Mouthpart homologies and life habits of Mesozoic long-proboscid scorpionflies

Mesozoic long-proboscid scorpionflies (Mesopsychoidea) provide important clues to ancient plant-pollinator interactions. Among them, the family Aneuretopsychidae is especially important because its mouthparts are vital to deciphering the early evolution of Mesopsychoidea and putatively the origin of fleas (Siphonaptera). However, the identification of mouthpart homologs among Aneuretopsychidae remains controversial because of the lack of three-dimensional anatomical data. Here, we report the first Aneuretopsychidae from Late Cretaceous Burmese amber, which have short maxillary palpi and elongate mouthpart elements consisting of one pair of galeae and one hypopharynx. Their mouthparts are identical to those of Pseudopolycentropodidae (= Dualulidae, new synonym) but are not homologous to those of Siphonaptera. Our phylogenetic analysis provides robust evidence for the debated monophyly of Mesopsychoidea. Our results suggest that the long-proboscid condition has most likely evolved once in Mesopsychoidea, independently from fleas, and further reveal the variety and complexity of mid-Cretaceous pollinating insects.

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Strepsiptera and triungula in Cretaceous amber

Insect Systematics & Evolution ◽

10.1163/187631205788912787 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 1-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Valerie Schawaroch ◽

Jeyaraney Kathirithamby ◽

David Grimaldi

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

New Jersey ◽

Early Cretaceous ◽

Late Cretaceous ◽

Adult Male ◽

Late Jurassic ◽

Sister Group ◽

Baltic Amber ◽

Burmese Amber ◽

The Family

AbstractThe first definitive strepsipteran is reported from the Cretaceous, named Cretostylops engeli, n.gen., n.sp., which is an adult male in amber from the mid-Cretaceous (approximately Cenomanian) of northern Myanmar (Burma). A triungulin from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian, c. 80 myo) of Manitoba, Canada is possibly a strepsipteran. The triungulin is described in detail but its morphology does not conform to any known clade of Recent strepsipterans. Other Cretaceous triungula reported here are in Burmese amber and are probably of the family Rhipiphoridae (Coleoptera), and bizarre (possibly coleopteran) triungula in mid-Cretaceous (Turonian, c. 90 myo) amber from New Jersey, USA. Phylogenetic analysis confirms the primitive position of Cretostylops among families of Strepsiptera, but it is not as primitive as Protoxenos in Eocene Baltic amber. Protoxenos and Cretostylops are still too highly modified to address the controversial relationships of Strepsiptera among insect orders, but the generalized structure of the mandible is inconsistent with the hypothesis that this order is the sister group to Diptera or closely related to Mecopterida. Phylogeny of living and Recent Strepsiptera suggests an origin of the order in the Early Cretaceous or Late Jurassic, which is also inconsistent with this order being a sister group to the much older Diptera.

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The recently proposed odonatan ‘suborder’ Cephalozygoptera: fact or fiction

Palaeoentomology ◽

10.11646/palaeoentomology.4.2.5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 165-170

Author(s):

ANDRÉ NEL ◽

DARAN ZHENG

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Fossil Record ◽

Burmese Amber ◽

Current State ◽

The Family

The new ‘suborder’ Cephalozygoptera was recently proposed for three fossil families of damselfly-like Odonata, on the basis of three characters of the head. Here we show, thanks to counter-examples of the presence of these characters in compression fossils of genuine Zygoptera, that these ‘characters’ do not exist in reality but are due to deformations and compression of the heads, a very frequent phenomenon in the fossil record of the whole superorder Odonatoptera. Furthermore, these alleged characters would have to have been regarded as symplesiomorphies, insufficient to support a new clade. Consequently, we consider the Cephalozygoptera as unfounded, to be rejected in the current state of knowledge. A new phylogenetic analysis of the whole clade Panodonata would be welcome. We also discuss the position of some previously described fossils: the Paleocene genus Valerea is restored in the Epallagidae (Euphaeidae), and the two Burmese amber genera Electrodysagrion and Palaeodysagrion are restored in the family Dysagrionidae.

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A cladistic analysis of the Holarctic genera of adelid moths (Lepidoptera: Incur varoidea)

Insect Systematics & Evolution ◽

10.1163/187631280x00491 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 161-178 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Ebbe Schmidt Nielsen

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Cladistic Analysis ◽

Sister Group ◽

Generic Status ◽

New Synonym ◽

The Family

AbstractA preliminary cladistic-phylogenetic analysis of the four Holarctic genera of Adelidae recognized is presented. The monophyly of the superfamily Incurvarioidea is demonstrated on the basis of three possible synapomorphies, and that of the family Adelidae on the basis of three others. The subgenus Cauchas Zeller, 1839 is given generic status, as it is demonstrated to represent the sister-group of Nemophora Illiger & Hoffmannsegg, 1798 and Adela Latreille, 1796. Chalceopla Braun, 1921 is a new synonym of Cauchas Zeller, 1839. A key to the genera, based on males, is given.

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New species of Compsocidae (Insecta, Psocodea) from Cretaceous Burmese amber

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4320.3.12 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4320 (3) ◽

pp. 597 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

PAVEL SROKA ◽

ANDRÉ NEL

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Late Cretaceous ◽

Fossil Species ◽

Burmese Amber ◽

Diagnostic Characters ◽

The Past ◽

The Family ◽

First Time

A new fossil species of the family Compsocidae, namely Burmacompsocus coniugans sp. nov. is described from Late Cretaceous Burmese amber. Diagnostic characters separating the new species from the previously known representatives of the genus are discussed. Details of mouthparts and genitalia are described for the genus for the first time. The discovery of the new species supports the hypothesis of higher Compsocidae diversity existing in the past compared with the present.

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Pleuroceratos jiewenae sp. nov.: A new Cretaceous phloeostichid beetle (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Phloeostichidae)

Palaeoentomology ◽

10.11646/palaeoentomology.3.3.6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 248-259

Author(s):

ERIK TIHELKA ◽

DIYING HUANG ◽

CHENYANG CAI

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Systematic Position ◽

Disjunct Distribution ◽

Diverse Group ◽

Burmese Amber ◽

Incertae Sedis ◽

Early Diversification ◽

The Family ◽

Phylogenetic Affinities ◽

A New Species

Elucidating the phylogenetic affinities of enigmatic fossils is crucial for resolving the early diversification of the superfamily Cucujoidea, a diverse group of polyphagan beetles whose relationships remain contentious. The systematic position of the Cretaceous genus Pleuroceratos known from Burmese amber has been uncertain; the genus was previously placed into Silvanidae, Sphindidae, and Cucujoidea incertae sedis. Here we describe a new species, Pleuroceratos jiewenae sp. nov., from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber and conduct a formal phylogenetic analysis to elucidate the position of the genus. We recover Pleuroceratos as nested within the family Phloeostichidae, represented in the modern fauna by four genera of fungivorous subcortical beetles with a highly disjunct distribution range. Pleuroceratos beetles are the sole fossil members of Phloeostichidae known to date and indicate that the family begun to diversify by the mid-Cretaceous.

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Wutuchelys eocenican. gen. n. sp., an Eocene stem testudinoid turtle from Wutu, Shandong Province, China

Geological Magazine ◽

10.1017/s0016756817000905 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 156 (1) ◽

pp. 133-146

Author(s):

HAIYAN TONG ◽

JULIEN CLAUDE ◽

CHENG-SEN LI ◽

JIAN YANG ◽

THIERRY SMITH

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Late Cretaceous ◽

Shandong Province ◽

Monophyletic Group ◽

Early Eocene ◽

The Family

AbstractWe describe here a new turtle from the early Eocene of Wutu, Shandong Province, China. This turtle with a full row of well-developed inframarginal scutes is assigned to the basalmost testudinoids while stem testudinoids were believed to disappear by the Palaeocene–Eocene boundary. This account shows that stem testudinoids crossed this boundary in their original range. The first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of stem and modern testudinoids performed here demonstrates that the stem testudinoids, previously placed in the family ‘Lindholmemydidae’, do not form a monophyletic group, and the two major clades of testudinoids (Emydidae and Geoemydidae+Testudinidae) split one from another well before the Palaeocene/Eocene boundary, prior to the Late Cretaceous.

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Description of a new species of Eucinetidae (Coleoptera, Scirtoidea) from Cretaceous Burmese amber

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.982.39335 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 982 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Xueyong Du ◽

Adam Slipinski ◽

Zhenhua Liu ◽

Hong Pang

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Late Cretaceous ◽

Burmese Amber ◽

The Family ◽

A New Species

Eucinetus parvussp. nov. is described from late Cretaceous Burmese amber, representing the second record of Eucinetidae from the Burmese amber and the first species of the family with simple, not piercing, mouthparts. A comparison between Mesocinetidae and Eucinetidae is provided.

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Extensive Phylogenetic Analysis of Piscine Orthoreovirus Genomic Sequences Shows the Robustness of Subgenotype Classification

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10010041 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 41

Author(s):

Marcos Godoy ◽

Daniel A. Medina ◽

Rudy Suarez ◽

Sandro Valenzuela ◽

Jaime Romero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Genetic Variation ◽

Sequence Analysis ◽

Molecular Phylogeny ◽

Phylogenetic Trees ◽

Genomic Segment ◽

Double Stranded Rna ◽

The Family ◽

Original Classification

Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) belongs to the family Reoviridae and has been described mainly in association with salmonid infections. The genome of PRV consists of about 23,600 bp, with 10 segments of double-stranded RNA, classified as small (S1 to S4), medium (M1, M2 and M3) and large (L1, L2 and L3); these range approximately from 1000 bp (segment S4) to 4000 bp (segment L1). How the genetic variation among PRV strains affects the virulence for salmonids is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to describe the molecular phylogeny of PRV based on an extensive sequence analysis of the S1 and M2 segments of PRV available in the GenBank database to date (May 2020). The analysis was extended to include new PRV sequences for S1 and M2 segments. In addition, subgenotype classifications were assigned to previously published unclassified sequences. It was concluded that the phylogenetic trees are consistent with the original classification using the PRV genomic segment S1, which differentiates PRV into two major genotypes, I and II, and each of these into two subgenotypes, designated as Ia and Ib, and IIa and IIb, respectively. Moreover, some clusters of country- and host-specific PRV subgenotypes were observed in the subset of sequences used. This work strengthens the subgenotype classification of PRV based on the S1 segment and can be used to enhance research on the virulence of PRV.

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A REVISED GENERIC SYNOPSIS OF HYACINTHACEAE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, BASED ON MOLECULAR EVIDENCE, INCLUDING NEW COMBINATIONS AND THE NEW TRIBE PSEUDOPROSPEREAE

Edinburgh Journal of Botany ◽

10.1017/s0960428603000404 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 533-568 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

J. C. MANNING ◽

P. GOLDBLATT ◽

M. F. FAY

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

New Combinations ◽

Generic Level ◽

The Family ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Single Genus ◽

New Tribe ◽

Sub Saharan

A revised generic synopsis of sub-Saharan Hyacinthaceae is presented, based on a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the family. Generic rank is accorded only to reciprocally monophyletic clades that can be distinguished by recognizable morphological discontinuities, thereby permitting an appropriate generic assignment of species not included in the analysis. Three subfamilies are recognized within the region. Subfamily Ornithogaloideae, characterized by flattened or angular seeds with tightly adhering testa, is considered to include the single genus Ornithogalum, which is expanded to include the genera Albuca, Dipcadi, Galtonia, Neopatersonia and Pseudogaltonia. Recognizing any of these segregates at generic level renders the genus Ornithogalum polyphyletic, while subdivision of Ornithogalum into smaller, morphologically distinguishable segregates in order to preserve the monophyly of each is not possible. Subfamily Urgineoideae, characterized by flattened or winged seeds with brittle, loosely adhering testa, comprises the two mainland African genera Bowiea and Drimia. The latter is well circumscribed by its deciduous, short-lived perianth and includes the previously recognized genera Litanthus, Rhadamanthus, Schizobasis and Tenicroa. The monotypic Madagascan Igidia is provisionally included in the subfamily as a third genus on the basis of its seeds, pending molecular confirmation of its relationships. Subfamily Hyacinthoideae resolves into three clades, distinguished as tribes Hyacintheae (strictly northern hemisphere and not treated further), Massonieae and Pseudoprospereae tribus nov. Full descriptions and a key to their identification are provided for all genera. New combinations reflecting the generic circumscriptions adopted here are made for most African and all Indian and Madagascan species.

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A Family of Genes Clustered at the Triplo-lethal Locus of Drosophila melanogaster Has an Unusual Evolutionary History and Significant Synteny With Anopheles gambiae

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/165.2.613 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 165 (2) ◽

pp. 613-621 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Douglas R Dorer ◽

Jamie A Rudnick ◽

Etsuko N Moriyama ◽

Alan C Christensen

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Drosophila Melanogaster ◽

Anopheles Gambiae ◽

Evolutionary History ◽

Codon Bias ◽

Good Target ◽

The Family ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

And Function ◽

Gambiae Genome

Abstract Within the unique Triplo-lethal region (Tpl) of the Drosophila melanogaster genome we have found a cluster of 20 genes encoding a novel family of proteins. This family is also present in the Anopheles gambiae genome and displays remarkable synteny and sequence conservation with the Drosophila cluster. The family is also present in the sequenced genome of D. pseudoobscura, and homologs have been found in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and in four other insect orders, but it is not present in the sequenced genome of any noninsect species. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the cluster evolved prior to the divergence of Drosophila and Anopheles (250 MYA) and has been highly conserved since. The ratio of synonymous to nonsynonymous substitutions and the high codon bias suggest that there has been selection on this family both for expression level and function. We hypothesize that this gene family is Tpl, name it the Osiris family, and consider possible functions. We also predict that this family of proteins, due to the unique dosage sensitivity and the lack of homologs in noninsect species, would be a good target for genetic engineering or novel insecticides.

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