Discovery of two ‘chimeric’ Gastrotricha and their systematic placement based on an integrative approach

Author(s):  
Alexander Kieneke ◽  
M Antonio Todaro

Abstract Sublittoral sand from the islands of Sardinia (Italy) and Flores (Azores) – separated by more than 3700 km linear distance and 8 years between two independent sampling campaigns – yielded conspicuous specimens of two bizarre, yet undescribed, species of the marine gastrotrich clade Macrodasyida. These gastrotrichs combine several character traits that were already known from two, non-related genera. Morphological data were carefully analysed and digitally documented, and nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences were used for phylogenetic inference. The results of these analyses claim for the erection of a new genus. Specimens of the new taxon have a body length of less than 400 µm and are characterized by a wide, funnel-shaped mouth opening shielded dorsally by an oral hood and possess a posterior peduncle that ends with a Y-shaped pair of appendages that carry the posterior adhesive tubes. Further tubes occur as anterior, ventrolateral and lateral series; the gonads are unpaired and there is a set of two accessory reproductive organs. Molecular phylogenetic analyses confirm the results of former studies and clearly place the new taxon in Thaumastodermatidae. We hereby propose the establishment of Chimaeradasys gen. nov. and describe C. oligotubulatus sp. nov. from the Azores and C. polytubulatus sp. nov. from Sardinia.

2017 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 752-759 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.M. Güiris-Andrade ◽  
A. Oceguera-Figueroa ◽  
D. Osorio-Sarabia ◽  
M.E. Pérez-Escobar ◽  
M.G. Nieto-López ◽  
...  

AbstractA new genus and species of nematode,Tziminema unachin. gen., n. sp. is described from the caecum and colon of Baird's tapirTapirus bairdii(Gill, 1865), found dead in the Reserva de la Biósfera El Triunfo, Chiapas State, in the Neotropical realm of Mexico.Tzimineman. gen. differs from the other nine genera included in the Strongylinae by two main characteristics: having 7–9 posteriorly directed tooth-like structures at the anterior end of the buccal capsule, and the external surface of the buccal capsule being heavily striated. Phylogenetic analyses of the DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochromecoxidase and nuclear DNA, including a partial sequence of the internal transcribed spacer 1, 5.8S and a partial sequence of the internal transcribed spacer 2 of the new taxon, confirmed its inclusion in Strongylinae and its rank as a new genus.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Joyce ◽  
R. Butcher ◽  
M. Byrne ◽  
P. F. Grierson ◽  
M. Hankinson ◽  
...  

The Tetratheca hirsuta Lindl. species complex from south-west Western Australia is one of the last unresolved complexes in this Australian endemic genus, and comprises the highly variable T. hirsuta, two rare, phrase-named taxa, and the closely allied T. hispidissima Steetz. An integrative approach, incorporating multivariate morphometric analysis and molecular phylogenetic and phenetic analyses of nrDNA (ETS) and cpDNA (ndhF–trnL, rpl16, trnS–trnG5ʹ2S), was used to investigate taxonomic boundaries within the complex. Morphological data showed clear divergence within the complex, and allowed several taxonomically uncertain individuals to be assigned. Phenetic and phylogenetic analyses of ETS showed substantial congruence with morphology, indicating that the groups recognised through morphometric analyses are also genetically divergent. By comparison, the chloroplast regions yielded incongruent gene trees, perhaps owing to incomplete lineage sorting, hybridisation or slow evolution of cpDNA. The present results support the recognition of the following four taxa: a morphologically and geographically expanded T. hispidissima, which is highly divergent from the remainder of the complex, and a closer grouping of T. hirsuta subsp. boonanarring Joyce & R.Butcher subsp. nov., T. hirsuta subsp. viminea (Lindl.) Joyce comb. et stat. nov. and T. hirsuta subsp. hirsuta.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atef Omar ◽  
Ji Hye Moon ◽  
Seung Won Nam ◽  
Jae-Ho Jung

Tunicothrix halophila n. sp. was discovered in a hypersaline marine sample from Jeju Island, Korea. It is characterized by the highly reduced number of dorsal bristles. In addition, the main character of the genus Tunicothrix (e.g., alveolar layer) is absent/indistinct. To figure out its identity and phylogenetic relationship, we examined the new species based on modern morphological methods and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Since the parabirojimids are of basal position to core hypotrichs and a smaller data set could show incorrect phylogenetic relationships among the hypotrichs, we used a huge data set composed of 1,460 DNA sequences to infer the phylogenetic tree. The reduction of dorsal bristles is very likely a secondarily evolved character in hypotrichs, resulting in the independent phenotypic adaptation in the hypersaline ecosystems as shown in other hypersaline hypotrichs. Furthermore, the so-called right marginal row 1 in other congeners is found to produce a pretransverse and transverse cirrus and thus we recommend using the term frontoventral row. Based on our data, we can justify Tunicothrix halophila n. sp. as a new species; however, despite the phenotypic distinctiveness, we refrain to establish a new genus because of the missing data and the non-monophyly of Tunicothrix.


2021 ◽  
Vol 307 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pau Carnicero ◽  
Núria Garcia-Jacas ◽  
Llorenç Sáez ◽  
Theophanis Constantinidis ◽  
Mercè Galbany-Casals

AbstractThe eastern Mediterranean basin hosts a remarkably high plant diversity. Historical connections between currently isolated areas across the Aegean region and long-distance dispersal events have been invoked to explain current distribution patterns of species. According to most recent treatments, at least two Cymbalaria species occur in this area, Cymbalaria microcalyx and C. longipes. The former comprises several intraspecific taxa, treated at different ranks by different authors based on morphological data, evidencing the need of a taxonomic revision. Additionally, some populations of C. microcalyx show exclusive morphological characters that do not match any described taxon. Here, we aim to shed light on the systematics of eastern Mediterranean Cymbalaria and to propose a classification informed by various sources of evidence. We performed molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS, 3’ETS, ndhF and rpl32-trnL sequences and estimated the ploidy level of some taxa performing relative genome size measures. Molecular data combined with morphology support the division of traditionally delimited C. microcalyx into C. acutiloba, C. microcalyx and C. minor, corresponding to well-delimited nrDNA lineages. Furthermore, we propose to combine C. microcalyx subsp. paradoxa at the species level. A group of specimens previously thought to belong to Cymbalaria microcalyx constitute a well-defined phylogenetic and morphological entity and are described here as a new species, Cymbalaria spetae. Cymbalaria longipes is non-monophyletic, but characterized by being glabrous and diploid, unlike other eastern species. The nrDNA data suggest at least two dispersals from the mainland to the Aegean Islands, potentially facilitated by marine regressions.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 266 (2) ◽  
pp. 134 ◽  
Author(s):  
QI ZHAO ◽  
YAN-JIA HAO ◽  
JIAN-KUI LIU ◽  
KEVIN D. HYDE ◽  
YANG-YANG CUI ◽  
...  

Infundibulicybe rufa sp. nov., is described from Jiuzhaigou Biosphere Reserve, southwestern China. It is characterized by the combination of the following characters: umbilicate to slightly infundibuliform, reddish brown pileus; decurrent, cream lamellae; cylindrical stipe concolorous with the pileus surface. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region indicates that I. rufa is closely related to I. mediterranea and I. bresadolana. A description, line drawings, phylogenetic placement and comparison with allied taxa for the new taxon are presented.


2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Sáez ◽  
Kaoru Maeto ◽  
Alejandro Zaldivar-Riverón ◽  
Sergey Belokobylskij

AbstractThe taxonomy of the Asian genera of the subfamily Betylobraconinae, a small and understudied group within the hymenopteran family Braconidae, is revised. A new genus exclusively from the Asian region, Asiabregma gen. nov., containing three species (A. ryukyuensis sp. nov. (type species, Japan and Malaya), A. makiharai sp. nov. (Japan) and A. sulaensis (van Achterberg), comb. nov. (Indonesia)) is described. One new species of Aulosaphobracon, A. striatus sp. nov. from Vietnam, and one of Facitorus, F. amamioshimus sp. nov. from Japan, are also described. Based on molecular phylogenetic analyses using COI mtDNA and 28S rRNA sequences, the three genera previously placed in the tribe Facitorini, Facitorus, Conobregma and Jannya, together with Asiabregma gen. nov., are transferred to the rogadine tribe Yeliconini.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 175 (3) ◽  
pp. 133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nian-Kai Zeng ◽  
Gang Wu ◽  
Yan-Chun Li ◽  
Zhi-Qun Liang ◽  
Zhu-Liang Yang

Crocinoboletus is described as a new genus of Boletaceae to accommodate Boletus rufoaureus and B. laetissimus, characterized by its brilliant orange color of basidiomata caused by the presence of unusual boletocrocin polyene pigments, bluish olivaceous staining of all parts when bruised, smooth basidiospores, and the pileipellis which has an interwoven trichoderm at the middle part of the pileus and a cutis at the margin of the pileus. Prior molecular phylogenetic analyses also confirmed the two taxa are not members of the genus Boletus s.s., but form a well-supported generic lineage within Boletaceae. Consequently a description, color photos of fresh basidiomata, line-drawings of microstructures and a comparison of Crocinoboletus with allied taxa are presented.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 218 (2) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiyin Song ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Guoxiang Liu ◽  
Zhengyu Hu

Coccoid green algae are abundant in subaerial habitats, but they are largely unexplored because of their morphological uniformity. Several new genus-level lineages have recently been described on the basis of molecular data. In this study, a coccoid green alga was isolated from surface soil in Zhoukou, Henan Province, China, and the cultured cells were described using light and electron microscopy. The ellipsoidal cell had smooth cell wall and parietal chloroplast with a pyrenoid surrounded by a starch envelope. Reproduction occurred by formation of 2‒16 autospores. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the nuclear 18S rDNA gene and the chloroplast ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase gene (rbcL) indicated that this coccoid green alga represents a new lineage of the Watanabea clade (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta). Here, we describe this organism as a new genus and species, Polulichloris henanensis, gen. et sp. nov.


Botany ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (10) ◽  
pp. 917-939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda M. Savoie ◽  
Gary W. Saunders

Sequence data (COI-5P and rbcL) for North American members of the tribe Pterosiphonieae were compared with collections from around the world. Phylogenetic analyses resolved Pterosiphonia as polyphyletic and many species required transfer to other genera. In our analyses Pterosiphonia sensu stricto included only the type species P. cloiophylla (C. Agardh) Falkenberg and P. complanata (Clemente) Falkenberg, as well as the South African species P. stegengae sp. nov. A new genus, Xiphosiphonia gen. nov., was described for X. ardreana (Maggs & Hommersand) comb. nov., X. pennata (C. Agardh) comb. nov., and X. pinnulata (Kützing) comb. nov. Some Asian, European and North American species previously attributed to Pterosiphonia were transferred to Symphyocladia including S. baileyi (Harvey) comb. nov., S. dendroidea (Montagne) comb. nov., S. plumosa nom. nov. (for P. gracilis Kylin), and S. tanakae (S. Uwai & M. Masuda) comb. nov. We also described two new North American species, Symphyocladia brevicaulis sp. nov. and S. rosea sp. nov. Other species formed a well-supported clade for which the genus name Polyostea Ruprecht was resurrected. Included in Polyostea were P. arctica (J. Agardh) comb. nov., P. bipinnata (Postels & Ruprecht) Ruprecht, P. hamata (E.S. Sinova) comb. nov., and P. robusta (N.L. Gardner) comb. nov.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (10) ◽  
pp. 160018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul M. Oliver ◽  
Peter J. McDonald

Climatic change, and in particular aridification, has played a dominant role in shaping Southern Hemisphere biotas since the mid-Neogene. In Australia, ancient and geologically stable ranges within the vast arid zone have functioned as refugia for populations of mesic taxa extirpated from surrounding areas, yet the extent to which relicts may be linked to major aridification events before or after the Pliocene has not been examined in detail. Here we use molecular phylogenetic and morphological data to show that isolated populations of saxicoline geckos in the genus Oedura from the Australian Central Uplands, formerly confounded as a single taxon, actually comprise two divergent species with contrasting histories of isolation. The recently resurrected Oedura cincta has close relatives occurring elsewhere in the Australian arid biomes with estimated divergence dates concentrated in the early Pliocene. A new taxon (described herein) diverged from all extant Oedura much earlier, well before the end of the Miocene. A review of data for Central Uplands endemic vertebrates shows that for most (including Oedura cincta ), gene flow with other parts of Australia probably occurred until at least the very late Miocene or Pliocene. There are, however, a small number of palaeoendemic taxa—often ecologically specialized forms—that show evidence of having persisted since earlier intensification of aridity in the late Miocene.


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