Zootaxa

Diagnostic male secondary sexual structures and wing patterns in the Thereus genena species group (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae) with the description of nine new species from Colombia, Peru, Brazil and French Guiana

2025-12-09T11:19:51+13:00

A review of the genena species group of Thereus Hübner is provided, based on literature, barcoded specimens, genome type material and recent collecting data, as part of an ongoing revisionary work on this genus. Previously, the genena species group contained five species and four synonyms, this study reveals nine new species and two previously unrecognized species whose names are here removed from synonymy. Thereus geminus Faynel & Fåhraeus sp. nov. (type-locality: Peru) is similar to T. endera but the ventral hindwing postmedian line is straight (no gap as in T. endera). Thereus cacao Faynel & Fåhraeus sp. nov. (type-locality: French Guiana) is close to T. endera but males have blue-violet coloration dorsally (compared to the grey-dull blue of T. endera) and the ventral postmedian line is displaced on the forewing. Thereus antecum Faynel & Fåhraeus sp. nov. (type-locality: French Guiana) is a large species reminiscent of Thereus endera (Hewitson), with a different shape of the postmedian line ventrally. Thereus chontachaca Faynel, Fåhraeus & González-Mercado sp. nov. (type-locality: Peru) is similar to Thereus ortalus (Godman & Salvin) and Thereus praxis (Godman & Salvin), although smaller and with a bigger black scent patch on the male dorsal forewing. Thereus ramirezi Faynel, Huertas & Fåhraeus sp. nov. (type-locality: Peru) is characterized by a wave-shaped dorsal edge of the vinculum supporting brush organs in the male genitalia, a character that is unique in the genena species group. Thereus borbaensis Faynel, O’Brien & Fåhraeus sp. nov. (type-locality: Brazil) is bigger than the previous two species with a wider black scent patch on the male forewing. Thereus confusus Faynel & Fåhraeus sp. nov. (type-locality: Brazil) was previously confused with T. ortalus but differs by its flattened oval scent patch on the male dorsal forewing. Thereus praxioides Faynel & Fåhraeus sp. nov. (type-locality: French Guiana) resembles T. praxis but differs by having thinner black margins and different oval scent patch on the male forewing. Thereus aguacatal Faynel, Le Crom, & Fåhraeus sp. nov. (type-locality: Colombia) looks like T. ortalus but has a single androconial patch on the male dorsal forewing. In addition to these new descriptions, some species-names are removed from synonymy: Thereus angulus (Le Crom & K. Johnson), stat. rev., type locality: Colombia (Meta), from T. endera, type-locality: Brazil (Amazonas) and Thereus ortaloides (Lathy), stat. rev., type-locality: Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), from T. ortalus, type-locality: Mexico (Veracruz). Consequently, we reinstate these nominal taxa to their original status, arrangements that are supported also by genomic work and barcoding of type material. To stabilize nomenclature, lectotypes are designated for Thecla endera Hewitson, Thecla genena Hewitson, Thecla praxis Godman & Salvin and Thecla ortalus Godman & Salvin. A neotype is designated for Thecla tiasa Hewitson to define this nominal taxon objectively. A key to identify species of the genena species group is provided using male characters.

Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea) from Nimba Mts. bordering Liberia and Guinea, Part I: The subfamily Torodorinae, with descriptions of 15 new species

2025-12-09T11:21:00+13:00

A total of 15 new species of the subfamily Torodorinae (Lecithoceridae) are described, based on material collected from Nimba Mts. on the border between Liberia and Guinea in Africa. The new species are six species of Dragmatucha Meyrick (D. curvalis Park & Karisch, sp. nov., D. gracilinea Park & Karisch, sp. nov., D. monticola Park & Karisch, sp. nov., D. noviproaula Park & Karisch, sp. nov., D. clinofasciata Park & Karisch, sp. nov., D. serona Park & Karisch, sp. nov., and nine species of Thubdora Park (T. nimbaensis Karisch & Park, sp. nov., T. ochsei Karisch & Park, sp. nov., T. minima Karisch & Park, sp. nov., T. pileata Karisch & Park, sp. nov., T. kevini Dutton & Park, sp. nov., T. aurea Dutton & Park, sp. nov., T. wendyae Dutton & Park, sp. nov., T. serrata Dutton & Park, sp. nov., and T. yekepaensis Dutton & Park, sp. nov.). In addition, three species of Dragmatucha Meyrick (D. ghanaensis Park, 2020, D. ovartiella Park & Karisch, 2022, and D. polystriana Park & Karisch, 2022) previously known from Ghana or Ivory Coast, and two species of Thubdora Park (T. vernaculella Park & Karisch, 2021 and T. pulchella Park & Karisch, 2022) are reported for the first time from Guinea or Liberia. The females of these species are described and illustrated for the first time. Images of adults and the genitalia of all new species are provided.

**Winged stages of Symbiocloeon laoense Palatov 2023 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) and systematic position of larvae developing inside mantle cavities of bivalve mollusks**

2025-12-09T11:21:59+13:00

For the first time, imagines were associated by rearing with larvae inhabiting mantle cavities of freshwater bivalve mollusks. This allows us to describe all stages of development of the mayfly species Symbiocloeon laoense Palatov 2023 from Laos and to determine the systematic position of the Oriental genus Symbiocloeon Müller-Liebenau 1979, formerly known as larvae only. Judging by the structure of winged stages, Symbiocloeon belongs to the holophyletic taxon Baetovectata Kluge & Novikova 2011 (or Baetinae in the wide sense), which in its turn, belongs to the holophyletic taxon Anteropatellata Kluge 1997. Structure of eggs extracted from female S. laoense is characteristic for the subgenus Margobaetis Kang & Yang 1994 of the genus Nigrobaetis Kazlauskas 1987, and analysis of COI MtDNA sequences also suggests close relationship between Symbiocloeon and Margobaetis. If the phylogenetic principle of systematics is accepted, Symbiocloeon can be regarded as a subgenus of Nigrobaetis; in order to avoid changing of the name Nigrobaetis Kazlauskas (in Novikova & Kluge) 1987 to the senior name Symbiocloeon Müller-Liebenau 1979, an application is submitted to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (Case 3959) asking to recognize availability of the senior generic name Nigrobaetis Kazlauskas 1972.

This larval-imaginal association reveals that the former association of the African larvae and imagines described under the name Mutelocloeon bihoumi Gillies & Elouard 1990, was wrong, because these African larvae are related to the Oriental genus Symbiocloeon and, hence, belong to Baetovectata within Anteropatellata, while the imagines of Mutelocloeon bihoumi belong to Rhithocloeonini Kluge 2012 within the plesiomorphon Protopatellata Kluge & Novikova 2011. Since the holotype of Mutelocloeon bihoumi is a male imago, the species name Mutelocloeon bihoumi and the generic name Mutelocloeon Gillies & Elouard 1990 belong to imagines described under these names. The larvae ascribed to Mutelocloeon bihoumi are moved in the genus Symbiocloeon as an unnamed species Symbiocloeon sp. A. Mutelocloeon bihoumi Gillies & Elouard 1990 is a junior synonym of Mutelocloeon corbeti (Kimmins 1956), syn. nov.; larvae of this species remain unknown. Possibly, Mutelocloeon Gillies & Elouard 1990 will prove to be a senior synonym of Adnoptilum Gattolliat & Monaghan 2010.

**A new species of Cosmetus (Opiliones, Cosmetidae) from the Colombian pacific region**

2025-12-09T11:22:50+13:00

Cosmetus Perty, 1833 is a cosmetid genus with 21 species described which can be recognized by its characteristic fused spine in area III, although this character is presumably homoplastic. In this paper we describe one new species of the genus sensu lato from the Colombian pacific region based on genital morphology and external characters. Cosmetus calima sp. nov. (type locality: Valle del Cauca, Buenaventura, Bajo Calima) can be distinguished by the combination of the following features: dorsal scutum uniformly yellow without paired depigmented spots; spine undivided, shorter than dorsal scutum and not projecting backwards; femur IV long and unarmed; smooth tarsal claws III and IV; male without hypertelic chelicerae, with five basitarsomeres I and penis with a medial basal swelling on the dorsal region of the ventral plate that touches the gland. It is similar to Cosmetus acanti and Cosmetus balboa, which also inhabit the Chocó-Darién moist forests, differing subtly from them in its coloration and spot pattern, the length and inclination of spine in area III, the shape of ventral plate of penis and the position of MS D and MS E.

**Morphology, ecology, and biogeography of new populations of Telmatobius pisanoi (Anura: Telmatobiidae) in the Eastern Cordillera, Salta, Argentina**

2025-12-09T11:23:34+13:00

The family Telmatobiidae consists of a single genus, Telmatobius, with 60 species distributed along the Andes of South America. Commonly known as water frogs, telmatobiids inhabit different types of mountain freshwater environments, with species ranging semi-aquatic to fully aquatic lifestyles. This study expands current knowledge of Telmatobius pisanoi by reporting two newly identified populations from the northern and northeast regions of the Calchaquí Valley, in the Eastern Cordillera of Salta province, north-western Argentina. We provide detailed morphological descriptions of adults, juveniles and tadpoles—including osteology and morphometric data—and compare them with previously known, geographically distant populations from the southern Calchaquí Valley and other species from Argentina. Based on the analysis of morphological variation and other biological aspects, we discuss the implications in the taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography, natural history, and conservation of the species. Although intraspecific traits were consistent, the observed morphological variation suggests a historical fragmentation of populations. Additionally, we provide a distribution map integrating physical geography with both new field records and historical information contributed by local residents.

**First description of the female of Hypotrabala tabithae and new collection localities for the species (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae)**

2025-12-09T11:24:20+13:00

Two males and two females of Hypotrabala tabithae Takano & László, 2024 were found in the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History (Pretoria, Republic of South Africa) during a short visit in 2016. Females and their genitalia are illustrated and described here for the first time for H. tabithae, previously known after two type males. In addition, the male and its genitalia and geographic and ecoregional maps with four new collection localities in Zambia are illustrated.

**Hidden diversity of the widespread Opsaridium ubangiense (Cypriniformes: Danionidae) in Central Africa**

2025-12-09T11:25:25+13:00

Opsaridium ubangiense is a reportedly widespread species that occurs throughout the Lower Guinea ichthyofaunal province and within the Upper Congo River drainage. Recent collections throughout the region allow us to examine the genetic diversity within this species across its reported distribution. The results of a multi-locus analyses and four different species delimitation methods (GD, bPTP, ABGD, and ASAP) suggest the presence of distinct taxa within what is now considered O. ubangiense. The analysis also revealed potentially distinct taxa within the rivers of Equatorial Guinea and highlight some interesting patterns of diversity within the Mbini River drainage. A preliminary morphological analysis also revealed some differences among topotypic material and other studied populations. These results are discussed in the context of other recent discoveries in the region; future studies needed are also detailed.

Glyptothorax sulculus, a new catfish from the Cambodian Mekong (Actinopterygii: Sisoridae)

2025-12-09T11:26:14+13:00

This study describes Glyptothorax sulculus, a new species of sisorid catfish from the Mekong River drainage in northern Cambodia, and provides a key to the Glyptothorax species known from this drainage. The new species differs from congeners in the Mekong River drainage by a unique combination of the following characters: area between anterior and posterior fontanels on neurocranium sharply delineated by absence of tubercles on dorsal surface of head; eye diameter 14% HL; broader lateral processes of the nuchal plates set at about 90° to the median axis; thoracic adhesive apparatus lacking both anteromedial striae and a medial pit, its width 1.7 times in its length; dorsal-fin spine length 18.7% SL; dorsal to adipose distance 15.6% SL; caudal peduncle length 17.3% SL; caudal peduncle depth 2.9 times in body depth at dorsal origin; color pattern of two indistinct dark saddles on body connected by indistinct dark midlateral stripe to form elongate pale ovoid patch on dorsolateral surface of body; and absence of distinctly pale nuchal shield.

**Description and 3D imaging of a new Quasicalathus species from Eocene amber (Coleoptera, Carabidae)**

2025-12-09T11:26:56+13:00

A new fossil species of the genus Quasicalathus preserved in Eocene amber is described using light microscopy, micro-CT scanning and 3D visualization. It differs from the previously described species mainly by the shape of the aedeagal median lobe and its right paramere, with the latter characterized by presence of a distinct apical hook. Our morphological findings suggest that Quasicalathus is a representative of a Sphodrini clade which is sister group to the subtribe Sphodrina and comprises the Calathina, Dolichina, Pristosiina, and Synuchina. The discovery of the new species highlights the importance of microCT technology for the analysis of beetle fossils preserved in amber.

**A new species of Batriscenaulax Jeannel, 1958 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from Jinfoshan Nature Reserve, southwest China**

2025-12-09T11:27:45+13:00

Batriscenaulax wangluyui sp. nov. (Batrisitae: Batrisini) is described from Jinfoshan National Nature Reserve, Chongqing, southwest China. Habitus illustration and details of diagnostic features are presented to aid identification. The new species can be readily separated from all congeners by the unique modification of male tergite IV and the distinct configuration of the aedeagus.