Dmitry M. Palatov

Revision of ‘Horatia’ snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae sensu lato) from South Caucasus with description of two new genera

Four nominal species of the genus Horatia Bourguignat, 1887 were described by Russian authors from Caucasian caves (H. borutzkii Shadin, 1932, H. birsteini Starobogatov, 1962, H. ljovushkini Starobogatov, 1962 and H. sokolovi Starobogatov, 1962). Hitherto all the species were known from type series (presented by empty shells) only. Examination of newly obtained samples from the caves of South Caucasus has shown that the four species actually do not belong to the genus Horatia due to obvious differences in the morphology of the copulatory organs between H. klecakiana Bourguignat, 1887 (the type species of this genus) and the Caucasian snails. Moreover, statistical analysis of conchological variation has revealed that the species H. birsteini, H. ljovushkini, and H. sokolovi are conspecific. Two genera are described: Pontohoratia (includes P. birsteini and P. smyri sp. nov.) and Motsametia (with the single species M. borutzkii comb. nov.). The two genera can be distinguished on the basis of the structure of their copulatory organs. The distribution and ecology of the Caucasian Horatia-like mollusks are briefly outlined. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4EDFB2AE-CB1D-4113-8CC7-3A1BBB46D838

Diversity of Armenian mayflies (Ephemeroptera) with the description of a new species of the genus Ecdyonurus (Heptageniidae)

We provide the first commented checklist of Armenian mayflies, based on all relevant literature and recent extensive sampling of 72 localities throughout Armenia during 2011, 2014, and 2015. Altogether 46 species are listed, eight of them reported from Armenia for the first time. One new species, Ecdyonurus (Ecdyonurus) eurycephalus sp. nov. is described (larva and male imago) based on morphological and molecular (COI) data. The species is characterized by a unique head shape in male imago and by the presence of tracheal filaments on gill plate VII in the larval stage.

Morphological description and DNA barcoding of Chaetocladius ( Chaetocladius ) elisabethae sp. nov. (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae) from the Moscow Region

Illustrated descriptions of the adult male, pupa and fourth instar larva, as well as DNA barcoding results of Chaetocladius (Chaetocladius) elisabethae sp. nov. in comparison with closely related species of Chaetocladius s. str. from the Moscow Region are provided. A reference 658 bp barcode sequence from a fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI) was used as a tool for species delimitation. Comparisons with corresponding regions of COI between C. (s. str.) elisabethae sp. nov. and other species of the subgenus produced K2P genetic distances of 0.11-0.16, values well associated with interspecific variation. The barcodes of the new species were identical to the Chaetocladius sp. 2ES in BOLD systems. Molecular data were also used for the reconstruction of the phylogenetic relationships within the subgenus Chaetocladius s. str.

On the distribution of Dina stschegolewi (Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae) in the South Caucasus

Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine; Department of Hydrobiology, Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation; Institute of Zoology of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan; School of Biology and Centre of Excellence in Phylogeny of Living Organisms, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Species Richness, Molecular Taxonomy and Biogeography of the Radicine Pond Snails (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae) in the Old World

The radicine pond snails represent a species-rich and widely distributed group, many species of which are key vectors of human and animal trematodoses. Here we clarify the taxonomy, distribution and evolutionary biogeography of the radicine lymnaeids in the Old World based on the most comprehensive multi-locus molecular dataset sampled to date. We show that the subfamily Amphipepleinae is monophyletic and contains at least ten genus-level clades: Radix Montfort, 1810, Ampullaceana Servain, 1881, Peregriana Servain, 1881, Tibetoradix Bolotov, Vinarski & Aksenova gen. nov., Kamtschaticana Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1984, Orientogalba Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1985, Cerasina Kobelt, 1881, Myxas G. B. Sowerby I, 1822, Bullastra Bergh, 1901, and Austropeplea Cotton, 1942. With respect to our phylogeny, species-delimitation model and morphological data, the Old World fauna includes 35 biological species of radicines. Tibet and Eastern Europe harbor the richest faunas, while East Asia and Africa appear to be the most species-poor areas. The radicine clade could have originated near the Cretaceous – Paleocene boundary. The Miocene great lakes in Eurasia seems to be the most important evolutionary hotspots shaping spatial patterns of recent species richness. Finally, we present the first DNA barcode reference library for the reliable molecular identification of species within this group.

Ferrissia californica (Gastropoda: Planorbidae): the first record of a global invader in a cave habitat

ABSTRACT Ferrissia californica (Rowell, 1863), an aquatic pulmonate [formerly widely known as Ferrisia fragilis (Tryon, 1863), is reported herein to have established a population in the Tskhal-Tsiteli, or Iazoni, Cave (Caucasus, Georgia), within the invasive range of this species. This is the first record of a sustained population of an invasive freshwater pulmonate in an underground environment. Possible consequences of this invasion are briefly discussed. It is possible that this alien snail may threaten the native snail species Motsametia borutzkii (Zhadin, 1932), which is endemic to Tskhal-Tsiteli Cave.

New data on taxonomy and systematics of the genus Diamesa Meigen (Diptera: Chironomidae: Diamesinae) from Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains, with description of two new species

An illustrated morphological description of two new species of the genus Diamesa Meigen, 1835 are provided from Tien Shan and Pamir mountains: D. akhrorovi sp. nov., as male adult; D. alibaevae sp. nov., as male adult and pupa. DNA barcoding results of the two new described species with comparative database on some related Diamesa species are also given. The two new described species key both near D. planistyla Reiss, 1968, which was known from Nepal and redescribed here from Tian Shan. The diversity of Diamesa genus using three mitochondrial (COI, COII, 16S rRNA), two nuclear (18S rRNA, EF-1a) markers and estimating phylogenetic relationships is also highlighted. Six of the studied Diamesa species including D. akhrorovi sp. nov. and D. alibaevae sp. nov. represent a well-supported monophyletic clades with high Bayesian posterior probability, while D. cinerella Meigen and D. hamaticornis Kieffer have a lower interspecific sequence divergence.

Aquatic macroinvertebrates of the Lower Amu Darya

Total of 50 species of macroinvertebrates have been found in the Lower Amu Darya River. The most diverse and productive assemblages of macroinvertebrates are formed on flooded woody objects, while the most depleted ones occur on washed sand and clay.

Freshwater sponges and their associated invertebrates in the Great Lakes Basin (Mongolia)

The Great Lakes Depression is a large semi-arid region, whose freshwater invertebrate fauna is poorly known. Examining 37 waterbodies, we found freshwater sponges Eunapius fragilis and Spongilla lacustris (fragments) in the only one small river. Invertebrate species complex found on the sponges comprises nine species, their contribution to the assemblage was assessed by the metabolic intensity index.

Benthic fauna and communities of the lagoon water bodies of the White Sea by the example of Lake Kislo-Sladkoe

In the present research the investigation of the lake Kislo-Sladkoe, a small brackish lagoon on the coast of Kandalakshsky Gulf of the White Sea, was conducted. In total 21 species of macrobenthic invertebrates identified and seven types of macrobenthic communities, derived from marine, estuarial and freshwater types, descried. Also, six meiobenthic species of the order Harpacticoida were found. The ecological peculiarities of the macro and meiobenthic taxa and the comparison with the biota of other brackish waters of the White Sea coast are described.