Gulella menkeana (Pfeiffer, 1853) is the type species of the highly diverse genus Gulella Pfeiffer, 1856 and study of its morphology and DNA is critical to our ability to define the genus sensu stricto in relation to research on the systematics of this complex genus. However, we have established that current use of the name is inconsistent with both the original description and first figure of the species. The name-bearing type is lost, and purported paratypes in the Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, on which Connolly's widely-followed redescription was based, are not authentic. They have no type status and are instead specimens of Gulella albersi (Pfeiffer, 1855). Recently collected specimens conforming to Pfeiffer's description and figure of G. menkeana have been identified and a neotype is designated. This material also corresponds with the current broad interpretation of G. adamsiana (Pfeiffer, 1859), which, with its several established synonyms, we include in the synonymy of G. menkeana. There is also considerable resemblance to G. wahlbergi (Krauss, 1848), a name based on composite material and for which the lectotype is lost. We also designate a neotype for this species so as to preserve current application of the name. The possible synonymy of G. menkeana and G. wahlbergi, an older name, is of nomenclatural concern, but is not critical to the issue of defining Gulella s.s.

Four new species of Pyramidellid gastropods, Turbonilla nanseni, T. willasseni, T. halanychi and T. hoeisaeteri are described from the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa, based on shell morphology. The descriptions are a part of an ongoing project describing the pyramidellid fauna of the area, and it is clear that the region hosts a large pyramidellid diversity and additional species of pyramidellids are to be expected. The recent usage of the genus Turbonilla is discussed.

All primary types of Scaphopoda and Cephalopoda deposited in the KwaZulu-Natal Museum are presented. The reference to the original publication, including the original generic position, the type locality, the collector and the size of the type specimen(s), is provided for each type, followed by information on the type in the NMSA collection (catalogue number, size of the type specimen, type locality and collector), other types mentioned in most recent publication(s) with the reference(s) to such publication(s), brief remarks and colour photographs. A lectotype is designated for Sepia (Rhombosepion) acuminata Smith, 1916.

The freshwater habitats of the Eastern Congo are among the least investigated areas on the African continent. This severely restricts our understanding of the composition and distribution of the gastropod and bivalve communities in this region. This lack of knowledge, in combination with very limited recent collections, hampers the phylogenetic assessment of several molluscan taxa on the Pan-African scale and conservation efforts targeting this most prominent taxon of the macrozoobenthos. We here report on species obtained in the Eastern Congo in 2010. In total, 20 gastropod and bivalve taxa were collected from 24 freshwater habitats of the Nile and the Congo drainage system. By compiling faunal and taxonomic data we also aim to provide information of relevance to conservation efforts.

During a survey of the soil macrofauna of Madagascar three giant earthworm species were collected in the eastern part of the island. One of them, Kynotus friderici Michaelsen, 1931, is a known species described as K. longus var. friderici Michaelsen, 1931 and elevated to species rank herein. The other two species, K. giganteus sp. n. and K. proboscideus sp. n., proved to be new to science. K. giganteus measures alive 1350–1400 mm in length, 20–25 mm in diameter; K. proboscideus alive is ca 500–600 mm long and 15–20 mm in diameter. All worms belong to the Malagasy endemic family Kynotidae.

Hovops Benoit is a heterogeneous genus of selenopid spiders represented by six known species endemic to Madagascar. After examining sizeable collections of Selenopidae from the Afrotropical Region especially, from Madagascar, we here propose new diagnostic characters for Hovops and describe three new species: H. betsileo sp. n. (both sexes) from Toamasina Province, H. lidiae sp. n. (both sexes) from Fianarantsoa Province, and H. merina sp. n. (female only) from Antananarivo Province. The male of H. madagascariensis (Vinson) is described for the first time, and new records of this species are also provided. An identification key to the species in this genus is proposed.

We have registered eight species and three genera (Scheloribates Berlese, 1908, Similobates Mahunka, 1982, Perscheloribates Hammer, 1973) of Scheloribatidae from southern Ethiopia. Two species of Scheloribates—S. discifer and S. latipes—and the genus Perscheloribates are reported from Ethiopia for the first time. Two new species, Scheloribates acutirostrum sp. n. and Perscheloribates crassisetosus sp. n. from Cholomu and Harenna forests, are described. The first is from soil, litter and mosses on trees, while the second is from litter. Identification keys to Ethiopian species of Scheloribates and African species of Perscheloribates are presented.

Four new species of oribatid mites of the superfamily Ceratozetoidea, Ceratozetes baleensis sp. n. (Ceratozetidae), Ocesobates schatzi sp. n. (Chamobatidae), Africoribates subiasi sp. n. and A. amorphus sp. n. (both Humerobatidae), are described from southern Ethiopia. The first two species were collected in soil from Harenna Forest of Bale Mountains National Park (the second species was also collected in plants on rock from Cholomu Forest, 10 km to the south of Ginchi city); the third and fourth species were collected in litter (Cholomu Forest) and plants (Bale Mountains National Park, plateau Sanetti). The genus Ocesobates is recorded for the first time in Africa. The genus Africoribates is recorded for the first time in Ethiopia. Identification keys to all known species of Ocesobates and Africoribates are presented.

A new species of the endemic South African sac spider genus Spinotrachelas Haddad, 2006 is described. Spinotrachelas montanus sp. n. is described based on material collected from four localities in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg mountains, representing the first records of the genus from the east of the country and from the Grassland Biome.

Diaphorina enderleini, known from Sudan, Tanzania and Yemen, is reported for the first time from Cameroon, Ethiopia and Kenya. Observations and records from Cameroon and Ethiopia show that it develops on Vernonia amygdalina. The species is diagnosed and the last instar larva is described and illustrated. The larvae lack a functional circumanal ring and do not produce wax, a feature unusual for psyllids. The lack of wax deprives them of the protection common in various free-living psyllids. Consequently the psyllid is involved in an unusual mutualistic interaction with the ants Pheidole megacephala and Crematogaster striatula. This association is described and discussed.

Sixty-two years since last observed alive, Mormotomyia hirsuta Austen, the “terrible hairy fly”, was found inside and outside a large, cave-like cleft boulder at the summit of Ukasi Hill in eastern Kenya, the type locality of the species. Adults were observed climbing the walls of the boulder and walking on thick layers of bat guano, in which larvae and puparia were also discovered. Large numbers of M. hirsuta were observed on and at the base of the northern side of the boulder, which at the time of capture experienced continuous shade during daylight hours. Only three individuals were observed at the southern opening, exposed to direct sunlight and hot, dry conditions. A collection of vertebrate bones and skulls from layers of guano both inside and outside the cleft revealed several vertebrate associates, including two species of Chiroptera, Chaerephon cf. bivittatus (Heuglin) and Tadarida aegyptiaca (E. Geoffroy), which are probably the two major guano-producing species responsible for the larval breeding medium. Male-biased sexual size dimorphism was pronounced in adult M. hirsuta, with seven body-part measurements, including legs, larger by 33–61 % in males than females. Males demonstrated isometric growth while female growth was allometric. In contrast to males, female head and thorax lengths did not increase proportionally with leg length. Estimates of genetic diversity in the Ukasi population show higher than expected allelic diversity and indicate possible gene flow and frequent population bottlenecks. To promote the conservation of this endangered species, a joint effort has been initiated between the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi and the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, to gazette the Ukasi hill area as a protected site.

The Madagascan fauna of the genus Curtonotum Macquart, 1844 is reviewed. Type material of the seven species described by Tsacas in 1974 (C. balachowskyi, C. boeny, C. keiseri, C. pauliani, C. sakalava, C. sternithrix and C. stuckenbergi) was studied and additional material of five of these is noted, substantially increasing their known distributions. Six of the seven species described by Tsacas are endemic to Madagascar; unpublished records indicate, however, that C. pauliani, occurs in Namibia and South Africa on the African continental mainland. Six additional endemic species are described as new: C. coronaeformis sp. n., C. gladiiformis sp. n., C. griveaudi sp. n., C. irwini sp. n., C. parkeri sp. n., and C. rinhatinana sp. n. The head and thorax, frons, wing, sixth sternite and hypandrium of the male of the 13 species are illustrated for the first time, as well as the highly diagnostic male phallus, both laterally and dorsally at the junction of the basiphallus and distiphallus. A key to species based on male characters is provided, and species distributions are mapped and interpreted. The biogeographical significance of the Madagascan species is discussed. An annotated checklist of Madagascan Curtonotidae is presented, and co-ordinates used to plot maps and a list of vegetation types in which species occur are provided.

The Arge mirabilipes group of the Afrotropical Region is revised. The previously known species Arge mirabilipes Pasteels, 1955, A. tibialis Pasteels, 1963 and A. intermedia Pasteels, 1963 from South Africa, are redescribed. Two additional species from Namibia and Kenya are described: Arge kungveldensis sp. n. and A. taitaensis sp. n. The species of this group are characterized by the medially slightly widened hind tibia, a very short hind basitarsomere, and the sawsheath is broadly and obtusely pincer-shaped apically. According to these characters, Arge tibialis (= A. bisignata Konow, 1907) and A. intermedia are removed from this group. A. tibialis is synonymised under A. bisignata. A key to the three valid species is provided. The genitalia of all species are illustrated, and geographic distribution and taxonomic relationships are discussed.

The Afrotropical representatives of Ancylorhynchus Berthold, 1827 are reviewed. Two species-groups (reynaudii & nomadus) incorporating 29 species are recognised.

New combination: Dasypogon humeralis Wiedemann, 1821 is transferred to Pegesimallus Loew, 1858 (Dasypogoninae) resulting in the new combination Pegesimallus humeralis (Wiedemann, 1821).

New name: Ancylorhynchus variegatus (Bigot, 1879), a junior homonym of Dasypogon variabilis Wiedemann, 1817 (junior synonym of Ancylorhynchus glaucius (Rossi, 1790)), is provided with the new name Ancylorhynchus variabilis.

Previously described species considered valid within Ancylorhynchus: cruciger (Loew, 1858); elbaiensis Efflatoun, 1937; fulvicollis (Bigot, 1879); funebris Bromley, 1936; hylaeiformis Speiser, 1910; insignis Bromley, 1936; magnificus Bromley, 1936; nomadus (Wiedemann, 1828); nyukinus Speiser, 1910; oldroydi Lindner, 1961; pretoriensis Bromley, 1936; prunus Oldroyd, 1974; reynaudii (Macquart, 1838); susurrus (Karsch, 1879); tricolor (Loew, 1863); unifasciatus (Loew, 1858).

New synonyms: Ancylorrhynchus crux Bezzi, 1908 = cruciger; Ancylorrhynchus zonalis Bromley, 1936 = fulvicollis; Pegesimallus tapulus (Walker, 1849) = P. humeralis; Ancylorrhynchus striatus Oldroyd, 1970 = hylaeiformis; Xiphocerus quadrimaculatus Loew, 1858 = reynaudii; Xyphocerus maculatus Bigot, 1879 & Ancylorrhynchus braunsi Bromley, 1936 = tricolor; Ancylorrhynchus munroi Bromley, 1936 = unifasciatus.

New species: dilobion (South Africa); doryphorus (Tanzania); feijeni (Mozambique, South Africa); gessi (Namibia); greatheadi (Eritrea); phelpsi (Zimbabwe); similis (Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana); simpsoni (Nigeria); snowi (Gambia); sokokensis (Kenya); whiteheadi (South Africa); zophos (South Africa).

Keys and illustrations are provided as identification aids while maps and tables accompany comments relating to distribution, phenology and biology.

The genus Microschismus Fletcher, 1909 is revised for the first time. Four species are synonymised: M. serricornis Meyrick, 1914 is the junior synonym of M. fortis (Walsingham, 1881); M. ctenias Meyrick, 1911, M. columella Meyrick, 1927 and M. cato Meyrick, 1927 are the junior synonyms of M. antennatus Fletcher, 1909. Three species are described as new: M. lenzi sp. n. (Zimbabwe), M. reginus sp. n., M. sterkfonteini sp. n. (both South Africa). A new subfamily Microschisminae subfam. n. is established. The imago and genitalia of all type specimens are illustrated for the first time. The article contains brief descriptions of imagos of the known species and detailed descriptions of their genitalia. Identification keys based on the external characters of the imago and the male genitalia are provided.

A new genus and a new species, Permoxenopterum laticostum gen. et sp. n., are described from the Lopingian deposits of the Tarkastad Subgroup of the Beaufort Group in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This genus is the most ancient representative of the Xenopteridae, which has been previously known from the Middle and Upper Triassic of Asia, Australia and South Africa. The systematic position of this genus within the family is briefly discussed.

Solen cylindraceus (Hanley, 1843) is an infaunal bivalve that in the St Lucia Estuary is currently restricted to the southern part of its South Lake, having disappeared from the northern reaches due to persisting hypersaline conditions (>70 ‰) and air exposure at low water levels. The system experiences marked fluctuations in salinity due to quasi-decadal changes from wet to dry periods. In this study, the salinity tolerance of S. cylindraceus is determined using both shock and gradual change tests. Animals were collected at Catalina Bay (eastern shores of South Lake) and acclimated under laboratory conditions to naturally occurring salinities of 50 ‰ and 45 ‰ for the shock and gradual test, respectively. Mortalities were recorded for animals exposed to a sudden change in salinity, using eight different treatments ranging from 0 to 80 ‰. The second test involved exposing bivalves to a gradual change in salinity, using eight different treatments from 0 to 85 ‰. In the shock test, the lower salinity tolerance limit for S. cylindraceus was 30 ‰ and the upper 60 ‰, while in the gradual test, these limits were 15 and 65 ‰, respectively. The time it took for 50 % of animals to die increased from the shock to the gradual test for 10, 20 and 70 ‰, and decreased for 0 and 80 ‰. This knowledge may be useful towards predicting major crises in the S. cylindraceus populations, as drought and flood events alternate in the region. Major losses will be expected when salinities exceed 65 ‰ during dry phases or drop below 15 ‰ during flood events.