A REVISED CLASSIFICATION OF THE PIOPHILIDAE, INCLUDING ‘NEOTTIOPHILIDAE’ AND ‘THYREOPHORIDAE’ (DIPTERA: SCHIZOPHORA)

1977 ◽  
Vol 109 (S103) ◽  
pp. 1-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. McAlpine

AbstractThe systematic position of the Piophilidae sens. lat. within a group of nine schizophorous families with tephritid-like ovipositors (Lonchaeidae, Otitidae, Platystomatidae, Pyrgotidae, Tephritidae, Tachiniscidae, Richardiidae, Pallopteridae, and Piophilidae) is elucidated. It is shown to be a sister-group of the Pallopteridae, and these two families together with the Richardiidae comprise a monophyletic suprafamily unit within the larger group of families. The evolutionary changes that occurred within the Piophilidae are analyzed and the supposed phylogeny of its component taxa is portrayed. The family is redefined to include neottiophilids and thyreophorids and is classified into two subfamilies, Neottiophilinae and Piophilinae; the latter is divided into two tribes, Mycetaulini and Piophilini (with subtribes Piophilina and Thyreophorina). Twenty-three genera are recognized and taxonomically defined; this includes description of two new genera, Neopiophila and Parapiophila. Clusina Curran is synonymized withProtopiophila Duda (new synonymy), and four nominal species are placed in synonymy for the first time, i.e. Piophila anomala Malloch and Piophila setosa Melander and Spuler = Parapiophila vulgaris (Fallén) (new synonymy), Piophila flavifacies Brunetti = P. casei (Linnaeus) (new synonymy), and Mycetaulus pulchellus Banks = Mycetaulus longipennis Loew (new synonymy). Six new species, Actenoptera avalona (Newfoundland), Neopiophila setaluna (Northwest Territories), Protopiophila atrichosa (Peru and British Honduras), Protopiophila pallida (Peru and British Guiana), Prochyliza azteca (Mexico), and Prochyliza inca (Peru) are described. The following 20 new combinations are made: Mycetaulus lituratus (Melander and Spuler), Allopiophila testacea (Melander), Protopiophila nigriventris (Curran), Prochyliza lundbecki (Duda), nigricornis (Meigen), nigricoxa (Melander and Spuler) and nigrimana (Meigen), Arctopiophila arctica (Holmgren), Parapiophila atrifrons (Melander and Spuler), calceata (Duda), coerulescens (Zetterstedt), dudai (Frey), flavipes (Holmgren), lonchaeoides (Zetterstedt), nitidissima (Melander and Spuler), pectiniventris (Duda), penicillata (Steyskal), vulgaris (Fallén), and xanthopoda (Melander and Spuler). In all, 67 valid species are placed, their geographic distributions are outlined, and the zoogeographic implications are discussed. A lectotype is designated for Piophila flavitarsis Meigen = Madiza glabra Fallén (Milichiidae).A key to subfamilies, tribes, and genera is provided, and keys to world species are given where needed. An annotated world list of all names referred to the family (sens. lat.) is provided. The paper includes 58 figures, two tables, and 122 literature references.

1975 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evert E. Lindquist

AbstractConceptual and nomenclatural problems of Digamasellus Berlese, 1905 and Dendrolaelaps Halbert, 1915 are reviewed. It is shown that Digamasellus punctum (Berlese, 1904) is conspecific with D. perpusillus Berlese, 1905, the type-species of Digamasellus Berlese, 1905 (new synonymy). Hence, the genus in which punctum is included must take the name Digamasellus.A new case is made for recognizing Digamasellus and Dendrolaelaps as distinct genera in the Digamasellidae. Two other genera of Digamasellidae are recognized, Dendroseius Karg, 1965 and a broadened concept of Longoseius Chant, 1961. Two new subgenera are proposed, Dendrolaelaspis in the genus Dendrolaelaps, and Longoseiulus in the genus Longoseius. Diagnoses, descriptions, and a key to these genera and subgenera of Digamasellidae, along with a comprehensive description of the family, are presented. The phylogenetic relationship of the Digamasellidae in the Rhodacaroidea, and some thoughts on phylogeny within the Digamasellidae are given.A second species of Digamasellus sensu stricto, D. australis, is described as new, and the female and male adults of the type-species of Longoseius, L. (L.) cuniculus Chant, are described for the first time. New combinations include: Dendrolaelaps (Dendrolaelaspis) orientalis (Bhattacharyya), Longoseius (Longoseiulus) longulus (Hirschmann), L. (L.) ornatus (Hirschmann), L. (L.) aberrans (Hirschmann), and L. (L.) brachypoda (Hurlbutt).The absence of the protonymphal seta, md, from the telotarsi of legs II to IV is noted as a singular deficiency in the leg setation of Longoseius cuniculus Chant. This seta is not known to be absent in any other species among the families of Gamasina.A paper published by Hirschmann while the present work was in press is considered in an addendum to this paper. The subgeneric name Dendrolaelaps (Tridendrolaelaps) Hirschmann, 1974 is an objective junior synonym of Digamasellus Berlese, 1905, and the latter also has priority over Dendrolaelaps Halbert, 1915 so long as both names are applied within the same genus. A lectotype is designated for the nominal species Digamasellus punctum (Berlese). The status of the subgenus Dendrolaelaps (Multidendrolaelaps) Hirschmann, 1974 is problematic, pending a more comprehensive diagnosis providing data sufficient to indicate whether this is a monophyletic group. The quadrisetus group is newly proposed for some of the species placed by Hirschmann in the armatus group of Multidendrolaelaps. Digamasellus badenhorsti (Ryke) is tentatively considered as the second known species of Dendroseius Karg. Hirschmann's opinion, that Longoseius Chant warrants no more than a species-group in Dendrolaelaps, is disputed.


1991 ◽  
Vol 123 (S160) ◽  
pp. 3-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-François Landry

AbstractGenera and previously described species of Nearctic Scythrididae are revised for the first time, based on the study of adult structures. About 90 percent of the Nearctic fauna known in collections consists of undescribed species. The supraspecific taxa treated in this work encompass less than half of the Nearctic species diversity. Only six new species are described, all within the largest and structurally most diverse genus. The status of all nominal species is revised. Valid species are redescribed and their features illustrated. General problems in the systematics of the Scythrididae are discussed. A description of adult features of the family Scythrididae is providad. Extra-limital genera are briefly reviewed. A key to the Nearctic genera and informal supraspecific lineages is provided.Six genera, including three new, are treated: Areniscythris Powell, 1976, Arotrura Walsingham, 1888, Asymmetrura gen. nov., Neoscythris gen. nov., Rhamphura gen. nov., and Scythris s. str. Hübner, [1825]. Areniscythris includes a single described species, Areniscythris brachypteris Powell, but is defined more broadly to account for a number of undescribed species. Arotrura is divided into nine informal species groups with the following included species: Arotrura atascosa sp. nov., Arotrura balli sp. nov., Arotrura divaricata (Braun) comb, nov., Arotrura eburnea Walsingham, Arotrura formidabilis sp. nov., Arotrura hymenata sp. nov., Arotrura longissima sp. nov., Arotrura oxyplecta (Meyrick) comb, nov., Arotrura powelli sp. nov., and Arotrura sponsella (Busck) comb. nov. Asymmetrura includes: Asymmetrura albilineata (Walsingham) comb. nov., Asymmetrura graminivorella (Braun) comb. nov., Asymmetrura impositella (Zeller) comb. nov. and type species, Asymmetrura matutella (Clemens) comb, nov., Asymmetrura reducta (Braun) comb, nov., and Asymmetrura scintillifera (Braun) comb. nov. Neoscythris includes: Neoscythris confinis (Braun) comb, nov., Neoscythris euthia (Walsingham) comb. nov., Neoscythris fissirostris (Meyrick) comb. nov. and type species, and Neoscythris planipenella (Chambers) comb. nov. Rhamphura includes: Rhamphura altisierrae (Keifer) comb, nov., Rhamphura ochristriata (Walsingham) comb. nov. and type species, Rhamphura perspicillella (Walsingham) comb. nov., Rhamphura suffusa (Walsingham) comb. nov., and the extra-limital Rhamphura immunis (Meyrick) comb. nov. from Peru. Scythris s. str. includes: Scythris immaculatella (Chambers) rev. stat., Scythris limbella (Fabricius), Scythris mixaula Meyrick, Scythris trivinctella (Zeller), and Scythris ypsilon Braun. A further eight species are phylogenetically distinct from Scythris s. str. but provisionally are only assigned to five informal monophyletic lineages until their cladistic relationships are more firmly established. These are: the Scythris basilaris lineage including Scythris basilaris (Zeller), Scythris eboracensis (Zeller), and Scythris fuscicomella (Clemens); the Scythris interrupta lineage including Scythris interrupta Braun; the Scythris inspersella lineage including Scythris inspersella (Hübner) and Scythris noricella (Zeller); the Scythris anthracina lineage including Scythris anthracina Braun; and the Scythris charon lineage including Scythris charon Meyrick. Three species are incertae sedis: Scythris inornatella (Chambers) comb, nov., Scythrispilosella (Zeller), and Scythris piratica Meyrick.Coleophora albacostella Chambers and Coleophora inornatella Chambers are transferred from the Coleophoridae. Scythris arizoniella (Kearfott) is transferred to the Coleophoridae [Coleophora arizoniella (Kearfott) comb. nov.].The following new synonymy is proposed: Colinita Busck, 1907 = Arotrura Walsingham, 1888; Gelechia aterrimella Walker, 1864 and Scythris epilobiella McDunnough, 1942 = Scythris inspersella [Hübner, (1817)]; Scythris magnatella Busck, 1904 = Scythris noricella (Zeller, 1843); Scythris pacifica McDunnough, 1927 = Scythris immaculatella (Chambers, 1875); Coleophora albacostella Chambers, 1875 and Scythris hemidictyas Meyrick, 1928 = Neoscythris planipenella (Chambers, 1875).A cladistic definition of the family is presented for the first time. The monophyly of the Scythrididae is supported by the following synapomorphies: very narrow ductus bursae, broad ductus seminalis anastomosed with the oviduct and the corpus bursae, lack of signum, unique shape of the apophyses of the metathoracic furca, tarsomeres 1–4 with two subapical spurs, aedeagus ankylosed, and origin of forewing veins R4 and R5 on a common stalk with R4 extended to the costa and R5 to the termen. Relationships of the Scythrididae within the Gelechioidea are discussed. Based on the cladistic analysis of 52 structural characters, phylogenetic relationships of supraspecific taxa are inferred. Two cladograms, one for the genera and one for the species groups of Arotrura, are presented and used in deriving the classification.


1997 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1109-1124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Guo-Qing ◽  
Mark V. H. Wilson ◽  
Lance Grande

Review of recently collected material of Eohiodon from North America suggests that there are two valid species, E. rosei (Hussakof) and E. woodroffi Wilson. Eohiodon falcatus Grande is identical to E. woodruffi in known skeletal features and nearly all meristic features and is treated as a junior synonym of the latter. The fossil genus Eohiodon Cavender differs from Hiodon Lesueur, which is known from both fossil and extant species, in numerous meristic and osteological features. The caudal skeleton in Eohiodon is nearly identical to that in Hiodon.The traditionally accepted Notopteroidei, containing Lycopteridae, Hiodontidae, and Notopteridae, is a polypheletic group. The Asian fossil family Lycopteridae is not more closely related to Hiodontidae than it is to other taxa in the Osteoglossomorpha, but is sister to all other Osteoglossomorpha. The Hiodontiformes sensu stricto, including only the family Hiodontidae, is the sister-group of the Osteoglossiformes. This family is not more closely related to notopterids than to other taxa in Osteoglossiformes. The Notopteridae are most closely related to the Mormyroidea; together they and the fossil family Ostariostomidae constitute the sister-group of the Osteoglossoidei.Fossil records of Hiodontiformes sensu stricto and Notopteroidei indicate a widespread pre-Neogene biogeographic range of these freshwater teleosts, suggesting that extinction must have been involved in the Cenozoic evolution of these two osteoglossomorph sublineages.


PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12597
Author(s):  
Alice M. Clement ◽  
Richard Cloutier ◽  
Jing Lu ◽  
Egon Perilli ◽  
Anton Maksimenko ◽  
...  

Background The megalichthyids are one of several clades of extinct tetrapodomorph fish that lived throughout the Devonian–Permian periods. They are advanced “osteolepidid-grade” fishes that lived in freshwater swamp and lake environments, with some taxa growing to very large sizes. They bear cosmine-covered bones and a large premaxillary tusk that lies lingually to a row of small teeth. Diagnosis of the family remains controversial with various authors revising it several times in recent works. There are fewer than 10 genera known globally, and only one member definitively identified from Gondwana. Cladarosymblema narrienense Fox et al. 1995 was described from the Lower Carboniferous Raymond Formation in Queensland, Australia, on the basis of several well-preserved specimens. Despite this detailed work, several aspects of its anatomy remain undescribed. Methods Two especially well-preserved 3D fossils of Cladarosymblema narrienense, including the holotype specimen, are scanned using synchrotron or micro-computed tomography (µCT), and 3D modelled using specialist segmentation and visualisation software. New anatomical detail, in particular internal anatomy, is revealed for the first time in this taxon. A novel phylogenetic matrix, adapted from other recent work on tetrapodomorphs, is used to clarify the interrelationships of the megalichthyids and confirm the phylogenetic position of C. narrienense. Results Never before seen morphological details of the palate, hyoid arch, basibranchial skeleton, pectoral girdle and axial skeleton are revealed and described. Several additional features are confirmed or updated from the original description. Moreover, the first full, virtual cranial endocast of any tetrapodomorph fish is presented and described, giving insight into the early neural adaptations in this group. Phylogenetic analysis confirms the monophyly of the Megalichthyidae with seven genera included (Askerichthys, Cladarosymblema, Ectosteorhachis, Mahalalepis, Megalichthys, Palatinichthys, and Sengoerichthys). The position of the megalichthyids as sister group to canowindrids, crownward of “osteolepidids” (e.g.,Osteolepis and Gogonasus), but below “tristichopterids” such as Eusthenopteron is confirmed, but our findings suggest further work is required to resolve megalichthyid interrelationships.


Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4806 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-144
Author(s):  
STEFFEN BAYER ◽  
HUBERT HÖFER ◽  
HEIKO METZNER

We propose a revision of the spider genus Corythalia C.L. Koch, 1850 (Salticidae: Euophryini) with a revised genus diagnosis based on examination of all species available to us. In this paper we redescribe all previously described species from South America with revised species diagnoses and describe 20 new species from South America (and the nearby islands). For C. latipes, the type species of the genus Corythalia, a neotype is designated. In total, 52 nominal species of the genus are herein treated, 46 species are recognized as valid. The females of C. waleckii Taczanowski, 1871, C. luctuosa Caporiacco, 1954 and C. latipes (C.L. Koch, 1846) are described for the first time. Corythalia sellata Simon, 1901, erroneously considered as nomen nudum in the present version of the World Spider Catalog, is here recognised as a valid species. Corythalia fulgipedia Crane, 1948 is also considered a valid species and is removed from the synonymy of C. tropica (Mello-Leitão, 1939). One name is considered a nomen dubium (Corythalia variegata Caporiacco, 1954), two are nomina nuda (C. major Simon, 1901; C. dimidiata Simon, 1901). Two species are transferred to other genera: C. argyrochrysos (Mello-Leitão, 1946) to Pachomius Peckham & Peckham, 1896 as Pachomius argyrochrysos (Mello-Leitão, 1946), comb. nov. and C. heliophanina (Taczanowski, 1871) to Neonella Gertsch, 1936, as Neonella heliophanina (Taczanowski, 1871), comb. nov. under incertae sedis. One species is synonymised: C. barbipes (Mello-Leitão, 1939) is a junior synonym of C. cincta (Badcock, 1932), syn. nov. The new Corythalia species are: C. conferta sp. nov. (♂♀, Brazil), C. concinna sp. nov. (♀, Brazil), C. drepane sp. nov. (♂♀, Brazil), C. drepanopsis sp. nov. (♀, Brazil), C. antepagmenti sp. nov. (♂♀, Brazil), C. ricti Bayer, sp. nov. (♂, Guyana), C. protensa sp. nov. (♂, Brazil), C. gasnieri sp. nov. (♂, Brazil), C. verhaaghi sp. nov. (♀, Brazil), C. scutellaris Bayer, sp. nov. (♂♀, Ecuador), C. dakryodes Bayer, sp. nov. (♀, Colombia), C. foelixi Bayer, sp. nov. (♂♀, French Guiana), C. longiducta sp. nov. (♀, Brazil), C. latior sp. nov. (♂, Bolivia), C. trochophora Bayer, sp. nov. (♂, Ecuador), C. lineata Bayer, sp. nov. (♂, Guyana), C. hamulifera Bayer, sp. nov. (♂, Ecuador), C. tribulosa sp. nov. (♂, Colombia), C. flagrans sp. nov. (♂, Brazil) and C. fragilis sp. nov. (♂♀, Brazil). Illustrations are provided for all of the new species and for all (primary) type specimens of the species re-described. Hypotheses of possible relationships among the different species of Corythalia are discussed. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4622 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. RAVICHANDRAN ◽  
P. VIGNESHWARAN ◽  
G. RAMESHKUMAR

The parasitic isopod family Cymothoidae Leach, 1818 of the India exclusive economic zone is reviewed. A total of 56 nominal species corresponding to 48 valid species belonging to sixteen genera are reviewed from 73 host species belonging to 35 families. Mothocya plagulophora (Haller, 1880), Nerocila depressa Milne Edwards, 1840, Nerocila loveni Bovallius, 1887, Nerocila trichiura (Miers, 1877), Norileca triangulata (Richardson, 1910) and Ryukyua globosa Williams & Bunkley-Williams, 1994 are redescribed. Indusa pustulosa Pillai, 1954 is synonymised with Agarna malayi Tiwari, 1952; Cymothoa krishnai Jayadev Babu & Sanjeeva Raj, 1984 is synonymised with Cymothoa eremita (Brünnich, 1783) and Nerocila priacanthusi Kumari, Rao & Shyamasundari, 1987 is synonymised with Nerocila arres Bowman & Tareen, 1983. Ourozeuktes bopyroides (Lesueur, 1814) is revised and excluded from the Indian fauna. The Indian cymothoid species Agarna bengalensis Kumari, Rao & Shaymasundari, 1990, Cymothoa asymmetrica Pillai, 1954 and Nerocila hemirhamphusi Shyamasundari, Rao & Kumari, 1990 are regarded here as species inquirenda. A key to the Indian genera of the family Cymothoidae and keys to the Indian species of the genera Cymothoa, Joryma, Mothocya, and Nerocila are presented. A checklist of the valid Cymothoidae species until now reported from Indian marine fishes are compiled. Host preferences, morphological variability and distribution are discussed. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4402 (3) ◽  
pp. 467 ◽  
Author(s):  
YUKIO IWATSUKI ◽  
STEPHEN J. NEWMAN ◽  
FUMIYA TANAKA ◽  
BARRY C. RUSSELL

Psammoperca datnioides Richardson 1848, long considered a synonym of P. waigiensis (Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes 1828), is redescribed as a valid species of Psammoperca Richardson 1848. The species is likely to be endemic to Australia, where it was formerly considered to be P. waigiensis, but differs from P. waigiensis in having the following characters: more slender body (mean depth 28.9% of SL vs. mean depth 36.7% of SL in P.  waigiensis), pored lateral-line scales 49–54 (vs. 46–48 in P. waigiensis), scale rows above and below lateral line 6½ / 10½–11½ (vs 4½ / 9½–10½ in P. waigiensis), and vertical at hind margin of maxilla posterior/behind center of eye (vs. vertical at hind margin of maxilla anterior to/in front of hind margin of eye in P. waigiensis). Live specimens of Psammoperca datnioides have a uniformly dense black or brownish body, with this dark colour on body scales and pored lateral-line scales persisting even in preserved specimens. Live specimens of Psammoperca waigiensis have a brownish body, often golden in colour, and pored lateral-line scales that are yellow-edged. The COI sequence (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 612 bp) of P. datnioides also is distinct from P. waigiensis, and the related and poorly known Hypopterus macropterus (Günther 1859). The latter species is redescribed and diagnosed with eight indistinct dark bands on the head and body, and dorsal-fin rays VII-I, 14–15 (vs. no dark bands and dorsal-fin rays VII-I, 12–13 in Psammoperca). Nominal species in the genus Psammoperca are discussed and Cnidon chinensis Müller & Troschel 1849 (type locality: Manila, Philippines) is included as a junior synonym of P. waigiensis. Psammoperca vaigiensis Boulenger 1895 is an unneeded emendation and thus an invalid name. Psammoperca macroptera Günther 1859 is retained in the monotypic genus Hypopterus Gill 1861 in the family Latidae, although the species has been overlooked in most studies on the Latidae and/or Centropomidae. A key to the Latidae is provided. 


1997 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mats H. G. Gustafsson ◽  
Kåre Bremer

The genus Carpodetus from New Zealand, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, traditionally has been included in the extremely heterogeneous Saxifragaceae sensu lato, but on account of morphological peculiarities it has sometimes been classified in its own family. On palynological grounds it has been suggested to belong near the Ericales. Parsimony analyses of matrices comprising rbcL sequences of 80 taxa sampled from the entire Asteridae and Rosidae provide support for a sister group relationship between Carpodetus and a clade comprising the closely related Australian genera Abrophyllum and Cuttsia, also formerly placed in Saxifragaceae sensu lato, but recently shown to belong within the order Asterales sensu lato. A morphological comparison between the three interrelated genera is provided. They have in common an indumentum of thick-walled unicellular hairs with warty cuticle, and are also uniform in wood anatomy as well as fruit and seed structure. It is proposed that the family Carpodetaceae be expanded to encompass Abrophyllum and Cuttsia.


Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1535 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
DALTON DE SOUZA AMORIM ◽  
EIRIK RINDAL

A phylogenetic analysis of the Mycetophiliformia (= Sciaroidea) was performed to determine the relationships among its families and to place the following genera of uncertain position in the system: Heterotricha, Ohakunea, Colonomyia, Freemanomyia, Rhynchoheterotricha, Chiletricha, Afrotricha, Anisotricha, Kenyatricha, Nepaletricha, Sciarosoma, Sciaropota, Insulatricha, Cabamofa, Rogambara, and Starkomyia. Eratomyia n. gen. is described based on a new species from Ecuador. Colonomyia brasiliana sp.n. and Colonomyia freemani sp.n. are described respectively from southern Brazil and Chile. The male of Cabamofa mira Jaschhof is described for the first time. A total of 64 terminal taxa and 137 transformation series (with 202 characters) were included in the data matrix, with a number of new features from thoracic morphology. Willi Hennig’s 1973 system for the higher Bibionomorpha was adopted using the name Mycetophiliformia for the Sciaroidea. The Mycetophiliformia are monophyletic. The family Cecidomyiidae appears as the sister group of the remaining Mycetophiliformia, followed by the Sciaridae. In the preferred topology, the Rangomaramidae appear as the group sister of a clade consisting of (Ditomyiidae + Bolitophilidae + Diadocidiidae + Keroplatidae) and of (Lygistorrhinidae + Mycetophilidae). The topology within the Rangomaramidae is (Chiletrichinae subfam. n. (Heterotrichinae subfam. n. ((Rangomaraminae + Ohakuneinae subfam. n.))). The Chiletrichinae include the genera Kenyatricha, Rhynchoheterotricha, Insulatricha, Chiletricha, and Eratomyia n. gen. Heterotrichinae and Rangomaraminae are monotypic. The subfamily Ohakuneinae includes Ohakunea, Colonomyia, Cabamofa, and Rogambara. The positions of Freemanomyia, Loicia, Taxicnemis, Sciaropota, Starkomyia, Anisotricha, Nepaletricha, and Sciarosoma are considered. Afrotricha might belong to the Sciaridae. The similarities used by many authors to gather the Sciaridae and Mycetophilidae in a clade are shown to be a combination of plesiomorphies and homoplasies.


2001 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly B. Miller

AbstractCharacters from adult morphology are analyzed cladistically to infer the phylogeny of the family Dytiscidae. The analysis is based on examination of 233 species of Dytiscidae and several outgroup taxa including members of Noteridae, Amphizoidae, Hygrobiidae and Carabidae. Members of all currently recognized tribes of Dytiscidae are represented except Anisomeriini Brinck, Hydronebriini Guignot and Carabhydrini Watts. Emphasis is placed on identifying informative characters from the female genital system that comprise 34 of the resulting 101 total characters. The consensus of the most parsimonious trees is well resolved and supports recognition of ten subfamilies of Dytiscidae including; Matinae van den Branden, Laccophilinae Gistel, Coptotominae van den Branden, Copelatinae Erichson, Hydroporinae Aubé, Agabinae Thomson, Colymbetinae Erichson, Lancetinae van den Branden and Dytiscinae Leach. Also, Hydrodytes Miller, NEW GENUS, is erected and placed in its own subfamily, Hydrodytinae, NEW SUBFAMILY, to include two species previously placed in Agaporomorphus Zimmermann (Copelatinae), H. opalinus (Zimmermann) (NEW COMBINATION) and H. dodgei (Young) (NEW COMBINATION). Hydrodytinae is sister group to Hydroporinae and is diagnosed by the presence of anterior apodemes on the gonocoxae, several characters of the metendosternite (each synapomorphic with Hydroporinae), lack of pseudotetramerous pro- and mesotarsi, lack of a declivitous prosternum and prosternal process, the scutellum visible with the elytra closed (all plesiomorphic), the rami of the female genitalia sinuate and dorsally with an opalescent sheen (each autapomorphic for Hydrodytinae). Matinae is resolved as the sister group to the remaining Dytiscidae. Hyphydrini Sharp is found to be paraphyletic with respect to Pachydrini Biström, Nilsson and Wewalka, and the latter is relegated to a junior subjective synonym of the former (NEW SYNONYMY). Hydroporini Aubé and Hygrotini Portevin are found to be para- or polyphyletic. No changes are made to the classification of these taxa since character evidence is relatively weak, and taxon sampling within Hydroporinae is inadequate to justify changes. Carabdytes Balke, Hendrich and Wewalka is found to be the sister taxon to the remaining Colymbetinae, and because of its unique combination of characters and phylogenetic placement it is included in its own tribe, Carabdytini Pederzani (RESURRECTED). All other examined tribes of Dytiscidae are monophyletic. The female genitalia are described and figured for numerous taxa across the family, and numerous other characters are described and figured. The evolution of various features of the female genitalia within Dytiscidae is discussed. The resulting phylogenetic hypothesis is compared and contrasted with other phylogenetic proposals.


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