A closer look at the morphological and molecular diversity of Neoechinorhynchus (Acanthocephala) in Middle American cichlids (Osteichthyes: Cichlidae), with the description of a new species from Costa Rica

2018 ◽  
Vol 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.D. Pinacho-Pinacho ◽  
A.L. Sereno-Uribe ◽  
M. García-Varela ◽  
G. Pérez-Ponce de León

Abstract Neoechinorhynchus is one of the most speciose genera of acanthocephalans, with approximately 116 described species. A recent study, aimed at establishing the genetic diversity of Neoechinorhynchus in Middle American freshwater fishes, validated nine species molecularly and morphologically and revealed the existence of 10 putative candidate species. Neoechinorhynchus golvani, a parasite commonly found in cichlids throughout Middle America with an allegedly large intraspecific morphological variability, was found to represent a species complex; species delimitation methods uncovered three additional genetic lineages. Here, we re-analyse the morphological and molecular data for N. golvani species complex infecting cichlids in that geographical area. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted particularly for the length of apical, middle and posterior hooks of the species/lineages of Neoechinorhynchus in cichlids, revealing morphological variation in the length of apical hooks for Lineage 8, although no morphological distinction was observed for Lineages 9 and 10. A new concatenated phylogenetic analysis of one mitochondrial and two ribosomal DNA genes was used to further corroborate the species delimitation among lineages; Neoechinorhynchus Lineage 8 was found to be morphologically and genetically distinct from its sister taxa, N. golvani and other two undescribed genetic lineages, and is formally described as a new species. Neoechinorhynchus costarricense n. sp. is described from the intestines of eight species of cichlids in Costa Rica. The new species is distinguished from the other species/lineages of Neoechinorhynchus in cichlids mainly by the size of the apical hooks of the proboscis.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. e0190385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hernán Alvarado-Sizzo ◽  
Alejandro Casas ◽  
Fabiola Parra ◽  
Hilda Julieta Arreola-Nava ◽  
Teresa Terrazas ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 150 (5) ◽  
pp. 539-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D.G. Darling ◽  
François Génier

AbstractCopris incertus Say, 1835 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Coprini) has been described as a New World coprophagous scarab distributed from Mexico to Ecuador with large discontinuities in its range between the Yucatán province and Costa Rica. The C. incertus species complex of the Copris minutus (Drury, 1773) species group consists of C. incertus, Copris laeviceps Harold, 1869, and Copris lugubris Boheman, 1858. Based on external morphology and male genitalia, we discovered that multiple species have been classified as C. incertus. Of these species, five are new: Copris amazonicusnew species, Copris brevicornisnew species, Copris davidinew species, Copris moroninew species, and Copris susanaenew species. Herein, we revise the organisation of the C. incertus species complex and propose a new species complex, the C. laeviceps species complex, which includes: C. davidi, Copris igualensis Warner, 1990, and C. laeviceps, formerly included in the C. incertus species complex. We provide an identification key along with species distribution maps, images of habitus, and diagnostic characters.


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4577 (3) ◽  
pp. 501 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRIAN W. BAHDER ◽  
CHARLES R. BARTLETT ◽  
EDWIN A. BARRANTES BARRANTES ◽  
MARCO A. ZUMBADO ECHAVARRIA ◽  
ALESSANDRA R. HUMPHRIES ◽  
...  

An ongoing survey for novel phytoplasmas and viruses that affect palms (Arecaceae) is being conducted in Costa Rica along with potential vectors. During that survey, a new species of derbid planthopper (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) in the genus Omolicna Fennah was detected from Heredia and Limón State and is here described as Omolicna xavieri sp. n. This new taxon was first found on declining coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) and subsequently on healthy coconut palms in Tortuguero National Park. Also, two additional species of Omolicna, O. brunnea and O. triata, were collected on coconut in the same habitat and represent new country records. There are no previously published records of Omolicna from Costa Rica. Sequence data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the 18S ribosomal RNA gene were obtained. In addition, novel 18S primers specific to auchenorrhynchan insects were developed and presented. The molecular data show high pairwise distances between O. xavieri sp. n. and other Omolicna species (24% to 31% and 10% using COI and 18S, respectively). Based on both morphological and sequence data, we erect and briefly describe the new subgenus Agoo for the new species to reflect the observed differences. A checklist of Omolicna species is presented. 


1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Zamora ◽  
R. T. Pennington ◽  
C. S. Stirton

Dussia atropurpurea is a new species found in Costa Rica and Panamá. It differs from all other Dussia species in this region in its dark purple sarcotesta. The only other species of Dussia with a sarcotesta of this colour is the Amazonian D. tessmannii which is clearly distinct morphologically. Sarcotesta colour is an important character for species delimitation in Dussia, but is infrequently recorded.


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4691 (4) ◽  
pp. 301-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDREW G. CANNIZZARO ◽  
THOMAS R. SAWICKI

Crangonyx ephemerus n. sp. and Crangonyx pseudoephemerus n. sp. are described from the headwaters of the St. Marks River in Leon County, Florida, based on detailed morphological and molecular comparisons with the closely related species Crangonyx floridanus Bousfield, 1963. The morphological and molecular data, including three species delimitation models, lend support to the hypothesis that the taxon C. floridanus sensu lato represents a species complex. Diagnostic morphological characteristics are highlighted and discussed within this group to assist in future morphological analyses. 


Apidologie ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 484-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Vieira Freitas ◽  
José Eustáquio Santos Júnior ◽  
Fabrício Rodrigues Santos ◽  
Fernando A. Silveira

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2088 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
GERARDO CHAVES ◽  
ADRIÁN GARCÍA-RODRÍGUEZ ◽  
ALEJANDRA MORA ◽  
ALEJANDRO LEAL

A new dink frog species of the genus Diasporus (Eleutherodactylidae) is described from the Cordillera de Talamanca in Costa Rica. The new species shows an amazing polymorphism in the dorsal and ventral coloration that varies from red to black and white that is unique in the genus. Here we include the description of its mating call, sexual dimorphism relative to coloration, and comments on its distribution and conservation status. In addition, molecular data that complement the morphological taxonomy are shown.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 314 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
RUVISHIKA S. JAYAWARDENA ◽  
ERIO CAMPORESI ◽  
ABDALLAH M. ELGORBAN ◽  
ALI H. BAHKALI ◽  
JIYE YAN ◽  
...  

Colletotrichum sonchicola, sp. nov. from Sonchus sp. (dandelion tribe) in Forlì-Cesena Province, Italy, is introduced using morphological and molecular data. Combined phylogenetic analysis of ITS, GAPDH, CHS, ACT and TUB2 sequence data demonstrate that C. sonchicola is a distinct species within the dematium species complex. The new species is illustrated and compared with related taxa. This provides the first record of a Colletotrichum species from the genus Sonchus.


Author(s):  
Alexander Fedosov ◽  
Baldomero M. Olivera ◽  
Maren Watkins ◽  
Varvara Barkalova

The genus Casmaria H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (family Cassidae) is widespread in the tropical Indo-Pacific and has been documented from some Atlantic localities as well. Two Casmaria species, C. erinaceus (Linnaeus, 1758) and C. ponderosa (Gmelin, 1791), are common in Indo-Pacific shallow-water sandy bottom communities and are characterized by high morphological variability; both species encompass multiple, often sympatric forms of uncertain status. In the present study we carry out a phylogenetic analysis of some Philippine Casmaria morphs and demonstrate that one of the distinctive morphs earlier assigned to Casmaria ponderosa is in fact a different species, which we describe as Casmaria boblehmani sp. nov. The smooth form of Casmaria ponderosa, C. ponderosa ponderosa, and the solid nodulose form, widely called “form nodulosa” despite being strikingly different in shell morphology, are shown to be conspecific. Studied specimens of these two morphs even from different localities share the same haplotype of the CO1 gene. In light of these new data on the morphological variability of Casmaria species, we discuss criteria of species delimitation in the genus Casmaria and possible affinities of Casmaria boblehmani sp. nov. within the genus.


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