Zootaxa

**Redescription of the enigmatic Marphysa mossambica (Polychaeta: Eunicidae) and description of two new Marphysa species from northern Australia**

2025-11-04T12:39:10+13:00

We investigate newly collected material of the Marphysa mossambica species group (=Marphysa group A of Fauchald, 1970) from both sides of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific using a combined molecular (COI gene) and morphological approach. Kenyan specimens collected relatively close to the type locality of M. mossambica (Peters, 1854) closely match the original and subsequent morphological descriptions of this species. Molecular and morphological comparisons between specimens from Kenya and the Philippines, identified as M. mossambica, and specimens from Malaysia identified as M. moribidii Idris, Hutchings & Arshad, 2014, show that M. mossambica is indeed distributed on both sides of the Indian Ocean and extends eastward to the Philippines. Re-examination of the holotype of M. moribidii provides further evidence for the placement of M. moribidii as a subjective junior synonym of M. mossambica. We also investigated a newly collected specimen of the Marphysa mossambica group from Magnetic Island (NE Australia) and found it to be distinct from, yet sister to M. mossambica, and described it here as a new species. Finally, newly collected Marphysa specimens from Darwin (N Australia) belonging to the Marphysa sanguinea group, formed a distinct sister clade with M. iloiloenis Glasby, Mandario, Burghardt, Kupriyanova, Gunton & Hutchings, 2019 (Philippines), and is here described as a new species. This study finds support for the existence of a widespread Indo-west Pacific Marphysa mossambica, and we provide indirect evidence for its possible anthropogenic spread; further, it demonstrates the utility of both molecular and morphological data for describing species of Marphysa.

**A new species of Dixonius Bauer, Good, and Branch, 1997 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) ranging through the Cardamon Mountains of Cambodia to the southern Mekong Delta of Vietnam**

2025-11-04T12:39:58+13:00

A new species of the gekkonid genus Dixonius from the Cardamom Mountains of southern Cambodia and the southwestern Mekong Delta region of Vietnam is delimited based on a molecular phylogeny comprised of 1,396 base pairs of the mitochondrial gene ND2 and diagnosed by statistically significant size-corrected morphometric, meristic, and color pattern characteristics. The new species, D. luuhoangorum sp. nov., is the sister species of D. sambhupura from approximately 200 km to the northwest in Kratie Province, eastern Cambodia. The highly fragmented topography through which this species ranges is mirrored by its peculiar phylogeographic relationships where some of the geographically proximate northern Cardamom Mountain populations are more closely related to the Mekong Delta populations of southwestern Vietnam. The description of D. luuhoangorum sp. nov. continues to underscore the localized endemism within this genus and the necessity for continued systematic based fieldwork in both well-explored and under-explored regions of Indochina in order to establish conservation measures.

**A new species of grass-infesting felt scale (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Eriococcidae), with descriptions of all life stages and a key to the adult female Acanthococcus Signoret of Florida, U.S.A.**

2025-11-04T12:40:42+13:00

All life stages (adult female, second-instar female, first-instar crawler, adult male, fourth-instar male pupa, third-instar male prepupa, second-instar male) of a new species of felt scale insect (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Eriococcidae), Acanthococcus orzo Deeter, Miller & Powell, sp. nov., on Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. (Poales: Poaceae) in Florida, USA, are described and illustrated, with notes on ecological associations. The species is diagnosed based on the adult female anal-ring setae, setae on the hind tibia, the absence of microtubular ducts, and the morphology of the enlarged setae. Comparisons are given with similar species for all stages. Diagnoses are given for the adult female and adult male. A diagnostic key to the adult females of Acanthococcus Signoret species of Florida is provided. Analysis of DNA extractions from this new species is also performed and the results produced distinctive COI and 18S data.

Two new species of freshwater ostracods (Crustacea: Ostracoda) from the northeast of Thailand, with notes on sexually reproducing populations of Chrissia and Strandesia

2025-11-04T12:41:27+13:00

Two new species of freshwater ostracods (Chrissia ueluenakarati sp. nov. and Strandesia buengkanensis sp. nov.) were discovered from a marshy area next to a weir in Bueng Kan Province, northeast Thailand, and the descriptions are provided here. Both were sexual populations and thus reproductive organs were compared within their genera. Chrissia ueluenakarati sp. nov. is the first sexual population of the genus in Southeast Asia. Chrissia species with sexual populations are also listed here. Strandesia buengkanensis sp. nov. belongs to a group with S. kraepelini (Müller, 1906) and S. karanovicae Savatenalinton, 2024, based on the absence of the subapical dorsal seta on the first segment of the antennule, which is endemic to Southeast Asia. A list of the species of Strandesia recorded in Southeast Asia is provided with indications of sexual populations. The presence of the new species in the present contribution, together with previous records, are evidence illustrating the high diversity of the Thai ostracod fauna.

**Integrative COI and morphological analyses reveal a new Falcicornis Planet, 1894 species from Guizhou, China (Coleoptera: Lucanidae)**

2025-11-04T12:42:02+13:00

The present study describes a new species from Guizhou, China, i.e., Falcicornis banjinshuaii Xin, Yang & Zhong, sp. nov., within the F. bisignatus group. The new species can be conspicuously distinguished from its related congeners based on morphological characters and the COI analyses. Additionally, a checklist of genus Falcicornis Planet, 1894 is provided.

First record of the family Maxillipiidae (Crustacea: Malacostraca: Amphipoda) from Korea, including a new species and a new record species of the genus Maxillipius

2025-11-04T12:42:50+13:00

This study aims to discover and document amphipods from Korea, contributing to the clarification of Korean amphipod taxonomy. As part of this effort, a new species and a newly recorded species of the family Maxillipiidae were collected from the southern waters of Korea. The new species, Maxillipius koreanus sp. nov., is similar to M. rectitelson in having a broadly developed maxillipedal palp, a similar morphology of gnathopod 1, and an extremely elongated pereopod 6. However, it can be distinguished from M. rectitelson by differences in the shape of the coxa and propodus of gnathopod 2, the arrangement of setae on the propodus, and the morphology of dorsal projections on pleonites. Additionally, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences support divergence at the species level. The newly recorded species, M. rectitelson, is previously known from Madagascar, Australia, and China. It can be compared to M. commensalis, but is clearly distinguished by the shape of gnathopod 1 and coxa 2. Both species are fully illustrated and extensively compared with related species. This study represents the first record of both the genus Maxillipius and the family Maxillipiidae in Korea. Additionally, a key to the species of Maxillipiidae is provided.

Eurynodes cristatus (Théry, 1934) removed from synonymy with E. coelestis (Kerremans, 1897) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Aphanisticini)

2025-11-04T12:43:30+13:00

Eurynodes cristatus (Théry, 1934) stat. rest. is resurrected to species rank and removed from synonymy with E. coelestis (Kerremans, 1897). A lectotype for E. cristatus is designated and illustrated. Comments on the type specimens and original data labels are provided. Additionally, a diagnosis between females of E. coelestis and E. cristatus is presented.

**Description of the larva of Neumania (Neumania) navina (Cook, 1967) (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Unionicolidae) with some taxonomical remarks**

2025-11-04T12:44:05+13:00

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