The type material of shallow-water plexaurid octocorals of the Siboga expedition has been re-examined. Sclerites of all available types have been depicted using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Echinogorgia parareticulata (Stiasny, 1942) is synonymized with Echinogorgia clausa (Nutting, 1910). No type specimens of Echinogorgia thomsonideani Stiasny, 1942, Villogorgia aurivilliusi Stiasny, 1942, and Villogorgia spatulata Nutting, 1910 were found.
Based on collections assembled by Dutch expeditions to the Northwest African region, including the offshore islands in the neighbouring Atlantic, a taxonomic monograph of sponges of the genus Mycale is presented. Additional material from the region borrowed from the Zoologisk Museum of the University of Copenhagen and incidental samples made by individual collectors were also included. The combined collections contained sixteen species, nine of which are new to science: Mycale (Aegogropila) syringosimilis spec. nov., Mycale (Aegogropila) tenerifensis spec. nov., Mycale (Arenochalina) africamucosa spec. nov., Mycale (Carmia) atropha spec. nov., Mycale (Carmia) guineensis spec. nov., Mycale (Naviculina) cruzi spec. nov., Mycale (Paresperella) janvermeuleni spec. nov., Mycale (Rhaphidotheca) verdensis spec. nov. and Mycale (Zygomycale) sierraleonensis spec. nov. We briefly reviewed six Mycale species known from the region, but not represented in our material, making the faunal diversity twenty-two species. We present a key to all species of Northwest Africa and the neighbouring offshore Atlantic islands. The regional diversity of Mycale species is discussed in comparison to those of other regions.
A new species of the genus Dinotrema Foerster, 1862, D. brevis spec. nov. from Finland is described. A key to the species with modified wing veins is added.
A new species of the genus Sigalphus Latreille, 1802, S. anjae spec. nov. from southern Vietnam is described and illustrated. A key to the known species is added.
A ‘handwritten’ (lithographed) shell exchange catalogue of the National Museum of Natural History, Leiden (The Netherlands), dated 1850 and containing 864 nominal taxa (861 molluscs and 3 brachiopods), is discussed in the context of the history of the museum. This catalogue must have been distributed in a limited edition to shell collectors interested in the exchange of specimens. Among the exchange partners of the museum were the well-known 19th century Dutch collector Lady (later Dowager) F.J.M. Rethaan Macare nee Ontijd (1812-1887; first published portraits included) and the German P.F.L. Tischbein (1813-1883; first published portrait included); their contacts with the museum are discussed, mainly as regards this catalogue.
A litter sample collected during a short stay on the islet of Misali, off Pemba Island, contained several species that have not been reported before for that islet, three of which are described as new to science: Afripupa misaliensis (Vertiginidae), Pupisoma misaliensis (Valloniidae), Microcystina rowsoni (Euconulidae). Some errors in the literature on Misali are corrected and new data on several species are added.
Pieter Bleeker’s first revision of the Order Cyprini is translated and completed by including the figures from the Atlas Ichthyologique that were intended to be published with this revision.
Twentysix species of sea anemones (Actiniaria) collected in Galicia, northwestern Spain are present in the collection of the Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis. They are listed and discussed. The cnidom of seventeen species is surveyed. Diadumene cincta is not a recent immigrant in western Europe. Sagartia luciae is (re)assigned to the genus Diadumene. The presence of Sagartia troglodytes in the Mediterranean is doubtful at best.
A checklist of recent species of dendrobranchiate, stenopodidean, procarididean and caridean shrimps including synonyms and type localities. Also listed are unavailable names, larval names, nomina dubia and nomina nuda. A complete list of references to original descriptions of taxa listed is provided.
An overview of the life of Willem Vervoort (1917-2010), noted specialist in Copepoda and Hydrozoa, director of the National Museum of Natural History/Leiden 1972-1982 and extraordinary professor of systematic zoology/Leiden University 1973-1982, is given. Lists of new taxa in the Hydrozoa for the period 1998-2010, and a list of publications for the same period are included; the period 1917-1998 was covered by Van Bruggen (1998). Vervoort introduced (frequently with co-authors, particularly in the Hydrozoa) 70 taxa of Copepoda (i.e. 1 family, 1 subfamily, 11 genera, 57 species) and 199 of Hydrozoa (i.e. 1 family, 11 genera, 181 species, 3 subspecies, 1 variety and 2 nomina nova). The publications are analyzed and it appears that a stupendous amount of work has been generated, as regards the Hydrozoa particularly in the years after his official retirement (1982-2010). A total of 170 papers covers more than 9500 pp.
The Pterophoridae, subfamily Pterophorinae (Tribus: Oidaematophorini and Pterophorini), species of the neotropical fauna are reviewed, and species are redescribed. Many adults are illustrated in colour for the first time, along with line drawings of their genitalia. The examination of type specimens revealed several new synonyms: Pterophorus salticola Meyrick, 1913 is a junior synonym of Hellinsia pelospilus (Zeller, 1877); Oedaematophorus pelodactylus Berg, 1885 and Pterophorus sacrificus Meyrick, 1926 are junior synonyms of Hellinsia surinamensis (Sepp, 1855); Pterophorus chionophanes (Meyrick, 1930) and Oidaematophorus chionoptilia (T.B. Fletcher, 1940) are junior synonyms of Hellinsia argutus (Meyrick, 1926). Lectotypes are designated for: Pterophorus salticola Meyrick, 1913, Pterophorus spermatias Meyrick, 1908, Pterophorus oxyntes Meyrick, 1908, Pterophorus discors Meyrick, 1913, Pterophorus crescens Meyrick, 1926, Mimesoptilus conjunctus Zeller, 1877, Pterophorus glochinias Meyrick, 1908, Pterophorus palmatus Meyrick, 1908, Pterophorus nivalis Meyrick, 1908, Pterophorus delospilus Meyrick, 1921, Pterophorus stadias Meyrick, 1908, Pterophorus malesanus Meyrick, 1921, Pterophorus trachyphloeus Meyrick, 1926, and Pterophorus suspiciosus Meyrick, 1921. This study resulted in the recognition of 31 new species: Hellinsia paccha, H. puruha, H. orellanai, H. sucrei, H. canari, H. pallens, H. cajanuma, H. cucul
A diagnosis is given for the genus Bellimeris Betrem 1972. The lectotype female of its type species, B. bella (Bingham, 1897), is designated and described. The holotype female of the closely related Campsomeris stoetzneri Betrem, 1928 is redescribed. This species was found to be very similar or possibly a junior synonym of B. bella and is now included in the genus Bellimeris. More material, in particular males, has to become available and studied to accept or reject the synonymy. Three additional females of B. bella and one female of B. stoetzneri are described. A key is provided to separate both species. Campsomeris szetschwanensis Betrem, 1928 or the
In 1768, Martinus Slabber collected the only specimen ever found of the ctenophore species mostly cited as Callianira hexagona (Slabber, 1778). After analysing the international confusing literature on this species, we conclude the nomenclatural correct name should be Callianira slabberi De Haan, 1827. The designation to Callianira was done by 19th-century taxonomists, who did not realize that Slabber’s drawing lacks most of the transparent outer part of the animal, as indicated in the accompanying Dutch text. Moreover, Slabber’s description contains details not consistent with ctenophore morphology. Most probably, Slabber described a juvenile specimen of Pleurobrachia pileus (O.F. Muller, 1776), and C. slabberi may be considered a junior synoym of the latter species. A copy of Slabber’s drawing has been used in the allocation of another ctenophore species in Callianira. Combined with the fact that this genus was based on a poorly described specimen, this throws doubts on the validity of the genus Callianira.
Gulella annibiodiversitatis spec. nov. is described from a few scattered localities in montane forest above c. 1300 m in southern-central Malaŵi. It is mainly characterized by a smallish (4.9-6.3 mm high), smooth and generally featureless shell without apertural dentition. Gulella menkhorsti spec. nov., has a small (2.3-2.9 mm high) and smooth shell with a six-fold dentition and is probably a restricted range endemic; so far it has only been recorded from the Mpita Forest in southern Malaŵi. A single smooth and small shell (2.7 mm) with a seven-fold apertural dentition from the Misuku Hills in northern Malaŵi also does represent a new species, Gulella crux spec. nov. Another sample from the same area, introduced as Gulella nuchalis spec. nov., has a medium-smallish (about 7.0 mm) and costulate shell with apical spiral sculpture and a six-fold apertural dentition; it is particularly characterized by what looks like an old outer labrum behind the reflected labrum.
A new snapping shrimp of the Alpheus armatus Rathbun, 1901 species complex, Alpheus rudolphi spec. nov., is described based on a single female holotype collected off Alagoas, northeastern Brazil (09°55.11’S 35°32.73’W). The new species differs from all other species of the A. armatus complex by the unique configuration of the orbito-rostral region of the carapace.
Themonocoris endroedyi spec. nov. from eastern Transvaal is described and illustrated, and its biology discussed. A key to the species of Themonocoris and a distribution map are provided.
In rich samples of the solitary entoproct Loxosomella vivipara Nielsen, 1966, from the Caribbean Sea an unexpected variability of zooid shape could be observed. In most features this species cannot be properly distinguished from L. leptoclini Harmer, 1885. The identity of both these species is assumed.
Three new species of the genus Irianjaya Kocak & Kemal, 2009 (Diptera: Asilidae: Asilinae) from Indonesia are described and partly illustrated. Irianjaya halmaheraensis spec. nov. from Halmahera (North Moluccas), A. sulaensis spec. nov. from Mangole (Sula Islands) and I. sumbawaensis spec. nov. from Sumbawa (Lesser Sunda Islands). Eccoptopus impiger van der Wulp, 1872, is a new junior synonym of Irianjaya areolaris (Walker, 1860). In addition, the following new combinations are given: Irianjaya areolaris (Walker, 1860), I. impiger (Wulp, 1872), and I. mendax (Walker, 1857), formerly placed in Amphiscolops.
We report a total of 57 type specimens (31 primary and 26 secondary) belonging to 27 nominal species of chelonians (23) and crocodilians (4) in the collection of the Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis Leiden, the Netherlands. Fragments of fossil crocodilians have not been included in the specimen count. We provide the original name and publication, type locality, synonyms under which type specimens have been cited in the literature, current name, comments on the type material, its history, and its status and provide information on illustrations.
