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The Chrysomelinae are reviewed for the island of Timor and comprise seven species. Two new species of Paropsis genus group are described, including their first-instar larvae: Paropsisterna tais new species and P. tatamailau new species. Records of Paropsisterna captiosa (Clark, 1865) and Paropsis manto Blackburn, 1899 on Timor are discussed and both shown to be misidentified, but they remain unidentified because all known specimens are female. Three additional Chrysomelinae are noted, including Phola octodecimguttata (Fabricius, 1781), new for Timor. A key is provided for identification of the known Timorese Chrysomelinae.

Species of the cosmopolitan genus Anax Leach, 1815 are among the largest dragonflies and the most powerful flyers. Within the genus the proportion between body length and wing and the body shape of both sexes are of great taxonomic importance. Here we describe two new Anax species: Anax insulanus sp. nov., from the Solomon Islands and A. tonga sp. nov., from Tonga. To distinguish both species from a very similar sympatric congener we compare the S3 Index which is defined as the relative length and width at its narrowest point of abdominal segment 3. Anax fumosus celebense Lieftinck, 1942 is raised to species level. Diagnostic characters of male and female (if available) are illustrated. A key is presented for the identification of the males of the 14 species of Anax known to occur in the Australian, the Oceanian and the south of the Indomalayan Biogeographical Realms.

The frog fauna of New Guinea is exceptionally diverse but very poorly known. Here we describe a new species of pelodryadid treefrog that is currently known only from two specimens from a single site in Hela Province in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Genetic data show that the new species is closely related to the torrent-breeding species Litoria angiana (Boulenger, 1915) from which it can be readily distinguished by its more slender body and limbs, relatively long forelimbs, and aspects of body colouration and tuberculation. The type locality is on Gigira Ridge, a massive limestone spur extending off New Guinea's Central Cordillera and we hypothesise that the distinctive slender limbs and relatively long forelimbs of the species may be adaptations for clambering, either in complex montane forest habitats or potentially within karst. The ongoing discovery of rare and seemingly localised frog species in Melanesia emphasises that recent estimates of a regional anuran fauna in excess of 700 species that were derived from known candidate species are likely conservative.

The megophryid genus Oreolalax is comprised of 19 species, most of which are endemic to China. A single species, Oreolalax sterlingae, is the only member of the genus known from Vietnam. During fieldwork on Mount Po Ma Lung in the Hoang Lien Range of northwest Vietnam, we encountered individuals of both Oreolalax sterlingae and another, morphologically divergent species of Oreolalax. Analyses of morphological and molecular data reveal that these individuals represent a previously undescribed species of Oreolalax which we describe as new to science. The new species, Oreolalax adelphos sp. nov., is sister to Oreolalax xiangchengensis and can be diagnosed from all other congeneric species by the combination of the following characters: (1) SVL of adult male 38.0 mm, N=1; adult female 46.2 mm, N=1; (2) narrow supratympanic fold; (3) no visible tympanum; (4) head longer than wide; (5) vocal sac absent; (6) absence of subarticular tubercles on hands; (7) basal interdigital webbing on hind feet; (8) ventral surface mottled with grey and creamy white; (9) dorsal surface of head and body covered in rounded, evenly spaced and similar sized tubercles; (10) presence of dark bars on limbs; (11) greyish white and creamy white spots on the flanks, and (12) a bicoloured iris. Oreolalax adelphos sp. nov. is only known from a single site of high elevation bamboo forest, where it is sympatric with Oreolalax sterlingae. Both Oreolalax adelphos sp. nov. and O. sterlingae are almost certain to occur in neighbouring Jinping County in Yunnan Province, China. The new species of Oreolalax likely qualifies for being assessed as Data Deficient in accordance with the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species categories and criteria.

We describe a new species of Cyrtodactylus from the northern lowlands and foothills of mainland New Guinea. Cyrtodactylus mamberamo sp. nov. is distinguished from all other Melanesian Cyrtodactylus except C. aaroni and C. mimikanus by the combination of moderate size (max SVL <100 mm), widened subcaudals, dorsal pattern of numerous narrow light bands with dark-brown anterior borders, and a tripartite pore arrangement in males. It differs from these two most-similar species in details of colour pattern, scalation and the number of precloacal pores. Cyrtodactylus mamberamo sp. nov. occurs at elevations between 0-870 m above sea level (a.s.l.) across a wide area spanning the Mamberamo Basin and nearby regions. It co-occurs with at most one or two other congeners. Low Cyrtodactylus alpha diversity across Melanesia emphasises beta turnover as the key factor underpinning species richness in this genus. The new species brings the total number of recognised Melanesian Cyrtodactylus to 35, with the real total certain to be over 40 species.

Tibelloides Mello-Leitão, 1939 currently comprises four species of Neotropical grass-dwelling spiders. Herein, we describe and illustrate Tibelloides castelo sp. nov. with few records from Brazil (Minas Gerais, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro), and Tibelloides juatuba sp. nov., with records from Brazil (Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraná, Rondônia) and Paraguay (San Pedro). These two new species differ from the previously described ones by having body and legs conspicuously longer and thinner, male pedipalp without retrolateral marginal conductor, and female genitalia with compound copulatory ducts tubular and elongated.

The Hoary Bat Chalinolobus nigrogriseus is the only species of the genus known from the island of New Guinea. A new species of Chalinolobus from Papua New Guinea is described based on DNA sequence and morphological criteria using material previously assigned to C. nigrogriseus. The new species most resembles the eastern Australian subspecies of the Hoary Bat C. n. nigrogriseus in general size and appearance but is easily distinguished by an enlarged, rather than rudimentary lobe at the terminal outer ear margin. The new species might also be confused on external characters with smaller individuals of Australian Gould's Wattle Bat C. gouldii, from which it differs in having bifid first upper incisors and uniform dark dorsal fur. The inclusion of C. nigrogriseus in the bat fauna of New Guinea is now in doubt, pending a re-assessment of the identity of Chalinolobus specimens in world museum collections. Locality records of all Chalinolobus spp. from Papua New Guinea are reviewed. Most localities are below 60 m elevation in coastal savannah and woodlands. The identity of specimens of C. nigrogriseus and C. gouldii from northern Australia should be reviewed to determine whether the new species also occurs in Australia.

The Indian Ocean coral reef mantis shrimp, Gonodactylellus demanii (Henderson, 1893), described from the Gulf of Mannar, southeastern India, was thought to range widely, from the northwestern Indian Ocean to the eastern Bay of Bengal, Burma. Reevaluation of G. demanii from throughout its purported range revealed that what was thought to be that species in the northwestern Indian Ocean represents a new species, formally named herein, Gonodactylellus celosinus sp. nov. Gonodactylellus demanii sensu stricto is now known only from the Bay of Bengal (southeastern India to Burma). The taxonomic issues within G. demanii have gone unnoticed until now because the original account was inadequate for recognition of the species and subsequent revisions did not revisit the type or topotypic material. Gonodactylellus demanii is figured alongside G. celosinus sp. nov. to facilitate their recognition.

Specimens of two barracudina species, Lestidiops sphyraenopsis Hubbs and Lestidiops ringens (Jordan & Gilbert), collected from Japan, were examined. Both species were originally described from the northeastern Pacific and are widespread in both sides of northern Pacific Ocean. Diagnoses, detailed descriptions, and complete morphological data for both species are provided. These two species exhibit several distinct features that differ from those of their congeners, and their morphological characteristics are discussed.

A new species of the pinnotherid crab genus Ostracotheres H. Milne Edwards, 1853 described from Singapore and Indonesia is the third species in the genus, previously represented by O. cynthiae Nobili, 1906 and O. tridacnae (Rüppell, 1830) (type species), both known only from the Red Sea and western Gulf of Aden. Therefore, the new species represents the first confirmed record of the Ostracotheres outside of the western Indian Ocean and the twelfth species and ninth genus of pinnotherid to be recorded from Singapore. The new species is closest to O. cynthiae, differing in details of the epistome, ornamentation of the walking leg dactyli and proportional lengths of the walking legs. A key to the species of Ostracotheres is provided.

A new miniature species of freshwater crab from the genus Tiwaripotamon Bott, 1970 (Potamidae), is described from a montane karst area in southern Napo, at the China-Vietnam border. It is the twelfth known species of the genus, and is also the smallest known, with the largest adult specimen observed barely exceeding 20 mm in carapace width. Apart from the small size, features of the eyes, carapace and ambulatory legs further set Tiwaripotamon keeae sp. nov. apart from its congeners. Pairwise genetic distances of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene also support it as a distinct species.

Specimens of the largescale dwarf flounder, Engyprosopon macrolepis (Regan, 1908) (Pleuronectiformes: Bothidae), were collected from the fishery landing of Chi-kan, Peng-hu Islands, western Taiwan. Although this species has been recorded from western Pacific Ocean including the Philippines and Japan, it has never been recorded from Taiwanese waters. Therefore, our specimens represent the first record for Taiwanese waters and fill a gap in the distribution of this species between the two countries. A detailed description of the specimens, including coloration of the fresh condition is provided and compared to the data of specimens collected in other regions. With the addition of E. macrolepis, a total of 11 species of Engyprosopon are recorded from Taiwanese waters, and we suggest that more species are expected to occur off Taiwan.

Compsanthias new genus is described for Anthias ventralis Randall (type species) and A. hawaiiensis Randall, which had been previously classified in the genus Pseudanthias Bleeker. Compsanthias is distinguished from other anthiadid genera in having the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays X,16-18, usually X,17; anal-fin rays III,9-10, usually III,9; pectoral-fin rays 14-16, usually 15, most rays branched; branched caudal-fin rays 7+6; tubed scales in lateral series 39-46. Three characters are presented as evidence for monophyly, although each needs further investigation: relatively large infraorbital 3, modally III,9 anal-fin rays, and presence of red to purple oblique stripe from behind upper part of eye to upper part of head. Additional potential synapomorphies relevant to the phylogenetic position of the genus are discussed.

In this contribution we describe and illustrate for the first time the larvae of three species of Platynectes Régimbart, 1879 (P. agallithoplotes Gustafson, Short & Miller, 2016, P. bakewelli (Clark, 1863), and P. reticulosus (Clark, 1863)) including detailed morphometric and chaetotaxic analyses of selected body structures in order to discover useful characters for distinguishing Platynectes larvae from those of other known Agabinae (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). A parsimony analysis based on larval characteristics of 19 Agabinae species in six genera (Agabus Leach, 1817, Agabinus Crotch, 1873, Hydrotrupes Sharp, 1882, Ilybiosoma Crotch, 1873, Platynectes, and Platambus Thomson, 1859) was conducted using the program TNT. The results support Platynectes as a natural group whilst the six species studied split into two well supported clades: P. agallithoplotes + P. decemnotatus (Aubé, 1838) and P. curtulus (Régimbart, 1899) + P. davidorum Hájek, Alarie, Šťastný & Vondráček, 2019 + P. reticulosus + P. bakewelli. Larvae of P. agallithoplotes have proven to be characterized by a large number of unique character states, several of which were never observed until now in the Agabinae. Evidence is provided to the effect that the Neotropical species of Platynectes s. str. evolved as a unique lineage within Platynectes.

Syllis Savigny in Lamarck, 1818, the type genus of Syllidae, is the largest and most diverse within the family. This genus presents many taxonomic, biogeographic, and phylogenetic problems due mainly to the lack of molecular data and morphological synapomorphies for many of the species, but also due to poor or inadequate descriptions. In order to improve our understanding of the genus, we have undertaken a morphological revision of Australian species, based on type material and material collected over years by the Australian Museum. This is the fourth paper dealing with this genus. Nine species are herein described, of which five are new records for Australia: Syllis ergeni Çinar, 2005; S. patersoni Soto, San Martín & Lucas, 2020; S. valida Grube, 1857; S. violacea Grube, 1870; and S. ypsiloides Aguado, San Martín & ten Hove, 2008. Three species already known from Australia are redescribed: S. heronislandensis (Hartmann-Schröder, 1991) n. comb.; S. parturiens Haswell, 1920; and S. cf. schmardiana Haswell, 1886. Syllis gantheaumensis (Hartmann-Schröder, 1979) n. comb. is raised to species level, since it was originally described as a subspecies of Typosyllis filidentata Hartmann-Schröder, 1962. We include an addendum with a list of species already treated in the previous papers on this genus, as well as some new synonymies after revision of types: Typosyllis (Typosyllis) gerhardi Hartmann-Schröder, 1980 and T. (T.) guildertonensis Hartmann-Schröder, 1979, as synonymous of Syllis busseltonensis (Hartmann-Schröder, 1982); T. (T.) raygeorgei Hartmann-Schröder, 1979 as synonymous of S. hyalina Grube, 1863; T. (T.) rockinghamensis Hartmann-Schröder, 1983 and T. (T.) pseudopapillata Hartmann-Schröder, 1991 as synonymous of S. pharobroomensis (Hartmann-Schröder, 1979). We also include a discussion of the genus and a key to Australian species.

Based on the phylogenetic placement of a near-complete mitogenome sequence of the holotype of Chelodina intergularis Fry, 1915 generated with hDNA approaches, we present evidence for the synonymy of this nominal species with Chelodina rugosa Ogilby, 1890. The type specimens of both taxa are housed in the Australian Museum, Sydney. Scrutinizing historical records, we conclude that the type locality of both taxa is most likely the vicinity of Somerset, at the northern extremity of Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia. We figure and describe both type specimens. Our results support the earlier conclusion that the exceptional arrangement of intergular and gular scutes in the holotype of C. intergularis is an individual aberration.

The subspecies rank has been widely applied by taxonomists to capture infraspecific variation within the Linnaean classification system. Many subspecies described throughout the 20th century were recognised largely based on perceived variation in single morphological characters yet have since been found not to correspond to separately evolving population lineages, thus requiring synonymy or elevation to full species under lineage-based views of species. These modern lineage-based taxonomic resolutions have resulted from a combination of new molecular genetic techniques, improved geographical sampling of specimens, and more sophisticated analyses of morphological variation (e.g., statistical assessments rather than solely univariate descriptive ones). Here, we revisit the current taxonomic arrangement of species-level and subspecific taxa in the Lerista microtis (Gray) group, which is distributed along a narrow ~2000 km strip on the southern coast of Australia. From specimens of the L. microtis group, an additional species (Lerista arenicola) and two additional subspecies (L. m. intermedia and L. m. schwaneri) were described. We collected data on mensural, meristic, and colour pattern characters to explore morpho-spatial relationships among these taxa. Although our morphological analyses revealed some distinctiveness among specimens from locations assigned to each taxon, this variation is continuous along Australia's southern coastline, assuming the form of a geographic cline rather than discrete forms. For many characters, however, spatial patterns were inconsistent with the original descriptions, particularly of the subspecies. Moreover, analysis of genome wide restriction-associated DNA loci revealed multiple instances of paraphyly among taxa, with phylogenetic clustering of specimens assigned to distinct species and subspecies. These emerging patterns provide no support for L. arenicola as a species evolving separately from L. microtis. Additionally, our findings challenge the presumed distinctiveness and coherence of the three subspecies of L. microtis. We thus synonymise L. arenicola and the L. microtis subspecies with L. microtis and provide a redescription of a single yet morphologically variable species-an arrangement that best reflects evolutionary history and the continuous nature of morphological variation across space.

The present paper reviews the Heteroclinus heptaeolus complex known only from temperate regions of Australia. Five species are recognised, with three of the species described as new, H. colemani, a deep bodied species often found around red algae, H. whitleyi, with two disjunct populations and a species very close to and sympatric with H. heptaeolus (Ogilby), H. longicauda, a slender species, lacking an orbital tentacle. In addition, Heteroclinus wilsoni (Lucas) is recognised as a distinct species and a neotype is selected. The species are separated on the bases of live coloration, pectoral ray, dorsal spine and anal ray counts, gill raker counts, development of orbital tentacle, first dorsal fin height and body depth. Analysis of measurements indicates that proportions commonly used to separate species are often unreliable, because of high variation and significant changes with size. Proportions were found to not be good estimates of the slope of the regression line of various characters with the standard length.

The elongate barracudina, Paralepis elongata (Brauer, 1906), received limited attention in the past, with only a few individuals documented, mostly in publications focusing on the feeding habits of large predatory pelagic fishes. Furthermore, the taxonomic history of the species is complicated, with some earlier sources providing incorrect information that influenced subsequent works. As a result, the accurate distribution range of P. elongata remains uncertain. An adult male specimen of P. elongata, representing the largest known individual, is reported from off Angola, southeastern Atlantic. A detailed description is provided, and the literature records of the species are reviewed and discussed.

The brown tree frog (Litoria ewingii) is a relatively widespread, commonly encountered pelodryadid frog from south-eastern Australia, known for its characteristic whistling call. The distribution of Litoria ewingii spans over more than 350,000 km2, encompassing a range of moist temperate habitats, and is fragmented by well-known biogeographic barriers. A preliminary analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed evidence for deep phylogenetic structure between some of these fragmented populations. In this study, we sought to re-evaluate the systematics and taxonomy of Litoria ewingii sensu lato by analysing variation in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, adult morphology and male advertisement calls throughout the species range. Our analyses reveal two additional, deeply divergent and allopatric lineages in South Australia. We herein re-describe Litoria ewingii from Tasmania, southern New South Wales, Victoria and south-eastern South Australia, resurrect the name Litoria calliscelis for a species occurring in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, and describe a new species, Litoria sibilus sp. nov., endemic to Kangaroo Island.

Two specimens of the rare Amarsipa fish, Amarsipus carlsbergi, were collected from Pratas Island in the northern South China Sea. They represent the first record of Taiwanese EEZ and fill the distribution gap in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between Japan (East China Sea) and Vietnam. The two specimens were identified based on their diagnostic characteristics, including no pharyngeal sacs, a pelvic fin well in front of the pectoral fin, a slender body and other morphology. Detailed data and descriptions of these two specimens, including a description of otolith morphology, are provided.

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Litoria rothii is a widespread pelodryadid frog with a charismatic laughing advertisement call, distributed across the Australian Monsoon Tropics and southern New Guinea. Given its large distribution spanning well-known biogeographic barriers, variation in male advertisement calls and the prevalence of unresolved species complexes in the Australian frog fauna, we examine the genetic, morphological and acoustic diversity in the species from across its range. Our analyses reveal the presence of a previously unrecognised species in western parts of the range of L. rothii sensu lato, which we describe herein as a new species. Litoria ridibunda sp. nov. is distinguished from L. rothii on the basis of paraphyly of nuclear gene trees with L. everetti from Indonesia, colour patterns on the posterior thigh and male advertisement calls. Compared to L. rothii, the new species has a less contrasting pattern on the posterior thigh and a male advertisement call with a greater number of notes per call and a greater call duration. In particular, the magnitude of call differences between the species is highest where the ranges of the two species are in proximity in north-western Queensland. Our study further emphasises the undiagnosed diversity that remains in Australian frogs, even in relatively large, charismatic, frequently encountered species that often share human dwellings.

The pseudoscorpion genus Indohya Beier, 1974 is known to occur in three Gondwanan fragments around the Indian Oceansouthern India, Madagascar and north-western Australiasuggesting that the genus had evolved prior to the breakup of Gondwana and was present on each landmass as they rifted apart during the Mesozoic. The Australian fauna is the most diverse, with nine species previously described from Cape Range and the Kimberley region of north-western Australia. The present study documents the genus Indohya in Australia using a combination of morphology and DNA sequence data. We found a total of 36 species, including 27 new species. The majority of the Pilbara fauna consist of blind troglobites collected from subterranean ecosystems, with an additional three eyed species from epigean habitats. The new species consist of one from Cape Range (I. anastomosa Harvey & Burger, n. sp.), 21 from the Pilbara (I. adlardi Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. alexanderi Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. aphana Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. aquila Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. arcana Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. arnoldstrongi Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. boltoni Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. cardo Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. catherineae Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. cockingi Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. cribbi Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. draconis Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. furtiva Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. incomperta Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. jessicae Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. lynbeazlyeae Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. morganstrongi Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. rixi Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. sagmata Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. scanloni Harvey & Burger, n. sp. and I. silenda Harvey & Burger, n. sp.) and five from the Kimberley (I. currani Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. finitima Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. julianneae Harvey & Burger, n. sp., I. karenae Harvey & Burger, n. sp. and I. sachsei Harvey & Burger, n. sp.). The study is augmented with sequence data from 29 species of Indohya, including all of the 24 species recorded from the Pilbara and Cape Range, and five of the 12 known Kimberley species. Seven clades recovered during the molecular analysis are only represented by nymphs, but we used COI sequence data to diagnose these species in the absence of adult morphological data.

An annotated checklist of the marine amphipods recorded from Indian waters is compiled from the available peer-reviewed literature. A total of 266 species belonging to 133 genera and 56 families are listed. The maximum numbers of species were recorded from the South Indian Ecoregion (177 species, 98 genera, 47 families), followed by the Western India Ecoregion (101 species, 72 genera, 36 families), the Eastern Indian Ecoregion (99 species, 65 genera, 35 families), the Northern Bay of Bengal Ecoregion (92 species, 53 genera, 29 families), the Maldives Ecoregion (32 species, 24 genera, 16 families), and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Ecoregion (31 species, 22 genera, 18 families). Notes on the questionable identifications and records of some amphipods are also provided.

Many of Australias smaller marsupial species have been taxonomically described in just the past 50 years, and the Dasyuridae, a speciose family of carnivores, is known to harbour many cryptic taxa. Evidence from molecular studies is being increasingly utilised to help revise species boundaries and focus taxonomic efforts, and research over the past two decades has identified several undescribed genetic lineages within the dasyurid genus Planigale. Here, we describe two new species, Planigale kendricki sp. nov. (formerly known as Planigale 1) and P. tealei sp. nov. (formerly known as Planigale sp. Mt Tom Price). The two new species have broadly overlapping distributions in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The new species are genetically distinct from each other and from all other members of the genus, at both mitochondrial and nuclear loci, and morphologically, in both external and craniodental characters. The new species are found in regional sympatry within the Pilbara but occupy different habitat types at local scales. This work makes a start at resolving the cryptic diversity within Planigale at a time when small mammals are continuing to decline throughout Australia.

We present a review of the Australian species of Rhytiphora Audinet-Serville, 1835, the most speciose longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) genus in Australia. The morphological definition of the genus is updated, including useful features to distinguish Rhytiphora from closely related genera within Niphonini. Key characteristics of the two molecularly determined subclades are also provided. The collaris group of Rhytiphora is revised and Rhytiphora garnetensis sp. nov. is described from Queensland. A neotype is designated for Saperda collaris Donovan, 1805; lectotypes are designated for R. amicula White, 1859, Symphyletes vestigialis Pascoe, 1864, Symphyletes compos Blackburn, 1902, R. maculosella Blackburn, 1902, R. uniformis Blackburn, 1901, R. piperitia Hope, 1842 and Symphyletes humeralis White, 1858. A number of species complexes that require genetic confirmation before being synonymised (or separated) are discussed. Finally, we provide a new checklist of the Australian Rhytiphora species which, incorporating synonymies and other changes, reduces the total number of species from 206 to 163. The following species have been synonymised (junior synonym listed first): Coptops abdominalis White, 1858 (= Lamia bankii Fabricius, 1775); Penthea adamsae McKeown, 1938 (= Penthea macularia Pascoe, 1867); R. affinis Breuning, 1970 (= Symphyletes farinosus Pascoe, 1863); Prosoplus albidus Aurivillius, 1917 and Prosoplus minimus Breuning, 1938 (= Corrhenes pauxilla Blackburn, 1901); Prosoplus albostriatus Breuning, 1938 and Prosoplus demarzi Breuning, 1963 (= Niphona oblita Pascoe, 1863); Saperda albocincta Guérin-Méneville, 1831, Symphyletes compos Blackburn, 1902, R. donovani Newman, 1851, R. intertincta Pascoe, 1867, R. maculosella Blackburn, 1902, R. parafarinosa Breuning, 1970, R. vermiculosa Breuning, 1970 and Symphyletes vestigialis Pascoe, 1864 (= Saperda collaris); R. albolateraloides Breuning, 1970 (= Platyomopsis cinerascens Aurivillius, 1917); Symphyletes anaglyptus Pascoe, 1867, Saperdopsis armata Thomson, 1864, Symphyletes moratus Pascoe, 1863 and Symphyletes vetustus Pascoe, 1862 (= Lamia pulverulens Boisduval, 1835); Symphyletes arctos Pascoe, 1865 (= Symphyletes fumatus Pascoe, 1864); Pterolophia australica Breuning, 1938 (= Apomecyna nigrita Pascoe, 1859); R. barnardi Breuning, 1982 (= Symphyletes capreolus Pascoe, 1867); Platyomopsis basalis Aurivillius, 1917 (= Saperdopsis ochreobasalis Breuning, 1938); R. corrhenoides Breuning, 1970 (= Corrhenes cruciata Pascoe, 1875); R. dawsoni Breuning, 1970 (= Symphyletes fasciatus Blackburn, 1901); Symphyletes defloratus Pascoe, 1869 (= Symphyletes gallus Pascoe, 1864); Trichoprosoplus demarzi Breuning, 1961 and Paradaxata spinosa Breuning, 1938 (= Paradaxata villosa Breuning, 1938); Prosoplus elongatus Breuning, 1938 (= Prosoplus metallescens Breuning, 1938); Corrhenes flavovittata Breuning, 1938, Saperda funesta Pascoe, 1859, Anaesthetis lepida Germar, 1848 and Cobria rufa Breuning, 1961 (= Saperda paulla Germar, 1848); Corrhenes guttulata Pascoe, 1865, Corrhenes macmillani Gilmour, 1950 and Saperda mystica Pascoe, 1863 (= Saperda stigmatica Pascoe, 1863); Xiphotheopsis hathlioides Breuning, 1961 (= Xiphohathlia lobata Breuning, 1961); Symphyletes iliacus Pascoe, 1866 (= Symphyletes deserti Blackburn, 1896); Saperdopsis laterialba Breuning, 1938 (= Symphyletes satelles Pascoe, 1865); Etaxalus laterialbus Breuning, 1968 (= Achriotypa basalis Pascoe, 1875); Prosoplus laterinigricollis Breuning, 1961 and Prosoplus mediofasciatus Breuning, 1938 (= Niphona bakewelli Pascoe, 1859); R. leucolateralis Breuning, 1970 (= R. subargentata Breuning, 1970); Penthea lichenosa McKeown, 1942 and Penthea obscura Breuning, 1961 (= Penthea scenica Pascoe, 1863); Sysspilotus macleayi Pascoe, 1865 and Menyllus maculicornis Pascoe, 1864 (= Menyllus rotundipennis Breuning, 1968); R. multituberculata Breuning, 1966 (= Saperdopsis sellata Breuning, 1938); Symphyletes nodosus Newman, 1842 (= Acanthocinus piliger Macleay, 1826); Hathliodes pseudomurinus Breuning, 1938 (= Hathliodes virgatus Breuning, 1938); Penthea sectator Pascoe, 1865 (= Penthea crassicollis Pascoe, 1864); R. simsoni Blackburn, 1901 (= R. mista Newman, 1842); Penthea solida Pascoe, 1863 (= Lamia vermicularia Donovan, 1805); Platyomopsis spinosa Thomson, 1864 (= Lamia obliqua Donovan, 1805); R. truncata Breuning, 1940 (= R. piperitia Hope, 1842); R. uniformis Blackburn, 1901 (= Platyomopsis delicatula McKeown, 1948); Mimiphiastus vivesi Breuning, 1978 (= Symphyletes variolosa Pascoe, 1862). Pterolophia bispinosa Breuning, 1938 is renamed to R. subovata new name (junior homonym of Saperdopsis bispinosa Breuning, 1938), R. browni McKeown, 1938 is reinstated as its own species, and Corrhenes flavovittata demarzi Breuning, 1963 is elevated to species status and renamed R. rentzi new name (junior homonym of Trichoprosoplus demarzi).

The genus Demansia Günther is the most diverse genus of Australian terrestrial elapids. A phylogenetic framework for the familiar but problematic taxa D. psammophis and D. reticulata (Gray) has been long overdue to ascertain interspecific relationships and resolve unclear taxonomic issues. Here we present an integrated molecular phylogenetic and morphological analyses to review species delineation, resulting in confirmation that both D. psammophis and D. reticulata are full species and that some populations referred to D. r. cupreiceps Storr are not distinguishable from more typical D. reticulata. We also find the widespread central Australian population (treated by most authors as part of cupreiceps) to be specifically distinct. We redescribe D. psammophis and D. reticulata to clarify morphological and geographical boundaries and describe D. cyanochasma sp. nov. based on a combination of molecular genetic markers, details of colour and pattern, adult total length and a few morphometric attributes. We also designate a lectotype for D. psammophis from the original syntype series and comment on the necessity for further taxonomic refinement of this distinctive group.

A new and brachypterous species of Semanopterus Hope, 1847 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Pentodontini) is described: S. kingstoni Reid & Tees, new species. The species is based on a single female specimen, collected on Lord Howe Island in the southwest Pacific Ocean. It is the sixth species of dynastine known from Lord Howe Island; a key is provided for identification of all of the species known from this small island.

The paralepidid species Lestidiops distans (Ege, 1953) is redescribed on the basis of adult specimens collected from the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Observations on the holotype, a detailed description, and full data of the adults are provided. The complete lateral line running to the caudal fin base found in L. distans is a rare condition, with only some species in the family possessing this character. The distribution range of L. distans, from Senegal (14°N) to Namibia (22°S) along the coastline of the eastern Atlantic Ocean, is revised accordingly. Comments on a congener, Lestidiops cadenati (Maul, 1962), that co-occurs in the western Atlantic are provided.

Mixophyes are large ground-dwelling myobatrachid frogs from eastern Australia and New Guinea. Several of the species found in mid-eastern and south-eastern Australia are listed as threatened, due largely to declines presumably caused by the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis. Given the wide distribution of several of these species and that their distributions cross well-known biogeographic boundaries that often correspond to deep genetic breaks or species boundaries among closely related vertebrates, we undertook a molecular genetic assessment of population structure across the range of each species to determine the presence of undescribed species. Of the four species of Mixophyes subject to molecular population genetic analyses, one, the Stuttering Frog (Mixophyes balbus), showed a level of diversity consistent with the presence of two species. Morphometric, meristic and bioacoustic analyses corroborate these distinctions, and a new species is described for the populations south of the Macleay River valley in mid-eastern New South Wales to east Gippsland in Victoria. Applying the IUCN Red List threat criteria the new species meets the conservation status assessment criteria for Endangered 2B1a,b because its extent of occupancy and area of occupancy are below the threshold value and it has declined and disappeared from the southern two thirds of its distribution over the past 30 years.

The familial classification and specific identity of Stigmatonotus australis Peters, 1877 has been unresolved ever since its original description. Examination of a photograph and X-radiograph of the holotype confirms placement in the serranid subfamily Anthiadinae. It is further identified to the genus Hypoplectrodes Gill, 1862 and shown to represent a juvenile specimen of the species currently called H. cardinalis Allen & Randall, 1990. Character and other evidence supporting this conclusion are summarised, including discussion of apparently contradictory characters. Consequently, the following synonymisations are proposed: the family-group name Stigmatonotidae Whitley, 1954 with Anthiadides Poey, 1861, the generic name Stigmatonotus Peters, 1877 with Hypoplectrodes Gill, 1862, and the species name H. cardinalis Allen & Randall, 1990 with S. australis Peters, 1877.

We examined the morphology, colour patterns and genetic relationships of Nososticta populations allied to N. salomonis (Selys) from across Melanesia. Seven species-level taxa are recognised in the N. salomonis 'complex': N. africana (Schmidt), N. boonei sp. nov., N. chrismulleri Theischinger & Richards, N. hedigeri sp. nov., N. salomonis (Selys), N. stueberi sp. nov., and N. tagula sp. nov. All of these species are black damselflies with blue markings, and they differ from all other Nososticta by having: 1) a prominent spike on the male superior appendage, 2) a prominent angular base of the male inferior appendage, and 3) a complex posterior lobe on the female pronotum bearing two pairs of processes in the rough shape of a chair when viewed laterally. A molecular phylogeny based on the DNA barcode fragment of the COI gene plus two nuclear genes indicates that these seven species are closely related, but more extensive sampling of Nososticta species is required to confirm that they form a monophyletic group.

The poorly known brachyuran crab, Pronotonyx laevis Ward, 1936, from northern Australia, is redescribed based on type and other material. We document adults of both sexes and confirm the taxonomic placement of the Pronotonyx in the Pilumnidae. Pronotonyx is most similar to the Australian Pseudocryptocoeloma parvum Ward, 1936, differing in features of the carapace and pereopods.

A new species of Okamejei is described based on two adult males collected from deep waters in the South China Sea. The new species, Okamejei picta sp. nov., is readily distinguished from most other congeners in having densely scattered black spots on dorsal disc. Okamejei hollandi and O. mengae is quite similar to the new species by their spot patterns on dorsal disc, but the new species differs from the former by a combination of characters: a yellowish brown dorsal surface densely covered with small, circular to irregular-shaped black spots; blotches on dorsal disc indistinct; posterior ocellus absent; ventral disc white; disc length 45.0-47.7% TL; distance between cloaca to caudal-fin tip 53.6-55.1% TL; trunk centra 31; total basal radials 73-76, morphology of clasper terminal skeleton, and lacking component funnel at the clasper end.

Himerometroidea is a clade of chiefly shallow-water, tropical, feather-star crinoids that is currently divided, based on morphology, into four families comprising 119 extant species in 31 genera. Our molecular phylogenetic results, based on three mitochondrial (CO1, 16S, CytB) and two nuclear (ITS and 28S) markers for 55 accepted species in 23 of the extant genera, allow for six clades within Himerometroidea to be given family ranks. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference analyses recovered largely congruent topologies with varying nodal support. A new classification revises generic placements among five families: Himerometridae, Colobometridae, and Mariametridae, all retained, and Pontiometridae and Stephanometridae both resurrected. Zygometridae is no longer accepted, since the type genus of the family, Zygometra, falls within Himerometridae. Catoptometra was recovered as a sister clade with respect to those treated herein as a new family, Catoptometridae. Two genera, Iconometra and Analcidometra, are retained within Himerometroidea but without family assignments pending further assessment of their positions. Currently published diagnostic and descriptive morphological features are noted where possible to support taxonomic names in the recovered phylogeny, although more examination of morphology is needed to identify synapomorphies and designate taxon names formally.

Two new species of Marphysa Quatrefages, 1866 are described from the southeast coast of Australia. With the presence of only compound spinigers and the branchiae present over many chaetigers, Marphysa baudini n. sp. belongs to the Sanguinea-group. This species has ventral cirri with an inflated base and digitiform tip and thick and wide anodont pectinate chaetae, with 3-5 internal long and thick teeth. With the presence of only compound falcigers, Marphysa davidattenboroughi n. sp., belongs to the "Aenea-group". This species is characterised by the presence of a bilobed prostomium, a single pair of pygidial cirri and by the presence of thick, and wide anodont pectinate chaetae with 4-6 long internal and thick teeth.

We describe two new species of moderate-sized (male body length 26.5-29.8 mm and 41.0 mm), predominantly green treefrogs in the genus Litoria from hill forest on the northern slopes of Papua New Guinea's Central Cordillera. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial ND4 nucleotide sequences shows that the first species is related to Litoria iris (Tyler) and its allies. It is morphologically most similar to Litoria mystax, a small green treefrog known only from the holotype that was described more than 100 years ago from the north coast of western New Guinea but differs from that species in having longer legs and a broader head. The second species is closest to Litoria gasconi, a species known only from the foothills of the Foja Mountains in Papua Province, Indonesian New Guinea, and the Prince Alexander Mountains in northern Papua New Guinea. It has a net average sequence divergence of 10% from L. gasconi and can be distinguished morphologically from it and from other pelodryadids by the presence of a striking pattern of spots and blotches on the ventral surfaces and on the hidden surfaces of the limbs. These descriptions add to the rapidly increasing known diversity of frogs in hill and lower montane forest, habitats that support the most diverse frog communities on mainland New Guinea.

A generic revision is provided for the New Zealand coastal talitroids, which reports two families, seven genera and thirteen species. Three new genera are described: Aotearorchestia gen. nov.; Subantarctorchestia gen. nov.; and Tatahipeke gen. nov. to accommodate seven known species, A. chathamensis (Hurley, 1956) comb. nov.; A. telluris (Spence Bate, 1862) comb. nov.; S. aucklandiae (Spence Bate, 1862) comb. nov.; S. bollonsi (Chilton, 1909) comb. nov.; Tatahipeke cookii (Filhol, 1885) comb. nov.; T. kirki (Hurley, 1956) comb. nov.; and T. tumida (G.M. Thomson, 1885) comb. nov. The three genera, Bellorchestia Serejo & Lowry, 2008, Protorchestia Bousfield 1982 and Transorchestia Bousfield, 1982 are revised to include additional information on morphology, growth stages and distributions for three New Zealand species: Bellorchestia quoyana (Milne Edwards, 1840); Transorchestia miranda (Chilton, 1916); and Trans. serrulata (Dana, 1852a). Lastly, a small commentary is given on four species of coastal talitroids where additional museum collections could not be located for study, B. spadix (Hurley, 1956), Pictonorchestia dentata (Filhol, 1885), Protorchestia campbelliana (Bousfield, 1964), and T. kirki (Hurley, 1956) gen. et comb. nov. A dichotomous key and pictorial field guide are provided to all New Zealand coastal talitroids.

New Guinea has the most diverse insular frog fauna in the world, and rates of species discovery and description have increased rapidly in the last two decades. Pelodryadid treefrogs are the second most diverse family of anurans on the island but their taxonomy, relationships, and especially ecology remain poorly documented. Based on differences in morphology, advertisement calls (where available) and phylogenetic analyses of a 787 base pair alignment from the mitochondrial ND4 gene and flanking tRNA, we describe five new species of small treefrogs from hill and lower montane forests in the high rainfall belt that straddles the southern versant of Papua New Guinea's Central Cordillera. Three of these species are known only from forest growing on karst substrates, adding to the growing number of herpetofauna species currently known only from the extensive karst habitats of Papua New Guinea's South-fold Mountains. We also describe the arboreal breeding strategies of two of the new species, and report obligate treehole (phytotelm) breeding in New Guinean frogs for the first time. The new phytotelm-breeding species has juveniles with colour and patterning that closely resemble bird droppings, suggesting defensive mimicry or masquerade. A preliminary phylogeny suggests that arboreal-breeding frogs do not form a monophyletic group and that arboreal breeding has evolved multiple times within the New Guinean pelodryadid radiation. A further striking feature of the phylogeny is poor support for most basal nodes in the most diverse radiation of Melanesian Pelodryadidae, suggesting rapid ecological diversification and speciation, potentially following colonisation from Australia and/or mountain uplift. These new taxa and observations highlight previously unrecognised ecological and reproductive diversity in the Melanesian Pelodryadidae.

A key to the six Australian genera of the wolf spider (Lycosidae Sundevall, 1833) subfamily Artoriinae Framenau, 2007 is provided, now including Artoria Thorell, 1877, Artoriopsis Framenau, 2007, Diahogna Roewer, 1960, Kangarosa Framenau, 2010, Kochosa gen. nov. and Tetralycosa Roewer, 1960. Kochosa gen. nov. is described to include 16 species: K. australia sp. nov. (type species; from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia), K. aero sp. nov. (Western Australia), K. asterix sp. nov. (New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria), K. confusa sp. nov. (Queensland), K. erratum sp. nov. (Queensland), K. fleurae sp. nov. (Victoria), K. mendum sp. nov. (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland), K. nigra sp. nov. (Queensland), K. obelix sp. nov. (Western Australia), K. queenslandica sp. nov. (Queensland), K. sharae sp. nov. (South Australia), K. tanakai sp. nov. (New South Wales, Queensland), K. tasmaniensis sp. nov. (Tasmania), K. timwintoni sp. nov. (Western Australia), K. tongiorgii sp. nov., (Queensland), and K. westralia sp. nov. (Western Australia). Kochosa gen. nov. differs distinctly from all other genera within the Artoriinae by somatic and genitalic morphology. Most conspicuous is a distinct off-white or yellowish-white cardiac mark on an otherwise generally uniformly dark abdomen. The cardiac mark is rendered by thick black setae, which are particularly dense posteriorly. The tegular apophysis of the male pedipalp is heavily reduced, generally forming a semi-transparent small lobe. In turn, the embolic division is often complex with a variety of apophyses. Kochosa gen. nov. generally inhabit mesic habitats such as temperate and tropical shrubs and forests along the eastern and south-eastern coast and in the south-western parts of Australia.

Syllis Savigny in Lamarck, 1818, the type genus of Syllidae, is the largest and most diverse within the family. This genus presents many taxonomic, biogeographic, and phylogenetic problems due mainly to the lack of molecular data and morphological synapomorphies for many of the species, but also due to poor or inadequate descriptions. In order to improve the knowledge of the genus, we have undertaken a morphological revision of Australian species, based on type material and material collected over years by the Australian Museum. This is the third paper dealing with this family. Eighteen species are herein described, of which five are new and twelve are redescriptions of already known species, with four new combinations: Syllis imajimai, n. sp.; S. narranuk, n. sp.; S. noolinga, n. sp.; S. similisunzima, n. sp.; S. thylacine, n. sp.; S. busseltonensis (Hartmann-Schröder, 1982) n. comb.; S. patriciae (Hartmann-Schröder, 1981) n. comb.; S. pharobroomensis (Hartmann-Schröder, 1979) n. comb., S. pharynxcircunfusata (Hartmann-Schröder, 1979) n. comb, S. armillaris (O. F. Müller, 1771); S. augeneri Haswell, 1920; S. benelihauae (Campoy & Alquézar, 1982); S. hyalina Grube, 1863; S. cf. nigrescens Grube, 1878; S. profunda Cognetti, 1955; S. truncata Haswell, 1920; and S. variegata Grube, 1860.

With alarming frequency, significant collections in natural history museums have been destroyed or damaged through insurrections, cyclones, wars, fires, floods, or earthquakes particularly in the nineteenth century but continuing into the twentieth century with World War II bombings, fires, and earthquakes being the primary causes of loss in fifty-seven institutions across thirty countries. We review the loss or damage of museum collections globally, and their varied causes. We emphasize the benefits of dispersal of a sample of paratypes across institutions as an essential feature of taxonomic practice. We argue that museums do not own type material but are acting as perpetual custodians of type material on behalf of science and society in general, and that museums, therefore, have an obligation to minimize the risk to their collections. The significance of the loss of type material would be ameliorated if, when there are numerous paratypes or syntypes, members of a type series were distributed among several institutions. This is currently common practice but historically this was not always the case and might not be possible if only a single holotype is available. We also reaffirm the need for scientists around the globe to develop specific protocols to protect collections of biological and cultural materials from loss or damage from natural and human-created disasters now and into the future. We comment on recent moves to modify the Zoological Code of Nomenclature to allow the use of images as "type" material when describing new species with the image serving as a substitute for "physical" specimens deposited in museum collections. Although our focus is on herpetological collections, our particular interest and area of expertise, our observations apply broadly to all collections, including those of animals, plants, and anthropological or ethnographic material.

A new species of Glossocephalus, G. aurantium sp. nov., is described based on two female specimens collected from the Monterey Canyon, California, eastern Pacific Ocean. It was found associated with an undescribed lobate ctenophore. Glossocephalus aurantium is readily distinguished from its congeners by the large crescent-shaped bulbous eye fields relative to the size of the head capsule. The pereopod morphology is most similar to G. rebecae, recently described from the same general region by Zeidler and Browne (2015), but that species is readily distinguished by it's relatively narrow crescent-shaped eye fields. Apart from it's prominent bulbous eye structures, G. aurantium is distinguished from G. milneedwardsi by the morphology of the gnathopods (not spoon-shaped). In addition, pereopods 5 and 6 are slender (not paddle-like) and the head capsule is relatively larger with a sharp rostrum (not rounded).

In south-eastern Australia, the pelodryadid Litoria aurea Group (sensu Tyler & Davies 1978) comprises three species: Litoria aurea (Lesson, 1829), Litoria raniformis (Keferstein, 1867), and Litoria castanea (Steindachner, 1867). All three species have been subject to declines over recent decades and taxonomic uncertainty persists among populations on the tablelands in New South Wales. We address the systematics of the Group by analysing mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences to assess divergence in the Litoria raniformis from across its current range in New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, South Australia (SA) and Tasmania. We also included samples of Litoria castanea from a recently rediscovered population in the southern tablelands of NSW. Our phylogenetic and population genetic analyses show that Litoria raniformis comprises northern and southern lineages, showing deep mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence (7% net average sequence divergence) and can be diagnosed by fixed allelic differences at more than 4,000 SNP loci. Samples of the northern lineage were collected from the Murray-Darling Basin while those of the southern lineage were collected from south-eastern South Australia, southern and south-eastern Victoria and Tasmania. Analysis of the morphology and bioacoustics did not unequivocally delineate the two lineages. The presence of a hybrid backcross individual in western Victoria at the northern margin of the southern lineage, leads us to assign sub-species status to the two lineages, L. r. raniformis for the northern lineage and L. r. major for the southern lineage. Our data do not unequivocally resolve the taxonomic status of L. castanea which will require molecular genetic analyses of museum vouchers from those parts of the range where L. castanea and L. raniformis are no longer extant. Our data also suggest that human mediated movement of frogs may have occurred over the past 50 years. Our genotyping of vouchers collected in the 1970s from the Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia detected mitochondrial haplotypes of both sub-species and SNP analysis showed that a single Tasmanian specimen was a backcross with L. r. raniformis ancestry. Movement of L. r. raniformis into Tasmania and both sub-species into the Mount Lofty Ranges are not likely due to passive movements of animals through agricultural commerce, but due to the attractiveness of the species as pets and subsequent escapes or releases, potentially of the larval life stage.