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1. Martensopsalis, a new genus of Neopilionidae from New Caledonia (Opiliones: Eupnoi)

   https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4984.1.9  

   GIRIBET, GONZALO; BAKER, CAITLIN M.; BROUSTE, DAMIEN (June 2021, Zootaxa)

   New Caledonia has an endemic opiliofauna with two named species of Triaenonychidae, 17 Troglosironidae and eight Zalmoxidae. The recent finding of Neopilionidae on Grande Terre was thus surprising, and required the formal description of a new genus, which we undertake here. Martensopsalis gen. nov. is characterized by a small unsclerotized body with a unique palp with a pointed basal apophysis on the ventral side of the femur and with a distal apophysis on the prolateral side of the patella. The distinct external morphology, simple penis and unique phylogenetic position justify the erection of the new genus with Martensopsalis dogny spec. nov. as its type species. In addition to the type locality we report several other localities of putative congeneric, yet undescribed species. 

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2. KIMBERPSALTRIINI, A NEW TRIBE FOR A NEW AUSTRALIAN CICADA ALLIED TO TALCOPSALTRIA MOULDS (HEMIPTERA: CICADOIDEA: CICADIDAE)

   Moulds, M.S.; Marshall, D.C.; Popple, L.W. (July 2021, Australian entomologist)

   A new tribe, Kimberpsaltriini, subfamily Cicadinae, is described to accommodate Kimberpsaltria taenia gen. n., sp. n., a species that is known only from the central Kimberley, Western Australia. Relationships of the new tribe are discussed, a key to the tribes of Australian cicadas in the subfamily Cicadinae is provided, and the song of the new species is analysed. 

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3. A new species and new record of Gamasodes (Mesostigmata: Parasitidae) from China

   https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.25.7.10  

   Yao, M-Y; Guo J-J; Polak M; Yi T-C; Jin D.C. (July 2020, Systematic and applied acarology)

   A new species, Gamasodes pachysetis Yao & Jin sp. nov., is described based on deutonymphs and adults from Jiangsu and Taiwan provinces, China. A nominal species, Gamasodes spiniger Trägårdh, 1910, new to China, is redescribed also based on deutonymph and adults from Guizhou Province. A key to Gamasodes species of China is presented. 

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4. A new species of New Guinea Worm-Eating Snake (Serpentes, Elapidae, Toxicocalamus Boulenger, 1896) from Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

   https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.98.90520  

   Roberts, Jackson R.; Iova, Bulisa; Austin, Christopher C. (October 2022, Zoosystematics and Evolution)

   We describe a new species of New Guinea Worm-Eating Snake (Elapidae: Toxicocalamus ) from a specimen in the reptile collection of the Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery. Toxicocalamus longhagen sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from other species of this genus by the presence of paired subcaudals, a preocular scale unfused from the prefrontal scale, a prefrontal distinct from the internasal scale that contacts the supralabials, a single large posterior temporal and two postocular scales. The new taxon is currently known only from one specimen, which was collected from Mt. Hagen Town in Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea in 1967. The new species was originally identified as T. loriae , but the unique head scalation and postfrontal bone morphology revealed through micro-computed tomography scanning easily distinguish the new species from T. loriae sensu stricto . This is the first species of this genus described from Western Highlands Province. 

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5. A new species of Lepidodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Umboi Island, Papua New Guinea

   https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5296.4.2  

   KRAUS, FRED; VAHTERA, VARPU; WEIJOLA, VALTER (May 2023, Zootaxa)

   We describe a new species of Lepidodactylus from Umboi Island, just to the west of New Britain. It is a member of the Lepidodactylus guppyi Group and can be distinguished from all other Melanesian Lepidodactylus by aspects of digital scalation, digital webbing, enlarged femoral/precloacal scales, and color pattern. It is genetically distinct from its closest congeners, and genetic and morphological data indicate that the new species is most similar among named species to Lepidodactylus guppyi from the Solomon Islands, but it diverged from this species and other close relatives approximately 8 MYA or longer at a time prior to the existence of the island that it now occupies. The new species is known from only three individuals collected on a single tree, and efforts to find more animals in what seemed good habitat nearby were unsuccessful. This duplicates the pattern of apparent rarity seen for many Lepidodactylus species. Sufficient habitat exists on Umboi Island for arboreal geckos, suggesting that the species is not actually endangered but is ecologically cryptic. However, lack of needed information leads us to assess this species’ conservation status as Data Deficient. 

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