Uncovering Neotropical treefrog diversity: integrative taxonomy reveal paraphyly in Boana atlantica (Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae)

Abstract Boana atlantica was described based on morphological characters to acommodate populations from Bahia state, Brazil, previously referred to as B. punctata. However, its taxonomic validity is questionable due to inconsistencies in bioacoustic data. Here, we integrate molecular, cytogenetic and morphological data to re-evaluate the taxonomic status of B. atlantica. Molecular analyses provided strong support for the hypothesis that B. atlantica is a valid species, being, however, nominal populations from Bahia state paraphyletic with respect to individuals of B. atlantica collected in Alagoas and Pernambuco states. These populations shown high genetic divergence in the 16S rRNA mitochondrial fragment, and we consider populations from Alagoas and Pernambuco as a putative new candidate species of Boana punctata group. The external and internal morphology of the tadpoles of these lineages were similar, but Nucleolar Organizer Regions (NOR) was sited in different chromosomes. Our results indicate that B. atlantica is paraphyletic and may be a complex of species. Morphological of adult and/or bioacoustical data should be further assessed to find diagnostic characters to tease these lineages apart and name them properly.

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Taxonomic status of Flexopecten glaber ponticus (Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1889) – the Black Sea Flexopecten glaber (Linnaeus, 1758) (Bivalvia: Pectinidae)

Marine Biological Journal ◽

10.21072/mbj.2018.03.4.03 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 14-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

I. P. Bondarev

Keyword(s):

Comparative Analysis ◽

Black Sea ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Valid Species ◽

The Black Sea ◽

Marmara Sea ◽

History Of ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

The Republic

The name Flexopecten glaber ponticus (Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1889) is generally used for the only Pectinidae representative inhabiting the Black Sea. It is registered in the Red Book of the Republic of Crimea as endemic subspecies reducing in amount. F. glaber ponticus is listed in WoRMS MolluscaBase as the only accepted subspecies of Flexopecten glaber (Linnaeus, 1758). In the past its taxonomic status has been changed from a geographic variety to valid species. The purpose of this study is to establish its correct taxonomic status. The study is based on a comparative analysis of conchological features of Flexopecten glaber and F. glaber ponticus in relation with the brief natural history of population in the Black Sea. Sampling was performed by snorkel equipment in Kazach’ya Bay (Black Sea, Crimea, Sevastopol) at 2–6 m depths. A total of 100 scallop specimens were sampled in September 2017. To assure a better understanding in a broader context those results are compared with the previously published morphological data based on the analysis of a large amount of material from the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea – Marmara Sea regions. Comparative analysis of conchological features of F. glaber ponticus from the Black Sea with F. glaber from the Mediterranean region has not revealed any distinct differences between them. Thus, there are no evidenced data for the diagnosis of F. glaber ponticus as a subspecies. Species F. glaber appeared in the Black Sea not earlier than 7,000 years ago and formed a well developed population less than 3,000 years ago. We have to conclude that the specified divergence period is not long enough to form a subspecies. As a result of the present survey the subspecific status of F. glaber ponticus is not retained and the name is placed in synonymy of the parent species Flexopecten glaber.

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Taxonomy of the genus Commelina Plum. ex L. (Commelinaceae) in Nepal

Botanica Orientalis Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.3126/botor.v6i0.2907 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 25-31 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jyoti P Gajurel ◽

Krishna K Shrestha

Keyword(s):

Key Words ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Species Level ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Plant Science ◽

The World ◽

Voucher Specimens ◽

Key Words Anatomy ◽

Anatomical Characters

About 170 species of Commelina are known from tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Nepal contributes 6 species of Commelina to the world flora. In the present work, taxonomy of all the six species of Commelina reported from Nepal (C. benghalensis, C. caroliniana, C. diffusa, C. maculata, C. paludosa and C. suffruticosa) was studied. Voucher specimens were collected from Central and Eastern Nepal, covering 14 districts. Morphological characters were studied from these collections. Palynological and anatomical characters were also used to see if they are taxonomically important to delimit the taxa within Commelina. Morphological characters seemed promising to delimit the taxa within Commelina. The key identifying characters at species level are modification in root, form of spathe, structure of leaves and seeds, shape of stomata and pollen. Palynological and anatomical characters were also useful, to some extent, in separating some species, but were not significant as compared to morphological data. Some specimens, close to C. benghalensis and C. caroliniana, showed very different characters. Thus further study is needed to confirm their taxonomic status. Key-words: anatomy; flora; morphological characters; palynology; voucher specimens.DOI: 10.3126/botor.v6i0.2907 Botanica Orientalis - Journal of Plant Science (2009) 6: 25-31

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The bee Ruizanthedella mutabilis Spinola (Hymenoptera: Halictidae): a very common but poorly known species studied using integrative taxonomy

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4563.1.12 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4563 (1) ◽

pp. 191

Author(s):

ROCÍO A. GONZÁLEZ-VAQUERO ◽

ARTURO ROIG-ALSINA

Keyword(s):

Dna Barcoding ◽

New Records ◽

Atlantic Coast ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Integrative Taxonomy ◽

Junior Synonym ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Valid Species ◽

The Andes ◽

Argentinean Patagonia

Ruizanthedella mutabilis (Spinola) is a very abundant species in Chile and the northwest of Argentinean Patagonia. In this contribution, Halictus nigrocaeruleus Spinola 1851 is established as a junior synonym of R. mutabilis (Spinola 1851), after considering morphological data, DNA barcoding results, and biological observations. The variability in the colouration of the metasoma has been incorrectly used to distinguish these colour forms as valid species. New records enlarge the distribution of the species in Argentina, from the Andes to the Atlantic coast.

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Description of a new genus and two new species of killifish (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae) from West Africa, with a discussion of the taxonomic status of Aphyosemion maeseni Poll, 1941

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2294.1.1 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2294 (1) ◽

pp. 1-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

RAINER SONNENBERG ◽

ECKHARD BUSCH

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Dna Sequences ◽

New Genus ◽

Nuclear Dna ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Color Pattern ◽

Monophyletic Group ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Adult Males

The phylogeny of the West African genus Archiaphyosemion was studied with mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences. The results of the combined dataset presented here did not support a monophyletic group. After the exclusion of the type species of the genus, A. guineense, the remaining species form a well-supported monophyletic group. Based on these molecular results and supported by morphological data, we suggest a new name for this group, Nimbapanchax, new genus. Additionally, based on a recent collection in Guinea, two new Nimbapanchax species were described. The taxon Nimbapanchax leucopterygius, new species, is described for a nothobranchiid fish formerly misidentified as Archiaphyosemion maeseni (Poll, 1941). Nimbapanchax melanopterygius, new species, is described from the Mount Nimba region in southeastern Guinea. Both new Nimbapanchax species are clearly distinguished from their congeners by the coloration pattern of adult males. The results of the DNA data support the assumption based on color pattern and morphological characters that the new described species are sister taxa. The type of Aphyosemion maeseni Poll, 1941 was reexamined and transferred to the genus Epiplatys, a decision based on diagnostic morphological characters.

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Phylogeny, Molecules Versus Morphology, and Rates of Character Evolution Among Fruitbats (Chiroptera: Megachiroptera)

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo9950557 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 43 (6) ◽

pp. 557 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

MS Springer ◽

LJ Hollar ◽

JAW Kirsch

Keyword(s):

Cladistic Analysis ◽

Strong Support ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Character Evolution ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Minimum Length ◽

Data Set ◽

Dna Hybridisation ◽

Phylogenetic Hypotheses

Andersen's 1912 monograph on megachiropterans remains the definitive work on the systematics of this group. Andersen argued that the Macroglossinae, containing the eonycterine and notopterine sections, are a monophyletic sister-group to other fruitbats (i.e. Andersen's Rousettus, Cynopterus and Epomophorus sections). Two recent molecular studies (DNA hybridisation and restriction mapping of ribosomal cistrons), as well as an analysis of female reproductive characters, challenge the monophyly of the Macroglossinae and several of Andersen's other conclusions such as the phylogenetic position of Nyctimene. We performed a cladistic analysis on 36 morphological characters, including 33 that were gleaned from Andersen, to determine whether phylogenetic hypotheses based on modem phylogenetic methods are in agreement with Andersen's original conclusions and to compare morphological and molecular phylogenetic hypotheses. Minimum-length trees based on parsimony are largely consistent with Andersen and support (1) a monophyletic Macroglossinae, within which the eonycterine section is paraphyletic with respect to a monophyletic notopterine section, (2) a monophyletic Cynopterus section, excepting the exclusion of Myonycteris, (3) a monophyletic Epomophorus section, excepting the exclusion of Plerotes, and (4) a paraphyletic Rousettus section, with several of the Rousettus-like forms branching off near the base of the tree. Bootstrapping analyses on a reduced data-set that included taxa shared in common with the DNA hybridisation study did not provide strong support (greater than or equal to 95%) for any clades but did provide moderate support (greater than or equal to 70) for several clades, including a monophyletic Macroglossinae. These findings are in marked contrast to the DNA hybridisation phylogeny. A high index of between-data-set incongruence is further evidence for the clash between DNA hybridisation and morphology. A phylogenetic framework was constructed on the basis of morphological data and DNA hybridisation data using a criterion of moderate support and shows little resolution, whereas employing a criterion of strong support produced a framework resolving several additional nodes. One implication of this framework is that characteristic macroglossine features such as a long tongue with a thick carpet of filiform papillae have evolved independently on several occasions (or evolved once and were lost several times). Rates of character evolution for the morphological characters employed in our analysis were calculated using divergence times estimated from DNA hybridisation data. Rates have apparently been fastest in the interior branches, and slower along the external branches, which suggests an early adaptive radiation in the history of fruitbats.

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A new record of odd-scaled snake (Serpentes, Xenodermidae) from Vietnam: expanded description of Parafimbrios vietnamensis based on integrative taxonomy

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.1048.66477 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1048 ◽

pp. 79-89

Author(s):

Nikolai L. Orlov ◽

Oleg A. Ermakov ◽

Tao Thien Nguyen ◽

Natalia B. Ananjeva

Keyword(s):

Genetic Divergence ◽

New Record ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Integrative Taxonomy ◽

Type Locality ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Snake Species ◽

Male Individual

Based on the combination of molecular and morphological data, we herein report the second known finding of the xenodermid snake species Parafimbrios vietnamensis Ziegler, Ngo, Pham, Nguyen, Le & Nguyen, 2018. The male individual was found in the Yen Bai Province of northwestern Vietnam, more than 200 km from the type locality in Lai Chau Province. Genetic divergence between the newly-collected male and the holotype was low (1.7%), and is in agreement with morphological data that supports that they are conspecific. We give a detailed description of the morphological characters and coloration of the new record and provide an expanded diagnosis of P. vietnamensis. Parafimbrios is a poorly-understood genus, and our recent discovery brings the total number of known specimens of the genus to nine, 1/3 of them having been found in Vietnam (one specimen of P. lao and now two specimens of P. vietnamensis).

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Integrative taxonomy confirms the species status of the Himalayan langurs, Semnopithecus schistaceus Hodgson 1840

10.1101/602243 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kunal Arekar ◽

S. Sathyakumar ◽

K. Praveen Karanth

Keyword(s):

Taxonomic Status ◽

Single Species ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Integrative Taxonomy ◽

Multiple Sources ◽

Species Status ◽

Species Identity ◽

Hanuman Langur ◽

As Species

AbstractTaxonomy is replete with groups where the species identity and classification remain unresolved. One such group is the widely distributed Hanuman langur (Colobinae: Semnopithecus). For most part of the last century, Hanuman langur was considered to be a single species with multiple subspecies. Nevertheless, recent studies using an integrative taxonomy approach suggested that this taxon is a complex, with at least three species. However, these studies did not include the Himalayan population of the Hanuman langur whose taxonomic status remains unresolved. The Himalayan population of Hanuman langurs have been classified as a distinct species with multiple subspecies or have been subsumed into other species. These classification schemes are wholly based on morphological characters and which are sometimes insufficient to delimit different species. Here, we have integrated data from multiple sources viz. morphology, DNA, and ecology to resolve the taxonomy of the Himalayan langur and to understand its distribution limit. Our results with three lines of evidence corresponding to three different species concepts show that Himalayan langur is a distinct species from S. entellus of the plains. Additionally, these results did not show any support for splitting of the Himalayan langur into multiple subspecies. Our study supports the classification proposed by Hill (1939) and we recommend Semnopithecus schistaceus, Hodgson 1840 as species name for the Himalayan langur and subsume all the known subspecies into it.

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Integrative Taxonomy of Two Peruvian Strains of Brachionus plicatilis Complex with Potential in Aquaculture

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d13120671 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 671

Author(s):

Pedro Pablo Alonso Sánchez-Dávila ◽

Giovanna Sotil ◽

Araceli Adabache-Ortiz ◽

Deivis Cueva ◽

Marcelo Silva-Briano

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Brachionus Plicatilis ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Integrative Taxonomy ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Coi Gene ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Mtdna Coi ◽

The Relationship

Two Peruvian strains of the genus Brachionus were isolated from impacted coastal wetlands. With an integrative taxonomic view, we described their taxonomic status, morphological characters, productive parameters, and phylogenetic position. In the case of both strains, the relationship between biometrics and productive parameters obtained with Principal Components Analysis indicated that the lorica length was associated with longevity, progeny, egg production, and reproductive age, while the lorica width and aperture were associated with the maximum number of eggs carried. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analysis carried out with mtDNA COI gene and rDNA ITS1 region showed that both strains were clustered in two clades with distinct phylogenetic positioning from what is currently known for Brachionus plicatilis s.l. One of the strains, Z010-VL, is proposed to be a subspecies of L4 (B. paranguensis), and the other strain, Z018-SD, is proposed as a sub species of SM2 (B. koreanus). In addition, 33 and 31 aquaculture production lineages are proposed, delimited by COI and concatenated COI+ITS1 sequences, respectively. Finally, this study provides new tools that enhance the traceability of the origin of each sub-species throughout the world.

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A new species of the genus Centruroides Marx (Scorpiones, Buthidae) from western Michoacán State, México using molecular and morphological evidence

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.859.33069 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 859 ◽

pp. 31-48

Author(s):

Ana F. Quijano-Ravell ◽

Luis F. de Armas ◽

Oscar F. Francke ◽

Javier Ponce-Saavedra

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Mitochondrial Gene ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Integrative Taxonomy ◽

Valid Species ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

Mountain Range ◽

A New Species ◽

Gene Mrna

A new species of scorpion belonging to the genus Centruroides Marx, 1890 is described from the Coalcomán mountain range, western Michoacán State, Mexico. Its general aspect resembles Centruroidesruana Quijano-Ravell & Ponce-Saavedra, 2016, and C.infamatus (C. L. Koch, 1844), but it is a smaller species having lower pectinal tooth counts; also, males of C.ruana have the pedipalp chelae slightly thicker, whereas C.infamatus has a subaculear tubercle nearer to the base of the aculeus. Another species with similar aspect is Centruroidesornatus Pocock, 1902; however, a preliminary molecular analysis of the mitochondrial gene mRNA 16S showed genetic divergence (measured as p-distance) near to 10% between these species, and lower differences between the new species with respect to C.infamatus (4.63%) and C.ruana (5.07%). The molecular evidence together with the morphological characters (integrative taxonomy) are sufficient for recognizing the Coalcomán population as a separate and valid species.

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A revision of Centaurea sect. Phaeopappus (Asteraceae, Cardueae)

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.123.1.1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 123 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

MASSOUD RANJBAR ◽

KAZEM NEGARESH

Keyword(s):

Taxonomic Status ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Chromosome Count ◽

Valid Species ◽

New Subspecies ◽

Infraspecific Taxa ◽

Herbarium Collections

The taxonomic status of species and infraspecific taxa included in Centaurea sect. Phaeopappus is revised. The present study is based on morphological characters of the specimens from the authors’ expeditions and other herbarium collections. Three subspecies and two varieties are elevated to the species rank, and a new subspecies is described. In addition, Centaurea phaeopappa is treated as a valid species and C. handelii is reported as new to Iran. The section ranges from N to NW and W to SE in Iran, N Iraq to E Turkey, Armenia, S Transcaucasia and Afghanistan. Finally, a key to all species of the section is provided. In addition, the chromosome count 2n = 18 is reported for C. albonitens.

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