scholarly journals Saved by the Shell: Molecular Analysis Detects the Cryptic Sea Hare, Aplysia concava G. B. Sowerby I, 1833 (Mollusca: Heterobranchia: Aplysiidae), from Oceania, with a Redescription

Taxonomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-59
Author(s):  
Matt J. Nimbs ◽  
Nerida G. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
New Caledonia ◽  
Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Diagnostic Features ◽  
Sister Relationship ◽  
Anatomical Structures ◽  
Sea Hare ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Distinct Taxon

A recent taxonomic revision split the circumglobal sea hare Aplysia parvula into 10 constituent taxa, of which only three are likely to be found in the Southern Pacific. This prompted an investigation of animals previously identified as A. parvula from Australia. Specimens collected from Eastern Australia and Hunter Island, east of New Caledonia, could not be satisfactorily identified with any of the currently accepted taxa based on morphological diagnostic features listed in the revision; however, the presence of a highly concave shell is diagnostic. Quantification of genetic divergence using Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) supports the delineation of this species as a distinct taxon, and a phylogenetic reconstruction based on concatenated COI, 16S and H3 markers reveals a sister relationship with the newly described Aplysia ghanimii from the Atlantic and Western Indian Oceans and an undescribed species from Japan. As a result, the name Aplysia concava G. B. Sowerby, I, 1833 is resurrected for this species. As the original description was based solely on a shell, a redescription is provided here with photographs of living animals and microscope images of internal anatomical structures.

scholarly journals When forms meet genes: revision of the scleractinian genera Micromussa and Homophyllia (Lobophylliidae) with a description of two new species and one new genus

2016 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Arrigoni ◽  
Francesca Benzoni ◽  
Danwei Huang ◽  
Hironobu Fukami ◽  
Chaolun Allen Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Genus ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Intergenic Spacer ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Its Region ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Eastern Australia

The scleractinian family Lobophylliidae is undergoing a major taxonomic revision thanks to the combination of molecular and morphological data. In this study, we investigate the evolutionary relationships and the macro- and micromorphology of six nominal coral species belonging to two of the nine molecular clades of the Lobophylliidae, clades A and B, and of Symphyllia wilsoni, a lobophylliid species analyzed from a molecular point of view for the first time. Sequence data from mitochondrial DNA (COI and the intergenic spacer between COI and l-rRNA), and nuclear DNA (histone H3 and ITS region) are used to generate robust molecular phylogenies and a median-joining haplotype network. Molecular results are strongly in agreement with detailed observations of gross- and fine-scale morphology of skeletons, leading to the formal revision of the genera Micromussa and Homophyllia and the description of two newly discovered zooxanthellate shallow-water species, Micromussa pacifica sp. nov. Benzoni & Arrigoni and Micromussa indiana sp. nov. Benzoni & Arrigoni, and a new genus, Australophyllia gen. nov. Benzoni & Arrigoni. In particular, Acanthastrea lordhowensis and Montastraea multipunctata are moved into Micromussa, A. hillae is synonymized with A. bowerbanki and is transferred to Homophyllia, and a revised diagnosis for both genera is provided. Micromussa pacifica sp. nov. is described from the Gambier Islands with its distribution spanning New Caledonia and eastern Australia. Despite a superficial resemblance with Homophyllia australis, it has distinctive macroand micromorphological septal features. Micromussa indiana sp. nov., previously identified as M. amakusensis, is here described from the Gulf of Aden and the southern Red Sea as a distinct species that is genetically separated from M. amakusensis and is morphologically distinct from the latter due to its smaller corallite size and lower number of septa. Finally, molecular trees show that S. wilsoni is closely related, but molecularly separated from clades A and B, and, also based on a unique combination of corallite and sub-corallite characters, the species is moved into Australophyllia gen. nov. These findings confirm the need for using both genetic and morphological datasets for the ongoing taxonomic revision of scleractinian corals.

scholarly journals Taxonomic revision of the ant genus Leptomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2688 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDREA LUCKY ◽  
PHILIP S. WARD
Keyword(s):  
New Caledonia ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Species Boundaries ◽  
Species Status ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
The Status ◽  
Worker Caste

The ants of the genus Leptomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), commonly called ‘spider ants’, are distinctive members of the ant subfamily Dolichoderinae and prominent residents of intact wet forest and sclerophyll habitats in eastern Australia, New Caledonia and New Guinea. This revision redresses pervasive taxonomic problems in this genus by using a combination of morphology and molecular data to define species boundaries and clarify nomenclature. Twenty-seven Leptomyrmex species are recognized and are informally split into two groups: the macro-Leptomyrmex (21 species), and its sister group, the micro-Leptomyrmex (six species). Nine subspecies are elevated to species status: L. cnemidatus Wheeler 1915, L. geniculatus Emery 1914, L. melanoticus Wheeler 1934, L. nigriceps Emery 1914, L. rothneyi Forel 1902, L. ruficeps Emery 1895, L. rufipes Emery 1895, L. rufithorax Forel 1915 and L. tibialis Emery 1895. Nineteen new synonymies are proposed (senior synonyms listed first): L. cnemidatus Wheeler 1915 = L. erythrocephalus venustus Wheeler 1934 = L. erythrocephalus brunneiceps Wheeler 1934; L. darlingtoni Wheeler 1934 = L. darlingtoni fascigaster Wheeler 1934 = L. darlingtoni jucundus Wheeler 1934; L. erythrocephalus (Fabricius 1775) = L. froggatti Forel 1910 =4 · Zootaxa 2688 © 2010 Magnolia PressL. erythrocephalus mandibularis Wheeler 1915 = L. erythrocephalus unctus Wheeler 1934 = L. erythrocephalus clarki Wheeler 1934; L. fragilis (F. Smith 1859) = L. fragilis femoratus Santschi 1932 = L. fragilis maculatus Stitz 1938 = L. wheeleri Donisthorpe 1948; L. melanoticus Wheeler 1934 = L. contractus Donisthorpe 1947; L. niger Emery 1900 = L. lugubris Wheeler 1934; L. rufipes Emery 1895 = L. quadricolor Wheeler 1934; L. rufithorax Forel 1915 = L. erythrocephalus basirufus Wheeler 1934; L. tibialis Emery 1895 = L. nigriventris hackeri Wheeler 1934; L. varians Emery 1895 = L. erythrocephalus decipiens Wheeler 1915 = L. varians angusticeps Santschi 1929; L. wiburdi Wheeler 1915 = L. wiburdi pictus Wheeler 1915. Tools for identification of the macro-Leptomyrmex species include a revised species-level key based on the worker caste, keys to males in Australia and New Guinea, full descriptions of workers, images of known workers, males and queens, and illustration of male genitalia. Phylogenetic relationships among the macroand micro- Leptomyrmex species are discussed, as is the status of a putative fossil relative.

Classification, phylogeny and biogeography of the genera of Adeliini (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae)

1998 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 685 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. G. Matthews
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽  
Data Matrix ◽  
New Genera ◽  
Defensive Glands ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Wet Tropics ◽  
Coleoptera Tenebrionidae

In the tribe Adeliini, 45 genera are recognised: 24 endemic to Australia, nineto New Zealand, eight to New Caledonia, and three to Chile, and one(Licinoma Pascoe) that occurs in both Australia andChile. The genera of Australia and Chile are keyed and fully described, andall recognised species of Adeliini from Australia (303) and Chile (12),including synonyms and 66 new combinations, are listed in appendices. Onlycryptic features (defensive glands, stridulatory files, aedeagus, ovipositorand female tract) are described for New Zealand and New Caledonian genera, butall characters are included in an overall data matrix for analysis.The Adeliini are considered to be a tribe separate from Laenini. Therelationships of Phobelia Blanchard, Laenini,Goniaderini and Oncotini are briefly discussed. Four generic names aresynonymised: Achora Pascoe, 1869 =Isopteron Hope, 1840; DystalicaPascoe, 1869 = Adelium Kirby, 1818;Macroperas Carter, 1914 =Daedrosis Bates, 1868; andPseudadelium Kaszab, 1982 =Neoadelium Carter, 1908. New specific synonymiesproposed are Daedrosis rufipes Carter, 1934 =Tetragonomenes ruficornis (Champion, 1894);Adelium sinuaticolle Carter, 1914 =A. hackeri Carter, 1908;Dystalica multilineata Carter, 1937 =Seirotrana strigipennis Bates, 1873; andAdelium delicatulumCarter, 1919 =Adelium panagaeicolle Macleay, 1872. Two new names areproposed for new secondary homonyms: Daedrosis carteri,nom. nov. for D. antennalis Carter, 1920 (not Carter,1914), and Isopteron kulzeri, nom. nov. forCestrinus gracilis Kulzer, 1964 (not Carter, 1939).Eleven new genera and seven new species are described from Australia:Apocryphodes based onA. thompsoni, sp. nov; Bellendenumbased on B. gonyxuthum, sp. nov.;Bolusculus based on B. arcanus,sp. nov.; Diaspirus based onD. bellendenus, sp. nov.;Dicyrtodes based on D. arneius,sp. nov.; Diemenoma based onAdelium commodum Pascoe, 1869;Dorrigonum based onLicinoma umbilicata Carter, 1924;Epomidus, based on E. prionodes,sp. nov.; Monteithium based onM. ascetum, sp. nov.; Nolicimabased on Cardiothorax angusticollis Carter, 1906; andYarranum based onSeirotrana crenicollis Pascoe, 1869. Two new genera andone new species are described from Chile: Penadeliumbased on P. araucanum, sp. nov., andValdivium based onAdelium sulcatulum Fairmaire & Germain, 1860.All world genera but one were used for a phylogenetic reconstruction usingparsimony, which in turn is the basis for a biogeographic analysis. It wasfound to be necessary to divide Australia into two areas: the wet tropics ofnorthern Queensland, which have genera forming a monophyletic group with someof those of New Caledonia, and south-eastern Australia, which includes generaforming monophyletic groups with those of Chile. New Zealand genera do notparticipate in convincing monophyletic relationships with those of any othersingle area.

Relevance of an integrative approach for taxonomic revision in sponge taxa: case study of the shallow-water Atlanto-Mediterranean Hexadella species (Porifera:Ianthellidae:Verongida)

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Reveillaud ◽  
Céline Allewaert ◽  
Thierry Pérez ◽  
Jean Vacelet ◽  
Bernard Banaigs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Cryptic Species Complex ◽  
Surface Network ◽  
Natural Toxicity ◽  
Shallow Water Species ◽  
Water Species

The identification of sponges that lack a mineral skeleton is always highly challenging, especially for Hexadella species, which are also fibreless. Recently, the yellow species Hexadella pruvoti Topsent was identified as a cryptic species complex while the pink coloured Hexadella racovitzai Topsent showed two highly divergent lineages. We performed a COI phylogenetic reconstruction using 27 new Mediterranean Hexadella samples in order to confirm the presence of divergent lineages within both shallow-water species. Specimens were described with an integrative approach combining morphological and cytological investigations, biochemical profiling and assessment of natural toxicity in order to identify diagnostic characters for each taxon. H. topsenti, sp. nov. is distinguished from H. racovitzai by its colour, its surface network shape, divergent secondary metabolite patterns and toxicity values. H. crypta, sp. nov. differs from H. pruvoti by a different encrusting growth form when alive, and by distinctively colouring the ethanol fixative solution. In addition, H. pruvoti and H. crypta show different types of cells with inclusions as well as distinct metabolic fingerprints. Natural toxicity values, however, do not permit the separation of H. pruvoti and H. crypta. Our work shows that only the use of a combination of complementary tools can provide relevant descriptions for some problematic taxa.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic relationships among the clownfish-hosting sea anemones

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin M. Titus ◽  
Charlotte Benedict ◽  
Robert Laroche ◽  
Luciana C. Gusmão ◽  
Vanessa Van Deusen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Sea Anemone ◽  
Coral Triangle ◽  
Sea Anemones ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
The Family ◽  
Genus 2 ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractThe clownfish-sea anemone symbiosis has been a model system for understanding fundamental evolutionary and ecological processes. However, our evolutionary understanding of this symbiosis comes entirely from studies of clownfishes. A holistic understanding of a model mutualism requires systematic, biogeographic, and phylogenetic insight into both partners. Here, we conduct the largest phylogenetic analysis of sea anemones (Order Actiniaria) to date, with a focus on expanding the biogeographic and taxonomic sampling of the 10 nominal clownfish-hosting species. Using a combination of mtDNA and nuDNA loci we test 1) the monophyly of each clownfish-hosting family and genus, 2) the current anemone taxonomy that suggests symbioses with clownfishes evolved multiple times within Actiniaria, and 3) whether, like the clownfishes, there is evidence that host anemones have a Coral Triangle biogeographic origin. Our phylogenetic reconstruction demonstrates widespread poly-and para-phyly at the family and genus level, particularly within the family Stichodactylidae and genus Sticodactyla, and suggests that symbioses with clownfishes evolved minimally three times within sea anemones. We further recover evidence for a Tethyan biogeographic origin for some clades. Our data provide the first evidence that clownfish and some sea anemone hosts have different biogeographic origins, and that there may be cryptic species of host anemones. Finally, our findings reflect the need for a major taxonomic revision of the clownfish-hosting sea anemones.

Integrative taxonomic revision of the New Caledonian endemic genus Taophila Heller (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Eumolpinae)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-74
Author(s):  
Leonardo Platania ◽  
Jesús Gómez-Zurita
Keyword(s):  
New Caledonia ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Actual Number ◽  
Mtdna Sequences ◽  
Endemic Genus ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
Mtdna Introgression ◽  
Eleven Species ◽  
Mtdna Genealogy

Abstract There are 96 endemic species of Eumolpinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) described from New Caledonia, but some estimates propose that the actual number could be at least twice this figure. Not surprisingly, when a particular species assemblage has been revised, the number of species in that group increases significantly. Here, we revise the New Caledonian endemic genus Taophila Heller, 1916, the best studied in this fauna and currently known to include eleven species, one in the subgenus Jolivetiana Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso, 2014, and ten in the nominal subgenus. The analysis of morphological differences in a large sample of Taophila and the validation of the resulting species hypotheses in an integrative fashion based on a phylogenetic analysis of partial mtDNA sequences (cox1 and rrnS) resulted in the addition of eleven more taxa. Taxonomic splits mainly reinterpreted the previous observation of mtDNA paraphyly affecting T. subsericea Heller, 1916, shown to represent a complex of species mostly distinguishable by diagnostic differences among females. The new species described are: T. bituberculata n. sp., T. carinata n. sp., T. dapportoi n. sp., T. davincii n. sp., T. draco n. sp., T. goa n. sp., T. hackae n. sp., T. samuelsoni n. sp., T. sideralis n. sp., T. taaluny n. sp. and T. wanati n. sp. These additions and the synonymy T. subsericea Heller = Stethotes mandjeliae Jolivet, Verma & Mille, 2010 n. syn., bring to 21 the total number of species in Taophila. Moreover, we also found the first evidence of mtDNA introgression between species of New Caledonian Eumolpinae, resulting from putative recent hybridization of T. subsericea and T. dapportoi where these species coexist. We describe a model incorporating the mtDNA genealogy of T. subsericea about the conditions that may have favored the secondary geographic encounter required for the hybridization of these species.

scholarly journals Deepwater Indo-Pacific species of the snake-eel genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of nine new species

Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2505 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN E. McCOSKER
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Junior Synonym ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Gulf Of Aden ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Pacific Species ◽  
Depth Distributions

The 19 Indo-Pacific species of the snake-eel genus Ophichthus (family Ophichthidae, subfamily Ophichthinae) that live at or below 200 m are reviewed. Included are: Ophichthus aphotistos, O. brachynotopterus, O. echeloides, O. exourus, O. genie, O. kunaloa, O. megalops, O. mystacinus, O. serpentinus, O. urolophus, and nine new species which are described: O. alleni from 115–200 m off eastern Australia; O. aniptocheilos from 391–421 m off Tonga; O. congroides from 300 m off the Tuamotu Islands; O. hirritus from 600 m off the Seychelle Islands; O. humanni from 254–300 m off Vanuatu; O. ishiyamorum from 258–400 m off the Gulf of Aden, Somalia; O. lentiginosus from 400 m off Vanuatu and New Caledonia; O. microstictus from 362–450 m off Tonga, Fiji, and possibly New Caledonia; and O. tomioi from 300– 423 m off the Philippines, Marquesas, Fiji, and the Seychelle Islands. The range and depth distributions of the following are expanded to include: O. brachynotopterus to New Caledonia and Vanuatu between 541–580 m; O. mystacinus to Tonga, Fiji, and the Philippines between 371–824 m; and O. urolophus to Western Australia and Indonesia between 40– 420 m. An identification key is provided. Characteristics and the behavior of species of the subgenus Coecilophis, to which all treated species except O. aphotistos belong, is discussed. Ophichthys madagascariensis Fourmanoir (1961) is proposed to be a junior synonym of Pisodonophis cancrivorus (Richardson 1848).

Revision of Zorion Pascoe (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an endemic genus of New Zealand

Zootaxa ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 1066 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
FRANZ-RUDOLF SCHNITZLER ◽  
QIAO WANG
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Distribution Map ◽  
Endemic Genus ◽  
Longhorn Beetle

The genus Zorion Pascoe (Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae), commonly known as flower longhorn beetle, is endemic to New Zealand where it is widely distributed on the main and some offshore islands. A taxonomic revision of Zorion adults is given, including a description and illustrations of the genus. The previously known species Z. batesi Sharp, Z. guttigerum (Westwood), Z. minutum (Fabricius), and Z. opacum Sharp are redescribed; Z. castum Broun is synonymised with Z.guttigerum. Lectotypes are designated here for Z. guttigerum and Z. opacum. Six new species are described, Z. angustifasciatum sp. nov. from Three Kings Islands, Z. australe sp. nov. from South Island, Z. dugdalei sp. nov. from Poor Knights Island, Z. kaikouraiensis sp. nov. from the Kaikoura region, Z. nonmaculatum sp. nov. from D’Urville Islands, and Z. taranakiensis sp. nov. from the Taranaki region. The species Z. exiguum Gmelin has been excluded from the study because neither the original description nor the holotype could be located. A key to all ten species is included and diagnostic elytral spot patterns are illustrated. Biological information presented is based on publications, collecting records and our observations. A distribution map for all species is included and species distribution is discussed in relation to New Zealand’s biogeographical history.

scholarly journals Grania (Annelida: Clitellata: Enchytraeidae) of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, including four new species and a re-description of Grania trichaeta Jamieson, 1977

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2165 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
PIERRE DE WIT ◽  
EMILIA ROTA ◽  
CHRISTER ERSÉUS
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Interspecific Divergence ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
New Material ◽  
Voucher Specimens ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Phylogenetic Affinities

This study describes the fauna of the marine enchytraeid genus Grania at two locations on the Australian Great Barrier Reef: Lizard and Heron Islands. Collections were made from 1979 to 2006, yielding four new species: Grania breviductus sp. n., Grania regina sp. n., Grania homochaeta sp. n. and Grania colorata sp. n.. A re-description of Grania trichaeta Jamieson, 1977 based on new material is also included, along with notes and amendments on G. hyperoadenia Coates, 1990 and G. integra Coates & Stacey, 1997, the two latter being recorded for the first time from eastern Australia. COI barcode sequences were obtained from G. trichaeta and G. colorata and deposited with information on voucher specimens in the Barcode of Life database and GenBank; the mean intraspecific variation is 1.66 % in both species, while the mean interspecific divergence is 25.54 %. There seem to be two phylogeographic elements represented in the Great Barrier Grania fauna; one tropical with phylogenetic affinities to species found in New Caledonia and Hong Kong, and one southern (manifested at the more southerly located Heron Island) with affinities to species found in Southern Australia, Tasmania and Antarctica.

Four new species of deep-water catsharks of the genus Parmaturus (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) from New Caledonia, Indonesia and Australia

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1657 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
BERNARD SÉRET ◽  
PETER R. LAST
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Diagnostic Features ◽  
Body Morphology

Four new species of rare scyliorhinid catsharks are provisionally assigned to the genus Parmaturus: P. lanatus sp. nov. from Indonesia, P. albimarginatus sp. nov. and P. albipenis sp. nov. from northern New Caledonia, and P. bigus sp. nov. from northeastern Australia. These species differ from each other by a combination of body morphology, denticle shape, dentition, colour and vertebral counts. An identification key to the Indo–Pacific Parmaturus species is provided. Comments on the diagnostic features separating the genera Halaelurus and Parmaturus are given.

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