Discovery of New Genera Challenges the Subtribal Classification of Tok-Tok Beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Sepidiini)

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia M Gearner ◽  
Marcin J Kamiński ◽  
Kojun Kanda ◽  
Kali Swichtenberg ◽  
Aaron D Smith
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Phylogenetic Placement ◽  
Darkling Beetles ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Inference Methods ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Coleoptera Tenebrionidae

Abstract Sepidiini is a speciose tribe of desert-inhabiting darkling beetles, which contains a number of poorly defined taxonomic groups and is in need of revision at all taxonomic levels. In this study, two previously unrecognized lineages were discovered, based on morphological traits, among the extremely speciose genera Psammodes Kirby, 1819 (164 species and subspecies) and Ocnodes Fåhraeus, 1870 (144 species and subspecies), namely the Psammodes spinosus species-group and Ocnodes humeralis species-group. In order to test their phylogenetic placement, a phylogeny of the tribe was reconstructed based on analyses of DNA sequences from six nonoverlapping genetic loci (CAD, wg, COI JP, COI BC, COII, and 28S) using Bayesian and maximum likelihood inference methods. The aforementioned, morphologically defined, species-groups were recovered as distinct and well-supported lineages within Molurina + Phanerotomeina and are interpreted as independent genera, respectively, Tibiocnodes Gearner & Kamiński gen. nov. and Tuberocnodes Gearner & Kamiński gen. nov. A new species, Tuberocnodes synhimboides Gearner & Kamiński sp. nov., is also described. Furthermore, as the recovered phylogenetic placement of Tibiocnodes and Tuberocnodes undermines the monophyly of Molurina and Phanerotomeina, an analysis of the available diagnostic characters for those subtribes is also performed. As a consequence, Phanerotomeina is considered as a synonym of the newly redefined Molurina sens. nov. Finally, spectrograms of vibrations produced by substrate tapping of two Molurina species, Toktokkus vialis (Burchell, 1822) and T. synhimboides, are presented.

Phylogenetic placement of the stone-nest orb-weaving spider Nemoscolus Simon, 1895 (Araneae : Araneidae) and the description of the first species from Australia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Kallal ◽  
Gustavo Hormiga
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Nucleotide Sequence ◽  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Recent Common Ancestor ◽  
Nucleotide Sequence Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Placement ◽  
Inference Methods ◽  
A New Species

The spider genus Nemoscolus Simon, 1895 (Araneidae) has been neglected taxonomically despite the unique retreat that several species construct in their horizontal orb-webs, composed of pebbles and other detritus. The distribution of Nemoscolus is poorly known and the genus includes species from Africa and Europe. Nemoscolus is placed in Simon’s Cycloseae species group along with Cyclosa Menge, 1866, Acusilas Simon, 1895, Arachnura Vinson, 1863, Witica O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1895, among others. Here we describe a new species from Queensland, Australia, N. sandersi, sp. nov., drastically expanding the distribution range of the genus. We use nucleotide sequence data to phylogenetically place Nemoscolus using model-based inference methods within Araneidae and to explore its affinities to Simon’s Cycloseae. The data support propinquity of Nemoscolus with Acusilas and Arachnura but not with Cyclosa. Our analyses suggest that Cycloseae is not a clade, with Cyclosa, Acusilas, Witica and Nemoscolus not sharing a recent common ancestor. This use of an integrated granular retreat represents at least the second independent evolution of such a structure within Araneidae. These results improve our understanding of both phylogeny and retreat evolution in araneid spiders.

scholarly journals Partial revision of the neustonic genus Scapholeberis Schoedler, 1858 (Crustacea: Cladocera): decoding of the barcoding results

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10410
Author(s):  
Petr G. Garibian ◽  
Anna N. Neretina ◽  
Derek J. Taylor ◽  
Alexey A. Kotov
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Russian Far East ◽  
Far East ◽  
Species Group ◽  
The Status ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Partial Revision ◽  
A New Species

Water fleas (Crustacea: Cladocera) are among the most intensively studied freshwater invertebrates. However, ecologically important daphniids that live on the surface layer (neuston) remain taxonomically confused. Here we attempt to reconcile genetic and morphological information for the neustonic genus Scapholeberis Schoedler, 1858 (Cladocera: Daphniidae) and present the first revision of the Scapholeberis kingii species group. We analyzed new and existing mitochondrial DNA sequences (сytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene region) together with morphology for all but one of the known species of the neustonic daphniids. Morphological comparisons of available populations, belonging to the Scapholeberis kingii species group from several Australian, Asian and African localities, revealed, that they are almost identical according to parthenogenetic females. However, Australian populations can be reliably distinguished from Asian ones based on the morphology of gamogenetic females. Mitochondrial DNA data analyses revealed divergent lineages (>17% for the DNA barcoding COI region) for the three different species (Australia, Asia and Africa). Based on this set of data, we redescribed S. kingii Sars, 1888 from Australia, its terra typica, and described a new species, S. smirnovi sp.nov. from the Russian Far East, Korea and Japan. The status of populations from Ethiopia and the Republic of South Africa remained unclear, because in the African material and the putative type material, we found only parthenogenetic females. Our results provide an integrative revision of the S. kingii species group and improve the taxonomic scaffold used for barcoding and genomics for the remaining species groups in the daphniid genus Scapholeberis.

The new Belostoma fittkaui species group with supplemental descriptions of B. fittkaui De Carlo and B. sayagoi De Carlo

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4942 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-591
Author(s):  
FABIANO STEFANELLO
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
South America ◽  
Comparative Morphology ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Type Material ◽  
Extreme Variation ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Tropical South America

The giant water bug fauna from tropical South America remains poorly known. Three species of Belostoma Latreille (Belostoma fittkaui De Carlo, B. sayagoi De Carlo and B. hirsutum Roback & Nieser) have been cited only a few times in the literature. These three species are remarkable since they represent an extreme variation for the genus, with article II of the labium distinctly shorter than article III. Here, the synonymy of B. hirsutum with B. sayagoi is proposed based on examination of type material and additional specimens. Further, B. fittkaui and B. sayagoi are redescribed, including discussion about comparative morphology with congeners. A new species group is proposed for these species and a key to the Belostoma species groups is provided. Distribution records are also updated. 

Paris variabilis (Melanthiaceae), a new species from southwestern China

Phytotaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 401 (3) ◽  
pp. 190
Author(s):  
ZHENYAN YANG ◽  
CHENGJIN YANG ◽  
YUNHENG JI
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Southwestern China ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Phylogenetic Placement ◽  
Greenish Yellow ◽  
The Status ◽  
Its Dna Sequences ◽  
A New Species

Paris variabilis, a new species from the Wumengshan Mountains, southwestern China, is described and illustrated. The new species is placed in Paris section Euthyra. The new taxon was determined to be most morphologically similar to P. vietnamensis but differs in its oblong leaf blades with an acute apex, stamens 2–4 × petal number, greenish yellow filaments and an enlarged, purplish red style base. The phylogenetic placement of this species was assessed based on nuclear ribosomal ITS DNA sequences data. The results of morphological and phylogenetic analyses support the status of the taxon as a new species.

Baetis pentaphyllus sp. nov., a new species of mayfly (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) from the Russian Far East

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4679 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-352
Author(s):  
TATIANA M. TIUNOVA ◽  
ALEXANDER A. SEMENCHENKO
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Russian Far East ◽  
Far East ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Mitochondrial Coi ◽  
Sister Clade ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Coi Sequences ◽  
A New Species

A new species, Baetis pentaphyllus sp. nov., is described on the basis of larvae from the Far East of Russia (type locality Bolshoi Garmakan River). Larvae of Baetis pentaphyllus sp. nov. may be distinguished from other Baetis species by the presence of only five pairs of tergalii on segments III–VII. The mitochondrial COI sequence obtained from the described species was compared with the data present in GeneBank and BOLD. The DNA barcodes allowed discrimination of B. pentaphyllus sp. nov. from other species of Baetis with available sequence data. The average interspecific K2P distances were 10–15%, which are values well above those associated with intraspecific variation. COI sequences as well as 36 morphological larval characters were analysed using Bayesian inference to relate the described species to the recognized species-groups of the Baetis genus. B. pentaphyllus sp. nov formed a sister clade to B. vardarensis + B. lutheri which belong to the Baetis lutheri species-group. 

A new case of West-East differentiation of the freshwater fauna in Northern Eurasia: the Pleuroxus  trigonellus species group (Crustacea: Cladocera: Chydoridae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4532 (4) ◽  
pp. 451
Author(s):  
PETR G. GARIBIAN ◽  
ANNA N. NERETINA ◽  
ALEXEY I. KLIMOVSKY ◽  
ALEXEY A. KOTOV
Keyword(s):  
Species Group ◽  
Northern Eurasia ◽  
Significant Progress ◽  
General Morphology ◽  
Cladoceran Species ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Freshwater Fauna ◽  
Male Morphology ◽  
Western Portion ◽  
A New Species

Cladocerans (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) of Northern Eurasia traditionally belong to the most intensively studied groups of freshwater microcrustaceans. However, despite a significant progress in our knowledge of different aspects on their biology, some intriguing questions remain unresolved. The hypothesis of cladoceran faunas differentiation between the western and eastern parts of Northern Eurasia agrees with the continental endemism concept. But to date few cladoceran species groups have been investigated through the whole North Eurasian range. Our current work contributes to the confirmation of this hypothesis through a revision of the poorly studied Pleuroxus trigonellus species group. Based on material from Europe, we redescibed morphology of Pleuroxus trigonellus (O.F. Müller, 1776) s.str. and found that its distribution range is potentially restricted to the western portion of Northern Eurasia. At the same time, morphologically similar populations from the eastern portion of Eurasia belong to a new species, Pleuroxus yakutensis sp. nov. These two species are basically similar in general morphology of parthenogenetic and gamogenetic females, but have clear differences in the male morphology. Additionally we offer an identification key for discrimination of the P. trigonellus group from P. uncinatus (Baird, 1850) according to morphological features of the males. 

A new species of Stenomorpha Solier (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae: Asidini) from Cuatrociénegas, Mexico with a key to the furcata species group

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2909 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
AARON D. SMITH ◽  
KELLY B. MILLER ◽  
QUENTIN D. WHEELER
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
Informal Group ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Coleoptera Tenebrionidae

A new species, Stenomorpha roosevelti Smith, Miller, and Wheeler, n. sp., is described from the Cuatrociénegas Protected Area in Coahuila, Mexico. Three related species are transferred into Stenomorpha, producing the following new combi- nations: Stenomorpha furcata (Champion), Stenomorpha wickhami (Horn), and Stenomorpha granicollis (Blaisdell). A new informal group, the furcata species group, comprised of these four species is recognized within Stenomorpha. Diagnoses of the group and its species are provided, along with distribution data and a key to the species.

scholarly journals A new species of Vespula, and first record of Vespa crabro L. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) from Guatemala, Central America

Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2629 (1) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER J. LANDOLT ◽  
JOSÉ MONZÓN SIERRA ◽  
THOMAS R. UNRUH ◽  
RICHARD S. ZACK
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Central America ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
First Record ◽  
Color Pattern ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Vespa Crabro ◽  
Vespula Vulgaris ◽  
A New Species

Vespula akrei Landolt sp. nov. is described from Guatemala. The first record of Vespa crabro L. in Guatemala is given, and Vespula inexspectata Eck from Mexico is re-described. We place Vespula akrei sp. nov. in the Vespula vulgaris (L.) species group (= Paravespula Bluthgen) based on morphology, color pattern, and DNA sequences from two mitochrondrial genes. It is presently known only from the Sierra de las Minas mountain range in southeastern Guatemala.

A new species group of the genus Trechosia from the Cape region of South Africa (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1469 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-50
Author(s):  
GERNOT GEGINAT
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
South African ◽  
Species Group ◽  
The South ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
A New Species

Trechodes intermedia sp. nov. and T. kogelbergensis sp. nov. are described from South Africa. A third species, T. humeralis (Jeannel, 1930) comb.nov. is transferred to Trechosia Jeannel from the genus Cothresia Jeannel. All three species are macropterous, endemic to the South African Cape region, and together represent a new species group of the genus Trechosia. Keys to the species groups of the genus Trechosia and to the species of the new T. intermedia group are provided.

Phylogenetic relationships and classification of the Malagasy pseudoxyrhophiine snake genera Geodipsas and Compsophis based on morphological and molecular data

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1517 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
FRANK GLAW ◽  
ZOLTÁN T. NAGY ◽  
MIGUEL VENCES
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Morphological And Molecular Data

Based on a specimen found at Montagne d'Ambre in northern Madagascar morphologically agreeing with Compsophis albiventris Mocquard, 1894, we report on the rediscovery of this enigmatic snake genus and species and its molecular phylogenetic relationships. Compsophis albiventris, considered to be the only representative of its genus and unreported since its original description, bears strong morphological similarities to species of Geodipsas Boulenger, 1896. A molecular phylogeny based on DNA sequences of three mitochondrial and nuclear genes (complete cytochrome b, fragments of 16S rRNA and c-mos) in Compsophis albiventris and three Geodipsas species corroborated close relationships between C. albiventris and Geodipsas boulengeri, and showed that the genera Compsophis and Geodipsas together form a monophyletic unit. Despite the general similarities, morphological data and chromatic features support the existence of two species groups, corresponding to Compsophis and Geodipsas. We consequently consider Geodipsas as a subgenus of Compsophis and transfer all species currently in Geodipsas into the genus Compsophis.

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