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Accurate intraspecific variation assessment is the prerequisite for determining subspecies, evolutionarily significant units, or management units across a species' range. However, intraspecific variation assessment is often hindered by inaccurate morphological results from traditional methods or high-cost genetic analyses. Geometric morphometrics is a promising technique for quantifying and visualising intraspecific diversity. We used landmark-based geometric morphometrics to investigate forewing shape variation and microtaxonomy of populations of Apis florea Fabricius 1787 (Apidae: Apini), which originated from some parts of Asia and Africa based on the 19 landmarks plotted at the venation intersections of forewings. We collected samples of 162 colonies from 36 different localities. On average, 13 workers per colony were analysed (1851 bees in total). Distinct spatial structures and significant differences in wing shape between the studied populations were revealed using canonical variate analysis, and no considerable overlap was detected between the colonies belonging to the western and eastern populations. The populations at higher latitudes showed significantly larger centroid sizes than those at lower latitudes, and a clinal variation in forewing size was confirmed. Significant distance-decay relationships between the studied populations were observed so that the populations located at the maximum geographical distance showed the most significant distance from each other and vice versa. Wing geometric morphometrics was an accurate tool for the reliable estimation of the population structure of the red dwarf honeybees. It is essential to increase the reliability of these variations by combining the results with further molecular data.

The morphology of skin armament has long been studied in some of freshwater sculpins, but has not found wide use in the taxonomy of this group. To assess the taxonomic value and determine the patterns of variability of this character, alizarin-stained skin samples of 19 diadromous and freshwater sculpins from Eurasia and one ancient North American species, Leptocottus armatus, were examined for the morphology of prickles. Three morphological types of prickles were ascertained. The largest prickles with a wide basal plate having an uneven anterior edge and a short, strong spine should be considered as the ancestral state. On a series of prickles examined a successive process of reduction was revealed from the ancestral type to the prickles that represent a thin, elongated, fusiform spine extending from a barely visible rounded basal plate with a smooth anterior edge, usually specific for younger freshwater species. The types of skin armament are not strictly consistent with the current concepts on the phylogeny of the studied freshwater Cottidae in view of the phenotypic parallelisms in this group. It is tentatively indicated insignificant intraspecific variation of the prickles shape in Mesocottus haitej, Cottus amblystomopsis, C. czerskii, and C. volki. Identification of most species studied using a single prickle is quite a challenge, although some species are easily identified this way. The species-specificity of prickles is shown to be the greatest in deeply divergent lineages, providing the opportunity to use these structures for diagnosing species and revealing hidden species richness. The skin armament morphology may also become an accessible and useful tool for testing taxonomic, biogeographical, and evolutionary hypotheses.

Chitons, also known as "living fossils", have been proposed as one of the earliest differentiated groups of molluscs. Although Polyplacophora is an ancient group of molluscs, very few studies have been conducted on the chitin of these organisms compared tobivalves, gastropods and cephalopods. The few available studies have provided contradictory results regarding the present chitin types, depending on the examined body parts. Herein, to solve this controversy, we studied the chitin from valve, girdle and radula of a chiton species by protecting the 3D structure of the body parts. Results obtained using infrared spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric analysis clearly showed chitons contain β-chitin in the girdle and valve; however, the signal detected for the type of chitin contained in the chiton radula appears to be α-chitin. In addition, chitin content of the whole chiton body on dry basis was recorded as 22.78%.

The evolutionary development of the vertebrate head has played a critical role in shaping the diversity of body plans and ecological roles within vertebrate species. This evolutionary journey is characterised by the emergence of the head compartment during the Cambrian radiation, the evolution of jaws during the Silurian, and the subsequent diversification of vertebrate groups. The cranium, consisting of the neurocranium, dermatocranium, and viscerocranium, plays a central role in craniofacial support. Research on the development of the cranium has been carried out in several vertebrate species, providing valuable insights into their unique patterns of cartilage development. While most vertebrates show typical sequences of chondrocranial development, anurans divert from these patterns. Our study focused on the chondrocranial development of Congo dwarf frog Hymenochirus boettgeri (Anura: Pipidae) tadpoles, providing a detailed sequential analysis from mesenchymal elements to the premetamorphic chondrocranium. The chondrocranium of these tadpoles showed several reductions as a consequence of their miniaturization and their unique suction feeding lifestyle. We found a mosaic-like development of anuran mandibular and hyoid arches, and we also discussed the intricate patterns of suprarostral cartilage development and deviations in branchial basket development compared to other anuran species. Our study also contrasts anuran neurocranial development with that of other osteichthyan species, highlighting unique features such as the similar direction of development of anterior and posterior neurocranial components. Overall, our research contributes to our understanding of chondrocranial development in anurans, highlighting both conserved and unique features in H. boettgeri tadpoles. Our findings enrich our knowledge of vertebrate cranial development and provide insights into the evolutionary history of anuran chondrocranial features.

The main goal of the current study was to investigate the molecular systematics and host–vector interactions of sandfly species (Phlebotomus spp.) in Iran. Sandflies were collected using CDC light traps, sticky traps, and BG-Sentinel traps at seven trapping sites in Iran during 2019 and 2020. The source of blood meals was identified using primer pairs specific to either the 16S rRNA or the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) genes. A total of 736 blood-fed female sandflies were collected. Six species of the genus Phlebotomus (Ph.) and four species of the genus Sergentomyia (Se.) were identified using molecular identification techniques. The most abundant sandfly species were Ph. papatasi (38.45 %) and Se. sintoni (36.28 %). Blood meal analysis identified 19 different host species, specifically, 15 mammalian and four bird species. The most common blood meal sources were Rattus norvegicus, followed by Homo sapiens, Bos primigenius f. taurus, Ovis orientalis f. aries, Meriones persicus, Gallus gallus f. domestica, Rhombomys opimus, and Canis lupus; other host species had incidences of less than 5 %. We observed that Ph. major complex and Se. sintoni had mostly mammalophilic blood-feeding behavior, while Ph. papatasi and Ph. sergenti had mostly anthropophilic and ornithophilic blood-feeding preferences, respectively. The current results confirmed cytb is a suitable gene for regular species level identification, and that phylogenetic analyses of cytb allowed for clear demarcation of sandfly species.

The blowfly Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae) colonizes different environments and is found in many global regions. Its importance includes its involvement in the decomposition of organic matter, forensic entomology, maggot therapy, bioprospecting, source of biodiesel, industry, stabilization of heavy metals in soil, pollination, and as a vector of diseases and causing secondary myiasis. Internal morphological studies contribute to understanding insect's function and provide basic data for applied areas with interest in this specie. The objective of this study was to describe the internal morphology of C. megacephala larvae. Post-embryonic development occurred over 240 h, equally divided into larval and pupal stages. After hatching, the larvae averaged <1 mm in length and 0.02 mg in weight, growing to 13.83 mm and 50.4 mg in the third instar. We utilized whole, third-instar larvae to perform histology. Sensory organs were observed in the cephalic region, antennae, maxillary palps, and ventral organ. The alimentary canal comprises a foregut, midgut, and hindgut, including tracheal insertions and accessory organs, such as salivary glands. The midgut is the largest organ of the alimentary canal and fat body are present in body cavity and intersegmental space. Thus, our data about the internal morphology of C. megacephala larvae describe the structure and position of the alimentary canal, salivary gland, sensory organs, and fat body.

Little is known regarding the biology and behavior of the pacarana (Dinomys branickii) in both in situ and ex situ environments. A comprehensive morphological analysis of the male pacarana's genital organ is presented in this study, along with comparisons to other species belonging to the suborder Hystricomorpha. The study was conducted assessing the reproductive health of the sole ex situ male in Brazil. The findings revealed subcutaneous ellipsoidal tests and a cylindrical penis covered with distinct penile spines that was enveloped by a foreskin. The discussion draws comparisons between the aforementioned findings and those of other Neotropical rodents, emphasizing the lack of a scrotum and the existence of penile spines. This research offers vital insights into the pacarana's biology, establishing a groundwork for forthcoming reproductive biotechnological efforts that seek to safeguard the genetic diversity of little-known species and emphasizing the significance of ex situ conservation efforts.

The sugarcane shoot borer Chilo infuscatellus (Snellen, 1890) is a major sugarcane pest in Lepidoptera, but little information is available on its larval ultrastructure. Here, the sensilla of the antennae and mouthparts of the mature larva of C. infuscatellus were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The antenna is three-segmented and possesses two types of sensilla, as well as three sensilla basiconica and two sensilla chaetica on the apical surface of the middle pedicel; three sensilla basiconica on the apex of the distal flagellum. The mandibulate mouthparts consist of a labrum, a pair of mandibles, a pair of maxillae, a labium, and a hypopharynx. The labrum possesses six pairs of sensilla chaetica; the membranous epipharynx bears three pairs of flattened sensilla chaetica, three pairs of epipharyngeal sensilla, and a pair of oval sensilla digitiformia. The mandible is equipped with two sensilla chaetica on the posterolateral surface. The maxillae are well developed, each formed by a cardo, a stipes, a galea and a two-segmented maxillary palp. Each galea carries six sensilla basiconica and two large sensilla styloconica. The maxillary palp is furnished with 9 sensilla basiconica, one sensillum digitiformium and one sensillum placodeum on the distal segment. On the labium, each labial palp has a sensillum chaeticum with apical bifurcation and a thick sensillum styloconicum. This paper briefly discusses the possible function of sensilla on antennae and mouthparts.

An article published last year in this journal (Ferreira et al., 2023) advocated the use of the name Crassostrea gasar (Dillwyn, 1817) for an amphi-Atlantic mangrove oyster. We challenge this terminology, which is not supported by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, and defend the status quo accepting the name Crassostrea tulipa (Lamarck, 1819).

Callainireinwardtia Savage is a genus of Neotropical Cyrtoneurininae known from Callainireinwardtia woodi Savage, a species only known from six specimens collected in Costa Rica. Considering the combination of a bare anepimeron, metallic blue-green color, and the morphology of the post-abdomen, the original author proposed that the genus belongs to Reinwardtiini, whose taxa are considered to belong to Cyrtoneurininae or Reinwardtiinae in more recent classifications. Here, we have described Callainireinwardtia papaveroi sp. nov. isolated from Brazil. For the first time, we also tested the phylogenetic position of the genus using molecular markers (AATS, CAD, EF1-α) based on a taxonomic sample of Muscidae. We could amplify EF1-α from C. papaveroi sp. nov. and analyzed the dataset using maximum likelihood. Although different analytical strategies yielded different results for the sister group of the genus, we recovered its position among Cyrtoneurininae in all cases, corroborating the previous hypothesis. Depending on the partitioning scheme, Callainireinwardtia is either a sister group of Synthesiomyia, the clade (Synthesiomyia nudiseta + Neomuscina), or a clade composed of eight Cyrtoneurininae genera (Synthesiomyia, Neomuscina, Chaetagenia, Eginia, Muscina, Passeromyia, Philornis, and Pseudoptilolepis). Considering the limitations of our dataset, the sister-group hypothesis should be carefully considered. We have also provided a key for the identification of the genus and its species, a distribution map, and an updated taxonomic catalog of the genus.