Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of (Asparagaceae) on Shikoku Island, Japan, including five new species, one new subspecies, and two new status assignments.

Japan has 16 native species of the genus Tratt. (Asparagaceae). A recent study on based on field surveys and molecular phylogenetic analyses resulted in the discovery of six unknown taxa in Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku Island, southwestern Japan.

 (Hydrangeaceae), a new species from Osumi Peninsula, southern Japan.

Tagane & S. Fujii, from the Kimotsuki Mountains in the Ohsumi Peninsula, southern Japan, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to in having three-petaloid calyx lobes in marginal flowers, but is distinguished by the larger stamen number, and longer styles and seeds.

A new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera, Simuliidae) from Thailand, with a key to identify females of 14 species of the species-group.

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) khelangense is described on the basis of females, collected by a sweeping net in Lampang, Phitsanulok and Chiang Mai Provinces, Thailand. This new species is placed in the subgroup of the species-group in the subgenus Gomphostilbia Enderlein by having the antenna with eight flagellomeres, pleural membrane bare, and female subcosta lacking hairs. It is similar to Pramual & Tangkawanit from Thailand in the same subgroup but is barely distinguished from the latter species by the head width relative to the greatest width of the frons and length of the labrum relative to the clypeus.

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of the complex (Hydrangeaceae) in western Japan, including a new subspecies of from Yakushima.

According to the contemporary classification of native to Japan, is a polymorphic species including six varieties. We discovered a plant identified as , but morphologically distinct from previously known varieties, in Yakushima island where approximately 50 endemic species are known. To determine the relationship of this plant with previously known varieties, we examined morphology and constructed a highly resolved phylogeny of and its relatives using three chloroplast genomic regions, L, L intron, A-H, and two nuclear genomic regions, ITS1 and ITS2, and Multiplex ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq).

Morphological and molecular evidence reveals three new species of (Fagaceae) from Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, Vietnam.

Three new species, Ngoc & Tagane, Ngoc & Yahara, and Ngoc & Binh are described from Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, Central Highland of Vietnam. Morphological analyses and Maximum likelihood tree based on genome-wide SNPs support the distinction of those species from the previously known taxa in the region. The three new species are considered to be endemic to the Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park and the preliminary conservation status for each species is evaluated as Critically Endangered.

Validation of (Asparagaceae) as a new species and its phylogenetic affinity.

Molecular phylogenetic studies of (Asparagaceae) and its relatives, which are native to Japan, have been conducted and resulted in a highly resolved phylogeny. Specifically, the relationship of to Hatusima, is investigated. These data include genome-wide SNPs obtained through conducting multiplexed ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq).

A new species of (Teleostei, Gobiiformes, Gobiidae) from Okinawa Island, Japan.

(Teleostei: Gobiidae) is described on the basis of a single specimen (21.7 mm in standard length) collected from 250 m depth off Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. The new species is characterized by the following combination of characters: anal-fin rays I, 9; pectoral-fin rays 17, lower rays not free from membrane; longitudinal scale series 25; transverse scales 8; pre-dorsal-fin scale rows 8; cheek and opercle naked; pelvic frenum absent; caudal fin lanceolate, its length 32.

An updated checklist of the ants of Thailand (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).

Thailand has a great diversity of ant fauna as a zoogeographical crossroads and biodiversity hotspot. The last publication presenting a Thai ant checklist was published in 2005. In the present paper, based on an examination of museum specimens and published records, a comprehensive and critical species list of Thai ants is synthesized.

Revision of the birch-associated genus (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), with description of a new species from Japan and a taxonomic key to worldwide species.

(Betulaceae), or birch, is a Holarctic genus of trees and shrubs whose species have ornamental, industrial, and medical importance. Gall midges of the genus (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Cecidomyiidi) are exclusively associated with birches in the Palearctic region. In 2018, an undescribed species was discovered forming leaf galls on the midveins of on Mount Tara, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan.

Two new species of subgenus (Primulaceae-Myrsinoideae) from Borneo.

and from subgenus Tetrardisia are herein described and illustrated as new species. They are endemic to Borneo and the Indonesian province of Central Kalimantan and to the Malaysian state of Sarawak, respectively. is unique in its linear-oblong leaves, with a long, acuminate-caudate apex, and finely serrulate margins, while can be easily recognized by its elliptic-lanceolate leaves.

, a new species of Lauraceae from Kaeng Krachan National Park, southwest Thailand.

A new species of Lauraceae, M.Z.Zhang, Yahara & Tagane, from Kaeng Krachan National Park, Phetchaburi Province, southwestern Thailand, is described and illustrated.

Using environmental DNA analyses to assess the occurrence and abundance of the endangered amphidromous fish .

The Ryukyu ayu is an endangered amphidromous fish that inhabits rivers in the Ryukyu Archipelago (Japan). Populations of the species have declined dramatically. Consequently, the Ryukyu ayu has been registered as a natural monument in Japan and monitoring surveys with direct catching are restricted legally.

New record of an estuarine polychaete, (Annelida, Nereididae) on the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

An estuarine species of Nereididae (Annelida), (Southern, 1921) has been newly recorded on the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia located in the South China Sea based on 23 specimens collected from three estuaries (Tumpat, Kelantan Delta, Kelantan; Setiu Lagoon, Terengganu; Kuala Ibai, Terengganu). The morphological characteristics of the Malaysian specimens agree well with those of the previous original description and the redescription of based on Indian, Myanmar and Singapore specimens. The number of paragnaths in all groups on the proboscis of our Malaysian specimens is within the range of the intraspecific variation of as shown in the previous descriptions.

, a new species of monocle bream (Teleostei, Perciformes, Nemipteridae) from New Caledonia.

The new monocle bream is described from a single specimen (213.6 mm standard length) collected from Grande-Terre Island, New Caledonia. The new species closely resembles , both species having the upper part of the pectoral-fin base with reddish blotch when fresh, two bands across the top of the snout, a dorsal scaled area on the head reaching anteriorly to between the anterior margin of the eye and anterior nostril, a similar number of lateral-line scales, and absence of a small antrorse spine below the eye.

A new species of sardine, from the Philippines (Teleostei, Clupeiformes, Clupeidae).

A new sardine, , is described on the basis of 21 specimens collected from the Philippines. The new species closely resembles (Valenciennes, 1847), both species having lateral scales with centrally discontinuous striae, a dark spot on the dorsal-fin origin, more than 70 lower gill rakers on the first gill arch, the pelvic fin with eight rays, and 17 or 18 prepelvic and 12 or 13 postpelvic scutes. However, the new species is distinguished from the latter by lower counts of lateral scales, pseudobranchial filaments, and postpelvic scutes (38-41, 14-19 and 12-13, respectively vs.

A taxonomic revision and molecular phylogeny of the eastern Palearctic species of the genera Kieffer and Kovalev (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae, Asphondyliini), with descriptions of five new species of from Japan.

The genus (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae, Asphondyliini, Schizomyiina) was erected by Kovalev (1964) based on the presence of constrictions on the cylindrical male flagellomeres. In the present study, we examine the morphological features of and and found that the male flagellomeres are constricted also in , the type species of . Because no further characters clearly separating from were observed, we synonymize under .