scholarly journals Novel distribution records and molecular data for species of Macrogyrodactylus Malmberg, 1957 (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) from Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) (Siluriformes: Clariidae) in southern Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marliese Truter ◽  
Aline A. Acosta ◽  
Olaf L. F. Weyl ◽  
Nico J. Smit
Phytotaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 449 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-206
Author(s):  
MARIO MARTÍNEZ-AZORÍN ◽  
MICHAEL PINTER ◽  
MANUEL B. CRESPO ◽  
MARÍA ÁNGELES ALONSO-VARGAS

Among the recently described genera in Hyacinthaceae subfamily Urgineoideae (= Asparagaceae subfam. Scilloideae tribe Urgineeae), Austronea Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo, M.Pinter & Wetschnig in Martínez-Azorín et al. (2018: 105) includes 20 species restricted to southern Africa (Martínez-Azorín et al. 2018, 2019a, 2019b). Some such species were traditionally included in Urginea Steinheil (1834: 321) or Drimia Jacq. ex Willdenow (1799: 165) sensu lato and resemble those of Fusifilum Rafinesque (1837: 27), a phylogenetic relationship supported by molecular data (Martínez-Azorín et al. in prep.). However, species of Austronea are easily identified by a unique syndrome of morphological characters, the most characteristic being the subcorymbose or congested raceme that commonly nods during early developmental stages, the green to yellowish ovary (in contrast to the white gynoecium of Fusifilum) and the tetrahedrally folded seeds with narrowly winged angles (see Martínez-Azorín et al. 2018).


2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Bearham ◽  
Myrto Robert ◽  
Jennifer A. Chaplin ◽  
Glenn I. Moore ◽  
David V. Fairclough ◽  
...  

The discovery and identification of species is fundamental to the documentation, conservation and management of biodiversity. The taxonomy of the antitropical Pseudocaranx dentex complex (Carangidae) is confused and inconsistently reported. Previous morphological analyses concluded that this complex consisted of three species, namely P. sp. ‘dentex’, P. georgianus and P. dinjerra, in Australian waters. This study used genetic (COI sequence) and morphological data to evaluate the validity of this conclusion. The COI data showed the presence of three discrete lineages within this complex, which appear to correspond to the above-mentioned three species. They also suggested that P. sp. ‘dentex’ is closely related to, and possibly the same species as, P. dentex from southern Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. Also, the extent of morphological and geographical overlap between P. georgianus and P. dinjerra was greater than previously documented which, uncorrected, could lead to identification errors and present challenges for monitoring and management of harvested stocks of these species. By answering important taxonomic questions, our results will facilitate the proper interpretation of the results of past studies and the design of future studies of the P. dentex complex. They have also highlighted the value of molecular data for identifying species in morphologically conservative taxa.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Simaika ◽  
Jessica L. Ware ◽  
Rosser W. Garrison ◽  
Michael J. Samways

Abstract The Synlestidae (Odonata: Zygoptera) of southern Africa comprise some highly localized species. All but one species are endemic to South Africa, and many to the Cape Floristic Region. Here we present the first phylogenetic reconstruction of the southern African Synlestidae using nuclear and mitochondrial molecular data. The genera Ecchlorolestes and Chlorolestes are monophyletic, and we propose that the Neotropical family Perilestidae consisting of two genera, Perilestes and Perissolestes, be sunk within Synlestidae. We discuss the intra-familial relationships for the southern African Synlestidae.


2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark S. Harvey ◽  
Patricia C. Lopes ◽  
Gregory R. Goldsmith ◽  
Ali Halajian ◽  
Mia J. Hillyer ◽  
...  

Birds harbour a wide array of other taxa in their nests or in their plumage, which either have an ectoparasitic or commensal relationship with the host. We report on the discovery of a cheliferid pseudoscorpion found in the plumage and nests of the sociable weaver bird (Philetairus socius) in southern Africa. The nests of these communal birds are the largest of any bird, and may contain up to 500 individuals. The pseudoscorpion is likely to have a mutualistic relationship with the birds, most likely preying on other small invertebrates in the nests. Molecular data derived from two populations of the pseudoscorpion found divergence levels of 1.1% in cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1), and an analysis of CO1 and two rRNA genes (18S and 28S) found a close relationship with Chelifer and Parachelifer in the tribe Cheliferini, which is supported by the morphology of the male genitalia. The molecular analysis also suggests that Beierius may not belong to the Cheliferini. The pseudoscorpion found in association with the sociable weaver represents a new genus and species, Sociochelifer metoecus Harvey, sp. nov.


Koedoe ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
I.L. Rautenbach ◽  
G.N. Bronner ◽  
D.A. Schlitter

The standard karyotypic properties of 60 of the 73 species of bats known to occur in southern Africa, are reviewed. The karyotypes of 23 microchiropteran species are described for the first time; our results on a further 14 species are compared with earlier reports for those taxa. The previously published chromosomal information pertaining to 23 species for which we had no information, are cited. Systematic implications of observed patterns of karyotypic variation are briefly discussed. In particular, we conclude that the taxon Cistugo (currently recognised as a subgenus oiMyotis) should be afforded full generic rank; hypothesise that the karyotypes of the two species - M. (C.) seabrai and M. (C.) lesueuri - in Cistugo are probably ancestral for all vespertilionids; and question the wisdom of redefining the taxonomic limits of the genera Eptesicus and Pipistrellus until molecular data are available to resolve the dilemma posed by conflicting morphological and cytogenetic data suites.


Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 567
Author(s):  
Anurak Bunnoy ◽  
Uthairat Na-Nakorn ◽  
Prapansak Srisapoome

Catfish is a commonly-cultivated freshwater fish in Thailand and many Southeast Asian countries. The molecular data obtained for the IgM heavy chain (IgMH) of catfish have been useful for distinguishing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). A mAb specific to Cμ1 of the IgMH of catfish (IgMHCμ1 mAb) was developed in a rabbit model using sequence information from bighead catfish (Clarias macrocephalus). The IgMHCμ1 mAb strongly recognized the IgM heavy chain of the tested catfish, namely, bighead catfish, African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and their hybrid (C. macrocephalus × C. gariepinus), in immunological Western blot analysis and competitive ELISAs. Additionally, the IgMHCμ1 mAb successfully recognized IgM+ cells by detecting IgM molecules in both secreted and membrane-bound forms in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs). The IgMHCμ1 mAb was further used to quantify the percentage of IgM+ cells among PBLs through flow cytophotometry. The IgM+ cell percentages of healthy bighead catfish, African catfish and their hybrid were 38.0–39.9%, 45.6–53.2%, and 58.7–60.0%, respectively. Furthermore, the IgMHCμ1 mAb showed no cross-reactivity with the IgM of zebrafish. These findings suggest that this mAb can be used as an immunological tool for monitoring the health, immune status, and immune development of cultivated Clarias catfish.


2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Giribet ◽  
Gregory D. Edgecombe

Although stable and well-supported relationships are in place for the three main clades (families) of Scutigeromorpha, the interrelationships of particular taxa within the most diverse family, Scutigeridae, are less clearly resolved. Novel molecular data for taxa from Mesoamerica, the Caribbean, southern Africa, New Guinea and previously unsampled parts of the Pacific are incorporated into phylogenetic analyses. Relationships across the tree are stable under variable analytical conditions, whether these are homology-based (multiple sequence alignment versus implied alignment; untrimmed versus trimmed datasets) or method-based (parsimony versus maximum likelihood). Hypervariable regions, contrary to common belief, add phylogenetic structure to the data, as measured by the increased support for many nodes when compared with the same alignments trimmed with Gblocks. Our analyses show that a Yule-3-rate model best explained the diversification of Scutigeromorpha during their 400 million years of history. More complete molecular data for the New Guinea genus Ballonema stabilise its position as sister group to Thereuoneminae. To reconcile scutigeromorph systematics with the phylogeny, the monotypic genus Madagassophora Verhoeff, 1936, is placed in synonymy with Scutigerina Silvestri, 1901 (n. syn.), its type species M. hova becoming Scutigerina hova (de Saussure & Zehntner, 1902) new comb. (from Scutigera), and Lassophora Verhoeff, 1905, is re-established for an Afro-Malagasy clade containing Lassophora nossibei (de Saussure & Zehntner, 1902) new comb. (from Scutigera) and a newly sequenced species from Mozambique that diverged at the base of the lineage to Thereuoneminae. The dated phylogeny of Scutigeromorpha is more consistent with ancient vicariant splits between Madagascar–southern Africa and Australia–New Caledonia than with younger dispersal scenarios, though some geologically young Pacific islands that harbour lineages dating to the Cretaceous demonstrate the potential for trans-oceanic dispersal.


2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelah I. Morita

Long-tongued horse flies (Diptera : Tabanidae : Pangoniinae) have proboscis lengths at least as long as their heads, the longest belonging to the Old World genus Philoliche (Wiedemann, 1820). These long proboscides are used to probe for nectar in deep-throated flowers. For some flower species, these flies are the only known pollinators. Although horse flies are both vectors of disease and important pollinators, there has been no previous study of phylogenetic relationships below the subfamily level. The first comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis for Philoliche (and consequently, Tabanidae) based on molecular data from one nuclear (CAD) and one mitochondrial (COI) gene is presented here. Using an exemplar approach, species from eight of nine tribes in all three subfamilies in Tabanidae were sampled, giving some of the first insights into relationships among the family as a whole. All nine subgenera of Philoliche, and multiple geographic representatives of the subgenus P. (Philoliche) (Wiedemann, 1820) in southern Africa were also sampled. Within the subgenus Philoliche, molecular support was found for a previously synonymised species. In general, these analyses sustain earlier intuitive classifications, but do not support the monophyly of all currently recognised subfamilies.


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