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The Molecular Weevil Identification project (MWI) studies the systematics of Western Palearctic weevils (superfamily Curculionoidea) in an integrative taxonomic approach of DNA barcoding, morphology and ecology. This barcode release provides almost 3600 curated CO1 sequences linked to morphological vouchers in about 1300 weevil species. The dataset is presented in statistical distance tables and as a Neighbour-Joining tree. Bayesian Inference trees are computed for the subfamilies Cryptorhynchinae, Apioninae and Ceutorhynchinae. Altogether, 18 unresolved taxonomic issues are discussed. A new barcode primer set is presented. Finally, we establish group-specific genetic distances for many weevil genera to serve as a tool in species delineation. These values are statistically based on distances between \"good species\" and their congeners. With this morphologically calibrated approach, we could resolve most alpha-taxonomic questions within the MWI project.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1699952.].

Proceratophrys boiei is a horned frog species that lives camouflaged within leaf litter and inhabits both Atlantic Forest environments and transitional areas with the Cerrado of Brazil. Its distribution covers the states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, and Santa Catarina. Previous studies using molecular and cytogenetic data identified three distinct lineages (North 1, North 2, and South) grouped under the taxon Proceratophrys boiei . To investigate the possibility that more than one species is currently subsumed under P. boiei , a taxonomic review of populations across the entire geographic range was conducted. Morphological and morphometric characters were evaluated in 132 individuals (80 males and 52 females); 708 calls from 66 males were analyzed for acoustic data; and osteological traits were examined in nine males, representing a total of 82 localities. Analyses were conducted based on the three lineages previously identified (N1, N2, and S), and uncorrected mtDNA p -distances for the 16S and Cytb markers were estimated among them. External morphological and osteological characters and advertisement call parameters varied among these lineages; however, most of the variation overlapped, even among individuals within the same lineage, indicating high polymorphism. Mean uncorrected mtDNA p -distances among lineages were relatively similar for 16S, ranging from 2.7% to 2.9%, whereas for Cytb , they ranged from 5.6% to 7.3%. Regarding morphometrics, specimens from the South lineage exhibited the smallest snout–vent length (SVL: 46.0 mm in males and 51.6 mm in females). Based on the results, combined with differences previously identified among the three lineages (using molecular markers, cytogenetics, and tadpole external morphology and chondrocranium), P. fryi and P. intermedia , both formerly considered synonyms of P. boiei , are revalidated, and P. boiei is redescribed, providing updated diagnostic characters and clarifying the current geographic distribution of each species.

Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted mainly by members of the subfamily Triatominae. There are currently 157 species, grouped into 18 genera and five tribes. Most descriptions of triatomine species are based on classical taxonomy. Facing evolutionary (cryptic speciation and phenotypic plasticity) and taxonomic (more than 190 synonymizations) problems, it is evident that integrative taxonomy studies are an important and necessary trend for this group of vectors. Almost two-and-a-half centuries after the description of the first species, we present for the first time the state-of-the-art taxonomy of the whole subfamily, covering from the initial classic studies to the use of integrative taxonomy.

The Tuscan islands located between the Italian Peninsula and Corsica, are a highly biodiverse Archipelago and represent a unique open-air laboratory for the study of islands biology. While many plants and animals have been traditionally surveyed and studied in this system, almost no records of tardigrades are present. We present here the first tardigrade records from Giannutri Island, with the identification of the genera Mesobiotus and Paramacrobiotus. The Paramacrobiotus individuals belong to a new species which is here described as Paramacrobiotus mariettae n. sp. by integrating morphological and molecular (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS2, and COI) data. This new species represents also the first described Paramacrobiotus taxon with elongated claws, a feature usually associated with fully aquatic or nival species. This study show how, even with a very limited sampling effort, the tardigrade fauna of Tuscan Archipelago may reveal unexpected findings and calls for a more extensive exploration.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1274715F-B687-4CBE-97C1-E7A595AC44BF

Species description constitutes a fundamental endeavour, as it lays the foundation for subsequent disciplines which require precise identifications. Nevertheless, species must be regarded as hypothetical constructions requiring validation through diverse lines of evidence. Most of the Ramazzottius species were described with limited information according to contemporary standards, underscoring the need to integrate morphological and molecular data in new species descriptions. This study presents the first new species of Ramazzottius from Mexico found in lichen samples. Morphological assessment comprised light and electron microscopy imaging as well as linear morphometrics. Uncorrected p-distance calculations, Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP), and Poisson Tree Processes (PTP) were applied for molecular species delimitation, using the genes COI and ITS-2. Additionally, phylogenetic relationships within the genus Ramazzottius were reconstructed through maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference approaches, concatenating fragments of four genes: 18S, ITS-2, 28S and COI. The new species Ramazzottius suzithuae sp. nov. exhibits morphological similarity to Ramazzottius belubellus but is distinguished by a particular arrangement of the spines on the dorsal cuticle. All delimitation analyses confirm the molecular distinctiveness of the new species and the existence of at least two species within “Ramazzottius cf. saltensis”. The multi-locus tree recovered five major clades and positions the new species close to these Ramazzottius cf. saltensis species in their own clade, separated from the “baumanni” species grouped in another clade. The lack of complete and consistent diagnostic traits for all these clades still prevents the erection of separate genera.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6D0A7409-8282-41A9-8CF2-1F418EE85F

Using integrative taxonomy, we describe a new species from Ribeira Brava, Madeira (Portugal), belonging to the genus Pseudechiniscus and subgenus Meridioniscus. The new species, Pseudechiniscus (Meridioniscus) goldsteini sp. nov. is described based on morphological and morphometric data obtained through both Phase Contrast Light Microscopy (PCM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). In addition, genetic distinctiveness was assessed by calculating p-distances between Pse. (Mer.) goldsteini sp. nov. and other species within the genus Pseudechiniscus using two DNA markers: one nuclear marker (28S rRNA) and one mitochondrial marker (COI). Morphologically, the new species most closely resembles Pse. (Mer.) angelusalas, Pse. (Mer.) dastychi, Pse. (Mer.) dreyeri, Pse. (Mer.) indistinctus, Pse. (Mer.) mascarenensis, and Pse. (Mer.) wallacei. However, it can be distinguished from these species primarily by differences in the details of its ventral sculpture, configuration of granulation patches and the length of head appendages.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E7FB8100C210-4850-89CA-AB8561A8FE1B

Discovery of cryptic species using molecular tools has become common in many animal groups but it is rarely accompanied by morphological revision, creating ongoing problems in taxonomy and conservation. In copepods, cryptic species have been discovered in most groups where fast-evolving molecular markers were employed. In this study at Yeelirrie in Western Australia we investigate a subterranean species complex belonging to the harpacticoid genus Schizopera Sars, 1905, using both the barcoding mitochondrial COI gene and landmark-based two-dimensional geometric morphometrics. Integumental organs (sensilla and pores) are used as landmarks for the first time in any crustacean group. Complete congruence between DNA-based species delimitation and relative position of integumental organs in two independent morphological structures suggests the existence of three distinct evolutionary units. We describe two of them as new species, employing a condensed taxonomic format appropriate for cryptic species. We argue that many supposedly cryptic species might not be cryptic if researchers focus on analyzing morphological structures with multivariate tools that explicitly take into account geometry of the phenotype. A perceived supremacy of molecular methods in detecting cryptic species is in our view a consequence of disparity of investment and unexploited recent advancements in morphometrics among taxonomists. Our study shows that morphometric data alone could be used to find diagnostic morphological traits and gives hope to anyone studying small animals with a hard integument or shell, especially opening the door to assessing fossil diversity and rich museum collections. We expect that simultaneous use of molecular tools with geometry-oriented morphometrics may yield faster formal description of species. Decrypted species in this study are a good example for urgency of formal descriptions, as they display short-range endemism in small groundwater calerete aquifers in a paleochannel, where their conservation may be threatened by proposed mining.

Aims The main aim of this study was to fill a gap in barcoding data of the European Chironomidae of the Balkan region, developing and testing the efficiency of a reference DNA barcode library for ancient Lake Skadar basin species (Montenegro/Albania), a region of Europe never before subjected to barcoding studies on Chironomidae. Another aim was to test the efficiency of DNA barcoding for the identification of European Chironomidae, including the estimation of optimal identification thresholds, using >12,000 barcodes. Location Lake Skadar basin and adjacent area (Montenegro/Albania). Methods Through this study, 770 individuals of Chironomidae from the Lake Skadar region were barcoded, both at adult and pre‐imaginal stages. Adults were morphologically identified, while larvae were assigned to species by molecular identification, using different methods, of which the efficiency was tested, for a total of 97 different barcoded species. Results The identification efficiency of the reference dataset developed for the Lake Skadar region was 98.6%, a value in line with that obtained when the identification efficiency for European Chironomidae was evaluated (95.8%), which confirms the accuracy of DNA barcoding for the identification of these insects. Moreover, we found that the optimal threshold for the molecular identification of the family is 1.6% nucleotide distance, though more specific thresholds are suggested for the identification of species belonging to Chironomidae subfamilies, since they are related to lower identification errors than to the use of a general threshold. The analysis of inconsistency between molecular and morphological identification shed light on taxonomic issues within European Chironomidae. Previously postulated species synonyms were confirmed, and also further cases requiring deeper investigation were detected. Main conclusions Our de novo DNA barcode library was shown to have a high identification efficiency. Taxon‐specific thresholds increase the efficacy of molecular identification. Hypothesized species synonyms could be validated through molecular techniques.