Morphological characters in light of new molecular phylogenies: the caudal-fin skeleton of Ovalentaria

The Ovalentaria is a taxon of teleosts that has been proposed based on molecular analyses only. Previously widely separated families are assembled in this taxon. For the first time, the Ovalentaria are analysed using a comparative morphological approach. The caudal-fin skeleton of 355 species covering all 48 ovalentarian families are examined in cleared and stained specimens, µCT datasets and X-ray images as well as from the literature. A total of 38 morphological characters are evaluated and used for ancestral character state reconstructions and phylogenetic analyses. Results provide hypotheses for a scenario of the evolution of the caudal-fin skeleton and its ground plan in Ovalentaria. An evolutionary trend towards the reduction of skeletal elements in the caudal fin is observed. Connections between the evolution of the caudal-fin skeleton and modes of locomotion found in ovalentarian taxa are discussed. Phylogenetic analyses based on the caudal-fin morphology provide topologies for intra-ovalentarian relationships that largely agree with molecular hypotheses.

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Monograph of Elaphoglossum sect. Polytrichia subsect. Apoda (Dryopteridaceae)

Systematic Botany ◽

10.1600/036364421x16312067913462 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fernando B. Matos ◽

Josmaily L&#243riga ◽

Robbin C. Moran

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Character State ◽

Similar Species ◽

Southern Mexico ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Identification Of Species ◽

First Time ◽

A New Species

We present a monographic treatment for the 13 species of Elaphoglossum sect. Polytrichia subsect. Apoda (Dryopteridaceae). Molecular phylogenetic analyses have recovered this subsection as monophyletic within the so-called “subulate-scaled clade” of Elaphoglossum. Morphologically, the species of E. subsect. Apoda are usually characterized by the presence of brightly colored stem scales (yellowish, orangish, orreddish, as opposed to castaneous to black), evenly distributed subulate scales on laminar surfaces, tiny glandular hairs on different parts of the leaves, and adult sterile leaves without hydathodes. The species can be divided into two groups: one with subsessile and the other with long-petiolate leaves. Elaphoglossum subsection Apoda is distributed from southern Mexico and the Antilles to Bolivia and midwestern Brazil. Elaphoglossum atehortuae, a new species from the Amazon region of Ecuador, is described, illustrated, and compared to its most similar species. It is unusual within this group for lacking subulate scales on both surfaces of the laminae, a character state that it shares with E. backhouseanum. Two species, E. polyblepharum and E. trichophorum, are included in the group for the first time, whereas E. procurrens and E. siliquoides are excluded based on morphological characters and previously published molecular phylogenies. We also provide comments for E. ×morphohybridum, which is a hybrid between E. alvaradoanum and E. crinitum. Lectotypes are designated for Acrostichum apodum, A. platyneuron, A. cubense, A. procurrens, A. trichophorum, and Elaphoglossum auripilum, and epitypes are designated for A. apodum. To facilitate the identification of species, we provide keys, descriptions, illustrations, comments, synonyms, distribution maps, spore images, and a list of specimens examined.

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The caudal skeleton of Batrachoidiformes (Teleostei: Percomorphacea): a study of morphological diversity, intraspecific variation, and phylogenetic inferences

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society ◽

10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz094 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 189 (1) ◽

pp. 228-286

Author(s):

Diego F B Vaz ◽

Eric J Hilton

Keyword(s):

Intraspecific Variation ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Morphological Diversity ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Primary Data ◽

Caudal Fin ◽

Caudal Skeleton ◽

Fin Ray ◽

Data Source ◽

First Time

Abstract The caudal-fin skeleton is a primary data source for systematics of fishes, with characters from this complex being proposed as synapomorphies at many taxonomic levels. Batrachoidiformes is recognized as monophyletic, although intraordinal relationships are unclear. Likewise, interrelationships of Batrachoidiformes to other percomorphs are not well established. The caudal skeleton of Batrachoidiformes has not been thoroughly studied and is poorly represented in recent phylogenetic analyses. In this study, we examined the caudal-fin skeleton of 55 of the 82 species and 22 of the 23 genera of Batrachoidiformes, emphasizing the detection of intraspecific variation to recognize morphological characters with phylogenetic significance. Intraspecific variation is high, especially in the shape of epurals and the parhypural flange. A dorsal prezygapophysis on the first ural centrum and the acute articular edge of the parhypural flange are interpreted as putative synapomorphies of Porichthyinae. The anterior epural supporting two procurrent fin rays is found only in some Halophryninae, but is absent in Allenbatrachus, Batrachomeus, Batrichthys and Halophryne. Among Batrachoidiformes, a hypurapophysis-like process on the first ural centrum is found in Thalassophryninae and Barchatus, Batrichthys, Bifax, Chatrabus, Colletteichthys, Halobatrachus, Perulibatrachus and Riekertia. Caudal-fin ray counts are phylogenetically informative at several taxonomic levels. Distal caudal cartilages are described for Batrachoidiformes for the first time.

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Molecular Phylogeny of Axonopus (Poaceae, Panicoideae, Paspaleae): Monophyly, Synapomorphies, and Taxonomic Implications for Infrageneric Classification and Species Complexes

Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden ◽

10.3417/2020451 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 105 (4) ◽

pp. 459-480

Author(s):

Carolina Delfini ◽

Juan M. Acosta ◽

Vinicius Castro Souza ◽

Fernando O. Zuloaga

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Character State ◽

Infrageneric Classification ◽

Ancestral Character State ◽

Limited Sampling ◽

Species Complexes ◽

External Transcribed Spacer ◽

Taxonomic Implications

Axonopus P. Beauv. comprises nearly 90, mostly New World, species characterized by having spikelets with the inverse position (i.e., the backs of the upper glume and the upper lemma turned away from the rachis). The genus has been divided into four sections, five series, and three subseries, based exclusively on morphological features. Previous phylogenetic analyses based on a limited sampling of species showed Axonopus to be a monophyletic genus. In this study we increased the number of species sampled (46 species in the combined tree) and sequenced four DNA regions (external transcribed spacer [ETS], internal transcribed spacer [ITS], trnL-F, and ndhF). We tested the monophyly of Axonopus and its traditional infrageneric categories using parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian inference. Additionally, we performed ancestral character state reconstructions of 45 morphological characters to infer autapomorphies of the species and synapomorphies for the genus and clades. Our findings confirmed Axonopus as a monophyletic genus only when Centrochloa Swallen and Ophiochloa Filg., Davidse & Zuloaga are included within it. Our analyses also showed that, with the exception of section Lappagopsis, infrageneric categories from previous classifications of the genus are artificial. Twenty-one morphological character states were identified as potential autapomorphies; two were reconstructed as potential synapomorphies for Axonopus, whereas 12 were reconstructed as potential synapomorphies for specific clades within the genus. Further molecular analyses, including sequencing of unlinked nuclear genes, are needed in order to reach a robust phylogenetic classification of the genus.

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A revision of dragon millipedes I: genus Desmoxytes Chamberlin, 1923, with the description of eight new species (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae)

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.761.24214 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 761 ◽

pp. 1-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ruttapon Srisonchai ◽

Henrik Enghoff ◽

Natdanai Likhitrakarn ◽

Somsak Panha

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Southeast Asia ◽

Present Article ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

New Genera ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

New Synonyms ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

First Time

The dragon millipede genusDesmoxytess.l. is split into five genera, based on morphological characters and preliminary molecular phylogenetic analyses. The present article includes a review ofDesmoxytess.s., while future articles will deal withHylomusCook and Loomis, 1924 and three new genera which preliminarily are referred to as the ‘acantherpestes’, ‘gigas’, and ‘spiny’ groups. Diagnostic morphological characters of each group are discussed.Hylomusis resurrected as a valid genus and the following 33 species are assigned to it:H.asper(Attems, 1937),comb. n.,H.cattienensis(Nguyen, Golovatch & Anichkin, 2005),comb. n.,H.cervarius(Attems, 1953),comb. n.,H.cornutus(Zhang & Li, 1982),comb. n.,H.dracoCook & Loomis, 1924,stat. rev.,H.enghoffi(Nguyen, Golovatch & Anichkin, 2005),comb. n.,H.eupterygotus(Golovatch, Li, Liu & Geoffroy, 2012),comb. n.,H.getuhensis(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2014),comb. n.,H.grandis(Golovatch, VandenSpiegel & Semenyuk, 2016),comb. n.,H.hostilis(Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994),comb. n.,H.jeekeli(Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994),comb. n.,H.lingulatus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2014),comb. n.,H.laticollis(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.longispinus(Loksa, 1960),comb. n.,H.lui(Golovatch, Li, Liu & Geoffroy, 2012),comb. n.,H.minutuberculus(Zhang, 1986),comb. n.,H.nodulosus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2014),comb. n.,H.parvulus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2014),comb. n.,H.phasmoides(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.pilosus(Attems, 1937),comb. n.,H.proximus(Nguyen, Golovatch & Anichkin, 2005),comb. n.,H.rhinoceros(Likhitrakarn, Golovatch & Panha, 2015),comb. n.,H.rhinoparvus(Likhitrakarn, Golovatch & Panha, 2015),comb. n.,H.scolopendroides(Golovatch, Geoffroy & Mauriès, 2010),comb. n.,H.scutigeroides(Golovatch, Geoffroy & Mauriès, 2010),comb. n.,H.similis(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.simplex(Golovatch, VandenSpiegel & Semenyuk, 2016),comb. n.,H.simplipodus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.specialis(Nguyen, Golovatch & Anichkin, 2005),comb. n.,H.spectabilis(Attems, 1937),comb. n.,H.spinitergus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.spinissimus(Golovatch, Li, Liu & Geoffroy, 2012),comb. n.andH.variabilis(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.Desmoxytess.s. includes the following species:D.breviverpaSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha, 2016;D.cervina(Pocock,1895);D.delfae(Jeekel, 1964);D.desSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha, 2016;D.pinnasqualiSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha, 2016;D.planata(Pocock, 1895);D.purpuroseaEnghoff, Sutcharit & Panha, 2007;D.takensisSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha, 2016;D.taurina(Pocock, 1895);D.terae(Jeekel, 1964), all of which are re-described based mainly on type material. Two new synonyms are proposed:DesmoxytespterygotaGolovatch & Enghoff, 1994,syn. n.(=Desmoxytescervina(Pocock, 1895)),DesmoxytesrubraGolovatch & Enghoff, 1994,syn. n.(=Desmoxytesdelfae(Jeekel, 1964)). Six new species are described from Thailand:D.aurataSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.corythosaurusSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.eurosSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.flabellaSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.golovatchiSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.octoconigeraSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n., as well as one from Malaysia:D.perakensisSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n., and one from Myanmar:D.waepyanensisSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.The species can mostly be easily distinguished by gonopod structure in combination with other external characters; some cases of particularly similar congeners are discussed. All species ofDesmoxytess.s. seem to be endemic to continental Southeast Asia (except the ‘tramp’ speciesD.planata). Some biological observations (relationship with mites, moulting) are recorded for the first time. Complete illustrations of external morphological characters, an identification key, and distribution maps of all species are provided.

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Genetic diversity of the genus Terfezia (Pezizaceae, Pezizales): New species and new record from North Africa

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.334.2.7 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 334 (2) ◽

pp. 183 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Fatima El-Houaria ZITOUNI-HAOUAR ◽

JUAN RAMÓN CARLAVILLA ◽

GABRIEL MORENO ◽

JOSÉ LUIS MANJÓN ◽

ZOHRA FORTAS

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

North Africa ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Ribosomal Subunit ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Unique Combination ◽

Large Ribosomal Subunit ◽

First Time ◽

A New Species

Morphological and phylogenetic analyses of large ribosomal subunit (28S rDNA) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS rDNA) of Terfezia samples collected from several bioclimatic zones in Algeria and Spain revealed the presence of six distinct Terfezia species: T. arenaria, T. boudieri, T. claveryi; T. eliocrocae (reported here for the first time from North Africa), T. olbiensis, and a new species, T. crassiverrucosa sp. nov., proposed and described here, characterized by its phylogenetic position and unique combination of morphological characters. A discussion on the unresolved problems in the taxonomy of the spiny-spored Terfezia species is conducted after the present results.

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Diversity of Diatrypaceae Species Associated with Dieback of Grapevines in South Africa, with the Description of Eutypa cremea sp. nov.

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-05-17-0738-re ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 102 (1) ◽

pp. 220-230 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Providence Moyo ◽

Lizel Mostert ◽

Christoffel F.J. Spies ◽

Ulrike Damm ◽

Francois Halleen

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Cross Section ◽

Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽

Dominant Species ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Internal Transcribed Spacer Region ◽

Canker Pathogen ◽

Grapevine Canker ◽

First Time

Recent studies in grape-growing areas including Australia, California, and Spain have revealed an extensive diversity of Diatrypaceae species on grapevines showing dieback symptoms and cankers. However, in South Africa, little is known regarding the diversity of these species in vineyards. The aim of this study was, therefore, to identify and characterize Diatrypaceae species associated with dieback symptoms of grapevine in South Africa. Isolates were collected from dying spurs of grapevines aged 4 to 8 years old, grapevine wood showing wedge-shaped necrosis when cut in cross section as well as from perithecia on dead grapevine wood. The collected isolates were identified based on morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and β-tubulin gene. Seven Diatrypaceae species were identified on grapevine, namely Cryptovalsa ampelina, C. rabenhorstii, Eutypa consobrina, E. lata, E. cremea sp. nov., Eutypella citricola, and E. microtheca. The dying spurs yielded the highest diversity of species when compared with the wedge-shaped necrosis and/or perithecia. C. ampelina was the dominant species in the dying spurs, followed by E. citricola, whereas E. lata was the dominant species isolated from the wedge-shaped necroses and perithecia. These results confirm E. lata as an important grapevine canker pathogen in South Africa, but the frequent association of C. ampelina with spur dieback suggests that this pathogen plays a more prominent role in dieback than previously assumed. In some cases, more than one species were isolated from a single symptom, which suggests that interactions may be occurring leading to decline of grapevines. C. rabenhorstii, E. consobrina, E. citricola, E. microtheca, and E. cremea are reported for the first time on grapevine in South Africa.

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Morphological phylogenetic analyses and taxonomic revision of the Panorpa davidi group (Mecoptera: Panorpidae)

Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny ◽

10.3897/asp.79.e65179 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 79 ◽

pp. 309-342

Author(s):

Li Ning ◽

Ji-Shen Wang ◽

Bao-Zhen Hua

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Maximum Likelihood ◽

Maximum Parsimony ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Monophyletic Group ◽

Key To Species ◽

First Time

Abstract The Chinese Panorpa species without anal horn are normally assigned to the Panorpa davidi group. Here, we taxonomically revise the P. davidi group, which currently includes 17 known species and four new species: P. gaokaii sp. nov., P. huayuani sp. nov., P. uncinata sp. nov. and P. yaoluopingensis sp. nov. Panorpa shanyangensis Chou & Wang, 1981 and P. sexspinosa zhongnanensis Chou & Ran, 1981 are treated as junior synonyms of P. sexspinosa Cheng, 1949. We describe for the first time the male of P. stigmosa Zhou, 2006, and the females of P. curva Carpenter, 1938, P. davidi Navás, 1908, P. difficilis Carpenter, 1938, P. fructa Cheng, 1949, and P. jinchuana Hua, Sun & Li, 2001. A key to species of the group is provided. Phylogenetic analyses of maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood based on 79 morphological characters show that the newly defined P. davidi group is a well-supported monophyletic group and is sister to the genus Cerapanorpa Gao, Ma & Hua, 2016.

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Molecular phylogeny of the grasshopper family Pyrgomorphidae (Caelifera, Orthoptera) reveals rampant paraphyly and convergence of traditionally used taxonomic characters

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4969 (1) ◽

pp. 101-118

Author(s):

SUNDUS ZAHID ◽

RICARDO MARIÑO-PÉREZ ◽

HOJUN SONG

Keyword(s):

Molecular Phylogeny ◽

Classification Scheme ◽

Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽

Large Degree ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Character State ◽

Important Species ◽

Natural Classification ◽

Genome Data ◽

Ancestral Character State

The grasshopper family Pyrgomorphidae is one of the most colorful orthopteran lineages, and includes biologically fascinating and culturally important species. Recent attempts to reconstruct the phylogeny of this family have resulted in a large degree of conflicts between a morphology-based study and a molecular-based study, mainly due to convergent morphological traits that affected phylogenetic reconstruction. In this study, a molecular phylogeny of Pyrgomorphidae based on 32 ingroup species and mitochondrial genome data is proposed, which is used to test the monophyly of the taxonomic groupings used in the current classification scheme. Using the ancestral character state reconstruction analyses and character mapping, we demonstrate that some of the morphological characters, including the male genitalia, which were considered to be taxonomically important, have evolved convergently across the phylogeny. We discuss the discrepancies between our phylogeny and the previous studies and propose an approach to establish a natural classification scheme for Pyrgomorphidae.

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Loss of a larval generic character: an interesting and new description for Isoperla vevcianensis Ikonomov, 1980 (Plecoptera: Perlodidae) with updated adult characters

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.5082.6.2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5082 (6) ◽

pp. 541-552

Author(s):

DÁVID MURÁNYI ◽

TIBOR KOVÁCS ◽

MARIBET GAMBOA ◽

KOZO WATANABE

Keyword(s):

Species Complex ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Character State ◽

Generic Character ◽

First Time

The larva of the Balkan microendemic Isoperla vevcianensis Ikonomov, 1980 (Plecoptera: Perlodidae: Isoperlinae) is described on the basis of larvae associated with adults by means of cox1 sequences similarities. Eggs and everted penis of the male are described for the first time. The larva possessed blunt paraprocts which were previously sharp among Palaearctic larvae of this huge Holarctic and Oriental genus. The commonly pointed paraproct remains as the only distinguishing generic character for the morphologically diverse larvae of Palaearctic Isoperla, but should not be considered as an exclusive character state for the genus. Morphological characters are illustrated in comparison with the sympatric larvae of the Isoperla tripartita species complex.

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Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomy of the subgenus Gnathopaederus Chapin and related groups of Paederus s.l. (Coleoptera:Staphylinidae:Paederinae)

Invertebrate Systematics ◽

10.1071/is09015 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 23 (5) ◽

pp. 422

Author(s):

Xiao-Yan Li ◽

Hong-Zhang Zhou

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Type Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Character State ◽

Robust Solution ◽

Current Classification ◽

The Status ◽

Definition Of ◽

Taxonomic Studies ◽

First Time

The paederine genus Paederus s.l. (Coleoptera : Staphylinidae) is a hyperdiverse group of some 500 species worldwide. Although the subtribe Paederina, in which the genus resides, is monophyletic the status of numerous genera and subgenera is questionable and the current classification is likely to be flawed. As part of detailed studies on the paederine fauna of China, we undertook a preliminary morphologically-based phylogenetic analysis to determine the relationships of Paederus (Gnathopaederus) and related subgenera, as a basis for a revision of the subgenus, and as an attempt to provide a better framework for future taxonomic studies on the group as a whole. The analysis was based on 66 adult morphological characters for 30 ingroup taxa, including all six species of P. (Gnathopaederus). The results show that P. (Gnathopaederus) and P. (Paederus), and the genera Megalopaederus, Pachypaederus and Paederidus are monophyletic, and that P. (Eopaederus) and P. (Harpopaederus) are paraphylyetic. However, our analysis did not offer a robust solution to relationships among other clades within Paederus s.l. although it seems clear that Paederus s.l. is not monophyletic with respect to the above genera. The monophyly of P. (Gnathopaederus) is supported by the mandibular basal medial tooth having two cuspids separated dorsoventrally. Based largely on this character state, the definition of the subgenus is refined; six species are recognized, including two new species described from China as follows: P. (G.) daozhenensis, sp. nov. from Guizhou, and P. (G.) jilongensis, sp. nov. from Xizang; three species, P. bursavacua Willers, P. yunnanensis Willers and P. solodovnikovi Willers, are newly assigned to the subgenus according to a revised subgeneric definition. New morphological characters including important secondary sexual characters and sexual dimorphism are described and male genitalia are illustrated for the first time for the type species of the subgenus, P. (G.) szechuanus (Chapin). A key to the six species is presented and the distribution of each species is documented and discussed.

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