidifacies Evenhuis, Almeida & Andrade (previously known only from Portugal) have their ranges extended to now include Morocco. A lectotype is chosen for Empidideicus croceus (Séguy) and a neotype is designated for Empidideicus (Empidideicus) carthaginiensis Becker. A key to species of the genus in northern Africa and the Iberian Peninsula is given.

**Morphological revision of the species of Homoeomma Ausserer, 1871 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay**

2026-01-23T14:08:31+13:00

The Neotropical tarantula genus Homoeomma Ausserer, 1871 is reviewed. After examining type specimens and redescribing several species, H. stradlingi O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1881 and H. strabo (Simon, 1892) are considered junior synonyms of H. familiare Bertkau, 1880; henceforth, the senior synonym of the type species of the genus, and now with a known male representative. H. nigrum is considered nomem dubium. Additionally, Homoeomma hirsutum (Mello-Leitão, 1935) is considered junior synonym of H. montanum (Mello-Leitão, 1923). We also describe the female of H. brasilianum (Chamberlin, 1917). Homoeomma now comprises 12 valid species distributed across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay.

A legacy that challenges science: Rectifying vandalistic practices in Orthoptera taxonomy

2026-01-23T14:09:24+13:00

Knowledge can arise from various approaches, yet only that generated through empirical processes (objective, systematic, and empirical evidence-based) constitutes true scientific knowledge. Taxonomy, as the discipline that develops theory and principles of organismal classification, must function within these scientific standards. When detached from them, taxonomy loses both its function and its credibility. Practices that disregard empirical evidence and distort previously established data have been identified as taxonomic vandalism in the literature. As a scientific enterprise, taxonomy progresses through proposing hypotheses and testing them empirically. Every taxonomic act implies a hypothesis whose validity can only be demonstrated by data-based evaluation. Acts performed without such testing fall outside the scientific norms and represent vandalistic behaviour. Correcting nomenclatural acts derived from such approaches is therefore essential to maintaining the integrity of taxonomic knowledge.

In this study, a genus, a subgenus and several species within Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera) that were invalidated by subjective reasoning and unsupported claims are reinstated as valid taxa. Based on empirical evidence, the following taxa are restored to valid status: Bolua balikesirensis Uluar & Çıplak, 2022 sp. rev., B. bursaensis Uluar & Çıplak, 2022 sp. rev.; Anterastes boreoanatoliensis Çıplak & Uluar, 2023 sp. rev., A. muratdagensis Çıplak & Uluar, 2023 sp. rev., A. kizkayasiensis Çıplak & Uluar, 2023 sp. rev., A. ucari Çıplak, 2004 sp. rev.; Psorodonotus rize Kaya & Çıplak, 2014 sp. rev., P. giresun Kaya & Çıplak, 2014 sp. rev., P. inermis Ramme, 1951 sp. rev.; Eupholidoptera femorata Çıplak, 1999 sp. rev., E. helina Çıplak, 2009 sp. rev.; Hamatopoecilimon Heller, 2011 subgen.rev., and the genus Aparapholidoptera Çıplak, 2021 gen. rev., with revalidation of the following combinations A. distincta (Uvarov, 1921) comb. rev., A. karabagi (Demirsoy, 1974) comb. rev., A. kosswigi (Karabağ, 1950) comb. rev., and A. ziganensis (Karabağ, 1964) comb. rev.. Finally, the paper outlines principles and recommendations aimed at preventing similar non-scientific practices in the future.

**Molecular characterization of Chrysaora cf. caliparea (Scyphozoa: Semaeostomeae: Pelagiidae) from the coast of Qatar**

2026-01-23T14:10:14+13:00

The jellyfish Chrysaora cf. caliparea was recently reported as the first Scyphomedusae record for Qatar based on morphological affinity, though genetic confirmation was lacking. To definitively substantiate its taxonomic identity, we conducted hereby a molecular analysis. Specimens were collected (n=3), subjected to DNA extraction, PCR amplification and sequencing targeting 16S, 28S and COX genes. The Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analysis advanced that the Qatari specimen likely represents either a previously unidentified species or the genuine Chrysaora cf. caliparea. Considering the morphological and biometric analysis of an adult population (n=94) presented in the current study, in addition to the genetic data, we could attribute the identity of the Chrysaora specimens in the Arabian Gulf to Chrysaora cf. caliparea. Our integrative approach combining morphological and molecular data can serve as a framework for delineating species diversity across challenging taxonomic groups.

**A synopsis and new species of Bolax Fischer von Waldheim, 1829 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Geniatini) from Central America**

2026-01-23T14:11:09+13:00

The Central American species of Bolax Fischer von Waldheim, 1829 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Geniatini) are presented, each with a diagnosis and photographs of adult habitus and aedeagus. Also, a new species from Panama is described and illustrated, raising the number of species of the genus in Central America to four: Bolax azurita new species, Bolax flaveola Bates, 1888, Bolax magna Bates, 1888, and Bolax variolosa Ohaus, 1917.

**Redescription of earthworm species Tonoscolex monorchis (Stephenson, 1916) (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from Darjeeling, India—A significant contribution after a quarter of a century**

2026-01-23T14:11:58+13:00

The species Tonoscolex monorchis (Stephenson, 1916) was originally described from a single immature specimen collected from Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India. It remains a subject of discussion due to its metandric condition (testes present only in segment 9) and the presence of three pairs of seminal vesicles in segments 10, 11, and 12. Since the original description, one more record was documented with a brief description and without any significant contribution to the taxonomy of the species (Halder, 1999a). In this study, the species is redescribed and illustrated based on fresh collections from Tamsing forest, Darjeeling district, West Bengal, marking a significant contribution to the understanding of the species. Additionally, a brief description and an identification key to the Indian Tonoscolex species are provided to support future research in this field.

Fixing the taxonomic identity of Oestrelata feae Salvadori, 1899, through designation of a lectotype, with comments on the type series of Pterodroma mollis deserta Mathews, 1934 (Aves: Procellariiformes: Procellariidae)

2026-01-23T14:12:52+13:00

Taxonomic interest in the Pterodroma petrels of the north-eastern Atlantic Islands has mushroomed in recent decades; all three taxa breeding in this region are now frequently treated as separate species—Fea’s (or Cape Verde) Petrel P. feae in the Cape Verdes, Desertas Petrel P. deserta in the Desertas group, and Zino’s Petrel P. madeira on the main island of Madeira. Oestrelata feae Salvadori, 1899, was described on the basis of five specimens mentioned in the original description, of which two were collected on the island of São Nicolau, in the Cape Verde archipelago, and three from small islands in the Madeira group. Thirty-five years later, Mathews described Pterodroma mollis deserta from an unstated number of specimens also collected in the Desertas group, in the southern part of the Madeiran archipelago. Until the late 1990s, the fact that there were more than just two syntypes of Oestrelata feae was not widely appreciated, and the import of the type series being mixed was under-appreciated due to P. deserta then being generally considered a synonym of feae, rather than a valid taxon. To fix the identity of Oestrelata feae on the universally understood taxonomic concept associated with the name, we designate a lectotype from the one of the two São Nicolau specimens. We also clarify that the type series associated with Mathews’ nomen deserta comprises four syntypes, rather than a single specimen (holotype).