Zootaxa

**The epigean and subterranean pseudoscorpions of the genus Roncus from Sicily, with description of new species (Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae)**

GIULIO GARDINI — 2026-03-03

A taxonomic revision of the epigean and subterranean species of Roncus L. Koch, 1873 from Sicily is proposed and a key is provided that also includes the two subterranean species of the genus from Malta (Roncus melitensis Gardini & Rizzerio, 1987) and Tunisia (Roncus comasi Mahnert, 1985). The following new species are described: Roncus bavierai sp. nov. (♂♀, loc. typ.: Palermo Province, Piana degli Albanesi, Grotta del Garrone 160 Si/PA), Roncus gallettiae sp. nov. (♂♀, loc. typ.: Ragusa Province, Ragusa, Dolina di Galermi 6020 Si/RG), Roncus hyblaeus sp. nov. (♂♀, loc. typ.: Syracuse Province, Melilli, Grotta Villasmundo 7032 Si/SR), Roncus magrinii sp. nov. (♂♀, loc. typ.: Trapani Province, Custonaci, Grotta della Clava 8073 Si/TP) and Roncus nicolosii sp. nov. (♂♀, loc. typ.: Syracuse Province, Syracuse, Grotta del Conzo 7005 Si/SR). The following new subjective synonymy is proposed: Roncus carusoi Gardini & Rizzerio, 1987 syn. nov. of Roncus siculus Beier, 1963.

**A new species of Takydromus (Squamata: Lacertidae) from northeast India**

BASUNDHARA CHETTRI — 2026-03-03

The diversity of lizards in the northeast Indian biodiversity hotspot is underestimated, as evidenced by many new species recorded in recent years. Here, we describe a new species of Takydromus from Ultapani, Kokrajhar District, Assam, India. This newly identified species is distinguished from its relatives in its distinctive morphological features and significant genetic variation in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA and COI genes. We have also added the missing molecular data for T. sikkimensis and T. khasiensis. In the light of these new data, we discuss the phylogenetic relationships of Takydromus species from the Indian subcontinent with their congeners.

**New record of the genus Eudemopsis Falkovitsh (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae) from India, with description of two new species**

SHASHANK P. R. — 2026-03-03

The genus Eudemopsis Falkovitsh, 1962 (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae) is recorded for the first time from India, based on the discovery of two new species, Eudemopsis hunliensis sp. nov. and Eudemopsis gobuka sp. nov. Detailed descriptions and diagnostic characters are provided, along with illustrations of adults and their genitalia. A checklist of the known species within the genus, accompanied by a taxonomic key that facilitates identification.

Two new species and a new genus of soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) from the Brazilian Cerrado

TAKUMASA KONDO — 2026-03-03

Two new species of soft scale insect (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) from the Brazilian Cerrado are described and illustrated based on the adult females. A new monotypic genus, Cerradococcus Kondo, Pacheco da Silva & Peronti, gen. nov., is erected to accommodate Cerradococcus gillianwatsonae Kondo, Pacheco da Silva & Peronti, sp. nov., found on leaves of Didymopanax vinosus (Cham. & Schltdl.) Marchal (Araliaceae). In addition, a new species of Philephedra Cockerell, 1898, Philephedra paralutea Kondo & Pacheco da Silva, sp. nov., found on an undetermined host plant, is described. Philephedra zipolitana Gavrilov-Zimin, 2023 is sunk as a junior synonym of Philephedra parvula (Cockerell, 1899), syn. nov. A diagnosis for the genus Philephedra and an updated key to species in the genus are also provided.

**New species of the genera Glyptothorax (Teleostei: Sisoridae) and Oreichthys (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from Nagaland, Northeast India**

JAYASIMHAN PRAVEENRAJ — 2026-03-03

Two new species of fishes are described from the tributaries of the Brahmaputra River in Nagaland, Northeast India. Glyptothorax sentimereni, described from the Dikhu River, is distinguished from congeners in having the following combination of characters: ventral surfaces of pectoral spine and first pelvic-fin ray with plicae, serrated posterior edge of dorsal-fin spine, thoracic adhesive apparatus completely encinctured by striae, length of dorsal-fin spine 13.7–16.1% SL, body depth at anus 17.1–19.6% SL, length of dorsal-fin base 12.0–13.1% SL, post-adipose distance 20.8–22.2% SL, head depth 16.5–17.0% SL and dorsal-to-adipose distance 21.8–23.5% SL. Oreichthys elianae, described from the Tsurang River, is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters that include 19+1 scales (with 5 pored scales) in longitudinal series, ½3/1/2½ scales in transverse row, 9 predorsal scales, 14–15 pores on cheek, a black spot on the caudal-fin base, and reddish fins.

**A new small Drawida Michaelsen, 1900 (Clitellata: Moniligastridae) species from the Western Ghats of Kerala State, India**

RAJENDRAN MENON ARDRA — 2026-03-03

The genus Drawida Michaelsen, 1900, is a large genus naturally restricted to the South, Southeast and East Asian region, with three widespread cosmopolitan species. A new earthworm species of Drawida namely, D. vazhania Ardra & Narayanan, sp. nov., is described from materials collected from the Vazhani Dam area situated in Thrissur District of the Kerala state, south-western India. With small body size, position of the secondary male apertures between setal lines BC, presence of genital tumescence in male field, eversible penes, glandular prostates, with distinct spermathecal atrium and absence of internal accessory glands associated with genital tumescence, the new species belongs to Barwelli species group. Together with the new species described herein, this group has a total of seven species. Among the congeners of the group, D. vazhania sp. nov. shows close similarity with D. barwelli (Beddard, 1886). D. vazhania sp. nov. can be easily differentiated from the other members of the Barwelli species group by the presence of grooved male genital field, by the kidney or bean-shaped prostate and narrow tubular, C-shaped prostatic capsule and distinct small, sessile atrium on body wall. Present work provides detailed description of the external and internal characteristics, images, illustrations of the key features and with a distributional map. With the new finding, a total number of Drawida species found in India and the Western Ghats Biodiversity hotspot has gone up to 82 and 54 respectively.

**A new species of Platydecticus (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from the Coastal Atacama Desert in Chile**

ALEJANDRO VERA SÁNCHEZ — 2026-03-03

Platydecticus pasaptur sp. nov. is described based on both males and females. The species is easily distinguishable by the following combination of characters: narrow and sulcate fastigium; in males, the subgenital plate unmodified, broad pseudocercus, short cerci and titillator median lobe digitiform, sulcate, and covered with black spines. COI gene of one specimen is included as genotype of the species. The peculiar habitat and distribution of this small species is discussed as one of the northernmost distribution within the genus.

**A second species of Humorolethalis Robinson, Li & Yeates, 2020 from Australia (Diptera: Asilidae: Brachyrhopalinae)**

GREG DANIELS — 2026-03-03

Dasypogon analis Macquart, 1850 (= Dasypogon tasmanicus Koçak & Kemal, 2008 syn. nov.), is transferred to Humorolethalis Robinson, Li & Yeates, 2020. The type locality ‘Tasmanie’ as published by Macquart is considered to be incorrect and is more likely to be South East Queensland. A key is presented to distinguish Macquart’s species from the only other described species, H. sergius (Walker, 1849). The female is described and illustrated.

**A new species of Ammonicera (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) from Sesoko Island (Okinawa Prefecture, Japan)**

ALEXEI V. CHERNYSHEV — 2026-03-03