scholarly journals Recovery of the type specimen ofAvena breviaristata, an endemic Algerian grass species collected only once (1882): morphology, taxonomy and botanical history

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Gabriel ◽  
Natalia Tkach ◽  
Martin Röser

AbstractAvena breviaristata, collected only once (1882) in Algeria and never re-collected since, is a very mysterious grass species because unfortunately even the type specimen got lost 60--80 years ago. Morphological information on this species was thus based on a few published descriptions, which made it difficult, however, to correctly infer the genus affiliation of this morphologically odd species.Avena breviaristatabecame affiliated in the past with various oat-like genera (Avenula,Helictotrichon,Tricholemma). Due to the recent rediscovery of the type specimen at the P herbarium and the opportunity to study this specimen, we report here on the morphological characters ofA. breviaristataunderpinned by meaningful illustrations. They are discussed in comparison with the morphology of representative species of the above-mentioned genera. Uncommon characters of the spikelets (type of disarticulation of the rachilla, lemma structure, lodicules) and to some extent of the inflorescences, leaves and leaf sheaths support the inclusion ofA. breviaristatain the North African genusTricholemma. Considering biogeography,T. breviaristatumfrom the arid Hauts Plateaux in Algeria is a highly xeromorphic counterpart of the mesomorphic speciesT. jahandiezii, which is confined to higher altitudes of the rather humid Moyen Atlas in Morocco. This underlines the status ofTricholemmaas a relic endemic. Our morphological survey supports the classification ofAvenula(onlyA. pubescens) as separate fromHelictotrichons.str. andHelictochloa. Moreover, morphological evidence does not support an origin ofA. pubescensby intergeneric hybridization between the latter genera as hypothesized in some prior studies. Especially the glabrous palea, the special shape of the lodicules and the structure of the awn show no intermediacy. The complicated history of the type collection ofT. breviaristatumand the role of botanical authors are given.

1957 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen L. Wood

While investigating the biology of the North American species of Hypomolyx, field workers in Manitoba found a vestigial, or short-winged, and a long-winged form under apparently identical conditions in about equal numbers. Although biological differences were nor then apparent, there was doubt as to whether they were dealing with one dimorphic species or with two distinct species, A search for morphological characters brought to light numerous differences between the two forms, supporting the view that two species were present. These differences, a description the previously unrecognized species, and notes concerning the status of the genera Hylobius and Hypomolyx are reported below.


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5048 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-175
Author(s):  
R.A. KAIM-MALKA ◽  
D. BELLAN-SANTINI ◽  
J.C. DAUVIN

Two new Haploops species are described from the North Atlantic Ocean: a blind species Haploops faroensis spec. nov. and Haploops truncata spec. nov. with a single pair of corneal lenses. In addition, Haploops vallifera Stephensen 1925 and Haploops similis Stephensen 1925, are re-described and the status of Haploops spinosa Shoemaker 1931, is re-established as a valid species. A table is given of the 75 morphological characters of the studied species.  


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Demian F Gomez ◽  
James Skelton ◽  
M Sedonia Steininger ◽  
Richard Stouthamer ◽  
Paul Rugman-Jones ◽  
...  

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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús A. Cruz-López ◽  
Oscar F. Francke

Systematic relationships among Laniatores have received considerable attention during the past few years. Many significant taxonomic changes have been proposed, particularly in the superfamily Gonyleptoidea. As part of this superfamily, the basalmost Stygnopsidae is the least known family. In order to propose the first total evidence phylogeny of the family, we produced four datasets: three molecular markers – partial nuclear 28S, mitochondrial ribosomal 16S, mitochondrial protein-encoding cytochrome c oxidase subunit I; and 72 morphological characters. With these data, we performed three different phylogenetic analyses: (1) Bayesian Inference with molecular data, and (2) Bayesian Inference and (3) Maximum Likelihood using combined data. Our results are congruent: a monophyletic Stygnopsidae subdivided into two major clades: Stygnopsinae and Karosinae, subfam. nov. The following genera are redefined: Stygnopsis, Hoplobunus and Serrobunus stat. rev. The following taxa are described: Iztlina venefica, gen. nov., sp. nov. and Tonalteca, gen. nov. Additionally, the following changes are proposed: Serrobunus queretarius (Šilhavý, 1974), comb. nov., Stygnopsis apoalensis (Goodnight & Goodnight, 1973), comb. nov., Stygnopsis mexicana (Roewer, 1915), comb. nov., Stygnopsis oaxacensis (Goodnight & Goodnight, 1973), comb. nov., and Tonalteca spinooculorum (Goodnight & Goodnight, 1973), comb. nov. We also discuss the status of the genera Isaeus stat. rev. and Mexotroglinus. Finally, we discuss the evolution of male genitalia and convergence of selected homoplastic diagnostic characters.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abner Carvalho-Batista ◽  
Mariana Terossi ◽  
Fernando J. Zara ◽  
Fernando L. Mantelatto ◽  
Rogerio C. Costa

Abstract After being stable for nearly a century, the taxonomic history of the genus Xiphopenaeus has been marked by many changes in the last three decades. The taxonomic status of the Atlantic species has a low resolution, and many species are still undefined and grouped as cryptic species. Here we employed an integrative approach to define the species of Xiphopenaeus and the morphological characters needed to differentiate them. We combined the analyses of two molecular markers (COI and 16 S rDNA), scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Based on specimens from 17 localities from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, we detected five divergent genetic groups, three in the Atlantic (A1, A2, A3) and two in the Pacific (P1, P2). Male secondary sexual characters were able to differentiate four out of the five genetic groups. Group A1 corresponds to X. kroyeri, and A2 and A3 correspond to new species. We redescribed the genus and two new species are described and illustrated: Xiphopenaeus dincao nov. sp. (A2) and Xiphopenaeus baueri nov. sp. (A3). Since the holotype of X. riveti was missing and the specimen analysed from group P2 was a female, the status of the species of Xiphopenaeus from the Pacific remains unresolved.


Zootaxa ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 5091 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-154
Author(s):  
XIN XU ◽  
LI YU ◽  
FENGXIANG LIU ◽  
DAIQIN LI

A new genus of the primitively segmented trapdoor spiders, which is endemic to the north of China, is described, Luthela gen. nov., and the status of Sinothela Haupt, 2003 and Sinothela sinensis (Bishop & Crosby, 1932) is discussed and both are treated as nomina dubia. The new genus Luthela gen. nov. is erected based on morphology and molecular data of the type species Luthela yiyuan sp. nov. A taxonomic revision of the new genus is given. Three Sinothela species are transferred to the new genus, L. luotianensis comb. nov. and L. schensiensis comb. nov. are redescribed using our newly collected specimens, include L. heyangensis comb. nov. as a junior synonym of L. schensiensis comb. nov., and describe six new species based on both male and female morphological characters: L. badong sp. nov., L. dengfeng sp. nov., L. handan sp. nov., L. taian sp. nov., L. yiyuan sp. nov., and L. yuncheng sp. nov.  


1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (11) ◽  
pp. 2323-2330 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Catling ◽  
A. A. Reznicek ◽  
B. S. Brookes

To clarify the relationship between the Eurasian Carex disticha and the North American Carex sartwellii, 38 morphological characters were measured in 30 specimens of each. Various qualitative features were also scored. Through analysis of variance (ANOVA), a reduced number of 10 important continuous characters was obtained and the sample of each taxon was increased to 50. ANOVA of these 10 characters revealed that perigynium length and perigynium beak length were the most important discriminating characters, but in a scatter diagram of these two, 15% of the sample occupied a region of overlap. Principal-component analysis and discriminant analysis using the 10 characters resulted in a separation of the two groups, but a small region of overlap existed in both cases. The two taxa are distinct by virtue of accumulation of small morphological and other differences in a number of characters, rather than by sharp differentiation in a few characters. Carex disticha has larger perigynia with beaks (0.8–)1–1.5(–2.3) mm long, whereas C. sartwellii has smaller perigynia with beaks 0.4–1(–1.2) mm long. All distinguishing features are discussed and a key is provided. Immature vouchers for the occurrence of C. disticha in southwestern Quebec are confirmed on the basis of features of the inflorescence. The only other North American station of C. disticha, discovered in Simcoe Co., Ontario, in 1972 and extant in 1986, is also confirmed in the numerical analyses.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 317 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
LILÍ MARTÍNEZ-DOMÍNGUEZ ◽  
FERNANDO NICOLALDE-MOREJÓN ◽  
DENNIS WM. STEVENSON

Several Ceratozamia populations from the “Carso Huasteco” region in Mexico have a controversial circumscription and have been historically identified as Ceratozamia fuscoviridis. In this paper, we present a review of the taxonomic history of this species and provide taxa circumscriptions based on analyses of herbarium specimens from this region and supplemented with fieldwork. For this, we have studied qualitative and quantitative morphological variation at population level. We recognize two species in this group: C. fuscoviridis and a new species, C. chamberlainii. Here, we provide two lines of qualitative and quantitative morphological evidence showing that plants of C. chamberlainii from southern San Luis Potosí to northern Hidalgo are distinct from C. fuscoviridis of central Hidalgo east of Veracruz. These species can be identified by leaflet form, leaf emergence color, color of the ovulate strobilus, and form of the megasporophyll, along with a combination of quantitative morphological characters.


2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 365-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Liebherr ◽  
Paul D. Krushelnycky

Abstract Mecyclothorax palikea, sp.n. is described from the vicinity of Palikea, southern Waianae Range, Oahu, HI, USA and is assigned to Britton's Mecyclothorax flavomarginatus species group. Cladistic analysis, based on 20 morphological characters and including several outgroup taxa, places Mecyclothorax impunctatus Liebherr of Molokai as adelphotaxon to the other eight species of the group, with subsequent speciation events successively isolating M. sharpi Britton of West Maui versus a clade of seven Oahu species. Phylogenetic relationships among the Oahu clade species posit three historical speciation events vicariating ancestors on the western Waianae and eastern Koolau Ranges. Mecyclothorax palikea is placed as adelphotaxon to M. carteri (Perkins), a species allopatrically distributed to the north in the Waianae, corroborating existence of southern and northern areas of endemism within the Waianae Range. Relative ages of the respective volcanoes housing M. flavomarginatus group species — Waianae (3.7 million years ago), Koolau (2.6 million years ago), Eastern Molokai (1.8 million years ago), West Maui (1.3 million years ago)—imply that ancestral occupation of Oahu by this group occurred subsequent to completion of the shield building phases of Oahu's two volcanoes, Waianae and Koolau. Diversification within the group on Oahu was associated with vicariance events that occurred within a terrestrial environment. Whereas all four species of the M. flavomarginatus group occupying Waianae Range habitats have been observed recently in nature, collection of M. flavomarginatus in 1906 represents the most recent record for any M. flavomarginatus group species in the Koolau Range, indicating the importance of conserving appropriate Waianae Range habitats in order to preserve representative biodiversity in this species group.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document