A database of freshwater macroinvertebrate occurrence records across Cuba.

In light of the ongoing freshwater biodiversity crisis, detailed knowledge regarding the spatial distribution of freshwater species is urgently required, especially in biodiversity hotspots. Here we present a database of georeferenced occurrence records of four freshwater invertebrate taxa groups across Cuba, namely flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida), insects (Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Hemiptera, Trichoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera), crabs and shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda), and mollusks (Mollusca). We collated the geographic occurrence information from scientific literature, unpublished field records, museum collections and online databases. The database, comprising 6292 records of 457 species at 1075 unique localities, is organized in 32 fields that contain the information about the taxonomic classification of each recorded species, the sex and life stage of collected individuals; the geographic coordinates, location, author and date of the record and a reference to the original data source. This database provides an important basis towards an improved understanding of the spatial distribution of freshwater biodiversity in Cuba.

New Liodessus species from the high Andes of Peru (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae, Bidessini).

We describe four new species of the diving beetle genus Liodessus Guignot from the high Andean regions of Peru: Liodessus alpinus sp. nov. from Junín, L. hauthi sp. nov. from Huánuco and Churubamba, L. rhigos sp. nov. from Junín, and L. thespesios sp. nov. from Cusco. We delineate the species using morphological structures and provide a 5' mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 database on the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD). We also provide taxonomic notes on Liodessus acollensis Guignot, 1955 and L. andinus Guignot, 1957, described from the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia. These species occur at higher altitudes above 3,400 m and up to 4,900 m, and were collected in shallow, exposed peatland pools and puddles, mostly in steppes and high Andean Puna. The known distribution and habitat preferences of each species are outlined briefly.

A review of Peruvian diving beetles of the genus Hydaticus Leach, 1817, with description of Hydaticus (Prodaticus) panguana sp. nov. and notes on other Neotropical species (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae).

We review the Peruvian Hydaticus Leach, 1817 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) and describe Hydaticus panguana sp. nov. from Huánuco Department. In the context of this work, we also provide new country records for several species: Hydaticus lateralis Laporte, 1835 (for Peru, Guyana, Venezuela, Suriname); H. xanthomelas (Brullé, 1837) (for Peru); H. subfasciatus Laporte, 1835 (for Colombia); H. fractivittis Guignot, 1951 (for Paraguay). Hydaticus riehli Wehncke, 1876 and H. verecundus Clark, 1864, described from "Cuba" and "South America", respectively, were probably mislabelled specimens, and do not belong to the Neotropical fauna. Diagnostic characters, including illustrations of male genitalia and habitus, are presented for seven of the 11 Neotropical species, and a modified key is provided. Altogether four species of Hydaticus are now known from Peru.

Vulnerabilidad de las especies de Dytiscidae (Coleoptera) en Cuba / Vulnerability of Dytiscidae species (Coleoptera) in Cuba

Resumen La diversidad de coleópteros acuáticos de Cuba se encuentra entre las más elevadas en el Caribe insular. Sin embargo, existe escasa información sobre los ditíscidos cubanos para identificar las especies y hábitats que requieren urgentes acciones de conservación. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar los taxa amenazados de la familia Dytiscidae en Cuba según su grado de vulnerabilidad. Para ello se recopiló información sobre la distribución de todos los ditíscidos cubanos, incluyendo datos de la literatura, de colecciones y de muestreos realizados en el período comprendido entre los años 2000 y 2014. Además, fue evaluada la vulnerabilidad de las especies a partir de una metodología que combina seis criterios referentes a las características de las especies y los hábitats que ocupan. El análisis de vulnerabilidad fue posible realizarlo a 50 de las 53 especies de ditíscidos (94 %) presentes en Cuba. Un total de cinco especies (9 %) presentan vulnerabilidad alta, 20 (38 %) media y 25 (48 %) baja. Las cinco especies más amenazadas son Laccodytes cobrinae, Laccophilus alariei, Copelatus barbouri, C. darlingtoni, and Desmopachria glabella. Estas son endémicas de Cuba y se caracterizan por presentar poblaciones muy localizadas, poco abundantes, así como por una alta especificidad de hábitat. Por ello, se propone su inclusión en lista roja de la fauna de Cuba, así como en la Lista Roja de la UICN bajo la categoría de "Vulnerable". Además, no todas las áreas donde se encuentran estas especies pertenecen al Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas de Cuba, por lo que recomendamos la inclusión de la Laguna Base Julio A. Mella y el Norte de Imías en este sistema. Así mismo, sugerimos la implementación de medidas de gestión efectivas que eviten o mitiguen la alteración de los ecosistemas acuáticos en los que aparecen las especies vulnerables.

Abstract Cuba has one of the richest diving beetles species diversity in the Caribbean islands. However, Cuban Dytiscidae remain scarcely studied, and there is need to identify those species and habitats that urgently require effective conservation actions. Here we aim to identify the threatened taxa of the family Dytiscidae in Cuba according to their degree of vulnerability. For that, we compiled distributional data on the Cuban fauna, including data from literature, collections and own samplings carried out between the period 2000 and 2014. In addition, the vulnerability of the species was evaluated using a methodology that combines six criteria regarding both species and habitat attributes. This analysis of vulnerability was completed to 50 (94 %) out of 53 Cuban species. Five species (9 %) were identified as highly vulnerable, 20 (38 %) moderately and 25 (48 %) as having low conservation status. The five most threatened species were Laccodytes cobrinae, Laccophilus alariei, Copelatus barbouri, C. darlingtoni, and Desmopachria glabella. These species are endemic to Cuba and characterized by highly localized populations and low abundance as well as high habitat specificity. Thus, we propose the inclusion of these five species in both the red list of Cuban fauna and the IUCN Red List (under the category of "Vulnerable"). In addition, not all areas where these species were found belong to the National System of Protected Areas of Cuba. Thus, we suggest the inclusion of the Laguna Base Julio A. Mella and the North of Imías, and to develop effective management measures to prevent the alteration of these aquatic ecosystems. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(2): 709-721. Epub 2018 June 01.

Copelatus Erichson from the Dominican Republic, with the description of a new species, comments on elytral striation and faunistic notes on Antillean species (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Copelatinae).

The species of the genus Copelatus Erichson, 1832 occurring in the Dominican Republic are reviewed. Five species are recorded, with recent collecting data provided for four of them. Copelatus martini sp. nov., a member of the consors species group, is described and illustrated. It is compared to the apparently similar species C. guadelupensis Legros, 1948 based on morphological characters and on partial sequences of the CO1 gene. Interesting cases of intraspecific variability in the number of elytral dorsal striae in C. martini sp. nov. and C. vitraci are discussed in the light of the traditional taxo-nomic importance of this character for species group delimitation in Copelatus. Copelatus caelatipennis Aubé, 1838 and C. vitraci Legros, 1948 are recorded for the first time from the Dominican Republic (and therefore also from Hispaniola Island). The remaining species are C. posticatus (Fabricius, 1801), and C. insolitus Chevrolat, 1863 (for the latter, pre-sence in Hispaniola is doubtful and requires confirmation). Finally, C. guadelupensis is recorded from Puerto Rico for the first time, and a checklist of the Copelatus species of the Antilles is appended.

A new species of Desmopachria Babington (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) from Cuba with a prediction of its geographic distribution and notes on other Cuban species of the genus.

A new species, Desmopachria andreae sp. n. is described from Cuba. Diagnostic characters including illustrations of male genitalia are provided and illustrated for the five species of the genus occurring on the island. For these five species both a simple key to adults and maps of their known distribution in Cuba are also provided. Using a Maximun Entropy method (MaxEnt), a distribution model was developed for D. andreae sp.n. Based on the model's predictions, this species has a higher probability of occurring in high altitude forests (above 1000 m a.s.l.), characterised by relatively low temperatures especially during the hottest and wettest seasons, specifically, the mountainous areas of the Macizo de Guamuhaya (Central Cuba), Sierra Maestra (S Cuba) and Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa (NE Cuba). In some of these areas the species has not yet been recorded, and should be searched for in future field surveys.