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The Seychelles magpie‐robin's (SMR) five island populations exhibit some of the lowest recorded levels of genetic diversity among endangered birds, and high levels of inbreeding. These populations collapsed during the 20th century, and the species was listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List in 1994. An assisted translocation‐for‐recovery program initiated in the 1990s increased the number of mature individuals, resulting in its downlisting to Endangered in 2005. Here, we explore the temporal genomic erosion of the SMR based on a dataset of 201 re‐sequenced whole genomes that span the past ~150 years. Our sample set includes individuals that predate the bottleneck by up to 100 years, as well as individuals from contemporary populations established during the species recovery program. Despite the SMR's recent demographic recovery, our data reveal a marked increase in both the genetic load and realized load in the extant populations when compared to the historical samples. Conservation management may have reduced the intensity of selection by increasing juvenile survival and relaxing intraspecific competition between individuals, resulting in the accumulation of loss‐of‐function mutations (i.e. severely deleterious variants) in the rapidly recovering population. In addition, we found a 3‐fold decrease in genetic diversity between temporal samples. While the low genetic diversity in modern populations may limit the species' adaptability to future environmental changes, future conservation efforts (including IUCN assessments) may also need to assess the threats posed by their high genetic load. Our computer simulations highlight the value of translocations for genetic rescue and show how this could halt genomic erosion in threatened species such as the SMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cymothoid isopods of the genus Nerocila are generally poorly known. The aim of this work was to document the first record of cymothoid isopod Nerocila exocoeti for the South-West Indian Ocean, representing a significant westward range extension for this species. Methods: A single adult, female N. exocoeti and 38 mancae specimens were collected from a live sharksucker Echeneis naucrates at D'Arros Island, Seychelles. The female isopod specimen was examined using a stereo microscope and described based on distinct morphological traits. Observations of novel behaviour were also made for E. naucrates. Results: The examined female isopod specimen measured 26 mm long by 10 mm wide. It possessed short coxae with the postero-lateral angles of pereonites 1–5 not produced and those of 6 and 7 reduced. The first antenna was composed of eight articles and the endopod of the uropod was half the length of the exopod. These traits confirm the specimen as N. exocoeti. Observations of novel behaviour in the wild host specimen showed the individual to deliberately and repeatedly swim ashore before thrashing in the substrate, returning to the water only once the isopod was removed. Conclusion: To date, N. exocoeti is known from India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Taiwan. The present study represents the first record of N. exocoeti from the South-West Indian Ocean region and the first record of E. naucrates as a host of any cymothoid isopod. Additionally, N. exocoeti has previously only been recorded as parasitising beloniform fish hosts and these data present the first evidence of a perciform host for this species. The novel behaviour observed in E. naucrates likely represents a means to remove external parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A remarkable derbid planthopper was discovered in endemic palm forest on Praslin, Seychelles. Here, we describe it as Salaziella praslinensis Bolotov & Spitsyn gen. & sp. nov. (Derbidae: Otiocerinae: Zoraidini). The new taxon habitually resembles a group of Zoraidini genera, the frons of which shares gradually widening lateral carinae in the upper part, that is, Zorabana Van Stalle, 1984 from Africa and Helcita Stal, 1856 [=Jada Distant, 1906] from Africa and tropical Asia. However, it can be distinguished from these genera based on diagnostic differences in the tegmen venation pattern. The new species is known to occur in a single forest patch on Praslin and seems to be threatened by habitat loss and invasive species impact. Hence, it could be accessed as Critically Endangered (CR B1a). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A recent molecular phylogenetic study revealed four distinct evolutionary lineages in the genus Costularia s.l. (Schoeneae, Cyperaceae, Poales). Two lineages are part of the Oreobolus clade of tribe Schoeneae: the first being a much-reduced genus Costularia s.s., and the second a lineage endemic to New Caledonia for which a new genus Chamaedendron was erected. The other two lineages were shown to be part of the Tricostularia clade of tribe Schoeneae. Based on morphological and molecular data, the genus Costularia is here redelimited to represent a monophyletic entity including 15 species, which is restricted in distribution to southeastern Africa (Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe), Madagascar, the Mascarenes (La Réunion, Mauritius), and the Seychelles (Mahé). Molecular phylogenetic data based on two nuclear markers (ETS, ITS) and a chloroplast marker (trnL-F) resolve the studied taxa as monophyletic where multiple accessions could be included (except for Costularia laxa and Costularia purpurea, which are now considered conspecific), and indicate that the genus dispersed once to Africa, twice to the Mascarenes, and once to the Seychelles. Two endemic species from Madagascar are here described and illustrated as new to science, as is one additional species endemic to La Réunion. Two taxa previously accepted as varieties of Costularia pantopoda are here recognised at species level (Costularia baronii and Costularia robusta). We provide a taxonomic revision including an identification key, species descriptions and illustrations, distribution maps and assessments of conservation status for all species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damiria toxifera has been recorded for the first time in the Andaman Sea region. It has not been found elsewhere since its discovery and description from the Seychelles. The distinguishing features of this species in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are depicted in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chanocephalus justini sp. nov., C. modestus sp. nov. and C. pudicus sp. nov. are described from the Seychelles; C. cummingae sp. nov. is described from Madagascar, South Africa and Zimbabwe; and C. cautus sp. nov. and C. steineri sp. nov. from Madagascar. C. dirnakae Paulian is synonymized with C. depressus Meijere. A key lo males and a partial key to the females of the 14 Afrotropical species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About 500 specimens of Syllidae were collected during two field expeditions in the years 1999 and 2000 to Mahe (Seychelles). Most of the specimens were collected on fringing coral reefs, others were dredged from deeper coralline sands (22-34 m). Eighteen genera and 39 species of Syllidae were found, of which four are herein described as new to science: Parexogone anseforbansensis n. sp., Parexogone seychellensis n. sp., Sphaerosyllis sanmartini n. sp. and Typosyllis pseudoheterosetosa n. sp. Descriptions with illustrations and micrographs are provided for the new and other interesting species. The majority of the species are really interstitial, living in sandy habitats; the others were found under and inside beach rocks and dead corals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species composition and diversity of benthic meiofaunal communities inhabiting the fringing reef lagoon of Anse Forbans were studied during two field collections in the years 1999 and 2000. The Anse Forbans is a sandy beach, on the SE coast of Mahé, which shows a physical and biological zonation parallel to the shore. The meiofauna in the sediments of the zones was dominated by polychaetes, especially the Syllidae. Thirty-three different syllid species belonging to sixteen generic taxa were identified. Streptosyllis aequiseta Hartmann-Schröder, 1981, one of the most abundant species and widely distributed within the reef flat, is redescribed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of Magelona are described from the Seychelles: M. conversa, M. falcifera and M. gemmata. Magelona conversa belongs to a 'M. mirabilis group', having a rounded prostomium and specialised chaetae on chaetiger 9, but differs from all other members in having long prechaetal neuropodial lamellae on chaetigers 1–8. Magelona falcifera bears large sickle-shaped hooded hooks in the abdomen and thus approaches the genus Meredithia, but lacks prostomial horns. Magelona gemmata belongs to a 'M. longicornis group' in having distinct prostomial frontal horns, and a thorax with lanceolate postchaetal lamellae in the notopodia and ventral neuropodial lobes. The distinctively swollen bud-like tips on the notopodial lamellae of chaetiger 9 are an unique feature. The status of Meredithia Hernández-Alcántara & Solís-Weiss, 2000 and current magelonid terminology are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of frog of the genus Sooglossus (Sooglossidae) is described. The family is restricted to Mahé and Silhouette islands in Seychelles. Three species have been described previously (Nesomantis thomasseti, Sooglossus sechellensis and S. gardineri), all found on both islands. A new species is described from Silhouette island; it is associated with the Seychelles endemic palm tree Phoenicophorium borsigianum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study that reported the presence of the hawkmoth specimen Euchloron megaera in Seychelles in East Africa, as of January 2015. it states that the specimen is common in Africa with presence of several subspecies, and presents a biogeographical checklist all known Seychelles hawkmoth on the island. It notes that Seychelles shared a closer affinity to continental Africa than to Madagascar in terms of presence of the butterflies on the island.