An additional specimen of Carcinoplax longimanus was newly discovered from the Iimuro Formation, Kazusa Group (Lower Pleistocene, Komae, Tokyo), and systematically described in this paper. The specimen consists of a well-preserved carapace and pereiopods. Orbital region, pterygostomian region, maxillipeds, segments of thoracic sternum and abdomen are preserved in the carapace. Pereiopods are composed of coxa (or basis), ischium, and propodus. The occurrence of Carcinoplax longimanus from the Iimuro Formation further supports the interpretation of shallow marine sedimentary environments.

An old growth evergreen forest extends around the tip of Manazuru Peninsula, located in the southwestern corner of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The forest, traditionally called “Ohayashi”, originates from a pine plantation in the early Edo period, and it has been protected by the Forest Law as well as the Prefectural regulations. Since decades ago, however, old growth pine trees (Pinus thunbergii and P. densiflora) in the forest have been suffered from pine wilt disease. The mycoflora of the forest has only partially been known, and understanding the diversity of pine ectomycorrhizal fungi is of particular importance for sustainable forest management in that site. We investigated the seasonal occurrence of fungal fruitbodies in the “Ohayashi” forest and a Japanese red-pine (P. densiflora) forest in Mt. Nangoh, located near Manazuru Peninsula. We also examined the growth of pine ectomycorrhizae in the Ohayashi forest. Our investigations were carried out by local citizens including school children and teachers, and volunteer stuffs of Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History and the Manazuru Shell Museum. We collected 129 fungal species, which consists mainly of macrofungi, and six myxomycete species in the Ohayashi forest. Among them, only one species (i.e., Suillus bovinus) was undoubtedly ectomyrorrhizal with pines. On the other hand, 58 fungal species and two myxomycete species were recorded from Mt. Nangoh. Seven of the fungal species in Mt. Nangoh were ectomyrorrhizal with pines, occupying ca. 13% of the total fungal species at the sites. In the Ohayashi forest, formation of ectomyrorrhizae was observed from about 30–73% of root tips in soil blocks collected under P. thunbergii trees, suggesting that quite a few ectomycorrhizal fungi were still viable even where the occurrence of mushroom fruitbodies was rare. We suggest that a procedure to activate ectomycorrhizal formation using charcoals or other similar materials can promote the pine tree growth and the protection from the pine wilt disease. Therefore, the procedure can contribute to proper forest management in Manazuru Peninsula.

In the myxomycete survey for three years in the Izu Peninsula of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, we collected 387 specimens of 107 myxomycete taxa. Among them, 34 taxa were newly recognized in Shizuoka Prefecture. As a result of this study, the total number of myxomycete taxa reported from Shizuoka Prefecture increased to 192. We list all of these specimens collected in the survey and report morphological characters for the 7 noteworthy taxa.

936 specimens of cleared leaf of the recent vascular plants in prepared slide were cataloged with their digital images. The specimens were also identified their scientific name and Japanese name. The specimens had been made and collected by a paleontologist Kimihiko Ozaki who studied the flora of Late miocene and Pliocene in Japan. Mr. Ozaki died in 1989, the specimens had been straged in the kanagawa prefectural museum of natural history (KPM). We confirmed that the cleared leaf collection include 832 recent plant taxon native of Japan, China, Europe, and north America. This collection is as a resource for study and education in paleobotany, plant morphology and systematics.The catalog with the images will release at the web site of the kanagawa prefectural museum of natural history.

We recognized historical specimens of Adenophora takedae collected by British plant collector J. Bisset in the herbaria of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London (K) and the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris (P). Those specimens collected in 1876 are the oldest record of A. takedae in Japan and are important for the historical study of the flora in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Morphological parameters of the carapace of Carcinoplax longimanus from the Sagami Bay were measured and statistically analyzed to make establish a simple sex discriminating method. Significant sexual differences in carapace aspect ratio and orbital cavity width/carapace width ratio were not detected. On the other hand, sexual differences in two abdomen morphological parameters, although not clear, were recognized. By combining these abdomen parameters, male and female are distinguished. Furthermore, we tested the utility of the present sex discriminating method for fossils, by using two Carcinoplax longimanus fossil specimens from the Lower Pleistocene Iimuro Formation, Kazusa Group. As a result, sex of both fossil specimens could be determined. The present sex discriminating method is important because it is applicable for isolated carapace of both modern and fossil Carcinoplax longimanus.

The invasive alien mantis Hierodula sp. was firstly recorded in 2010 from Japan and subsequently recorded from Kanagawa Prefecture in 2015.

This study showed the extent of penetration of the species into the western part of Kanagawa Pref. We detail their distribution and note the presence of a strong colony in the area of north Nakai machi and south Hadano city. The colony has expanded to the edge of Oi machi and Matsuda machi. We obtained several new distribution records from the insect communication group and also museum personnel on our team.

A new freshwater goby, Rhinogobius mizunoi, is described based on six specimens from a freshwater stream in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The species is distinguished from all congeneric species by the following combination of characters: I, 8 second dorsal-fin rays; 18–20 pectoral-fin rays; 13–18 predorsal scales; 33–35 longitudinal scales; 8 or 9 transverse scales;10+16=26 vertebrae 26; first dorsal fin elongate in male, its distal tip reaching to base of fourth branched ray of second dorsal fin in males when adpressed; when alive or freshly-collected, cheek with several pale sky spots; caudal fin without distinct rows of dark dots; a pair of verticallyarranged dark brown blotches at caudal-fin base in young and females.

A specimen of a rare Syngnathid species, Microphis argulus (Peters, 1855) was collected from Katoku-gawa River in Amami-Oshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. This occurrence represents the third record in the northern hemisphere for the species, which is previously known only from two rivers in Iriomote Island, and Amami-Oshima Island is the northernmost limit of the range.

It is considered that the occurrence in Amami-Oshima Island is due to transportation of the larvae or juvenile stages by the Kuroshio Current from Iriomote Island.

Japanese species of the genus Deuterixorides Viereck, 1914, are reviewed. A new species of this genus, D. breviterebratus sp. nov., is described. This species resembles D. orientalis (Uchida, 1928) in having the black hind coxa and femur, but can easily be distinguished from D. orientalis in different morphological characters such as colouration of coxae and tegula and lendth of oviposition. D. atratus Kasparyan, 1976, is newly synonymized under D. orientalis (syn. nov.). Therefore, only two species of Deuteroxorides are recognized from Japan. A key to world species of this genus is provided.