Studies of Neotropical crickets: New Paragryllina taxa (Orthoptera: Phalangopsidae) with comments on several previously described species

Here, we contribute to the study of the subtribe Paragryllina, recovering as valid, taxa previously described as subfamilies or tribes of Paragryllidae (currently considered as a synonym of Phalangopsidae), but which are well delimited and can be considered as genera groups of Paragryllina: Paragryllae n. stat., Rumeae n. stat., and Benoistellae n. stat.. Alfarogryllus n. gen. is described to accommodate Eneoptera panoplos. Paragryllus is divided into three subgenera: Paragryllus s.s., Melloius n. subgen., and Souzaius n. subgen.. Paragryllus (Paragryllus) lyrae n. sp. (from southern Costa Rica) is described. Paragryllus cocos is considered as nomen nudum; Paragryllus arima n. syn. is synonymized under Paragryllus insolitus and transferred to the genus Ectecous, as the new combination Ectecous insolitus n. comb.; Eneoptera spodios n. syn. is synonymized under Lerneca digrediens, remaining only the Eneoptera species known before the contribution by Otte (2006). Dambachia is included in the subtribe Paragryllina. This genus stands out for the modification of its subapical spur of the hind tibia and its asymmetric genitalia. Keys for the genera and genera groups of Paragryllina, and subgenera of Paragryllus are provided. Finally, the taxonomy of Neotropical crickets is discussed.

Review of the millipede tribe Polydrepanini, with the description of a new species from Kerala state, southern India (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae, Alogolykinae)

The tribe Polydrepanini is rediagnosed through an elongate, mostly slender, sometimes twisted/helicoid gonofemorite and a more or less thin, mostly flagelliform, suberect, apical or subapical solenomere often forming a conspicuous loop/curve near the base. The tribe presently encompasses seven genera, all redefined, illustrated and keyed: Dasypharkis Attems, 1936, stat. revalid., Delarthrum Attems, 1936, Grammorhabdus Carl, 1932, stat. revalid., Pocockina Jeekel, 1965, Polydrepanum Carl, 1932 (= Gyrodrepanum Carl, 1932 and Hindomorpha Golovatch, 1984, both syn. nov.), Telodrepanum Carl, 1932, and Xiphidiogonus Carl, 1932. The genus Polydrepanum is shown to currently comprise only four described species, all also redefined, depicted and keyed: Polydrepanum tamilum Carl, 1932 (the type species), P. horridum Golovatch, 1984, P. granuliferum (Attems, 1936), comb. nov. ex Hindomorpha, and P. lamprum (Chamberlin, 1920), comb. nov. ex Gyrodrepanum. Grammorhabdus fissus (Sankaran & Sebastian, 2018) is formally transferred from Polydrepanum, comb. nov. Because Polydrepanum implicatum Carl, 1941 shows a strongly shortened gonopodal femorite, coupled with a distal and flagelliform solenomere, this species is considered as not only somewhat intermediate between the tribes Alogolykini and Polydrepanini as redefined here, but it is formally assigned to Alogolykini as the type species of Carlogonopus gen. nov. (masculine), with C. implicatus (Carl, 1941), comb. nov. ex Polydrepanum, as well as a comb. nov. ex Telodrepanum. A somewhat similar situation concerns Manikidesmus suriensis Bhakat, 2021, a still invalid genus and species from West Bengal, eastern India that likewise shows a clearly shortened gonofemorite. However, this being even more important, Manikidesmus suriensis is a “nomen nudum” not available yet for zoological nomenclature. The large and mainly Himalayan genus Delarthrum is briefly reassessed, mainly in connection with a new species, D. anomalans sp. nov., described from Kerala, southern India and placed in a species-group of its own. Some general considerations concerning the diversity and distribution of the subfamily Alogolykinae are presented.

Sturgeons (Acipenseridae) from the Late Miocene of Ukraine, with a discussion of materials associated with Widhalm’s (1886) nomen nudum, †Acipenser euhuso

The fossil record of the family Acipenseridae (sturgeons) extends to the Late Cretaceous (c. 85 MY), with a ghost lineage extending to approximately 120 MY when the first members of the family Polyodontidae are known. Much of the fossil record of Acipenseridae is formed by isolated and fragmentary dermal bones, which bear characteristic surface ornamentation. In this paper, we report on a collection of fossil sturgeons from the Upper Miocene deposits of southern Ukraine. These specimens include those used by Widhalm to establish †Acipenser euhuso, which is a nomen nudum. While we do not establish a new taxon for these specimens, the morphological variation of those elements that are preserved does suggest the presence of several species represented in this fauna.

Natterer in Neotropical Nematoda: Species Described by Rudolphi, Diesing, and Molin

Between 1817 and 1835 Johann Natterer collected 1,729 samples of endoparasitic helminths in Brazil and southern Venezuela. Of the 323 names that were assigned to the collected nematode specimens, 163 are still valid and accepted species, 84 are still doubtful, and 76 must be rejected. In this work, each name is analyzed and correlated to the literature to clarify its taxonomic status. The purpose of this review of the material collected by Natterer is to establish a complete list of all described species; their current status; and whether they are valid species, synonyms, or nomen nudum as well as to update the hosts and the original dates and localities where they were collected.

Nomenclatural comments on and corrections of nomina of some non-marine fossil gastropods

Nomenclatural issues pertaining to selected non-marine gastropods of Cretaceous and Tertiary age are discussed and resolved as follows. [1] Viviparus hammeri (Defrance, 1825) is reinstated; Helicites viviparoides Schlotheim, 1820 is a nomen nudum, made available as Paludina viviparoides Bronn, 1848, a new objective synonym. [2] Viviparus frauenfeldi Le Renard, 1994 is a new objective synonym of Viviparus oulchyensis Wenz, 1919. [3] Lorus is proposed as a nomen novum for Liris Conrad, 1871 [nec Fabricius, 1804]. [3] Wesselinghia is proposed as a nomen novum for Longosoma Wesselingh & Kadolsky, 2006 [nec Hartman, 1944]. [4] Hydrobia incerta (Deshayes, 1862) is reinstated; Hydrobia antoni Le Renard, 1994 is a new objective synonym of this nomen. [5] The species Paludina frauenfeldi Hoernes, 1856 is designated as type species of Sarmata B. Dybowski & Grochmalicki, 1920. [6] The misidentified type species of Annulifer Cossmann, 1921, so far known as ‘Paludina protracta sensu Cossmann 1921, non Eichwald, 1850’, is fixed under Article 70.3 of the Code as understood by Cossmann (1921), and renamed Annulifer annulifer new species. [7] Pomatias turgidulus (Sandberger, 1872) is reinstated; P. turonicus Wenz, 1923 and Cyclostoma squamosum Peyrot, 1932 are its new objective synonyms. [8] Valvata inflata Sandberger, 1875 is reinstated; V. gaudryana Wenz, 1928 [nec Mortillet, 1863] is its new objective synonym. [8] Catinella? montana Pierce, new species, originally published as “[Succineidae] montana Pierce, 1992”, is made available by associating the species epithet with a generic nomen. [9] Proalbinaria subantiqua (d’Orbigny, 1850) is reinstated; its senior synonym Pupa antiqua Matheron, 1832 is a primary junior homonym of Pupa muscorum antiqua Eichwald, 1830. [10] The type species of Palaeostoa Andreae, 1884 is Pupa fontenayi Sandberger, 1871 by subsequent designation by Cossmann (1905), which has precedence over the designation of Clausilia crenata Sandberger, 1871 by Wenz (1923). [11] Palaeostoa elongata (Melleville, 1843), whose original combination was Pupa elongata, is a primary junior homonym of Pupa elongata Bouillet, 1836, an unused name for an unidentified nominal species; pending more information on the taxon at stake, maintenance of the existing usage is recommended. [12] Scalaxis columnella (Deshayes, 1863) is reinstated, with Scalaxis sinister Wenz, 1923 as its new synonym. [13] Eurystrophe olla (Serres, 1844) is reinstated, with Helix janthinoides Noulet, 1868 [nec Helix janthinoides Serres, 1829, a nomen nudum] as its new synonym.

RHABDOCHONA (R.) URUYENI (NEMATODA, RHABDOCHONIDAE) EN BRASIL: PRESENTE SITUACIÓN DE RHABDOCHONA RAILLIET EN SUD-AMÉRICA, CON UN LEVANTAMIENTO BIBLIOGRÁFICO A NIVEL MUNDIAL DEL GÉNERO DESDE 1845 HASTA 2010

Durante investigaciones direccionadas a los nematodos de peces depositados en la Colección Helmintológica del Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (CHIOC), algunas muestras fueron estudiadas y identificadas como Rhabdochona uruyeni Diaz-Ungria, 1968. La presente situación de las especies que ocurren en Sud- América es discutida y actualizada. Además, se efectuó un amplio levantamiento bibliográfico relacionado a taxonomía, morfología, biología, cladística y ecología del género, a fin de proporcionar una pronta indicación de las citas sobre las especies de Rhabdochona, comprendiendo un período de 165 años. Hasta el presente, Rhabdochona (Rhabdochona) acuminata es referida en Argentina, Brasil, y Ecuador, junto con Rhabdochona (Filochona) fabianae en Argentina y Rhabdochona (Rhabdochona) uruyeni en Venezuela y ahora en Brasil por primera vez y en un nuevo huésped. También, Rhabdochona spp. están señaladas en Argentina, Brasil y Peru. Rhabdochona colossomi Diaz-Ungria, 1968 es considerado como nomen nudum.

Mammal type specimens in the Macleay Collections, University of Sydney

Type material of 12 mammal taxa originally proposed as species or subspecies are housed in the former Macleay Museum (now Macleay Collections, Chau Chak Wing Museum), University of Sydney and consist of seven holotypes and 12 syntypes. These were published from 1875 to 1887, five by N.N. Miklouho-Maclay and seven by E.P. Ramsay, of which six are currently considered valid taxa. Six type specimens are identified in the Collection for the first time. This includes rediscovery of the holotype skull of the New Guinean forest wallaby Dorcopsis chalmersii Miklouho-Maclay not reported since its description in 1884, a likely syntype of the bandicoot Perameles macroura torosa Ramsay, and three additional syntypes of the flying fox Pteropus (Epomops?) epularius Ramsay. The holotype of the dasyurid Antechinus (Podabrus) froggatti Ramsay, housed at the Australian Museum since before 1959, is also discussed. Limited specimen data currently prevents validation of an additional six specimens identified here as suspected syntypes of four further names: the macropodoids Halmaturus mastersii Krefft, Halmaturus crassipes Ramsay and Hypsiprymnodon moschatus Ramsay, and the bandicoot Perameles moresbyensis Ramsay. Individual accounts are given for a total of 21 proposed names. Type material of four of these remain unlocated in world collections and it is not known if they were ever in the Macleay Collections: the bandicoot Brachymelis garagassi Miklouho-Maclay, 1884; the wallaby Macropus tibol Miklouho-Maclay, 1885; the cuscus Cuscus chrysorrhous var. goldiei Ramsay and the giant rat Hapalotis papuanus Ramsay. The nomenclatural status of the possum Phalangista pinnata Ramsay, 1877, a possible nomen nudum, is also discussed. No nomenclatural actions are taken in this paper.

South African Acrothoracica (Crustacea: Cirripedia)

Prior to this review, only three publications, all species descriptions published over 50 years ago, had focussed on South African acrothoracicans. We collected samples from three of South Africa’s major marine ecoregions (Benguela, Agulhas and Natal) and used these to produce a revised account of the known regional fauna. This includes a key to known South African acrothoracicans and a systematic account of the species, each description being accompanied by scanning electron and light microscopy images. The number of known South African acrothoracicans is increased from four to eight species, with three new distribution records and two new species added to the fauna, while one existing record is determined to be a nomen nudum. Although this represents a doubling of the known regional acrothoracican fauna, much more remains to be explored, and further research in deeper waters and examination of other potential hosts (such as corals and hermit crabs) are likely to reveal many additional taxa.

Wide-nosed pygmy grasshoppers (Cladonotinae: Cladonotini, Xerophyllini) of India and Sri Lanka: catalogue with an identification key and description of a new species of the genus Tettilobus

Wide nosed pygmy grasshoppers (Tetrigidae: Cladonotinae) are grasshoppers in which the frontal costa bifurcates into strongly divergent facial carinae, between which there is wide scutellum. Altogether seven genera and thirteen species inhabit India and Sri Lanka. Tribe Cladonotini is represented in this region by five genera and nine species (Cladonotus—4 spp., Deltonotus—2 spp., Gignotettix—1 sp., Hancockella—1 sp., and Yunnantettix—1 sp.), while the tribe Xerophyllini by two genera, Tettilobus (3 sp.) and Potua (1 sp.). For this Potua species it is not clear if it belongs to this genus. A simple identification key to Cladonotinae of India and Sri Lanka is provided. New synonyms are: Deltonotus humilis syn. nov., Epitettix tamilus syn. nov. and Potua aptera syn. nov., synonymous with Deltonotus gibbiceps. Deltonotus cristatus should be regarded nomen nudum. A new species, assigned to the genus Tettilobus is described from the Western Ghats of Kerala, Tettilobus trishula Skejo, Bhaskar et Stermšek sp. n. Furthermore, we present the first records of D. subcucullatus from India (Kerala).

A synopsis of Plagiocheilus (Compositae: Astereae)

SummaryA synopsis of Plagiocheilus (Compositae: Astereae) is provided, giving full synonymy, type citations and the location of known types, together with relevant notes and commentary, and the currently accepted distribution of each taxon; the distribution of taxa is also tabulated. Six species are recognised, one containing three subspecies. A key to species is presented. One author citation is corrected following an incorrect assumption by de Candolle when describing Plagiocheilus tanacetoides. The synonymy of Polygyne inconspicua, under Eclipta prostrata, is précised once again. An index to names associated with Plagiocheilus is given, and the nomen nudum of Plagiocheilus herzogii commented upon.