The first record of Bergamina lineolata (Chydoridae; Aloninae) from Colombia

The Neotropical freshwater cladoceran Bergamina lineolata (Sars, 1901) was found in a small temporal pond in the Magdalena department. Hitherto, it has been reported in Brazil and El Salvador. It was originally described as Alonella lineolata by Sars, 1901 from Brazil and then placed to the genus Bergamina by Elmoor-Loureiro et al. (2013). This is the first record of this species in Colombia. B. lineolata can be identified by a unique combination of characters including: 1) a remarkably large and oblong postabdomen, with three denticles on distal corner; 2) basal spine of the claw very short, length less than the half claw diameter at base; 3) IDL with two setae shorter than ODL seta, armed with fine setules unilaterally in terminal half; 4) endite 1 of trunk limb I with a long smooth seta between endites 1 and 2.

New species of Alpinalona Alonso & Sinev, 2017 (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae) from South-East USA

A new species of genus Alpinalona Alonso & Sinev, 2017 is described from South-East USA. Alpinalona fornshelli sp. nov. differs from other species of the genus in: (1) over 35 setulae on posteroventral angle of the valves, organized into 5–6 groups; (2) a long basal spine of female postabdominal claw (about 0.3 claw length); and (3) thick long distalmost spines in basal pecten of postabdominal claw. Taxonomic position and distribution of the new species are discussed.

A new case of false “wide” distribution for tropical cladocerans: the genus Notoalona Rajapaksa & Fernando, 1987 (Crustacea: Cladocera) in the Old World

Members of the genus Notoalona Rajapaksa & Fernando, 1987 (Cladocera: Chydoridae: Aloninae) are small-sized chydorids, inhabiting tropical water bodies around the World. Based on morphological features two species, N. globulosa (Daday, 1898) and N. pseudomacronyx Van Damme, Maiphae & Sa-Ardrit, 2013, were revealed in tropical Asia, but the status of African populations has remained unclear for a long time. Some authors identified African specimens as N. globulosa, others considered them as potentially new species awaiting description. Here we reexamined morphology of Notoalona populations from tropical Asia (Thailand, Laos) and Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Madagascar). Although parthenogenetic females from Asia and Africa are basically similar, a single stable difference was found. In N. globulosa, the length of the basal spine and claw base are almost equal to each other, while in all investigated African specimens the basal spine is two times longer than base of postabdominal claw. This feature allows us to identify African populations as N. pseudomacronyx. Length of the setules in the basal group near the postabdominal basal spine, which was previously discussed in the literature as a specific feature for African populations, in fact, is overly variable and cannot be considered as diagnostic characteristic for the description of African populations as a separate taxon. Thus, the distribution range of N. pseudomacronyx is hereby expanded from South Africa to South East Asia, while N. globulosa s.l. occupies water bodies from tropical Asia to Australia. The same distribution patterns, when sibling species occur together in tropical Asia, have been shown for some other cladocerans as well. No doubt, the Asian tropics may be a particularly interesting area for future investigations on co-occurrence of sibling cladocerans, their ecology, behavior, genetics and potential hybridization.

A new species of the Chinese endemic genus Sinhomidia (Collembola: Entomobryinae) described and the first description of amale of Sinhomidia bicolor

We describe the male of Sinhomidia bicolor for the first time noting a morphological difference from the female. A new species, Sinhomidia guangxiensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The new species differs from S. bicolor by the appendages lacking scales, the mucronal basal spine reaching the apex of subapical tooth, the number of chaetae on the trochanteral organ and the distribution of macrochaetae on Th. II, Abd I and Abd II. A key to Sinhomidia species and a diagnostic table to separate male and female S. bicolor and the new species are provided.

Updated information on genus Gomphidictinus (Odonata: Gomphidae) in China with description of Gomphidictinus tongi sp. nov.

A new gomphid species, named as Gomphidictinus tongi sp. nov. (Holotype male, Mt. Diaoluoshan, altitude 930m a.s.l., Lingshui County, Hainan Province, China) is described here. It is regarded as the third species of Gomphidictinus based on the presence of the basal spine on median segment of the penis organ. Gomphidia interruptistria Zha, Zhang & Zheng, 2005 is regarded as a junior synonym of Gomphidictinus perakensis (Laidlaw, 1902), which is recorded from Yunnan, China.

New genus of Cladocera of subfamily Aloninae (Anomopoda: Chydoridae) from the Mekong River

A rheophylous cladoceran, Rheoalona mekongensis sp. nov., gen. nov. (Anomopoda: Chydoridae: Aloninae) is described from the Mekong River, South-East Asia. Rheoalona gen. nov. belongs to the Coronatella-branch of Aloninae, it differs from Karualona Dumont & Silva-Briano, 2000 in absence of seta 1 of IDL of thoracic limb I and by particularly strong lateral setae of postabdomen; from Anthalona Van Damme, Sinev & Dumont, 2011 in a wide connection between major head pores, lack of cosmaria, and two-flaming torch setae of limb IV; and from Coronatella Dybowski & Grochowski, 1894 in two major head pores, very small elementary denticles of postabdomen, and a very small basal spine of postabdominal claw. R. mekongensis sp. nov. is specially adapted for dwelling in the upper layer of fine sediments of turbid rivers. Our finding stress the importance of sampling in riverine habitats for the full inventories of the cladoceran fauna.

A revision of the genus Lepidobrya Womersley (Collembola: Entomobryidae) based on morphology and sequence data of the genotype

The genus Lepidobrya Womersley, previously placed in Willowsiini, is re-diagnosed based on a redescription of the type species L. mawsoni (Tillyard) and its DNA barcode. Specimens possess narrow, pointed scales on the dens, two inner teeth on unguis, a truncate unguiculus with an outer tooth, a bidentate mucro with a basal spine and ordinary tergal S-chaetae 2, 2|1, 2, 2, ?, 3, so belongs to the Entomobryinae. Its systematic position and relationships to other scaled Entomobryinae genera are discussed and comments are made on the distribution of the genus as well as on ecology.

Revision of the costata-group of Alona s. lato (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae) confirms its generic status

By taking Flavalona gen. nov. out of Alona s.l. (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae), the last major clade has now been removed from this polyphyletic assemblage. Flavalona gen. nov. is a monophylum defined by having three, rarely two connected head pores and slit-shaped, rarely rounded lateral head pores. Postabdomen rather long, distally narrowed, with robust marginal denticles and weakly developed lateral fascicles of setules. End-claw weakly curved and with short basal spine. Male postabdomen with gonopores opening at the end of a penis-like outgrowth. Trunk limbs: exopodite of P2 with seta; inner portion of P4 with flaming-torch shaped setae; P5 with filter plate of three setae; P6 a large simple lobe. The relationship of the new genus with other Aloninae remains to be determined. A key to the 11 species of the genus is provided and a discussion of their geographic distribution and habitat type is given.

A new species of Diaphanosoma Fischer, 1850 (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Sididae) inhabits lakes of the western United States

<p><em>Diaphanosoma edmondsoni </em>sp. nov. is described from material from several lakes in Washington, California, and Montana. It differs from all other known species of the genus in having a specific combination of traits: a head with conspicuously protruding dorsal part, comparatively small eye shifted ventrally, specific armament of postero-ventral valve margin, lack of thorn(s) near posterior valve margin, comparatively long distal basal spine of postabdominal claws of slightly variable shape, and occasional presence of additional large spines on the claws. This is the first endemic species of the genus (and also of the family Sididae and order Ctenopoda) recorded in the western part of North America, which along with some other cladocerans form a group of taxa highlighting this region as one of the regional centers of endemic aquatic fauna. <strong></strong></p>

Sexual conflict over mating in red-sided garter snakes ( Thamnophis sirtalis ) as indicated by experimental manipulation of genitalia

Sexual conflict over mating can result in sex-specific morphologies and behaviours that allow each sex to exert control over the outcome of reproduction. Genital traits, in particular, are often directly involved in conflict interactions. Via genital manipulation, we experimentally investigated whether genital traits in red-sided garter snakes influence copulation duration and formation of a copulatory plug. The hemipenes of male red-sided garter snakes have a large basal spine that inserts into the female cloaca during mating. We ablated the spine and found that males were still capable of copulation but copulation duration was much shorter and copulatory plugs were smaller than those produced by intact males. We also anaesthetized the female cloacal region and found that anaesthetized females copulated longer than control females, suggesting that female cloacal and vaginal contractions play a role in controlling copulation duration. Both results, combined with known aspects of the breeding biology of red-sided garter snakes, strongly support the idea that sexual conflict is involved in mating interactions in this species. Our results demonstrate the complex interactions among male and female traits generated by coevolutionary processes in a wild population. Such complexity highlights the importance of simultaneous examination of male and female traits.