Zootaxa

First report of hexabothriid monogeneans from Australian carcharhinids

2026-04-08T11:23:16+12:00

Herein, detailed supplementary descriptions and novel nucleotide sequences are provided for Heteronchocotyle leucas Hargis and Erpocotyle carcharhini Watson & Thorson (Monogenea: Hexabothriidae). This is the first report of a hexabothriid from an Australian carcharhinid (Elasmobranchii: Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae) and the first record of these hexabothriid species from Australia, constituting new host records. Heteronchocotyle leucas is reported from Carcharhinus leucas (Valenciennes), C. amboinensis (Müller & Henle) and Negaprion acutidens (Rüppell), whereas E. carcharhini is reported from C. leucas and C. amboinensis, all from off the Capricorn coastline, Queensland. Heteronchocotyle leucas demonstrated significant size range differences in multiple measurement variables in populations from different hosts suggesting that worms could adapt in size to the different gill microhabitat architecture of different hosts species. A strong statistical positive correlation (p < 0.05) in the size of most sclerite variables of sclerite pairs 1A, 1B and 2B with the growth of H. leucas was demonstrated, indicating that sucker sclerites grow as the worm grows but that the functional shape of these sclerites is conserved. The three smallest sclerites of H. leucas, 2A, 3A and 3B demonstrate less correlation with growth, especially with the sclerite hook, which develops first. This suggests that these three sclerite pairs develop functionality early in the ontogeny of the worm post host-invasion but become increasingly redundant with increased growth, as the main sclerites develop. This is also supported by the haptoral musculature, which is minimal in these smallest sclerites but considerable in the others. Details of the reproductive system of H. leucas are provided that were incorrectly interpreted in the type-description. Heteronchocotyle leucas and E. carcharhini 28S molecular sequences are provided for the first time. The phylogenetic position of H. leucas and E. carcharhini within the Hexabothriidae, based on 28S sequences, is explored and briefly discussed.

Additions to the millipede family Caseyidae Verhoeff, 1909. VI. Proposal of the new subfamily Opioninae, new species and records of the genus Opiona Chamberlin, 1951 and synonymy of Speyosia Causey, 1963 with Opiona (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Striariidea)

2026-04-08T11:24:18+12:00

The caseyid millipede genus Opiona Chamberlin, 1951 contains 15 species distributed from southern Alaska and the Canadian province of British Columbia south to Santa Cruz County, California. We provide new records and range extensions of five previously described species and describe five new species: Opiona arcata sp. nov., O. johnsoni sp. nov., O. alsea sp. nov., O. triangalensis sp. nov., and O. laquesis sp. nov.. The following new synonym and combination are proposed: Opiona Chamberlin, 1951 = Speoseya Causey, 1963, syn. nov. and Opiona grahami (Causey, 1963) = Speoseya grahami Causey, 1963, comb. nov.—the valid names being the former. We propose a new subfamily Opioninae, subfam. nov., to include Opiona; Metopiona Gardner & Shelley, 1989; Opionoides Shear & Marek, 2025; Paropiona Shear & Marek 2025; and Benlomondia Shear & Marek, 2025.

**The saucer bug genus Ctenipocoris Montandon, 1897 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Naucoridae): new species from Guyana and India and catalog of world species**

2026-04-08T11:25:07+12:00

The saucer bug genus Ctenipocoris (Naucoridae: Laccocorinae: Ctenipocorini) is circumtropical and represented by nine species that are seldomly collected. Most non-genitalic features differ negligibly among species, thereby making identifications tenuous; however, some of these features and previously unreported male genitalia provide useful interspecific distinctions. Although the genus is in need of revision and assigning species names to specimens collected in the Neotropics generally is not possible, provided here are the descriptions of Ctenipocoris sagittatus sp. nov. from Guyana and Venezuela with a unique arrow-shaped aedeagus and hemelytral markings, and C. reticulatus sp. nov. from India with a reticulate pattern on the hemelytral membrane and unique male genitalia. Also provided here is a catalog of species of Ctenipocoris.

An illustrated key to the genera of Thripinae (Thysanoptera) from India

2026-04-08T11:25:52+12:00

An identification key is provided for 86 genera of subfamily Thripinae from India. Photographs are provided of each character used in this study, also, wherever possible, notes on host-plant associations and geographical distributions. Ajothrips medius Bhatti is considered a syn. nov. of A. gara Bhatti. In addition, Smeringothrips salaciae Priesner is redescribed, and the male of this species is described for the first time.

**A new species of Hypoaspis Canestrini (Acari: Laelapidae) associated with the Hercules beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in China**

2026-04-08T11:27:08+12:00

A new species of the genus Hypoaspis Canestrini, 1885, Hypoaspis lisongorum sp. nov., is described and illustrated on the basis of the female and male, collected from a larva of Dynastes hercules hercules (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in China.

**Description of two new Nematoda species: Calyptronema pumila sp. nov. (Enoplida: Enchelidiidae) and Thalassomonhystera sinica sp. nov. (Monhysterida: Monhysteridae) from the Yellow Sea**

2026-04-08T11:28:05+12:00

Two new species of free-living marine nematodes found in the Yellow Sea are described and illustrated. Calyptronema pumila sp. nov. is characterized by comparatively smaller body size with conico-cylindrical tail; rounded males cephalic region set off by a transverse ring; amphideal fovea irregularly oblong; slender spicules 2.3 cloacal body diameter long; thin gubernaculum 24 µm long; precloacal supplements consisting of a ventral setigerous papilla and five paired subventral setigerous papillae; outer labial setae and cephalic setae in females relatively short and tail relatively long. The presence of a ventral papilliform and five paired subventral papilliform precloacal supplements can separate the new species from all other known species of the genus. Thalassomonhystera sinica sp. nov. is characterized by slender and fusiform body; finely striated cuticle; outer labial and cephalic setae 2–2.5 μm long; circular amphideal fovea located far posterior from the anterior end; spicules cuticularized, slightly S-shaped with a twisted appearance; gubernaculum absent; tail conico-cylindrical without terminal setae. The new species differs from other known species of the genus in having strongly cuticularized, spicules slightly S-shaped with a twisted appearance, and lacks gubernaculum. Updated keys for identification of valid species of both Calyptronema and Thalassomonhystera are provided.

A new genus and species of Pseudothelphusidae (Decapoda: Brachyura) from Serra do Imeri, Guiana Shield highlands, Amazonas State, Brazil

2026-04-08T11:29:27+12:00

A new genus and species of Kingsleyinae (Pseudothelphusidae) crab is described and illustrated from a tannin-rich stream in humid montane forest at 1,730 m elevation in Serra do Imeri, Guiana Shield highlands, northern Amazonia, is described and illustrated. Its phylogenetic position is inferred from mitochondrial COI sequences using Maximum Likelihood analysis, which supports the new taxon as the sister group of the kingsleyine genera Microthelphusa and Orthothelphusa. The new genus is compared with all other genera of Kingsleyinae. The paraphyly of Microthelphusa is briefly discussed, and M. marahuacaensis and M. guaiquinimaensis, both from the Venezuelan Amazon highlands, are transferred to the new genus. In addition, the highest elevation records for the 30 pseudothelphusid species known from Brazil are also summarized and briefly discussed.

**Three new species of the segmented spider genus Songthela (Araneae: Mesothelae: Liphistiidae) from Guizhou, China**

2026-04-08T11:30:16+12:00

Three new species of the primitively segmented spider genus Songthela Ono, 2000 are described from Guizhou, China: S. chunguang sp. nov. (♂♀), S. congjiang sp. nov. (♂♀), and S. jinxing sp. nov. (♂♀). All three species are assigned to the multidentata-group based on morphology of the male palps and female genitalia. Detailed diagnoses, descriptions, photographs and a distribution map are provided. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of the holotypes are also presented to facilitate future identification and molecular studies.

Two new records of grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) in China

2026-04-08T11:31:07+12:00

Two grasshopper species, Dericorys albidula Serville, 1838 and Thrinchus arenosus Bey-Bienko, 1948, are reported as new records for China. Although they belong to different families, they share similar habitat preferences. Detailed morphological redescriptions and biological notes are provided for both species.

A new mid-Cretaceous Apsilocephalidae (Diptera) with elongated mouthparts from Kachin amber

2026-04-08T11:32:04+12:00

A new Cretaceous apsilocephalid genus and species, namely †Protapsilocephala longisetosa gen. et sp. nov. (Apsilocephalidae) is described from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (~99 Ma). Its mouthpart morphology indicates a nectarivorous feeding habit, suggesting a role as a pollinator during the Cretaceous. This finding offers critical fossil evidence for the evolution of specialized feeding ecology in lower brachyceran flies and highlights the morphological and ecological diversity of the Apsilocephalidae in the Mesozoic.

**Further notes on Indian Langelurillus Próchniewicz, 1994 (Araneae: Salticidae), with the description of two new species**

2026-04-08T11:33:01+12:00

We describe two new species, Langelurillus sahyadri Sanap, Tripathi, Thackeray & Caleb sp. nov. (♂♀) from Maharashtra and Langelurillus udaipurensis Tripathi, Sanap & Caleb sp. nov. (♂) from Rajasthan. Additionally, the previously unknown females of L. lacteus Sanap, Joglekar & Caleb, 2017 and L. onyx Caleb, Sanap, Joglekar & Prajapati, 2017 are described for the first time. Detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations, diagnostic comparisons of the studied species, and a distributional map for all Indian species are provided.

Lathrobium sapaense Tokareva & Bekchiev 2025 is the available name (Staphylinidae: Paederinae)

2026-04-08T11:34:04+12:00