Mosquitoes of the Anopheles maculipennis group (Diptera: Culicidae) in Romania, with the discovery and formal recognition of a new species based on molecular and morphological evidence

2004 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 525-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Nicolescu ◽  
Y.-M. Linton ◽  
A. Vladimirescu ◽  
T.M. Howard ◽  
R.E. Harbach

AbstractMosquitoes of the Anopheles maculipennis group were collected in five districts of Romania (Constanta, Giurgiu, Ilfov, Mehedinti and Suceava) between March 2000 and June 2003. Two hundred and ninety-seven specimens were identified by molecular methods. Nuclear rDNA ITS2 sequences of 178 specimens were compared with GenBank sequences for nine known Palaearctic species of the group, and 119 specimens were identified using an ITS2 PCR–RFLP assay developed during the study. Five genetically distinct species of the group were identified: A. atroparvus van Thiel, A. maculipennis Meigen, A. melanoon Hackett and A. messeae Falleroni and a previously unrecognized species. The new species, herein formally described and named A. daciaesp. n., was collected in the Black Sea coastal region and plains adjacent to the Danube River in southern Romania. Anopheles daciae is most similar to and sympatric with A. messeae. It is contrasted with A. messeae and characterized on the basis of unique nuclear ITS2 and mitochondrial COI DNA sequences and morphological characters of the eggs. The larval, pupal and adults stages of the two species were also compared, but no reliable characters were found to distinguish them. It seems likely that A. daciae is more widespread in eastern Europe and the Balkan States, and could be responsible for malaria transmission in these regions that is currently attributed to A. messeae. Anopheles melanoon is reported from Romania for the first time.

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 739-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine N White

Abstract Leucothoe spinicarpa (Abildgaard, 1789) has long been thought of as a cosmopolitan species; however, relatively recent morphological studies have discovered a species complex previously attributed to L. spinicarpa. Despite this, several species remain hardly distinguishable from the general leucothoid form of L. spinicarpa. Morphological analyses reveal two distinct species in Tampa Bay, Florida, USA, which is supported by molecular mitochondrial COI and nuclear 18S ribosomal DNA data. Leucothoe tunicasp. nov. and L. machidaisp. nov. are described herein. Analyses of DNA sequences from specimens from Tampa Bay, FL, Big Pine Key, FL, and Belize of L. tunicasp. nov. demonstrate intraspecific genetic structure in morphologically identical populations. Therefore, the geographically distant populations of L. tunicasp. nov. thus represent one species with a wide distribution, whereas L. machidaisp. nov. has so far been collected only in Tampa Bay.


Author(s):  
Jeannette Kneubühler ◽  
Adrienne Jochum ◽  
Carlos E. Prieto ◽  
Eike Neubert

AbstractThe subterranean realm of the Cantabrian-Pyrenean region of northern Spain harbours a rich diversity of Zospeum. Due to their tiny size and the difficulty of finding them alive, scarce animal material has been available for scientific investigation. Recent investigations of Zospeum shells have provided valuable, but limited insights towards our understanding of the evolutionary processes occurring within this taxon in northern Spain. In an integrative study, we investigate 57 populations of Zospeum from northern Spanish caves using two mitochondrial (COI and 16S) and two nuclear markers (H3 and 5.8 S rRNA + ITS2). Revealed is a separate radiation of the northern Spanish species for which the new genus, Iberozospeum, is proposed. The independent radiation of Dinaric Zospeum from that of northern Spain justifies the designation of Iberozospeum n. gen. Morphological evidence is provided via histological analysis of Iberozospeum vasconicum and SEM analyses of radulae of eastern Alpine, Dinaric and Iberian species. Important differences in morphological structure and character states are presented, including the first view of the sexually mature female and the presence of the giant albumen gland in an individual of the subterranean, troglobitic Carychiidae. Significant differences are revealed in superficial crystallographic structure of the columellar lamellae, the morphology of the columellar muscle and in the radula. Radular ribbon length, ribbon broadness, straightness of the ribbon base and cusp configuration are distinctive in the Iberian species. One new species is described corroborated by genetic and morphological characters.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4320 (3) ◽  
pp. 426 ◽  
Author(s):  
RAFAŁ GOSIK ◽  
JIŘÍ SKUHROVEC ◽  
IVO TOŠEVSKI ◽  
ROBERTO CALDARA

The relationship between the subtribes Lignyodina and Tychiina of the Tychiini were tested on the basis of morphological characters from the immature stages. The mature larvae of Lignyodes bischoffi (Blatchley, 1916) and L. enucleator (Panzer, 1798) (Curculionidae, Curculioninae, Tychiini, Lignyodina) and the pupae of L. bischoffi are described in detail for the first time. To be sure about the correct taxonomic identification of the larvae, DNA sequences were obtained and compared for both the larvae and adults of these two species. Molecular data show that the two studied species of Lignyodes  Dejean, 1835 strongly differ in mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA. The immature stages (larva and pupa) of Lignyodes bischoffi and L. enucleator were compared with each other and with those known for other taxa representative of the tribe Tychiini and other tribes of Curculioninae. The larvae of Lignyodes bischoffi and L. enucleator differ in a few but important characters. The larvae and pupae of these two species belonging to Lignyodes s. str. are morphologically very similar to those of species in the other two subgenera of Lignyodes, Neotylopterus Clark, Whitehead & Warner, 1977 and Chionanthobius Pierce, 1912. On the basis of the detailed morphology of larvae and pupae, we agree that Lignyodes belong to Tychiini, sharing more features with species of this tribe than with those of other tribes of Curculioninae. New bionomic data concerning larval and pupal development and adult emergence are reported for both described species and confirm close relationships between the subtribes Lignyodina and Tychiina. On the other hand, strong molecular differences, corroborated by some relevant larval differences, between L. enucleator and L. bischoffi open up the issue whether Palaearctic and Nearctic species presently included in Lignyodes s. str. actually belong to the same subgenus. 


Author(s):  
Dirk Erpenbeck ◽  
Merrick Ekins ◽  
Nicole Enghuber ◽  
John N.A. Hooper ◽  
Helmut Lehnert ◽  
...  

Sponge species are infamously difficult to identify for non-experts due to their high morphological plasticity and the paucity of informative morphological characters. The use of molecular techniques certainly helps with species identification, but unfortunately it requires prior reference sequences. Holotypes constitute the best reference material for species identification, however their usage in molecular systematics and taxonomy is scarce and frequently not even attempted, mostly due to their antiquity and preservation history. Here we provide case studies in which we demonstrate the importance of using holotype material to answer phylogenetic and taxonomic questions. We also demonstrate the possibility of sequencing DNA fragments out of century-old holotypes. Furthermore we propose the deposition of DNA sequences in conjunction with new species descriptions.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-229
Author(s):  
JÉRÉMIE MOREL ◽  
JÉRÔME MUNZINGER

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.


ZooKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 886 ◽  
pp. 113-126
Author(s):  
Chengcheng Feng ◽  
Yucheng Lin

The current paper expands knowledge of the genus Coddingtonia Miller, Griswold & Yin, 2009. Based on morphological characters and molecular data, three species are documented as new to science: C. erhuan Feng & Lin, sp. nov. (♀) from China, C. lizu Feng & Lin, sp. nov. (♀) from China, and C. huifengi Feng & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀) from Indonesia. The type of C. euryopoides Miller, Griswold & Yin, 2009 is also reexamined. DNA sequences (COI), detailed illustrations of habitus, male palp and epigyne are provided for these four species, as well as a key and a distribution map for Coddingtonia species.


PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11848
Author(s):  
Gustavo Hassemer ◽  
Elliot M. Gardner ◽  
Nina Rønsted

High-throughput sequencing, when combined with taxonomic expertise, is a powerful tool to refine and advance taxonomic classification, including at the species level. In the present work, a new species, Plantago campestris, is described out of the P. commersoniana species complex, based on phylogenomic and morphological evidence. The main morphological characters that distinguish the new species from P. commersoniana are the glabrous posterior sepals and the slightly broader leaves. The new species is known from only three localities, all in natural high-elevation grasslands in Paraná and Santa Catarina states, southern Brazil. According to the IUCN criteria new species should be assessed as Endangered (EN). We present field photographs of P. campestris and related species, and we provide an identification key to the species previously included within the circumscription of P. commersoniana.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 427 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-42
Author(s):  
LEI SHU ◽  
RUI-LIANG ZHU

Based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological characters, a new species from Bangladesh, northern Vietnam, and southwestern China, Leptolejeunea nigra, is described. It is mostly similar to L. balansae but remarkable for having brownish black ocelli in its leaf lobes. In the molecular phylogeny, the samples of L. nigra are not nested within any clade and form an independent lineage. In particular, the molecular dating suggested that the divergence of L. nigra happened in time span of the formation of the Himalayas.


MycoKeys ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 27-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai-Sheng Yuan ◽  
Xu Lu ◽  
Cony Decock

Grammatuslabyrinthinusgen. et sp. nov. is proposed based on DNA sequences data and morphological characteristics. It is known so far from southern, tropical China. The new species is characterised by an annual, resupinate basidiocarp with a shallow, subporoid hymenophore, a hymenium restricted to the bottom of the tubes, a dimitic hyphal system, presence of encrusted skeletocystidia and dendrohyphidia, longitudinally septate basidia and smooth, oblong-ellipsoid to cylindrical, acyanophilous basidiospores. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS + nLSU DNA sequences data indicate that G.labyrinthinus belongs to Auriculariaceae in which it has an isolated position. Phylogenetic inferences show G.labyrinthinus to be related to Heteroradulum. However, the ITS sequences similarity between G.labyrinthinus and H.kmetii, the type species of Heteroradulum, were 89.84% and support the establishment of the new genus. Inversely, Heteroradulumsemis clustered with G.labyrinthinus with strong support and it is transferred to Grammatus.


Author(s):  
Francisco A. Solís-Marín ◽  
David S.M. Billett ◽  
Joanne Preston ◽  
Alex D. Rogers

A new species of the synallactid sea cucumber genus Pseudostichopus is described, P. aemulatus sp. nov., based on genetic (DNA sequences of the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase I [COI] gene) and morphological characters. A comparative molecular study with two other species of the same genus (P. villosus and P. mollis) and from a different family (Isostichopus fuscus) was carried out in order to clarify its taxonomic identity. The nucleotide distance between P. aemulatus sp. nov. and P. villosus and P. mollis is sufficient to support distinct species status. The estimated difference in the number of amino acids, coded for by a partially sequenced COI gene, within the species of the family Synallactidae ranged from 4 to 18. The phylogenetic analysis clearly supports separate species status of these sympatric morphotypes, as indicated by the morphological analysis.


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