scholarly journals Mitochondrial DNA suggests the existence of two distinct species in Moluccas and New Guinea within Nyctimystes infrafrenatus (Günther, 1867)

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taufan Nurzaman Sulaeman ◽  
AMIR HAMIDY ◽  
ACHMAD FARAJALLAH ◽  
ANTOINE FOUQUET ◽  
AWAL RIYANTO ◽  
...  

Abstract. Sulaeman TN, Hamidy A, Farajallah A, Fouquet A, Riyanto A, Arida E, Mulyadi, Trilaksono W, Munir M. 2021. Mitochondrial DNA suggests the existence of two distinct species in Moluccas and New Guinea within Nyctimystes infrafrenatus (Günther, 1867). Biodiversitas 22: 3287-3297. Nyctimystes infrafrenatus is a widespread frog species distributed across northern Australia, New Guinea, Bismarck archipelago and in the eastern part of Indonesian archipelago. The species thus encompasses two biogeographic regions, Papua and Wallacea. We evaluated the phylogenetic relationships among the populations from Papua and Moluccas based on two mitochondrial loci (16S rRNA and Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I). Two major subclades are recovered within Nyctimystes infrafrenatus with subclade A being represented by populations from New Guinea and northern Australia and subclade B by Moluccan populations (Halmahera and Tidore). Genetic distances (2.3-4.2% in 16S rRNA) between these subclades suggest they could belong to distinct species. Since New Guinea populations correspond to the nominal species and that Nyctimystes tennuigranulatus (Boettger 1895), currently considered as a junior synonym of Nyctimystes infrafrenatus, is available for the northern Moluccan populations, we proposed to remove this taxon from synonymy. However, samples used in this study come from northern Moluccas, further studies including samples from Ambon (where another synonym was described i.e. Calamita dolichopsis) is needed to determine the taxonomic status of the southern Moluccan population whether they are conspecific with northern Moluccan population or not.

ZooKeys ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 935 ◽  
pp. 25-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula C. RodrÍguez-Flores ◽  
Enrique Macpherson ◽  
Annie Machordom

Hendersonida parvirostrissp. nov. is described from Papua New Guinea. The new species can be distinguished from the only other species of the genus, H. granulata (Henderson, 1885), by the fewer spines on the dorsal carapace surface, the shape of the rostrum and supraocular spines, the antennal peduncles, and the length of the walking legs. Pairwise genetic distances estimated using the 16S rRNA and COI DNA gene fragments indicated high levels of sequence divergence between the new species and H. granulata. Phylogenetic analyses, however, recovered both species as sister species, supporting monophyly of the genus.


2001 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 369 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. B. S. Spencer ◽  
S. G. Rhind ◽  
M. D. B. Eldridge

The brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) is considered locally rare and vulnerable, despite being found in all mainland states of Australia. It is rarely detected in faunal surveys and the two most immediate conservation requirements are a determination of its current range and clarification of its taxonomic status. Measures of genetic differentiation amongst Phascogale tapoatafa populations in eastern, western and northern Australia were estimated using a partial (348 bp) sequence of mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b gene). Observed sequence divergence within P. tapoatafa was substantial, with an average of 13% separating the allopatric populations in south-eastern, south-western and northern Australia. In comparison, an average of 16% sequence divergence separated the two currently recognised Phascogale species (P. tapoatafa andP. calura). Thus, Phascogale comprises four highly divergent lineages, suggesting that the genus is more diverse than previously thought. These data indicate that further taxonomic research is warranted.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4476 (1) ◽  
pp. 168
Author(s):  
PAKORN TONGBOONKUA ◽  
MAO-YING LEE ◽  
WEI-JEN CHEN

Left-eyed flounders of the genus Chascanopsetta Alcock 1894 (Bothidae) occur in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans at depths ranging from 120 to 1500 meters. They possess some unique features in bothid fishes including a strongly compressed and elongated body and a tremendously large mouth. Currently, nine species of Chascanopsetta are recognized, and three of them (C. micrognatha Amaoka & Yamamoto 1984, C. lugubris Alcock 1894 and C. prognatha Norman 1939) are distributed in the West Pacific. We collected 25 specimens of Chascanopsetta during 11 biodiversity expeditions carried out mainly in the West Pacific. Among them, eight specimens taken off Papua New Guinea present morphological features that differ from those of the three nominal species known in the West Pacific. In this study, we examined these eight specimens of unknown affinity and compared their morphology to that of specimens of other congeneric species. Results of these comparisons showed that these specimens represent an undescribed species of Chascanopsetta, named herein, C. novaeguineae sp. nov.. The new species resembles C. elski Foroshchuk 1991, which is known only from the Saya de Malha Bank in the western Indian Ocean, in having a high number of gill rakers (> 13). However, the combination of the following characters further distinguishes C. novaeguineae sp. nov. from C. elski: longer jaws, narrower interorbital width, and number of pseudobranches (21–25 vs. 26–27). The DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from C. novaeguineae sp. nov. and other species were obtained and compared to confirm its taxonomic status and to infer its tentative phylogenetic position within the Chascanopsetta.


1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 117 ◽  
Author(s):  
DK Mcalpine

The genus Achias Fabricius occurs in New Guinea, northern Australia, and some islands adjacent to these areas. Evidence is presented as to the disputed publication dates for Hendel's two significant reviews of the Platystomatidae as these affect nomenclature. Available information on Achias biology is summarised, but includes no larval records. A method of estimating the approximate number of undiscovered species is presented, and indicates that the register of Achias species is very incomplete. A description of the genus Achias is given. Generic synonyms and means of generic determination are discussed. Certain taxonomic characters are discussed and these are related to taxonomic placement of the genus, informal infrageneric groupings of species, and species delimitation. A key to all recognised species is given. In total, 67 species (listed in index) are described as new. No synonyms among nominal species of Achias are recognised. Four apparent species represented by inadequate available material are assigned provisional numbers. An etymology of Achias nomenclature is appended.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 413 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
KENJI SUETSUGU ◽  
AKIHIKO KINOSHITA ◽  
TIAN-CHUAN HSU

This paper presents a re-evaluation of the taxonomic status of Sciaphila tosaensis and S. megastyla (Triuridaceae) distributed in Japan and Taiwan. Based on the detailed morphological data, we concluded that these two species should both be treated as distinct species rather than synonyms of S. secundiflora. Sciaphila tosaensis differs from S. secundiflora and S. megastyla in having very narrow male perianth segments and female perianth segments distinctly shorter than male perianth segments. Sciaphila megastyla differs from the other two species in having very conspicuous style and stigma that is ca. 1.5 times as long as ovary in the flowering stage. Furthermore, a lectotype is designated of S. megastyla because its holotype has been lost. Molecular data also showed that there is considerable genetic divergence between S. tosaensis and S. megastyla, supporting that the morphological differences are mirrored by their genetic distances.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4306 (2) ◽  
pp. 223
Author(s):  
YOUNG SUN SONG ◽  
JIN-KOO KIM ◽  
JUNG-HA KANG ◽  
SEONG YONG KIM

A taxonomic re-evaluation of the cosmopolitan fish species Atractoscion aequidens (Cuvier 1830) revealed that it comprises several distinct species occurring in different oceans. Here we describe two new species, Atractoscion macrolepis sp. nov. and Atractoscion microlepis sp. nov., based on specimens collected from Angola and Oman, respectively, and we resurrect the species Atractoscion atelodus (Günther 1867), from Australia. Morphological comparison of A. aequidens from South Africa (type locality) with species from geographically distant localities showed that they differed in the mode number of lateral line pored scales (76 for A. aequidens; 73 for A. macrolepis sp. nov.; 78 for A. microlepis sp. nov.) and the number of dorsal-fin soft rays (26–29 for A. aequidens; 31–33 or 34 for A. atelodus; 24–28 for A. macrolepis sp. nov.; 25–26 for A. microlepis sp. nov.). Comparison of 506 bp sequences in mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I showed that the Kimura 2-parameter distance for A. aequidens differs substantially from that for the other species (5.1–5.3% different from A. atelodus; 3.7–4.4 from A. macrolepis sp. nov.; 4.8–5.0 from A. microlepis sp. nov.). The study highlights that DNA barcoding can contribute to confirming the taxonomic status of geographic variations. 


2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 267 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Motomura ◽  
J. W. Johnson ◽  
Y. Iwatsuki

The taxonomic status of three nominal species of Polydactylus, viz. P. multiradiatus (Günther, 1860), P.�specularis (De Vis, 1883) and P. auratus McKay, 1970, is revised. A comparison of the type series of Polydactylus auratus and the original description of Polynemus specularis with the holotype of Polynemus multiradiatus and 63 additional specimens from northern Australia has shown them to be conspecific. Polydactylus multiradiatus is characterised by its: 7 (rarely 6 or 8) pectoral filaments, not extending to posterior tip of pectoral fin; 14–17 (modally 15) pectoral fin rays; 13–15 (modally 14) dorsal fin soft rays; 16–18 (modally 16) anal fin soft rays; 49–56 (modally 52) pored lateral line scales; 7 or 8 (modally 8) scale rows above lateral line and 14 or 15 (14) below; 11–14 (modally 12) gill rakers on upper limb, 15–20 (modally 17) on lower and 27–33 (modally 30) in total; and vomerine teeth present. A synopsis of other Australian Polydactylus species and a key to known Australian Polydactylus are provided.


Author(s):  
Davide Nespoli ◽  
Irene Pellegrino ◽  
Marco Galaverni ◽  
Romolo Caniglia ◽  
Joseph Sunyer ◽  
...  

AbstractMarmora’s Warbler (Curruca sarda) and Balearic Warbler (C. balearica) are allopatric sibling species and were recently split mostly based on morphological and ethological characteristics. Here we provide the first phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses of this species complex to support the taxonomic status of C. sarda and C. balearica in light of integrative taxonomy. We sampled the two taxa in most of their breeding ranges and we sequenced three mitochondrial and one nuclear gene region. All C. balearica individuals had private haplotypes for the four markers and formed monophyletic clades. Genetic distances between the two taxa were comparable with those found between other species belonging to the Curruca genus. Furthermore, most of the genetic variance was expressed at the interspecific level, rather than between different populations within taxa or between individuals within populations. Our results strongly support the current taxonomic status of these two warblers as distinct species.


1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
DALE R. CALDER ◽  
LESTER D. STEPHENS

Samuel Fessenden Clarke was the leading specialist on hydroids (phylum Cnidaria) in North America over the last quarter of the nineteenth century. During that period he published taxonomic papers on hydroids from both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the continent, from the Gulf of Mexico, and from the eastern Pacific off Central and South America. He also authored a section on hydrozoan biology for “The Riverside Natural History” series. Most of his papers on hydroids were published while he was in his twenties. Clarke described as new 61 nominal species, three nominal genera, and one nominal family, as well as two “varieties” of hydroids. A list of these, and their current taxonomic status, appears in the present work. Clarke consistently provided sound descriptions and locality data for all supposed new species, and drew accurate illustrations of most of them. His research on Hydrozoa, beyond alphataxonomy, was directed towards faunal distributions and the use of hydroid assemblages as biogeographic indicators. In addition to investigations on hydroids, Clarke carried out research on the developmental biology of amphibians and reptiles. His doctoral dissertation at Johns Hopkins University was based on the embryology of the “Spotted Salamander” (=Yellow-spotted Salamander), and he published a major paper on the habits and embryology of the American Alligator. Most of Clarke's career was devoted to academic duties at Williams College, Massachusetts, where he was recognized as a dedicated and inspiring teacher. He served the American Society of Naturalists in various capacities, including a term as its president, was an influential trustee of the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, and promoted the study of science in American schools.


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