Vargas S., Breedy O. & Guzman H. M. 2010. — The phylogeny of Pacifigorgia (Coelenterata, Octocorallia, Gorgoniidae): a case study of the use of continuous characters in the systematics of the Octocorallia. Zoosystema 32 (1): 5-18.

The Octocorallia constitute a group of organisms that inhabit a wide spectrum of habitats ranging from abyssal to shallow marine environments and from tropical to polar waters. As a subclass, the group is clearly defined and the clade is considered monophyletic based on a series of morphological and molecular synapomorphies. In contrast, the systematic treatment of octocorals below the subclass level is complex given the continuous nature of many of the characters used in their taxonomy. The use of continuous characters for the deduction of phylogenies generally has been considered a philosophical and methodological challenge; within the Octocorallia it has led researchers to rearrange genera, to consider character analysis problematic, or to prefer molecular data sets, which avoid morphological characters, for the study of octocoral phylogenetic relationships. In this study, we assessed the role of continuous morphological variation on the deduction of octocoral phylogenies. Specifically, we analyzed the morphologically diverse genus Pacifigorgia Bayer, 1951 and show that continuous variation, after adequate coding, represents a valuable source of information suitable for phylogenetic inference.

Randriamanantsoa R., Aberlenc H.-P., Ralisoa O. B., Ratnadass A. & Vercambre B. 2010. — Les larves des Scarabaeoidea (Insecta, Coleoptera) en riziculture pluviale des régions de haute et moyenne altitudes du Centre de Madagascar. Zoosystema 32 (1): 19-72.

Scarabaeoidea larvae (Insecta, Coleoptera) in rainfed rice fields in medium and high altitude areas of Central Madagascar.

Larvae (white grubs) of many scarab beetle species can be found in rainfed rice fields in medium and high altitude areas of Madagascar, with certain species being pests. For pest management, it is therefore critical to be able to accurately identify them. Raster morphology makes it possible to determine the difference between species. Twenty six larvae morpho-species were thus distinguished, of which 18 species, whose larvae and pupae were unknown, were identified after development to adults: Bricoptis, Celidota, Anochilia, Euryomia (Cetoniidae, four species), Heteronychus, Hexodon, Heteroconus, Paranodon (Dynastidae, seven species), Paramorphochelus (Hopliidae, one species), Encya, Enaria, Apicencya, Empecta, Hoplochelus (Melolonthidae, five species) and Triodontus (Orphnidae, one species). Original descriptions of third instar larvae of 17 species, and of pupae of 13 of them are given, along with an identification key of 25 larvae morpho-species. Pupae external genitoanal structures concept is defined. All diagnostic traits are illustrated.

Castro P. 2010. — A new species and new records of palicoid crabs (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Palicoidea, Palicidae, Crossotonotidae) from the Indo-West Pacific region.Zoosystema 32 (1): 73-86.

Material from recent expeditions has provided an opportunity to update the revision of the Indo-West Pacific species of the families Palicidae Bouvier, 1898, and Crossotonotidae A. Milne-Edwards, 1873 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Palicoidea). A species of Neopalicus Moosa & Serène, 1981 from the Austral Islands, French Polynesia was found to be new to science. The new species can be separated from the two previously described species of Neopalicus in the morphologies of its rostrum, suborbital borders, and the abdomen and first pleopods of the male. The male of a species previously known only from the female holotype, Paliculus foliatus Castro, 2000 is also described. Six species of Palicidae and three species of Crossotonotidae are recorded for the first time from the Philippines. One species of Palicidae is a new record for the Solomon Islands in the western Pacific, one species each of Palicidae and Crossotonotidae are new records for Vanuatu in the western Pacific, while 10 species of Palicidae are first-time records for Tonga in the southwestern Pacific at the extreme eastern margin of the Indo-Australian Plate.

Montreuil O. 2010. — Révision du genre Paradorodocia Machatschke, 1957 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Rutelidae, Adoretinae). Zoosystema 32 (1): 87-99.

Revision of the genus Paradorodocia Machatschke, 1957 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Rutelidae, Adoretinae).

The Adoretinae of the endemic Malagasy genus Paradorodocia Machatschke, 1957, are revised. A lectotype is designated for Adoretus albosetosus Waterhouse, 1878. Adoretus hystrix Künckel d'Herculais, 1887 and Adoretus albohispidus Fairmaire, 1883, are considered synonyms of Adoretus albosetosus. The lectotype of Adoretus albosetosus is designated as neotype of Adoretus hystrix Künckel d'Herculais, 1887 and of Adoretus albohispidus Fairmaire, 1883, which induces objective synonymies between these three names. Two new species are described and compared with their most closely related species: Paradorodocia elongata n. sp. and P. excavata n. sp. Paradorodocia fairmairei n. sp. is also introduced for the species named Adoretus hystrix by Fairmaire in 1897, which is not an available name. Based on this study, the genus Paradorodocia includes four species. Diagnostic characters for species in the genus include the shape of aedeagus, the shape and position of the metafemoral spurs, and the shape of the metasternum. Key to species, diagnoses, and distributions are provided. Endophallus and female genitalias are illustrated for the first time for this genus.

Fernandez N. & Cleva R. 2010. — Une nouvelle espèce de Scapheremaeus (Arachnida, Acari, Oribatida, Cymbaeremaeidae) de Madagascar: Scapheremaeus pauliani n. sp. Zoosystema32 (1): 101-115.

A new species of Scapheremaeus (Arachnida, Acari, Oribatida, Cymbaeremaeidae) from Madagascar: Scapheremaeus pauliani n. sp.

Scapheremaeus pauliani n. sp. collected in the Chaînes Anosyennes (farthest south east of Madagascar) is described from the adult stase. This species, the first of the genus described from this region was collected by beating of Erica sp. (Ericaceae) and reaping of Helichrysum sp. (Asteraceae). The new species can be separated from the 88 species in the genus by the following set of characters: cerotegument of prodorsum rough; that of notogaster with smooth areas and ovoid-rounded reticula alternately; cerotegument of ventral side rough or with thickenings, presence of mushroom-like structures; prodorsum complex, with straight, transversal, and curved crests, and deep furrows; dorso-central area of notogaster flattened, delimited by a deep circumdorsal furrow; notogastral chaetotaxy: 10; lenticule bulging, rounded-ovoid, with lateral expansion; presence of a lateral bump between lenticule and c setae; lateral oblique lamellar expansion; genital chaetotaxy: 5; epimeral chaetotaxy: 3-1-2-2; preanal piece triangular.

Song Y. & Li S. 2010. — The spider genera Araeoncus Simon, 1884 and Diplocephalus Bertkau, 1883 (Arachnida, Araneae, Linyphiidae) of China. Zoosystema 32 (1): 117-137.

Four erigonine species are described and illustrated: Araeoncus hyalinus n. sp., Araeoncus longispineus n. sp., Diplocephalus parentalis n. sp. and Diplocephalus mirabilis Eskov, 1988. The genus Araeoncus Simon, 1884 is reported from China for the first time. The two new Araeoncus species are closely related and differ from congeners by the presence of posterior radical process and mesal tooth of male palp, as well as by the different path of copulatory ducts of vulva. Re-examination of material studied by Fei & Gao (1996) revealed that the distribution of Diplocephalus permixtus (O. P.-Cambridge, 1871) in China is due to the misidentification of this species. Diplocephalus mirabilis is unique among congeners by the presence of lamella characteristca of male palp and unciform apophyses of epigynum. Diplocephalus parentalis n. sp. differs from congeners, except Diplocephalus hispidulus Saito & Ono, 2001, by the unique shape of radix of embolic division and presence of a tuft of thick bristles at the apex of male palpal prolateral tibial apophysis, and further distinguishes from D. hispidulus by the shape of prolateral tibial apophysis and undeveloped embolic membrane of male palp, as well as by the slightly different path of copulatory ducts of vulva.

Biseswar R. 2010. — Report on deep-sea bonelliids (Echiura) from the East Equatorial Atlantic Ocean. Zoosystema 32 (1): 139-154.

This report contains descriptions of 14 species of deep-sea bonelliids of which five are indeterminate species. The specimens were collected during the ZAIANGOBIOL 2 and BIOZAIRE 1, 2 and 3 cruises that were undertaken in the East Equatorial Atlantic Ocean between August 2000 and January 2004. This report gives additional information on some of the species that were described from damaged or incomplete specimens by previous authors. One bonelliid female in the collection, which is incomplete, has been tentatively assigned to the genus Sluiterina. The gonoduct of this specimen has an accessory sac opening into it. To date, such a gonoduct has not been described in any other bonelliid species. It is very likely that additional material from that region in the future may reveal that this specimen belongs to a new genus. Another female which is also incomplete has been assigned to the genus Bruunellia. This specimen has an anal vesicle which differs markedly from those described so far in all the other bonelliid species. Detailed studies on additional specimens from that region in the future may indicate that it belongs to a new species. All the species in this report have been recorded previously either from the subtropical or from the North-East Atlantic. The discovery of these bonelliids in the East Equatorial Atlantic Ocean, south of 5°S latitude, are new records for this region and now extends the geographical ranges of the species southwards.

Montemayor S. I. & Dellapé P. M. 2010. — On the identity of Gargaphia subpilosa Berg, 1879, G. bergi Monte, 1940 and G. penningtoni Drake, 1928 (Insecta, Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Tingidae), with the description of immatures of G. bergi. Zoosystema 32 (1): 155-162.

The correct designation of the lectotype of Gargaphia subpilosa Berg, 1879 is discussed and a paralectotype is recovered; G. penningtoni Drake, 1928 is considered a junior synonym of G. subpilosa Berg, 1879; G. bergi Monte, 1940 is raised from synonymy with G. subpilosa and instars II–IV are described. Illustrations of habitus of both species and of the immature stages II to V of G. bergi are provided together with photographs in the field of this last species.