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Venezuela’s diverse land ecosystems are grouped into four major regions (coast-islands, low plains, hills and mountains), ranging from sea level up to 4978 m. The Scarabaeinae (Scarabaeidae, Coleoptera) currently encompass 278 genera and 6837 species worldwide, but are poorly inventoried in Venezuela. We reviewed the literature and the material housed at the entomological collection of the Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (CEMT), Cuiabá, Brazil, and found 32 genera and 149 species of dung beetles as certainly present in Venezuela. Twenty-four of these species are, as far as current knowledge goes, endemic to the country, while another 34 are restricted to Venezuela and the neighbouring countries of Colombia, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana. Additionally, 36 species are deemed potential inhabitants of the country, whilst 14 others previously recorded in the literature as part of the Venezuelan fauna are here concluded not to be actually present there. Complete literature is listed for each genus and species, and information on type material, material examined, worldwide distribution, and Venezuelan records is also presented.

The taxonomy of subulinid snails in Myanmar has been evaluated, resulting in the recognition of 40 species and subspecies across nine genera: Allopeas, Bacillum, Curvella, Glessula, Opeas, Paropeas, Rishetia, Tortaxis, and Zootecus. Nine species are re-described based on recently collected specimens, and two new species, Glessula mandalayensis Man & Panha, sp. nov. from Mandalay Region and Tortaxis cylindropsis Man & Panha, sp. nov. from Shan State are introduced. The genitalia and radula of Zootecus pullus was studied for the first time. This study also presents a comprehensive list of all subulinid species recorded to date from Myanmar. The type specimens and authenticated museum specimens have been illustrated with accompanying taxonomic remarks and nine species formerly assigned in Glessula are now placed in Rishetia: R. akouktoungensis, R. baculina, R. basseinensis, R. burrailensis maxwelli, R. kentungensis, R. limborgi, R. nathiana, R. pertenuis, and R. pertenuis major. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of collecting and cataloging Thailand's diverse herpetofauna is long-standing, with many specimens housed at the Thailand Natural History Museum (THNHM). This work aimed to assess the diversity of herpetofauna within the THNHM collection, ascertain conservation status of species, and track the geographical coverage of these specimens within the country. The THNHM collection boasts an impressive inventory, numbering 173 amphibian species and 335 reptile species. This collection reflects the substantial biodiversity within these taxonomic groups, rivaling the total number of herpetofauna species ever recorded in Thailand. However, the evaluation of their conservation status, as determined by the IUCN Red List, CITES, and Thailand's Wild Animal Preservation and Protection Act (WARPA), has unveiled disparities in the degree of concern for certain species, possibly attributable to differential uses of the assessment criteria. Notably, the museum houses a number of type specimens, including 27 holotypes, which remain understudied. Sampling efforts have grown considerably since the year 2000, encompassing nearly all regions of the country. This extensive and systematic collection of diverse herpetofauna at the THNHM serves as a valuable resource for both research and educational purposes, enriching our understanding of these species and their significance in the broader context of biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Kinglet Calyptura Calyptura cristata is one of the great enigmas of the South American avifauna. Endemic to an apparently tiny area of south-eastern Brazil, in the Atlantic Forest biome, the species was not definitely seen between sometime in the second third of the 1800s and 1996, when it was briefly rediscovered in submontane forest north-west of Rio de Janeiro. Since then, C. cristata has been reported several times, but without documentation and always by single observers. It is currently considered Critically Endangered by BirdLife International, and various authors have speculated that the species might already be extinct. Given the extreme paucity of knowledge of this species, we provide a complete inventory of museum material for Kinglet Calyptura - more than 100 specimens are listed, the majority held in European collections, almost doubling previous estimates made in the literature. Several are held in relatively small institutions, thereby suggesting that yet more specimens might still be identified or found. In addition, with the benefit of this large sample of material, we discuss morphological variation in the species and we hypothesise particularly about the appearance of male, female and juvenile plumages.

With diverse crowns, beautiful flowers, colorful fruits, and leaves of different colors in the four seasons, Sorbus L. has a very high ornamental value in landscape. The genus is also one difficult taxa for taxonomic research arising from the combined effects of hybridization, polyploidy and apomixis. In this study, the specimens preserved in National Plant Specimen Resource Center and the database of Global Plants were retrieved and carefully sorted out. Some key information such as herbaria, collectors, collecting sites, collection time were analyzed concretely to understand the collection sites and the distribution center of wild germplasm resources of Sorbus in China and construct the database of Sorbus in China, so as to provide references for the first general survey and collection of forest and grass germplasm resources in China. On the basis of clarifying the distribution range and habitat of Sorbus plant resources, we found that the species of Sorbus in China are the most abundant in the world and Sorbus species are mostly distributed in high-altitude areas. Especially, more than half of Sorbus species are distributed in the mountainous area of southwestern China, and multiple ploidy coexists in this area, which creates unique conditions for hybridization. Is it the key factor of rich species diversity of this genus? With this, the research status of Sorbus plants were further summarized, the problems existing in the study of molecular system biology, conservation biology, phytochemistry and resource development and utilization were pointed out, and the key issues to be paid attention to in the future research of Sorbus were put forward. Suggestions for future research on Sorbus were as follows: (1) We should focus on the study of process of hybridization on the basis of a solid phylogenetic framework; (2) Based on the comprehensive investigation of the wild germplasm resources of Sorbus in China, we should select the species with high ornamental value and study the molecular regulatory mechanisms of the response of Sorbus species to high-temperature stress in the summer in the low altitude areas by using the latest molecular biology techniques and methods, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the introduction and acclimatization of high-altitude species.

With diverse crowns, beautiful flowers, colorful fruits, and leaves of different colors in the four seasons, Sorbus L. has a very high ornamental value in landscape. The genus is also one difficult taxa for taxonomic research arising from the combined effects of hybridization, polyploidy and apomixis. In this study, the specimens preserved in National Plant Specimen Resource Center and the database of Global Plants were retrieved and carefully sorted out. Some key information such as herbaria, collectors, collecting sites, collection time were analyzed concretely to understand the collection sites and the distribution center of wild germplasm resources of Sorbus in China and construct the database of Sorbus in China, so as to provide references for the first general survey and collection of forest and grass germplasm resources in China. On the basis of clarifying the distribution range and habitat of Sorbus plant resources, we found that the species of Sorbus in China are the most abundant in the world and Sorbus species are mostly distributed in high-altitude areas. Especially, more than half of Sorbus species are distributed in the mountainous area of southwestern China, and multiple ploidy coexists in this area, which creates unique conditions for hybridization. Is it the key factor of rich species diversity of this genus? With this, the research status of Sorbus plants were further summarized, the problems existing in the study of molecular system biology, conservation biology, phytochemistry and resource development and utilization were pointed out, and the key issues to be paid attention to in the future research of Sorbus were put forward. Suggestions for future research on Sorbus were as follows:(1)We should focus on the study of process of hybridization on the basis of a solid phylogenetic framework;(2)Based on the comprehensive investigation of the wild germplasm resources of Sorbus in China,, we should select the species with high ornamental value and study the molecular regulatory mechanisms of the response of Sorbus species to high-temperature stress in the summer in the low altitude areas by using the latest molecular biology techniques and methods, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the introduction and acclimatization of high-altitude species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background One difficulty in testing the hypothesis that the Australasian dingo is a functional intermediate between wild wolves and domesticated breed dogs is that there is no reference specimen. Here we link a high-quality de novo long-read chromosomal assembly with epigenetic footprints and morphology to describe the Alpine dingo female named Cooinda. It was critical to establish an Alpine dingo reference because this ecotype occurs throughout coastal eastern Australia where the first drawings and descriptions were completed. Findings We generated a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome assembly (Canfam_ADS) using a combination of Pacific Bioscience, Oxford Nanopore, 10X Genomics, Bionano, and Hi-C technologies. Compared to the previously published Desert dingo assembly, there are large structural rearrangements on chromosomes 11, 16, 25, and 26. Phylogenetic analyses of chromosomal data from Cooinda the Alpine dingo and 9 previously published de novo canine assemblies show dingoes are monophyletic and basal to domestic dogs. Network analyses show that the mitochondrial DNA genome clusters within the southeastern lineage, as expected for an Alpine dingo. Comparison of regulatory regions identified 2 differentially methylated regions within glucagon receptor GCGR and histone deacetylase HDAC4 genes that are unmethylated in the Alpine dingo genome but hypermethylated in the Desert dingo. Morphologic data, comprising geometric morphometric assessment of cranial morphology, place dingo Cooinda within population-level variation for Alpine dingoes. Magnetic resonance imaging of brain tissue shows she had a larger cranial capacity than a similar-sized domestic dog. Conclusions These combined data support the hypothesis that the dingo Cooinda fits the spectrum of genetic and morphologic characteristics typical of the Alpine ecotype. We propose that she be considered the archetype specimen for future research investigating the evolutionary history, morphology, physiology, and ecology of dingoes. The female has been taxidermically prepared and is now at the Australian Museum, Sydney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of collecting and cataloging Thailand’s diverse herpetofauna is long-standing, with many specimens housed at the Thailand Natural History Museum (THNHM). This work aimed to assess the diversity of herpetofauna within the THNHM collection, ascertain conservation status of species, and track the geographical coverage of these specimens within the country. The THNHM collection boasts an impressive inventory, numbering 173 amphibian species and 335 reptile species. This collection reflects the substantial biodiversity within these taxonomic groups, rivaling the total number of herpetofauna species ever recorded in Thailand. However, the evaluation of their conservation status, as determined by the IUCN Red List, CITES, and Thailand’s Wild Animal Preservation and Protection Act (WARPA), has unveiled disparities in the degree of concern for certain species, possibly attributable to differential uses of the assessment criteria. Notably, the museum houses a number of type specimens, including 27 holotypes, which remain understudied. Sampling efforts have grown considerably since the year 2000, encompassing nearly all regions of the country. This extensive and systematic collection of diverse herpetofauna at the THNHM serves as a valuable resource for both research and educational purposes, enriching our understanding of these species and their significance in the broader context of biodiversity conservation.

Historical DNA obtained from voucher specimens housed in natural history museums worldwide have allowed the study of elusive, rare or even extinct species that in many cases are solely represented by museum holdings. This has resulted in the increase of taxonomic representation of many taxa, has led to the discovery of new species, and has yielded stunning novel insights into the evolutionary history of cryptic or even undescribed species. Peromyscus mekisturus, is a critically endangered cricetid rodent endemic to Mexico and is only known from two museum specimens collected in 1898 and 1947. Intensive field work efforts to attempt to determine if viable populations still exist have failed, suggesting that this species is extinct or is nearing extinction. In addition, a recent study using mitogenomes demonstrated that P. mekisturus forms a well-supported clade outside the genus Peromyscus and hypothesized that this taxon is the sister group of the genus Reithrodontomys. Here, we used target enrichment and high-throughput sequencing of several thousand nuclear ultraconserved elements and mitogenomes to reconstruct dated phylogenies to test the previous phylogenetic hypothesis. We analyzed the holotype and the only other known specimen of P. mekisturus and museum samples from other peromyscine rodents to test the phylogenetic position of the species. Our results confirm that the only two specimens known to science of P. mekisturus belong to the same species and support the hypothesis that this species belongs to an undescribed genus of cricetid rodents that is sister to the genus Reithrodontomys. We dated the origin of P. mekisturus together with other speciation events in peromyscines during the late Pliocene – early Pleistocene and related these events with the Pleistocene climatic cycles. In light of our results, we recommend a taxonomic re-evaluation of this enigmatic species to properly recognize its taxonomic status as a new genus. We also acknowledge the relevance of generating genomic data from type specimens and highlight the need and importance of continuing to build the scientific heritage of the collections to study and better understand past, present, and future biodiversity.

Type specimens are valuable resources for investigating and exploring biodiversity on Earth, which has high academic and conservation value. Hemipteran insects are one of the most important and diverse groups in Insecta, and their type specimens have important reference value for many research fields. So far, the data on the type specimens of the Hemiptera in China have not been fully collated.Through extensive literature review, we have constructed a dataset of type specimens for the new species of hemipteran insects in China published from 1950 to 2017, which includes the data such as collection time, species author, specimen gender, preservation institution and geographical distribution. A total of 6583 type specimen records were collected, covering 3783 new species belonging to 1299 genera and 88 families. This dataset can provide help to the international community for conducting researches on taxonomy, biodiversity patterns, biota evolution, and pest management.

Myotis comprises a diverse group of vespertilionid bats with worldwide distribution. Neotropical Myotis have an accentuated phenotypic conservatism, which makes species delimitation and identification diffi- cult, hindering our understanding of the diversity, distribution, and phylogenetic relationships of taxa. To encourage new systematic reviews of the genus, a catalogue of the primary types and names is presented, current and in synonymy, for Neotropical Myotis. Currently 33 valid species (and three subspecies) are recognized, and their primary types are deposited in 12 scientific collections in the USA (30 types), Brazil (two types), England (two types), and France (one type). The names of 29 Neotropical Myotis species currently in synonymy were found. However, it is possible that some synonyms represent independent evolutionary lineages, considering recent results provided by taxonomic revisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correcting taxonomic misidentifications is crucial to ensuring the conservation and use of wild relatives in crop breeding programmes. Macrotyloma sar-garhwalensis R.D.Gaur & L.R.Dangwal, described as a new species from Uttarakhand (India) in 1997, is one such case of mistaken identity. Critical study of its protologue, type specimen, and field-grown plants indicated that this species was conspecific to Clitoria annua J.Graham. Molecular systematic studies using ITS 2 sequence regions further confirmed its closeness to C. ternatea L., than to any of the studied Macrotyloma species. This taxon, when considered as a wild relative of horsegram (M. uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.), was given much importance in plant genetic resources programmes. This communication, besides revealing the differences of the taxon in question from Macrotyloma, brings out implications of this wrong taxonomic placement (under Macrotyloma). It also highlights the need for depositing type specimen in national repositories for ready access and strengthening the taxonomic base of botanists in general and agricultural scientists in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collection of the "Alberto Alonso Triana" Herbarium currently contains more than 50,000 specimens that are a source of consultation for the writing of the Flora of the Republic of Cuba. With the objective of updating the figures and correcting in some cases the types present in this herbarium, they are listed in the present work. The update was made from the critical revision of the previously published compared with the physical specimens present in the collection and the incorporation of the types of the names published later. The names of 76 nomenclatural types present in the collection are presented, 18 taxa more than previously known. The number of exsiccata representing nomenclatural types increased to 105 with respect to previous works, of which seven are holotypes, illustrated in the paper, 95 isotypes, one epitype, one isoepitype and one paratype. The nomenclatural types represent 30 families, 58 genera and 76 infrageneric taxa of the flora of Cuba. The validity of the publication of Cyperus violifolius was recognized and the correct names of the taxa cited as nomenclatural types in the present work were listed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A morphological description is provided for Chenopodium ucrainicum Mosyakin & Mandák (Chenopodiaceae / Amaranthaceae sensu APG), a new species allied to C. suecicum and C. ficifolium. At present this new species is reliably known from several localities in Ukraine (three areas in Kyiv city, one in Kyiv Region, one in Rivne Region), but it is probably more widespread, or could be even alien in Eastern Europe. Comparison of our plants with other taxa [such as C. suecicum (incl. C. neumanii, etc.), C. ficifolium, several morphotypes of C. album, as well as plants known as C. borbasii, C. missouriense (sensu stricto and sensu auct. europ.), C. lobodontum, etc.], demonstrated that C. ucrainicum is morphologically different from all these known and named taxa. It is also a late-flowering and late-fruiting species: in Kyiv fruits/seeds normally develop during late September – early November. This significantly reduces the possibility of gene flow and therefore hybridization with closely related diploid species, like C. ficifolium or C. suecicum, which usually flower and produce fruits earlier, mainly in July–August to early September. It also suggests that the new taxon is well isolated from its congeners and indeed represents a good species, not just one of weakly differentiated morphotypes that are so numerous in the C. album aggregate. To help researchers in identifying C. ucrainicum in the field and in herbaria, original illustrations are provided in the article and the Electronic Supplement. These illustrations include scanned images of the holotype (one specimen representing parts of one plant mounted on four herbarium sheets), field photographs showing plants and their parts at different stages of their development, and photomicrographs of fruits/seeds. Cytological and molecular data of the research team of B. Mandák (research in progress, detailed results to be published separately) demonstrated that C. ucrainicum is a B-genome diploid indeed related to C. suecicum and C. ficifolium. Supplementary Material. Electronic Supplement (Figures E1–E20, e1–e10) is available in the online version of this article at: https://ukrbotj.co.ua/archive/77/4/237.

The collection of the “Alberto Alonso Triana” Herbarium currently contains more than 50,000 specimens that are a source of consultation for the writing of the Flora of the Republic of Cuba. With the objective of updating the figures and correcting in some cases the types present in this herbarium, they are listed in the present work. The update was made from the critical revision of the previously published compared with the physical specimens present in the collection and the incorporation of the types of the names published later. The names of 76 nomenclatural types present in the collection are presented, 18 taxa more than previously known. The number of exsiccata representing nomenclatural types increased to 105 with respect to previous works, of which seven are holotypes, illustrated in the paper, 95 isotypes, one epitype, one isoepitype and one paratype. The nomenclatural types represent 30 families, 58 genera and 76 infrageneric taxa of the flora of Cuba. The validity of the publication of Cyperus violifolius was recognized and the correct names of the taxa cited as nomenclatural types in the present work were listed.

The pygmy marmoset, the smallest of the anthropoid primates, has a broad distribution in Western Amazonia. Recent studies using molecular and morphological data have identified two distinct species separated by the Napo and SolimõesAmazonas rivers. However, reconciling this new biological evidence with current taxonomy, i.e., two subspecies, Cebuella pygmaea pygmaea (Spix, 1823) and Cebuella pygmaea niveiventris (Lönnberg, 1940), was problematic given the uncertainty as to whether Spix’s pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea pygmaea) was collected north or south of the Napo and Solimões-Amazonas rivers, making it unclear to which of the two newly revealed species the name pygmaea would apply. Here, we present the first molecular data from Spix’s type specimen of Cebuella pygmaea, as well as novel mitochondrial genomes from modern pygmy marmosets sampled near the type locality (Tabatinga) on both sides of the river. With these data, we can confirm the correct names of the two species identified, i.e., C. pygmaea for animals north of the Napo and SolimõesAmazonas rivers and C. niveiventris for animals south of these two rivers. Phylogenetic analyses of the novel genetic data placed into the context of cytochrome b gene sequences from across the range of pygmy marmosets further led us to reevaluate the geographical distribution for the two Cebuella species. We dated the split of these two species to 2.54 million years ago. We discuss additional, more recent, subdivisions within each lineage, as well as potential contact zones between the two species in the headwaters of these rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the discovery of hominin fossils at Trinil (Java, Indonesia) in 1891 and 1892, Eugène Dubois named a new species, now known as Homo erectus. Although the main historical events are well-known, there appears to be no consensus regarding two important aspects of the naming of the species, including what constitutes the original publication of the name, and what is the name-bearing type specimen. These issues are addressed in this paper with reference to original sources and the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Our review confirms earlier studies that cite the published quarterly fieldwork report covering the 3rd quarter of 1892 as the original publication naming the species erectus. However, until recently, the correct publication year of 1893 has consistently been cited as 1892, and it has rarely been recognized that the author of the publication was anonymous, even though the author of the species is specifically named. Importantly, Dubois assigns all three hominin fossils found at Trinil up to that moment to the new species, explicitly stating that they belong to a single individual. The three fossils, a molar, a calotte, and a femur, therefore jointly constitute the original holotype. However, the femur most likely derives from younger strata than the other hominins and shows fully modern human-like morphology, unlike subsequently discovered H. erectus femora. Moreover, there is no consensus over the affinities of the molar, and if it is H. erectus rather than an extinct ape, there is no evidence that it belongs to the same individual as the calotte. Excluding these two fossils from the holotype, the calotte is the appropriate fossil to retain the role as name-bearing specimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land snail surveys conducted in northern Laos between 2013 and 2014 have led to the discovery of a living population of Trichelix horrida (Pfeiffer, 1863). This species has never been recorded from specimens other than the types, and its distribution and anatomy have remained essentially unknown. The genitalia and radula morphology are documented here for the first time and employed to re-assess the systematic position of this species: the unique morphological characters of T. horrida are a penis similar in length to the vagina, a small and triangular penial verge, gametolytic organs extending as far as the albumen gland, head wart present, and unicuspid triangular radula teeth. The type locality of this species was believed to be from "Lao Mountains, Camboja," and is restricted herein to be Luang Phrabang Province, northern Laos. The assignment of species to either of three genera, Trichelix Ancey, 1887, Moellendorffia Ancey, 1887, and Moellendorffiella Pilsbry, 1905, based solely on information provided in their original descriptions is difficult. The type specimens of all nominal species presently placed in either of these three genera are examined and illustrated herein. Comparison with the primary type specimens will assist future revisions aiming to resolve the systematics of these taxa. In addition, we transfer Moellendorffia faberiana (Möllendorff, 1888) to the genus Moellendorffiella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study is to update the checklist of vascular plants endemic to Mongolia using previous checklists, publications, herbarium collections, and field observations. The revised checklist includes 102 endemic taxa (95 species, five subspecies, and two nothospecies) from 43 genera and 19 families. The majority of endemic taxa were distributed in western and central Mongolia, and high endemic species richness was identified in four phytogeographical regions, namely Mongolian Altai, Khangai, Dzungarian Gobi, and Gobi Altai, which harbor 49, 27, 20, and 16 endemic taxa, respectively. For each endemic taxon, we compiled information about growth form, conservation status (if already assessed), phytogeographical distribution, and voucher specimens. Data on each taxon’s type specimen were also collected, and the majority of the type specimens were accessioned at the LE (58 taxa), MW (20 taxa), and UBA (7 taxa) herbaria.

Background: Neorautanenia is a small genus in the subtribe Glycininae within the tribe Phaseoleae in the family Fabaceae. It is distributed in southern and Tropical Africa. Historically, the genus is known to consist of three species, namely, N. brachypus, N. ficifolia and N. mitis; morphological data suggest that these should be reduced to two. Objectives: The aim of this article is to formally sink N. brachypus into the synonymy of N. mitis and to provide the correct typification, diagnostic features, diagnostic key, distribution maps, as well as illustrations of the morphological features of the two species. Methods: Observations were made on herbarium specimens housed at PRE. Morphological features were studied and measurements of characters recorded. Results: Neorautanenia mitis is extremely variable morphologically, so that several authors recognised many different variants, some of these as distinct species, including N. brachypus. Examination of numerous specimens, however, indicates that these are merely morphological and/or geographical variants of N. mitis. This observation prompted Verdcourt to place this taxon as a synonym of N. mitis; however, he reversed that decision 30 years later. It has become necessary to revert to the original decision. Conclusions: Neorautanenia brachypus is formally reduced to a synonymy of N. mitis and as a result the genus comprises only two species.

Robustly delimited species are of paramount importance, the identification of which relies on our ability to discern boundaries between one species and the next. This is not difficult to do when species are very distinct from one another. However, in recently evolved lineages where putative species may have relatively few diagnostic features (e.g., species complexes composed of very similar species, the boundaries between which are often unclear), defining species boundaries can be more challenging. Hence, the field of species delimitation has widely advocated the use of multiple lines of evidence to delimit species, particularly in species complexes. Excessive taxonomic confusion, often the result of species descriptions that shift through time (e.g., during revisionary work and regional treatments), can further complicate the search for diagnostic features in species complexes. Here, as a first step in robustly delimiting species boundaries, we quantify and describe morphological variation in the Castilleja pilosa species complex. We first infer the morphospace of the species complex and use fuzzy-clustering techniques to explore the morphological variation in the system. Next, we hypothesize the position of type specimens within that morphospace. In so doing, we aim to visualize the impact that regional treatments have had on the conceptualization of taxa through time. We find that there is limited morphological variation among members of this complex, and we determine that the morphological concept of these species have shifted through time and are no longer accurately represented by species descriptions.

More than 1500 proturan specimens from Hainan Island are systematically studied. An annotated list of all species of Protura from Hainan Island is provided and their geographical distribution is discussed. The genus Paracondeellum is reported from Hainan Island for the first time, and Paracondeellum paradisum sp. nov. is described. The type species Paracondeellum dukouense (Tang & Yin, 1988) is redescribed based on syntype, and the lectotype and paralectotype are designated. The characters of the genus Paracondeellum are redefined, and the two known species are compared in detail. The Protura fauna of Hainan Island is mainly composed of species from the Oriental region, with 91% of the species belonging to the families Berberentulidae and Eosentomidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robustly delimited species are of paramount importance, the identification of which relies on our ability to discern boundaries between one species and the next. This is not difficult to do when species are very distinct from one another. However, in recently evolved lineages where putative species may have relatively few diagnostic features (e.g., species complexes composed of very similar species, the boundaries between which are often unclear), defining species boundaries can be more challenging. Hence, the field of species delimitation has widely advocated the use of multiple lines of evidence to delimit species, particularly in species complexes. Excessive taxonomic confusion, often the result of species descriptions that shift through time (e.g., during revisionary work and regional treatments), can further complicate the search for diagnostic features in species complexes. Here, as a first step in robustly delimiting species boundaries, we quantify and describe morphological variation in the Castilleja pilosa species complex. We first infer the morphospace of the species complex and use fuzzy-clustering techniques to explore the morphological variation in the system. Next, we hypothesize the position of type specimens within that morphospace. In so doing, we aim to visualize the impact that regional treatments have had on the conceptualization of taxa through time. We find that there is limited morphological variation among members of this complex, and we determine that the morphological concept of these species have shifted through time and are no longer accurately represented by species descriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collection of the seven cyclophorid snail genera housed in the Natural History Museum, London (NHM), includes 95 available species-level names belonging to the genera Pterocyclos Benson, 1832, Cyclotus Swainson, 1840, Myxostoma Troschel, 1847, Rhiostoma Benson, 1860, Scabrina Blanford, 1863, Crossopoma Martens, 1891, and Pearsonia Kobelt, 1902. Lectotypes are here designated for twelve available species-level names to stabilise existing the nomenclature. A complete catalogue of these types, including colour photographs, is provided for the first time. After examining these type specimens, an unpublished manuscript name was found and is described herein as Pterocyclos anamullayensis Sutcharit & Panha, sp. n. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The land area of Laos is composed of a large variety of undisturbed habitats, such as high mountainous areas, huge limestone karsts and the lower Mekong Basin. Therefore, Laos is expected to have a high species diversity, especially for the land snails. However, with respect to research on malacology, Laos is probably the least well-researched area for land snail diversity in Indochina (including Laos) over the past few centuries. The handful of species lists have never been systematically revised from the colonial period to the present, so these classifications are outdated. Herein we present the first comprehensive annotated checklist with an up-to-date systematic framework of the land snail fauna in Laos based on both field investigations and literature surveys. This annotated checklist is collectively composed of 231 nominal species (62 'prosobranch' and 169 heterobranches), of which 221 nominal species are illustrated. The type specimens of 143 species from several museum collections and/or 144 species of newly collected specimens are illustrated. There are 58 species recorded as new to the malacofauna of the country, and two new replacement names are proposed as Hemiplecta lanxangnica Inkhavilay and Panha, nomen novum (Ariophantidae) and Chloritis khammouanensis Inkhavilay and Panha, nomen novum (Camaenidae). Four recently described species of the genus Amphidromus from Laos, "thakhekensis", "richgoldbergi", "attapeuensis" and "phuonglinhae" are synonymized with previously described species. In addition, thirteen nominal species are listed as uncertain records that may or may not occur in Laos. This annotated checklist may inspire malacologists to carry on systematic research in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Neorautanenia is a small genus in the subtribe Glycininae within the tribe Phaseoleae in the family Fabaceae. It is distributed in southern and Tropical Africa. Historically, the genus is known to consist of three species, namely, N. brachypus, N. ficifolia and N. mitis ; morphological data suggest that these should be reduced to two. Objectives The aim of this article is to formally sink N. brachypus into the synonymy of N. mitis and to provide the correct typification, diagnostic features, diagnostic key, distribution maps, as well as illustrations of the morphological features of the two species. Methods Observations were made on herbarium specimens housed at PRE. Morphological features were studied and measurements of characters recorded. Results Neorautanenia mitis is extremely variable morphologically, so that several authors recognised many different variants, some of these as distinct species, including N. brachypus. Examination of numerous specimens, however, indicates that these are merely morphological and/or geographical variants of N. mitis. This observation prompted Verdcourt to place this taxon as a synonym of N. mitis ; however, he reversed that decision 30 years later. It has become necessary to revert to the original decision. Conclusions Neorautanenia brachypus is formally reduced to a synonymy of N. mitis and as a result the genus comprises only two species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten species of fritillary butterflies (Argynniini) are discussed in the light of fauna exploration and the history of science. Specimens collected in the Carpathian Basin during the period of the 19th and 20th centuries are documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors present voucher specimens of ten pierid (Pieridae) species with high museologic value. The species are discussed in the light of fauna-exploration and science history. These are as follows: Anthocharis gruneri (Grüner's Orange Tip) - the voucher of the only known record from the Carpathian-Basin, and probably name bearing types of the Frivaldszky collection; Colias chrysotheme (Lesser Clouded Yellow) - specimen collected in Budapest vicinity from the Koy-collection (end of the 18th century), and specimens from the perished Burgenland (Austria) population; Colias erate (Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow) - the first specimens of this invasive species collected in the Pannonian region (Hungary); Colias myrmidone (Danube Clouded Yellow) - specimens collected in Budapest vicinity from the Koy-collection; and from the extinct Panonnain and Burgenland populations, or newly collected specimens from Transylvania (Roumania); Colias palaeno (Moorland Clouded Yellow) - historical specimens from Slovakia, and probably vagrant individual specimens collected in the Pannonian and Transylvanian regions; Colias phicomone (Mountain Clouded Yellow) - old specimen, probably with Hungarian origin from the Koy collection; and one of the voucher specimens of the long questioned Tatra population; Leptidea major (Large Wood White) - specimens from the extint populations of the Pannonian region; Pieris meridionalis (Balkan Green-veined White) - specimens from the Balkan and Pannonian regions of the species difficult to recognize; Pieris bryoniae (Mountain Green-veined White) - the name bearing (Holotype) specimen and a similar specimen from Carpatho-Ukraine; specimens from the extinct or hybridised populations of Northeastern Hungary (Bükk Mts and Aggtelek area), plus specimen from the still extant Mátra Mts population; and finally Pieris manni (Southern Small White) - specimens from the extinct Bükk population, and a voucher bearing life-history information; and the lecoctype of the taxon ssp. reskovitsi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toad species Sclerophrys capensis Tschudi, 1838 was erected for a single specimen from South Africa which has never been properly studied and allocated to a known species. A morphometrical and morphological analysis of this specimen and its comparison with 75 toad specimens referred to five South African toad species allowed to allocate this specimen to the species currently known as Amietophrynus rangeri. In consequence, the nomen Sclerophrys must replace Amietophrynus as the valid nomen of the genus, and capensis as the valid nomen of the species. This work stresses the usefulness of natural history collections for solving taxonomic and nomenclatural problems.

The type specimen of the red alga Alysium holtingii C. Agardh, described from Brazil, is located in the Lund Herbarium, and it is depicted for the first time in a publication. It is taxonomically identical to Dichotomaria obtusata (J. Ellis and Solander) Lamarck and thus can be treated as a later taxonomic synonym. Alysium is regarded as congeneric with Dichotomaria.O espécime tipo da alga vermelha Alysium holtingii C. Agardh, descrito para o Brasil, está localizado no Herbário Lund, e é aqui apresentado. Ele é taxonomicamente idêntico a Dichotomaria obtusata (J. Ellis e Solander) Lamarck e portanto deve ser tratado como um sinônimo taxonômico posterior. Alysium é considerado como congenérico com Dichotomaria.