Zootaxa

**Morphological and genetic analysis of Sulawesi Rhacophorus and description of a fourth species endemic to the island**

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +1300

A new species of tree frog of the genus Rhacophorus is described from two different localities on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. The new species is divergent morphologically and genetically, and is deeply nested within the monophyletic group of endemic Sulawesian Rhacophorus comprising R. edentulus, R. georgii, and R. monticola. The new species has a combination of distinctive morphological characteristics that distinguishes it from other Rhacophorus species, including from other Sulawesian Rhacophorus: medium size SVL 40.4–44.6 mm in males; 48.1–54.2 mm in females, males have sloped snout in lateral view, presence of vomerine teeth, absence of a bony crest in the occipital region of the skull, dorsal skin coarsely granular with white-tipped keratinized asperities, flank with white blotched pattern, dermal flaps absent on limbs, heel without dermal appendage, and tuberculate cloaca. The discovery of the new species enhances knowledge of the diversity of endemic Sulawesian amphibians and requires future conservation efforts, especially in light of ongoing threats such as agricultural expansion.

New species of Elaphidiini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae) from Mexico and Central America, and new records in Cerambycidae and Disteniidae

DANIEL HEFFERN, ANTONIO SANTOS-SILVA — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +1300

Five new species are described in Elaphidiini: Aneflomorpha spinifera sp. nov., from Mexico (Jalisco); Aneflomorpha makra sp. nov., from Mexico (Oaxaca); Aneflomorpha guatemalana sp. nov., from Guatemala; Aneflomorpha gracilenta sp. nov., from Mexico (Oaxaca); and Aneflus macraei sp. nov., from Mexico (Oaxaca). Additionally, new records are provided for: Susuacanga marcelae Botero, 2015 (Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae, Eburiini), with the female illustrated for the first time; Ameriphoderes cribricollis (Bates, 1892) (Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae, Rhinotragini); Spinestoloides hefferni Santos-Silva, Wappes & Galileo, 2018 (Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Desmiphorini), with the male illustrated for the first time; and Novantinoe solisi Santos-Silva & Hovore, 2007 (Disteniidae, Disteniinae).

**A new species of lowland karst-dwelling Slender Gecko Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from a karstic archipelago in western Cambodia**

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +1300

A new species of gekkonid lizard is described from Phnom Khpoh, an isolated karstic hill within an extensive karstic archipelago in Battambang Province, western Cambodia. Phylogenetic analysis using a 1041 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial gene ND2 recovered Hemiphyllodactylus khpoh sp. nov. as the sister species of H. pardalis, found 335 km to the west in southern Thailand. Analyses of meristic, morphometric, and categorical characters of morphology and color pattern differentiated H. khpoh sp. nov. from both the morphologically distinct H. pardalis and the very similar Hemiphyllodactylus sp. from Phnom Kulen, approximately 130 km to the northeast in Siem Reap Province. The statistical morphological analyses and comparisons also showed that H. khpoh sp. nov. is well-differentiated from the recently described H. bokor and H. samkos from the nearby Cardamom Mountains as well from species in clade 6—a recently designated lineage from China, Laos, and Vietnam to which H. khpoh sp. nov. + H. pardalis compose the sister lineage. The discovery of H. khpoh sp. nov. highlights the rich but understudied biodiversity of karstic landscapes, emphasizing the need for continued research in the extensive unexplored karstic archipelago of western Cambodia. This region is poised to reveal unparalleled gekkonid diversity, comparable to that observed in the similarly sized karstic archipelago of the Salween Basin in southern Myanmar. Although karstic landscapes are proving to be some of the most biodiverse habitats on the planet, less than 1% of them are afforded any formal protection.

**Validation of Icelus crassus Andriashev (Cottiformes: Cottidae), described from the Sea of Okhotsk**

NATALIA CHERNOVA, YOSHIAKI KAI, ANNA ZORINA — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +1300

The validity of the Stocky Sculpin Icelus crassus Andriashev, described from the Sea of Okhotsk, was confirmed following examination of the type series; the species having been previously considered a synonym of I. ochotensis Schmidt. Although both species belong to the “I. bicornis” (sensu Nelson 1984) species group, having suborbital spines and additional rows of scales on the body absent (excluding dorsal-row and lateral-line scales), and fine marginal serrations on the dorsal-row scales rather than sharp single spines, I. crassus differs from the type series of I. ochotensis in the absence of parietal spines (vs. present), supraorbital cirri present as expanding, distally branched laminae (vs. simple barbels), dorsal scale row incomplete anteriorly (vs. complete, reaching head); and lateral-line scales serrated below each sensory canal pore (vs. embedded in skin below each pore, usually with no more than 1–2 spinules). Meristic characters of I. crassus, similar to other species of the “I. bicornis” group, include 38–41 vertebrae, IX 18–20 dorsal-fin rays, 15 or 16 anal-fin rays, 17–19 pectoral-fin rays, 41–43 lateral-line scales, 25–31 dorsal-line scales, and 10–17 axillary scales. The urogenital papilla is cylindrical (not spatulate), with a short, claw-like terminal appendage. The holotype is found in ZIN collection, No. 21900, adult male TL 106 mm. Icelus crassus has been recorded in the Sea of Okhotsk and Sea of Japan (Strait of Tartary) 97–327 m depth; near bottom, water temperatures range from -0.7°C to 2.15°C.

**Integrative supporting techniques for the taxonomy of Schistorchis carneus Lühe, 1906 (Digenea: Megaperidae) with perspective for the existence of species complexes**

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +1300

The morphology and host-parasite data of Schistorchis carneus Lühe, 1906 indicate low host specificity and geographical range variation, accompanied by a large scale of intraspecific variability and ambiguous molecular phylogeny, confusing in determining biodiversity extent and specificity to a particular host and/or locality. To address the challenging circumstances of records of S. carneus, a detailed morphological description, molecular characterization and species delimitation analyses were conducted using a combination of comparative morphology, molecular phylogeny, multivariate analyses, and host-parasite data. Several morphological features exhibited an extensive intra-variation, as well as a wide morphometric range in many measurements within and across records. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the classification of schistorchiines is highly correlated with the morphology/nature of the oral sucker and highlighted the limitations of ribosomal 28S rDNA and ITS2 rDNA in distinguishing morphologically close/related taxa. Species delimitation analyses reflected the critical importance of host distinction in schistorchiines recognition/differentiation, even those that are indistinct morphologically. The clustering of schistorchiines into certain groups was driven by host differences. Additionally, host variation typically corresponds to a distinct schistorchiine species, even if it is morphologically identical to another. Cluster analysis associated with host-parasite data revealed high morphometric convergence and significant diversity among Egyptian and Sri-Lankan records of S. carneus. It also confirmed the distinction between Indian records from the Bay of Bengal and those from the Gulf of Mannar (previously mentioned as Manaar), each in their own distant group. In conclusion, the records of S. carneus represent a repository for a group of closely related cryptic species. The restricted concept of S. carneus should include only records from the white-spotted puffer, Arothron hispidus (Linnaeus) and the stellate puffer, Arothron stellatus (Anonymous). The Australian specimens from the narrow-lined puffer, Arothron manilensis (Marion de Procé) and the Indian record from the lunartail puffer, Lagocephalus lunaris (Bloch & Schneider) likely represent a free-standing cryptic species with limited distribution, requiring further characterization.

**Deep-sea anemones (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) from off the northeastern coast of Brazil: new records and description of Stephanauge prima sp. nov.**

ALESSANDRA K. G. TARGINO, YAGO A. DE MELO, PAULA B. GOMES — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +1300

Deep-sea anemones (order Actiniaria) are a diverse group of cnidarians found in basically all marine habitats, from soft sediments to hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. From the waters of Brazil, in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, the deep actinian fauna has been described to encompass 14 sea anemones species, belonging to three families: Hormathiidae, Amphianthidae and Actinoscyphiidae. Here we analyze material trawled from the Potiguar Basin, off the northeast coast of Brazil. We provide new occurrence records for Chondrophellia coronata (Verrill, 1883), Actinoscyphia saginata (Verrill, 1882), Amphianthus bathybium Hertwig, 1882, and Amphianthus michaelsarsi Carlgren, 1934. We also describe a new Amphianthidae species, Stephanauge prima sp. nov. This increases the total number of deep actinians found in Brazil to 17 and provides context for discussing the representativeness of these families and the potential richness of Actiniaria in deep Brazilian waters.

Oligodon cicadophagus, a new kukri snake from southern peninsular Thailand (Squamata: Colubridae)

OLIVIER S. G. PAUWELS, NATTASUDA DONBUNDIT, MONTRI SUMONTHA, WORAWITOO MEESOOK — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +1300

We describe a new kukri snake, Oligodon cicadophagus sp. nov., from the limestone reliefs of the Phuket Mountain Range in Krabi and Phang-Nga provinces in southern peninsular Thailand. A member of the Oligodon cinereus group, it can be distinguished from all other congeneric species by the combination of its maximal known snout-vent length of 537 mm; 11 maxillary teeth; eight supralabials; one preocular and one presubocular; 17-17-15 dorsal scale rows; 159–168 ventrals, and 50 subcaudals in males; a single anal scale; hemipenes bilobed with large broad lobes, no distinct flounced calyces and unforked sulcus spermaticus; dorsal surface of head, body and tail uniformly olive-gray, without nuchal chevron, dorsal stripes, crossbands, blotches or reticulations; and a venter cream anteriorly turning to dark gray posteriorly.

**Submarine cave sponges of the genus Rhabderemia (Demospongiae, Biemnida, Rhabderemiidae) from the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan: rediscovery of R. forcipula and description of a new species**

YUJI ISE, RIE TAJIRI, MASARU MIZUYAMA, YOSHIHISA FUJITA — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +1300

Two species of Rhabderemia, R. ginamaensis sp. nov. and R. forcipula (Lévi & Lévi, 1989), are reported from submarine anchialine caves of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Rhabderemia ginamaensis sp. nov., collected from the submarine cave of Ginama, Okinawa Island, differs from other congeners by its thinly encrusting morphology and the presence of microxea. Rhabderemia forcipula (Lévi & Lévi, 1989), once collected from the mesophotic zone of the Philippine Sea, was rediscovered for the first time since its original description in the dark nearshore submarine cave of Shimoji Island, Miyako Island Group. The species is characterized by a plumo-reticulate skeleton and spiculation: rhabdostyles, rugose microstyles, and sigmoid microscleres in two size classes, the larger ones being spirosigma and thraustosigma. A redescription of the type specimen and a detailed description of the newly collected specimens are provided to understand the morphological variation of the spicules, and to confirm the conspecificity of the type specimen and the submarine cave specimens. The two species, R. ginamaensis sp. nov. and R. forcipula are a new record of Rhabderemia and the family Rhabderemiidae from Japan, and the first report of Rhabderemia from submarine anchialine caves in the Indo-West Pacific. In addition, R. forcipula is the first species of the genus to be found from both a submarine cave and a mesophotic zone in the Indo-West Pacific.

**Description of a new subspecies of Pseudostrangalia cruentata (Haldeman, 1847) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lepturinae) from the United States of America**

DANIEL HEFFERN, ANTONIO SANTOS-SILVA — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +1300

A new subspecies of Pseudostrangalia cruentata (Haldeman, 1847) is described from the state of Texas, United States of America. Some biological information about the new subspecies is provided.

Holothuria (Selenkothuria) parva Krauss (in Lampert, 1885) (Holothuroidea: Holothuriida: Holothuriidae), new addition to the holothuroid fauna of Pakistan

QURATULAN AHMED, QADEER MOHAMMAD ALI, IQRA SHAIKH, AHMED THANDAR — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +1300

This paper provides the first record of Holothuria (Selenkothuria) parva Krauss (in Lamper, 1885) from the intertidal zone in Balochistan, Pakistan, on the northern shores of the Arabian Sea. We present a comprehensive description of this known species, illustrating its gross morphological characters and recording its habitat and expanding its known distribution now covering the western coastline of Pakistan its known distribution now covering also the western coastline of Pakistan. Identified specimens are deposited in the Marine Reference Collection and Resource Centre, University of Karachi (Cat. no. MRC&RC-UOK-Holo 27).

Corrections for grammatical agreement in Ophiodermatidae

RICHARD LITTAUER — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +1300