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An illustrated description of Microstomum rogozini sp. n. is given based on original material collected over the period of 1994–2008; it can be concluded that this new species is the most common and most numerous representative of microstomids that inhabit Lake Baikal. Individuals of this species are bright orange and transparent and consist of one–two zooids; in the mature state, they have a solid spirally twisted stylet with 3.5 whorls. Its length ranges from 120 to 170 µm at an average value of about 145 µm. The distal opening is slit-shaped and is located on the distal half-whorl. Comparisons, as well as the distribution, variability, and ecology of this species, are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This series of reports is devoted to taxonomic studies of the microturbellarian fauna (Plathelminthes, Rhabditophora) of Boguchansky Reservoir (lower part of the Angara River, Eastern Siberia). This first communication provides data on ten species of Kalyptorhynchia (Rhynchokarlingiidae), previously described from Lake Baikal. Three of them have proven to be new to science. For the six known Kalyptorhynchian species (Linella hamolaminae Timoshkin et Krivorotkin 2022, Mariareuterella baeckmanae (Timoshkin 1986), Opisthocystis curvistylus Timoshkin 1986, Rhynchokarlingia zemskayae Timoshkin 2004, Riedelella dmitrievae Timoshkin 2004, and Riedelella kravtsovae Timoshkin 2004), these finds are the first outside Baikal. The new species of Kalyptorhynchia belong to the genera Mariareuterella Timoshkin & Grygier 2005, Riedelella Timoshkin 2004, and Rhynchokarlingia Timoshkin et Mamkaev 2004. A species with five cuticular hooks in the male copulatory apparatus has been discovered for the first time. This has made it possible to expand the diagnosis of the genus Rhynchokarlingia. All the species were found in the lower reaches of the Angara River. Rhynchokarlingiidae are an autochthonous family of kalyptorhynchian worms for Baikal; it is logical to assume that all the newly described species are also of Baikal origin. Individuals of the Baikal endemic Kalyptorhynchia have been found very far from the Lake Baikal area (about 1400 km) for the first time. Our finds significantly expand the range of Rhynchokarlingiidae and Boguchansky Reservoir of the Angara should be considered as the northern range of their distribution. Illustrated descriptions of the new species are given, and differential diagnoses and data on their distribution are provided. The morphology of individuals of the subendemic Kalyptorhynchia species is described briefly; their comparison with Baikal representatives and data on their distribution are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiolarians are rock-forming constituents of siliceous beds of the Bazhenovo Formation in Western Siberia. Studying radiolarians is necessary for stratigraphy and correlation of the organic-rich Bazhenovo Formation, as they provide reliable dating of productive intervals of the section and detailed stratigraphy and zonation, which is especially important when data on other fossils groups are absent or insufficient. The evolution of the radiolarian fauna in the Bazhenovo Basin of Western Siberia is briefly reviewed. At different times radiolarian paleocommunities were dominated by different morphotypes. Two new species, Orbiculiforma sibirica sp. nov. and Emiluvia retorta sp. nov. are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new marine epipsammic diatom species, Cymbellonitzschia biseriata C.H. Li, H.H. Liu, Y.H. Gao & C.P. Chen sp. nov. from Fujian Province, China, is described, and is the first record of this genus in China. The morphological observations and species description are based on scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. The main characteristics of C. biseriata are as follows: valves are semi-lanceolate; striae are biseriate or change from uniseriate to biseriate; canal raphe is located and discontinuous on the ventral side; distal raphe ends are curved and extended to the dorsal side of the valve, forming raised helictoglossae; areolae are occluded by domed hymenes; girdle consists of 4–7 perforated bands. The new species is only known at present from its type locality, Weitou Bay, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oukuriella is a Neotropical genus of Chironomidae (Diptera) that was described by Epler in 1986 on the basis of three species, type species O. albistyla, and are divided into two groups: species associated with freshwater sponges and species associated with submerged wood. The male adults of Oukuriella can be separated from those in other genera of Chironomini based on the following combination of characters: bare squama, absence of anal point and superior volsella bifid. Recently, taxonomic knowledge of the genus has grown considerably, especially in Brazil, with a total of 24 species, but only six of them with known immatures. Three new species of Oukuriella are described and figured in the adult male stage, Oukuriella fittkaui sp. n., Oukuriella hamadae Bellodi, Pinho and Fusari sp. n., Oukuriella spiesi sp. n. and larvae and pupa of O. digita. Keys for species identification are provided for the adult males, pupae, and larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cheilolejeunea sicilicula S. Fish & Glenny, a new species of liverwort from lowland indigenous forest reserves in Westland and Western Nelson provinces in South Island, New Zealand, is described and illustrated. In New Zealand it is superficially similar to C. campbelliensis (Steph.) R. M. Schust., C. novaezelandiae R. M. Schust. and C. albovirens (Hook.f. & Taylor) E. A. Hodgs, which are all small-leaved species with leaves that range from 195 to 500 µm long. Cheilolejeunea sicilicula differs from these species in having a curved second tooth, and in having elongated cells along the antical free margin of the lobule. Molecular phylogenetic analyses resolve C. sicilicula as a member of the tropical section Cyrtolejeunea which has five extant species and a Miocene fossil species. This section was previously unknown in New Zealand. The addition of Cheilolejeunea sicilicula to the New Zealand flora brings the number of accepted New Zealand Cheilolejeunea species to 12, six of which are endemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species classified in Cordycipitaceae (Hypocreales) include multiple entomopathogenic fungi. Numerous changes have recently occurred in the nomenclature of cordycipitaceous fungi due to the single naming system proposed for pleomorphic fungi in 2011. Species of Cordycipitaceae are widely applied as herbal medicines, especially in Asian cultures. However, the diversity of Cordycipitaceae in Taiwan is based on relatively few literature records. Here we conducted a comprehensive survey of this family throughout the island of Taiwan and provided a glimpse of the diversity and distribution patterns. In addition, the present study reassesses the generic and species boundaries of Cordycipitaceae and finally provides an updated phylogenetic overview of Cordyceps and allied genera. Phylogenetic reconstructions using combined ITS, nrLSU, tef1-α, rpb1, and rpb2 sequence data, along with morphological features, resulted in 10 novel species: Akanthomyces taiwanicus sp. nov., Blackwellomyces taiwanensis sp. nov., Cordyceps hehuanensis sp. nov., C. locastrae sp. nov., C. malleiformis sp. nov., C. pseudorosea sp. nov., C. siangyangensis sp. nov., Samsoniella lasiocampidarum sp. nov., S. yuanzuiensis sp. nov., and Simplicillium salviniae sp. nov.; and nine new records for Taiwan: A. kanyawimiae, A. muscarius, S. cardinalis, S. hepiali, B. lii, B. medogensis, C. lepidopterorum, C. neopruinosa, and Si. chinense. Furthermore, we provided DNA sequence data of the ex-type strains of C. ninchukispora for the first time and determined the species limits of the taxon. In addition, the present study proposed to synonymize B. staphylinidicola and C. jakajanicola under B. bassiana and C. lepidopterorum, respectively. Moreover, three species, C. roseostromata, C. kyushuensis, and C. shuifuensis, that clustered within the species clade of C. militaris are proposed to be synonymized under the latter taxon. To maintain the monophyly of Cordyceps, we propose to classify Parahevansia koratensis in Cordyceps, which makes the genus Parahevansia obsolete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversispora cerifera and Diversispora succinacia are new arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species that have been isolated and propagated from spores extracted from rhizosphere soils of native vegetation that had naturally established from seeds on a nickel mine tailing test basin in New Caledonia. Interestingly, these species were not recorded from ultramafic soils of maquis vegetation endemic to New Caledonia surrounding the tailing basin. In greenhouse trap and single-species cultures, the fungi produced numerous spores, which were formed terminally or intercalary on subtending hyphae. Spores of D. cerifera are white-yellow with a waxy appearance and 70–100–120 µm in diameter; spores of D. succinacia are translucent, amber in color, and 60–80–110 µm in diameter; both species have three spore wall layers. A phylogenetic analysis placed D. cerifera in a clade sister to D. succinacia. The same analysis showed that the sister species of D. succinacia is D. sabulosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of pseudionine parasite is described from the deep-sea shrimp Notostomus gibbosus A. Milne-Edwards, 1881, collected in the Gulf of Mexico, the first record of a bopyrid parasitizing any member of the family Acanthephyridae Spence Bate, 1888. Morphological and molecular data are provided to support the inclusion of the new species and 12 other branchial ectoparasites of caridean shrimps in the genus Cryptione Hansen, 1897 that is resurrected herein. Cryptione is sister to the genus Pseudione sensu stricto, ectoparasites of axiid and callianassid shrimps as well as nephropid lobsters. The new species Cryptione grandis can be distinguished from its closest congeners including C. parviramus (Adkison, 1988) from the Gulf of Mexico by several female and male characters. The epicaridium larvae of C. grandis were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), only the second description of this stage for any species in the genus. A table listing all species in Cryptione and taxonomic notes on some species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diplofornicis scoliius gen. and sp. nov. is described from adult female and male mites riding on the scoliid wasp Aelocampsomeris variegata (Fabricius). These wasps represent an unusual phoretic carrier for Diplogyniidae and these mites present unusual features such as a highly humped idiosoma, raised ventromedial region of the sternal and ventrianal shield, and spiny processes on the female’s latigynal shields. We discuss possible generic relationships and regard the Neotropical genera Brachysternopsis Hunter, Brachysternum Trägårdh, and Crenamargo Hicks as the most likely closest relatives. We suggest that Diplofornicis may have shifted from scarabaeid beetles to their scoliid parasitoids.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:59CC03B2-A019-479F-B836-62CD8036F8EEGenus: https://www.zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/100178ee-1f1d-4121-ae32-44a6217f0961Species: https://www.zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/8f3a3073-6a81-4c1f-b073-8034618e7f4e [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highbush blueberry is a blueberry species native to North America and is a food crop of significant economic importance for Canada. Plant-parasitic nematodes are known to infest this crop. Species of Hemicycliophora, commonly known as sheath nematodes, are obligatory plant-parasites, and some cause diseases on a wide range of crops. A population of Hemicycliophora of high number was found in highbush blueberry fields in Norfolk and Middlesex counties of southwestern Ontario. Following through morphological and molecular studies, this population was determined a new species as Hemicycliophora potteri n. sp. This species is characterised by its outer sheath adpressed fitting to the body, lateral fields with diagonal connections of transverse striae, amphid apertures covered by lateral plates, lip region slightly set-off with four annuli; excretory pore anterior to the base of the pharynx, stylet knob cavity moderate, vulva lips modified, tail tapering gradually and more abruptly towards the last one-third, and no males were found. Molecularly, the 18S, and 28S ribosomal DNA sequences are most similar to those of H. thienemanni, H. similis, H. gracilis, and a few unidentified species. A dichotomous key for the diagnostic of the species of Hemicycliophora in Canada was presented. To the best of our knowledge, Hemicycliophora potteri n. sp. is the first recorded species of the genus to be named and fully described from highbush blueberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ornithogalum christiniae sp. nov., collected from the offshore islet of Agria Gramvousa (northwestern Crete, Greece), is described and illustrated as a locally endemic species. It is related to Ornithogalum montanum, O. atticum and O. pumilum, however, it differs from these in having wrinkled and corrugated leaf surface, fruiting pedicels thickened at base, flexuose rachis of infructescence and winged capsules. The relationships between the new species and the aforementioned are discussed, while information regarding its ecology, conservation status and karyotype is also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species of Sciodaphyllum (Araliaceae) from Ecuador are described, S. balslevii, S. borchsenii, S. oellgaardii and S. pedersenii, each named in honor of a Danish botanist who collected extensively in the country in the late 20th century while contributing to the multi‐decade collaborative botanical research program run by Aarhus University, the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, and the Universidad Nacional de Loja. These new taxa increase to 27 the total number of described species in Ecuador belonging to Sciodaphyllum (whose members were formerly included in Schefflera J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.), which also has an additional 75 new species that remain to be described. Color photos are provided for three of the species along with a scan of the holotype of the fourth taxon. Distribution maps are provided along with preliminary risk of extinction assessments (following the IUCN Red List criteria); S. balslevii is assessed as Least Concern (LC), whereas S. borchsenii and S. oellgaardii are Endangered (EN), and S. pedersenii is Vulnerable (VU). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semigenetta Helbing, 1927 is a small genet-like carnivoran in the family Viverridae Gray, 1821. The genus has a modest diversity in the Miocene of Eurasia. With its first documentation going back to 1850s, the European records are relatively continuous with five currently recognized species. Asian records have a much shorter history of studies with its first record, S. huaiheensis Qiu & Gu, being published in 1986. In the present paper, we review the Asian records of Semigenetta from China and Thailand, which so far are represented by three species based on fragmentary jaws and teeth. We recognize two new species, S. qiae n. sp. from the late Miocene (c. 6.2-6.9 Ma) of Lufeng Basin in central Yunnan Province, South China and S. thailandica n. sp. from the middle Miocene (13.4-13.2 Ma) of Mae Moh Basin in Lampang Province, northern Thailand. Zoogeographically, both S. huaiheensis and S. thailandica n. sp. seem traceable to their European ancestors, as independent immigration events. Semigenetta thailandica n. sp. may have given rise to S. qiae n. sp., i.e., S. thailandica n. sp. and S. qiae n. sp., both recovered from lignitic sediments, potentially form a southeast Asian clade. All Asian Semigenetta occur within the Oriental zoogeographic province, and like their European counterparts, presumably prefer warm, humid, and wooded environments. Their relatively conservative morphology and low diversity seem also indicative of a stable environment in subtropical refugia. Semigenetta qiae n. sp. from Lufeng is the last survivor of the genus in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Ditylenchoides anyae sp. n., recovered from soil in the headland areas of non-cultivated fields in Alborz Province, Iran, is described and illustrated based on its morphological, morphometric, and molecular characters. The new species was characterised by a slender body and length of 784 (663-925) μm (females) and 667-712 μm (males), lip region continuous, stylet length 6.4 (6.0-7.0) μm, lateral fields with four incisures, and excretory pore situated 110 (82-137) μm from the anterior end, median bulb of pharynx fusiform, non-muscular, and non-valvate, isthmus elongate, slender ending at a pyriform basal pharyngeal bulb not overlapping intestine, vulva with distinct and relatively large lateral flaps, a well-developed post-vulval uterine sac, 31.3 (27-35) μm long, a female tail elongate-conoid with pointed terminus; and male with adanal bursa and spicules 21-22 μm long. The new species was characterised using the D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA, and partial 18S rRNA gene sequences. Phylogenetic analyses of the genus Ditylenchoides are given based on the analysis of these genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nematodes associated with the carcass beetle Creophilus maxillosus were examined. The beetles were collected from the decomposed body of a dead racoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides in Kyoto, Japan, and dissected for examination of internal parasites. The dissected beetles were kept on agar plates for isolation of phoretic species. Although no parasites were found, three species of phoretic associates, Caenorhabditis plicata, Diplogastrellus cf. gracilis and Rhabditidoides sp., were recognised, and two species were later successfully cultured as laboratory strains. Diplogastrellus cf. gracilis and Rhabditidoides sp. were compared to an authentic strain of D. gracilis (German strain, SB306) and two presumably conspecific strains (German strain RS5443 and Japanese strain NKZ346), respectively, by mating experiments and molecular sequence comparison. The comparisons revealed that D. cf. gracilis is conspecific to D. gracilis SB306, and three Rhabditidoides strains are new conspecific species. The typological and molecular characters of D. gracilis are described and compared with other populations of the species, and Rhabditidoides sp. is taxonomically described as Rhabditidoides eutrophicola n. sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Correct taxonomic identification is essential for conducting successful biological research, especially of the important natural enemies of insects, such as Anastatus, a genus of parasitic wasps. In the present study, the key to all 21 Chinese Anastatus species, based on females, is provided, and seven new species are described and illustrated. We also used cytochrome oxidase I (COI) to identify and distinguish Chinese Anastatus. Seventeen sequences from seven Anastatus species were obtained and included in the GenBank database. Anastatus is the second-largest genus in the family Eupelmidae, with 150 species found worldwide and fourteen known species in China. Most species in this genus are the primary parasitoids of insect eggs, particularly those of Lepidoptera and Hemiptera, and several species have been used for the biological control of various insect pests. In this paper, seven new species of Anastatus Motschulsky, 1859 (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) from China are described, of which A. caeruleus Wang and Peng n. sp. and A. garygibsoni Zhou and Peng n. sp. were reared from the eggs of Tessaratoma papillosa (Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae), while A. daiyunensis Wang and Peng n. sp., A. makrysourus Zhou and Peng n. sp., A. polikiarkoudus Wang and Peng n. sp., A. taibaiensis Wang and Peng n. sp., and A. zdenekbouceki Zhou and Peng n. sp. were collected by malaise traps or sweeping. The new species are all described and illustrated based on female specimens, and the key to all 21 Chinese Anastatus species, based on females, is provided. Partial COI sequences of A. caeruleus n. sp., A. garygibsoni n. sp., and A. taibaiensis n. sp. are provided, and a phylogenetic reconstruction based on maximum likelihood analyses, while showing similar results at high taxonomic levels to our morphological feature classification results, provides additional information on the placement of Anastatus at the species level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: A new integrative approach to the study of Embioptera is adopted and discussed. It is essentially based on the dissection and three-dimensional observation of pieces of the male terminalia from different angles. This method allows a comprehensive comparison of specimens and evaluates their differences and similarities without the two-dimensional limits (and definitive preparation) of slide mounting. Three new species from Italy are described and several new records are also given. An updated checklist and a provisional dichotomous key for the Italian Embioptera are provided. In order to better understand the differences at the species level in webspinners (Embioptera), the authors applied a different approach rather than the usual slide mounting, which has been traditionally used in the study of these insects. The dissection of the male terminalia, besides avoiding the limits of definitive preparations, which prevent a complete comparison of the type material, allowed a complete understanding and comparison of these three-dimensional structures. This new method, which does not necessarily exclude the previous approach, allowed the authors to identify and describe three new species in Italy: from Tuscany (Embia specolensis sp. nov.), Ventotene Island (Embia pandateriensis sp. nov.), and Calabria (Embia brutia sp. nov.). Moreover, this charts a new path in the study of these interesting insects, which have so far been largely neglected. In addition to several new records resulting from the revision of some collections, this contribution provides an updated checklist and a provisional key for the Italian Embioptera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastologus Schoenherr, 1842, hitherto a monotypic genus belonging to the tribe Hipporhinini, is herein revised for the first time. Three species are recognized as valid based on morphological characters, all distributed in southern regions of South Africa. In addition to the type species of the genus, Plastologus costatus Boheman, 1842, the following two species are described as new to the science: P. boroveci Košťál sp. n. and P. punctatus Košťál sp. n. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on specimens collected from the Yemeni shore of the Red Sea, Yemeninassoides inusitatus gen. & sp. nov. is here described and figured. The shell morphology suggests that this species belongs to the family Nassariidae Iredale, 1916. The new taxon is characterised by light shell, base finely spirally lyrate, open umbilicus and multispiral non-keeled protoconch sculptured by spiral cords and arcuate axial riblets. The combination of these morphological features is so far unique and makes the new taxon easily distinguishable from all other known species and genera in the family Nassariidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new monotypic genus of the subfamily Theraphosinae Thorell, 1869 is described from the Western Cordillera of the Andes in northern Ecuador. The new genus is diagnosed by its distinctive male palpal morphology, including a semi-spatulate bulb caused by a well developed retrolateral inferior keel, presence of a cymbial apophysis, absence of a tibial apophysis, and a new character described in this contribution as a retrolateral tegular process. We comment on the similarities in male palpal bulb morphology with other neotropical genera and provide a preliminary phylogenic placement based on morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on a small collection of shrews from the central part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Three taxa are recognized, of which a long-tailed and a middle-sized species of Crocidura are described as C. salonga sp. nov. and C. binco sp. nov. Crocidura lwiroensis is recorded for the first time since its description from near Lake Tanganyika in 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Sternoppia (Sternoppia) (Oribatida, Sternoppiidae)—S. (S.) venezuelaensissp. nov. and S. (S.) parareticulatasp. nov.—are described, based on materials collected from leaf litter in northern Venezuela. Sternoppia (Sternoppia) venezuelaensissp. nov. differs from the closely related species, S. (S.) sphaerodendron, by the morphology of the bothridial seta head, the length of the notogastral setae h2, h3, the presence of the notogastral seta c, number of the genital setae, and the distance between epimeral setae 3a. Sternoppia (Sternoppia) parareticulatasp. nov.differs from the closely related species, S. (S.) reticulata, by the body size, the morphology of the bothridial seta head, the location of the costulae, and the presence of the notogastral seta c. A new location and habitat for S. (S.) vicina are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Rhabdocarpais trispinosus Yao & Jin sp. nov. is described based on adults and deutonymphs from Yunan province, China. Four species, Parasitus brachychaetus Ma, P. clavasetosus Ma, P. simplendogynii Ma & Bai and P. wangdunqingi Ma, are transferred from the genus Parasitus to Rhabdocarpais based on the seta st1 of female forked distally, spurs on genu and tibia of leg II bilobed, the venter of the hypostome elevated forward and forming a protuberance in the male, and seta po stout and pilose distally. An identification key to the known species of Rhabdocarpais in China is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Carteria' is a genus of quadriflagellate chlamydomonadalean green algae, however this genus is not thought to be a monophyletic group. In this study, we investigated nine strains of 'Carteria' newly isolated from China by morphological comparisons and molecular phylogeny of 18S rDNA and rbcL genes. Five strains could be identified as existing 'Carteria' species. Four strains with clearly different morphology and independent phylogenetic positions compared with the described 'Carteria' species were identified as three new species. Since the original type species, Carteria cordiformis, has been recognized as a prasinophyte alga, the generic name Carteria cannot be applied to other species previously assigned to 'Carteria'. Six 'Carteria' species (including three new species) and one Pseudocarteria species of Carteria-Clade I were transferred to the genus Corbierea, and the description of this genus was emended. A new genus, Staurocarteria gen. nov. was proposed for Carteria-Clade II. Highlights: Three new species of Carteria are described. Two correct generic names are proposed for several 'Carteria' species. This article contributes to the taxonomic revision of 'Carteria'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first faunal analysis of the ants (Formicidae) of the Kingdom of Bahrain (Bahrain), an island nation in the Arabian Gulf. We document a total of 35 ant species based on published, unpublished and new specimen records, including 26 presumed native species and nine non-native tramp species. The native fauna was predominantly of Palaearctic origin, with a few Afrotropical species. A new species of the genus Lepisiota Santschi, 1926, L. bahrainensissp. n., is described and illustrated based on the worker caste. Habitat suitability modelling of the ant fauna of Bahrain was generated using a total of 157 recorded points against the panel of 19 bioclimatic factors. We used Maxent software to generate the final map which indicates a significantly high and excellent habitat suitability of species on the northern part of the country and high suitability on the eastern coasts. Our results show that the mean temperature of the driest season is the most effective parameter in modelling the distribution, and we present interpretations of the very low habitat suitability in the extremely arid desert in the southern regions of the main island. Finally, we present ecological and biological remarks and distribution maps for each species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913) and Carl Benjamin Hermann, Baron von Rosenberg (1817–1888) were naturalists with similar goals in their exploration of the Malay Archipelago. Their collaborations have not been the subject of any previous study. They first met in May 1858 on the coast of Dorey, the northwestern part of New Guinea. Together they discovered two birds new to science, the Dusky Lory Pseudeos fuscata (Blyth, 1858) and the Fairy Lorikeet Charmosynopsis pulchella (G.R. Gray, 1859). Wallace did not propose new names himself, while the Chalcopsitta leucopygialisRosenberg, 1859 (nomen nudum) and Charmosyna pectoralis Rosenberg, 1862 lost their priority. Wallace visited Aru Island for six months in 1857, where he collected 113 bird species as enumerated in his private notebook, now transcribed in extract for the first time. Wallace's collections from Dorey were examined by George Robert Gray (1808–1872) in 1858 after they were received by the Natural History Museum in London. When Rosenberg was working out the distribution of various birds in the archipelago in 1862, he had not yet visited the Aru Islands. His list of 86 bird species from Aru was contributed by Wallace, most probably during their discussions when they met in Ceram in November or December 1859. The historical narrative provides two rare instances where Wallace's presence was acknowledged by fellow naturalists in the field, and at the same time gives insight in the cooperation and potential scientific rivalry of the period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of benthic hydroids inhabiting the Antarctic continental shelf waters, particularly of relatively well-studied areas, has increased in recent years. This has allowed us to recognise them as one of the main and most characteristic zoological groups of the Antarctic benthos. However, little is known about the hydroids dwelling on the continental slope or in deeper waters, let alone about those inhabiting the seafloor far away from the Antarctic continent, despite the Southern Ocean extending significantly northwards. This study contributes to reducing that knowledge gap by studying material collected from a series of deep-sea ridges north of the Ross Sea, from which hydrozoans have never been reported. Twelve species, including Halecium divergens sp. nov., have been found and studied. Except for Turritopsis sp., belonging to the Anthoathecata family Oceaniidae, all species belong to Leptothecata, in particular to the families Campanulariidae, Haleciidae, Lafoeidae, Phylactothecidae, Sertularellidae, and Symplectoscyphidae. Lafoeidae is the most represented family with four species. Sertularella pseudovervoorti and Filellum liberum are found for the second time. The discovery of Symplectoscyphus frondosus, a species previously considered endemic to the shelf and slope of the eastern Ross Sea, significantly extends its known northern distribution limit. Tulpa diverticulata and the genus Tulpa are reported in Antarctic waters for the first time. The lower limit of the bathymetric range for several species has been extended. Despite being well within Antarctic waters, the studied area hosts a very distinctive fauna, markedly different from the typical Antarctic benthic hydroid fauna. Its endemisms, the presence of species unknown in the Antarctic region and the absence of representatives of the most characteristic Antarctic genera account for its originality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A distinctive new genus and species of the subphylum Asterozoa, Componaster spurius n. gen., n. sp., is described from the Late Ordovician (early Katian) of Morocco. Construction of the ambulacral column is considered key to delineation of classes of the subphylum Asterozoa: morphology and configuration of the mouth frame, axial (ambulacral series), and adaxial (lateral series) enable class-level assignment of C. spurius n. gen., n. sp. to the Ophiuroidea Gray, 1840. However, overall form and aspects of extraxial skeletal expression from beyond the ambulacral column are strongly reminiscent of expressions of the Asteroidea de Blainville, 1830. The character complex of C. spurius n. gen., n. sp. precludes its alignment with any available ophiuran ordinal concept, and available data do not justify proposal of new ordinal terminology: the species is left incertae sedis at the ordinal level but a new familial taxon, Componasteridae n. fam., is recognized. Although Late Ordovician, the complex morphology of Componaster spurius n. gen., n. sp. suggests either plesiomorphic expressions from asterozoan diversification surviving until the Katian or significant homoplasy during early asterozoan history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Craspedia G.Forst., a genus of tribe Gnaphalieae (Compositae/Asteraceae), is confined to Australia and New Zealand. Twelve species, including Craspedia blepharia Breitw. & Courtney, which we are describing here, are now recognised in New Zealand. Craspedia blepharia is known only from Garibaldi Ridge in Nelson/Tasman, South Island of New Zealand. It is a strong calcicole, confined to exposed, vertical surfaces of limestone cliffs and dolines and quartzose sandstone cliffs which receive calcium-rich seep-water. Its rosettes grow either individually or in dense clumps on cliff faces, thus allowing the plants to receive water from surface water flow. It is distinguished from other New Zealand Craspedia by its rosette leaves clad with a hispid adaxially very dense and abaxially sparse indumentum of very long (2.2–3 mm), usually curved, uniseriate, multiseptate, usually slightly brown or colourless, translucent trichomes that may have a very thin curly, flagellate tip, and leaf margins with a thin white rim formed by the flagellate tips of these long, curved trichomes. We are providing the formal taxonomic treatment together with illustrations and descriptions of its morphology, distribution, habitat, ecology, phenology, and etymology, as well as an assessment of its conservation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]