Zootaxa

**Taxonomic revision of the southamerican genus Picnoseus Solier (Coleoptera: Meloidae), including Pyrotini biogeographical considerations**

2026-03-16T11:55:41+13:00

The endemic South American genus Picnoseus Solier (Tenebrionoidea: Meloidae: Pyrotini) is revised. Picnoseus is distributed primarily in arid regions of the Andean Region, including Central Chile, and the Andean and Monte provinces. All known species have been comprehensively redescribed, incorporating detailed illustrations of the hindwing and genitalia of both sexes for the first time. Five new species from Chile are described, and an updated identification key is presented. Finally, the first biogeographic analysis of New World Pyrotini genera is conducted, with a focus on South American taxa to elucidate their evolutionary history.

Note on Phalangopsidae crickets from Sabah and the Philippines, with description of a new species of Luzonogryllus

2026-03-16T11:56:35+13:00

Recent field work in Sabah state of Malaysia in Borneo, as well as Mindanao, Negros and Siquijor Islands in the Philippines has led to the collection of crickets from the family Phalangopsidae. This allows us to review the taxonomy of Luzonogryllus Yamasaki, 1978 from the Philippines and Sabah. We also describe a new species from Mindanao: Luzonogryllus (Apterozacla) appa Tan & Alo, sp. nov. We also present new locality records for Luzonogryllus (Apterozacla) mindoroensis Gorochov, 2006 in Negros and Siquijor Islands. Lastly, we also present new material of Strophiola lugubrina (Stål, 1877) from Mindanao and Negros Islands.

A new genus and four new species of parasitic isopods (Isopoda: Epicaridea) from deep water squat lobster hosts (Decapoda: Anomura) off New Zealand

2026-03-16T11:57:56+13:00

Squat lobsters (Decapoda: Anomura) from New Zealand were previously known to be hosts for approximately 25 species of parasitic isopods (Epicaridea). The present study reports on one new genus and four new species of epicaridean isopods collected from galatheoid squat lobster hosts off New Zealand from depths of ~250–1500 m. Three bopyrids (Munidion radagasti sp. nov. on Curtonida endeavourae, Pseudione apoisos sp. nov. on C. isos, and Pseudione bourdoni sp. nov. on Munidopsis victoriae) and one cryptoniscid (Cryptodanalia australis gen. nov., sp. nov. on Phylladiorhynchus australis) are described. Each new species is compared to its morphologically most closely related species, and a table of comparative female morphology for all cryptoniscid genera is provided. Pseudione fibriata Richardson, 1910, is redescribed and a lectotype designated for that species, Pseudione hayi Nierstrasz & Brender à Brandis, 1931, is confirmed from its type host, Grimothea gregaria, and Pseudione sagamiensis Nierstrasz & Brender à Brandis, 1932, is newly reported from New Zealand. These discoveries underscore that the epicaridean fauna of New Zealand is more diverse than previously recognized and that continued examination of decapod hosts is likely to reveal additional undescribed parasites.

**Synonymy of Ctenotus Storr, 1964 (Squamata: Scincidae) in the biodiversity hotspot of southwestern Western Australia**

2026-03-16T11:58:56+13:00

The majority of species in Australia’s most diverse vertebrate genus Ctenotus Storr were diagnosed and described based on morphological data prior to the wide availability of molecular phylogenetic data to interpret taxonomic relationships and boundaries. The C. labillardieri (Duméril & Bibron) species group comprises seven taxa endemic to the biodiversity hotspot of southwestern Western Australia. A recent analysis provided a phylogeny for most species in this group and described a range-restricted species of immediate conservation concern. However, that study was unable to examine the molecular divergence of the species C. delli Storr due to a lack of tissue samples. Newly available samples allowed us to examine the taxonomic distinctiveness of this species and C. catenifer Storr which is very similar in morphology. Our combined molecular and morphological analyses show these two species to be conspecific. Therefore, we designate the name C. catenifer a junior synonym of C. delli and provide a redescription and revised diagnosis of a single morphologically variable species.

Earthworm species (Crassilitellata) from Eastern Amazonia and Northern Cerrado, Brazil

2026-03-16T11:59:48+13:00

Earthworms are main contributors to the pedogenesis. However, knowledge regarding their diversity and distribution in many regions of Brazil remains limited. This study aimed to report new records and assess the abundance of earthworm species in the eastern Amazon, northern Maranhão Cerrado, and eastern Pará: in the Belém Endemism Center of the Amazon biome more one municipality in the Cerrado. Specimens were collected in eight municipalities between 2010 and 2019 using quantitative and qualitative (active search) sampling methods. A total of 6,379 individuals were recorded, belonging to 14 genera and 22 species, distributed across five families. Pontoscolex corethrurus was the most abundant species, accounting for 81% of all specimens collected. Holoscolex fernandoi (6.4%) and Dichogaster bolaui (3.3%) were also frequently encountered. The remaining 16 species accounted for only 9.3% of the total abundance. These results highlight the dominance of Pontoscolex corethrurus, a peregrine species, indicating its strong adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions. This study expands the knowledge of earthworm diversity in Brazil and underscores the need for further research on the ecological impacts of non-native species on the native fauna.

**On the arboreal Afrotropical ant-mimicking castianeirine spider genus Castianeirodes Strand, 1916 (Araneae: Corinnidae)**

2026-03-16T12:00:41+13:00

The genus Castianeirodes Strand, 1916, with C. insulicola (Strand, 1916) comb. nov. (ex Castianeira Keyserling, 1879) from D.R. Congo as the type species, is revalidated and formally described and diagnosed for the first time. The female holotype of C. insulicola is redescribed and illustrated for the first time; the male remains unknown. Three new species are described from both sexes: C. jocquei sp. nov. from Ghana, C. kakamega sp. nov. from Kenya and C. natalensis sp. nov. from South Africa.

**A review of the Philippine Campsosternus (Coleoptera: Elateridae), with descriptions of new taxa**

2026-03-16T12:01:31+13:00

A review of the Philippine species of Campsosternus Latreille, 1834 (Coleoptera: Elateridae) is presented. Campsosternus mindorensis sp. nov. is described from Mindoro. It differs from all previously known Philippine species of Campsosternus by the presence of dense pubescence on both dorsal and ventral parts of the thorax, a feature not observed in any previously described species from the archipelago. Besides that, two new subspecies are described and illustrated: C. rutilans mindanaoensis ssp. nov. (Mindanao) and C. r. cupreus ssp. nov. (Panay, Negros). Morphological variation among island populations for these taxa is interpreted as intraspecific geographic differentiation. Two new synonymies are proposed: C. rutilans Chevrolat, 1841 = C. proteus Hope, 1843, syn. nov.; C. leachii Hope, 1843 = C. eschscholtzii Hope, 1843, syn. nov. A key to the Philippine species and subspecies is included.

**Unexpected record of Meadia roseni Mok, Lee & Chan, 1991 (Anguilliformes: Synaphobranchidae) from the Western Indian Ocean, with comments on its ontogenetic changes**

2026-03-16T12:02:17+13:00

Two specimens of a rare eel of the genus Meadia (Synaphobranchidae, Ilyophinae) were trawled during a survey conducted by the research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen off Tanzania in 2023. Detailed examination and comparison with the three known species of the genus revealed that both specimens belong to Meadia roseni Mok, Lee & Chan, 1991, a species previously thought to be restricted to Taiwan and Vietnam. These specimens represent the first record of this species from the Indian Ocean. Species identification is supported by a phylogenetic analysis of the COI barcoding region, which included a specimen of M. roseni from Taiwan. Description of both Tanzanian specimens, based on voucher material, is provided and accompanied by photographs of fresh specimens. Ontogenetic changes associated with growth are also discussed.

**Redescription of Altigena sinkleri (Cyprinidae: Labeoninae) from Thailand**

2026-03-16T12:03:13+13:00

**Potential taxonomic instability in the descriptions of Hemiphyllodactylus species (Squamata: Gekkonidae)—H. mengsongcunensis and H. jinghongensis—from Yunnan Province, China**

2026-03-16T12:03:55+13:00

**First record of the nigra scale, Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner, 1861) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae), in Uzbekistan**

2026-03-16T12:04:44+13:00

A preliminary survey of the reptiles of Mount Po Ma Lung, with two new country records for Vietnam

2026-03-16T12:05:39+13:00