Current status of Andricus mairei (Kieffer), with synonymization of two species from China (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae)

The original description of Parandricus mairei Kieffer, 1906 included a misinterpretation of a relevant forewing trait. The species was subsequently transferred to the genus Andricus, despite presenting two very peculiar morphological characters, namely a simple tarsal claw and the absence of irradiating carinae on the lower face. Similarly, the original descriptions of Andricus deqingis Wang, Gui, Chen, 2013 and A. flavus Pujade-Villar, Wang, Guo & Chen, 2014 included some relevant mistakes. Here, we present the results of a molecular analysis that reveals that individuals of the three species are genetically very similar; supporting the proposal that A. mairei is a senior synonym of the other two species, A. deqingis n. syn. and A. flavus n. syn. In addition, our results indicate that Parandricus renders Andricus paraphyletic, which supports that Parandricus is a junior synonym of Andricus. We re-describe and illustrate the relevant characters of A. mairei and provide additional comments on the characters erroneously interpreted in the former descriptions and give notes about the biology and intraspecific variability.

Download Full-text

An example of problems associated with DNA barcoding in tardigrades: a novel method for obtaining voucher specimens

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3104.1.3 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 3104 (1) ◽

pp. 42 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

MICHELE CESARI ◽

ILARIA GIOVANNINI ◽

ROBERTO BERTOLANI ◽

LORENA REBECCHI

Keyword(s):

Dna Barcoding ◽

Dna Barcode ◽

Intraspecific Variability ◽

Original Description ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Integrative Taxonomy ◽

Type Locality ◽

Moss Sample ◽

Voucher Specimens

We have in recent papers revealed that an integrative taxonomy approach helps to solve taxonomic problems in tardigrades. However, whole tardigrades are required for DNA work, which leaves no hologenophore voucher specimens with adult morphology. Using a novel methodology for the Tardigrada, we introduce the practice of collecting high quality maximum magnification light microscopy images of recently thawed animals to act as hologenophore voucher specimens of animals later used for DNA barcode sequencing. Within the framework of a DNA barcoding project on tardigrades, we collected a moss sample from the type locality of Macrobiotus terminalis Bertolani & Rebecchi, 1993 (Castelsantangelo, Central Apennines, Italy), a species of the “Macrobiotus hufelandi group”. Within the moss sample we found several animals and eggs with a morphology that corresponded to the original description of M. terminalis, while others were attributable to Macrobiotus macrocalix Bertolani & Rebecchi, 1993. In this study, molecular (cox1 mtDNA) analyses demonstrated no intraspecific variability in M. terminalis from the type locality but very large interspecific differences when compared with M. macrocalix and GenBank data for other species within the M. “hufelandi group”. There was also a large difference between our M. terminalis sequences and the GenBank data of a specimen attributed to the same species. The GenBank sequence originated from a population in the Northern Apennines, whose morphology appeared to be like that of the specimens of the locus typicus. This confirmed the importance in utilising material from the type locality for linking molecular data to the species’ morphological characters. Our paper underlines the importance of an integrative taxonomy in species diagnoses and demonstrates a scenario where morphological observations alone are not always sufficient. Lastly, this work adds reliable information to the sequence reference library that provides a useful building block for further studies on similar and related tardigrade taxa.

Download Full-text

Hoplotylus femina s’Jacob, 1960 (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae) from Spain with molecular phylogenetic relationships inferred by D2-D3 expansion fragments of 28S and the partial 18S rRNA gene sequences

Nematology ◽

10.1163/15685411-00002977 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 559-569 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Juan E. Palomares-Rius ◽

Carolina Cantalapiedra-Navarrete ◽

Antonio Archidona-Yuste ◽

Pablo Castillo

Keyword(s):

Intraspecific Variability ◽

Original Description ◽

Alnus Glutinosa ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Rrna Genes ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Likelihood Analysis ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic

This is the first report of Hoplotylus femina in Spain. It was collected from the rhizosphere and roots of common alder (Alnus glutinosa) in La Alberca, Salamanca Province, in Spain. The morphology and morphometrics of the Spanish population of H. femina agree closely with the original description of the species and other descriptions from The Netherlands, USA, New Zealand, Poland, Japan and Mexico. Only small differences in some morphological characters were found probably due to geographical intraspecific variability and/or different methods of fixing nematodes. This study provides new molecular markers for species identification (D2-D3 expansion regions of 28S and ITS-rRNA genes) and a new phylogenetic position for the D2-D3 region marker. Maximum likelihood analysis using the Shimodaira-Hasegawa test did not support the inclusion of Radopholus and Hoplotylus in the Pratylenchidae and both genera were more related phylogenetically to Hoplolaimidae.

Download Full-text

On the identity of Photophilus Folkmanová, 1928: A new generic synonymy (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Geophilidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4347.2.10 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4347 (2) ◽

pp. 361

Author(s):

LÁSZLÓ DÁNYI ◽

IVAN HADRIÁN TUF

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

Type Species ◽

New Genus ◽

Original Description ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Monotypic Genus ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Central European ◽

European Species ◽

Senior Synonym

The enigmatic monotypic genus Photophilus Folkmanová, 1928 and its type species, Photophilus griseus Folkmanová, 1928, were described almost 90 years ago from the Czech Republic. The new genus was erected not only based on some morphological characters, but also on behavioural features rather peculiar among Central European geophilomorphs. Although the patria of these taxa is among the best studied regions regarding Chilopoda, and focussed effort has been made to collect further representatives of these taxa, none have been found since the original description As the type material is lost and we failed to collect new specimens from the type locality, we tried to elucidate the true identity of these genus and species by analysing the characters given in the original description in comparison to all other geophilomorphs known from Europe. The structure of the mouth-parts, the shape of the ventral pore-fields and the arrangement of the coxal pores indicate Photophilus to be in the closest relation with the genus Geophilus Leach, 1814 from which it is separated by characters which are shown here as artefacts or misinterpretations according to the judgement of the original descriptions illustrations. Considering the remaining characters of Photophilus and its type species—including the behavioural features—they actually fit only to the widespread European species Geophilus carpophagus Leach, 1815, which is formerly proposed here to be the subjective senior synonym of Photophilus griseus Folkmanová, 1928 (syn. nov.). Photophilus is formerly proposed here as subjective junior synonym of Geophilus (syn. nov.).

Download Full-text

Review of genera within theAxionice/Pistacomplex (Polychaeta, Terebellidae), with discussion of the taxonomic definition of other Terebellidae with large lateral lobes

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315417000923 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 97 (5) ◽

pp. 911-934 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

I.A. Jirkov ◽

M.K. Leontovich

Keyword(s):

Type Species ◽

New Genus ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Original Description ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

The Other ◽

Considerable Confusion ◽

Definition Of ◽

Almost All ◽

A New Species

The definitions of terebellid genera have caused considerable confusion. Some genera, such asPistaMalmgren, 1866, are clearly not monophyletic and the need to revise them is widely accepted. A phylogenetic analysis of genus level morphological characters within theAxionice/Pistacomplex and other Terebellidae with large lateral lobes revealed two well defined groups; these differed in the arrangement of different forms of lateral lobes on segments 1–3, the shape of the branchiae, structure of the ventral pads and, if present, the origin of the manubrium on the uncini. One of the groups includes the type species ofPista; the other includes the type species ofAxioniceand almost all the other genera whose taxonomic status is discussed in this paper (Betapista,Eupistella,Lanice,Loimia,Paraxionice) which we propose to treat as its junior synonyms. Three other genera –Lanicides,LanicolaandScionella– did not fall within these two groups; they are accepted as distinct. A complete list of species ofAxioniceandPistais provided; 39 species currently included inPistashould be moved toAxionice, thusAxioniceincludes at least 94 species. Many authors’ descriptions of the type species ofPista(Amphitrite cristataMüller, 1776) conflict with the original description.Amphitrite cristatas. str. has been described as a new species:Scionella lornensisPearson, 1969 and the type species of a new genus:PistellaHartmann-Schröder, 1996.Scionella lornensisis here considered a junior synonym ofAmphitrite cristata. Redescriptions of the type species ofAxioniceandPistaare provided.

Download Full-text

Ramalina sekika (Ramalinaceae), a new species for the lichen flora of Russia from the Far East

Novosti sistematiki nizshikh rastenii ◽

10.31111/nsnr/2014.48.256 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 48 ◽

pp. 256-263 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

O. A. Kataeva

Keyword(s):

Far East ◽

Original Description ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Northeastern China ◽

Anatomical Structure ◽

The Far East ◽

First Time ◽

A New Species ◽

Independent Species ◽

Lichen Flora

Ramalina sekika Asahina is reported for the first time from Russia from Sakhalin. It refers to the number of rare and poorly investigated species of the genus. Until now it was considered to be endemic to northeastern China. The original description and the location in the Far East are given, as well as the data on anatomical and morphological study of the Russian specimen. The differences in the anatomical structure of its thallus are discussed. A comparison of anatomical and morphological characters of R. sekika, R. pollinaria (Westr.) Ach. (European material), R. yasudae Räsänen has been made; the author considers them as independent species.

Download Full-text

UV ability to inactivate microorganisms combined with factors affecting radiation

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1997.0718 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 35 (11-12) ◽

pp. 107-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

A. M. Shaban ◽

G. E. El-Taweel ◽

G. H. Ali

Keyword(s):

Microbial Communities ◽

Uv Radiation ◽

Contact Time ◽

Tap Water ◽

Scenedesmus Obliquus ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

The Other ◽

Bacterial Cells ◽

Dark Repair ◽

Nile Water

In the present study, the effect of UV radiation on the inactivation of a range of microorganisms was studied. Each organism was seeded into sterile tap water and exposed to UV in batch experiments with changing turbidities. In addition, the effect of UV on microbial communities in river Nile water was examined. It was found that 1min contact time (0.5L/min flow rate) was effective against vegetative cells levels almost reaching zero (except with Staphylococcus aureus). On the other hand, spore-forming bacteria, Candida albicans and coliphage were more resistant to UV. This contact time caused coenobia cells in single form with Scenedesmus obliquus while for Microcystis aeruginosa colonies broke into smaller groups. Exposure of Nile water microbial communities to UV showed that yeasts and Aeromonas survived better than the other organisms while in the phytoplankton partial fragmentation occurred in some algal groups. The protective effect of turbidity differed between organisms, with increased contact time under conditions of stable turbidity having no effect on the organisms. At 20 NTU the UV radiation had no effect on the morphological characters of algal cells. In reactivation experiments, it is clear that photoreactivation, and not dark repair, takes place with bacterial cells. Only coliphage had no photoreactivation and dark repair responses although with coliphage and host, both reactivation processes worked well. Moreover, the irradiated algae regained their normal shape after 3 days in suitable media and enough light.

Download Full-text

The Leptobrachium (Anura: Megophryidae) of the Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam, with description of a new species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2804.1.3 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2804 (1) ◽

pp. 25 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

BRYAN L. STUART ◽

JODI J. L. ROWLEY ◽

DAO THI ANH TRAN ◽

DUONG THI THUY LE ◽

HUY DUC HOANG

Keyword(s):

Mitochondrial Dna ◽

New Species ◽

Small Body ◽

Original Description ◽

The Other ◽

Sexually Active ◽

Small Body Size ◽

Upper Lip ◽

Southern Vietnam ◽

A New Species

We sampled two forms of Leptobrachium in syntopy at the type locality of L. pullum at upper elevations on the Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam. The two forms differed in morphology (primarily in coloration), mitochondrial DNA, and male advertisement calls. One form closely agrees with the type series of L. pullum (but not to its original description due to error), and the other is described as new. Leptobrachium leucops sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by having small body size (males with SVL 38.8–45.2), the upper one-third to one-half of iris white, a blue scleral arc, a dark venter, and sexually active males without spines on the upper lip. Leptobrachium pullum and L. mouhoti, a recently described species from low-elevation slopes of the Langbian Plateau in eastern Cambodia, are morphologically divergent but genetically similar, warranting further investigation into geographic variation in the red-eyed Leptobrachium of southern Indochina.

Download Full-text

Phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily Hylodinae (Anura, Leptodactylidae) based on morphological characters

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/1568538054253456 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 139-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Francisca do Val ◽

Paulo Nuin

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Phylogenetic Relationships ◽

Maximum Parsimony ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

The Other ◽

The Family

AbstractThe systematics and phylogenetic relationships of the family Leptodactylidae are controversial as is the intrafamilial phylogeny of the leptodactylids. Here we analyze the relationships of the leptodactylid subfamily Hylodinae. This subfamily has been considered to be monophyletic and composed of three genera, Hylodes, Crossodactylus and Megaelosia. In the present study 49 characters were used, based on different studies on Leptodactylidae phylogeny. Maximum parsimony methods with unweighted and successively weighted characters were used to estimate the phylogeny of the Hylodinae. Upon analysis, the data provided further evidence of the monophyletic status of the three genera, with Megaelosia being the basal genus and the other two genera being sister taxa. The analysis with successive weighting results in a more resolved topology of the species subgroups of the genus Hylodes and separates this genus from Crossodactylus and confirms that the hylodines are monophyletic.

Download Full-text

A revision of Holothuria (Halodeima) kefersteinii (Selenka, 1867) and the revival of Holothuria inornata Semper, 1868 from sea cucumbers collected in Mexico and Central America

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4377.2.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4377 (2) ◽

pp. 151 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

MAGALI HONEY-ESCANDÓN ◽

FRANCISCO A. SOLÍS-MARÍN

Keyword(s):

Central America ◽

Ecological Study ◽

Original Description ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Color Pattern ◽

Type Specimens ◽

Sea Cucumbers ◽

Mexican Pacific ◽

Different Color

In 1958 Deichmann synonymized Holothuria inornata Semper, 1868 with Holothuria kefersteinii (Selenka, 1867). This nomenclature has been adopted until now. However, some specimens recently collected from the Mexican Pacific matched the original description of H. inornata Semper (1868) whereas others matched the original description by Selenka (1867). A morphological, molecular and ecological study of the specimens was conducted to confirm the identification of these specimens. The morphological characters of our specimens were compared with those contained in the original descriptions and figures of the types of both species. Besides the different color pattern of live specimens of both species, the main differences found are the presence of straight distally perforated rods in the dorsal papillae, and the presence of Holothuriophilus trapeziformis Nauck, 1880 in the cloaca of H. inornata, versus the absence of these kind of rods in the dorsal papillae, and the absence of symbionts in the cloaca in H. kefersteinii. The species identified by Deichmann (1958) as H. kefersteinii is, in fact H. inornata. Both species might have been confused because the morphology of preserved specimens is very similar and the presence of the straight rods in papillae might have been overlooked during identification. A more thorough review of the ossicles from the specimens, together with the comparison of ossicles from the type specimens, has allowed the resurrection of long-forgotten species, H. inornata

Download Full-text

Intraspecific variability of morphological characters in the species-rich deep-sea genus Acantholaimus Allgén, 1933 (Nematoda: Chromadoridae)

Nematology ◽

10.1163/15685411-00002970 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 455-473 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Dmitry M. Miljutin ◽

Maria A. Miljutina

Keyword(s):

Deep Sea ◽

Intraspecific Variability ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Species Discrimination ◽

Species Differentiation ◽

Lateral Field ◽

Operational Taxonomic Units ◽

General Arrangement ◽

Taxonomic Approach

Acantholaimusis a species-rich genus of deep-sea nematodes, often with dozens of species found at the same locality but each represented by single or few individuals. Species discrimination by morphological characters in this genus is therefore often difficult due to transitional forms that may be referred to several species because of lack of data on intraspecific variability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intraspecific variability of morphological characters that are most often used inAcantholaimustaxonomy, in order to distinguish those which are most informative for species differentiation. A reverse taxonomic approach was applied for initial species discrimination. Two loci, one each from small and large subunits of rRNA, were sequenced for 59Acantholaimusspecimens from two deep-sea locations. Twenty-seven Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTU) were identified, of which 12 were represented by more than one individual. These were then analysed for intraspecific variability in morphological characters. Some of the examined characters showed high intraspecific variability; specifically: length of cephalic setae; distance from anterior end to amphid; shape of anterior setae; position and arrangement of cervical setae. In the absence of genetic data, these characters should be used with caution for differential diagnoses or species discrimination. Other characters were more conservative within the same MOTU: body proportions; length of outer labial setae; amphidial diam.; appearance of lateral field; general arrangement of cervical setae; and shape of tail. These characters may be successfully used for species discrimination in the absence of molecular data.

Download Full-text