scholarly journals Mitochondrial discordance in closely related Theridion spiders (Araneae, Theridiidae), with description of a new species of the T. melanurum group

2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-173
Author(s):  
Marc Domènech ◽  
Luís C. Crespo ◽  
Alba Enguídanos ◽  
Miquel A. Arnedo

The incorporation of molecular data into current taxonomic practise has unravelled instances of incongruence among different data sets. Here we report a case of mitochondrial discordance in cobweb spiders of the genus Theridion Walckenaer, 1805 from the Iberian Peninsula. Morphological examination of samples from a country-wide bioinventory initiative revealed the existence of a putative new species and two nominal species belonging to the Theridion melanurum species group. The morphological delineation was supported by the molecular analysis of a nuclear marker but was at odds with the groups circumscribed by a mitochondrial marker. The causes of this discordance remained uncertain, once sample and sequencing errors and the existence of pseudogenes were discarded. The full sorting observed in the alleles of the more slowly evolving nuclear marker ruled out incomplete lineage sorting, while the geographic patterns recovered were difficult to reconciliate with ongoing hybridization. We propose that the apparent incongruence observed is most likely the result of old introgression events in a group with high dispersal abilities. We further speculate that endosymbiont-driven cytoplasmatic incompatibility could be involved in the fixation of mitochondrial haplotypes across species barriers. Additionally, we describe the new species T. promiscuumsp. nov., based on the presence of diagnostic morphological traits, backed up by the nuclear data delimitation. Our study contributes yet another example of the perils of relying on single methods or data sources to summarise the variation generated by multiple processes acting through thousands of years of evolution and supports the key role of biological inventories in improving our knowledge of invertebrate biodiversity.

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 3022 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
FANOMEZANA MIHAJA RATSOAVINA ◽  
EDWARD E. LOUIS JR. ◽  
ANGELICA CROTTINI ◽  
ROGER-DANIEL RANDRIANIAINA ◽  
FRANK GLAW ◽  
...  

Endemic to Madagascar, the genus Uroplatus of the family Gekkonidae consists of 13 nominal species of leaf-tailed geckos. These forest dwelling lizards are famous for their cryptic and odd appearance. We describe a new species of the Uroplatus ebenaui group from the Montagne d’Ambre massif in northern Madagascar. Uroplatus finiavana sp. nov., is morphologically similar to the sympatric U. ebenaui but differs in multiple character state expressions, among which are a longer tail and an unpigmentated oral mucosa. It also can be differentiated from U. ebenaui and all other Uroplatus species based on a high level of divergence in the mitochondrial ND4 gene and the nuclear C-mos gene, and no instances of haplotype sharing exist in these genes among the analysed species. The new species is relatively abundant at Montagne d'Ambre National Park where at lower elevations (ca. 700 m) it occurs together with U. ebenaui, without any signal of genetic admixture. Records of U. ebenaui in the mountains and forest blocks of northern Madagascar (especially in the Tsaratanana massif) actually represent other candidate species with distinct morphology and characterized by a high genetic divergence from the described species. Beside the description of the new species we discuss the geographic provenance of the holotypes of the nominal species and synonyms in the U. ebenaui group and provide further information on the phylogeny of the U. ebenaui species group including the first incorporation of Uroplatus malama in a molecular data set.


2011 ◽  
Vol 279 (1734) ◽  
pp. 1847-1856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Campagna ◽  
Pilar Benites ◽  
Stephen C. Lougheed ◽  
Darío A. Lijtmaer ◽  
Adrián S. Di Giacomo ◽  
...  

Adaptive radiations have helped shape how we view animal speciation, particularly classic examples such as Darwin's finches, Hawaiian fruitflies and African Great Lakes cichlids. These ‘island’ radiations are comparatively recent, making them particularly interesting because the mechanisms that caused diversification are still in motion. Here, we identify a new case of a recent bird radiation within a continentally distributed species group; the capuchino seedeaters comprise 11 Sporophila species originally described on the basis of differences in plumage colour and pattern in adult males. We use molecular data together with analyses of male plumage and vocalizations to understand species limits of the group. We find marked phenotypic variation despite lack of mitochondrial DNA monophyly and few differences in other putatively neutral nuclear markers. This finding is consistent with the group having undergone a recent radiation beginning in the Pleistocene, leaving genetic signatures of incomplete lineage sorting, introgressive hybridization and demographic expansions. We argue that this apparent uncoupling between neutral DNA homogeneity and phenotypic diversity is expected for a recent group within the framework of coalescent theory. Finally, we discuss how the ecology of open habitats in South America during the Pleistocene could have helped promote this unique and ongoing radiation.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Lopes ◽  
Larissa R Oliveira ◽  
Amanda Kessler ◽  
Yago Beux ◽  
Enrique Crespo ◽  
...  

Abstract The phylogeny and systematics of fur seals and sea lions (Otariidae) have long been studied with diverse data types, including an increasing amount of molecular data. However, only a few phylogenetic relationships have reached acceptance because of strong gene-tree species tree discordance. Divergence times estimates in the group also vary largely between studies. These uncertainties impeded the understanding of the biogeographical history of the group, such as when and how trans-equatorial dispersal and subsequent speciation events occurred. Here we used high-coverage genome-wide sequencing for 14 of the 15 species of Otariidae to elucidate the phylogeny of the family and its bearing on the taxonomy and biogeographical history. Despite extreme topological discordance among gene trees, we found a fully supported species tree that agrees with the few well-accepted relationships and establishes monophyly of the genus Arctocephalus. Our data support a relatively recent trans-hemispheric dispersal at the base of a southern clade, which rapidly diversified into six major lineages between 3 to 2.5 Ma. Otaria diverged first, followed by Phocarctos and then four major lineages within Arctocephalus. However, we found Zalophus to be non-monophyletic, with California (Z. californianus) and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) grouping closer than the Galapagos sea lion (Z. wollebaeki) with evidence for introgression between the two genera. Overall, the high degree of genealogical discordance was best explained by incomplete lineage sorting resulting from quasi-simultaneous speciation within the southern clade with introgresssion playing a subordinate role in explaining the incongruence among and within prior phylogenetic studies of the family.


Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3373 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
HOUHUN LI ◽  
KLAUS SATTLER

The genus Mesophleps Hübner (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is revised; 54 available names (including one unjustifiedemendation), one junior primary homonym and one unavailable name were considered; type material of 44 previouslydescribed nominal species was examined. Nine new species are described: M. acutunca sp. nov., M. bifidella sp. nov., M.unguella sp. nov., M. gigantella sp. nov., M. coffeae sp. nov., M. parvella sp. nov., M. aspina sp. nov., M. truncatella sp.nov. and M. undulatella sp. nov. Two possibly new species are discussed but not formally named for lack of material.Twenty-five new combinations are introduced: M. safranella (Legrand, 1965) comb. nov., M. epichorda (Turner, 1919)comb. nov., M. tabellata (Meyrick, 1913) comb. nov., M. crocina (Meyrick, 1904) comb. nov., M. ochracella (Turati,1926) comb. nov., M. geodes (Meyrick, 1929) comb. nov., M. catericta (Meyrick, 1927) comb. nov., M. tephrastis(Meyrick, 1904) comb. nov., M. cycnobathra (Lower, 1898) comb. nov., M. tetrachroa (Lower, 1898) comb. nov., M.ochroloma (Lower, 1901) comb. nov., M. trichombra (Lower, 1898) comb. nov., M. mylicotis (Meyrick, 1904) comb. nov.,M. macrosemus (Lower, 1900) comb. nov., M. apentheta (Turner, 1919) comb. nov., M. meliphanes (Lower, 1894) comb.nov., M. chloranthes (Lower, 1900) comb. nov., M. centrothetis (Meyrick, 1904) comb. nov., M. chloristis (Meyrick,1904) comb. nov., M. argonota (Lower, 1901) comb. nov., Megacraspedus arnaldi (Turati & Krüger, 1936) comb. nov.,Aponoea cinerellus (Turati, 1930) comb. nov., Pycnobathra acromelas (Turner, 1919) comb. nov., Sarotorna mesoleuca(Lower, 1900) comb. nov., S. dentata Meyrick, 1904, comb. nov. One species, Nothris mesophracta Turner, 1919, isremoved from Mesophleps but no current genus is available. Fourteen new synonymies (one genus, 13 species-group taxa)are established: Bucolarcha Meyrick, 1929, syn. nov. of Mesophleps Hübner, [1825]; Stiphrostola longinqua Meyrick,1923, syn. nov. and Brachyacma trychota Meyrick, 1929, syn. nov. of M. ioloncha (Meyrick, 1905); Lipatia crotalariellaBusck, 1910, syn. nov. of M. adustipennis (Walsingham, 1897); Brachyacma epichorda Turner, 1919, syn. nov. of M.epiochra (Meyrick, 1886); Mesophleps pudicellus var. apicellus Caradja, 1920, syn. nov. and Mesophleps silacellus subsp.calaritanus Amsel, 1939, syn. nov. of M. silacella (Hübner, 1796); Mesophleps lala Agenjo, [1961], syn. nov. of M.corsicella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1856); Crossobela barysphena Meyrick, 1923, syn. nov. of M. trinotella Herrich-Schäffer,1856; Mesophleps orientella Nel & Nel, 2003, syn. n. and Mesophleps gallicella Varenne & Nel, 2011, syn. nov. of M.ochracella (Turati, 1926); Nothris centrothetis Meyrick, 1904, syn. nov. and Nothris chloristis Meyrick, 1904, syn. nov.of M. chloranthes (Lower, 1900); Mesophleps cinerellus Turati, 1930, syn. nov. of Aponoea obtusipalpis Walsingham,1905. One genus and one species are recalled from synonymy: Pycnobathra Lower, 1901, gen. rev., and M. ioloncha(Meyrick, 1905) sp. rev. Lectotypes are designated, in accordance with the Code, article 74.7.3, for 14 species: Gelechiapalpigera Walsingham, 1891; Paraspistes ioloncha Meyrick, 1905; Lathontogenus adustipennis Walsingham, 1897;Brachyacma epichorda Turner, 1919; Nothris crocina Meyrick, 1904; Nothris ochracella Turati, 1926; Nothris tephrastisMeyrick, 1904; Ypsolophus ochroloma Lower, 1901; Ypsolophus macrosemus Lower, 1900; Nothris centrothetis Meyrick,1904; Nothris chloristis Meyrick, 1904; Ypsolophus argonota Lower, 1901; Mesophleps arnaldi Turati & Krüger, 1936,and Mesophleps cinerellus Turati, 1930. Mesophleps is a widely distributed Old World genus, except for one New Worldspecies, with seed-feeding larvae on Cupressaceae, Cistaceae, Cruciferae (Brassicaceae), Leguminosae (Fabaceae), Rubiaceae and doubtfully Dipterocarpaceae.


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4969 (3) ◽  
pp. 492-510
Author(s):  
DZUNG TRUNG LE ◽  
SALY SITTHIVONG ◽  
TUNG THANH TRAN ◽  
L. LEE GRISMER ◽  
TRUONG QUANG NGUYEN ◽  
...  

A new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus is described from Dien Bien Province, northwestern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular data. Cyrtodactylus ngati sp. nov. can be distinguished from remaining congeners by the following combination of characters: maximum SVL 69.3 mm; dorsal pattern consisting of six dark irregular transverse bands between limb insertions; inter-supranasals one; dorsal tubercles present on occiput, body, hind limbs and on first half of tail; 17–22 irregular dorsal tubercle rows at midbody; lateral folds clearly defined, with interspersed tubercles; 32–38 ventral scales between ventrolateral folds; 13 precloacal pores separated by a diastema of 5/5 poreless scales from a series of 7/7 femoral pores in enlarged femoral scales; precloacal and femoral pores absent in females; 1–3 postcloacal tubercles on each side; transversely enlarged median subcaudal scales absent. In the molecular analyses, the new species is shown to be the sister taxon to C. interdigitalis from Thailand. This is the 47th species of the genus Cyrtodactylus and the first member of the C. brevipalmatus species group recorded from Vietnam. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4486 (4) ◽  
pp. 575 ◽  
Author(s):  
MIGUEL VENCES ◽  
ANDREA HILDENBRAND ◽  
KATHARINA M. WARMUTH ◽  
FRANCO ANDREONE ◽  
FRANK GLAW

The subgenus Brygoomantis in the Madagascar-endemic genus Mantidactylus contains 12 nominal species but is in urgent need of taxonomic revision as many additional, genetically divergent but undescribed candidate species have been identified. We here take a first step towards a better resolution of this group by describing a new species, Mantidactylus schulzi sp. nov., occurring at the Tsaratanana and Manongarivo Massifs, differentiated in genetic, bioacoustic and sometimes morphological characters from its closest relatives. We show that upon detailed study, most species in Brygoomantis can be delimited by concordant differentiation of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, and by bioacoustic and morphological differences. We flag this group of morphologically similar frogs as a test case where molecular data on historical type specimens by ancient DNA methods might be needed to reach a satisfying clarification of taxonomy and nomenclature. However, the status of the new species M. schulzi is not in doubt as it is morphologically distinct from most historical type specimens, and microendemic to a region in northern Madagascar from where no earlier names exist. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4576 (3) ◽  
pp. 439 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANTOINE FOUQUET ◽  
JEAN-PIERRE VACHER ◽  
ELODIE A. COURTOIS ◽  
CHLOÉ DESCHAMPS ◽  
PAUL OUBOTER ◽  
...  

Anomaloglossus is a species-rich genus of frogs endemic to the Guiana Shield that still harbors several unnamed species. Within the A. stepheni species group (which includes four valid nominal species), A. baeobatrachus has an uncertain taxonomic status, notably because the holotype was an unvouchered specimen depicted in a popular journal. Another member of this group, A. leopardus, was only superficially described, lacking information on the sex of specimens in the type series and on advertisement call. Therefore, these two taxa need clarifications in order to allow the description of the extant undescribed species. In this paper, we redescribe A. baeobatrachus based on newly collected material from the species type locality and provide information about its reproductive ecology. We also provide an amended definition of A. leopardus using newly collected material from its type locality. These two species form a clade along with a third species from the Eastern Guiana Shield, which is also described herein. The reproductive biology of A. baeobatrachus and A. stepheni is very similar. Both species have endotrophic and nidicolous tadpoles, despite being distantly related, suggesting independent evolution of this breeding mode. The new species and A. leopardus, on the other hand, have exotrophic tadpoles. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1949 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
SERGUEI V. TRIAPITSYN ◽  
GUILLERMO A. LOGARZO ◽  
JESSE H. DE LEÓN ◽  
EDUARDO G. VIRLA

Gonatocerus deleoni Triapitsyn, Logarzo & Virla sp. n., reared from sentinel eggs of Tapajosa rubromarginata (Signoret) (Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae: Proconiini) on citrus plants, a new member of the ater species group of Gonatocerus Nees (Mymaridae), is described from the state of Mendoza, Argentina. Taxonomic notes and host association data are provided to help differentiate this new species from the morphologically similar but genetically distinct taxon, G. tuberculifemur (Ogloblin). The female of the latter is redescribed and the male is newly described. Gonatocerus deleoni, G. tuberculifemur, and three forms (different molecular clades) comprise the G. tuberculifemur complex. These forms are identified but not formally described because of lack of morphologically distinguishing features. The taxonomic conclusions are supported by molecular data, and by results of reciprocal cross-breeding experiments between most of them.


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4701 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-275
Author(s):  
SALY SITTHIVONG ◽  
VINH QUANG LUU ◽  
NGOAN VAN HA ◽  
TRUONG QUANG NGUYEN ◽  
MINH DUC LE ◽  
...  

A new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus from Vientiane Province, northern Laos is described based on morphological and molecular data. Cyrtodactylus muangfuangensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from remaining congeners by the following combination of characters: maximum SVL 83.9 mm; dorsal pattern consisting of dark nuchal loop, nape band and five dark transversal bands between limb insertions; intersupranasals two; dorsal tubercles present on occiput, body, hind limbs and tail base; 15 or 16 irregular dorsal tubercle rows at midbody; lateral folds clearly defined, without interspersed tubercles; 31–37 ventral scales between ventrolateral folds; six precloacal pores and 15 femoral pores in males, which are interrupted by six to eight poreless scales; six precloacal pitted scales plus in total 10–15 pitted femoral scales in females, which are separated by six to eight poreless scales; enlarged precloacal and femoral scales present; two or three postcloacal tubercles; median subcaudal scales transversely enlarged. In molecular analyses, the new species is strongly supported as a member of the Cyrtodactylus phongnhakebangensis species group, and weakly corroborated as a sister taxon to C. pageli. Pairwise genetic comparison shows that it is at least 18% divergent from other congeners in the species group based on a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4820 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-164
Author(s):  
ANTOINE FOUQUET ◽  
RAWIEN JAIRAM ◽  
PAUL OUBOTER ◽  
PHILIPPE J. R. KOK

Anomaloglossus is a species-rich genus of frogs endemic to the Guiana Shield that still harbours several unnamed species. According to a recent integrative taxonomic survey, the A. stepheni species group includes five valid nominal species and at least four putatively unnamed species, two in Brazil and two in Suriname. In this paper, we describe the two species from Suriname based on adult and tadpole morphology as well as their calls and natural history. Both have exotrophic tadpoles transported by the male to small water bodies. These two new species differ from each other and from other congeners in body size, colouration pattern, call characteristics and breeding sites. Both have narrow distributions and should be considered Endangered according to IUCN criteria.


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