Zootaxa

Synopsis of the Indian and Sri Lankan Trichopolydesmidae Verhoeff, 1910 (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Trichopolydesmoidea), with the description of two new epigean species from India

2026-04-21T12:27:05+12:00

The currently known Indian and Sri Lankan Trichopolydesmidae are reviewed, based both on literature sources and type material. All of the species are diagnosed and illustrated. The Sri Lankan genus Lankadesmus Carl, 1932 is resurrected from its synonymy with Nasodesmus Cook, 1896, with Lankadesmus carli sp. nov. renamed and designated as its type species, formerly misidentified as Polydesmus cognatus Humbert, 1865. The subspecies Pseudosphaeroparia palnensis spp. soror Carl, 1932 is elevated to full species, P. soror stat. nov., whereas the species P. cavernicola Turk, 1945 is considered as a species inquirendum because its male features remain unknown. The collecting localities of Assamodesmus lindbergi Manfredi, 1954 and P. cavernicola are corrected. Two new epigean species are diagnosed and described from India: Pseudosphaeroparia plana sp. nov. and Sholaphilus spinus sp. nov.. All genera of Trichopolydesmidae presently known from India and Sri Lanka, as well as all species of Pseudosphaeroparia Carl, 1932 are keyed, and their current distribution is mapped.

First approach to the knowledge of Orthocentrus Gravenhorst, 1829 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae: Orthocentrinae) in Colombia: Description of ten new species, addition of new records, and taxonomic key to Colombian species

2026-04-21T12:28:01+12:00

Historically, knowledge of Orthocentrinae in Colombia has been extremely limited. Thus, this study represents the first approach to the subfamily in the country through the genus Orthocentrus Gravenhorst, 1829, in which ten new species are described: O. cafetera sp. nov., O. carrilera sp. nov., O. jornalera sp. nov., O. lyda sp. nov., O. parcerita sp. nov., O. parchada sp. nov., O. pasillo sp. nov., O. pereirana sp. nov., O. santarrosana sp. nov., O. shirley sp. nov., new records are provided, and an identification key for all Colombian species is included.

**Redescription of the genus Turnicola Clay & Meinertzhagen, 1938 (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) and its type species**

2026-04-21T12:28:52+12:00

The genus Turnicola Clay & Meinertzhagen, 1938a is redescribed and illustrated in detail for the first time, together with specimens here regarded as the type species of this genus, Lipeurus angustissimus Giebel, 1866. As the type series of this species has been lost, we here designate a neotype for L. angustissimus from specimens collected from the type host in Guangdong, China. Specimens from two different host species have the same COI genotype, indicating that Turnicola angustissimus is more widely distributed than previously thought. Differences in the louse prevalences between the two host species suggest that some, yet unknown, ecological factors may impact their louse communities.

Purrankia (Opiliones: Laniatores: Gonyleptidae), a new genus of Pachylinae from the Coastal Range of southern Chile, with descriptions of three new species

2026-04-21T12:29:49+12:00

Three new species of the Chilean endemic genus Purrankia gen. nov. are described based on specimens obtained in the Coastal Range of the Los Ríos and Los Lagos region. The new genus is distinctive morphologically, due to its swollen body, the apophyses on the lateral margin of the mesotergum, the structure of the apophyses on trochanter IV and the short femur. Morphological and molecular information suggests relationships with the genus Fonckia Roewer, 1913 and Eubalta Roewer, 1923, with which it shares a series of characteristics, including the unarmed ocularium and frontal hump, the short distal prolateral apophysis of coxa IV, the structure of trochanter IV and the male genitalia. The three newly described species have allopatric distributions, always associated with low to medium altitudes on both slopes of the Coastal Range. Purrankia manquemapu sp. nov., is present on the western slope of the Coastal Range in the commune of Purranque (Los Lagos Region, Chile), while Purrankia hueyusca sp. nov. inhabits the eastern slope in the same area. The third species, Purrankia oncol sp. nov., has the northernmost distribution, being found in Oncol Park, in the Los Ríos region. Detailed descriptions, illustrations and comparisons of each of the new species and a phylogenetic hypothesis based on mitochondrial COI data are provided.

**A new species of the genus Xiaomyia Sæther & Wang (Diptera: Chironomidae) from West Bengal, India**

2026-04-21T12:30:42+12:00

A new species of the genus Xiaomyia Sæther & Wang, 1993 is described and illustrated from West Bengal, India, based on adult males. This represents the first new species of Xiaomyia recorded from India. Diagnostic morphological characters of the adult male, including features of the hypopygium, wing venation, maxillary palps, and antennal ratios, are duly examined and compared with the previously described species. The generic diagnosis is substantially amended to reflect novel morphological characters revealed by the new species, necessitating an update of the criteria used for identification and differentiation within Xiaomyia. The new species X. acuminata sp. nov. differs from the only other member of Xiaomyia primarily by having a long, pointed anal point. Molecular barcoding of the new species is also provided; the species status of Xiaomyia acuminata is strongly supported by an integrative analysis of the molecular data, exhibiting a minimum interspecific Kimura 2-Parameter (K2P) distance of 12.59% from its only nearest congener. Discovery of the new species raises the number of species of this least speciose genus to two worldwide.

Prionospio (Annelida: Spionidae) from Indian waters, with description of a new species from Sri Lanka

2026-04-21T12:31:31+12:00

We review previous reports of Prionospio from coastal waters of India and Sri Lanka. Of the eight species reported to date, only two—Prionospio krusadensis Fauvel, 1929 and Prionospio polybranchiata Fauvel, 1929, both originally described from the Gulf of Mannar—appear to represent correct identifications. Records of other species, originally described from distant localities, are likely misidentifications and require verification in future studies. Our investigation is based exclusively on intertidal and shallow-water samples collected from southern and southwestern Sri Lanka. We redescribe Prionospio krusadensis and describe Prionospio desilvai sp. nov. based on new material. Specimens of the latter species were misidentified by previous authors as the Arctic Prionospio cirrifera Wirén, 1883. Adults of P. desilvai sp. nov. are characterized by a combination of features that, while individually shared with other species, is unique to this taxon: two pairs of small red eyes; chaetiger 1 with notochaetae; up to 13 pairs of apinnate branchiae, each up to two times longer than the notopodial lamellae; sabre chaetae in neuropodia invariably from chaetiger 10; multidentate hooded hooks in notopodia from chaetigers 15−37 and in neuropodia from chaetigers 10−17; and the absence of dorsal crests and lateral pouches. This study represents the first comprehensive morphological and taxonomic treatment of Prionospio species from coastal waters of India and Sri Lanka since the foundational publications of Fauvel (1928, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1953) and de Silva (1965a, b). It also addresses ambiguities in the taxonomy of certain Prionospio species from Australian waters, highlighting the need for continued revisionary work on this challenging group.

Leptopodidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of China: key, checklist, and new records

2026-04-21T12:32:34+12:00

Four genera and nine species of Leptopodidae Brullé, 1836 are recorded from China, including one genus Erianotus Fieber, 1861 and four species Erianotus lanosus (Dufour, 1834), Leptopus travancorensis Distant, 1910, Patapius spinosus (Rossi, 1790), and Valleriola bui Li, Jin & Ye, 2023 now recorded from China for the first time. Photographs of the habitus and male genital capsules are provided. Additionally, a checklist of the family in China as well as an identification key to the species are presented. With the addition of the four newly recorded species, the distribution range of Leptopodidae in China has expanded from the Oriental Region to encompass both the Oriental and Palaearctic Regions.

**A new mud-nesting Fanged Frog (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from Arunachal Pradesh with notes on L. longchuanensis from India**

2026-04-21T12:33:24+12:00

A new species of Limnonectes is described from Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India, based on differences in morphological characters and mitochondrial gene 16S rRNA. The genetic divergence of the new species with its congeners of the L. limborgi complex is 2.4–6.8% in the 16S rRNA gene. The new species can be easily differentiated from its congeners by adult snout-vent length range 23.3–35.9 mm, internarial distance greater than inter-upper eyelid width and upper eyelid width, an inverted “V” shaped dermal fold on dorsum, discontinuous dorsolateral folds on dorsum, dark-brown concave line on inter-upper eyelid space. Additionally, the new species exhibits a unique nesting behaviour, constructing mud nest under leaf litter. This study also formally reports L. longchuanensis from India. With the description of this new species and the report of L. longchuanensis, the number of species of the genus currently known from India increases to six.

Description of Anaplectus jilinicus sp. nov. (Nematoda: Chromadorea: Plectidae), a new nematode species from Jilin Province, Northeast China, with a Key to the Species of the genus Anaplectus

2026-04-21T12:34:26+12:00

In a comprehensive survey of nematodes, a new species, Anaplectus jilinicus sp. nov. was described using soil materials collected from Jilin province, Northeast China. Information of molecular and morphometric characterization, beside measurements, illustrations, and light microscopy pictures, host records for Anaplectus jilinicus sp. nov. from Jilin province, Northeast China, were provided. The species is characterized by females 1024–1236μm long with a 20–27μm stoma, six separate lips 10–12μm in diameter, amphidial openings 8–14μm from the anterior end, pharynx 203–266μm, V% = 49–53, vulva 534–656μm from the anterior end, and a 60–80μm elongate-conoid tail with functional spinneret; males are 1002–1196μm long with a spicule 41.7–44.1μm and gubernaculum 11.9–13.9μm. The phylogenetic analysis of the new species using 28S rDNA and D2-D3 segments of the ribosomal DNA gene is placed in a clade with 0.7 posterior probability values with the other species of Anaplectus. In addition, 28S rDNA showed a 99% similarity with A. deconincki from South Africa (OM905072) and a 99% similarity with A. granulosus from Germany (MF325169). Discriminant analysis clearly separated A. jilinicus sp. nov. from the other related species of the genus. An emended generic diagnosis, a complete species list, and an updated identification key are provided for all 22 currently recognized Anaplectus species, including the newly described Anaplectus jilinicus sp. nov.

**Nematodes from the coral reefs in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam: Rhinema bimorpha sp. nov. (Nematoda, Monoposthiidae)**

2026-04-21T12:35:19+12:00

A new species, Rhinema bimorpha sp. nov. is described from the coral reefs in Nha Trang, Vietnam. It is characterized by a coarsely annulated cuticle with 12 longitudinal ridges, of which middorsal and midventral extends only along the anterior part of the body; cephalic sensilla equal to 0.2–0.6 labial region diameters in length; amphideal fovea circular and occupying nearly the entire height of unstriated helmet and 0.4–0.5 of the corresponding body diameter; subventral cuticular ridges in males form bulges about 1.7–2.9 corresponding body diameters anterior to cloaca; spicules arcuate, with poorly developed manubrium and subcylindrical shaft, equal to 1.6–2.1 cloacal body diameters in length; six pairs (one pre-cloacal and five post-cloacal) of posterior setiform copulatory sensilla. The new species differs from R. retrorsum in having relatively larger amphids and shorter helmet (occupying the height of helmet vs. half of the height) and larger number of posterior setiform sensilla in male (one pre-cloacal and 5 post-cloacal pairs vs. 3–4 post-cloacal pairs), and from R. longispicula in having shorter spicules (43–82 µm vs. 120–138 µm) and larger number of posterior setiform sensilla in male (one pre-cloacal and 5 post-cloacal vs. one pre-cloacal and 3 post-cloacal pairs).

**To the synonymy and composition of the genus Kodaianellissus Wang, Bourgoin et Zhang, 2017 (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Issidae)**

2026-04-21T12:36:21+12:00

Erratum: ANDREW D. CORSO, THOMAS DESVIGNES, JAN R. MCDOWELL, CHI-HING CHRISTINA CHENG, ELLEN E. BIESACK, DEBORAH K. STEINBERG & ERIC J. HILTON (2024) Akarotaxis gouldae, a new species of Antarctic dragonfish (Notothenioidei: Bathydraconidae) from the western Antarctic Peninsula. Zootaxa, 5501 (2): 265–290.

2026-04-21T12:42:40+12:00

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Erratum: ANTONIO SANTOS-SILVA, FRANCISCO ERIBERTO DE LIMA NASCIMENTO & LARRY G. BEZARK (2026) On Lamiinae (Cerambycidae, Coleoptera) from the Neotropical region: new species and taxonomic notes. Zootaxa, 5787 (2): 329–344.

2026-04-21T12:43:38+12:00

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