Molecular taxonomy and description of a new species of Limnodrilus (Naididae, Clitellata, Annelida) in China

The freshwater annelid worm genus Limnodrilus, including the widely distributed L. claparedianus Ratzel, 1868, is common in Chinese freshwater ecosystems. One species, previously recognized as morphologically intermediate between L. claparedianus and the North American taxon L. cervix Brinkhurst, 1963, is here described as a new species, L. paraclaparedianus Zhou & Cui n. sp., using both molecular and traditional taxonomy. Comparisons of sequences of the Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I (COI) mtDNA in a sample of Limnodrilus species showed that the distances between species were generally higher than the divergences within them. Phylogenetic analysis of COI as well as 16S mtDNA and Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) nDNA confirmed that the new species is an independent lineage. Moreover, morphological differences in the prostomium, characteristics of the chaetae and internal genitalia support the separation of the species.

Phylogenetic reappraisal and epitypification of Laccaria macrocystidiata (Hydnangiaceae, Basidiomycota)

Laccaria macrocystidiata, a marasmioid species, originally described as Laccaria affinis f. macrocystidiata from Central Italy, was synonymised with the North American taxon Laccaria laccata var. pallidifolia, but only on a morphological basis. In this paper, the independent position of L. macrocystidiata from L. laccata var. pallidifolia and other species of Laccaria is pointed out on the basis of ITS-LSU phylogenetic analyses. According to our results, Laccaria macrocystidiata var. longispinosa is considered a synonym of Laccaria macrocystidiata. Laccaria macrocystidiata holotype consists of only one basidioma in poor condition; thus, a new epitype from an Italian collection was designated.

Molecular confirmation of Leucoagaricus idae-fragum (Agaricales, Agaricaceae), and notes on its morphological variability

Leucoagaricus idae-fragum, a nice and very rare pink-lilac lepiotoid species originally described from France, was put into synonymy with the North American taxon Lepiota decorata by Vellinga (2006), only on a morphological basis. In this paper, the independent position of L. idae-fragum from L. decorata is pointed out, based upon the phylogenetic analysis of the nrITS sequences obtained from recently collected specimens of L. idae-fragum from three Italian areas, and from the holotype collection. Morphological investigations of all these collections revealed high variability in shape of the cheilocystidia, spores, inconstant ammonia reaction, characters which have always been considered to be quite stable within a single species and traditionally used for discriminating among species in Leucoagaricus. Full descriptions, with illustrations of fresh basidiomes and of the main macro- and micromorphological features are provided together with a comparison with allied species.

Taxonomy of 'Euconnus complex'. Part XVI. Alloconophron Franz transferred to Anhoraeomorphus Franz as subgenus, with notes on systematic position of Noctophus Casey (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae)

Based on examination of type species, Alloconophron, previously a subgenus of Euconnus, is placed as a subgenus of Anhoraeomorphus, resulting in Anhoraeomorphus (Alloconophron) grucheti (Franz) comb. n. and Anhoraeomorphus (Alloconophron) impressifrons (Franz) comb. n. All species of Anhoraeomorphus are known to occur in Madagascar. Noctophus stat. rest., a North American taxon originally described as a genus and later placed as a subgenus of Euconnus, is restituted as genus and redefined. Noctophus is morphologically surprisingly similar to Anhoraeomorphus, it also shares many structures with the Australo-Pacific Sciacharis. As Noctophus is known from one species represented by a single female holotype only, and the maxillary palps of this specimen are missing, the proposed placement of Noctophus is tentative and requires further study based on complete male specimens.

Specializations of the mandibular anatomy and dentition ofSegnosaurus galbinensis(Theropoda: Therizinosauria)

Definitive therizinosaurid cranial materials are exceptionally rare, represented solely by an isolated braincase and tooth in the North American taxonNothronychus mckinleyi, the remarkably complete skull of the Asian taxonErlikosaurus andrewsi, and the lower hemimandibles ofSegnosaurus galbinensis. To date, comprehensive descriptions of the former taxa are published; however, the mandibular materials ofS. galbinensishave remained largely understudied since their initial description in 1979. Here we provide a comprehensive description of the well-preserved hemimandibles and dentition ofS. galbinensis(MPC-D 100/80), from the Upper Cretaceous Bayanshiree Formation, Gobi Desert, Mongolia. The subrectangular and ventrally displaced caudal hemimandible, extreme ventral deflection of the rostral dentary, and edentulism of the caudal dentary ofS. galbinensisare currently apomorphic among therizinosaurians. Unique, unreported dental traits including lingually folded mesial carinae, development of a denticulated triangular facet on the distal carinae near the cervix, and extracarinal accessory denticles, suggest a highly specialized feeding strategy inS. galbinensis. The presence of triple carinae on the distalmost lateral tooth crowns is also unique, although may represent an abnormality. Contrasted with the simplistic dentition of the contemporaneous therizinosauridE. andrewsi, the dentition ofS. galbinensisis indicative of niche partitioning in food acquisition, processing, or resources among known therizinosaurids inhabiting Asian ecosystems in the Late Cretaceous. Although not quantitatively correlated with diet, this suite of specializations is otherwise unique among theropod dinosaurs and supports derived inferences of facultative or obligate herbivory in therizinosaurids, ultimately adding novel information to our understanding of ecomorphology in theropods.

Systematic revision and review of the extant and fossil snout butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Libytheinae)

Extant and fossil genera and species in the Libytheinae (Nymphalidae) are revised and reviewed. The Libytheinae includes two genera: Libythea Fabricius and Libytheana Michener. Fifteen species and an additional 24 subspecies are recognized and 41 names are synonymized. Species recognized are: Libythea celtis (Laicharting), L. collenettei Riley, L. cinyras Trimen revised status, L. geoffroyi Godart, L. labdaca Westwood, L. laius Trimen, L. lepita Moore, L. myrrha Godart, L. narina Godart, Libytheana carinenta (Cramer), L. florissanti (Scudder), L. fulvescens (Lathy), L. motya (Hübner), L. terena (Godart), and L. vagabunda (Scudder). New synonymies that are established for Libythea celtis (Laicharting [1782]) include: Libythea (Libythea) celtis f. obscura Millière 1879 syn. nov.; Libythea celtis f. denudata Dannehl 1925 syn. nov.; Libythea celtis f. separata Dannehl 1925 syn. nov.; Libythea celtis livida Saggara 1926 syn. nov.; Libythea (Libythea) celtis f. albonervulata Verity 1950 syn. nov.; Libythea (Libythea) celtis f. latefulva Verity 1950 syn. nov.; Libythea (Libythea) celtis f. obscurenervulata Verity 1950 syn. nov.; Libythea (Libythea) celtis f. pallida Verity 1950 syn. nov.; Libythea (Libythea) celtis f. pygmaea Verity 1950 syn. nov.; Libythea (Libythea) celtis f. rubescens Verity 1950 syn. nov.; Libythea (Libythea) celtis f. subochracea Verity 1950 syn. nov.; Libythea (Libythea) celtis f. violacea Verity 1950 syn. nov.; and Libythea celtis platooni Korb 2005 syn. nov. Synonyms of Libythea geoffroyi geoffroyi Godart 1822 include: Libythea antipoda Boisduval, 1859 syn. nov.; Libythea orientalis Godman and Salvin, 1888 syn. nov.; Libythea hauxwelli Moore, 1901 syn. nov.; Libythea (Libythea) geoffroy var. sumbensis Pagenstecher, 1901 syn. nov.; Libythea geoffroy deminuta Fruhstorfer, 1909 syn. nov.; and Libythea geoffroy maenia Fruhstorfer, 1909 syn. nov. Libythea batchiana Wallace 1869 syn. nov. is a synonym of Libythea geoffroyi ceramensis Wallace 1869. Synonyms of Libythea geoffroyi philippina Staudinger 1889 include: Libythea geoffroyi var. celebensis Staudinger 1889 syn. nov.; and Libythea geoffroyi bardas Fruhstorfer 1914 syn. nov. Libythea labdaca subintegra Aurivillius 1921 syn. nov. is a synonym of Libythea labdaca ancoata Grose-Smith 1891. Synonyms of Libythea lepita lepita Moore [1858] include: Libythea celtis celtoides Fruhstorfer 1909 syn. nov.; Libythea celtis chinensis Fruhstorfer 1909 syn. nov.; and Libythea celtis sophene Fruhstorfer 1914 syn. nov. Libythea celtis yayeyamana Fujioka, 1975 syn. nov. is a synonym of Libythea lepita amamiana Shirôzu 1956. Libythea myrrha myrrhina Fruhstorfer 1909 syn. nov. and Libythea myrrha yawa Fruhstorfer 1914 syn. nov. are synonyms of Libythea myrrha myrrha Godart 1819. Libythea myrrha borneensis Fruhstorfer 1914 syn. nov. and Libythea myrrha iwanagai Hayashi 1976 syn. nov. are synonyms of Libythea myrrha hecura Fruhstorfer 1914. Libythea myrrha carma Fruhstorfer 1914 syn. nov. is a synonym of Libythea myrrha rama Moore 1872. Libythea myrrha thira Fruhstorfer 1914 syn. nov. is a synonym of Libythea myrrha sanguinalis Fruhstorfer 1898. Subspecies of L. narina Godart 1819 have been synonymized with the nominal species as there are no diagnostic characters that can be used to separate subspecies. Synonyms of Libythea narina include: Libythea rohini Marshall 1880 syn. nov. Libythea luzonica Moore 1901 syn. nov. Libythea narina canuleia Fruhstorfer, 1909 syn. nov.; Libythea narina neratia Fruhstorfer 1909 syn. nov.; Libythea narina sangha Fruhstorfer 1914 syn. nov.; Libythea narina sumbawana Fruhstorfer 1914 syn. nov. The status of the North American taxon has been confused in the literature, and it is here treated as Libytheana carinenta bachmanii (Kirtland 1851) revised status. The fossil Oligodonta florissantensis Brown, 1976 (Pieridae) is a new synonym of Libytheana florissanti (Scudder 1892). Keys to genera, species, and subspecies are included along with a discussion of the taxonomic history of the subfamily. Diagnostic characters are also presented along with brief comments on the distribution and biology of each species.