Taxonomic revision of Australasian diving beetles in the genus Leiodytes Guignot, 1936 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae, Bidessini)

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4990 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-44
Author(s):  
LARS HENDRICH ◽  
LIANG-JONG WANG ◽  
MICHAEL BALKE

Bidessus migrator Sharp, 1882, so far assigned to Clypeodytes Régimbart, 1894, and widely distributed in Australia and New Guinea, is re-described. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, it is here transferred to Leiodytes Guignot, 1936. Bidessus loriae Régimbart, 1892 is found to be a junior subjective synonym of L. migrator. We describe the following new species: Leiodytes surianiae sp. nov. (eastern New Guinea, northeast coast of Queensland), and Leiodytes wattsi sp. nov. (southern New Guinea and Darwin area to northern Queensland). We delineate the species using characters such as male genital structure and beetle size, shape and color pattern. Mitochondrial Cox1 data for 27 individuals, representing all three Australasian species, were generated and revealed clusters congruent with the morphological evidence. In Australia Leiodytes only occurs in the tropical and subtropical northern part of the continent. None of the species is endemic to Australia. The species are mainly lentic, occurring in seasonal swamps, flooded meadows and pools of intermittent rivers and temporary creeks.  

ZooKeys ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 975 ◽  
pp. 11-49
Author(s):  
Lars Hendrich ◽  
Chris H.S. Watts ◽  
Michael Balke

Morphology and mitochondrial DNA sequence data are used to reassess the taxonomy of Australian diving beetles previously assigned to the genera Uvarus Guignot, 1939 and Gibbidessus Watts, 1978. Gibbidessus was described as a monotypic genus for Gibbidessus chipi Watts, 1978. The genus is significantly extended here. Based on molecular systematic evidence, Uvarus pictipes (Lea, 1899) is transferred to Gibbidessus. Gibbidessus chipi and Gibbidessus pictipescomb. nov. are redescribed, and six new species are described: Gibbiddessus atomussp. nov. (SW Australia, Northcliffe area) [the smallest epigean diving beetle in Australia], G. davidisp. nov. (SW Australia), G. drikdrikensissp. nov. (Victoria), G. kangarooensissp. nov. (SA Kangaroo Island), G. pederzaniisp. nov. (SW Australia, Nannup area), and G. rottnestensissp. nov. (SW Australia). Species are delineated using characters such as male genital structure and beetle size, shape and colour pattern. Mitochondrial Cox1 data for 27 individuals, representing five species, were generated, and revealed clusters congruent with the morphological evidence. Gibbidessus occur in southern Australia, with the centre of diversification in the isolated peat- and wetlands of SW Australia. All species occur in very shallow water of seasonal, exposed or half-shaded wetlands and flooded meadows.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 274 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
RUTH P. CLARK

Mezoneuron is a genus of 24 species that has often formerly been understood to belong within Caesalpinia s.l., but which on the basis of recent molecular evidence, along with a number of other segregates, is now considered a distinct genus. Mezoneuron is broadly distributed, with its centre of diversity in South East Asia, but with species also in Africa, Australasia, and Hawaii. This is the first study to conduct a complete revision of the genus across its geographical range. A key to the species is provided, along with full species descriptions, distribution maps, preliminary conservation assessments, and selected illustrations. This study examines the morphological evidence supporting the generic status of the group, particularly of the fruit type, which has traditionally been considered its defining feature.


Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2288 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
LARS HENDRICH ◽  
OLIVER HAWLITSCHEK ◽  
MICHAEL BALKE

We use mitochondrial DNA sequence data and morphology to the reassess taxonomy and phylogeny of Australasian diving beetles previously assigned to Bidessodes Régimbart, 1900 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae, Bidessini). Bidessodes was described for a South American species. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of a set of the morphologically rather homoplastic Bidessini shows that Australasian Bidessodes form a clade distant from the Neotropical species and are thus assigned the new generic name Neobidessodes Hendrich & Balke gen.n. The seven Australian Bidessodes species known to date are transferred: Neobidessodes bilita (Watts, 1978), comb.n.; N. denticulatus (Sharp, 1882), comb.n.; N. flavosignatus (Zimmermann, 1922), comb.n.; N. grossus (Zimmermann, 1922), comb.n.; N. gutteridgei (Watts & Humphreys, 2003) (stygobitic species), comb.n.; N. limestonensis (Watts & Humphreys, 2003) (stygobitic species) comb.n. and N. mjobergi (Zimmermann, 1922), comb.n. The epigean species are re-described. Lectotypes for Bidessus flavosignatus Zimmermann, 1922; Bidessus grossus Zimmermann, 1922 and Bidessus mjobergi Zimmermann, 1922 are designated, and two new species, Neobidessodes samkrisi Hendrich & Balke sp.n. from southern New Guinea (Merauke, West Papua) as well as Neobidessodes thoracicus Hendrich & Balke sp.n. from the Kimberley region, the Northern Territory and northern Queensland, are described. We delineate the species using traditionally employed morphological structures such as male genital structure and beetle size, shape and colour pattern. Illustrations based on digital images are provided here and as online resources. Cox1 data for 42 individuals were used too as characters for DNA taxonomy (or barcoding). The signal is mixed. Of the nine species, all retrieved as monophyletic groups or clusters. N. samkrisi sp.n. and N. flavosignatus are morphologically strongly divergent, yet cox1 distance only amounts to 0.85– 1.14%, while intraspecific distances for N. denticulatus are 0.0–1.28%. The epigean species of the genus are distributed from southern New Guinea, tropical and subtropical north of Australia, and along the east coast south to Victoria. All species occur in small streams, creeks, and pools of intermittent rivers or billabongs with sandy or gravelly bottom. The morphologically highly derived, blind and wingless stygobitic species are endemic to the Three Rivers calcrete in the Yilgarn, Western Australia. Important species characters (median lobes, parameres (in part) and colour patterns) are illustrated. A key to all seven epigean species is provided. The known distribution and habitat preferences of each species are outlined briefly.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 479 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-82
Author(s):  
HUI SHANG ◽  
ZHEN-LONG LIANG ◽  
LI-BING ZHANG

A taxonomic revision of Didymochlaena (Didymochlaenaceae) from Asia and the Pacific region is conducted based on morphological and molecular evidence. Seven species are recognized, of which four are described as new and a new status is raised to a species from a variety. These four new species include D. fijiensis from Fiji, D. philippensis from the Philippines, D. punctata from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, and D. solomonensis from the Solomon Islands. The new status is D. oceanica from Papua New Guinea. Six of the seven species have all been erroneously treated as D. truncatula by earlier pteridologists. A key to the species is provided and descriptions of all species are given.


Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2347 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARIO TOLEDO ◽  
PAUL J. SPANGLER ◽  
MICHAEL BALKE

The Neotropical Laccophilinae genus Laccodytes Régimbart, 1895 is redefined and revised. We recognize ten species, six of which are described as new. We define two species groups: the Laccodytes apalodes-group (L. apalodes Guignot, 1955, L. rondonia sp.n.), and the L. phalacroides-group (L. americanus Peschet, 1919, L. obscuratus sp.n., L. bassignanii sp.n., L. neblinae sp.n., L. olibroides Régimbart, 1895, L. phalacroides Régimbart, 1895, L. takutuanus sp.n., L. androginus sp.n.). Laccophilus pumilio LeConte, 1878, assigned to Laccodytes by Young (1954), belongs to an undescribed genus. Laccodytes species are lotic and most of them inhabit the north-eastern part of South America, apparently with Venezuela and Guyana as centre of diversity. Descriptions, illustrations and SEM photos of habitus, genitals and other diagnostic features are provided for each species, together with habitat notes, when known. We provide a key for species identification.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya Diefenbach-Elstob ◽  
Vanina Guernier ◽  
Graham Burgess ◽  
Daniel Pelowa ◽  
Robert Dowi ◽  
...  

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a high burden of tuberculosis (TB), including drug-resistant TB (DR-TB). DR-TB has been identified in patients in Western Province, although there has been limited study outside the provincial capital of Daru. This study focuses on the Balimo region of Western Province, aiming to identify the proportion of DR-TB, and characterise Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) drug resistance-associated gene mutations. Sputum samples were investigated for MTB infection using published molecular methods. DNA from MTB-positive samples was amplified and sequenced, targeting the rpoB and katG genes to identify mutations associated with rifampicin and isoniazid resistance respectively. A total of 240 sputum samples were collected at Balimo District Hospital (BDH). Of these, 86 were classified as positive based on the results of the molecular assays. For samples where rpoB sequencing was successful, 10.0% (5/50, 95% CI 4.4–21.4%) were considered rifampicin-resistant through detection of drug resistance-associated mutations. We have identified high rates of presumptive DR-TB in the Balimo region of Western Province, PNG. These results emphasise the importance of further surveillance, and strengthening of diagnostic and treatment services at BDH and throughout Western Province, to facilitate detection and treatment of DR-TB, and limit transmission in this setting.


2020 ◽  
Vol 193 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekaterina A Shepeleva ◽  
Mikhail I Schelkunov ◽  
Michal Hroneš ◽  
Michal Sochor ◽  
Martin Dančák ◽  
...  

Abstract Thismia is a genus of > 80 mycoheterotrophic species characterized by a peculiar appearance and complex floral morphology. A significant proportion of the species and morphological diversity of Thismia has only been uncovered in the past two decades, and new discoveries continue to be made. Given that many new data have recently become available, and the most comprehensive taxonomic revision of the genus from 1938 addresses less than half of the currently known species, previous hypotheses for species relationships and infrageneric taxonomic classification in Thismia was in need of review. Extensive molecular phylogenetic studies of Thismia at the genus level have never been presented. We investigate the phylogenetic relationships of 41 species (and one variety) of Thismia from the Old World. Our study comprises 68 specimens (for 28 of which the data were newly generated), including outgroup taxa broadly representing Thismiaceae (= Burmanniaceae p.p. sensuAPG IV, 2016), and is based on two nuclear and one mitochondrial marker. We use maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference to infer relationships among the taxa. We also constructed a morphological dataset of 12 mostly floral characters, comparing these characters to hypotheses based on molecular evidence to identify putative synapomorphies for major clades and to discuss hypotheses regarding the evolution of structural traits in the genus. Our analyses indicate that the majority of currently accepted infrageneric taxa of Thismia are polyphyletic. We find support for the monophyly of the Old World group, in which we recognize five well-supported lineages (clades); the only New World species studied appears to be related to the Neotropical genus Tiputinia. Ancestral state reconstructions demonstrate that the evolution of most morphological characters was homoplastic, but we identify characters that provide each of the five clades of Old World Thismia with a unique morphological description. The geographical distribution of the species under study is also shown to be consistent with the major clades. Our investigation provides a phylogenetic basis for the development of a novel sectional classification of Thismia reflecting morphological and geographical traits.


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4651 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-329
Author(s):  
FRED KRAUS

I describe five new species of Lepidodactylus from New Guinea or adjacent islands that are members of Brown & Parker’s (1977) phenetic Groups I and II and belong to the clades identified as the L. orientalis, L. pumilus, and L. novaeguineae groups of Oliver et al. (2018a). One of the new species is restricted to an isolated mountain range on New Guinea; the remainder inhabit offshore islands ranging from 3–250 km from New Guinea. These species are distinguished from their congeners primarily by unique combinations of toe lamellar numbers and shape, numbers and distribution of enlarged precloacal/femoral scales and pores, toe webbing, toe width, and color pattern. These clades are ancient, and the ancestor of one of them has been on the East Papuan Composite Terrane for at least 28 MY, highlighting the long-term importance of that former large island in generating regional biodiversity. At least one, and probably three, of the new species are inhabitants of forest interiors; one occupies disturbed coastal areas; and the habitat of the last is currently unsurmisable. All of the new species likely have restricted geographic distributions, with four of them being limited to one or a few small islands. As a result of their small ranges, rapid habitat conversion in the ranges of some of these species, and the threat of further habitat loss in the others, most of these species are of conservation concern although it is uncertain if any of them is under immediate threat. 


2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafaela P. Ota ◽  
Flávio C. T. Lima ◽  
Carla S. Pavanelli

A new Hemigrammusis described from the rio Paraguai and rio Madeira basins, Mato Grosso and Rondônia States, Brazil. The new species is characterized by possessing a wide dark horizontal stripe across the eye, a vertically elongated humeral blotch, and 4-5 gill-rakers on upper branch and 9-10 on lower. The new species can be easily diagnosed from H. lunatus, the sympatric and morphologically most similar congener, by the shape of humeral blotch and the number of gill rakers. Data of the type material of both Hemigrammus lunatus and H. maxillaris, as well as extensive examination of specimens, allowed us to conclude that H. maxillarisis a junior subjective synonym of H. lunatus. A redescription of H. lunatus, as well as a formal restriction of its type locality, is provided. A putative monophyletic group within Hemigrammus, composed by H. barrigonae, Hemigrammus lunatus, H. machadoi new species, and H. ulreyi, named Hemigrammus lunatus group, is proposed based on overall body morphology and color pattern. Additionally, a discussion on the biogeographical relationships between the rio Paraguai and rio Guaporé basins is provided.


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