Larval head morphology of Phycosecis litoralis (Pascoe) (Coleoptera : Phycosecidae) with phylogenetic implications

2000 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolf G. Beutel ◽  
Darren A. Pollock

The larval head of a Phycosecis species is described and illustrated. Characters are compared to those found in larvae of other groups of Cucujiformia. Monophyly of all cleroid families examined is supported by several apomorphic features at least partly correlated with predacious habits: antennae directed anteriad, absence of the mandibular mola, presence of a pedunculate seta on the mala, presence of a median endocarina, origin of antennal muscles exclusively from the head capsule, and presence of a weakly pigmented, parallel-sided gular plate. A possible apomorphy of Cleroidea excluding Phloiophilidae is the parallel-sided, prognathous head. A sister-group relationship between Phycosecidae and Melyridae is supported by the presence of a plumose lacinia mobilis and secondary loss of the median endocarina. A monophylum comprising Cleridae + Chaetosomatidae is characterised by a strongly elongated, sclerotised larval gula, the strongly protracted position of the ventral mouthparts, and a cardo as long as or longer than the stipes. Monophyly of Trogossitidae is only weakly supported. Several apomorphies indicate a sister-group relationship between Cleroidea and Nitidulidae. These two taxa are characterised by a fully developed maxillolabial complex, an elongated prepharyngeal tube, and tergal sclerotisation restricted to the prothorax and tergite IX. A tentorial bridge completely separated from the remaining tentorium, and a maxillolabial complex with partly restricted motility of the maxilla are shared derived features of larvae of Cleroidea, Nitidulidae, Coccinellidae and Endomychidae. An unusual attachment of a part of the tentoriostipital muscle to the floor of the prepharyngeal tube is found in all cleroid and cucujoid larvae examined. Cleroidea are a well-defined monophyletic group and may form a monophylum together with a paraphyletic assemblage of Cucujoidea. A close relationship between Cleroidea and Lymexylidae is refuted.

1992 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.G. Beutel

AbstractInternal and external features of the head of larvae of Rhysodidae were analyzed phylogenetically. A detailed description of the head of the larva of Omoglymmius hamatus (LeConte) is given. Omoglymmius and Rhysodes belong to a monophyletic unit which is characterized by an isolated submental sclerite and a strongly elongated prementum. The presence of a broad, undivided submental plate is a possible synapomorphy of Rhyzodiastes and Clinidium. The following features are considered autapomorphies of Rhysodidae: head extremely widened posteriorly, stemmata absent, frontoclypeolabral apotome strongly extended posteriorly, snout-like nasal projection, maxillolabial complex retracted, galea extremely modified, caudal premental apotome, labial palpi 1-segmented. Significant features indicate a sister-group relationship between Gyrinidae and the remaining Adephaga. Rhysodidae belong to a monophyletic group which comprises Geadephaga excl. Trachypachini. A sistergroup relationship between Rhysodidae and all other taxa of this monophylum is proposed as a working hypothesis. The wood-boring, xylophagous-fungivorous habits of Rhysodidae are almost certainly a secondary feature as indicated by the absence of the mandibular mola and other features. The hypothesis of a close relationship between Rhysodidae and Scaritini does not accord with the results of this study.


2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 962-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darla K Zelenitsky ◽  
Sean P Modesto

A reappraisal of the eggshell of ratites clarifies aspects of its microstructure and ultrastructure. The phylogenetic usefulness of the eggshell data, consisting of discrete characters, is assessed using eggshell characters alone and by adding the eggshell characters to a data matrix from the literature based on skeletal characters. The resultant tree from the eggshell data alone yields Apteryx as the most basal ratite, dinornithids as the sister taxon of a clade of large living ratites, with Casuarius and Dromaius in a sister-group relationship. The combined eggshell and skeletal analysis revealed most groupings within Ratitae that were based on previous cladistic analysis of the skeletal characters alone, but also supports two equally parsimonious topologies: one identifies Dinornithidae and Apteryx as a clade at the base of Ratitae, and the other identifies Apteryx as the sister taxon of a clade consisting of all the other ratites. It is determined that the characteristics used to define the improperly named "ratite morphotype" in the current eggshell parataxonomy are not synapomorphies of the eggshell of Ratitae. An expanded cladistic analysis of the eggshells of avian and non-avian theropods is required to determine the phylogenetic usefulness of the characteristics of the ratite morphotype.


1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 556-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory W. Courtney

The cuticular structure of larval mountain midges (Diptera: Deuterophlebiidae) is described, with emphasis on cranial and mouthpart morphology. Homologies are suggested for musculature and external features of the head capsule. External morphology of the thorax and abdomen is described, and a system for deuterophlebiid larval chaetotaxy is presented. Also included is a discussion of the feeding behaviour of deuterophlebiid and blepharicerid larvae, and how differing morphological characteristics influence mechanisms of food acquisition. Larval morphology of the Deuterophlebiidae and other Nematocera provides support for (i) a sister-group relationship between the Deuterophlebiidae and Blephariceridae; (ii) a monophyletic Blephariceromorpha (sensu Wood and Borkent) composed of the Nymphomyiidae + (Deuterophlebiidae + Blephariceridae); and (iii) a sister-group relationship between the Blephariceromorpha and Psychodomorpha (sensu Wood and Borkent).


1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (8) ◽  
pp. 1236-1242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mats Wedin ◽  
Leif Tibell

Small subunit ribosomal DNA has been sequenced from seven members of the ascomycete order Caliciales s.l. (Calicium adspersum, Cyphelium inquinans, Texosporium sancti-jacobi, and Thelomma mammosum (Caliciaceae), Chaenothecopsis savonica and Stenocybe pullatula (Mycocaliciaceae), and Sphinctrina turbinata (Sphinctrinaceae)), included in a matrix of 58 homologous ascomycete sequences and analysed with maximum parsimony analysis. The result shows the Caliciaceae to be a strongly supported monophyletic group within the Lecanorales s.l., although the jackknife support for a monophyletic Lecanorales is low. Mycocaliciaceae and Sphinctrinaceae form a well-supported monophyletic group, grouping with representatives of Eurotiales and Onygenales. This larger group is the sister group to Lecanorales, but the support for this sister-group relationship and the monophyly of the group consisting of Mycocaliciaceae–Sphinctrinaceae and Eurotiales–Onygenales is low. The evolution of the prototunicate ascus is discussed, and it is concluded that there is neither any evidence for a monophyletic Caliciales s.l., nor for the suggested group "Euascomycetideae" sensu Tehler, with the prototunicate Caliciales being the sister group to the rest of the true ascomycetes. Prototunicate asci are shown to have reappeared at least four times in the evolution of the ascomycetes. Key words: Ascomycetes, lichens, molecular evolution, phylogeny, ribosomal DNA, 18S rDNA.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Hekkala ◽  
J. Gatesy ◽  
A. Narechania ◽  
R. Meredith ◽  
M. Russello ◽  
...  

AbstractAncient DNA is transforming our ability to reconstruct historical patterns and mechanisms shaping modern diversity and distributions. In particular, molecular data from extinct Holocene island faunas have revealed surprising biogeographic scenarios. Here, we recovered partial mitochondrial (mt) genomes for 1300–1400 year old specimens (n = 2) of the extinct “horned” crocodile, Voay robustus, collected from Holocene deposits in southwestern Madagascar. Phylogenetic analyses of partial mt genomes and tip-dated timetrees based on molecular, fossil, and stratigraphic data favor a sister group relationship between Voay and Crocodylus (true crocodiles). These well supported trees conflict with recent morphological systematic work that has consistently placed Voay within Osteolaeminae (dwarf crocodiles and kin) and provide evidence for likely homoplasy in crocodylian cranial anatomy and snout shape. The close relationship between Voay and Crocodylus lends additional context for understanding the biogeographic origins of these genera and refines competing hypotheses for the recent extinction of Voay from Madagascar.


Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2310 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
JORGE L. C. BERNARDES ◽  
CRISTIANO F. SCHWERTNER ◽  
JOCÉLIA GRAZIA

In this paper, the monophyly of the genus Thoreyella Spinola was tested, and a hypothesis of relationships among its species is proposed. Four known species of Thoreyella and two new species, as well as species of three other genera of Procleticini (Neoderoploa Pennington, Lobepomis Berg, and Procleticus Berg), were treated as the ingroup. The new species of Thoreyella will be published elsewhere. Two species of Dendrocoris were used for outgroup comparison. A cladistic analysis of 38 morphological characters supported a hypothesis of common ancestry for Thoreyella and the three genera of Procleticini included in the ingroup. The results also showed Thoreyella as a monophyletic taxon, and its sister group relationship with the monophyletic group including Neoderoploa, Lobepomis, and Procleticus. The geographical distribution of these taxa is discussed.


Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 779
Author(s):  
Xiaoxiao Chen ◽  
Qing Song ◽  
Min Huang

The complete mitochondrial genomes of Xenostrongylusvariegatus and Epuraea sp. were sequenced and analyzed. The total genome lengths are 17,657 and 16,641 bp, with an A+T content of 77.2% and 76.4%, respectively. Each mitochondrial genome consists of 37 coding genes and a non-coding (AT-rich) region. All protein-coding genes (PCGs) start with the standard start codon, ATN, and end with complete stop codons, TAA and TAG, or an incomplete stop codon, T. All tRNAs can be folded into the typical clover-leaf secondary structure, with the exception of trnS1 in both species with a reduced dihydrouridine (DHU) arm. The AT-rich region has tandem repeats differing in both number and length. Genetic distance and Ka/Ks analyses show that nad6 has a higher variability and more rapid evolutionary rate than other PCGs. Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference phylogenetic analyses based on 13 PCGs and 2 ribosome DNAs (rDNAs) agree with the previous phylogenies in supporting the Nitidulidae monophyly and the sister-group relationship of Kateretidae + (Monotomidae + Nitidulidae).


2000 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Chiao ◽  
Joseph V. McHugh

A new phylogenetic hypothesis of Sphindidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) ispresented, based on a cladistic analysis of 15 larval morphology characters inaddition to 39 adult morphology characters modified from a previous study by McHugh (1993). Results from the combined cladistic analyses show larval characters supporting several previously established relationships and resolving the placement of Notosphindus McHugh & Wheeler. The sister-group relationship betweenCarinisphindus McHugh and SphindusMegerle in Dejean is not supported by the combined analyses. Larval charactersdid not show a disproportionately strong impact on the more basal nodes.Incongruence length difference analysis found an insignificant level ofdiscordance (P = 0.197) between the adult andlarval based data sets. Larval Notosphindus slateriMcHugh & Wheeler, Genisphindus minor McHugh andCarinisphindus purpuricephalus McHugh & Lewis aredescribed for the first time, representing the first larval descriptions forthese genera. A literature review of immature stages of sphindid beetles and ageneric level key to larvae of the family are provided.


2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 1067-1077 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalton de Souza Amorim

A new phylogeny and phylogenetic classification for the Canthyloscelidae (Diptera: Psychodomorpha) is presented. A phylogenetic analysis of the Scatopsoidea is performed. A sister-group relationship between the Canthyloscelidae and Scatopsidae is accepted and the monophyly of the Canthyloscelidae is corroborated, including the genera Exiliscelis, Synneuron, Hyperoscelis, and Canthyloscelis. An earlier phylogenetic analysis of the group is considered, in which Synneuron was accepted as the sister-group of the Scatopsidae and Exiliscelis was considered the sister-group of Synneuron + Scatopsidae. Some apomorphic similarities between the larvae of all genera of Canthyloscelidae, especially the reduction of the head capsule, are considered true synapomorphies. Exiliscelis is considered the sister-group of the rest of the family and is placed in a new subfamily, Exiliscelinae. In the Canthyloscelinae, Synneuron is the sister-group of Hyperoscelis + Canthyloscelis. A phylogenetic classification of the group is proposed. Prohyperoscelis rohdendorfi Kovalev, 1985, from the Middle Jurassic in Russia, is accepted as the sister-group of Canthyloscelis.


2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 172-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S Berman ◽  
Amy C. Henrici

Superbly preserved tarsi of a new, undescribed, primitive member of Diadectidae and of Diadectes, the best known member of the family, are described. The major distinction between them is the retention of sutures in the astragalus of the former which clearly indicate an origin from the fusion of three separate ossifications considered homologues of the primitive amphibian tibiale, intermedium, and proximal centrale. Among the Diadectomorpha (includes also Limnoscelidae and Tseajaiidae) only Diadectidae possesses an astragalus, which is considered a synapomorphy of the family within this grouping. Furthermore, the sister-group relationship of the new, undescribed diadectid to the other diadectids demonstrates a transformational, phylogenetic homology of the astragalus via the ontogenetic fusion of the primitive amphibian tarsal bones. The astragalus of diadectids is identical to those of late Paleozoic terrestrial amniotes in structure and relationship to neighboring elements. This, plus the wide acceptance of a close relationship between Diadectomorpha and Amniota, is cited as suggestive of an identical developmental origin of their astragali.In diadectids, including fully mature individuals, an unusual reduction or absence of ossification of some central and distal tarsal bones has resulted in an unique tarsus with large unoccupied areas and a structural pattern in which the only bony link between the tarsus and the digits is via the fourth distal tarsal, producing a crude facsimile of the lacertilian mesotarsal joint. Such a joint would have permitted, as in lacertilians, a wide range of movements which may have served several important functions: 1) maintaining an anteriorly directed pes to maximize the force of its posterior thrust during limb retraction, 2) placement of the pes close to the body midline for greater stride length and more efficient support and greater maneuverability during locomotion.


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