Catalogue of type specimens deposited in the Herpetology Collection of the Natural History Museum Gustavo Orcés V. at Escuela Politécnica Nacional (Ecuador).

Background: The Herpetology Collection of the Natural History Museum Gustavo Orcés V. at Escuela Politécnica Nacional (MEPN-H) in Quito maintains more than sixteen thousand curated specimens and it comprises Ecuador ´s second largest collection of herps. New information: The Collection contains 193 type specimens: 14 holotypes, 34 paratopotypes and 145 paratypes, which correspond to 10 families, 17 genera and 32 species. The collection of type specimens is particularly important in the genera Atelopus and Pristimantis in amphibians and the genera Atractus and Enyaloides in reptiles. An assessment of the geographic distribution showed that collection sites of type specimens are clustered towards the south of Ecuador in the provinces of Zamora Chinchipe, Morona Santiago and Pastaza in the Amazon Region; and in the provinces of Carchi and Azuay in the Andes. The collection of type specimens dates from 1955 to 2013, comprising an invaluable source of historical biodiversity data.

Type material of Arctiinae (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in the collection of the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia (Buenos Aires, Argentina).

The Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia (MACN) possesses one of the most important Lepidoptera collections in South America. Here are deposited several type specimens of Lepidoptera, particularly of Arctiinae, described by Burmeister, Berg, Snellen, Jörgensen, Giacomelli, Orfila, and Forster. This study presents a catalogue with complete information and photographs of most type specimens of Arctiinae housed in the MACN. Additionally, we provide comments on the type material presumably deposited in MACN but not found by the authors. A total of seven lectotypes are designated and a new synonymy is proposed: Eurota (sic) julia Orfila, 1931 is a junior synonym of Eurata hermione Burmeister, 1878.

The type specimens of Trichomycterus alternatus (Eigenmann, 1917) and Trichomycterus zonatus (Eigenmann, 1918), with elements for future revisionary work (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae).

The trichomycterid catfish species Trichomycterus alternatus (Eigenmann, 1917) and Trichomycterus zonatus (Eigenmann, 1918) are reportedly among the most pervasive species in mid- to high-elevation coastal streams of Southeastern Brazil. Despite their apparent abundance and ecological ubiquity, the applicability of their names is still uncertain. Examination of the type material of the two species reveals that part of the confusion stems from a mixing of species in the T. zonatus type series. Other issues relate to reports of character conditions in the respective species that do not actually correspond to the situation in their type specimens. Such situation triggered a long-lasting chain of taxonomic misinterpretations and erroneous identification protocols and traditions so that even the taxonomic distinctiveness of the two species is nebulous. That situation is disentangled in detail on the basis of new information on the holotypes and remaining type specimens of each species by classical and new (stereo triplet radiography) morphology analyses for data acquisition. Results show that the type specimens of T. alternatus and T. zonatus differ pronouncedly in several traits of internal and external morphology and represent markedly distinct taxa. The latter species does not correspond to most identifications in the literature and is, in fact, endemic to the region of its type locality. We also clarify and map the reported localities of the type material and offer comments on the validity of T. alternatus and T. zonatus, along with that of possibly related forms.

Catalogue of Ditomyiidae and Diadocidiidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) types housed in the collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil

The Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP), São Paulo, Brazil houses the largest and most representative Brazilian collection of Diptera. In the present study, following a recommendation of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, it is presented a catalogue of the type specimens of Diadocidiidae and Ditomyiidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) held in the collection of the MZUSP. Label data and the condition of preservation of 27 type specimens (nine holotypes, two paralectotypes, and 16 paratypes) of 14 Neotropical species are provided.(AU)

Scarabaeinae dung beetles from Ecuador: a catalog, nomenclatural acts, and distribution records.

The Ecuadorian territory is divided into four natural regions: the coastal lowlands, the Andean highlands, the Amazon basin, and the Galapagos Islands. Each of these regions has its own ecosystems and specific vegetation. The purpose of this work is to compile an updated catalog of the Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of Ecuador that includes distributional data and several nomenclatural acts. We compiled data from 25 scientific collections, with the examination of 13,550 scarabaeines; additionally, 390 bibliographic references were reviewed for their taxonomic histories. The Scarabaeinae fauna from Ecuador is represented by 33 genera and 223 species, with 45 range-restricted species; 27 species were erroneously recorded from the country. The following nomenclatural acts are made: (A) two new status as valid species: Canthon (Glaphyrocanthon) ohausi Balthasar, 1939, stat. n., and Deltochilum (Calhyboma) arrowi Paulian, 1939 stat. n.; (B) one new synonym: Uroxysmagnus Balthasar, 1940 = Uroxyslatesulcatus Bates, 1891, syn. n.; (C) two revalidated names: Canthidium (Canthidium) orbiculatum (Lucas, 1857) and Dichotomius (Luederwaldtinia) fortepunctatus (Luederwaldt, 1923); and (D) ten lectotypes designated for: Choeridiumorbiculatum Lucas, 1857; Choeridiumcupreum Blanchard, 1846; Canthidiumcoerulescens Balthasar, 1939; Canthonangustatus Harold, 1867; Canthonangustatusohausi Balthasar, 1939; Deltochilumtessellatum Bates, 1870; Pinotusfortepunctatus Luederwaldt, 1923; Pinotusglobulus Felsche, 1901; Uroxyslatesulcatus Bates, 1891; and Uroxysmagnus Balthasar, 1940. The type specimens related to the new nomenclatural acts are illustrated and the maps of the geographical distribution of all species are provided.

Catalogue of Ditomyiidae and Diadocidiidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) types housed in the collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil

The Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP), São Paulo, Brazil houses the largest and most representative Brazilian collection of Diptera. In the present study, following a recommendation of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, it is presented a catalogue of the type specimens of Diadocidiidae and Ditomyiidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) held in the collection of the MZUSP. Label data and the condition of preservation of 27 type specimens (nine holotypes, two paralectotypes, and 16 paratypes) of 14 Neotropical species are provided.

On the type materials of the genera Interatherium Ameghino, 1887 and Icochilus Ameghino, 1889 (Interatheriidae, Notoungulata, Mammalia) from early Miocene of the Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.

The first known Interatheriinae (Interatheriidae, Notoungulata) were described by Florentino Ameghino based on fossils collected by his brother Carlos in diverse Argentinean early Miocene outcrops in the Santa Cruz Province, which are housed at different institutions. In order to perform a systematic study of the subfamily, it is essential to revise as much specimens as possible, but first of all the type material of the species under study. Due to the fact that Florentino Ameghino never referred to any type specimens with a collection number in any of his publications, their identification becomes a complex task. In consequence, when studying the species erected by Ameghino within the genera Interatherium and Icochilus, we identified a lack of correspondence between some materials catalogued as type specimens and the original descriptions. In this contribution, we present the type specimens of 18 out of the 21 Santacrucian species of Interatherium (4) and Icochilus (14) within the paleontological collection of the Museo de La Plata and Ameghino National Collection at the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Four case studies are presented: a) specimens correctly identified; b) materials erroneously catalogued as type specimens; c) specimens catalogued as type, whose status cannot be evaluated because they are lost; and d) specimens not catalogued as types, but herein recognised as such. As the selection of the type species of Icochilus was pending, Ic. extensus is herein designated as such. The lectotypes of Ic. extensus and Ic. multidentatus are selected among their identified syntypes.

Review of some species groups of the genus Oospila Warren, with descriptions of nine new species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Geometrinae).

The Neotropical geometrine genus Oospila Warren, 1897 includes seventy-nine species and was revised by Cook Scoble (1995). The genus is distinctive in having a row of raised abdominal crests, which are composed of specialized, erect, metallic shining scales. This paper focuses on the integrative morphological and molecular delimitation of the smallest Oospila species. The wing patterns and genitalia structures of males and females are illustrated. Cook Scoble (1995) distinguished 13 species groups within Oospila. We discuss the species of the Oospila flavilimes species group, the O. stigma species group and O. miccularia species group below, and separate the O. arpata species complex into a group of its own. Nine new species and two new subspecies are described in this paper: O. cristae sp. n. from Ecuador, O. falcata sp. n. from French Guiana, O. pallidaria boliviensis subsp. n. from Bolivia, and O. loreenae sp. n. from Bolivia (flavilimes species group), O. ehakernae sp. n. from Costa Rica, O. similiplaga bolarpata subsp. n. from Bolivia (arpata species group), O. brehmi sp. n. and O. bifida sp. n. both from Bolivia, O. moseri sp. n. from Brazil, O. absaloni sp. n. and O. pipa sp. n. both from Ecuador (miccularia species group). Oospila similiplaga (Warren) (stat. nov.) is raised here from synonymy with O. arpata (Schaus) and O. imula (Dognin) from synonymy with O. miccularia (Guenée), respectively. Oospila agnetaforslundae nom. nov. is proposed as a replacement name for Oospila marginata Schaus, 1912 (nec Oospila marginata Warren, 1897), raising it to species rank from synonymy of Oospila permagna (Warren, 1909). With this paper, the number of Neotropical Oospila species is raised to 88.

On the types species of the New World dung beetle genus Canthidium Erichson, 1847 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), with an annotated checklist of species.

In this work, it is explained why previous authors who considered that Canthidium lentum Erichson, 1947 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) was fixed as the type species of Canthidium Erichson, 1847 in Robert Lucas' 1920 catalogue of Coleoptera genera were mistaken. Instead, the first authors to designate a type species for Canthidium were Martínez et al. in 1964, who designated C. thalassinum Erichson, 1847. Since both species are currently placed in different subgenera, the subgeneric classication must change: Eucanthidium Halffter Martínez, 1986 is a new junior synonym of Canthidium, while the subgenus previously considered to be Canthidium (Canthidium) is changed to Canthidium (Neocanthidium) Martínez et al., 1964 based on the revalidation of the latter name. A checklist containing information on the type locality, type material, synonymy, and distribution of all the 172 valid species included in the genus (72 in the nominotypical subgenus, 69 in Neocanthidium, and 31 as incertae sedis) is presented, as well as a review of the taxonomic history of Canthidium and the new synonymy between C. (C.) ardens Bates, 1887 and Canthidium ardens mutatum Bates, 1887.

Identification of type materials of the species of Protypotherium Ameghino, 1885 and Patriarchus Ameghino, 1889 (Notoungulata: Interatheriidae) erected by Florentino Ameghino.

The first collections of Interatheriinae (Interatheriidae, Notoungulata) were created by the brothers Florentino and Carlos Ameghino, based on fossil specimens collected from diverse outcrops of Argentina and housed at different national institutions. In order to perform a systematic study of the subfamily, it is essential to revise as much specimens as possible, but first of all those that were used to establish the respective species, that is, the type material. Florentino Ameghino never referred to the collection number of the type specimens of the species he erected in any of his publications; this fact added to the occasional absence of illustrations and adequate descriptions, all of which make their identification a complex task. Thus, when studying the species erected by Florentino Ameghino within Protypotherium and Patriarchus, we recognised a lack of correspondence between some specimens that appeared labelled as types in the collections and the original descriptions of these species. In this contribution, we identify the type specimens of the eleven species of Protypotherium and eight of Patriarchus founded by Florentino Ameghino, housed in the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and the Zoological Museum of the University of Copenhagen (Denmark). Three case studies are presented: a) specimens correctly identified; b) specimens erroneously catalogued as type material; and c) specimens not established as types in Ameghino's catalogue, but herein recognised as such. Lectotype and paralectotype of P. antiquum are herein designated.

A new subspecies of sea snake, Hydrophis platurus xanthos, from Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica.

We describe a distinctive new subspecies of sea snake from the occasionally anoxic inner-basin waters of Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, based on combined data garnered between 2010 and 2017 for 154 specimens, 123 free-ranging and 31 museum-held. The yellow sea snake, Hydrophis platurus xanthos Bessesen & Galbreath, subsp. n., is diagnosed by a notably smaller body size and nearly uniform yellow coloration, which contrasts with the black and yellow striae and tail spots or bands typical of the species. Within the modest geographic range (circa 320 km2), nearly all specimens possess both diagnostic character states. Bathymetrics appear to restrict genetic flow between this allopatric population and conspecifics in the broader Eastern Pacific. In perspicuous contrast to typical H. platurus, H. p. xanthos shows no association with drift lines, and feeds at night in turbulent waters, assuming a sinusoidal ambush posture never previously reported for the species. This evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) warrants taxonomic recognition and active protection.

The type-material of Arctiinae (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) described by Burmeister and Berg in the collection of the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia (Buenos Aires, Argentina).

Carlos G. Burmeister and Carlos Berg were among the most important and influential naturalists and zoologists in Argentina and South America and described 241 species and 34 genera of Lepidoptera. The Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia (MACN) housed some of the Lepidoptera type specimens of these authors. In this study we present a catalogue with complete information and photographs of 11 Burmeister type specimens and 10 Berg type specimens of Phaegopterina, Arctiina and Pericopina (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini) housed in the MACN. Lectotypes or holotypes were designated where primary type specimens could be recognized; in some cases we were not able to recognize types. The catalogue also proposes nomenclatural changes and new synonymies: Opharus picturata (Burmeister, 1878), comb. n.; Opharus brunnea Gaede, 1923: 7, syn. n.; Hypocrisias jonesi (Schaus, 1894), syn. n.; Leucanopsis infucata (Berg, 1882), stat. rev.; Paracles argentina (Berg, 1877), sp. rev.; Paracles uruguayensis (Berg, 1886), sp. rev.

Catálogo do material-tipo de Tachinidae (Diptera) depositado no Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo / Catalogue of the type-material of Tachinidae deposited at the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo

Catálogo do material-tipo de Tachinidae (Diptera) depositado no Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo. O Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo abriga a maior e mais representativa coleção brasileira de Diptera. A coleção de Tachinidae destaca-se como a segunda mais numerosa, com 32554 espécimes adultos montados. No presente estudo é apresentado um catálogo de tipos primários e secundários de Tachinidae abrigados no Museu de Zoologia, fornecendo informações sobre dados de coleta, seu estado de conservação, bem como o status taxonômico dos nomes específicos e seu atual posicionamento genérico, quando diferente do original. O catálogo lista um total de 847 espécimes-tipo (99 holótipos, 737 parátipos, 8 síntipos, 1 lectótipo, 1 paralectótipo e 1 neótipo) representando um total de 263 espécies nominais de Tachinidae, predominantemente da Região Neotropical. Também são listados espécimes cujo status (se tipo ou não) foi considerado duvidoso. Uma breve biografia de Charles Henry Tyler Townsend e José Henrique Guimarães é apresentada.

Catalogue of the type-material of Tachinidae deposited at the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo. The Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (Brazil) houses the largest and most representative Brazilian collection of Diptera. The Tachinidae collection appears as the second most numerous, with a total of 32554 mounted adult specimens. In the present study, it is presented a catalogue of primary and secondary type-specimens deposited at the Museu de Zoologia, providing information on collecting data, preserving conditions, as well as the taxonomic status of specific names and its current generic placement, whenever different from the original combination. The catalogue lists a total of 847 type-specimens (99 holotypes, 737 paratypes, 8 syntypes, 1 lectotype, 1 paralectotype and 1 neotype) representing 263 nominal species of Tachinidae, mostly from the Neotropical region. Also, the specimens with dubious status (if type or not) are listed. A short biography of Charles Henry Tyler Townsend and José Henrique Guimarães is presented.