Reappraisal of the taxonomic status of Amphisbaena prunicolor (Cope 1885) and Amphisbaena albocingulata Boettger 1885 (Amphisbaenia: Amphisbaenidae)

We revised the taxonomic status of Amphisbaena prunicolor and A. albocingulata, two taxa traditionally recognized assubspecies of A. prunicolor in the A. darwini complex. Despite some authors elevated both taxa to the specific rank, itstaxonomic decisions were made without specific commentaries and/or proper diagnostic characters. The comparison ofmorphological characters between the two taxa with other similar species, associated with A. darwini (A. darwini, A.heterozonata, A. munoai and A. trachura), revealed a unique combination of diagnostic characters. Amphisbaena pruni-color and A. albocingulata were considered distinct species, diagnosable by the presence of the postmalar row in A. pru-nicolor, absent in A. albocingulata and by the ventral colour pattern uniform (pale brown) in A. albocingulata andcheckerboard (brown-purplish and white) in A. prunicolor. We also provided a redescription of the two species, information on intraspecific variation in A. munoai and suggested the extension of the distribution of A. darwini to southern Brazil.

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Genetic diversity of three Aegla species (Decapoda, Anomura) revealed by AFLP and mtDNA markers

Crustaceana ◽

10.1163/15685403-00003873 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 92 (4) ◽

pp. 445-462

Author(s):

Bianca L. Zimmermann ◽

Jober V. De Vargas Machado ◽

Sandro Santos ◽

Marlise L. Bartholomei-Santos

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Genetic Distances ◽

Species Level ◽

Taxonomic Resolution ◽

Similar Species ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

Low Levels ◽

Management And Conservation ◽

Mtdna Markers

Abstract Representatives of the genus Aegla present a conserved morphology; thus, the increased use of molecular markers has raised many taxonomic issues. We used AFLP and mtDNA to investigate the genetic differentiation and phylogenetic relationships of morphologically similar species with overlapping distribution areas in southern Brazil: A. georginae, A. ludwigi, and A. platensis. While A. platensis is widely distributed, the critically endangered A. georginae and A. ludwigi have limited distributions. Although both markers showed populations with low levels of genetic variability, they differed markedly in revealing relationships between populations; according to AFLP, the genetic distances between A. platensis populations were as high as those between distinct species, a result not observed when considering mtDNA data. We emphasize that the use of multiple lines of evidence is necessary for defining correct levels of genetic diversity and a good species-level taxonomic resolution. Such features are essential for the management and conservation of Aegla species.

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The taxonomic status of Aphodius insperatus Petrovitz, A. longipennis Rakovič and A. inylchekensis Frolov (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4728.3.9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4728 (3) ◽

pp. 390-394

Author(s):

ANDREY V. FROLOV ◽

LILIA A. AKHMETOVA ◽

DAVID KRÁL

Keyword(s):

Type Species ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Junior Synonym ◽

Distribution Map ◽

Type Specimens ◽

Present Contribution ◽

Additional Material ◽

Diagnostic Characters

The subgenus Bodilus Mulsant & Rey, 1870 of the genus Aphodius Helwig, 1798 sensu lato comprises 30 species in the Palearctic fauna (Frolov 2001, 2002, Dellacasa et al. 2016 [treated as genus Bodilus]). Frolov (2001) reviewed the species of this subgenus from Russia and adjacent countries and suggested that the monotypic subgenus Paramelinopterus Rakovič, 1984 shares the main diagnostic characters of Bodilus. Frolov (2001) was unable, however, to examine the type species of Paramelinopterus, A. longipennis Rakovič, 1984, at that time. Král (2016) suggested that A. (Bodilus) inylchekensis Frolov, 2001 is a junior synonym of A. longipennis. Recently we have re-examined all the types as well as the additional material accumulated in the museums and can confirm that A. inylchekensis is a distinct species, but A. insperatus Petrovitz, 1967 and A. longipennis cannot be reliably separated by the morphological characters. In the present contribution we illustrate the major diagnostic characters of the species based on the type specimens and also provide a distribution map of the known localities of the species.

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Review of the New World species of Salina (Collembola: Paronellidae) with bidentate mucro, including a key to all New World members of Salina

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2333.1.2 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2333 (1) ◽

pp. 26 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

FELIPE N. SOTO-ADAMES

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Costa Rica ◽

New World ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Original Description ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Colour Pattern ◽

World Species ◽

Pattern Variable ◽

A New Species

The taxonomic status of the four New World species of Salina MacGillivray with bidentate mucro is uncertain. The first two species to be described, S. bidentata (Handschin) and S. wolcotti Folsom, are so poorly described by modern standards that it is unclear if they represent distinct species or the same, colour-pattern variable forms. This contribution presents additions to the description of S. beta Christiansen & Bellinger based on the holotype, a redescription of S. bidentata and S. wolcotti based on freshly collected material from Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Florida, USA, and description of a new species, S. thibaudi, from Costa Rica and Guadaloupe. Based on analysis of chaetotaxic patterns it is concluded that S. bidentata and S. wolcotti are distinct species, although it remains unclear if S. ventricolor Gruia, from Cuba is distinct from S. wolcotti. The discovery in Costa Rica and Guadaloupe of S. thibaudi, showing a distinct chaetotaxy, but with colour pattern identical to that illustrated in the original description of S. wolcotti, suggests that records of S. wolcotti outside Puerto Rico require verification. A key for the identification of all species of Salina reported from the Americas is provided.

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Discrimination of the bumble bee species Bombus occidentalis Greene and B. terricola Kirby by morphometric, colour and RAPD variation

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3608.5.2 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3608 (5) ◽

pp. 328-344 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

ROBIN E. OWEN ◽

TROY L. WHIDDEN

Keyword(s):

Sequence Data ◽

Function Analysis ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Biological Species ◽

Coi Gene ◽

Colour Pattern ◽

Colour Variation ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Wing Morphometrics

The taxonomic status of B. terricola Kirby and B. occidentalis Greene has long been questioned. However recent COI gene sequence data suggests that B. occidentalis and B. terricola do represent good biological species. In this paper we test the hypothesis that B. terricola and B. occidentalis are conspecific by using independent morphometric and genetic (RAPD) data. For comparison we also analyzed one consubgeneric species, B. moderatus (now B. crytptarum), and one non-consubgeneric species B. (Pyrobombus) perplexus. Discriminant function analysis of wing morphometric data correctly classified over 85% of the specimens of B. occidentalis and B. terricola. Analysis of molecular variance of the RAPD data showed a significant difference (P < 0.0001) between B. occidentalis and B. terricola. Colour variation from laboratory reared colonies of B. occidentalis suggests that probably two gene locus inheritance is likely but that hybridization as the sole basis for the colour variation seen in the nominate taxon B. occidentalis can be excluded. We conclude that B. terricola and B. occidentalis should be regarded as distinct species which have recently diverged, and that they can be distinguished by wing morphometrics and RAPD genotypes. Where they are sympatric (e.g. in Alberta) colour pattern variation is confined to B. occidentalis.

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Taxonomic reassessment of Gracilaria cearensis (Rhodophyta, Gracilariales), a poorly defined yet common flattened species based on morphological and molecular analysis including topotype collections

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.201.4.1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 201 (4) ◽

pp. 241 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Luanda Pereira Soares ◽

Carlos Frederico Deluqui Gurgel ◽

Mutue Toyota Fujii

Keyword(s):

Phenotypic Plasticity ◽

Genetic Divergence ◽

Sequence Divergence ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Original Description ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Rbcl Gene ◽

Similar Species ◽

The World

The genus Gracilaria is the major source of agarose in the world today and is one of the most species-rich genera in the Rhodophyta. Flat Gracilaria species are among the most taxonomically challenging taxa due to their widespread phenotypic plasticity among all species. Gracilaria cearensis is a flat species described in 1965 from Brazil. Its original description is not conducive to accurate taxonomic identifications and the delineation of this taxon remains elusive. New samples of G. cearensis were collected across a coastal length of 500 km including its type locality. Universal Plastid Amplicon (UPA) and the rbcL gene were used to confirm the phylogenetic and taxonomic status of this poorly known species. Results showed that this is a distinct species despite morphological similarities to G. hayi, G. cuneata, G. curtissiae, G. brasiliensis and G. galetensis. G. cearensis is sister to G. hayi yet the genetic divergence between these two species was 2% for rbcL and 1.08% for UPA, enough to consider them distinct taxa. However, newly generated molecular data placed G. smithsoniensis, another morphologically similar species, as conspecific with G. cearensis with only 0.07% rbcL sequence divergence between them.

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Ancyronyx jaechi sp.n. from Sri Lanka, the first record of the genus Ancyronyx Erichson, 1847 (Insecta: Coleoptera: Elmidae) from the Indian Subcontinent, and a world checklist of species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3382.1.6 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3382 (1) ◽

pp. 59 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

HENDRIK FREITAG

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Indian Subcontinent ◽

First Record ◽

Colour Pattern ◽

Unique Combination ◽

Diagnostic Characters ◽

Secondary Sexual Characters ◽

Shape And Size ◽

Secondary Sexual

Ancyronyx jaechi sp. n. from Kegalle District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka is described. The new species is rec-ognized by a unique combination of the elytral colour pattern, as well as the shape and size of the male sternite IX, theaedeagus, the female ovipositor, and the secondary sexual characters. An updated world checklist of the species of Ancy-ronyx Erichson, 1847 including authority clarification for A. montanus Freitag & Balke, 2011 is provided. The distributional area of the genus and its diagnostic characters are discussed. The habitats of Ancyronyx species are briefly discussed.

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Taxonomy of Epictia munoai (Orejas-Miranda, 1961) (Squamata: Serpentes: Leptotyphlopidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3512.1.2 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3512 (1) ◽

pp. 42 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

BÁRBARA CRISTINA S. FRANCISCO ◽

ROBERTA R. PINTO ◽

DANIEL S. FERNANDES

Keyword(s):

Related Species ◽

Morphological Analysis ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Coastal Areas ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

Diagnostic Characters ◽

The World ◽

Northeastern Argentina

The wormsnakes Leptotyphlopidae include the smallest and thinnest snakes of the world. This group has historically fewtaxonomic studies and the descriptions of taxa in general are superficial, frequently preventing an accurate identification.This family includes the genus Epictia with many representatives with taxonomic major issues, including Epictia munoai.We redescribe and compare E. munoai with other related cisandine species in order to evaluate its taxonomic status con-sidering the morphological analysis of specimens. A table with some diagnostic characters of each species is presented.Epictia munoai is distinguished from other related species mostly by low number of middorsal and midventral scales, and is distributed in coastal areas in southern Brazil, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina.

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Taxonomy and distribution of Lasiopogon montanus Schiner and L. bellardii Jaennicke (Diptera: Asilidae), two common robber flies from the mountains of Western and Central Europe

Insect Systematics & Evolution ◽

10.1163/187631296x00115 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 347-359

Author(s):

Robert A. Cannings

Keyword(s):

Central Europe ◽

Male Genitalia ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Diagnostic Characters ◽

The Balkans ◽

Robber Flies ◽

The Alps

AbstractThe taxonomic status of Lasiopogon montanus Schiner and L. bellardii Jaennicke is clarified. New diagnostic characters from the internal male genitalia conclusively separate the two species. In particular, the gonostylus apex is long and sickle-shaped in L. bellardii and shorter and toothed in L. montanus. Thus, L. bellardii is not a synonym of L. montanus as has usually been supposed, but is a distinct species found predominantly in the Alps, with only two specimens known from the Balkans. L. montanus is more widespread, ranging from the Alps east to Romania and south to Albania and Greece. Lectotypes of both species are designated.

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Inpauema, a new genus of Odiniidae (Diptera) from Brazil, with description of five new species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4362.4.3 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4362 (4) ◽

pp. 517

Author(s):

FRANCISCO LIMEIRA-DE-OLIVEIRA ◽

DAYSE W. A. MARQUES ◽

GENIANA A. REIS ◽

JOSÉ A. RAFAEL

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Dorsal View ◽

Type Species ◽

New Genus ◽

Brazilian Amazon ◽

Maximum Distance ◽

Unique Combination ◽

Diagnostic Characters

A new genus and five new species of odiniids (Odiniidae: Traginopinae) are described from the Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado biomes: Inpauema mirador gen. nov. et sp. nov. (type species), I. catarinae sp. nov., I. gaimarii sp. nov., I. raimundoluizi sp. nov., and I. xavieri sp. nov. The genus is being characterized by a unique combination of diagnostic characters: body predominantly dark brown to black, with silvery-gray pruinose spots on inner margin of eyes, longitudinally along middle of lunule and face, on notopleuron and mesopleuron; postcranium concave from dorsal view; one pair of stout proclinate ocellar setae; postocellar setae absent; lunule shorter than frons; gena lacking upturned seta; antennae separated by a maximum distance of 2X the diameter of a single antennal socket and gonocoxal apodemes directed upward, forming an arch. A key to separate Helgreelia Gaimari, 2007 from Inpauema gen. nov. and for the new species is provided.

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Two new species in the Ficinia indica complex (Cyperaceae, tribe Cypereae) from South Africa

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.295.1.4 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 295 (1) ◽

pp. 49

Author(s):

ALUWANI A. TSHIILA ◽

SAMSON B.M. CHIMPHANGO ◽

JAN-ADRIAAN VILJOEN ◽

A. MUTHAMA MUASYA

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Region Growing ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Cape Floristic Region ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Similar Species ◽

Ecological Features ◽

Dichotomous Key ◽

As Species ◽

Two New Species

Unclear boundaries between species hinder identification in the field and in herbaria, especially in species groups that can only be distinguished on the basis of subtle morphological and ecological features. One such taxon is Ficinia indica, widespread in the Greater Cape Floristic Region, growing on deep sandy soils between sea level and 1000 m elevation. Within its range, several phylogenetically related and morphologically similar species co-occur or occupy distinct habitats. Studies in herbaria show species in the Ficinia indica complex to be largely misidentified based on the use of qualitative information. Here, we investigate whether the six taxa recognized, based on one or a few characters, are supported as distinct species based on multivariate analysis of macro-morphological data. Two of the taxa were mostly separated whereas the other four taxa overlapped in multivariate space, but all the taxa could be distinguished using a single or a combination of morphological and ecological characters. We uphold the four previously recognized taxa (Ficinia argyropus, F. elatior, F. indica, F. laevis) as species, describe two new species (F. arnoldii and F. montana), and provide a dichotomous key for their identification.

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