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Monday, April 7th, 2025
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| 2:10a | [Crustacea • 2025] Bathynomus wilsoni • The Deepest known Supergiant deep-sea isopod: A New Species (Isopoda: Cirolanidae) from the Sulu Sea, Philippines
Abstract A new species of supergiant isopod, Bathynomus wilsoni, is described from the Sulu Sea, Philippines, from a depth of 2,500 m, the deepest record for the genus. Bathynomus wilsoni is the fifth Indo-West Pacific species having upcurved posterior spines on the pleotelson in adults and is readily distinguished from these species by the combination of longer posterolateral cephalic incisions, proportionally wider uropodal exopods with a more strongly convex lateral margin and a near semi-circular pleotelson with a bifid instead of simple apex on the central spine. The new species is most similar to B. kensleyi Lowry & Dempsey, 2006, from northeastern Australia, a species with which it has been previously confused, but further differs in the stouter uropodal exopod, the shape of the pleotelson and ornamentation of the anterior surface of the cephalon. Given that 26% of the 23 named extant species of Bathynomus were described within the last decade, species richness in the genus is probably significantly underestimated. Aspects of diagnostic characters of B. kensleyi and allies are also discussed. Key words. Bathynomus, giant isopod, Sulu Sea, South China Sea, Philippines
Bathynomus wilsoni, new species Diagnosis. Cephalon anteromedian surface without shallow,
irregularly ridged sulcus; cephalic ridge above eyes
discontinuous; maxillipedal somite incisions deep, extending
inward from posterolateral margin for length equivalent to
about ⅓ distance between left and right incisions. Pleonites
1–5 combined length 17–18% body length; pleonites 3–5
pleural apices extending posteriorly to about same level or ... Etymology. The type specimens were collected during the
Scripps Institution of Oceanography expedition, PAPATUA,
and brought to the Australian Museum by George D. F. (Buz)
Wilson, my former Professor. It is most fitting to name the
new species after Buz. SHANE T. AHYONG. 2025. The Deepest known Supergiant deep-sea isopod: Bathynomus wilsoni, A New Species from the Sulu Sea, Philippines (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae). RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY . 73; 169–183. | ||||||||
| 2:11a | [Diplopoda • 2025] Tylopus tropicalis, T namnonensis & T. khikheb • Three New Species of the Oriental Millipede Genus Tylopus Jeekel, 1968 (Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae) from China and Laos
Three new species of Tylopus Jeekel, 1968 are described, one from southwestern China, T. tropicalis Likhitrakarn, n. sp., and two from Laos, T. namnonensis Likhitrakarn, n. sp. and T. khikheb Likhitrakarn, n. sp. Keys are compiled to all nine and 15 species of Tylopus currently known to occur in China and Laos, respectively. Keywords: Sulciferini, key, Indochina, endemism, new species   Natdanai LIKHITRAKARN, Josiane LIPS, Sergei I. GOLOVATCH, Ekgachai JERATTHITIKUL, Somsak PANHA and Chirasak SUTCHARIT. 2025. Three New Species of the Oriental Millipede Genus Tylopus Jeekel, 1968 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae) from China and Laos. Zoosystema. 47(5); 75-88. https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/en/periodiq | ||||||||
| 2:26a | [PaleoEntomology • 2025] Trichopria electrosinica • The First fossil Species of Trichopria Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) from the Miocene Zhangpu Biota, China
Abstract Following studies of the aculeate families Bethylidae, Chrysididae, Formicidae, and Apidae, we report here the Diapriidae, the fifth hymenopteran family from the middle Miocene Zhangpu amber of China. A fossil species belonging to Trichopria Ashmead, 1893 is described and figured from a male specimen. The new extinct species, Trichopria electrosinica n. sp., is characterized by the subround and hypognathous head, the flagellomeres each with 6–8 long setae, the metanotum with longitudinal keels, the petiole two times longer than wide and carinate, and the fore basitarsomere with a row of setae along the inner margin. Trichopria is one of the largest diapriid genus, with some species used in pest control program against fruit flies, but Trichopria electrosinica n. sp. is its first described fossil species. Its absence in older and long-known deposits is indicative of the disparate Diapriidae fossil record. Its occurrence in both China and Dominican Republic during the Miocene suggests that the genus was already widespread at that time. Keywords: Systematics, China, amber, parasitic Hymenoptera, Diapriinae
 Order Hymenoptera Linnæus, 1758 Superfamily Diaprioidea Haliday, 1833 Family Diapriidae Haliday, 1833 Subfamily Diapriinae Haliday, 1833 Genus Trichopria Ashmead, 1893 Trichopria electrosinica n. sp. Type locality: Zhangpu County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, China. Horizon: Sedimentary layer II, Fotan Group; middle Miocene (Langhian), 14.7 Ma. Diagnosis (male): Head subround, hypognathous (Fig. 2A); antennal shelf weakly prominent; eye located medially on head (Fig. 2A); scape 5 times longer than wide, clavate and compressed (Fig. 2A); flagellomere 1 almost cylindrical (Fig. 2B); flagellomeres 2–11 longer than wide, widened apico-medially (node-like); flagellomeres with whorled long setae (Fig. 2A); pronotum and propleuron with developed cushion of setae (Fig. 2C); scutellum with median carina, without posterior pits (Fig. 2D); metanotum with longitudinal keels (Fig. 2D); fore wing stigmal vein pointed (Fig. 2F); fore basitarsomere curved with row of long erect setae along inner margin (Fig. 1B); petiole carinate, 2 times longer than wide (Fig. 2E). Etymology: Combination of electro-, from the Greek electron meaning amber, and -sinica, for the geographical origin, China.   Manuel Brazidec and Vincent Perrichot. 2025. The First fossil Species of Trichopria Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) from the Miocene Zhangpu biota. Palaeoworld. In Press, 200939. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200939 | ||||||||
| 4:15a | [Herpetology • 2025] Tachymenoides goodallae • A New Species of Tachymenoides (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Tachymenini) from Peru with Comments on the Taxonomic Status of Galvarinus tarmensis (Walker, 1945)
Abstract We describe a new species of snake of the genus Tachymenoides using molecular and morphological evidence. The description is based on 21 specimens (4 females, 17 males) obtained in the regions of Pasco, Junín, and Puno between 2190 and 3050 m elevation. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree based on two mitochondrial (12S and cyt-b) genes and one nuclear (c-mos) gene shows that the new species is the sister taxon of T. affinis and distinct from Galvarinus tarmensis, which we transfer back to Tachymenis. The new species has smooth dorsal scales without apical pits usually in 19/17/15 series, 1 preocular, 2 postoculars, 1 loreal undivided nasal scale, 8 supralabials (4th and 5th in contact with the eye), 9 infralabials, 1–2+2–3 temporals, 139–157 ventrals, 52–67 subcaudals, and a divided cloacal scale. The longest specimen, a male, had a total length of 559 mm. Two females contained six and five eggs with small embryos. In life, the dorsum and flanks are olive brown to pale grayish brown with scattered black and cream flecks and no longitudinal stripes. Ventral coloration is highly variable, nearly uniformly black, mottled gray and dark-gray, mottled pale gray and tan, or pale grayish tan. Usually, three irregularly shaped, narrow, longitudinal ventral stripes are present. The iris is brown with a distinct yellowish-tan ringlet. Keywords: Squamata; reptiles; snakes; Andes; Pasco region; Junín region; Puno region; Tachymenis tarmensis
Family Dipsadidae Bonaparte, 1838 Tribe Tachymenini Bailey, 1967 Genus Tachymenoides Trevine et al., 2022 Tachymenoides goodallae sp. nov. Lehr, Lundberg, Cusi, Sites, Torres and Aguilar-Puntriano, 2025. Galvarinus tarmensis in Trevine et al. [2022]. Thamnodynastes sp. in Lehr et al. [2019]. Diagnosis: Usually 1 preocular, 10 maxillary teeth; 9 dentary teeth; dorsal scale rows smooth in 19/17/15 series; dorsal scales lacking apical pits; 140–157 ventrals in males (n = 17), 139–142 ventrals in females (n = 4); 52–67 paired subcaudals in males (n = 17), 52–56 paired subcaudals in females (n = 4); hemipenes with pronounced and deep spinulate calyces on the base of capitulum and distal portion of hemipenial body, extending onto half of the body on the asulcate side with the first proximal row of calyces distinctly larger, containing 9 calyces; in real life, the dorsum and flanks are olive brown to pale grayish brown with scattered black and cream flecks and no longitudinal stripes; the flanks are olive brown, dark brown, or dark gray, and darker than the dorsum toward the posterior body end; the head is laterally pale grayish brown or cream with a dark-brown lateral stripe from the nose to postoculars and diagonally to corner of the mouth, and contrasting dark-brown flecks on the cream supralabials and infralabials; the iris is brown with a distinct yellowish-tan ringlet; the ventral coloration is highly variable: nearly uniformly black, gray, and mottled dark gray; pale gray and mottled tan; or pale grayish tan; and usually, three irregularly shaped, narrow, longitudinal ventral stripes are present (one midventral and one ventrolateral on each side).
Etymology: We dedicate this species to ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall for her scientific accomplishments and worldwide conservation activism, which inspire and encourage people to protect biodiversity. The English Common Name is Goodall’s Slender Snake. Edgar Lehr, Mikael Lundberg, Juan Carlos Cusi, Jack W. Sites, Jr., Claudia Torres and César Aguilar-Puntriano. 2025. A New Species of Tachymenoides (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Tachymenini) from Peru with Comments on the Taxonomic Status of Galvarinus tarmensis (Walker, 1945). Taxonomy. 2025, 5(2), 18; DOI: doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy5020018 [2 April 2025]   |
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