Zootaxa

**Taxonomic revision of the polyphyletic Phyllodactylus bordai (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae), with the description of a new species**

2025-11-18T12:31:40+13:00

Through the re-evaluation of genomic data obtained from reduced genome representation sequencing method of the species belonging to Clade I within North American Phyllodactylus, we evidence the polyphyletic condition of the P. bordai taxon, which contains three independently evolving lineages. Gene flow tests demonstrated that the three lineages within P. bordai are genetically isolated and had no contact after their divergence. Furthermore, the divergence ages estimated for two of the lineages, from northern Guerrero and the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Valley, are relatively deep, dating back to the mid-Oligocene and the mid-Eocene, respectively. Interestingly, we only obtained a gene flow signal between the most recently diverged lineage (from Huautla, Morelos) and its sister species (P. papenfussi), probably due to sporadic introgression pulses after their divergence in the early Pliocene. The evidence generated from the analysis of genomic, morphological, and climatic data allows us to propose taxonomic changes in accordance with the evolutionary history of the three main lineages, while avoiding the propagation of an artificial taxonomy within Clade I with respect to P. bordai. As such, in this study we describe Phyllodactylus ngiwa sp. nov., the earliest diverging lineage within the polyphyletic P. bordai taxon, from populations in the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Valley. We also restrict P. bordai to populations from northern Guerrero. While the results suggest that the Morelos lineage is a distinct species from the rest of the North American Phyllodactylus species, more studies with increased sampling are necessary to assess this divergence in detail, including any interactions with its sister taxon, P. papenfussi.

**A new species of Streblospio Webster, 1879 (Annelida: Spionidae) from the Caribbean Sea**

2025-11-18T12:32:37+13:00

We describe a new species of spionid polychaete, Streblospio papillaris sp. nov., from Chetumal Bay, Quintana Roo, in the Mexican Caribbean Sea. This new spionid species was recorded from shallow, muddy sediments in brackish waters. The new species is characterized by: presence of numerous papillae scattered throughout the body; absence of eyes; very long peristomium that extends to the anterior part of the prostomium; dorsal papilla on the dorsum of chaetiger 1; sabre chaetae from chaetiger 2; hooded hooks with 4 pairs of small secondary teeth on the anterior and middle segments, hooded hooks with 3 pairs of small secondary teeth on the posterior segments; and pygidium with two ventral lappets. This is the third species of Streblospio known from the Caribbean Sea. An identification key and table with the most relevant characters of Streblospio species are provided.

Overview of Campopleginae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) species described from 2016 to 2025 with revised taxon metrics

2025-11-18T12:33:26+13:00

The subfamily Campopleginae, one of the largest groups within the family Ichneumonidae, faces persistent challenges in maintaining updated taxonomic records due to the rapid pace of new species descriptions. This study compiles and consolidates recent taxonomic information, presenting a comprehensive list of species described between 2016 and 2025, along with a dataset documenting nomenclatural changes. In total, two new genera and 242 new species of Darwin wasps were identified from 67 articles published during this period. By unifying scattered data, this work addresses a critical gap in the literature and provides a reference tool that reflects the dynamic growth of Campopleginae taxonomy.

Autumn, winter and spring fauna of Cladocera in lakes and reservoirs of Jiangsu province, East China

2025-11-18T12:34:07+13:00

Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) of seven large lakes in Jiangsu province, East China were studied during November 2023, January 2024, and March of 2024. Our study reveals 46 species of Cladocera, two of them, Coronatella jejuana Sinev, Lee & Kotov, 2022 and Daphnia (Daphnia) sinevi Kotov, Ishida & Taylor, 2006, are new for China. Among them, in total, 22 species were predominantly Boreal, 15 species have core area of distribution in the south part of the temperate zone and subtropics, and 17 were tropical species. Concerning the seasons, 40 species were found in November, 17 in January, and 25 in March. Our study revealed two opposite overwintering strategies in local Cladocera composition. Species of subtropical and tropical origin, as well as some species of Boreal origin, produce resting eggs in November and disappear in winter. All 17 species present in January, in contrast, form parthenogenetically reproducing overwintering populations. Our data confirm the hypothesis on the East China Plain as a transitory zone between Boreal and Tropical faunistic complexes of Cladocera.

**Four new species of Cleidogona Cook & Collins, 1895 (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida: Cleidogonidae) from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA**

2025-11-18T12:55:44+13:00

We provide an update to our knowledge of the millipede fauna of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee, USA. In addition to one new park record (Cleidogona jocassee Hoffman, 1950a), we describe four new species of millipedes: Cleidogona chilhoweensis sp. nov., Cleidogona columbicauda sp. nov., Cleidogona hendrixi sp. nov., and Cleidogona sparta sp. nov. These bring the number of described Cleidogona to 93 and Cleidogona known from the park to 10 species.

**Description of a new bathyal species of Notocomplana (Platyhelminthes, Polycladida) collected from Bathymodiolus aggregations in a deep-sea hydrocarbon seep**

2025-11-18T12:56:31+13:00

Polyclad flatworms are free-living platyhelminths that inhabit various marine environments; however, their biodiversity in the deep sea remains poorly understood. Herein, we describe a new species of Notocomplana Faubel, 1983, Notocomplana profunda sp. nov., based on specimens collected from Bathymodiolus mussel aggregations in a deep-sea hydrocarbon seep off Hatsushima, Japan. This is the first report of a bathyal species of Notocomplana, which is dominated by shallow-water species. The new species is characterized by the absence of tentacles, eyespots, and any color pattern on the dorsal surface of the body and the presence of a seminal vesicle larger than a prostatic vesicle and a long, tubular Lang’s vesicle. A molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the partial sequences of two mitochondrial and two nuclear genes suggested that the strategy of N. profunda sp. nov. to use mussel aggregations was acquired by its shallow coastal ancestors.

**Taxonomy of ‘Euconnus complex'. Part XXV. Afrotropical species misplaced in Magellanoconnus Franz transferred to Euconnus Thomson (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae)**

2025-11-18T12:57:25+13:00

Twenty-nine species of Afrotropical Stenichnini occurring in the Republic of South Africa and Zimbabwe and previously misplaced in Magellanoconnus Franz are transferred to Euconnus Thomson, subgenus Tetramelus Motschulsky.

**A new species of the genus Meilichius Gerstaecker (Coleoptera: Endomychidae: Cyclotominae) from Guangxi, China**

2025-11-18T13:02:09+13:00

A new species of handsome fungus beetles, Meilichius wukong sp. nov., is described from Guangxi, South China. Illustrations of its habitus and diagnostic characters are provided, together with a differential diagnosis distinguishing it from the most similar M. ornatus Arrow, 1920. In addition, the lectotype of M. ornatus is designated.

**Triclad flatworms from Sicily: First record of the invasive Girardia sinensis and new sexual populations of Dugesia sicula (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae)**

2025-11-18T13:02:57+13:00