The evolutionary history and molecular systematics of the Musteloidea

Evolutionary History ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Species Boundaries ◽

Extant Species ◽

Taxonomic History ◽

History Of ◽

This chapter provides a review of the evolutionary and taxonomic history of the Musteloidea, which is the most species-rich superfamily of the Carnivora, containing approximately 30% of the extant species in the order. An up-to-date summary of knowledge on the evolutionary and taxonomic history and phylogenetic relationships of the Mephitidae, Ailuridae, Procyonidae and Mustelidae is provided. Multilocus DNA sequences have made a large impact on the understanding of phylogenetic relationships among the Musteloidea. Molecular data have revealed distinct families (Ailuridae and Mephitidae) within the Musteloidea and have illuminated new relationships based on tempo and patterns of evolution within the Procyonidae. Morphological data in conjunction with molecular data have been used to elucidate species boundaries within certain musteloid genera and have led to the discovery of a new species. Research studies published during the last 30 years have enriched and transformed our understanding of the evolution of musteloid biodiversity.

Morphological and molecular evidence of some Minuartia species (Caryophyllaceae) from Turkey, with a desciption of a new species

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.391.2.5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 391 (2) ◽

pp. 122 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

MURAT KOÇ ◽

ERGIN HAMZAOĞLU ◽

AHMET AKSOY

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Dna Sequences ◽

Related Species ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

The genus Minuartia is represented in Turkey by 34 taxa. Some interesting specimens were collected from Antalya province, and examined. These specimens resemble Minuartia meyeri, and M. multinervis from which differ by characters (macro-, and micromorphological) of inflorescence, alar pedicels, petals, sepals, capsules and seeds. Moreover, by using the DNA sequences of the ITS genes, phylogenetic relationships between this collected species, and the related species were investigated. As a result of the evaluation of molecular, and morphological data, we proposed to described the population from Antalya as a new species for the science. A description, pictures, distribution, habitat, and IUCN category are given.

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

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1517.1.2 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 1517 (1) ◽

pp. 53-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

FRANK GLAW ◽

ZOLTÁN T. NAGY ◽

MIGUEL VENCES

Keyword(s):

Dna Sequences ◽

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.

Phylogenetic relationships of the neon tetras Paracheirodon spp. (Characiformes: Characidae: Stethaprioninae), including comments on Petitella georgiae and Hemigrammus bleheri

Neotropical Ichthyology ◽

10.1590/1982-0224-2019-0109 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Pedro Senna Bittencourt ◽

Valéria Nogueira Machado ◽

Bruce Gavin Marshall ◽

Tomas Hrbek ◽

Izeni Pires Farias

Keyword(s):

Species Complex ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Sister Taxon ◽

Taxonomic History ◽

Relationship Of

ABSTRACT Neon tetras (Paracheirodon spp.) are three colorful characid species with a complicated taxonomic history, and relationships among the species are poorly known. Molecular data resolved the relationships among the three neon tetras, and strongly supported monophyly of the genus and its sister taxon relationship to Brittanichthys. Additionally, the sister-taxon relationship of the rummy-nose tetras Hemigrammus bleheri and Petitella georgiae was strongly supported by molecular and morphological data. Therefore, we propose to transfer the rummy-nose tetras H. bleheri and H. rhodostomus to the genus Petitella. Furthermore, Petitella georgiae is likely to be a species complex comprised of at least two species.

The tribe Scrophularieae (Scrophulariaceae): A Review of Phylogenetic Studies

Hacquetia ◽

10.2478/hacq-2019-0003 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 337-347 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mehrshid Riahi ◽

Farrokh Ghahremaninejad

Keyword(s):

Molecular Data ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Hybrid Speciation ◽

The North ◽

Phylogenetic Studies ◽

Phylogenetic Reconstructions ◽

Data Collection And Analysis ◽

History Of ◽

Review Reports

Abstract Molecular data have been increasingly used to study the phylogenetic relationships among many taxa, including scrophs. Sometimes they have provided phylogenetic reconstructions that are in conflict with morphological data leading to a re-evaluation of long-standing evolutionary hypotheses. In this paper, we review reports of the recent knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships within Scrophularieae (2011–2017). The results of these analyses led to the following conclusions. (1) Species of Scrophularia have undergone one or more Miocene migration events occurred from eastern Asia to the North America with subsequent long dispersal and diversification in three main directions. (2) Allopolyploid and aneuploid hybrid speciation between Scrophularia species can occur, so hybridization and polyploidy have an important role for history of diversification. (3) The ancestral staminode type for the genus Scrophularia seems to be a large staminode. (4) Monophyly of the genus Verbascum with respect to the genus Scrophularia is strongly supported. (5) Oreosolen, is not monophyletic, because all accessions of Oreosolen were nested within Scrophularia. We discuss methods of data collection and analysis, and we describe the areas of conflict and agreement between molecular phylogenies.

Synchrotron micro-CT scanning leads to the discovery of a new genus of morphologically conserved echinoid (Echinodermata: Cassiduloida)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4457.1.3 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4457 (1) ◽

pp. 70 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

CAMILLA SOUTO ◽

LUCIANA MARTINS

Keyword(s):

New Genus ◽

Ct Scanning ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Micro Ct ◽

Micro Computed Tomography ◽

Type Specimens ◽

Bathymetric Range ◽

Taxonomic History ◽

History Of ◽

Here we use synchrotron radiation-based micro-computed tomography (SRµCT) images of type specimens to confidently place Cassidulus malayanus in a new genus (Kassandrina gen. nov.) that would not have been discovered with traditional techniques, and to describe a new species of Cassidulus (Cassidulus briareus sp. nov.) from Australia and designate a neotype for Cassidulus caribaearum. We also provide remarks describing the taxonomic history of each taxon and a diagnostic table of all living cassidulid species, and extend the known geographic and bathymetric range of C. caribaearum and C. malayanus. Besides rendering novel morphological data, the SRµCT images provide significant insights in the evolution of bourrelets of these cassiduloid echinoids.

Phylogenetic relationships of the poorly known treefrog Boana hobbsi (Cochran & Goin, 1970) (Anura: Hylidae), systematic implications and remarks on morphological variations and geographic distribution

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4933.3.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4933 (3) ◽

pp. 301-323

Author(s):

ALEXANDRE P. DE ALMEIDA ◽

LEANDRO J.C.L. MORAES ◽

ROMMEL R. ROJAS ◽

IGOR J. ROBERTO ◽

VINICIUS TADEU DE CARVALHO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Geographic Distribution ◽

Dna Sequences ◽

Strong Support ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Field Observations ◽

Morphological Variations ◽

Geographic Knowledge ◽

Insight Into

Boana hobbsi is a poorly known hylid frog currently placed within the Boana punctata group. Yet, morphological, ecological and bioacoustic traits do not support this placement, with no molecular data being available to date to test this hypothesis. Based on newly collected mitochondrial DNA sequences, morphological data review and field observations, we provide new insight into the phylogenetic relationships, morphological variations and geographic distribution of B. hobbsi. Our findings reveal that B. hobbsi is nested (with strong support) within the Boana benitezi group, recovering once more a polyphyletic Boana punctata group. Supported by this new genetic, morphological and ecological evidence, we propose a new taxonomic arrangement which includes B. hobbsi as a member of the Boana benitezi group. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of conducting biological inventories in remote Amazonian areas, where many taxonomic and geographic knowledge gaps persist with regards to Amphibian diversity.

Evolutionary history of field mice (Murinae: Apodemus), with emphasis on morphological variation among species in China and description of a new species

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society ◽

10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz032 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 187 (2) ◽

pp. 518-534 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Deyan Ge ◽

Anderson Feijó ◽

Jilong Cheng ◽

Liang Lu ◽

Rongrong Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Evolutionary History ◽

Eastern China ◽

Guizhou Province ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Ancestral Area ◽

History Of ◽

Living Species ◽

Field Mice ◽

AbstractMice of the genus Apodemus are widely distributed across Eurasia. Several species of this genus are hosts of important zoonotic diseases and parasites. The evolutionary history and dispersal routes of these mice remain unclear and the distribution of these species in China was poorly explored in previous studies. We here investigate the divergence times and historical geographical evolution of Apodemus and study the taxonomy of species in China by integrating molecular and morphological data. The crown age of this genus is dated to the Late Miocene, approximately 9.84 Mya. Western and Central Asia were inferred as the most likely ancestral area of this genus. Moreover, we recognize nine living species of Apodemus in China: Apodemus uralensis, A. agrarius, A. chevrieri, A. latronum, A. peninsulae, A. draco, A. ilex, A. semotus and A. nigrus sp. nov., the last from the highlands (elevation > 1984 m) of Fanjing Mountain in Guizhou Province and Jinfo Mountain in Chongqing Province. This new species diverged from A. draco, A. semotus and A. ilex approximately 4.53 Mya. The discovery of A. nigrus highlights the importance of high mountains as refugia and ‘isolated ecological islands’ for temperate species in south-eastern China.

Redescription of the skull of the Australian flatback sea turtle, Natator depressus, provides new morphological evidence for phylogenetic relationships among sea turtles (Chelonioidea)

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society ◽

10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa071 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ray M Chatterji ◽

Mark N Hutchinson ◽

Marc E H Jones

Keyword(s):

Sea Turtles ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

Crown Group ◽

Extant Species ◽

Natator Depressus

Abstract Chelonioidea (sea turtles) are a group where available morphological evidence for crown-group relationships are incongruent with those established using molecular data. However, morphological surveys of crown-group taxa tend to focus on a recurring subset of the extant species. The Australian flatback sea turtle, Natator depressus, is often excluded from comparisons and it is the most poorly known of the seven extant species of Chelonioidea. Previous descriptions of its skull morphology are limited and conflict. Here we describe three skulls of adult N. depressus and re-examine the phylogenetic relationships according to morphological character data. Using X-ray micro Computed Tomography we describe internal structures of the braincase and identify new phylogenetically informative characters not previously reported. Phylogenetic analysis using a Bayesian approach strongly supports a sister-group relationship between Chelonia mydas and N. depressus, a topology that was not supported by previous analyses of morphological data but one that matches the topology supported by analysis of molecular data. Our results highlight the general need to sample the morphological anatomy of crown-group taxa more thoroughly before concluding that morphological and molecular evidence are incongruous.

A new species of the spider genus Solenysa from China (Araneae, Linyphiidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4531.1.10 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4531 (1) ◽

pp. 142

Author(s):

JIAHUI TIAN ◽

LIHONG TU

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

New Species ◽

Korean Peninsula ◽

Evolutionary History ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Species Groups ◽

The genus Solenysa Simon, 1894 belongs to Linyphiidae Blackwall, 1859, which is a species-rich group, including 608 genera and 4,571 species (World Spider Catalog 2018). Solenysa currently includes 14 species from China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula (Simon 1894; Namkung 1986; Li & Song 1992; Gao, Zhu & Sha 1993; Tu, Ono & Li 2007; Ono 2011; Tu & Hormiga 2011; Wang, Ono & Tu 2015). The linyphiid phylogeny based on molecular data shows that Solenysa species forms one of the seven main clades within Linyphiidae (Wang et al. 2015). According to the phylogenetic analysis based on morphological data, Tu and Hormiga (2011) divided the genus Solenysa into four species groups, each having a unique genital type comprised by series genital characters. As an old branch with a long evolutionary history, Solenysa spiders have accumulated a long list of synapomorphies (Tu & Hormiga 2011), not only having a unique somatic appearance, but also specific genitalic characters that distinguish them from all other linyphiids.

Biogeography and taxonomy of racket-tail hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae: Ocreatus): evidence for species delimitation from morphology and display behavior

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4200.1.3 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4200 (1) ◽

pp. 83 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

KARL-L. SCHUCHMANN ◽

ANDRÉ-A. WELLER ◽

DIETMAR JÜRGENS

Keyword(s):

Geographic Variation ◽

Endemic Species ◽

Species Delimitation ◽

Evolutionary History ◽

Species Concept ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Biological Species ◽

Biological Species Concept ◽

Taxonomic History ◽

History Of

We analyzed geographic variation, biogeography, and intrageneric relationships of racket-tail hummingbirds Ocreatus (Aves, Trochilidae). Presently, the genus is usually considered monospecific, with O. underwoodii including eight subspecies (polystictus, discifer, underwoodii, incommodus, melanantherus, peruanus, annae, addae), although up to three species have been recognized by some authors. In order to evaluate the current taxonomy we studied geographic variation in coloration, mensural characters, and behavioral data of all Ocreatus taxa. We briefly review the taxonomic history of the genus. Applying the Biological Species Concept, species delimitation was based on a qualitative-quantitative criteria analysis including an evaluation of character states. Our results indicate that the genus should be considered a superspecies with four species, the monotypic Ocreatus addae, O. annae, and O. peruanus, and the polytypic O. underwoodii (including the subspecies underwoodii, discifer, incommodus, melanantherus, polystictus). In this taxonomic treatment, O. annae becomes an endemic species to Peru and O. addae is endemic to Bolivia. We recommend additional sampling of distributional, ethological, and molecular data for an improved resolution of the evolutionary history of Ocreatus.