Integrative taxonomy of giant crested Eusirus in the Southern Ocean, including the description of a new species (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Eusiridae)

Author(s):  
Marie L Verheye ◽  
Cédric D’Udekem D’Acoz

Abstract Among Antarctic amphipods of the genus Eusirus, a highly distinctive clade of giant species is characterized by a dorsal, blade-shaped tooth on pereionites 5–7 and pleonites 1–3. This lineage, herein named ‘crested Eusirus’, includes two potential species complexes, the Eusirus perdentatus and Eusirus giganteus complexes, in addition to the more distinctive Eusirus propeperdentatus. Molecular phylogenies and statistical parsimony networks (COI, CytB and ITS2) of crested Eusirus are herein reconstructed. This study aims to formally revise species diversity within crested Eusirus by applying several species delimitation methods (Bayesian implementation of the Poisson tree processes model, general mixed Yule coalescent, multi-rate Poisson tree processes and automatic barcode gap discovery) on the resulting phylogenies. In addition, results from the DNA-based methods are benchmarked against a detailed morphological analysis of all available specimens of the E. perdentatus complex. Our results indicate that species diversity of crested Eusirus is underestimated. Overall, DNA-based methods suggest that the E. perdentatus complex is composed of three putative species and that the E. giganteus complex includes four or five putative species. The morphological analysis of available specimens from the E. perdentatus complex corroborates molecular results by identifying two differentiable species, the genuine E. perdentatus and a new species, herein described as Eusirus pontomedon sp. nov.

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4747 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUIS M. P. CERÍACO ◽  
MATTHEW P. HEINICKE ◽  
KELLY L. PARKER ◽  
MARIANA P. MARQUES ◽  
AARON M. BAUER

The genus Panaspis in Angola is represented by four species, most of them part of taxonomically and nomenclaturally challenging species-complexes. We present a taxonomic revision of the group in the region and describe one new species, Panaspis mocamedensis sp. nov., endemic to the lowland areas of the Namibe province, southwestern Angola. Phylogenetic analysis using a combination of mitochondrial (16S, cytb) and nucleares (RAG1, PDC) markers, as well as morphological and meristic data support the recognition of the new species. In addition, these data support the presence of nominotypical Panaspis cabindae, P. wahlbergi and P. maculicollis in Angola. Reexamination of the Angolan population of P. breviceps was based on morphological analysis, as no molecular data from Angola is available for this species. According to our results, this population likely represents the nominotypical form, but due to its complex taxonomic and nomenclatural history and the lack of molecular data, this population needs to be reconsidered when molecular data become available. The description of a new species and revision of the Angolan Panaspis contributes to a better understanding of the true species richness of the Angolan herpetofauna, as well as to understanding the major biogeographic patterns of the region. A key to Angolan Panaspis species is also presented. 


PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e0149726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Bagheri ◽  
Ali Asghar Maassoumi ◽  
Mohammad Reza Rahiminejad ◽  
Frank R. Blattner

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 219 (2) ◽  
pp. 174
Author(s):  
Fabiana Firetti Leggieri ◽  
DIEGO DEMARCO ◽  
LÚCIA G. LOHMANN

The Atlantic Forest of Brazil includes one of the highest species diversity and endemism in the planet, representing a priority for biodiversity conservation. A new species of Anemopaegma from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil is here described, illustrated and compared to its closest relatives. Anemopaegma nebulosum Firetti-Leggieri & L.G. Lohmann has been traditionally treated as a morph of Anemopaegma prostratum; however, additional morphological and anatomical studies indicated that A. nebulosum differs significantly from A. prostratum and is best treated as a separate species. More specifically, A. nebulosum is characterized by elliptic and coriaceous leaflets (vs. ovate to orbicular and membranaceous in A. prostratum), smaller leaflet blades (3.6–5.5 x 2.0–3.0 cm vs. 6.7–13.0 x 4.2–8.4 cm in A. prostratum), orbicular prophylls of the axillary buds (vs. no prophylls in A. prostratum), solitary flowers (vs. multi-flowered axillary racemes in A. prostratum) and a gibbous corolla (vs. infundibuliform corollas in A. prostratum). In addition, A. nebulosum differs from A. prostratum anatomically in having thicker leaflet blades composed of two to four layers of palisade parenchyma (vs. one to three layers in A. prostratum), and seven to eight layers in the spongy parenchyma (vs. six to eight layers in A. prostratum). A key for the identification of all species of Anemopaegma from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil is presented.


2016 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 1417-1422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Calcinai ◽  
Azzurra Bastari ◽  
Daisy M. Makapedua ◽  
Carlo Cerrano

Mangroves create unique ecological environments, furnishing a habitat opportunity for many species. The majority of published information on mangrove sponges comes from the Caribbean while few data are available from Indo-Pacific mangrove sponges. In general, species diversity of sponges in mangroves is lower than adjacent subtidal habitats in both the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific. The aim of this study is to report the first data about sponge species diversity of two mangrove forests from Bangka Island (North Sulawesi, Indonesia) and to describe a new sponge species associated with the mangroves. The survey found 19 species, belonging to 11 families and 15 genera; the samples were collected on mangrove trunks, on the roots or on the surrounding bottom. The majority of the species are typical of coral reef but two of them have been previously found only in lagoons or in mangrove habitats. These new data enlarge our knowledge about Indonesian sponges diversity and suggest the urgency to consider Indonesian mangroves as an important but underestimated element in coral reef ecological dynamics.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 333 (1) ◽  
pp. 108 ◽  
Author(s):  
BART VAN DE VIJVER ◽  
STEVEN DESSEIN

During a survey of the freshwater diatom flora of the sub-Antarctic region (Iles Kerguelen and Iles Crozet) in the southern Indian Ocean, an unknown Cyclotella taxon was observed that was formerly identified as the presumed cosmopolitan C. meneghinana. Detailed morphological analysis based on light and scanning electron microscopical observations and comparison with several similar Cyclotella taxa worldwide justified the description of this unknown taxon as a new species: Cyclotella deceusteriana sp. nov. The new taxon is characterized by the presence of marginal fultoportulae on every costa, hyaline furrows between the raised marginal parts on which the striae are located, 2, occasionally 1, 3 or 4 central fultoportulae and an entirely flat, smooth, relatively small central area. The new species is described and compared with other Cyclotella taxa. Notes on its distribution and ecology are added.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4461 (4) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
FERNANDO J.M. ROJAS-RUNJAIC ◽  
MIGUEL E. MATTA-PEREIRA ◽  
ENRIQUE LA MARCA

Species diversity in collared frogs of the genus Mannophryne is presumed to be underestimated due to the paucity of external morphology characters, but combining morphology with bioacoustics and other lines of evidence has shown to be useful in delimiting species of this group. Herein we describe a new species of Mannophryne from Sierra de Aroa in northwestern Venezuela. The new species is morphologically similar to M. herminae but is readily recognized by its strikingly different advertisement call. It also can be distinguished from all its congeners by the unique combination of its small body size, general color pattern, basal toe webbing, and advertisement call consisting of long trills of single tonal notes emitted at a rate of 2–3 notes/s. Additionally, to facilitate future diagnosis of undescribed species related to M. herminae, we amend the definition of the latter, describe in detail its advertisement call, and redefine its known distribution range. The new species increases the number of described species of Mannophryne to 20. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4859 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-126
Author(s):  
THORE KOPPETSCH

Ethiopia is known for its highly endemic and rich herpetofaunal diversity shaped by its biogeographical patterns. Here, a new species of skink, Trachylepis boehmei sp. nov., is described from the Ethiopian Highlands. It differs from its congeners in having smooth uncarinated dorsal scales, 26–29 scale rows around midbody, a slender body of small size, a relatively short tail, a low eye–snout distance and a unique colour pattern with 6–8 darkish brown dorsal stripes. Based on morphological characteristics, its biogeographical pattern and comparisons with other similar congeners this new species is closely related to Trachylepis megalura. A published new record of Trachylepis wingati for the Kafa region is re-examined and identified as T. megalura. An updated comprehensive key to the Trachylepis found in Ethiopia is provided. In the context of ongoing phylogenetic and taxonomic revisions of Trachylepis and its species complexes the presence of further cryptic taxa can be expected also for the Ethiopian biodiversity hotspots. Consequently, the need of further herpetological investigations in this region of ecological importance is stressed. 


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