Zootaxa

**A new species of Pristimantis (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the western slopes of the Serranía del Baudó, Chocó, Colombia**

2026-02-05T11:03:11+13:00

We describe a new species of Pristimantis based on morphological and acoustic evidence from the western slopes of the Serranía del Baudó, tentatively assigned to the Pristimantis ridens species group. The new species can be distinguished from congeneric species by having coppery or reddish bronze iris, with fine black reticulations and light blue sclera, upper eyelid bearing one to three subconical tubercles, posterior surfaces of thighs generally solid brown, with small cream specks present in a few cases and groin solid brown, with some individuals showing a cream or golden blotch. Moreover, this new species distribution is notably distant from the other most similar species, inhabiting the humid lowland tropical forests of the western slopes of the Serranía del Baudó. With the description of this new species, the Pristimantis ridens species group reaches 31 species, that can be found in the Andean and Pacific regions from Central America to northern Peru.

Three new species of Xyalidae (Nematoda: Monhysterida) from Argentinean coast

2026-02-05T11:03:55+13:00

Three new species of free-living marine nematodes belonging to the family Xyalidae are described from the Argentinean coast: Rhynchonema paraseparatum sp. nov., Rhynchonema bicuspidatum sp. nov., and Prorhynchonema uncinoa sp. nov. Rhynchonema paraseparatum sp. nov. is characterized by an annulated cuticle without projections, L-shaped spicules, and a gubernaculum with dorsal projections. Rhynchonema bicuspidatum sp. nov. has an annulated cuticle with anterior and posterior projections, a uniquely shaped gubernaculum with two distal tips, and longitudinal bands along the mid-body. Prorhynchonema uncinoa sp. nov. is characterized by a gubernaculum with hook-like distal structures and amphids located well posterior to the buccal cavity. These findings expand the taxonomic knowledge and geographic distribution of Xyalidae in the Southern Hemisphere.

**Definition of the Ichthyurus macrurus species group (Coleoptera: Cantharidae), with description of a new species from Yunnan, China**

2026-02-05T11:04:33+13:00

A specie group within the genus Ichthyurus Westwood, 1848 in the Oriental Region is proposed based on the anatomical comparison. This group is designated as the I. macrurus species group and comprises three species, including I. macrurus Gestro, 1892 (new record in China), I. major Pic, 1922 (new record in China), and I. maculatipennis sp. nov. (China: Yunnan). These species are illustrated with habitus and genital segments of both sexes, pro- and mesothoracic legs of the male, aedeagus and internal genitalia of the female. A key for identification and a distribution map of this species group are provided.

Paragomphus sofiae sp. nov.—a new spotted species of Hooktail from Madagascar (Odonata: Anisoptera: Gomphidae)

2026-02-05T11:05:19+13:00

Paragomphus Cowley, 1934 is a large palaeotropical dragonfly genus with four species previously described from Madagascar. The species identity of three of them requires confirmation, and only Paragomphus fritillarius (Selys, 1892) did not raise any taxonomical doubts. In this paper, a new species, Paragomphus sofiae sp. nov. from the Sofia River basin in lowlands of northern Madagascar, is described and compared to superficially very similar P. fritillarius. Identification of both species was possible only by comparing their hamules with the type specimens of P. fritillarius in the Selys' collection, because the literature contained neither illustrations nor detailed descriptions of its secondary genitalia. Regardless of the great similarity in the colour pattern, these species have turned out to be well-defined and differ by their notably distinct hamules and caudal appendages. They also seem to be spatially and ecologically separated: although both inhabit clearwater and sandy watercourses, P. sofiae has been recorded in open large, braided rivers so far and P. fritillarius in smaller rivers and streams. Considering the new knowledge of confusing interspecies similarity and species-specific hamules and cerci, all previous records of P. fritillarius require confirmation; the discovery of further species from the fritillarius-group is potentially possible.

**Hidden in the leaf litter: rediscovery of the Largescale Lizard, Alopoglossus grandisquamatus (Rueda, 1985) (Squamata: Alopoglossidae) with comments on novel morphological variation**

2026-02-05T11:05:58+13:00

Alopoglossus grandisquamatus is a species only known from its male holotype, collected almost 40 years ago. We report the rediscovery of the Largescale Lizard A. grandisquamatus based on two female individuals from two new localities, extending its known distribution 19 km eastwards and 100 km southwards. Conservation status of Endangered is proposed for A. grandisquamatus. Novel morphological variation is described, including sexual dimorphism in femoral pores. Synonymy of A. grandisquamatus with Alopoglossus eurylepis is discussed, with the dismissal of non-useful diagnostic characters. New characters such as number of femoral pores in males, gular scales arrangement and the number of transversal rows of ventral scales are proposed to diagnose A. grandisquamatus from A. eurylepis. Other characters used by previous authors to differentiate both species are also validated.

**A new species of the squat lobster genus Galathea Fabricius, 1793 from Lakshadweep, India (Crustacea: Decapoda: Galatheidae)**

2026-02-05T11:06:43+13:00

A new species of galatheid squat lobster, Galathea balasubramaniani sp. nov. is described from Lakshadweep Island, India. The G. balasubramaniani sp. nov. belongs to the ‘G. mauritiana’ group, identified through having a pterygostomian flap with 1 or 2 spines and an uninterrupted mesogastric ridge. This group includes: G. acis Macpherson & Robainas-Barcia, 2015, G. aequata Macpherson & Robainas-Barcia, 2015, G. ahyongi Macpherson & Robainas-Barcia, 2015, G. mauritiana Bouvier, 1914 and G. senta Macpherson & Robainas-Barcia, 2015. The G. balasubramaniani sp. nov. resembles G. mauritiana Bouvier, 1914, but differs based on the presence of an epipod on P1, and P2 with propodus 4.2–4.7 times as long as wide and the merus with the proximal spine reaching or slightly over-reaching the distal margin of the article. Maximum Likelihood analysis of the new species, using mitochondrial genes cytochrome c oxidase (COI) and 16S rRNA also supported the findings and suggests that G. balasubramaniani sp. nov. is closely related to G. mauritiana, with pairwise genetic distances estimated at 6.0–14.3 % (COI) and 3.1–16.9% (16S rRNA).

**Two new species of Neoperla (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from Southern China**

2026-02-05T11:07:30+13:00

Two new species of the genus Neoperla, N. luocheng sp. nov. and N. pianma sp. nov. are described from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province, China, respectively. The new species were assigned to the Neoperla (Formosita) sinensis-group and Neoperla (Formosita) lushana-complex. The new species were compared with related species in the subgenus.