Redescription of Alitta succinea (Leuckart, 1847) and reinstatement of A. acutifolia (Ehlers, 1901) n. comb. based upon morphological and molecular data (Polychaeta: Nereididae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3919 (1) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
TULIO F. VILLALOBOS-GUERRERO ◽  
LUIS F. CARRERA-PARRA

The nereidid worm Alitta succinea (Leuckart, 1847), described from Western Germany, has been considered by some authors as a widespread and alien invasive species, or else as a group of morphologically indistinguishable species. Neither idea has yet been supported by critical taxonomic revisions of relevant material. Most characterizations of A. succinea were based upon a mixture of morphological features from specimens from the type locality and from other regions. Moreover, four species described from America are considered junior synonyms of A. succinea, including Nereis acutifolia Ehlers, 1901, described from the eastern tropical Pacific. The type material of the latter species has not been reviewed since its description. We re-examined type and topotype materials of A. succinea and N. acutifolia including atokous and epitokous specimens. In addition, newly collected specimens were used to evaluate genetic divergence between both species using the mitochondrial gene COI. Alitta succinea is redescribed from type material and specimens from Germany. We rejected the recent placement of the species in Neanthes and we transferred it to Alitta. Further, we refuse the synonymy of N. acutifolia with A. succinea due to morphological and molecular differences. Consequently, we regard Alitta acutifolia n. comb. as a valid species, and the supposed introduction and the alien status of A. succinea along the Mexican and Central American Pacific shores are rejected. 

2016 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Witold Morek ◽  
Piotr Gąsiorek ◽  
Daniel Stec ◽  
Brian Blagden ◽  
Łukasz Michalczyk

In this paper we describe a new apochelan species, Milnesium variefidumsp. nov. from Scotland and provide novel morphological and molecular data for Milnesium berladnicorumCiobanu et al., 2014. The new species differs from the most similar M. berladnicorumby the presence of developmental dimorphism in claw configuration, absent or weakly developed cuticular bars under claws I-III, a different arrangement of cuticular pseudoplates, and by differences in the sequences of three nuclear DNA fragments: 18S rRNA (p-distance: 0.6%), 28S rRNA (2.0%), ITS-2 (9.3%), and on mitochondrial gene COI (12.4%). Although ontogenetic claw configuration change was suspected to occur in some Milnesiumspecies, we are the first to document it through the combined use of traditional, molecular and experimental methodologies. We discuss the implications of the observed phenomenon for the taxonomy of the genus and propose a new diagnostic key to all Milnesiumspecies described up to the end of 2015. We also review other traits used for species differentiation in the genus and offer recommendations to improve the quality of future descriptions as well as suggest a need for integrative redescriptions of the known species. Finally, we propose to suppress M. dujiangensisand M. tardigradum trispinosumand suggest that M. alpigenumand M. quadrifidumare valid species that require thorough redescriptions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 1599-1630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis A Ruedas ◽  
Sofia Marques Silva ◽  
Johnnie H French ◽  
Roy Nelson Platt ◽  
Jorge Salazar-Bravo ◽  
...  

Abstract A taxonomic framework for South American cottontail rabbits (Lagomorpha: Leporidae: Sylvilagus) was recently published by Diersing and Wilson (2017). Although we agree with some of its taxonomic conclusions (e.g., species status for S. apollinaris and S. fulvescens), we disagree with others. We provide herein evidence supporting S. andinus as a valid species based on morphological characters and novel molecular data. We also provide details of the morphological characters of S. apollinaris and S. fulvescens that support separating these from S. brasiliensis. We adduce data suggestive to the effect that—absent any type material—S. defilippi is at best a nomen dubium. Finally, we provide evidence in support of recognizing additional Neotropical species of Sylvilagus. Un esquema taxonómico para los conejos sudamericanos (Lagomorpha: Leporidae: Sylvilagus) fue recientemente publicado por Diersing y Wilson (2017). Aunque estamos de acuerdo con algunas de sus conclusiones (por ejemplo: estatus de especie válida para S. apollinaris y S. fulvescens), no estamos de acuerdo con las restantes conclusiones taxonómicas. Aportamos aquí pruebas convincentes sobre la característica naturaleza de los caracteres morfológicos y moleculares de S. andinus, pruebas que esgrimimos en apoyo de la hipótesis que esta última es una especie válida, así confirmando su escisión de S. brasiliensis. Proporcionamos detalles de los caracteres morfológicos de S. apollinaris y S. fulvescens que confirman la decisión taxonómica de asimismo separarlos de S. brasiliensis. Proporcionamos datos en aditamento que indican que a falta de cualquier material tipo para S. defilippi, este nombre es en el mejor de los casos un nomen dubium. Finalmente, ofrecemos datos y evidencia apoyando nuestras decisiones de reconocer un mayor número de especies Neotropicales de Sylvilagus que previamente se conocían.


1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghillean T. Prance ◽  
Vanessa Plana

The American Proteaceae are outliers from the main centres of diversity of the family in Australia and South Africa. There are about 83 species in eight genera which all belong to the monophyletic subfamily Grevilleoideae. Three genera, Embothrium, Oreocallis and Lomatia, are placed in the tribe Embothrieae (sensu Johnson and Briggs), four Euplassa, Gevuina, Panopsis and Roupala in the Macadamieae and the single genus Orites in the Oriteae. There are five genera endemic to America and three also have species in Australia and New Guinea (Gevuina, Lomatia and Orites). The Proteaceae appear to have arrived in South America via two routes. The larger genera Euplassa, Panopsis and Roupala, which are all endemic to America and have a general distribution in northern South America and south-eastern Brazil, are derived from Gondwanaland before it separated from South America. The remaining genera are distributed either in temperate South America or in the high Andes and appear to have arrived more recently via the Australia–Antarctica–South American connection. Three of these genera have species in both regions. The centres of species diversity of Euplassa, Panopsis and Roupala fall outside hypothesised forest refugia, indicating that they are not true rainforest species but species of seasonal habitats like those achieved at higher altitudes where they are commonly found. Two genera,Panopsis and Roupala, have reached Central America after the central American land bridge was formed six million years ago. The exact relationship to genera on other continents is still unclear and there is a need for a cladistic biogeographic analysis of the group based on both morphological and molecular data.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 333 (1) ◽  
pp. 86 ◽  
Author(s):  
BENWEN LIU ◽  
XUDONG LIU ◽  
QINGHUA WANG ◽  
ZHENGYU HU ◽  
GUOXIANG LIU

Four specimens of Stigeoclonium spp., sampled in China between 2015 and 2016, were identified as the species Stigeoclonium polyrhizum (Chaetophoraceae, Chaetophorales) due to their unique morphology. A large part of the main filament and branches was tightly enclosed by numerous rhizoidal branches, which extended downward to the base of the plant to form an expanded holdfast. S. polyrhizum has previously been regarded as a synonym of S. longipilum or other related species by most phycologists. Therefore, a reassessment of S. polyrhizum based on morphological and molecular data was conducted. Rhizoidal branch development of S. polyrhizum was also described, showing the abundant rhizoidal branches present from the juvenile stage to the mature stage under controlled culture conditions. Phylogenetic evidence, using nuclear-encoded SSU rDNA data, clearly revealed that the Chaetophoraceae diverged into two well-supported sister clades: the Chaetophora-clade and the Fritschiella-clade. S. polyrhizum was included in the Fritschiella-clade instead of the Chaetophora-clade where Chaetophora draparnaldioides (S. longipilum) was found. The morphological and molecular data unambiguously show that S. polyrhizum is a valid species rather than a synonym of S. longipilum or other related species. Thylakoid bands appressed to the periphery of the pyrenoid matrix of S. polyrhizum was also described.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4476 (1) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
RYAN J. THONI ◽  
DHAN B. GURUNG

Torrent catfishes of the subfamily Glyptosterninae from Bhutan are examined based on morphological and molecular data. Five new species are described: Creteuchiloglanis bumdelingensis sp. nov., Exostoma mangdechhuensis sp. nov., Parachiloglanis benjii sp. nov., P. dangmechhuensis sp. nov., and P. drukyulensis sp. nov. Molecular data derived from the mitochondrial gene Cyt b and the nuclear gene RAG2 recovered relationships within Parachiloglanis and the Glyptosterninae. A dichotomous key to the Glyptosterninae of Bhutan is provided.


Crustaceana ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Keikhosravi ◽  
Reza Naderloo ◽  
Christoph D. Schubart

Many species and subspecies of Potamon have been described from the easternmost distribution of the genus in the western tributaries of the Indus River. Most of them were synonymised subsequently under the two names of currently valid species known from the region: Potamon gedrosianum Alcock, 1909 and Potamon ruttneri Pretzmann, 1962. Genetic and morphological information, based on mitochondrial 16S rDNA and the first male gonopod (G1), were gathered in the course of the present study. The corresponding results suggest the occurrence of four groups and question the taxonomic status of both species. We also revise the distribution range of both species, in particular that of P. gedrosianum, with a new record from Iran. Overall, the study reveals the need for a major revision using further morphological and molecular data. Because of the complexity of this necessary revision and the incomplete sampling, we here refrain from proposing any taxonomic conclusions.


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4619 (3) ◽  
pp. 518-526
Author(s):  
KONSTANTIN A. EFETOV ◽  
GERHARD M. TARMANN ◽  
EKATERINA V. PARSHKOVA

Based on morphological and molecular data, Ino budensis var. mollis Grum-Grshimailo, 1893, from China, so far treated as a synonym of Jordanita (Roccia) paupera (Christoph, 1887), is here recognized as a good species, Jordanita (Roccia) mollis (Grum-Grshimailo, 1893), stat. nov. This species is recorded as new for the fauna of Russia and Korea. An identification key for this species is provided. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1293 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
PATRICK DAVID ◽  
GERNOT VOGEL ◽  
S. P. VIJAYAKUMAR ◽  
NICOLAS VIDAL

The brown Asian pitvipers of the genus Trimeresurus related to Trimeresurus puniceus (informal Trimeresurus puniceus-complex) are revised on the basis of morphological and molecular analyses. Variation in morphological characters were investigated among 119 specimens from 62 populations of the whole range of the pitvipers currently known as Trimeresurus puniceus (Boie, 1827), Trimeresurus borneensis (Peters, 1872) and Trimeresurus brongersmai Hoge, 1969. Molecular and morphological analyses clearly differentiate two groups of taxa, referrable to the informal Trimeresurus puniceus-group and Trimeresurus borneensis-group, and confirm the distinct specific status of T. puniceus and T. borneensis. Morphological univariate and multivariate analyses differentiate six clusters of populations that are morphologically diagnosable, of which five are here considered to represent independent lineages and one is placed incertae sedis pending the availability of further specimens. These clusters are considered to be distinct species following the Biological Species Concept and the Phylogenetic Species Concept. One of them is described as a new species, Trimeresurus andalasensis spec. nov. (T. borneensis-group), which includes populations from northern Sumatra. Trimeresurus wiroti Trutnau, 1981 is revalidated to accommodate populations from Thailand and West Malaysia. Trimeresurus borneensis is here considered endemic to Borneo. Trimeresurus puniceus is known from Java and from South Sumatra, but the taxonomy of this species in Sumatra is left unresolved. Also left unresolved is the taxonomic position of specimens from western Sumatra and the Mentawai Archipelago, and from the Natuna Islands and Anamba Islands. Although belonging to the T. puniceus-group, they show some differences to other specimens of the group. They are not referred to any taxon pending the collection of additional specimens. Lastly, Trimeresurus brongersmai is confirmed as a valid species from the Mentawai Archipelago. A key to these taxa is provided.


Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2880 (1) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUIS F. CARRERA-PARRA ◽  
SERGIO I. SALAZAR-VALLEJO

In a series of studies on eunicids, three Grand Caribbean species Eunice filamentosa, E. denticulata, and E. conglomerans were regarded as synonyms, or part of a species complex with an amphiamerican distribution. The revision of type and additional materials collected in the Grand Caribbean Region (GCR) and along the Mexican Pacific coasts, allowed us to clarify that E. conglomerans is a junior synonym of E. denticulata. Thus, E. filamentosa and E. denticulata are valid species in the GCR; while the specimens from the Tropical Eastern Pacific belong to a newly described species, E. tovarae n.sp. Herein we describe these three species, and some morphological features described in previous studies are reevaluated. Additionally, we found an important genetic divergence in nucleotide sequence variation of COI, which supported the morphological data. E. filamentosa and E. denticulata have a genetic divergence of 19.6%; whereas E. tovarae n. sp. has a genetic divergence of 20.7% from E. denticulata, and a 12.9% divergence from E. filamentosa.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10076
Author(s):  
Jyothi Kara ◽  
Isabel C. Molina-Acevedo ◽  
Joana Zanol ◽  
Carol Simon ◽  
Izwandy Idris

A vast polychaete fauna is hidden behind complexes of cryptic and pseudo-cryptic species, which has greatly hindered our understanding of species diversity in several regions worldwide. Among the eunicids, Marphysa sanguinea Montagu, 1813 is a typical example, recorded in three oceans and with various species considered its junior synonyms. In South Africa, specimens previously misidentified as M. sanguinea are now known as Marphysa elityeni Lewis & Karageorgopoulos, 2008. Of the six Marphysa Quatrefages, 1865a species recorded from the same region, three have their distributions restricted to South Africa while the others are considered to have worldwide distributions. Here, we evaluated the taxonomic status of the indigenous M. elityeni and investigated the presence of the widespread species Marphysa macintoshi Crossland, 1903 and Marphysa depressa Schmarda, 1861 in South Africa using morphological and molecular data. Our results reveal that M. elityeni is a junior synonym of Marphysa haemasoma, a species previously described from South Africa which is herein reinstated as a valid species. Both M. macintoshi and M. depressa are not present in South Africa and their status as being distributed worldwide deserves further investigation. Marphysa durbanensis Day, 1934 and the new species described here, M. sherlockae n. sp., had been misidentified as M. macintoshi and M. depressa respectively. Thus, the number of Marphysa species with distributions restricted to South Africa increased from three to five. This study reiterates the importance of implementing an integrated taxonomic framework to unravel local biodiversity.


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