9 October 2025

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals high diversity of setae on the hind tibiae and basitarsi of Peruvian Stingless Bees (Apidae: Meliponini)

"because of in-depth analysis of structure-function relationship of bee setae."

Stanislav Gorb, Handling Editor

25 September 2025

Geographic distributions and patterns of co-occurrence among black-bellied and shovel-nosed salamanders (Desmognathus spp.) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

"This study presents new insights into the geographic distribution and co-occurrence of species within a highly cryptic salamander genus."

Zoltán Tóth, Handling Editor

26 August 2025

Diurnal moths have larger hearing organs: evidence from comparative 3D morphometric study on geometrid moths

"This is a good example of a study on functional ecology based on a comparative study of moth species and their morphological sensory response to predation. It was evaluated how the predator activity pattern influences the phylogenetic development of the morphological organs involved in antipredator detection."

Javier Manjarrez, Handling Editor

21 August 2025

Evaluating COI and ITS2 dual barcoding for molecular delimitation and taxonomic insights in Arenosetella Wilson, 1932 (Harpacticoida: Ectinosomatidae) along Turkish Coasts

"This elegant study provides a strong foundation for analyzing previously unnoticed cryptic diversity in interstitial copepods by employing a dual-marker DNA barcoding approach."

Rony Huys, Handling Editor

30 July 2025

New and known free-living nematode species (Nematoda: Chromadorea) from offshore tsunami monitoring buoys in the Southwest Pacific Ocean

"This is a good contribution to the systematics of marine nematodes. The editor particularly appreciated the originality of this work, with research in a very little studied environment, ocean buoys."

Jean-Lou Justine, Handling Editor

10 July 2025

A Jack of All Trades—Tawaki/Fiordland penguins are able to utilise diverse marine habitats during winter migration

"The study provides new and relevant information on penguin migration."

Javier Manjarrez, Handling Editor

7 July 2025

Inter-colony and inter-annual behavioural plasticity in the foraging strategies of a fjord-dwelling penguin—good news in the face of environmental change?

"The article provides valuable biological information on the impact of environmental changes on the foraging habits of the penguin species studied."

Javier Manjarrez, Handling Editor

13 June 2025

Adapting the facial action coding system for chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) to bonobos (Pan paniscus): the ChimpFACS extension for bonobos

"Facial Action Coding Systems (FACS) are widely recognized as the gold standard for studying facial muscle movements in animals. Until now, the absence of a bonobo-specific FACS has been a significant limitation, especially given the species' relevance to evolutionary questions about primate communication. This study addresses that gap by introducing a reliable tool for analyzing bonobo facial expressions. By extending the AnimalFACS framework to bonobos, it not only enhances our understanding of their communication but also enables more robust cross-species comparisons in the study of facial expressions."

Cédric Sueur, Handling Editor

11 June 2025

Interpopulation morphological differences and sexual dimorphism of Dekay’s brownsnake (Storeria dekayi) along a rural–urban gradient

"There is a lack of research on trends in urban reptile ecology, especially snakes, across all regions, lineages, and research topics. This study reinforces the need to improve our knowledge and research efforts on this topic."

Javier Manjarrez, Handling Editor

28 May 2025

An ethogram of facial behaviour in domestic horses: evolutionary perspectives on form and function

"This could be extremely useful for both cognitive and welfare related investigations in horses"

Jennifer Vonk, Section Editor