The seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is a severe cosmopolitan pest of various stored legumes. Since no parthenogenesis has been reported in the genus Callosobruchus, here we report the evidence of a rare event of deuterotokous parthenogenesis in this species. Interestingly, 11.11% of females out of 600 tested virgin females were capable of reproducing by parthenogenesis

The genus Pilumnus covering a large group of bristle crabs, a typical resident of rocky, cobble and coral habitats. Taxonomy of the genus in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman have always been source of disagreement among specialists due to potential taxonomic uncertainty in the genus. We used combined morphological and molecular characteristics to provide an insight into the real diversity within this

The morphological diversity of anuran larvae made them an important source of information for evolutionary and systematic studies. For the monotypic frog genus Lithodytes, which has an interesting taxonomic history, including its past synonymizing with Adenomera and its placement as a subgenus of Leptodactylus, the information provided from its larvae can help to understand its systematics interrelationships

The Leptodactylus melanonotus species group is widely distributed across the Neotropics and contains 17 valid species. Here we reassess the taxonomic status of several taxa of the group, focusing mainly on the Amazonian L. petersii and both its junior synonyms (L. brevipes and L. intermedius), based on morphological, acoustic, cytogenetic, and DNA sequence data. The phylogenetic analyses recovered

Marine gastrotrichs of the Pacific Ocean are poorly known. Here, we report on the finding of a marine chaetonotid gastrotrich of the genus Diuronotus from an intertidal beach within the Sea of Japan in Hokkaido (Japan). The Japanese individual shows a very close resemblance to Diuronotus aspetos. This new record is a consequential extension of its biogeographic range; previous records for representatives

A morphological maximum parsimony analysis (2273 scorings; 25 taxa; 107 characters) is performed here with eight species of Discocyrtus Holmberg, 1878 to test their monophyly. According to the results obtained herein, only the four species Discocyrtus crenulatus Roewer, 1913, Discocyrtus flavigranulatus B. Soares, 1944 and Discocyrtus moraesianus Mello-Leitão, 1923 and Discocyrtus testudineus (Holmberg

Specimens of Soboliphyme baturini (Dioctophymatoida), collected from martens in Alaska, were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and histological sections. Soboliphyme species are recognized by their large oral sucker, which is a muscular organ made of radial and longitudinal musculature. A ring of 6 papillae is present on the outer side of the oral sucker, as well as an individually

Discopleurus Lacordaire (Pimeliiinae: Stenosini) is distributed in mesic and arid habitats of Central and South America. Most of the species are only known from a few localities, which may be due to their small size and hidden lifestyle. It is assumed that Discopleurus species live at least temporarily in ant nests, a characteristic feature described from many members of the worldwide distributed Stenosini

Reproduction in snakes employs a wide range of mechanisms such as long-term sperm storage, mating aggregations and male–male combat. These varied mechanisms can be better understood when combined with the study of the ultrastructural morphological variability of spermatozoa. Within the coral snakes, genus Micrurus, there are differences in the reproductive strategies adopted between monads (BRM) and

Elopiformes is one of the most ancient orders of Teleostei fishes and includes the Megalopidae and Elopidae families. Although relevant to scientific research, cytogenetic and molecular data are lacking for both families. Here, we compared Elopiformes species from the perspective of genetic divergence and cytogenetics to elucidate the chromosomal diversification and evolutionary processes of Elopiformes

The Neotropics harbour a spectacular amount of biodiversity, but many of these species remain to be discovered and placed into the tree of life. In the neotropical snake genus Philodryas, the systematics of these rear-fanged snakes has been controversial and debated in recent years. Here, we combine published datasets with new morphological (scale microdermatoglyphics, osteology, pholidosis and genital

Pelamera atra (Rondani, 1861) is an enigmatic species of bristle fly that has been challenging dipterologists with regard to its taxonomic position within the family Tachinidae since it was first described. The species is rarely collected and is only known from a handful of female specimens. The first ever male specimen of P. atra was collected in southern Italy in 2017, and it allowed for the discovery

The Caucasus region harbors a rich subterranean amphipod fauna. However, it was rarely studied using molecular tools. Recent field explorations unveiled a number of populations that morphologically correspond to the little known amphipod Niphargus alasonius described from Georgia. The populations are distributed along the Kura River drainage, spanning a range that exceeds 300 km. This unusually broad

This paper presents results from a comparative analysis of cytogenetic markers, DNA barcode, molecular delimitation and population genetics among four groups of Apareiodon samples inhabiting four headwater streams feeding the Tocantins River in Brazil’s Tocantins River Basin. Apareiodon is a genus of Parodontidae, a Neotropical fish family whose members show often-subtle morphological diagnostic characters

A crucial step in understanding glacial ecosystems is to elucidate their biodiversity. Although tardigrades (water bears) are one of the most common and abundant metazoans inhabiting glaciers, knowledge of their taxonomic diversity on these ice masses remains scarce. The fragmentary data about the diversity of metazoans in glacial ecosystems is a warning sign in the era of global warming that seriously

Centrolenidae is a monophyletic group of Neotropical tree frogs. Centrolenid tadpoles usually lack pigmentation on their bodies, presenting reddish coloration in life, and are fossorial. Several phenotypic characters have been associated with fossoriality, but data on larval morphology is scarce. Herein, we describe the buccopharyngeal morphology of two Vitreorana tadpoles and identify putative synapomorphies

Cyprinidae is the predominant and most diverse taxonomic group of freshwater fishes, exhibiting enormous diversity in shape, size and biology. The morphological diversity of Indian Cyprinids especially the Gangetic Cyprinids is largely unquantified. Geometric morphometrics (GM) approach is an efficient tool to quantify overall body shape variations and has wide application in taxonomic, evolutionary

The genus Camelobaetidius is the second most diverse genus of the family Baetidae in America. Also, two other genera were described as closely related to Camelobaetidius: Corinnella, and Tapajobaetis. A peculiar spatulate tarsal claw is the character shared among them. We used TNT (Tree analysis using New Technology) and GEM (Geographically explicit Event Model) to recover the phylogenic and biogeographic

This work represents the first ultrastructural study of the tegument of a freshwater teleost-infecting aporocotylid blood fluke and the first detailed observations of the surface sensory receptors of any aporocotylid. The work was carried out on Sanguinicola inermis from the branchial arteries of the pike, Esox lucius. Light and scanning electron microscopy observations failed to show the presence

The present investigation aims to describe the morphometric and histological features of the skin in the desert hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus). Skin biopsies were harvested from the dorsal, abdominal, labial, and nasal regions to monitor the structural differences. Histologically, the skin followed the general mammalian architectural pattern and was composed of three main layers; epidermis, dermis

Cydianerus latruncularius (Perty, 1832) is a broad-nosed weevil (Entiminae) with South American distribution. In the past few years, some cases were observed where morphological modifications can occur on different populations of widely distributed species in various animal groups, including insects. Currently, geometric morphometrics is one of the most reliable and substantial ways to analyze shape

A loriciferan specimen was found during a survey of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone conducted by Deep Ocean Resources Development Co. Ltd. (Japan). This specimen was extracted from sediment covering the polymetallic nodules collected from the abyssal plain (−5,223 m). Based on the appearance of its annulated buccal tube, branched clavoscalids, and lorica with plates and anterior spikes, it was

Fish sperm morphology is quite diverse. In the last decades our and other studies on Teleostei, mainly on Ostariophysi with emphasis in the Characiformes, have showing that the features of these spermatozoa can be used in phylogenetic analyses. Our purpose in this review is explaining how we can get data from sperm to be used for phylogenetic inference. The shape of the nucleus, midpiece and flagellum;

Although egg-pods and egg morphology represent useful features for phylogenetic purposes, they are less well known in Pamphagidae when compared with other Orthoptera groups of Caelifera, such as Acrididae. Breeding in the lab some specimens of Acinipe deceptoria (Bolívar, 1878) and Acinipe segurensis (Bolívar, 1908), two sympatric species inhabiting the Southeastern Iberian Peninsula, allowed us to

The first phylogenetic analysis of genus Urophonius is performed based on morphological characters. Three monophyletic species groups are recovered. Species of the granulatus species group and Urophonius mondacai have summer or spring activity patterns. The exochus and brachycentrus species groups form a monophyletic group with a winter activity pattern, which is so far unique in scorpions from temperate

A new species of echinoderid kinorhynchs, Echinoderes vulcanicus sp. nov. collected from detritus washed off deep-water sponges collected at the slope of active marine volcano Piip in the Bering Sea, North-West Pacific, is described and illustrated using light and scanning electron microscopy. This new representative of Echinoderes, the most specious kinorhynch genus, is characterized by a unique set

Despite its wide geographical distribution and habit specialization, Blarinomys breviceps is an understudied species. In this work, we analyzed for the first time the intrapopulation variation of the karyotype and cranial measurements of specimens collected in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. We described three new karyotypes with different diploid numbers due to the presence of B chromosomes (2n = 40,

A new species, Neodexiopsis hirsuta sp. nov. (Diptera, Muscidae), from Palmas, Paraná, Brazil, is described and illustrated here. The proboscis and male terminalia are described using ultrastructural morphology. This new species resembles a member of the Scathophagidae, although the male terminalia have a typical Coenosiini morphology. The maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (IB) molecular

The larvae of Ips typographus and Ips subelongatus can cause extensive damage to coniferous trees under their bark, resulting in severe economic losses within the forestry industry. In this study, we analyzed and compared the sensilla on the antennae and mouthparts of the larvae of these two species to identify biology- and taxonomy-related differences using scanning electron microscopy. In general

Melolonthinae are the largest group of scarab beetles, causing destructive damage to human economy for the larvae attacking a wide variety of crops, pastures and turfs. Rhizotrogina are one of the most specious groups, with their larval taxonomy far from satisfactory. In this study, the larvae of Pseudosymmachia tumidifrons and Brahmina faldermanni were studied through rearing and direct observations

The greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), distributed from Europe and Northeast Africa through the temperate regions of Asia to Japan, is regarded as either a single, albeit polytypic, species or as representing a complex of two species, R. ferrumequinum sensu stricto in the western part and R. nippon in the eastern part of the seemingly continuous range. To evaluate patterns of geographic

Fissarcturus argentinensis n. sp. (Valvifera, Isopoda) is described from the Mar del Plata submarine canyon. This species can be separated from other species of the genus by: (1) its medium-sized eyes, (2) the number and arrangement of spines on the body surface, and (3) the pleopod I with the endopod smaller than the exopod and lacking plumose setae on both rami. The distribution of F. patagonicus

The Mediterranean fruit fly or medfly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) is one of the most economically important fruit flies globally. Geometric morphometric methods based on principal component analyses, multivariate regressions and two blocks partial least squares analyses were used in this study to estimate patterns of sexual shape dimorphism and the influence of agroecological factors (weather

The scorpion Tityus bahiensis is the most common scorpion species of medical importance with sexual reproduction in South America. Many of the populations cytogenetically studied so far are polymorphic both for chromosome number and meiotic configuration in males. In this work, we perform cytogenetic analysis of three of the most meridional populations of T. bahiensis occurring in north-eastern Argentina

Giant water bugs (Belostomatidae) have important functions in aquatic ecosystems with wide tropical and subtropical distribution. This study describes the spermatozoa morphology of the predator B. anurum. The spermatozoa have not polymorphism and they are scattered without bundles into the seminal vesicle. The mean length of the spermatozoa is 510 μm, including the 35 μm length of the nucleus, which

Latica galeanoi, the sole species in a new genus within Gnaphosidae, is described from Uruguay and Argentina based on morphological, molecular and biogeographic data. The genus is sister to the rest of the Herpyllinae subfamily. The delimitation of this new genus is supported by various plesiomorphic and synapomorphic characters, which represents homoplasies that allow the genus to be distinguished

Two new genera of Staphylinidae, Inesius gen. nov. (type species Inesius callosipennis (Scheerpeltz)) and the monotypic Rhaegalius gen. nov. (type species Rhaegalius sophia sp. nov.) from the Tropical Andes are described and illustrated using characters of external morphology and male and female genitalia. Philonthus callosipennis Scheerpeltz is transferred to Inesius. Inesius comprises 12 species

Erioscelis emarginata is a species of pollinator scarab beetle whose adults are predominantly associated with night-blooming aroid inflorescences (Araceae) of the Neotropical genus Thaumatophyllum, towards which they are attracted by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is assumed that olfactory preferences towards species-specific floral VOCs emitted by different plant hosts, as well as geographical

The origin of melanism has been often associated with cryptic habits, driven by selection for camouflage, sometimes independently arising in closely related species. Field studies in Atlantic Forest rivers of south-eastern Brazil have indicated the occurrence of three melanic species in the catfish genus Trichomycterus: Trichomycterus immaculatus, Trichomycterus nigricans, and T. quintus Costa sp.

Serpula vermicularis, as with many other serpulid species, is normally found as separate individual tubes. A limited number of exceptions to this have been recorded where S. vermicularis forms isolated vertically oriented ‘reef’-like structures, of agglomerated intertwined tubes, up to ∼35 cm in height. Such reefs have mainly been noted from freshwater influenced sea lochs along the west coast of Ireland

Tardigrades constitute a phylum of cosmopolitan, microscopic invertebrates, capable of withstanding harsh environmental conditions thanks to cryptobiosis. These tiny animals are taxonomically challenging due to the limited number of meaningful morphological traits and morphological stasis. One of the most extreme examples is the order Apochela, in which the morphology is even more simplified and conserved

The two species of rock lizards, Darevsia raddei and Darevskia portschinskii, belong to two different phylogenetic clades of the same genus. They are supposed ancestors for the hybrid parthenogenetic, Darevskia rostombekowi. The present study aims to identify morphological features of these two species and the potential gene introgression between them in the area of sympatry. External morphological

A new species of Capbrya from Brazilian Caatinga is described and illustrated in detail. Capbrya brasiliensis sp. n. is the first record of the genus outside South Africa. We provide the first complete and labelled dorsal chaetotaxy description of the genus including the S-chaetotaxy of tergal segments, and the complete trunk dorsal chaetotaxy of the first instar, described for the first time for the

The Central Ryukyus, a group of islands in southwestern Japan, harbor many endemic reptiles and amphibians, and the geographic ranges of the endemics are limited to south of the Tokara Gap, an old sea strait. Ateuchosaurus pellopleurus is a lizard with an exceptionally wide geographic range that encompasses the Central Ryukyus and north of the Tokara Gap. The intraspecific geographic variation of this

The genus Coenosia Meigen, 1826 (Muscidae: Coenosiinae) is known from all biogeographic regions and is found at high altitudes and in different latitudinal zones. Adults and larvae are predaceous on other insects and some species exhibit sexual dimorphism which can hinder the identification and the association of conspecific specimens. Coenosia inaequalis Malloch, 1934 and Coenosia uniformis Malloch

Molecular and morphological methods are used to describe Lernaeodiscus rybakovi, a new rhizocephalan species parasitizing the porcellanid crab Pachycheles stevensii Stimpson, 1858, collected in Russian waters of the Sea of Japan. Molecular analysis of three species, including the new one, confirms the monophyly of the genus Lernaeodicus Müller, 1862 and its recent transfer to the family Peltogastridae

In a seminal study on elasmobranch systematics, Maisey proposed the monophyly of a large lineage of sharks based primarily on the sharing of an orbitostylic jaw suspension. This group was later redefined as the Squalomorphi, which included Squatinidae but not Batoidea. Subsequent morphological analyses, however, rejected Maisey’s scheme, which was left aside for nearly two decades until the first molecular

Based on the unusual characteristics of the male pedipalp and male genital morphology, a new genus and new species of Gagrellinae harvestmen, Thunbergia gretae n. gen. n. sp. (male and female) from Shaanxi Province, China, is proposed. The tibia and tarsus of the pedipalp form elaborate palpal claws, resembling gaspipe pliers, probably used to grasp the legs or the pedipalps of the female during courtship

The genus Paraba Carbayo et al., 2013 currently includes 16 species of land flatworms, with a distribution restricted to the Brazilian biomes Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado. However, recent ecological studies and inventories carried out in natural areas of southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina indicate the existence of species of the genus that are not yet described. In this study, we describe

Two congeneric species of Japanese field mice, Apodemus speciosus and Apodemus argenteus, differ considerably in their feeding strategies and habitat utilizations. Although both species are omnivorous, previous studies demonstrated that A. argenteus typically eats a wide variety of food items than A. speciosus. Moreover, A. speciosus is a ground dweller, while A. argenteus commonly shows arboreal movements

Camouflaging with crypsis is a known strategy in several invertebrates such as sea urchins, gastropods, crabs, and immature stage of insects. In harvestmen, soil crypsis are used as a defense strategy. The soil particles are attached to their bodies using secretions. Here we investigate this kind of camouflage in the Malagasy endemic genus Ankaratrix. Members of this genus produce a glue layer (= solidifying

Hoverflies (Syrphidae) represent an insect group of great importance in ecosystems and indicators of ecosystem change. The genus Merodon Meigen, 1803 (tribe Merodontini) is one of the most species-rich hoverfly genera, distributed across the Palaearctic and Afrotropical regions. The genus Merodon Meigen, 1803 is less diverse in the Afrotropical Region than in the Palaearctic (11 versus 160 known species)

Sexual dimorphism in snakes has been mainly evaluated for size and number of some morphological traits, but few studies address on sexual shape dimorphism. Here we evaluated the existence of sexual size and shape dimorphism in the semi-fossorial snake Atractus reticulatus. We use linear and geometric morphometrics to evaluate differences between sexes and among different ontogenetic stages (neonates

Based on a quantitative mathematical revolution, the study of morphology has had an important emphasis by developing statistical shape analysis. This made possible the combination of multivariate statistical methods and new ways to visualize a morphological structure. Patterns of allometry (shape influence on size) in sexual and non-sexual traits were examined in adults of Cicindelidia trifasciata

The nymphs of three species of Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Dipsocoromorpha, Ceratocombus (Ceratocombus) coleoptratus (Zetterstedt), Ceratocombus (Xylonannus) brevipennis Poppius (Ceratocombidae) and Pachycoleus pusillimus (J. Sahlberg) (Dipsocoridae) are described and illustrated. Keys to species and to nymphal instars are provided. Ontogeny of several morphological features, life cycle, habitats and food

Species of the genus Mesobiotus are some of the most often recorded eutardigrades throughout the world. The majority of Mesobiotus species have been described based on morphology of the eggs, which is the most important character in this genus, from the taxonomic point of view. In this paper, we analysed in detail the morphology of eggs, oral cavity armature and claws in all known Mesobiotus species

Acanthiophilus and Tephritomyia are medium-sized genera in the family Tephritidae. Both exclusively infest plants of the tribe Cardueae and share several morphological characters. Although both were recently revised based on morphological characters, the phylogenetic relationships between these genera and between them and allied genera in the ‘Tephritis group’ remain unclear because no comprehensive

While the morphology of the adhesive system of geckos has been investigated predominantly in a single species, the tokay Gekko gecko (Linnaeus, 1758), compared to that, there is still the need to examine those traits in a broad diversity of gecko species. Here we focus on the Asian representatives of eublepharid geckos, as a closely related group within Gekkota, and study the anatomy of micro-ornamentation

The larva