Genetic and morphological variability among the populations assigned to the genus Tropiocolotes Peters, 1880 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in south Iran 

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4303 (2) ◽  
pp. 243
Author(s):  
IMAN ROUNAQI ◽  
ESKANDAR RASTEGAR-POUYANI ◽  
ALI GHOLAMIFARD ◽  
SAEED HOSSEINIAN

Geckos of the genus Tropiocolotes are known from Africa through the Middle East to Iran and currently include ten recognized species. Recently Tropiocolotes naybandensis was described from Iran based on morphological data. Here, we confirm the taxonomic status of this species using both molecular and morphological data, and compare it with other populations of Tropiocolotes from Iran. A distinct new clade with high node support from southern Iran shows high genetic divergence from the clade of T. naybandensis and T. steudneri from Africa. Based on morphological examinations, three meristic characters differentiate the two clades: (1) number of gulars; (2) number of subdigital lamellae under first toe; (3) number of postmental scales. Data from two mtDNA genes (16S rRNA and COI) indicate mean genetic divergences for 16S and COI between T. naybandensis and a population from Bandar-e Lengeh of 3.8% and 6.2%, respectively. In addition, the genetic divergences between these two groups and a sample of T. steudneri from Egypt are 10.8% and 10.1% for 16S and 18% and 16.7% for COI, respectively. We thus confirm the specific status of T. naybandensis and present evidence for the existence of a new species level taxon of Tropiocolotes in south Iran. 

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4236 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
RALPH E. HARBACH ◽  
RAMPA RATTANARITHIKUL ◽  
BRUCE A. HARRISON

Anopheles (Anopheles) prachongae, a new species of the Gigas Complex from northern Thailand, is described and illustrated in the adult, pupal and larval stages, and bionomics and chaetotaxy tables are provided for the immature stages. The species is distinguished from Anopheles baileyi, the only other species of the complex known to occur in Thailand, and contrasted with other taxa of the complex that occur in the Oriental Region. Available morphological data indicate that An. gigas sumatrana is unique and is therefore formally afforded species status. The three other Sumatran subspecies may be conspecific. The taxonomic status of the non-Sumatran subspecies, i.e. crockeri (Borneo), formosus (Philippines), refutans (Sri Lanka) and simlensis (south-central Asia), is questioned but their status is unchanged pending further study. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4949 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-130
Author(s):  
DIEGO M. ARENAS-MORENO ◽  
FRANCISCO J. MUÑOZ-NOLASCO ◽  
ADÁN BAUTISTA-DEL MORAL ◽  
LUIS A. RODRÍGUEZ-MIRANDA ◽  
SAÚL F. DOMÍNGUEZ-GUERRERO ◽  
...  

In recent years, there has been an increase in the descriptions of members of the lizard genus Lepidophyma. Herein, we describe a new species of Lepidophyma from the Huasteca Potosina region of Mexico, previously confused with L. gaigeae, from which it differs in lacking parietal spot, among other characteristics. We inferred its phylogenetic position and provide information on its thermal and hydric physiology, as well as on some other aspects of natural history. Molecular and morphological data supported the independent taxonomic status of the new species, indicating its placement as the sister taxon of L. gaigeae and a wide morphological separation between these species. Lepidophyma lusca sp. nov. has a diurnal-crepuscular activity period and occurs at lower elevations than L. gaigeae. Also, the new species differ from its sister taxon in its physiology, as reflected by its tendency toward higher thermal parameters and water loss rates. With the description of L. lusca sp. nov., the number of species in the genus Lepidophyma rises to 21. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5032 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-46
Author(s):  
DIOGO PARRINHA ◽  
MARIANA P. MARQUES ◽  
MATTHEW P. HEINICKE ◽  
FARKHANDA KHALID ◽  
KELLY L. PARKER ◽  
...  

The genus Pedioplanis reaches its northernmost limit in western Angola, where it is represented by three species, Pedioplanis benguelensis, P. haackei and P. huntleyi. The taxonomic status of P. benguelensis remains problematic, mainly due to the vague original description and the loss of the original type material. Here we provide a revision of the Angolan representatives of the genus, with the description of a new species, Pedioplanis serodioi sp. nov., from the lowlands of southwestern Angola. Phylogenetic analyses using a combination of mitochondrial (16S and ND2) and nuclear (RAG-1) markers, as well as morphological data, support the recognition of the new species. For purposes of nomenclatural stability, we designate a neotype for P. benguelensis and provide motivation to correct the spelling of the specific epithet to “benguelensis”. The clarification of the status of P. benguelensis and the description of a new species contribute to a better understanding of the taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Pedioplanis, as well as the general biogeographic context of southwestern Angola, adding to the growing evidence in favor of the recognition of this region as a hotspot of lizard diversity and endemism. An updated key to the genus is also provided.  


ZooKeys ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 923 ◽  
pp. 115-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Luo ◽  
Ning Xiao ◽  
Kai Gao ◽  
Jiang Zhou

This study describes a new species of the genus Leptobrachella, Leptobrachella suiyangensissp. nov. from the Huoqiuba Nature Reserve, Suiyang County, Guizhou Province, China, based on morphological data and phylogenetic analyses (16S rRNA mtDNA). The new species can be distinguished from other congeners by the molecular divergence and by a combination of morphological characters, including body size, dorsal and ventral patterns, dorsal skin texture, size of the pectoral and femoral glands, degree of webbing and fringing on the toes and fingers, dorsum coloration, and iris coloration in life. Currently, the genus Leptobrachella contains 75 species, 21 of which are found in China, including seven species reported from Guizhou Province. The uncorrected sequence divergence percentage between Leptobrachella suiyangensissp. nov. and all homologous DNA sequences available for the 16S rRNA gene was found to be >4.7%. The new record of the species and its relationships with others in the same genus imply that species distribution, habitat variation, environmental adaptation, and diversity of the genus Leptobrachella in southwest China need to be further investigated.


PhytoKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 135 ◽  
pp. 59-69
Author(s):  
Nan Lin ◽  
Dai-Gui Zhang ◽  
Xian-Han Huang ◽  
Jian-Wen Zhang ◽  
Jing-Yuan Yang ◽  
...  

Silene sunhangii, a new species of Caryophyllaceae known from only three populations in Hubei and Hunan provinces of central China, is described. Both morphological and molecular data were used to assess the taxonomic status and relationships of this species. Morphologically, S. sunhangii is most similar to S. platyphylla Franch. from which it differs most readily in having 3-veined elliptical leaves without pubescence, tasseled catacorolla, pale purple to red petals without a linear lobe or narrow tooth and lanceolate, bifid to one third. A phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear ITS region identified the new species as a well-supported, independent lineage. Our new species is nested within a grade that encompasses species representing a polyphyletic Silene sect. Physolychnis (Benth.) Bocquet. Both the genetic and morphological data support the recognition of Silene sunhangii as a distinct species, although there is inconsistency between these two datasets as to the relationships of the new species.


2021 ◽  
Vol 86 ◽  
pp. 47-61
Author(s):  
Ilgoo Kang ◽  
Michael J. Sharkey ◽  
Rodrigo Diaz

Schoenlandella Cameron, 1905 is the second largest genus of Cardiochilinae. Most members are recorded from the Old World, with a small number of species in the New World. Herein, the New World species of Schoenlandella are revised based on morphological data. This work entails a description of a new species: S. montserratensis Kang, sp. nov. and potential lepidopteran host information of the new species associated with bitter gourds on the Caribbean Island of Montserrat. Schoenlandella diaphaniae (Marsh, 1986) and S. gloriosa Mercado & Wharton, 2003 are re-described, and a key to species of New World Schoenlandella is provided. The taxonomic status of Schoenlandella is discussed.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 278 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
HILDA P. LEÓN-TEJERA ◽  
LAURA GONZÁLEZ-RESENDIZ ◽  
JEFFREY R. JOHANSEN ◽  
CLAUDIA SEGAL-KISCHINEVSKY ◽  
VIVIANA ESCOBAR ◽  
...  

Benthic marine heterocytous cyanoprokaryotes of Mexico´s tropical coast are being recognized as an important and conspicuous component of the supralittoral and intertidal zones usually described as an extreme and low diversity biotope. Although Kyrtuthrix has been reported from different coasts worldwide, its complex morphology has led to differing taxonomic interpretations and positioning. Ten marine supra and intertidal populations of Kyrtuthrix were analyzed using a detailed morphological approach, complemented with ecological and geographical information as well as DNA sequence data of the 16S rRNA gene and associated 16S–23S ITS. Kyrtuthrix huatulcensis is described as a new species, different from K. dalmatica Ercegovic and K. maculans (Gomont) Umezaki based primarily on morphological data. Our material has smaller dimensions in thalli, filaments, trichomes and cells, and possesses differences in qualitative characters as well. Our material is epilithic as in K. maculans but not endolithic as in K. dalmatica. The analysis of molecular data, mainly 16S rRNA gene sequence, show that this genus is within the Rivulariaceae clade, and outside of the Scytonemataceae clade. ITS secondary structure comparison with some of the closer representatives of Rivulariaceae shows considerable differences with these related genera. Based on the evidence gathered in this study, inclusion of Kyrtuthrix within the Rivulariaceae, rather than the Scytonemataceae, is fully supported.


Crustaceana ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 90 (7-10) ◽  
pp. 1267-1277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaqin Wang ◽  
Zhibin Gan ◽  
Xinzheng Li

Based on samples collected from the Yellow Sea in October 2014, a new species of pasiphaeid shrimp, Leptochela (Leptochela) tuerkayi sp. nov., is described. The new species is closely related to L. (L.) gracilis Stimpson, 1860 in morphology but differs from the latter and other congeners by the following combination of characters: three longitudinal dorsal carinae in ovigerous females, third maxilliped with the rather short exopod slightly overreaching the distal margin of the antepenultimate segment and the fourth pereiopod with the exopod reaching beyond the end of the merus. Morphological data and a partial sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of the new species are provided to show its systematic position.


2021 ◽  
pp. 113-152
Author(s):  
Anna W. McCallum ◽  
Shane T. Ahyong ◽  
Nikos Andreakis

This study reports on new squat lobsters of the genus Munida collected during recent surveys of Australia’s continental margins. We report on 33 species of Munida including seven new species and 14 new range extensions for Australia. More than 500 specimens were collected, mostly from the western continental margin of Australia, but also including a new species from deep water (>2000 m) off Tasmania. We provide new data on the colour patterns of some species and include molecular data from two mitochondrial markers (16S rRNA and COI) to support the taxonomic status of the new species.


2018 ◽  
pp. 25-42
Author(s):  
Luis M. Díaz ◽  
Sixto J. Incháustegui ◽  
Cristian Marte ◽  
Gunther Köhler ◽  
Antonio Cádiz ◽  
...  

A new species of frog, Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov., is described from the southeastern slope of the Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic. The new frog is closely related to E. haitianus and both species share a small size. They differ in some morphological proportions and other external features, coloration, advertisement calls and DNA sequences of the 16S rRNA gene. Morphological and bioacoustic comparisons with other species in the  E. abbotti species group are also provided. Our preliminary genetic data suggest that the taxonomic status of E. neodreptus (a synonym of E. audanti) and E. melatrigonum need to be re-evaluated.


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