scholarly journals The taxonomic status of Cossus cossus afghanistanus (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) from Afghanistan: insights from molecular and morphological data

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 134-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. Shapoval ◽  
R. V. Yakovlev ◽  
G. N. Kuftina

<p>In our study we use a 658 bp fragment of the <em>COI</em> gene to analyze a taxon from Afghanistan usually treated in literature as <em>Cossus cossus afghanistanus </em>(Daniel, 1953)<em>.</em> The previous conclusions on taxonomy and nomenclature were not supported by molecular data therefore the question of identity of this taxon has remained unverified. Phylogenetic analysis revealed <em>C. c. afghanistanus </em>to be strongly differentiated from nominotypical <em>Cossus cossus</em> (Linnaeus, 1758) (p-distance: 6.7% ± 1.5%). <em>Cossus c. afghanistanus </em>forms a distinct well-supported clade in ML and BI trees. This fact, together with prominent morphological differences (wing color and genitalia structure) shows that <em>C. c. afghanistanus </em>represent a separate species rather than a subspecies of <em>Cossus cossus</em>.</p>

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0242103
Author(s):  
Tatiana Korshunova ◽  
Alexander Martynov

Nudibranch molluscs of the family Tritoniidae are widely used neuroscience model systems for understand the behavioural and genetic bases of learning and memory. However species identity and genus-level taxonomic assignment of the tritoniids remain contested. Herein we present a taxonomic review of the family Tritoniidae using integration of molecular phylogenetic analysis, morphological and biogeographical data. For the first time the identity of the model species Tritonia tetraquetra (Pallas, 1788) and Tritonia exsulans Bergh, 1894 is confirmed. T. tetraquetra distributes across the large geographic and bathymetric distances in the North-Eastern (NE) and North-Western (NW) Pacific. In turn, at NE Pacific coasts the separate species T. exsulans is commonly occured. Thus, it reveals a misidentification of T. tetraquetra and T. exsulans species in neuroscience applications. Presence of more hidden lineages within NW Pacific T. tetraquetra is suggested. The long lasting confusion over identity of the species from the genera Tritonia and Tochuina is resolved using molecular and morphological data. We also disprove a common indication about “edible T. tetraquetra” at the Kuril Islands. It is shown that Tochuina possesses specialized tritoniid features and also some characters of “arminacean nudibranchs”, such as Doridoxa and Heterodoris. Diagnoses for the families Doridoxidae and Heterodorididae are provided. Taxonomy of the genus Doridoxa is clarified and molecular data for the genus Heterodoris presented for the first time. A taxonomic synopsis for the family Tritoniidae is provided. A new genus among tritoniid taxa is proposed. Importance of the ontogeny-based taxonomy is highlighted. The cases when apomorphic characters considerably modified in a crown group due to the paedomorphosis are revealed. Tracing of the character evolution is presented for secondary gills–a key external feature of the family Tritoniidae and traditional dendronotacean nudibranchs.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 413 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
KENJI SUETSUGU ◽  
AKIHIKO KINOSHITA ◽  
TIAN-CHUAN HSU

This paper presents a re-evaluation of the taxonomic status of Sciaphila tosaensis and S. megastyla (Triuridaceae) distributed in Japan and Taiwan. Based on the detailed morphological data, we concluded that these two species should both be treated as distinct species rather than synonyms of S. secundiflora. Sciaphila tosaensis differs from S. secundiflora and S. megastyla in having very narrow male perianth segments and female perianth segments distinctly shorter than male perianth segments. Sciaphila megastyla differs from the other two species in having very conspicuous style and stigma that is ca. 1.5 times as long as ovary in the flowering stage. Furthermore, a lectotype is designated of S. megastyla because its holotype has been lost. Molecular data also showed that there is considerable genetic divergence between S. tosaensis and S. megastyla, supporting that the morphological differences are mirrored by their genetic distances.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 222-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. V. Yakovlev ◽  
N. A. Shapoval ◽  
G. N. Kuftina ◽  
A. V. Kulak ◽  
S. V. Kovalev

The Proclossiana eunomia (Esper, 1799) complex is currently composed of the several subspecies distributed throughout Palaearсtic region and North America. Despite the fact that some of the taxa have differences in wing pattern and body size, previous assumptions on taxonomy not supported by molecular data. Therefore, the identity of certain populations of this complex has remained unclear and the taxonomic status of several recently described taxa is debated. Here, we provide insights into systematics of some Palaearctic members of this group using molecular approach, based on the analysis of the barcoding fragment of the COI gene taking into account known morphological differences.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-316
Author(s):  
M.A. Chursina ◽  
I.Ya. Grichanov

The recent catalogues of the family Dolichopodidae considered Syntormon pallipes (Fabricius, 1794) and S. pseudospicatus Strobl, 1899 as separate species. In this study, we used three approaches to estimate the significance of differences between the two species: molecular analysis (COI and 12S rRNA sequences), analysis of leg colour characters and geometric morphometric analysis of wing shape. The morphological data confirmed the absence of significant differences between S. pallipes and S. pseudospicatus found in the DNA analysis. Significant differences in the wing shape of two species have not been revealed. Hence, according to our data, there is no reason to consider S. pseudospicatus as a distinct species.


Author(s):  
Antonio Zurita ◽  
Cristina Cutillas

AbstractCtenophthalmus is considered the largest genus within the Order Siphonaptera. From a morphological point of view, only males of this genus can be identified at species and subspecies levels using morphological keys, whereas there are no morphological criteria in order to classify females at these taxonomical levels. Furthermore, the amount of available molecular and phylogenetic data for this genus is quite scarce so far. The main objective of this work was to assess the utility of the combination of nuclear and mitochondrial markers with respect to their ability to differentiate among different subspecies within the Ctenophthalmus genus. With this purpose, we carried out a comparative morphological and molecular study of three different subspecies (Ctenophthalmus baeticus arvernus, Ctenophthalmus nobilis dobyi, and Ctenophthalmus andorrensis catalaniensis) in order to clarify and discuss its taxonomic status. In addition, our study complemented the molecular data previously provided for Ctenophthalmus baeticus boisseauorum and Ctenophthalmus apertus allani subspecies. We sequenced five different molecular markers: EF1-α, ITS1, ITS2, cox1, and cytb. Our results confirmed that morphological data by themselves are not able to discriminate among Ctenophthalmus female taxa; however, the combination of the nuclear marker EF1-α together with mtDNA markers cytb and cox1 constituted a useful taxonomical and phylogenetic tool to solve this issue. Based on these results, we consider that the use of this molecular approach should be gradually used within Ctenophthalmus genus in order to complement its classical taxonomy and clarifying the complex taxonomy of other congeneric species of fleas.


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4926 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-188
Author(s):  
JAVIER FRESNEDA ◽  
VALERIA RIZZO ◽  
JORDI COMAS ◽  
IGNACIO RIBERA

We redefine the genus Troglocharinus Reitter, 1908 based on a phylogenetic analysis with a combination of mitochondrial and molecular data. We recovered the current Speonomites mengeli (Jeannel, 1910) and S. mercedesi (Zariquiey, 1922) as valid, separate species within the Troglocharinus clade, not directly related to Speonomites Jeannel, 1910, a finding corroborated by a detailed study of the male and female genitalia. In consequence, we reinstate Speonomus mercedesi Zariquiey, 1922 stat. nov. as a valid species, transfer both of them to the genus Troglocharinus, T. mengeli (Jeannel, 1910) comb. nov. and T. mercedesi (Zariquiey, 1922) comb. nov., and redescribe the genus. The study of new material from the distribution area of the former S. mengeli revealed the presence of two undescribed species, T. sendrai sp. nov. and T. fadriquei sp. nov., which we describe herein. We designate the lectotype of Speonomus vinyasi Escolà, 1971 to fix its identity, as among its syntypes there are two different species. In agreement with the results of the phylogenetic analyses we establish the synonymy between the genus Speonomites and Pallaresiella Fresneda, 1998 syn. nv. 


2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt A. M. Renner ◽  
Nicolas Devos ◽  
Elizabeth A. Brown ◽  
Matt J. von Konrat

The current paper presents molecular data from three chloroplast markers (atpB–rbcL spacer, trnG G2 intron, trnL–trnF intron and spacer); morphological data, and geographic data to support the recognition of nine species belonging to Radula subg. Odontoradula in Australasia. R. ocellata, the subgeneric type from the Wet Tropics bioregion, is maintained as distinct from its sister species, R. pulchella, from south-eastern Australian rainforests; both species are Australian endemics. Reinstatement of R. allisonii from synonymy, under R. retroflexa, is supported by molecular data and morphological characters, including the absence of triradiate trigones on leaf-lobe cell walls, the apex of lobules on primary shoots not being turned outwards, the oblong-elliptic female bracts, and the perianths having a pronounced wing. Reinstatement of R. weymouthiana, from synonymy under R. retroflexa, is also supported by molecular data and morphological characters, including the presence of a single low dome-shaped papilla over each leaf-lobe cell, and the large imbricate lobules on primary shoots. R. weymouthiana occurs in Tasmania and New Zealand, whereas R. allisonii is a New Zealand endemic. Australian R. retroflexa exhibits differentiation into epiphytic and rheophytic morphs, interpreted as ecotypes. Australian individuals, comprising both epiphytic and rheophytic morphs, are monophyletic and nested within a clade containing individuals from other regions. R. novae-hollandiae is newly reported for the New Zealand Botanical Region, from Raoul Island in the Kermadecs. R. novae-hollandiae exhibits decoupling of morphological and molecular divergence, with Australian individuals forming two clades reflecting geography (a Wet Tropics bioregion clade and a south-eastern Rainforest clade). These clades exhibit equivalent levels of molecular divergence, as observed in R. pulchella and R. ocellata, but no morphological differences. Similar levels of molecular divergence were observed in trans-Tasman populations of R. tasmanica. The New Zealand endemic, R. plicata, is excluded from the Australian flora, and R. cuspidata replaces R. dentifolia for the New Zealand endemic species formerly known by both names.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4242 (2) ◽  
pp. 313
Author(s):  
MAURICIO RIVERA-CORREA ◽  
CARLOS JIMÉNEZ-RIVILLAS ◽  
JUAN M. DAZA

Pristimantis, distributed throughout the New World tropics, is the most speciose vertebrate genus. Pristimantis presents an enormous morphological diversity and is currently divided into several demonstrably non-monophyletic phenetic species groups. With the purpose of increasing our understanding of Pristimantis systematics, we present the first phylogenetic analysis using molecular evidence to test the monophyly and infer evolutionary relationships within the Pristimantis leptolophus group, an endemic group of frogs from the highlands of the Colombian Andes. Our phylogenetic reconstruction recovers the group as monophyletic with high support, indicating general concordance between molecular data and morphological data. In addition, we describe a new polymorphic species lacking conspicuous tubercles, a regular attribute among species of the P. leptolophus species group and endemic from the Páramo de Sonsón complex (Antioquia, Colombia). The phylogenetic position of the new species is inferred and other systematic implications in the light of our results are discussed. 


Phytotaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 280 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALFREDO VIZZINI ◽  
MIRCA ZOTTI ◽  
MIDO TRAVERSO ◽  
ENRICO ERCOLE ◽  
PIERRE-ARTHUR MOREAU ◽  
...  

Several collections of Amanita species from section Vaginatae have been reported to be strictly associated with Helianthemum plants growing in grasslands, a still largely under-explored ectomycorrhizal habitat. The main aim of this study was to investigate the taxonomic status and phylogenetic position of strictly Helianthemum-associated Amanita sect. Vaginatae taxa, informally named Amanita “helianthemicola”. Collections from Italy, England and France were included in this study. The morphologically closely related species complex A. lividopallescens was also examined. Analyses were carried out based on both morphological and molecular data (phylogenetic analysis of the nrITS sequences). All investigated Amanita collections, which are strictly associated with Helianthemum nummularium, turned out to be conspecific with A. simulans. Amanita simulans was recently described from Sardinia (Italy) from Populus nigra habitats based on morphological characters only. As the holotype of A. simulans was lost, a neotype is designated here based on a voucher from the original collecting area. Amanita simulans is re-described, and an extensive discussion on the morphological variability, host species range, distribution and related taxa is provided. Amanita lividopallescens was confirmed as a good species, and re-delimited based on our phylogenetic analysis; moreover, it was epitypified with a recent and well-documented collection from Corse (France). Amanita stenospora is a synonym of A. lividopallescens, being a colour form of the latter without taxonomic value.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4276 (4) ◽  
pp. 503 ◽  
Author(s):  
TANJA WILKE ◽  
WILKO H. AHLRICHS ◽  
OLAF R.P. BININDA-EMONDS

In this paper, we focus on the two morphologically similar species Synchaeta tremula (Müller, 1786) and Synchaeta tremuloida Pourriot, 1965. This study records one of the first detections of the latter species since its initial description and clarifies its uncertain taxonomic status. Using an integrative approach combining morphological data (from light and scanning electron microscopy) with molecular and ecological data, we present re-descriptions of S. tremula and S. tremuloida and confirm their status as separate species. Finally, we also provide a unique character set that can be readily applied to unambiguously identify each species using easily observable features. 


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