Morphology of the oldest fossil subfamily of Limoniidae (Diptera, Architipulinae) in the light of exceptionally preserved Mesozoic material

Based on known fossil evidence the extinct subfamily Architipulinae is considered to be the oldest evolutionary group of the Limoniidae, the largest family within the infraorder Tipulomorpha. The morphology of this subfamily, which includes 11 genera, has so far been based mainly on wing venation. New well-preserved representatives of the genus Cretolimonia Kalugina, 1986 were recovered from the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary of Shevia and Daya, Transbaikalia, as well as from mid-Cretaceous amber from Kachin, Myanmar. This new material enriches our knowledge of the subfamily Architipulinae and of the genus Cretolimonia, and allows us to ascertain the detailed morphological structure of the female copulatory apparatus with spermathecae and the structure of the male hypopygium. The combination of detailed impression fossils with a specimen preserved three-dimensionally in resin has permitted study of the morphology of this Mesozoic fly genus almost to the level of modern genera. The paper includes descriptions of four new species of Cretolimonia: C. lukashevichae sp. nov., C. pseudojurassica sp. nov., C. dayana sp. nov. from sedimentary rocks, and C. mikolajczyki sp. nov. from Myanmar amber, supported with a key to all known species.

Rhodopotyphlus mitovi gen. et sp. nov., a new endogean millipede from the Western Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae)

A new genus and species, Rhodopotyphlus mitovi gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Western Rhodopi Mts., south-central Bulgaria. According to its morphology combined with previously published molecular data, the new species is supposed to represent a basal lineage in the julid tribe Typhloiulini. Some assumptions concerning the early evolutionary stages of the development of the mesomere—an important part of the male copulatory apparatus of many julid millipedes—are made on the basis of the outstanding gonopod conformation in the newly described taxon. Rhodopotyphlus mitovi gen. et sp. nov. is likely a narrow local endemic showing preference for specific microhabitat conditions.

Schmidtea sp., from the S-W Romania (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae)

The morphology and the anatomy of the copulatory apparatus in a Dugesiidae population from the SW Romania are presented. The copulatory apparatus is characterized by intermingled bursal canal musculature and two distinct penis bulbs with two large seminal vesicles. Based on these morphological characters, the population is assigned to the lugubris-polychroa group of species, now belonging to the genus Schmidtea (de Vries & Sluys 1991). The copulatory apparatus is also characterised by the presence of an atrial fold, characteristic of S. mediterranea. The assign of the morphotype here presented to the species level is delayed until integrative molecular analysis.

A new species of alien terrestrial planarian in Spain: Caenoplana decolorata

Terrestrial planarians found in a plant nursery in Spain in 2012 are described as a new species, Caenoplana decolorata. Dorsally they are mahogany brown with a cream median line. Ventrally they are pastel turquoise fading to brown laterally. Molecular data indicate that they are a member of the genus Caenoplana, but that they differ from other Caenoplana species found in Europe. One mature specimen has been partially sectioned, and the musculature and copulatory apparatus is described, confirming the generic placement but distinguishing the species from other members of the genus. It is probable that the species originates from Australia.

Evolution of the hectocotylus in Sepiolinae (Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae) and description of four new genera

The subfamily Sepiolinae (Mollusca: Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae), currently containing the genera Sepiola Leach, 1817, Euprymna Steenstrup, 1887, Inioteuthis Verrill, 1881, Rondeletiola Naef, 1921 and Sepietta Naef, 1912, is characterized by the hectocotylization of the left dorsal arm, i.e., its transformation into a copulatory organ thanks to modifications of sucker/pedicel elements. The hectocotylus morphology varies to a great extent across genera and species. In particular, one to several pedicels in its proximal third lose their sucker and become highly and diversely modified in shape to constitute a copulatory apparatus. An evolutionary gradient was observed in the copulatory apparatus morphology, from the simple modification into a papilla of just one pedicel from the third element of the ventral sucker row (some nominal species of Euprymna) to a quite complex structure involving several variously modified pedicels from both the ventral and dorsal sucker rows (Inioteuthis). In some species, elements in the distal portion of the hectocotylus may also be highly modified, such as the columnar suckers in Euprymna. The hectocotylian diversity allows to distinguish nine groups of species that do not match the current generic subdivision of Sepiolinae. Additional morphological characters (number of sucker rows on arms, female bursa copulatrix, occurrence and shape of visceral light organs, etc.) corroborate the subdivision of Sepiolinae into nine subtaxa, i.e., genera. Accordingly, a cladogram is drawn to describe the possible phylogenetic relationships among the nine clades. To comply with these results, all current genera are redefined and four new genera are described, namely Adinaefiola gen. nov., Boletzkyola gen. nov., Eumandya gen. nov. and Lusepiola gen. nov.

Another alien terrestrial planarian in the United Kingdom: Australopacifica atrata (Steel, 1897) (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Continenticola)

Black terrestrial planarians, 5 mm to 3 cm long, have been found in five locations in the United Kingdom, the earliest in 2015. They are identified as Australopacifica atrata (Steel, 1897), a species originally described from New South Wales, Australia. A detailed systematic discussion of original and later descriptions, all of which are of external features only and with no morphological details, is given in support of this identification. Sectioned specimens show partly mature ovaries and ventral testes though none show any development of the copulatory apparatus. They reproduce freely by fission. They appear to be generalist scavengers, having been found feeding on a dead slow worm, a dead mouse, an earthworm and also on rotten fruit. In captivity they feed on chicken liver, squashed slugs and earthworms. It is assumed that they have been inadvertently introduced to the UK and distributed through horticultural activity.

Boreoelona contortrix (Lindholm, 1909) (Bithyniidae, Gastropoda, Mollusca) in the waterbodies of Western Siberia and Kazakhstan

The locations of Boreoelona contortrix in the waterbodies of Western Siberia and Kazakhstan are reported as well as the data on morphology of shells and copulatory apparatus of the species from different parts of its range. The interpopulation variation is considered. On the basis of anatomical and morphometric study, it has been shown that there are no statistically significant differences between males and females of B. contortrix. Problems of taxonomy of the Boreoelona species are discussed.

Two new sympatric troglobitic freshwater flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Dugesiidae) from a hotspot of subterranean biodiversity in the Neotropics

The Areias System, situated in the Atlantic Forest, is considered a hotspot of troglobitic diversity in Brazil. Herein we describe two new sympatric, troglobitic species of Girardia occurring in this system. Both species show minute eyes; one of them has a whitish body, and the other scattered, fine pigmentation over the dorsal surface. Regarding the copulatory apparatus, one of the species shows a bulbar cavity with multiple diverticula and a bursal canal of the angled type, whereas the other has a single, ovoid bulbar cavity and a smoothly curved bursal canal, among other distinguishing features. Thus, each species can be differentiated by a unique combination of features in its external morphology and copulatory apparatus. Both present a restricted distribution, occurring in a group of pools in travertine rock formed by water from the epikarst. The morphological features of both species and this sampling location indicate that both species are stygobionts