scholarly journals A new insular species of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus group (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) from Tarutao Island, southern Thailand revealed by morphological and genetic evidence

ZooKeys ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1070 ◽  
pp. 101-134
Author(s):  
Korkhwan Termprayoon ◽  
Attapol Rujirawan ◽  
Natee Ampai ◽  
Perry L. Wood Jr ◽  
Anchalee Aowphol

The bent-toed geckos of the Cyrtodactylus pulchellus group are widely distributed along the Thai-Malay Peninsula. Although taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of this species group have been continuously conducted, only some populations from Thailand have been included, resulting in hidden diversity within this group. In this study, we used morphological and molecular data to clarify the taxonomic status and describe a new population from Tarutao Island, Satun Province, southern Thailand. Cyrtodactylus stellatussp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following morphological characters: body size; tuberculation; number of dark body bands, ventral scales, and femoroprecloacal pores in males; presence of precloacal pores in females; and scattered pattern on dorsum. Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial ND2 gene recovered the new species as the sister species to C. astrum, with an uncorrected pairwise divergence of 9.78–12.37%. Cyrtodactylus stellatussp. nov. is currently only known from Tarutao Island, Thailand. The discovery of this species suggests that the diversity within the C. pulchellus group remains underestimated and future exploration of unsurveyed areas are needed to further the understanding of this group and its geographic range.

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-411
Author(s):  
Nurhayat Özdemir ◽  
Cantekin Dursun ◽  
Nazan Üzüm ◽  
Bilal Kutrup ◽  
Serkan Gül

Abstract The Bufo bufo species group includes four species distributed in the western Palearctic: B. bufo, B. eichwaldii, B. spinosus and B. verrucosissimus. Both B. bufo and B. verrucosissimus are known to occur in Turkey, but their range boundaries and the taxonomic status of B. verrucosissimus are still uncertain. In this study, we analyzed the variation in a set of morphological characters and in two mitochondrial and two nuclear DNA markers to address these questions. Phylogenetic analyses of sequence data support two main clades of common toads in Turkey, corresponding to B. bufo and B. verrucosissimus. The latter is subdivided into two allopatric subclades including populations along the Mediterranean and Black Sea coast, respectively. Discriminant analysis of morphological data showed separation among groups as defined by molecular analyses. We discuss these results and their implications for the evolutionary history of common toads in Turkey.


2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian J. Kitching ◽  
C. Lorna Culverwell ◽  
Ralph E. Harbach

Lutzia Theobald was reduced to a subgenus of Culex in 1932 and was treated as such until it was restored to its original generic status in 2003, based mainly on modifications of the larvae for predation. Previous phylogenetic studies based on morphological and molecular data have provided conflicting support for the generic status of Lutzia: analyses of morphological data support the generic status whereas analyses based on DNA sequences do not. Our previous phylogenetic analyses of Culicini (based on 169 morphological characters and 86 species representing the four genera and 26 subgenera of Culicini, most informal group taxa of subgenus Culex and five outgroup species from other tribes) seemed to indicate a conflict between adult and larval morphological data. Hence, we conducted a series of comparative and data exclusion analyses to determine whether the alternative positions of Lutzia are due to conflicting signal or to a lack of strong signal. We found that separate and combined analyses of adult and larval data support different patterns of relationships between Lutzia and other Culicini. However, the majority of conflicting clades are poorly supported and once these are removed from consideration, most of the topological disparity disappears, along with much of the resolution, suggesting that morphology alone does not have sufficiently strong signal to resolve the position of Lutzia. We critically examine the results of other phylogenetic studies of culicinine relationships and conclude that no morphological or molecular data set analysed in any study conducted to date has adequate signal to place Lutzia unequivocally with regard to other taxa in Culicini. Phylogenetic relationships observed thus far suggest that Lutzia is placed within Culex but further data and extended taxon sampling are required to confirm its position relative to Culex.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 280 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALFREDO VIZZINI ◽  
MIRCA ZOTTI ◽  
MIDO TRAVERSO ◽  
ENRICO ERCOLE ◽  
PIERRE-ARTHUR MOREAU ◽  
...  

Several collections of Amanita species from section Vaginatae have been reported to be strictly associated with Helianthemum plants growing in grasslands, a still largely under-explored ectomycorrhizal habitat. The main aim of this study was to investigate the taxonomic status and phylogenetic position of strictly Helianthemum-associated Amanita sect. Vaginatae taxa, informally named Amanita “helianthemicola”. Collections from Italy, England and France were included in this study. The morphologically closely related species complex A. lividopallescens was also examined. Analyses were carried out based on both morphological and molecular data (phylogenetic analysis of the nrITS sequences). All investigated Amanita collections, which are strictly associated with Helianthemum nummularium, turned out to be conspecific with A. simulans. Amanita simulans was recently described from Sardinia (Italy) from Populus nigra habitats based on morphological characters only. As the holotype of A. simulans was lost, a neotype is designated here based on a voucher from the original collecting area. Amanita simulans is re-described, and an extensive discussion on the morphological variability, host species range, distribution and related taxa is provided. Amanita lividopallescens was confirmed as a good species, and re-delimited based on our phylogenetic analysis; moreover, it was epitypified with a recent and well-documented collection from Corse (France). Amanita stenospora is a synonym of A. lividopallescens, being a colour form of the latter without taxonomic value.


2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Bayly

The eucalypt group includes seven genera: Eucalyptus, Corymbia, Angophora, Eucalyptopsis, Stockwellia, Allosyncarpia and Arillastrum. Knowledge of eucalypt phylogeny underpins classification of the group, and facilitates understanding of their ecology, conservation and economic use, as well as providing insight into the history of Australia’s flora. Studies of fossils and phylogenetic analyses of morphological and molecular data have made substantial contributions to understanding of eucalypt relationships and biogeography, but relationships among some genera are still uncertain, and there is controversy about generic circumscription of the bloodwood eucalypts (genus Corymbia). Relationships at lower taxonomic levels, e.g. among sections and series of Eucalyptus, are also not well resolved. Recent advances in DNA sequencing methods offer the ability to obtain large genomic datasets that will enable improved understanding of eucalypt evolution.


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5068 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-262
Author(s):  
FABIO LEONARDO MEZA-JOYA ◽  
ELIANA RAMOS ◽  
FERNANDO J. M. ROJAS-RUNJAIC ◽  
ANDRÉS OVALLE-PACHECO

The Neotropical frog genus Cryptobatrachus includes six currently recognized species distributed throughout the northern Andes in Colombia and Venezuela. Cryptobatrachus conditus, C. pedroruizi, and C. remotus were described from the Colombian and Venezuelan slopes of the Serranía del Perijá. Due to the great morphological similarity among these species, we re-assess their taxonomic status based on morphological and molecular data from types, topotypes, and specimens from localities referred to in the original descriptions of these species. Morphometric comparisons showed that all these species are virtually indistinguishable, although some subtle qualitative differences in morphological traits distinguish C. conditus from the other species. Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences found that C. remotus and C. pedroruizi are not reciprocally monophyletic and exhibit low genetic divergence (< 1 %). Therefore, C. remotus should be considered a junior synonym of C. pedroruizi. This work stresses the importance of comprehensive taxon sampling in poorly explored areas, especially between neighbouring countries.  


Neodiversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-94
Author(s):  
Luciano P. Queiroz ◽  
◽  
Ana C.S. Oliveira ◽  
Cristiane Snak

The Galactia clade is one of three major lineages of the papilionoid legume tribe Diocleae. It comprises eight genera and approximately 140 species almost entirely restricted to the Americas. Establishing stable generic boundaries within this clade has been a challenge because of its tortuous taxonomic history and the broad polyphyly of the genera of the so-called Galactia-Camptosema-Collaea complex. Previous molecular phylogenetic studies revealed some well-supported lineages, but did not advance towards any new taxonomic arrangements. We carried out maximum parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of a combined dataset including our previously published multilocus molecular data (nrITS and ETS and plastid trnK/matK and trnT-Y regions) and 82 morphological characters. The resulting topologies largely concur with those previously reported based on molecular data only, where Camptosema and Galactia appear as broadly polyphyletic, with species scattered among five (Camptosema) and seven (Galactia) of the twelve lineages that are newly recognized here at genus level. We are therefore proposing the following new taxonomic rearrangements within the Galactia clade: descriptions of the new genera Caetangil, Cerradicola, Mantiqueira, and Nanogalactia; resurrection of Betencourtia; and the subsuming of Neorudolphia into Rhodopis and of Camptosema sect. Macropetalum into Cratylia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 201-218
Author(s):  
Pablo J. Venegas ◽  
Luis A. García-Ayachi ◽  
Lourdes Y. Echevarría ◽  
Daniel J. Paluh ◽  
Juan C. Chávez–Arribasplata ◽  
...  

We describe a new species of marsupial frog, genus Gastrotheca, using morphological characters and molecular data as lines of evidence. The new species was discovered in the páramo and the ecotone between páramo and humid montane forest of Cordillera de Colán, at elevations between 3136 and 3179 m a.s.l., in northeastern Peru. The new species is distinguished from all its congeners by the combination of the following characters: coarsely granular skin on dorsum, a green dorsal coloration without pattern, finger I shorter than finger II, turquoise iris, and a venter without blotches, flecks or dots. Furthermore, we include a detailed osteological description of the new Gastrotheca species based on Micro-CT scanning. Based on our phylogenetic analyses, the new species belongs to the Gastrotheca marsupiata species group, is sister to G. oresbios and closely related to G. psychrophila, G. spectabilis, G. stictopleura and one undescribed species. Additionally, we test for the presence of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). No Bd infection was detected for G. gemma sp. nov. specimens but Bd prevalence was detected among syntopic frogs.


Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2670 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
FEDOR ČIAMPOR JR. ◽  
JÁN KODADA

Two mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase subunit I, 16S RNA) and one nuclear (18S RNA) gene fragments were used to analyse relationships within the Oulimnius tuberculatus species group. The results of molecular data analysis are compared with morphological characters, and the distributional patterns and taxonomic status of recognized taxa are addressed. Based on molecular data, Oulimnius perezi is re-validated as a distinct species, and the discovery of a possible new species from northwest Italy is reported. The possible origins and times of speciation within the species group are discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Valizadeh ◽  
Shila Goldasteh ◽  
Zahra Rafiei-Karahroodi ◽  
Majid Pedram

AbstractDue to importance and effectiveness of some entomopathogenic or insect parasitic nematodes in controlling of agricultural pests, or pests of non-agricultural plants, a study was conducted in order to identify the species of this group of nematodes in city of Tehran. As the result, three species belonging to the genusOscheiuswere recovered in association with bark samples having the bark beetle galleries. Morphological and molecular data were provided for two recently recovered species of the genus, namelyO. necromenusandO. onirici. Molecular data were also provided for a recently recovered isolate ofO. tipulae. All three species were recovered in association with bark samples collected from dead trees in the city of Tehran. Morphological characters and morphometric data of the two aforementioned species are in accordance with the data given in their original descriptions. One recovered individual from a small bark sample characterized by its short body length was sequenced for its 28S and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA loci, and the results of BLAST search using the newly obtained partial sequences revealed that it belonged toO. tipulae. Molecular phylogenetic studies revealed recently sequenced Iranian populations ofO. oniriciandO. tipulaeforming a clade with other isolates/populations of these species in ITS tree with maximal Bayesian posterior probability (BPP), and presently sequenced isolates ofO. tipulaeandO. necromenusform a clade with other isolates of these species in 28S tree. The two speciesO. oniriciandO. necromenuswere reported in Iran for the first time.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 415 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-112
Author(s):  
HYE WOO SHIN ◽  
CHANG SHOOK LEE ◽  
SUN A CHOI ◽  
SANG MI EUM ◽  
NAM SOOK LEE

The taxonomic status of three of the seven Cephalanthera species in Korea is controversial: C. erecta var. oblanceolata, C. subaphylla, and C. shizuoi. To clarify their taxonomic status, we used molecular data of ITS of nuclear DNA, and three regions of chloroplast DNA (matK, rpl16 and trnL-F), in addition to morphological characters. We analyzed 82 accessions collected from 26 sites including the other four taxa: C. erecta, C. falcata, C. longibractea, and C. longifolia. The analysis of ITS, matK, rpl16 and trnL-F data showed that Cephalanthera erecta var. oblanceolata should be treated as a synonym of C. erecta. Molecular data supported that C. subaphylla is an independent species rather than a variety or forma of C. erecta. Cephalanthera shizuoi was currently treated as a synonym of C. erecta or C. longifolia based on morphology and the molecular data supported that C. shizuoi should not be recognized as distinct species; but C. shizuoi should be a synonym of C. longifolia, not a synonym of C. erecta.


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