A new species of the glassfrog genus Vitreorana is described from Central Brazil based on an integrative approach combining morphological, molecular, and bioacoustic data. Vitreorana micaelae sp. nov. is distinguished by the combination of the following characters: small body size (21.7–26.1 mm); parietal and visceral peritonea bearing white iridophores; snout shape rounded in dorsal and slopping in profile; presence of cloacal ornamentation; and advertisement call features composed of two call types (short and long calls). The new species represents the second known glassfrog endemic to the Cerrado biome, being associated with humid gallery forests. Uncorrected p-distances for the 16S rRNA gene fragment among sampled Vitreorana species range from 3.5% to 9.6%, with the new species showing the lowest divergence with V. parvula.
This data paper describes a dataset of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences from 51 fish specimens obtained from local fish markets in eight coastal localities in Oman and Saudi Arabia. For each vouchered specimen, basic metadata such as locality, date of purchase, and morphometric data was documented, and a photographic record was made. Tissue samples were collected for DNA analysis. The COI gene was amplified and sequenced using standard DNA protocols. The resulting COI sequences were curated and deposited in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD). The dataset enhances the genetic representation of marine fishes from the Red Sea and Arabian Sea and adds three novel fish COI records in BOLD, Plectropomus marisrubri , Scarus zufar , and Scorpaenopsis lactomaculata , as well as numerous fish taxa which are currently poorly documented. These sequences represent a reference resource for specimen identification and verification, and can be used to underpin taxonomic revisions, comparative phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies, assessments of regional biodiversity and sea food authentication. In making these data freely available, this contribution promotes reproducibility, data reuse, and collaboration among researchers working on marine ecology, conservation, and fisheries management, as well as monitoring and consumer protection.
Neotrichoporoides belongs to the family Eulophidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). As a group of parasitic wasps, it plays an indispensable role in the biological control of agricultural and forest pests and in maintaining ecosystem balance. To date, only nine complete mitochondrial genomes of Eulophidae have been sequenced worldwide, including the two newly sequenced species in this study. To enrich our understanding of the mitochondrial genomic diversity of Eulophidae and to provide preliminary insights into its phylogenetic relationships, we sequenced and comparatively analyzed the mitochondrial genomes of two Neotrichoporoides species. The mitogenomes of N. nyemitawus (GenBank: PZ188956; 15,164 bp) and N. viridimaculatus (GenBank: PX794932; 15,297 bp) contain 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and one control region (CR), and exhibit a strong AT bias, with AT contents of 85.5% and 85.0%, respectively. We further analyzed mitochondrial gene rearrangements across 17 species from Encyrtidae, Eulophidae and Pteromalidae and summarized family-specific rearrangement characteristics. tRNA rearrangements were detected in all three families. Eulophidae harbors conserved PCGs, while the inverse transposition of trnA and transposition of trnV are likely reported for the first time within this family. The two Neotrichoporoides species differ only in the arrangement of several tRNAs. Comparative analysis of PCGs revealed differences in molecular evolutionary rates among genes, with ATP8 , ND2 and ND4 evolving faster than the others. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial genome sequences showed that species from two subfamilies formed a monophyletic group, and congeneric species clustered into a single clade. This study contributes to resolving phylogenetic relationships within Eulophidae and further deepens our understanding of this family.
A new genus and species of Clavella -like specimens parasitic on Macrourus holotrachys , previously reported as a host for Clavella adunca , clearly differ from the latter in the position and condition of the antennal sympod and rami, which are uniramous in C. adunca but biramous in the new species. Additional morphological traits, such as antennule armature, maxillary size, and the absence of basal swelling on the cephalothorax, support these differences. Molecular analyses corroborate these distinctions. The 28S rDNA sequences of Neoclavella holotrachia gen. nov. et sp. nov . show genetic divergence of 4.1–4.7% and 6.2–6.8% from those of C. adunca and Lernaeopodidae gen. sp., respectively, all of which cluster within a strongly supported clade. Clavellomimus macruri exhibits sequence divergence with Clavellotis girellae (15.3%) and with Clavellotis dilatata (15.5%), although the corresponding nodes in the phylogram are weakly supported. COI mtDNA sequences of Neoclavella holotrachia gen. nov. et sp. nov . grouped together with Clavella spp. in a strongly supported node, with genetic distances ranging from 17.3% to 18.2% between the new genus and the other species. These results suggest that Macrourus holotrachys and possibly other Macrourus species are not hosts for C. adunca , as previously reported. Alternatively, M. holotrachys may be parasitized by both C. adunca and the new species. These findings suggest that some previous records of C. adunca from fishes off Chile may have been misidentified.
A new genus and species of Polydesmidae is described from the Altai Mountains of northeastern Kazakhstan: Triramidesmus kazakhstanus gen. et sp. nov . The new genus shows a unique combination of characters which are novel in the entire order Polydesmida: incised or lobulated paraterga, 3-branched gonopod telopodites, the presence of a clear-cut accessory seminal chamber at the base of and inside a short, triangular, spiniform solenomere, and an almost totally reduced leg-pair 2 in the adult female. Presumably only in already mated females, the epigynal aperture is blocked by a subquadrangular, flattened coxae 2, which suggests sexual competition. A distribution map and a detailed iconography using light and scanning electron microscopy are presented.
The Western Palearctic genus Heremites Gray, 1845 (Scincidae) has a long history of taxonomic uncertainty, with particularly unstable placement of the disjunct Hindu Kush populations reported from eastern Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan. Herein this eastern population is reassessed using an integrative dataset combining broad mitochondrial screening, a six-locus phylogeny, and comparative morphology. Phylogenetic analyses recovered four main well-supported clades corresponding to H. auratus , the H. septemtaeniatus complex, the H. vittatus complex, and the Hindu Kush lineage. The Hindu Kush lineage is inferred to be deeply divergent and was recovered as sister to the clade comprising H. auratus and the H. septemtaeniatus complex, with an estimated split in the Late Miocene at approximately 10 Mya. This deep mitochondrial divergence is further supported by concordant structuring in the nuclear allele networks. Uncorrected p-distances further support its distinctiveness, with high mitochondrial divergence from western clades (15.2–15.8% in cyt b ; 17.0–21.0% in ND2) and comparatively lower but consistent nuclear differentiation (1.17–2.59% in MC1R and 2.5–3.3% in RAG1). Multivariate analyses of morphometric, meristic, and categorical data separate the Hindu Kush lineage from H. auratus and the H. septemtaeniatus complex, supporting the genetic data. We therefore describe this eastern lineage as a new species, currently known from two foothill localities along the southern margin of the Hindu Kush, and discuss its biogeographic significance and the need for a further genus-wide integrative revision.
Two new species of the genus Afissa Dieke, 1947 from southwestern China were described and illustrated herein, namely Afissa parabicrescens Zhang, Zhu & Wang, sp. nov. and Afissa longa Zhang, Zhu & Wang, sp. nov. Afissa bicrescens Dieke, 1947, stat. rev. is redescribed, and a short discussion on Afissa gedeensis Dieke, 1947 is provided. A distribution map of four Afissa species is provided along with illustrations of geographical variation in the tegmen.
A new species of dotillid crab, Ilyoplax kagga sp. nov., is described from the Aghanashini River Estuary, a RAMSAR site on the west coast of India. It differs from its closest congener I. gangetica (Kemp, 1919) by marked differences in carapace features (shape, anterolateral armature, structure of the stridulatory ridges, and the number and kind of tubercles present), dentition on the carpus and palm of the chela, extent of setae on the ambulatory legs, as well as the structure of the male first gonopods.
We report the first mitochondrial genomes of two Orthalicoidea land snails from the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, Bostryx erythrostoma and Plectostylus broderipii. Using Illumina short-read sequencing, we assembled and annotated mitochondrial genomes of 15,525 bp and 14,978 bp, respectively, with strong A+T bias (69.75% in B. erythrostoma; 72.08% in P. broderipii). Both genomes retain the standard metazoan mitochondrial complement of 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs, and two rRNAs, with differences in total length mainly due to variation in non-coding regions rather than coding-gene content. Comparative analysis showed that the two species share the same order of the 13 PCGs, whereas differences are concentrated in local tRNA/rRNA rearrangements and intergenic architecture. Both mitogenomes also exhibit negative AT skew and positive GC skew under a standardized orientation. Phylogenetic inference based on a concatenated 13-PCG nucleotide supermatrix resolved both taxa within Orthalicoidea with strong support: B. erythrostoma grouped with a congeneric Bostryx reference, and this clade clustered with Rabdotus mooreanus and Naesiotus nux, whereas P. broderipii was inferred as sister to this orthalicoid cluster.
The ocean quahog Arctica islandica is a long-lived marine bivalve widely distributed in the western Baltic Sea and commonly used as a model organism in ecological and climatic research. Despite its importance, aspects of its early development remain poorly understood. This study attempts to provide a morphological description of A. islandica larvae. Plankton samples were collected in Kiel Bay (Baltic Sea) in June 2024, September 2024, and April 2025, using a WP2 net (mesh size 100 µm). Larvae were identified by sequencing the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and subsequently documented using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A benthic juvenile was additionally examined for comparison. Larvae of A. islandica were detected exclusively in June and September, yielding a total of 17 COI sequences. Genetically confirmed veliger larvae were detected in September (shell length 143–185 µm), whereas larger larvae interpreted as pediveligers were detected in a separate sampling event in June (shell length 217–505 µm). Larval anatomical structures and the apparent absence of certain organs are discussed. This study provides the first genetically confirmed description of the veliger and pediveliger stages of A. islandica and demonstrates that morphology alone is insufficient for reliable identification of A. islandica larvae and emphasizes the necessity of genetic validation.
A new species of Hexura Simon, 1885 is described from a very restricted geographic range in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho, 500 km east of the previously known distribution of the genus in the Coastal Ranges and western Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington. This work provides the first taxonomic information for this group in almost 50 years, including a phylogenomic framework for the genus within the mygalomorph superfamily Atypoidea, based on Ultraconserved elements (UCEs). Hexura vandal sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other two described species by a combination of morphological, molecular, and geographic characteristics. Lastly, we discuss the need for conservation actions to secure the survival of the species.
Using an integrative dataset of both mitochondrial DNA and morphological data, we describe a new species of the genus Acanthosaura from the China-Myanmar border region in Menglian County, Pu’er, Yunnan Province, China. The new species, Acanthosaura aurantiogularis sp. nov., is sister to A. tongbiguanensis, and it can be readily diagnosed from all recognized congeners by its bright orange gular coloration in the male, flesh colored oral cavity, moderate post-orbital spines and occipital spines, five or six well-developed nuchal crest scales, and a distinct dorsal coloration. We recommend further comprehensive phylogenetic studies of the genus and highlighted the understudied agamid diversity in northeastern Myanmar.
The subfamily Pleganophorinae (Coleoptera, Endomychidae), an unusual group distinguished by its distinctive antennal morphology, is reported for the first time in mainland China with the description of Trochoideus sinensis sp. nov . from Guangdong and Jiangxi and the first records of T. desjardinsi Guérin-Méneville, 1838 and T. tonkineus Strohecker, 1980 from Hainan. Additionally, the male of Dadocerus nitidus Arrow, 1920 is discovered for the first time, and the sex assignment in the original description is corrected. Morphological diagnoses are augmented by comparative analyses of antennal dimorphism and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene barcoding data. A key to the Chinese species of Trochoideus is provided.
This study reports on the operculate micro land snail species from the subfamily Alycaeinae collected during recent biodiversity surveys in the limestone-rich areas in Vientiane and Houaphanh provinces, Laos. Altogether eight species are reported, four of which are new to science and described herein based on their distinct shell morphology: Dioryx feuangensis Jirapatrasilp & Inkhavilay, sp. nov ., Dicharax feuangensis Jirapatrasilp & Inkhavilay, sp. nov ., Dicharax pallgergelyi Jirapatrasilp & Inkhavilay, sp. nov ., and Pincerna panhai Jirapatrasilp & Inkhavilay, sp. nov . One nominal species, Dioryx dongiensis , is recorded from Laos for the first time. These discoveries highlight the importance of limestone karst ecosystems that contribute to Lao biodiversity, especially land malacofauna.
The Chinese species of the genus Reptalus Emeljanov, 1971 (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Cixiidae) are reviewed. A new species, R. inaequalis Lv, Li & Chen, sp. nov ., from Fujian Province, China, is described and illustrated. This new species belongs to the subgenus Pererepa . The female genitalia of two species within this genus, R. (R.) arcbogdulus (Dlabola, 1965) and R. (P.) quadricinctus (Matsumura, 1914), are described and illustrated herein for the first time. A checklist and an updated identification key to the Chinese species of the genus are provided.
In July 2025, one small vespertilionid bat was collected from a building of Jinguang Temple Provincial Nature Reserve, Dali, Yunnan, China. Based on integrative analyses of morphological and morphometric characters, together with phylogenetic evidence based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b ( Cytb ) gene, we identified the specimen as Hypsugo petersi . Previously, this species has been documented only in Borneo and the Philippines; therefore its discovery represents the first record of H. petersi in China and the Asian mainland. Furthermore, an identification key to all Chinese Hypsugo species is presented to facilitate accurate species identification and to support future biodiversity surveys and conservation management.
Driver ants ( Dorylus nigricans species group) are keystone species in forest and savanna ecosystems across tropical Africa. However, their study has been hampered by considerable taxonomic confusion. A multitude of worker forms has been described under the name Dorylus nigricans Illiger, 1802, even though the link between the name-bearing type specimens, two males from Sierra Leone, and the respective conspecific workers has never been established. Extensive surveys of driver ants were first conducted at numerous West African sites from Senegal to Ghana. These yielded a total of only three species recognisable by morphological differences. We then examined the two D. nigricans syntypes and found that they belong to different species. By analysing mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences of males and workers from Taï National Park (Ivory Coast), males with a phenotype similar to that of the larger syntype specimen were matched to workers originally described under the name Anomma arcens by Westwood (1847). This larger syntype male is designated as the lectotype of D. nigricans Illiger, 1802, so that Anomma arcens Westwood, 1847 is synonymised under D. nigricans . A worker neotype for the species originally described as Anomma burmeisteri Shuckard, 1840, whose type specimen was lost, is designated. A key to the large workers of the three driver ant species occurring in this region, D. burmeisteri , D. nigricans , and D. mayri , is provided. By clarifying the taxonomy of the regional driver ant fauna, we resolve a centuries-old puzzle and pave the way for a comprehensive revision of the entire species group.
Four species of the hygromiid genus Monacha ( M. claustralis , M. cartusiana , M. parumcincta , M. manfredonica ) are redescribed using an integrative approach including analysis of morphological (shell and genitalia) and molecular features (nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear genes) of specimens collected from topotypical localities to resolve their nomenclatural problems. Redescriptions are accompanied by a historical analysis of the names previously associated with these species and study of any available type material. Neotypes are designated for M. claustralis and M. parumcincta . Some allied species from southern Italy and Sicily, i.e. M. gregaria , M. rizzae , M. cf. consona , and an unnamed species from central and southern Calabria are also described and revised, comparing them with the others on a morphological and molecular basis.
A new species, Metopomyza hebeiensis sp. nov ., together with two newly recorded species for China (i.e., M. laeta and M. scutellata ), are documented and illustrated in this study; a worldwide identification key and checklist of species included in the genus are also provided. The Maximum-Likelihood and Neighbor-Joining phylogenetic trees based on 48 sequences confirm that our specimens belong to M. scutellata , but this does not prove that M. scutellata and M. junci are conspecific.
The Amazon Basin, the largest on Earth, hosts an exceptionally rich fish fauna shaped by its ancient evolutionary history, vast environmental heterogeneity, and steep altitudinal gradient. Despite this diversity, major taxonomic gaps persist, including the Linnean shortfall—the large number of undescribed species—and the Wallacean shortfall, reflecting limited knowledge of species distributions. During the past two decades, DNA barcoding using the mitochondrial COI gene has helped uncover substantial cryptic diversity in Amazonian fishes, particularly along the Andean slope, where Siluriformes exhibit striking levels of undocumented diversity. In this study, we investigated catfish communities from the families Astroblepidae and Loricariidae in the headwaters of the Madre de Dios and Huallaga rivers in Peru, spanning elevations from 500 to 2,500 m. Using DNA barcoding and multiple species-delimitation methods, we identified 27 MOTUs, most of which could not be assigned to recognized species. Our aim was to examine diversity patterns, species co-occurrence, and phylogenetic community structure along the Andean slope. This framework allows us to evaluate how ecological processes—such as competition, niche partitioning, and ecological specialization—shape community assembly. Combined with evidence of close phylogenetic relationships among MOTUs, our results highlight the likely importance of in situ diversification in driving species turnover and structuring catfish biodiversity across Andean elevational gradients.
