Zootaxa

A new stygobitic genus and species of Cyclopinae (Crustacea, Copepoda, Cyclopoida), from the epikarst of Scrivilleri Cave, Sicily (Italy)

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

A new genus and species of Cyclopinae, Korecyclops alpha gen. nov. sp. nov., is described based on specimens retrieved from the epikarstic drip collecting in a rimstone pool of a Sicilian cave (Southern Italy). The new monotypic genus is characterized by the number of spines and setae on second segments of Exp P1–P4: 3.3.3.2, and 5.5.5.5, respectively; and by the number of spines and setae on second segments of Enp P1–P4: 1.1.1.1 and 4.5.5.4, respectively. Korecyclops alpha gen. nov. sp. nov. is an epikarstic, stygobitic species whose morphological characters associated with the size and oligomerisation of the appendages, relate it to the Microcyclops group Pesce 1996, as recently discussed by Boonyanusith et al. (2018), to the Metacyclops complex Karanovic et al. 2011, and to Pseudohesperocyclops Brancelj, Boonyanusith & Sanoamuang 2024. The strongest morphological affinities of the new species are with the genus Pseudohesperocyclops, but the two genera differ in the spinal formula of P1–P4 exp-2 and in the setal formula of P1–P4 enp-2, in the position and length ration of the ornamentation of P5 exopodal seta and spine, in the body shape and spermatophore shape. Korecyclops alpha gen. nov. sp. nov. represents a contribution to the knowledge of the diversity and of the low-range endemism of the groundwater taxa of the Sicilian karst; the discovery of this new genus reinforces the need of further investigating and protecting the epikarstic and karstic habitats. Some peculiar morphological and ethological adaptations of copepod fauna to life and colonization of the epikarst are presented and discussed. The existing species list of Sicily is updated by presenting unpublished data on the crustacean populations of groundwater of Sicily and some circum-Sicilian islands.

**Two new species of Aricidea (Aricidea) (Annelida: Paraonidae) from the Andaman coast and the Gulf of Thailand**

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

Two new species of Paraonidae, Aricidea (Aricidea) pacharaphoni sp. nov., and A. (A.) sathingpra sp. nov., are described from the Southwestern Pacific. Aricidea (A.) pacharaphoni sp. nov., collected in the Andaman Coast and the Gulf of Thailand, is clearly distinguished from other species of Aricidea (Aricidea) by having an elongate, faintly annulated median antenna extending to chaetigers 3–7; chaetiger 3 with distinctive globose notopodial postchaetal lobes with long digitiform terminal tips; two types of branchiae, strap-like and foliaceous; and two types of modified neurochaetae, pseudocompound and stout acicular. Aricidea (A.) sathingpra sp. nov., was collected in the Gulf of Thailand and belongs to the articulated antenna group, being separated from all other species of this subgenus by having a triarticulated antenna; pair of distinctive round furrow protuberances on the prostomium; and 6–7 pairs of wide foliaceous branchiae. We suggested that the modification and shape of the notopodial postchaetal lobes in chaetiger 3 are an important morphological character to differentiate the species of this subgenus. Molecular phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses, based on cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences support the recognition of Aricidea (A.) pacharaphoni sp. nov., as a distinct species. A taxonomic key for all world species of Aricidea (Aricidea) is included.

**The thistle flies of the genus Chaetostomella (Diptera: Tephritidae: Terelliini) from Morocco, with a reference to European and Asian fauna**

YOUNES EL HARYM, ANDRII M. TROSHYN, ROBERT SCHREIBER, VALERY A. KORNEYEV — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

The genus Chaetostomella Hendel, 1927 (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the fauna of Morocco is reviewed based on integrative morphological and molecular analyses. Phylogenetic reconstruction using a 657 COI barcoding sequences strongly supports the monophyly of the genus and resolves Chaetostomella steropea as the basalmost lineage, sister to the recently radiated Chaetostomella cylindrica species complex. Two species, Chaetostomella kitanea sp. nov. (reared from Cynara scolymus and Carthamus pectinatus), and Chaetostomella maroccana sp. nov. (reared from Mantisalca salmantica and Ptilostemon rhiphaeus) are described. Despite showing low genetic divergence from C. cylindrica, which indicates their evolutionary youth, both new species exhibit stable diagnostic morphological characters and geographic isolation. Chaetostomella steropea (Rondani, 1870) is redescribed based on specimens reared from Chamaeleon gummifer, representing its first record for North Africa. Tephritis algira Macquart, 1843 is considered a nomen dubium. A preliminary key to the species of Chaetostomella and remarks on the morphology, distribution and examined material of some little-known non-Moroccan species are provided.

**The first new species of Oxydromus (Annelida: Hesionidae) from the China Seas**

QIAN JIANG, YINGLU JI, CHAOYANG LI, YADONG ZHOU, BINRUO WANG, ZHI WANG — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

Oxydromus chinensis sp. nov., a new hesionid species collected from Fujian Province, China, was established based on both morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The new species is characterized by having no pigmentation on the body dorsum, double aciculae in both notopodia and neuropodia, and unidentate neuropodial chaetae with partly curved distal ends. Multigene phylogenetic analysis based on five genes (COI, 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and histone H3) supports the independent status of the new species. The partial gene sequences of COI diverged from those of the nearest relative species of Oxydromus in GenBank and BOLD Systems by 22.7%. An updated key to Oxydromus species is provided.

**Revalidation of Trox raduloides Kolbe, 1904 as a distinct species from Omorgus (Afromorgus) tuberosus (Klug, 1855) (Coleoptera: Trogidae), and description of two new species**

WERNER P. STRÜMPHER, VINÍCIUS DA COSTA-SILVA — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

Omorgus (Afromorgus) tuberosus (Klug, 1855) has long been regarded as a widespread species in the Afrotropical Region, with Trox raduloides Kolbe, 1904 treated as its junior synonym. However, discrepancies observed in the morphology of type specimens, most notably in the structure of the male genitalia, suggest that O. (A.) tuberosus represents a species complex rather than a single variable species. In this study, we re-examined the type material of O. (A.) tuberosus and T. raduloides, together with additional specimens from museum collections, to clarify the taxonomy and morphological variation within O. (A.) tuberosus sensu lato. Consistent differences in external morphology and aedeagal structure support the reinstatement of T. raduloides as a valid species, here transferred to the genus Omorgus (subgenus Afromorgus). Two additional species closely allied to O. (A.) tuberosus, O. (A.) abyssiniensis Strümpher & Costa-Silva, sp. nov. and O. (A.) scholtzi Strümpher & Costa-Silva, sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Our examination further revealed a high incidence of misidentifications in museum material, largely attributable to inadequate specimen preparation and the historical underuse of male genital characters. By clarifying diagnostic characters, stabilising nomenclature, and recognising previously overlooked diversity, this study provides a more robust species framework for the Omorgus tuberosus species complex and highlights the need for continued revisionary work within Afrotropical representatives of the subgenus Afromorgus. An updated checklist of Afrotropical Afromorgus species, differential diagnoses and distribution map for the treated taxa is provided.

**A new species of deep-sea fouling Hyalopomatus (Annelida: Serpulidae) from the Mexican Pacific**

MARÍA ANA TOVAR-HERNÁNDEZ, MICHEL E. HENDRICKX, GREG W. ROUSE — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

A new species of tubeworm belonging to the genus Hyalopomatus (Serpulidae) is described from the southern Mexican Pacific. It was found in 2024 attached to a seismograph at nearly 1000 m depth. The new species possesses distinctive features that separate it from the 17 species of this genus currently recognized, including: a white, opaque, smooth tube, with anterior collar-like shallow rings; a tetra-lobed collar; thoracic membranes extending to the second chaetiger; absence of an anterior abdominal achaetous zone; a spherical operculum, with a slightly differentiated distal cap; and a smooth, not annulated, junction between the peduncle and the operculum. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the new species forms a clade with some other Hyalopomatus species (H. mironovi, H. suelindsayae and H. sp. 1 Jaco Summit) but does not group with an undescribed species from the Gulf of California (H. sp. Guaymas Basin).

**Two new species of Kleemannia (Acari: Ameroseiidae) from the Northern Hill Region of West Bengal**

PAYEL KAR, KRISHNA KARMAKAR — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

We describe two new species of mites in the genus Kleemannia Oudemans (Acari: Ameroseiidae). Kleemannia darjeelingensis sp. nov. and Kleemannia takdahensis sp. nov. are described from specimens collected from moss in medium to high-altitude forest zones of West Bengal, an area that has not been previously explored with regard to ameroseiid diversity.

**The genus Orthocis Casey in Poland: a key to species and new records of Orthocis juglandis (Reitter, 1885) and Orthocis perrisi (Abeille de Perrin, 1874) (Coleoptera: Ciidae)**

ROMAN KRÓLIK, RAFAŁ RUTA, MAREK WANAT — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

A key to identification of Orthocis recorded in Poland is provided and supplemented with high quality photographs. New records of Orthocis juglandis (Reitter, 1885) in Poland and the first record of Orthocis perrisi (Abeille de Perrin, 1874) in Poland are reported. Orthocis pseudolinearis (Lohse, 1965) is excluded from Polish fauna; previous records were based on misidentifications.

Allostrophus tui sp. nov.: A new fossil species of polypore fungus beetle from the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (Coleoptera, Tetratomidae, Eustrophinae)

YUN HSIAO — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

Tetratomidae is a small family of fungivorous beetles, comprising approximately 150 extant species in 13 genera and five subfamilies worldwide. Its fossil record is limited, with only seven named species from the Mesozoic and five from the Cenozoic. In the present study, the third species of the extinct eustrophine genus Allostrophus Hsiao, Ślipiński, Yu, Deng & Pang, 2018, A. tui sp. nov., is described from mid‐Cretaceous (Cenomanian, ca. 99 Ma) Kachin amber, northern Myanmar. The new species closely resembles A. cretaceus Hsiao, Ślipiński, Yu, Deng & Pang, 2018 in general appearance, but can be distinguished by its characteristic antennae, elytra, tibiae and tarsi. The discovery provides further data for completing the generic definition of Allostrophus and underscores the diversification of this small tenebrionoid family at both generic and species levels by the mid‐Cretaceous.

Spectrolebias pantanalensis, a new cloud fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the Pantanal wetland, upper rio Paraguai basin, Brazil

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

A new species of the cloud fish genus Spectrolebias is described from temporary pools of the upper rio Paraguai basin, Mato Grosso state, Brazil, in the Pantanal wetland Biome. Spectrolebias pantanalensis sp. nov. is distinguished from other species of the genus by a unique color pattern in males and females. Spectrolebias pantanalensis is placed within the Spectrolebias chacoensis species group, representing the first species of this group described from Brazil. Its discovery extends the known range of the group, previously recorded only in Bolivia and Paraguay, and provides further evidence for the shared biogeographic history between the rio Paraguai and rio Guaporé/Río Iténez basins.

**A new species of the genus Lucanus Scopoli, 1763 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Lucaninae) from southwestern China**

YI-TENG LI, YU-ZHOU HUANG, YI-FAN WANG, ZHI-HONG ZHAN — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200

A new stag beetle species, Lucanus langya Li, Huang, Wang & Zhan, sp. nov., is described from Yunnan, China. Morphological differences between this new species and its closely related congeners L. prossi Zilioli, 2000 and L. dirki Schenk, 2002 are presented. Comprehensive illustrations are also provided for all three species, including habitus of males of different sizes, diagnostic characters, and male genitalia.

**One new species of the genus Neophlugiolopsis Pan & Bian, 2024 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae) from Guangxi, China**

ZIJIAN XIONG, KEDA CHEN, FUMING SHI — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +1200