Wilhelminaia minuscula Preston, 1913 is recorded from Australia for the first time from locations in north-east Queensland. Lectotypes are designated for W. minuscula and W. mathildae Preston, 1913 from syntype material in the Natural History Museum, London. Shell microsculpture (protoconch and teleoconch) has allowed type material from Indonesia to be associated with Australian material of the two species. The types of the species are illustrated for the first time and additional information on their shell features is presented in revised descriptions of both species. Eastern Australian and Top End locality records for both W. minuscula and W. mathildae are provided that indicate a pattern of natural dispersal, combined with a small number of possible introductions.
Melo Broderip, 1826 (Mollusca: Volutidae) (baler shells) is a small but ecologically, economically and culturally important genus of large carnivorous marine gastropods from the Indo-West Pacific. Melo has long proved taxonomically challenging primarily due to heavy reliance on highly variable shell features. The status of type material for species described in the 18th and 19th centuries is here re-evaluated, both to promote nomenclatural stability and facilitate future taxonomic and phylogenetic work on the genus. Lectotypes are here designated for Voluta melo [Lightfoot], 1786, Voluta amphora [Lightfoot] 1786, Voluta aethiopica Linnaeus, 1758 and Voluta broderipii J.E. Gray in Griffith & Pidgeon, 1833. Voluta ducalis Lamarck, 1811 is shown to be an earlier name for the species currently known as Melo umbilicatus Broderip in G.B. Sowerby I, 1826 and will have to be formally confirmed a nomen oblitum through application to the ICZN Commission (Lamarck’s name only partly fails to meet the criteria of ICZN Article 23.9.1 (Reversal of precedence)). Specimens currently accepted as the holotypes of Melo umbilicatus Broderip in G.B. Sowerby I, 1826, Voluta georginae J.E. Gray in Griffith & Pidgeon, 1833 and Voluta miltonis J.E. Gray in Griffith & Pidgeon, 1833, and one of the syntypes of Voluta tessellata Lamarck, 1811, are here designated as the relevant lectotypes of those species. The name Voluta haustrum [Lightfoot], 1786, presently regarded as a synonym of Melo amphora ([Lightfoot], 1786), is shown instead to be an earlier name for M. tessellatus (Lamarck, 1811) but is here considered a nomen oblitum. The name Voluta anguria [Lightfoot, 1786], presently regarded as a synonym of Melo melo ([Lightfoot], 1786), is actually a prior name for Cymbium pepo ([Lightfoot], 1786), preceding Voluta pepo [Lightfoot], 1786 in the Portland Catalogue. Apart from wrongful inclusion in the synonymy of M. melo by some previous authors, the name Voluta anguria appears to have been wholly neglected in later literature and is here regarded as a nomen oblitum (fails to meet both criteria of ICZN Article 23.9.1).
Molecular phylogenetic analyses have revealed that many scleractinian coral species described using traditional taxonomic approaches are composed of multiple distinct genetic lineages. Resolving the taxonomy of these lineages requires an integrated approach that combines molecular phylogenies with additional lines of evidence (e.g. morphological, geographical and ecological data), alongside examination of type material. This approach is essential to determine which of these lineages represent distinct species, and in turn whether these distinct species represent nominal species that are valid, are currently considered synonyms, or are undescribed. Given that most scleractinian coral type specimens are bleached skeletons lacking tissue for molecular analysis, the key to testing the validity of nominal species is the collection of topotypes; specimens collected from the type location of the nominal species that closely match the morphology of the type material. These provide a molecular archetype of the nominal species to allow for robust molecular tests of specimen identity and species evolutionary relationships. Here, we collate information from 383 authorities, between 1758 to 2025, into a nomenclature containing the taxonomic status and type location for all nominal species of extant hermatypic Scleractinia. The nomenclature covers 2,338 nominal species and includes information such as nominal species name, species authority, year described, current status (valid, invalid, unaccepted), accepted species name and source of synonymy. Importantly, the type location was traced (to varying levels of precision) for 2,132 of these nominal species, with only 206 species type locations remaining untraceable at time of publication. The nomenclature also includes information on all 383 authorities and the 362 original texts they are contained within. This resource will facilitate the necessary taxonomic revisions to produce a workable taxonomy and provide valuable information for the wider coral reef scientific community and managers trying to confidently apply names to the distinct lineages increasingly revealed by molecular data.
Two new species of pinwheel snails, Chordaropa garethseetoi sp. nov. and C. oxleyana sp. nov. are described from differing Brisbane City bushland habitats based on aspects of shell morphology. Their significance as members of a land snail fauna surviving in an altered city landscape is discussed.
A new species of pinwheel snail, Lenwebbia jimthompsoni sp. nov., is described from Bakers Blue Mountain, Einasleigh Uplands, north-eastern Queensland. The species belongs to a genus of Charopidae whose members have an incomplete secondary ureter and conchological features that set them apart from typical Australian charopids. Higher relationships of these charopids as part of Punctoidea are considered in light of recent molecular studies with the possibility of future subfamilial recognition. The biogeographic significance of this species as part of a genus with representatives in geographically distant eastern Queensland rainforests is discussed.
The collector of the lectotype of the pygopod lizard Delma tincta De Vis 1888 is identified as Richard William Comley, a pharmacist living in Normanton. Comley, baptised in Wiltshire England in 1844, arrived in Australia in 1865. He is first recorded as living in Dalby in 1881, had moved to Normanton by 1882 and died there in 1904. He was a trustee, committee and council member of several local bodies and also leased a block of land on Walker’s Creek, north of Normanton. It is likely that he collected the lectotype in the vicinity of Normanton itself, or from his property on Walker’s Creek, rather than Normanton representing only a shipping point.
J. Edgar Young (1871–1956) was a Queensland field naturalist who was well known in his day. He assisted Hubert Wilkins on his Australian collecting expedition for the British Museum in 1923, and then became an honorary collector for the Queensland Museum. This was at a time when the museum did not have the staff or resources for collecting specimens, relying on public assistance. Young ranged widely throughout Queensland for some 20 years collecting fauna and flora, taking part in official expeditions to the Low Isles on the Great Barrier Reef and the Carnarvon Ranges. Most significantly, he discovered the most complete specimen of a Cretaceous ichthyosaur (Platypterygius australis) near Hughenden. Young was a prolific contributor to natural history activities in Queensland, and his fossil discovery has greatly assisted palaeontological understanding of the Australian Ichthyosauria. This paper traces Young’s life and career, his travels, contributions and achievements.
A new species of freshwater crayfish, Euastacus vanderwerfi sp. nov., is described from highland rainforest sites within the north branch of Running Creek and the south branch of Christmas Creek (Logan Basin), Lamington National Park, Queensland, Australia. Morphological features distinguishing it from its closest relatives, Euastacus dalagarbe (Coughran, 2005), Euastacus mirangudjin (Coughran, 2002) and Euastacus binzayedi (Coughran & Furse, 2013) are identified. Observations on burrowing behaviour, ecological preferences and biology are provided, along with a conservation assessment of the species as Critically Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v).
Stimulopalpus distinctus (Psocodea: Amphientomidae) is recorded from near Cairns, Queensland, Australia. This is the first record of this species (originally described from Christmas Island) from mainland Australia, and the first record of Amphientomidae from Queensland. The live appearance of this species is illustrated for the first time. Critical comments are provided on the taxonomic identity of this species, and its status as part of the Australian fauna.
Numerous fish species are known to utilise ichthyocrinotoxins to defend themselves against predators, often by deterring the predator from feeding on them. This study investigated whether stonefish ichthyocrinotoxins act as antifeedants by assessing its effect on the feeding behaviours of two potential predators of stonefish: lionfish and morays. Food laced with either Synanceia horrida (Estuarine Stonefish) or Synanceia verrucosa (Reef Stonefish) ichthyocrinotoxin were highly palatable (>85% food acceptance) to both predator types, demonstrating similar acceptance rates as untreated food (>95% food acceptance). In contrast, food coated in Diploprion bifasciatum (Barred Soapfish) ichthyocrinotoxin, a known antifeedant used experimentally as a positive control, prompted high rejection rates (<10% food acceptance). These results suggest that stonefish ichthyocrinotoxins may not play a significant role in antifeedant defence. Stonefish ichthyocrinotoxins also exhibited a greater adhesion to prawn fillets (>45% retention), compared to soapfish ichthyocrinotoxin (27% retention), which may reflect differences in their ecological functions and/or application mechanisms. The findings of this study have expanded our understanding of stonefish toxin ecology.
Two new species of wood-feeding Panesthia cockroaches are described from Queensland: Panesthia juncta sp. nov. and Panesthia grayi sp. nov. We also provide an updated key to the Australian Panesthia.
The genus Calamoneta Deeleman-Reinhold is reviewed; four new species are described: Calamoneta cullenae sp. nov. and Calamoneta micrognatha sp. nov., from north Queensland, Calamoneta eungella sp. nov. from mid-eastern Queensland and Calamoneta flavigena sp. nov. from south-eastern Queensland. Cheiracanthium longimanum L. Koch, 1873 from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga is transferred to a new sister genus, Fijimoneta gen. nov., type species Fijimoneta vitilevu sp. nov. from Fiji. Australian species in Cheiracanthium are briefly reviewed and Cheiracanthium pallidum Rainbow, 1920 is transferred to Gnathopalystes in the Sparassidae. The resurrection of Eutittha Thorell, 1878 is rejected.
The Scenic Rim of south-eastern Queensland, comprising the weathered remnants of Cenozoic volcanic activity, is an integral part of the UNESCO-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. New earthworm species described here add to our knowledge of the invertebrate component of the rich floristic and faunistic biodiversity of the region. Given the low vagility of earthworms and the fragmented nature of the Scenic Rim, it is likely that many more species are present and yet to be documented.
A new species of hermit crab, Strigopagurus fragarchela, is described from the continental shelf off south‑east Queensland. It can be separated from congeneric species by characters such as chelae shape, armature, and stridulatory plates; pereiopod shape and armature; and characteristic live colouration. Four endemic species are now known from Australia. A key is provided to all six species in the genus, and all are illustrated for easy comparison. New records of S. bilineatus Forest, 1995 are recorded, increasing its known southerly distribution.
Synanceia verrucosa (reef stonefish) and Synanceia horrida (estuarine stonefish) are known as the world’s most venomous fishes. However, little is known about their habitat preference and activity patterns. This study aimed to determine the habitat preferences and diel activity patterns of stonefish. The movements of four adults of each species that were offered complex and simple habitats in captivity were recorded by filming during day and night periods. Generally, both species exhibited similar behaviour, though S. verrucosa travelled further per movement than S. horrida. Collectively, stonefish spent 94% of their time associated with complex habitat and moved significantly less frequently on complex (1.6 movements per hour) relative to simple habitat (17.3 movements per hour). Stonefish were least active around sunset in the late afternoon and evening, which may relate to an active feeding period during the morning or paradoxically to a higher probability of ambush feeding success near sunset. These findings have enhanced our current understanding of the ecology of these species.
The genus Nuridius Sloane is revised and expanded to 10 species including its type species Nuridius fortis Sloane, 1890, three newly described species: Nuridius frickei sp. nov., type locality Peases Lookout, Eungella National Park, QLD, Nuridius pluto sp. nov., type locality Jimna State Forest, QLD, and Nuridius darlingtoni sp. nov., type locality Bulburin National Park, QLD, and six species previously included in Nurus Motschulsky that are here combined in Nuridius: Nuridius curtus (Chaudoir, 1865), Nuridius grandis Sloane, 1910, Nuridius nox (Darlington, 1961), Nuridius medius (Darlington, 1961), Nuridius rex (Darlington, 1961), and Nuridius niger (Chaudoir, 1878). Pachymelas Tschitschérine, 1902 is considered a junior synonym of Nuridius. Bayesian analyses of a combined matrix and partitioned matrices of partial sequences from three loci (28S, COI and CAD) found support for Nuridius as a clade separate from Nurus. The comparative study of morphological features allows for recognition of the 10 species and an identification key is provided. Images of habitus and key external features, along with the aedeagus of each species are provided. All species distributions are mapped, and biogeographical implications discussed. Short notes are given on burrow-making and egg deposition into formed, two-part soil capsules by species of both Nurus and Nuridius. Conservation issues are briefly discussed.
The Middle Triassic (Anisian) Gayndah Formation is the northernmost unit of the Early–Middle Triassic Esk Basin of south-eastern Queensland. Fossil insects were discovered in the formation in 1962 and 90 specimens have been collected since then. Of those, the 80 specimens identifiable to Order level are mainly Hemiptera (39%) and Coleoptera (36%), with much fewer Odonata s.l., Plecoptera, Neuroptera, Mecoptera and Trichoptera, and single specimens of Blattodea, Reculida, Titanoptera and ? Orthoptera. The dominance of Hemiptera and Coleoptera is likely due to the durability of their tegmina and elytra during sedimentary transport and deposition, rather than an indication of faunal composition. Faunal elements identified to family or lower level are: Reculida: Shurabia australis Rasnitsyn, 1982 (Geinitziidae); Plecoptera: ? Gondwanoperlidium spp. (Euxenoperlidae); Hemiptera: Tennentsia evansi Lambkin, 2015, Dysmorphoptiloides ellisi Lambkin, 2015, Mesonirvana dougsmithi sp. nov. (Dysmorphoptilidae), Mesoscytina woodsi Lambkin, 2016 (Scytinopteridae), Hylicellidae; Neuroptera: Riekchotes reticulatus gen. et sp. nov. (Ithonidae), Lithosmylidia baronne Lambkin, 1988, Lithosmylidia sp. (Archeosmylidae), Gayndahpsychops carsburgi Lambkin, 2014 (Osmylopsychopidae); Mecoptera: Mesoses gayndah Lambkin, 2014 (Mesopsychidae), Mesochorista sp. (Permochoristidae); Trichoptera: Prorhyacophila colliveri Riek, 1955 (Prorhyacophilidae). The fauna is a typical Triassic transitional one that has commonalities with the more extensively sampled and species-rich faunas of the Queensland Late Triassic insect localities at Denmark Hill, Dinmore and Mount Crosby. Exceptions are a hindwing base ascribed to the Titanoptera, an order known in Australia only from the Middle Triassic Hawkesbury Sandstone of New South Wales, and the forewing of Riekchotes reticulatus, the earliest and only Triassic record of the neuropteran family Ithonidae.
Females of the Australian dynastine beetle Haploscapanes barbarossa (Fabricius, 1775) excavate burrows and provision them with food for young larvae. Larvae consume that food, but not enough is provided for the larva to complete development. In northern Queensland, some of the partially developed larvae move to adjacent burrows of the cockroach Macropanesthia rhinoceros Saussure, 1895, where they feed on the considerable organic material, including leaf material and cockroach frass, that builds up in these chambers up to 1 m below the surface. In other areas of northern Australia, there are no burrowing cockroaches, so the larvae must find other food sources after the early stages.
Environmental stressors such as drought and fire can have detrimental effects on an ecosystem and its biodiversity. While invertebrates are an integral part of any ecosystem, there is limited data on how invertebrate populations are affected by environmental stressors, and how different species respond. This study surveyed dung beetle populations in Lamington National Park, south-east Queensland, Australia, that were affected by three years of drought, followed by bushfires in late 2019. Dung beetles were surveyed one year post-fire (2020–21) and the data were compared to data collected from an earlier dung beetle survey conducted in the same area in 2012–14 after a period of significant above-average rainfall. Changes to dung beetle abundance and community composition were observed in three different vegetation communities, even at sites that were not affected by fire. Several roller species (telecoprids) declined or were lost, while several tunnelling species (paracoprids) did not change or increased, suggesting that Australian rollers are less tolerant to drought and related environmental stressors.
We report on Caretta caretta x Chelonia mydas hybrid hatchlings that emerged from successive nests laid by a female Loggerhead Turtle (C. caretta) at Mon Repos, south-east Queensland, during the 1990–91 breeding season. We provide details of the parent female’s breeding history, which includes multiple paternity and genetic confirmation of her hybrid offspring. Three hybrid hatchlings were raised in captivity to assess whether scalation could be used to identify hybrid turtles in field studies. One captive hybrid died at 29 years of age, allowing an assessment of its reproductive status and examination of its skeletal anatomy. Two of the captive individuals were determined to be infertile. The reproductive status of the third individual was not determined. The external and skeletal morphology of the hybrids is discussed and illustrated. We show that atypical symmetrical scalation is diagnostic for C. caretta x C. mydas hybrids, as are various buccal and skeletal characters.
