Morphological analysis of phylogenetic relationships among extant rhynchonellide brachiopods

2013 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 550-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly A. Schreiber ◽  
Maria Aleksandra Bitner ◽  
Sandra J. Carlson

Rhynchonellida is the stratigraphically oldest and phylogenetically most basal of the extant rhynchonelliform brachiopod orders, yet phylogenetic relationships among rhynchonellides are poorly known. The fourteen named rhynchonellide superfamilies (four of which have extant representatives) were defined primarily on the basis of features of the dorsal cardinalia, particularly crural morphology, but their homology and polarity have not been investigated rigorously. Superfamily monophyly is unclear, as is the evolution of several distinctive rhynchonellide morphological features, such as crura.The purpose of this study is to investigate the phylogenetic relationships among extant rhynchonellide genera using skeletal characters, and to compare the results with the current classification, elucidating the evolution of morphological features in the process. We completed parsimony-based and Bayesian analyses using fifty-eight characters of the interior and exterior of the shell that vary among the nineteen extant genera. Our results are readily interpretable with respect to the classification, and indicate that Hemithiridoidea, Dimerelloidea, and (in some analyses) Pugnacoidea appear to be monophyletic. Species classified in Dimerelloidea and Pugnacoidea, and in certain cases Hemithiridoidea, each form derived subclades that evolve from within a paraphyletic Norelloidea at the base of each subclade. Raduliform crura appear to be the most basal, phylogenetically; five other crural morphologies evolve from the raduliform state. However, morphological characters currently uniting genera in rhynchonellide superfamilies are not clearly diagnostic and exhibit a relatively high degree of homoplasy overall, suggesting that consistency with the classification may be based on a false sense of confidence in rhynchonellide morphology to clearly elucidate evolutionary relationships. Published molecular phylogenetic hypotheses conflict with the morphological topologies, further supporting this possibility.The evolutionary trends among diagnostic characters of Recent rhynchonellides appear to reflect successive juvenilization in adult morphology in several subclades, suggesting that heterochrony may have played an important role in the evolution of the group.

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4526 (3) ◽  
pp. 251 ◽  
Author(s):  
VIRGINIA LEÓN-RÈGAGNON ◽  
JANET TOPAN

Lung flukes of the genus Haematoloechus Looss, 1899 are common parasites of anurans worldwide, but the taxonomy of the group has been confusing. In this taxonomic revision, 89 species of Haematoloechus (= Pneumonoeces Looss, 1902, Ostioloides Odening, 1960, Ostiolum Pratt, 1903, Skrjabinoeces Sudarikov, 1950, Neohaematoloechus Odening, 1960, Metahaematoloechus Yamaguti, 1971) are listed. Of these, 70 are considered valid, three are species inquirendae (H. legrandi Mañé–Garzón & Gil, 1959, H. latoricensis Kozák, 1968 & H. vitelloconfluentum (Rai, 1962) Saeed, Al–Barwari & Al-Harmni, 2007), one is a nomen nudum H. sudarikovi Belouss, 1962, 14 are junior synonyms and one belongs to Ostioloides. This publication also describes three new species, H. occidentalis n. sp., H. veracruzanus n. sp. and H. mexicanus n. sp., parasitizing species of Rana Linnaeus in Mexico and redescribes Haematoloechus caballeroi (Skrjabin & Antipin, 1962) Yamaguti, 1971. The phylogenetic hypotheses based on sequences of mitochondrial and ribosomal DNA of Haematoloechus spp. show that genera proposed on the basis of morphological characters are not supported. The host records for species of Haematoloechus, together with the phylogenetic hypothesis of the genus, suggest that this host-parasite association predates the ranid diversification in the Cretaceous. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5052 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-379
Author(s):  
JULIO C.C. FERNANDEZ ◽  
MARIANELA GASTALDI ◽  
GERMÁN ZAPATA-HERNÁNDEZ ◽  
LUIS M. PARDO ◽  
FABIANO L. THOMPSON ◽  
...  

Here, we describe four new species of Crellidae Dendy, 1922 and discuss characters and relationships from published molecular phylogenies including crellid sponges. New species proposed are Crella (Pytheas) chiloensis Fernandez, Gastaldi, Pardo & Hajdu, sp. nov., from southern Chile (15 m depth), C. (P.) desventuradae Fernandez, Gastaldi, Zapata-Hernández & Hajdu, sp. nov., from Desventuradas Archipelago (10–20 m depth), Crella (P.) santacruzae Fernandez, Gastaldi, Thompson & Hajdu, sp. nov., from deep waters off Argentina (750 m depth) and Crellomima sigmatifera Fernandez, Gastaldi & Hajdu, sp. nov., from the Chilean fjords region (ca. 20 m depth). These new species are set apart from each other and from known species mainly due to aspects of their spiculation. Chelae microscleres and acanthostyles supply characters that might be used to infer phylogenetic relationships and to verify the monophyly of Crella Gray, 1867 and Crellidae, which has seemingly been contradicted by preliminary molecular data available in the systematics’ literature. Our own interpretation of phylogenetic affinities, in the light of morphological characters from previous taxonomic studies, argues for a classification reassessment of materials (vouchers) included in these molecular phylogenies, especially in the case of Crella incrustans (Carter, 1885). We argue that currently available molecular phylogenetic outcomes for crellid sponges are not supportive of the polyphyly of Crella and Crellidae.  


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.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 201 (3) ◽  
pp. 197
Author(s):  
Rafael Lira ◽  
Victoria Sosa ◽  
Talitha Legaspi ◽  
Patricia Dávila

We examine the limits and phylogenetic relationships of Ibervillea and Tumamoca belonging to tribe Coniandreae in the Cucurbitaceae. These taxa are found in xeric areas from southern United States to Guatemala. There has been no previous phylogenetic studies considering all their taxa together, just partially. Furthermore, we include as well species of Dieterlea, another similar and sympatric genus which recognition is under debate, formerly considered as a synonym of Ibervillea. Using molecular and morphological characters we performed molecular and total evidence parsimony and Bayesian analyses. Our results confirm that species in Ibervillea and Dieterlea are part of a monophyletic group, supporting the integration of both genera as proposed in previous phylogenetic and taxonomic studies. By examining all the species of the three genera, our results are the first to suggest that Tumamoca is also part of this monophyletic group. Therefore we propose that the species of Ibervillea, Dieterlea, and one species of Tumamoca should be included into the same genus. According to the priority rule, Ibervillea is the name to be used. Tumamoca macdougalli needs to be transferred to Ibervillea and the combination is made here. We suggest that the second species in Tumamoca, T. mucronata, known by a single specimen that is lost, does not deserve recognition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Jost ◽  
Marie-Stéphanie Samain ◽  
Isabel Marques ◽  
Sean W. Graham ◽  
Stefan Wanke

Phylogenetic relationships within the magnoliid order Piperales have been studied extensively, yet the relationships of the monotypic family Lactoridaceae and the holoparasitic Hydnoraceae to the remainder of the order remain a matter of debate. Since the first confident molecular phylogenetic placement of Hydnoraceae among Piperales, different studies have recovered various contradictory topologies. Most phylogenetic hypotheses were inferred using only a few loci and have had incomplete taxon sampling at the genus level. Based on these results and an online survey of taxonomic opinion, the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group lumped both Hydnoraceae and Lactoridaceae in Aristolochiaceae; however, the latter family continues to have unclear relationships to the aforementioned taxa. Here we present extensive phylogenomic tree reconstructions based on up to 137 loci from all three subcellular genomes for all genera of Piperales. We infer relationships based on a variety of phylogenetic methods, explore instances of phylogenomic discordance between the subcellular genomes, and test alternative topologies. Consistent with these phylogenomic results and a consideration of the principles of phylogenetic classification, we propose to exclude Hydnoraceae and Lactoridaceae from the broad circumscription of Aristolochiaceae, and instead favor recognition of four monophyletic and morphologically well circumscribed families in the perianth-bearing Piperales: Aristolochiaceae, Asaraceae, Hydnoraceae, and Lactoridaceae, with a total of six families in the order.


2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 1067-1079
Author(s):  
Ashley R. Keesling ◽  
Michael B. Broe ◽  
John V. Freudenstein

Abstract— Relationships among members of Ericaceae subfamily Monotropoideae have been difficult to resolve due to reduction and convergent evolution in these parasitic plants. All species in this subfamily are fully mycoheterotrophic, meaning they obtain nutrients by parasitizing fungi rather than through photosynthesis. Here, we examine relationships and host specificity in one of the most widespread species in this subfamily, Monotropa uniflora. We use several lines of evidence to investigate whether there is support for recognizing a segregate, M. brittonii, as distinct. Based on molecular and morphological analysis of Monotropa collected throughout its range in the United States, we find two distinct lineages, one of which corresponds morphologically and geographically to Small’s M. brittonii. We identified several morphological characters that differ between the two species. We also observed a high degree of fungal host specificity in M. brittonii, which appears to parasitize almost exclusively Lactifluus subgenus Lactariopsis section Albati. Additionally, M. brittonii was primarily collected from Florida scrub, which are xeric, shrub-dominated habitats that differ substantially from the mesic forests where M. uniflora typically occurs. Based on these molecular, morphological, and ecological differences, we support recognition of M. brittonii as distinct from M. uniflora.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silas Bossert ◽  
Robert S Copeland ◽  
Trevor J L Sless ◽  
Michael G Branstetter ◽  
Jessica P Gillung ◽  
...  

Abstract Bees of the tribes Biastini, Neolarrini, and Townsendiellini are cleptoparasites in the subfamily Nomadinae (Hymenoptera, Apidae) and parasitize solitary bees. Understanding their phylogenetic relationships has proven difficult for many decades. Previous research yielded ambiguous results because of conflicting phylogenetic signals of larval and adult morphological characters. Molecular data settled some of this disparity but our knowledge remains fragmented due to limited taxon sampling and the discovery of a new lineage associated with Biastini: the enigmatic Schwarzia Eardley, 2009. Schwarzia has unusual morphological features and seems transitional between previously established taxa. This puts limits on our ability to diagnose the groups, understand their antiquity and biogeography, and study the evolution of host-choice. To address this, we integrate phylogenomics and morphology to establish a fossil-calibrated phylogeny for the tribes Biastini, Neolarrini, and Townsendiellini. We show that Schwarzia is indeed closely related to Biastes Panzer, 1806, but Biastes itself is paraphyletic in respect to Neopasites Ashmead, 1898, and even Biastini is paraphyletic due to Townsendiella Crawford, 1916, which is sister to Rhopalolemma Roig-Alsina, 1991. To ensure monophyly, we lower Neopasites to subgeneric rank within Biastes and resurrect Melittoxena Morawitz, 1873 as a third subgenus. We then assess the diagnosability of different tribal concepts and establish an expanded tribe Neolarrini that includes Biastini and Townsendiellini as new synonyms for Neolarrini. Neolarrini in this new, expanded sense likely originated in the Nearctic in the mid-Eocene and is, as far we know, composed exclusively of parasites of oligolectic hosts. Lastly, our continued efforts to find the rare Schwarzia in Eastern Africa led to the discovery of three new species, which are described herein.


1961 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-206
Author(s):  
Margarete Weninger

SUMMARYIn Volume VII, 1958 of the A. Ge. Me. Ge a research on the dermatoglyphics of an incestuous family (5 children, their mother, grandmother and grandfather, the latter also being the father of the children) was published. The present paper deals with the morphological features of the face, i.e. the soft parts of the mouth and chin region, of the eye region and of the external nose of the same family.Theoretically speaking, in a case like this— owning to the increased amount of common alleles—an unusually close phenotypical resemblance among the children might be expected, as, in fact, demonstrated by the morphological analysis. The characters subject to changes by age represent an almostt step by step development and this is confirmed by the two observations carried out in 1934 and 1939.Considering the variations caused by age, the children don't exceed, generally, the difference of monozytic twins.Regarding the phenotypical similarity to the adults the theoretical expectation has been more than confirmed. There are close affinities with the grandfather and the mother of the children resembling him. Only a few features are in common with the grandmother and these, for the most part, are features typical of earlier stages of development. As some traits of this kind are characteristic for the grandmother these resemblances are considered to be of a temporary nature only.The study of the dermatoglyphics revealed a surprising conformity between the children, their mother and their grandfather, while the grandmother differed. In addition two of the children showed a few widely divergent rare traits. Compared with the dermatoglyphics the isolated minor deviations in the morphological characters of the face seem of no importance. On the whole one is impressed how rapidly ancestral loss (« Ahnenverlust ») can lead to an extensive phenotypical homogeneity in a family.


Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 448
Author(s):  
Adrian Galitz ◽  
Yoichi Nakao ◽  
Peter J. Schupp ◽  
Gert Wörheide ◽  
Dirk Erpenbeck

Marine sponges are the most prolific marine sources for discovery of novel bioactive compounds. Sponge secondary metabolites are sought-after for their potential in pharmaceutical applications, and in the past, they were also used as taxonomic markers alongside the difficult and homoplasy-prone sponge morphology for species delineation (chemotaxonomy). The understanding of phylogenetic distribution and distinctiveness of metabolites to sponge lineages is pivotal to reveal pathways and evolution of compound production in sponges. This benefits the discovery rate and yield of bioprospecting for novel marine natural products by identifying lineages with high potential of being new sources of valuable sponge compounds. In this review, we summarize the current biochemical data on sponges and compare the metabolite distribution against a sponge phylogeny. We assess compound specificity to lineages, potential convergences, and suitability as diagnostic phylogenetic markers. Our study finds compound distribution corroborating current (molecular) phylogenetic hypotheses, which include yet unaccepted polyphyly of several demosponge orders and families. Likewise, several compounds and compound groups display a high degree of lineage specificity, which suggests homologous biosynthetic pathways among their taxa, which identifies yet unstudied species of this lineage as promising bioprospecting targets.


ZooKeys ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1047 ◽  
pp. 155-198
Author(s):  
Fernando L. Mantelatto ◽  
Leonardo G. Pileggi ◽  
João A. F. Pantaleão ◽  
Célio Magalhães ◽  
José Luis Villalobos ◽  
...  

The freshwater shrimp genus Cryphiops Dana, 1852 has a disjunct distribution in North (Mexico) and South (Brazil, Chile) America, and is composed of only six species. The current classification of genera in the Palaemonidae is controversial, based on variable morphological characters, and still far from a clear definition. Cryphiops differs from the speciose genus Macrobrachium Spence Bate, 1868 only by the absence of the hepatic spines on the carapace. Previous studies with a limited dataset suggested the necessity to link morphology and phylogeny to create an internal rearrangement in the genus to resolve the paraphyletic status. Through a molecular phylogenetic approach, the evolutionary relationships are inferred based on four (mitochondrial and nuclear) genes, among all recognized species of Cryphiops and, in combination with a taxonomic revision, a rearrangement in the systematics of the genus is suggested. The absence of hepatic spines on the carapace, the only character used to separate the genus Cryphiops, is subjective and should be considered as a homoplasy. This implies that Cryphiops and Macrobrachium are subjective synonyms and, because the latter genus is much more diverse and widely known, with several economically important species, to avoid confusion and disturbance in nomenclatural stability and keep universality, a proposal for the priority of the older synonym (Cryphiops) to be partially suppressed in favor of maintaining the prevailing use of the younger synonym (Macrobrachium) is presented. As the species of Cryphiops should be accommodated in the genus Macrobrachium, new names to replace three preoccupied specific names that, by this action, resulted to be secondary homonyms are offered.


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