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A new skink species, Sphenomorphus tamchucensis sp. nov., is described from Ninh Binh Province, northern Vietnam, based on morphological and molecular evidence. The new species can be distinguished from other Sphenomorphus species by a combination of the following characteristics: size medium (maximal SVL 41.5 mm); primary temporals two; external ear opening without lobules; loreals two; supralabials seven; infralabials six; nuchals absent; midbody scales in 28 rows; dorsal scales smooth, in six rows across the back; paravertebral scales 58-63, not widened; ventral scales in 55-61 rows; 8-10 smooth lamellae beneath finger IV and 13-15 beneath toe IV; toes not reaching to fingers when limbs adpressed along body; dorsal surface of body and tail bronze brown with many tiny dark dots and a discontinuous dark vertebral stripe, from middle of neck to tail base; a black stripe, in two scales wide, running from nostril to eye and extending from posterior margin of eye along upper part of flank to middle of tail. In phylogenetic analyses, the new species is recovered as an independent lineage with no clear sister taxon and at least 17.85% genetic divergence from other congeners based on a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene.

As part of a series of investigations on earthworm diversity conducted in northeastern China in recent years, a new species, Amynthas dandongensis Han & Zhao, sp. nov., has been discovered. It belongs to the A. corticis species group characterized by having four pairs of spermathecal pores in segments 5/6/7/8/9. The new species mainly differs from the other members of the A. corticis species group by its relatively small body size and the absence of male pores and genital markings in both the spermathecal and male pore regions. The interspecific pairwise COI genetic distances between A. dandongensis Han & Zhao, sp. nov. and the other closely related species ranged from 15% to 22%. Phylogenetic analyses using mitogenomic coding genes further explored the relationships within the A. corticis species group, clarifying the position of A. dandongensis Han & Zhao, sp. nov. in the group. Additionally, a new record of a cosmopolitan earthworm, Metaphire agrestis (= Amynthas agrestis) (Goto & Hatai, 1899) has been investigated in China. New sequences from specimens collected in northeastern China were analyzed together with "M. agrestis" and "A. agrestis" sequences available from GenBank to further explore phylogeographic relationship. The dataset of all M. agrestis sequences showed intraspecific genetic distances of 0-1%, consistent with the observed morphological similarities. Haplotype network analyses also revealed no genetic isolation among different populations of M. agrestis (= A. agrestis). Moreover, re-examination of previous descriptions and illustrations of the male pores of agrestis indicates that this species should be assigned to the genus Metaphire Sims & Easton, 1872, rather than Amynthas Kinberg, 1867.

We describe a new species of Xestochironomus Sublette & Wirth, 1972 and provide notes on X. luteifurcatus Sublette & Wirth, 1972 from the Dominican Republic. The adult male and female of Xestochironomus digitulus sp. nov. are also described and illustrated. The male and female of X. luteifurcatus are redescribed. Males of the new species can be easily distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: the abdomen of both sexes bears cross bands; the anal point is long, slender; the male gonostylus has a slightly bifurcated apex; and there is a thumb-like lobe at the apex of the gonostylus.

This study reports the discovery of four new benthic harpacticoids from Korean waters in the Pacific Ocean. The harpacticoids were collected using SCUBA or a grab sampler and sorted using a stereomicroscope for both molecular and morphological analysis. The study employed standard DNA sequencing methods (COI and 18S rRNA) and detailed morphological characterization through microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. As a result, three new species belonging to the family Orthopsyllidae and classified as a new genus were discovered. Although the new genus lacks brush setae on leg 1, a diagnostic feature of Orthopsyllidae, it shares similarities with other orthopsyllids in characters such as the large thorn-like process on the antennule, leg 5, and sexual dimorphism. This finding necessitates an expanded diagnosis of Orthopsyllidae to reflect the characters of the new genus based on the three new species. In addition, a new species belonging to the genus Orthopsyllus was discovered. This study is the first to describe a new species of Orthopsyllus from Korea, where the genus has not been previously reported at the species level. This study provides a key for classifying genera and species within the Orthopsyllidae family.

A revision of Chrysso O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1882 sensu lato is presented based on specimens collected from China. A new genus, Megama gen. nov., is established, based on Meg. decimaculata sp. nov. (male, female) from Hubei, China as the type species, with an additional species Meg. bimaculata (Yoshida, 1998), comb. nov. Two new species of Meotipa Simon, 1895, Meo. cordata sp. nov. and Meo. vittiforma sp. nov., are described, and four new combinations are proposed. The genus Physcoa Thorell, 1895, stat. rev. is revalidated, with its type species P. scintillans Thorell, 1895, comb. rev., along with seven new combinations. All the new combinations proposed in the current paper are transferred from the genus Chrysso. Diagnoses for the four genera are provided, along with diagnoses, descriptions, and photos of the new species.

The crab-eating fox, Cerdocyon thous, is the most broadly distributed native canid in South America, occupying a wide range of ecosystems from open savannas to dense tropical forests from Venezuela to Argentina. Its geographical range is expanding towards the Pacific coast of Central America by crossing the Darien rainforest. In Ecuador, its presence has been poorly documented and remains ecologically ambiguous. In this study, we confirm the presence of C. thous in north-eastern Ecuador based on two roadkill specimens collected in Sucumbíos Province and two independent photographic records from Yasuni National Park, which were obtained through systematic camera-trapping. Stomach-content analysis revealed a predominantly insectivorous and opportunistic diet which includes insects, arachnids, reptiles, and amphibians. In addition, an ectoparasite analysis found parasitism by the introduced cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus, highlighting potential risks of pathogen transmission between domestic animals and wildlife. Mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences from form a well-supported distinct haplotype from other South American lineages, suggesting that forest-dwelling foxes in eastern Ecuador may represent a separate evolutionary unit with unique ecological adaptations to rainforest environments. These findings underscore the importance of continued monitoring of C. thous in the Amazon, particularly in the context of road expansion, habitat alteration, and increasing interactions with domestic animals such as domestic dogs. Our results have implications for taxonomic assessment, ecological understanding, and conservation planning of this widespread, yet understudied, Neotropical canid in Ecuador.

Two new species from the genus Metopiellus Raffray, 1908 (Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae, Metopiasini) are described from both sides of the Ecuadorian Andes: Metopiellus palamaku sp. nov. from the Amazon in eastern Ecuador and Metopiellus chasqui sp. nov. from montane cloud forest in western Ecuador. These findings represent the first country record of the genus.

Three species, Cerodontha (Dizygomyza) flavilunulatasp. nov., C. (D.) granditergasp. nov., C. (D.) tumefactasp. nov., are new to science, and four species, C. (Cerodontha) flavicornis (Egger, 1862), C. (D.) labradorensis Spencer, 1969, C. (Poemyza) beigerae Nowakowski, 1972, and C. (P.) muscina (Meigen, 1830), are recorded from China for the first time. A key and a checklist with photographs of morphological features and male genitalia are presented.

Four species of the genus Cloeon have previously been reported in Thailand: C. bicolor Kimmins, 1947, C. bimaculatum Eaton, 1885, C. harveyi (Kimmins, 1947) and C. marginale Hagen, 1858. However, since 1961, no systematic studies or investigations of this genus have been conducted in that country. This study reviews Cloeon Leach, 1815 in Thailand and investigates five species-C. bengalense, C. bicolor, C. harveyi, C. rubellum, and C. viridulum-based on morphological, molecular, and taxonomic analyses. Three species (C. bengalense, C. rubellum, and C. viridulum) are recorded for the first time in Thailand, and C. rubellum is described for the first time as a mature nymph and adult female. Additionally, the egg chorionic surface of all five species is described for the first time, and its use is demonstrated for species identification in Thailand. A key to the species of Cloeon in Thailand is provided based on the egg structure, mature nymph, and adult female and male.

Xanthephialtes Cameron, 1906 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae) is a small Afrotropical Darwin wasp genus with only two previously known species, for which we provide images of the holotypes. Here, we describe a new species of the genus, X. iida sp. nov., which is also the first record of the genus in Uganda. We provide a re-definition of the genus and a key to species along with notes on the morphological variation and mimicry of X. schoutedeni Benoit, 1954. Online Lucid identification keys and images of all the species treated herein are available at http://www.waspweb.org.