scholarly journals Additions to Philippine slender skinks of the Brachymeles bonitae complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) IV: Resurrection and redescription of Brachymeles burksi

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Species Recognition ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Phenotypic Characteristics ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Limb Reduction ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
Species Complexes ◽  
Meristic Counts

The diversity of Philippine amphibians and reptiles has increased over the last few decades, in part due to re-evaluation of species formerly believed to be widespread. Many of these investigations of widespread species have uncovered multiple closely related cryptic lineages comprising species complexes, each restricted to individual Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complexes (PAICs). One group in particular for which widespread cryptic diversity has been common is the clade of Philippine skinks of the genus Brachymeles. Recent phylogenetic studies of the formerly recognized widespread species Brachymeles bonitae have indicated that this species is actually a complex distributed across several major PAICs and smaller island groups in the central and northern Philippines, with numerous species that exhibit an array of digit loss and limb reduction patterns. Despite the recent revisions to the B. bonitae species complex, studies suggest that unique cryptic lineages still exist within this group. In this paper, we resurrect the species Brachymeles burksi Taylor 1917, for a lineage of non-pentadactyl, semi-fossorial skink from Mindoro and Marinduque islands. First described in 1917, B. burksi was synonymized with B. bonitae in 1956, and has rarely been reconsidered since. Evaluation of genetic and morphological data (qualitative traits, meristic counts, and mensural measurements), and comparison of recently-obtained specimens to Taylor’s original description support this species’ recognition, as does its insular distribution on isolated islands in the central portions of the archipelago. Morphologically, B. burksi is differentiated from other members of the genus based on a suite of unique phenotypic characteristics, including a small body size, digitless limbs, a high number of presacral vertebrae, the absence of auricular openings, and discrete (non-overlapping) meristic scale counts. The recognition of this central Philippine species further increases the diversity of non-pentadactyl members of the B. bonitae complex, and reinforces the biogeographic uniqueness of the Mindoro faunal region. KEYWORDS: biodiversity, endemism, faunal region, fossoriality, limb reduction

scholarly journals Brachymelecta Linsley, 1939, previously the rarest North American bee genus, was described from an aberrant specimen and is the senior synonym for Xeromelecta Linsley, 1939

2021 ◽  
Vol 754 ◽  
pp. 1-51
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Onuferko ◽  
Laurence Packer ◽  
Julio A. Genaro
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Single Specimen ◽  
Morphological Comparison ◽  
Taxonomic Rank ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Senior Synonym ◽  
First Time

The bee genus Brachymelecta Linsley, 1939 has until now been represented by a single specimen, which has puzzled melittologists since its original description as Melecta? mucida Cresson, 1879. Through detailed morphological comparison and images, we show that the holotype is no more than an unusual specimen of a widespread species, most recently known as Xeromelecta californica (Cresson, 1878). We demonstrate that the diagnostic generic features for Brachymelecta fall within the range of morphological variation observed within X. californica. Although the names Brachymelecta and Xeromelecta Linsley, 1939 were published simultaneously, the former was proposed as a genus whereas the latter was proposed as a subgenus of Melecta Latreille, 1802. Thus, the following synonymies are proposed: Xeromelecta syn. nov. under Brachymelecta (since precedence must be given to the name that originally had the higher taxonomic rank) and M.? mucida syn. nov. under B. californica. Additionally, we present updated taxon concepts for and an identification key to the six known species now in Brachymelecta — B. alayoi (Michener, 1988), B. californica, B. haitensis (Michener, 1948), B. interrupta (Cresson, 1872), B. larreae (Cockerell, 1900), and B. tibialis (Fabricius, 1793) — along with redescriptions and a diagnosis for the genus. The male of B. alayoi and females of B. haitensis and B. tibialis are described for the first time. Furthermore, a phylogeny based on combined molecular and morphological data is proposed for Brachymelecta, and the evolution of the genus is explored in a historical biogeographic context.

Systematics of the Mesalina guttulata species complex (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Arabia with the description of two new species

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4429 (3) ◽  
pp. 513 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERTO SINDACO ◽  
MARC SIMÓ-RIUDALBAS ◽  
ROBERTO SACCHI ◽  
SALVADOR CARRANZA
Keyword(s):  
North Africa ◽  
Species Complex ◽  
Nuclear Gene ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Systematic Revision ◽  
Northwestern India ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
Species Complexes ◽  
Lacertid Lizards ◽  
Phylogenetic Lineages

Mesalina are small diurnal lacertid lizards inhabiting arid areas from North Africa to northwestern India. Previous phylogenetic studies have shown the existence of several species complexes within the genus, some of them with high levels of undiscovered diversity. In the present study, we carry out an integrative systematic revision of the Mesalina guttulata species complex using both molecular and morphological data from across its entire distribution range in North Africa, the Middle East and Arabia. The results of the genetic analyses indicate that M. guttulata and M. bahaeldini are two allopatric sister taxa separated by the Suez Canal and that the species complex includes a further three unnamed deep phylogenetic lineages, two of them restricted to southern and southwestern Arabia and described herein as Mesalina austroarabica sp. nov. and Mesalina arnoldi sp. nov., respectively. As a result of the lack of enough material, the third deep lineage, distributed across Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, is provisionally left undescribed. The two newly described species are characterized by their size, scale counts and tail coloration, as well as differences at the three mitochondrial and one nuclear gene analyzed in the present study. 

Redescription and phylogenetics of Allobates trilineatus (Boulenger 1884 “1883”) (Anura: Aromobatidae) based on topotypic specimens

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4951 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-235
Author(s):  
ANDRÉS F. JARAMILLO ◽  
GIUSSEPE GAGLIARDI-URRUTIA ◽  
PEDRO IVO SIMÕES ◽  
SANTIAGO CASTROVIEJO-FISHER
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Dominant Frequency ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Advertisement Call ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
Candidate Species

Allobates trilineatus is the second most geographically widespread species in the genus Allobates, its range extending from northern Ecuador to southern Peru along the Andean foothills of Amazonia and to the east, into Acre, Brazil. However, detailed phenotypic and genetic variation from topotypic specimens is lacking, raising doubts about the identification of specimens in the literature. To solve this problem, we collected 16 topotypic specimens—including male and female adults and juveniles—and associated data such as advertisement calls and tissue samples. Based upon this material, we redescribe the phenotypic variation within A. trilineatus and evaluate its phylogenetic position using a fragment of the mitochondrial gene 16S rDNA. Allobates trilineatus is distinguished from its congeners by its small body size (adult snout-to-vent-length = 14.6–16.6 mm), preserved males with dark gray throat, and gray chest and belly, pale dorsolateral stripe straight and conspicuous, and advertisement call formed by the emission of groups of note-pairs with dominant frequency at 5.06–5.81 kHz. Our phylogenetic results indicate that none of the specimens assigned to this species in previous phylogenetic studies cluster within the clade formed by topotypic samples, except for the sample of one tadpole. Furthermore, our comparison of published phenotypic and genetic data assigned to A. trilineatus with our new data led us to conclude that A. trilineatus as previously recognized was actually a complex of cryptic, closely related species. Although with the data at hand we cannot fully resolve the taxonomy of all sampled populations in previous studies, we provide a new definition and delimitation of A. trilineatus sensu stricto, assign other specimens to different evolutionary units corresponding to candidate species, and flag other important taxonomic issues. 

The Leptobrachium (Anura: Megophryidae) of the Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam, with description of a new species

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2804 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRYAN L. STUART ◽  
JODI J. L. ROWLEY ◽  
DAO THI ANH TRAN ◽  
DUONG THI THUY LE ◽  
HUY DUC HOANG
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
New Species ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Original Description ◽  
The Other ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Small Body Size ◽  
Upper Lip ◽  
Southern Vietnam ◽  
A New Species

We sampled two forms of Leptobrachium in syntopy at the type locality of L. pullum at upper elevations on the Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam. The two forms differed in morphology (primarily in coloration), mitochondrial DNA, and male advertisement calls. One form closely agrees with the type series of L. pullum (but not to its original description due to error), and the other is described as new. Leptobrachium leucops sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by having small body size (males with SVL 38.8–45.2), the upper one-third to one-half of iris white, a blue scleral arc, a dark venter, and sexually active males without spines on the upper lip. Leptobrachium pullum and L. mouhoti, a recently described species from low-elevation slopes of the Langbian Plateau in eastern Cambodia, are morphologically divergent but genetically similar, warranting further investigation into geographic variation in the red-eyed Leptobrachium of southern Indochina.

Combined multi-gene backbone tree for the genus Coniochaeta with two new species from Uzbekistan

Phytotaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 336 (1) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
MILAN C. SAMARAKOON ◽  
YUSUFJON GAFFOROV ◽  
NINGGUO LIU ◽  
SAJEEWA S. N. MAHARACHCHIKUMBURA ◽  
JAYARAMA D. BHAT ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Species Recognition ◽  
Phylogenetic Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
Genealogical Concordance ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Backbone Tree

The genus Coniochaeta is an important ascomycete because its members live in diversified habitats and nutritional modes. In this study, two new species, C. acaciae and C. coluteae, are introduced from dead branches of Acacia sp. and Colutea paulsenii Freyn (both Fabaceae) respectively from Uzbekistan, based on morphological and phylogenetic studies. Analyses of combined ITS and LSU sequence data with Genealogical Concordance Phylogenetic Species Recognition (GCPSR) and comparison of similar taxa, provide evidences for placement of these new species in Coniochaeta, as distinct lineages.

scholarly journals Optimal markers for the identification ofColletotrichumspecies

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willie Anderson dos Santos Vieira ◽  
Priscila Alves Bezerra ◽  
Anthony Carlos da Silva ◽  
Josiene Silva Veloso ◽  
Marcos Paz Saraiva Câmara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Markers ◽  
Species Complex ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Phylogenetic Signal ◽  
Intergenic Spacer ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacers ◽  
Type Locus ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
Fungal Plant Pathogens ◽  
Species Complexes

ABSTRACTColletotrichumis among the most important genera of fungal plant pathogens. Molecular phylogenetic studies over the last decade have resulted in a much better understanding of the evolutionary relationships and species boundaries within the genus. There are now approximately 200 species accepted, most of which are distributed among 13 species complexes. Given their prominence on agricultural crops around the world, rapid identification of a large collection ofColletotrichumisolates is routinely needed by plant pathologists, regulatory officials, and fungal biologists. However, there is no agreement on the best molecular markers to discriminate species in each species complex. Here we calculate the barcode gap distance and intra/inter-specific distance overlap to evaluate each of the most commonly applied molecular markers for their utility as a barcode for species identification. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), histone-3 (HIS3), DNA lyase (APN2), intergenic spacer between DNA lyase and the mating-type locusMAT1-2-1 (APN2/MAT-IGS), and intergenic spacer between GAPDH and a hypothetical protein (GAP2-IGS) have the properties of good barcodes, whereas sequences of actin (ACT), chitin synthase (CHS-1) and nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacers (nrITS) are not able to distinguish most species. Finally, we assessed the utility of these markers for phylogenetic studies using phylogenetic informativeness profiling, the genealogical sorting index (GSI), and Bayesian concordance analyses (BCA). Although GAPDH, HIS3 and β-tubulin (TUB2) were frequently among the best markers, there was not a single set of markers that were best for all species complexes. Eliminating markers with low phylogenetic signal tends to decrease uncertainty in the topology, regardless of species complex, and leads to a larger proportion of markers that support each lineage in the Bayesian concordance analyses. Finally, we reconstruct the phylogeny of each species complex using a minimal set of phylogenetic markers with the strongest phylogenetic signal and find the majority of species are strongly supported as monophyletic.

scholarly journals The caridean shrimps of the genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Decapoda: Lysmatidae) from Madagascar collected during the Atimo-Vatae expedition: a new species and two new records

2021 ◽  
Vol 774 ◽  
pp. 155-177
Author(s):  
Hossein Ashrafi ◽  
J. Antonio Baeza ◽  
Zdeněk Ďuriš
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New Records ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
West Pacific ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
De Man ◽  
First Time ◽  
A New Species

The present study focuses on shrimps belonging to the genus Lysmata Risso, 1816, collected from Madagascar during the Atimo Vatae expedition carried out in 2010. Lysmata malagasy sp. nov. is a new species belonging to the clade named “long accessory ramous” or “cosmopolitan” in previous phylogenetic studies. The new species can be distinguished from the only two other representatives of this group in the Indo-west Pacific, L. ternatensis De Man, 1902, and L. trisetacea (Heller, 1861), by the accessory ramus of the lateral antennular flagellum consisting of four elongated articles. Lysmata lipkei Okuno & Fiedler, 2010 is reported here from Madagascar with a remarkable extension of its known range after its original description from Japan. This species has also been reported from Singapore and, as alien species, from Brazil. Lastly, L. kuekenthali De Man, 1902 known from numerous localities in the Indo-West Pacific biogeographic area, is reported for the first time from Madagascar. Results of the present morphological and molecular analyses suggest that L. hochi Baeza & Anker, 2008 from the Caribbean Sea is a synonym of the Indo-West Pacific L. kuekenthali, and thus the latter species is alien in the western Atlantic.

scholarly journals Cladocera (Crustacea, Branchiopoda) of a temporary shallow pond from northern Colombia

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-366
Author(s):  
Juan M. Fuentes-Reinés ◽  
Pedro Eslava-Eljaiek ◽  
Lourdes M.A. Elmoor-Loureiro
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Data ◽  
Temporary Pond ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
Regional Literature ◽  
Widespread Species

Eighteen species of cladocerans are recorded from a temporary pond in northern Colombia; 12 of these records are new for La Guajira Department: Diaphanosoma brevireme Sars, 1901, D. dentatum Herbst, 1968, Sarsilotona serricauda (Sars, 1901), Moina micrura micrura Kurz, 1874, M. reticulata Daday, 1905, Grimaldina freyi Neretina and Kotov, 2017, Kurzia polyspina Hudec, 2000, Leydigia cf. striata Birabén, 1939, Ovalona cf. glabra (Sars, 1905), Chydorus nitidulus (Sars, 1901), Dunhevedia crassa King, 1853 and Pseudosida sp.; this latter taxon could be an yet undescribed species. The cladoceran fauna from the surveyed area is represented mostly by widespread species and commonly found in the Neotropical regions, but local morphological data are scarce in the regional literature. Brief diagnostic descriptions of the species recorded for the Colombian cladoceran fauna are provided together with illustrations of taxonomically significant appendages, morphological remarks, notes on the variability of some species, and their distribution.

Morphological and phylogenetic study of the Western Atlantic Crepidula plana complex (Caenogastropoda, Calyptraeidae), with description of three new species from Brazil

Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1112 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUIZ RICARDO L. SIMONE
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Study ◽  
Good Resolution ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Informal Group ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
History Of ◽  
Three New Species ◽  
Good Number

A detailed morphological study was performed in the following species of Crepidula: 1) C. margarita new species from Venezuela; 2) C. plana Say, 1822; 3) C. atrasolea Collin, 2000; 4) C. depressa Say, 1822, from Florida, USA; 5) C. pyguaia, new species from Santa Catarina coast, Brazil; 6) C. carioca, new species from Rio de Janeiro coast, Brazil. Additionally, five other species anatomically studied in Simone (2002) were also included: 7) C. argentina Simone, Pastorino & Penchaszadeh, 2000, from Argentina; 8) C. glauca Say, 1822, from Venezuela; 9) C. fornicata (Linné, 1758), from Mediterranean and Florida; 10) C. protea Orbigny, from S.E. Brazil; 11) C. aff. plana, here described as C. intratesta new species, from S.E. Brazil; 12) C. cachimilla Cledón Simone & Penchaszadeh, 2004, from Patagonia. The 46 characters (106 states) for these species were phylogenetically analyzed and a single cladogram was obtained (length: 93, CI: 65; RI: 64) as follows: (Crepidula cachimilla (C. argentina ((C. carioca C. pyguaia) ((C. fornicata (C. intratesta C. protea)) ((C. glauca C. margarita) (C. plana (C. atrasolea C. depressa))))))). Two outgroups were used: Bostrycapulus aculeatus (Gmelin, 1791), which most authors consider a Crepidula (operationally analyzed as part of the ingroup), and the remaining calyptraeoideans studied by the author. The monophyly of the ingroup is confirmed, supported by 25 morphological synapomorphies. Although the ingroup is fully resolved, no clades are formally named, because the phylogeny is still considered provisional. Most studied species belong to an informal group called “Crepidula plana-complex”, but it is not monophyletic, since C. fornicata, which does not belong to this complex, is part of the ingroup. This study demonstrates that detailed morphological data are useful in phylogenetic studies even at the level of closely related/sibling species, resulting in cladogram with good resolution and a good number of shared, analyzable characters. A biogeographic analysis is also performed considering the distribution of each species under the light of the obtained cladogram, a clear ascension from south to north is the main pattern of the evolutionary history of these species. Further comments on the systematics of Crepidula aplysioides Reeve and C. convexa Say is also performed.

Clarification of the type series of Amphibolurus barbatus microlepidotus Glauert, 1952 (= Pogona microlepidota) (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4457 (1) ◽  
pp. 197
Author(s):  
RYAN J. ELLIS
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Ethanol Solution ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Zoological Nomenclature ◽  
Type Series ◽  
Collection Data ◽  
Glycol Solution ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Western Australian

Ludwig Glauert (1952, p. 168) established the name Amphibolurus barbatus microlepidotus (= Pogona microlepidota) for a new agamid species (family Agamidae) from the type locality of “Drysdale River Mission, North Kimberley”, Western Australia and listed two specimens of the Western Australian Museum (WAM) collected by “Rev. Father [Raymundus] Salinas” in July 1922 as “types”. The two registrations forming the type series presented by Glauert were WAM R591 and WAM R592, which in accordance with Article 72.1.1. of the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature (the Code; International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1999) are considered syntypes. The two registrations presented by Glauert in the original publication (WAM R591–592) are in error, both registrations are associated with specimens of other species not matching the description or collection data presented by Glauert in the original description of A. b. microlepidotus. The specimen associated with WAM R591 is a Pseudonaja affinis Günther, 1872 (Serpentes: Elapidae), collected by M. Sweeting from the suburb of Leederville in Perth, Western Australia and WAM R592 a specimen of Neelaps calonotus (Duméril, Bibron, & Duméril, 1854) (Serpentes: Elapidae) collected by C. Thomas from the Perth suburb of West Guildford (now Bassendean), Western Australia (Fig. 1). The P. affinis specimen (WAM R591) is purportedly a whole specimen stored in a 75% ethanol solution; however, extensive searches failed to locate the specimen in the WAM collection and it is presumed lost or disposed of. In the early half of the 20th century, large and easily identifiable specimens were sometimes disposed following identification, registration and collection of morphological data due to their preservation and storage difficulty (see Smith 1981). The N. calonotus specimen (WAM R592) is now an alizarin-stained body in a glycol solution with skin stored separately in 75% ethanol (Fig. 1). The erroneous registration numbers provided by Glauert technically placed the name A. b. microlepidotus into synonymy with either N. calonotus or P. affinis depending on lectotype selection.

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