DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.197031

Authors: Ju Chen, Xiangjian Wu, Yuanqiang Pan, Shuo Liu, Dejun Kong, Guohua Yu

Abstract: Due to morphological conservatism, taxonomic misidentification has frequently occurred in the Amolops monticola species group. In this study, based on previously published data and newly collected samples, phylogenetic and morphological analyses were conducted to investigate the species diversity of the A. monticola species group in southern Yunnan, China. Phylogenetic analyses based on three mitochondrial genes (16S rRNA, COI, and ND2) revealed that the types of A. compotrix form a clade and that this clade is sister to the clade formed by A. compotrix from Yunnan, A. truongi, and newly collected samples from Jinggu and Pingbian counties, indicating that A. compotrix and A. truongi are not reciprocally monophyletic. Based on the low genetic distances between A. compotrix and A. truongi and the absence of stable diagnostic morphological differences despite geographically structured morphometric variation, A. truongi is proposed as a junior synonym of A. compotrix. The samples from Xishuangbanna are grouped together with A. vitreus. Together with the morphological evidence, this result suggests that A. vitreus is a junior synonym of A. mengyangensis. In addition, the known distribution of A. deng is extended from southeastern Xizang and northwestern Yunnan to Pingbian County, southeastern Yunnan. Therefore, a total of six species belonging to the A. monticola group are distributed in southern Yunnan, namely A. compotrix, A. deng, A. huanglianshanensis, A. mengyangensis, A. wenshanensis, and A. iriodes. Neither nominal A. bellulus nor A. daorum is monophyletic, indicating that further studies are required to clarify the species diversity of the A. monticola group.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.208437

Authors: Thu-Anh T. Nguyen, Paul E. Marek, Anh D. Nguyen

Abstract: The millipede genus Hedinomorpha Verhoeff, 1934 is recorded in Vietnam for the first time with two new species, Hedinomorpha caobang sp. nov. and Hedinomorpha vast sp. nov. Both species are described and illustrated. The COI and 16S rRNA fragments are also provided for the two new species.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.186565

Authors: Jing Zhong, Weichun Li, Chao Jiang

Abstract: This study employs an integrative taxonomic approach, combining morphological observations, phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial COI, 16S rRNA and nuclear 28S rRNA sequences, and molecular species delimitation using COI sequences, to resolve the long-standing generic delimitation dispute between the isopod genera Koreoniscus Verhoeff, 1937 and Mongoloniscus Verhoeff, 1930. The results indicate that Koreoniscus is a junior synonym of Mongoloniscus syn. nov., with two new combinations consequently proposed: Mongoloniscus huaguoshanensis (Tang & Gui, 2000), comb. nov. and M. racovitzai (Arcangeli, 1927), comb. nov. Additionally, three new Mongoloniscus species collected from China are described here: M. beijingensis sp. nov., M. xianensis sp. nov., and M. arciprominens sp. nov. This study clarifies the taxonomic confusion between the two genera and refines the generic system of the family Agnaridae (Isopoda).

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.206462

Authors: Ivan Marin, Dmitry Palatov

Abstract: The riverine hyporheic amphipod fauna of the Crimean Peninsula are studied for the first time. Unique and obviously endemic representatives of the amphipod genera Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Niphargidae) and Litorogammarus Marin, Palatov & Copilaș-Ciocianu, 2023 (Gammaridae) were discovered in the middle and lower parts of the pre-mountainous Kacha, Alma, and Belbek rivers on the southwest coast, as well as the Ulu-Uzen, Demerdzhi, and Uchan-Su rivers in Alushta and Yalta, on the southern coast of Crimea. The discovery of a specialized and unique hyporheic crustaceans in Crimean rivers, which were previously unknown and undocumented, is the most significant result of our research. Furthermore, two new species of the genus Niphargus, Niphargus almensis sp. nov. and Niphargus uchansi sp. nov., are described from the hyporheic habitats of the Alma and Uchan-Su rivers, representing the first true riverine hyporheic niphargids recorded from Crimea. Both newly discovered species belong to the “tarkhankuticus” ingroup, whose species are distributed along the coastal areas of the Black Sea, including the Crimean Peninsula, the southern Caucasus, and the northern coast of the Republic of Türkiye (Turkey). The newly discovered species are closely related to N. tarkhankuticus Marin, Turbanov, Prokopov & Palatov, 2022, which is known from wells and subterranean watercourses on the Tarkhankut Upland. Morphological differences between these species include the presence/absence of eyes and yellow spot on the head, differences in the armature of the epimeral plates and the telson, as well as differences in the proportions and armature of uropods I–III. Molecular genetic analysis has revealed that the divergence between the Crimean representatives of the “tarkhankuticus” ingroup occurred from the middle Pliocene to the early Pleistocene. The “youngest” species (N. almensis sp. nov. and N. tarkhankuticus) probably diverged during the Pleistocene, approximately 2–1.5 Mya, due to the transgression of the Black Sea level and the increase in its water salinity, which led to the separation of the paleo-rivers in western Crimea and the loss of gene flow between the inhabitants of these rivers. This discovery emphasizes the importance of protecting riverbed ecosystems, as careless economic and human activities can lead to the irreversible loss of these ancient and unique animals, along with their genetic diversity.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.205086

Authors: Kirk Fitzhugh

Abstract: As part of their most recent comprehensive review of the systematics of Magelonidae Cunningham & Ramage, 1888, Mortimer et al. (2026) reinstate Maea Johnston, 1865, to highlight several characters among members of 15 species previously placed under Magelona Müller, 1858, sensu Mortimer et al. (2021) and Fitzhugh et al. (2024). Though not acknowledged by Mortimer et al. (2026), the previously monophyletic Magelona is made paraphyletic relative to Maea. The consequences for defining Magelonidae and Magelona are discussed, with the conclusion that Maea should once again be a synonym of Magelona.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.182198

Authors: Ping Wang, Zhi-Yao Wang, Jin-Mei Yang, Hui Zheng, Yi-Zhi Lu, Suo-Zhu Yang, Jian Zheng, Hong-Quan Xiang

Abstract: The Yunnan region of China is home to a rich diversity of species from the family Camaenidae. A new genus and species of land snail, Yuyao heyuemingi Z.-Y. Wang, H.-Q. Xiang, Y.-Z. Lu & H. Zheng, gen. et sp. nov., is described from Yuxi City, Yunnan Province, based on comparative morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence. This species has a unique conical shell with red-brown bands and an acute keel on the periphery. It shares certain morphological similarities with some species of the genera Plectotropis Martens, 1860, Satsuma Adams, 1868, Ganesella Blanford, 1863, and Globotrochus Haas, 1935. However, significant genetic differentiation and distinctive genital morphology strongly support its establishment as a new genus and species.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.193995

Authors: Jing Liu, Yanlin Cheng, Tuo Shen, Chaobo Feng, Lang Mu, Junjian Zhou, Gang Wei, Shize Li

Abstract: During an amphibian biodiversity survey conducted in Tianlin County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, a new species belonging to the genus Boulenophrys was identified and described as Boulenophrys tianlinensis sp. nov. This new species shares the closest genetic affinity with B. anlongensis (Li, Lu, Liu & Wang, 2020). Integrative taxonomic analyses, combining morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic data, confirm its status as a distinct species. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characteristics: (1) medium body size, with snout-vent length (SVL) 34.3–39.0 mm in seven adult males and 47.1 mm in a single adult female specimen; (2) upper eyelid margin bearing one small horn-shaped tubercle on each side; (3) vomerine ridges present and vomerine teeth absent; (4) tongue not notched posterior; (5) tympanum rounded and clearly discernible; (6) toes with rudimentary webbing and lacking lateral fringes; (7) heels overlapping when thighs are held perpendicular to the body axis; (8) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the middle of the eye when the leg is stretched forwards; (9) males possessing a single subgular vocal sac; and (10) in breeding males, the nuptial pads have dark brown nuptial spines on the bases of the first and second fingers.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.200057

Authors: Xue-Fang Jiang, Jia-Song He, Zheng-Jun Wu, You-Bang Li, Ze-Ning Chen

Abstract: The first occurrence of the grass lizard subspecies Takydromus kuehnei vietnamensis Ziegler & Bischoff, 1999 in China is documented based on two specimens collected from Fangchenggang, Guangxi. Morphological features and molecular phylogenetic evidence from mitochondrial COI and Cyt b sequences concordantly identify these samples as T. k. vietnamensis, which forms a well-supported clade sister to the nominate subspecies T. k. kuehnei. The observed genetic divergence (6.4–7.9% for Cyt b; 8.2–11.5% for COI) is consistent with deep lineage differentiation. This new record further complements the distributional data for T. k. vietnamensis and provides the first molecular resources for this poorly documented subspecies. The findings underscore the close biogeographic connection between southern China and northern Vietnam and emphasize the need for intensified surveys in cross-border regions.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.183210

Authors: Si Ning Huang, Qin Long Dai, Yin Meng Hou, Yi Heng Lin, Yuan Fei Wang, Hao Qi Yu, Xiu Qin Lin, Feng Xie

Abstract: The genus Oreolalax of the family Megophryidae currently comprises 22 recorded species, the majority of which are endemic to China. During field work in Liziping National Natural Reserve, Shimian County, Sichuan Province, China, we discovered several Oreolalax toads with morphological characteristics different from other Oreolalax species. Based on the analyses of morphological, bioacoustic and molecular data, this newly identified population forms an independent clade nested with Oreolalax lichuanensis, Oreolalax schmidti and Oreolalax pingii, which we describe as a new species. The new species, Oreolalax lizipingensis sp. nov., can be distinguished from other congeneric species by the combination of the following characters: (1) relatively small body size in Oreolalax, SVL of males 37.6–43.3 mm and females 44.2–52.7 mm; (2) toes with rudimentary webbing; (3) interorbital region with dark triangular spot; (4) the female’s belly, flanks and lower surface of limbs evenly dotted with white spots, absent or inconspicuous in males; (5) dorsum with dark brown and nearly round warts; (6) male with spiny warts along edge of jaw, ventral thighs and abdomen near vent; and (7) breeding season occurring from July to August. Oreolalax lizipingensis sp. nov. is currently known only from high-elevation streams at 2400–3100 m a.s.l. within the Menghuo Castle where it occurs in sympatry with Oreolalax liangbeiensis.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.195575

Authors: Wei-Cai Chen, Tong-Ping Su, Hai-Ju Yang, Mei-Ye Pan

Abstract: Integrative morphological and molecular evidence supports the recognition of Leptobrachella jinzhongshanensis sp. nov. from Longlin County, Guangxi, China. The new species is distinguished by a combination of characters, including medium body size (snout-vent length 30.4–32.5 mm in males and 40.3–42.8 mm in females), narrow lateral fringes on the toes, absence of toe webbing, continuous dermal ridges beneath the toes, heels that do not meet when the thighs are held at right angles to the body axis, irregular black flank spots, a bicoloured iris and interwoven creamy-white and light-grey markings on the venter. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequences recovered the Jinzhongshan specimens as a strongly supported lineage sister to L. dorsospina, from which they differed by an uncorrected p-distance of 1.4%. Leptobrachella jinzhongshanensis sp. nov. is currently known only from montane evergreen broadleaf forest at 1,700–1,800 m elevation. Within the Reserve, L. ventripunctata was recorded along streams below 1,000 m, indicating ecological and elevational separation between the two species.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.187659

Authors: Yuri Gomes Abrantes, Sergio Maia Queiroz Lima, Dalton Tavares Bressane Nielsen, Fabio Origuela de Lira, Márcio Joaquim da Silva, Waldir Miron Berbel-Filho

Abstract: Based on morphological and molecular evidence, this study describes a new species of rivulid of the genus Laimosemion from the lower Rio Amazonas Basin in the south of the state of Amapá in northern Brazil. The new species, Laimosemion laranja sp. nov., exhibits a color pattern characteristic of the L. geayi species group, consisting of longitudinal rows of spots on the anterior portion of flank and oblique chevron-shaped bars on the posterior portion of flank. It can be distinguished from its congeners by unique combination of characters, including position of dorsal-fin origin relative to anal-fin rays, frontal squamation pattern of head, counts of transverse and longitudinal scale series, fin-ray counts, vertebral count, osteology of caudal fin, and number of neuromasts in infraorbital series. Partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene indicates that the new species diverges genetically by 5.3% from its closest relatives, L. agilae and L. strigatus, by 9.2% from L. dibaphus, and 12.3% from L. geayi. We further discuss the systematic relationships within the L. geayi species group and the conservation status of the new species based on IUCN criteria, including recommendations for its conservation.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.187291

Authors: Van Tu Do, Tong Cuong Nguyen, Van Dong Dang, Thuy Linh Bui, Hung Anh Le

Abstract: Recent surveys in south Vietnam found two new genera and two new species of Potamidae: Angiangmon nuicoto gen. et sp. nov. and Lamdongmon tanhlinhensis gen. et sp. nov. Angiangmon gen. nov. is characterised by, its relatively flat, almost smooth dorsal carapace surface; a serrated anterolateral margin; the third maxilliped ischium is short; the flagellum of exopod of third maxilliped exopod is very short and flap-like, or highly reduced to vestigial the ambulatory legs are relatively long and slender; the male first gonopod terminal article is short with the distal part of the terminal article curved inwards, and the male second gonopod is longer than the first gonopod. Lamdongmon gen. nov. is unique in the male first gonopod being prominently sinuous, as well as a suite of characteristics such as subquadrate carapace of the epibranchial tooth is indistinct; the merus of the third maxilliped is subquadrate; the flagellum of the exopod of the third maxilliped is well developed; and the ambulatory legs are covered with dense setae.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.204139

Authors: Yuhao Xu, Jundong Deng, Shuo Qi, Shun Ma, Tierui Zhang, Bo Cai, Haoquan Wang, Fanyue Sun, Tan Van Nguyen, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Lifang Peng

Abstract: A remarkable new species of skink, Scincella gigas sp. nov., is described from Yunnan Province, China, based on integrative morphological and molecular evidence. The new species represents the largest known member of the genus Scincella, with the adult female holotype attaining a snout-vent length of 125 mm and a total length exceeding 316 mm despite possessing a partially regenerated tail. Scincella gigas sp. nov. can be distinguished from all congeners by a unique combination of morphological characters, including three prefrontal scales, relatively short limbs that fail to meet when adpressed, the third pair of chin shields separated by four small scales, 28 midbody scale rows, 80 paravertebral scale rows, and broad dorsolateral stripes with distinctly serrated margins. Phylogenetic analyses based on concatenated mitochondrial gene fragments (12S, 16S, CO1, and Cyt b) recovered the new taxon as a distinct lineage within Scincella, although its precise phylogenetic relationships remain unresolved. The new species exhibits substantial genetic divergence from all examined congeners (≥ 4.4% in 16S and ≥ 14.2% in CO1). Scincella gigas sp. nov. is currently known only from montane mixed forests and associated alpine meadows in Fengyi Town, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, at an elevation of 2,790 m a.s.l. The discovery of such a conspicuous and exceptionally large species suggests that the diversity of montane Scincella in southwestern China remains insufficiently documented.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.199045

Authors: Junjie Hou, Xiaoli Zhang, Daiyang Wei, Fangli Zhu, Wenjian Chen, Zhaoliang Guo

Abstract: Dedicated surveys of atyid shrimps in Qichong National Nature Reserve, Guangxi, China, led to the discovery of two species: Neocaridina palmata (Shen, 1948), and a new species, Caridina grammosticta Hou, Chen & Guo, sp. nov. This new species is also distributed in streams near Nanbianshan Town, Lingui District, Guilin City, and Zhongliang Township, Jinxiu County, Laibin City, Guangxi. Phylogenetic analyses and genetic distances support the status of C. grammosticta sp. nov. as a distinct species, closely related to C. stellata Guo et al., 2022. Morphologically, C. grammosticta sp. nov. is characterized by the wider endopod of the male first pleopod, the slender carpus of the first pereiopod, and the slender chela of the second pereiopod. Living individuals of this new species display a unique coloration pattern, with seven reddish-brown transverse stripes and numerous reddish-brown spots on the body, making them easily recognizable in the field. Prior to its formal taxonomic description in the present study, this species has already been widely circulated in the ornamental market. Inconsistent commercial nomenclature, the lack of baseline data on population distribution and stock resources, as well as overcollection within its single distribution area, seriously threaten the survival of wild populations.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.200796

Authors: Ruiwen Wu, Fang Nan, Xianan Wang, Mengmeng Wu, Xiongjun Liu, Fengyue Shu, Jianmei An

Abstract: Precise species identification and classification are prerequisites for assessing and conserving the biodiversity of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia, Unionidae), which are one of the most threatened animal groups in the world. Previous classifications based on shell morphological characteristics have left Lamellidens liuovatus He & Zhuang, 2013 in a state of taxonomic uncertainty at the generic level. Especially recently, based on subjective similarities in shell morphology and the geographic proximity of their type localities, a proposed junior synonym (Pseudocuneopsis heqing) has been assigned to this species, and the species has been reclassified under Pseudocuneopsis, further exacerbating taxonomic confusion. This study re-evaluated the species and its synonymous taxon by collecting specimens from the type locality and integrating comparative morphology, geometric morphometrics, and molecular phylogenetic analysis. Morphometric analyses reveal that the shell outlines of Pseudocuneopsis heqing and Pseudocuneopsis liuovatus exhibit significant quantitative differences (MANOVA, p < 0.001). The ML and BI phylogenetic analyses based on multiple gene loci (COI, 16S rRNA, and 28S rRNA) show that P. liuovatus and P. heqing belong to different lineages, while P. liuovatus is sister to Nodularia hanensis with strong support within the genus Nodularia (PP = 0.99, BS = 98%). Based on the above evidence, we support the restoration of the valid species status of Pseudocuneopsis heqing stat. rev. and the reclassification of Nodularia liuovatus comb. nov. Although the morphological characteristics of N. liuovatus and Nodularia micheloti are extremely similar, the absence of topotypic material or molecular data from the type locality of N. micheloti prevents unequivocal confirmation of their conspecificity. Therefore, we provisionally retain N. liuovatus as a distinct species pending further study.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.187997

Authors: Hailin Zhang, Feng Yi, Lulu Yang, Xinjian Wang, Shihang Xu, Zhiqiang Zhan, Xinyi Zhai, Jun Chu, Minggen Hou, Yucai Zhang, Jing Wen, Caiwen Zhang, Baowei Zhang

Abstract: Previous studies have indicated the polyphyly of Scincella modesta and reported a new record of Scincella vandenburghi in Qingdao, Shandong Province. Furthermore, the research highlighted significant morphological similarities between the Qingdao population of S. vandenburghi and a branch of S. modesta from Hubei, leaving the taxonomic boundaries between these two species unclear. To better understand the relationship between S. modesta and S. vandenburghi, we conducted extensive sampling in the Dabie Mountains, which geographically lie between Qingdao, Ningbo and Yichang. Based on phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons, we identify an undescribed species of the genus Scincella from the Dabie Mountains, China and also discover the presence of a population of S. vandenburghi in the same region. Morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that the new species is similar to S. vandenburghi, but clearly distinct from it and other congeners. The new species has the following characteristics: (1) slender body, small size, snout-vent length 24.47–40.60 mm; (2) supraciliaries 6 or 7; (3) midbody scale row counts 28–31; (4) dorsal scales smooth and slightly enlarged, paravertebral scale row counts 55–68, ventral scale row counts 55–64; (5) upper edge of lateral longitudinal stripes relatively wavy, lower edge irregular, covering 2–2.5 scale rows on the trunk; (6) black dorsolateral stripes from posterior corner of eye to lateral side of tail, six rows of dorsal scales in middle; (7) supralabials 7, infralabials 6 or 7; (8) tympanum diameters significantly smaller than palpebral disc diameters; (9) 9–12 enlarged lamellae beneath finger IV and 14–17 beneath toe IV; (10) 3–4 pairs of nuchal scales; (11) when the limbs are pressed down, toes and fingers touch or overlap. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the population from the Dabie Mountains in Anhui Province, China, represents a new species, with a 3% uncorrected genetic distance in 16S rRNA from its closest relative (S. vandenburghi). This discovery brings the total number of Scincella species in China to 19, identifying the known distribution of the genus. We have made preliminary progress in clarifying the relationship between S. vandenburghi and S. modesta; however, the polyphyletic issues surrounding S. modesta warrant further investigation in future research. Additionally, the distribution patterns and divergence times of the two Scincella species in the Dabie Mountains require further study to gain a more comprehensive understanding.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.186426

Authors: Wei-Cai Chen, Peng Li

Abstract: A new species of Gracixalus is described from central Guangxi, China. Gracixalus damingshanensis sp. nov. resembles G. jinxiuensis, G. huaping, and G. liusanjieae, but differs from all known congeners by a combination of morphological, molecular, and acoustic characters. Diagnostic characters include SVL 27.3–32.3 mm in males (n = 4) and 32.4–40.1 mm in females (n = 3); rough dorsal skin with scattered tubercles; grayish ventral surfaces with light brown spotting; fingers without webbing; white tubercles along the margins of the upper and lower jaws and on the limbs; absence of vomerine teeth; tibiotarsal articulation reaching the middle of the eye; granular skin on the throat, chest, and belly; heels not meeting when the thighs are held at right angles to the body; a distinct nuptial pad on Finger I; a single internal subgular vocal sac with paired oval openings bordered by gray rims; a golden-brown iris; and advertisement calls containing 2–5 notes. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequences recovered the new species as a distinct lineage sister to the clade comprising G. jinxiuensis and G. huaping. The species is currently known only from evergreen and bamboo forests above 900 m a.s.l. in Damingshan National Nature Reserve.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.189932

Authors: Jie Huang, Shun Ma, Yang Xiao, Fangpeng Zhang, Zhongzhu Pu, Jingcheng Ran, Jingyi Zhu, Wansheng Jiang, Jianpu Wu

Abstract: Karst landscapes, which are characterized by their complex terrain, foster exceptionally high species diversity. During recent field surveys in Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, China, a new karst-adapted gecko species was discovered. Using an integrative approach combining molecular and morphological analyses, it is described here as Gekko qiannanensis sp. nov. Phylogenetically, it clusters within a well-supported clade of the subgenus Japonigekko that includes the karst-adapted G. fengshanensis, G. liboensis, G. kwangsiensis, G. paucituberculatus, and the dry-hot valley species G. tesselatus. Morphologically, it can be distinguished from all known species in Japonigekko by a combination of the following traits: moderate body size, with snout–vent length 65.4–82.9 mm in adult males and 77.7–91.7 mm in adult females; two enlarged postmentals; nares in contact with the rostral, internasal absent; subdigital lamellae: fourth fingers 14–16, first toes 9–11, and fourth toes 14–17; moderately developed toe webbing, originating proximal to subdigital lamellae; interorbitals 28–38; midbody scale rows 134–155; ventral scale rows 42–49; precloacal pores 10–11 in males; a single postcloacal tubercle on each side; dorsum earth gray, with six dirty-white bands between the nape and sacrum. Notably, the new species can be distinguished from its karst-adapted congeners by its moderately developed toe webbing. The discovery of G. qiannanensis brings the number of recognized species in Japonigekko to 42 globally, of which 28 are now recorded from China. This finding highlights the role of karst habitat fragmentation in driving allopatric speciation and underscores the rich but still incompletely documented herpetofaunal diversity of South China’s karst regions.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.196673

Authors: María de los A. Gallardo-Salamanca, Paula C. Rodríguez-Flores, Enrique Macpherson

Abstract: An extensive sampling effort was conducted in the southeast Pacific, across the Nazca, Salas and Gómez, and Juan Fernández ridges during 2024, encompassing both the Chilean Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and adjacent high seas. During these expeditions, numerous specimens of squat lobsters belonging to the family Munidopsidae were collected. The present collection comprises one species of Galacantha, one new species of the genus Leiogalathea, and six species of Munidopsis, three of them considered here as new species. The use of morphological and molecular data confirms the validity of the new species, as well as the occurrence in the southeastern Pacific of species cited in the eastern Indo-West Pacific, e.g., M. comarge, southwestern Pacific, e.g., L. rosula sp. nov., and northeastern Pacific, e.g., M. tiburon.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.189544

Authors: Christian Dietz, Mariya Gritsina, Arazmyrat Amanov, Frieder Mayer

Abstract: While Western and Eastern Palearctic regions are well studied regarding the diversity and distribution of bat species, little is known about their occurrence and morphological traits in Central Asia. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted fieldwork in Turkmenistan, covering desert areas east of the Caspian Sea. For the first time, we recorded Nathusius’ pipistrelle, Pipistrellus nathusii, in Central Asia. We captured the male bat on 3 October 2025, at the shore of Lake Uzynshor in the Karakum Desert. The morphological features of the bat allowed for unequivocal identification. The date of capture falls during the species’ autumn migration period. The specimen might either be a vagrant or could be the first indication of an unknown and possibly new migration route east of the Caspian Sea.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.197692

Authors: Bao-Xiang Zhan, Harry Smit, Hai-Tao Li, Xin-Yao Gu, Jian-Jun Guo

Abstract: In this paper, four hydryphantid water mites from southern China, i.e., Panisopsis (s. str.) lixunae Zhan & Guo, sp. nov., Deuterothyas crescentis Zhan & Guo, sp. nov., Deuterothyas fulu Zhan & Guo, sp. nov. and Deuterothyas fujianensis Zhan & Guo, sp. nov., are described as new to science. The latter three species represent a newly recorded genus in the subfamily Euthyadinae Viets, 1931 for the Chinese fauna. Additionally, detailed documentation of their habitats, which consist of moss or green algae at the water margin, is provided. Furthermore, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and compound microscopy, secondary sclerotizations were discovered under the integument during adult maturation in the genus Deuterothyas Lundblad, 1941.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.185506

Authors: He-Cai Zhang, Jun-Hua He, Yue-Yue Zhang, Xiao-Juan Sun, Chang-Ying Shi, Guang-Wen Chen, De-Zeng Liu

Abstract: Three new species of the genus Dugesia from Henan Province in central China, Dugesia tongbaiensis Chen & Zhang, sp. nov., Dugesia fangchengensis Chen & Zhang, sp. nov., and Dugesia lushanensis Chen & Zhang, sp. nov. are described based on an integrative approach involving morphological, histological, karyological, and molecular analyses. Dugesia tongbaiensis is characterized by the following features: a long duct intercalated between the slender saclike seminal vesicle and the diaphragms; two well-developed adjacent diaphragms, with the posterior one larger than the anterior one; an ejaculatory duct running a central course through the penis papilla with a terminal opening; a mixoploid karyotype with diploid chromosome portrait of 2n = 2x = 16 and triploid chromosome complement of 2n = 3x = 24, and all chromosomes being metacentric. Dugesia fangchengensis is characterized by the following features: two asymmetric bumps on the middle of the penis papilla, giving it an approximately gyroscopic shape; a pointed diaphragm located at the mid-length of the penis papilla; a short ejaculatory duct displaced ventrally with terminal opening; an asymmetric penis papilla whose dorsal lip is thicker than its ventral one; a mixoploid karyotype comprising diploid (2n = 2x = 16) and triploid (2n = 3x = 24) metacentric chromosome complements. Dugesia lushanensis is characterized by the following features: a strongly asymmetric penial valve existing at the base of the penis papilla, with the dorsal portion much larger than the ventral one; a well-developed diaphragm separating the ellipsoidal seminal vesicle from the inverted V-shaped ejaculatory duct; a ventrally displaced ejaculatory duct with a subterminal opening; a highly asymmetric penis papilla, with the dorsal lip thicker and longer than the ventral one; a dorsal bump positioned at halfway the length of the penis papilla. This species exhibits a purely diploid karyotype (2n = 2x = 16) with entirely metacentric chromosomes. The three new species are nested within the Eastern Palearctic/Oriental/Australasian clade but form distinct subgroups in the molecular phylogenetic tree. Their valid species status is supported by molecular genetic distance analyses.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.200567

Authors: Yong-Qiang Xu, Lu-Yu Wang, Zhi-Sheng Zhang, Yong-Kang You

Abstract: The female of the genus Metashinobius is recorded for the first time, and two new species from Yunnan, China, are described: M. daweishan sp. nov. (♀) and M. dulongjiang sp. nov. (♂♀). In addition, the diagnosis and description of Metashinobius are further refined. Morphological descriptions and photos of the habitus and copulatory organs are provided.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.195486

Authors: Jianhan Cao, Zhiyong Deng, Hongmei Xiang, Yixing Xie, Cheng Wang, Hong Li, Yang Hu, Ying Wei, Wansheng Jiang

Abstract: The genus Acrossocheilus (Cyprinidae), which occurs in Southeast Asia and southern China, is of significant ecological and economic importance. A new species, Acrossocheilus zhangjiajiensis sp. nov., is described from the upper Lishui River Basin, a tributary of the Yangtze River, in Sangzhi County, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China. The description is based on an integrative taxonomic approach combining morphological examination, DNA barcoding, and mitogenomic analyses. This new species is distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: a maxillary barbel extending to the midline of the eye; a slightly hardened last unbranched dorsal-fin ray with a smooth posterior margin; dorsal-fin membranes with black stripes; the second primary vertical bar (PVB2) positioned anterior to the origin of the dorsal fin; juveniles and adults possessing six distinct vertical black bars on the flank; and fewer than 40 lateral line scales. Notably, it further differs from its sister species, A. jishouensis, in several morphometric traits, as well as the texture of the last unbranched dorsal-fin ray and the persistence of vertical flank bars throughout all life stages. The complete mitogenome of A. zhangjiajiensis sp. nov. is 16,592 bp in length. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial COI gene and the 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) support a sister-species relationship between A. zhangjiajiensis sp. nov. and A. jishouensis, with genetic distances of 3.1%​ (COI) and 3.3% (13 PCGs). A COI-based haplotype network and species delimitation analyses further support the distinctiveness of the new species. This discovery increases the total number of valid Acrossocheilus species to 25 and provides critical data for the systematics, evolution, and conservation of this genus.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.203747

Authors: George Popovici, Oana Paula Popa, Elena Iulia Iorgu

Abstract: This corrigendum addresses two errors in Popovici et al. (2026), wherein two new species of Geophilus, Geophilus captiosus and Geophilus tenuis, are described from Romania and their relationships to other congeners are investigated. In the original publication, a row of headings in Table 1, representing species names, was accidentally removed during typesetting. The correct, complete version of Table 1 is provided herein. Additionally, within Figure 12, the legend incorrectly labels records of G. tenuis as G. debilis. The corrected version of Figure 12, with an updated legend is provided herein. The authors sincerely apologize for these oversights.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.184142

Authors: Jiangyan Tian, Jianyong Wu, Chunliu Lan, Sébastien Lavoué, Jianrong Huang

Abstract: A new species of bumblebee goby, Brachygobius jennie sp. nov. (Teleostei, Oxudercidae), is described based on 31 specimens collected from the Hengqin Island, Guangdong Province, China. This new species is distinguished from all other valid species of Brachygobius by its extreme small size (SL < 9 mm) and distinctive number, position, size and shape of its black bars. It possesses four complete (forming ring) or nearly complete post-cephalic, relatively narrow bars, two of which are located posterior to the base of the anal fin. The first bar behind the head extends pigmentation to the first dorsal fin but does not reach the midventral line. The second bar, chevron-shaped and located below the second dorsal fin, extends pigmentation onto that fin and ventrally reaches the midventral line and the anal fin. Cytochrome oxidase subunit I-based analyses, including six out of the eight valid species of Brachygobius, show Brachygobius jennie sp. nov. to be more than 10% genetically divergent from other species, supporting the morphological diagnosis and confirming its distinct taxonomic status. With a maximum size of less than 9 mm SL (based on observations of 106 specimens), the new species is not only the smallest species of Brachygobius, but also one of the smallest known gobioid fishes.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.190596

Authors: Carmen Gilardoni, Alexis Ribas, Nannaphat Suwannarat, Srisupaph Poonlaphdecha

Abstract: A new species of Prodistomum (Digenea, Lepocreadiidae), Prodistomum chumphonense sp. nov., is described from the intestine of Rastrelliger kanagurta and Rastrelliger brachysoma (Scombridae) collected in the Gulf of Thailand. The new species is characterized by vitelline follicles confined to the hindbody but extending anteriorly to the level of the anterior to posterior margin of the ventral sucker; a ventral sucker consistently larger than the oral sucker; an esophageal region approximately equal in length to the prepharynx; an entire, oval ovary; and a tubular excretory vesicle terminating below the level of the intestinal bifurcation. The new species differs from most congeners, mainly those with vitelline follicles extending into the forebody, by the restriction of the vitellarium to the hindbody. Although morphometrically similar to some specimens in the literature previously identified as P. orientale, previous molecular phylogenetic analyses based on 18S, ITS2, and 28S rDNA sequences demonstrate that P. chumphonense sp. nov. represents a distinct taxon. The present study underscores the importance of integrating detailed morphometric with molecular data for accurate species delimitation in trematodes of the genus Prodistomum.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.159613

Authors: Alba Enguídanos-García, Jordi Cadevall, Miquel Capdevila, Jordi Corbella, Glòria Guillén, Albert Orozco, Vicenç Bros, Miguel Prieto, Francesc Uribe, Miquel A. Arnedo

Abstract: Mollusca, one of the most diverse animal phyla, plays essential ecological roles across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments. Despite their importance, molluscs have received limited attention in DNA-based systematic studies, with only about 10% of the estimated species represented in public DNA barcode databases. This gap hampers accurate identification. Catalonia, located in the north-eastern Iberian Peninsula, features a rich malacological history. However, a comprehensive molluscan DNA barcode reference library remains unavailable, hindering conservation and research efforts. To address this gap, we generated DNA barcodes for morphologically well-identified continental molluscs from the region. Our study includes 368 cytochrome c oxidase I sequences, corresponding to 47 families, 91 genera, and 168 nominal species and subspecies from Catalonia. We analysed genetic variation within and between taxa to assess molluscan diversity. Barcode gap analyses revealed that 88.8% of the 107 analysed species exhibit a barcode gap, supporting the efficacy of DNA barcoding for species discrimination. Additionally, we combined our sequences from the genera Abida and Chondrina with additional ones from BOLD and applied four species delimitation methods. These analyses yielded differing numbers of Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) and highlighted incongruences between morphological and molecular data, underscoring the need for integrative approaches incorporating multilocus or genomic data, morphology, and ecological evidence. By expanding DNA barcode libraries, our findings provide a critical genetic resource for molluscan biodiversity assessment and lay the groundwork for future molluscan research supporting biodiversity conservation planning and monitoring.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.192821

Authors: Piet Arie Johannes Bakker, Kaveh Samimi-Namin

Abstract: We present an annotated catalogue of Antipatharia (black corals) type material, housed at Naturalis Biodiversity Center, unifying the historically separate holdings of the former Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie and the Zoological Museum of Amsterdam. Following a recent re-inventory, all relevant specimens were located and examined to verify catalogue numbers, type status, preservation condition and associated documentation. The collection comprises more than 750 specimens representing 118 species, with name-bearing type material for 59 taxa, including both species and historical infraspecific names. The oldest material dates to the early nineteenth century and the collection is particularly rich in Indo-Pacific specimens, especially from major expeditions to Indonesia, as well as material from the Caribbean and eastern Atlantic. The catalogue documents changes in catalogue numbering, clarifies the status of type fragments and highlights gaps and uncertainties resulting from historical collecting and curation practices. By providing verified and accessible type data, this work supports taxonomic revision, nomenclatural stability and future comparative research, based on the Naturalis collections.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.191790

Authors: Shen Yuan, Xinhua Liu, Xiangchang Geng, Wei Liu, Mingye He, Deliang Li, Jianguo Xiang, Wenjing Dai

Abstract: During a myxosporean biodiversity survey in Hunan province, a novel Myxobolus species was found in the intestinal wall of Squaliobarbus curriculus. Infection was evident as numerous whitish plasmodia distributed throughout the intestinal wall, with a prevalence of 32.35% (11/34). Mature myxospores were round in the valvular view, and lenticular in the sutural view, measuring 8.8 ± 0.2 (7.8–9.4) µm long, 8.3 ± 0.3 (7.5–9.3) µm wide, and 3.8 ± 0.3 (3.5–4.2) µm thick. Two pyriform polar capsules of equal size located at the anterior end, and measured 3.8 ± 0.2 (3.5–4.3) µm long and 2.4 ± 0.3 (2.2–3.0) µm wide. The polar tubules were coiled with four to five turns. A mucous envelope and intercapsular appendix were absent, but three to four distinct posterior folds were present. Histopathological examination indicated that plasmodia developed within the circular muscle layer of the host intestine, surrounded by a thin connective tissue capsule, and elicited no observable inflammatory response. BLASTn analysis revealed that the SSU rDNA sequence was unique, showing the highest similarity (93.02%) to Myxobolus algonquinensis Xiao & Desser, 1997 (AF378335), a parasite of the ovary of Notropis cornutus. Phylogenetic construction yielded two primary clades (A and B). Within Clade A, the novel species formed a distinct sister lineage with M. dabryi, M. abitus, and M. tauricus in the subclade Ⅲ, rather than clustering with other Myxobolus species known to infect intestine.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.181547

Authors: Yi-Fan Su, Fu-Yu Yu, Fan Wu, Jing-Yi Wang, Ronald Sluys, De-Zeng Liu, Lei Wang, Zi-Mei Dong, Guang-Wen Chen

Abstract: Two new species of Dugesia from the Taihang and Funiu Mountains, including one sibling species, are described by applying an integrative approach, including morphological, karyological, histological, and molecular information. Dugesia cylindrica Chen & Dong, sp. nov. is characterized by the following features, among others: sac-shaped copulatory bursa located immediately posterior to the pharyngeal pocket; stubby, cylindrical penis papilla with a blunt tip; large and pointed diaphragm; a long connecting duct between the seminal vesicle and diaphragm; slightly ventrally displaced ejaculatory duct with a terminal opening; chromosome complement diploid, with 16 metacentric chromosomes. Dugesia elongata Chen & Dong, sp. nov. is characterized by the following features, among others: barrel-shaped penis papilla; elongated, dumb-bell shaped seminal vesicle; long connecting duct between the seminal vesicle and low-conical diaphragm; ventrally displaced ejaculatory duct opening at the tip of the penis papilla, albeit at its ventral portion; asymmetrical openings of the oviducts; mixoploid karyotype, with diploid metacentric chromosome complements of 2n = 16 and triploid metacentric complements of 3n = 24. In the molecular phylogenetic tree, the two new species belong to two different subclades of the group comprising Eastern Palearctic/Oriental/Australasian species, with the two clades forming sister taxa. The distinct specific status of these two new species is also supported by their genetic distances. The distribution records of the two new species underscore the rich diversity of freshwater planarians in this region, and the discovery of the sibling species highlights the efficacy of integrative taxonomy in delimiting cryptic species.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.185791

Authors: Xuankong Jiang, Bangyou Liu, Huiming Chen

Abstract: This study presents the results of the first faunistic survey of millipedes (Diplopoda) conducted in the Chishui Alsophila National Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province, China. A total of eight species belonging to five families and four orders were identified. Two species are described as new to science: Hyleoglomeris erecta sp. nov. (Glomeridae) and Sellanucheza tumida sp. nov. (Paradoxosomatidae). Hyleoglomeris erecta sp. nov., characterized by its unique erect and not basally curved telopods, and Sellanucheza tumida sp. nov., distinguished by its conspicuously swollen gonopodal femorite. Additionally, one order (Julida), one family (Julidae), four genera (Niponia, Sellanucheza, Tylopus and Nepalmatoiulus) and four species (Niponia nodulosa, Kronopolites biagrilectus, Tylopus nigromarginatus, and Nepalmatoiulus sichuanensis) are recorded from Guizhou Province for the first time. This research provides essential baseline data for understanding the millipede biodiversity of the region.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.186155

Authors: Tao Luo, Wen-Qing Ling, Hai-Lin Cao, Jiang Zhou, Guang-Ping Huang

Abstract: A new species Oreonectes weii sp. nov., is described that was collected from Shanggao County, Jiangxi Province, China, located at the upper reaches of the Yangtze River Delta. This naming honors the globally distinguished conservation biologist Fu-Wen Wei for his exceptional and pioneering contributions to biodiversity conservation and research. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of meristic and morphological characters, including fin-ray counts, body coloration, eye normal, number of lateral-line pores, and gill-raker counts. Genetically, it forms a distinct lineage in the mitochondrial Cyt b-based phylogeny and exhibits a genetic distance of 6.3% from its sister species, O. polystigmus. We further estimated divergence time within the genus Oreonectes, which indicates an origin in the Late Oligocene (~27.06 Ma) and a most recent common ancestor at ~13.91 Ma. Our biogeographic analyses suggest that the Guijiang-Hejiang River Basin likely served as a source area for the genus’ dispersal into adjacent basins, and that the new species probably originated from a dispersal event of its ancestral population from the Pearl River Basin to the Yangtze River Basin during the Late Miocene (~6.78 Ma). Lineage-divergence dynamics indicate that cladogenesis began around 28 Ma, accelerated markedly at ~18 Ma, peaked at ~6 Ma, and subsequently showed a gradual decline. The current diversity pattern of Oreonectes may have been shaped primarily by dispersal mediated by enhanced precipitation under the East Asian monsoon climate, with subsequent erosion-induced geographical isolation likely promoting speciation and diversification within the genus.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.188856

Authors: Yong-Qiang Xu, Lu-Yu Wang, Zhi-Sheng Zhang

Abstract: Eight species of the genus Ovia are recorded from China, including five new species: O. chayu sp. nov. (♂♀, Xizang, China), O. dawai sp. nov. (♂♀, Xizang, China), O. dulong sp. nov. (♂♀, Yunnan, China), O. medog sp. nov. (♂♀, Xizang, China) and O. separata sp. nov. (♂♀, Guangdong and Yunnan, China). Additionally, the definition and distribution range of O. alboannulata (Yin, Peng, Xie, Bao & Wang, 1997) and O. procurva (Yu & Song, 1988) are provided. Detailed species descriptions, morphological photos, illustrations of copulatory organs, and a distribution map of the genus are presented.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.185568

Authors: Jia-Yi Yu, Hui-Ling Chen, You-Bang Li, Yu-Hui Li, Ze-Ning Chen

Abstract: The genus Gekko comprises a diverse group of nocturnal lizards that are widely distributed across the plains and plateaus of temperate and tropical Asia, as well as the western islands of the Pacific Ocean. In this study, mitochondrial DNA and morphological data were integrated to diagnose and describe a novel species, Gekko wuzhengjuni sp. nov., from Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that this species forms a monophyletic lineage that is sister to G. fengshanensis within the Japonigekko subgenus, as determined by mitochondrial 16S rRNA (16S) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene (ND2) sequences. The uncorrected genetic distances for mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequence divergence range from 9.85% (G. liboensis) to 19.11% (G. subpalmatus), whereas ND2 divergence ranges from 14.62% (G. fengshanensis) to 32.84% (G. liui) relative to other congeners. Morphologically, Gekko wuzhengjuni sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners in the region by a specific combination of characteristics: (1) nares that contact the rostral scale, with the absence of an internasal scale; (2) the presence of two enlarged postmental scales; (3) enlarged tubercles extending from the area posterior to the eyes along the neck to the base of the tail, arranged in eight or nine rows at midbody; (4) a total of 140–143 midbody scale rows; (5) precloacal pores continuous, numbering 10 in males and absent in females; and (6) a single postcloacal tubercle present on each side.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.188045

Authors: Shuo Qi, Tan Van Nguyen, Jian Wang, Zhao-Chi Zeng, Jing-Song Shi, Yu-Hao Xu, Han-Ming Song, Zhong Huang, Yun-Ming Mo, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Ying-Yong Wang

Abstract: As part of our investigations into the systematics of the Calamaria pavimentata species complex, we describe a new species of the genus Calamaria from Chongzuo and Guilin Cities, Guangxi, China, based on a combination of morphological and molecular evidence. Morphologically, Calamaria incredibilis sp. nov. is distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of morphological characters: nine enlarged maxillary teeth; rostral higher than wide; prefrontal shorter than frontal and contacting the first two supralabials; mental not in contact with anterior chin shields; dorsal scales in 13–13–13 rows, smooth throughout; a single preocular and postocular; four supralabials, with the 2nd and 3rd ones contacting the eye; five infralabials; six scales surrounding the paraparietal; 170–182 ventrals in males; 21–23 paired subcaudals in males; a relatively short tail (8.2–8.4% of total length in males), thick and nearly cylindrical, gradually tapering to an obtuse point; dorsal coloration brown, seven longitudinal series of interrupted dark brown stripes are visible along the body, extending from behind the pale-colored collar to the tip of the tail; the margins of the dorsal scales are heavily suffused with black pigment, forming an almost reticulate pattern; the ventral surface yellowish white, with dark brown blotches along the outermost lateral margins; the absence of light spots on the dorsal tail. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences recover Calamaria incredibilis sp. nov. as a well-supported independent lineage, forming a sister relationship with a subclade comprising C. andersoni Yang & Zheng, C. synergis Zhang, Xu, Nguyen, Poyarkov, Vogel, Wang & Huang, and C. yunnanensis Chernov. The new species is separated from its closest relatives by substantial mitochondrial genetic divergence (p-distance 12.67% based on cytochrome b gene). The discovery of Calamaria incredibilis sp. nov. further highlights the underestimated diversity within the C. pavimentata species complex and underscores the importance of integrative taxonomic approaches for resolving cryptic diversity in morphologically conservative, semi-fossorial snake lineages from southern China, with Guangxi emerging as an important hotspot of cryptic diversification.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.163746

Authors: Weihao Xu, Jieying Na, Kexin Gao, Xinyu Gu, Yadong Zhou, Ruiyan Zhang, Jin Sun, Dongsheng Zhang

Abstract: Ophiuroidea, the most diverse class of echinoderms, occupy habitats ranging from coastal zones to deep sea, offering unique insights into evolutionary adaptation and biogeography. Despite their ecological prominence, the phylogenetic relationships within Ophiuroidea still remain contentious, and their adaptive mechanisms to extreme environments such as the deep sea are poorly understood. Here, we present four newly sequenced mitochondrial genomes from deep-sea species (Ophioctenella acies, Ophiura cf. irrorata, Ophiactis profundi, and Ophiocreas nudusoralis) and integrate them with 52 published genomes to reconstruct the phylogeny, divergence history, and adaptive evolution. Using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference approaches, we resolved a robust phylogeny that supports the monophyly of major orders (Ophiurida, Euryalida, Amphilepidida, and Ophiacanthida) and clarifies previously unstable family-level relationships. Divergence time estimation and ancestral state reconstruction revealed that deep-sea lineages diversified primarily during the Jurassic and Cretaceous, with contrasting evolutionary trajectories: Ophiacanthida and Euryalida originated in deep sea and repeatedly colonized shallow waters, while Ophioleucida and Ophiurida expanded from shallow to deep environments. Surprisingly, mitochondrial gene rearrangement patterns and positive selection signals showed no significant correlation with pressures or habitats (e.g., depth, chemosynthesis), but instead varied markedly between lineages, with Ophintegrida exhibiting higher structural plasticity than the conserved Euryophiurida. By leveraging the most comprehensive mitochondrial dataset to date, our work provides insights into the phylogenetic history, biogeographic dispersal, and molecular evolution of Ophiuroidea, establishing a foundation for future studies on echinoderm diversification and adaptation.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.184792

Authors: Wei Xiao, Xinbin Chen, Xiangjian Wu, Yuanqiang Pan, Ju Chen, Guohua Yu, Huayuan Huang

Abstract: Currently, the genus Tylototriton comprises 44 species, of which 24 occur in China, and only one is formally recorded in Guangxi, China. In this study, based on evidence from molecular and morphological comparisons, we describe a new species of the genus Tylototriton, Tylototriton guilinensis sp. nov., from Quanzhou County, Guilin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial 16S rRNA and ND2 genes strongly supported that this new species belongs to the T. asperrimus species group and is sister to the clade of T. dabienicus and T. gaowangjienensis. This new taxon can be distinguished from all other known congeners by the following morphological characteristics: (1) medium body size (117.86 ± 9.46 mm); (2) rib nodules flattened, indistinct, not separated, and almost in continuous longitudinal rows, forming a dorsolateral fold; (3) orange coloration of the rib nodules absent; (4) orange markings on the parotoid absent; (5) head wider than long (HDL/HDW = 0.92–0.99); (6) finger tips extending beyond the snout when forelimbs are stretched forward; (7) tips of forelimbs and hindlimbs reaching and overlapping when folded towards the body; (8) snout truncate, nearly square-shaped in dorsal view; (9) gular fold present; (10) adult males possessing cloacal papillae within the fissure; (11) peripheral area of cloaca orange; (12) the orange coloration at the ventral edge of the tail contacting the orange coloration around the cloaca. In addition, we find that T. asperrimus from Baise, Guangxi, actually belongs to T. sini.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.181212

Authors: Tao Zhang, Zhengkun Hu, Qingfang Zou, Lin Gu, Wei Zhuang, Pengxi Gu, Jiali Zhan, Xiaoqi Mi, Shaoying Liu, Shunde Chen

Abstract: During a field survey of small mammals on Fanjing Mountain in Guizhou Province, China, we collected five specimens of Typhlomys. To assess their taxonomic status, we performed phylogenetic analyses using three mitochondrial genes (Cytb, COI, and ND2) and two nuclear genes (GHR and IRBP). We also compared the cranial and dental morphology of these specimens with those of other known Typhlomys species. Our results indicate that the specimens represent a new species, described herein as Typhlomys zhengkuni sp. nov. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that the new species forms a distinct clade sister to T. taxuansis. The Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) genetic distances based on Cytb between the new taxon and other species of Typhlomys ranged from 8.2% to 17.9%, supporting its status as a distinct lineage. Morphologically, Typhlomys zhengkuni sp. nov. is most similar to T. daloushanensis but can be distinguished by its lower molars. However, given the low nodal support for its sister relationship with T. taxuansis, the precise phylogenetic position of this new species requires further investigation using additional molecular markers and specimens.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.182492

Authors: Meiling Ge, Ningxia Xu, Xuying Hu, Xin Tian, Xinlong Li, Yu Xu, Zongling Wang, Xuelei Zhang, Qingzeng Xu

Abstract: Species of the family Chrysogorgiidae are distributed worldwide in deep-sea environments. However, most recorded species of this family were from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, with only a few reports from the Indian Ocean, particularly from ridge regions. This study describes three new species and reports two known species from Indian Ocean ridges, integrating morphological and molecular analyses (mtMutS and 28S rDNA). Chrysogorgia pugnioides Ge, Hu & Xu, sp. nov. is characterized by fist-like polyps; warty spindles in tentacles; flat and irregular spindles and elongate scales in the polyp body wall; and slender and smooth scales with toothed to irregular edges in the coenenchyme. Iridogorgia acutisclerita Ge, Zhang & Xu, sp. nov. resembles I. splendens but differs by possessing needles and pointed elongate scales in the polyp body wall. Iridogorgia levisquama Ge, Zhang & Xu, sp. nov. is differentiated from the congeneric I. squarrosa by slender and smooth scales with sharp ends in the polyp body wall and needles with fine wartiness in the tentacles. Parachrysogorgia chryseis and Metallogorgia melanotrichos are reported as new records for the Indian Ocean ridges. These findings expand the known biodiversity and biogeographic range of Chrysogorgiidae in the Indian Ocean ridges.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.177343

Authors: Hui-Ling Chen, Jia-Yi Yu, You-Bang Li, Yu-Hui Li, Ze-Ning Chen

Abstract: In recent years, with advances in field surveys and molecular biology research, many new species of Goniurosaurus have been discovered, enhancing our understanding of their diversity and distribution. In this study, we present an integrated analysis of morphological evidence and mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data to describe a new species from Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China: Goniurosaurus wuzhengjuni sp. nov. This species can be distinguished morphologically from its congeners by a specific combination of characteristics: (1) 23 precloacal pores in males; (2) a grayish-white dorsal ground color on the head, body, and limbs covered with dense, irregular black blotches; (3) seven nasal scales surrounding the nostril; and (4) 101–108 midbody scale rows. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that this species forms a monophyletic lineage sister to G. araneus within the G. luii group, as supported by mitochondrial cyt b and 16S rRNA and nuclear C-mos gene sequences. Uncorrected pairwise genetic distances based on mitochondrial cyt b sequences range from 8.7% to 22.0% compared with those of all previously known species.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.179377

Authors: Zhihao Jiang, Ruyi Huang, Jingjing Yang, Kai Zhao, Yixue Zhang, Tierui Zhang, Yucai Zhang, Jun Chu, Jinmin Chen, Song Huang

Abstract: Chinese giant salamanders (genus Andrias), encompassing the largest extant amphibian species in the world, are widespread in China. Several molecular studies have shown that there are several undescribed species of Andrias. A new species, Andrias yaoluopingensis sp. nov., is described, based on mitochondrial genomes and morphological characteristics from Yuexi County, Anqing City, Anhui Province, China. Morphologically, the new species is characterised by the combination of seven external characters: (1) head and trunk flat, head slightly longer than wide; (2) tubercles above the orbit few and irregularly distributed; (3) eye diameter longer than naris diameter; (4) lateral neck fold discontinuous with body fold at fore-limb insertion; (5) interdigital webbing slightly present; (6) finger length formula FIII > FII > FI > FIV; and (7) dorsum tan in life, darker blotches present on trunk. Molecularly, the new species and an undescribed clade (identified in previous studies) of Andrias form an independent clade with strong support (1.00/100) in the phylogenetic trees, based on mitochondrial genomes. The number of species in Andrias now reaches six, but cryptic species richness in the Chinese giant salamanders deserves further attention.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.182296

Authors: Xuankong Jiang, Jiajun Zhou, Huiming Chen

Abstract: A new stygobiont species of freshwater shrimp, Caridina zhaoi sp. nov., from a karst cave in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, southwestern China, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically distinct from its epigean congeners by a suite of stygobiotic characters, including the degeneration of eyes and absence of body pigmentation. It can be further distinguished from other known Chinese cavernicolous Caridina species by the combination of a relatively long rostrum with a specific rostral formula, the length of the stylocerite, the proportions of various joints of the first and second pereiopods, and the armature of the dactylus of the third and fifth pereiopods. Molecular analysis based on the mitochondrial COI gene reveals a high genetic divergence (14.70%–23.47%) between the new species and other atyids, supporting its validity as a distinct species. This discovery brings the total number of stygobiont Caridina species in China to 10, highlighting the rich but underestimated subterranean biodiversity of the Guizhou karst region.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.184613

Authors: Fan Liu, Hongli Pu, Songwen Tan, Jiahao Chen, Bo Cai, Bing Lyu, Guocheng Shu, Yayong Wu, Peng Guo

Abstract: The genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 of the family Scincidae is a species-rich group currently comprising 51 recognized species. In this study, we describe two new species of Scincella from southwestern Sichuan, China: Scincella jinchuanensis sp. nov. and Scincella maerkangensis sp. nov. Scincella jinchuanensis sp. nov., collected from Jinchuan County, Sichuan Province, is phylogenetically most closely related to the recently described S. heishuiensis. It can be distinguished morphologically by possessing a high number of subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe (17–18), and genetically by an uncorrected pairwise distance of 3.82% in 16S rRNA and 13.7% in COI. Scincella maerkangensis sp. nov., collected from Maerkang City, Sichuan Province, is phenotypically similar to S. wangyuezhaoi. It differs from the latter in having fewer midbody scale rows and shows a genetic divergence of 6.38% (16S rRNA) and 14.8% (COI). Together with S. wangyuezhaoi and S. heishuiensis, the two new species form a distinct lineage that is clearly separate from other congeners included in the study, with interspecific divergence in 16S rRNA sequences exceeding 3%. The discovery of these two new species raises the number of Scincella species recorded in China to 19, further underscoring the significant reptilian diversity in the Hengduan Mountain region.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.186960

Authors: Tomoya Matsukoji, Jing Cao, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Hisanori Okamiya, Yuhao Xu, Zhiyong Yuan

Abstract: A remarkable new species of the subgenus Japonigekko from the islands of Gotō Nada and offshore islands of Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan, inhabiting rocky coastal habitats, is described based on morphological characters and molecular evidence. Morphologically, Gekko (Japonigekko) asahi sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by its moderate body size; interorbital scales between anterior corners of eyes 34–44; dorsal tubercles large, strongly elevated, and arranged in 12–16 rows at midbody; 127–158 midbody scale rows; 32–45 ventral scale rows; 158–189 ventral scales between the mental and the cloacal slit; subdigital lamellae 8–11 on finger I, 9–14 on finger IV, 9–12 on toe I, and 10–18 on toe IV; webbing absent; 6–9 precloacal pores in males, and absent in females; one postcloacal tubercle on each side, with the midpoint of the tubercle distinctly concave in some male individuals; and its distinctive dorsal coloration. Phylogenetically, the new species represents a distinct clade within the subgenus Japonigekko, forming a sister group with G. kaiyai from Henan Province of China, and together they cluster with G. hokouensis. It differs from its congeners by uncorrected p-distances of at least 15.1% in ND2 and 7.6% in 16S. Currently, the new species is known only from low-elevation coastal rocky shores and building walls on island of Gotō Nada and Nishisonogi Peninsula, Nagasaki Prefecture and offshore islands of Kagoshima and Satsuma Peninsula, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The discovery of this new species increases the total number of species in the subgenus Japonigekko to 40, of which seven species are distributed in Japan.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.177928

Authors: George Popovici, Oana Paula Popa, Elena Iulia Iorgu

Abstract: Two new species of Geophilus Leach, 1814, are identified and described from Romania. The examined material is compared with morphologically similar congeners, suggesting the presence of a complex of closely related species within the highly diverse genus Geophilus, characterized by a unique combination of diagnostic morphological and molecular characters. Two nuclear (18S, 28S) and one mitochondrial (COI) markers are sequenced for Geophilus tenuis sp. nov., and COI sequence data are provided for Geophilus captiosus sp. nov. Morphological data, phylogenetic reconstruction, and three molecular species delimitation tools (ASAP, bPTP, and GMYC) confirm their validity, with diagnostic nucleotide combinations, based on the COI barcode, additionally provided for them. Their placement in Geophilus is assessed through the most complete phylogeny of the genus hitherto constructed, using sequence data of 18S, 28S, and COI markers from all species present in public repositories. The extent of potential undescribed species diversity in Geophilus is discussed, highlighting the need for comprehensive sampling of small endogeic members of this genus.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.180630

Authors: Lawrence M. Page, Emma M. Kavanaugh, David K. Cagle, Weerapongse Tangjitjaroen, Caden V. Delano, Sampan Tongnunui, Basil R. Williams, Treerat Sooksawat, Zachary S. Randall

Abstract: Although originally described as a cave-inhabiting species, Schistura jarutanini is an epigean species rarely found in caves. Recent collections in the Mae Klong and Ataran River basins provide a more complete description of the species, type locality, relationships, and distribution. Among species for which molecular sequence data are available, S. jarutanini is mostly closely related to S. mahnerti with which it is sympatric. The two species are easily distinguished by color pattern and number of branched anal-fin rays. Headwater stream capture, or possibly underground dispersal, explains variation across lineages in S. jarutanini better than does dispersal within drainages.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.172325

Authors: Jia-Jia Wang, Tao Luo, Ming-Yuan Xiao, Xin Xie, Yu-Ling Wang, Huai-Qing Deng, Ning Xiao, Jiang Zhou

Abstract: A new species of the genus Claea, Claea dafangensis sp. nov., is described from Yuchong Township, Dafang County, Guizhou Province, China. This species can be distinguished from its four congeners by a combination of the following characteristics: body pigmentation present; normal eyes with a diameter of 10.9–21.0% of head length (HL); processus dentiformis prominent, covering the lower jaw when the mouth is shut; 8–9 branched pectoral-fin rays; 16 branched caudal-fin rays; caudal-peduncle depth 6.1–8.7% of standard length (SL); interorbital width 23.6–39.0% HL; tip of maxillary barbel reaching the posterior margin of the eyes; outrostral barbel extending backward beyond the anterior nostrils; and anal-fin base length 4.0–5.5% SL. Mitochondrial Cyt b analysis further supports the distinctiveness of this population, revealing that it forms an independent phylogenetic lineage with a minimum genetic distance of 2.6% from C. wulongensis. The description of this new species suggests that Claea dabryi represents a species complex containing multiple distinct lineages, the diversity of which requires further evaluation.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.188068

Authors: Xuefang Jiang, Haiyao Cen, Li Ding, Xin Wang, Zhengjun Wu, Zening Chen

Abstract: At present, both Calliophis wongii Fan, 1931, and Sinomicrurus houi Wang, Peng & Huang, 2018, are regarded as junior synonyms of Sinomicrurus kelloggi. In this study, we revalidate the species status of C. wongii based on morphological and molecular evidence and confirm S. houi as a junior synonym of C. wongii. Two road-killed specimens of Sinomicrurus were collected from Napo in 2024, which morphologically best match the original description of C. wongii. Analyses of the mitochondrial COI and Cyt b genes reveal that these specimens form a well-supported clade with S. houi (uncorrected p-distance: 1.3% for COI, <2% for Cyt b) but are significantly divergent from S. kelloggi (7.7% for COI, 5.5–6.1% for Cyt b), values that exceed the commonly accepted interspecific threshold within the genus. Sinomicrurus wongii comb. nov. is mainly distinguished from S. kelloggi by possessing seven infralabials and narrow black dorsal bands. Based on available data, we also clarify the distribution of C. wongii, which occurs in Guangxi, Yunnan, and Hainan, China, as well as in Hai Duong and Cao Bang, Vietnam.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.172590

Authors: M. Carmen Cobo, Antonio C. Marques, Sarah M. Tweedt, Ellen E. Strong

Abstract: We describe a new species of Solenogastres in the family Dondersiidae, Nematomenia quattriniae sp. nov., using an integrative taxonomic approach. The species is characterized by a slender, light-yellow body with a scaly appearance and dorsal keel, prominent anterior pedal glands, a dorsal foregut gland, a single dorso-terminal sensory organ, and the presence of seminal receptacles and seminal vesicles. Specimens were collected from a bathyal site (581 m depth) on the continental slope off Louisiana (USA) associated with the hydrozoan Acryptolaria abies (Allman, 1877), which displayed signs of an active defense response. This study sheds light on the trophic ecology of solenogasters and highlights the continued discovery of novel biodiversity and predator-prey interactions in deep-sea ecosystems.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.171557

Authors: Zhong-Li Sha, Yan-Rong Wang

Abstract: A new genus, Renomaera gen. nov., belonging to the family Maeridae Krapp-Schickel, 2008, is erected for a new species, Renomaera patricki sp. nov., based on a specimen collected from seamounts near the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific. Renomaera gen. nov. is unique within the family in having the following combination of characters: a mandible lacking a molar, the inner plate of maxilla 1 with only one apical seta, reduced inner and outer plates of the maxilliped, and the inner ramus of uropod 3 bearing long plumose setae. Phylogenetic analyses based on one mitochondrial gene (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI)) and two nuclear genes (histone H3 (H3) and 28S ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA)), using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI), revealed that Maeridae is non-monophyletic and that the Maera clade is also non-monophyletic.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.176660

Authors: Feng-Hua Yuan, Ting-Ting Zhu, Ren-Yi Zhang

Abstract: Integrating morphological and molecular evidence, we described a new species of Triplophysa, named Triplophysa xingyiensis sp. nov., from two subterranean river outlets in the Nanpanjiang River Basin, Guizhou Province, China. This new species can be distinguished from other species of Triplophysa by the following combination of characters: body naked and scaleless, eyes normal with diameter 9.1–17.3% of head length; lateral line complete; posterior chamber of air bladder degenerated; out rostral barbel longest, length 34.3–48.0% of head length; caudal fin emarginated, with 16 branched fin rays; and vertebrae 4 + 36. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the 13 protein-coding genes of the mitochondrial genome, demonstrated that the new species forms a monophyletic group. Furthermore, analysis of genetic distances, based on the cytochrome b gene, revealed its close relationship with T. anlongensis, T. rongduensis and T. zhenfengensis, with pairwise distances ranging from 1.8% to 2.4%. This integrative taxonomic method supports the recognition of T. xingyiensis as a distinct taxon.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.172564

Authors: Shanshan Zheng, Yanrong Wang, Liwen Zhang, Zhongli Sha, Jiao Cheng

Abstract: The stomatopod family Gonodactylidae Giesbrecht, 1910 comprises ecologically important predators in coral reef ecosystems, yet its phylogenetic relationships remain poorly resolved, particularly within the genus Gonodactylellus Manning, 1995. Despite the growing number of known species in this genus, research in the South China Sea (SCS)—a widely recognized marine biodiversity hotspot—remains limited. To address these gaps, we performed an integrative taxonomic analysis of 53 gonodactylid specimens collected from the SCS, combining detailed morphological examinations with molecular species delimitation based on the COI barcode gene. Our results revealed substantially underestimated diversity within Gonodactylellus in the SCS, including a new record of Gonodactylellus caldwelli Erdmann & Manning, 1998 in the region, and two phylogenetically distinct lineages representing new species: Gonodactylellus xishaensis sp. nov. and Gonodactylellus sp. We further reconstructed the phylogeny of Gonodactylidae by incorporating mitochondrial genomes (mitogenome) and nuclear genes (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and H3), including nine newly generated and four previously published gonodactylid mitogenomes. All phylogenetic reconstructions, including those based on an extensive COI dataset with wide taxon coverage and those using a reduced taxon set with multi-gene dataset, consistently rejected the monophyly of Gonodactylellus, with Gonodactylus Berthold, 1827 nested within it, indicating a close affinity between these two genera. These findings highlight the SCS as a reservoir of previously underestimated gonodactylid diversity and underscore the persistent phylogenetic complexity of Gonodactylellus.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.182152

Authors: Caifang He, Pat Hutchings, Yanan Sun, Yanjie Zhang

Abstract: Terebellidae is a large group of tubicolous annelids commonly found in benthic marine environments worldwide, from shallow to deep waters. Within this family, the genus Nicolea, which comprises 30 accepted species, has been widely reported around the world, yet only a single species has been recorded in Chinese waters. Here we describe a new species Nicolea qingdaoensis sp. nov., collected from Qingdao, China. The new species is distinguished from congeners by a combination of morphological characters: presence of eyespots; two pairs of branchiae on segment 2–3, with the first pair much larger than the second; 17 thoracic notopodia; ventral shields on segment 2 to 17; completely intercalated double rows of uncini starting from segment 11; genital papillae on segments 6 and 7 of equal length but sexually dimorphic, small spherical in females and digitiform in males. Phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated dataset of cox1, 16S, 18S, 28S and H3 genes revealed that N. qingdaoensis sp. nov., was sister to the clade including N. venustula (Montagu, 1819) from Mediterranean Sea, and N. gracilibranchis (Grube, 1878) from Hawaii and an unidentified Nicolea from Redondo Beach, California, USA. Additionally, we provided the complete mitochondrial genome of the new species.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.183764

Authors: Kun Guo, Jun-Jie Zhong, Yi-Peng Li, Wang Xu, Wei-Min Wang, Yu-Dong Li, Xin-Fan Yu, Xiang Ji

Abstract: We collected nine specimens of the genus Sphenomorphus Fitzinger, 1843 (Squamata, Scincidae) from Liuxihe National Forest Park in central Guangdong, South China, which were found not to correspond to any currently recognized species. Here, we describe this new species, Sphenomorphus lingnanensis sp. nov., integrating morphological and mitochondrial DNA (COI and 16S rRNA) evidence. Phylogenetic analyses reveal the new species to be a sister taxon to S. indicus with uncorrected p-distances of 0.132 in COI and 0.021 in 16S rRNA. The p-distance in COI between the new species and S. indicus exceeds that between S. scutatus and S. solomonis (0.057), and the p-distance in 16S rRNA exceeds that between S. cyanolaemus and S. sabanus (0.005). Morphologically, this new species is distinguished from five congeners (including S. indicus) with comparable data by: (1) possessing 56–58 ventral scale rows (versus 65–69 in S. indicus); and (2) occupying a distinct position in the morphospace defined by the first two principal components derived from seven meristic variables. The description of S. lingnanensis sp. nov. raises the number of recognized Sphenomorphus species in China to nine. Sphenomorphus lingnanensis sp. nov. is currently known only from two proximate localities (approximately 5 km apart) in central Guangdong, where it is sympatric with the oviparous congener S. incognitus.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.183453

Authors: Yuhao Xu, Jiahao Hu, Shuo Qi, Shun Ma, Haojun Chen, Tierui Zhang, Yunfei Zhang, Fanyue Sun, Jiajun Zhou, Jinan Xu, Yingyong Wang, Lifang Peng

Abstract: The taxonomy of Achalinus jinggangensis has long remained unclear due to limited sampling and the consequent lack of publicly available molecular and distributional data. Here, we re-evaluate the taxonomic status of A. jinggangensis using an integrative approach that combines molecular phylogenetic analyses, detailed morphological comparisons, and direct examination of type material, and provide a comprehensive redescription of this species. In addition, we describe an unexpected new species from Kuocang Mountain, Linhai City, Zhejiang Province, China, Achalinus mirabilis sp. nov. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that Achalinus mirabilis sp. nov. appears to be most closely related to A. jinggangensis, although this relationship is not statistically supported, and exhibits substantial genetic divergence, as indicated by uncorrected p-distances of 9.5%–10.9% in the CO1 gene fragment. Morphologically, the new species is readily distinguished from A. jinggangensis by its distinctly keeled outermost dorsal scale row, a higher number of ventral scales in both sexes, and conspicuous differences in coloration. Our results highlight previously underestimated species diversity within Achalinus and refine the current understanding of its taxonomy. This study increases the number of recognized species in the genus Achalinus to 30, and underscores the importance of integrative approaches in resolving cryptic diversity and taxonomic complexity within the genus.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.184032

Authors: Hui-Xia Chen, Rui-Jia Yang, Shan-Shan Wu, Zhi-Jun Yu, Liang Li

Abstract: The family Isthmosacanthidae is a group of acanthocephalans mainly parasitic in fishes of Osteichthyes. A new isthmosacanthid species, Gorgorhynchus fistularius sp. nov. (Polymorphida, Isthmosacanthidae) is described based on specimens collected from the red cornetfish Fistularia petimba (Lacépède, 1803) (Syngnathiformes, Fistulariidae) using the integrated morphological characters and molecular data. The complete mitochondrial genome of G. fistularius sp. nov. is presented, which is 14,409 bp in length and represents the first mitogenomic data for the genus Gorgorhynchus and also for the family Isthmosacanthidae. Comparative mitogenomic analysis revealed that the overall A+T content (68.1%) in the mitogenome of G. fistularius sp. nov. is distinctly higher than that of the other mitogenomes of the order Polymorphida reported so far (54.5‒64.4%), but the composition and gene rearrangement of the mitogenome of G. fistularius sp. nov. are identical to the current known mitogenomes of polymorphid species except for Southwellina hispida. Mitogenomic phylogenies supported the Isthmosacanthidae as a distinct family, and suggested new insights into the interfamilial relationships occurring as Plagiorhynchidae + [Isthmosacanthidae + (Centrorhynchidae + Polymorphidae)] in the order Polymorphida.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.175423

Authors: Osvaldo Villarreal, Leonardo Delgado-Santa, Julio C. González-Gómez, Germán A. Rodríguez-Castro, Andrea C. Román, Esteban Agudelo, Luís F. García

Abstract: The new synanthropic crevice weaver spider species, from the family Filistatidae, Pikelinia floydmuraria sp. nov. (male and females) is described from the department of Tolima, Colombia. The female internal genitalia of P. fasciata from the Galapagos islands, Ecuador, is described here for the first time. Additional unidentified species of Pikelinia populations were recorded in the departments of Cauca, Quindío, and Risaralda. Dietary analysis of P. floydmuraria sp. nov. (Tolima) and Pikelinia sp. (Armenia) revealed a predominance of Hymenoptera (~35% of prey), followed by Diptera and Coleoptera. This study expands known diversity and trophic ecology of Pikelinia genus.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.182245

Authors: Shen Yuan, Wenjing Dai, Fengwen Pan, Xiaojing Zhao, Yulu Liu, Deliang Li, Jianguo Xiang, Shisi Ren, Xinhua Liu

Abstract: The Xiangjiang River, a major tributary of the Yangtze River and the largest river in Hunan Province, harbors approximately 179 fish species. As part of an ongoing survey of myxosporean diversity in this river, a new Myxobolus species infecting the yellow catfish Tachysurus fulvidraco was discovered. The new species was characterized based on morphological, histopathological, infection-related, and molecular analyses. Macroscopic whitish plasmodia were formed in the muscle layer of the palate, with no distinct inflammatory reaction observed. Morphological comparisons revealed that this species can be distinguished from morphologically similar species by differences in plasmodial size, myxospore size, and polar capsule size, as well as by infection sites and the number of polar tube coils. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that species clustered mainly according to host affinity, with few exceptions. The novel species did not cluster with Siluriformes-infecting species with pyriform myxospores within Clade D. Instead, it formed a sister clade to M. separatus, which infects the gill filaments of T. fulvidraco, and M. nagaraensis within Clade A, with moderate support values. Based on these findings, the parasite is described herein as a new species, Myxobolus tachysurus sp. nov.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.183157

Authors: Yuhao Xu, Tierui Zhang, Benjamin W. Genter, Bo Cai, Shuo Qi, Shun Ma, Fanyue Sun, Chenxi Liao, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Gernot Vogel, Justin L. Lee, Lifang Peng

Abstract: On the basis of molecular and morphological data, we re-evaluate the systematics of three closely related species of Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 with unclear relationships: Oligodon ornatus Van Denburgh, 1909, Oligodon lungshenensis Zheng & Huang, 1978, and Oligodon bivirgatus Qian, Qi, Shi, Lu, Jenkins, Mo & Li, 2021. Recent phylogenetic studies recovered two divergent lineages of O. ornatus that render this species paraphyletic relative to O. bivirgatus. An examination of genetically identified material indicates that one of the two clades represents O. ornatus, while the other represents O. lungshenensis, thus resolving the paraphyly. Detailed descriptions of hemipenial morphology for all three species are provided, and all three species are redescribed and re-diagnosed, providing an updated framework for their identification. One male O. bivirgatus exhibits a color pattern differing from the type series, but this variation is likely intraspecific in nature as it does not correspond with sexual dimorphism. While mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed low to moderate pairwise genetic distances between species, haplotype networks from three nuclear loci recover limited evidence of allele sharing. We interpret these results as supporting the continued recognition of all three taxa as recently diverged yet distinct units at the species level. A unique temporal scale configuration observed in several Oligodon is discussed.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.173390

Authors: Ya-Ting Liang, Li Ding, Zheng-Jun Wu, Rui-Gang Yang, Ze-Ning Chen

Abstract: In this study, we describe a green pit viper of the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804, from Yunnan Province, China, based on both morphological and molecular evidence. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from other congeners by a combination of the following characteristics: (1) dorsal body grass-green, ventral body yellowish green; (2) postocular stripe absent in females; (3) ventrolateral stripe white, present on the first dorsal scale rows in females; (4) iris golden yellow in females; (5) DSR 19/20–19–15 (N = 2), VEN 145–147 (N = 2), SC 55–60 (N = 2); (6) 10–11 cephalic scales; (7) first supralabial separated from the nasal scale by a distinct suture. Phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial cyt b, ND4, 12S rRNA, and 16S rRNA gene fragments indicates that the new species is genetically divergent from all congeners (BPP 1.00/UFB 100), with uncorrected genetic distances of the mitochondrial gene cyt b ranging from 3.6% (T. mayaae) to 13.1% (T. hageni, T. septentrionalis, T. guoi, and T. ayeyarwadyensis) compared with its congeners.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.178601

Authors: Bo Cai, Yubo Gou, Gang Wang, Fengjing Liu, Dong Liang, Xiaodong Gu, Haijun Gu, Haolong Fang, Yuzhou Liu, Qiujie Li, Li Ding

Abstract: The genus Trimeresurus Lacépède comprises over 57 species, with recent taxonomic revisions recognizing six subgenera. Despite extensive research, many regions in China remain understudied, particularly the biodiversity-rich West China Rain Zone. This study reports a new pitviper species from western Sichuan Province, China, based on comprehensive morphological and molecular analyses. Specimens collected from the West China Rain Zone were examined using detailed morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of three mitochondrial genes (16S, cytb, and ND4). The results show that this population, together with T. loong, forms a distinct monophyletic clade within the subgenus Viridovipera Malhotra & Thorpe, with uncorrected genetic distances to its closest relatives exceeding 6.50% (cytb) and 5.77% (ND4). Diagnostic morphological differences, including smooth cephalic scales, a postocular streak extending beyond the 2nd supralabial in males, dorsal scale rows of 21–21–15, and a grass-green body color lacking bands or markings, further support its taxonomic distinctness. We propose the new species Trimeresurus lii sp. nov., which represents the second species of Viridovipera in Sichuan Province and the 58th species of Trimeresurus worldwide, and contributes to understanding biodiversity in the Giant Panda National Park region. This discovery highlights the importance of continued field surveys in biodiversity hotspots for documenting and conserving unique faunal assemblages.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.180695

Authors: Yuan Xiong, Huiming Chen, Luqi Huang, Xuankong Jiang, Chao Jiang

Abstract: The millipede genus Mandarinopus Verhoeff, 1933 (Sulciferini, Paradoxosomatidae), endemic to western China, currently comprises five species. Its taxonomic delimitation from Kronopolites Attems, 1914, remains controversial because of morphological similarity and overlapping distributions. Previous studies relying exclusively on morphological characters yielded ambiguous results. To clarify the taxonomic status of Mandarinopus, we conducted an integrative taxonomic study using topotypic specimens of all species of Mandarinopus and representative species of Kronopolites. Phylogenetic analyses based on four genetic markers (COI, 16S, 18S, and 28S rRNA) reveal that Mandarinopus is polyphyletic and deeply nested within Kronopolites. Notably, the type species of both genera form a strongly supported sister pair. Morphological re-examination demonstrates that the diagnostic characters previously used to distinguish the genera, specifically gonopodal features, are continuous and lack clear boundaries. Consequently, we formally propose Mandarinopus Verhoeff, 1933, as a junior synonym of Kronopolites Attems, 1914, transferring all valid Mandarinopus species to Kronopolites. Additionally, based on morphological and molecular evidence from topotypic material, we propose Kronopolites rugosus Golovatch, 2013, as a junior synonym of Kronopolites corticinus (Attems, 1936).

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.175462

Authors: Liming Jiang, Jing Liu, Yun Huang, Hongyan Zhang, Bin Wang

Abstract: Based on morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses, a new species of the genus Leptobrachella from Xinshao County, Hunan Province, China, is described. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI gene sequences support the new species as an independent lineage. The uncorrected p-distances of the 16S rRNA and COI genes between the new species and its closest congeners are 2.1% and 8.1%, respectively. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) SVL 27.8–31.4 mm in males; (2) toes rudimentarily webbed, with narrow lateral fringes; (3) tympanum distinct, surrounded by distinct tubercles; (4) dorsal surface shagreened, with small, raised tubercles and longitudinal ridges; (5) ventral surface creamy white, with dark brown spots on the chest and margins; (6) distinct black spots present on the flanks; (7) heels not meeting when hindlimbs are flexed at right angles to the body axis; and (8) tibia–tarsal articulation reaching between the eye and the tympanum.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.176342

Authors: Mao-Liang Li, Tan Van Nguyen, Jun-Jie Huang, Sabira S. Idiiatullina, Son Xuan Le, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Patrick David, Bu-Ying Han, Wei Wu, Jia-Tang Li, Jin-Long Ren

Abstract: Hebius atemporalis (Bourret, 1934) has been reported from both northern Vietnam and southern China. Previous studies revealed deep genetic divergence between the Chinese and Vietnamese populations; however, no comprehensive taxonomic revision has examined the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic status of these divergent lineages. Here, we present an integrative taxonomic reassessment of the H. atemporalis complex, combining detailed morphological comparisons and molecular data. As a result, we identify and describe a distinct new species, Hebius malnatei sp. nov., endemic to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, China. The new species can be distinguished from H. atemporalis sensu stricto by its larger adult body size, shorter relative tail length, higher numbers of ventrals and subcaudals, and distinctive coloration characterized by the absence of a nuchal collar. Phylogenetic analyses based on cytochrome b sequences consistently recover Hebius malnatei sp. nov. as the sister taxon of H. atemporalis s. str., with uncorrected p-distances of 8.0–9.8%. According to the IUCN Red List criteria, we recommend assigning Hebius malnatei sp. nov. to the category Least Concern (LC). This study highlights the need for taxonomic revision of widely distributed Hebius species and underscores the role of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau uplift in promoting species diversification.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.175772

Authors: Wenbo Wang, Xingyu Zhang, Qing Wang, Yufeng Yang

Abstract: Understanding the driving factors of the biogeography of microscopic animals is crucial for global biodiversity research. However, their geographical distribution patterns remain poorly resolved, with ongoing debate regarding the primary roles of climate, geography, and human activities. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity and lineage distribution of two understudied bdelloid rotifer species complexes—Adineta beysunae Örstan, 2018 and Rotaria sordida (Western, 1893)—across 15 and 35 geographic regions (primarily in China and Europe), respectively. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial COI markers identified 10 distinct clades in A. beysunae and 58 in R. sordida, revealing high cryptic diversity. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) indicated that genetic variation in both species occurred predominantly within populations (A. beysunae: 75.26%; R. sordida: 75.55%) rather than among populations. These results demonstrate a heterogeneous phylogeographic structure characterized by widespread lineages and fragmented endemic clades (e.g., island-restricted lineages). Hierarchical partitioning analysis identified climatic factors—particularly seasonal temperature variation, annual precipitation, and mean wind speed—as the dominant drivers of phylogeographic patterns in Chinese populations, surpassing the effects of spatial variables, including longitude and elevation. Collectively, this study uncovers high cryptic diversity in A. beysunae and R. sordida, quantifies the relative contributions of key driving factors, and supplements existing knowledge of microfaunal biogeographic patterns, providing foundational data to elucidate global mechanisms of micro-metazoan diversification and adaptive evolution.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.174505

Authors: Piet Arie Johannes Bakker, Romain Sabroux

Abstract: Jan Cornelis Christiaan Loman (1856–1929) was a major contributor to our knowledge of sea spiders (Arthropoda, Pycnogonida) and to the collections of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center (NBC), Leiden. Loman worked on Pycnogonida material from various geographic origins, including southern Africa, the Antarctic Peninsula, Arctic seas, Southeast Asia, the Atlantic, Australia, the China Sea, Japan, and the Mediterranean Sea; he notably participated in the taxonomic study of samples from the Siboga Expedition, the Prince Albert I of Monaco expeditions, and the Swedish Antarctic Expeditions. In total, Loman described 54 sea spider species and six sea spider genera; 48 and three, respectively, are still regarded as valid today. In the present work, we aim to summarise Loman’s outstanding contribution to sea spider taxonomy by listing all species he reported or described. We recovered a total of 162 records in NBC, 133 of which correspond to type material, including 19 holotypes and 37 syntypes. We further sought out all Loman’s Pycnogonida material curated at NBC and located additional type material housed in institutions worldwide.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.173283

Authors: Shize Li, Shengchao Shi, Jing Liu, Zhonghao Luo, Jiajun Wang, Linhong Liao, Yeqing Wang, Renhu Gong, Jun Wu, Bin Wang

Abstract: Based on morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses, a new species of the genus Tylototriton from Wufeng County, Hubei Province, China, is described. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial 16S rRNA and ND2 gene sequences supported the new species as an independent clade, sister to a clade containing Tylototriton dabienicus and T. gaowangjienensis. The uncorrected p-distances of the 16S rRNA and ND2 genes between the new species and its closest congeners were 0.7% and 1.7%, respectively. Divergence time estimates indicated separation from T. dabienicus and T. gaowangjienensis at 2.53 million years ago (Mya; 95% highest posterior density [HPD]: 1.53–3.72 Mya). Bayesian species delimitation (BFD and bPTP analyses) strongly supported the new taxon as a distinct species. Morphologically, it is distinguished by: (1) moderate body size (SVL 63.7–77.2 mm in males, 74.9–88.1 mm in females); (2) head width exceeding head length; (3) presence of a gular fold; (4) tail shorter than snout–vent length; (5) orange distal digits, cloacal periphery, and tail margin; (6) limb tips meeting when fore- and hindlimbs are pressed along the trunk; (7) fingertips extending beyond the snout when forelimbs are stretched forward; and (8) continuous, indistinct, nodule-like warts on the body sides.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.165834

Authors: Haihong Wu, Yucheng Lin

Abstract: The genus Crassignatha Wunderlich, 1995, represents the second most species-rich lineage within the spider family Symphytognathidae. Members of the genus are predominantly distributed in southwestern China and Southeast Asia, with the exception of C.kishidai (Shinkai, 2009), which is recorded from Japan. Historically, the circumscription and diagnosis of Crassignatha have remained ambiguous, and its monophyly has not yet been rigorously tested. In this study, we conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis based on sequence data from five genetic markers (16S, 18S, 28S, H3, and a fragment of COI) to evaluate the monophyletic status of the genus. Sequences were obtained from 21 species of Crassignatha (ingroup), along with two species of Kirinua Li & Lin, 2021, and one species of Patu Marples, 1951, as the outgroup. The results support the monophyly of Crassignatha and confirm the taxonomic validity of the 21 included species. Five species of Crassignatha belonging to Symphytognathidae are reported from the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, four of which are newly described: C. hekou Wu & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀), C. qingxu Wu & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀), C. liangdu Wu & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀), and C. panlong Wu & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀). Additionally, a new distribution record outside the type locality is provided for the previously known species C. shunani Lin & S. Q. Li, 2020 (♂♀). Detailed diagnoses, descriptions, and illustrations are provided for all newly described species. The geographic distribution of Crassignatha is also discussed.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.179487

Authors: Jiping Zhang, Junjie Hou, Jinjin Fan, Yixinran Xu, Qinghua Chen, Zhaoliang Guo

Abstract: Extensive field surveys of atyid shrimps in Tongguling National Nature Reserve, Hainan, China, led to the collection of three Caridina species: C. lanceifrons Yu, 1936, C. elongapoda Liang & Yan, 1977, and C. tonggulinensis sp. nov. Among them, C. tonggulinensis sp. nov. is described as a new landlocked species with a highly restricted distribution. Morphological and molecular analyses indicate a close affinity between the new species and C. breviata Ng & Cai, 2000. Nevertheless, the two species can be distinguished by several diagnostic characteristics, including the armature of the rostrum, the shape and proportions of the endopod of the male first pleopod, and egg size. Phylogenetic analyses based on partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI gene sequences (453 bp and 489 bp, respectively) provide robust support for the distinct species status of C. tonggulinensis sp. nov. An overview of the general ecology, biology, economic significance, and conservation status of the three species is also included.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.173298

Authors: Kai Zhao, Sijia Liu, Shengxue Chen, Fei Tian

Abstract: Schizopygopsis malacanthus Herzenstein, 1891, a fish species native to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, is widely distributed upstream of the Jinsha and Yalong Rivers. Comprehensive analyses were conducted on all geographic populations of S. malacanthus and the coexisting fish Herzensteinia microcephalus (Herzenstein, 1891). Morphological examination revealed that the Yalong River population of S. malacanthus can be distinguished from other Schizopygopsis species according to its phenotypic characteristics, including the origin of the ventral fin under the 4th–5th branched ray of the dorsal fin, strong unbranched rays of the dorsal fins, hooked pharyngeal bones, and shovel-shaped or oblique-truncated grinding surfaces of the pharyngeal teeth. The phylogenetic and genetic analyses revealed monophyly of the Yalong River population of S. malacanthus, with genetic distances ranging from 2.03––6.16% from those of other Schizopygopsis species. Consistent with the molecular evidence, species delimitation clearly revealed that the Yalong River population of S. malacanthus is distinct from other Schizopygopsis populations. Therefore, we present Schizopygopsis yalongensis sp. nov. as a valid species through integrative taxonomy, resolving the taxonomic ambiguity of the Schizopygopsis fishes in the Yalong River. These results increase known fish diversity and highlight cryptic species present in the river system of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.172439

Authors: Zhuo-Ni Chen, Shi-Rong Huang, Tong-Xiang Zou, Li-Na Du, Feng Lin

Abstract: Fishes of the genus Oreonectes inhabit complex karst landscapes, and additional cryptic species may be present within Oreonectes. Specimens previously identified as O. platycephalus and collected from Fenzhan Village, Jinxiu County, Guangxi, may represent a new species, Oreonectes jinxiuensis. It is distinguished from all congeners by a degenerated swim bladder, adjacent anterior and posterior nostrils, 13 inner gill rakers on the first gill arch, a dorsal-fin origin posterior to the pelvic-fin origin, 10 branched pectoral-fin rays, 14–15 branched caudal-fin rays, a preanal length of 73.7%–77.3% of SL, and a caudal-peduncle length of 13.3%–16.4% of SL. Its validity is further supported by its recovered monophyly in a molecular phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial COI and Cyt b gene sequences, as well as by species-level genetic divergence between the new species and its closest relatives.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.170882

Authors: Jian-Bing Lyu, Feng Lin, Thaung Naing Oo, Xiao-Yong Chen

Abstract: Mustura arenaria sp. nov., a new species of the genus Mustura, is described from the Chindwin–Irrawaddy basin in central Myanmar. It can be distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of characters: 7–15 vertical lateral blotches alternating with 9–17 saddles, distinctly narrower than the interspaces; lateral blotches more rounded in males; 8+8 branched caudal-fin rays; 8½ branched dorsal-fin rays; and a complete lateral line. Phylogenetic analysis based on combined data of Cyt b and RAG1 revealed that the new species represents an independent lineage and that Mustura is paraphyletic. Additionally, both morphological and molecular data support the transfer of Mustura shanensis to the genus Schistura. Notably, a comprehensive taxonomic revision of this genus and related taxa involving more species is required because the genetic positions of several Mustura species conflict with morphological characters.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.175615

Authors: Hai-Long Liu, Bing-Bing He, An-Tai Wang, Shuang-Fei Li, Yu Zhang

Abstract: Some members of the genus Boninia are interstitial flatworms that have attracted research attention owing to their miniaturized body size and ecological significance. Here, we establish a new interstitial species of this genus, Boninia corolla sp. nov., collected from a coarse-grained sandy beach in Huidong, China. The new species is characterized by (i) a narrow and slender body; (ii) 9–15 prostatoid organs with stylets arranged into a single girdle; and (iii) uterine canals connecting to the vagina immediately anterior to the entrance of Lang’s vesicle. Results from both Bayesian Poisson Tree Process (bPTP) and Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) analyses support B. corolla sp. nov. as a distinct species. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on four gene markers (18S, 28S, 16S, and COI) showed that the new species is nested within a clade composed of other Boninia species. We also calculated genetic distances between species based on the 28S, 16S, and COI markers and found that COI represents the most suitable DNA barcode for distinguishing species within the genus.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.173182

Authors: Yu-Ting Dai, Zhong-Guang Chen, Hu Chen, Bo-Wen Niu, Ding-Chao Jia, Tian-Xiang Xie, Liu-Feng Xiong, Xiao-Ping Wu, Mo Peng

Abstract: The species diversity of freshwater mussels in the upper Yangtze River has been seriously underestimated, and human-induced disturbances have severely threatened the survival of local bivalve species. In this study, we describe a new freshwater mussel species, Cristaria wangyucheni Z.-G. Chen & Y.-T. Dai, sp. nov., from the Jialing River Basin in the upper Yangtze River, Sichuan, China, based on comparative morphology and molecular phylogeny. Phylogenetic analyses of COI and 28S rRNA gene fragments revealed that C. wangyucheni sp. nov. is a sister to the other species of Cristaria. The pairwise uncorrected COI p-distance analysis demonstrated genetic distances ranging from 10.10% (between this species and C. truncata) to 13.17% (between this species and C. “beirensis”). Morphologically, C. wangyucheni sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by its medium-sized shell, which ranges from an elongated triangle to an irregular rectangle. This discovery broadens our understanding of interspecific shell morphological variation within the genus Cristaria.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.161437

Authors: Jing-Cai Lyu, Sheng-Lun Zhou, Ting-Bi Zhang, Yang Fang, Si-Yu Ran, Liang-Liang Dai, Xuan-Kong Jiang, Han-Wu Long, Guo Yuan

Abstract: We describe a new species of megophryid frog from Mt. Foding National Nature Reserve in Guizhou Province, China. The new species is morphologically distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: medium body size (SVL 88.1–93.2 mm in five adult males and 108.7–111.2 mm in two adult females); head wider than long; tympanum hidden; dorsal skin slightly rough with irregularly shaped dark blotches and stripes; chin, ventral surface of throat rough with brown, irregularly shaped dark markings, two large longitudinal black-brown stripes on lateral throat; ventral surface brown-black with small brown granular spots; occipital region slightly uplifted; upper eyelid with tubercles, one of which is prominent, bluntly conical horn; margin of tongue shallow notched behind; toes webbing formular: I (1½)-(2) II (1½)-(3) III (2½)-(4) IV (4)-(2) V, webbing extending as a wide fringe along either side of each toe; large single subgular vocal sac located laterally on floor of mouth in males; tadpoles with a transverse white stripe on ventral surface and two longitudinal white stripes along sides of the body. In addition, phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and COI fragment confirms its distinct identity, which clusters the new species closest to B. orientalis, with uncorrected p-distances of COI at least 3.77%. At present, the new species is known only from small streams in Mt. Foding National Nature Reserve at about 740–1000 m elevation. Its natural history and conservation status is discussed.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.175092

Authors: Bei Xiao, Leqiang Zhu, Lu Wang, Hui Li, Ayinuer Maimaiti, Shize Li, Guoai Zhang, Wuzhou Liu, Dongbo Fei, Changle Liao, Xiaoquan Tang, Shengchao Shi, Xiaoyang Mo

Abstract: A new species of Asian horned toad, Boulenophrys youran sp. nov., is described from Nanshan National Park in southwestern Hunan Province, China. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI genes place it within the Boulenophrys omeimontis species group as a distinct lineage. The new species can be diagnosed by the following combination of morphological characters: (1) Body size relatively large, SVL 45.3–51.1 mm in nine adult males, 55.6–58.2 mm in two adult females; (2) head wider than long, males HDL/HDW 0.69–0.83; (3) margin of tongue feebly notched posteriorly; (4) subarticular tubercles present on fingers I, relative finger lengths II < I < IV < III; (5) relative toe lengths: I < V < II < III < IV; (6) vomerine ridges present, vomerine teeth absent; (7) hindlimbs slender, heels overlapping when hindlimbs folded; (8) tibiotarsal articulation exceeding snout tip when leg stretched forward; (9) toes with weak webbing, formula: I1⅓ − 2II1⅓ − 2½III2 − 3½IV3½ − 2V, lateral fringes on toes wide; (10) dense moderate black conical nuptial spines on inner two fingers in breeding males.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.170906

Authors: Zhiyu Meng, Chunming Wang

Abstract: Phylogenetic relationships within the marine Chromadorea are complex, and the taxonomic positions at the family and genus levels remain flexible due to discrepancies between morphological and molecular evidence. During our taxonomic study in the Yellow Sea, two species, Pseudochromadora crispata sp. nov. and Microlaimus parakoranus sp. nov., are described. Pseudochromadora crispata sp. nov. is characterized by a short body, a coarsely annulated cuticle with lateral alae, a unispiral amphidial fovea, slightly curved spicules, a gubernaculum plate shaped with a cuticularized lateral piece, four ventral precloacal copulatory thorns, and one pair of postcloacal thorns. Microlaimus parakoranus sp. nov. is characterized by a finely striated cuticle, short cephalic setae, a cryptocircular amphidial fovea, the absence of somatic setae, slightly curved spicules with swollen proximal ends, a heavily cuticularized gubernaculum, and a conical tail with a slightly cylindrical distal end. Phylogenetic analysis within Chromadorea indicates that the genera Prodesmodora and Molgolaimus should be transferred to Chromadorida, the genera Nudora and Monoposthia should be removed from Microlaimida based on morphological and molecular evidence, and Onepunema should be kept in Desmodoridae despite its anomalous phylogenetic position.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.169723

Authors: Li-Zhen Pang, Xiang-Rong Tong, Chang-You Zhao, Li-Na Du, De-Jun Kong

Abstract: Species of the semisulcospirid freshwater gastropod Hua are mainly distributed in Guangxi, southwest China, and northern Vietnam, and are sensitive to water quality. The new species Hua luquanensis sp. nov. is described from southwest China, Yunnan Province, Kunming City, Luquan County, Zhuanlong Dragon Spring, based on morphological and molecular evidence. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters, including a smooth shell with 4–6 whorls, outer marginal radular teeth with 14 denticles, a body width of about 61.4–74.8% of shell height, and a large body whorl comprising about 79.8–91.7% of shell height.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.167142

Authors: Yu-Yang Zeng, Feng Lin, Hong-Fu Yang, Xin-Rui Pu, Wan-Sheng Jiang, Xiao-Yong Chen

Abstract: A new species of the genus Glyptothorax, Glyptothorax pulcher sp. nov. is described from the Tuoniang River, the Pearl River Basin, in south-eastern Yunnan Province and western Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. This new species most closely resembles G. quadriocellatus in overall morphology, including similar outline appearance, skin tubercles and colour pattern. It can be distinguished from its congeners that are found in east of the Red River in China by the following combination of characteristics: distinctive colour pattern, skin with sparse soft tubercules, dorsal surface of head smooth, thoracic adhesive apparatus (TAA) broad (length of 1–1.2 times its width, width of TAA 12.0–14.3% SL), adipose-fin base short (11.7–15.4% SL), caudal peduncle deep and short (13.7–17.5% SL in length, 10.3–12.3% SL in depth). Its validity is further confirmed by molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on mitochondrial COI and Cyt b gene sequences, indicating it forms a sister group with G. pallozonum. The estimated K2P genetic distances between the new species and G. pallozonum range from 5.7% to 6.0%. In addition, phylogenetic evidence also suggests that G. zhujiangensis not be a valid species, but rather a junior synonym of G. pallozonum in this study.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.102.167065

Authors: Jason A. Dunlop, Anja Friederichs

Abstract: Locality data for the Myriapoda (Diplopoda, Chilopoda, Pauropoda, and Symphyla) deposited in the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin were mapped with the principal aim of highlighting areas of historical collecting activity. Data from 15,648 individual lots yielded 2,366 localities for which meaningful geographical coordinates could be determined. Most records are from Germany and Central Europe extending into the Balkans, with intensive sampling of Alpine regions. The second largest source of data is Africa, especially South Africa and the former German colonies. This is followed by Asia, particularly Indonesia, and Oceania, with notable concentrations in another former German colony in Papua New Guinea and in south-western Australia. The Americas were less heavily sampled, at least in terms of georeferenced localities. The results are placed in a historical context, with remarks on notable collectors and/or collecting trips, and some of the prospects and challenges for using these data are discussed.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.170704

Authors: Ming Kun Tang, Hong Qiu, Bu Qing Peng, Rui Liao, Robert W. Murphy, Xu Ming Wang, Xuan Pan, Xin Wang, Shao Ying Liu

Abstract: The complex topography and diverse habitats of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have made it a center of speciation and evolution for various taxa, including small mammals. Our surveys in 2008 and 2023 on the southern part of the plateau discovered a population of mountain voles (genus Alticola) not assignable to any known species. Specimens were collected from shrublands near streams (at elevations of 3,228–4,022 m) in Longzi and Lang counties, Tibet. Integrative taxonomic analyses, incorporating molecular phylogenetics and morphology, confirmed their distinct status. They form a well-supported clade that is sister to A. stoliczkanus, from which it diverged approximately 0.49 Mya (95% HPD interval: 0.20–0.77). Kimura-2-parameter distances for the complete cytochrome b gene between these individuals and other nominal species of Alticola range from 4.0% to 10.3%. Morphologically, this unique lineage is diagnosed by possessing the simplest M3 with a truncated posterior lobe, a slender tail, darker pelage, and distinctive bacular characteristics. We describe this lineage as Alticola yarlungia sp. nov. This discovery suggests that species diversity within genus Alticola remains underestimated and underscores the need for continued biodiversity exploration in the eastern Himalayan region.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.168416

Authors: Ping Jiang, Qianwei Wang, Dingkuan Ge, Manping Xie, Lizeng Duan, Jiawei Fan, Dayou Zhai

Abstract: Ancient lakes often harbor endemic species that are invaluable for studying adaptive radiation and speciation. In Yunnan Province, southwestern China, a number of ancient lakes emerged as a result of Cenozoic tectonic activities. Within these lakes, ostracods constitute a crucial component of the ecosystems, yet they remain poorly studied. Here, we describe Limnocythere curvispinosa sp. nov. (Limnocytheridae Sars, 1925) from Fuxian and Yangzong Lakes in east-central Yunnan. This new species belongs to the L. stationis group based on its posteriorly inclined dorsal valve margin and the reduced seventh limb. It can be distinguished from other species in this group by the three long, curved dorsal spines on the right valve, the small antero-dorsal spine on the left valve, and the unique morphology of the hemipenis. Our data indicate that Limnocythere curvispinosa sp. nov. colonized Yangzong Lake by the Early Holocene at the latest, but it is uncertain if it still occurs there today. Some females and a few males of this species still live in Fuxian Lake. Together, Limnocythere curvispinosa sp. nov., Limnocythere xinanensis Zhao, 1987, and another undescribed but closely related species represent a small evolutionary lineage within the L. stationis group that has inhabited southwestern China since the Early Pleistocene.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.170695

Authors: Yalin Xiong, Yuanjun Zhao, Xue Chen, Mao Wang, Jianjun Peng, Xiaojuan Cui, Chengzhong Yang

Abstract: Myxobolus branchiostegi sp. nov. was detected in the gallbladder of six out of 28 specimens (21.4%) of Branchiostegus argentatus Cuvier, 1830 from the East China Sea. This is the first record of a Myxobolus species infecting this host. Mature myxospores of the new species were oval in valvular view, measuring 9.21 ± 0.52 µm (8.3–9.8 µm) in length and 7.40 ± 0.60 µm (6.2–8.0 µm) in width. Two equal, pyriform polar capsules measured 4.40 ± 0.34 µm (3.7–4.8 µm) in length and 2.58 ± 0.17 µm (2.3–2.9 µm) in width, each possessing polar tubules with 4–6 turns. Phylogenetic analysis, based on small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rDNA) sequences placed the new species within the family Myxobolidae, as a sister to Myxobolus iwagiensis Kawano et al., 2025. Further analysis suggested a possible trend that the clustering of Myxobolidae species may be influenced by the taxonomic affinity of their fish hosts, with closely-related parasites tending to infect hosts within the same order. Host aquatic habitat (marine, brackish-water or freshwater) and species geographic distribution may also contribute to the observed clustering patterns.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.162366

Authors: Felista Kasyoka Kilunda, Shen-Pin Yang, Luan Thanh Nguyen, Manh Van Le, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Bryan L. Stuart, Sang Ngoc Nguyen, An-Ru Zuo, Ding-Can Zhang, Zheng-Pan Duan, Pei-Wen Duan, Zhong-Bin Yu, Yun-He Wu, Jing Che

Abstract: Species discovery within Odorrana has gradually increased over the years, establishing a remarkable diversity for the genus. During recent herpetological surveys, we collected specimens from Yingjiang County, Yunnan Province, China with additional samples from Thailand and Vietnam. Based on combined morphological and phylogenetic analyses, we describe a new species Odorrana sudianensis sp. nov. from Sudian Town, Yingjiang County, China and report new records of O. heatwolei for Thailand and Vietnam. Phylogenetic analyses, based on the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene fragment, confirm the new species as a distinct evolutionary lineage with a genetic divergence (p-distance) of 4.6% from its closest sister species O. dulongensis. Odorrana sudianensis sp. nov. is morphologically distinguishable from all its known congeners by having a robust medium adult body size, a head length longer than wide, a mottled grass-green dorsum with dark brown blotches on the posterior region, absence of dorsolateral folds and circum-marginal grooves for all finger discs expanded with lateroventral grooves. Additionally, the new species record sequences from Thailand and Vietnam nested within the O. heatwolei subclade with a low p-distance (0.0–0.5%) from topotypic sequences of O. heatwolei. Examined specimen shows morphological congruence with topotypic O. heatwolei in key diagnostic traits. Our new species and new species records increase the number of recognised species of Odorrana to 46 in China, seven in Thailand and 23 in Vietnam. We also address existing taxonomic disputes within Odorrana and provide comments and recommendations on the taxonomy of several species within the genus.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.172207

Authors: Junjie Hou, Jiping Zhang, Bing Chen, Yixuan Zhang, Wenjian Chen, Zhaoliang Guo

Abstract: Integrative analyses revealed that Caridina clinata Cai, Nguyen & Ng, 1999 represents a species complex comprising nine sibling species distributed across Hainan Island (China) and Vietnam. Among these, C. clinata sensu stricto (the nominal species itself) occurs in both regions, C. haivanensis is endemic to Vietnam, and the seven newly described species are endemic to Hainan Island. Evidence showed that the C. clinata population reported by Cai (2014) from Wuzhishan was actually a new species, herein described as C. caii sp. nov. This study documents nine Caridina species from Hainan Island, including eight new species and one newly recorded species. The new species are: C. wenchangensis sp. nov., C. qiongzhongensis sp. nov., C. huangi sp. nov., C. hepingensis sp. nov., C. fontinalis sp. nov., C. tunchengensis sp. nov., C. brevilineata sp. nov., and C. caii sp. nov. Additionally, Caridina clinata is recorded for the first time from Ledong, Hainan, and is redescribed herein. For each species, we provide comprehensive morphological descriptions, illustrations, taxonomic notes, habitat parameters, and IUCN threat assessments. Furthermore, we clarify the phylogenetic relationships between the newly discovered species and their congeners.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.166556

Authors: Deming Shen, Haiying Zhou, Chaoyang Wang, Jun Xu, Shi Xu, Yifeng Zhong, Zhenyu Wang, Hao Cai, Yahui Wu, Meicai Wei, Yankuo Li

Abstract: A new species of the genus Boulenophrys (Anura, Megophryidae), Boulenophrys nebulosa sp. nov., is described from Mt. Lushan, Jiangxi Province, China. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA genes show that the new species forms a sister lineage to B. mufumontana. Morphologically, B. nebulosa sp. nov. differs from all known congeners by a unique combination of characters and from its closest relative, B. mufumontana, by the following combination of characters: (1) relative finger lengths I < II < IV < III; (2) indistinct subarticular tubercle at the base of each finger; (3) larger male body size (SVL 31.8–32.3 mm); (4) heels just meeting when hindlimbs are folded; (5) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the center of the eye when the leg is stretched forward; and (6) vomerine teeth present. This study expands the known distribution of Boulenophrys in Jiangxi and provides baseline data for biodiversity conservation efforts in Mt. Lushan.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.171070

Authors: Hui Chen, Wen-Hao Wang, Zhong-Guang Chen, Hong-Quan Xiang, Yue-Ming He, Shan Ouyang, Ke-Lin Chu, Xiao-Ping Wu

Abstract: The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River host a highly diverse Unionidae fauna. Herein, a new genus and species of freshwater mussel, Huizhou xietianxiangi H. Chen, Z.-G. Chen, H.-Q. Xiang, Y.-M. He & X.-P. Wu, gen. et sp. nov., is described from Huangshan City, Anhui Province, based on comparative morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence. The new taxon is distinguished by a unique set of shell characteristics, including an oval shape, a zigzag sculpture covering the entire surface, and frequent adornment with elegant dark green rays. These distinct morphological features, coupled with significant genetic differentiation, robustly support its establishment as a new genus and species.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.175246

Authors: Yuhao Xu, Shun Ma, Bo Cai, Shuo Qi, Tomoya Matsukoji, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Fanyue Sun, Shiyang Weng, Tianxuan Gu, Kaidi Tian, Di Zhang, Jianping Jiang, Lifang Peng

Abstract: We describe a new rock-dwelling species of the genus Gekko (subgenus Japonigekko) from Heishui County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China, based on both morphological and molecular (1,574 bp from the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and ND2 genes) evidence. Morphologically, Gekko tesselatus sp. nov. is characterized by its moderate body size; two (rarely one) enlarged postmentals; flattened dorsal tubercles extending from the posterior head through the neck to the anterior portion of the tail, arranged in 12–15 rows at midbody; 130–157 ventral scales between the mental and the cloacal slit; 98–106 midbody scale rows; 31–39 ventral scale rows; subdigital lamellae numbering 7–10 on finger I, 9–12 on finger IV, 7–9 on toe I, and 9–12 on toe IV; absence of webbing; 6–8 precloacal pores in males and absence in females; one (rarely two) postcloacal tubercle on each side; and a distinctive dorsal coloration. Phylogenetically, the new species forms a distinct clade within the subgenus Japonigekko, showing uncorrected 16S sequence divergences of at least 8.2% from its closest relative, G. liboensis, and at least 8.9% from all other congeners, as well as ND2 divergences of at least 14.3% from G. fengshanensis and at least 14.9% from other species in the subgenus. The discovery of this new species raises the number of Japonigekko species recorded in China to 26 and in Sichuan Province to seven.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.175879

Authors: Yuhao Xu, Jundong Deng, Tierui Zhang, Tan Van Nguyen, Shiyang Weng, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Gernot Vogel, Fanyue Sun, Chencan Liao, Lifang Peng

Abstract: A new species of the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède is described from Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China, based on an integrative analysis of morphological and molecular data. The new species, Trimeresurus loong sp. nov., is assigned to the subgenus Viridovipera Malhotra & Thorpe and can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: the first supralabial completely separated from the nasal scale; a short and spinose hemipenis; moderate adult body size; dorsal scales in 19 (21 or 23)-19-15 rows; 150–151 ventral scales in males, and 157–158 in females; 67–68 subcaudals in males, and 57–64 in females; and distinct body color patterns. Molecular analyses based on the mitochondrial 16S, cyt b, and ND4 gene fragments indicate that Trimeresurus loong sp. nov. is genetically divergent from all currently recognized congeners, showing uncorrected p-distances ranging from 6.7–11.2% in cyt b and 6.1–8.3% in ND4. The discovery of this species brings the total number of recognized Trimeresurus species to 57, including nine recorded from Yunnan Province, further emphasizing the complex topography and exceptional level of endemism.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.168621

Authors: Qi Ma, Shi-Ze Li, Xiao Yang, Li-Peng Wan, Cheng-Cheng Ma, Sheng-Chao Shi, Zhi-Jian Wang

Abstract: Based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence, this study describes a new species of the salamandrid genus Paramesotriton discovered in Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, Chongqing Municipality, China. The taxonomic status of this new species was established through integrated morphological characterization and multi-gene phylogenetic analysis (mitochondrial genes ND2 and Cytb, and nuclear gene POMC). The new species is primarily diagnosed by the following characteristics: presence of horn-like projections posterior to the head; black ground coloration on the throat and venter adorned with irregular orange-red blotches; bluntly rounded tail tip; and overlapping digits when the limbs are pressed along the body flank with the forelimb backward and the hind limb forward. Additional diagnostic characteristics include the absence of vestigial gills and gill filaments and lack of yellow spots on lateral sides of dorsum and tail. Molecular phylogenetic analyses place the new species within the P. caudopunctatus group (Clade B), forming a strongly supported sister group (BI = 0.91, ML = 74) to the combined clade comprising P. maolanensis, P. wumengshanensis and P. longliensis. The minimum genetic distance between the new species and its closest relative P. maolanensis reaches 0.78% (Cytb, p-distances), exceeding interspecific divergence observed among some congeners (e.g., 0.63% between P. maolanensis and P. longliensis), further supporting its distinct species status. This discovery further validates the persistence of cryptic diversity in the karst mountain regions of southwestern China, such as the Wuling Mountains. The new species has a restricted distribution and specialization to stream habitats at elevations of 700–1000 meters which render it is highly susceptible to threats from habitat fragmentation and illegal exploitation. It is recommended that this species should be categorized as “threatened” and that urgent conservation measures need to be implemented.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.164102

Authors: Jia-Jie Chen, Jiang-Yuan Chen, Xing-Le Guo, Sheng Zeng, De-Yuan Yang, Jun-Sheng Zhong, Shen-Long Zhao, Wen-Hong Fang, Jian Chen, Pan Liu

Abstract: This study presents the first records of the Broad-tail Stingray, Bathytoshia brevicaudata (Hutton, 1875), in the East China Sea, significantly extending its known distribution in the Northwest Pacific. Through comprehensive morphological examination of male and female specimens, we identified several sexually dimorphic traits, including the number of oral papillae rows, dorsal tubercle spines, and tooth cusp morphology. Stomach content analysis revealed predation on teleosts exceeding 30 cm total length, challenging previous dietary descriptions. Furthermore, the co-occurrence of distinct fishing hook types (coastal J-hook and pelagic circle hook) within one specimen provides empirical evidence of transboundary movements between neritic and oceanic zones. We also sequenced and characterized the complete mitogenomes of both sexes (17,640 bp; GenBank: PV699610–PV699611), which exhibited conserved dasyatid genomic features, including pronounced AT bias (59.2%), purifying selection across protein-coding genes (strongest in cox2), and structural traits such as an incomplete stop codon in ND4 and a DHU-arm-deficient trnS1. These integrative findings enhance the ecological and molecular understanding of B. brevicaudata and provide critical baseline data for its conservation in poorly studied regions of the Indo-Pacific.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.172606

Authors: Xianan Wang, Fang Nan, Xiyan Liu, Ruiwen Wu

Abstract: The endemic freshwater mussel genus Pseudocuneopsis (Unionidae: Unioninae) in China currently includes six species, mainly distributed in the Yangtze River and Pearl River basins. In this study, a new species of this genus was discovered in the karst rivers of Guizhou Province, a transitional zone between the Yangtze River and Pearl River basins: Pseudocuneopsis heqing sp. nov. This new species can be distinguished from its congeners by its regularly elliptical shell shape and unique hinge teeth. The mitogenomic phylogenetic analyses strongly support the following species-level relationships: ((((P. sichuanensis + P. yemaoi) + (P. wuana + P. yangshuoensis) + P. heqing sp. nov.) + P. perflora) + P. capitata). The discovery of this new taxon contributes to the existing knowledge on freshwater mussels in China and implies that future comprehensive surveys of unexplored regions, particularly those with unique and scarce habitats, will unveil novel diversity.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.172706

Authors: Shuo Qi, Han-Ming Song, Hao-Cong Yang, Yu-Hao Xu, Rui-Jian Fang, Jun-Rong Su, Zhi-Fa Liu, Yue-Ning Gong, Fang-Hua Li, Chun-He Lyu, Bing-Yang Wang, Ying-Yong Wang

Abstract: The genus Plagiopholis Boulenger, 1893 is a poorly studied genus from the Oriental realm, currently comprising six recognized species. We herein describe a new species of the genus, Plagiopholis maculosa sp. nov. from Guangdong Province, China. A morphological examination combined with two mitochondrial gene fragments (CO1 and cyt b), was used to test its distinctiveness within Plagiopholis. Morphologically, the new species differs from other congeners by the following diagnostic characteristics: no loreal; temporals 2+2; maxillary teeth 17; 104 ventrals, excluding two preventrals; 24 pairs of subcaudals, excluding the tail tip; presence of a large inverted “V”-shaped nuchal blotch; and a series of distinctive irregular blotches on the dorsum. The phylogenetic analyses shows that the new species exhibits pronounced genetic divergence from all recognized congeners (12.73%–15.88% in CO1, 16.17%–17.54% in cyt b). This discovery increases the number of valid species in the genus Plagiopholis to seven. Moreover, the extensive sampling gaps across its distribution suggest that additional cryptic species may remain to be discovered.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.147382

Authors: Marciara L. Silva, Felipe P. Ottoni, Diego C. Viana, Dennisiane J. Saraiva, Marcia Cristina N. Justo, Simone C. Cohen

Abstract: During a study conducted on the helminth fauna of fishes in the middle Munim River Basin, Maranhão State, northeastern Brazil, a new species of Sciadicleithrum, S. anapurusensis sp. nov., is reported from the gills of Saxatilia brasiliensis (Bloch, 1792), a cichlid endemic to the Northeast region of Brazil. In addition, a known species, Sciadicleithrum araguariensis Paschoal, Scholz, Tavares-Dias & Luque, 2016, was recovered from the same host and is redescribed here, providing new morphological and biogeographical data. Sciadicleithrum anapurusensis sp. nov. differs from all congeneric species in the general morphology of sclerotized structures (anchors, bars, vagina, accessory piece, and the number of MCO rings), being mainly characterized by the bifurcated accessory piece with unequal branches at the distal portion, with a subterminal thin projection and a hook-shaped terminal end. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of carrying out comparable surveys on different host species in order to increase the knowledge on monopisthocotylan parasites of fishes in this area. Furthermore, the finding of two congeneric species in the same host species reinforces the host specificity of Sciadicleithrum species to cichlid hosts.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.165370

Authors: Hiranya Sudasinghe, Kumudu Wijesooriya, Tharindu Ranasinghe, Rohan Pethiyagoda, Madhava Meegaskumbura

Abstract: The Palk Isthmus, which connected Sri Lanka to the Indian mainland during periods of low sea levels, has been the only route by which freshwater organisms could enter the island. The endemic aquatic biodiversity of Sri Lanka is dominated by diversifications stemming from founders that immigrated when the Isthmus was both emergent and possessed an aseasonal-mesic climate. The loach genus Schistura McClelland, 1838, among the most speciose of freshwater-fish genera, has three known representative species on the island. Based on two mitochondrial and two nuclear gene markers, we investigate the evolutionary relationships of Schistura in Sri Lanka, showing it to be a monophyletic diversification. Molecular species delimitation analysis recovered eight lineages (MOTUs). These exhibit strong geographical structure; each confined to one or more contiguous basins and two confined to a single basin. There is evidence for gene flow across watersheds, likely due to headwater river-capture. Schistura lineages in the central hills appear to result from multiple independent colonization events. The most widespread lineage in this region likely represents a more recent colonization, following a Late Pleistocene highland extirpation. An analysis of 39 phenetic traits across > 250 specimens revealed marked morpho-molecular incongruence. Taxonomy dependent entirely on phenetic traits is likely to be unreliable in rapidly diversifying populations such as these.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.168628

Authors: Kaiqing Liu, Qing Li, Heqi Wu, Yiquan Lin, Hexiang Li, Takafumi Nakano, Zichao Liu

Abstract: Accurate identification of leech species is critical for biodiversity conservation and evolutionary studies. However, due to the ambiguity and variability of some key characteristics, Salifidae remains a rather poorly known group of Erpobdelliformes. In this study, a new genus of salifid leech, Troglobdella gen. nov., is established, and a new species, Troglobdella guizhouensis sp. nov., is described based on specimens collected from a cave in Guizhou Province, Southwest China. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear 18S rRNA gene sequences reveal that Troglobdella guizhouensis represents a distinct lineage within a clade that also includes the troglobiotic species Shibabdella wulingensis Tang & Liu, 2025, and the terrestrial Odontobdella gaowangjiensis Yin & Liu, 2025, both of which are known from Hunan Province. This suggests that cave-related morphologies in Chinese salifid leeches may have evolved independently. The complete mitochondrial genome of the new species was assembled into a circular molecule of 15,732 bp, comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs. This study contributes new insights into the taxonomy, systematics, and mitochondrial architecture of cave-adapted leeches.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.163559

Authors: Xinlong Li, Ningxia Xu, Meiling Ge, Xuying Hu, Mengna Li, Zongling Wang, Xuelei Zhang, Qinzeng Xu

Abstract: Members of the subfamily Anthomastinae Verrill, 1922, commonly known as mushroom soft corals, are characterized by their capitate or mushroom-shaped red colonies and large autozooids. Deep-sea mushroom corals of this subfamily remain poorly documented in the South Atlantic. This study describes two new Anthomastinae species, Neoanthomastus longistylus sp. nov. and Anthomastus mirabilis sp. nov., from the Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge at depths of 1,553–2,145 m. Neoanthomastus longistylus sp. nov. is characterized by a slender stalk, siphonozooids distributed on the capitulum and the upper third of the stalk, and tentacular sclerites that are predominantly straight rods and rods with one end curved. Anthomastus mirabilis sp. nov. is distinguished by the presence of dumbbells in its tentacles, clubs and dumbbells in the anthocodial wall, and the absence of spindles. The mitochondrial genome of N. longistylus sp. nov. contains 14 PCGs, 2 rRNAs, and 1 tRNA, while that of A. mirabilis sp. nov. comprises 17 PCGs, 2 rRNAs, and 1 tRNA, with three duplicated genes – ND3, ND6, and ND4L – that are identical in sequence. Phylogenetic analyses based on the partial mtMutS gene and 13 PCGs from the mitochondrial genomes (mtMutS not included) reveal the phylogenetic relationships within the subfamily Anthomastinae. These are the first records of both genera from the Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, enriching the known species diversity and providing critical baseline data for future biodiversity assessments.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.160146

Authors: Yifei Yu, Chunxue You, Chao Jiang

Abstract: In this study, 15 centipede species of the genus Strigamia Gray, 1843 were recorded from the East Asian mainland, including 7 newly discovered species: S. asiatica Jiang & Yu, sp. nov., S. dianguiensis Jiang & Yu, sp. nov., S. laterisetosa Jiang & Yu, sp. nov., S. longiglanda Jiang & Yu, sp. nov., S. obliquidentata Jiang & Yu, sp. nov., S. xizangensis Jiang & Yu, sp. nov. and S. ziyunensis Jiang & Yu, sp. nov. Strigamia monoporus (Takakuwa, 1938) was proposed as a nomen dubium because it was likely derived from immature specimens and lacked sufficient diagnostic information. A key to Strigamia species from the East Asian mainland is provided.

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DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.167593

Authors: Damin Lee, Jin-Ho Park, Taeseo Park

Abstract: A new species belonging to the genus Rhynchothorax was discovered in a subtidal sandy patch off the eastern coast of Jejudo Island, Republic of Korea. The new species, Rhynchothorax arenigenus sp. nov., is morphologically close to R. nopperabo, R. philopsammum, and R. vallatus, but can be distinguished by a combination of morphological characters: an ectal tubercle at the lateral extension of cephalic segment, the lateral process intervals, the arrangement of spines and tubercles on the lateral processes, the oviger spine formula, leg tuberculation, and the relative length of auxiliary claws. We highlight three morphological traits in the present species: a pair of ventral furrows on the proboscis, variable lateral process intervals, and the structure of oviger terminal claw. Notably, the ventral furrows are described here for the first time within the genus and may have been overlooked in other Rhynchothorax species. Additionally, partial sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) are provided to support species delimitation and to facilitate future phylogenetic research.

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