Two new species of spiders of the genus Platnickina Koçak & Kemal, 2008 are described from Sumatra, Indonesia: Platnickina harapan Dhiya’ulhaq, sp. nov. (♂♀) and Platnickina debu Dhiya’ulhaq, sp. nov. (♂♀). Three species are recorded for the first time from Indonesia: Platnickina adamsoni (Berland, 1934), Platnickina fritilla Gao & Li, 2014, and Platnickina xianfengensis (Zhu & Song, 1992). Detailed diagnoses, descriptions and high-quality photographs are provided for the newly recorded species.

We describe three new species of Pristimantis frogs from northwestern Peru on the basis of morphological and genetic differences. Pristimantis chinguelassp. nov. is similar in appearance to P. wagteri but it differs by having a longer supratympanic fold, head rounded in profile, groins and posterior surfaces of thighs in a different color pattern. Pristimantis nunezcortezisp. nov. may be confused with P. cryptomelas, but it is differentiable by having heels with a single low tubercle, skin on flanks areolate, and by lacking prominent postorbital ridges. Pristimantis yonkesp. nov. is externally similar to P. morlaco from Ecuador, but can be distinguished by being smaller, having an acuminate snout, oval palmar tubercle and lacking dentigerous processes of vomers. All species inhabit the paramos and adjacent elfin forests of the mountain ridges north of Abra de Porcuya, the lowest east-west pass in the Peruvian Andes. Despite habitat loss being evident in the area, we do not have enough data to assess their conservation status. We suggest all the new species should be placed in the Data Deficient category of the IUCN Red List.

The Dendropsophus leucophyllatus group is composed by 19 species distributed from Central America to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Only one species is known from the Chocó region, D. ebraccatus, which is also distributed in Central America. Previous studies suggested the existence of two species masked under “D. ebraccatus”. The only other species of Dendropsophus in the Chocó lowlands of Ecuador is D. gryllatus, an elusive species never included in phylogenetic analyses. In the present study, we review the systematics of both species based on morphological, genetic, and bioacoustic data. For phylogenetic analyses, we sequenced four mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, COI, ND1, including flanking tRNAs) and two nuclear genes (TYR, POMC). Our results indicate that the populations of “D. ebraccatus” from the Chocó of Ecuador represent a new species, not most closely related to D. ebraccatus from Central America, but to D. gryllatus. The new species inhabits tropical rainforest and piedmont evergreen forest of NW Ecuador and SW Colombia. Populations of the new species differ from D. gryllatus by having larger body size and by the presence of an hourglass-shaped dorsal mark. The new species differs from D. ebraccatus from Central America by the absence of a clear band under the eye, by having well defined dorsal spots and by having a distinct advertisement call. Both species appear to be allopatric and, according to our time-tree, diverged from each other during the late Pliocene.

The recent paper of Gąsiorek et al. (2024a), containing integrative redescriptions of several taxonomically important hypsibiid species, provided necessary discriminative criteria used in modern eutardigrade identification. Herein, I present first DNA-backed, reliable record of a rare species Platicrista angustata from the German Taunus mountains. I also indicate that statements of Scheirer et al. (2024) are completely unfounded and result from the general lack of understanding what Gąsiorek et al. (2024a) wrote. Moreover, Scheirer et al. (2024) introduced new mistakes and misconceptions regarding Platicrista. Consequently, I provide a concise and full diagnosis of the genus Platicrista.

The genus Armillipora Quate is recorded for the first time in Brazil and Venezuela, based on the description of Armillipora bifidasp. nov. Additionally, a second new species, Armillipora nawaksp. nov., is described from Costa Rica. Detailed illustrations and photographs of the new species are provided. Based on these findings and the existing knowledge of the genus, two species groups are proposed within Armillipora. Furthermore, the identification key to the males of the genus is updated.

A new monotypic Australian genus in the orb-weaving spider family Araneidae Clerck, 1757 is described, Venomiusgen. nov., with V. tomhardyisp. nov. as type species. Somatically, Venomiusgen. nov. is similar to the typical leaf-curling orb-weaving spiders, such as Phonognatha Simon, 1894 or Leviana Framenau & Kuntner, 2022, due to a similar elongate cylindrical abdomen and colouration; however, the genital morphology of the new genus is very different. Most unusual are the presence of two strong macrosetae on the male pedipalp tibia. Male pedipalp sclerites are complex, with diagnostic characters including the tibial macrosetae and a keeled median and a rounded basal process on the stipes. The epigyne of females is wholly covered by the scape that has a short median process. Venomius tomhardyigen. nov. et sp. nov. has been collected in southern Australia, from Tasmania to Western Australia, where it builds a circular, vertical orb-web. Spiders often hide in silk-lined hollows in branches of trees when disturbed during the day.

Forcipomyia (Forcipomyia) hispida, a new species from the Dooars region of West Bengal, is described and illustrated here based on morphological and molecular data. Among the three newly recorded species, Forcipomyia (Dycea) hamoni de Meillon was known from the Eastern Himalayas while F. (Euprojoannisia) calamistrata Debenham & Wirth and F. (E.) fuscimana (Kieffer) were from the Gangetic plains of West Bengal. The supplementary descriptions and illustrations of the known species are also presented here. DNA barcoding of two newly recorded species of the subgenus Euprojoannisia Brèthes is also obtained for the first time.

A cercarial dermatitis outbreak occurred in Chana district, Songkhla Province, South Thailand, between August and October 2020. A total of 359 cases with cercarial dermatitis were confirmed with three cases of skin biopsy. The species of potential trematodes from infected snails were investigated, and the prevalence of infestation with schistosomes was described. As part of our ongoing studies of trematode diversity in freshwater systems, using morphological traits and sequence data to differentiate species, this study aimed to provide insights into the parasite species that cause cercarial dermatitis in the outbreak area and improve our understanding of parasite species distribution. Snail samples were collected in December 2020 and September and October 2021. Five main areas of outbreaks were investigated, and snails were collected by scooping and examined for infection with cercariae. The cercariae were characterized on the basis of morphological features. We found two species of snails to be infected,viz. Indoplanorbis exustusandBithynia siamensis siamensis, with infection rates of 2.05% (12/586) and 7.93% (23/290), respectively. Three species of trematodes were found inB. s. siamensis,viz. Gastrothylax crumenifer,Astiotrema monticellii, andLoxogenes liberum. Moreover, three species of trematodes were found inIndoplanorbis exustus,viz. Clinostomum giganticum,Echinostoma spiniferum, andSchistosoma indicum. The latter is a ruminant schistosome, which causes the outbreak of cercarial dermatitis in the area. They were genetically analyzed using the internal transcribed spacer subunit II region to confirm the species identity at generic and infrageneric levels.

New faunistic data are provided on the ground spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) of Iraq. Three genera (Haplodrassus Chamberlin, 1922; Minosiella Dalmas, 1921; Odontodrassus Jézéquel, 1965) and six species (Haplodrassus dalmatensis (L. Koch, 1866); Minosiella intermedia Denis, 1958; Odontodrassus aravaensis Levy, 1999; Odontodrassus mundulus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872); Pterotricha dalmasi Fage, 1929; Zelotes fagei Denis, 1955) are reported in Iraq for the first time, and the previously unknown female of Pterotricha kovblyuki Zamani & Marusik, 2018 is described. In addition, a list of all gnaphosids reported from Iraq (16 spp.) is provided.

A new species of agelenid spiders, Draconarius nathiagalicussp. nov., is described and illustrated on the basis of two male specimens collected in Nathia Gali, northeastern Pakistan. This is the fourth species of the genus reported from this country, all belonging to the venustus species-group.