Taxonomy, Volume 5, Issue 4 (December 2025) – 10 articles

In Yucatán state, Mexico, Triatoma dimidiata (Latreille, 1811) is the primary vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease. The vector population presents diverse forms and colorations. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the morphotypes of T. dimidiata based on the taxonomy of the body and external genitalia. Between March 2023 and April 2025, 902 triatomines from 15 municipalities were examined. Three main morphotypes were characterized (I to III). Morphotype II was the most abundant (62.86%) and most distributed in the study area (12 of 15 municipalities), with a notable presence in forests and caves. Morphotypes I and III were found primarily outside houses and in chicken coops. Within the characterized specimens of T. dimidiata sensu lato, morphotype II displays more prominent morphological and structural characteristics. They are smaller compared to morphotypes I and III. In morphotype II, the spiracles are covered by a black spot that extends from the connexival plate to the urosternites. Males had short and robust parameres. The median process of the pygophore is long and slender compared to morphotypes I and III. The female tergite VIII has six sides. The taxonomy should be complemented by a study of the life cycle of each morphotype and analysis of its genome. Full article

The Philippines and the Papuan archipelagos harbor a vast diversity of pygmy grasshoppers, including the pygmy devils of the genera Xistra and Tegotettix, as well as visually similar taxa reviewed in this study. A new tribe, two new genera, a new subgenus, three new species, and 24 new or resurrected taxonomic combinations are proposed in this study. A new colorful wingless genus and species, Almacris alleochroa gen. et sp. nov., is described from Mindanao. Taxonomic reshuffling of the genus Xistra is performed—a new subgenus is described, Tegoxistra subgen. nov., to include X. derijei, X. corniculata, and X. cristifera, while the nominotypical subgenus becomes restricted to X. gogorzae and X. sagittaria. All other species previously assigned to Xistra are herewith moved to Xistrella, resulting in 20 new combinations. The genus Ginixistra gen. nov. (Exanimini)—whose members show remarkable similarity to Fiji-endemic Fijixistra—is described for G. novaeguineae, G. davorkae sp. nov., and G. novaebritanniae sp. nov. from New Guinea and New Britain. The new tribe Xistrellini trib. nov. is established to accommodate Afrosystolederus, Bannatettix, Kanakacris, Phaesticus, Pseudoparatettix, Pseudosystolederus, Pseudoxistrella, Synalibas, Systolederus, Teredorus, and Xistrella. Previous molecular phylogenetic studies have confirmed Xistrellini monophyly and suggested that the ancestor of this tribe may have originated during the Cretaceous period, approximately 127–100 million years ago (mya). Full article

Heliaster has long been considered to comprise seven nominal species of starfish distributed across the Eastern Pacific, from Baja California (Mexico) southward to central Chile. Along the southeastern Pacific coast, three taxa have been traditionally recognized: H. helianthus (Paita, northern Peru, to Concepción, central-southern Chile), H. polybrachius (Mexico to Perú), and H. canopus (Juan Fernández Archipelago and Desventuradas Islands). However, extensive morphological overlap among these forms has cast doubt on the validity of H. canopus, with some authors treating it as a synonym for H. helianthus. To clarify this ambiguity, we applied an integrative framework combining detailed morphometrics, phylogenetic inference from mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (H3) markers, and two species delimitation approaches (bPTP and ASAP). Our sampling spanned Peru, continental Chile, and the oceanic islands of Juan Fernández and Desventuradas. Variation in ray number and relative arm length among H. helianthus, H. canopus, and H. polybrachius proved allometric, scaling strongly with body diameter rather than indicating discrete species boundaries. Molecular data show >95% sequence similarity across all nominal taxa and recover a single, well-supported clade; bPTP and ASAP likewise support one Heliaster lineage throughout the southeastern Pacific, corresponding to H. helianthus. Accordingly, we redescribe H. helianthus, designate a neotype from Quintay, Chile, and formally synonymize H. canopus and H. polybrachius under H. helianthus. Our results indicate that a single species spans the Eastern Pacific from Ecuador and Peru to central-southern Chile, including offshore islands, underscoring the value of integrative taxonomy for robust delimitation and accurate biodiversity assessments in marine invertebrates. Full article

Based on external morphology, genital anatomy, and a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, we identified two veronicellid slug species from Chiapas, Mexico: Simrothula prismatica (Simroth, 1914) and Diplosolenodes occidentalis (Guilding, 1824), both newly recorded in the country. The available molecular data supported the identification of D. occidentalis, a species with a documented invasive history in various tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Although no sequences were available for S. prismatica, the genital anatomy of the specimens was consistent with the original species description. These findings underscore the need for more comprehensive molecular reference databases and continued biomonitoring of veronicellid slugs in Mexico, given their potential ecological and agricultural impacts. These new records increase the known diversity of the group to five species in the country. Full article

A remarkable new pholcid spider species is described from the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Smeringopina polychila sp. nov. The male is distinguished by a unique and previously undocumented structure, here termed the “parachila”, which has not been observed in any other spider to date. The description is complemented by high-quality illustrations, including detailed drawings, photographs, micro-CT scans, and 3D reconstructions of the genitalia and the newly discovered male structure. Remarkable intraspecific variations, both somatic and genitalic, in males are also highlighted and discussed. A phylogenetic analysis based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 16S ribosomal RNA and histone H3 gene fragments is presented to tentatively place the new species into an existing phylogenetic framework. The results of the molecular analyses confirm that the new species belongs to the subfamily Smeringopinae and is nested within the genus Smeringopina Kraus, 1957. Full article

A new species of Choreutidae, Tebenna acanthophallus sp. nov., from the Huasco Province, Chile, is described. Diagnostic characters, photographs of adults and illustrations of wing venation and genital structures are provided. The new species is supported by morphological and molecular analyses. This finding provides evidence that the family Choreutidae has species native to Chile, and its presence is not the result of introductions from other countries. Full article

The Neotropical region is recognized as the center of diversification of Phalangopsidae. The true extent of this diversity, however, remains understudied, reinforcing the need for further taxonomic investigations. In this study, we describe Igatuia cavernicola gen. et sp. nov., a new genus and species from caves in Igatu village, Chapada Diamantina, central Bahia state, Brazil. The genus is distinguished by unique morphological traits, including ectophallic apodemes with an expanded apex, bearing a ring of minute pores and an inner canal that opens into the ectophallic arc. This description advances our knowledge of subterranean fauna in the region and contributes to a broader understanding of Phalangopsidae cricket diversity in the Neotropics. We also report new records of Sishiniheia, including the first occurrence of the genus in a cave. Full article

The recent update to the list of European herpetofauna species, published in 2020, includes 206 non-avian reptile species. The steppe ribbon racer, Psammophis lineolatus, is a snake species widely distributed across the deserts and semi-deserts of Central Asia and neighboring regions. Previously unrecorded in Europe, two specimens were discovered west of the Ural River during surveys in western Kazakhstan’s northeastern Caspian region. This is the first record of the species in Europe and marks its most northwestern distribution. DNA barcoding analysis revealed substantial mitochondrial diversity in the region, with European specimens having distinct haplotypes (0.73% p-distance), indicating colonization by two different phylogenetic lineages. This discovery highlights the need for further research on the P. lineolatus intraspecific diversity, phylogeography, and taxonomy. Full article

One new species of Laboulbeniaceae, Peyritschiella styngeti, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by appendages with a black constriction at the base, perithecia with four papillae on the apical zone, cruciform bilateral symmetry, and an extremely melanized receptacle. This species was observed on the stylus of the staphylinid Styngetus deyrollei, which is distributed in tropical montane cloud forests in Mexico. Currently, the Laboulbeniales mycobiota in Mexico comprises 82 species, with 11 described growing on species of the Staphylinidae family. Additionally, a compilation of the Laboulbeniales species reported for Mexico and for Staphylinidae species is presented. Full article

Heptophylla gongshana Bezděk & Král, n. sp. from Yunnan, China, is described. The new species, conspicuous in the genus Heptophylla Motschulsky, 1858, by its black body and octomerous antennal club in males, is compared with similar congeners. An iconography including the male genitalia of the new species and the type material of the Heptophyllini taxa described by You-Wei Zhang and found in the Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, is provided. An updated checklist of Heptophyllini (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) is presented, and the validity of the tribe is discussed. Full article