Category: Zookeys

A mystery kept in London led to the discovery of a new Ecuadorian frog

Pristimantis milpe is an abundant and widely distributed species that had been confused with another species for over a century.

Scientists from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador officially described Pristimantis milpe, an abundant and widely distributed species that had been confused with another species for over a century. To solve the mystery, researchers reviewed specimens collected in Ecuador during the 19th century and preserved at the Natural History Museum in London.

Reproductive pair (amplexus) of the Milpe Robber Frog photographed at night on a leaf in the tropical forest of the Ecuadorian Chocó. Photo: Santiago R. Ron.

The finding is exceptional because, unlike many recently described species – which are usually rare or restricted to small geographic areas – Pristimantis milpe is a common frog, widely distributed, and easy to detect by its nocturnal call. The species inhabits the Chocó forests of western Ecuador and southern Colombia, in a range that exceeds 67,000 square kilometers, from sea level up to 1,200 meters in altitude.

Amphibiologist Santiago Ron. The leading author of the study.

The scientific description was published in the international journal ZooKeys, which specialises in research on biodiversity and taxonomy. The identification of Pristimantis milpe was made possible thanks to a review of the historical amphibian collections preserved at the Natural History Museum in London (NHM).

Facade of the Natural History Museum in London, where the key specimens that clarified the taxonomic mess are kept. Photo: Santiago R. Ron.

To resolve a taxonomic confusion that lasted for more than a century, Santiago Ron, a researcher at PUCE and lead author of the study, travelled to England to examine the original specimens – known as “types” – that were collected in Ecuador during the 19th century and preserved ever since.

Santiago Ron reviewing jars with historical specimens preserved in the collections of the Natural History Museum in London. Specimens were collected in the 19th century in Ecuador and preserved in London.

The analysis allowed these historical specimens to be compared with current populations of frogs from the Ecuadorian Chocó. The researchers determined that the specimens had been erroneously associated with another species. This confusion caused a species that had been present and observed for decades to remain without a scientific name of its own.

“That such a common species has gone unnoticed under the wrong name for decades highlights the importance of correctly connecting scientific names with living populations in nature.”
Jhael Ortega, a PhD student at Virginia Tech and one of the study authors

The Milpe Robber Frog (Cutín de Milpe) is a species with nocturnal habits. Males usually call from the leaves of shrubs and bromeliads located several meters high within the forest. Their vocalisation is characterised by a loud and distinct sound, similar to a “click.”

The Milpe Robber Frog lives in a wide variety of habitats, from parks in urban areas to primary forests. The individual in the photo comes from the Río Ayampe Reserve in the Manabí province. Photo: Diego Paucar.

One of its most striking features is the dimorphism between females and males. Females present a distinctive color pattern on the groin and thighs, with orange or light blue tones accompanied by black spots. Males, on the other hand, have more uniform shades.

The species is found in the forests of the Ecuadorian Chocó and southern Colombia, one of the most important regions for biodiversity conservation.

The Ecuadorian Chocó forest is home to more than 250 species of amphibians, including the Milpe Robber Frog, *Pristimantis milpe*. Photo: Santiago R. Ron.

The study demonstrates the scientific value of natural history collections. Specimens preserved for centuries allow current researchers to review classifications, compare characteristics, and answer questions that remained open for generations.

In this case, the analysis of specimens collected in the 19th century, combined with the study of current populations, allowed Pristimantis milpe to be formally recognised as a distinct species.

The work also shows that biodiversity still holds surprises even in abundant and well-known species, and that scientific research requires connecting historical knowledge with the tools and observations available today.

Original source

Ron SR, Paredes-Aguirre P, Paucar DA, López Y, Apunte K, Ortega JA (2026) Long overdue: a new, widespread, species of Pristimantis (Anura, Strabomantidae) from the Chocó region and the synonymy of Pristimantis subsigillatus. ZooKeys 1286: 121-152. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1286.194383

For more articles on zoology, visit the ZooKeys website and follow the journal on BlueSky and Facebook.

A Coral Among the Stars: New Species Discovered on Costa Rica’s Deep-Sea Seamounts

The coral was found thriving in large numbers on rocky outcrops that were almost entirely blanketed by brittle stars.

Scientists exploring seamounts off the coast of Costa Rica have discovered a new coral so genetically and morphologically distinct that it required the creation of an entirely new family for its classification.

Bright yellow and tree-like, the coral was found growing some 360 to 529 metres beneath the surface of the Pacific. The discovery is described in the open-access journal ZooKeys.

Map showing the geographic location of the collected samples within the Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Costa Rica. Made by Beatriz Naranjo (UCR).

The colonies, which can grow to over a metre tall, were collected using the remotely operated vehicle SuBastian aboard the research vessels Falkor and Falkor (too), operated by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, during expeditions to the seamounts off Isla del Coco and the Costa Rican Pacific margin in 2019 and 2023.

Researchers found the coral thriving in large numbers on rocky outcrops that were almost entirely blanketed by brittle stars, creating a shimmering, star-strewn seafloor from which the golden coral branches rose like glowing trees.

That image inspired the coral’s name. The new genus, Laurinque, comes from “Laurinquë”, meaning “golden tree” in Quenya, the Elvish language devised by J.R.R. Tolkien for The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, chosen in reference to the colonies’ bright yellow, tree-like form.

*Laurinque* *elenya* gen. et sp. nov., morphology of the holotype, *in situ*. Photographs by ROV *SuBastian*.

The species name, elenya, is Quenya for “stellar” or “of the stars”, a nod to the fields of brittle stars among which the coral was discovered. Together, the pairing evokes a scene the researchers likened to a mystical elvish landscape on the deep seafloor.

Working out where this coral belonged in the coral family tree proved unusually difficult. The team sequenced three genes commonly used to classify corals, and each one pointed to a different, unrelated family, an unusually high level of disagreement.

Holotype (ethanol preserved fragment) detail of anthocodiae and polyp arrangement of *Laurinque* *elenya*. Photographs by Fiorella Vásquez (UCR).

To settle the question, researchers turned to phylogenomics, analysing hundreds of genes at once. This revealed that the coral does not belong to any known family at all, but represents a unique evolutionary lineage most closely related to the family Eunicellidae, but distinct enough in both its genetics and its anatomy to warrant a new family, Laurinqueidae, and a new genus, Laurinque, built specifically to house it.

“I saw the octocoral garden for the first time in 2019 and I was impressed by the beauty of the landscape, which inspired, later the elvish name of the taxa. I thought the species could belong to a known family and genera, but after the preliminar morphological analysis I realised that it was something very different that I could not match with the known taxa.

In 2023 we collected more samples and thanks to the exhaustive molecular analyses made by my colleagues, Cathy McFadden, Catalina Murillo and Andrea Quattrini, we were able to determine the taxonomic placement of the stunning species, in one of the most enigmatic sites.”
Dr Odalisca Breedy of the Universidad de Costa Rica

*Laurinque* *elenya* gen. et sp. nov., *in situ* colonies in Las Gemelas II. Photographs by ROV *SuBastian*.

The research was led by Dr Breedy, working alongside an international team of collaborators. The expeditions were supported by the Schmidt Ocean Institute and a National Geographic Society research grant.

The discovery adds to a growing list of undocumented species being revealed on Costa Rica’s seamounts, and demonstrates how much of the deep ocean, which covers roughly two-thirds of the planet’s surface, remains unexplored.

Coral gardens such as these are considered vulnerable marine ecosystems, providing structurally complex habitat for a wide range of other deep-sea life.

Cover image

In situ colony of Laurinque elenya gen. et sp. nov. in Las Gemelas II. Credit: ROV SuBastian.

Original source

Breedy O, McFadden CS, Murillo-Cruz C, Yánez-Suárez A-B, Robert K, Quattrini AM (2026) A coral among stars: A new octocoral family (Anthozoa, Octocorallia, Malacalcyonacea) from seamounts in the tropical eastern Pacific. ZooKeys 1283: 253-272. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1283.191899

For more articles on zoology, visit the ZooKeys website and follow the journal on BlueSky and Facebook.

New Mountain Dragon Lizard From Thailand Named After Syrax From House Of The Dragon

Meet Acanthosaura syrax, the mountain horned dragon lizard named after Syrax – Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen’s dragon in House of the Dragon.

Scientists have described a new species of lizard from the high mountain forests of western Thailand, and have given it a name straight out of fantasy television: Acanthosaura syrax, named after Syrax, the dragon ridden by Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon.

adult female Acanthosaura syrax — Adult female paratypes of *Acanthosaura* *syrax*. Photo credit to Trivalairat et al., 2026.

The lizard belongs to a group known as mountain horned dragons, agamid lizards recognised by the spiny crests running along their neck and back. It was discovered in the evergreen forests of Mae Wong National Park, in the Tak-Kamphaeng Phet Province, at elevations above 1,300 metres, where it appears to live nowhere else. The find brings the total number of known species in the genus Acanthosaura to 23.

Forest habitat of *Acanthosaura* *syrax* in Mae Wong National Park, Mae Wong District, Kampheang Phet Province, Thailand . Photo credit to Trivalairat et al., 2026.

The research team, led by Poramad Trivalairat and colleagues from Chulabhorn Royal Academy and Kasetsart University, chose the name Syrax deliberately. The dragon of that name in the fantasy world is known for its striking yellow colouring, its comparatively modest size next to other dragons, and for producing an unusually large number of eggs.

The researchers found all three qualities echoed in the real animal: A. syrax has yellowish-green tones in its colouring, is one of the smallest members of its genus, and lays notably large clutches of eggs for its size. The team has proposed “Syrax mountain horned dragon” as its English common name, alongside a Thai name that translates the same way.

Adult male holotype of Acanthosaura syrax. from Mae Wong District, Kampheang Phet Province, Thailand. Photo credit to Trivalairat et al., 2026
Adult female paratypes Acanthosaura syrax. Credit to Trivalairat et al., 2026.

Beyond the name, the lizard stands out for possessing the smallest neck and back crest scales recorded anywhere in the genus, along with an overall small body size. It also lacks a black patch around the eye seen in several related species, and has a distinctive dark collar marking. DNA analysis of two genes backed up what the researchers saw by eye, showing that A. syrax is genetically distinct from its closest relative, A. lepidogaster, and from every other known species in the group.

Paratype specimens of Acanthosaura syrax — Paratype specimens of *Acanthosaura* *syrax*. Credit to Trivalairat et al., 2026.

The species appears to be confined to a narrow band of high-altitude forest, and the researchers say its populations are naturally scattered by the rugged terrain of the mountain range, a state of affairs that leaves it vulnerable should its habitat come under further pressure. They are calling for stronger protection of Mae Wong’s high-elevation forests, suggesting the new lizard could serve as a flagship species for the area alongside other rare wildlife found there, including the Asian forest tortoise, Oldham’s leaf turtle and the Indochinese tiger.

The study is published in the open-access journal ZooKeys.

Cover photo credit: Acanthosaura syrax, credit to Trivalairat et al., 2026; Syrax dragon credit to Wiki of Westeros.

Original source:

Trivalairat P, Trivalairat K, Moungkhaek N, Caponov S, Lorsunyaluck B (2026) Acanthosaura syrax sp. nov., a new species of mountain horned dragon from high-elevation habitats of western Thailand (Squamata, Agamidae). ZooKeys 1287: 47-76. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1287.186636

Landmark review confirms 227 mammal species in Honduras, the country’s most comprehensive assessment in nearly three decades

The study also forecasts that as many as 28 further species could eventually be confirmed in the country.

An eight-year international research effort has produced the most comprehensive review of Honduras’ mammals since 1998, verifying 227 native species across 146 genera and 42 families, along with three introduced rodent species. The study, published in the open-access journal ZooKeys, also forecasts that as many as 28 further species could eventually be confirmed in the country, bringing the potential total to 258.

Manatee, photographed by Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske.

The research was led by Manfredo A. Turcios-Casco of the Asociación para la Sostenibilidad e Investigación Científica en Honduras (ASICH) and the Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz in Brazil, together with 14 co-authors from institutions across Honduras, the United States, Brazil, Guatemala and Costa Rica, including Panthera Honduras, the Smithsonian Institution and the Wildlife Conservation Society. The resulting work spans nearly 200 pages of species accounts, distribution data and conservation summaries.

The project began when Turcios-Casco was a master’s student researching the conservation status of Honduran xenarthrans:

“At that time, I realised something surprising: despite Honduras being one of the most biodiverse countries in Central America, its mammal fauna had not been comprehensively reviewed since 1998.

What began with a team of four researchers grew into a collaboration spanning museum curators, taxonomists, field biologists and conservation practitioners across multiple countries.”

Compiling the review meant verifying more than 300,000 records drawn from museum collections, scientific publications, technical reports and previously unpublished field observations dating back to the 1960s.

Mormoops megalophylla. Image credit: Manfredo A. Turcios-Casco.

“The greatest challenge was undoubtedly the verification process. Every record (and there were more than 300,000) had to be evaluated critically,” Turcios-Casco said, noting that shifting taxonomy meant the team was still updating species accounts just days before the manuscript’s final submission.

Among the review’s more unexpected findings was how little is known about some of Honduras’ most familiar mammals. “For some mammals, including squirrels, raccoons, and several small rodents, there were no modern distribution maps available,” Turcios-Casco noted. Even regionally widespread species, such as opossums and skunks, remain poorly documented within the country.

Nyctomys sumichrasti. Image credit: Manfredo A. Turcios-Casco.
Spilogale angustifrons. Image credit: Manfredo A. Turcios-Casco.
Caluromys derbianus. Image credit: Manfredo A. Turcios-Casco.

Alongside the species accounts, the review provides conservation summaries intended to guide research priorities and policy decisions:

“Because conservation begins with knowledge. One of the biggest challenges in biodiversity conservation is that we often want to protect species before we fully understand them.”
Turcios-Casco

Camera traps photos by Panthera-Honduras – White lipped peccaries.
Giant anteater.
Tapirs.
Puma.

The work also draws on cultural knowledge, incorporating common names used by Indigenous peoples and local communities alongside the scientific record.

“Rather than simply compiling species records, we tried to tell the story of Honduras’ mammals.”
Turcios-Casco

Looking ahead, the authors hope the review will serve as a foundation for the next generation of Honduran biologists.

“In that sense, the review is both a summary of what we know and a reminder of how much there is left to learn about the natural heritage of Honduras.
Turcios-Casco

Cover image:

Howler monkey, photographed by Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske.

Original source:

Turcios-Casco MA, Castañeda F, Wilson DE, Miller B, Gonzalez-Socoloske D, Ramos EA, King TW, LaVal RK, Ordóñez-Garza N, Ordoñez D, Graciolli G, Thornton D, Martínez M, Estrada-Andino NM, Ávila-Palma HD (2026) Taxonomy, natural history, and conservation of the mammals of Honduras. ZooKeys 1288: 1–193. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1288.129555

Sunrise Over the Seabed: New Shrimpgoby Species Named for the “Sunrise of Java”

Researchers have described a beautiful new species of shrimpgoby from the coastal waters off Banyuwangi, East Java, and given it a name that pays tribute to both its fiery colouration and birthplace.

Researchers have described a beautiful new species of shrimpgoby from the coastal waters off Banyuwangi, East Java, and given it a name that pays tribute to both its fiery colouration and its birthplace.

Published in the open-access journal ZooKeys, a team led by Kunto Wibowo of the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, part of Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), has formally described Tomiyamichthys oriens sp. nov., a small reef fish characterised by radiant orange blotches along its flanks and a pair of elegant filaments trailing from the first dorsal fin of males.

Holotype of *Tomiyamichthys oriens* sp. nov., male, 35.6 mm SL, off Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia. Image credit: Kunto Wibowo et al.

The two specimens on which the description is based, a male and a female each measuring roughly 35.5 mm in length, were first brought to the researchers’ attention by the ornamental fish exporter CV Cahaya Baru, having been collected from sandy shallows off Banyuwangi. Both are now housed at the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense in Bogor.

The name oriens is where this discovery really shines. It is a Latin participle meaning “east” or “the rising sun”, chosen for two reasons. Firstly, it evokes the fish’s own vivid orange markings, said to recall the hues of a sunrise. Secondly, it honours the species’ place of origin: Banyuwangi sits at the easternmost tip of Java and is popularly known throughout Indonesia as “The Sunrise of Java”. The authors have given the fish the English common name Oriens Shrimpgoby.

Tomiyamichthys oriens belongs to a genus of shrimp-associated gobies found across the tropical Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to Fiji. Its closest known relative is T. hyacinthinus, a species only recently described from southern Japan. The two share a rare combination of features within the genus: nine segmented rays in both the dorsal and anal fins, and, in males, two elongated filamentous spines on the first dorsal fin.

Paratype of *Tomiyamichthys* *oriens* sp. nov., female, 35.5 mm SL, off Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia. Image credit: Kunto Wibowo et al.

Despite this resemblance, the Indonesian fish can be told apart by a suite of subtle differences, including its number of pectoral fin rays, branched caudal fin rays, longitudinal scale rows and gill rakers, as well as finer details of its colour pattern. Genetic analysis of the mitochondrial COI gene reinforced the case for a distinct species, revealing a divergence of 3.1% between the Indonesian and Japanese fish.

The discovery adds to an already remarkable tally for Indonesia, which sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle and now hosts 13 recognised species of Tomiyamichthys, more than any other country. According to local fishermen consulted during the study, the new species favours sandy bottoms in shallow coastal water, though its relationship with the burrowing alpheid shrimps typically associated with the genus has yet to be directly observed in the wild.

The description brings the total number of valid Tomiyamichthys species worldwide to 21, underscoring how much remains to be learned about the small reef fishes that share Indonesia’s waters with its shrimp partners.

“It is always exciting to discover a species that is new to science. We hope this finding will inspire further exploration of Indonesia’s fish biodiversity, where many small and overlooked species are likely still awaiting discovery.”
Kunto Wibowo

Original source:

Wibowo K, Pratiwi HM, Dharmayanthi AB, Tjiptadi D, Tarmini W, Priyadi A, Kusumah RV (2026) Tomiyamichthys oriens, a new species of shrimpgoby (Teleostei, Gobiidae) from the coast of Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia. ZooKeys 1283: 67-77. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1283.194940

For more articles on zoology, visit the ZooKeys website and follow the journal on BlueSky and Facebook.

The Pensoft Biodiversity Cup 2026 comes to a close

Now that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is over, it’s time for us to blow the final whistle on Pensoft’s Biodiversity Cup.

The floodlights have dimmed, the confetti has settled, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially come to an end. A huge congratulations to Spain, who saw off Argentina 1-0 after extra time to lift their second World Cup trophy.

And with the football finished, it’s time for us to blow the final whistle on our own tournament too. Throughout the World Cup, we ran the Pensoft Biodiversity Cup alongside the real competition – a weekly knockout contest on our Instagram page, pitting some of the most remarkable species described in our journals against one another.

Every Thursday we opened the polls, and every Monday we brought you the result. Now that the dust has settled, we thought it was the perfect moment to look back at how the tournament unfolded.

Here’s how each fixture played out, with the winning species (as voted for by you!) shown in blue bold:

Date	Species #1	Species #2
11/06	Nadzikambia goodallae	Ferreiraella populi
18/06	Hellwigia opalina	Neohelicomyces coffeae
25/06	Thecacera sesama	Dolichopoda balrogi
02/07	Pikelinia floydmuraria	Trachischium lalremsangai
09/07	Theridion himalayana	Pyralis papaleonei
19/07	Iberoscia zaragozai	Echinodorus nenufar

General recap of Pensoft’s Biodiversity Cup.

Our first week’s competition kicked off with a cloud-forest chameleon named after Jane Goodall, which faced off against a public-named deep-sea chiton from the abyssal Pacific:

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Nadzikambia goodallae vs Ferreiraella populi.

The chameleon, Nadzikambia goodallae, came out on top in this opening clash, advancing past the deep-sea chiton Ferreiraella populi.

Round two, meanwhile, pitted a turquoise-flowered jade ginger from Sulawesi against a newly identified fungus found on dead coffee branches in Yunnan:

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Hellwigia opalina vs Neohelicomyces coffeae.

…and round two went to the fungi! Neohelicomyces coffeae ended up decisively defeating the jade ginger Hellwigia opalina in this Plant vs Fungi edition.

Round three brought Cave vs. Coast: a Balrog-named cave cricket unearthed on Kastellorizo faced a sesame-speckled nudibranch discovered off northeastern Taiwan:

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Thecacera sesama vs Dolichopoda balrogi.

Our third round went to the underdog (or in this case, undercricket): Dolichopoda balrogi, which hopped past Thecacera sesama in a unanimous win.

Round four was our Animal Kingdom edition, with the newly described Pink Floyd spider Pikelinia floydmuraria facing off against the burrowing snake Trachischium lalremsangai for the top spot:

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Pikelinia floydmuraria vs Trachischium lalremsangai.

The snake slithered through – Trachischium lalremsangai defeated Pikelinia floydmuraria, its burrowing lifestyle proving harder to top than a rock-star spider name in this round.

Our second-to-last round paired the smiley-faced Himalayan Happy-Face Spider, Theridion himalayana, against Pyralis papaleonei, a papal-named moth endemic to Crete’s White Mountains:

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Theridion himalayana vs Pyralis papaleonei.

The moth flew past the competition! Pyralis papaleonei took the win over Theridion himalayana, its rare papal namesake and striking wing bands proving enough to edge out even a face full of smiles.

Our own final on 19 July ended up mirroring the World Cup final to a tee, with a species from Spain going head-to-head with one from Argentina:

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Iberoscia zaragozai vs Echinodorus nenufar.

Representing Spain in the final was Iberoscia zaragozai, a newly described genus and species of cave-dwelling isopod, published only this April in our open-access journal Subterranean Biology.

Discovered in caves across Catalonia, Murcia and the Valencian Community, this blind crustacean measures barely 3-4 mm long, yet required a new genus to accommodate it, thanks to its unique features – right down to its antennal sensory structures.

Fittingly, it’s named in posthumous tribute to the Spanish arachnologist Juan Antonio Zaragoza-Miralles, in recognition of his decades of work on the cave-dwelling fauna of the Iberian Peninsula.

Standing in Argentina’s corner was Echinodorus nenufar, a new aquatic plant described in PhytoKeys back in January. Found in the temporary ponds and seasonal wetlands of the dry Chaco region of northern Argentina and western Paraguay, it earns its name – “nenúfar” being Spanish for water lily – thanks to its rounded floating leaves and creamy-white flowers, which give it an uncanny resemblance to a true Nymphaeaceae water lily.

Like the seasonal killifish it shares its ephemeral ponds with, it has evolved to complete its whole life cycle in habitats that can appear and vanish with the rains.

Two species, two countries, both barely a few months old to science. This is a proper final if ever there was one. And… just like their footballing counterparts, it was the Spanish contender that came out on top!

We had an absolute blast running the Biodiversity Cup alongside this year’s World Cup, and we hope it gave you a fun new way to discover some of the incredible species being described in our journals. Thank you to everyone who voted, shared and cheered along from the side lines.

Keep up with our latest news and campaigns by following us on Facebook, Bluesky, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.

Pensoft awarded the FAO AGRIS Seal of Recognition for 2027

The seal recognises institutions that consistently share open-access agricultural research with the global community.

Pensoft has been awarded the Seal of Recognition for the FAO AGRIS Active Data Provider of the Year for 2027. The seal is granted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations through its AGRIS initiative, and it recognises institutions that consistently share open-access agricultural research with the global community.

Notably, Pensoft joined the FAO AGRIS network back in 2024, and the organisation has renewed our seal every year since, a recognition we’re proud to have kept.

What has changed is the scale of our contribution. In 2024, Pensoft’s records on AGRIS numbered just under 15,000. Today, that figure has doubled to nearly 30,000, drawn from all 51 of our journals that fall within the scope of FAO AGRIS. The subjects covered are wide-ranging, spanning taxonomy, biodiversity, conservation and biogeography – these are all areas that feed directly into sustainable agriculture and natural resource management.

Through AGRIS, this research travels well beyond our own journals to researchers, policymakers and practitioners worldwide, adding to the shared pool of open knowledge that supports global food security and environmental sustainability. We’re glad to keep contributing to that effort, and look forward to continuing our work with FAO AGRIS in the years to come.

About FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Its goal is to achieve food security for all, ensuring that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 194 members, 193 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

About Pensoft

Founded in 1992 “by scientists, for scientists,” Pensoft is an academic open-access publishing company well known worldwide for its cutting-edge publishing tools, workflows and methods for text and data publishing of journals, books and conference materials. In 2010, Pensoft became the first scientific publisher to introduce semantic enrichments in scholarly publications. Through its Research and Technical Development department, the company is involved in a range of research and technology projects.

New Hyperparasitoid Wasp Named After Ernest Hemingway Amid Efforts to Control Destructive Sugar Beet Pest

An international team of researchers has discovered a new hyperparasitoid wasp species, Chlorocytus papahemii, named in honor of Ernest Hemingway, and we’re sharing it today to mark his birthday.

“The Earth is a fine place and worth fighting for.” – Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls, 1940

Earth remains full of undiscovered species and unexplored interactions that continue to fascinate us, including, in the most ordinary of places, the fields where our food is grown.

The weevil beetle Lixus subtilis is a highly destructive insect that frequently damages agricultural crops, particularly sugar beets, across Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, and China, Until now, scientific understanding of this beetle’s natural parasitic complexes, specifically the complete food chains involving parasitoids and hyperparasitoids (parasites of parasites) has been very limited.

However, developing biological methods of controlling plant pests should be based on an understanding of real, comprehensive regulatory systems within complete food chains.
the researchers emphasise in the article.

To investigate these relationships, researchers from Xinjiang University in China, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), and the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences joined forces on a collaborative study, now published in the open-access, peer-reviewed ZooKeys journal.

The team conducted field research in the sugar beet fields of Yining City and Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County in China’s Xinjiang region, an area that has experienced repeated outbreaks of the weevil pest. By carefully collecting damaged sugar beet leaf petioles and rearing the infected larvae in laboratory climate chambers, the scientists made two significant discoveries about the local wasp populations.

First, they recorded Eurytoma curculionum, a wasp that is already known to parasitise weevil larvae, in China for the very first time. Second, and more strikingly, they discovered an entirely new species of pteromalid wasp.

The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend

The research team officially named the newly discovered wasp Chlorocytus papahemii, in honor of Ernest Hemingway, one of the most prominent literary figures of the 20th century.

the Hemingway hyperpasitoid wasp Chlorocytus papahemii — *Chlorocytus* *papahemii* Tselikh & Li, sp. nov., female, holotype. 24. Same, Body, lateral view; 25. Same, Head, frontal view; 26. Same, Fore wing; 27. Same, Head and pronotum, dorsal view; 28. Same, Antenna; 29. Same, Metasoma, dorsal view; 30. Same, Mesosoma, dorsal view; 31. Same, Body, dorsal view. Credit to Li et al., 2026.

Beyond its striking iridescent coloring, what makes Chlorocytus papahemii especially interesting is its behaviour: rather than attacking the crop-destroying weevil directly, it is a hyperparasitoid, meaning that it is parasitising Eurytoma curculionum, the very wasp that preys on the weevil.

This highly specialised behavior places hyperparasitoids at a complex fourth trophic level within ecosystems, one that can complicate biological control efforts, since hyperparasitoids often kill the beneficial primary parasitoids.

By meticulously documenting the morphology and biology of both wasp species, the study sheds new light on the hidden ecological dynamics at work in agricultural fields, particularly within economically important sugar beet crops. This work paves the way for more advanced, biologically informed strategies to manage weevil outbreaks and protect vital crop yields.

Original source:

Li Q, Liu Z, Li X, Yin H, Delvare G, Tselikh EV (2026) The hymenopteran parasitoid complex (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae and Pteromalidae) of the weevil beetle Lixus subtilis Boheman, 1836 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) in China. ZooKeys 1279: 345-356. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1279.188643

New Harvester Ant Species Discovered in Bulgaria’s Eastern Rhodopes Mountains

The new species, which was described based on morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding from worker, gyne and male castes, brings the total number of Messor species known from Bulgaria to nine.

An international team of researchers has announced the discovery of a new species of harvester ant, officially named Messor odrysarum. The discovery was made by researchers Albena Lapeva-Gjonova of Sofia University in Bulgaria and Lech Borowiec of the University of Wrocław in Poland.

The findings were recently published in the scientific journal ZooKeys and bring the total number of recognized Messor ant species in Bulgaria to nine.

A Nod to Ancient History

Messor odrysarum sp. nov., major worker: A. dorsal view; B. lateral view. Scale bar: 2 mm. Credit to L. Borowiec.
Messor odrysarum sp. nov., major worker: A. head and antennae; B. head sculpture Scale bar: 2 mm. Credit to L. Borowiec.

The newly identified ant is part of the Messor genus, a group well-known for their ecological role as grain and seed collectors in arid and semi-arid environments. The researchers chose the specific name “odrysarum” to honor the ancient Thracian state of Odrysia (roughly founded in early 5th century BC), whose historical geographical borders included the region where this new species was found.

Habitat and Behavior

*Messor* *odrysarum* sp. nov.: A. type locality; B. nest construction. Credit to A. Lapeva-Gjonova.

Messor odrysarum is a lowland species that has been documented at elevations up to 647 meters in the Eastern Rhodopes region of Bulgaria. Researchers discovered their nests situated along dirt roads within oak forests and open grasslands. The nest entrances are built at ground level and “in late summer, seed remains were observed near the nest entrances”.

Messor odrysarum sp. nov. is currently only known from the Eastern Rhodopes in Bulgaria, possibly also occurring in the Thracian region of Greece and Türkiye.
explain the researchers in their article.

Distinct Physical Characteristics

Messor odrysarum sp. nov., gyne head. Scale bar: 1 mm. Credit to L. Borowiec.
Messor oertzeni, gyne head Scale bar: 1 mm. Credit to A. Lapeva-Gjonova.

Confirmed through both rigorous morphological analysis and modern COI DNA barcoding, Messor odrysarum belongs to the Messor structor species group. While it is closely related to the known Balkan-Anatolian species Messor oertzeni, there are several distinctive physical traits that make the newly discovered ant stand out.

It has a smaller overall body size compared to its close relatives and it is accented only by reddish hues on the lower genae (the cheek region of the head). It also has a narrowed head behind the eyes, longer and denser hairs (setae) on its head and midsection, and a longer antennal scape.

Scientific Significance

The formal description of Messor odrysarum helps to resolve ongoing taxonomic complexities within the Messor genus, which is known for cryptic diversity and remarkable reproductive strategies like hybridization or even xenoparity, where female gives birth to, or clones, offspring of a completely different species as part of its lifecycle.

In addition to introducing the new species, the researchers’ publication also provides a rare, updated redescription of the queen (gyne) caste of the related M. oertzeni based on newly collected specimens.

Original source:

Lapeva-Gjonova A, Borowiec L (2026) A new species of Messor from Bulgaria and redescription of the gyne of M. oertzeni Forel, 1910 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 1275: 145-168. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1275.181745

New Beetle Genus Named After One Piece’s Monkey D. Luffy, Encompassing Two New Species

New beetle genus named after a character from the famous anime and manga One Piece, with two new species described within.

A research team from the Natural History Museum of Denmark has published a compelling new study in insect taxonomy in the open-access journal ZooKeys, officially establishing a new genus of rove beetle (Staphylinina): Luffy gen. nov. The inspiration for the name comes directly from Monkey D. Luffy, the iconic protagonist of the globally popular manga and anime One Piece.

Why Name a Beetle Genus “Luffy”?

The research team noted that naming the new genus Luffy was not merely for fun, but rather a direct reflection of the beetles’ highly recognizable morphological characteristics.

Monkey D. Luffy from One Peice and Luffy nika, the newly described beetle. — Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece. Credit to *One Piece Wiki*. The newly described beetle – *Luffy nika*. Credit to Hu & Solodovnikov, 2026

The species within this genus possess mandibles, antennae, and maxillary palps that are significantly longer and more slender than those of closely related groups. This uniquely elongated overall proportion immediately reminded researchers of Luffy’s rubber body abilities in One Piece, which allow him to freely stretch and expand.

Two New Beetles in the New Genus

Currently, two distinct species have been discovered and classified under this new genus: Luffy schillhammeri and Luffy nika.

The species Luffy schillhammeri was found in the broadleaf forests of Yunnan Province, China. The specific epithet of Luffy schillhammeri honors Dr. Harald Schillhammer of the Natural History Museum Vienna, recognizing his long-term and outstanding contributions to the research of rove beetles.

Luffy schillhammeri. Credit to Hu & Solodovnikov, 2026
Habitats of Luffy schillhammeri in Yunnan, China. A. Manzhang; B. Manfeng. Credit to Y.-T. Wang.

Monkey D. Luffy with Gear 5. Credit to *One Piece* and Tempest2x6 via Giphy.

Luffy nika was discovered in Louang Namtha, northern Laos. The specific epithet “nika” originates from Luffy’s legendary Devil Fruit awakening, “Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika” (also known as Gear 5). This new species features striking white band-like hairs on its elytra and across much of its body, closely resembling Luffy’s classic, all-white, smoke-shrouded appearance during his Nika transformation.

Luffy nika. Credit to Hu & Solodovnikov, 2026 — *Luffy* *nika*. Credit to Hu & Solodovnikov, 2026.

**Major Scientific Breakthrough: Filling a Key Evolutionary Gap in the Eucibdelus Lineage**

Beyond its eye-catching name, this study holds high scientific value. The research team, consisting of PhD student Fang-Shuo Hu and Alexey Solodovnikov from the Natural History Museum of Denmark, systematically reviewed all known genera of the Ocypus-group.

They also included several groups whose taxonomic positions had long been questionable and controversial (such as Acupronotes, Apostenolinus, and Staphylinus). Through the examination of a large number of specimens and rigorous comparisons of subtle morphological features, the team successfully re-evaluated the phylogenetic relationships among these groups and put forward key findings.

Diversity of labrum morphology of Ocypus-group and Staphylinus. — Diversity of labrum morphology of *Ocypus*-group and *Staphylinus*. A. *Luffy*; B. *Agelosus*; C. *Cyanocypus*; D. *Protocypus*; E. *Ocypus*; F. *Eucibdelus*; G. *Guillaumius*; H. *Menoedius*; I. *Parapalaestrinus*; J. *Paraphytolinus*; K. *Rhynchocheilus*; L. *Rhyncocheilus*; M. *Trichocosmetes*; N. *Staphylinus*.

The research team clearly identified the synapomorphies of the “Eucibdelus lineage” (such as the left mandible possessing dorsal ridge teeth and a completely sclerotized labrum). Interestingly, while the genus Luffy possesses these dorsal ridge teeth, its labrum is not completely sclerotized, and it carries several distinct traits of its own.

Based on this morphological evidence, the research team infers that the genus Luffy is highly likely to be the sister group to the entire Eucibdelus lineage. Highlighting that our understanding of this insect lineage is continuously evolving with new discoveries, the researchers note:

This genus exhibits a unique combination of characters intermediate between the Eucibdelus lineage and other members of the Ocypus-group.

Mandibular morphology of Luffy and Eucibdelus lineage. — Mandibular morphology of *Luffy* and *Eucibdelus* lineage. A. *Luffy*; B. *Menoedius*; C. *Parapalaestrinus*; D. *Eucibdelus*; E. *Rhynchocheilus* (Photos A by the authors; photos B-E by Q.-H. Zhao). Abbreviations: Abbreviations: BET: basal extra tooth; DR: dorsal ridge; DRT: dorsal ridge teeth; VR: ventral ridge; VRT: ventral ridge teeth. Credit to Hu & Solodovnikov, 2026.

This discovery successfully fills an important gap in the existing taxonomic framework, providing a new perspective on the evolutionary history of the subtribe Staphylinina.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists

From manga inspiration to publication in a rigorous international scientific journal, the birth of the genus Luffy proves that scientific research can be both serious and highly engaging. The research team looks forward to closing the distance between science and the general public through such an accessible story, raising awareness about the importance of biological taxonomy, and attracting more of the younger generation to dive into biodiversity and taxonomic research with an adventurous spirit just like Luffy’s.

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Original source:

Hu F-S, Solodovnikov A (2026) Luffy gen. nov., a new genus of Staphylinina (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae), remarkable for understanding the Eucibdelus lineage. ZooKeys 1281: 247-264. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1281.198593

Cover image credit: Luffy nika beetle: Hu & Solodovnikov, 2026; Illustration: One Piece (TV series) Toei Animation and One Piece Wiki.