Phyllochaetopterus gigas, new species, was found living associated with a whale fall lying at 2892 meters depth in the Monterey Submarine Canyon, off California, U.S.A. The new species was found over a period of nine yr adjacent to, on, or in sediment lying over, the baleen of the whale fall. Phyllochaetopterus gigas is characterized by its large size (up to 30 cm preserved body length), long palps, coloration, and patterning of the ventral shield of the anterior region (region A), the presence of 4–6 large cutting chaetae on each parapodium of the fourth chaetiger (a4), the shape of these chaetae (with a pear-shaped head, some small lateral teeth on the edge), and presence of two middle-region (region B) chaetigers with foliose notopodia. The new species is compared to other Phyllochaetopterus species and appears to be, at least in part, a deposit feeder.

The Euphrosinidae (Polychaeta: Amphinomida) collected during cruises of the R/V Polarstern, and described by Hartmann-Schröder & Rosenfeldt (1988, 1992) are re-examined. In all, four of five species are here assigned to two previously described taxa: Euphrosine monroi, and Euphrosinella cirratoformis and a fifth species, Euphrosine antarctica, is newly referred to the genus Euphrosinopsis, as a new combination. Euphrosinopsis antarctica n. comb., has priority as type species of the genus, rendering Euphrosinopsis antipoda as the junior synonym. We suggest that Euphrosine magellanica is a misidentified Euphrosinella cirratoformis. Previous Antarctic records of Euphrosine cirrata are also referred to the genus Euphrosinella Detinova, 1985, and are likely E. cirratoformis. Diagnoses or additional descriptive information and appropriate illustrations are provided for all taxa.

The earthworm fauna of Plummers Island, Maryland, U.S.A. was surveyed, recording a total of 12 species belonging to the families Lumbricidae, Acanthodrilidae, Megascolecidae, and Sparganophilidae. In addition to the well known peregrine lumbricids and megascolecids the island harbors four North American endemic species: Eisenoides lonnbergi (Michaelsen, 1894) (Lumbricidae), Sparganophilus tamesis Benham, 1892 (Sparganophilidae), Diplocardia caroliniana Eisen, 1899, and furthermore, a new species, Diplocardia zicsii sp. nov. (Acanthodrilidae).

Two new species of Tardigrada are described. Echiniscus crebraclava, new species, is similar to Echiniscus marginoporus Grigarick, Schuster & Nelson, 1983. It differs from E. marginoporus by thick clava and by different cuticular sculpture. Diphascon (Adropion) gani, new species, is characterized by having two macroplacoids, of which the second macroplacoid is elliptical and much short than the first one. It differs from D. (A.) belgicae Richters, 1911 by the elliptical second macroplacoid which is much shorter than the first one, by the first macroplacoid with constriction, by lacking microplacoid, by having septulum, and by lacking any cuticular bar near the base of claws on all legs. The new species differs from D. mariae (Mihelčič, 1951) by have eyespots, by the elliptical second macroplacoid, by lacking microplacoid and by having septulum. The new species differs from D. punctatum (Iharos, 1962) by having eyespots, by smooth cuticle, by the elliptical second macroplacoid, which is much shorter than the first one, and by having septulum. The new species differs from D. rivulare (Mihelčič, 1967) by the elliptical second macroplacoid, which is much shorter than the first one, by lacking microplacoid, and by having septulum.

All six naupliar stages of the harpacticoid copepod Nitocra karanovici are described. A key to the identification of the naupliar stages is provided. Stages can be distinguished by number of segments of the exopod of antenna 2, setation of the limbs including the bud of the caudal ramus, and presence and setation of the bud of maxilla 1. A particular naupliar character was found in the nauplii of N. karanovici that is in common for all Ameiridimorpha, except Ameiridae and otherwise not known from other Harpacticoida. This is a pair of bean-shaped, bare medial cuticular areas of the ventral body wall present in Parastenocarididae, Cylindropsyllidae, and as in Canthocamptus, Attheyella, Moraria, and Mesochra of the Canthocamptidae.

Three species of Enterocola van Beneden, 1860 are reported on the basis of females living in compound ascidians from Madagascar. The first is synonymous with Enterocola ianthinus Illg & Dudley, 1980; the second and third are new. The copepods and ascidian hosts are the following: 1) E. ianthinus Illg & Dudley, in Eudistoma sp.; 2) E. adnatus, in an undescribed, new species of Synoicum; 3) E. coniculus, in Polyclinum insulsum Sluiter?. The copepods are representatives of the subfamily Enterocolinae (Ascidicolidae) in the Humes collection from Madagascar (1963, 1967). Enterocola setiferus Hansen, 1923 is revised and excluded from the genus.

Two species of the Leptodactylus latrans complex in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay (currently considered as Leptodactylus chaquensis and Leptodactylus latrans) are readily identifiable based on external morphological features. In contrast, analyses of external morphological features have not been successful in determining species limits of the complex in Brasil, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. The purpose of this study is to assess whether variation in a set of external morphological features is of value in determining species limits for a set of localities distributed throughout the range of the L. latrans complex. The morphological data as analyzed in this study provide some suggestions for delineating species limits, but overall, the data as analyzed are not sufficient to determine robust species limits within the L. latrans species complex.

Even though Flores is a major island of the Inner Banda Arc in the Lesser Sunda Archipelago (Indonesia), its herpetofauna was last tabulated by Robert Mertens, based on a 47-day visit to the island in 1927. Few, even briefer, surveys of the Flores herpetofauna occurred since then, and our knowledge remains incomplete. Pulau Sukur is a small island lying about 35 km off the north coast of Flores. Its herpetofauna has not been previously documented and likely is a subset of the Flores herpetofauna; however, at least one unique lizard species occurs there. Carlia sukur, new species, is a member of the C. peronii species group and is described herein. Its geographic outlier position represents a peculiar biogeographic question, which we examine relative to the lizard fauna of Flores and offer an updated list to the Flores and Komodo herpetofauna.

Although currently treated as feminine, the rules of nomenclature dictate that the proper gender of the generic name Chelonoidis Fitzinger, 1835, used for certain tortoises of South America and the giant species of the Galapagos, is masculine. This necessitates changes to the endings of the following specific names Chelonoidis niger, C. californianus, C. nigritus, C. carbonarius, and C. denticulatus.

We describe two new species of mice of the endemic Philippine genus Apomys, subgenus Megapomys. One is from Lubang Island, a small oceanic island off the southwest coast of Luzon, and the other is from Mt. Irid, a peak in the Southern Sierra Madre that lies northeast of Manila on Luzon Island. We also report the first specimens of Apomys sacobianus to be seen since the holotype was captured in 1956 at the foot of Mt. Pinatubo; our specimens were obtained subsequent to the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, demonstrating the continued existence of this species. Speciation within Apomys (Megapomys) has contributed substantially to the high level of mammalian diversity and fine-scaled endemism observed on Luzon and adjacent Philippine islands.

Key foundational elements of taxonomic description were omitted in the original naming of species-group taxa now recognized in the Malagasy genus Nesomys: N. rufus Peters, 1870, N. audeberti (Jentink, 1879), and N. lambertoni G. Grandidier, 1928. Based on our review of the material available to the authors, we identified the holotype by monotypy of N. rufus, designated lectotypes of N. audeberti and N. lambertoni, restricted the type localities of N. audeberti and N. lambertoni, and localized the probable geographic source of the holotype of N. rufus. Refinement of the geographic source of N. lambertoni and N. rufus illuminates the incorrect placement of their type localities as currently interpreted and brings them within the presently understood distributions of those species. Extensive discussion is devoted to the travels of J. Audebert and A. Crossley, collectors not only of the types of N. audeberti and N. rufus, respectively, but also of important series of lemurs that remain relevant to understanding the taxonomy and distribution of these endangered mammals.