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A partial rbcL sequence of the lectotype specimen of Corallina berteroi shows that it is the earliest available name for C. ferreyrae. Multilocus species delimitation analyses (ABGD, SPN, GMYC, bPTP, and BPP) using independent or concatenated COI, psbA, and rbcL sequences recognized one, two, or three species in this complex, but only with weak support for each species hypothesis. Conservatively, we recognize a single worldwide species in this complex of what appears to be multiple, evolving populations. Included in this species, besides C. ferreyrae, are C. caespitosa, the morphologically distinct C. melobesioides, and, based on a partial rbcL sequence of the holotype specimen, C. pinnatifolia. Corallina berteroi, not C. officinalis, is the cosmopolitan temperate species found thus far in the NE Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, warm temperate NW Atlantic and NE Pacific, cold temperate SW Atlantic (Falkland Islands), cold and warm temperate SE Pacific, NW Pacific and southern Australia. Also proposed is C. yendoi sp. nov. from Hokkaido, Japan, which was recognized as distinct by 10 of the 13 species discrimination analyses, including the multilocus BPP.

The taxonomy of the South American genus Exomegas Gill 1883 has been unstable owing to the unknown status of the type specimen of its type species, Petromyzon macrostomus Burmeister 1868. Here the authors announce the finding of the holotype in the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" ichthyology collection. Whereas Exomegas type species is recognized based on its holotype, Exomegas gallegensis (Smitt 1901) new status is proposed. These preliminary results resolve a century-long taxonomic uncertainty and foster a nomenclatural arrangement for a Southern Hemisphere lamprey genus.

Avena breviaristata, collected only once (1882) in Algeria and never re-collected since, is a very mysterious grass species because unfortunately even the type specimen got lost 60--80 years ago. Morphological information on this species was thus based on a few published descriptions, which made it difficult, however, to correctly infer the genus affiliation of this morphologically odd species.Avena breviaristatabecame affiliated in the past with various oat-like genera (Avenula,Helictotrichon,Tricholemma). Due to the recent rediscovery of the type specimen at the P herbarium and the opportunity to study this specimen, we report here on the morphological characters ofA. breviaristataunderpinned by meaningful illustrations. They are discussed in comparison with the morphology of representative species of the above-mentioned genera. Uncommon characters of the spikelets (type of disarticulation of the rachilla, lemma structure, lodicules) and to some extent of the inflorescences, leaves and leaf sheaths support the inclusion ofA. breviaristatain the North African genusTricholemma. Considering biogeography,T. breviaristatumfrom the arid Hauts Plateaux in Algeria is a highly xeromorphic counterpart of the mesomorphic speciesT. jahandiezii, which is confined to higher altitudes of the rather humid Moyen Atlas in Morocco. This underlines the status ofTricholemmaas a relic endemic. Our morphological survey supports the classification ofAvenula(onlyA. pubescens) as separate fromHelictotrichons.str. andHelictochloa. Moreover, morphological evidence does not support an origin ofA. pubescensby intergeneric hybridization between the latter genera as hypothesized in some prior studies. Especially the glabrous palea, the special shape of the lodicules and the structure of the awn show no intermediacy. The complicated history of the type collection ofT. breviaristatumand the role of botanical authors are given.

Reinstatement of Myelophycus caespitosus Kjellman (Ectocarpales s.l., Phaeophyceae) described from western Japan is proposed based on the comparisons of DNA sequences of Japanese Myelophycus specimens, the type specimen of Chordaria simplex and lectotypified specimen of Myelophycus caespitosus. In the genetic analyses using mitochondrial cox1 and cox3, chloroplast atpB, psbA and rbcL DNA sequences, the specimens morphologically referable to M. simplex formed two distinct clades (clade‐1 and clade‐2) supported by high statistical values. Clade‐1 was distributed on the western coast of Japan (Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu) from the Kii Peninsula to Tsushima and the Pacific coast of Aomori, northeastern Honshu, and clade‐2 on the Pacific coast of central Honshu from Sanriku to the Kii Peninsula. Based on the cox3 DNA sequences and the location of the type locality at Shimoda, Izu Peninsula, clade‐2 was concluded to correspond to true M. simplex. There were no recognizable differences in the representative morphological features (height and diameter of sporophytes and gametophytes, number of cells comprising cortical, subcortical and medullary layers, thickness of plurilocular gametangia, or length and diameter of unilocular zoidangia) between the specimens included in the two taxa. Analyses of the specimens of the two taxa, including sympatric populations on the Kii Peninsula, using a nuclear genetic marker ocm3 did not suggest any genetic exchanges between the two taxa. On the other hand, cox3 gene sequence of the voucher specimen of Myelophycus caespitosus collected from Goto, Kyushu, western Japan housed in the UPS herbarium was included in clade‐1. In conclusion, we propose the reinstatement of M. caespitosus and to lectotypify the specimen in UPS. Korean Myelophycus specimens reported from Cheju Island and Wando were considered to belong to M. caespitosus based on the reported rbcL sequences.

Species delimitation remains a challenge worldwide, but especially in biodiversity hotspots such as the Amazon. Here, we use an integrative taxonomic approach that combines data from morphology, phylogenomics, and leaf spectroscopy to clarify the species limits within the Protium heptaphyllum species complex, which includes subsp. cordatum, subsp. heptaphyllum, and subsp. ulei. Molecular phylogeny indicates that populations of subsp. cordatum do not belong to the P. heptaphyllum clade, while morphology and near-infrared spectroscopy data provide additional support for the recognition of a separate taxon. Protium cordatum (Burseraceae) is reinstated at species rank and described in detail. As circumscribed here, P. cordatum is endemic to white-sand savannas located in the Faro and Tucuruí Districts, Pará State, Brazil, whereas P. heptaphyllum is a dominant and widespread plant lineage found in Amazonia, the Cerrado, and the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We present an identification key to P. cordatum and closely related lineages and a detailed taxonomic description of P. cordatum, including habitat and distribution, a list and images of diagnostic features. This study demonstrates the importance of using multiple tools to characterize and distinguish plant species in highly diverse tropical regions. © 2019 International Association for Plant Taxonomy.

Objectives\ud The Pleistocene taxon Paranthropus robustus was established in 1938 following the discovery at Kromdraai B, South Africa, of the partial cranium TM 1517a and associated mandible TM 1517b. Shortly thereafter, a distal humerus (TM 1517g), a proximal ulna (TM 1517e), and a distal hallucial phalanx (TM 1517k) were collected nearby at the site, and were considered to be associated with the holotype. TM 1517a‐b represents an immature individual; however, no analysis of the potentially associated postcranial elements has investigated the presence of any endostructural remnant of recent epiphyseal closure. This study aims at tentatively detecting such traces in the three postcranial specimens from Kromdraai B.\ud \ud Materials and Methods\ud By using μXCT techniques, we assessed the developmental stage of the TM 1517b's C‐M3 roots and investigated the inner structure of TM 1517g, TM 1517e, and TM 1517k.\ud \ud Results\ud The M2 shows incompletely closed root apices and the M3 a half‐completed root formation stage. The distal humerus was likely completely fused, while the proximal ulna and the distal hallucial phalanx preserve endosteal traces of the diaphyseo‐epiphyseal fusion process.\ud \ud Discussion\ud In the hominin fossil record, there are few unambiguously associated craniodental and postcranial remains sampling immature individuals, an essential condition for assessing the taxon‐specific maturational patterns. Our findings corroborate the original association of the craniodental and postcranial remains representing the P. robustus type specimen. As with other Plio‐Pleistocene hominins, the odonto‐postcranial maturational pattern of TM 1517 more closely fits an African great ape rather than the extant human pattern.

The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature allows the naming of new species without a type specimen ever having been preserved. This practice causes problems and is undesirable because if related, cryptic, sibling species are encountered later, it may not be possible either to allocate them with certainty to the earlier named species, or to determine them to be something different. We hypothesised that examination of the instances in which mammalian species were named without preserved types would reveal certain problems that are not unique to them, but are encountered more frequently than when types are preserved. We also thought the Code's stipulation that preserved types are not required in the case of specimens that are no longer ‘extant’ would present special problems hitherto unremarked upon in the literature. We conducted a review of cases involving putative new species of mammal named since 1900. These were analysed to see what special problems they present and the frequency of such problems. We found that the Code's waiver of the requirement that a type specimen be deposited in a collection if the specimen is no longer extant presents numerous problems—in particular, that a living-at-large type specimen can still be ‘extant’ even if its whereabouts are unknown at certain times and/or it may no longer be alive. Illustrations alone being used to designate type specimens is especially problematic, owing to mammals’ lack of meristic and other obvious distinguishing external characters. Hoaxes, the difficulty in determining that they are hoaxes, and various errors of taxonomic allocation appear to be especially common with names without preserved types. The Code should be revised to require preserved specimens as types for new names. Tissue samples alone for DNA analysis are not ideal for serving this purpose, but should be allowed to meet the requirement.

It has been 55 years since Hugo Freudenthal described Symbiodinium microadriaticum (Dinophyceae), the type species of this large and important dinoflagellate genus found commonly in mutualistic symbiosis with cnidarians, other invertebrates, and certain protists. However, no type specimen was designated by Freudenthal, thus S. microadriaticum was invalid, as was Symbiodinium and every species subsequently assigned to the genus. The original culture was lost, but since 1979, a different culture, CCMP2464/rt-061, had been considered to represent S. microadriaticum. From this culture, a preserved specimen is herein designated the holotype of S. microadriaticum, validating the binomial and Symbiodinium. All binary designations previously considered to belong in Symbiodinium also are validated herein.

Erysiphe bulbouncinula (≡ Bulbouncinula bulbosa) on Koelreuteria paniculata is a powdery mildew native and endemic in China. Fresh samples of this species were collected on K. paniculata in Sichuan Province, China, in 2018. This is the fourth confirmed identification of this species. The original description in 1932 was based on one specimen from Hangzhou and then was described in Nanjing in 1990 and in Taiwan in 1993. The morphology of the new collections of this species is described and illustrated in detail, and agrees well with the original description of the type specimen except for the number of asci (8–16 asci per chasmothecia versus 7–9 asci in the type specimen). To explore the phylogenetic position of this poorly known species, three separate phylogenetic analyses, using partial 28S rDNA and the combination of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 28S rDNA sequences, were conducted. The results clearly showed that E. bulbouncinula form a monophyletic clade with strong bootstrap (BS) support (MP = 100%) constituting a sister clade to E. gracilis s. lat., form a subclade with Erysiphe sect. Californiomyces and then form a big group with sect. Typhulochaeta and sect. Uncinula. Phylogenetic results confirm that E. bulbouncinula is more closely allied to Erysiphe than to Phyllactinia. Thus, this species can be maintained in Erysiphe in its current circumscription, confirming Bulbouncinula as a synonym of Erysiphe.

Platysiphon verticillatus, a brown alga endemic to the Arctic, was described based on vegetative specimens collected at Inglefield Bay, West Greenland. The species is distinctive in having a lanceolate blade-like thallus terminated by a terete portion, both covered with hair-like assimilatory filaments. Punctaria glacialis was described from Eastern Greenland, and the species differs from other Punctaria species in lacking hairs and plurilocular zoidangia. Unilocular zoidangia were reported, but instead of zoids being released they formed cell walls in situ developing the appearance of plurilocular zoidangia. However, the fate of the zoids, as well as the walled cells was not traced, and the life history of the alga has remained unclear. By comparing DNA sequences (cox1, cox3, and rDNA ITS2) of specimens morphologically referable to Platysiphon verticillatus and Punctaria glacialis collected at Baffin Island, as well as re-examining morphology and studying crude cultures, we concluded that they are the same taxonomic entity. Furthermore, their cox3 sequence and vegetative morphology agreed with those of the type specimen of Punctaria glacialis. Consequently, we propose Platysiphon glacialis comb. nov. The life cycle could not be completed in culture, but we hypothesize that in situ germination of the unizoids produces reduced gametophytes housed in peripheral tissue of erect sporophytic thalli.

Summary In order to elucidate the biodiversity of Japanese Halimeda species, we investigated molecular phylogenetic relationships using tufA and rbcL DNA sequences, and the occurrence of 9 of the 11 species previously reported in Japan was confirmed (i.e., H. borneensis, H. cuneata, H. discoidea, H. distorta, H. kanaloana, H. macroloba, H. opuntia, H. renschii and H. velasquezii). In addition, H. minima, which has not been recorded in Japan, as well as an undescribed taxon, were noticed at Okinawa Island, Okinawa, Japan. The undescribed taxon was genetically closest to H. lacunalis, but distinct from that species in having much smaller thalli, with elliptical segments and turbinate peripheral utricles. It appears to belong to the section Halimeda in the morphology of the segments, but differs from related taxa such as H. taenicola and H. tuna in its considerably smaller size and in showing fusion between the adjacent peripheral utricles. Therefore, we describe a new species Halimeda ryukyuensis sp. nov. In addition, based on morphological re-examination of the type specimen of H. lacunalis, we suggest emendation of the description of the species as having siphons completely fused in pairs or triplets at the nodes.

SummaryType specimens are permanently preserved biological specimens that fix the usage of species names. This method became widespread from 1935 onwards and is now obligatory. We used DNA sequencing of types and more recent collections of wild and cultivated melons to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the genus Citrullus and the correct names for its species. We discovered that the type specimen of the name Citrullus lanatus, prepared by a Linnaean collector in South Africa in 1773, is not the species now thought of as watermelon. Instead, it is a representative of another species that is sister to C. ecirrhosus, a tendril-less South African endemic. The closest relative of the watermelon instead is a West African species. Our nuclear and plastid data furthermore reveal that there are seven species of Citrullus, not four as assumed. Our study implies that sweet watermelon originates from West, not southern Africa as previously believed, and that the South African citron melon has been independently domesticated. These findings affect and explain numerous studies on the origin of these two crops that led to contradictory results because of the erroneous merging of several distinct species.

The claim that the lower left first mandibular molar of LB1, the type specimen of Homo floresiensis, displays endodontic work, and a filling is assessed by digital radiography and micro-CT scanning. The M1 tooth crown is heavily worn and exhibits extensive dentine exposure that is stained white, but there is no trace of endodontic treatment or a dental filling in this Indonesian fossil dated to 17.1-19.0 kya. Dental calculus (commonly observed in foragers) is present on the teeth of LB1, but there are no observable caries. The pattern of dental attrition in the mandibles of both LB1/2 and LB6/1 (moderate to extensive flat wear across the entire arch) is consistent with that seen in Plio-Pleistocene Homo fossils and in modern hunter-gatherers, and is not typical of most agriculturalists. We conclude that the dental-work and farming hypotheses are falsified and therefore irrelevant to the debate over the taxonomy and phylogeny of H. floresiensis. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

SUMMARY Samples corresponding to Sporolithon ptychoides Heydrich were collected in the mesophotic zone (50 m depth) south of Espirito Santo State, Brazil. The collected material presented features characteristic of the species, namely: tetrasporangia of 75–105 × 40–55 µm grouped into sori that are raised above the surrounding vegetative thallus surface; presence of a basal layer of elongate cells in areas where the tetrasporangia develop; presence of buried tetrasporangial compartments deep in the thallus; and 3–5 cells in the tetrasporangial paraphyses. These same features said to collectively characterize S. ptychoides, were all observed in a representative specimen and the type specimen of Sporolithon dimotum (Foslie & Howe) Yamaguishi-Tomita ex M.J Wynne. This latter species is thus conspecific with S. ptychoides and is therefore considered a heterotypic synonym thereof, as S. ptychoides has nomenclatural priority. This study expands the known geographical distribution of the species and may give insight into the origin of the species into other geographical regions.

SUMMARY The status of the name Amphiroa cryptarthrodia Zanardini has been uncertain, and there has been a lack of stability in this species nomenclature, in part related to its poor taxonomic foundation. The species has been considered conspecific with Amphiroa verrucosa Kutzing nom. illeg. Another suggested taxonomic synonym has been Amphiroa rubra (Philippi) Woelkering. A type specimen for A. cryptarthrodia appears never to have been designated and there are no illustrations of Zanardini's original collections housed in the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Venezia (MCVE). In the present paper, a neotype of A. cryptarthrodia is designated, based on the study of Zanardini's authentic collections. A detailed morphological and anatomical account of the type specimen is provided and the diagnostic characters of the species are listed. Nomenclatural and taxonomic data and brief considerations of the relationships between A. cryptarthrodia and conspecific species are also provided. It is concluded that A. verrucosa Kutzing is a heterotypic synonym. The name A. rubra (Philippi) Woelkerling should remain, pertaining solely to its type pending new investigations.

The mode of origin of Potentilla crantzii (quinate leaves) from the Asian P. gelida (ternate leaves) can be observed in Tien Shan and in mountains of southern Siberia even at present. Transitional forms between them also occur in the far North-East of Asian Russia and from the Ural to Norway. Potentilla puberula (P. pusilla according to contemporary authors) did not originate by hybridization between P. incana (P. arenaria) and P. verna (P. tabernaemontani), as is usually assumed. On the contrary, P. verna is derived from the hybrid species P. puberula, i.e., from the offspring of crosses between P. heptaphylla and P. incana. It arose from them by way of gradual loss of stellate and partly reduced stellate hairs. This process took place mainly in the past but may be documented reliably. The name P. pusillaHost 1831 has been used since 1949 for the hybrid plants mentioned. The monographer of the genus Wolf (1908: 601) studied its type specimen and ascertained that it has only simple hairs, determining it as P. verna L. The type specimen of P. pusilla is currently lost. The name is doubtful. It is recommended herein to replaced it with the name P. puberulaKrasan 1867 (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Cneorum trimerum (Urban) Chodat is only known from the type specimen collected in 1861 in eastern Cuba. The species has sometimes been regarded as a synonym of C. tricoccon L., which is otherwise confined to the Mediterranean. As no other Cneorum specimens are known from Cuba, the specimen is a mysterious finding with a disputed taxonomic rank. The goal of this study is to clarify the status of the Cuban specimen using molecular and wood anatomical data. We succeeded in extracting DNA out of the 150 year old type specimen in our ancient-DNA lab and amplified two chloroplast markers (atpB, trnL-trnF) and one nuclear marker (ITS). Comparison of the sequence data with several sequences from C. tricoccon clearly suggests inclusion of the Cuban specimen into the latter species; wood anatomical features confirm the molecular results. The transatlantic distribution of C. tricoccon is probably the result of an introduction in Cuba by humans.

If the holotype of Homo floresiensis, LB1, suffered from a severe developmental pathology, this could undermine its status as the holotype of a new species. One of the proposed pathological indicators that still remains untested is asymmetric distortion in the skull of LB1 (Jacob et al.: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103 (2006) 13421-13426). Here, we present evidence that LB1 exhibits antemortem craniofacial deformities that are consistent with posterior deformational (positional) plagiocephaly. This is a relatively common condition in modern people with no serious associated health problems and does not represent a severe developmental abnormality in LB1.

Chara globularis Thuillier (=f. globularis sensu R. D. Wood) is a widespread species of the genus and inhabits fresh- and brackish-water environments. In an attempt to reexamine the taxonomic status of C. globularis collected from Japan, we reassessed vegetative and oospore morphology of Japanese material and herbarium specimens originating from Europe (including the type specimen) and conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses based on rbcL gene sequences. Although the other vegetative morphologies were consistent with the description of C. globularis f. globularis sensu R. D. Wood, we identified two types of branchlets within the Japanese materials: one has elongate end segments (EL type), and the other has short end segments (SH type) corresponding to the type material. Moreover, the oospore wall of the EL type was different from that in the SH type. The oospores of the EL type were dark brown to reddish brown and had a spongy pattern with the pusticular elevations on the fossa wall, whereas the fossa wall of the SH type was black with a granulate to papillate or fine pusticular pattern. In addition, our sequence data demonstrated that these two types are separated phylogenetically from each other. Therefore, we describe the EL type as a new species, C. leptospora sp. nov.

This paper is based on experience from field studies, herbarium materials and images of type specimens belonging to sect. Neurocentrae Bunge from genus Cousinia Cass. Section Leucocaulon Tscherneva is considered as synonym of sect. Neurocentrae Bunge, according to the morphological characters of C. turcomanica C.Winkl. (the type specimen of sect. Leucocaulon) and close affinities that shows with the species of sect. Neurocentrae. Section Ramosissimae is described as a section new to science. Differences between sect. Neurocentrae and sect. Ramosissimae are discussed and a key to the species of the two sections are provided separately. Besides, C. deserti var. longispinosa is described as a new member for the sect. Neurocentrae Bunge. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The Corallinoideae (Corallinaceae) is represented in the northeastern Atlantic by Corallina officinalis L.; Corallina elongata J. Ellis et Sol.; Haliptilon squamatum (L.) H. W. Johans., L. M. Irvine et A. M. Webster; and Jania rubens (L.) J. V. Lamour. The delimitation of these geniculate coralline red algae is based primarily on morphological characters. Molecular analysis based on cox1 and 18S rRNA gene phylogenies supported the division of the Corallinoideae into the tribes Janieae and Corallineae. Within the Janieae, a sequence difference of 46–48 bp (8.6%–8.9%) between specimens of H. squamatum and J. rubens in the cox1 phylogeny leads us to conclude that they are congeneric. J. rubens var. rubens and J. rubens var. corniculata (L.) Yendo clustered together in both phylogenies, suggesting that for those genes, there was no genetic basis for the morphological variation. Within the Corallineae, it appears that in some regions, the name C. elongata has been misapplied. C. officinalis samples formed two clusters that differed by 45–54 bp (8.4%–10.0%), indicating species-level divergence, and morphological differences were sufficient to define two species. One of these clusters was consistent with the morphology of the type specimen of C. officinalis (LINN 1293.9). The other species cluster is therefore described here as Corallina caespitosa sp. nov. This study has demonstrated that there is a clear need for a revision of the genus Corallina to determine the extent of “pseudocryptic” diversity in this group of red algae.

On the first description of Pterophyllum scalare (Pisces, Cichlidae) The present study reports new data concerning the terra typica (lower Amazon river eastward of Obidos including the lower part of the Rio Tocantins near Cameta), the collector (Friedrich Wilhelm Sieber), and the authorship of the cichlid species Pterophyllum scalare first described as Zeus scalaris (Schultze in Lichtenstein, 1823). The only type specimen still in existence (ZMB 2833) is described and designated as lectotype.

Following examination of the Braconinae collections in the Museum fur Naturkunde, Berlin and the Institut fur Pflanzenschutzforschung, Eberswalde, the type specimen of a total of 29 species have been rediscovered. Thirty new combinations are reported and the systematic positions of a further 25 species have been confirmed. Lectotypes designations are made for 20 species. One new generic synonym is reported: Ateleodoryctes Cameron, 1910 is a junior synonym of Cratobracon Cameron, 1901. Three new specific synonyms are indicated: Ipobracon tessmanni Szepligeti, 1914 (= Monilobracon specious Quicke, 1984); Ipobracon erlangeri Szepligeti, 1914 (= Ipobracon setosus Szepligeti, 1914); Ipobracon maximus Szepligeti, 1914 (= Iphiaulax elegantus Szepligeti, 1914).

In this study, three species of Polygala L. (Polygalaceae) are transferred to the genus Heterosamara Kuntze based on plant morphology, habitat, and palynological features. Heterosamara wattersii (Hance) Paiva & P. Silveira comb. nov., H. caudata (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) Paiva & P. Silveira comb. nov. and H. resinosa (S. K. Chen) Paiva & P. Silveira comb. nov. from tropical and sub-tropical forests of eastern Asia are described. The first two are also illustrated and described palynologically. The inclusion of these species within this genus is justified by their typical heteropolar pollen with bilateral symmetry, bilobate crest (appendage in the keel), large lanceolate leaves with petioles, and forest habitats. The lack of information on the flower morphology of H. resinosa makes the classification of this species more difficult, as it is only known from the type specimen. Nonetheless, the habit, habitat and seed morphology place it in the same taxonomic group as the other species studied. The seeds of these three species present very distinctive features within the genus Heterosamara placing them in a newly recognized section, Heterosamara sect. Villososperma (C. Y. Wu & S. K. Chen) Paiva & P. Silveira comb. nov. Identification keys are provided for the genera, sections and species studied.

A list of some poorly known, obscure or neglected type specimens of colubrids, elapids, and viperids from the ZMB collection is provided together with some specimens of questionable type status. The taxonomic status of the African species Mehelya baumanni, M. riggenbachi and M. rostralis, described by Sternfeld in 1908 and 1910, is discussed in more detail. The unique type specimen of Simocephalus baumanni is identified as Mehelya guirali, S. riggenbachi as M. crossi and S. rostralis as M. stenophthalmus. It is also confirmed that Boodon infernalis (Gunther, 1858) is a junior synonym of Lamprophis inornatus (Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854) contributing to the problematic species discrimination in this specious and widespread African genus. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The original description of Mugil gaimardianus has created various taxonomic problems in the past since the description is ambiguous and the type specimen is apparently lost. The name M. gaimardianus could not be reliably applied to any known species and was suppressed by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) (Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, 51: 286–287, 1994). Nevertheless, karyological evidence has shown that there is a species of mullet in Venezuelan coastal waters that does not conform to the description of any other mullet from the Western Central Atlantic and has the feature of a red eye that was often used by earlier authors to define nominal M. gaimardianus. The purpose of this study was to make a morphological description of these unusual specimens, provide a morphological diagnosis from other species of Mugil present in the Caribbean and Western Central Atlantic and establish a valid name for the species.

Many people assume that OH 5, the type specimen of Paranthropus boisei, collected in 1959, was the first evidence of that taxon to be found, but OH 3, recovered in 1955, predated the discovery of OH 5 by four years. Thus, Paranthropus boisei recently celebrated the equivalent of its fiftieth birthday. This review marks that milestone by examining the way our understanding of this taxon has changed during its fifty, or so, year history.

We report on the rediscovery of the previously unlocated single type specimen of Naja (Hamadryas ?) fasciata Peters, 1861 from the collection of the Museum fur Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universitat Berlin, Germany (formerly Zoologisches Museum Berlin), review its taxonomic history, and provide a redescription of the specimen. Morphological examination revealed that it is not a member of Naja or Ophiophagus, but belongs to the endemic Philippine elapid genus Hemibungarus. The juvenile snake most closely resembles juveniles of Hemibungarus calligaster calligaster (Wiegmann, 1834) in characters of its external phenotype, and is therefore referred to the synonymy of the latter. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

We present compelling evidence of the continued existence of the large-billed reed warbler Acrocephalus orinus, hitherto known only from the unique type specimen collected in NW India 139 years ago. Morphological and genetic analyses of an unusual Acrocephalus warbler mist-netted south-west of Bangkok, Thailand, on 27 March 2006, confirmed its identity as A. orinus, and revealed that it was heterozygous at four out of eight microsatellite markers, indicating the continued existence of a viable population whose breeding and wintering areas are still unknown.

The holotype and only known specimen of Geikia locusticeps (von Huene, 1942) from the Kawinga Formation (Tatarian) of Kingori, south-west Tanzania, is redescribed. It is compared to the type specimen of the Tanzanian geikiid Pelanomodon tuberosus von Huene, 1942. It is demonstrated that G. locusticeps is a juvenile specimen of P. tuberosus. Ontogenetic changes in the skull of this taxon are recorded. They mainly concern the degree of skull ornamentation, whereas the major osteological and proportional features remain remarkably constant. Pelanomodon tuberosus is referred to Geikia locusticeps as a junior subjective synonym. G. locusticeps is compared to Geikia elginensis and South African representatives of Pelanomodon. G. locusticeps is demonstrated to represent a valid species, one that is so far endemic to the Ruhuhu Basin of south-west Tanzania. The relevance of the orientation of the postorbital bone to Permian pristerodontian systematics is discussed, and a phylogenetic analysis and new diagnosis for the family Geikiidae are presented.

A review of the contents of the Journal of Protozoology/Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology from its founding in 1954 to the present was undertaken to determine if the type specimens of new taxa named in the journal have been deposited in museum collections. Type specimens were deposited in museum collections for 36% of these new species. No information was given on the designation of type specimens or the deposition of specimens for 64% of the taxa named, mostly prior to 1980. Type specimen designations have improved greatly in recent years. All species described in the journal in the last 5 years have been deposited as type specimens or type cultures. Linda Cole's Catalog of Type Specimens in the International Protozoan Type Collection (1994) at the National Museum of Natural History was cross-checked, and a final list of the missing organisms, grouped by phylum, was prepared. The Harold Kirby and L. R. Cleveland collections at the American Museum of Natural History are examples of how valuable the resource protozoan type specimen collections can be to researchers. Neither of these researchers had made plans to deposit their specimens in a museum. Their collections were saved only by the assistance of their students and colleagues. The author would like to coordinate an effort to find missing type specimens and facilitate their deposition in suitable museum collections.

The genus Helina R.-D., 1830 is the second largest genus in Muscidae. By now, more than 400 species are known in the world and about 200 species have been described in China. This paper outlines earlier studies on the subgenus and species-group of Helina. Helina annosa species-group is erected. A key to the known Chinese subgroups and species is given. The 19 known Chinese species is listed, including one new species, i.e. Helina setipostitibia sp. nov. Type specimen of the holotype of the new species is deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Shenyang Normal University.

The genus Shelfordia is discovered in China for the first time, and one new species of this genus (S. chinensis sp. nov.) is fully described and illustrated in the present paper. The type specimen is deposited in the Parasitic Hymenoptera Collection, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

A review of the Aphrophoridae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cercopoidea) occurring in Australia has revealed closer links between the Australian fauna and those of the Pacific region than were previously acknowledged. A key to the Australian genera is provided along with a diagnosis for each genus and a list of described Australian species with notes on each. Taxonomic changes proposed are: Neoaphrophora China synonymised with Anyllis Kirkaldy; Eurycercopis Kirkaldy synonymised with Interocrea Walker; Aphrophora rufiventris Walker and Philagra vittata Metcalf and Horton synonymised with Philagra parva (Donovan). New combinations proposed are: Amarusa australis (Jacobi) (from Eoptyelus); Anyllis tiegsi (China) (from Neoaphrophora); Interocrea nigrofasciata (Kirkaldy) (from Eurycercopis); Interocrea regalis (Lallemand) (from Clovia); Liorhina loxosema (Hacker) (from Clovia). To provide a single reference point for the species and, for species described by Hacker (1926) and Jacobi (1928), to validate apparent holotype intentions by those authors, lectotypes are designated for: Ptyelus homochrous Hacker; Eurycercopis nigrofasciata Kirkaldy; Clovia regalis Lallemand; Clovia loxosema Hacker; Philagra concolor Hacker; Philagra fulvida Hacker; Philagra recurva Jacobi. The probable whereabouts of the type specimen of Philagra parva (Donovan) are discussed. The origin of the holotype of Novaphrophara tasmaniae Lallemand is discussed; the Australian record is almost certainly incorrect.

It is established that Cunila leucantha Kunth ex Schltdl. & Cham. and C. leucantha Benth. are independent names apparently applying to different species. Lectotypification of C. leucantha Kunth ex Schltdl. & Cham. is effected; application of the name Cunila leucantha Benth. to any known species is uncertain. Cunila leucantha Kunth ex Schltdl. & Cham. has been confused with and treated as C. polyantha Benth., although the two are distinct species and easily distinguished by inflorescence characters. The identity of the collector of the type specimen of C. polyantha is clarified.

A new species of scorpionfish Neomerinthe bathyperimensis is described from a single specimen, dredged in deep waters of the southern Red Sea. The type specimen is aberrant in that it lacks the anal-fin spines and their supporting pterygiophores. This is the first record of the genus from the Red Sea and the north-western Indian Ocean.

This paper deals with two species of the Cerambycid genus Cyamgapanthia Breuning from China, including a new species: C. aurecens sp. nov. A key to the genus is provided. The type specimen is deposited in the Insect Collection, Nakai University, China.

The genus Annesorhiza is revised and twelve species are recognized, of which two are newly described: A. altiscapa, A. burttii, A. flbrosa, A. flagellifolia, A. grandiflora, A. lateriflora, A. latifolia, A. macrocarpa, A. nuda, A. schlechteri, A. thunbergii and A. wilmsii. A. marlothii is reduced to synonymy under A. lateriflora, a species hitherto poorly known as Peucedanum lateriflorum. A. thunbergii is only known from the type specimen. A. elata, A. hirsuta and A. villosa are sunk under A. grandiflora. A. fuicaulis has recently been excluded from Annesorhiza on the basis of fruit structure. A key to the species is provided, an update on the nomenclature, typification of names and distribution maps are provided for all the species.

Scolochloa marchica sp. nova, a new reed-like grass from Central Europe In 1998 and 1999 a new species of the genus Scolochloa, so far regarded as monotypic, was detected in E Central Europe and is here described and illustrated as S. marchica. It markedly differs from S. festucacea in spikelet and flower morphology, features of leaf-blade and in chromosome number (2n = 42, hexaploid, in contrast to S. festucacea, 2n = 28). As at present known this new species today occurs on three distant localities in the German Federal State of Brandenburg, from there the swampy habitats and communities of the populations are shortly characterised. Other localities and collections dated to 1867, 1878 (Brandenburg) and 1896 (Berlin). One old specimen (without date) comes from the Island of Wollin (Wolin) (NW Poland). All the stands of S. marchica are situated at the outermost western border of the European part of the disjunct Central N American-N Eurasiatic distribution area of S. festucacea. A supplement lists all the S. festucacea specimens studied, inclusive the Berlin type specimen of the name (B). Eine in Ost-Mitteleuropa 1998 und 1999 neu ent-deckte Art der bisher als monotypisch geltenden Gattung Scolochloa wird mit Abbildungen als S. marchica beschrieben. Sie unterscheidet sich deutlich von S. festucacea in Ahrchen- und Blutenmorphologie, in der Blattspreite und in der Chromosomenzahl (2n = 42, hexaploid, statt 2n = 28 bei S. festucacea). Von den drei gegenwartigen Fundorten dieser neuen Art im Bundesland Brandenburg, Deutschland, werden deren sumpfige Standorte und die Vergesellschaftung der Populationen kurz gekennzeichnet. Andere Fundorte sind durch Aufsammlungen aus den Jahren 1867, 1878 (Brandenburg) und 1896 (Berlin) bekannt; ein altes Exemplar (ohne Datum) stammt von der Insel Wollin (Wolin) (Nordwestpolen). Alle Vorkommen der S. marchica in Europa befinden sich am ausersten westlichen Rand des eurasiatischen Arealanteils der disjunkt mittelnordamerikanisch-nordeurasiatisch verbreiten S. festucacea. In einem Anhang sind alle untersuchten Herbarexemplare der S. festucacea, einschlieslich des in Berlin gesammelten Typus des Namens (B) aufgelistet.

Four Chinese species of genus Bryomyia Kieffer are recorded in the present paper, among which, one species: B. puberula Li et Bu is described as new to science; two species; B. bergrothi Kieffer and B. gibbosa (Felt) are recorded for the first time from China. Key to the known Chinese species of the genus is given. Type specimen is deposited in the Department of Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.

Five new species of the genus Coenosia Meigen, namely C. subflaviseta, C. subgracilis, C. parva C. aurea, and C. zhooi, are described from the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China. The type specimen of C. parva is kept in the Department of Biology, Shenyang Normal University, and the others are kept in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

This paper deals with the Chinese species of the genus Proconura Dodd. A new species P. eurygena Liu, sp. nov., a new record species P. caryobori (Hanna) and other two species P. asiatica Narendran and P. ishiii (Habu) are described. The holotype of P. eurygena is from Hainan Province. Its main features are: antennae and hind femora brown; vertex long; OOL to POL as 1:3, scapes reaching front ocellus, almost 3 times as long as pedicel; gaster with basal carinae short and distinctly converging backwards; first tergite of gaster smooth, without puncture. A key to known Chinese species of Proconura is given. Type specimen is deposited in Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Three lungfish species are recognized from tooth plates recovered from shales of the Mut Formation (Qusseir Group) in eastern Dakhleh Oasis. Ceratodus humei Priem, 1914 is identified on characters shared with the type specimen, and Neoceratodus africanus Haug, 1905 on characters shared with the type specimen and specimens assigned to this species by subsequent authors. Protopterus crassidens sp. nov. is represented by two recently found plates, as well as two plates previously considered to represent Ceratodus or Protopterus humei. These plates all bear three ridges and crests, unusually heavy mesial ridges, crushing bollard-like buccal cusps to the mesial ridges and thick, robust buccal margins. The status and characteristics of C. humei are reviewed and the general problems of interspecific variation of fossil lungfish tooth plates and species recognition based on tooth plates are discussed. The diagnosis of C. humei is revised and the species returned to its original generic assignment, based mainly on the broad sample of tooth plates from Dakhleh Oasis. This sample demonstrates that many tooth plates assigned to this species subsequent to its original description do not belong within C. humei. New specimens of N. africanus are described from Bahariya Oasis.

This paper deals with Chinese species of Hemiptarsenus Westwood, 1833. Totally five species are found in China. Among them, H. unguicellus (Zetterstedt), H. ornatus (Nees) and H. varicornis (Gi-rault) were previously recorded, H. zilahisebessi Erdos is newly recorded in China and H. strigiscuta sp. n. is described as new. A tentative key to known species is given, and other three external species, H. fulvicollis Westwood, H. wailesellae Nowicky and H. waterhousii Westwood, are included in the key for comparison. The type specimen is deposited in the Zoological Museum, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Synopsis The genus Eucrrocoris is redescribed from the type specimen. The subgenus Eucerocork (Rugwefellus) is raised to generic rank and subdivided into two subgenera, one of which is described as new. Nine of the ten species previously referred to Eucerocoris are now assigned to Ragwelellus.