Relationships, evolution and biogeography of Semaphore geckos, Pristurus (Squamata, Sphaerodactylidae) based on morphology

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2060 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. N. ARNOLD
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Parsimony Analysis ◽  
The North ◽  
Oman Mountains ◽  
Molecular Tree ◽  
The Family ◽  
Primitive Forms ◽  
Socotra Archipelago

The Sphaerodactylid gecko genus Pristurus has at least 20 recognised species in Arabia, the Socotra archipelago, and northeast Africa with an isolate 4500km away in Mauritania. Analysis of nineteen variable morphological characters in the Sphaerodactylidae suggests Pristurus is most closely related to Quedenfeldtia of Morocco and then successively to the Spaerodactylini and Saurodactylus. This contrasts with recent studies using nuclear DNA, which place Pristurus in a basal polychotomy in the family. If the molecular tree is correct, there must have been considerable parallelism in anatomy in these taxa. Within Pristurus, parsimony analysis was carried out on a set of 72 variable morphological characters (equivalent to 86 binary ones) from external features, skeleton, musculature and behaviour. Apparent relationships are as follows: P. celerrimus (P. insignis, P. insignoides) (P. guichardi (P. socotranus (P. abdelkuri (P. rupestris, P. popovi, P. flavipunctatus, P. gallagheri, P. adrarensis, the Spatalura clade)))). Relationships within the Spatalura clade are: (P. minimus, P. simonettai) (P. crucifer, P. phillipsi (P. somalicus (P. saada (P. collaris (P. ornithocephalus, P. carteri))))). The more basal Pristurus were apparently primitively heliothermic rock climbers with one lineage becoming tree dwelling. These forms are now confined to the North Oman mountains of eastern Arabia and the Socotra archipelago and may have been replaced elsewhere in Arabia and perhaps northern Africa by a radiation of more morphologically advanced species. Most of these have similar niches to the more primitive forms, but one lineage that gave rise to the Spatalura clade became ground dwelling and partly nocturnal. Many morphological changes on the phylogeny of Pristurus may be functionally associated with shifts in ecology and behaviour.

Morphology, anatomy, phylogenetics and distribution of fossil and extant Trochodendraceae in the Northern Hemisphere

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven R Manchester ◽  
Zlatko Kvaček ◽  
Walter S Judd
Keyword(s):  
Northern Hemisphere ◽  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Basal Part ◽  
Parsimony Analysis ◽  
Crown Group ◽  
Modern Species ◽  
The Family ◽  
New Material ◽  
Fossil Fruit

Abstract We present the oldest known occurrences of crown-group Trochodendraceae based on new material from the Palaeocene of Wyoming, USA. Two genera are recognized, Trochodendron and Eotrochion gen. nov. The fossil fruit of Trochodendron infernense sp. nov. is represented by a pedicellate, apically dehiscent capsular fruit composed of nine follicle-like units, each bearing a persistent convex style. The basal part is ornamented with numerous raised stamen scars. From the same deposits, Eotrochion is represented by infructescences, fruits and associated leaves. The infructescences are racemes of numerous apically dehiscent capsules, each with c. 14–16 styles, each with an underlying nectary and receptacles lacking stamen scars, but possessing a prominent perianth scar. A phylogenetic assessment of the modern species, plus representatives of four extinct genera of fossil Trochodendraceae based on available morphological characters, yields a favoured topology of Trochodendron(Eotrochion(Concavistylon kvacekii(C. wehrii (Pentacentron, Tetracentron)))). A parsimony analysis of currently available characters indicates that C. wehrii renders Concavistylon non-monophyletic. Accordingly, we transfer it to Paraconcavistylon gen. nov., characterized by pendent, rather than erect infructescences. We also reconsider the extinct Nordenskioeldia (Late Cretaceous to Miocene), the prior placement of which in Trochodendraceae has been challenged, and we consider it to fall outside the crown group of the family.

scholarly journals Description of a new species Gyraulus (Pulmonata: Planorbidae) from the land thermal spring Khakusy of Lake Baikal

ZooKeys ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 762 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Sitnikova ◽  
Tatiana Peretolchina
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Lake Baikal ◽  
Thermal Spring ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Shell Size ◽  
The North ◽  
The Family ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Small Shell ◽  
A New Species

A new species of the family Planorbidae is described from the land thermal spring Khakusy, on the north-eastern shore of Lake Baikal. The description of Gyraulustakhteevi sp. n. includes morphological characters and gene sequences (COI of mtDNA) for the species separation from sister taxon Gyraulusacronicus (A. Férussac, 1807) collected from the small Krestovka River in-flowing into the south-western part of the Lake. The new species differs from G.acronicus in small shell size of adults, having smaller number of prostate folds (maximal up to 26 in G.takhteevi n. sp. vs. 40 in G.acronicus), a short preputium (approximately twice shorter than the phallotheca), and an elongated bursa copulatrix. The population of Gyraulustakhteevi sp. n. consists of two co-existent morphs: one of them has a narrow shell spire and the second is characterized by wide spire similar to the shell of G.acronicus. One of the two revealed haplotypes of the new species includes both morphs, while the second consists of snails with wide spired shells.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic relationships within the Pylochelidae (Decapoda: Anomura: Paguroidea): A cladistic analysis based on morphological characters

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2022 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
RAFAEL LEMAITRE ◽  
PATSY A. MCLAUGHLIN ◽  
ULF SORHANNUS
Keyword(s):  
Hermit Crab ◽  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Data Matrix ◽  
Parsimony Analysis ◽  
Consensus Tree ◽  
Strict Consensus Tree ◽  
The Family

Phylogenetic relationships within the “symmetrical” hermit crab family Pylochelidae were analyzed for 41 of the 45 species and subspecies currently considered valid. In the analyses, 78 morphological characters comprised the data matrix and the outgroup consisted of Thalassina anomala, a member of the Thalassinidae, and Munida quadrispina, a member of the Galatheidae. A poorly resolved strict consensus tree was obtained from a heuristic parsimony analysis of unweighted and unordered characters, which showed the family Pylochelidae and the subfamilies Pylochelinae and Pomatochelinae to be monophyletic taxa – the latter two groups had the highest Bremer support values. Additionally, while the subgenus Pylocheles (Pylocheles) was strongly supported, the subgenera Xylocheles, and Bathycheles were not. More fully resolved trees were obtained when using implied weighting, which recognized the monotypic subfamilies Parapylochelinae, Cancellochelinae and Mixtopagurinae. The subfamily Trizochelinae was found to have four distinct clades and several ambiguously placed taxa.

Development and growth of the feather star Decametra tigrina (Crinoidea), with emphasis on the morphological differences between adults and juveniles

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 1503-1510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hisanori Kohtsuka ◽  
Hiroaki Nakano
Keyword(s):  
Larval Development ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
First Record ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Complete Development ◽  
Early Embryos ◽  
The Family ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
Feather Star

The development and growth of a feather star Decametra tigrina from Notojima Island, Japan, is reported. This is the first record describing the complete development, from early embryos to juveniles, in the family Colobometridae. Their larval development was observed to progress independently from the adults, and was similar to other feather star species. Embryos hatched as uniformly ciliated gastrulae, which turned into doliolaria larvae when four narrow circumferential ciliated bands were formed. Skeletal ossicles began to form inside the doliolaria larvae, which subsequently settled to the substrate, proceeding to the cystidean stage. The protrusion of the arms from the oral opening marked the beginning of the pentacrinoid stage. About 45 days after hatching, they autotomized their stalks and became juvenile comatulids with arms about 6 mm long. These early juveniles apparently differ from the adults in morphological characters, such as having no pairs of tubercles or spines on the dorsal of their cirrals, and no proximal pinnules except for the first pinnule (P1). Both features are prominent in adults and are used for the classification of D. tigrina. Morphological differences between juveniles and the adults may also occur in other feather star species. A revision of the classification of comatulids, which considers morphological changes with growth, is required.

Morphology of larvae of the family Mytilidae (Bivalvia) from the north-western part of the Sea of Japan

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Ya. Semenikhina ◽  
Natalya K. Kolotukhina ◽  
George A. Evseev
Keyword(s):  
Sea Of Japan ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Shell Morphology ◽  
Larval Shell ◽  
The Sea Of Japan ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Musculista Senhousia ◽  
The North ◽  
The Family ◽  
Modiolus Kurilensis

The larval shell morphology of 10 bivalve species of the family Mytilidae (Adula falcatoides, Crenella decussata, Crenomytilus grayanus, Modiolus kurilensis, Musculista senhousia, Mytilus coruscus, Mytilus galloprovincialis, Mytilus trossulus and Septifer keenae, and an unidentified species Mytilidae indeterminate) from the Sea of Japan is described. The following morphological features were comparatively examined: larval shell outlines including shape and size of umbones, and anterior, posterior and ventral margins, hinge morphology, ligament location, sculpture, colour, and eye-spot outlines. Some dimensional parameters of larval shells are given. The time interval of occurrence of larvae in the plankton, water temperature in this period, and shell length of competent larvae are presented. It is demonstrated that, in spite of sometimes similar external morphological characters, identification of mytilid larvae creates no difficulties if all distinguishing characters are used.

A phylogeny of the family Fanniidae Schnabl (Insecta:Diptera:Calyptratae) based on adult morphological characters, with special reference to the Austral species of the genus Fannia

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 563 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Domínguez ◽  
S. A. Roig-Juñent
Keyword(s):  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
External Morphology ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Phylogenetic Hypothesis ◽  
Parsimony Analysis ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Southern South America ◽  
The Family ◽  
Species Groups

The present study proposed a phylogenetic hypothesis of the family Fanniidae based on a cladistic analysis using characters from adult external morphology and female and male terminalia. The main purpose of this study was to clarify the phylogenetic position of newly described or poorly known species, mostly from southern South America, the Neotropics, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In total, 151 characters from adult male and female external morphology and terminalia were scored for 78 species of Fanniidae. Ten continuous characters were included and analysed as such. Three genera of Fanniidae and all the species-groups and subgroups proposed for the genus Fannia, except for the admirabilis-group and the setifer-subgroup were included as terminal taxa. An heuristic parsimony analysis under implied weights was performed. The analysis recovered the monophyly of the Fanniidae and the genus Fannia, as well as the monophyly of several species-groups within Fannia. Male and female external morphological characters were, in general, highly homoplasious, whereas characters from male terminalia showed low level of homoplasy and provided resolution at suprageneric nodes and species-groups.

scholarly journals A phylogenetic review of the North American band-winged grasshopper genus, Encoptolophus Scudder with description of Nebulatettix gen.n. (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Oedipodinae)

2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Antonio Gómez ◽  
David C. Lightfoot ◽  
Kelly B. Miller
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Mitochondrial Genes ◽  
12S Rrna ◽  
Parsimony Analysis ◽  
The North ◽  
Phenotypic Character ◽  
Combined Data

A taxonomic review of the North American band-winged grasshopper genusEncoptolophusScudder (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Oedipodinae) was conducted. This genus is hypothesized to be non-monophyletic following a cladistic analysis of the genera in theChortophagagenus group. We examined all species currently classified in this genus group for morphological characters and one behavioral character. The phenotypic character data were combined with three mitochondrial genes: cytochromecoxidase subunit II, 16S rRNA and 12S rRNA. A parsimony analysis was performed on the combined data resulting in two equally parsimonious trees.Encoptolophus, as historically defined, is resolved in three separate clades. The results support erection of a new genus,NebulatettixGómez, Lightfoot & Miller gen.n. to comprise one of the groups historically classified inEncoptolophus. In addition, we transfer the speciesEncoptolophus californicusBruner toChimarocephalaScudder, comb.n., a combination used historically. The evolution of certain characters in theChortophagagroup is discussed, and a key to the genera is provided.

Microscleres and gemmoscleres as phylogenetic signals in Spongillida: phylogeny and biogeography of the genus Metania Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Metaniidae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiana Castello-Branco ◽  
Adolfo Ricardo Calor ◽  
Carla Menegola
Keyword(s):  
Current Distribution ◽  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Parsimony Analysis ◽  
Freshwater Sponge ◽  
The Family

The genus Metania comprises 11 species of freshwater sponge that are distributed circumtropically: five are Neotropical, three Afrotropical, two Oriental and one Australian. Here we infer the phylogeny of the genus Metania and examine the processes that lead to the current biogeographic distribution using cladistic analysis. One matrix with 26 morphological characters was analysed using the TNT software, and resulted in two most parsimonious cladograms (strict consensus). Our results support monophyly of Metania due to two characters unique to the genus: presence of acanthoxeas and presence of spines in the shaft of the gemmoscleres. Also, the genera Drulia and Houssayella were synonymised with Metania. The family Metaniidae – allocated in the recently proposed order Spongillida – now contains three genera: Acalle Gray, 1867, Metania Gray, 1867 and Corvomeyenia Weltner, 1913. Brooks parsimony analysis of Metania resulted in a single area cladogram showing a Gondwanan pattern: (Neartic (Australian (Oriental (Afrotropical, Neotropical)))) and thus the current distribution is explained by the breakup of Gondwana.

scholarly journals Re-Evaluation of Morphological Characters Questions Current Views of Pinniped Origins

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Koretsky ◽  
L. G. Barnes ◽  
S. J. Rahmat
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Morphology ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Monophyletic Origin ◽  
Sea Lions ◽  
The North ◽  
Morphological Studies ◽  
Fur Seals ◽  
The Family

Abstract The origin of pinnipeds has been a contentious issue, with opposite sides debating monophyly or diphyly. This review uses evidence from the fossil record, combined with comparative morphology, molecular and cytogenetic investigations to evaluate the evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships of living and fossil otarioid and phocoid pinnipeds. Molecular investigations support a monophyletic origin of pinnipeds, but disregard vital morphological data. Likewise, morphological studies support diphyly, but overlook molecular analyses. This review will demonstrate that a monophyletic origin of pinnipeds should not be completely accepted, as is the current ideology, and a diphyletic origin remains viable due to morphological and paleobiological analyses. Critical examination of certain characters, used by supporters of pinniped monophyly, reveals different polarities, variability, or simply convergence. The paleontological record and our morphological analysis of important characters supports a diphyletic origin of pinnipeds, with otarioids likely arising in the North Pacific from large, bear-like animals and phocids arising in the North Atlantic from smaller, otter-like ancestors. Although members of both groups are known by Late Oligocene time, each developed and invaded the aquatic environment separately from their much earlier, common arctoid ancestor. Therefore, we treat the superfamily Otarioidea as being monophyletic, including the families Enaliarctidae, Otariidae (fur seals/sea lions), Desmatophocidae, and Odobenidae (walruses and extinct relatives), and the superfamily Phocoidea as monophyletic, including only the family Phocidae, with four subfamilies (Devinophocinae, Phocinae, Monachinae, and Cystophorinae).

New taxa of the Lygistorrhinidae (Diptera: Sciaroidea) and their implications for a phylogenetic analysis of the family

Zootaxa ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 960 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
HEIKKI HIPPA ◽  
INGEGERD MATTSSON ◽  
PEKKA VILKAMAA
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
New Taxa ◽  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
Parsimony Analysis ◽  
The Family ◽  
Outgroup Species ◽  
New Material

New Oriental taxa of the Lygistorrhinidae - Blagorrhina gen. n., with B. blagoderovi sp. n. and B. brevicornis sp. n.; Gracilorrhina gracilis gen. n., sp. n.; and Labellorrhina gen. n., with L. grimaldii sp. n. and L. quantula sp. n. are described, and two undescribed species, known only from females, are characterized. Based on this new material, the family is redefined. The phylogeneticrelationships among the taxa of Lygistorrhinidae were studied by parsimony analysis using 43 morphological characters from the adults of 25 ingroup and one outgroup species. The cladistic analysis produced 14 most parsimonious cladograms. The solution obtained suggests unambiguously the following phylogeny: Palaeognoriste Meunier and “Lygistorrhina” asiatica Senior-White are successively sister groups of the rest of the Lygistorrhinidae; there is a clade Labellorrhina + (Gracil- orrhina + (Blagorrhina + ((Seguyola Matile + (Loyugesa Grimaldi & Blagoderov + Matileola Papp))))) with a monophyletic Lygistorrhina Skuse – Probolaeus Williston lineage as sister group. The phylogeny among the latter group remains largely unresolved.

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