Zoodiversity

Mygalomorph spiders from Peru (Araneae, Pycnothelidae, Rhytidicolidae): description of two new species and first Peruvian record of the family Rhytidicolidae

M. J. Beratz — 2026-03-10

Two previously unknown mygalomorph spider species belonging to two families are described from the south-central Andean region of Peru. Within the family Pycnothelidae, Acanthogonatus goloboffi sp. n. is described, diagnosed and illustrated based on a female from Ccochirhuay, Cusco. The female of this species differs from most known Acanthogonatus by the shape of the spermathecae, which possess two single receptacles lacking additional projections or chambers. It further differs from congeners sharing a single receptacle by having non-spiraled ducts with a well-defined constriction and outwardly directed spherical receptacles. This represents the second record of the genus Acanthogonatus in Peru. Within the family Rhytidicolidae, Fufius agualaniensis sp. n. is described, diagnosed and illustrated based on a female from Agualani, Puno. The female of this species is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: a straight fovea; a sternum as wide as long; a labiosternal junction with a well-developed septum; a preening comb on metatarsus IV consisting of seven large spines in a single row; and spermathecae with a wide, inwardly curved stalk giving rise to three sinuous branches ending in digitiform or domed structures. This constitutes the first formal record of the family Rhytidicolidae from Peru.

Fine-scale butterfly community and trait diversity in a structurally complex urban green space in West London

R. Bangay — 2026-03-04

Urban and peri-urban landscapes represent increasingly important reservoirs for biodiversity conservation, yet our understanding of community structure and genetic variation maintenance in these fragmented environments remains limited. I investigated butterfly communities and wing pattern polymorphism across four structurally distinct habitats (grassland, hedgerow, woodland edge, and woodland) within a 10ha peri-urban site in West London. Over two summer months, standardized transect surveys recorded 2,786 individuals representing 23 species. Woodland edge and hedgerow habitats supported the highest diversity (21 species each), while grassland and woodland showed lower richness (17 and 13 species respectively). Five species dominated the community, with Maniola jurtina (Meadow Brown) and Aphantopus hyperantus (Ringlet) comprising 51% of total abundance. Mendelian analysis of wing spot polymorphism in these focal species revealed inheritance patterns consistent with dihybrid F2 expectations, independent of habitat context but showing significant sexual dimorphism in M. jurtina. These findings demonstrate that small, structurally complex peri-urban habitats can maintain both species-level and genetic diversity, highlighting their conservation value and the importance of preserving habitat heterogeneity in urban planning strategies.

Patterns of avifaunal diversity in a landscape of Cuttack, Odisha, India

J. P. Bhatt — 2026-03-02

A total of 78 bird species, categorised into 36 families, were documented in and around the Sri Sri University campus, which encompasses a variety of land-use types. The study was conducted over a two-month period, from September to October 2021, with observations performed every five days. The study area, located in Cuttack, Odisha, is an isolated landscape bordered by urban and rural settlements, comprising managed areas, wilderness, wetlands, and agricultural patches. Species richness was highest in managed areas and lowest in agricultural patches. Although the study was limited to two months, comparison with year-round monitoring indicated that approximately 84 % of all local species were recorded. The study highlighted that avian species responded distinctly to isolated microhabitats within the landscape and demonstrated that a managed ecosystem fosters bird diversity. Findings revealed that avifaunal species richness was well sustained in this isolated landscape, although land use and land cover had a measurable impact on diversity. Habitat heterogeneity emerged as a crucial factor in enhancing bird diversity. Based on these findings, it can be inferred that moderate human disturbance does not adversely affect bird diversity, provided the ecosystem is managed in an environmentally responsible manner.

Spatial distribution modelling of Stylodipus telum falzfeini (Rodentia, Dipodidae) in the Oleshski Sands using Maxent and Landsat remote sensing data

Yu. Moskalenko — 2026-03-02

The aim of this study was to model the spatial distribution of the endemic subspecies of the thicktailed three-toed jerboa Stylodipus telum falzfeini (Brauner, 1913) within the Oleshky Sands using remote sensing data and the Maxent software. The modelling was based on occurrence data from 440 S. t. falzfeini burrows. The components of the Tasselled Cap Transformation derived from Landsat-8 remote sensing data were used as ecogeographical variables. The results demonstrated that the selected satellite-derived metrics are well-suited for modelling the spatial distribution of the jerboa. The habitat suitability map revealed that two-thirds of the Oleshky Sands are completely unsuitable for this subspecies. In most arenas, this figure ranges from 55.3% to 65.6%, reaching 80.8% on the Kinburn Peninsula and 78.4% in the Kakhovska arena. As for suitable habitats, not only do they represent a relatively small proportion of the landscape, but they are also highly fragmented due to afforestation efforts, during which extensive areas of pine plantations were established across the Oleshky Sands. The successful modelling of the jerboa’s distribution using temporally comparable satellite-derived metrics enables retrospective analysis of distributional changes within the Oleshky Sands and subsequent detailed assessment of the factors that have influenced these changes over recent decades. Moreover, the data obtained capture the prewar state of the jerboa population and may serve in future as a baseline for assessing the impacts of the war on this population.

New records of the genus Acropimpla (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae) from the Afrotropical Region

O. Varga — 2026-03-02

Acropimpla lutea sp. n. is described from Uganda and illustrated. Acropimpla alboscutellaris (Szépligeti, 1908) is recorded from Kenya for the first time.