Taxonomic revision of the genus Xenopholis Peters, 1869 (Serpentes: Dipsadidae): Integrating morphology with ecological niche

A reliable identification and delimitation of species is an essential pre-requisite for many fields of science and conservation. The Neotropical herpetofauna is the world’s most diverse, including many taxa of uncertain or debated taxonomy. Here we tackle one such species complex, by evaluating the taxonomic status of species currently allocated in the snake genus Xenopholis (X. scalaris, X. undulatus, and X. werdingorum). We base our conclusions on concordance between quantitative (meristic and morphometric) and qualitative (color pattern, hemipenes and skull features) analyses of morphological characters, in combination with ecological niche modeling. We recognize all three taxa as valid species and improve their respective diagnosis, including new data on color in life, pholidosis, bony morphology, and male genitalia. We find low overlap among the niches of each species, corroborating the independent source of phenotypic evidence. Even though all three species occur in the leaf litter of distinct forested habitats, Xenopholis undulatus is found in the elevated areas of the Brazilian Shield (Caatinga, Cerrado and Chaco), whereas X. scalaris occurs in the Amazon and Atlantic rainforests, and X. werdingorum in the Chiquitanos forest and Pantanal wetlands. We discuss the disjunct distribution between Amazonian and Atlantic Forest snake species in the light of available natural history and ecological aspects. This study shows the advantages of combining multiple data sources for reliable identification and circumscription of ecologically similar species.

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Taxonomic revision of the genus Oodera Westwood, 1874 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae, Cleonyminae), with description of ten new species

Journal of Hymenoptera Research ◽

10.3897/jhr.63.12754 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 63 ◽

pp. 73-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jennifer Werner ◽

Ralph S. Peters

Keyword(s):

Papua New Guinea ◽

Central African Republic ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Valid Species ◽

Key To Species ◽

Type Specimens ◽

The World ◽

Nomina Dubia

The world species ofOoderaWestwood, 1874 (Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae: Cleonyminae: Ooderini) are revised. We examined 115 specimens of this rarely collected genus and based on morphological characters assign 110 specimens to 20 recognised species, of which the following ten are described as new:Ooderacircularicollissp. n.(Morocco),O.felixsp. n.(Central African Republic),O.fidelissp. n.(Vietnam),O.floreasp. n.(Thailand),O.heikewerneraesp. n.(Botswana and South Africa),O.leibnizisp. n.(Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and Phillippines),O.mkomaziensissp. n.(Tanzania),O.namibiensissp. n.(Namibia),O.niehuisorumsp. n.(Egypt and Israel), andO.srilankiensissp. n.(Sri Lanka).OoderamonstrumNikol’skaya, 1952, syn. n., is synonymised underO.formosa(Giraud, 1863). Five specimens could not be assigned to species and are treated asOoderasp. Redescriptions are provided for all previously described valid species.OoderaalbopilosaCrosby, 1909 is excluded fromOoderaand transferred toEupelmusDalman, 1820 (Eupelmidae) asE.albopilosa(Crosby, 1909) n. comb.OoderarufimanaWestwood, 1874 andO.obscuraWestwood, 1874 are treated asnomina dubiabecause we were unable to locate type specimens and the original descriptions are not sufficiently informative to clarify the taxonomic status of these names. Several specimens from North America are identified as introduced specimens of the European speciesO.formosa. We provide images and diagnostic characters for all 20 included species and an identification key to species.

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Corrigendum to: Cladistic analysis and revision of Piestus Gravenhorst with remarks on related genera (Coleoptera : Staphylinidae : Piestinae)

Invertebrate Systematics ◽

10.1071/is10016_co ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 129

Author(s):

Edilson Caron ◽

Cibele S. Ribeiro-Costa ◽

Alfred F. Newton

Keyword(s):

Cladistic Analysis ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Sister Group ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Valid Species ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Neotropical Forests ◽

Rove Beetles ◽

New Synonyms ◽

Branch Support

Rove beetles of the genus Piestus Gravenhorst, 1806 are commonly captured under the bark of or inside decaying logs from Neotropical forests. Piestus belongs to the subfamily Piestinae, historically an ill-defined dumping-ground for Staphylinidae defined by plesiomorphic characters, but which has gradually been restricted in concept and currently includes only six additional extant genera worldwide. Piestinae in this restricted sense has been considered a probably monophyletic subfamily, but its status and phylogenetic position, as a possible sister-group of Osoriinae within the recently proposed Oxyteline group of staphylinid subfamilies, are uncertain and need confirmation. The main aim of the present study was to provide a morphological cladistic analysis and complete taxonomic revision of Piestus, which, as the type and most speciose genus of Piestinae, is critical for future phylogenetic studies involving the subfamily. In our study, the monophyly of Piestus is established and phylogenetic relationships among its species are proposed based on 70 adult morphological characters. Piestus is supported by 11 synapomorphies and high branch support. All species of Piestus are revised and the genus is redefined. The genus contains 43 species, including 13 species described here for the first time. The previously proposed subgenera Antropiestus Bernhauer, 1917, Eccoptopiestus Scheerpeltz, 1952, Elytropiestus Scheerpeltz, 1952, Lissopiestus Scheerpeltz, 1952, Piestus s. str., Trachypiestus Scheerpeltz, 1952 and Zirophorus Dalman, 1821 have not been confirmed, as they were found to be poly- or paraphyletic, or are here removed from Piestus, and therefore subgenera are not used. The main taxonomic changes are as follows. Lissopiestus, syn. nov. is proposed as new synonym of Eleusis Laporte, 1835 and its species, E. interrupta (Erichson, 1840), comb. rest., is transferred again to that genus. Antropiestus, syn. nov. and Eccoptopiestus, syn. nov. are proposed as new synonyms of Hypotelus Erichson, 1839 and their species, H. laevis (Solsky, 1872), comb. nov. and H. andinus (Bernhauer, 1917), comb. nov., are transferred to Hypotelus. Fourteen new synonymies are proposed (valid species listed first): P. lacordairei Laporte, 1835 = Z. furcatus Sharp, 1887, syn. nov.; P. capricornis Laporte, 1835 = P. frontalis Sharp, 1876, syn. nov.; P. pennicornis Fauvel, 1864 = P. plagiatus Fauvel, 1864, syn. nov.; P. rectus Sharp, 1876, syn. nov.; P. pygialis Fauvel, 1902, syn. nov.; P. surinamensis Bernhauer, 1928, syn. nov.; P. minutus Erichson, 1840 = P. nigrator Fauvel, 1902, syn. nov.; P. sulcatus Gravenhorst, 1806 = P. sanctaecatharinae Bernhauer, 1906, syn. nov.; P. condei Wendeler, 1955, syn. nov.; P. gounellei Fauvel, 1902 = P. wasmanni Fauvel, 1902, syn. nov.; P. mexicanus Laporte, 1835 = P. alternans Sharp, 1887, syn. nov.; P. aper Sharp, 1876 = P. schadei Scheerpeltz, 1952, syn. nov.; P. angularis Fauvel, 1864 = P. crassicornis Sharp, 1887, syn. nov.; H. andinus (Bernhauer, 1917) = P. strigipennis Bernhauer, 1921, syn. nov. One species is revalidated: P. fronticornis (Dalman, 1821), stat. rev., and one synonym is restored: P. penicillatus (Dalman, 1821) = P. erythropus Erichson, 1840, syn. rest. Neotypes are designated for P. lacordairei Laporte, 1835 and Oxytelus bicornis Olivier, 1811, and lectotypes are designated for P. puncticollis Fauvel, 1902, P. capricornis variety muticus Fauvel, 1902, P. zischkai Scheerpeltz, 1951, P. pennicornis Fauvel, 1864, P. plagiatus Fauvel, 1864, P. pygmaeus Laporte, 1835, P. niger Fauvel 1864, P. minutus Erichson, 1840, P. nigratror Fauvel, 1902, P. sulcatus Gravenhorst, 1806, P. sanctaecatharinae Bernhauer, 1906, P. sulcipennis Scheerpeltz, 1952, P. aper Sharp, 1876, P. schadei Scheerpeltz, 1952 and P. andinus Bernhauer, 1917.

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A revision of the genus Psammogorgia Verrill, 1868 (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Octocorallia) in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.961.54846 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 961 ◽

pp. 1-30

Author(s):

Odalisca Breedy ◽

Hector M. Guzman

Keyword(s):

Taxonomic Status ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Eastern Pacific ◽

New Combination ◽

Valid Species ◽

Shallow Waters ◽

Eastern Pacific Ocean ◽

Tropical Eastern Pacific ◽

Character Tables ◽

Two New Species

The species of the genus Psammogorgia Verrill, 1868 from the shallow waters of the tropical eastern Pacific were mainly described from 1846 to 1870. Very few contributions were published subsequently. Recently, the genus was revisited with the addition of two new species. However, a comprehensive generic study is still missing for the eastern Pacific. Psammogorgia is characterised by having axes cores without mineralisation, mainly coarse irregular spindles and thorny, leafy or tuberculate clubs coenenchymal sclerites and the anthocodial armature with distinct collaret and points arrangements. Herein a taxonomic revision of the genus is presented based on type material which was morphologically analysed and illustrated using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Comparative character tables are provided for comparison among species in the genus, along with a taxonomic key. Moreover, the taxonomic status of each species was analysed. The genus Psammogorgia comprises six valid species and two varieties, and three lectotypes and a new combination are proposed to establish the taxonomic status of these species.

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Uncovering Neotropical treefrog diversity: integrative taxonomy reveal paraphyly in Boana atlantica (Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae)

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/15685381-20191109 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 511-521

Author(s):

Luana Rodrigues Lima ◽

Marcos Jorge Matias Dubeux ◽

Filipe Augusto Cavalcanti do Nascimento ◽

Daniel Pacheco Bruschi ◽

Tamí Mott

Keyword(s):

Strong Support ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Nucleolar Organizer ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Integrative Taxonomy ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Valid Species ◽

Nucleolar Organizer Regions ◽

Candidate Species ◽

Species Being

Abstract Boana atlantica was described based on morphological characters to acommodate populations from Bahia state, Brazil, previously referred to as B. punctata. However, its taxonomic validity is questionable due to inconsistencies in bioacoustic data. Here, we integrate molecular, cytogenetic and morphological data to re-evaluate the taxonomic status of B. atlantica. Molecular analyses provided strong support for the hypothesis that B. atlantica is a valid species, being, however, nominal populations from Bahia state paraphyletic with respect to individuals of B. atlantica collected in Alagoas and Pernambuco states. These populations shown high genetic divergence in the 16S rRNA mitochondrial fragment, and we consider populations from Alagoas and Pernambuco as a putative new candidate species of Boana punctata group. The external and internal morphology of the tadpoles of these lineages were similar, but Nucleolar Organizer Regions (NOR) was sited in different chromosomes. Our results indicate that B. atlantica is paraphyletic and may be a complex of species. Morphological of adult and/or bioacoustical data should be further assessed to find diagnostic characters to tease these lineages apart and name them properly.

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Taxonomic revision of the genus Eulimella (Gastropoda, Pyramidellidae) from Brazil, with description of three new species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3063.1.2 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 3063 (1) ◽

pp. 22 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

ALEXANDRE DIAS PIMENTA ◽

FRANKLIN NOEL DOS SANTOS ◽

RICARDO SILVA ABSALÃO

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Shell Morphology ◽

Biological Information ◽

Brazilian Coast ◽

Similar Species ◽

South American Species ◽

Western Atlantic ◽

Three New Species

A taxonomic revision of the pyramidellid genus Eulimella from Brazil was performed based on shell morphology. The holotype of Eulimella rudis Watson, 1886 is illustrated and compared to shells from the southeast Brazilian coast, this being the first confirmed record of this species after its original description. Eulimella smithii (Verrill, 1880), previously known from northern localities in the western Atlantic, is recorded from the southwestern Atlantic, along virtually the entire Brazilian coast; it is herein considered a distinct taxon from Eulimella unifasciata (Forbes, 1844), a very similar species from the eastern Atlantic, given the lack of data on development to consider an amphi-Atlantic distribution. Three new species are described: Eulimella torquata sp. nov., diagnosed by a constriction in the middle of each teleoconch whorl caused by a strong spiral furrow, producing a bilobed whorl profile; Eulimella cylindrata sp. nov., diagnosed by a large subcylindrical teleoconch; and Eulimella ejuncida sp. nov., characterized by its very slender shell, and small protoconch with only one whorl and with an “arc” shaped suture. The shells herein identified as Eulimella cf. calva from Brazil are conchologically identical to Eulimella calva Schander, 1994, from West Africa, but their taxonomic status should remain dubious because of lack of biological information to evaluate a possible amphi-Atlantic distribution pattern. All the species studied (except Eulimella ejuncida sp. nov.) have characteristic short microscopic axial threads organized in a spiral belt, varying in position and expression among species, but usually located in the middle of each teleoconch whorl or below the suture; this characteristic is also present in some species from the eastern Atlantic. Three South American species, originally or subsequently allocated in Eulimella, are herein considered as not belonging to this genus: Eulimella argentina Doello-Jurado, 1938; Eulimella bahiensis Castellanos, 1982; and Eulimella xenohyes (Melvill & Standen, 1912). The holotype of Eulimella lissa is illustrated with SEM micrographs.

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A Taxonomic Revision of Fern Genus Pseudocyclosorus (Thelypteridaceae) from China and the Pan-Himalaya Region, with Special Reference to the Identity of Pseudocyclosorus stramineus

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.424.4.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 424 (4) ◽

pp. 197-216

Author(s):

ZHONG-YANG LI ◽

XIAN-CHUN ZHANG ◽

ZHEN-LONG LIANG ◽

JIE LI

Keyword(s):

Special Reference ◽

Species Delimitation ◽

Morphological Study ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Morphological Features ◽

Similar Species ◽

Spore Morphology ◽

Distribution Map ◽

New Synonyms

The fern genus Pseudocyclosorus (Thelypteridaceae) from China and the Pan-Himalaya region is revised based on morphological study. Reduced basal pinnae, angles between costule and costae, and glands/hairs on abaxial surfaces/indusia are considered as the most diagnostic morphological characters for species delimitation. Genus Trigonospora was excluded from genus Pseudocyclosorus. This segregation is supported by multiple morphological features. Eight species were recognized here, namely Pseudocyclosorus tylodes, P. pseudofalcilobus, P. falcilobus, P. subochthodes, P. stramineus, P. ornatipes, P. esquirolii and P. canus. Twenty-one names were reduced as new synonyms. One name (P. duclouxii) was considered a dubious species. A key to these eight species, their descriptions, spore morphology and distribution map of each species are given. Pseudocyclosorus stramineus was a long overlooked species, which has always been misidentified as other similar species, and was wrongly reduced as a synonym of P. duclouxii. Here based on morphology characters, the identity of P. stramineus as a species was reclaimed. A more detailed description with photographs and illustrations, and its whole distribution range are given here.

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Description of a new genus and two new species of killifish (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae) from West Africa, with a discussion of the taxonomic status of Aphyosemion maeseni Poll, 1941

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2294.1.1 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2294 (1) ◽

pp. 1-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

RAINER SONNENBERG ◽

ECKHARD BUSCH

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Dna Sequences ◽

New Genus ◽

Nuclear Dna ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Color Pattern ◽

Monophyletic Group ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Adult Males

The phylogeny of the West African genus Archiaphyosemion was studied with mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences. The results of the combined dataset presented here did not support a monophyletic group. After the exclusion of the type species of the genus, A. guineense, the remaining species form a well-supported monophyletic group. Based on these molecular results and supported by morphological data, we suggest a new name for this group, Nimbapanchax, new genus. Additionally, based on a recent collection in Guinea, two new Nimbapanchax species were described. The taxon Nimbapanchax leucopterygius, new species, is described for a nothobranchiid fish formerly misidentified as Archiaphyosemion maeseni (Poll, 1941). Nimbapanchax melanopterygius, new species, is described from the Mount Nimba region in southeastern Guinea. Both new Nimbapanchax species are clearly distinguished from their congeners by the coloration pattern of adult males. The results of the DNA data support the assumption based on color pattern and morphological characters that the new described species are sister taxa. The type of Aphyosemion maeseni Poll, 1941 was reexamined and transferred to the genus Epiplatys, a decision based on diagnostic morphological characters.

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Morphological and molecular diversity in the freshwater crab Potamon ruttneri-P. gedrosianum species complex (Decapoda, Brachyura) indicate the need for taxonomic revision

Crustaceana ◽

10.1163/15685403-00003512 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 89 (2) ◽

pp. 129-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alireza Keikhosravi ◽

Reza Naderloo ◽

Christoph D. Schubart

Keyword(s):

New Record ◽

Molecular Diversity ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Valid Species ◽

Indus River ◽

Mitochondrial 16S Rdna ◽

Morphological And Molecular Data ◽

Incomplete Sampling

Many species and subspecies of Potamon have been described from the easternmost distribution of the genus in the western tributaries of the Indus River. Most of them were synonymised subsequently under the two names of currently valid species known from the region: Potamon gedrosianum Alcock, 1909 and Potamon ruttneri Pretzmann, 1962. Genetic and morphological information, based on mitochondrial 16S rDNA and the first male gonopod (G1), were gathered in the course of the present study. The corresponding results suggest the occurrence of four groups and question the taxonomic status of both species. We also revise the distribution range of both species, in particular that of P. gedrosianum, with a new record from Iran. Overall, the study reveals the need for a major revision using further morphological and molecular data. Because of the complexity of this necessary revision and the incomplete sampling, we here refrain from proposing any taxonomic conclusions.

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Peckoltia compta, a new species of catfish from the Brazilian Amazon, rio Tapajos basin (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2534.1.3 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2534 (1) ◽

pp. 48 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

RENILDO RIBEIRO DE OLIVEIRA ◽

JANSEN ZUANON ◽

LUCIA RAPP PY-DANIEL ◽

MARCELO SALLES ROCHA

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Amazon Basin ◽

Anterior Margin ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Brazilian Amazon ◽

Color Pattern ◽

Valid Species ◽

Nominal Species ◽

Dark Stripe ◽

A New Species

The loricariid genus Peckoltia currently encompasses 13 valid species ranging throughout the Amazon basin in Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, and Guyanas. Peckoltia is included in the tribe Ancistrini, but its relationships with other taxa within the tribe are not well established. In this paper we describe a new species of Peckoltia from the rio Tapajos drainage, Para State, Brazil. Peckoltia compta, new species, is characterized by a bold color pattern consisting of large dark transversal bars on body and thick longitudinal dark stripes on snout and head. The new species is most similar in color pattern to P. vittata but can be distinguished from all its congeners by the presence of a pale line inside each dark stripe running from the snout tip to anterior margin of eyes (vs. absence of such clear lines and a mottled appearance in P. vittata, and a mix of vermiculations and spots on the head of the remaining congeners). A brief discussion on the taxonomic status of the nominal species Peckoltia vittata is also presented.

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TAXONOMIC REVISION OF NIGERIAN SPECIES OF Capsicum L. BASED ON SOME MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS

Acta Scientifica Malaysia ◽

10.26480/asm.02.2021.43.46 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 43-46

Author(s):

Adeyinka O. Adepoju ◽

Tunde J. Ogunkunle ◽

Abiola G. Femi-Adepoju

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Euclidean Distance ◽

Germplasm Collection ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Infrageneric Classification ◽

Reproductive Morphology ◽

Operational Taxonomic Units ◽

Squared Euclidean Distance

Species of Capsicum L. are closely related plants whose taxonomic status has remained controversial among different taxonomists. This study was designed to examine the taxonomic status of the species of Capsicum in Nigeria in order to establish the genetic variation between the species for the purpose of identification, as well as review the infrageneric classification (INC) of the members of the genus. Germplasm collection of the seeds of five cultivars of Capsicum were regenerated and nurtured to fruiting. Variations in their vegetative and reproductive morphology were macroscopically evaluated in replicates of 30 individuals per cultivar for each character, which equals 150 samples altogether. The cultivars of each species was hierarchically clustered as operational taxonomic units (OTUs) using Ward’s method with squared Euclidean distance. Artificial key was also constructed for the identification of the species in the genus. The twenty-three (23) morphological characters adopted gave useful insights into the INC of the species and were sufficiently diagnostic of the species as evidenced by the artificial key. Through this study, some light has been shed on the delimitation of species and varieties of the Nigerian Capsicum.

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