Zootaxa

**Taxonomic revision of the genus Casphalia Walker, 1866 (Lepidoptera, Limacodidae: Limacodinae)**

2026-02-16T11:39:54+13:00

This paper presents the first comprehensive revision of the Afrotropical genus Casphalia Walker, 1866. Through the utilisation of integrative taxonomic methods (external morphology, dissections of genitalia and DNA barcoding), we distinguish two species groups—C. flavicollis species group and the C. nigerrima species group—within the genus and herein describe 7 new species: C. tabererae sp. nov., C. kerkhofi sp. nov., C. hanoti sp. nov., C. fredpricei sp. nov., C. kambama sp. nov., C. inlenis sp. nov. and C. clara sp. nov. Erotomania Hering, 1930 is synonymezid with Casphalia and several new taxonomic combinations are proposed: Erotomania schoutedeni Hering, 1930 is transferred to Casphalia (Casphalia schoutedeni (Hering, 1930) comb. nov.) and Casphalia citrimaculata Aurivillius, 1905 is synonymised with Eccopa oculita Karsch, 1899 syn. n. The adults and genitalia of all taxa, their habitats and distribution are illustrated in 180 colour figures and three distribution maps.

An Annotated Checklist of Newly Recorded Macromoth Species (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) with Host Plant Records from Peninsular Malaysia

2026-02-16T11:41:02+13:00

Numerous studies on moth diversity have been conducted in Borneo, Sumatra, and Thailand. However, research on species richness and distribution in the neighbouring region of Peninsular Malaysia remains relatively limited. This paper analyses two collections, primarily of macromoths collected (i) in the late 1960s to early 1970s by the late H F O’B Traill at Batang Berjuntai, Selangor and (ii) by H S Barlow as well as latterly by Sofwan Badrud’din and Khalid Fadil at Genting Tea Estate (GTE), Genting Sempah, Pahang, from 1971 to date. Comprehensive identification of 3,492 species from the GTE collection has produced many range extensions of moths previously not recorded from Peninsular Malaysia. In total, 309 species are new records for Peninsular Malaysia within 9 families; Erebidae (140), Geometridea (60), Nolidae (52), Noctuidae (22), Euteliidae (15), Drepanidae (6), Uraniidae (7), Notodontidae (5), Zygaenidae (2). Of these, 97 species are illustrated with some showcasing sexual dimorphism. Additionally, the genitalia and other structures of 17 selected species were illustrated, with several described in detail for the first time. Numerous morphospecies are excluded from this study’s checklist due to their overwhelming numbers with estimation of 427 species.

**A new upper bathyal species of Protankyra (Holothuroidea: Apodida: Synaptidae) from the tropical southwest Atlantic**

2026-02-16T11:41:53+13:00

One of the main objectives of the “Program for the Assessment of the Sustainable Potential of Living Resources in the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone” (REVIZEE) was to produce a comprehensive inventory of benthic communities off the Brazilian coast. Holothuroid specimens collected at a depth of 246 m off the Rio de Janeiro state were donated for this study. Protankyra estevesi sp. nov. is described and illustrated herein based on morphological characters from a complete specimen and seven posterior fragments. The ossicles were examined using both optical and scanning electron microscopy. Micro-CT imaging was used to explore the calcareous ring elements in detail. The new species has eight long Polian vesicles. The main body wall ossicles consist of anchors and anchor plates, which are smaller anteriorly than posteriorly. Two types of anchor plates are found varying in size and shape. Posterior anchors are 1000 µm in size, and their arm serrations (up to 31) are occasionally discontinuous. Additional body wall ossicles include abundant C-shaped, round, and elongated miliary granules. The calcareous ring is composed of alternating five interradial and five radial pieces; dorsal pieces are shorter than ventral ones. In contrast, RIV and RV are wider than the other radials, each bearing two anterior processes, and the perforation is located in the muscle process. The new species was compared with 37 other congeners distributed worldwide. This is the first report of a deep-sea synaptid species in the southwestern Atlantic off Brazil. There is high potential for marine biodiversity investigations in the region and new species can be revealed not only in newly sampled deep-sea environments but also from studies based on material deposited in zoological collections.

**Further complicated histories: a revision of the Ameerega bassleri species group (Anura: Dendrobatidae) and a new species from the Cordillera Escalera of Peru**

2026-02-16T11:42:42+13:00

We describe a new species of poison frog from north-central Peru that was previously considered a morph of Ameerega bassleri. Our phylogenetic results indicate that A. bassleri as currently defined is polyphyletic, with the nominal clade (A. bassleri sensu stricto) sister to A. pepperi, and a second, as yet unnamed clade, sister to A. yoshina. This latter clade contains the well-known yellow morph occurring in the mountains near Tarapoto, which for the last ca. 20 years was erroneously thought to represent the nominal form of A. bassleri. Observations of color-pattern and analyses of male advertisement call traits (note-rate and dominant frequencies) reveal consistent differences between A. pepperi, A. yoshina, and the two lineages of A. bassleri (treated as separate groups), supporting the hypothesis that these four clades are independent evolutionary lineages. Based on these results, we restrict A. bassleri to the clade containing the Chrome-green and Black morphs and describe the Yellow morph as a new species.

**First record and expanded description of Scalicus orientalis (Teleostei: Peristediidae) from Mozambique, southwestern Indian Ocean**

2026-02-16T11:43:39+13:00

The oriental armored gurnard, Scalicus orientalis (Fowler), a benthic species in the family Peristediidae, is redescribed based on a specimen collected in 2023 from off the coast of Mozambique during an ecosystem survey by the R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, alongside four comparative specimens housed in the NRF-SAIAB National Fish Collection. This study is part of a post-survey taxonomic initiative under the EAF-Nansen Programme, aimed at strengthening taxonomic capacity in the East African region and advancing knowledge of its marine fish biodiversity. Detailed morphological analyses, including updated meristic and morphometric data, are presented with illustrations of both fresh and preserved coloration. DNA barcoding of the mitochondrial COI gene was used to support morphological identification, and species boundaries within the genus Scalicus were further evaluated using three molecular species delimitation methods: assemble species by automatic partitioning (ASAP), automatic barcode gap discovery (ABGD), and Bayesian implementation of the Poisson tree process (PTP). The results confirm the identification of the Mozambican specimen as S. orientalis, representing the first report of this species from the East African coast and the second record from the southwestern Indian Ocean. A revised key to the species of Scalicus is also provided.

Notes on the Scirtidae of Guatemala. I. A new species of Ora Clark, 1865 (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) from Guatemala and Texas, USA

2026-02-16T11:44:30+13:00

A new species of Ora Clark, 1865 is described from material from Guatemala and Texas, USA. This species was previously known as O. cf. marmorata Champion based on a single male specimen from Texas, USA.

Recognition of Sterletus Rafinesque 1820 as a nomen oblitum and Huso Brandt & Ratzeburg 1833 as a nomen protectum: A response to Kottelat and Freyhof (2025)

2026-02-16T11:45:13+13:00

**Occurrence of atypical coloration phenotype in Crocodylus acutus of the Cañón del Sumidero National Park, Chiapas, Mexico**

2026-02-16T11:45:56+13:00

**A new species of Euphlyctinides Hering from China (Lepidoptera, Limacodidae)**

2026-02-16T11:46:37+13:00