[Entomology • 2026] Montana tomorri & M. dani • Two New Species of Bush-crickets (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from the Mountains of south Albania

 

(A–D) Montana tomorri and (G–H) Montana dani 

Puskás, Lemonnier-Darcemont, Willemse, Chobanov, Heller, Halimi, Darcemont, Kotitsa& Szövényi, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.3

Abstract

Two new taxa of Platycleidini have been discovered in southern Albania, with one of them extending its range to the Greek border. In this paper, we analyse their morphological features, the characteristics of their acoustic signals, and phylogenetic relationships. These taxa clearly belong to the cluster of species comprising the four genera Montana, Amedegnatiana, Parnassiana, and Metrioptera s. str. The results of this study suggest their placement within the genus Montana, and we describe two new species: Montana tomorri sp. nov. and Montana dani sp. nov. Our findings highlight the urgent need for a reassessment of the tribe Platycleidini using integrative approaches that incorporate molecular and bioacoustic data, in order to better understand monophyletic groups and evaluate the consistency of current generic classifications.

Orthoptera, balkans, mountain endemism, Platycleidini, bioacoustics, phylogeny

habitus and colour variation of Montana tomorri sp. nov. from Tomorr Mt. (A–D) 

 

habitus and colour variation of M. dani sp. nov. from Trebeshina Mt. (E–H).

GELLÉRT PUSKÁS, MICHÈLE LEMONNIER-DARCEMONT, LUC WILLEMSE, DRAGAN CHOBANOV, KLAUS-GERHARD HELLER, ELTJON HALIMI, CHRISTIAN DARCEMONT, NEFELI KOTITSA, GERGELY SZÖVÉNYI. 2026. Montana tomorri and Montana dani (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), Two New Species of Bush-crickets from the Mountains of south Albania. Zootaxa. 5828(2); 225-255. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.3 [2026-06-09]

[Botany • 2025] Pilosella kalinensis (Asteraceae) • A New diploid Species in P. sect. Alpicolinae from the Rila Mountains in Bulgaria

  

 Pilosella kalinensis  Szeląg & Vladimirov,

in Szeląg & Vladimirov, 2025.  

 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.694.2.8 

Pilosella kalinensis is a new, diploid species, discovered in extreme habitats on the highest peaks in the Rila Mountains in Bulgaria. It belongs to the P. alpicola aggregate within P. sect. Alpicolinae and is distinguished by having somewhat larger capitula covered with very dense, long, blackish, straight trichomes. It is endangered by hybridization with P. rhodopea. 

Key words: Balkan Peninsula, Compositae, hybridization, Pilosella, ploidy level, taxonomy, Eudicots 

 Pilosella kalinensis (details of the isotype).

Pilosella kalinensis Szeląg & Vladimirov, sp. nov.  

 Pilosella kalinensis (left) and P. rhodopea on Mt. Golyam Kalin (right).

Zbigniew SZELĄG and Vladimir VLADIMIROV. 2025. Pilosella kalinensis (Asteraceae), A New diploid Species in P. sect. Alpicolinae from the Rila Mountains in Bulgaria. Phytotaxa. 694(2); 201-204. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.694.2.8 [2025-03-20] 

[Botany • 2025] Galanthus subalpinus (Amaryllidaceae) • A New Species of Snowdrop from the Western Balkans

 

Galanthus subalpinus  A.P.Davis & I.McEnery, 

in Davis, McEnery, Csiba, Márquez-Corro et Leitch, 2025. 

DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s12225-024-10239-8 

Drawn by Lucy T. Smith.

Summary

Galanthus subalpinus (Amaryllidaceae), a new snowdrop species endemic to the Western Balkans (North Macedonia and Kosovo) is described and illustrated. Morphological differences between the new species and the similar Galanthus species, G. nivalis and G. graecus, are reported and discussed, in combination with DNA sequence data from plastid (trnL-trnF, matK) and nuclear (ribosomal ITS) markers and genome size. Line drawings, photographs of habitat and morphology, a distribution map and a preliminary conservation assessment are provided. The genome size (1C-value) of G. bursanus, G. samothracicus and G. × valentinei nothosubsp. subplicatus are reported for the first time.

Key Words: Balkan flora, conservation, genome size, 1C-value.

Galanthus subalpinus.
 A habit, flowering; B habit, flower bud stage; C young emerging leaves, showing applanate vernation; D flower; E outer perianth segment, abaxial view (right) and adaxial view (left); F inner perianth segments, with alternative marking types (below), all in abaxial view; G inner perianth segment, adaxial view.

Scale bar: A – C = 4 cm; D = 2.5 cm; E – G = 1 cm. 

All from McEnery s.n. drawn by Lucy T. Smith.

Galanthus subalpinus in situ and in cultivation.
A habitat, subalpine grassland; B small clump, situated in an ephemeral water pool; C flowers; D leaves at early fruiting stage.
A – B North Macedonia; C – D UK, in cultivation.

photos: I. Mcenery.

Galanthus subalpinus A.P.Davis & I.McEnery sp. nov. 

 

ETYMOLOGY. Galanthus subalpinus is named after the subalpine zone (1500 – 1800 m) where the species is found in the wild.

Aaron P. Davis, Ian McEnery, Laszlo Csiba, José Ignacio Márquez-Corro and Ilia J. Leitch. 2025.  Galanthus subalpinus (Amaryllidaceae): A New Species of Snowdrop from the Western Balkans. Kew Bulletin.  DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s12225-024-10239-8 

[Botany • 2024] Allium dinaricum (Amaryllidaceae) • A New Species of Allium sect. Codonoprasum from the Balkan Peninsula based on morphology and karyology

Allium dinaricum  Bogdanović, Anačkov, Ćato, Borovečki-Voska, Salmeri & Brullo, 

in Bogdanović, Anačkov, Ćato, Borovečki-Voska, Salmeri et Brullo, 2024. 

  DOI: doi.org/10.3372/wi.54.54302

 Abstract  

Allium dinaricum (Amaryllidaceae), a new species of A. sect. Codonoprasum from the NW Balkan Peninsula is described and illustrated. It is a late summer flowering geophyte occurring in several localities of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, where it usually grows in rupestrian calcareous stands from the coastal to mountain belts. The morphological traits, karyology (2n = 2x = 16), leaf anatomy, seed micromorphology and ecology of the new species are provided. Possible taxonomic relationships with other species occurring mainly in the E Mediterranean are also examined.

KEYWORDS: Allium, Allium dinaricum, Allium sect. Codonoprasum, Amaryllidaceae, Balkan Peninsula, Balkans, karyology, morphology, new species, taxonomy

Allium dinaricum – A: rupestrian growth habitat; B, D: inflorescences; C: habit.

 A–D: Krk Island, Surbova, 9 Sep 2023, photographs by S. Bogdanović.

Allium dinaricum Bogdanović, Anačkov, Ćato, Borovečki-Voska, Salmeri & Brullo, sp. nov. 

Holotype: Croatia, Mt Velebit, above Velike Brisnice, in calcareous rocky crevices along mountain path, ..., c. 800 m, 13 Sep 2023, S. Bogdanović & V. Lopac s.n. 

(ZAGR 78944!; isotypes: B!, BUNS!, CAT!, ZA!, ZAGR!).

– Allium fuscum var. gracile Anačkov, Takson. Horol. Roda Allium Srbiji: 132. 2009, nom. inval., not effectively published (Turland & al. 2018: Art. 30.9 and 32.1(a)).

Diagnosis — Allium dinaricum is similar to A. fuscum but differs from the latter in having outer bulb tunics slightly fibrous (vs coriaceous), stems often geminate (vs single), leaf cross-section semi-circular (vs flat), leaf blade narrower, with 2 prominent ribs, spathe valves usually shorter and erect (vs longer and divaricate or reflexed), inflorescence few-flowered (vs many-flowered), tepals smaller, outer stamen filaments shorter, annulus shorter, anther apex apiculate (vs rounded), and ovary smaller.

Etymology — The specific epithet refers to the Dinaric Alps, where the new species is distributed.

Sandro Bogdanović, Goran Anačkov, Sebastian Ćato, Ljiljana Borovečki-Voska, Cristina Salmeri, Salvatore Brullo. 2024. Allium dinaricum (Amaryllidaceae), A New Species of A. sect. Codonoprasum from the Balkan Peninsula based on morphology and karyology. Willdenowia. 54(2-3), 183-196. DOI: doi.org/10.3372/wi.54.54302 (30 October 2024)  

 

[Entomology • 2023] Roeseliana epirotica • Data on the Distribution of the Genus Roeseliana Zeuner, 1941 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Tettigoniinae) in the southwestern Balkans, with Description of A New Species

 

Roeseliana epirotica 

 Lemonnier-Darcemont & Darcemont, 2023

 

sciencepress.MNHN.fr/en/periodiques/zoosystema/45/14

  x.com/Publi_MNHN

 

This article provides new biogeographical data on the genus Roeseliana Zeuner, 1941 in the southwestern Balkans, with the description of a new species, Roeseliana epirotica n. sp., discovered in four localities of the meso-Mediterranean zone of the Epirus region in Greece and Albania. From the supra-Mediterranean zone and upper, in Albania, Greece and also in the Republic of North Macedonia, we have only observed Roeseliana ambitiosa (Uvarov, 1924), with which R. epirotica n. sp. was probably confused in its most Mediterranean localities. These two taxa are nevertheless well differentiated, especially by the shape of the subgenital plate in the female and the shape in the titillators of the male.

KEYWORDS: Epirus, Greece, Albania, description, new species

Michèle Lemonnier-Darcemont & Christian Darcemont. 2023. Data on the Distribution of the Genus Roeseliana Zeuner, 1941 (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Tettigoniinae) in the southwestern Balkans, with Description of R. epirotica n. sp. ZOOSYSTEMA. 45(14); 445-450. 

 sciencepress.MNHN.fr/en/periodiques/zoosystema/45/14

  x.com/Publi_MNHN/status/1696496030789894566 

[Botany • 2020] Odontarrhena stridii (Brassicaceae: Alysseae) • A New Nickel-hyperaccumulating Species from mainland Greece

Odontarrhena stridii L.Cecchi, Španiel & Selvi,   

in Cecchi, Španiel, Bianchi, Coppi, Gonnelli & Selvi, 2020.

 DOI: 10.1007/s00606-020-01687-3 

 Researchgate.net/publication/342450832 

Abstract

Odontarrhena is a taxonomically difficult genus of the tribe Alysseae, including a number of critical species complexes in the Balkan Peninsula. One of these is O. baldaccii, which was previously included in the inconsistent taxon Alyssum fallacinum but recently shown to be distinct from it. In this paper, we analyzed the still uncertain taxonomic circumscription of O. baldaccii by a comparative analysis of the population from the type locality in Crete and other populations from mainland Greece, which were previously attributed to A. fallacinum or dubitatively included in O. baldaccii s.l. The results supported the separation of these mainland populations in a new distinct species, here described as Odontarrhena stridii, sp. nov. Plant habit, leaf shape and size and silicle shape were the major distinguishing morphological characters. Molecular data also suggested divergence between the two groups of populations, while supporting their phylogenetic affinity. The two species are diploid schizo-endemics with 2n = 16, allopatric distribution and specialization for serpentine soils. Shoot Ni concentrations well above 1000 µg g−1 dry weight were confirmed for the Cretan population of O. baldaccii and found for the first time in two populations of O. stridii, which is therefore a new hyperaccumulating species of the Balkan Mediterranean flora. An updated key to the Greek Odontarrhena taxa is provided.

Keywords: Alyssum, Balkan flora, Cruciferae, Nickel-hyperaccumulators, Serpentine endemics

Odontarrhena stridii (= O. baldaccii s.l.) from Mt. Kallidromo and Sterea Ellas, mainland Greece (a–c)
and O. baldaccii s.s. from Mt. Psiloritis, Crete (d–g), showing, respectively:
habit (a, d); variability of the leaves of the basal sterile shoots (b, e; in b, the small leaf to the right is seen from below; the other two are seen from above; in e, the right half of the blade shows the abaxial side with denser trichomes); open silicle with seed inside (c, g); petal (f; only O. baldaccii s.s.).

Scale bars: a, d = 50 mm; b, e = 10 mm; c, g, f = 5 mm. 

Original drawing by L. Cecchi

Field photos of Odontarrhena stridii (= O. baldaccii s.l.) from mainland Greece, Kedhros (a, c, e)
and O. baldaccii s.s. from Crete (b, d, f)

Odontarrhena stridii L.Cecchi, Španiel & Selvi, sp. nov. 

 

Lorenzo Cecchi, Stanislav Španiel, Elisabetta Bianchi, Andrea Coppi, Cristina Gonnelli and Federico Selvi. 2020. Odontarrhena stridii (Brassicaceae), A New Nickel-hyperaccumulating Species from mainland Greece. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 306: 69. DOI: 10.1007/s00606-020-01687-3

  Researchgate.net/publication/342450832_Odontarrhena_stridii_a_new_Nickel-hyperaccumulating_species_from_mainland_Greece

[Botany • 2022] Out of the Balkans and Anatolia to the Western Alps? Surprising Phylogenetic Implications for Two Endemic Alyssum (Brassicaceae) Species: A. cognense sp. nov. and A. rossetii

Alyssum cognense Španiel, K.Kaplan, Juillerat & Bäumler, 

in Španiel, Juillerat, Kaplan, Bovio, Bäumler, Perret, Mártonfiová & Zozomová-Lihová, 2022. 

DOI:  10.1093/botlinnean/boac041 

 twitter.com/BotJLinnSoc

 Researchgate.net/publication/366617890

Abstract

The European Alps show a high degree of endemism associated mainly with the location of glacial refugia and environmental heterogeneity. Several Alpine endemics have evolved in the genus Alyssum. Here we study perennial Alyssum populations in the Western Alps, mainly distributed in the Aosta Valley region, which hosts high species diversity, although endemics are rare. We addressed the recently described stenoendemic A. rossetii and taxonomically uncertain populations usually attributed to A. montanum s.s. to clarify their phylogenetic position and morphological differentiation. The latter entity has been shown to be distinct from A. montanum s.s. and is described as a new species, Alyssum cognense, phylogenetically placed in the A. montanum–A. repens species complex. Both morphological and genetic patterns revealed that its closest relative occurs in the central Balkans. We present detailed ecological characteristics and morphological differentiation of A. cognense sp. nov. from its relatives and geographically closest species and speculate on its biogeographic origin. Genetic patterns (reduced diversity and nestedness) suggest long-distance dispersal from the central Balkan Peninsula. The second studied species, A. rossetii, is phylogenetically distant and belongs to the mainly Asian Alyssum section Gamosepalum lineage, which includes few representatives in southern and eastern Europe. The phylogenetically closest species of A. rossetii are Anatolian endemics, so this extreme disjunction remains puzzling. The present study illustrates the need for in-depth taxonomic and phylogenetic studies, even in well-explored Alpine regions, and also shows that the processes underlying the evolution of endemics can be complex and poorly understood.

Alyssum cognense sp. nov.:
 a flowering plant (A), the habitat of the holotype at the pasture in the Cogne Valley, north-east of Lillaz, west of Taveronna (B), two metaphase mitotic cells with the chromosome number 2n = 16 (C) and the indumentum on the lower surface of the middle cauline leaves (D, E).

Scale bars: 10 μm (C), 200 μm (D) and 100 μm (E).

Alyssum cognense Španiel, K.Kaplan, Juillerat & Bäumler sp. nov.

 

Stanislav Španiel, Philippe Juillerat, Klaus Kaplan, Maurizio Bovio, Beat Bäumler, Mathieu Perret, Lenka Mártonfiová and Judita Zozomová-Lihová. 2022. Out of the Balkans and Anatolia to the Western Alps? Surprising Phylogenetic Implications for Two Endemic Alyssum (Brassicaceae) Species: A. cognense sp. nov. and A. rossetii. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. boac041. DOI:  10.1093/botlinnean/boac041

  twitter.com/BotJLinnSoc/status/1607659617085198338

  Researchgate.net/publication/366617890_Out_of_the_Balkans_and_Anatolia_to_the_Western_Alps_Surprising_phylogenetic_implications_for_two_endemic_Alyssum_cognense_sp_nov_and_A_rossetii

[Entomology • 2023] Potamophylax humoinsapiens (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) • A New Species from the Sharr Mountains, Republic of Kosovo

 

Potamophylax humoinsapiens Ibrahimi & Bilalli, 

in Ibrahimi, Bilalli, Gashi, Kotori, Stamenkovič & Geci, 2023.

DOI:  10.3897/BDJ.11.e97969

Abstract

Background: 

The Sharr Mountains are one of the most important hotspots of terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity in the Balkan Peninsula, with many endemic and rare species. The caddisfly studies in this area increased during the past years, although insufficiently investigated areas still remain.

New information: 

In this paper, we describe a new species, Potamophylax humoinsapiens sp. n. from the Sharr Mountains in the Republic of Kosovo, which is morphologically closest to Potamophylax idliri Ibrahimi, Bilalli & Kučinić, 2022 and Potamophylax juliani Kumanski, 1999. The males of the new species differ from all known species of the Potamophylax winneguthi Species Group by their uniquely-shaped parameres, which are long, bulbous in their basal half and thin in the remaining length, with a bunch of very thin and long, hair-like spines, grouped uniformly at the apex. The new species further differs from its most similar congeners by its very wide distance between the dorsal and ventral edges of the apical part of inferior appendages in lateral view. The new species was found at three localities from 1416 to 1505 m a.s.l.

Similar to the other species of the Potamophylax winneguthi Species Group, which have very narrow distribution areas, we posit that Potamophylax humoinsapiens sp. n. is a microendemic of the Sharr Mountains. The new species is the second known caddisfly species occurring only in the Kosovan part of the Sharr Mountains.

Keywords: endemic species, Western Balkans, Potamophylax winneguthi Species Group, microscale distribution

Male adult of Potamophylax humoinsapiens sp. n.

Male genitalia of Potamophylax humoinsapiens sp. n.: A. left lateral view; B. dorsal view.

Potamophylax humoinsapiens Ibrahimi & Bilalli, sp. n.

Etymology: The species epithet is a combination of two Latin words, ‘humo’, which in English means ‘to cover with soil, to bury’ and ‘insapiens’ meaning ‘unwise’ and refers to the unwise and careless treatment of habitats of the new species, degraded greatly during the past years by hydropower plants and other activities. In some segments, the whole parts of the Lepenc River are ‘buried’ in large pipes.

Ecology: Potamophylax humoinsapiens sp. n. was found at three localities during 2021 in the Sharr Mountains, in the tributaries of the Lepenc River. All sampling sites are located inside a forested area. The substrates of streams close to the sampling sites were dominated by meso- to macrolithal substrate, surrounded by dense riparian vegetation. The species was captured only by ultraviolet light traps. The species was collected during October and November, implying it has an autumn flying period. All sampling sites are located in upstream sections of streams and rivers.

Type locality of Potamophylax humoinsapiens sp. n.: a tributary of the Lepenc River along the Brezovicë - Prevallë road.

 Halil Ibrahimi, Astrit Bilalli, Agim Gashi, Linda Grapci Kotori, Valentina Slavevska Stamenkovič and Donard Geci. 2023. Potamophylax humoinsapiens sp. n. (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae), A New Species from the Sharr Mountains, Republic of Kosovo. Biodiversity Data Journal. 11: e97969.  DOI:  10.3897/BDJ.11.e97969

[Entomology • 2022] New Insights into the Genetic Diversity of the Balkan Bush-crickets of the Poecilimon ornatus Group (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

A Poecilimon pseudornatus, B P. gracilioides, C P. a. affinis,
D P. a. hajlensis, E P. gracilis, F P. nobilis,
G P. rumijae, H P. hoelzeli, I P. ornatus.

in Kociński, Chobanov & Grzywacz, 2022. 

DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e82447

Photos: Dragan Chobanov.

Abstract

The Balkan Peninsula is treated as a hotspot of biodiversity with over 40% of European bush-crickets occurring there. Poecilimon Fischer, 1853 is one of the largest Palaearctic orthopteran genera containing several species groups. One of them is the Poecilimon ornatus group (Schmidt, 1850) with 13 species and 5 subspecies. Among the group, the Poecilimon affinis complex is designated as consisting of P. pseudornatus Ingrisch & Pavićević, 2010, P. nonveilleri Ingrisch & Pavićević, 2010, and five subspecies of P. affinis (Frivaldszky, 1868). The aim of this study is to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships among taxa of the P. ornatus group and to elucidate the position of taxa related to the P. affinis complex. Molecular phylogeny supported the monophyly of the P. ornatus group and showed that their ancestor probably originated in the southern Balkans. The underlying processes are thought to be six dispersals and five vicariance events linked to geological events and climate changes in the Pleistocene. The species delimitation analysis showed mostly nine hypothetical species among the group.

Keywords: biogeography, evolution, phylogeny, Poecilimon affinis complex, taxonomy

A Poecilimon pseudornatus, B P. gracilioides, C P. a. affinis, D P. a. hajlensis, E P. gracilis, F P. nobilis, G P. rumijae, H P. hoelzeli, I P. ornatus. 

Photos: Dragan Chobanov.

Bayesian inference tree from a dataset including COI, ND2, CR, and ITS1 sequences of the Poecilimon ornatus group. Bayesian (BI) and Maximum likelihood (ML) topologies were consistent, so only one tree is shown. I – the first clade, II – the second clade, III – the third clade. The right panel shows groupings from different species delimitation approaches, as follows: bPTP ML – the Poisson Tree Processes; ASAP – Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning; GMYC – maximum-likelihood approach based on the general mixed Yule-coalescent model; ABGD – Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery. The last grouping is based on localities of the taxa studied (NM – North Macedonia, MN – Montenegro, SR – Serbia, BG – Bulgaria, AL – Albania, GR – Greece). Scale bar: number of substitutions per nucleotide position.

A Poecilimon pseudornatus, B P. gracilioides, C P. a. affinis,
D P. a. hajlensis, E P. gracilis, F P. nobilis,
G P. rumijae, H P. hoelzeli, I P. ornatus.

Photos: Dragan Chobanov.

Maciej Kociński, Dragan Chobanov and Beata Grzywacz. 2022. New Insights into the Genetic Diversity of the Balkan Bush-crickets of the Poecilimon ornatus Group (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny. 80: 243-259.  DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e82447

[Mollusca • 2022] Limax pseudocinereoniger • A New Giant Keelback Slug of the Genus Limax (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora) from the Balkans, described by Citizen Scientists

 Limax pseudocinereoniger from Durmitor National Park, Montenegro. 

Schilthuizen, Thompson, de Vries, van Peursen, Reisinger, Paterno, Maestri, Marcolungo, Esposti, Delledonne & Njunjić, 2022

 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e69685

Photos by P. Escoubas.

Abstract

Background: Despite their large size, striking colouration and genital extravagance, the taxonomy of the European giant keelback slugs of the genus Limax is still poorly understood. Preliminary morphological and molecular data suggest that many unnamed or unrecognised species exist, especially in the Alps, the Mediterranean and the Balkans.

New information: We organised a citizen science expedition to Durmitor National Park in Montenegro and discovered a new species, genetically distinct, but morphologically similar to the sympatric L. cinereoniger Wolf 1803 and describe it as Limax pseudocinereoniger.

Keywords: malacology, Limacidae, slugs, taxonomy, The Balkans, genitalia

Dorsal (top), lateral (centre) and ventral (bottom) views of a living (and subsequently preserved) paratype specimen of Limax pseudocinereoniger from Durmitor National Park, Montenegro (TxEx-DU0122).

 Photos by P. Escoubas.

Limax pseudocinereoniger Schilthuizen, Thompson, de Vries, van Peursen, Reisinger, Paterno, Maestri, Marcolungo, Esposti, Delledonne & Njunjić, 2022, sp. n.

 

Suborder Stylommatophora A. Schmidt, 1855

Superfamily Limacoidea Lamarck, 1801

Family Limacidae Lamarck, 1801

Genus Limax Linnaeus, 1758

Type species: Limax maximus Linnaeus, 1758

synonyms: Limax “pseudocinereoniger” Nitz (2013)

 

Etymology: The specific epithet pseudocinereoniger refers to its similarity with L. cinereoniger. This name was first applied as a "working name" by Nitz (2013) and is here adopted as the formal name. It is used as a masculine adjective.

The taxonomic authority for this species is attributed to all authors of this publication. In line with ICZN Recommendation 51C (Zoological Nomenclature 1999), the species may be referred to as Limax pseudocinereoniger Schilthuizen et al., 2022, provided the full citation of this publication appears in the bibliography or elsewhere in the referring work.

 Menno Schilthuizen, Cameron Graham Thompson, Rick de Vries, Anthonie D. P. van Peursen, Marta Paterno, Simone Maestri, Luca Marcolongo, Chiara Degli Esposti, Massimo Delledonne and Iva Njunjić. 2022. A New Giant Keelback Slug of the Genus Limax from the Balkans, described by Citizen Scientists. Biodiversity Data Journal. 10: e69685. DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e69685

[Entomology • 2021] Rhyacophila siparantum (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae) • A New Species of the R. philopotamoides Species Group from the Republic of Kosovo with Molecular and Ecological Notes

Rhyacophila siparantum Ibrahimi, Bilalli & Kučinić, 

in Ibrahimi, Hlebec, Bilalli, Musliu, Previšić, ... & Kučinić, 2021. 

DOI: 10.37828/em.2021.49.1 

 facebook.com/IbrahimiH 

 Abstract

In this study we describe Rhyacophila siparantum sp. nov., a new species of the Rhyacophila philopotamoides species group from the Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mountains in Kosovo, based on morphological (male adults) and molecular (sequencing of the barcode region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI)) characteristics. The new species is morphologically closest to Rhyacophila schmidinarica Urbanič, Krušnik & Malicky, 2000, and also closely resembling Rhyacophila hirticornis McLachlan, 1879. R. siparantum sp. nov. differs from both its most similar congeners primarily by the shape of the segment X, which is in lateral view short apically and with a pronounced lateral hump on the posterior edge. This difference, combined with other characters related to the shape of the second segment of inferior appendages, spine pattern of parameres and size of ventral teeth on segments VI and VII, make R. siparantum sp. nov. easily distinguishable from both most similar congeners. Phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships were reconstructed using two methods of phylogenetic inference, and two species delimitation methods. All this supports Rhyacophila siparantum sp. nov. as a distinct taxon.

The adults of Rhyacophila siparantum sp. nov. were found during the period May – August, nearby a small rheocrene spring inside a forested area. The new species is most probably a microendemic of the Bjeshkët e Nemuna, a mountainous massive known for several other endemic species of caddisflies. Rhyacophila siparantum sp. nov. is the seventeenth known species of the genus Rhyacophila Pictet, 1834 from Kosovo.

Key words: Balkans, Bjeshkët e Nemuna, Rugova, DNA barcoding, endemic species, Rhyacophila hirticornis, Rhyacophila orobica, Rhyacophila schmidinarica, spring diversity, species delimitation.

Male of Rhyacophila siparantum sp. nov.

Rhyacophila siparantum Ibrahimi, Bilalli & Kučinić, sp. nov.

Etymology: Species epithet ‘siparantum’ refers to the old name of Pejë town in western Kosovo, which stands at the foothills of Rugovë, a mountain where the new species, Rhyacophila siparantum sp. nov. was found.

Halil Ibrahimi, Dora Hlebec, Astrit Bilalli, Milaim Musliu, Ana Previšić, Agim Gashi, Linda Grapci-Kotori, Darko Cerjanec, Donard Geci and Mladen Kučinić. 2021. Rhyacophila siparantum sp. nov. (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae), A New Species of the R. philopotamoides Species Group from the Republic of Kosovo with Molecular and Ecological Notes. Ecologica Montenegrina. 49; 1-19. DOI: 10.37828/em.2021.49.1

  facebook.com/IbrahimiH/posts/10160276692218109

Researchgate.net/publication/357251075_Rhyacophila_siparantum_a_new_species_from_Republic_of_Kosovo

[Entomology • 2021] Potamophylax coronavirus (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) • A New Species from Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park in the Republic of Kosovo, with Molecular and Ecological Notes

Potamophylax coronavirus Ibrahimi, Bilalli & Vitecek, 

in Ibrahimi, Bilalli, Vitecek, Pauls, ... et Kasumaj, 2021. 

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.9.e64486

Abstract

Background: 

The Western Balkans are an important hotspot of caddisfly diversity in Europe, with several microscale endemics, many of which were discovered during the recent years. The genus Potamophylax Wallengren, 1891 likely originated and diversified in Europe, with the Balkan Peninsula being one of the most important diversity hotspots.

New information: 

In this paper, we describe the new species Potamophylax coronavirus sp. n. from Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park in the Republic of Kosovo. The new species belongs to the Potamophylax winneguthi species group and is morphologically most similar to Potamophylax juliani Kumanski, 1999, currently known only from Bulgaria and Potamophylax winneguthi Klapalek, 1902, known from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. The male of the new species differs from its most similar congeners mainly in exhibiting: (1) elongated subrectangular superior appendages in lateral view; (2) hardly acuminate, almost rounded apex of intermediate appendages; (3) differently shaped, irregular and higher inferior appendages; (4) narrow spinate area, roughly rectangular in dorsal view, slightly wider at the base and (5) different paramere shape and/or spine pattern. The new species also differs by its considerably smaller size and association with open, high altitude eucrenal zones.

The uncorrected interspecific pairwise distance between P. coronavirus and other species of the P. winneguthi species group is on par with those amongst other recognised species in the group, as well as with the yet ambiguously identified taxa from the Sharr, Rila and Bajgorë Mountains.

The new species is most probably a microendemic of Bjeshkët e Nemuna, thus highlighting further this area as an important hotspot of caddisfly biodiversity in Europe.

Keywords: rare species, caddisflies, Balkans, Potamophylax winneguthi species group, microscale endemism

Figure 3. Male adult of Potamophylax coronavirus sp. n.

Figure 2. Adults of Potamophylax coronavirus sp. n. in copulation. 

Potamophylax coronavirus Ibrahimi, Bilalli & Vitecek, sp. n.

Diagnosis: Males of the new species are most similar to Potamophylax juliani, currently known only from Bulgaria and Potamophylax winneguthi, known from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, but differ in exhibiting: (1) elongated subrectangular superior appendages in lateral view, slightly narrowing at their base, rounded at the apex; (2) hardly acuminate, almost rounded apex of intermediate appendages in lateral view; (3) differently shaped inferior appendages, bulging dorsally at the area between them and segment IX in lateral view, with high and broad upper protruding portion, with a narrow distance between dorsal and ventral corners of the upper portion, which are set parallel to each other and directed mesially; (4) spinate area narrow, roughly rectangular in dorsal view, only slightly wider at the base and (5) short stout parameres with base wider than the apex and short, very thick spines originating below the apex, only slightly reaching above the apex and few other smaller ones proximally. Potamophylax juliani males have: (1) small, laterally rounded, ovoid superior appendages; (2) long, slender intermediate appendages with sharply acuminate apex in lateral view; (3) rather short inferior appendages, with a shortened protruding upper portion as high as half of the entire appendage’s height, with a wide distance between dorsal and ventral corners, which are set parallel to each other and directed mesially; (4) spinate area in dorsal view narrow at the apex and almost three times wider at the base and (5) short stout parameres with very wide basal third and narrow apex, with 15 – 20 thick spines of medium length originating mostly from the tip. Potamophylax winneguthi males have: (1) small, laterally semicircular superior appendages; (2) long slender intermediate appendages with acuminate apex; (3) inferior appendages parallel-edged, dorsally truncated in a rectangular manner, longer on their ventral edge, directed dorsad; (4) spinate area wide, covering almost the entire width of the distal portion of segment VIII in dorsal view and (5) short stout parallel-edged parameres with almost same width along the entire length, only slightly narrower at their middle part, with 5-7 very long spines originating from distal half.

The new species also differs from both of its most similar congeners by its considerably smaller size and different type of habitat, inhabiting open high altitude eucrenal zones.

Etymology: The species epithet coronavirus relates to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which caused a global pandemia starting 2020. The current paper was written during the quarantine time due to the pandemics. The species epithet also emphasises figuratively another silent pandemic occurring on freshwater organisms in Kosovo rivers, due to the pollution and degradation of freshwater habitats, including particularly the increased activity of mismanaged hydropower plants.

Figure 1. Pictures of type locality of  Potamophylax coronavirus sp. n.: Krojet e Ali Pashë Gucisë.

Distribution: During the field survey in the Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mountains, we found Potamophylax coronavirus sp. n. at only two localities within a 3 km perimeter, although several other springs and brooks were sampled.

 Halil Ibrahimi, Astrit Bilalli, Simon Vitecek, Steffen U. Pauls, Felicitas Erzinger, Agim Gashi, Linda Grapci Kotori, Donard Geci, Milaim Musliu and Edison Kasumaj. 2021. Potamophylax coronavirus sp. n. (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae), A New Species from Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park in the Republic of Kosovo, with Molecular and Ecological Notes. Biodiversity Data Journal. 9: e64486. DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.9.e64486

     

     

[Diplopoda • 2020] Haasea Verhoeff, 1895 (Chordeumatida, Haaseidae)—A Genus of Tumultuous History and Chaotic Records—Redefinition, Revision of Taxonomy and Geographic Distributions, with Descriptions of Two New Species from Austria and Serbia

Haasea  sp.

in Antić & Akkari, 2020.

  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4798.1.1 

Researchgate.net/publication/342200732

Abstract

In this paper we revise the chordeumatidan genus Haasea Verhoeff, 1895 for the first time and describe two new species viz., H. gruberi sp. nov. and H. makarovi sp. nov. discovered in Austria and Serbia, respectively. A new terminology is proposed to standardize the description of the gonopod structures in the genus. Type material obtained from several institutions was examined and documented herein, whereby lectotypes are designated. We clarified the taxonomic status of a few taxa and consider the species H. norica (Verhoeff, 1913) and H. guidononveilleri Makarov, 2008 as a junior subjective synonyms of H. cyanopida (Attems, 1903) and H. vidinensis (Strasser, 1973a), respectively. The following subspecies or varieties, viz., Orobainosoma filicis ossiacum Verhoeff, 1939b, Orobainosoma flavescens vornatscheri Verhoeff, 1935, Orobainosoma hungaricum orientale Tabacaru, 1965, and Orobainosoma inflatum var. aspidiorum Verhoeff, 1929 are here regarded as junior subjective synonyms of their nominal taxa. The taxonomic relationships within the genus Haasea are discussed and an identification key to its 17 species is presented, based on number of body segments and gonopod structures.

                Maps showing species occurences based on historical and recent records are presented to understand their respective geographic ranges. H. flavescens is now deleted from the list of species in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Italy as these records were based on misidentified material. H. inflata is deleted from the fauna of Bosnia and Herzegovina, whereas H. hungarica is newly recorded from Austria, Serbia and Slovenia.

Keywords: Myriapoda, Haasea gruberi sp. nov., H. makarovi sp. nov., new synonymies, lectotypes, identification key, gonopod structures, SEM, distribution maps, taxonomy, millipedes, Central Europe, the Alps, the Carpathians, the Balkans

Dragan Antić and Nesrine Akkari. 2020. Haasea Verhoeff, 1895—A Genus of Tumultuous History and Chaotic Records—Redefinition, Revision of Taxonomy and Geographic Distributions, with Descriptions of Two New Species from Austria and Serbia (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Haaseidae). Zootaxa. 4798(1); 1-77. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4798.1.1

Researchgate.net/publication/342200732_Haasea_Verhoeff_1895-a_genus_of_tumultuous_history_and_chaotic_records-_redefinition_revision_of_taxonomy_and_geographic_distributions