Unexpected species diversity within Japanese Mundochthonius pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpiones : Chthoniidae) and the necessity for improved species diagnosis revealed by molecular and morphological examination

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajime Ohira ◽  
Shingo Kaneko ◽  
Leanne Faulks ◽  
Tadaaki Tsutsumi
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Molecular Taxonomy ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Species Classification ◽  
Invertebrate Diversity

Using the complementary approaches of morphological and molecular taxonomy is essential to further our understanding of invertebrate diversity, including the identification of cryptic species. Although the species classification of a widespread group of arachnids, the pseudoscorpions, has been based on traditional diagnostic characters for a long time, recent taxonomic studies have suggested that some of these are unreliable for distinguishing species. Thus, the application of molecular taxonomy may be particularly useful in this group. Here, we performed molecular phylogenetic analyses and species delimitation analyses based on partial sequences of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase I and nuclear DNA 18S rRNA genes to assess the taxonomy of species and the reliability of morphological characteristics for distinguishing species in the Japanese soil-dwelling genus Mundochthonius (Chthoniidae). Our results revealed the existence of seven major genetic clades, likely corresponding to three described species and four cryptic species. Although two described species, M. kiyoshii and M. itohi, were represented by single clades in the phylogenetic analysis, a third, M. japonicus, was composed of multiple clades, highlighting inconsistencies between phylogenetic relationships and current species classifications using traditional morphological diagnostics. This study exemplifies the need for further exploration of pseudoscorpion taxonomy and species diversity. In particular, detailed morphological examinations are expected to help determine differences among cryptic species.

Cryptic species complexes in manipulative echinostomatid trematodes: when two become six

Parasitology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 136 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. F. LEUNG ◽  
D. B. KEENEY ◽  
R. POULIN
Keyword(s):  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Spatial Segregation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Species Complexes

SUMMARYRecent studies have shown that some digenean trematodes previously identified as single species due to the lack of distinguishing morphological characteristics actually consist of a number of genetically distinct cryptic species. We obtained mitochondrial 16S and nuclear ITS1 sequences for the redial stages of Acanthoparyphium sp. and Curtuteria australis collected from snails and whelks at various locations around Otago Peninsula, New Zealand. These two echinostomes are well-known host manipulators whose impact extends to the entire intertidal community. Using phylogenetic analyses, we found that Acanthoparyphium sp. is actually composed of at least 4 genetically distinct species, and that a cryptic species of Curtuteria occurs in addition to C. australis. Molecular data obtained for metacercariae dissected from cockle second intermediate hosts matched sequences obtained for Acanthoparyphium sp. A and C. australis rediae, respectively, but no other species. The various cryptic species of both Acanthoparyphium and Curtuteria also showed an extremely localized pattern of distribution: some species were either absent or very rare in Otago Harbour, but reached far higher prevalence in nearby sheltered inlets. This small-scale spatial segregation is unexpected as shorebird definitive hosts can disperse trematode eggs across wide geographical areas, which should result in a homogeneous mixing of the species on small geographical scales. Possible explanations for this spatial segregation of the species include sampling artefacts, local adaptation by first intermediate hosts, environmental conditions, and site fidelity of the definitive hosts.

scholarly journals High species diversity of the soft coral family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) in the temperate region of Japan revealed by morphological and molecular analyses

ZooKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 862 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatsuki Koido ◽  
Yukimitsu Imahara ◽  
Hironobu Fukami
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Phylogenetic Trees ◽  
Soft Coral ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Temperate Region ◽  
High Species Diversity ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Traditional Taxonomy

The soft coral family Xeniidae, commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, consists of 20 genera and 162 species. To date, few studies on this family have been conducted in Japan, especially at higher latitudes. Although molecular phylogenetic analyses have recently been used to distinguish soft coral species, it is difficult to identify species and genera in this family due to the limited taxonomic indices and high morphological variation. In this study, we found a large Xeniidae community off the coast of Oshima Island (31°31.35'N, 131°24.27'E) at Miyazaki, Kyushu Island, located in the temperate region of Japan. The species composition and molecular phylogenetic relationships were investigated to uncover the species diversity of Xeniidae in this community. A total of 182 xeniid specimens were collected and identified to the species level, after which the samples were molecularly analyzed using a mitochondrial marker (ND2) and a nuclear marker (ITS) to infer the phylogenetic relationships. A total of 14 xeniid species were identified, including five undescribed species from five genera (Anthelia, Heteroxenia, Sympodium, Xenia, and Yamazatum). Miyazaki was identified as having the highest xeniid species diversity in Japan. The molecular phylogenetic trees inferred from each marker recovered very similar topologies: four genera (Anthelia, Heteroxenia, Sympodium, and Yamazatum) were monophyletic, whereas one (Xenia) was polyphyletic. Thus, except for Xenia, the morphological characteristics used for traditional taxonomy well reflected the phylogeny of the Xeniidae at the genus level. On the other hand, our results show that further taxonomic revisions of Xenia are needed.

A new amphibious species of the genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 (Scolopendromorpha, Scolopendridae) from the Ryukyu Archipelago and Taiwan

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4952 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-494
Author(s):  
SHO TSUKAMOTO ◽  
SHIMPEI F. HIRUTA ◽  
KATSUYUKI EGUCHI ◽  
JHIH-RONG LIAO ◽  
SATOSHI SHIMANO
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
28S Rrna ◽  
Ryukyu Archipelago ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Mitochondrial Coi ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
East And Southeast Asia ◽  
18S Rrna Genes

In Japan and Taiwan, five valid species of the genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758 have been described: S. morsitans Linnaeus, 1758, S. subspinipes Leach, 1816, S. mutilans Koch, 1878, S. japonica Koch, 1878, and S. multidens Newport, 1844. Recently, an undetermined species was found in the Ryukyu Archipelago and Taiwan. Using molecular phylogenetic analyses with mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA and nuclear 28S rRNA and 18S rRNA genes as well as conventional morphological examination, we successfully discriminated this sixth species as an independent lineage from S. subspinipes, S. mutilans, and other named congeners from East and Southeast Asia. Therefore, the species was described as S. alcyona Tsukamoto & Shimano, sp. nov. Several situational evidences suggest that this species prefers streamside environments and exhibits amphibious behavior. 

Three new species of Micropsalliota (Agaricaceae, Agaricales) from China

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 491 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-176
Author(s):  
JIA-XIN LI ◽  
MAO-QIANG HE ◽  
RUI-LIN ZHAO
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Phylogenetic Tree ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Southwestern China ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Three New Species

Species diversity of Micropsalliota in China remains poorly known, especially in southwestern China, a hotspot of biodiversity. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS and nrLSU sequences, three new species named Micropsalliota delicatula, M. dentatomarginata and M. digitatocystis are introduced from China. Phylogenetc analyses results indicated the unique phylogenetic positions of three new species in Micropsalliota. Full descriptions, photo plates, illustrations and a phylogenetic tree to show the placement of three new species are presented.

scholarly journals Revision of the Western Palearctic Meteorini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), with a molecular characterization of hidden Fennoscandian species diversity

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 3084 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
JULIA STIGENBERG ◽  
FREDRIK RONQUIST
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
New Synonyms ◽  
Western Palearctic ◽  
Palearctic Species ◽  
Traditional Approaches

The tribe Meteorini includes two genera, Meteorus and Zele, which are koinobiont endoparasitoids of larval Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. More than 300 species are known, about one fifth of which occur in the Western Palearctic. Here, we revise the Western Palearctic species, based partly on traditional approaches and partly on molecular analysis of recent Swedish and Finnish material. For the analyses of phylogenetic relationships and cryptic species diversity, we coded 17 morphological characters and sequenced two markers, 28S D2 (649 bp) and CO1 (665 bp). More than 1 970 specimens representing 54 species of Meteorus Haliday and 5 species of Zele Curtis were studied; of these, 177 specimens representing 41 species were sequenced. Seven new species are described, all from the Fennoscandian material: Meteorus artocercus sp. nov., M. densipilosus sp. nov., M. eklundi sp. nov., M. longipilosus sp. nov., M. sibyllae sp. nov., M. stenomastax sp. nov., and M. subtilisulcus sp. nov. Four new synonyms are introduced: Z. chlorophthalmus (Spinola 1808), syn. nov. for M. pallidus (Nees 1812), M. punctifrons Thomson 1895, syn. nov. for M. varinervis (Tobias 1986), M. melanostictus Capron 1887, syn. nov for M. monachae (Tobias 1986), and M. tenellus Marshall 1887, syn. nov. for M. boreus (Tobias 1986). Meteorus tenellus is removed from synonymy with M. cinctellus. Sequence analysis indicated the presence of at least 12 additional cryptic species but these cannot be separated morphologically at this point and, therefore, we do not describe them here. The phylogenetic results suggest that Zele should be included within Meteorus but we refrain from formal changes of the generic classification until more comprehensive phylogenetic analyses of the tribe can be completed. A key to the known Western Palearctic species is presented.

A new species of Trichoglossum (Geoglossales, Ascomycota) from Thailand

Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 316 (2) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANUSHA H. EKANAYAKA ◽  
KEVIN D. HYDE ◽  
E.B. GARETH JONES ◽  
QI ZHAO ◽  
ABDALLAH M. ELGORBAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Tree ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Its Sequence ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
A New Species

The genus Trichoglossum (Geoglossaceae) is characterized by black, clavate, stipitate apothecia with hymenial setae. We collected T. cf. octopartitum from China and a new species of Trichoglossum from Thailand, the latter named as T. septatum. According to morphological examination and molecular phylogenetic analyses of ITS sequence data, T. septatum diverges from other Trichoglossum species. Full descriptions, colour figures, and a phylogenetic tree to show the positions of T. cf. octopartitum and T. septatum are provided, and the two species are compared with allied taxa. The important morphological characteristics of Trichoglossum species are also summarized.

scholarly journals Integrative Taxonomy of the Spinous Assassin Bug Genus Sclomina (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) Reveals Three Cryptic Species Based on DNA Barcoding and Morphological Evidence

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 251
Author(s):  
Ping Zhao ◽  
Zhenyong Du ◽  
Qian Zhao ◽  
Donghai Li ◽  
Xiaolan Shao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Divergence Time ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Integrative Taxonomy ◽  
The Body ◽  
Coi Gene ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Morphological Evidence ◽  
History Of

Sclomina Stål, 1861 (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) is endemic to China and Vietnam, with only two species, Sclomina erinacea Stål, 1861 and Sclomina guangxiensis Ren, 2001, characterized by spinous body and dentate abdominal connexivum. However, due to variable morphological characteristics, Sclomina erinacea, which is widely distributed in South China, is possibly a complex of cryptic species, and Sclomina guangxiensis was suspected to be an extreme group of the S. erinacea cline. In the present study, we conducted species delimitation and phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences of 307 Sclomina specimens collected from 30 sampling localities combined with morphological evidence. The result showed that all samples used in this study were identified as five species: Sclomina guangxiensis is a valid species, and Sclomina erinacea actually includes three cryptic species: Sclomina xingrensis P. Zhao and Cai sp. nov., Sclomina pallens P. Zhao and Cai sp. nov., and Sclomina parva P. Zhao and Cai sp. nov. In this paper, the genus Sclomina is systematically revised, and the morphological characteristics of the five species are compared, described, and photographed in detail. We elucidate the evolutionary history of Sclomina based on results of estimated divergence time. The body shape and coloration (green in nymph and brown in adult) of Sclomina match their environment and mimic the Rubus plants on which they live. The symbiotic relationship between Sclomina and spinous Rubus plants is presented and discussed.

scholarly journals Cryptic species in a Vulnerable seabird: shorttailed albatross consists of two species

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 375-386
Author(s):  
M Eda ◽  
T Yamasaki ◽  
H Izumi ◽  
N Tomita ◽  
S Konno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
First Case ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
Native Birds ◽  
Senkaku Islands ◽  
Species Being

The occurrence of cryptic species within a threatened taxon is rare, but where they do occur, understanding species boundaries is essential for planning an effective conservation strategy. The short-tailed albatross Phoebastria albatrus is a Vulnerable seabird that mainly breeds on Torishima and the Senkaku Islands in the western North Pacific. Although it has been tacitly regarded as a single management unit with 2 breeding sites, the species is known to comprise 2 genetically separated populations (Senkaku-type and Torishima-type). However, morphological examination of birds from both populations has not been conducted owing to the difficulty in accessing the Senkaku Islands. In this study, we examined the morphological differences between immigrants from the Senkaku Islands to Torishima (Senkaku-type) and native birds on Torishima (Torishima-type) and found significant differences in morphological characteristics between the 2 bird types. In general, Torishima-type birds were larger than Senkaku-type birds, whereas Senkaku-type birds had relatively longer beaks. Based on the morphological differences found in this study as well as genetic and ecological differences revealed in previous studies, we believe that Senkaku- and Torishima-type birds should be classified as different cryptic species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of cryptic species being identified in a threatened avian species.

scholarly journals Species diversity of freshwater shrimp in Henan Province, China, based on morphological characters and COI mitochondrial gene

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuanjiang Zhou ◽  
Mengxia Feng ◽  
Yongtao Tang ◽  
Changxing Yang ◽  
Xiaolin Meng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Dna Barcoding ◽  
Species Identification ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Henan Province ◽  
Coi Gene ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
Freshwater Shrimp

Freshwater shrimp is an extremely rich species group with a long and problematic taxonomic history, attributed to its wide distribution, numerous species and similar morphology. Shrimp diversity and species identification is utmost important for fisheries management. However, identification based on morphological characteristics is difficult and complex for a non-specialist to perform. The water system of Henan Province is relatively abundant, but there are few investigations of freshwater shrimps and no description of molecular features. The aim of this study was to uncover the species diversity and phylogenetic of freshwater shrimp in Henan province by combining morphological identification and molecular species delimitation (barcoding gene: COI gene). About 1,200 freshwater shrimp samples from 46 sampling sites were collected for preliminary traditional morphological identification, 222 samples of these were been further microscopic examination and molecular delimitation. Here we used tree based method (NJ, ML) and distance based method (ABGD, bPTP) mainly to define species, detect the cryptic species and assess the validity of the barcoding in molecular. Comprehensive morphological identification and molecular delimitation results, there were 9 effective species and more than one cryptic species of freshwater shrimp in the province and moreover all of them can be identified by DNA barcoding. The results of morphological identification and molecular identification show high consistency, which proves the high efficiency in freshwater shrimp species identification of the DNA barcoding and the presence of cryptic species.

scholarly journals High levels of cryptic species diversity uncovered in Amazonian frogs

2011 ◽  
Vol 279 (1734) ◽  
pp. 1806-1814 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Chris Funk ◽  
Marcel Caminer ◽  
Santiago R. Ron
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Cryptic Diversity ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Poor Understanding

One of the greatest challenges for biodiversity conservation is the poor understanding of species diversity. Molecular methods have dramatically improved our ability to uncover cryptic species, but the magnitude of cryptic diversity remains unknown, particularly in diverse tropical regions such as the Amazon Basin. Uncovering cryptic diversity in amphibians is particularly pressing because amphibians are going extinct globally at an alarming rate. Here, we use an integrative analysis of two independent Amazonian frog clades, Engystomops toadlets and Hypsiboas treefrogs, to test whether species richness is underestimated and, if so, by how much. We sampled intensively in six countries with a focus in Ecuador ( Engystomops : 252 individuals from 36 localities; Hypsiboas : 208 individuals from 65 localities) and combined mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA, morphological, and bioacoustic data to detect cryptic species. We found that in both clades, species richness was severely underestimated, with more undescribed species than described species. In Engystomops , the two currently recognized species are actually five to seven species (a 150–250% increase in species richness); in Hypsiboas , two recognized species represent six to nine species (a 200–350% increase). Our results suggest that Amazonian frog biodiversity is much more severely underestimated than previously thought.

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