The Current State of Eunicida (Annelida) Systematics and Biodiversity

In this study, we analyze the current state of knowledge on extant Eunicida systematics, morphology, feeding, life history, habitat, ecology, distribution patterns, local diversity and exploitation. Eunicida is an order of Errantia annelids characterized by the presence of ventral mandibles and dorsal maxillae in a ventral muscularized pharynx. The origin of Eunicida dates back to the late Cambrian, and the peaks of jaw morphology diversity and number of families are in the Ordovician. Species richness is heterogeneous among the seven recent families, with more than half of the valid species belonging to the Eunicidae + Onuphidae clade, one of the latest clades to diverge. Eunicidans inhabit soft and hard substrates from intertidal to deep waters in all oceans. The few freshwater species are restricted to Histriobdellidae, a family exclusively commensal/parasite of crustaceans. The reproductive biology, development and ecology of most families are poorly known and the information available suggests low dispersal ability. However, all families have records of widely distributed species. Scrutiny of these wide distributions has often revealed the presence of exotic species or more than one species. The exploration of the deep-sea and of new habitats has led to recent descriptions of new species. Furthermore, the revision of type specimens, the examination of new morphological features and the use of molecular data have revealed hidden biodiversity under unjustified synonyms, poor understanding of morphological features and incomplete descriptions. Molecular studies are still very few or nonexistent for the families Histriobdellidae, Hartmaniellidae, Lumbrineridae and Oenonidae. The integration of new methodologies for morphological and molecular study, along with information on biological and ecological traits appears to be the path to improve the knowledge on the diversity of Eunicida.

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Relicts from Glacial Times: The Ground Beetle Pterostichus adstrictus Eschscholtz, 1823 (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in the Austrian Alps

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12010084 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 84

Author(s):

Wolfgang Paill ◽

Stephan Koblmüller ◽

Thomas Friess ◽

Barbara-Amina Gereben-Krenn ◽

Christian Mairhuber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ground Beetle ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Ice Age ◽

Dispersal Ability ◽

Austrian Alps ◽

Alpine Regions ◽

Extant Species ◽

Limited Dispersal

The last ice age considerably influenced distribution patterns of extant species of plants and animals, with some of them now inhabiting disjunct areas in the subarctic/arctic and alpine regions. This arctic-alpine distribution is characteristic for many cold-adapted species with a limited dispersal ability and can be found in many invertebrate taxa, including ground beetles. The ground beetle Pterostichus adstrictus Eschscholtz, 1823 of the subgenus Bothriopterus was previously known to have a holarctic-circumpolar distribution, in Europe reaching its southern borders in Wales and southern Scandinavia. Here, we report the first findings of this species from the Austrian Ötztal Alps, representing also the southernmost edge of its currently known distribution, confirmed by the comparison of morphological characters to other Bothriopterus species and DNA barcoding data. Molecular data revealed a separation of the Austrian and Finish specimens with limited to no gene flow at all. Furthermore, we present the first data on habitat preference and seasonality of P. adstrictus in the Austrian Alps.

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A new species of Dichelyne (Nematoda, Cucullanidae) parasitizing sciaenid fishes from off the South American Atlantic coast

Acta Parasitologica ◽

10.2478/s11686-009-0010-x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Juan Timi ◽

Ana Lanfranchi ◽

Luiz Tavares ◽

José Luque

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Atlantic Coast ◽

Length Distribution ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Nematode Species ◽

Valid Species ◽

South American ◽

Type Specimens ◽

Pacific Waters ◽

A New Species

AbstractA new nematode species Dichelyne (Cucullanellus) sciaenidicola sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected from the Whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri (Desmarest) and the Argentine croaker Umbrina canosai Berg, from coastal waters of Argentina and Brazil. These nematodes were firstly identified as D. (C.) elongatus (Törnquist, 1931), a commonly reported species from M. furnieri in South American Atlantic waters. However, other species of Dichelyne have so far been reported from this host in the same area, namely D. (C.) rodriguesi (Pinto, Fábio et Noronha, 1970), D. (C.) amaruincai (Freitas, Vicente et Ibañez, 1969) and D. (Dichelyne) micropogonii Pereira et Costa, 1996. A careful re-examination of these parasites, as well as of type specimens of all species reported from M. furnieri, revealed that these nematodes represented a new species. The new species is distinguished from most of its congeners by having papillae 5–7 and 9 forming a subventral line close to cloaca, this feature is shared with other 6 species [D. (C.) dichelyneformis (Szidat, 1950), D. (C.) fraseri (Baylis, 1929), D. (C.) abbreviatus (Rudolphi, 1819), D. (C.) adriaticus (Törnquist, 1931), D. (C.) minutus (Rudolphi, 1819) and D. (C.) mariajuliae Alarcos, Timi, Etchegoin et Sardella, 2006)], which are readily distinguished by their body size, spicules length, distribution patterns of other papillae and position of the excretory pore and deirids. Also, D. (C.) elongatus from Umbrina canariensis (Valenciennes) from West Africa is established as a new species Dichelyne (Cucullanellus) yvonnecampanae sp. nov.; D. (C.) amaruincai from Pacific waters is considered as a valid species, D. (D.) micropogonii is regarded as species inquirendae and D. (C.) rodriguesi is identified as Cucullanus sp.

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The taxonomic history of Indo-Papuan groundsnakes, genus Stegonotus Duméril et al., 1854 (Colubridae), with some taxonomic revisions and the designation of a neotype for S. parvus (Meyer, 1874)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4512.1.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4512 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

CHRISTINE M. KAISER ◽

HINRICH KAISER ◽

MARK O’SHEA

Keyword(s):

New Guinea ◽

Molecular Data ◽

The Philippines ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Valid Species ◽

Museum Specimens ◽

Type Specimens ◽

History Of ◽

Original Species ◽

Species Specific

Since its conceptualization in 1854, 29 species of the colubrid genus Stegonotus have been recognized or described, of which 15 (admiraltiensis, batjanensis, borneensis, cucullatus, derooijae, diehli, florensis, guentheri, iridis, heterurus, melanolabiatus, modestus, muelleri, parvus, poechi) are still considered valid today. Original species descriptions for the members of this genus were published in Dutch, English, French, German, and Italian and, perhaps as a consequence of these polyglot origins, there has been a considerable amount of confusion over which species names should be applied to which populations of Stegonotus throughout its range across Borneo, the Philippines, Wallacea, New Guinea, Australia, and associated archipelagos. In addition, the terminology used to notate characteristics in the descriptions of these forms was not uniform and may have added to the taxonomic confusion. In this paper, we trace in detail the history of the type specimens, the species, and the synonyms currently associated with the genus Stegonotus and provide a basic, species-specific listing of their characteristics, derived from our examination of over 1500 museum specimens. Based on our data, we are able to limit the distribution of S. modestus to the islands of Ambon, Buru, and Seram in the central Moluccas of Indonesian Wallacea. We correct the type locality of S. cucullatus to the Manokwari area on the Bird’s Head Peninsula of West Papua, Indonesian New Guinea and designate a neotype for S. parvus, a species likely to be a regional endemic in the Schouten Archipelago of Cenderawasih Bay (formerly Geelvink Bay), Indonesian New Guinea. We unequivocally identify and explain the problematic localities of the type specimens of S. muelleri and Lycodon muelleri, which currently reside in the same specimen jar. We remove L. aruensis and L. lividum from the synonymy of S. modestus and recognize them as S. aruensis n. comb. and S. lividus n. comb., respectively. We remove S. keyensis and Zamenophis australis from the synonymy of S. cucullatus and recognize them as S. keyensis n. comb. and S. australis n. comb., respectively. We further remove S. reticulatus from the synonymy of S. cucullatus, S. dorsalis from the synonymy of S. diehli, and S. sutteri from the synonymy of S. florensis. We designate lectotypes for S. guentheri, S. heterurus, S. lividus, and S. reticulatus. Lastly, we introduce S. poechi, a valid species not mentioned in the scientific literature since its description in 1924. This brings the diversity in the genus Stegonotus to 22 species. We also caution that in a complex group of organisms like Stegonotus any rush to taxonomic judgment on the basis of molecular and incomplete morphological data sets may perpetuate errors and introduce incongruities. Only through the careful work of connecting type material with museum specimens and molecular data can the taxonomy and nomenclature of complex taxa be stabilized.

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Sorting out Lalos: description of new species and additional taxonomic data on megophryid frogs from northern Indochina (genus Leptolalax, Megophryidae, Anura)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3147.1.1 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 3147 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

ANNEMARIE OHLER ◽

KATHARINA C. WOLLENBERG ◽

STÉPHANE GROSJEAN ◽

RALF HENDRIX ◽

MIGUEL VENCES ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Dna Barcode ◽

Type Specimen ◽

Molecular Study ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Nominal Species ◽

Type Specimens ◽

Species Identity ◽

Rdna Sequences

Frogs in the subgenus Lalos of the genus Leptolalax (Megophryidae) are highly diversified in continental Asia and consist of about 17 nominal species. These frogs are small, inconspicuous, and of high superficial morphological similarity. We here formulate a hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships and assess the amount of genetic variation among genealogical lineages on the basis of 536bp of mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences. Combining molecular data with a study of morpho-logy, morphometric divergence and geographical proximity, we tested hypotheses of species identity. We (1) used character-based and morphometric analyses to assign the onymophoronts (type specimens) of species in Lalos available to us to respectively one of the main clades, in order to propose the best potential correct taxonomic and nomenclatural allocation for the individuals included in the molecular study, and (2) tried to also assign the historical museum specimens to these molecular taxonomic units and to reclassify them whenever necessary. We also used the molecular data to match tadpoles with adults and provide tadpole descriptions for species the larvae of which were previously unknown. Specimens, that could neither be allocated to a molecularly characterised species (on the basis of their DNA “barcode”) nor to a morphologically defined species named on the basis of a type specimen, are described here as new species. Based on this integrative set of data and analyses we describe two new species, Leptolalax eos n. sp. and Leptolalax nyx n. sp., we resurrect Leptolalax minimus, and reassess the distribution of the species studied. We propose changes in the Red List status of L. pelodytoides and L. ventripunctatus and suggest a conservation status for the new species described herein.

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A review of the worldwide distribution of Marenzelleria viridis, with new records for M. viridis, M. neglecta and Marenzelleria sp. (Annelida: Spionidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.5081.3.3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5081 (3) ◽

pp. 353-372

Author(s):

VASILY I. RADASHEVSKY ◽

VICTORIA V. PANKOVA ◽

VASILY V. MALYAR ◽

JOSÉ CERCA ◽

TORSTEN H. STRUCK

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Small Group ◽

New Records ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Morphological Features ◽

Valid Species ◽

Diagnostic Characters ◽

Worldwide Distribution ◽

Histone 3 ◽

First Time

Marenzelleria Mesnil, 1896 is a small group of spionid polychaetes comprising five valid species, all of which appear similar to each other. The identification of worms based on morphological features is often confusing, and thus molecular data have been suggested as providing crucial additional diagnostic characters. Here we summarize and map available records of M. viridis (Verrill, 1873) worldwide, and, based on the analysis of fragment sequences of COI, 16S, 18S, 28S and Histone 3, report this species for the first time from Norway. We also summarize and map the records of Marenzelleria from North America, distinguishing those based on morphology and molecular data. We report new records for Marenzelleria sp. from Baffin Is., Nunavut, Canada, and for M. neglecta Sikorski & Bick, 2004 from Washington, USA.

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Revisit of European-Asiatic connections in Tayloria rudolphiana (Splachnaceae, Bryophyta) based on molecular data and new morphological evidence

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.438.4.3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 438 (4) ◽

pp. 247-255

Author(s):

YAN-JUN YI ◽

XIAO-XUAN XIAO ◽

XIAO-XIA XU ◽

SI HE

Keyword(s):

Yunnan Province ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Molecular Study ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Morphological Features ◽

Central China ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

Full Description ◽

Photographic Images

A molecular study of a rare moss, Tayloria rudolphiana has revealed a first new occurrence of this species in Central China after its first collecting more than 100 years ago from southwestern Yunnan Province. The phylogenetic analyses based on rps4 and trnL-F sequences along with its morphological features affirm the taxonomic identity of this new population, representing the latest evidence of European-Asiatic connections of this species. Photographic images detailing key morphological characters and a full description of the species are provided. The taxonomic problems of this species within China are discussed.

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Bothriocephalidean tapeworms (Cestoda) of freshwater fish in Africa, including erection of Kirstenella n. gen. and description of Tetracampos martinae n. sp.

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3309.1.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3309 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

ROMAN KUCHTA ◽

ALENA BURIANOVÁ ◽

MILOSLAV JIRKŮ ◽

ALAIN DE CHAMBRIER ◽

MIKULÁŠ OROS ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Freshwater Fish ◽

Type Species ◽

New Genus ◽

Large Subunit ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Lake Malawi ◽

Valid Species ◽

Type Specimens ◽

Host Genus ◽

Large Subunit Rdna

A survey of bothriocephalidean tapeworms (Cestoda) parasitizing African freshwater fish is provided. Based on criticalevaluation of type specimens and extensive, newly collected material, only the following seven species, instead of 19 taxalisted in the literature, are considered to be valid and their redescriptions are provided: Bothriocephalus acheilognathiYamaguti, 1934 (with 3 synonyms from Africa); Bothriocephalus claviceps (Goeze, 1782) (marginally in Africa);Ichthybothrium ichthybori Khalil, 1971; Kirstenella gordoni (Woodland, 1937) n. comb. (1 synonym); Polyonchobothriumpolypteri (Leydig, 1853) (4 synonyms); and Tetracampos ciliotheca Wedl, 1861 (4 synonyms). In addition, Tetracamposmartinae Kuchta n. sp. is proposed for tapeworms from the catfish Bagrus meridionalis from Lake Malawi. The new speciesdiffers from T. ciliotheca in a much larger body (19 cm versus 3 cm), dorsoventally flattened strobila and numerous (39 versus25–35) and longer apical hooks (up to 98 µm versus less than 50 µm). Kirstenella Kuchta n. gen. is proposed to accommodateSenga gordoni Woodland, 1937 as its type species. The new genus is distinguished from other genera of the Bothriocephalidaeby the presence of an apical disc armed with two lateral semicircles of large hooks, cortical vitelline follicles and large-sizedcirrus-sac. All but one valid species were recollected. Bothriocephalidean cestodes are widely distributed throughout Africa,but only two species, B. acheilognathi and T. ciliotheca, occur in other continents. All but one species (B. acheilognathi)exhibit narrow host specificity, being limited either to one host species (K. gordoni in Heterobranchus bidorsalis and T.martinae in Bagrus meridionalis) or one host genus (I. ichthybori in Ichthyborus spp., P. polypteri in Polypterus spp. and T.ciliotheca in Clarias spp.). Molecular data based on partial sequences of the large subunit rDNA (lsrDNA) show monophyletic position of all African taxa analysed (B. acheilognathi, I. ichthybori, K. gordoni, P. polypteri and T. ciliotheca).

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Integrative taxonomic review of the genus Synopsia Hübner, 1825 in the Middle East (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4885.1.2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4885 (1) ◽

pp. 27-50

Author(s):

DOMINIC WANKE ◽

AXEL HAUSMANN ◽

PASI SIHVONEN ◽

LARS KROGMANN ◽

HOSSEIN RAJAEI

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Species Level ◽

Female Genitalia ◽

Wing Pattern ◽

Type Specimens ◽

Male And Female ◽

Taxonomic Review

The geometrid genera Synopsia Hübner, 1825 and Synopsidia Djakonov, 1935 are revised, both being earlier validated at genus rank. Type specimens, original descriptions and additional specimens from different localities were examined. The revision is based on morphological characters, molecular data and distribution records. As a result, Synopsidia syn. nov. is regarded as junior synonym of the genus Synopsia. The synonymies of the species Scodonia tekkearia Christoph, 1883 and Synopsia znojkoi Djakonov, 1935 with Synopsia phasidaria phasidaria (Rogenhofer, 1873) comb. nov. are confirmed. Furthermore, Synopsidia phasidaria alvandi Wiltshire, 1966 syn. nov., Synopsidia phasidaria ardschira Brandt, 1938 syn. nov., Synopsidia phasidaria chiraza Brandt, 1938 syn. nov., Hashtaresia jodes Wehrli, 1936 syn. nov. and Synopsidia phasidaria mirabica Wehrli, 1941 syn. nov. are regarded as synonyms of Synopsia phasidaria phasidaria (Rogenhofer, 1873) comb. nov.. Synopsia phasidaria afghana (Wiltshire, 1966) comb. nov. is tentatively validated at subspecific rank. Synopsia centralis (Wiltshire, 1966) comb. nov., bona sp. is upgraded from subspecies to species level. Wing pattern, as well as male and female genitalia and diagnostic characters of examined genera and species are illustrated and analyzed. The distribution patterns of Synopsia phasidaria comb. nov. and Synopsia centralis bona sp., as well as the type localities of all discussed taxa, are provided. A complete checklist of the genus is given.

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Channa pseudomarulius, a valid species of snakehead from the Western Ghats region of peninsular India (Teleostei: Channidae), with comments on Ophicephalus grandinosus, O. theophrasti and O. leucopunctatus

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4299.4.4 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4299 (4) ◽

pp. 529 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

RALF BRITZ ◽

ELEANOR ADAMSON ◽

RAJEEV RAGHAVAN ◽

ANVAR ALI ◽

NEELESH DAHANUKAR

Keyword(s):

Western Ghats ◽

Indian Subcontinent ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Valid Species ◽

Type Specimens ◽

Peninsular India ◽

Channa Marulius ◽

Population Sizes ◽

Morphological And Molecular Data

An investigation integrating morphological and molecular data to address the taxonomic status of Indian Channa marulius-like fishes reveals the presence of two species within Indian Rivers. As a consequence, Channa pseudomarulius is resurrected as a valid species and removed from the synonymy of C. marulius. Channa pseudomarulius appears to be restricted to the southern Western Ghats region of peninsular India and can be distinguished from the more widespread C. marulius by fewer lateral-line scales, fewer dorsal- and anal-fin rays, fewer vertebrae, and by a difference of about 8% in mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene sequences. Channa marulius and C. pseudomarulius both possess low levels of genetic diversity across their range suggestive of small historical population sizes. This is especially interesting in the case of C. marulius, which is shown to have a large natural geographical range spanning at least the Indian subcontinent and parts of the Indo-Burman ranges in westernmost Myanmar. The synonymy of Channa marulius with Ophicephalus grandinosus, O. theophrasti, and O. leucopunctatus is confirmed based on examination of type specimens. A lectotype is designated for O. grandinosus.

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East Meets West in the Western Carpathians: Contact Zone Between Alpine and Carpathian Caddisfly Lineages Evidenced by COI Barcodes

10.21203/rs.3.rs-678096/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jana Bozáňová ◽

Fedor Čiampor ◽

Tomasz Mamos ◽

Michal Grabowski ◽

Zuzana Čiamporová-Zat'ovičová

Keyword(s):

Contact Zone ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Freshwater Ecosystems ◽

Western Carpathians ◽

Freshwater Species ◽

Genetic Lineages ◽

Freshwater Fauna ◽

European Mountains ◽

Current Species

Abstract European mountains are important areas regarding biodiversity of the continent, and they also harbour diverse freshwater fauna, which is critically endangered in terms of the current species extinction. However, sufficient knowledge of this valuable part of European biota is no longer possible without molecular data. This study focuses on the genetic diversity and distribution patterns of the classical representative of the mountain freshwater fauna, caddisfly Rhyacophila tristis, in the Western Carpathians. Based on the COI mitochondrial marker, two genetic lineages (separate BINs) were identified. BIN_W was found in 16 localities in the western part of the study area, BIN_E in 44 eastern localities. The data obtained indicate that BIN_W occurs in a significantly narrower altitude range, BIN_E is more closely related to the Balkan populations than to co-occurring BIN_W, and that the contact zone of the lineages passes through the Western Carpathians. The study revealed phylogeographic and demographic differences between lineages, supporting hypothesis of their evolutionary independence and specific ecological preferences. The obtained genetic data shifted our knowledge on the populations of the studied caddisfly and suggested patterns that could be common to other freshwater species. This could help us to protect unique freshwater ecosystems and preserve European biodiversity.

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