Zoodiversity

Paleogeographic reconstruction of the continental water bodies of Ukraine in the Early-Middle Pleistocene based on ostracods (Arthropoda, Crustacea)

N. I. Dykan — 2026-08-07

A paleogeographic reconstruction of Quaternary continental water bodies in Ukraine based on ostracods requires the data necessary for correlating the stages of development of water bodies in Eastern and Western Europe to be generalised, and synchronised with the general climatic trend of the Quaternary. A variety of methods and analyses were employed, including actualistic, quantitative modification, taphonomic, statistical, population, ecological, zoogeographical and biostratigraphic approaches. The detailed reconstruction of river and lake paleo-biotopes (type of biotope, degree of trophicity, water depth of biotope, m; water temperature , °C) in the paleo-valleys of the Zbruch, Southern Bug, Psol and Dnipro rivers during the Early to Middle Pleistocene (Calabrian – Holsteinian) has been conducted. A comparative analysis of the development of continental water bodies in Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus and Central Russia during the Middle Pleistocene (Holsteinian) was conducted based on the results of studying freshwater ostracods of Eastern Europe. Correlating fluctuations (increases/decreases) in the water levels of paleo-water bodies located at considerable distances from each other reveals a general trend in water level changes caused by Interglacial Holsteinian climatic oscillations. It also reveals asynchrony (the partial displacement of positive and negative peaks relative to each other) and different water level fluctuation amplitudes caused by geographical zoning of the territory. According to the ostracods, the Holsteinian interglacial period had three warm stages (temperate stages I, II and III) and two cold stages (cold stages I and II). In southern water bodies (Ukraine), three stages of warming (temperate stages I, II and III) are recorded by an increase in water temperature. The first and third stages of warming (temperate stages I and III) are also recorded by an increase in water level. The second period of warming (temperate stage II) occurred during the first prolonged cold stage (cold stage I), which is indicated by rising water levels in northern bodies of water and only by an increase in water temperature in southern water bodies. Based on ostracods the timing of the formation and dynamics of a paleo-landslide in the paleo-valley of the Zbruch River during the Early Pleistocene (Calabrian) have been reconstructed.

In Honour of Leonid Kolodochka’s 80th Birthday

Editorial — 2026-07-28

Breaking western limits: repeated occurrences of the oleander hawk-moth Daphnis nerii (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) into the Iberian Peninsula extend its documented European range

E. Marabuto — 2026-07-23

The oleander hawk-moth Daphnis nerii (Linnaeus, 1758) is a strongly migratory sphingid whose occurrence in western Europe is typically sporadic. We report the first confirmed records of the species in Portugal, based on isolated adult observations and the discovery of larvae and pupae on Nerium oleander, and improve on what is known in Spain. Additional adult records from 2014 and 2024 demonstrate repeated but irregular occurrence across the region. We discuss the recent findings within a broader European context and in relation to long-standing assumptions on the species’ migratory origin, using records from 2018 onwards in both Spain and Portugal. Although local establishment cannot currently be confirmed, this may change under increasingly favourable climatic conditions.

Redescription and molecular analysis of Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) planilizai (Acanthocephala, Neoechinorhynchidae) from Planiliza abu (Mugilidae) in Iraq

O. M. Amin — 2026-07-09

Neoechinorhynchus (N.) planilizai Al-Ayash, Gustinelli, Al-Nasiri, Caffara, 2021 was recently described from Planiliza abu (Heckel) in Iraq using line drawings. We update and complete that description using new ocular microscopy, SEM, and molecular analysis. New collections revealed structures that have not been previously reported including constricted proboscis, posterior hooks longer than middle hooks, bursa without sensory structures, spongy hypodermic tissue with lacunar channels under smooth cuticular surface, eggs with no fibrils, variable micropores, single ventral para-receptacle structure, large triangulate cephalic ganglion, a new papilla at the posterior tip of the proboscis receptacle, an anterior testis distinctly longer than posterior testis, short robust uterus a huge pot-shaped uterine bell, and two sets of ligament bundles emerging from the inner posterior tip of the trunk. No other taxonomic accounts of this species are known. The molecular analysis of N. planilizai is also described with sequences of the 18S nuclear ribosome generated and aligned with closely related sequences from GenBank database. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses demonstrated that N. (N) planilizai was nested within neoechinorhynchid clades. Th e presence of N. (N) planilizai with other Middle East species in the tree allowed its characterization for the first time using morphological and molecular features.

REDESCRIPTION AND MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF NEOECHINORHYNCHUS (NEOECHINORHYNCHUS) PLANILIZAI (ACANTHOCEPHALA: NEOECHINORHYNCHIDAE) FROM PLANILIZA ABU (HECKEL) (MUGILIDAE) IN IRAQ

Omar Amin — 2026-07-07

Neoechinorhynchus (N.) planilizai Al-Ayash, Gustinelli, Al-Nasiri, Caffara, 2021 was recently described from Planiliza abu (Heckel) in Iraq using line drawings. We update and complete that description using new ocular microscopy, SEM, and molecular analysis. New collections revealed structures that have not been previously reported including constricted proboscis, posterior hooks longer than middle hooks, bursa without sensory structures, spongy hypodermic tissue with lacunar channels under smooth cuticular surface, eggs with no fibrils, variable micropores, single ventral para-receptacle structure, large triangulate cephalic ganglion, a new papilla at the posterior tip of the proboscis receptacle, an anterior testis distinctly longer than posterior testis, short robust uterus a huge pot-shaped uterine bell, and two sets of ligament bundles emerging from the inner posterior tip of the trunk. No other taxonomic accounts of this species are known. The molecular analysis of N. planilizai is also described with sequences of the 18S nuclear ribosome generated and aligned with closely related sequences from GenBank database. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses demonstrated that N. (N) planilizai was nested within neoechinorhynchid clades. The presence of N. (N) planilizai with other Middle East species in the tree allowed its characterization for the first time using morphological and molecular features.

Key words: Neoechinorhynchus planilizai, Planiliza abu, Iraq, revised morphology, molecular analysis, SEM.