Zootaxa

**Revision of the Neotropical vallensis species-group (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae, Dissomphalus), with the discovery of fifteen new species**

LEONARDO R. PEREIRA — 2026-03-31

Dissomphalus Ashmead is the most speciose Bethylidae genus, with the majority of its species found in the Neotropical region. Due to this high diversity, the species are organized into species-groups, mainly based on metasomal tergal processes and the male genitalia. The vallensis species-group is defined by having two tubercles mesad located in a median subcircular or elliptical fovea, tufts of setae are common in the lateral region inside this depression. Currently, this group comprises 20 valid species. Here, we revise this group and describe fifteen new species: D. angroni sp. nov., D. corvusi sp. nov., D. eliasi sp. nov., D. firminoi sp. nov., D. fulgrimi sp. nov., D. horusi sp. nov., D. jaghataii sp. nov., D. lorgari sp. nov., D. magnusi sp. nov., D. mortarioni sp. nov., D. perturaboi sp. nov., D. roboutei sp. nov., D. rogali sp. nov., D. sanguiniusi sp. nov., and D. vulkani sp. nov. The male genitalia characters play a critical role for species delimitation, with others characters having a limited taxonomic value. We also provide a new identification key for all males and new information about their distribution, with most of them found in Brazil with D. bifurcatus having the largest distribution along the Neotropical region. The genus includes 639 valid species globally with this contribution.

**Three new species from the Afrotropical and Oriental regions expand the formerly monotypic genus Oxybia Rebel, 1901 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)**

VIKTOR YEPISHIN — 2026-03-31

This study provides a revision of the Old World genus Oxybia, including descriptions of three new species, thereby increasing the total number of recognized species to four. Two species are described from the Afrotropical Region: O. sergienkoi sp. nov. from the Cape Region of South Africa and O. transcapimontella sp. nov. from Namibia and South Africa. The third species, O. koothrappali sp. nov., originates from the Oriental Region (Southern India). The new species are morphologically well distinguished from each other and from the type species, O. transversella (Duponchel, 1836), primarily by the shape and number of cornuti in the male genitalia. The differential diagnoses for the genus and its type species have been updated. Redescriptions of both taxa are provided. The lectotype of Phycis transversella Duponchel, 1836 is hereby designated. In addition, dichotomous keys to the species of the genus are included, based separately on external characters and the features of the genitalia of both sexes.

**Unraveling Hypodesmus Cook, 1896: A preliminary taxonomic revision of the neotropical genus (Polydesmida, Chelodesmidae, Trachelodesmini)**

JUAN ROMERO-RINCON — 2026-03-31

A taxonomic revision of the millipede genus Hypodesmus Cook, 1896 is presented. Female syntypes of the type species, Hypodesmus constrictus (Peters, 1865), are examined and designated as lectotype and paralectotypes. Based on newly collected material, the male is described for the first time, allowing for the generic diagnosis to be confirmed and amended. Type material of Hypodesmus broelemanni Hoffman, 1975 is revised and photographed, and a new record is provided based on recent specimens. Hypodesmus orbiculatus sp. nov. is described from Parque Natural Chicaque, and distribution maps are presented for the genus and for the other members of Trachelodesmini. Finally, additional unidentified material of Trachelodesmini is listed from two Colombian collections.

**First record of the genus Anisogammarus (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Anisogammaridae) from Korea, with description of a new and a newly recorded species**

YU-RI NAM — 2026-03-31

This study aims to discover and document amphipods from Korea, contributing to the clarification of the Korean amphipod taxonomy. As part of this effort, a new species and a newly recorded species of the anisogammarid amphipod genus Anisogammarus were collected from the East Sea of Korea. The new species, A. donghaensis sp. nov. is morphologically similar to A. pugettensis dybovskyi and A. tzvetkovae. However, the new species can be distinguished from its congeners by several morphological differences, including the number of flagellar articles on antenna 1, the shape of robust setae on the palmar corner of gnathopod 1, the length of the coxal gill on pereopod 7, and the number of robust setae on the dorsal hump of urosomite 1. Additionally, nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) confirm species level divergence. The other newly recorded species, A. pugettensis dybovskyi exhibits similarities with A. donghaensis sp. nov. and A. tzvetkovae. However, this species can be obviously distinguished from its congeners by the robust setal formula on urosomite 1, and dorsolateral tooth formula of urosomite 2. Both species are described and illustrated in the present study, along with a key to the species of genus Anisogammarus. This study represents the first record of the genus Anisogammarus from Korean waters.

**A new Opisthotropis Günther, 1872 (Colubridae: Natricinae) from northern Laos allied to the enigmatic Opisthotropis maculosa Stuart & Chuaynkern, 2007**

BRYAN L. STUART — 2026-03-31

The natricid snake genus Opisthotropis contains approximately 25 species distributed across tropical Asia. Three specimens of a distinctively patterned Opisthotropis from the Phou Katha Platea in Hom District, Xaysomboun Province, northern Laos, are shown to be molecularly and morphologically distinct from all other members of the genus and are described as a new species. Based on more than 9 kb of multi-locus sequence data from mitochondrial and nuclear genes, Opisthotropis hanseli sp. nov. is phylogenetically recovered to be sister to O. maculosa, a species known only by its holotype specimen from northeastern Thailand. The new species differs from its congeners by having the combination of a dark dorsum with a light spot on each scale, 20 maxillary teeth, the nasal cleft extending to near suture of the first and second supralabial, and the number and arrangement of head and body scales, notably a single internasal. The monophyly of Opisthotropis is resolved by transferring O. typica from Borneo and Palawan to the genus Hydrablabes as H. typicus comb. nov.

Population genetic structure and phylogeography of two South Asian Killifishes, Aplocheilus blockii and A. parvus

GADADHARAN SREESHA — 2026-03-31

The identity and taxonomic status of the South Asian killifishes Aplocheilus blockii and A. parvus has often been debated, with the latter name considered a junior synonym of the former. To understand whether topotypic A. blockii and A. parvus, and populations across a wider distribution range in peninsular India and Sri Lanka, signal genetic structuring, and to help resolve the ambiguous taxonomy of these nominal species, we studied their population genetics and phylogeography based on the partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene marker. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Aplocheilus blockii and A. parvus form two distinct, reciprocally monophyletic sister clades, the former of which is restricted to India while the latter is shared between southern Peninsular India and Sri Lanka. The maximum uncorrected intra-specific cox1 genetic distance was 1.5% for A. blockii and 0.7% for A. parvus, while minimum inter-specific genetic distance between the two species was 2.4%, suggesting that a narrow genetic gap, between 1.5 to 2.4%, separates the species. Despite the low genetic divergence between these sister taxa, they are readily distinguished morphologically by the pattern of iridescent scales on the side of the body. While A. blockii has continuous rows of iridescent scales on the lateral surface, giving an impression of horizontal iridescent lines, iridescence on the lateral surface of A. parvus is restricted to alternate scales, giving an impression of vertical iridescent lines. The median-joining genetic network revealed 37 haplotypes in A. blockii and 32 haplotypes in A. parvus. No haplotypes of A. parvus are shared between southern India and Sri Lanka. Analysis of molecular variance confirmed that there is significant population genetic structuring between the two species and their populations. We discuss genetic diversity and structuring in A. blockii and A. parvus in the context of the physiography of the southern Indian peninsula and Sri Lanka, as well as the historical biogeography of the region, and review implications for the taxonomy of south Asian killifishes.

The comb-clawed beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Alleculinae) of Iraq: checklist, new records and a new species

VLADIMÍR NOVÁK — 2026-03-31

A new species of the family Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera), subfamily Alleculinae, subtribe Alleculina Laporte, 1840—Mycetocharina (Mycetocharina) hazarmerdica Novák sp. nov. from Iraqi Kurdistan is described and illustrated, including male genitalia. and compared with habitually similar species Mycetocharina (Mycetocharina) kabateki Novák, 2006. The species Magdanalia iranica (Novák, 2007), Mycetocharina (M.) kabateki Novák, 2006, Prionychus cisteloides Seidlitz, 1896 and Mycetochara (Oculochara) mardinica (Novák, 2022) are reported for the first time from the territory of Iraq. The current list of species and genera of comb-clawed beetles (subfamily Alleculinae) from Iraq is presented.

**New species and records of Otiothops MacLeay, 1839 (Araneae, Palpimanidae) from caves of the Carajás region, state of Pará, Brazil**

GABRIEL G. CARDOSO — 2026-03-31

In this paper, we describe three new species of the palpimanid spider genus Otiothops MacLeay, 1839 from caves of the Carajás region, in the state of Pará, Brazil, based on specimens of both sexes: O. fatimae sp. nov. (♂♀), O. luizi sp. nov. (♂♀) and O. daselva sp. nov. (♂). Otiothops baculus Platnick, 1975 and O. curua Brescovit, Bonaldo & Barreiros, 2007 are also recorded from the same cave areas for the first time, and their distributions are updated.

Late Quaternary nightjars (Aves: Caprimulgidae) from Western Cuba

VAVRAVA O. GORBATCHEVA — 2026-03-31

Nightjars (Aves: Caprimulgidae) are predominately nocturnal birds that are rare in the fossil record. Based on materials from the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene deposits of El Abrón Cave (Western Cuba), two species of nightjars have been identified: the likely extinct Siphonorhis daiquiri and the modern Chordeiles gundlachii. Materials on Siphonorhis daiquiri contribute notably to our knowledge of the very poorly studied clade of Siphonorhis poorwills, while the latter species is recorded at this locality for the first time. Representatives of the genus Siphonorhis are specialized for terrestrial locomotion; therefore, the presence of S. daiquiri in layers of different ages (Holocene layers II, III and Pleistocene layers IV, V, VII, and VIII) indicates the presence of open landscapes in the vicinity of the locality throughout various epochs of the taphocoenosis formation. In contrast, only remains of Ch. gundlachii have been found in Late Pleistocene layers VI and IX, which may be associated with changes in environmental conditions during these intervals. The presence of S. daiquiri in the Holocene levels of the cave corroborates the hypothesis that this species survived in Cuba into post-Pleistocene time.

**Is it Phoeochroops Candèze, 1876 or Phaeochroops Candèze, 1876 (Coleoptera: Hybosoridae) when the Code provides no criteria for determining prevailing usage of a subsequent spelling?**

PETER G. ALLSOPP — 2026-03-31

The status of Phoeochroops Candèze, 1876 and of five subsequent spellings is reviewed. Phoeochroops is confirmed as the correct original spelling by an act of the First Reviser, with Phoeocroops considered an incorrect subsequent spelling. Phaechroops, Paechroops and Phaeocroops are incorrect subsequent spellings and are not available names. Phaeochroops, although an incorrect subsequent spelling, is in prevailing usage and could be considered the valid name under Article 33.3.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, except that the Code provides no criteria for determining what constitutes prevailing usage of a subsequent spelling, only of names. Modifications to the Code that would clearly define prevailing usage for alternative spellings are suggested.

A new remarkable genus and species of Mantispidae (Neuroptera) from the earliest Eocene of Denmark

VLADIMIR N. MAKARKIN — 2026-03-31

Heiemantispa storozhenkoi gen. et sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) is described from the earliest Eocene Fur Formation, Denmark. The genus is distinguished from others of the family by a combination of forewing character states: a simple CuP (unique in Drepanicinae, if it belongs to that subfamily) and a basally unfused M and R. The venation of Heiemantispa gen. nov. is most similar to that of Protheristria Makarkin et al., 2025, also from the Fur Formation. Both genera are known only from incomplete wings of their type species, the venation of which does not allow them to be confidently assigned to either the subfamily Drepanicinae or Calomantispinae.

**One new species of the genus Dentitegumia Amsel, 1961 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Phycitinae) from Xinjiang, China**

ABDUKIRIM GULZAR — 2026-03-31

One new species, Dentitegumia hamiclaspera Gulzar & Li, sp. nov., is described from Xinjiang, China. Images of the adult and genitalia are provided. The diagnostic characters to distinguish this new species from its allies are also given.