Overview of the genus Sympodium Ehrenberg, 1834 (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Xeniidae), with the description of new species, revealing regional endemism

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5072 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-350
Author(s):  
YEHUDA BENAYAHU ◽  
MERRICK EKINS ◽  
CATHERINE S. MCFADDEN

The oldest existing type material for any of the xeniid soft corals, Sympodium caeruleum Ehrenberg, 1834, is re-described. An integrated analysis of molecular and morphological characters of Indo-Pacific Xeniidae support the description of seven new species of that genus. The extent of interspecific morphological variation within the genus is extensive; colonies arise from an encrusting membrane of variable thickness that can be either mat-like or may have ribbon-like extensions or irregularly shaped low mounds. The polyps can either arise separately from the membrane or may be arranged into clusters of polyps that bud off at different levels to form small branched groups. The sclerites of all species are uniformly ellipsoid platelets, abundant throughout the colony. The genetic results suggest that Sympodium species demonstrate restricted geographic ranges and regional endemism, with distinct genotypes (molecular operational taxonomic units) each mostly found at a single Indo-Pacific location. The results emphasize the importance of integrating classical taxonomy with a re-examination of original old type material and molecular phylogenetic analyses, in order to delineate species boundaries and to recognize biodiversity patterns.  

Phytotaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 427 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-42
Author(s):  
LEI SHU ◽  
RUI-LIANG ZHU

Based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological characters, a new species from Bangladesh, northern Vietnam, and southwestern China, Leptolejeunea nigra, is described. It is mostly similar to L. balansae but remarkable for having brownish black ocelli in its leaf lobes. In the molecular phylogeny, the samples of L. nigra are not nested within any clade and form an independent lineage. In particular, the molecular dating suggested that the divergence of L. nigra happened in time span of the formation of the Himalayas.


ZooKeys ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 761 ◽  
pp. 1-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruttapon Srisonchai ◽  
Henrik Enghoff ◽  
Natdanai Likhitrakarn ◽  
Somsak Panha

The dragon millipede genusDesmoxytess.l. is split into five genera, based on morphological characters and preliminary molecular phylogenetic analyses. The present article includes a review ofDesmoxytess.s., while future articles will deal withHylomusCook and Loomis, 1924 and three new genera which preliminarily are referred to as the ‘acantherpestes’, ‘gigas’, and ‘spiny’ groups. Diagnostic morphological characters of each group are discussed.Hylomusis resurrected as a valid genus and the following 33 species are assigned to it:H.asper(Attems, 1937),comb. n.,H.cattienensis(Nguyen, Golovatch & Anichkin, 2005),comb. n.,H.cervarius(Attems, 1953),comb. n.,H.cornutus(Zhang & Li, 1982),comb. n.,H.dracoCook & Loomis, 1924,stat. rev.,H.enghoffi(Nguyen, Golovatch & Anichkin, 2005),comb. n.,H.eupterygotus(Golovatch, Li, Liu & Geoffroy, 2012),comb. n.,H.getuhensis(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2014),comb. n.,H.grandis(Golovatch, VandenSpiegel & Semenyuk, 2016),comb. n.,H.hostilis(Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994),comb. n.,H.jeekeli(Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994),comb. n.,H.lingulatus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2014),comb. n.,H.laticollis(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.longispinus(Loksa, 1960),comb. n.,H.lui(Golovatch, Li, Liu & Geoffroy, 2012),comb. n.,H.minutuberculus(Zhang, 1986),comb. n.,H.nodulosus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2014),comb. n.,H.parvulus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2014),comb. n.,H.phasmoides(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.pilosus(Attems, 1937),comb. n.,H.proximus(Nguyen, Golovatch & Anichkin, 2005),comb. n.,H.rhinoceros(Likhitrakarn, Golovatch & Panha, 2015),comb. n.,H.rhinoparvus(Likhitrakarn, Golovatch & Panha, 2015),comb. n.,H.scolopendroides(Golovatch, Geoffroy & Mauriès, 2010),comb. n.,H.scutigeroides(Golovatch, Geoffroy & Mauriès, 2010),comb. n.,H.similis(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.simplex(Golovatch, VandenSpiegel & Semenyuk, 2016),comb. n.,H.simplipodus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.specialis(Nguyen, Golovatch & Anichkin, 2005),comb. n.,H.spectabilis(Attems, 1937),comb. n.,H.spinitergus(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.,H.spinissimus(Golovatch, Li, Liu & Geoffroy, 2012),comb. n.andH.variabilis(Liu, Golovatch & Tian, 2016),comb. n.Desmoxytess.s. includes the following species:D.breviverpaSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha, 2016;D.cervina(Pocock,1895);D.delfae(Jeekel, 1964);D.desSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha, 2016;D.pinnasqualiSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha, 2016;D.planata(Pocock, 1895);D.purpuroseaEnghoff, Sutcharit & Panha, 2007;D.takensisSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha, 2016;D.taurina(Pocock, 1895);D.terae(Jeekel, 1964), all of which are re-described based mainly on type material. Two new synonyms are proposed:DesmoxytespterygotaGolovatch & Enghoff, 1994,syn. n.(=Desmoxytescervina(Pocock, 1895)),DesmoxytesrubraGolovatch & Enghoff, 1994,syn. n.(=Desmoxytesdelfae(Jeekel, 1964)). Six new species are described from Thailand:D.aurataSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.corythosaurusSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.eurosSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.flabellaSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.golovatchiSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.,D.octoconigeraSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n., as well as one from Malaysia:D.perakensisSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n., and one from Myanmar:D.waepyanensisSrisonchai, Enghoff & Panha,sp. n.The species can mostly be easily distinguished by gonopod structure in combination with other external characters; some cases of particularly similar congeners are discussed. All species ofDesmoxytess.s. seem to be endemic to continental Southeast Asia (except the ‘tramp’ speciesD.planata). Some biological observations (relationship with mites, moulting) are recorded for the first time. Complete illustrations of external morphological characters, an identification key, and distribution maps of all species are provided.


2016 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 360-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.H. Morais ◽  
A. Aguiar ◽  
M.I. Müller ◽  
R.B. Narciso ◽  
L.A.F. da Silva ◽  
...  

AbstractSerpentirhabdias viperidicus n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) is described from the lungs of the ‘Brazilian lancehead’ Bothrops moojeni (Hoge, 1966) from the savannah in São Paulo State, Brazil. The new species is the eighth species of Serpentirhabdias described in the Neotropical region, and differs from other species mainly by a combination of characters: lips slightly notable, presence of fine striations at posterior ends, presence of two parallel lines with intercalated pores, a pore-shaped phasmid situated at the level of the anal aperture and another two in the posterior half of the tail. It is the first species of Serpentirhabdias reported in this snake host and the second species of this genus found parasitizing South American viperidian snakes. Molecular phylogenetic analysis using ribosomal (ITS and 28S partial) genes confirms Serpentirhabdias viperidicus n. sp. as a new species that clustered in the Serpentirhabdias clade, sister taxon to Serpentirhabdias fuscovenosa and Serpentirhabdias elaphe. This is the first description of Serpentirhabdias species from Brazil using molecular approaches and morphological characters to confirm the monophyly of this recent genus.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 434 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-100
Author(s):  
ZIA ULLAH ◽  
RUBAB KHURSHED ◽  
MUHAMMAD BINYAMIN KHAN ◽  
ISRAR AHMAD ◽  
SANA JABEEN ◽  
...  

During this investigation, a new species of Melanoleuca subg. Urticocystis with urticiform cheilocystidia is proposed. The identification is based on morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS and 28S sequences. A comparison of the morphological features and molecular phylogenetic data with the taxa of subg. Urticocystis confirms the identity of the species as a new taxon. The detailed descriptions, line drawings and phylogenetic results are given.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4247 (4) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
YING-YONG WANG ◽  
QIANG GUO ◽  
ZU-YAO LIU ◽  
ZHI-TONG LYU ◽  
JIAN WANG ◽  
...  

The previous descriptions of Opisthotropis maxwelli Boulenger, 1914 and O. andersonii (Boulenger, 1888) were considered imperfect due to the limited number of specimens. This may in turn cause a problem for accurate species identification. In our study, the species boundaries of these two species were investigated using an integrative approach incorporating morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial Cyt b gene of 26 specimens of nine known Opisthotropis species collected from south-eastern China. Our results surprisingly revealed a new cryptic species, Opisthotropis shenzhenensis sp. nov., from Shenzhen and Dongguan, Guangdong Province, southern China. Further, we re-described O. maxwelli based on several specimens from Fujian and Guangdong, and O. andersonii based on a series of specimens from Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, China. We provide an updated identification key to all described Opisthotropis species from China. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Sheng Wang ◽  
Yi-Fei Lu ◽  
Yue-Liang Xu ◽  
Shui-Hu Jin ◽  
Xiao-Feng Jin

Abstract Background Southeast Asia, together with tropical Africa, Madagascar, South India and Sri Lanka, and the eastern Himalayas, are the five primary hotspots of species diversity of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae). China is also rich in Impatiens species, especially in the limestone karsts or ‘Danxia’ landforms. With zygomorphic flowers and diverse corolla morphology and color, the species in Impatiens are well-known for their ornamental use, but they are also notorious in taxonomy. During the preparation of revision of Impatiens in Zhejiang and adjacent regions, an unknown species was collected from Mt. Wuyi in Fujian Province, Southeast China. Results Phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ITS, chloroplast atpB-rbcL and trnL-F sequences, together with micromorphology of pollen grains and seed coats, strongly supported the close relationship of the new species with Impatiens platysepala Y.L.Chen and I. chloroxantha Y.L.Chen. In turn, both molecular data and morphological characters also were sufficient to distinguish the new species from the other two counterparts. Conclusions Our detailed morphological observations and molecular phylogenetic analyses support the recognition of Impatiens wuyiensis as a species new to science.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 497 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
MICHAEL CALONJE ◽  
JONATAN CASTRO HERNÁNDEZ ◽  
LUIS FERNANDO COCA ◽  
DANIEL JARAMILLO ◽  
ARTURO ARISTIZÁBAL

We describe and illustrate Zamia imbricata and Z. sinuensis, two new species (Zamiaceae, Cycadales) from the Magdalena-Urabá moist forests ecoregion of northern Colombia. The new species appear to belong to the manicata clade, an assemblage of species strongly supported by recent molecular phylogenetic analyses and which shares a set of morphological characters such as hypogeous to semi-hypogeous stems, distinctly toothed leaflets, long peduncles, megasporophylls with relatively flat shields, and diminutive pollen cones containing microsporophylls with a much-reduced fertile section of the lamina. Zamia imbricata, a species from the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin of Caldas, is distinguished from other members of the clade by its planar leaves comprised of diminutive, highly imbricate papyraceous leaflets. Zamia sinuensis, a species from the Sinú River Basin of Córdoba is similar to Z. manicata, from which it is distinguished by the absence of the petiolule and gland-like collar that characterize the latter, and by its strongly undulate leaflets. The two new species are discussed within the context of the manicata clade, and a vegetative key to the clade is provided.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 478 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-267
Author(s):  
MENG ZHOU ◽  
JIA-JIA CHEN ◽  
JOSEF VLASÁK ◽  
YUAN YUAN

Dentipellicula guyanensis, a new species of Hericiaceae, is described and illustrated based on morphological characters and supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS and nLSU rDNA sequences. D. guyanensis is characterized by an annual and resupinate growth habit, a monomitic hyphal structure with non-amyloid, non-dextrinoid and acyanophilous generative hyphae, the presence of gloeoplerous hyphae in hymenophoral trama, the presence of gloeocystidia, and rough basidiospores measuring as 2.8–3.1 × 1.9–2.1 µm. A key to accepted species of Dentipellicula is provided.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 309 (2) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
JIA-JIA CHEN ◽  
LI LÜ ◽  
WEN-WU YE ◽  
YUAN-CHAO WANG ◽  
XIAO-BO ZHENG

A new species of Pythiales: Pythium cedri, isolated from Cedrus deodara (Pinaceae) in Jiangsu Province of China is described and illustrated based on morphological characters and supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS+COI sequences. Pythium cedri belongs to Pythium clade D and is characterized by presence of hyphal swellings, toruloid sporangia, ornamented oogonia with blunt spines, monoclinous antheridia, plerotic or nearly plerotic oospores, and relatively slow growth (11–15 mm d–1). A key to accepted species of Pythium clade D is provided.


MycoKeys ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 65-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zai-Wei Ge ◽  
Adriaana Jacobs ◽  
Else C. Vellinga ◽  
Phongeun Sysouphanthong ◽  
Retha van der Walt ◽  
...  

Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of Chlorophyllum were carried out on the basis of morphological differences and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Based on the phylogeny inferred from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the partial large subunit nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrLSU), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2) and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1) sequences, six well-supported clades and 17 phylogenetic species are recognised. Within this phylogenetic framework and considering the diagnostic morphological characters, two new species, C.africanum and C.palaeotropicum, are described. In addition, a new infrageneric classification of Chlorophyllum is proposed, in which the genus is divided into six sections. One new combination is also made. This study provides a robust basis for a more detailed investigation of diversity and biogeography of Chlorophyllum.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document