<strong>Revision of the systematics of the cardinalfishes (Percomorpha: Apogonidae) based on molecular analyses and comparative reevaluation of morphological characters</strong>

The name Salicornia cuscoensis given to a plant from high Andean saltmarshes near Cusco [Cuzco] and Ayacucho, Peru (South America) is validated by a diagnosis and description. The main morphological characters that separate S. cuscoensis from other closely related species are creeping habit, delicate branches, inflorescence of short and thin spikes, and seed indumentum. The new species clearly differs from other perennial Salicornia taxa growing in high Andean saltmarshes such as S. pulvinata and S. andina. The former forms small compact cushions producing very short, few-flowered inflorescences. The latter shows woody stems and forms larger rounded carpets. Morphologically, S. cuscoensis is also similar to S. magellanica, a species growing along the seashore in southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, but the latter has shorter and wider inflorescences and larger seeds with a different type and arrangement of indumentum. Molecular analyses also supported the separation of S. cuscoensis. Data on habitat, distribution and phylogenetic relationships are presented for the new species and its relatives, and an identification key is given for the South American taxa of the genus Salicornia.

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Identification of the Pathogen Causing Stem Blight Disease on Chili in Sindangjaya Village, Cipanas, Cianjur, West Java Based on Morphological and Molecular Analyses

Jurnal AgroBiogen ◽

10.21082/jbio.v17n1.2021.p35-44 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 35

Author(s):

Wartono Wartono

Keyword(s):

Molecular Identification ◽

Phytophthora Capsici ◽

Economic Value ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Stem Rot ◽

West Java ◽

Molecular Analyses ◽

Molecular Approaches ◽

Rot Disease ◽

Blight Disease

<p>Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) is a vegetable commodity with high economic value which is widely cultivated by farmers in Indonesia. One of the obstacles faced in chili cultivation is stem rot disease. This study aimed to identify the pathogens that caused stem rot in chili plants obtained from one location in Sindangjaya Village, Cipanas District, Cianjur Regency, West Java Province based on morphological and molecular analyses. Pathogen identification was performed with morphological and molecular approaches. The morphological characters observed included colony shape, sporangium diameter, and mating type. The pathogenicity of the isolates was assayed by inoculating chili stems aged 40 days. Molecular identification was carried out using two pairs of primers for ITS regions and TEF-1 gene. Based on the results of morphological and molecular identification, as well as pathogenicity tests, it was confirmed that Phytophthora capsici pathogen was the causal agent of stem rot in chili plants collected from Sindangjaya Village. Further study is needed to determine the spread of the disease, damage, and yield loss caused by stem rot disease, as well as how to prevent and control the disease.</p>

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Redescription of Mastigias papua (Scyphozoa, Rhizostomeae) with designation of a neotype and recognition of two additional species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4457.4.2 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4457 (4) ◽

pp. 520 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

MARIANA ROCHA DE SOUZA ◽

MICHAEL N DAWSON

Keyword(s):

Pacific Islands ◽

Parallel Evolution ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

The Philippines ◽

Type Specimens ◽

Additional Species ◽

Evolutionary Patterns ◽

Molecular Analyses ◽

Taxonomic Approach ◽

Patterns And Processes

Mastigias, the ‘golden’ or ‘spotted’ jellyfish, is distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific. Specimens are identified routinely as Mastigias papua, although eight species were described historically, and molecular analyses evince at least three phylogenetic species. Understanding species diversity in Mastigias has become a priority because of its growing relevance in studies of boom-bust dynamics related to environmental change, cryptic species, local adaptation, parallel evolution, and peripatric speciation. However, species delimitation and identification are inhibited by a dearth of type specimens for most species, including M. papua. We address these issues by resampling Mastigias from the type locality in Waigeo, West Papua, as well as in the Philippines, and by comparing cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and up to 34 morphological characters of 268 Mastigias specimens from surrounding regions in the Indo-Pacific. We also gathered data from the historical descriptions of the eight species of Mastigias to estimate the identity of the two other currently revealed clades. Using this integrative taxonomic approach, we re-describe Mastigias papua as endemic to the tropical western Pacific islands (including Papua, Palau, Enewetak) and designate a neotype for the species. Additionally, based on morphological similarity and geographic overlap, we identified a second clade most probably as M. albipunctatus (from Japan, Komodo, Berau and Philippines) and a third clade tentatively as either M. andersoni or M. ocellatus. This study highlights the benefits of combining molecular analyses, samples from type locations, traditional descriptions and statistical analyses of morphological variation in systematic studies, and the concomitant potential of such studies to increase understanding of evolutionary patterns and processes in Scyphozoa.

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Male identification, generic classification and sexual dimorphism of Micronychus pardus (Kazantsev, 2018) comb. nov. (Coleoptera: Lycidae: Calochrominae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4657.1.9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4657 (1) ◽

pp. 177-182 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

MICHAL MOTYKA

Keyword(s):

Mitochondrial Dna ◽

Sexual Dimorphism ◽

Species Identification ◽

Dna Sequences ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Large Specimen ◽

Molecular Analyses ◽

Almost All ◽

First Time

Almost all net-winged beetles are members of Müllerian complexes and their similarity due to phenotypic coevolution sometimes complicates species identification and generic placement. Therefore, large specimen series, detailed exhaustive examination of morphological characters and molecular data are needed to clarify the taxonomic placement. Using mitochondrial DNA sequences, I investigated the sexual dimorphism and generic placement of the recently described species Calochromus pardus Kazantsev, 2018. I found that the species does not belong in Calochromus Guérin-Méneville, 1833 and all morphological characters and molecular analyses point to its placement in Micronychus Motschulsky, 1861. Therefore, Micronychus pardus (Kazantsev, 2018), comb. nov. is proposed. Additionally, the male is described here for the first time showing the sexual dimorphism in the species. Unlike the females, the males do not superficially resemble members of Xylobanus Waterhouse, 1879 with bright coloured elytral costae and black background, but mimics the sympatrically occurring yellow and black lycids in the genus Cautires Waterhouse, 1879.

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Diplazoptilon (Asteraceae) is merged with Saussurea based on evidence from morphology and molecular systematics

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.236.1.4 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 236 (1) ◽

pp. 53 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Qian Yuan ◽

Yanchao Bi ◽

Yousheng Chen

Keyword(s):

Molecular Systematics ◽

Pollen Morphology ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Systematic Position ◽

Monotypic Genus ◽

Molecular Analyses ◽

Molecular Studies ◽

Micromorphological Characters

Diplazoptilon is a monotypic genus belonging to the Saussurea group (Asteraceae, Cardueae). We undertake micromorphological and molecular studies to discuss the systematic position of this genus. The achene of Diplazoptilon picridifolium is obconical, 4-angled, with a small crown on the apical rim. The pollen of D. picridifolium are spheroidal, narrowly tricolpate, with the exine reticulate and shortly spinulate. The micromorphological characters of D. picridifolium are well in accordance with those of the genus Saussurea. Our molecular analyses demonstrate that Diplazoptilon and Saussurea form a strongly supported clade. Taking into account the great similarities in achene, pappus and pollen morphology between Diplazoptilon and Saussurea, it is reasonable to merge Diplazoptilon with Saussurea. From our molecular work and the gross-morphological characters, D. picridifolium should be a member of Saussurea subgen. Saussurea sect. Strictae. There are more than one species with a plumose outer pappus in the genus Saussurea, and the occurrences the plumose outer pappus in the genus Saussurea may have had parallel origins.

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A new karst dwelling species of the Gekko japonicus group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from central Laos

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4263.1.10 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4263 (1) ◽

pp. 179 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

VINH QUANG LUU ◽

TRUONG QUANG NGUYEN ◽

MINH DUC LE ◽

MICHAEL BONKOWSKI ◽

THOMAS ZIEGLER

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Genetic Divergence ◽

Dorsal Surface ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Molecular Analyses ◽

Hind Limbs ◽

Gekko Japonicus ◽

A New Species ◽

Nd2 Gene

A new species of the Gekko japonicus group is described from Khammouane Province, central Laos, based on morphological characters and molecular data. Morphologically, Gekko nadenensis sp. nov. is differentiated from the remaining congeners by a combination of the following characters: size moderate (SVL 61.0–77.1 mm); nares bordered with rostral; internasals absent; postmentals enlarged; interorbital scales between anterior corners of the eyes 28–30; dorsal tubercles absent; ventral scales between mental and cloacal slit 175–185; midbody scale rows 123–140; ventral scale rows 38–40; subdigital lamellae on first toes 13–15, on fourth toes 14–16; finger and toe webbing present at base; tubercles on dorsal surface of fore and hind limbs absent; precloacal pores six (3+3 or 5+1) in a discontinuous row in males, absent in the female; postcloacal tubercles 1 or 2; tubercles absent on dorsal surface of tail base; subcaudals distinctly enlarged; dorsal surface of body with greyish brown blotches. Molecular analyses demonstrated the new species is closely related to G. bonkowskii and G. thakhekensis, but separated from them by approximately 7% in genetic divergence as shown by a fragment of the mitochondrial ND2 gene.

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Characterisation of the Australian Nacophorini using adult morphology, and phylogeny of the Geometridae based on morphological characters

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1736.1.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 1736 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

CATHERINE J. YOUNG

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Majority Rule ◽

Morphological Character ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Data Sources ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Bootstrap Support ◽

Consensus Tree ◽

Molecular Analyses ◽

Character Set

The Australian Nacophorini and related taxa are described using a matrix of 116 adult morphological characters. Adults of 72 species are illustrated using photographs and electron micrographs. Subsets of the characters are used to conduct a phylogenetic analysis based on cladistic principles. The adult morphological character set was augmented with 17 characters from eggs and 27 from larvae. The resulting phylogeny is poorly resolved but provides support for many of the relationships recovered by previous molecular analyses of the group, including basal derivations for characters of Larentiinae and Sterrhinae relative to those of the rest of Geometridae, and the monophyly of the Geometrinae + Oenochrominae s. str. Combining 28S D2 datawith morphological data produced a matrix of 60 taxa and 590 characters. The majority rule consensus tree produced by the combined morphological and 28S D2 data is almost identical to the majority rule consensus tree produced by the 28S D2 data alone, except that bootstrap support is lower for most nodes. Common clades obtained from the molecular and morphological trees are described in terms of morphological data. On this basis a concept of the Australian Nacophorini includes Lithinini and Australian Archiearinae. Two robust groups within the tribe also are delimited using characters from all data sources. Comparsions are made between the Nearctic and Neotropical Nacophorini on the basis of shared morphological characters. Australian Boarmiini are defined by synapomorphies.

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Two new genera and species of chiltoniid amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitroidea) from freshwater mound springs in South Australia

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2293.1.2 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2293 (1) ◽

pp. 35-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

RACHAEL A. KING

Keyword(s):

South Australia ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

New Genera ◽

Molecular Analyses ◽

Australian Species ◽

The Family ◽

Freshwater Habitats ◽

Australian Freshwater

Amphipods within the family Chiltoniidae are an abundant yet taxonomically poorly known member of Australian freshwater habitats. With only four species known from Australia, the group is inadequately defined and marked by taxonomists as difficult to identify. Recent molecular analyses of chiltoniids from mound springs in South Australia detected several distinct species, prompting a morphological revision of material from the central and southern Lake Eyre region. Clear groups defined by unique combinations of morphological characters (focusing on uropodal, coxal, male gnathopod 2, and antennal morphology) were found that closely correlated with clades found in the molecular analyses. Arabunnachiltonia n. gen. is established for A. murphyi n. sp. from Strangways Springs in South Australia. Wangiannachiltonia n. gen. is established for W. guzikae n. sp. from Davenport Springs in South Australia. The chiltoniid genera are discussed and a key is presented to the known Australian species.

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Iris tibetica, a new combination in I. ser. Lacteae (Iridaceae) from China: evidence from morphological and chloroplast DNA analyses

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.338.3.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 338 (3) ◽

pp. 223 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

EUGENY V. BOLTENKOV ◽

ELENA V. ARTYUKOVA ◽

MARINA M. KOZYRENKO ◽

ANNA TRIAS-BLASI

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Chloroplast Dna ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Distribution Range ◽

New Combination ◽

Molecular Analyses ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative ◽

Dna Analyses ◽

Short Beak ◽

Obtuse Apex

Historically, the species composition of Iris ser. Lacteae has been controversial. Morphological and molecular analyses have been conducted here including specimens covering most of their distribution range. The results suggest I. ser. Lacteae includes three species: the well-known I. lactea and I. oxypetala, plus a newly defined taxon which is endemic to the Gansu and Qinghai provinces, China. We here propose it as a new combination at the species rank, I. tibetica. Morphologically, this species is close to I. lactea but differs by its horizontal, creeping rhizome, scapes with no more than two flowers, its bracts reach the middle of the first flower, its broader inner perianth segments, its obovate with obtuse apex outer perianth segments, and its fruit apex always abruptly narrowed to a very short beak. The most useful qualitative and quantitative morphological characters used to distinguish this species are highlighted. Additionally, all three names are here typified, and a neotype for the name I. lactea and a lectotype for the name I. tibetica are designated. Notes on distribution and habitat are provided for all the accepted species.

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Molecular and morphological evidence for a new species status within the genus Euseius (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z09-057 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 87 (8) ◽

pp. 689-698 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

M. Okassa ◽

M.-S. Tixier ◽

B. Cheval ◽

S. Kreiter

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Diagnostic Character ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

Dorsal Shield ◽

Species Status ◽

Molecular Analyses ◽

Molecular Tests ◽

Euseius Stipulatus ◽

A New Species

The identity of specimens belonging to the genus Euseius Wainstein, 1962 found on several trees in France is investigated. These specimens are morphologically close to Euseius stipulatus (Athias-Henriot, 1960) except for the shape of the spermatheca and the dorsal shield reticulation. The aim of the present study was to determine if these specimens belong to this latter species and if the shape of the spermatheca could be considered a reliable diagnostic character. Thirty-four characters, including idiosomal seta lengths, were measured and molecular tests (12S rDNA, COI mtDNA) were carried out. Although small, significant differences between populations of Euseius sp. were observed. The morphometric differences between E. stipulatus and Euseius sp. were very small except for the seta z2 and for the length of the ventrianal shield, as well as the length and form of the spermatheca. Molecular analyses support that Euseius sp. and E. stipulatus are two different species. Euseius sp. has been described as a new species to science in another publication under the name Euseius gallicus . Reliability of some morphological characters for species diagnosis is discussed.

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