Species Delineation Within the Euwallacea fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Complex Revealed by Morphometric and Phylogenetic Analyses

Abstract The ambrosia beetle Euwallacea fornicatus Eichhoff sensu lato is a complex of genetically divergent emerging pests responsible for damages to tree industries and ecosystems around the world. All lineages within the species complex are currently considered morphologically identical, presenting problems for their delineation and highlighting the shortcomings of species concepts based solely on type-specimen morphology. The objectives of this work were to 1) broaden the geographic sampling of the E. fornicatus complex in Asia, 2) reconstruct relationships between clades and populations, 3) find morphological characters or combinations of characters which are useful in delimiting the genetic lineages of the E. fornicatus species complex, and 4) propose taxonomic delimitation of species where morphology and phylogenetic identity correlate. Our integrated approach using molecular and morphological evidence suggests four clades that differ morphologically, but with overlap, therefore, cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) barcoding remains necessary for assigning specimens to a clade. The following taxonomic changes are proposed: E. fornicatus (Eichhoff 1868) (= ‘Tea Shot Hole Borer Clade a’); E. fornicatior (Eggers 1923), stat. rev. (= ‘Tea Shot Hole Borer Clade b’); E. whitfordiodendrus (Schedl 1942), stat. rev. (= ‘Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer’); and E. kuroshio Gomez and Hulcr, sp. nov. (= ‘Kuroshio Shot Hole Borer’). This approach delivers a practical, evidence-based guidance for species delineation that can address overlapping variation in morphological characters of an emerging pest species complex.

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Plantago campestris (Plantaginaceae), a rare new species from southern Brazil, supported by phylogenomic and morphological evidence

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.11848 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e11848

Author(s):

Gustavo Hassemer ◽

Elliot M. Gardner ◽

Nina Rønsted

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Species Complex ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

High Elevation ◽

Species Level ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

A New Species ◽

Iucn Criteria

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.

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A new Crocus L. (Iridaceae) species from SE Turkey, based on morphological and molecular data

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.239.3.3 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 239 (3) ◽

pp. 223 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Osman Erol ◽

Doerte Harpke ◽

Hasan Yıldırım

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Type Specimen ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Nuclear Ribosomal Dna ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Full Description ◽

New Taxon ◽

Internal Transcribed Spacer Region ◽

Se Turkey

Crocus musagecitii is described as a new species. Diagnostic morphological characters, a full description and detailed illustrations are provided on the basis of the type specimen and wild specimens. Morphologically, C. musagecitii is close to Crocus biflorus subsp. pseudonubigena. Crocus musagecitii differs from C. biflorus subsp. pseudonubigena by the lack of stripes or narrow purplish tongue on outside of outer tepals, wider tepals, and homogenously yellow anthers. In order to clarify the phylogenetic position of this species within the Crocus adamii species complex, we sequenced the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS: ITS1 + 5.8SrDNA + ITS2) and 5’ external transcribed spacer (ETS) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA). A phylogenetic tree obtained by Bayesian phylogenetic inference is given. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the new taxon is close to C. munzurensis. Crocus musagecitii differs from its phylogenetically closest relative C. munzurensis by the corm tunics (C. musagecitii: coriaceus; C. munzurensis: membranous), the number of leaves (C. musagecitii: up to 8; C. munzurensis: up to 4) and non-hairy leaf margins.

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A review of Euryoryzomys legatus (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae): morphological redescription, cytogenetics, and molecular phylogeny

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.9884 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e9884

Author(s):

Mariana D. Guilardi ◽

Pablo Jayat ◽

Marcelo Weksler ◽

James L. Patton ◽

Pablo Edmundo Ortiz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽

Chromosome Complement ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Valid Species ◽

Data Types ◽

Comparative Cytogenetics ◽

Morphometric Characters ◽

The Status

The taxonomic history of Euryoryzomys legatus has been complex and controversial, being either included in the synonymy of other oryzomyine species or considered as a valid species, as in the most recent review of the genus. Previous phylogenetic analyses segregated E. legatus from E. russatus, its putative senior synonym, but recovered it nested within E. nitidus. A general lack of authoritative evaluation of morphological attributes, details of the chromosome complement, or other data types has hampered the ability to choose among alternative taxonomic hypotheses, and thus reach a general consensus for the status of the taxon. Herein we revisit the status of E. legatus using an integrated approach that includes: (1) a morphological review, especially centered on specimens from northwestern Argentina not examined previously, (2) comparative cytogenetics, and (3) phylogenetic reconstruction, using mitochondrial genes. Euryoryzomys legatus is morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from all other species-level taxa in the genus, but its 2n=80, FN=86 karyotype is shared with E. emmonsae, E. nitidus, and E. russatus. Several morphological and morphometric characters distinguish E. legatus from other species of Euryoryzomys, and we provide an amended diagnosis for the species. Morphological characters useful in distinguishing E. legatus from E. nitidus, its sister taxon following molecular analyses, include: larger overall size, dorsal fur with a strong yellowish brown to orange brown tinge, flanks and cheeks with an orange lateral line, ventral color grayish-white with pure white hairs present only on the chin, presence of a thin blackish eye-ring, tail bicolored, presence of an alisphenoid strut and a well-developed temporal and lambdoid crests in the skull, and a labial cingulum on M3. Molecular phylogenetic analyses recovered E. legatus as a monophyletic group with high support nested within a paraphyletic E. nitidus; genetic distances segregated members of both species, except for an exemplar of E. nitidus. Our integrated analyses reinforce E. legatus as a full species, but highlight that E. macconnelli, E. emmonsae, and E. nitidus each may be a species complex and worthy of systematic attention. Finally, we also evaluated the chromosome evolution of the genus within a phylogenetic context.

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Nine Mitochondrial Genomes of the Pyraloidea and Their Phylogenetic Implications (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea)

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12111039 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 1039

Author(s):

Xiaomeng Liu ◽

Mujie Qi ◽

Haizhen Xu ◽

Zhipeng Wu ◽

Lizong Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

Pest Species ◽

Great Loss ◽

Phylogenetic Implications ◽

Important Pest ◽

High Level

The Pyraloidea is one of the species-rich superfamilies of Lepidoptera and contains numerous economically important pest species that cause great loss in crop production. Here, we sequenced and annotated nine complete mitogenomes for Pyraloidea, and further performed various phylogenetic analyses, to improve our understanding of mitogenomic evolution and phylogeny of this superfamily. The nine mitogenomes were circular, double-stranded molecules, with the lengths ranging from 15,214 bp to 15,422 bp, which are comparable to other reported pyraloid mitogenomes in size. Gene content and arrangement were highly conserved and are typical of Lepidoptera. Based on the hitherto most extensive mitogenomic sampling, our various resulting trees showed generally congruent topologies among pyraloid subfamilies, which are almost in accordance with previous multilocus studies, indicating the suitability of mitogenomes in inferring high-level relationships of Pyraloidea. However, nodes linking subfamilies in the “non-PS clade” were not completely resolved in terms of unstable topologies or low supports, and future investigations are needed with increased taxon sampling and molecular data. Unexpectedly, Orybina Snellen, represented in a molecular phylogenetic investigation for the first time, was robustly placed as basal to the remaining Pyralidae taxa across our analyses, rather than nested in Pyralinae of Pyralidae as morphologically defined. This novel finding highlights the need to reevaluate Orybina monophyly and its phylogenetic position by incorporating additional molecular and morphological evidence.

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Schistonchus (Aphelenchoididae) from Ficus benjamina in Australia, with description of S. benjamina sp. n.

Nematology ◽

10.1163/156854112x639892 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 14 (8) ◽

pp. 1005-1013 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Faerlie Bartholomaeus ◽

Kerrie A. Davies ◽

Weimin Ye ◽

Robin M. Giblin-Davis

Keyword(s):

Species Complex ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Tail Length ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Northern Territory ◽

Ficus Benjamina ◽

Tropical Asia ◽

The North ◽

Pore Opening ◽

Tail Tip

Ficus benjamina (Moracaeae subfamily Urostigma, section Conosycea) grows naturally in tropical Asia and in Australia in the north of the Northern Territory and the Cairns region of Queensland. It is widely grown as an ornamental in more temperate regions of Australia. Schistonchus benjamina sp. n. is described from sycones of F. benjamina in Brisbane, and is differentiated from other species of Schistonchus by a combination of morphological characters including having the excretory pore opening near the head, a short post-vulval uterine sac, rose thorn-shaped spicule, lightly sclerotised stylet and spicule, and three pairs of subventral papillae on the tail (one adcloacal, one at mid-tail length and one near the tail tip); and apparent biogeographical range. Phylogenetic analyses based on D3 sequences from collections from both northern and southern Queensland suggest that S. benjamina sp. n. is a species complex, but specimens from the different locations cannot be separated on morphological or morphometric data. Schistonchus benjamina sp. n. is closest to S. microcarpus from F. microcarpa (Urostigma, section Urostigma) in China.

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Solving the Liolaemus bibronii puzzle, an integrative taxonomy approach: redescription of L. bibronii and description of three new species (Iguania: Liolaemidae)

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society ◽

10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz113 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 189 (1) ◽

pp. 315-348

Author(s):

A S Quinteros ◽

M R Ruiz-Monachesi ◽

C S Abdala

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Bayesian Inference ◽

South America ◽

Species Complex ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Integrative Taxonomy ◽

Valid Species ◽

Integrative Approach ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

Three New Species

Abstract We redescribe Liolaemus bibronii and describe three new species of Liolaemus, a genus of lizards distributed across South America. These species belong to the L. alticolor–bibronii group, which are included in the subgenus Liolaemus s.s. Liolaemus bibronii was previously proposed as a species complex, but many populations initially assigned to this complex were described as valid species. The three new species described here were populations denominated under L. bibronii. In order to validate the new species, we apply an integrative approach, including molecular and morphological evidence. Also, we perform phylogenetic analyses applying parsimony and Bayesian inference. The three new species described here show a set of character states that allow them to be distinguished from L. bibronii, from each other and from all other species of Liolaemus. Our phylogenies show that the newly described species are more related to other species than to L. bibronii. With this study, we are closer to solving the taxonomic puzzle that L. bibronii represents.

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Molecular phylogeny and morphological diversity of the Niviventer fulvescens species complex with emphasis on species from China

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society ◽

10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa040 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Deyan Ge ◽

Anderson Feijó ◽

Alexei V Abramov ◽

Zhixin Wen ◽

Zhengjia Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Southeast Asia ◽

Species Complex ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Eastern China ◽

Morphological Diversity ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Whole Body ◽

Genetic Lineages ◽

Distinct Lineage

Abstract The Niviventer fulvescens species complex (NFSC), a group of abundant and taxonomically ambiguous rodent taxa, is distributed from Southeast Asia to south-eastern China. We combined molecular and morphological datasets to clarify the species composition and variation of the NFSC. Our phylogenetic analyses, using molecular data, recovered eight genetic lineages in the NFSC, including a novel, distinct lineage from Jilong, Tibet, China, which is described as a new species, N. fengi sp. nov. The species status of N. fengi is supported by a species delimitation analysis, and it is morphologically distinguished from other members of the NFSC by its greyish dorsal fur, soft hairs covering the whole body and a hairy tail. NFSC species bearing well-developed spines are found at lower elevations. A comprehensive taxonomic revision of the NFSC within China is provided, represented by five species: N. cremoriventer, N. fulvescens, N. huang, N. mekongis comb. nov. and N. fengi. A further study of this species complex, including samples from Southeast Asia, is needed.

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Confusion surrounding Didymosphaeria—phylogenetic and morphological evidence suggest Didymosphaeriaceae is not a distinct family

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.176.1.12 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 176 (1) ◽

pp. 102 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

HIRAN A. ARIYAWANSA ◽

ERIO CAMPORESI ◽

KASUN M. THAMBUGALA ◽

AUSANA MAPOOK ◽

JI-CHUAN KANG ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

Nucleotide Sequence Data ◽

The Family ◽

Family Based ◽

Phylogenetic Lineages ◽

A New Species

Didymosphaeriaceae is a ubiquitous fungal family that is reported to include saprobic, endophytic and pathogenic species associated with a wide variety of substrates. The family is characterized by 1-septate ascospores and trabeculate pseudoparaphyses, mainly anastomosing above the asci. In recent treatments Appendispora, Didymosphaeria, Roussoella, Phaeodothis and Verruculina were placed in the family. The aim of the present study is to delineate phylogenetic lineages within Didymosphaeriaceae and allied genera. A new species, Didymosphaeria rubi-ulmifolii, was isolated and identified based on morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses of partial 18S nrDNA and 28S nrDNA nucleotide sequence data. Didymosphaeria rubi-ulmifolii clustered with Montagnulaceae as a separate genus, while two putative strains (HKUCC 5834 and CMW 22186) of D. futilis from GenBank clustered with Cucurbitariaceae and Didymellaceae, respectively. The new species is characterized by immersed to slightly erumpent ascomata immersed under a clypeus, a peridium with compressed cells of textura intricata, long trabeculate pseudoparaphyses, anastomosing mostly above the asci and brown, 1-septate ascospores with granulate ornamentation. Phylogenetic analysis in combination with morphology and a review of literature show that Appendispora, Phaeodothis, Roussoella and Verruculina should be excluded from the family. Phaeodothis belongs in Montagnulaceae, Verruculina in Testudinaceae, while Appendispora and Roussoella belong in Roussoellaceae. The position of Didymosphaeriaceae as a distinct family, based on 1-septate ascospores and trabeculate pseudoparaphyses, mainly anastomosing above the asci is doubtful. Fresh collections of more Didymosphaeria strains are needed for epitypification and to obtain sequence data to establish if this family can be maintained.

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Integrative taxonomy of the new millipede genus Coxobolellus, gen. nov. (Diplopoda : Spirobolida : Pseudospirobolellidae), with descriptions of ten new species

Invertebrate Systematics ◽

10.1071/is20031 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Piyatida Pimvichai ◽

Henrik Enghoff ◽

Somsak Panha ◽

Thierry Backeljau

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

New Genus ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Mitochondrial Gene ◽

Sequence Divergence ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Integrative Taxonomy ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

Morphological Differences

Pseudospirobolellidae is a poorly known family of spirobolidan millipedes with only two genera and five described species. Yet, the descriptive taxonomy and molecular systematics of this group have been largely neglected. Therefore, the present work presents an integrative taxonomic study of new pseudospirobolellid taxa in Thailand. To this end, two mitochondrial gene fragments (COI and 16S rRNA) combined with morphological characters were used to define the genus Coxobolellus, gen. nov. with 10 new species, viz. C. albiceps, sp. nov., C. compactogonus, sp. nov., C. fuscus, sp. nov., C. nodosus, sp. nov., C. serratus, sp. nov., C. simplex, sp. nov., C. tenebris, sp. nov., C. tigris, sp. nov., C. transversalis, sp. nov. and C. valvatus, sp. nov. The interspecific COI sequence divergences among the new species ranged from 6 to 15%. The intergeneric COI sequence divergence between species of Coxobolellus, gen. nov., Benoitolus birgitae and Pseudospirobolellus sp. ranged from 20 to 23%. Three major morphological differences separate Coxobolellus, gen. nov. from Benoitolus and Pseudospirobolellus, namely (1) the protruding process on the 3rd (and 4th) coxae on male legs, (2) the posterior gonopod telopodite divided into two parts, and (3) a conspicuous opening pore at the mesal margin at the end of the coxal part of the posterior gonopod. Thus, the new genus is well supported by both mtDNA and morphological evidence, while the delimitation of the 10 new species is supported by the congruence between mtDNA and morphological data. Yet, with respect to the relationships of Benoitolus birgitae, morphological data suggest a similarity with Coxobolellus, gen. nov. and Pseudospirobolellus, whereas mtDNA data place this species in the Pachybolidae. Further phylogenetic analyses are needed to explore this apparent incongruence and test the monophyly of Pseudospirobolellidae.

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A molecular phylogeny of Porcellionidae (Isopoda, Oniscidea) reveals inconsistencies with present taxonomy

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.801.23566 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 801 ◽

pp. 163-176 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Andreas C. Dimitriou ◽

Stefano Taiti ◽

Helmut Schmalfuss ◽

Spyros Sfenthourakis

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

Geographical Pattern ◽

The Family ◽

The Status ◽

Tree Topologies ◽

Globally Distributed ◽

Basal Position

Porcellionidae is one of the richest families of Oniscidea globally distributed but we still lack a comprehensive and robust phylogeny of the taxa that are assigned to it. Employing five genetic markers (two mitochondrial and three nuclear) we inferred phylogenetic relationships among the majority of Porcellionidae genera. Phylogenetic analyses conducted via Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference resulted in similar tree topologies. The mtDNA genes cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and 16s rRNA (16s) were used for clade dating using previously published mutation rates. Our results provide evidence against the monophyly of both Porcellionidae and the largest genus of the family Porcellio. These results are compared to previous published work based on morphological evidence. The genera Leptotrichus and Brevurus are not grouped with the rest of Porcellionidae whereas Agnaridae are grouped with part of Porcellionidae. Armadillidium and Schizidium (Armadillidiidae) occupy a basal position on the phylogenetic tree. Even though the African genera Tura and Uramba (distributed in East Africa) are grouped together there is no general geographical pattern in other sub-clades. Additional taxonomic issues that arise in this work such as the assignment of the recently described genus Levantoniscus, arealso discussed. The status of Porcellionidae should be further revised and morphological characters traditionally used in Oniscidea taxonomy should be reconsidered in view of molecular evidence. The origin of the monophyletic clade within Porcellionidae as indicated in the present work is dated back to the Oligocene (~32 mya).

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