scholarly journals Flora of Singapore precursors, 26: The genus Maesa (Primulaceae) in Singapore and clarification of Maesa ramentacea in Malesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-278
Author(s):  
T.M.A. Utteridge
Keyword(s):  
Catchment Area ◽  
Small Tree ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Taxonomic Confusion ◽  
Species Descriptions

Two species of Maesa are recorded for Singapore: the scrambling species M. sumatrana Scheff. found in the Central Catchment area, and the small tree taxon M. leptobotrya Hance found primarily in the Bukit Timah area. Both species have traditionally been misidentified as the widespread species Maesa ramentacea (Roxb.) A.DC., and this taxonomic confusion is discussed; a key to the two species, descriptions and photographs are provided.

Revision of Banded Knifefishes of the Gymnotus carapo and G. tigre clades (Gymnotidae Gymnotiformes) from the Southern Neotropics

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4379 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
JACK M. CRAIG ◽  
LUIZ R. MALABARBA ◽  
WILLIAM G. R. CRAMPTON ◽  
JAMES S. ALBERT
Keyword(s):  
Lateral Line ◽  
Electric Organ ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Species Boundaries ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Statistical Framework ◽  
Fin Ray ◽  
Taxonomic Confusion ◽  
Electric Organ Discharges

Banded Knifefishes (Gymnotus, Gymnotidae) comprise the most species-rich, ecologically tolerant (eurytopic), and geographically widespread genus of Neotropical electric fishes (Gymnotiformes), with 40 valid species occupying most habitats and regions throughout the humid Neotropics. Despite substantial alpha-taxonomic work in recent years, parts of the genus remain characterized by taxonomic confusion. Here we describe and delimit species of the G. carapo and G. tigre clades from the southern Neotropics, using body proportions (caliper-based morphometrics), fin-ray, scale and laterosensory-pore counts (meristics), quantitative shape differences (geometric morphometrics), osteology, color patterns and electric organ discharges. We report these data from 174 Gymnotus specimens collected from 100 localities throughout the southern Neotropics, and delimit species boundaries in a multivariate statistical framework. We find six species of the G. carapo clade (G. carapo australis, G. cuia n. sp., G. chimarrao, G. omarorum, G. pantanal, and G. sylvius), and two species of the G. tigre clade (G. inaequilabiatus and G. paraguensis) in the southern Neotropics. The new species G. cuia is readily distinguished from the morphologically similar and broadly sympatric G. c. australis by a shorter head and deeper head and body, and from the morphologically similar and sympatric G. omarorum by fewer lateral-line ventral rami and fewer pored lateral-line scales anterior to the first ventral ramus. We also review the geographic distributions of all eight species of the G. carapo and G. tigre clades in the southern Neotropics, showing that G. cuia is the most widespread species in the region. These results affirm the importance of understanding the structure of variation within and between species, both geographic and ontogenetic, in delimiting species boundaries. 

scholarly journals Population Traits and a Female Perspective for Aglae and Exaerete, Tropical Bee Parasites (Hymenoptera, Apinae: Euglossini)

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Roubik
Keyword(s):  
French Guiana ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Material Transport ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Amazonian Ecuador ◽  
Taxonomic Confusion ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Host Resource

Size variation of both males and females leads to taxonomic confusion regarding wholly parasitic euglossines. The six most widespread species, Exaerete frontalis, E. smaragdina, E. dentata, E. trochanterica, E. lepeletieri, and Aglae caerulea, ranged from 12.5 to 28 mm in length (n = 522; 50 females; 472 males), and within species, some were 40-80% larger than others. The size of E. lepeletieri matches E. smaragdina and E. dentata, but not E. frontalis, which it was said to resemble. Female E. lepeletieri, here described from Amazonian Ecuador, has a range shown to also include French Guiana and Suriname. Female Aglae and Exaerete were larger than males. Statistically, female Exaerete tended toward larger individuals more than did males. Each species should parasitize Eulaema and Eufriesea that have comparable size and provisions; thus multiple hosts may cause parasite size variation. Unknown factors may promote host resource partitioning between sympatric parasites, which include up to six in Yasuní Biosphere Reserve, Ecuador, the richest known euglossine community. Scutellum and metafemur punctation, sculpture and the frontal knob of both sexes, and male mesotibial tuft and metafemur permit easy identification of the six common species and E. azteca. Existence of E. kimseyae in Panama is questionable, while E. dentata there is certainly rare. The female tibial scoop, a structure in both Aglae and Exaerete, with a proposed function in material transport, is discussed. No new phylogenetic interpretation is presented.

scholarly journals Paranephelius (Asteraceae: Liabeae): A case study in high-elevation hybridization and taxonomic insights

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-376
Author(s):  
Michael O. Dillon ◽  
Mario Enrique Zapata Cruz ◽  
Victor Quipuscoa Silvestre
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Data ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Species Boundaries ◽  
Geographic Scale ◽  
Northern Peru ◽  
Prior Investigation ◽  
Taxonomic Confusion ◽  
Species Descriptions ◽  
Putative Hybrids

Paranephelius Poepp. (Liabeae: Asteraceae) is a genus, here comprised of three species confined to high-elevation Andean habitats from 3°–25°S latitude from northern Peru to northern Argentina. In a prior investigation, sequence data was analyzed from samples throughout the range of the genus to evaluate the morphological variation used in delineating species. This detailed sampling allowed for molecular studies at a fine geographic scale. Within Paranephelius, genetic divergence is low, and not adequate to fully resolve phylogenetic relationships at the species level. Two genetically and morphologically recognizable genomes were reveled in northern Peru; these correspond to P. ovatus Wedd. and P. uniflorus Poepp., respectively. Several accessions possess sequences representing putative hybrids between these two species. These putative hybrids have caused taxonomic confusion in establishing species boundaries in Paranephelius. The molecular analysis suggested that P. asperifolius (Muschl.) H. Rob. & Brettell, distributed in Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, is related to P. ovatus, while it most closely resembles P. uniflorus. Species that have changed status include, P. ferreyrae H. Rob., here within the parameters of P. uniflorus; and P. jelskii (Hieron.) H. Rob. & Brettell, P. bullatus A. Gray ex Wedd., and P. wurdackii H. Rob. are here within parameters of P. ovatus. This study is not intended to be a monograph, but does includes a key to species, descriptions, illustrations, and citation of specimens examined.

scholarly journals Quantifying morphological variation in the Castilleja pilosa species complex (Orobanchaceae)

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7090
Author(s):  
Sarah J. Jacobs ◽  
Sarah Herzog ◽  
David C. Tank
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Species Complex ◽  
Species Boundaries ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Diagnostic Features ◽  
Species Complexes ◽  
Taxonomic Confusion ◽  
Species Descriptions ◽  
The Impact

Robustly delimited species are of paramount importance, the identification of which relies on our ability to discern boundaries between one species and the next. This is not difficult to do when species are very distinct from one another. However, in recently evolved lineages where putative species may have relatively few diagnostic features (e.g., species complexes composed of very similar species, the boundaries between which are often unclear), defining species boundaries can be more challenging. Hence, the field of species delimitation has widely advocated the use of multiple lines of evidence to delimit species, particularly in species complexes. Excessive taxonomic confusion, often the result of species descriptions that shift through time (e.g., during revisionary work and regional treatments), can further complicate the search for diagnostic features in species complexes. Here, as a first step in robustly delimiting species boundaries, we quantify and describe morphological variation in the Castilleja pilosa species complex. We first infer the morphospace of the species complex and use fuzzy-clustering techniques to explore the morphological variation in the system. Next, we hypothesize the position of type specimens within that morphospace. In so doing, we aim to visualize the impact that regional treatments have had on the conceptualization of taxa through time. We find that there is limited morphological variation among members of this complex, and we determine that the morphological concept of these species have shifted through time and are no longer accurately represented by species descriptions.

The Stenchaetothrips species (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) of Malaysia, with one new species

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3357 (1) ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. F. NG ◽  
L. A. MOUND
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Southwest India ◽  
Species Descriptions ◽  
One New Species

Four species of Stenchaetothrips are here recorded from Peninsular Malaysia. These are S. biformis, the widespread ricethrips, S. hullikali, known only from Karnataka in Southwest India, S. indicus, a widespread species on grasses, and S.langkawiensis sp. nov., described here from Langkawi Island, West Malaysia. Species descriptions, photographs and an identification key are provided.

The genus Diploneis Ehrenberg ex Cleve (Bacillariophyta) from Lake Hövsgöl, Mongolia

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 217 (3) ◽  
pp. 201 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELENA JOVANOVSKA ◽  
ZLATKO LEVKOV ◽  
MARK B. EDLUND
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Baikal Rift Zone ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
North Central ◽  
Central Mongolia ◽  
Eurasian Continent ◽  
Lake Hovsgol ◽  
The One ◽  
Species Descriptions

Lake Hövsgöl is an ancient lake situated in north-central Mongolia at the southern end of the Baikal Rift Zone. Throughout its limnological history, Lake Hövsgöl has developed an extraordinary diversity in different groups of organisms, such as fish and invertebrates. However, the one group that presumably holds the largest taxonomic diversity in the lake—the diatoms—has been largely overlooked.         This study presents a detailed taxonomic overview of the genus Diploneis from Lake Hövsgöl as well as a few localities from the neighboring Arkhangai province. A total of 25 taxa were identified, five of which are new and potentially endemic. Alongside the endemic species, this study confirms the presence of several taxa recently described from other Mongolian lakes (e.g., Diploneis linearielliptica, Diploneis aff. heteromorphiforma and Diploneis cf. eximia), presumably peculiar for this mid-Asian region. A relatively high number of widespread species were identified in Lake Hövsgöl, commonly reported from Europe and elsewhere. Interestingly, a population of Diploneis praeclara that is morphologically closely related to populations from Neogene fossil deposits in Romania was also observed in Lake Hövsgöl. Detailed LM and SEM observations are provided, together with species descriptions and comparisons to morphologically related species.                Greater knowledge of the genus Diploneis opens and guides the way towards better and more comprehensive approaches of uncovering biological diversity and biogeographical patterns on the Eurasian continent and among the ancient lakes.

The genus Mecodema Blanchard 1853 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Broscini) from the North Island, New Zealand

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4598 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID S. SELDON F.L.S. ◽  
THOMAS R. BUCKLEY
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Morphological Evidence ◽  
Pitfall Trapping ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
The North ◽  
Island Species ◽  
Taxonomic Framework ◽  
Species Descriptions

Mecodema (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Broscini) is a hyperdiverse endemic New Zealand genus of ground beetles with only a few geographically widespread species found throughout the two main islands, as well as many offshore islands. Using specimens from a number of private and institutional collections, in addition new specimens were acquired by extensive pitfall trapping, we describe or redescribe all of the known North Island Mecodema species. Additionally, we redescribe three South Island species from the former genus Metaglymma, as morphological evidence shows that these species are nested within Mecodema. Species descriptions are formed by using 128 morphological characters, which include external characters, as well as both male and female internal structures. There are four new combinations: Mecodema antarctica comb. n., M. aberrans comb. n., M. moniliferum comb. n. and M. tibiale comb. n. We synonymise M. occiputale under Mecodema curvidens, and M. sulcatum under Mecodema oblongum, and reinstate M. scitulum Broun (northwest Hunua Range, Auckland). Twenty four new species are described: Mecodema argentum sp. n., M. atuanui sp. n., M. dunnorum sp. n., M. genesispotini sp. n., M. godzilla sp. n., M. jacinda sp. n., M. kipjac sp. n., M. kokoroiho sp. n., M. mohi sp. n., M. ngaiatonga sp. n., M. ngaitahuhu sp. n., M. papake sp. n., M. perexiguus sp. n., M. rusticulus sp. n., M. temata sp. n., M. teparawhau sp. n., M. teroroa sp. n., M. tewhara sp. n., M. tuhoe sp. n., M. undecimus sp. n., M. wharekahika sp. n., M. xylanthrax sp. n., M. yconomus sp. n., M. zonula sp. n. North Island regional species endemism is very high in Northland (15/16 endemic species), with species becoming more widespread in the southern regions, e.g. Wellington only has two endemic species from a total of eight species. This research increases the total number of described Mecodema species to 102, and will allow a modern taxonomic framework for completion of the revision of the South Island species.

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