Zootaxa

New species and occurrences of deep-sea Asteroidea (Forcipulatacea, Valvatida, Paxillosida) from the Pacific continental margin of Costa Rica

CHRISTOPHER L. MAH — 2026-07-06

Deep-sea settings in the Eastern Tropical Pacific remain a poorly understood region with many further species awaiting discovery. Herein, four new species from Costa Rica are described from deep-sea habitats. New occurrences with in situ or living observations are made for eight species. New observations of hippasterine corallivory on deep-sea octocorals are included. A brief summary of Costa Rican species is presented.

**The genus Epsilon de Saussure in the Malay Archipelago (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae)**

MARCO SELIS — 2026-07-06

The species of the genus Epsilon de Saussure, 1855 occurring in the Malay Archipelago are reviewed. Four new species are described, namely Epsilon bertschi sp. nov. (Lesser Sunda Islands: Sumba), Epsilon latefasciatum sp. nov. (Java), Epsilon perforatum sp. nov. (Sulawesi) and Epsilon tigrinum sp. nov. (New Guinea). Epsilon grandipunctatum Gusenleitner, 1996 syn. nov. is synonymized under Epsilon dyscherum (de Saussure, 1853), and Epsilon manifestum crassipunctatum Gusenleitner, 1991 is raised to species rank (Epsilon crassipunctatum stat. nov.). Photographic reference for each species and an identification key are provided.

**Descriptions of two new species of Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) and a new record from Iran**

MOHSEN ASGARI — 2026-07-06

The genus Aporcelinus Andrássy, 2009 currently includes 33 valid species worldwide, although its diversity in Iran remains insufficiently explored. During nematological surveys conducted in forest habitats of northern Iran, three populations of Aporcelinus were recovered from soil and moss samples and studied using detailed morphological and morphometric analyses. The study revealed two new species, Aporcelinus nebulosus sp. nov. from Abr Forest, Semnan Province, and A. taromensis sp. nov. from Tarom region, Zanjan Province, as well as the first Iranian record of A. infundibulicaudatus (Andrássy 1991) Andrássy, 2009 from Saravan Forest Park, Gilan Province. Aporcelinus nebulosus sp. nov. is characterized by a 1.85–2.10 mm long body, lip region offset by constriction, odontostyle 22–25 μm long, simple tube-like uterus, conical tail with finely rounded terminus and inconspicuous dorsal concavity, spicule 73 μm long, and 13 ventromedian supplements. Aporcelinus taromensis sp. nov. is characterized by a 1.97–2.42 mm long body, lip region offset by constriction, odontostyle 21–23 μm long, tripartite uterus, conical tail with finely rounded tip and distinct hyaline region (48–68 μm, c′ = 1.4–2.0), spicules 73–86 μm long, and 16–21 ventromedian supplements. Detailed descriptions, morphometrics, line drawings, and photomicrographs are provided for all studied populations, and the new species are compared with their closest congeners. An updated account of the genus Aporcelinus in Iran is also presented.

**Historical evidence for provenance and collectors of holotypes of the north-western Australian red-faced turtles Emydura australis and E. victoriae (Testudines: Chelidae)**

IAN SMALES — 2026-07-06

Taxonomic definitions are independent of zoological nomenclature, but names are vital to clear communication about taxonomic entities. Name-bearing type specimens provide the ultimate reference for names applied to species, but when a type specimen is accompanied by poor or vague information about its provenance its value for that purpose may be significantly diminished. John Edward Gray described the Australian red-faced turtle as Emydura australis in 1841. In the following year he described Emydura victoriae also from northern Australia. While the description of E. australis said the type specimen was from the vague area of “Western Australia?” subsequent publications by Gray variously repeated that information or suggested it might have come from the Victoria River in modern Northern Territory or from the distant Macquarie River in the south-east of Australia. This has resulted in much confusion about which name to apply to these turtles, to the point where many authors have ignored the name E. australis in favour of E. victoriae, a species described later but with the precise collection locality of Victoria River in modern Northern Territory. Here we present a detailed investigation of historical information about the few potential collectors of the E. australis type specimen and the locations they visited where the specimen could have been obtained. On the basis of that evidence, we restrict the type locality of E. australis to a relatively small area including just three rivers of the western Kimberley region of Western Australia. By way of additional evidence, we compare a limited range of morphological parameters of the E. australis type specimen with extant Emydura from two of those rivers and that of E. victoriae. We also resolve conflicting early information about the collector of the E. victoriae type specimen. Information we provide about provenance and thus status of E. australis offers a basis for improved communication about biology and taxonomy of the red-faced turtles of north-western Australia.

**A new species of orb-weaver genus Argiope Audouin, 1826 from West Kalimantan, Indonesia, with notes on a new synonymy of Gea spinipes C. L. Koch, 1843 (Araneae: Araneidae)**

NAUFAL URFI DHIYA’ULHAQ — 2026-07-06

Recent biodiversity expeditions in Danau Sentarum National Park and Betung Kerihun National Park, West Kalimantan, Indonesia have yielded significant findings in the genus Argiope Audouin, 1826. We described Argiope songketica sp. nov. (♂, ♀) and provided detailed descriptions with high-quality photographs of both sexes. Additionally, we report the first record of Argiope versicolor (Doleschall, 1859) and Gea spinipes C. L. Koch, 1843 in the National Parks, extending their known distribution range. Finally, we propose Argiope sapoa Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 as junior synonym of Gea spinipes C. L. Koch, 1843. These findings highlight the arachnological significance of protected areas in Borneo and contribute to the knowledge of Southeast Asian araneids.

**A critically endangered new species of Dryadobates (Anura: Aromobatidae) from Espírito Santo, Brazil**

MAX HIDEKI OLIVEIRA HOMMA — 2026-07-06

We describe a new species of Dryadobates known exclusively from a small (0.384 km²) and shrinking forest fragment between the neighborhoods of Costa Bela and Praia de Capuba, Serra, Espírito Santo, Brazil. In addition to genetic differences, the new species is diagnosed by its small size, white or pale ventral coloration on the thighs in life, white ventral coloration in males in life, posteriorly diffuse ventrolateral stripe in females in life, presence of webbing between toes II and III, and absence of isolated advertisement calls. Progressive habitat loss at the type locality has resulted in a 30% reduction in the forest fragment at the type locality from 0.543 km² in 2011 to 0.384 km² in 2025. We surveyed another forest fragment near the type locality but failed to detect additional individuals, leading us to classify the new species as Critically Endangered due to its extremely limited distribution (< 1 km²) and ongoing anthropogenic pressure at the type locality. We also reanalyzed the advertisement calls of D. alagoanus to enable comparisons, finding that it produces notes emitted both in isolation and groups.

Liropus tenebris, a new species of caprellid (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from the middle mesophotic zone of Bahía de Banderas, Mexican Pacific

CRISTIAN M. GALVÁN-VILLA — 2026-07-06

A new species of the genus Liropus Mayer (Caprellidae) is described based on material collected from the middle mesophotic zone of southern Bahía de Banderas, Jalisco, Mexico. Specimens were found associated with gorgonians and sponges from a vertical rocky wall at 60–70 m depth. The new species, Liropus tenebris sp. nov., can be distinguished from all its congeners mainly by a head without projections; eyes present but not clearly distinguishable; antenna 1 flagellum five-articulate; antenna 2 flagellum two-articulate; body dorsally smooth; pereonite 2 with a pair of anterolateral projections in males; gnathopod 2 basis slightly curved, smooth as long as pereonite 2; pereopods 3 and 4 one-articulate; pereopod 5 two-articulate; abdomen without appendages in males. This is the fourth species of Liropus recorded in the Mexican Pacific and the Eastern Pacific.

**A new species of Bocydium Latreille and new records of Stegaspidinae (Hemiptera: Membracidae) for Colombia**

SANTIAGO QUINTERO-M — 2026-07-06

A new species of Bocydium from Colombia, Bocydium yarumalense Quintero-M & Flórez-V, sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on adult morphology. The new species belongs to the trans-Andean Bocydium group, distributed west of the Tropical Andes, and an identification key to the trans-Andean species of Bocydium, including the new species, is provided. New biological records for Bocydium sanmiguelense are presented, expanding current knowledge of its natural history. Bocydium bilobum is recorded from Colombia for the first time, and its biology and nymph are described and illustrated. Additionally, the genera Flexocentrus and Tumecauda are recorded from Colombia for the first time; the latter represents the first record of the tribe Microcentrini in Colombia.

**A new species of cloud fish of the genus Cynolebias (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the upper rio Jaguaribe basin, in the Brazilian semiarid**

TELTON P. A. RAMOS — 2026-07-06

In 2021, through the social media, a new record of Cynolebias was reported in the upper rio Jaguaribe basin in Ceará State (CE), northeastern Brazil. Previously, Cynolebias microphthalmus was the only species of the genus from the Northeastern Caatinga and Coastal Drainages hydrographic ecoregion, known from the seasonal pools of the rio Apodi-Mossoró basin in Rio Grande do Norte State and in the lower rio Jaguaribe basin (CE). Based on morphological and molecular data (mitochondrial DNA sequences), we concluded that the recent record represents a new species, described herein as Cynolebias penaforte sp. nov.. It differs from all congeners by absence of contact organs on inner surface pectoral fin-rays in males, and by presenting higher number of supraorbital scales, dorsal-fin origin through base of 8th anal-fin ray, and higher number of neuromasts in anterior rostral, otic, and post-otic series. The new species was only recorded in a temporary pool close to the rio São Francisco inter-basin water transfer channels, highlighting the possible impact of changes in the hydrologic cycles to the Brazilian semiarid seasonal killifishes. Finally, the description of this species was only possible due to the citizen science provided by two residents of the municipality in which the species was discovered.

**A new species of the genus Hemacroneuria (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from China, with a supplementary description of H. baotianmana Chen & Hou, 2020**

XINYI WANG — 2026-07-06

A new species of Hemacroneuria Enderlein, 1909, H. yintiaolingensis sp. nov., from Chongqing Municipality of southwestern China is described, illustrated and compared with related congeners. A supplementary description and additional images are provided for H. baotianmana Chen & Hou, 2020.

**The ground beetle genus Dinopelma Bates from Mindanao, with description of a new species, and a new synonymy (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Ctenodactylinae: Hexagoniini)**

OLDŘICH HOVORKA — 2026-07-06

Dinopelma Bates, 1889 species from Mindanao Island, Philippines, are reviewed. Examination of material representing the two species previously described from Mindanao showed that they represent immature and mature forms of the same species. Therefore, the following synonymy is established: Dinopelma lineola Andrewes, 1932 = D. marginatum Andrewes, 1932 syn. nov. Dinopelma pandanicola sp. nov. is described from two localities on Mindanao Island. Owing to the absence of basolateral pronotal setae, the new species resembles D. angustum Andrewes, 1931 from Borneo, but it differs in its larger body size, more broadly rounded lateral margins of the pronotum, and male genitalia. A lectotype is designated for D. marginatum Andrewes, 1932. The two species currently known from Mindanao are diagnosed, and their habitus and male genitalia are illustrated. We also briefly discuss characters distinguishing the genera Dinopelma and Hexagonia Kirby, 1825. Leaf axils of various Pandanaceae are recorded as a preferred habitat of hexagoniine ground beetles in Mindanao.

**Far from home: a new grass-feeding Chirothrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) from South Brazil**

ADRIANO CAVALLERI — 2026-07-06

Chirothrips (Thripidae) includes 44 species, all presumably associated with florets of Poaceae. Most species were described from the Old World, although a few are also known from the Nearctic region. In this study, a new species from the grasslands of southern Brazil, but likely of African origin, is described. Chirothrips longiventralis sp. nov. is characterized by antennal segment II symmetrical and not laterally projected, simple sense cones on antennal segments III–IV, and a slender and acuminate abdomen.