Revision of the Mecodema curvidens species group (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Broscini)

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2829 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID S. SELDON ◽  
RICHARD A. B. LESCHEN
Keyword(s):  
East Coast ◽  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Species Group ◽  
The Other ◽  
Data Matrix ◽  
The North ◽  
Apical Plate ◽  
Apical Lobe ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
New Synonymy

The flightless carabid genus Mecodema Blanchard 1843 is restricted to New Zealand and presently contains 64 species. In this study, we examine species in the newly constituted curvidens group (sulcatum and curvidens are synonymised), reducing the Mecodema species groups to seven. They share two synapomorphies (rounded apical lobe of the aedeagus and lack of microsculpture on the vertex of the head) and are distributed in Northland, south along the east coast of the North Island and the northeast portion of the South Island. Adult specimens of the curvidens and sulcatum groups, along with exemplars of the other Mecodema groups (alternans, costellum, ducale, infimate, laterale and spiniferum), and an outgroup Oregus Putzeys 1868 were examined for cladistic analysis using a data matrix composed of a 63 characters and 21 terminal taxa. The analysis resulted in 18 most parsimonious trees. The following new species in the curvidens group are described: M. aoteanoho sp. n., M. haunoho sp. n., M. manaia sp. n., M. parataiko sp. n., M. ponaiti sp. n., and M. tenaki sp. n. Mecodema exitiosus was wrongly sysnonymised under M. occiputale and we propose a new synonymy M. curvidens (=M. exitiosus). We consider the parts of the male genitalia in detail with special attention to the structures of apical plate once everted from the endophallus.

Mecyclothorax palikea sp.n. from the Waianae Range, Oahu, and the biogeographical history of Hawaii's M. flavomarginatus species group (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Moriomorphini)

2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 365-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Liebherr ◽  
Paul D. Krushelnycky
Keyword(s):  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Species Group ◽  
The Other ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
The North ◽  
Northern Areas ◽  
Areas Of Endemism ◽  
History Of ◽  
Group Species

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.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic Analysis of the Subtribe Ageroniina with Special Emphasis on Hamadryas (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) with an Identification Key to the Species of Hamadryas

ISRN Zoology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Ricardo Murillo-Hiller
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Fore Wing ◽  
Male Genitalia ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Computer Programs ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
The Other ◽  
Data Matrix ◽  
Species Groups

A cladistic analysis of the genus Hamadryas was done in order to answer two questions: is the genus Hamadryas monophyletic and, what characters best define the different species groups of the genus? The computer programs WinClada ver. 1.00.08 and Nona ver. 2.8 for phylogenetic analysis were used. The 20 species of Hamadryas were analyzed together with Ectima erycinoides, Batesia hypochlora and Panacea procilla; these four genera together form the sub-tribe Ageronina of the subfamily Biblidinae. These 23 species with a total of 66 characters were included in the data matrix: 43 of external morphology, two from the fore wing spiral organ (responsible for sound production), and 20 of the male genitalia. Three different analyses, including all of the non-Hamadryas, using each species as the out-group, were done in order to compare results. A fourth analysis, using only Ectima erycinoides as an out group, was done in order to verify and compare the species groups of Hamadryas Also, three different phylogenetic attributes were mapped: biogeography, palatability and capacity to produce sound signals. An identification key to all the species of Hamadryas was prepared. All the analysis done combining Hamadryas with the other three genera suggests that Hamadryas as currently defined is polyphyletic.

Revision of the Australian ants of the genus Monomorium (Hymenoptera : Formicidae)

2001 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian E. Heterick
Keyword(s):  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Sister Taxon ◽  
South American ◽  
Species Status ◽  
Incertae Sedis ◽  
Species Inquirenda ◽  
Species Groups

The Australian ants of the genus Monomorium are revised. Fifty-nine species are recognised. Of these, 41 are described as new: Monomorium aithoderum, M. albipes, M. anderseni, M. anthracinum, M. arenarium, M. bifidum, M. bihamatum, M. brachythrix, M. burchera, M. capito, M. carinatum, M. castaneum, M. crinitum, M. decuria, M. disetigerum, M. draculai, M. durokoppinense, M. elegantulum, M. eremophilum, M. euryodon, M. flavonigrum, M. lacunosum, M. legulus, M. longinode, M. macarthuri, M. majeri, M. megalops, M. micula, M. nanum, M. nightcapense, M. nigriceps, M. parantarcticum, M. petiolatum, M. pubescens, M. ravenshoense, M. rufonigrum, M. shattucki, M. silaceum, M. stictonotum, M. striatifrons, and M. xantheklemma. Thirteen species pass into synonymy: M. armstrongi with M. whitei, M. broomense and M. ilia with M. laeve, M. donisthorpeiand M. fraterculus with M. fieldi, M. flavipes and M. insularis with M. leae, M. foreli with M. sordidum, M. howense with M. tambourinense, M. macareaveyi with M. bicorne, M. sanguinolentum with M. rubriceps, M. subapterum with M. rothsteini, and M. turneri withM. gilberti. Sixteen infraspecific forms are also synonymised: M. kilianii obscurelluminto M. kilianii, M. laeve nigriusand M. laeve fraterculus into M. fieldi, M. ilia lamingtonensisinto M. laeve, M. rothsteini humilior, M. rothsteini leda, M. rothsteini doddi and M. subapterum bogischi into M. rothsteini, M. rothsteini squamigena, M. rothsteini tostum and M. sordidum nigriventris into M. sordidum, M. fraterculus barretti and M. sydneyense nigella into M. sydneyense, M. gilberti mediorubra into M. gilberti, and M. rubriceps cinctumand M. rubriceps rubrum into M. rubriceps. Seventeen species and one subspecies are unchanged. Monomorium kiliani reverts to M. kilianii, M. kilianii tambourinenseis raised to species status, M. occidaneus is here treated as a species inquirenda, and M. flavigaster is removed from the genus Monomorium. Since the generic status of the latter taxon is uncertain, M. flavigaster is here regarded as incertae sedis. The supposedly extralimitalMonomorium talpa is synonymised under Monomorium australicum. At a higher taxonomic level the South American genus Antichthonidris is synonymised under Monomorium. Seven species-groups are proposed for the Australian fauna, (the bicorne-, falcatum-, insolescens-, kilianii-, longinode-, monomorium-, and rubriceps-groups). A cladistic analysis was undertaken of species for which all castes were examined (identifiable males and/or queens were lacking for all members of the falcatum-, insolescens- and longinode-groups). In all, fifteen species of Australian Monomorium were examined (M. bicorne, M. whitei, M. striatifrons and M. rufonigrum from the bicorne-group, M. crinitumand M. kilianii from the kilianii-group, M. fieldi, M. laeve, M. rothsteini, M. sordidum and M. sydneyense from the monomorium-group, and M. centrale, M. leae, M. euryodon and M. rubriceps from the rubriceps-group), together with Monomorium antarcticum(from New Zealand) and the Neotropical Antichthonidris denticulatus. The taxon used for the outgroup was the Neotropical ant Megalomyrmex modestus. Using the PAUP program, 37 characters for worker, queen and male castes were analysed. The clade incorporating the tiny generalists (M. fieldi, M. laeve, M. sordidum, and M. sydneyense), together with M. rothsteini, was found to be the clade most strongly supported as a monophyletic grouping. In this analysis M. euryodon was the sister taxon to the above clade. These ants were shown on this analysis to share a common ancestor with the other members of the rubriceps-group, with M. antarcticum and A. denticulatus, and with thekilianii-group. The relationships between these latter four sets of species were left unresolved, except that M. crinitum was shown to be the sister taxon to M. kilianii. The large, arid zone species in thebicorne-group were also shown as ancestral to the other Australian Monomorium. A key is provided to enable researchers to identify the workers of all Australian Monomorium, as well as extralimital species established in Australia.

scholarly journals Intra-Specific Venom Variation in the Australian Coastal Taipan Oxyuranus scutellatus

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theo Tasoulis ◽  
Anjana Silva ◽  
Punnam Chander Veerati ◽  
Mark Baker ◽  
Wayne C. Hodgson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Snake Venom ◽  
Geographical Variation ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Population Variation ◽  
The Other ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Specific Variation ◽  
Two Populations

Intra-specific venom variation has the potential to provide important insights into the evolution of snake venom, but remains a relatively neglected aspect of snake venom studies. We investigated the venom from 13 individual coastal taipans Oxyuranus scutellatus from four localities on the north-east coast of Australia, spanning a distance of 2000 km. The intra-specific variation in taipan venom was considerably less than the inter-specific variation between it and the other Australian elapids to which it was compared. The electrophoretic venom profile of O. scutellatus was visually different to six other genera of Australian elapids, but not to its congener inland taipan O. microlepidotus. There was minimal geographical variation in taipan venom, as the intra-population variation exceeded the inter-population variation for enzymatic activity, procoagulant activity, and the abundance of neurotoxins. The pre-synaptic neurotoxin (taipoxin) was more abundant than the post-synaptic neurotoxins (3FTx), with a median of 11.0% (interquartile range (IQR): 9.7% to 18.3%; range: 6.7% to 23.6%) vs. a median of 3.4% (IQR: 0.4% to 6.7%; range: 0% to 8.1%). Three taipan individuals almost completely lacked post-synaptic neurotoxins, which was not associated with geography and occurred within two populations. We found no evidence of sexual dimorphism in taipan venom. Our study provides a basis for evaluating the significance of intra-specific venom variation within a phylogenetic context by comparing it to the inter-specific and inter-generic variation. The considerable intra-population variation we observed supports the use of several unpooled individuals from each population when making inter-specific comparisons.

Morphotaxonomic revision of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the Oriental Region

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3577 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
HIROYUKI TAKAOKA
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Classification Scheme ◽  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
Oriental Region ◽  
Preliminary Attempt ◽  
The Third ◽  
Species Groups

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) Enderlein, the third largest (206 named species included) in the genus Simulium Latreille s. l., is one of the two most abundant and diverse subgenera in the Oriental Region. To provide a classification scheme to facilitate morphological identification of the species within this subgenus, its diagnostic characters are redefined, and nine known species-groups within it are reviewed. Based on putative lineages explored by using certain adult morphological characters, seven more species-groups are proposed: asakoae, darjeelingense, epistum, gombakense, heldsbachense, hemicyclium and palauense species-groups, while the trirugosum species-group is merged in the varicorne species-group. Subgroups are also introduced to represent apparently different lineages within certain species-groups based on certain pupal morphological characters: two in the banauense species-group, seven in the batoense species-group redefined, four in the ceylonicum species-group redefined, four in the epistum species-group, two in the hemicyclium species-group, two in the sherwoodi species-group and four in the varicorne species-group redefined. A new checklist of species of the subgenus Gomphostilbia, and a key to all 15 species-groups within it are provided. The eastward expansion of the geographical distribution of the subgenus Gomphostilbia is inferred on the basis of the more frequent occurrence of apomorphic characters of certain adult and pupal morphological features in insular species-groups than in continental species-groups. A preliminary attempt using a cladistic analysis of morphological characters shows that among 10 subgenera examined, Gomphostilbia has a sister-taxon relationship with the Australasian subgenus Morops Enderlein, and this clade, together with the Central-Western Pacific subgenus Inseliellum Rubtsov, is positioned closest to the most derived clade formed by Daviesellum Takaoka & Adler and Simulium Latreille s. str.

scholarly journals Estimating efficiency of survey and commercial trawl gears from comparisons of catch-ratios

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 1448-1457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola D. Walker ◽  
David L. Maxwell ◽  
Will J. F. Le Quesne ◽  
Simon Jennings
Keyword(s):  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Data File ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Reference Points ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Commercial Catch ◽  
The North ◽  
Gear Efficiency ◽  
Species Groups

Abstract Assumptions about gear efficiency and catchability influence estimates of abundance, mortality, reference points and catch potential. Despite the need to better quantify fishing effects on some target species and on many non-target species taken as bycatch, there are few gear efficiency estimates for some of the most widely deployed towed fishing gears in the northeast Atlantic. Here, we develop a method that applies generalised additive models to catch-at-length data from trawl surveys and a commercial catch and discard monitoring program in the North Sea to estimate catch-ratios. We then rescale these catch-ratios and fit relationships to estimate gear efficiency. When catches of individuals by species were too low to enable species-specific estimates, gear efficiency was estimated for species-groups. Gear efficiency (and associated uncertainty) at length was ultimately estimated for 75 species, seven species-groups and for up to six types of trawl gear per species or species-group. Results are illustrated for dab (Limanda limanda), grey gurnard (Eutrigula gurnardus) and thornback ray (Raja clavata), two common non-target species and a depleted elasmobranch. All estimates of gear efficiency and uncertainty, by length, species, species-group and gear, are made available in a supplementary data file.

Towards a phylogeny of Tanytarsus van der Wulp (Diptera: Chironomidae). Is morphology alone sufficient to reconstruct the genealogical relationship?

2003 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torbjørn Ekrem
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Data Matrix ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Chironomid Species ◽  
Genealogical Relationship ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
One New Species ◽  
Male Pupa

AbstractA phylogenetic analysis of species potentially belonging to the Tanytarsus eminulus, gregarius, mendax and lugens species groups is performed using morphological characters from the adult male, pupa and larva. The results show that morphological characters do not support the postulated monophyly of the eminulus, gregarius, lugens and mendax group combined in unweighted parsimony analyses, and that a constraint based on unique synapomorphies and evidence from molecular data have to be used in order to produce cladograms with reasonable topologies. Four reasons for this are discussed: Few taxa, few characters, choice of secondary outgroup taxa and a high amount of homoplasy in the data set. A hierarchial analysis procedure is used to avoid the numerous question marks in the complete data matrix. In the preferred tree, the traditional species groups within Tanytarsus are kept, and one new species group, the mcmillani group, comprising only old Gondwanan species is erected. The results are compared to other recent studies on chironomid species relationships, and comments are given to the zoogeographical patterns of the species in the eminulus, gregarius, lugens, mcmillani and mendax species groups.

New information on the eggshell of ratites (Aves) and its phylogenetic implications

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 962-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darla K Zelenitsky ◽  
Sean P Modesto
Keyword(s):  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
The Other ◽  
Data Matrix ◽  
Sister Taxon ◽  
Sister Group Relationship ◽  
New Information ◽  
Phylogenetic Implications ◽  
Skeletal Analysis ◽  
Large Living

A reappraisal of the eggshell of ratites clarifies aspects of its microstructure and ultrastructure. The phylogenetic usefulness of the eggshell data, consisting of discrete characters, is assessed using eggshell characters alone and by adding the eggshell characters to a data matrix from the literature based on skeletal characters. The resultant tree from the eggshell data alone yields Apteryx as the most basal ratite, dinornithids as the sister taxon of a clade of large living ratites, with Casuarius and Dromaius in a sister-group relationship. The combined eggshell and skeletal analysis revealed most groupings within Ratitae that were based on previous cladistic analysis of the skeletal characters alone, but also supports two equally parsimonious topologies: one identifies Dinornithidae and Apteryx as a clade at the base of Ratitae, and the other identifies Apteryx as the sister taxon of a clade consisting of all the other ratites. It is determined that the characteristics used to define the improperly named "ratite morphotype" in the current eggshell parataxonomy are not synapomorphies of the eggshell of Ratitae. An expanded cladistic analysis of the eggshells of avian and non-avian theropods is required to determine the phylogenetic usefulness of the characteristics of the ratite morphotype.

A new species of Hystrichopsylla Taschenberg (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae) from the Mexican transition zone

Zootaxa ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 1027 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROXANA ACOSTA ◽  
JUAN J. MORRONE
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Volcanic Belt ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Flea Species ◽  
Sierra Madre Oriental ◽  
Sierra Madre ◽  
Sierra Madre Del Sur ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Mexican Transition Zone

A new flea species, Hystrichopsylla cryptotis, is described from the Sierra Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre del Sur, Mexico. The host of this new species is the shrew Cryptotis mexicana (Coues, 1877) (Mammalia: Soricidae). This flea species is easily recognized by its large size, seven genal combs, and the slender sternum IX, with 13 pairs of thick spiniform setae of different sizes. A key to the Mexican and Guatemalan species of Hystrichopsylla is given. The cladistic analysis indicates that Mexican species of Hystrichopsylla may be arranged in two different species groups: the H. orophila species group (H. orophila Barrera 1952 and H. cryptotis) and the H. dippiei species group (H. dippiei Rotshchild 1902, H. llorentei Ayala and Morales 1990, and H. kris Traub and Johnson 1952). The resolved area cladogram based on their phylogenetic relationships indicates the following relationships: (Sierra Madre Oriental, (Sierra Madre del Sur, Transmexican Volcanic Belt)).

Pristosia Motschulsky, 1865 from the Nepal Himalaya: Taxonomy and Biogeography (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Sphodrini)

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOACHIM SCHMIDT ◽  
MATTHIAS HARTMANN
Keyword(s):  
Species Group ◽  
Carabid Beetle ◽  
Female Specimen ◽  
The South ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Nepal Himalaya ◽  
The North ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
First Time ◽  
North Western

The genus Pristosia Motschulsky, 1865 was so far only known to be highly diverse in the North-Western Himalaya and present in the Eastern Himalaya. Only a single female specimen has been documented in the literature from the Nepal Himalaya and was described as P. dahud Morvan, 1994. During a study of comprehensive carabid beetle material collected throughout Nepal, which has been deposited at several museums and private collections, a large number of Pristosia specimens from six species have been identified. The only fully winged species P. crenata (Putzeys, 1873), which is widely distributed in South East Asia, was found near Dailekh and is herewith reported for the Nepalese fauna for the first time. The Eastern Himalayan species P. amaroides (Putzeys, 1877) is reported for the first time in Nepal as well and occurs in Eastern Nepal at several localities east of the Arun river. At least four species occur in the Western and Far Western Nepal Himalaya, of which three are described as new to science: P. glabella sp. n. and P. nepalensis sp. n. from the Api Himal, and P. similata sp. n. from the Saipal Himal. An presumably additional new species is known from the north-western slope of the Dhaulagiri Himal, but is represented by a single immature female specimen only, which does not allow for a sufficient species diagnosis. The male external and genital characters of P. dahud Morvan, 1994 are now described for the first time. This species is considered to be polytypic and the geographic subspecies P. dahud polita ssp. n. is described from the south slope of the Kanjiroba Himal. The species P. atrema (Andrewes, 1926) and P. championi (Andrewes, 1934), which occur in the Kumaon Himalaya close to the Nepalese border, are redescribed based on the examination of the type material. Diagnostic features, especially for the male genitalia of all taxa mentioned above, are figured and a key to the species from Nepal is presented. Instead of a phylogenetic analysis, which is needed for Pristosia but not achievable at present, preliminary species groups for species dealt with are proposed: The Eastern Himalayan P. amaroides species group (monotypic), the P. atrema species group with six species from the Kumaon and Western Nepal Himalaya, the P. championi species group with two species from the Kumaon and Western Nepal Himalaya, and the South East Asian P. crenata species group (monotypic). Based on the distributional and ecological data presented in this study, species of the genus Pristosia with reduced hind wings seem to be absent from the entire Central Nepal Himalaya, and the only Eastern Nepalese species, P. amaroides, prefers largely different habitat conditions compared to the species from Western Nepal. Based on biogeographical hypotheses of other Himalayan carabid beetle genera presented in previous studies by the senior author, the observed species groups of Pristosia are considered to be further examples for Tertiary Tibetan faunal components of the Himalaya. Following a diversification of the genus within the Tertiary of Southern Tibet, speciation occurred and these species groups originated from founder populations that moved into the Nepal Himalaya. The colonization of the geologically younger High Himalaya has taken place independently for each of the terminal groups via different dispersal routes and during different periods of mountain uplift.

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