Zootaxa

**Expanding knowledge of Mexican Macrobiotus (Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae): two new species from a bryophyte herbarium, with comments on national records**

2026-04-15T11:46:06+12:00

Herbaria are invaluable repositories for documenting past and present biodiversity and, beyond their botanical focus, provide historical snapshots of microhabitats that support diverse microfauna such as tardigrades. Bryophyte collections are particularly important in this regard, offering material for the discovery and characterisation of species. The genus Macrobiotus is taxonomically challenging due to high phenotypic variability, making species identification difficult and rendering several historical Mexican records doubtful under current integrative standards. In this study, we integratively describe two new species, Macrobiotus excelsus sp. nov. (within the hufelandi morphogroup), and Macrobiotus ignifer sp. nov. (within the persimilis morphogroup) and record Macrobiotus olgae for the first time in Mexico from moss samples from the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt housed in the National Herbarium of Mexico; M. excelsus sp. nov. represents the first documented tardigrade species from Veracruz. Morphological analyses using phase contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, together with DNA sequencing, provided robust evidence for species delimitation. These findings represent a turning point in clarifying the taxonomy and phylogeny of Macrobiotus in Mexico and underscore the need to re-evaluate historical records using modern criteria. At the same time, they highlight the essential role of herbaria as key resources for discovering and characterising tardigrade diversity.

Sixteen new orthoclads (Chironomidae: Diptera) and new faunistic records from a patch of cloud forest in Zurquí de Moravia, Costa Rica

2026-04-15T11:46:55+12:00

This study is part of the Zurquí All Diptera Biodiversity Inventory, an effort to estimate the richness of the megadiverse order Diptera from Costa Rica. In this study, 16 new Orthocladiinae (Chironomidae) species are described. Bryophaenocladius borkenti sp. nov., Bryophaenocladius browni sp. nov., Bryophaenocladius epleri sp. nov., Bryophaenocladius porrasae sp. nov., Bryophaenocladius ulateae sp. nov., and Bryophaenocladius zumbadoi sp. nov., are distinguished by a well-reduced anal point and gonostylus with a dorsobasal ridge. Colosmittia elviae sp. nov. has a gonostylus with a trifid mega seta. Ionthosmittia lepizae sp. nov., a new faunistic record for the Neotropics, is distinguished from its congeners by the contrasting coloration of its tergites, low antennal ratio, and shape of its anal point and inferior volsella. Metriocnemus hernandezae sp. nov. is characterised by a virga with three compacted spines surrounded by a hyaline lamella on both sides, a long gonostylus with a slightly expanded apex, and a developed crista dorsalis, stretching over the anterior 1/3^rd of the gonostylus. Metriocnemus picadoae sp. nov. is characterised by an inferior volsella posteriorly located and expanded on the gonocoxite. Parametriocnemus avilae sp. nov., Parametriocnemus lizanoi sp. nov., Parametriocnemus moragai sp. nov., and Parametriocnemus viquesi sp. nov. are distinguished from their congeners by a low antennal ratio, eyes with squared dorsomedial extension, and the antennal ultimate flagellomere with numerous long, curved sensilla chaetica, and well-sclerotized aedeagal lobes. Pseudorthocladius (Pseudorthocladius) edrisghaderii sp. nov., a new faunistic record for the Neotropics, is characterized by a circular-shaped anal point with a wide and round apex, covering most of tergite IX, inferior volsella well-reduced and rounded, and gonostylus bearing a large preapical spine and smaller spines on the dorsal surface. Titimbera holdenae sp. nov. is uniquely placed in its genus, and it is distinguished by its gonostylus shape and acrostichals placement on the scutum. Its scalpellate acrostichals and extremely extended costa of the wing place it in Titimbera.

The Bibionidae (Diptera) from Morocco, with description of four new species

2026-04-15T11:47:52+12:00

Based on recent material mainly collected in the Rif region, a critical review of the fauna of Bibionidae of Morocco is presented. Four species, Bibio ebejeri sp. nov., B. kedrocharis sp. nov., B. longitarsis sp. nov. and B. ponti sp. nov. are described as new. Five species, Bibio anglicus Verrall, 1869, B. clavipes Meigen, 1818, Dilophus bispinosus Lundström, 1913, D. erythraeus Bezzi, 1905 and D. humeralis Zetterstedt, 1850 are recorded for the first time from Morocco and, except for the latter species, from North Africa as a whole. New faunistic data are given for five other species and two species are deleted from the list of Moroccan Bibionidae, D. febrilis (Linnaeus, 1758) and B. laufferi Strobl, 1906, as their previous records were based on erroneous identifications. The Moroccan fauna of Bibionidae includes at least 18 taxa, in contrast to 1–7 taxa known in the other North African countries. From a zoogeographical point of view, most of these taxa are West Palaearctic or Mediterranean elements generally also present in Southern Europe, while five of them are possible endemic Moroccan elements. One Afrotropical species, D. erythraeus, is recorded for the first time for the Palaearctic region as a whole. The hypothesis concerning the presence of this species north of the Sahara is discussed. A tentative key for the identification of Moroccan Bibionidae is proposed.

**Contribution to the knowledge of the mayfly genus Ephemera Linnaeus, 1758 (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) with description of four new species from the Western Ghats, India**

2026-04-15T11:48:40+12:00

The present study provides an integrative taxonomic assessment of the burrowing mayfly family Ephemeridae (Ephemeroptera) from the Western Ghats, India, through a combination of morphological and molecular approaches. Four new species viz., Ephemera kapilaensis sp. nov., Ephemera kodai sp. nov., Ephemera kudremukha sp. nov., and Ephemera subramanyai sp. nov., are described based on both larval and imaginal characters. This work provides the first molecular characterization of Ephemera species from southern India and generates the first DNA barcodes for the subgenus Ephemera in this region. The finding highlights the importance of integrative taxonomy in resolving species boundaries and evolutionary relationships among Oriental Ephemera. Additionally, the study provides distributional data, habitat ecology of the new species, and an identification key to all known species of the Western Ghats.

**An annotated checklist of the genus Eupithecia Curtis, 1825 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) of Uzbekistan with description of a new species**

2026-04-15T11:49:45+12:00

The article provides an annotated checklist of 26 species of geometrid moths of the genus Eupithecia Curtis, 1825, recorded from Uzbekistan. For some species, illustrations of adults and genitalia are included. A new species from the Kugitang Range is described and illustrated: Eupithecia kugitangica Mironov & Naydenov sp. nov. Two species, namely Eupithecia illaborata Dietze, 1904 and Eupithecia kostjuki Mironov, 1989 are reported for the first time from the fauna of Uzbekistan.

**Notes on the genus Macromia Rambur, 1842 of Assam, northeast India (Anisoptera: Macromidae)**

2026-04-15T11:50:42+12:00

The present paper reports Macromia sombui Vick, 1988 for the first time from India, almost 36 years after its first description from Royal Chitwan National Park of Nepal in 1988. Macromia calliope flavocolorata Fraser, 1922 and Macromia cingulata Rambur, 1842 are reported here for the first time from the northeast India based on specimens collected from the fringe area of Raimona National Park, Kachugaon Division, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), Assam, India. In addition, this paper incorporates Macromia cupricincta Fraser, 1924 into the Odonata list of Assam.

**A new species of snake eel of the genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from Mozambique**

2026-04-15T11:51:47+12:00

Ophichthus acutidens sp. nov. is described from a single specimen trawled off Mozambique at a depth of 400 m. The new species differs from congeners by the following combination of characters: body depth 32.0 in TL; dorsal-fin origin slightly posterior to the pectoral-fin tip; head length 11.1 in TL; teeth in jaws conical, sharp, and recurved; maxillary teeth biserial; vomerine teeth uniserial with three anterior teeth stout and enlarged; pectoral fins lanceolate; body mostly uniform pale olivaceous, except for a ventral triangular white area on the trunk; total vertebrae 152, including 13 predorsal and 61 preanal vertebrae. Phylogenetic analysis based on the COI region shows that the species forms a distinct genetic lineage, supporting its status as a new species. A detailed description and comparison with congeners are provided.

Taxonomic notes on the Indian whip scorpions (Arachnida: Thelyphonida)

2026-04-15T11:52:44+12:00

Thelyphonids are a little-explored group of arachnids in India. The present study aims to provide a comprehensive taxonomic account of four whip scorpion species reported from India along with their current distribution map. Lectotypes are designated for Hypoctonus stoliczkae Gravely, 1912 and Uroproctus assamensis (Stoliczka, 1869) in order to stabilize their taxonomic identity.

**Two new species of the vampire catfish genus Paracanthopoma (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae: Vandelliinae) from Brazil and Venezuela with comments on generic diagnostic characters**

2026-04-15T11:53:33+12:00

The blood-feeding candiru genus Paracanthopoma was monotypic for over 85 years, with ten new species being described in the last four years. Despite this rapid growth, interspecific relationships and boundaries between it and the closely related genus Paravandellia remain intensively debated, with clarification of these boundaries being hampered by the lack of a formal phylogenetic analysis focused on the Vandelliinae. Here, we describe two new species of Paracanthopoma from Brazil and Venezuela based on photomicroscopy, cleared and stained specimens, and µCT imagery and reexamine the current taxonomic status of the genus. Paracanthopoma ventuarensis sp. nov. is described from the Orinoco River basin and Parac. jiparanaensis sp. nov. from the Machado River in northern Brazil, where Parac. parva and Parac. malevola also occur. The two new species here described share with Parac. daemon, Parac. parva, Parac. carrapata, and Parac. truculenta a spine-like anterior process on the parietosupraoccipital and an azygous s6 supratemporal lateral-line pore, thus being allocated to this putative clade.

A new species of planthopper in the genus Kubilaya (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Derbidae) from oil palms (Elaeis guineensis) in Colombia, a key to the genus, and an updated molecular phylogeny of the New World Otiocerinae

2026-04-15T11:54:27+12:00

During a recent survey of oil palms in Colombia to document planthopper diversity and search for putative vectors of the causal agent of Lethal Wilt, a new species of planthopper in the genus Kubilaya (Derbidae) was discovered. Herein, the novel taxon is described along with supplemental molecular data for the barcoding region (5’ half) of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, 18S rRNA gene and D8–D10 expansion regions of the 28S rRNA gene are provided. An updated molecular phylogeny of the New World Otiocerinae and a key to species of the genus Kubilaya are provided.

**Redescription of Agrilus zanthoxylumi Hou & Feng, 1989 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) based on newly designated neotype**

2026-04-15T11:55:27+12:00

Prickly ash borer (PAB) Agrilus zanthoxylumi was first identified but undescribed by Mr. Tao-qian Hou, Zoological Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in the 1980s. This specific name first appeared in the book Cultivation and pest control of Sichuan pepper by Li et al. (1989a) as A. zanthoxylumi Hou & Feng. We have made various efforts to find the original named specimens, but both Hou’s and Li’s specimens of this species were lost. This insect causes significant damage in prickly ash orchards across northwestern and southwestern China, becoming one of the important economic pests in the production of prickly ash pepper in China. Confusion and inconsistencies have persisted in the citation of the author(s) of the Latin name in various papers, although there are many reports on its biology, occurrence habits, and control techniques. In present article, the name of this Agrilus species is verified and determined as A. zanthoxylumi Hou & Feng, 1989, which was first cited in Li et al. (1989a). A neotype for this taxon is also designated. To help accurate identification of this species, the morphological characteristics of all life stages (adult, egg, larva, and pupa) of A. zanthoxylumi are redescribed based on the neotype and other specimens, and color photos are also provided.

**Description of the F-0 exuviae of Peristicta janiceae Pessacq & Costa, 2007 (Odonata: Protoneuridae)**

2026-04-15T11:56:19+12:00

Here, we describe, illustrate, and diagnose the F-0 exuvia of Peristicta janiceae Pessacq & Costa, 2007, collected in the state of Minas Gerais between May and November 2024. The larva can be separated from other congeners by a combination of morphological characters, including mandibles and premental setation.

**Validating Homogryllacris eremna and establishing H. unicolor as a synonym of H. anelytra, with description of the female of H. ascenda (Orthoptera: Gryllacrididae)**

2026-04-15T11:57:42+12:00

In a recent study by Duan et al. (2025), the new species Homogryllacris eremna was proposed and H. unicolor Lu, Zhang & Bian, 2022 was suggested as a synonym of H. anelytra Shi, Guo & Bian, 2012. However, as the corresponding descriptions and diagnoses were provided solely in supplementary files, these names fail to meet the availability requirements of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). To resolve it, this study provides the necessary information through formal publication to validate these taxonomic acts. First, a complete morphological description is provided and type specimens are designated for H. eremna, thereby making the name available. Second, based on integrated molecular and morphological evidence, H. unicolor is formally established as a synonym of H. anelytra. Additionally, the female of H. ascenda Shi, Guo & Bian, 2012 is reported and described for the first time.

**Description of the nymphs of Nehalennia integricollis Calvert and N. pallidula Calvert (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)**

2026-04-15T11:58:36+12:00

The final instars of Nehalennia integricollis Calvert and Nehalennia pallidula Calvert are described in detail and illustrated based on specimens from Florida and Texas. Nehalennia integricollis has only 1 prominent seta on each side of the prementum, same as the sympatric N. gracilis Morse and N. irene (Hagen); it differs from both those species by 1) proximal portion of epiproct and paraprocts darker than the distal part vs. not darker, and 2) posterolateral corners of head with 3–6 small spinules with dark bases vs. 10 or more spinules with dark bases or 3–6 spinules with pale bases. Nehalennia pallidula resembles N. minuta (Selys) in possessing 3 or 4 prominent setae on each side of the prementum; it differs in having a slightly larger prementum (length 1.70–2.05 mm vs. 1.60–1.65 mm, width 1.43–1.58 mm vs. 1.35–1.40 mm). Further diagnostic notes to distinguish the nymphs of the five New World species of Nehalennia are provided.

**First record of Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1763) (Coleoptera: Cucujidae) from Veneto, Northeastern Italy**

2026-04-15T11:59:19+12:00