scholarly journals Two new species of the Macrobiotus hufelandi complex (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae) from Australia and India, with notes on their phylogenetic position

Author(s):  
Kyle Coughlan ◽  
Daniel Stec

In this paper we describe two new tardigrade species belonging to the Macrobiotus hufelandi complex: Macrobiotus noongaris sp. nov. from Perth, Australia, and Macrobiotus kamilae sp. nov. from Mussoorie, India. Live specimens extracted from moss samples were used to establish laboratory cultures in order to obtain additional animals and eggs needed for their integrative descriptions. These descriptions are based on traditional morphological and morphometric data collected using both light and scanning electron microscopy, which, at the same time, were associated with DNA sequences of four genetic markers, three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and ITS-2) and one mitochondrial (COI). The use of DNA sequences allowed for a more accurate verification of the taxonomic status of M. noongaris sp. nov. and M. kamilae sp. nov as independent species of the hufelandi group. Although they both exhibit typical inverted goblet-shaped processes, they represent a recently discovered clade, which was thought to group species with modified morphology of egg processes. Thus, this contribution expands the definition of the mentioned clade and constitutes another link that will be helpful for future studies on the evolution of the M. hufelandi complex.

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5026 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-76
Author(s):  
XUE-LING SUN ◽  
JING-YU ZHANG ◽  
NING WANG ◽  
MIN ZHAO ◽  
XUE-GANG LUO

A newly identified tardigrade species from China, Pilatobius nuominensis sp. nov., belongs to the group of species with cuticle of the dorsal and lateral caudal region with evident irregular polygonal sculpture. Nucleotide sequences of two nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA) and one mitochondrial (COI) DNA fragments of the new species are provided, which allows an independent verification of the taxonomic status of the new species. This is the first record of the genus Pilatobius in the Great Hinggan Mountains.  


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4933 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-135
Author(s):  
YEVGEN KIOSYA ◽  
JUSTYNA POGWIZD ◽  
YELYZAVETA MATSKO ◽  
MATTEO VECCHI ◽  
DANIEL STEC

In a moss and lichen sample collected on the Polish coast, a new population of Macrobiotus sottilei was found. Given that the original description of M. sottilei was based solely on the morphology observed under light microscopy and measurements of a few individuals, we provide, by means of integrative taxonomy, a revisional note on this species. We present a comprehensive set of morphometric and morphological data from light and scanning electron microscopy analysis together with nucleotide sequences of three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2) and one mitochondrial (COI) DNA fragments. We also provide the same set of DNA sequences for Macrobiotus glebkai from a population recently found in Eastern Ukraine and elucidate the phylogenetic position of these two taxa within the family Macrobiotidae. Moreover, the terminology of cuticular bars in macrobiotid legs, and pillars within the egg chorion ornamentation in the Macrobiotus hufelandi morphogroup, are also discussed. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Pogwizd ◽  
Daniel Stec

In sediment samples collected from three distinct European locations (United Kingdom, France, Poland), populations of Dactylobiotus parthenogeneticus were found. The original description of this species was based solely on the morphology observed with light microscopy and later supplemented by some additional SEM data of the buccal apparatus and DNA sequences of 18S rRNA and COI. Here we provide an updated description of the species by means of integrative taxonomy. The description comprises a comprehensive set of morphometric and morphological data from light and scanning microscopy as well as nucleotide sequences of three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2) and one mitochondrial (COI) fragments. Our analysis of haplotype diversity confirmed our morphological identification and showed that D. parthenogeneticus is widely distributed in Europe.


2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 522-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Isabel Müller ◽  
Drausio Honorio Morais ◽  
Reinaldo José da Silva

Abstract Three valid species of Haplometroides Odhner, 1910 parasitise snakes and amphisbaenians from South America. This study provides additional data on morphometric and molecular phylogenetic position inferred from the nuclear ribosomal gene 28S (partial). DNA sequences were isolated from Haplometroides intercaecalis Silva, Ferreira and Strüssmann, 2007 found in one specimen of Phalotris matogrossensis Lema, D’Agostini and Cappellari, 2005. Five digenean specimens were recovered from the esophagus of this snake, and four specimens were used for morphometrical studies and one specimen for molecular analysis. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods was conducted with sequences available for the order Plagiorchiida and its phylogenetic position places H. intercaecalis among the brachycoeliids Brachycoelium (Dujardin, 1845) Stiles and Hassall, 1898 and Parabrachycoelium Pérez-Ponce de León, Mendoza-Garfias, Razo-Mendivil and Parra-Olea, 2011, and the mesocoeliid Mesocoelium Odhner, 1910, not closely related to plagiorchids as expected. Due to morphological differences among these families, it may be necessary to create a new family to accommodate Haplometroides spp. However, more genera/taxa as well as other molecular markers should be added in future studies to confirm our results and resolve this matter. This is the first phylogenetic positioning of digeneans of the genus Haplometroides, contributing to the systematic analysis of the helminthological biodiversity of Neotropical snakes.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael F. Braby ◽  
Rod Eastwood

The Australian endemic lycaenid Pseudalmenus H.H. Druce, 1902 occupies a unique phylogenetic position within the Theclinae–Polyommatinae assemblage. Although the genus exhibits complex geographic variation, it has long been considered to be monotypic. However, evidence from adult phenotype (colour pattern), immature stages (final instar larva) and ecology (ant specificity) (total of 10 unique character states) as well as limited genetic data (mitochondrial COI) suggest that there are two species, namely, P. chlorinda (Blanchard, 1848) from Tasmania and the mainland of south-eastern Australia and P. barringtonensis Waterhouse, 1928 stat. rev., which is allopatric and narrowly restricted to montane areas in northern New South Wales. Examination of the ‘holotype’ male of P. barringtonensis in the Australian Museum showed that it is a fake, although the data label is genuine; the specimen is actually P. chlorinda chloris Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914 that has been modified with red paint to resemble P. barringtonensis. The true holotype is currently missing, but a specimen in the Australian Museum (registration No. K199026) that is part of the Colin W. Wyatt Theft Collection with a fictitious label is almost certainly the true holotype of P. barringtonensis. We discuss the history of this most unusual and bizarre circumstance and conclude that Wyatt stole the holotype sometime in 1946 before he returned to England (~72 years ago) and fabricated the fake holotype as a replacement specimen. Such a fraudulent and unprecedented act surely ranks as Australia’s greatest taxonomic fraud.


2021 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 281-306
Author(s):  
Matteo Vecchi ◽  
Daniel Stec

In this paper, we describe two new Macrobiotus species from Mississippi (USA) and Crete (Greece) by means of integrative taxonomy. Detailed morphological data from light and scanning electron microscopy, as well as molecular data (sequences of four genetic markers: 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2 and COI), are provided in support of the descriptions of the new species. Macrobiotus annewintersaesp. nov. from Mississippi belongs to the Macrobiotus persimilis complex (Macrobiotus clade B) and exhibits a unique egg processes morphology, similar only to Macrobiotus anemone Meyer, Domingue & Hinton, 2014, but mainly differs from that species by the presence of eyes, granulation on all legs, dentate lunulae on legs IV, and of bubble-like structures within the tentacular arms that are present on the distal portion of the egg processes. Macrobiotus rybakisp. nov. from Crete belongs to the Macrobiotus clade A and is most similar to Macrobiotus dariae Pilato & Bertolani, 2004, Macrobiotus noemiae Roszkowska & Kaczmarek, 2019, Macrobiotus santoroi Pilato & D’Urso, 1976, and Macrobiotus serratus Bertolani, Guidi & Rebecchi, 1996, but differs from them mainly in the morphological details of its egg processes and chorion reticulation, but also by a number of morphometric characters. In light of the specific morphology of the egg processes of Macrobiotus annewintersaesp. nov. and Macrobiotus anemone, that are equipped with tentacular arms instead of proper terminal disc, we also provide an updated definition of the Macrobiotus persimilis complex.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Yupei Zhou ◽  
Wei Sun ◽  
Lili Zhao ◽  
D. Pavlic-Zupanc ◽  
...  

The genus Botryosphaeria includes more than 200 epithets, but only the type species, Botryosphaeria dothidea and a dozen or more other species have been identified based on DNA sequence data. The taxonomic status of the other species remains unconfirmed because they lack either morphological information or DNA sequence data. In this study, types or authentic specimens of 16 “Botryosphaeria” species are reassessed to clarify their identity and phylogenetic position. nuDNA sequences of four regions, ITS, LSU, tef1-α and tub2, are analyzed and considered in combination with morphological characteristics. Based on the multigene phylogeny and morphological characters, Botryosphaeria cruenta and Botryosphaeria hamamelidis are transferred to Neofusicoccum. The generic status of Botryosphaeria aterrima and Botryosphaeria mirabile is confirmed in Botryosphaeria. Botryosphaeria berengeriana var. weigeliae and B. berengeriana var. acerina are treated synonyms of B. dothidea. Botryosphaeria mucosa is transferred to Neodeightonia as Neodeightonia mucosa, and Botryosphaeria ferruginea to Nothophoma as Nothophoma ferruginea. Botryosphaeria foliicola is reduced to synonymy with Phyllachorella micheliae. Botryosphaeria abuensis, Botryosphaeria aesculi, Botryosphaeria dasylirii, and Botryosphaeria wisteriae are tentatively kept in Botryosphaeria sensu stricto until further phylogenetic analysis is carried out on verified specimens. The ordinal status of Botryosphaeria apocyni, Botryosphaeria gaubae, and Botryosphaeria smilacinina cannot be determined, and tentatively accommodate these species in Dothideomycetes incertae sedis. The study demonstrates the significance of a polyphasic approach in characterizing type specimens, including the importance of using of DNA sequence data.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4476 (1) ◽  
pp. 168
Author(s):  
PAKORN TONGBOONKUA ◽  
MAO-YING LEE ◽  
WEI-JEN CHEN

Left-eyed flounders of the genus Chascanopsetta Alcock 1894 (Bothidae) occur in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans at depths ranging from 120 to 1500 meters. They possess some unique features in bothid fishes including a strongly compressed and elongated body and a tremendously large mouth. Currently, nine species of Chascanopsetta are recognized, and three of them (C. micrognatha Amaoka & Yamamoto 1984, C. lugubris Alcock 1894 and C. prognatha Norman 1939) are distributed in the West Pacific. We collected 25 specimens of Chascanopsetta during 11 biodiversity expeditions carried out mainly in the West Pacific. Among them, eight specimens taken off Papua New Guinea present morphological features that differ from those of the three nominal species known in the West Pacific. In this study, we examined these eight specimens of unknown affinity and compared their morphology to that of specimens of other congeneric species. Results of these comparisons showed that these specimens represent an undescribed species of Chascanopsetta, named herein, C. novaeguineae sp. nov.. The new species resembles C. elski Foroshchuk 1991, which is known only from the Saya de Malha Bank in the western Indian Ocean, in having a high number of gill rakers (> 13). However, the combination of the following characters further distinguishes C. novaeguineae sp. nov. from C. elski: longer jaws, narrower interorbital width, and number of pseudobranches (21–25 vs. 26–27). The DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from C. novaeguineae sp. nov. and other species were obtained and compared to confirm its taxonomic status and to infer its tentative phylogenetic position within the Chascanopsetta.


Zootaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4052 (5) ◽  
pp. 501 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL STEC ◽  
RADOSLAV SMOLAK ◽  
ŁUKASZ KACZMAREK ◽  
ŁUKASZ MICHALCZYK

In this paper we describe Macrobiotus paulinae, a new species of the hufelandi group from the Kenyan highlands. In addition to the traditional taxonomic description, aided with morphometrics as well as light and scanning microscopy imaging, we also provide nucleotide sequences of three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2) and one mitochondrial (COI) DNA fragment of the new species. The sequences allowed not only a more accurate description but also provided an independent verification of the taxonomic status of Ma. paulinae sp. nov. Such integrative approach requires a considerable number of individuals and eggs, which we have partially subsidised by employing an in vitro culture of the new species. Our analyses revealed that Ma. paulinae sp. nov. is most similar to Macrobiotus madegassus Maucci, 1993 and Macrobiotus modestus Pilato & Lisi, 2009, however it differs from these species, as well as from all other known species of the hufelandi group, by the presence of seven paired dorso-lateral patches of cuticular granulation and the presence of chorionic filaments growing out of terminal discs of egg processes. Macrobiotus paulinae sp. nov. is an example of a species with a miniaturised buccal apparatus (i.e. with reduced peribuccal lamellae and oral cavity armature, and stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube more anteriorly than in typical Ma. hufelandi group species), and it therefore resembles two recently described two-macroplacoided Minibiotus species: Mi. acadianus Meyer & Domingue, 2011 and Mi. julianae Meyer, 2012. The re-examination of the type material for these two species confirmed that they are equipped with peribuccal lamellae and therefore we transfer them to the genus Macrobiotus, specifically to the hufelandi group. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamila Ben Marnissi ◽  
Michele Cesari ◽  
Lorena Rebecchi ◽  
Roberto Bertolani

In this paper a new tardigrade species, Macrobiotus azzunae sp. nov., from Tunisia, is described. An integrative taxonomic approach was applied by combining morphological, morphometric and molecular data. In particular, light and scanning electron microscopy observations, and four genetic markers, three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and ITS-2) and one mitochondrial (COI) were used. The analysis showed that M. azzunae sp. nov. belongs to the Macrobiotus hufelandi group and is most similar to Macrobiotus sandrae Bertolani & Rebecchi, 1993. It differs from M. sandrae by a more pronounced constriction of the first macroplacoid (hardly visible in M. sandrae) and for the eggshell shape, with thinner wires of the reticulum and meshes around the processes larger than the inter-process meshes in M. azzunae sp. nov., while all meshes are similar in size in M. sandrae. The species is gonochoristic. With this discovery, there are 33 species of tardigrades identified in Tunisia, all non-marine. This result, compared with nearby Sicily, where more research has been conducted, indicates that there is a considerable potential for identification of new species. Further research will be most informative if multiple habitats are explored and if carried out with an integrated approach as done in this present work.


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