scholarly journals Improving Taxonomic Practices and Enhancing Its Extensibility—An Example from Araneology

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Jason E. Bond ◽  
Rebecca L. Godwin ◽  
Jordan D. Colby ◽  
Lacie G. Newton ◽  
Xavier J. Zahnle ◽  
...  

Planetary extinction of biodiversity underscores the need for taxonomy. Here, we scrutinize spider taxonomy over the last decade (2008–2018), compiling 2083 published accounts of newly described species. We evaluated what type of data were used to delineate species, whether data were made freely available, whether an explicit species hypothesis was stated, what types of media were used, the sample sizes, and the degree to which species constructs were integrative. The findings we report reveal that taxonomy remains largely descriptive, not integrative, and provides no explicit conceptual framework. Less than 4% of accounts explicitly stated a species concept and over one-third of all new species described were based on 1–2 specimens or only one sex. Only ~5% of studies made data freely available, and only ~14% of all newly described species employed more than one line of evidence, with molecular data used in ~6% of the studies. These same trends have been discovered in other animal groups, and therefore we find it logical that taxonomists face an uphill challenge when justifying the scientific rigor of their field and securing the needed resources. To move taxonomy forward, we make recommendations that, if implemented, will enhance its rigor, repeatability, and scientific standards.

2021 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.T.T. Vu

Abstract Coomansus batxatensis sp. nov., recorded from Vietnam, is described and illustrated and its phylogenetic relationship within the Mononchida is analysed. The molecular data (18S and 28S ribosomal DNA) are provided for the new species. The new species is characterized by small body size (body length, L = 0.7–0.9 mm); buccal cavity sub-rectangular in shape, flattened at base, 21–24 × 12–13 μm or 1.9 (1.7–2.0) times as long as wide; posterior position of dorsal tooth apex (59–63% from the base of buccal cavity); pars refringens vaginae with faint and small (2.5 × 1.7 μm) teardrop-shaped pieces, short pars distalis vaginae; and males with short spicules (50–51.5 μm) with rounded head and conical blade part. The new species is close to Coomansus parvus but differs from it by the smaller buccal cavity size, more posterior position of the dorsal tooth apex, longer tail and presence of males. An updated identification key to Coomansus species and a compendium of all the species known are presented.


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 420
Author(s):  
María Eugenia Salgado Salomón ◽  
Carolina Barroetaveña ◽  
Tuula Niskanen ◽  
Kare Liimatainen ◽  
Matthew E. Smith ◽  
...  

This paper is a contribution to the current knowledge of taxonomy, ecology and distribution of South American Cortinarius (Pers.) Gray. Cortinarius is among the most widely distributed and species-rich basidiomycete genera occurring with South American Nothofagaceae and species are found in many distinct habitats, including shrublands and forests. Due to their ectomycorrhizal role, Cortinarius species are critical for nutrient cycling in forests, especially at higher latitudes. Some species have also been reported as edible fungi with high nutritional quality. Our aim is to unravel the taxonomy of selected Cortinarius belonging to phlegmacioid and myxotelamonioid species based on morphological and molecular data. After widely sampling Cortinarius specimens in Patagonian Nothofagaceae forests and comparing them to reference collections (including holotypes), we propose five new species of Cortinarius in this work. Phylogenetic analyses of concatenated rDNA ITS-LSU and RPB1 sequences failed to place these new species into known Cortinarius sections or lineages. These findings highlight our knowledge gaps regarding the fungal diversity of South American Nothofagaceae forests. Due to the high diversity of endemic Patagonian taxa, it is clear that the South American Cortinarius diversity needs to be discovered and described in order to understand the evolutionary history of Cortinarius on a global scale.


Mammalia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Arenas-Viveros ◽  
Pamela Sánchez-Vendizú ◽  
Alan Giraldo ◽  
Jorge Salazar-Bravo

Abstract The systematics and taxonomy of the broadly distributed bats of the genus Cynomops has changed considerably in the last few years. Among the major changes, Cynomops abrasus was split into two species of large-bodied forms (Cynomops mastivus and C. abrasus) distributed east of the Andes. However, large Colombian specimens identified as C. abrasus from the western side of the Andes had yet to be included in any revisionary work. Phylogenetic analysis performed in this study, using mtDNA sequences (Cytochrome-b), revealed that these Colombian individuals are more closely related to Cynomops greenhalli. Morphological and molecular data allowed us to recognize populations from western Colombia, western Ecuador and northwestern Peru, as members of a new species of Cynomops. Characters that allow for its differentiation from C. greenhalli include a larger forearm, paler but more uniform ventral pelage, more globular braincase, and well-developed zygomatic processes of the maxilla (almost reaching the postorbital constriction). This study serves as another example of the importance of including multiple lines of evidence in the recognition of a new species. Given its rarity and the advanced transformation of its habitat, this new species is particularly important from a conservation perspective.


2021 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M. Montes ◽  
J. Barneche ◽  
Y. Croci ◽  
D. Balcazar ◽  
A. Almirón ◽  
...  

Abstract During a parasitological survey of fishes at Iguazu National Park, Argentina, specimens belonging to the allocreadiid genus Auriculostoma were collected from the intestine of Characidium heirmostigmata. The erection of the new species is based on a unique combination of morphological traits as well as on phylogenetic analysis. Auriculostoma guacurarii n. sp. resembles four congeneric species – Auriculostoma diagonale, Auriculostoma platense, Auriculostoma tica and Auriculostoma totonacapanensis – in having smooth and oblique testes, but can be distinguished by a combination of several morphological features, hosts association and geographic distribution. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from both A. diagonale and A. platense by the egg size (bigger in the first and smaller in the last); from A. tica by a shorter body length, the genital pore position and the extension of the caeca; and from A. totonacapanensis by the size of the oral and ventral sucker and the post-testicular space. Additionally, one specimen of Auriculostoma cf. stenopteri from the characid Charax stenopterus (Characiformes) from La Plata River, Argentina, was sampled and the partial 28S rRNA gene was sequenced. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that A. guacurarii n. sp. clustered with A. tica and these two as sister taxa to A. cf. stenopteri. The new species described herein is the tenth species in the genus and the first one parasitizing a member of the family Crenuchidae.


Nematology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Qing ◽  
Wim Bert ◽  
Hanne Steel ◽  
Joeseph Quisado ◽  
Irma Tandingan De Ley

The nematode diversity in soil and litter was investigated on Mount Hamiguitan, the Philippines, along four eco-habitats from elevations of 75-1600 m a.s.l. A total of 155 and 467 nematodes were identified to 39 and 62 genera from litter and soil, respectively. The nematode assemblages and diversity did not show any relation to eco-habitat or elevation. Bacterivorous nematodes were the most common group (37.5%). Acrobeloides was most abundant from the soil and Aphelenchoides from the litter. Bicirronema hamiguitanense n. sp. is herein described based on morphology, morphometrics and molecular data. The new species has the following diagnostic features: a wide lateral field one-fifth of its body diam. with four incisures forming two ornamented ridges; gubernaculum with proximal thickening; spicules (35-38 μm) and gubernaculum (18-20 μm) longer than B. caledoniense; and with 37 molecular autapomorphies supporting its new species status. The phylogenetic position of the new species within Cephalobomorpha is discussed.


Mycologia ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Wang ◽  
Manfred Binder ◽  
David S. Hibbett

Nematology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 517-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Álvarez-Ortega ◽  
Thi Anh Duong Nguyen ◽  
Joaquín Abolafia ◽  
Thi Thanh Tam Vu ◽  
Michael Bonkowski ◽  
...  

Three new species of the genus Sectonema collected from natural habitats in Vietnam are studied, described and illustrated, including line drawings, LM and/or SEM pictures. Sectonema birrucephalum sp. n. is characterised by its 2.73-4.35 mm long body, lip region 18-20 μm broad and offset by deep constriction, odontostyle 10.0-11.5 μm long on its ventral side, 659-989 μm long neck, pharyngeal expansion occupying 63-68% of total neck length, uterus a simple tube, 221-277 μm long, pars refringens vaginae present, V = 54-56, tail short (31-43 μm, c = 85-111, c′ = 0.6-0.8) and rounded, spicules 72-75 μm long, and four or five irregularly spaced ventromedian supplements beyond the range of the spicules. Sectonema buccociliatum sp. n. is distinguished by its 2.00-2.46 mm long body, lip region offset by constriction, 19-20 μm broad and bearing perioral cilia-like structures, odontostyle 13-14 μm long at its ventral side, 530-625 μm long neck, pharyngeal expansion occupying 62-69% of total neck length, uterus a simple tube, 116-152 μm long, pars refringens vaginae present, V = 56-62, tail short (23-31 μm, c = 72-104, c′ = 0.6-0.8) and rounded, spicules 56-68 μm long, and 3-5 spaced and weakly developed ventromedian supplements beyond the range of the spicules. Sectonema ciliatum sp. n. is characterised by its 2.79-3.13 mm long body, lip region offset by constriction, 21-22 μm broad and bearing perioral cilia-like structures, odontostyle 14-15 μm long at its ventral side, 699-722 μm long neck, pharyngeal expansion occupying 60% of total neck length, uterus a simple tube, 201-244 μm long, pars refringens vaginae present, V = 52-53, tail short (33-35 μm, c = 82-92, c′ = 0.6-0.7) and rounded, spicules 70-72 μm long, and three or four spaced and weakly developed ventromedian supplements beyond the range of the spicules. Molecular data obtained for S. ciliatum sp. n. and the derived evolutionary tree show a close phylogenetic relationship with other species of the genus.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document