Zootaxa

**A new polymorphic species of Phrynobatrachus (Amphibia: Anura: Phrynobatrachidae) from southern Ivory Coast, a West African biodiversity hotspot**

2026-02-18T11:58:17+13:00

We describe a new species of puddle frog, genus Phrynobatrachus, from southern Ivory Coast. The new species, which we designate as Phrynobatrachus moroedeli sp. nov., exhibits striking variation in colour pattern of the ventral surface with either very few small black dots or large dark or even black blotches along the edges, and differs from all other West African species of the genus by the combination of unique morphological characters: small sized (snout–vent length of 13.9–23 mm), compact-bodied frog with a short rounded to pointed snout; rough to slightly warty dorsal skin with variable colouration; males with greyish dark, deep dark to completely black throats absence of a spiny eyelid tubercle; absence of femoral gland; presence of narrow X-shaped pair of scapular ridges; presence of light or whitish vertebral line or band; distinct black lateral band on flanks; distinct but rudimentary pedal webbing and small but distinct discs on fingers and toes; spinulae on dorsal surfaces of thighs and lower legs. It is further distinguished by mitochondrial 16S rRNA genetic distances ranging from 4.05–11.43% relative to other West African species of Phrynobatrachus, and by the absence of haplotype sharing within the analysed fragment of the nuclear RAG1 gene. Phylogenetically, the new lineage is closely related to but genealogically exclusive from Phrynobatrachus afiabirago, P. fraterculus, P. gutturosus, P. maculiventris, and P. pintoi, all of which are endemic to the Upper Guinean forest zone of West Africa. One formerly recognized distinct lineage (P. aff. gutturosus 1) may further correspond to the newly described species (mean 16S genetic distance 1.96%), but it is currently represented by a single sample from an unvouchered specimen. Additional specimens are thus needed to clarify its taxonomic identity and morphological characteristics.

**A new species of Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820 (Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae) of the H. persicus complex from Aravalli hills, India**

2026-02-18T11:59:10+13:00

We describe a new species of leaf-toed gecko of the genus Hemidactylus from the southern Aravalli Hills in Gujarat, India. The new species is a member of the H. persicus complex and has previously been reported as conspecific with H. persicus. In light of the recent revision of H. persicus, we reassessed the status of the population reported from Gujarat, India. The population was found to be genetically and morphologically distinct and is here described as a new species. The new species is diagnosable by the following suite of characters: a medium-size (adult snout-vent length up to 65 mm); dorsal scalation on trunk granular, intermixed with slightly enlarged, regularly arranged transverse rows of 14 oval, feebly keeled or sub-trihedral tubercles; original tail lacks any enlarged tubercles; males with 3–8 precloacal pores. The new species, Hemidactylus aravalliensis sp. nov. is the third endemic species of gecko described from the Aravalli Hills and highlights the rich and unique diversity of this ancient yet understudied land mass.

A new genus and two new species of Pteroplistinae (Orthoptera, Grylloidea) from Sabah

2026-02-18T12:00:05+13:00

Recent fieldwork in Maliau Basin and Meligan in Sabah led to the discovery of a new genus and two new species of Pteroplistinae Chopard, 1936: Erinaplistes incredibilis Tan & Robillard, gen. et sp. nov. and Erinaplistes crumenata Tan & Robillard, gen. et sp. nov. from Sinipung Hill near Meligan. This new genus is characterised by its medium size, being smaller than Pteroplistes but larger than most other genera from Southeast Asia; and the male genitalia are very wide and having very distinguishable and highly modified pseudepiphallic lophi, ectophallic fold and ectophallic apodemes. We also present new locality records for Pteroplistes borneoensis sabahi Gorochov, 2018, Pteroplistes bruneiensis Tan, Gorochov & Wahab, 2019 and Tembelingiola kabili Tan, Gorochov & Robillard, 2024 in Maliau Basin. We also describe the calling song of Pteroplistes borneoensis sabahi here.

Three new species of the tribe Anerastiini (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from Korea

2026-02-18T12:01:50+13:00

The tribe Anerastiini in Korea comprises eight species in seven genera: Hypsotropa solipunctella, Enosima leucotaniella, Rhinaphe minor, Emmalocera venosella, Paraemmalocera gensanalis, Maliarpha borealis, Arivaca cuprella, and Arivaca gracilis. Among them, we reviewed four genera, Enosima, Polyocha, Toshitamia, and Paraemmalocera, of the tribe in Korea, and report two new species of Paraemmalocera, one new species of Polyocha, and one new record of Toshitamia for the first time in Korea. Diagnoses, adult figures, and illustrations of male and female genitalia are provided, as well as DNA Barcoding data.

Scarodytes hindiluva sp. nov. from eastern Türkiye (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Hydroporini)

2026-02-18T12:02:35+13:00

Scarodytes hindiluva sp. nov. is described from the Hındıluva plateau in Mardin province and the Tapantepe region in Bingöl province, both in eastern Türkiye. Together with the new species the genus Scarodytes Gozis, 1914 includes now 14 species and one subspecies. The habitus, the male and female genitalia as well as the variation of several morphological characters of the new species are illustrated. The species is compared in detail with the three species of the genus previously recorded from Türkiye.

**A new Triotemnus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) species from Spain**

2026-02-18T12:03:23+13:00

Triotemnus ibericus sp. nov. from Iberian Peninsula is described. This is the first species of Triotemnus from the Spainish mainland. External morphology of the new species and all morphologically similar Triotemnus species are discussed. The new species is morphologically related to species from Morocco and Algeria, possesses several distinctive morphological characters on the elytral declivity. Geographical distribution and the probability of endemicity are discussed.

Africaphes lineatus sp. nov., a new species of Stenichnini from Rwanda (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae)

2026-02-18T12:04:09+13:00

The recently described genus Africaphes Jałoszyński so far comprised two species, A. quadripunctatus Jałoszyński, and A. bipunctatus Jałoszyński, known to occur respectively in Burundi and Rwanda. A new species is described, based on a specimen collected in Rwanda, A. lineatus sp. nov. All three species of Africaphes are microscopic beetles, ranging from 0.95 to 1.15 mm, and unique in having a narrow median longitudinal slit on the head in males, presumably a glandular opening, which in each species is of a different length and placement, and only in A. quadripunctatus additionally accompanied by round pits and modified setae.

Two new species of Macropsini (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Eurymelinae) from the highlands of New Guinea

2026-02-18T12:04:58+13:00

Illustrated descriptions of two new species of Macropsini from the highlands of New Guinea, Pediopsis vikhrevi sp. nov. and Macropsella habbema sp. nov., are provided. Pediopsis vikhrevi sp. nov. differs from all other known species of Pediopsis by the shape of the dorsal connective processes and the aedeagus. M. habbema sp. nov. has peculiar bifurcated pygofer appendages, differing in this character from other Australian and New Guinean Macropsini.