Taxonomic assessment and distribution of common toads (Bufo bufo and B. verrucosissimus) in Turkey based on morphological and molecular data

Abstract The Bufo bufo species group includes four species distributed in the western Palearctic: B. bufo, B. eichwaldii, B. spinosus and B. verrucosissimus. Both B. bufo and B. verrucosissimus are known to occur in Turkey, but their range boundaries and the taxonomic status of B. verrucosissimus are still uncertain. In this study, we analyzed the variation in a set of morphological characters and in two mitochondrial and two nuclear DNA markers to address these questions. Phylogenetic analyses of sequence data support two main clades of common toads in Turkey, corresponding to B. bufo and B. verrucosissimus. The latter is subdivided into two allopatric subclades including populations along the Mediterranean and Black Sea coast, respectively. Discriminant analysis of morphological data showed separation among groups as defined by molecular analyses. We discuss these results and their implications for the evolutionary history of common toads in Turkey.

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Affinities of four freshwater putative “Chantransia” stages (Rhodophyta) in Southern China from molecular and morphological data

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.441.1.4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 441 (1) ◽

pp. 47-59

Author(s):

JIN-FEN HAN ◽

FANG-RU NAN ◽

JIA FENG ◽

JUN-PING LV ◽

QI LIU ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Yunnan Province ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Southern China ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Morphological Description

Four putative “Chantransia” isolates were collected from four locations in Hubei and Yunnan Provinces, China. Morphological analyses were conducted on all isolates. Two specimens (HB26 and YN2) fit the morphological description of A. pygmaea, while the other two isolates (YN1 and YN3) varied in morphology, but were within the circumscription of Audouinella hermannii. Due to the fact that the morphological characters of the “Chantransia” stages of order Batrachospermales and the species of genus Audouinella are too similar to be distinguished, a molecular analysis was performed to clarify the phylogenetic position of these four isolates based on rbcL and psbA sequences. Two “pygmaea” specimens collected from Jiugong Mountain, Hubei Province (HB26) and Shimen Gorge, Yunnan Province (YN2), such as S. jiugongshanensis and S. shimenxiaensis, are proposed primarily based on the DNA sequence data generated in this study. The description of these two new species provides more molecular data for phylogenetic analysis of the genus Sheathia. In addition to these newly described species, the results strongly support that those “hermannii” isolates (YN1 and YN3) collected from Yunnan Province were the “Chantransia” of S. arcuata. However, their gametophyte stages have not been found, meaning that critical diagnostic morphological features were unavailable and molecular methods were the only means for ascertaining their phylogenetic position. Considering the extensive application of the rbcL and psbA genes in phylogenetic analyses of freshwater red algae, we recommend using these two genes to identify species when no morphological characteristics are available.

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Taxonomy of the Oulimnius tuberculatus species group (Coleoptera: Elmidae) based on molecular and morphological data

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2670.1.4 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2670 (1) ◽

pp. 59 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

FEDOR ČIAMPOR JR. ◽

JÁN KODADA

Keyword(s):

Taxonomic Status ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Species Group ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit ◽

Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit ◽

16S Rna ◽

Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase

Two mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase subunit I, 16S RNA) and one nuclear (18S RNA) gene fragments were used to analyse relationships within the Oulimnius tuberculatus species group. The results of molecular data analysis are compared with morphological characters, and the distributional patterns and taxonomic status of recognized taxa are addressed. Based on molecular data, Oulimnius perezi is re-validated as a distinct species, and the discovery of a possible new species from northwest Italy is reported. The possible origins and times of speciation within the species group are discussed.

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A new insular species of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus group (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) from Tarutao Island, southern Thailand revealed by morphological and genetic evidence

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.1070.73659 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1070 ◽

pp. 101-134

Author(s):

Korkhwan Termprayoon ◽

Attapol Rujirawan ◽

Natee Ampai ◽

Perry L. Wood Jr ◽

Anchalee Aowphol

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Species Group ◽

Phylogenetic Studies ◽

Southern Thailand ◽

Pairwise Divergence ◽

Morphological And Molecular Data ◽

Dark Body

The bent-toed geckos of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus group are widely distributed along the Thai-Malay Peninsula. Although taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of this species group have been continuously conducted, only some populations from Thailand have been included, resulting in hidden diversity within this group. In this study, we used morphological and molecular data to clarify the taxonomic status and describe a new population from Tarutao Island, Satun Province, southern Thailand. Cyrtodactylus stellatussp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following morphological characters: body size; tuberculation; number of dark body bands, ventral scales, and femoroprecloacal pores in males; presence of precloacal pores in females; and scattered pattern on dorsum. Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial ND2 gene recovered the new species as the sister species to C. astrum, with an uncorrected pairwise divergence of 9.78–12.37%. Cyrtodactylus stellatussp. nov. is currently only known from Tarutao Island, Thailand. The discovery of this species suggests that the diversity within the C. pulchellus group remains underestimated and future exploration of unsurveyed areas are needed to further the understanding of this group and its geographic range.

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Disentangling relationships among eastern Mediterranean Cymbalaria including description of a novel species from the southern Peloponnese (Greece)

Plant Systematics and Evolution ◽

10.1007/s00606-020-01730-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 307 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Pau Carnicero ◽

Núria Garcia-Jacas ◽

Llorenç Sáez ◽

Theophanis Constantinidis ◽

Mercè Galbany-Casals

Keyword(s):

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Long Distance ◽

Aegean Islands ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic

AbstractThe eastern Mediterranean basin hosts a remarkably high plant diversity. Historical connections between currently isolated areas across the Aegean region and long-distance dispersal events have been invoked to explain current distribution patterns of species. According to most recent treatments, at least two Cymbalaria species occur in this area, Cymbalaria microcalyx and C. longipes. The former comprises several intraspecific taxa, treated at different ranks by different authors based on morphological data, evidencing the need of a taxonomic revision. Additionally, some populations of C. microcalyx show exclusive morphological characters that do not match any described taxon. Here, we aim to shed light on the systematics of eastern Mediterranean Cymbalaria and to propose a classification informed by various sources of evidence. We performed molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS, 3’ETS, ndhF and rpl32-trnL sequences and estimated the ploidy level of some taxa performing relative genome size measures. Molecular data combined with morphology support the division of traditionally delimited C. microcalyx into C. acutiloba, C. microcalyx and C. minor, corresponding to well-delimited nrDNA lineages. Furthermore, we propose to combine C. microcalyx subsp. paradoxa at the species level. A group of specimens previously thought to belong to Cymbalaria microcalyx constitute a well-defined phylogenetic and morphological entity and are described here as a new species, Cymbalaria spetae. Cymbalaria longipes is non-monophyletic, but characterized by being glabrous and diploid, unlike other eastern species. The nrDNA data suggest at least two dispersals from the mainland to the Aegean Islands, potentially facilitated by marine regressions.

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DNA Barcoding: Mixed results for big-headed flies (Diptera: Pipunculidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1423.1.1 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 1423 (1) ◽

pp. 1-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

JEFFREY H. SKEVINGTON ◽

CHRISTIAN KEHLMAIER ◽

GUNILLA STÅHLS

Keyword(s):

Dna Barcoding ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Signal ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Base Pairs ◽

Data Set ◽

Taxonomic Decision ◽

Morphological Species

Sequence data from 658 base pairs of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) were analysed for 28 described species of Pipunculidae (Diptera) in an effort to test the concept of DNA Barcoding on this family. Two recently revised but distantly related pipunculid lineages with presumed different evolutionary histories were used for the test (Clistoabdominalis Skevington, 2001 and Nephrocerus Zetterstedt, 1838). An effort was made to test the concept using sister taxa and morphologically similar sibling species swarms in these two genera. Morphological species concepts for Clistoabdominalis taxa were either supported by cox1 data or found to be too broad. Most of the discordance could be accounted for after reassessing morphological characters. In these cases, the molecular data were invaluable in assisting taxonomic decision-making. The radiation of Nearctic species of Nephrocerus could not be diagnosed using cox1. The ability of cox1 to recover phylogenetic signal was also tested on Clistoabdominalis. Morphological data for Clistoabdominalis were combined with the molecular data set. The pipunculid phylogeny from molecular data closely resembles the published phylogeny based on morphology. Partitioned Bremer support is used to localize areas of conflict between the datasets.

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The phylogenetic conundrum of Lutzia (Diptera: Culicidae: Culicini): a cautionary account of conflict and support

Insect Systematics & Evolution ◽

10.1163/1876312x-45032119 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 269-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ian J. Kitching ◽

C. Lorna Culverwell ◽

Ralph E. Harbach

Keyword(s):

Dna Sequences ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Data Set ◽

Generic Status ◽

Strong Signal ◽

Phylogenetic Studies ◽

Data Support

Lutzia Theobald was reduced to a subgenus of Culex in 1932 and was treated as such until it was restored to its original generic status in 2003, based mainly on modifications of the larvae for predation. Previous phylogenetic studies based on morphological and molecular data have provided conflicting support for the generic status of Lutzia: analyses of morphological data support the generic status whereas analyses based on DNA sequences do not. Our previous phylogenetic analyses of Culicini (based on 169 morphological characters and 86 species representing the four genera and 26 subgenera of Culicini, most informal group taxa of subgenus Culex and five outgroup species from other tribes) seemed to indicate a conflict between adult and larval morphological data. Hence, we conducted a series of comparative and data exclusion analyses to determine whether the alternative positions of Lutzia are due to conflicting signal or to a lack of strong signal. We found that separate and combined analyses of adult and larval data support different patterns of relationships between Lutzia and other Culicini. However, the majority of conflicting clades are poorly supported and once these are removed from consideration, most of the topological disparity disappears, along with much of the resolution, suggesting that morphology alone does not have sufficiently strong signal to resolve the position of Lutzia. We critically examine the results of other phylogenetic studies of culicinine relationships and conclude that no morphological or molecular data set analysed in any study conducted to date has adequate signal to place Lutzia unequivocally with regard to other taxa in Culicini. Phylogenetic relationships observed thus far suggest that Lutzia is placed within Culex but further data and extended taxon sampling are required to confirm its position relative to Culex.

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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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Synonymization of the male-based ant genus Phaulomyrma (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with Leptanilla based upon Bayesian total-evidence phylogenetic inference

10.1101/2020.08.28.272799 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Zachary H. Griebenow

Keyword(s):

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Inference ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Total Evidence ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Systematic Revision ◽

Dna Sequence Data ◽

Evidence Framework ◽

Nuclear Loci

Abstract.Although molecular data have proven indispensable in confidently resolving the phylogeny of many clades across the tree of life, these data may be inaccessible for certain taxa. The resolution of taxonomy in the ant subfamily Leptanillinae is made problematic by the absence of DNA sequence data for leptanilline taxa that are known only from male specimens, including the monotypic genus Phaulomyrma Wheeler & Wheeler. Focusing upon the considerable diversity of undescribed male leptanilline morphospecies, the phylogeny of 35 putative morphospecies sampled from across the Leptanillinae, plus an outgroup, is inferred from 11 nuclear loci and 41 discrete male morphological characters using a Bayesian total-evidence framework, with Phaulomyrma represented by morphological data only. Based upon the results of this analysis Phaulomyrma is synonymized with Leptanilla Emery, and male-based diagnoses for Leptanilla that are grounded in phylogeny are provided, under both broad and narrow circumscriptions of that genus. This demonstrates the potential utility of a total-evidence approach in inferring the phylogeny of rare extant taxa for which molecular data are unavailable and begins a long-overdue systematic revision of the Leptanillinae that is focused on male material.

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Three, two, one! Revision of the long-bodied sphaerodorids (Sphaerodoridae, Annelida) and synonymization ofEphesiella,EphesiopsisandSphaerodorum

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.5783 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e5783 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

María Capa ◽

Torkild Bakken ◽

Karin Meißner ◽

Arne Nygren

Keyword(s):

Dna Sequences ◽

Nuclear Dna ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Intraspecific Variability ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Nominal Species ◽

Type Specimens ◽

Diagnostic Features ◽

28S Rdna Sequence

BackgroundLong-bodied sphaerodorids (Annelida, Sphaerodoridae) is the common name for members of the three closely and morphologically homogenous currently accepted genera of benthic marine bristle worms:Ephesiella,EphesiopsisandSphaerodorum. Members of this group share the presence of two dorsal and longitudinal rows of macrotubercles with terminal papillae, and two longitudinal rows of microtubercles, features that are unique among sphaerodorids. Genera are distinguished by the chaetae morphology. Members ofEphesiellaare characterised by having compound chaetae (except, sometimes, simple chaetae in the first chaetigers),Sphaerodorumbear only simple chaetae, andEphesiopsishave both compound and simple chaetae in all parapodia.MethodsMitochondrial (partial COI and 16S rDNA) and nuclear (partial 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA) sequence data of long-bodied sphaerodorids with compound and simple chaetae, and an outgroup of additional seven sphaerodorid species were analysed separately and in combination using Bayesian inference (BA), and Maximum Likelihood (ML) methods. Long-bodied sphaerodorids from around the world (including type specimens) were examined under a range of optical equipment in order to evaluate putative generic and specific diagnostic features, in addition to intraspecific variability.ResultsPhylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences of specimens identified asEphesiellaandSphaerodorum,based on chaeta morphology, were performed.SphaerodorumandEphesiellawere recovered as paraphyletic and nested within each other. Revision of current nominal species diagnostic features are performed and discussed.DiscussionResults contradict current generic definitions. Recovery of paraphyletic compound and simple chaetae clades urge the synonymization of these two genera of long-bodied sphaerodorids. Morphological data also suggest the synonymization ofEphesiopsis.

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Morpho-phylogenetic evidence reveals new species in Rhytismataceae (Rhytismatales, Leotiomycetes, Ascomycota) from Guizhou Province, China

MycoKeys ◽

10.3897/mycokeys.76.58465 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 76 ◽

pp. 81-106

Author(s):

Jin-Feng Zhang ◽

Jian-Kui Liu ◽

Kevin D. Hyde ◽

Anusha H. Ekanayaka ◽

Zuo-Yi Liu

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Comparative Morphology ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Guizhou Province ◽

Molecular Analyses ◽

Phylogenetic Affinities ◽

Karst Terrains

Karst formations represent a unique eco-environment. Research in the microfungi inhabiting this area is limited. During an ongoing survey of ascomycetous microfungi from karst terrains in Guizhou Province, China, we discovered four new species, which are introduced here as Hypoderma paralinderae, Terriera karsti, T. meitanensis and T. sigmoideospora placed in Rhytismataceae, based on phylogenetic analyses and morphological characters. Molecular analyses, based on concatenated LSU-ITS-mtSSU sequence data, were used to infer phylogenetic affinities. Detail descriptions and comprehensive illustrations of these new taxa are provided and relationships with the allied species are discussed, based on comparative morphology and molecular data.

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