Revision of Tasmanian viviparous velvet worms (Onychophora : Peripatopsidae) with descriptions of two new species

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivo de Sena Oliveira ◽  
Hilke Ruhberg ◽  
David M. Rowell ◽  
Georg Mayer

The restricted distribution of viviparous onychophorans in Tasmania has long been a subject of discussion, but their evolutionary history remains unclear. We applied morphological, molecular and karyological methods to assess the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of the four viviparous species reported from Tasmania, including Tasmanipatus barretti, T. anophthalmus and two undescribed species previously referred to as ‘Tasmania’ sp. 1 and sp. 2. We demonstrate that all four species can be unambiguously distinguished based on independent character sets. The two ‘Tasmania’ species, which were previously thought to be cryptic, proved to exhibit a set of distinct morphological characters. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that the four species belong to a major clade that includes Peripatoides from New Zealand, and that species from the two landmasses show reciprocal monophyly within this clade. Within the Tasmanian clade, T. anophthalmus is more closely related to the two ‘Tasmania’ species than to T. barretti. Based on this relationship and the lack of morphological and/or karyological characters supporting the Tasmanian viviparous clade, we erect two new genera to accommodate the two ‘Tasmania’ species (Diemenipatus, gen. nov.) and T. anophthalmus (Leucopatus, gen. nov.). An emended diagnosis followed by a redescription of T. barretti is provided and ‘Tasmania’ sp. 1 and sp. 2 are formally described as D. taiti, gen. et sp. nov. and D. mesibovi, gen. et sp. nov., respectively.

ZooKeys ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 761 ◽  
pp. 1-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruttapon Srisonchai ◽  
Henrik Enghoff ◽  
Natdanai Likhitrakarn ◽  
Somsak Panha

The dragon millipede genusDesmoxytess.l. is split into five genera, based on morphological characters and preliminary molecular phylogenetic analyses. The present article includes a review ofDesmoxytess.s., while future articles will deal withHylomusCook and Loomis, 1924 and three new genera which preliminarily are referred to as the ‘acantherpestes’, ‘gigas’, and ‘spiny’ groups. Diagnostic morphological characters of each group are discussed.Hylomusis resurrected as a valid genus and the following 33 species are assigned to it:H.asper(Attems, 1937),comb. n.,H.cattienensis(Nguyen, Golovatch & Anichkin, 2005),comb. n.,H.cervarius(Attems, 1953),comb. n.,H.cornutus(Zhang & Li, 1982),comb. n.,H.dracoCook & Loomis, 1924,stat. rev.,H.enghoffi(Nguyen, Golovatch & Anichkin, 2005),comb. n.,H.eupterygotus(Golovatch, Li, Liu & Geoffroy, 2012),comb. n.,H.getuhensis(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2014),comb. n.,H.grandis(Golovatch, VandenSpiegel & Semenyuk, 2016),comb. n.,H.hostilis(Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994),comb. n.,H.jeekeli(Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994),comb. n.,H.lingulatus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2014),comb. n.,H.laticollis(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.longispinus(Loksa, 1960),comb. n.,H.lui(Golovatch, Li, Liu & Geoffroy, 2012),comb. n.,H.minutuberculus(Zhang, 1986),comb. n.,H.nodulosus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2014),comb. n.,H.parvulus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2014),comb. n.,H.phasmoides(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.pilosus(Attems, 1937),comb. n.,H.proximus(Nguyen, Golovatch & Anichkin, 2005),comb. n.,H.rhinoceros(Likhitrakarn, Golovatch & Panha, 2015),comb. n.,H.rhinoparvus(Likhitrakarn, Golovatch & Panha, 2015),comb. n.,H.scolopendroides(Golovatch, Geoffroy & Mauriès, 2010),comb. n.,H.scutigeroides(Golovatch, Geoffroy & Mauriès, 2010),comb. n.,H.similis(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.simplex(Golovatch, VandenSpiegel & Semenyuk, 2016),comb. n.,H.simplipodus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.specialis(Nguyen, Golovatch & Anichkin, 2005),comb. n.,H.spectabilis(Attems, 1937),comb. n.,H.spinitergus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.spinissimus(Golovatch, Li, Liu & Geoffroy, 2012),comb. n.andH.variabilis(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.Desmoxytess.s. includes the following species:D.breviverpaSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha, 2016;D.cervina(Pocock,1895);D.delfae(Jeekel, 1964);D.desSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha, 2016;D.pinnasqualiSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha, 2016;D.planata(Pocock, 1895);D.purpuroseaEnghoff, Sutcharit & Panha, 2007;D.takensisSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha, 2016;D.taurina(Pocock, 1895);D.terae(Jeekel, 1964), all of which are re-described based mainly on type material. Two new synonyms are proposed:DesmoxytespterygotaGolovatch & Enghoff, 1994,syn. n.(=Desmoxytescervina(Pocock, 1895)),DesmoxytesrubraGolovatch & Enghoff, 1994,syn. n.(=Desmoxytesdelfae(Jeekel, 1964)). Six new species are described from Thailand:D.aurataSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.corythosaurusSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.eurosSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.flabellaSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.golovatchiSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.octoconigeraSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n., as well as one from Malaysia:D.perakensisSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n., and one from Myanmar:D.waepyanensisSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.The species can mostly be easily distinguished by gonopod structure in combination with other external characters; some cases of particularly similar congeners are discussed. All species ofDesmoxytess.s. seem to be endemic to continental Southeast Asia (except the ‘tramp’ speciesD.planata). Some biological observations (relationship with mites, moulting) are recorded for the first time. Complete illustrations of external morphological characters, an identification key, and distribution maps of all species are provided.


Neodiversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-94
Author(s):  
Luciano P. Queiroz ◽  
◽  
Ana C.S. Oliveira ◽  
Cristiane Snak

The Galactia clade is one of three major lineages of the papilionoid legume tribe Diocleae. It comprises eight genera and approximately 140 species almost entirely restricted to the Americas. Establishing stable generic boundaries within this clade has been a challenge because of its tortuous taxonomic history and the broad polyphyly of the genera of the so-called Galactia-Camptosema-Collaea complex. Previous molecular phylogenetic studies revealed some well-supported lineages, but did not advance towards any new taxonomic arrangements. We carried out maximum parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of a combined dataset including our previously published multilocus molecular data (nrITS and ETS and plastid trnK/matK and trnT-Y regions) and 82 morphological characters. The resulting topologies largely concur with those previously reported based on molecular data only, where Camptosema and Galactia appear as broadly polyphyletic, with species scattered among five (Camptosema) and seven (Galactia) of the twelve lineages that are newly recognized here at genus level. We are therefore proposing the following new taxonomic rearrangements within the Galactia clade: descriptions of the new genera Caetangil, Cerradicola, Mantiqueira, and Nanogalactia; resurrection of Betencourtia; and the subsuming of Neorudolphia into Rhodopis and of Camptosema sect. Macropetalum into Cratylia.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 497 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
MICHAEL CALONJE ◽  
JONATAN CASTRO HERNÁNDEZ ◽  
LUIS FERNANDO COCA ◽  
DANIEL JARAMILLO ◽  
ARTURO ARISTIZÁBAL

We describe and illustrate Zamia imbricata and Z. sinuensis, two new species (Zamiaceae, Cycadales) from the Magdalena-Urabá moist forests ecoregion of northern Colombia. The new species appear to belong to the manicata clade, an assemblage of species strongly supported by recent molecular phylogenetic analyses and which shares a set of morphological characters such as hypogeous to semi-hypogeous stems, distinctly toothed leaflets, long peduncles, megasporophylls with relatively flat shields, and diminutive pollen cones containing microsporophylls with a much-reduced fertile section of the lamina. Zamia imbricata, a species from the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin of Caldas, is distinguished from other members of the clade by its planar leaves comprised of diminutive, highly imbricate papyraceous leaflets. Zamia sinuensis, a species from the Sinú River Basin of Córdoba is similar to Z. manicata, from which it is distinguished by the absence of the petiolule and gland-like collar that characterize the latter, and by its strongly undulate leaflets. The two new species are discussed within the context of the manicata clade, and a vegetative key to the clade is provided.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Lin Chen ◽  
Joseph W. Goy ◽  
Heather D. Bracken-Grissom ◽  
Darryl L. Felder ◽  
Ling Ming Tsang ◽  
...  

The infraorder Stenopodidea is a relatively small group of marine decapod crustaceans including the well known cleaner shrimps, but their higher taxonomy has been rather controversial. This study provides the most comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analyses of Stenopodidea using sequence data from two mitochondrial (16S and 12S rRNA) and two nuclear (histone H3 and sodium–potassium ATPase α-subunit (NaK)) genes. We included all 12 nominal genera from the three stenopodidean families in order to test the proposed evolutionary hypothesis and taxonomic scheme of the group. The inferred phylogeny did not support the familial ranking of Macromaxillocarididae and rejected the reciprocal monophyly of Spongicolidae and Stenopididae. The genera Stenopus, Richardina, Spongiocaris, Odontozona, Spongicola and Spongicoloides are showed to be poly- or paraphyletic, with monophyly of only the latter three genera strongly rejected in the analysis. The present results only strongly support the monophyly of Microprosthema and suggest that Paraspongiola should be synonymised with Spongicola. The three remaining genera, Engystenopus, Juxtastenopus and Globospongicola, may need to be expanded to include species from other genera if their statuses are maintained. All findings suggest that the morphological characters currently adopted to define genera are mostly invalid and substantial taxonomic revisions are required. As the intergeneric relationships were largely unresolved in the present attempt, the hypothesis of evolution of deep-sea sponge-associated taxa from shallow-water free-living species could not be verified here. The present molecular phylogeny, nevertheless, provides some support that stenopoididean shrimps colonised the deep sea in multiple circumstances.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-37
Author(s):  
Markéta Kirstová ◽  
Robin Kundrata ◽  
Petr Kočárek

Abstract We present herein the first phylogenetic analysis of the genus Chelidura and the taxonomic revision of the genus Chelidurella, stat. restit., based on DNA sequences. The results confirm the generic status of Chelidurella Verhoeff, 1902 and Mesochelidura Verhoeff, 1902, and they are removed from the synonymy with Chelidura and reinstated as valid genera. Many individual Chelidurella species are defined based on the combination of a few variable characters on the pygidium and forceps, and the systematics and phylogeny of this genus are unclear. The validity of most of the species is revisited here by molecular phylogenetic analyses, and individual morphological characters are evaluated for their relevance in the identification of all described species. We describe two new species to science, Chelidurella galvagnii Kirstová & Kočárek, sp. nov. from Austria, and C. pseudovignai Kočárek & Kirstová, sp. nov. from Italy and Austria; two species, C. guentheri Galvagni, 1994 and C. tatrica Chládek, 2017 are newly synonymized. Critical diagnostic characters are illustrated, and an identification key for males of Chelidurella is provided.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 650
Author(s):  
Chien-Lin Chen ◽  
Joseph W. Goy ◽  
Heather D. Bracken-Grissom ◽  
Darryl L. Felder ◽  
Ling Ming Tsang ◽  
...  

The infraorder Stenopodidea is a relatively small group of marine decapod crustaceans including the well known cleaner shrimps, but their higher taxonomy has been rather controversial. This study provides the most comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analyses of Stenopodidea using sequence data from two mitochondrial (16S and 12S rRNA) and two nuclear (histone H3 and sodium–potassium ATPase ?-subunit (NaK)) genes. We included all 12 nominal genera from the three stenopodidean families in order to test the proposed evolutionary hypothesis and taxonomic scheme of the group. The inferred phylogeny did not support the familial ranking of Macromaxillocarididae and rejected the reciprocal monophyly of Spongicolidae and Stenopididae. The genera Stenopus, Richardina, Spongiocaris, Odontozona, Spongicola and Spongicoloides are showed to be poly- or paraphyletic, with monophyly of only the latter three genera strongly rejected in the analysis. The present results only strongly support the monophyly of Microprosthema and suggest that Paraspongiola should be synonymised with Spongicola. The three remaining genera, Engystenopus, Juxtastenopus and Globospongicola, may need to be expanded to include species from other genera if their statuses are maintained. All findings suggest that the morphological characters currently adopted to define genera are mostly invalid and substantial taxonomic revisions are required. As the intergeneric relationships were largely unresolved in the present attempt, the hypothesis of evolution of deep-sea sponge-associated taxa from shallow-water free-living species could not be verified here. The present molecular phylogeny, nevertheless, provides some support that stenopoididean shrimps colonised the deep sea in multiple circumstances.


2021 ◽  
Vol 307 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pau Carnicero ◽  
Núria Garcia-Jacas ◽  
Llorenç Sáez ◽  
Theophanis Constantinidis ◽  
Mercè Galbany-Casals

AbstractThe eastern Mediterranean basin hosts a remarkably high plant diversity. Historical connections between currently isolated areas across the Aegean region and long-distance dispersal events have been invoked to explain current distribution patterns of species. According to most recent treatments, at least two Cymbalaria species occur in this area, Cymbalaria microcalyx and C. longipes. The former comprises several intraspecific taxa, treated at different ranks by different authors based on morphological data, evidencing the need of a taxonomic revision. Additionally, some populations of C. microcalyx show exclusive morphological characters that do not match any described taxon. Here, we aim to shed light on the systematics of eastern Mediterranean Cymbalaria and to propose a classification informed by various sources of evidence. We performed molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS, 3’ETS, ndhF and rpl32-trnL sequences and estimated the ploidy level of some taxa performing relative genome size measures. Molecular data combined with morphology support the division of traditionally delimited C. microcalyx into C. acutiloba, C. microcalyx and C. minor, corresponding to well-delimited nrDNA lineages. Furthermore, we propose to combine C. microcalyx subsp. paradoxa at the species level. A group of specimens previously thought to belong to Cymbalaria microcalyx constitute a well-defined phylogenetic and morphological entity and are described here as a new species, Cymbalaria spetae. Cymbalaria longipes is non-monophyletic, but characterized by being glabrous and diploid, unlike other eastern species. The nrDNA data suggest at least two dispersals from the mainland to the Aegean Islands, potentially facilitated by marine regressions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 151-179
Author(s):  
L. Lee Grismer ◽  
L. Wood Perry ◽  
Marta S. Grismer ◽  
Evan S.H. Quah ◽  
Myint Kyaw Thura ◽  
...  

The historical accuracy of building taxonomies is improved when they are based on phylogenetic inference (i.e., the resultant classifications are less apt to misrepresent evolutionary history). In fact, taxonomies inferred from statistically significant diagnostic morphological characters in the absence of phylogenetic considerations, can contain non-monophyletic lineages. This is especially true at the species level where small amounts of gene flow may not preclude the evolution of localized adaptions in different geographic areas while underpinning the paraphyletic nature of each population with respect to the other. We illustrate this point by examining genetic and morphological variation among three putatively allopatric populations of the granite-dwelling Bent-toed Gecko Cyrtodactylus aequalis from hilly regions in southeastern Myanmar. In the absence of molecular phylogenetic inference, a compelling argument for three morphologically diagnosable species could be marshaled. However, when basing the morphological analyses of geographic variation on a molecular phylogeny, there is a more compelling argument that only one species should be recognized. We are cognizant of the fact however, that when dealing with rare species or specimens for which no molecular data are possible, judicious morphological analyses are the only option—and the desired option given the current worldwide biodiversity crisis.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Yoshimasa Kumekawa ◽  
Haruka Fujimoto ◽  
Osamu Miura ◽  
Ryo Arakawa ◽  
Jun Yokoyama ◽  
...  

Abstract Harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) are soil animals with extremely low dispersal abilities that experienced allopatric differentiation. To clarify the morphological and phylogenetic differentiation of the endemic harvestman Zepedanulus ishikawai (Suzuki, 1971) (Laniatores: Epedanidae) in the southern part of the Ryukyu Archipelago, we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses and divergence time estimates based on CO1 and 16S rRNA sequences of mtDNA, the 28S rRNA sequence of nrDNA, and the external morphology. A phylogenetic tree based on mtDNA sequences indicated that individuals of Z. ishikawai were monophyletic and were divided into clade I and clade II. This was supported by the nrDNA phylogenetic tree. Although clades I and II were distributed sympatrically on all three islands examined (Ishigaki, Iriomote, and Yonaguni), heterogeneity could not be detected by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism of nrDNA, indicating that clades I and II do not have a history of hybridisation. Also, several morphological characters differed significantly between individuals of clade I and clade II. The longstanding isolation of the southern Ryukyus from the surrounding islands enabled estimation of the original morphological characters of both clades of Z. ishikawai.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 398-412
Author(s):  
Marcelo R. Pace ◽  
Brenda Hernández-Hernández ◽  
Esteban M. Martínez Salas ◽  
Lúcia G. Lohmann ◽  
N. Ivalu Cacho

Background: Astianthus is a monospecific arborescent genus of Bignoniaceae that occur in the Pacific Coast of central Mexico and northern Central America, where it grows in dense populations along riversides. Its phylogenetic placement has remained controversial since Astianthus has unusual morphological characters such as a four-loculed ovary, and simple, pulvinate, verticillate leaves. Methods: Here we used three plastid markers ndhF, rbcL, and trnL-F, wood, and bark anatomical data to investigate the phylogenetic placement of Astianthus and assign it to one of Bignoniaceae’s main clades. Results: Our molecular phylogenetic analyses indicated that Astianthus belongs in tribe Tecomeae s.s., where other charismatic Neotropical Bignoniaceae genera such as Campsis and Tecoma are currently placed. Wood and bark anatomy support this placement, as Astianthus reunites a unique combination of features only known from members of Tecomeae s.s., such as storied axial parenchyma, the co-occurrence of homo- and heterocellular rays, septate fibers, and scattered phloem fibers in the bark. Conclusions: The placement of Astianthus within Tecomeae s.s. provides further support to previous proposals for the Neotropical origin of this Pantropical tribe.


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