Hooroo mates! Phylogenomic data suggest that the closest relatives of the iconic Tasmanian cave spider Hickmania troglodytes are in Australia and New Zealand, not in South America

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siddharth Kulkarni ◽  
Gustavo Hormiga

Hickmania troglodytes is an emblematic cave spider representing a monotypic cribellate spider genus. This is the only Australian lineage of Austrochilidae while the other members of the family are found in southern South America. In addition to being the largest spider in Tasmania, Hickmania is an oddity in Austrochilidae because this is the only lineage in the family bearing posterior book lungs, tarsal spines and an embolar process on male pedipalps. Six-gene Sanger sequences and genome scale data such as ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and transcriptomes have suggested that Hickmania troglodytes is not nested with the family of current classification, Austrochilidae. We studied the phylogenetic placement of Hickmania troglodytes using an increased taxon sample by combining publicly available UCE and UCEs recovered from transcriptomic data in a parsimony and maximum likelihood framework. Based on our phylogenetic results we formally transfer Hickmania troglodytes from Austrochilidae to the family Gradungulidae. The cladistic placement of Hickmania in the family Gradungulidae fits the geographic distribution of both gradungulids (restricted to Australia and New Zealand) and austrochilids (restricted to southern South America) more appropriately.

1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 283 ◽  
Author(s):  
DP Gordon

The type species of three little-known Tertiary bryozoan genera have been examined and redescribed. Victorian Bitectipora lineata, previously the only recognised species of Bitectiporidae, is shown to be related to a present-day New Zealand species which may now also be included in Bitectipora. Further, the family Bitectiporidae MacGillivray, 1895 is here considered to be a senior subjective synonym of Hippoporinidae Brown, 1952. Schizosmittina, a French Miocene genus, is confirmed to be congeneric with a suite of Holocene Australasian species and removed from the Smittinidae to the Bitectiporidae. However, on the basis of ovicellular morphology, both families are considered to be closely related. The scarcely used superfamily taxon Smittinoidea is re-established for those families with 'smittinid' ovicells (in contradistinction to 'schizoporellid' ovicells). The genus Stephanollona, based on a French Miocene species, is recognised to be a senior subjective synonym of Brodiella (Phidoloporidae), which includes present-day species from Australasia, South Africa, southern South America, Madeira, south-west Britain and the Mediterranean.


Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2243 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUIS E. GROSSO ◽  
MARCELA PERALTA

A new genus and species of a chilean Paraleptamphopidae is described. Rudolphia n. gen. shares eleven characters with the family diagnosis sensu Bousfield, 1983. The diagnosis of the new genus is: A1 and A2 long; A1 equal to length of body, A1 inner flagellum scale shaped, calceoli gammarid-type in males only; Mx1 asymmetrical; Gn1 propodus mittenlike, palmar index = 1.81; Gn2 carpus longer than Gn1, palmar index = 2.39; coxal gills: P2–5 and 7 bilobate, P6 ovoid; dactyls of pereopods very long; Pleopods multiarticulate, Pl 2 sexually dimorphic; Uropods birami, rami uniarticulate, Ur1 and Ur2 exopodites scarcely shorter than endopodites, Ur1 peduncle longer than rami, Ur2 resembling Ur1 but much shorter, Ur3 subequal in length to Ur2, Ur3 peduncle shorter than rami, rami acuminated of equal length, with pairs of a bifid and a plumose setae; Telson cleft halfway. Rudolphia macrodactylus n. sp. is the first discovery of Paraleptamphopidae sp. out of New Zealand. A cladistic analysis allows us support that Paraleptamphopidae clade was differentiated before the New ZealandSouth America separation (80–85 mya).


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
James K. Liebherr

The carabid beetle tribe Moriomorphini attains a disjunct austral geographical distribution, with member taxa occupying Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, the Sundas, southern South America and Polynesia. The group arose in Australia, the area exhibiting the greatest generic diversity for the tribe. In this contribution, two new genera are added to the Australian fauna. Pharetis thayerae, gen. nov., sp. nov., is described from Grenvillia, New South Wales, and Spherita newtoni, gen. nov., sp. nov., is described from Avon Valley National Park, Western Australia. Their phylogenetic placement within the tribe is accomplished by parsimony analysis based on 208 morphological characters across 124 taxa, 114 in-group species and 10 outgroup taxa representing Trechini, Psydrini and Patrobini. Nearly all polytypic moriomorphine genera are represented in the analysis by at least two exemplars, allowing initial tests of generic monophyly. A revised classification is proposed for Moriomorphini, with subtribal clades related as (Amblytelina + (Moriomorphina + Tropopterina)). The Western Australian genus Spherita is placed as adelphotaxon to Sitaphe Moore, a genus restricted to tropical montane Queensland. From the phylogenetic analysis, other non-contemporaneous east–west Australian disjunctions can be inferred, as well as multiple trans-Tasman area relationships between eastern Australia and New Zealand, all proposed to be of Miocene age. Pharetis exhibits a disjunct, trans-Antarctic relationship with Tropopterus Solier, its sister-group, distributed in southern South America. Alternative vicariance-based and dispersal-based hypotheses are discussed for the origin of Tropopterus. A review of the taxonomic development of the tribe illustrates the signal importance of monotypic genera in elucidating biological diversity.


2007 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 349-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arve ELVEBAKK ◽  
Janne FRITT-RASMUSSEN ◽  
John A. ELIX

Abstract:Pannaria leproloma is shown to be a New Zealand endemic, and is characterized by coarse isidiomorphs/isidia, a high frequency of apothecia and the presence of two cytotoxic scabrosin esters, previously unknown from Pannariaceae, and present in 40 of the samples studied. It is not a member of the Pannaria sphinctrina group, as previously thought. It has frequently been confused with a related, finely sorediate, very sparingly fertile species, which lacks scabrosin esters in more than 99 of the specimens studied. This latter species is widely distributed both in southern South America (where it is one of the most common corticolous lichens), south-eastern areas of Australia and in New Zealand. It was originally described as Psoroma isidiosum, but had to be renamed when transferred to Pannaria, and is here named Pannaria farinosa.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
Wahid Hussain ◽  
Lal Badshah ◽  
Sayed Afzal Shah ◽  
Farrukh Hussain ◽  
Asghar Ali ◽  
...  

Salvia reflexa Hornem., a member of the New World subgenus Calosphace, ranges from North America to southern South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Afghanistan in Asia, and still continues to expand its range. Here we report further range expansion for S. reflexa into the tribal areas of Pakistan and hypothesize that it has been introduced from Afghanistan. This represents a new record for the flora of Pakistan.


2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 750-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Harasewych ◽  
Anton Oleinik ◽  
William Zinsmeister

Leptomaria antipodensis and Leptomaria hickmanae are described from the Upper Cretaceous [Maastrichtian] Lopez de Bertodano Formation, Seymour Island, and represent the first Mesozoic records of the family Pleurotomariidae from Antarctica. Leptomaria stillwelli, L. seymourensis, Conotomaria sobralensis and C. bayeri, from the Paleocene [Danian], Sobral Formation, Seymour Island, are described as new. Leptomaria larseniana (Wilckens, 1911) new combination, also from the Sobral Formation, is redescribed based on better-preserved material. The limited diversity of the pleurotomariid fauna of Seymour Island is more similar to that of the Late Cretaceous faunas of Australia and New Zealand in terms of the number of genera and species, than to the older, more diverse faunas of South America, southern India, or northwestern Madagascar, supporting the status of the Weddelian Province as a distinct biogeographic unit. The increase in the species richness of this fauna during the Danian may be due to the final fragmentation of Gondwana during this period.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Juliet Suzanne Smith

<p>This study investigated the family as a site for literacy. The theoretical approach is that all literacy is situated in a social context. Eleven parents were interviewed about literacy use and practices both in their present families. The parents were from India, Sri Lanka, Britain and Aotearoa/ New Zealand. The study explored generational differences as well as aspects of diversity among the families. While there were similarities in the uses of literacy across the generations, diversity was evident in the differences in purpose between the Pakeha families and the others. For the Paheka the purpose of reading was for pleasure while the other parents stressed the importance of reading for moral messages and guides to behaviour. Parents spoke more often about reading than about writing, they recalled favourite books, especially those by Enid Blyton, and reported stories they told their own children. It is suggested that teachers might explore their own literacy experiences to better understand the issues of both literacy and diversity.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Juliet Suzanne Smith

<p>This study investigated the family as a site for literacy. The theoretical approach is that all literacy is situated in a social context. Eleven parents were interviewed about literacy use and practices both in their present families. The parents were from India, Sri Lanka, Britain and Aotearoa/ New Zealand. The study explored generational differences as well as aspects of diversity among the families. While there were similarities in the uses of literacy across the generations, diversity was evident in the differences in purpose between the Pakeha families and the others. For the Paheka the purpose of reading was for pleasure while the other parents stressed the importance of reading for moral messages and guides to behaviour. Parents spoke more often about reading than about writing, they recalled favourite books, especially those by Enid Blyton, and reported stories they told their own children. It is suggested that teachers might explore their own literacy experiences to better understand the issues of both literacy and diversity.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Giribet ◽  
Kate Sheridan ◽  
Caitlin M. Baker ◽  
Christina J. Painting ◽  
Gregory I. Holwell ◽  
...  

The Opiliones family Neopilionidae is restricted to the terranes of the former temperate Gondwana: South America, Africa, Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand. Despite decades of morphological study of this unique fauna, it has been difficult reconciling the classic species of the group (some described over a century ago) with recent cladistic morphological work and previous molecular work. Here we attempted to investigate the pattern and timing of diversification of Neopilionidae by sampling across the distribution range of the family and sequencing three markers commonly used in Sanger-based approaches (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and cytochrome-c oxidase subunit I). We recovered a well-supported and stable clade including Ballarra (an Australian ballarrine) and the Enantiobuninae from South America, Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand, but excluding Vibone (a ballarrine from South Africa). We further found a division between West and East Gondwana, with the South American Thrasychirus/Thrasychiroides always being sister group to an Australian–Zealandian (i.e. Australia + New Zealand + New Caledonia) clade. Resolution of the Australian–Zealandian taxa was analysis-dependent, but some analyses found Martensopsalis, from New Caledonia, as the sister group to an Australian–New Zealand clade. Likewise, the species from New Zealand formed a clade in some analyses, but Mangatangi often came out as a separate lineage from the remaining species. However, the Australian taxa never constituted a monophyletic group, with Ballarra always segregating from the remaining Australian species, which in turn constituted 1–3 clades, depending on the analysis. Our results identify several generic inconsistencies, including the possibility of Thrasychiroides nested within Thrasychirus, Forsteropsalis being paraphyletic with respect to Pantopsalis, and multiple lineages of Megalopsalis in Australia. In addition, the New Zealand Megalopsalis need generic reassignment: Megalopsalis triascuta will require its own genus and M. turneri is here transferred to Forsteropsalis, as Forsteropsalis turneri (Marples, 1944), comb. nov.


Zootaxa ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1866 (1) ◽  
pp. 482 ◽  
Author(s):  
SASKIA BRIX ◽  
NIEL L. BRUCE

Prochelator tupuhi sp. nov. is the first record of the genus Prochelator Hessler, 1970 from Southern Hemisphere waters, and the first record of the family Desmosomatidae from New Zealand. The new species can be distinguished from all other species of the genus by the following characters: body elongate, without spine-like ventral elongations on pereonites 1–4, pereonite 1 as high as pereonite 5, mesial lobe of the maxilla much shorter than in the other species of the genus, reaching only half the length of the lateral lobe, carpus of pereopod 1 distinctly produced at the base of the claw, propodus broadest at the articulation to the carpus, tapering distally.


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