A taxonomic revision of the Thesium scirpioides species complex (Subgenus Frisea, Santalaceae) near endemic to South Africa

Abstract Staphylococcus cohnii (SC), a coagulase-negative bacterium, was first isolated in 1975 from human skin. Early phenotypic analyses led to the delineation of two subspecies (subsp.), Staphylococcus cohnii subsp. cohnii (SCC) and Staphylococcus cohnii subsp. urealyticus (SCU). SCC was considered to be specific to humans whereas SCU apparently demonstrated a wider host range, from lower primates to humans. The type strains ATCC 29974 and ATCC 49330 have been designated for SCC and SCU, respectively. Comparative analysis of 66 complete genome sequences—including a novel SC isolate—revealed unexpected patterns within the SC complex, both in terms of genomic sequence identity and gene content, highlighting the presence of 3 phylogenetically distinct groups. Based on our observations, and on the current guidelines for taxonomic classification for bacterial species, we propose a revision of the SC species complex. We suggest that SCC and SCU should be regarded as two distinct species: SC and SU (Staphylococcus urealyticus), and that two distinct subspecies, SCC and SCB (SC subsp. barensis, represented by the novel strain isolated in Bari) should be recognized within SC. Furthermore, since large scale comparative genomics studies recurrently suggest inconsistencies or conflicts in taxonomic assignments of bacterial species, we believe that the approach proposed here might be considered for more general application.

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Re-Evaluation of the Podosphaera tridactyla Species Complex in Australia

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7030171 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 171

Author(s):

Reannon L. Smith ◽

Tom W. May ◽

Jatinder Kaur ◽

Tim I. Sawbridge ◽

Ross C. Mann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Powdery Mildew ◽

Species Complex ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Stone Fruit ◽

Prunus Species ◽

Wide Range ◽

Unidentified Species ◽

The Rose ◽

Generation Sequencing

The Podosphaera tridactyla species complex is highly variable morphologically and causes powdery mildew on a wide range of Prunus species, including stone fruit. A taxonomic revision of the Po. tridactyla species complex in 2020 identified 12 species, seven of which were newly characterised. In order to clarify which species of this complex are present in Australia, next generation sequencing was used to isolate the fungal ITS+28S and host matK chloroplast gene regions from 56 powdery mildew specimens of stone fruit and ornamental Prunus species accessioned as Po. tridactyla or Oidium sp. in Australian reference collections. The specimens were collected in Australia, Switzerland, Italy and Korea and were collected from 1953 to 2018. Host species were confirmed using matK phylogenetic analysis, which identified that four had been misidentified as Prunus but were actually Malusprunifolia. Podosphaera species were identified using ITS+28S phylogenetic analysis, recognising three Podosphaera species on stone fruit and related ornamental Prunus hosts in Australia. These were Po.pannosa, the rose powdery mildew, and two species in the Po. tridactyla species complex: Po. ampla, which was the predominant species, and a previously unidentified species from peach, which we describe here as Po. cunningtonii.

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Evaluation of a maximum entropy geographic distribution model: A case study of the Philoliche aethiopica species complex (Diptera: Tabanidae) in South Africa

Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie ◽

10.4102/satnt.v32i1.807 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

Author(s):

P. Maharaj ◽

B. Muller

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Maximum Entropy ◽

Geographic Distribution ◽

Species Complex ◽

Distribution Model

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Taxonomic revision of the Square-tailed Drongo species complex (Passeriformes: Dicruridae) with description of a new species from western Africa

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4438.1.4 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4438 (1) ◽

pp. 105 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

JÉRÔME FUCHS ◽

MORY DOUNO ◽

RAURI C.K. BOWIE ◽

JON FJELDSÅ

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Genetic Divergence ◽

Species Complex ◽

Morphological Character ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Genetic Data ◽

Sister Species ◽

Western Africa ◽

Gallery Forests ◽

A New Species

We describe a new species of drongo in the Square-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus ludwigii) complex using a combination of biometric and genetic data. The new species differs from previously described taxa in the Square-tailed Drongo complex by possessing a significantly heavier bill and via substantial genetic divergence (6.7%) from its sister-species D. sharpei. The new species is distributed across the gallery forests of coastal Guinea, extending to the Niger and Benue Rivers of Nigeria. We suspect that this taxon was overlooked by previous avian systematists because they either lacked comparative material from western Africa or because the key diagnostic morphological character (bill characteristics) was not measured. We provide an updated taxonomy of the Square-tailed Drongo species complex.

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Lost and Found: Taxonomic revision of the speckled skink (Oligosoma infrapunctatum; Reptilia; Scincidae) species complex from New Zealand reveals a potential cryptic extinction, resurrection of two species, and description of three new species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4623.3.2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4623 (3) ◽

pp. 441-484

Author(s):

SABINE MELZER ◽

ROD A. HITCHMOUGH ◽

TRENT BELL ◽

DAVID G. CHAPPLE ◽

GEOFF B. PATTERSON

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

New Zealand ◽

Native Species ◽

Species Complex ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Genetic Lineages ◽

Lost And Found ◽

Type Population ◽

Single Genus ◽

Three New Species

New Zealand has a diverse skink fauna, comprising 45 described native species, and at least 15 undescribed taxa, within the single genus Oligosoma Girard, 1857. One of the earliest described, and best known, species is the speckled skink, Oligosoma infrapunctatum (Boulenger 1887). Despite a relatively stable taxonomic history for nearly 114 years, recent molecular work has indicated that O. infrapunctatum represents a species complex, comprising numerous genetically divergent, range restricted taxa. We completed the first stage of a taxonomic revision of O. infrapunctatum, conducting a morphological re-evaluation of existing voucher material, and newly collected specimens, and generated a molecular phylogeny for the species complex. This allowed us to distinguish six species: O. infrapunctatum, two species resurrected from synonymy (O. newmani, O. robinsoni), and three new species (O. salmo sp. nov., O. albornense sp. nov. O. auroraensis sp. nov.). The name bearing type population of O. infrapunctatum has not been located again for at least 130 years: it remains to be rediscovered and may already be extinct. Two of the six species here are considered ‘Nationally Critical’ (O. albornense sp. nov., O. salmo sp. nov.) under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, the others are Nationally Vulnerable (O. auroraensis sp. nov.) and At Risk—Relict (O. newmani, O. robinsoni). Further taxonomic work will be required to determine the taxonomy of other speckled skink genetic lineages in the South Island, particularly O. aff. infrapunctatum “cobble”, O. “Hokitika”, O. “Southern North Island” and O. “Westport”.

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Morphometric analysis and taxonomic revision of the Memecylon natalense species-complex (Melastomataceae) in southern Africa

South African Journal of Botany ◽

10.1016/j.sajb.2016.02.116 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 103 ◽

pp. 334 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

I.G. Mona ◽

R.D. Stone

Keyword(s):

Southern Africa ◽

Morphometric Analysis ◽

Species Complex ◽

Taxonomic Revision

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Integrative Taxonomy of Australian Metopia (Sarcophagidae: Miltogramminae) Reveals a New Species and Challenges Traditional Phylogeny

Insect Systematics and Diversity ◽

10.1093/isd/ixaa016 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Nikolas P Johnston ◽

James F Wallman ◽

Thomas Pape

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Species Complex ◽

Molecular Phylogenetics ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Integrative Taxonomy ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Australian Species ◽

A New Species ◽

Generic Relationships

Abstract A taxonomic revision of all Australian species of Metopia Meigen (Sarcophagidae: Miltogramminae) is completed using an integrated approach combining molecular and morphological data. Metopia nudibasis (Malloch) is redescribed as a species complex and a new endemic Australian species, Metopia sputnik sp. n., is described. Evidence is presented that Metopia sauteri (Townsend) is absent from Australia and this species is therefore removed from the known Australian fauna. Molecular phylogenetics is used to reconstruct interspecific and generic relationships and support morphology-based species hypotheses. Phylogenetic analysis splits Metopia Meigen into two clades, separated by Aenigmetopia Malloch, rendering the former genus nonmonophyletic. The implications of this are discussed.

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