The taxonomic status of Lepus melainus (Lagomorpha: Leporidae) based on nuclear DNA and morphological analyses

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 3010 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
JIANG LIU ◽  
PENG CHEN ◽  
LI YU ◽  
SHI-FANG WU ◽  
YA-PING ZHANG ◽  
...  

The taxonomic status of the species Lepus melainus, the Manchurian black hare, is intensely debated. It is considered either as a valid species or a black color morph of L. mandshuricus, the Manchurian hare. Herein, we evaluate the validity of L. melainus using 24 morphological traits and two nuclear DNA loci (TG=466bp; MGF=592bp) from newly collected specimens. Except for winter pelage, we fail to discover significant morphological differences between L. melainus and L. mandshuricus. Analysis of the nuclear DNA sequences reveals lack of reciprocal monophyly between L. mandshuricus and L. melainus, as they form one single clade with high bootstrap support; in addition, morphometric and morphological analyses found no specific differentiation between forms corresponding to L. mandshuricus or L. melainus. Together with the fact that the range of L. melainus is completely within that of L. mandshuricus, our study supports the recognition of L. melainus as a melanistic morph and junior synonym of L. mandshuricus.

Therya ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-281
Author(s):  
Sergio Ticul Alvarez Castañeda ◽  
Patricia Cortés-Calva

Scapanus latimanus is a species with many morphological differences among its populations.  This variation is associated with multiple taxonomic changes at the species or subspecies level.  This study incorporates genetic analyses and comparisons with previous morphological studies to propose a better understanding of the latimanus complex.  Mitochondrial markers (cytochrome b; cytochrome c oxidase subunit I; and cytochrome c oxidase subunit III) were sequenced to construct a phylogeny for the subfamily Scalopinae in North America.  Genetic distances ranged from 2.49 to 10.50 % among geographic areas.  Results identified three monophyletic clades with high bootstrap support values.  Based on our phylogenetic analysis and previous morphological analyses, we confirm S. anthonyi from San Pedro Mártir as a valid species and propose that S. occultus from southern California and northern Baja California peninsula be considered as a species


2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 522-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Isabel Müller ◽  
Drausio Honorio Morais ◽  
Reinaldo José da Silva

Abstract Three valid species of Haplometroides Odhner, 1910 parasitise snakes and amphisbaenians from South America. This study provides additional data on morphometric and molecular phylogenetic position inferred from the nuclear ribosomal gene 28S (partial). DNA sequences were isolated from Haplometroides intercaecalis Silva, Ferreira and Strüssmann, 2007 found in one specimen of Phalotris matogrossensis Lema, D’Agostini and Cappellari, 2005. Five digenean specimens were recovered from the esophagus of this snake, and four specimens were used for morphometrical studies and one specimen for molecular analysis. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods was conducted with sequences available for the order Plagiorchiida and its phylogenetic position places H. intercaecalis among the brachycoeliids Brachycoelium (Dujardin, 1845) Stiles and Hassall, 1898 and Parabrachycoelium Pérez-Ponce de León, Mendoza-Garfias, Razo-Mendivil and Parra-Olea, 2011, and the mesocoeliid Mesocoelium Odhner, 1910, not closely related to plagiorchids as expected. Due to morphological differences among these families, it may be necessary to create a new family to accommodate Haplometroides spp. However, more genera/taxa as well as other molecular markers should be added in future studies to confirm our results and resolve this matter. This is the first phylogenetic positioning of digeneans of the genus Haplometroides, contributing to the systematic analysis of the helminthological biodiversity of Neotropical snakes.


Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2876 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
AURÉLIEN MIRALLES ◽  
JÖRN KÖHLER ◽  
FRANK GLAW ◽  
MIGUEL VENCES

The present paper constitutes a study on a taxonomically confusing group of closely related species belonging to the Malagasy skink genus Madascincus, currently encompassing the nominal species M. polleni, M. intermedius and M. stumpffi. Based on combined analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences (ND1 and RAG2 genes, respectively), and morphological examination, we provide evidence for the existence of at least four distinct evolutionary lineages within this complex: Madascincus stumpffi; Madascincus arenicola sp. nov. from northern Madagascar; and two cryptic species morphologically similar to the name-bearing types of M. polleni and M. intermedius. The two latter species, although genetically distinct, appear to be morphologically indistinguishable and their taxonomic status cannot be resolved until a better sampling will be available.


The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 864-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin P. Johnson ◽  
Dale H. Clayton

AbstractWe reconstructed a phylogeny for the seven species of doves in the genus Zenaida on the basis of a combined analysis of mitochondrial (ND2 and cytochrome b) and nuclear (fibrinogen intron 7) DNA sequences. This phylogeny, which is completely resolved, is well supported with all nodes showing greater than 50% bootstrap support. There was no significant conflict between trees based on each gene independently, although trees produced from fibrinogen intron 7 did not resolve relationships among five of the Zenaida species. The species status of Z. graysoni, as well as that of Z. meloda, is suggested based on their divergence from sister taxa (about 1% and 4%, respectively) and other differences. Zenaida can be divided into two major groups: Zenaida asiatica and Z. meloda versus Z. aurita, Z. galapagoensis, Z. auriculata, Z. graysoni, and Z. macroura.


Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2294 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
RAINER SONNENBERG ◽  
ECKHARD BUSCH

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.


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4656 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOANA SABINO-PINTO ◽  
ANDOLALAO RAKOTOARISON ◽  
MOLLY C. BLETZ ◽  
DEVIN EDMONDS ◽  
FRANK GLAW ◽  
...  

We describe a new frog species of the Spinomantis bertini species complex based on congruent genetic evidence from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences as well as minor morphological differences. A molecular phylogeny derived from the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene revealed that Spinomantis mirus sp. nov. is sister to a clade containing the other two described species of the species complex, S. bertini and S. beckei, but strongly differentiated from these two species by 8.1–9.8% pairwise distances in this gene. DNA sequences from two nuclear genes revealed that S. mirus sp. nov. shares no alleles with these two species. Phenotypically, S. mirus sp. nov. differs from the other species of the complex by its larger size and some aspects of its coloration, including clear mottling on the flanks, tri-color banding on the legs, and distinct brown dots on the dorsum. The new species is so far only known from Pic d’Ivohibe Special Reserve. Its distribution thus appears to not overlap with those of the other two species, which as far as known are restricted to the Andohahela Massif in the extreme South-East of Madagascar, at a distance of about 250 km from Ivohibe. 


2001 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.C. Marshall ◽  
K.A. Crandall ◽  
D.J. Harris

AbstractSequences of the nuclear gene C-mos from 16 new species have been combined with previously published data to produce an analysis of squamate relationships using 56 taxa, considerably more than in previous analyses. Support for many nodes is greatly increased, thus producing a more robust assessment of relationships. Sampling was concentrated within the families Iguanidae and Lacertidae, both of which have poorly supported phylogenies based on mtDNA sequence data. Our analysis supports a robust estimate of relationships within the Iguanidae. Within the Lacertidae relationships are only partially well resolved, and this provides independent evidence for rapid speciation within this family.


Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun-Ho Song ◽  
Wook Jin Kim ◽  
Ji-Min Cha ◽  
Sungyu Yang ◽  
Goya Choi ◽  
...  

Previous studies have suggested that exuviae can be used for the identification of cicada species, but the precise characteristics that differ among species have not been determined. Thus, we performed the first comparative analyses of the leg morphology, ultrastructure, and mitochondrial DNA sequences of exuviae of four dominant cicada species in Korea, Hyalessa maculaticollis (Motschulsky, 1866), Meimuna opalifera (Walker, 1850), Platypleura kaempferi (Fabricius, 1794) and Cryptotympana atrata (Fabricius, 1775), the source of Cicadidae Periostracum, a well-known traditional medicine. A morphological analysis revealed that the profemur length, femoral tooth angle, and distance between the intermediate and last tooth of the femoral comb are useful characteristics for identification. We also evaluated the usefulness of the size, degree of reflex, and number of spines on the mid-legs and hind legs as diagnostic features. An ultrastructural study showed that Meimuna opalifera has a unique surface pattern on the legs. The sequences obtained using exuviae were identical to previously obtained sequences for adult tissues. Moreover, in a phylogenetic analysis using CO1 sequences, each species formed a monophyletic cluster with high bootstrap support. Accordingly, multiple methodological approaches using exuviae might provide highly reliable identification tools. The integrative data provide useful characteristics for the exuviae-based identification of closely related species and for further taxonomic and systematic studies of Cicadinae.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 509
Author(s):  
Ivana Miranda ◽  
Fernando L. Mantelatto

Porcellanidae Haworth, 1825 is a family of marine anomuran crabs distributed throughout tropical and temperate regions of all the oceans, typically littoral and sublittoral waters, with a considerable diversity of lifestyles, habitats and colouration. Pachycheles Stimpson, 1858 and Neopisosoma Haig, 1960 share, among other morphological characteristics, the fragmentation of the lateral carapace walls. The morphology of this body region was key to supporting the establishment of Neopisosoma, which increased uncertainty about the taxonomic status of these genera due to the high intraspecific variation of this character. Our study reconstructs the phylogenetic relationship between Pachycheles and Neopisosoma based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences to evaluate whether these are valid taxa. While Pachycheles seems to be monophyletic, the position of Neopisosoma mexicanum (Streets, 1871) indicates that the group is polyphyletic, and deserves further investigation. Pachycheles is revealed to be older than Neopisosoma, and likely originated in the Indo-Pacific, later spreading to the American continent during the early Tertiary. Neopisosoma may have arisen much later in the Caribbean Province before the closure of the Isthmus of Panama, explaining its distribution, which is restricted mainly to Central America. The inclusion of a considerable number of species from both genera represents a significant advance in the study of this controversial group. The phylogenetic reconstruction of Pachycheles unveiled clades corroborated by morphology, but also revealed unclear relationships, which may indicate the potential existence of cryptic species.


Parasite ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Lidiane Franceschini ◽  
Aline Aguiar ◽  
Aline Cristina Zago ◽  
Priscilla de Oliveira Fadel Yamada ◽  
Mariana Bertholdi Ebert ◽  
...  

Diversity of Creptotrema was investigated using morphological and molecular tools, including data for Creptotrema creptotrema (type-species). Three new species, parasites of Brazilian fishes, are described: Creptotrema conconae n. sp. (type-host, Imparfinis mirini Haseman), Creptotrema schubarti n. sp. (type-host, Characidium schubarti Travassos) and Creptotrema megacetabularis n. sp. (type-host, Auchenipterus osteomystax (Miranda Ribeiro)). The diagnosis of the genus was amended to include new features. The new species differ from each other mainly in terms of body shape, relative sucker size, and testes position. DNA sequences were obtained from Creptotrema spp. from Brazil, including 28S, ITS and COI. Genetic divergences among the new species and C. creptotrema varied from 2.1 to 5.2% (21–49 bp) for 28S, and 6.6 to 16.4% (21–45 bp) for COI. Phylogenetic analysis (28S) placed the newly generated DNA sequences of Creptotrema in a clade (Creptotrema clade sensu stricto) composed of C. creptotrema, the new species described herein, and all species previously described as Auriculostoma, revealing that Auriculostoma is best interpreted as a synonym of Creptotrema based on the principle of priority of zoological nomenclature. Creptotrema funduli, the single sequence of the genus previously available, was not grouped within the Creptotrema clade sensu stricto, suggesting the need for reevaluation of the taxonomic status of this species. Our results showed that Creptotrema represents a monophyletic genus of trematodes widely distributed across the Americas, which currently comprises 19 valid species of parasites of teleosts and anurans.


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