An electrophoretic comparison of the Australian paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus Neumann, 1899, with I. cornuatus Roberts, 1960 (Acari : Ixodidae)

An electrophoretic study was conducted on ticks morphologically identified as either Ixodes cornuatus or I. holocyclus from Tasmania and several localities on mainland Australia. Ticks were characterised genetically at 27 enzyme loci encoding 24 enzymes. The extent of genetic divergence (52–69% fixed differences) between ticks from Tasmania and those from the mainland was equivalent to that found between these two groups and two morphologically distinct species, I. hirsti and I. fecialis. The Tasmanian ticks therefore represent a different species from the specimens from the mainland and the electrophoretic data show that the morphological characters currently used to distinguish I. holocyclus from I. cornuatus are inadequate. Genetic heterogeneity was detected in samples from different localities on the mainland. This could represent either population variation, or the existence of cryptic species, but more ticks from these mainland localities need to be examined electrophoretically to resolve this.

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Morphological and genetic variation in populations of Sitana marudhamneydhal and the validity of Sitana attenboroughii

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4964.3.5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4964 (3) ◽

pp. 523-540

Author(s):

A. BALAN ◽

D. JUDE ◽

SURYA NARAYANAN ◽

SANDEEP VARMA ◽

V. DEEPAK

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Genetic Divergence ◽

Genetic Data ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Genetic Differences ◽

Junior Synonym ◽

Small Samples ◽

Species Descriptions ◽

Two Populations

Dewlap morphology and body ratios are two of the main morphological characters used in delimiting Sitana spp. It becomes a statistical limitation when small samples are used in species descriptions, as outliers can be picked to be described as a distinct species. Genetic data has been used to support the distinctness of a species in Sitana. However, species with shallow genetic divergence becomes a problem if not thoroughly examined. We examine and report our findings on morphological and genetic differences in two populations of Sitana marudhamneydhal and one population of S. attenboroughii. The shallow genetic divergence and overlapping morphology shows that Sitana attenboroughii is a junior synonym of Sitana marudhamneydhal

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Genetic and morphological evidence for cryptic species in Macrobrachium australe and resurrection of M. ustulatum (Crustacea, Palaemonidae)

European Journal of Taxonomy ◽

10.5852/ejt.2017.289 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Magalie Castelin ◽

Valentin De Mazancourt ◽

Gérard Marquet ◽

Gabrielle Zimmerman ◽

Philippe Keith

Keyword(s):

Pacific Ocean ◽

Cryptic Species ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

Northwest Pacific ◽

Central Pacific ◽

Northwest Pacific Ocean ◽

Southwest Indian Ocean ◽

Central Pacific Ocean

Macrobrachium australe is an amphidromous prawn living in the insular freshwater systems of the Indo-Pacific. Because it possesses few informative morphological characters, that often vary from one habitat to another, M. australe has produced much taxonomic confusion and has historically been described under eight synonyms. Here, 53 specimens collected throughout the Indo-Pacific under the name M. australe were phylogenetically and morphologically examined. Results revealed that what has been called M. australe belongs to at least two distinct species: M. australe, distributed from the Southwest Indian Ocean to the Central Pacific Ocean, and a cryptic species potentially restricted to the Northwest Pacific Ocean, here identified as M. ustulatum, which until now was considered as a junior synonym. Although they are not quite found in the same habitat (lentic-lotic), the presence of these distinct, and reciprocally monophyletic entities in the same rivers on the islands of Palau and Santo strongly favors the hypothesis of two reproductively isolated entities. Six morphological characters, including the proportions of the joints of the male second pereiopod, the shape of the epistome lobe and the armature of the fourth thoracic sternite, are evidenced as diagnostic. A neotype of M. australe is designated and deposited in the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris.

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Rediscovery of a Cryptic Species and Description of a New Subspecies in The Myrmeciza Hemimelaena Complex (Thamnophilidae) of the Neotropics

The Auk ◽

10.1093/auk/119.2.362 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 119 (2) ◽

pp. 362-378 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Morton L. Isler ◽

José Alvarez Alonso ◽

Phyllis R. Isler ◽

Thomas Valqui ◽

Alfredo Begazo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cryptic Species ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Biological Species ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Biological Species Concept ◽

Species Status ◽

New Subspecies ◽

Morphological Differences ◽

San Martín

AbstractThe recording in 1992 of an unknown antbird loudsong initiated a journey of discovery that led to the resolution of the conflict between John Zimmer (1932) and Melvin Carriker (1934) regarding the taxonomic standing of the population of Myrmeciza hemimelaena, a widespread southern Amazonian antbird, that occurs in lower Andean elevations in San Martín, Peru. Zimmer had described a new subspecies, M. h. castanea, from the Moyobamba Valley, but Carriker, on the basis of specimens he collected at the same elevation in an adjoining valley, could not find morphological differences between his specimens and the widespread nominate form of M. hemimelaena. Both authors were correct. Two cryptic sister taxa coexist in the foothills of San Martín. Diagnostic vocal and morphological characters and syntopy confirm their status as distinct species. Myrmeciza hemimelaena castanea Zimmer is revived and raised to species status. Concurrently, analysis of the vocalizations and morphology of the lowland population north of the Río Marañón in Peru, the loudsong recording of which initiated the project, revealed that this population was closely related to M. castanea of which it is described as a subspecies, M. c. centunculorum, under the biological species concept. The discovery that there are two cryptic species in the Myrmeciza hemimelaena complex exemplifies the continuing need to pursue field knowledge and analysis of avian species limits in the Neotropics required for the development of conservation strategies as well as phylogenetic understanding.

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The North American Allies of Hylobius piceus (De Geer) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent8937-1 ◽

1957 ◽

Vol 89 (1) ◽

pp. 37-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Stephen L. Wood

Keyword(s):

North American ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

North American Species ◽

Winged Form ◽

The North ◽

The Status ◽

Field Workers ◽

Dimorphic Species ◽

Biological Differences

While investigating the biology of the North American species of Hypomolyx, field workers in Manitoba found a vestigial, or short-winged, and a long-winged form under apparently identical conditions in about equal numbers. Although biological differences were nor then apparent, there was doubt as to whether they were dealing with one dimorphic species or with two distinct species, A search for morphological characters brought to light numerous differences between the two forms, supporting the view that two species were present. These differences, a description the previously unrecognized species, and notes concerning the status of the genera Hylobius and Hypomolyx are reported below.

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Reestablishment of Cabomba schwartzii (Cabombaceae), an aquatic plant species endemic to the Brazilian Amazon

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.367.3.4 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 367 (3) ◽

pp. 245 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

TIAGO D. M. BARBOSA ◽

RAFAELA J. TRAD ◽

MIKLOS M. BAJAY ◽

MARIA I. ZUCCHI ◽

MARIA DO CARMO E. DO AMARAL

Keyword(s):

Geographical Distribution ◽

Plant Species ◽

Genetic Study ◽

Aquatic Plant ◽

Brazilian Amazon ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Species Description ◽

Dichotomous Key ◽

Herbarium Collections

Cabomba schwartzii was described by Rataj in 1977. The species discovered in the Brazilian Amazon was said to differ from other Cabomba species in having two sepals, two petals and a lobate petal base. According to the 1991 study of Ørgaard, C. schwartzii is similar to C. aquatica in other morphological characters (C. aquatica has flowers with three sepals and three petals) and since variation in number of floral parts is common in the genus, Ørgaard synonymized both species. After an analysis of C. schwartzii type material, other herbarium collections and location of four populations (two with C. schwartzii characteristics and two with C. aquatica characteristics), we conducted an integrated morphological and genetic study to evaluate whether or not C. schwartzii is a distinct species from C. aquatica. The results reveal the species to be distinct from each other and therefore C. schwartzii should be reestablished. The floral formula for C. schwartzii is K2 C2 A2+2 G1, versus K3 C3 A3+3 G2 for C. aquatica. A detailed species description and the geographical distribution of C. schwartzii are presented with a dichotomous key to distinguish both species, together with illustrations.

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Genetic divergence among members of the Kokobera group of flaviviruses supports their separation into distinct species

Journal of General Virology ◽

10.1099/vir.0.049940-0 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 94 (7) ◽

pp. 1462-1467 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Fiona J. May ◽

David C. Clark ◽

Kim Pham ◽

Sinéad M. Diviney ◽

David T. Williams ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Papua New Guinea ◽

Genetic Divergence ◽

Untranslated Region ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Envelope Gene ◽

Specific Antibodies ◽

Old Mice ◽

Intraperitoneal Inoculation ◽

Polyarticular Disease

The Kokobera virus group comprises mosquito-borne flaviviruses that cluster together phylogenetically. These viruses are unique to Australia and Papua New Guinea, and have been associated with a mild polyarticular disease in humans. Recent isolation of genetically diverse viruses within this group has prompted analysis of their genetic and phenotypic relationships. Phylogenetic analysis based on complete ORF, the envelope gene or the NS5/3′ untranslated region supported the separation of the group into distinct species: Kokobera virus (KOKV), Stratford virus, New Mapoon virus, MK7979 and TS5273. Virulence studies in 3-week-old mice also provided the first evidence that a member of the KOKV group (MK7979) was neuroinvasive after intraperitoneal inoculation. In this context, our recent detection of KOKV group-specific antibodies in horses in the field suggests that these viruses should be considered in the epidemiology of flavivirus encephalitis in Australia.

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DNA-based diversity assessment reveals a new coral barnacle, Cantellius alveoporae sp. nov. (Balanomorpha: Pyrgomatidae) exclusively associated with the high latitude coral Alveopora japonica in the waters of southern Korea

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.11284 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e11284

Author(s):

Hyun Kyong Kim ◽

Benny K.K. Chan ◽

Sung Joon Song ◽

Jong Seong Khim

Keyword(s):

Cryptic Species ◽

Dna Sequences ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Andaman Sea ◽

Morphological Examination ◽

Species Identity ◽

Diversity Assessment ◽

Molecular Studies ◽

Southern Korea ◽

Specialist Species

In the present study, the Indo-Pacific coral associated barnacle Cantellius euspinulosum (Broch, 1931) was found to have cryptic species in Korea, Taiwan and other regions based on molecular studies. However, the original specimens of C. euspinulosum from Broch have not been previously described or illustrated, making it difficult to assign which cryptic species to the original C. euspinulosum. The original specimen of C. euspinulosum was examined and illustrated here, and the species identity of C. cf. euspinulosum collected from Jejudo Island in the present study and other cryptic species (based on literature illustrations) in the Indo-Pacific were evaluated.C. euspinulosum from Singapore, Java, Mergui Archipelago in Andaman Sea and Nha Trang represented the C. euspinulosum identified by Broch (1931). It is a generalist on Acropora, Favia, Favites, Leptoria, Montipora, Pachyseris and Pocillipora corals and distributed in the Indo-Pacific region. Morphological examination and DNA sequencing (COI, 12S DNA sequences) in the present study showed that C. cf. euspinulosum from Jejudo Island, Korea represents a distinct species, herein named C. alveoporae sp. nov. Cantellius alveroporae sp. nov. is a specialist species that only grows on Alveopora and also present in Palau, and Ogasawara Island in Japan. Cantellius cf. euspinuloum in Taiwan, the Moscos Island, and Australia belong to several other distinct species awaiting further morphological and molecular studies. At least five cryptic species of C. euspinulosum were identified in the present study, including both specialist and generalists.

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Molecular and morphological analyses support recognition of Prostanthera volucris (Lamiaceae), a new species from the Central Tablelands of New South Wales

10.1101/2021.12.21.473648 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ryan P. O'Donnell ◽

Jeremy J. Bruhl ◽

Ian R.H. Telford ◽

Trevor C. Wilson ◽

Heidi C. Zimmer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New South ◽

New South Wales ◽

Evolutionary Relationship ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Line Drawings ◽

South Wales ◽

Neighbour Network

Research into the systematics of Prostanthera has recently revealed a close evolutionary relationship among P. phylicifolia s. str., the critically endangered P. gilesii, and a population of uncertain identity from the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. Previous analyses were unable to establish whether genetic boundaries separated these taxa. This study aimed to assess the species boundaries among these three taxa using a combination of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) sampled at the population-scale and multivariate analysis of morphological characters. Non-parametric and parametric statistics, neighbour-network analysis, phylogenetic analysis, and ancestry coefficient estimates all provided support for discrete genetic differences between the three taxa. Morphological phenetic analysis identified a suite of characters that distinguished each of these taxa. This corroboration of evidence supports the presence of three independently evolving lineages. Prostanthera gilesii and P. phylicifolia s. str. are distinct species independent from the third taxon which is described here as P. volucris R.P.O'Donnell. A detailed description, diagnostic line drawings and photographs are provided. We evaluate P. volucris as satisfying criteria to be considered Critically Endangered.

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Novitates neocaledonicae. XIII. Taxonomy and nomenclature of the genus Xyris (Xyridaceae, Poales) in New Caledonia, with description of a new species

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.502.3.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 502 (3) ◽

pp. 219-229

Author(s):

JÉRÉMIE MOREL ◽

JÉRÔME MUNZINGER

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

New Caledonia ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Remarkable Feature ◽

Anatomical Features ◽

Line Drawings ◽

Vegetative Characters ◽

Reproductive Characters ◽

A New Species

Three endemic species of Xyris (Xyridaceae, Poales) are currently recognized in New Caledonia. A recent multivariate analysis of 18 morphological characters based on 129 specimens of Xyris from New Caledonia, supported by 10 anatomical and micromorphological observations, suggested that three species should be recognized in the New Caledonian archipelago. However, the three published names did not correspond to the three entities identified via the multivariate analyses. The results showed that Xyris neocaledonia Rendle was morphologically distinct but requires lectotypification, Xyris guillauminii Conert was indistinct from X. pancheri Rendle, and that a new morphologically distinct species required description. We therefore propose to clarify the taxonomy of the genus for New Caledonia, by designating a lectotype, making this synonymy and describing the new species. The new species, Xyris desquamatus J.R.Morel & Munzinger, sp. nov., has the remarkable feature of leaves that are shed as the plant senesces, and is reflected in the specific epithet for this new species. Line drawings are provided for the new species, along with colour photos for the three New Caledonian Xyris species and a distribution map. Three identification keys are provided, the first based on vegetative characters, the second on reproductive characters and the third on anatomical features of the leaf. Xyris desquamatus is preliminarily assigned an IUCN risk of extinction assessment of vulnerable.

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