Zootaxa

**Out of the blue: a new blue Lymanopoda butterfly from the páramo of northern Colombia raises questions about disjunct distributions (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)**

TOMASZ W. PYRCZ — 2025-07-07

A new, striking species of satyrine butterfly, Lymanopoda chysquyco sp. nov. (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae, Satyrini, Pronophilina) is described from the Páramo de Guerrero, the northern extremity of high-altitude grasslands in the Colombian Eastern Cordillera. Among approximately 70 known Lymanopoda species, only five exhibit blue colour on the upperside of their wings, with no evidence of close relationships among them. The new species superficially resembles L. samius Westwood which occurs parapatrically at slightly lower elevations and belongs to a distantly related lineage within the genus. Remarkably, external morphology and male genitalia suggest a strong similarity of the new species to L. hazelana found in southern Ecuador and northernmost Peru—over 1300 km away. Molecular analysis using COI barcoding confirms that L. hazelana and a few other closely related species also found in southern Ecuador are the closest known relatives of L. chysquyco sp. nov. This substantial geographic disjunction is unlikely to be a sampling artefact, as intermediate páramo regions of the Eastern and Central Colombian Cordillera and central Ecuador have been extensively surveyed. The origin of L. chysquyco sp. nov. in northern Colombia remains unclear, and two possible scenarios—long-distance dispersal or vicariance accompanied by large-scale extinction in intervening areas—are considered.

Redescription of two species of freshwater crabs from Tanzania, East Africa: Arcopotamonautes unisulcatus (Rathbun, 1933) and A. xiphoidus (Reed & Cumberlidge, 2006) (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae)

NEIL CUMBERLIDGE — 2025-07-07

This work focuses on two little-known species of freshwater crabs from Tanzania, East Africa: Arcopotamonautes unisulcatus (Rathbun, 1933) and A. xiphoidus (Reed & Cumberlidge, 2006) (Potamoidea: Potamonautidae). Both species are redescribed in detail from the examination of type specimens and other available material, supported by diagnoses, illustrations, and a distribution map.

**Three new species of the genus Draconarius Ovtchinnikov, 1999 (Araneae: Agelenidae) from Hunan Province, China**

SONG-LIN LI — 2025-07-07

Three new species of the genus Draconarius Ovtchinnikov, 1999 are described as such: D. circinatus sp. nov. (male, female), D. jiemuxiensis sp. nov. (female) and D. latus sp. nov. (male, female), from Hunan province, China. Detailed descriptions, photos of somatic features and copulatory organs, as well as the distribution map are provided. Nucleotide data for the barcoding gene, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of D. circinatus sp. nov. (male, female) are provided.

The Amphipoda of the remote oceanic archipelago Trindade and Martin Vaz (Brazil). II. Five new species of shallow-water aorid and photid amphipods (Senticaudata: Corophiida)

ELKÊNITA GUEDES-SILVA — 2025-07-07

A wealth of shallow-water amphipod material was obtained during a 12-year survey (2012-2024) in the remote volcanic archipelago Trindade and Martin Vaz (TMV), located some 1200 km off the southeastern Brazilian coast. Three new species from Trindade Island in the genera Colomastix Grube, 1861 (Colomastigidae Chevreux, 1899), Pariphinotus Kunkel, 1910 (Phliantidae Stebbing, 1899) and Eusiroides Stebbing, 1888 (Pontogeneiidae Stebbing, 1906) were recently described, bringing the number of amphipod species from TMV to thirteen. Here we report on five new species from Trindade, three Aoridae Stebbing, 1899 (Bemlos myersi sp. nov., Globosolembos trindadensis sp. nov., Lembos quadrispinosus sp. nov.), and two Photidae Boeck, 1871 (Latigammaropsis oliveirai sp. nov., Latigammaropsis savioi sp. nov.).

**The nomenclature of the Australasian dung beetle genera Mentophilus Castelnau, 1840 and Tesserodon Hope, 1837 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)**

MARIO CUPELLO — 2025-07-07

Mentophilus Castelnau, 1840 and Tesserodon Hope, 1837 are scarabaeine genera endemic to Australia. Whereas the two species of Mentophilus are restricted to the western coast of the country, the 13 species of Tesserodon are much more widespread. The taxonomy and biogeography of these and other Australasian groups have been scrutinized over the past 50 years, but nomenclatural issues still persist. Here, we address them and conclude that: (1) the name “Mentophilus hollandiae Castelnau, 1840”, in use since 1974, is actually unavailable and the valid name for the species is Mentophilus carinatus (Reiche, 1841); (2) under Article 23.9.1 of the Code, precedence between the objective synonyms Aulacium Dejean, 1833, nomen oblitum, and Mentophilus Castelnau, 1840, nomen protectum (type species: Aulacium carinatum Reiche, 1841), is reverted, and the validity of Mentophilus is so preserved; (3) the grammatical gender of Tesserodon is masculine, not neuter as treated since the mid-20^th century, and adjectival specific names in the nominative case must change their endings accordingly; (4) the name “Anisodon Hope, 1837” (nec Lartet, 1851, in Mammalia, nec Rosen, 1905, in Serpentes) is unavailable for failing to comply with Articles 11.5 and 11.6, and so does not threaten the validity of its synonym Tesserodon; (5) the correct original spelling is Tessarodon, a justified emendation established by the original author in an erratum, Tesserodon being formally an incorrect original spelling, thus invalid. To preserve stability, a Case is to be submitted to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature for the conservation of the incorrect spelling; in the meantime, prevailing usage is to be respected. A checklist is presented for all the species of Mentophilus and Tesserodon including information on synonymy, name-bearing types, type localities, and distribution.

**Whistles in the reeds: a new country record of the deeply divergent Gracixalus medogensis, with additional insights on Gracixalus frogs (Rhacophoridae) in India**

TAGE TAJO — 2025-07-07

The poorly known Gracixalus medogensis (Ye and Hu, 1984) was originally described from the Medog region in Tibet, China based on a single specimen. Despite a recently reported new collection from the type locality, knowledge about the species remains limited. During our recent field surveys in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India, we collected new populations of Gracixalus frogs from Tale Valley Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiwarigaon. These were identified as belonging to G. medogensis based on external morphology and genetic evidence, constituting the first record of the species from India. Our matrilineal genealogy further recovers G. medogensis as having a deeply divergent phylogenetic position distinct from all other congeners. Additionally, we present a detailed morphological redescription of the species using multiple specimens. We also provide first insights into the male vocal repertoire in the species and compare it with call properties of other studied congeners. Furthermore, we report additional locality records in Namdapha National Park for G. patkaiensis, which was so far known as the sole representative of the genus in India. We also expand the knowledge on this species’ morphology, including colour variations, natural history, and habitat use. Our study additionally documents an interesting observation of green blood and turquoise bones in G. patkaiensis, making it the first report of this unique characteristic in a species of frog from India. Finally, our findings highlight the need to further investigate not only the diversity of Gracixalus in the northeastern region of India, but also the phylogenetic relationships among members, particularly of G. medogensis, and of Gracixalus sensu lato at large.

**Revisiting subspecies identification of Common Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus): A critical look at Zhang et al. (2008)**

JIN-WOO SEONG — 2025-07-07

Zhang et al. (2008) investigated subspecific variation of Common Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) wintering in Beijing, China, using a partial mtDNA control region (394–395bp), and concluded that two subspecies were present. However, analysis of their raw data revealed mostly double peaks at each nucleotide position, indicating ambiguity in the DNA sequence. These likely arose from a combination of factors, including irregular PCR efficiencies and slight primer mismatches. Zhang et al. (2008) likely misinterpreted these double peaks as evidence of distinct subspecies. This resulted in an inflated number (56) of variation sites. Their interpretation was further confounded by potential issues with their primers, designed from a sequence of F. peregrinus with a one-nucleotide difference. To address these limitations, we sequenced the full mtDNA control region (1,266bp) of 38 Common Kestrel samples using newly designed primers. This analysis yielded clean, single-peak profiles for each sequence, confirming that all samples belonged to F. t. interstinctus. We therefore propose reclassifying these populations as a single subspecies, F. t. interstinctus. Erroneous barcode sequences can distort subspecific identification and population structure, leading to inaccurate data and misleading phylogenetic inferences. Our study underscores the critical need for robust methods to minimize barcode sequencing errors. This would not only ensure accurate phylogenetic inferences for Common Kestrels but also support reliable population genetic studies across diverse taxa.

An off-key anuran singer: an unusual male release call in invasive cane toads in Hawaiʻi

FRANK ALVIN GOZON BAGUIO — 2025-07-07

**First record of the genus Piratula Roewer, 1960 from India, with the description of a new species (Araneae: Lycosidae: Zoicinae)**

PUTHOOR PATTAMMAL SUDHIN — 2025-07-07

Erratum: DESMOND KAI TECK TAN, NOBUO TSURUSAKI, JONATHAN J. FONG & CHAO ZHANG (2025) Reinstatement of the genus Pseudoleiobunum Müller, 1914 with the inclusion of a new species from Hong Kong and reallocation of the Leiobunum maximum species complex (Arachnida: Opiliones: Eupnoi: Sclerosomatidae). Zootaxa, 5646 (3): 301–343.

DESMOND KAI TECK TAN — 2025-07-07