Zootaxa

An integrative account of three new land flatworms from São Tomé Island, Gulf of Guinea, with the first molecular assessment of the phylogenetic position of the genus Othelosoma (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae)

2026-05-28T11:53:10+12:00

Three new species of land flatworm of the genus Othelosoma are described from the island of São Tomé, Gulf of Guinea. Specimens were collected from ten localities during field surveys in 2016 and 2023 and examined using morphological, histological and molecular techniques. For the first time, molecular data (mitochondrial COI, nuclear 18S and 28S ribosomal markers) were obtained for the genus Othelosoma, allowing determination of its close relationship with another genus of Microplaninae, Microplana.

**New findings on tropical Seira Lubbock (Collembola: Entomobryidae: Seirinae): new species, synonyms, records and revision of the status of S. dowlingi Wray**

2026-05-28T11:54:38+12:00

Here, we describe two new species of Seira Lubbock from northeastern Brazil, S. rudynunesi sp. nov., from Piauí State, and S. ridleyi sp. nov., from Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. Both species differ from their congeners in several characteristics, including two that are common to Lepidocyrtinus Börner, 1903, like blunt mac on the furcula in the first species, and unguis outer teeth developed in the second species, but due to the presence/absence of other characteristics, they better resemble Seira Lubbock, 1870 taxa. Furthermore, due to a lack of evidence that Seira musarum (Ridley, 1890) belongs to Seira, it is herein proposed as a species inquirenda. Consequently, Seira dowlingi (Wray, 1953) stat. rev., which was recently synonymized, is revalidated here, including a new junior synonym for it, Seira delamarei Jacquemart, 1980 syn. nov. (in 1980a), based on morphological and molecular data. Finally, Seira brasiliana (Arlé, 1939) is recorded here for the first time from Fernando de Noronha. With our data, the archipelago now increases from 32 to 34 nominal species records, four of which are endemic, while the number of valid Seira species in Brazil rises from 24 to 26. Seira atrolutea (Arlé, 1939), S. brasiliana, S. dowlingi stat. rev. and S. ridleyi sp. nov., are now the species of the genus recorded in Fernando de Noronha Island.

Polyplacophora from the southwestern Adriatic Sea, with the description of three new species

2026-05-28T11:55:51+12:00

The examination of chitons (Polyplacophora) associated with sandy bioclastic sediments collected in the southwestern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Basin) revealed the presence of three previously undescribed species: Leptochiton elisabettae sp. nov., L. gaiae sp. nov., and Ischnochiton falkori sp. nov. The latter two species preserve dried soft parts, allowing preliminary anatomical observations, particularly of the girdle. In addition, the studied sediments yielded valves of rare and recently described taxa (Leptochiton antondhorni, L. salicensis and Ischnochiton sigwartae), enabling refinement of their shell morphological characters. Notably, some species identified in these submerged deposits known only from disarticulated valves (L. salicensis and I. sigwartae) had been previously recorded exclusively from onshore Pleistocene deposits of Italy. Their presence in the Recent Mediterranean fauna remains unconfirmed and has so far been interpreted as representing palimpsest late Pleistocene fossils within this basin. The Polyplacophoran fauna of the Mediterranean basin presently comprises approximately 50 species, including a few taxa known only from putative last-glacial fossil records. It is foreseeable that this number will increase further, owing to more in-depth investigation of previously poorly explored habitats, not only in deep-sea environments, and to the increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques.

Low genetic variation and morphological uniformity throughout the Congolian forest zone do not support the validity of Cryptothylax minutus Laurent, 1976 (Anura: Hyperoliidae), rendering the genus Cryptothylax monotypic

2026-05-28T11:57:07+12:00

Central Africa is characterized by exceptionally high amphibian diversity, including members of the family Hyperoliidae, a group restricted to sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and the Seychelles. The genus Cryptothylax is easily recognized from other hyperoliids by its brownish-orange (males) to orange-red (females) colouration and the typical large gular gland covering the entire throat of males. The genus presently contains two recognized species, the large-bodied and widespread C. greshoffii and the small-bodied C. minutus, a supposed endemic of the Lake Tumba region in the western Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cryptothylax greshoffii is a common inhabitant of open sites in the Congolian forest zone, typically riverbanks, while C. minutus has not been recorded since 1955, when its type series was collected from open habitats at two sites near Mabali, eastern Lake Tumba area. The latter taxon was described by its collector after >20 years (1976), but since the description its species status has been disputed as the only ‘clear’ diagnostic feature is its smaller size. During a recent field survey at the type locality, a series of small-bodied adult Cryptothylax individuals corresponding to C. minutus was collected. Here, we present molecular and morphological investigations of the newly collected material in comparison with C. greshoffii from across its range and morphological comparisons with the holotype of C. minutus. Molecular analyses uncovered low genetic variation across the genus’ range, including shared alleles in both mitochondrial and nuclear markers between the small and large Cryptothylax, confirming their conspecificity. Morphometric analyses also found no significant differences except for the body size. Therefore, we place C. minutus in the synonymy of C. greshoffii, making the genus Cryptothylax monotypic. We also document small adult individuals of C. greshoffii from other distant areas in the Congo Basin. Whether the small body size represents a young age cohort or an ecological morphotype remains a subject for further research.

**Discovery of the genus Pseudomegischus van Achterberg together with a new species from Vietnam (Hymenoptera, Stephanidae)**

2026-05-28T11:58:21+12:00

The crown wasp genus Pseudomegischus van Achterberg, 2002, is newly reported from Vietnam with a new species, Pseudomegischus vietnamiensis Ge & Tan, sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Stephanidae) described. A key to the species of the genus Pseudomegischus is provided.

Tiunatermes tapirape (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae): description of a new species and the imago for the genus

2026-05-28T11:59:40+12:00

Tiunatermes tapirape, sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on morphological characters of the reproductive, soldier, and worker castes. Specimens were collected from the Brazilian savannah (Cerrado sensu stricto) in Goiás and Distrito Federal, and the Brazilian ombrophilous forest in Pará and Mato Grosso, thus broadening the geographical distribution of the genus. The reproductive caste was previously unknown for Tiunatermes Carrijo, Cuezzo & Santos. Tiunatermes tapirape, sp. nov., differs from the formerly described species, Tiunatermes mariuzani Carrijo, Cuezzo & Santos, mostly in the broader head and nasus of its soldiers.

**First record of the genus Ammoplanus Giraud, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Pemphredoninae) from the Oriental region, with the descriptions of three new species from India**

2026-05-28T12:00:56+12:00

The genus Ammoplanus Giraud, 1869 is reported for the first time from the Oriental region based on specimens collected from Kerala, India. Three new species—A. clypeatus Tessy, Girish Kumar & Sureshan, A. luteus Tessy, Girish Kumar & Sureshan, and A. striatus Tessy, Girish Kumar & Sureshan—are described and illustrated. A key to the Oriental Ammoplanus is provided.

**A new species of Rhynchina Guenée, 1854 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Hypeninae) from Yunnan Province, China**

2026-05-28T12:02:16+12:00

**A new subspecies of Mydosama georgi Aoki & Uémura, 1982 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) from Mt. Tapulao, Luzon, Philippines**

2026-05-28T12:03:36+12:00

**Revalidation of the genus Oreodaimon Greenwood & Jubb, 1967 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), a distinct tetraploid smiliogastrin lineage from southern Africa**

2026-05-28T12:04:53+12:00