A partial molecular phylogeny of Rhadinaea and related genera (Squamata, Dipsadidae) with comments on the generic assignment of Rhadinaea eduardoi

The genus Rhadinaea is a diverse clade of New World dipsadid snakes, with 22 species arranged in six recognized species groups. The most recently described species, Rhadinaea eduardoi, was described based on a unique specimen collected in the Santa Catarina Juquila municipality in the Sierra Madre del Sur of southern Oaxaca, Mexico. Here, based on a reexamination of the holotype and the results of a phylogenetic analysis of the holotype of Rhadinaea eduardoi and representatives of several genera closely related to Rhadinaea, we reassessed the generic assignment of Rhadinaea eduardoi. In our phylogenetic hypothesis, R. eduardoi was nested within a strongly supported clade of Coniophanes fissidens samples, thus making Rhadinaea paraphyletic with respect to Coniophanes. Additionally, our reexamination of the holotype of Rhadinaea eduardoi revealed that the alleged presence of a subpreocular scale is only true on the right side of the head, and that this scale appears to be a malformed preocular scale; also, a reduction in dorsal scale rows is present; and posterior enlarged maxillary teeth are grooved. Herein we consider that Rhadinaea eduardoi should be placed in the synonymy of Coniophanes fissidens. Consequently, we recognized only five species groups within the genus Rhadinaea.

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New World direct-developing frogs (Anura: Terrarana): Molecular phylogeny, classification, biogeography, and conservation

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1737.1.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 1737 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 228

Author(s):

S. BLAIR HEDGES ◽

WILLIAM E. DUELLMAN ◽

MATTHEW P. HEINICKE

Keyword(s):

Molecular Phylogeny ◽

Dna Sequences ◽

New World ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Species Level ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Caribbean Region ◽

New Taxon ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

Species Groups

New World frogs recently placed in a single, enormous family (Brachycephalidae) have direct development and reproduce on land, often far away from water. DNA sequences from mitochondrial and nuclear genes of 344 species were analyzed to estimate their relationships. The molecular phylogeny in turn was used as the basis for a revised classification of the group. The 882 described species are placed in a new taxon, Terrarana, and allocated to four families, four subfamilies, 24 genera, 11 subgenera, 33 species series, 56 species groups, and 11 species subgroups. Systematic accounts are provided for all taxa above the species level. Two families (Craugastoridae and Strabomantidae), three subfamilies (Holoadeninae, Phyzelaphryninae, and Strabomantinae), six genera (Bryophryne, Diasporus, Haddadus, Isodactylus, Lynchius, and Psychrophrynella), and two subgenera (Campbellius and Schwartzius) are proposed and named as new taxa, 13 subspecies are considered to be distinct species, and 613 new combinations are formed. Most of the 100 informal groups (species series, species groups, and species subgroups) are new or newly defined. Brachycephalus and Ischnocnema are placed in Brachycephalidae, a relatively small clade restricted primarily to southeastern Brazil. Eleutherodactylidae includes two subfamilies, four genera, and five subgenera and is centered in the Caribbean region. Craugastoridae contains two genera and three subgenera and is distributed mainly in Middle America. Strabomantidae is distributed primarily in the Andes of northwestern South America and includes two subfamilies, 16 genera, and three subgenera. Images and distribution maps are presented for taxa above the species level and a complete list of species is provided. Aspects of the evolution, biogeography, and conservation of Terrarana are discussed.

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A new species of Hystrichopsylla Taschenberg (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae) from the Mexican transition zone

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1027.1.4 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 1027 (1) ◽

pp. 55 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

ROXANA ACOSTA ◽

JUAN J. MORRONE

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Cladistic Analysis ◽

Volcanic Belt ◽

Species Group ◽

Flea Species ◽

Sierra Madre Oriental ◽

Sierra Madre ◽

Sierra Madre Del Sur ◽

Species Groups ◽

Mexican Transition Zone

A new flea species, Hystrichopsylla cryptotis, is described from the Sierra Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre del Sur, Mexico. The host of this new species is the shrew Cryptotis mexicana (Coues, 1877) (Mammalia: Soricidae). This flea species is easily recognized by its large size, seven genal combs, and the slender sternum IX, with 13 pairs of thick spiniform setae of different sizes. A key to the Mexican and Guatemalan species of Hystrichopsylla is given. The cladistic analysis indicates that Mexican species of Hystrichopsylla may be arranged in two different species groups: the H. orophila species group (H. orophila Barrera 1952 and H. cryptotis) and the H. dippiei species group (H. dippiei Rotshchild 1902, H. llorentei Ayala and Morales 1990, and H. kris Traub and Johnson 1952). The resolved area cladogram based on their phylogenetic relationships indicates the following relationships: (Sierra Madre Oriental, (Sierra Madre del Sur, Transmexican Volcanic Belt)).

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The New World ant parasitoid genus Orasema (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4888.1.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4888 (1) ◽

pp. 1-84

Author(s):

AUSTIN J. BAKER ◽

JOHN M. HERATY

Keyword(s):

Molecular Phylogeny ◽

Life Histories ◽

New World ◽

Treated Group ◽

Species Group ◽

Species Concepts ◽

Species Groups

A key is provided to 16 recognized species groups, plus several species not assigned to species group, of Orasema Cameron (Eucharitidae), a widespread New World genus of myrmicine ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) parasitoids ranging from northern Argentina to southern Canada. Eight of the species groups are revised, of which five are newly established; keys are given to the species of each treated group, 22 species are newly described, and detailed life histories of several well-documented species are discussed. Revised are the Orasema coloradensis group (four species: O. coloradensis Wheeler, O. iridescens n. sp., O. scaura n. sp., and O. violacea Ashmead), the Orasema bakeri group (six species: O. bablyi n. sp., O. bakeri Gahan, O. dubitata n. sp., O. polymyrmex n. sp., O. taii Chien & Heraty, and O. texana Gahan), the Orasema tolteca group (two species: O. castilloae n. sp. and O. tolteca Mann), the Orasema sixaolae group (newly established, with four species: O. brachycephala n. sp., O. nebula n. sp., O. sixaolae Wheeler & Wheeler, and O. tinalandia n. sp.), the Orasema acuminata group (newly established, with two species: O. acuminata n. sp. and O. cerulea n. sp.), the Orasema peraltai group (newly established, with two species: O. chrysozona n. sp. and O. peraltai n. sp.), the Orasema johnsoni group (newly established, with two species: O. johnsoni n. sp. and O. spyrogaster n. sp.), and the Orasema heacoxi group (newly established, with two species: O. heacoxi n. sp. and O. masonicki n. sp.). Newly described or treated species not placed to species group are O. brasiliensis (Bréthes), O. cirrhocnemis n. sp., O. monstrosa n. sp., O. mutata n. sp., O. psarops n. sp., and O. roppai n. sp. Species concepts and relationships are based on morphology and a recently published molecular phylogeny.

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A new species of forest snake of the genus Rhadinaea from Tropical Montane Rainforest in the Sierra Madre del Sur of Oaxaca, Mexico (Squamata, Dipsadidae)

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.813.29617 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 813 ◽

pp. 55-65

Author(s):

Vicente Mata-Silva ◽

Arturo Rocha ◽

Aurelio Ramírez-Bautista ◽

Christian Berriozabal-Islas ◽

Larry David Wilson

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Color Pattern ◽

Species Group ◽

New Taxon ◽

Sierra Madre ◽

Sierra Madre Del Sur ◽

Species Groups ◽

A New Species ◽

Montane Rainforest ◽

Tropical Montane Rainforest

Content of the dipsadid genus Rhadinaea has changed considerably since Myers’ 1974 revision. Three species groups are recognized currently in the genus. Our fieldwork in Oaxaca in June 2018 produced a single specimen of Rhadinaea considered to represent a new taxon. This new species is described from converted Premontane Wet Forest in the municipality of Santa Catarina Juquila in the Sierra Madre del Sur of southern Oaxaca, Mexico. It is most closely related to Rhadinaealaureata, from which it can be distinguished easily by color pattern and scutellation, and represents a species group distinct from the other three occupying the genus.

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Molecular Phylogeny of Jacanas and its Implications for Morphologic and Biogeographic Evolution

The Auk ◽

10.1093/auk/117.1.22 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 117 (1) ◽

pp. 22-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Linda A. Whittingham ◽

Frederick H. Sheldon ◽

Stephen T. Emlen

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Maximum Likelihood ◽

Molecular Phylogeny ◽

Cytochrome B ◽

New World ◽

Mitochondrial Cytochrome ◽

Biogeographic Pattern ◽

Mitochondrial Cytochrome B

Abstract We compared sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome-b and ND5 genes in a phylogenetic analysis of seven species of jacanas, representing all six genera and including the Greater Painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) as an outgroup. When analyzed separately by parsimony and maximum-likelihood bootstrapping, the two genes produced consistent trees, although the ND5 tree was better resolved than the cytochrome-b tree. When combined, the data from the two genes produced a fully resolved tree that was identical to the ND5 tree. This tree had the following form: ((((Irediparra, Microparra), Metopidius), Actophilornis), ((Jacana jacana, J. spinosa), Hydrophasianus)), Rostratula. The phylogeny consists of two major clades that were known to traditional and phylogenetic taxonomists. It also contains sister taxa that are geographically disjunct: the New World Jacana and Asian Hydrophasianus, and the African Microparra and Australian Irediparra. We postulate that this biogeographic pattern results from the extinction of intervening African and Asian taxa, respectively.

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Rediscovery of the Neotropical water scavenger beetle Protistolophus spangleri Short with notes on its habitat and behavior (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: Hydrophilinae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4759.1.10 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4759 (1) ◽

pp. 139-142

Author(s):

ANDREW EDWARD Z. SHORT ◽

LARISSA SANTANA ◽

CESAR J. BENETTI ◽

NEUSA HAMADA

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Molecular Phylogeny ◽

New World ◽

Single Species ◽

Single Specimen ◽

Male Specimen ◽

Suitable Material ◽

The World ◽

Unusual Combination ◽

And Behavior

The water scavenger beetle genus Protistolophus Short contains a single species, P. spangleri Short, 2010, known from southern Venezuela. The genus was hitherto known only from a single partly-incomplete male specimen, making it one of the rarest and most poorly known aquatic hydrophilid genera in the world. Only one other New World aquatic hydrophilid genus, the Ecuadorian cave endemic Troglochares Spangler, is known from a single specimen or locality. In a phylogenetic analysis of the Hydrophilini based on adult morphology, the genus Protistolophus was resolved as the sister taxon to the remaining genera of the tribe, implying it is an ancient and possibly relict lineage—it possesses a very unusual combination of characters, including a very weakly developed mesoventral keel. It was the only genus not included in a recent molecular phylogeny of the Hydrophilini as no suitable material was available for DNA (Toussaint et al. 2017).

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A phylogenetic analysis of the New World tribe Phanaeini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae): Hypotheses on relationships and origins

Insect Systematics & Evolution ◽

10.1163/187631204788964664 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 43-63 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

◽

T. Keith Philips ◽

Clarke Scholtz

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

South America ◽

New World ◽

Common Ancestor ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Monophyletic Clade ◽

Close Relationship ◽

Ball Surface ◽

Species Groups ◽

The Common

AbstractA phylogenetic analysis of Phanaeini based on 137 morphological characters supports the hypothesis that the nine included genera, Coprophanaeus, Dendropaemon, Diabroctis, Homalotarsus, Megatharsis, Oxysternon, Phanaeus, Sulcophanaeus and Tetrameira, form a monophyletic clade. Monophyly is unaffected by the inclusion of Gromphas, Oruscatus, and Bolbites and these should also be considered phanaeines. The sister lineage is Ennearabdus (Eucraniini) and both evolved from ancestral Dichotomiini within South America. There is no support for a close relationship with the Onitini or any other remaining tribe. All phanaeine genera appear to be monophyletic except Sulcophanaeus, of which two species groups appear as sister taxa while the remaining three form an independent paraphyletic clade. Ancestral phanaeines were coprophagous with necrophagy evolving at least twice. Myrmecophily is also derived and most likely evolved only once in the common ancestor of Dendropaemon, Homalotarsus, Megatharsis and Tetramereia. Bare dung ball construction for larval development is also the most likely ancestral condition with a soil covering on the exterior ball surface and parental cooperation evolving in the more derived lineages.

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Phylogenetic relationships based on morphological data and taxonomy of the genus Salvadora Baird & Girard, 1853 (Reptilia, Colubridae)

European Journal of Taxonomy ◽

10.5852/ejt.2021.764.1473 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 764 ◽

pp. 85-118

Author(s):

Carlos A. Hernández-Jiménez ◽

Oscar Flores-Villela ◽

Aranzazú Aguilar-Bremauntz ◽

Jonathan A. Campbell

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Phylogenetic Hypothesis ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative ◽

Species Groups ◽

Parsimony Criterion ◽

Entire Distribution

The genus Salvadora has not been subjected to a modern phylogenetic analysis. Described in 1853, its taxonomic history is complex and confusing. In this study, we evaluate the monophyly of the genus and present the first phylogenetic hypothesis based on an analysis of 66 qualitative and quantitative morphological characters of over 1000 specimens representing all described taxa across their entire distribution. Morphological characters were processed in Fast Morphology for subsequent phylogenetic analysis in PAUP under the maximum parsimony criterion. We obtained a single tree in which Salvadora appears as a monophyletic group with two clearly defined geographic species groups: a southern mexicana group and a northern grahamiae group. Based on our phylogenetic hypothesis, we evaluate the taxonomic status of all described taxa. Additionally, we include a diagnosis for all species, distribution maps, and an illustrated dichotomous taxonomic key of the genus.

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Molecular and Morphological Evidence Reveals a New Species of Antiphytum (Echiochiloideae, Boraginaceae) from Guerrero, Mexico

Systematic Botany ◽

10.1600/036364420x15801369352469 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 190-199

Author(s):

Nidia Mendoza-Díaz ◽

Helga Ochoterena ◽

Michael J. Moore ◽

Hilda Flores-Olvera

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

New Species ◽

Corolla Tube ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

Sierra Madre ◽

Distinctive Morphology ◽

Sierra Madre Del Sur ◽

Nuclear Its ◽

A New Species

Abstract—Molecular and morphological evidence supports a new species in the genus Antiphytum from the Sierra Madre del Sur, in the state of Guerrero, Mexico, here described as Antiphytum brevicalyx. This species is unique in the genus by possessing a calyx shorter than the corolla tube at anthesis; it is similar to A. floribundum in inflorescence arrangement, but differs from that species in lacking a basal leaf rosette and having appendages on the corolla throat. According to phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ITS and plastid ndhF-rpl32 sequences representing seven of the eight North American species of the genus besides the proposed new species, accessions of A. brevicalyx form a well-defined clade within Antiphytum, corroborating its distinctive morphology. However, the analyses do not resolve the phylogenetic position of A. brevicalyx within the genus.

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Taxonomy of the New World bee genus Agapostemon Guérin-Méneville – new names and synonymies (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

European Journal of Taxonomy ◽

10.5852/ejt.2021.751.1375 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 751 ◽

Author(s):

Cory S. Sheffield ◽

Lars Vilhelmsen ◽

Frederique Bakker

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Type Species ◽

New World ◽

Distinct Species ◽

The United States ◽

Colour Polymorphism ◽

Junior Secondary ◽

Dark Colour ◽

Species Groups

Many early taxonomic works on North American bees were published by Europeans using specimens collected in the New World, some with type locations so imprecise that uncertainty on the nomenclatural status remains to this day. Two examples come from Fabricius (1745–1808) who described Andrena virescens Fabricius, 1775 and Apis viridula Fabricius, 1793 from “America” and “Boreal America”, respectively. The former species of Agapostemon Guérin-Méneville, 1844 occurs across most of the United States and southern Canada, the latter presumed an endemic to Cuba. The type materials of these two taxa have never been compared to each other, though a morphology-based phylogenetic analysis placed both in distinct species groups. Here we synonymize Apis viridula under Ag. virescens, thereby making Ag. femoralis (Guérin-Méneville, 1844) available as the name for the Cuban species. A lectotype for Ag. femoralis (the type species for the genus Agapostemon) is hereby designated to stabilize this taxonomy. We also synonymize Ag. obscuratus Cresson, 1869 under Ag. femoralis, suggesting that it represents a dark colour polymorphism. As Ag. cubensis Roberts, 1972 is a junior secondary homonym of Ag. cubensis (Spinola, 1851), we offer Ag. robertsi as a replacement name for the former.

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