Drepanosticta emtrai sp. nov. is described from Vietnam (holotype male Ha Tinh Province, 9 vi 2015, to be deposited in RMNH). The new species is allied to D. carmichaeli (Laidlaw, 1915) and a number of other species of Drepanosticta including D. vietnamica Asahina, 1997. New illustrations of the paratype of D. vietnamica are provided and the species is discussed. The Drepanosticta carmichaeli-group, to which the above mentioned species belong, is defined and discussed.
A new genus of Winnertziini (Cecidomyiidae: Winnertziinae) named Bernadottea gen. nov. is introduced to absorb four new species from various different parts of the Old World: B. natalensis sp. nov. from South Africa, B. honshuensis sp. nov. from Japan, and B. pahangensis sp. nov. and B. selangorensis sp. nov. from Malaysia. Bernadottea are distinguished from previously known Winnertziini by the unusually complex genitalia of males, and from most members of this tribe by the absence of the fourth medial vein (M4). Another feature of Bernadottea is their rare occurrence in samples of Winnertziini taken by hand or by traps, a circumstance presumably expressing their scarcity in nature, at least at ground level. The new taxa are described based on the morphology of males, while females and larvae remain unknown.
The genus Molpa Walker was previously considered to be disjunctly distributed in broad-leaf rain forests in India and Malaysia. Here we report one new species Molpa dulongensis sp. nov. from subtropic broad-leaf rain forests in southwestern Yunnan Province in China. This is a part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot area. So we can infer that Molpa is continuously distributed in broad-leaf rain forests found in Oriental Region. Redescription of the genus Molpa and description of the new species Molpa dulongensis sp. nov. are provided. The types are deposited in Insect Collection of Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (IZCAS).
Eutropis rugifera has long been identified as a widespread species complex distributed in Nicobar, Peninsular Malaysia, Greater Sundaic Islands, Bali, Sulawesi and the Philippines. This skink was described by Stoliczka in 1870 from Nicobar Island based on a single specimen (holotype by monotypy). Later, Peters (1871), Bartlett (1895) and Werner (1896) described three more species which were morphologically similar to Euprepes percarinatus (from Java), Mabuia rubricollis (Borneo) and M. quinquecarinata (Sumatra) respectively, which are currently considered junior objective synonyms of Eutropis rugifera. We examined all the available synonym types and voucher specimens of Eutropis rugifera deposited at several museums. A morphological examination of the types of this species and mtDNA analysis (584 bp of 16S rRNA) of the samples from different biogeographic regions revealed that Eutropis rugifera from Nicobar Island, Bali Island, and Bawean Island are composed of a monophyletic species. However, the taxonomic status of the above population requires further clarification, and the population in Bawean Island may represent a cryptic species. Finally, we provide a complete redescription of E. rugifera based on its holotype.
A new species of the genus Tropidophorus is described from Putai, upper Baleh, Kapit districts, Sarawak, East Malaysia (Borneo). Tropidophorus sebi sp. nov. is diagnosable from congeners from Borneo by the combination of the following characters: head shields present, dorsal and lateral scales smooth; parietal scales in two pairs; supraciliaries eight; supraoculars four; supralabials seven; infralabials four; postmental undivided; longitudinal scale rows 58; ventrals 53; transverse scale rows at midbody 34; subcaudals 98; preanals enlarged, single; and subdigital lamellae of Toe IV 19. In addition, we determine the phylogenetic position of this species within the Tropidophorus group based on mitochondrial markers, and present a key to identification of the known Bornean species in the genus.
The leafhopper subfamily Idiocerinae is revised for Malaysia. Thirteen genera and 17 species are recognized including 1 new genus, Serridiocerus n. gen., 2 new species, Serridiocerus membranaceus n. sp. and Burmascopus longidens n. sp., 3 newly recorded genera and 2 newly recorded species: Burmascopus n. rec., Chunra n. rec., Philipposcopus n. rec., Chunra australis n. rec., Philipposcopus maquilingensis n. rec.. A checklist and a key to species of Malaysian Idiocerinae are also provided.
The higher-level taxonomy of the stingrays (Dasyatidae) has never been comprehensively reviewed. Recent phylogenetic studies, supported by morphological data, have provided evidence that the group is monophyletic and consists of four major subgroups, the subfamilies Dasyatinae, Neotrygoninae, Urogymninae and Hypolophinae. A morphologically based review of 89 currently recognised species, undertaken for a guide to the world's rays, indicated that most of the currently recognised dasyatid genera are not monophyletic groups. These findings were supported by molecular analyses using the NADH2 gene for about 77 of these species, and this topology is supported by preliminary analyses base on whole mitochondrial genome comparisons. These molecular analyses, based on data generated from the Chondrichthyan Tree of Life project, are the most taxon-rich data available for this family. Material from all of the presently recognised genera (Dasyatis, Pteroplatytrygon and Taeniurops [Dasyatinae]; Neotrygon and Taeniura [Neotrygoninae]; Himantura and Urogymnus [Urogymninae]; and Makararaja and Pastinachus [Hypolophinae]), are included and their validity largely supported. Urogymnus and the two most species rich genera, Dasyatis and Himantura, are not considered to be monophyletic and were redefined based on external morphology. Seven new genus-level taxa are erected (Megatrygon and Telatrygon [Dasyatinae]; Brevitrygon, Fluvitrygon, Fontitrygon, Maculabatis and Pateobatis [Urogymninae], and an additional three (Bathytoshia, Hemitrygon and Hypanus [Dasyatinae]) are resurrected from the synonymy of Dasyatis. The monotypic genus Megatrygon clustered with 'amphi-American Himantura' outside the Dasyatidae, and instead as the sister group of the Potamotrygonidae and Urotrygonidae. Megatrygon is provisionally retained in the Dasyatinae pending further investigation of its internal anatomy. The morphologically divergent groups, Bathytoshia and Pteroplatytrygon, possibly form a single monophyletic group so further investigation is needed to confirm the validity of Pteroplatytrygon. A reclassification of the family Dasyatidae is provided and the above taxa are defined based on new morphological data.
The net-winged beetle genus Alyculus Kasantsev is reported from Peninsular Malaysia for the first time and a new species, A. malaypeninsularis sp. nov., is described and illustrated. An expanded identification key to Alyculus males is provided and the biology and distribution of the species are discussed.
Lomanius annae sp. nov. is described from southern Vietnam. The species is characterized by the greatly developed dorso-basal process on cheliceral hand of males and by the partial effacement of all mesotergal grooves. The genus Lomanius contains four generic synonyms and currently comprises eight valid species distributed in China, Java, peninsular Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan. The new species displays a general morphology similar to the former genus Paralomanius, with a combination of sexually dimorphic interocular mound (which is very large and strongly leaned back in males) and pedipalpus (which is extremely elongate in males). This morphological suite of features is herein called facies reclinobunoides. The replacement name Metibalonius triceratops nom. nov. is proposed for Trispinibunus abnormis Roewer, 1915, which is a junior secondary homonym of Ibalonius abnormis Strand, 1911. Finally, numerous morphological structures found in Podoctidae are recognized and named: (1) the cheliceral comb, present on cheliceral fingers, (2) the chained tubercular ridges, present on dorsal scutum and (3) several others related to the ocular region. The distribution of these two structures among podoctid species is not fully known, but both are absent in the former Ibaloniinae. We suggest that both structures may be useful to define supra-generic groups in the clade composed of the former Podoctinae and Erecananinae.
Two new species and one subspecies of the genus Cechetra Zolotuhin Ryabov, 2012 are described from South-East Asia. Cechetra bryki sp.n. is described from Nepal, Myanmar (Burma), southwestern China and northern Vietnam. This species is most closely related in habitus, male genitalia morphology and COI mtDNA to the sympatric species, C. lineosa (Walker, 1856) and C. scotti (Rothschild, 1920) in habitus, male genitalia morphology and COI mtDNA. Cechetra inconspicua sp.n. is described from Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. In habitus, it is closest to C. lineosa and C.subangustata (Rothschild, 1920), but its COI mtDNA (COI-5P "barcode region") is very different from all other species in the genus. Cechetra subangustata continentalis ssp.n. is described from continental Indochina and Taiwan. It differs from the nominotypical subspecies in habitus. Cechetra scotti comb. nov. is transferred to Cechetra from Cechenena Rothschild Jordan, 1903.
Five species of the genus Polyonyx Stimpson, 1858 are reported from southern Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Peninsular Malaysia. All of them belong to the P. sinensis group, which is morphologically defined by having the dactyli of the ambulatory legs each with the dorsal claw being much smaller than the ventral claw. Two species are described as new to science, one each from Peninsular Malaysia and the Ryukyu Islands in Japan, and their affinities are discussed. Polyonyx boucheti Osawa, 2007, P. heok Osawa Ng, 2016, and P. thai Werding, 2001, are also newly reported from southern Japan, the Philippines, and Singapore. A key to the Indo-West Pacific species of the P. sinensis group is provided.
This paper reports a new weevil genus Devernodes gen. n. established for five new species from Southeast Asia: D. alkippe sp. n. (China: Mt. Emei), D. asteria sp. n. (Vietnam: Tam Dao), D. chthonia sp. n. (Vietnam: Tam Dao; the type species), D. drimo sp. n. (Malaysia: Pasoh Forest Reserve) and D. methone sp. n. (Malaysia: Tanah Rata). All Devernodes are wingless and inhabit the forest leaf litter. Adult Devernodes share a combination of two head characters unique among weevils in Asia: antenna with apparently unsegmented club and 6-segmented antennal funicle, as well as strong constriction separating the eye-bearing rostrum from the head capsule. To test monophyly and investigate phylogenetic relationships of Devernodes, Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analysis was undertaken using parts of mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear ribosomal (28S) genes, as well as the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) from 14 Devernodes and 55 outgroup Curculionidae specimens. Results strongly corroborated monophyly of Devernodes and did not suggest its realistic sister-group. The new genus is assigned to the molytine tribe Lymantini (not represented in the DNA analysis) based on two potential synapomorphies: head markedly constricted behind eyes and presence of undivided female hemisternites IX (= "merged coxite and stylus"). Thus interpreted, Devernodes is the twelfth nominal genus of Lymantini and the first record of the tribe outside of the Americas. All original data (localities, DNA sequences, specimen images) are available online in public datasets dx.doi.org/10.5883/DS-DEVERNO1 and dx.doi.org/10.5883/DS-DEVERNO2.
The genus Systaria Simon 1897 is reviewed in Southeast Asia and eight new species are described: S. lannops spec. nov. from Thailand (female), S. longinqua spec. nov. (male, female) and S. luangprabang spec. nov. (female) from Laos, S. procera spec. nov. (male, female) and S. bregibec spec. nov. (male) from Cambodia, S. bifidops spec. nov. from Malaysia (male), S. panay spec. nov. (female) and S. princesa spec. nov. (male, female) from Philippines. S. elberti (Strand 1913) is illustrated and partly re-described. Informal groups of species are proposed for the first time. Distribution ranges and habitat preferences are mapped.
Platiana Schimmel, 1993 is a moderately large genus in Dimini endemic to South East Asia. Hitherto only four species of this genus were known from Peninsular Malaysia. Here, we describe and figure Platiana cechovskyi sp. nov. from the Cameron Highlands. This species is characteristic by its relatively small body, dark coloration, and strongly serrate antennae which are rarely encountered in Dimini. An identification key to the Platiana species from Peninsular Malaysia as well as a distribution map for all known species are provided.
This paper presents a taxonomic revision of 28 described species of the genus Sirthenea Spinola, 1837 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Peiratinae) distributed in the Afrotropical, Oriental, Palearctic, Oceanian and Australian zoogeographical regions. The following new synonymies are proposed: Sirthenea africana Distant, 1903 = S. rapax Horváth, 1909, syn. nov. = S. leonina Horváth, 1909, syn. nov. = S. bequaerti Schouteden, 1913, syn. nov. = S. leontovitchi Schouteden, 1931, syn. nov.; Sirthenea picescens Reuter, 1887 = S. atrocyanea Horváth, 1909, syn. nov.; S. rodhaini Schouteden, 1913 = S. collarti Schouteden, 1931, syn. nov. = S. angolana Villiers, 1958, syn. nov.; S. flavipes (Stål, 1855) = S. clavata Miller, 1948, syn. nov. = S. bharati Sucheta Chopra, 1988, syn. nov. = S. koreana Kerzhner Lee, 1996 syn. nov. = S. melanota Cai Lu, 1990, syn. nov. = S. nigripes Murugan Livingstone, 1990, syn. nov.; S. obscura (Stål, 1866) = S. glabra (Walker, 1873), syn. nov. A neotype is designated for S. picescens Reuter, 1887. Three species, S. erythromelas (Walker 1873), S. fulvipennis (Walker, 1873) and S. sobria (Walker, 1873), are excluded from the genus Sirthenea. Two new species from the Oriental Region, S. kali sp. nov. (India) and S. setosa sp. nov. (Malaysia) are described. Identification keys are provided for the subgenera and species from each zoogeographical region treated. Drawings of dorsal habitus and genitalic structures, drawings and images of selected morphological characters, and distribution maps of all valid species are presented.
The pselaphine genus Sathytes Westwood is represented in Borneo by a single species. In this paper we describe four new species: S. borneoensis sp. nov., S. liuyei sp. nov., S. larifuga sp. nov., and S. shihongliangi sp. nov. All new species were collected by light traps in Sabah, and show unique combinations of male sexual characters that lead to ready species discriminations. A key to Sathytes species from Borneo is appended.
We collected a specimen of a scincid lizard of Larutia Böhme, 1981 from the edge of a primary forest on Gunung Penrissen, Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. The single specimen of the new species differs from all other known congeners by the molecular divergence in the mitochondrial ND1 gene and morphological characters including small adult body size (SVL 84 mm); 22 longitudinal scale rows around midbody; first pair of chinshields contacting second infralabial; second pair of chinshields separated from infralabials by an elongated scale; two subdigital lamellae on second toe; and body without yellow or pale bands or spots. It is the ninth species described in the genus and the second species of Larutia in Borneo.
The island of Borneo lies within one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. Despite this, its documented gekkonid diversity is not commensurate with other areas of Southeast Asia. The megadiverse genus Cyrtodactylus is especially underrepresented. Limestone-karst ecosystems, in particular, harbor many endemic Cyrtodactylus species, but only one karst-dwelling species is currently recognized from Borneo. This paper adds two additional karst-dwelling Cyrtodactylus species-C. muluensis sp. nov. and C. limajalur sp. nov.-from Sarawak, Malaysia. Cyrtodactylus muluensis sp. nov. is endemic to Gunung Mulu and is distinguished from its congeners by having a precloacal groove, 31-38 ventral scales, a maximum SVL of at least 88 mm, enlarged subcaudals, 19-20 subdigital lamellae, and a banded dorsal body pattern. Cyrtodactylus limajalur sp. nov. is endemic to the Serian region and is distinguished from its congeners by having 33-42 ventral scales, enlarged subcaudals, a precloacal pit, a maximum SVL of at least 94 mm, 5-6 enlarged femoral scales, 19-22 subdigital lamellae, and five distinct bands on the dorsum. Both species are phylogenetically distinct and deeply divergent from all other congeners. The description of two new karst-dwelling species highlights the need to conserve karst habitats and the endemic species they harbor.
Three species new to science of the Gryllid subfamilies Gryllinae and Pteroplistinae are described from Brunei: (1) Mimicogryllus splendens Tan, Gorochov Wahab, sp. nov., (2) Pteroplistes bruneiensis Tan, Gorochov Wahab, sp. nov., and (3) Tembelingiola belaitensis Tan, Gorochov Wahab, sp. nov. A new species of cricket of the subfamily Phaloriinae is also described from Sandakan, eastern Sabah: Vescelia sepilokensis Tan, Gorochov, Japir Chung, sp. nov.