Taxonomy of the hyper-diverse ant genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Malagasy region (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) – first record of the T. setigerum species group and additions to the Malagasy species groups with an updated illustrated identification key

The genus Metallactus has been controversial since its introduction due to the ambiguous nature of the original diagnosis. This has caused some confusion in the taxonomy of Neotropical Pachybrachina. In this work the morphology of endophallus, which is useful for the characterization of species groups in several groups of Coleoptera, including Cryptocephalinae, has been analyzed. This has proven to be a good resource also in the taxonomic treatment of the species belonging to the genus Metallactus. After a careful survey on most of the species described so far, the endophallus shape in Metallactus turned out to be remarkably distinctive and very promising in the delimitation of species groups. The present work includes: a) a new diagnosis of the genus Metallactus on the basis of the aedeagal anatomy; b) the designation of the type species of the nominal genus; c) the revision of a first species-group of the genus, including the type species, hereinafter called Metallactus kollari species-group. Before this revision, catalogues had been reporting 13 species attributable to this group, in the present work three species have been synonymized and seven have been described as new to science. Therefore, the group includes 17 species. The species described as new are: Metallactus rileyi n. sp., M. bellatrix n. sp., M. longicornis n. sp.; M. londonpridei n. sp., M. regalini n. sp., M. bezoar n. sp., M. guarani n. sp. The new synonymies are as follows: Metallactus albipes Suffrian, 1866 (= M. nigrofasciatus Suffrian, 1866 n. syn.), M. albifrons Suffrian, 1866 (= M. flavofrontalis Jacoby, 1907 n. syn.), M. dodecastictus Suffrian, 1866 (= Griburius nigritarsis Jacoby, 1907 n. syn.). The lectotypes of all previously described species have been designated. The new synonymies, the name-bearing type fixations and designations and the nomenclatural acts have been critically discussed. An identification key for the species-group is also provided.

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Cybaeus (Araneae: Cybaeidae): the aspenicolens species group of the Californian clade

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4926.2.4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4926 (2) ◽

pp. 224-244

Author(s):

ROBB BENNETT ◽

CLAUDIA COPLEY ◽

DARREN COPLEY

Keyword(s):

Sierra Nevada ◽

Species Group ◽

Identification Key ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Kern County ◽

East Central ◽

Central California ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

Moist Forest ◽

Species Groups

Species of North American Cybaeus L. Koch (Araneae: RTA clade: Cybaeidae) are common moist-forest spiders classified in Holarctic and Californian clades. Here, in the second paper in a planned series reviewing the six Californian clade species groups, we review the species of the aspenicolens group. We recognize five species in two subgroups: the aspenicolens subgroup (Cybaeus aspenicolens Chamberlin & Ivie, C. blasbes Chamberlin & Ivie, and C. coylei Bennett spec. nov.) and the fraxineus subgroup (C. fraxineus Bennett spec. nov. and C. thermydrinos Bennett). The species of the aspenicolens group have very restricted distributions on the western slopes of the central and southern Sierra Nevada mountain range from Tuolumne County south to northern Kern County in east central California, U.S.A. Descriptions, illustrations, distribution maps, and an identification key are provided for the five species as well as a discussion of conservation issues of relevance to the group.

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Cybaeus (Araneae: Cybaeidae): the consocius species group of the Californian clade

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4965.3.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4965 (3) ◽

pp. 401-436

Author(s):

ROBB BENNETT ◽

CLAUDIA COPLEY ◽

DARREN COPLEY

Keyword(s):

Sierra Nevada ◽

Single Species ◽

Species Group ◽

Identification Key ◽

Central Coast ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

The Third ◽

Sierra Nevada Mountains ◽

Moist Forest ◽

Species Groups

Species of North American Cybaeus L. Koch (Araneae: RTA clade: Cybaeidae) are common moist-forest spiders classified in Holarctic and Californian clades. Here, in the third paper in a planned series reviewing the six Californian clade species groups, we review the species of the consocius group. We recognize nine species: Cybaeus consocius Chamberlin & Ivie, C. hesper Chamberlin & Ivie, C. hummeli Bennett spec. nov., C. opulentus spec. nov., C. pan Bennett spec. nov., C. penedentatus Bennett, C. simplex Roth, C. ubicki Bennett spec. nov., and C. vulpinus Bennett. Eight of these species have restricted distributions in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains of eastern California, U.S.A (C. opulentus, C. pan spec. nov., and C. vulpinus) or the central coast of western California (C. consocius, C. hesper, C. hummeli spec. nov., C. penedentatus, and C. ubicki spec. nov.); a single species (C. simplex), is relatively widely distributed in western Oregon, U.S.A. Descriptions, illustrations, distribution maps, and an identification key are provided as well as a discussion of conservation issues of relevance to the group.

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Taxonomic revision of the Pheidole sikorae species group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Madagascar

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.949.51269 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 949 ◽

pp. 1-185

Author(s):

Sebastian Salata ◽

Brian L. Fisher

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Species Group ◽

Species Level ◽

Junior Synonym ◽

Identification Key ◽

Valid Species ◽

Species Groups ◽

Worker Castes

The present study represents a taxonomic revision of the Pheidole sikorae species group from Madagascar. Forty-four members of this group are recognised and described, and an illustrated identification key to this group is also presented. One species is raised to species level: P. litigiosa Forel, 1892 stat. nov.Pheidole veteratrix angustinoda Forel, 1892 syn. nov. is proposed as a junior synonym of Pheidole veteratrix Forel, 1891. Worker castes are also described and lectotypes designated for P. litigiosa Forel, 1892, P. sikorae Forel, 1891, and P. veteratrix Forel, 1891. The following 41 new species are described: P. alinasp. nov., P. ambohimangasp. nov., P. analavelonasp. nov., P. andohahelasp. nov., P. anomalasp. nov., P. anosyennesp. nov., P. antranohofasp. nov., P. beankasp. nov., P. befotakasp. nov., P. dasossp. nov., P. flavominutasp. nov., P. gracilissp. nov., P. habokasp. nov., P. havoanasp. nov., P. hazosp. nov., P. itremosp. nov., P. joffrevillesp. nov., P. kelysp. nov., P. lavasoasp. nov., P. mahamavosp. nov., P. maintysp. nov., P. mamiratrasp. nov., P. mananteninasp. nov., P. masoandrosp. nov., P. mavohavoanasp. nov., P. midongysp. nov., P. mikrossp. nov., P. mivorysp. nov., P. nitidobrunasp. nov., P. parvulasp. nov., P. parvulogibbasp. nov., P. reniranosp. nov., P. savasp. nov., P. sofiasp. nov., P. sparsasp. nov., P. tamponysp. nov., P. trichotossp. nov., P. tsaravonianasp. nov., P. vadumsp. nov., P. volontanysp. nov., and P. vonysp. nov. At present, there are 109 valid species and subspecies of Pheidole known from Madagascar, but this number is expected to increase with upcoming taxonomic revisions of the species groups not revised in this study.

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A review of the subgenus Euprepiosaurus of Varanus (Squamata: Varanidae): morphological and molecular phylogeny, distribution and zoogeography, with an identification key for the members of the V. indicus and the V. prasinus species groups

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1472.1.1 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 1472 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

THOMAS ZIEGLER ◽

ANDREAS SCHMITZ ◽

ANDRÉ KOCH ◽

WOLFGANG BÖHME

Keyword(s):

Molecular Genetic ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Species Group ◽

Genetic Distances ◽

Identification Key ◽

Sister Species ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Group V ◽

Species Groups ◽

Gene Data

We provide a synopsis of the currently recognized taxa within the subgenus Euprepiosaurus of Varanus, consisting of the V. indicus species group (in chronological order, V. indicus, V. doreanus, V. jobiensis, V. finschi, V. melinus, V. yuwonoi, V. caerulivirens, V. cerambonensis, V. juxtindicus, V. zugorum) and the V. prasinus species group (accordingly, V. prasinus, V. beccarii, V. kordensis, V. bogerti, V. keithhornei, V. telenesetes, V. macraei, V. boehmei, V. reisingeri). We summarize the taxonomic history of the species groups and highlight the morphology and distribution of the species in detail. Molecular genetic analyses confirm Euprepiosaurus and also the two contained species groups as monophyla. Our molecular (mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene) data further reinforce that V. beccarii, V. boehmei, V. keithhornei, and V. macraei are distinct species within the V. prasinus group. V. kordensis consistently proves to be a sister species to all remaining members of the V. prasinus species group studied by us. Comparatively low genetic distances argue for relatively recent speciation processes within the V. indicus group. The species status of V. caerulivirens and V. finschi is again corroborated. The analyses consistently place V. cerambonensis and V. melinus as sister species. It is further evident that both species groups within Euprepiosaurus still contain distinct unrecognized taxa. Finally, we discuss the phylogeny and zoogeography of Euprepiosaurus in the light of our data and provide an identification key for the species of this subgenus.

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Taxonomic revision of Madagascan species of the Pheidole fervens species-group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0244195 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. e0244195

Author(s):

Sebastian Salata ◽

Brian L. Fisher

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

High Resolution ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Species Group ◽

Identification Key ◽

Minor Worker ◽

High Resolution Images ◽

Species Groups

Madagascar, one of the top megadiversity regions, hosts one of the highest numbers of endemic and threatened organisms on earth. One of the most spectacular examples of ant radiation on the island has occurred in the hyperdiverse genus Pheidole. To this date, there are 117 described Madagascan Pheidole divided into 16 species-groups, and 97% of them are endemic to the island. Only two of these species-groups contain widely distributed invasive species in addition to native, endemic taxa: megacephala, and fervens species-groups. Here we revise the fervens species-group and discuss updated distribution records of its introduced members on Madagascar. We recognize six species belonging to this group, including five new to science: Pheidole ampangabe sp. nov., P. arivo sp. nov., P. comosa sp. nov., P. indica Mayr, P. mamirapiratra sp. nov., and P. mena sp. nov. Detailed descriptions are supplemented with measurements, diagnoses, identification key, high-resolution images for major and minor worker, and comments on distribution and biology.

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Taxonomic complexity in the genus Merodon Meigen, 1803 (Diptera, Syrphidae)

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.1031.62125 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1031 ◽

pp. 85-124

Author(s):

Ante Vujić ◽

Snežana Radenković ◽

Laura Likov ◽

Sanja Veselić

Keyword(s):

Species Group ◽

Identification Key ◽

Undescribed Species ◽

Afrotropical Region ◽

Species Groups

The genus Merodon Meigen, 1803 is distributed across the Palaearctic and Afrotropical Regions. The present work summarizes the knowledge from recent taxonomic and systematic revisions and includes an identification key for the five monophyletic lineages (namely albifrons, aureus, avidus-nigritarsis, desuturinus and natans), 24 species groups, two species subgroups and 10 unplaced species, along with diagnosis and illustrations. A list of 234 taxa, including 194 described and 40 undescribed species, is appended. Most of the species are distributed in the Palaearctic (209 taxa, 181 described), while 27 species (14 described) are known from the Afrotropical Region. Three lineages (aureus, desuturinus and natans) are present in the Afrotropical Region, as well as in the Palaearctic. The Afrotropical melanocerus species group of the desuturinus lineage and the bombiformis species group of the aureus lineage are endemic to the Afrotropical Region, and all other species groups belong to the Palaearctic fauna. The albifrons lineage contains six species groups (albifrons, constans, equestris, geniculatus, ruficornis and rufus) and two unplaced taxa. The aureus lineage includes five species groups (aureus, bombiformis, funestus, nanus and spinitarsis). The avidus-nigritarsis lineage is divided into 10 species groups (aberrans, aurifer, avidus, clavipes, fulcratus, italicus, nigritarsis, pruni, serrulatus and tarsatus) and eight unplaced taxa. The desuturinus lineage contains two species groups: the Afrotropical melanocerus group, with the melanocerus and planifacies subgroups plus the species M. cuthbertsoni Curran, 1939, and the Palaearctic murorum species group. The natans lineage consists of the natans species group plus the species M. segetum Fabricius, 1794.

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The enigmatic dung beetle genus Stiptopodius Harold, 1871 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) revisited: new species descriptions from southern Africa

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4763.3.4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4763 (3) ◽

pp. 394-404

Author(s):

GIMO M. DANIEL ◽

CHRISTIAN M. DESCHODT ◽

ADRIAN L.V. DAVIS ◽

CATHERINE L. SOLE

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

New Taxa ◽

Southern Africa ◽

Dung Beetle ◽

First Record ◽

Identification Key ◽

Distribution Map ◽

Species Groups ◽

Three New Species ◽

Species Descriptions

It is proposed that the genus Stiptopodius Harold, 1871 should be subdivided into two species groups based on the shape of the lateral edge of the pronotum. Three new species are described from southern Africa: Stiptopodius peringueyi Daniel & Deschodt, new species, Stiptopodius savuti Daniel & Deschodt, new species, and Stiptopodius muellerae Daniel & Deschodt, new species. Stiptopodius savuti new species is the first record of the genus from Botswana. A distribution map for the new taxa is provided. The identification key to the known species of Stiptopodius is updated.

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Three New Species and One New Record of Genus Chimarra Stephens (Trichoptera: Philopotamoidea: Philopotamidae) from Indian Himalaya

Advances in Zoology ◽

10.1155/2014/950954 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Manpreet Singh Pandher ◽

Simarjit Kaur

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Male Genitalia ◽

New Record ◽

Ventral View ◽

First Record ◽

Species Group ◽

Lateral View ◽

Indian Himalaya ◽

Species Groups ◽

Three New Species

Three new species and one new record are added to the philopotamid fauna of India from the Indian Himalaya. The newly described species under the genus Chimarra Stephens include Chimarra butticulata sp.n. and C. gangotriensis sp.n. both from Uttarakhand and C. sangtami sp.n. from Nagaland. The record of C. nigra Kimmins (from Sikkim) constitutes the first record of that species from India, although it was previously known from Nepal. It is redescribed here from India as there are minor differences in the male genitalia from previously described species (in original paper of Kimmins only lateral view of the phallus was illustrated and in the redescribed species the ventral view of phallus is illustrated along with the lateral view). The four species belong to two different species groups and one species is unplaced in the species group. These species are distinguishable from each other as well as from the previously known allied species by consistent taxonomic features of the inferior appendages, tergite X, and the phallic apparatus of males.

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Study of Laemostenus species across Zagros and Central zone of Iran, with the description of seven new cavernicolous species and notes on subgenus Iranosphodrus (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Sphodrini)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4344.1.4 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4344 (1) ◽

pp. 115 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

MOHADESEH SADAT TAHAMI ◽

JAN MUILWIJK ◽

ROMAN LOHAJ ◽

SABER SADEGHI

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Male Genitalia ◽

Central Zone ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Species Group ◽

Identification Key ◽

Fars Province ◽

Check List ◽

Two New Species ◽

Species Groups

The species belonging to the Sphodrine genus Laemostenus Bonelli, 1810 from central and southern Zagros Mts. and central zones of Iran were studied. Two new species-groups of the subgenus Antisphodrus Schaufuss, 1865 are proposed, and seven new species belonging to subgenera Antisphodrus Schaufuss, 1865 and Iranosphodrus Lohaj & Casale, 2011 are described. Morphological characters of the habitus and shape of male genitalia were used to delimit the species. New species of subgenus Antisphodrus are: L. (A.) zagrosensis sp. nov. and L. (A.) speleophilus sp. nov. from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, and L. (A.) farsicus sp. nov. from Fars province (zagrosensis species-group); Laemostenus (A) zakariyiensis sp. nov. from Fars province (aequalis species-group), and L. (A.) shirazensis sp. nov. from Fars province (glasunowi species-group). Based on the newly collected material, the subgenus Iranosphodrus is redefined and two new species from Yazd province are described: L.(I.) yazdensis sp. nov. and L.(I.) troglophilus sp. nov. An identification key for the Laemostenus species of the studied area is provided, and a check list for Iranian representatives of subgenera Antisphodrus and Iranosphodrus are given.

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