scholarly journals Phylogenetics of the freshwater crab (Potamonautes MacLeay, 1838) fauna from ‘sky islands’ in Mozambique with the description of a new species (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Savel R. Daniels ◽  
Gabriela B. Bittencourt-Silva ◽  
Vanessa Muianga ◽  
Julian Bayliss
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Divergence Time ◽  
12S Rrna ◽  
Sky Islands ◽  
Freshwater Crab ◽  
Crab Species ◽  
African Species ◽  
Island Species ◽  
Sky Island

Patterns and processes of cladogenesis among taxa living on the Mozambique ‘sky islands’ remain poorly studied. During the present study, we report on a new freshwater crab species from Mount Lico, an inselberg and ‘sky island’ in the Zambezia Province of Mozambique. Phylogenetic analyses using three mitochondrial DNA sequence loci (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and COI) were used to determine the evolutionary placement of the freshwater crab specimens from Mount Lico. The freshwater crab specimens from Mount Lico were retrieved sister to Potamonautes choloensis. The new species, Potamonautes licoensis sp. nov., is described and compared with other southern African freshwater crab species. Divergence time estimations for the Mozambican freshwater crab species suggest a Miocene / Plio–Pleistocene diversification. Some endemic ‘sky island’ species form an early branching and are sister to other predominantly East African species, while other ‘sky island’ species are more recently derived and nested within a predominantly southern African clade. The present study presents the description of the fourth endemic freshwater crab species from Mozambique and suggests that the species diversity in the country is likely highly underrepresented, reiterating the call for renewed systematic surveys. An argument for the conservation of these mountainous ‘sky islands’ is presented.

scholarly journals Pleistocene origin and colonization history of Lobelia columnaris Hook. f. (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae) across sky islands of West Central Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Perez Perez ◽  
Wen-Bin Yu
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Divergence Time ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Sky Islands ◽  
Lowland Forest ◽  
Colonization History ◽  
Bioko Island ◽  
Climatic Oscillations ◽  
Chloroplast Genomes ◽  
Sky Island

We aimed to infer the phylogenetic relationships of populations of Lobelia columnaris using chloroplast genomes and estimate the divergence time to reconstruct its historical colonization on the sky islands of Bioko and Cameroon. Specifically, we aim to answer the following questions: (1) What is the phylogenetic relationship among Bioko Island and Cameroon populations? (2) Are the older populations found on the older sky islands? (3) Does the colonization history reflect the age of the sky islands? We assembled novel plastomes from 20 individuals of L. columnaris from five mountain systems. The plastome data was explored with phylogenetic analyses using Maximum likelihood and Bayesian Inference. The complete plastome size varied from 164,609 bp to 165,368 bp. The populations of L. columnaris have a monophyletic origin, subdivided into three plastome-geographic clades. The plastid phylogenomic results and age of the sky islands indicate that L. columnaris colonized first along the Cameroon Volcanic Line’s young sky islands. The earliest divergent event (1.54 Ma) split the population in South Bioko from those on the mainland and North Bioko. The population of South Bioko was likely isolated during cold and dry conditions in forest refugia. Presumably, the colonization history occurred during the middle-late Pleistocene from South Bioko’s young sky island to North Bioko and the northern old sky islands in Cameroon. Furthermore, the central depression with lowland forest between North and South Bioko is a current geographic barrier that keeps separate the populations of Bioko from each other and the mainland populations. The Pleistocene climatic oscillations led to the divergence of the Cameroon and Bioko populations into three clades. L. columnaris colonized the older sky island in mainland Cameroon after establishing South Bioko’s younger sky islands. The biogeography history was an inverse progression concerning the age of the Afromontane sky islands.

scholarly journals Taxonomic revision of the endemic Cameroonian freshwater crab genus Louisea Cumberlidge, 1994 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Potamonautidae), with descriptions of two new species from Nkongsamba and Yabassi

ZooKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 881 ◽  
pp. 135-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre A. Mvogo Ndongo ◽  
Thomas von Rintelen ◽  
Neil Cumberlidge
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Genetic Data ◽  
12S Rrna ◽  
Freshwater Crab ◽  
Diagnostic Features ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Montane Zone ◽  
Wetland Complex

The taxonomy of the freshwater crab genus Louisea Cumberlidge, 1994, is reviewed based on type material and newly obtained specimens from three different localities in southwestern Cameroon. The genus is endemic to Cameroon and previously included two species: L. edeaensis (Bott, 1969) (type species) from Lake Ossa wetland complex (altitudes below 400 m asl) and L. balssi (Bott, 1959) from Kumba and Mt. Manengouba (altitudes above 1300 m asl). Here two new species of Louisea are described based on morphological and/or genetic data: L. nkongsambasp. nov. from the Nlonako Ecological Reserve (1000–1400 m asl) in the sub-montane zone and L. yabassisp. nov. from Yabassi in the lowlands. A redescription and amended diagnostic features of L. edeaensis and L. balssi are provided, and the genus diagnosis is updated to accommodate all four species. An identification key is also provided for the species of Louisea. A tree of phylogenetic relationships based on three mtDNA loci (COI, 12S rRNA, and 16S rRNA) supports the taxonomic revision, and indicates speciation of Louisea species along an altitudinal gradient, but further phylogenetic analyses are needed to understand whether this can lend support to the hypothesis that there is a montane centre of speciation along the Cameroon Volcanic Line. The phylogenetic tree also shows that Buea Cumberlidge, Mvogo Ndongo, Clark & Daniels, 2019 and Potamonemus Cumberlidge & Clark, 1992 are sister genera that may be derived from the Louisea lineage.

scholarly journals Molecular phylogenetics of stream treefrogs of the Hyloscirtus larinopygion group (Anura: Hylidae), and description of two new species from Ecuador

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3364 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUIS A. COLOMA ◽  
SOFÍA CARVAJAL-ENDARA ◽  
JUAN F. DUEÑAS ◽  
ARTURO PAREDES-RECALDE ◽  
MANUEL MORALES-MITE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetics ◽  
Divergence Time ◽  
Late Eocene ◽  
Sister Species ◽  
16S Rrna Genes ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
12S Rrna ◽  
Locality Record ◽  
Minimum Age

We review the systematics of frogs of the Hyloscirtus larinopygion group. A new phylogenetic tree inferred frommitochondrial DNA (partial sequences of 12S rRNA, valine-tRNA, and 16S rRNA genes; ~2.3 kb) of eleven species ofthe H. larinopygion group is provided, based on maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analyses. Ourphylogeny confirms the close relationship of members of the H. larinopygion group with Andean relatives of the H.armatus group, which also occurs in the Andes. Hyloscirtus tapichalaca is placed as sister species to the rest of the H.larinopygion group, in which two clades (A+B) are evident. Although ingroup relationships are well supported, themonophyly of the H. larinopygion group and placement of H. tapichalaca require additional testing. Genetic divergencesamong species of the H. larinopygion group are shallow compared to those observed in many other anurans, with geneticdistance among sister species (H. princecharlesi and H. ptychodactylus) as low as 1.31%. However, this pattern isconcordant with radiations in other highland Andean lineages of anurans that show marked morphological or behavioraldifferentiation, but low divergence in mitochondrial markers. Divergence-time analyses (using BEAST) indicate that theHyloscirtus clade is a relatively ancient lineage that appeared in the Eocene, at a minimum age of 51.2 million years ago(MYA), while the H. larinopygion group originated in the Middle-Late Eocene at a minimum age of 40.9 MYA. Ourresults might suggest a rapid radiation of Hyloscirtus starting in the Miocene into the Pliocene, from at least 14.2 MYA tothe most recent divergence between sister taxa at ~2.6 MYA. We also describe two sympatric new species of Hyloscirtusfrom northwestern Ecuador: H. criptico sp. nov. and H. princecharlesi sp. nov. We diagnose them by their phylogeneticposition (they are not sister to each other), genetic divergence, and a unique combination of color patterns, and othermorphological features. Additionally, we describe the suctorial tadpoles and the extreme ontogenic color changes in H.larinopygion, H. lindae, H. pantostictus, H. princecharlesi, H. psarolaimus, and H. tigrinus. Furthermore, we describe theosteology of H. criptico, H. lindae, H. pacha, H. pantostictus, H. princecharlesi, H. psarolaimus, H. ptychodactylus, andH. staufferorum. We describe vocalizations of H. lindae, H. pacha, H. pantostictus, H. pasarolaimus, H. staufferorum, andH. tapichalaca. Hyloscirtus tigrinus is recorded for the first time in Ecuador and its range is extended 62.4 km (airlinedistance), from its southernmost locality record in Departamento de Nariño, Colombia. Most species of the H.larinopygion group are currently severely threatened by extinction, after surviving the catastrophic extinctions in the1980s and 1990s that led to the disappearance of many other sympatric anurans that bred in swiftly flowing water and hadlotic water tadpoles in the Andean highlands. Research and conservation actions are urgently needed for these species. Inorder to better call attention to these conservation issues, we name one of the new species in honor of Prince Charles ofWales, who is contributing significantly to the growth of awareness in the battle against tropical deforestation, climate change, and the catastrophic extinction of rainforest amphibians.

Hidden in the highlands: the description and phylogenetic position of a novel endemic freshwater crab species (Potamonautidae : Potamonautes) from Zimbabwe

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethel E. Phiri ◽  
Savel R. Daniels
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
12S Rrna ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Freshwater Crab ◽  
Crab Species ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Freshwater Crabs ◽  
Mtdna Sequence

A recent sampling endeavour of freshwater crabs along the high-lying streams of the Nyanga mountain range in Mutare (Eastern Highlands, Zimbabwe) yielded a morphologically distinct, as yet undescribed species. The novel Zimbabwean species is compared to the 16 described species from southern Africa based on mtDNA sequence data derived from three partial gene sequences (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and COI). The new Zimbabwean species was found to be a sister taxon to Potamonautes mulanjeensis. These two species are morphologically and genetically easily differentiated. The new species is described as Potamonautes mutareensis, sp. nov. and is compared morphologically to the known freshwater crab species of southern Africa. A dichotomous key to the four described freshwater crab species that occur in Zimbabwe is also provided. Our results suggest that species diversity and endemism of freshwater decapods and other habitat specialists is likely to be high in unsampled mountainous regions.

scholarly journals A new species of the freshwater crab genus Potamonemus Cumberlidge & Clark, 1992 (Crustacea: Potamonautidae) endemic to the forested highlands of southwest Cameroon, Central Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre A. Mvogo Ndongo ◽  
Thomas von Rintelen ◽  
Neil Cumberlidge
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
The Other ◽  
Tropical Rainforests ◽  
12S Rrna ◽  
Freshwater Crab ◽  
Distinct Lineage ◽  
A New Species

A new species of freshwater crab of the genus Potamonemus Cumberlidge & Clark, 1992, is described from Mount Manengouba Reserve and the Bakossi National Park in the tropical rainforests of southwestern Cameroon, Central Africa. Potamonemus man n. sp. is recognized by characters of the carapace and chelipeds. In addition, a phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequences of three mitochondrial DNA genes (COI, 12S rRNA, and 16S rRNA) that included representatives of all other freshwater crab genera found in Cameroon recovered each of the new species as a distinct lineage. A diagnosis and illustrations of the new species are provided, and it is compared to the other species in this genus. Brief notes are provided on the ecology of the new species and the two other species of Potamonemus. An identification key to the species of Potamonemus is provided and its conservation status discussed.

Discovery of a new species of Anolis lizards from Brazil and its implications for the historical biogeography of montane Atlantic Forest endemics

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Prates ◽  
Paulo Roberto Melo-Sampaio ◽  
Kevin de Queiroz ◽  
Ana Carolina Carnaval ◽  
Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Divergence Time ◽  
Time Estimation ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Divergence Time Estimation ◽  
The City

Abstract Recent biological discoveries have changed our understanding of the distribution and evolution of neotropical biotas. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, the discovery of closely related species isolated on distant mountains has led to the hypothesis that the ancestors of montane species occupied and dispersed through lowland regions during colder periods. This process may explain the distribution of an undescribed Anolis lizard species that we recently discovered at a montane site in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, a popular tourist destination close to the city of Rio de Janeiro. To investigate whether this species is closely related to other Atlantic Forest montane anoles, we implement phylogenetic analyses and divergence time estimation based on molecular data. We infer the new species nested within the Dactyloa clade of Anolis, forming a clade with A. nasofrontalis and A. pseudotigrinus, two species restricted to montane sites about 400 km northeast of Serra dos Órgãos. The new species diverged from its sister A. nasofrontalis around 5.24 mya, suggesting a cold-adapted lowland ancestor during the early Pliocene. Based on the phylogenetic results, we emend the definitions of the series taxa within Dactyloa, recognizing a clade containing the new species and several of its relatives as the nasofrontalis series. Lastly, we provide morphological data supporting the recognition of the new species and give it a formal scientific name. Future studies are necessary to assess how park visitors, pollutants, and shrinking montane habitats due to climate change will affect this previously overlooked anole species.

Description of a new endemic species of mountain lizard from Northwestern Spain: Iberolacerta galani sp. nov. (Squamata : Lacertidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1240 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
OSCAR ARRIBAS ◽  
SALVADOR CARRANZA ◽  
GAETANO ODIERNA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Posterior Part ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
12S Rrna ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Lacertid Lizards ◽  
Northwestern Spain

A new species of Iberolacerta is described from the Montes de León (northwest Iberia). This new species, Iberolacerta galani sp. nov., is characterized by its relatively large size, high number of blue ocelli on the shoulders and the relatively frequent contact or near-contact between the supranasal and the first loreal scale, the fairly straight squamosal bone (only curved on its posterior part), a unique karyotype in Iberolacerta combining 2n=36 chromosomes, an L-type NOR and differentiated W and Z sex chromosomes, and unique mitochondrial DNA sequences for the cytochrome b and 12S rRNA genes. The correlation analyses show that morphology in general, but especially scalation, is strongly correlated with the amount of precipitation during the months of lizard activity, which suggests that these are not good taxonomic characters, and that other characters apparently independent of the climate like for instance osteological, karyological and DNA features are much more reliable in delimiting species boundaries in Iberolacerta. According to our phylogenetic analyses, I. galani nov. is part of a very well supported clade that originated around 2.5 mya and also includes I. monticola and I. martinezricai. Phylogeny suggests I.martinezricai might be the sister taxon to I. galani nov. from which it split approximately 2 mya, at the beginning of the Pleistocene. The clade containing I. galani nov., I. martinezricai and I. monticola was probably widely distributed across western Iberia during moderately cool and moist phases of the Pleistocene, but it was probably restricted to its present range as a result of the general temperature increase during the Holocene and competition with other lacertid lizards. Iberolacerta galani nov. is endemic to the Montes de León, where it is isolated from the other species of the “monticola-group” by the Duero and Miño-Sil Rivers, but particularly by the Bibei river valley.

Steinernema beitlechemi n. sp., a new entomopathogenic nematode (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) from South Africa

Nematology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 439-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harun Çimen ◽  
Vladimír Půža ◽  
Jiří Nermuť ◽  
Justin Hatting ◽  
Tshima Ramakuwela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Entomopathogenic Nematode ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Monophyletic Clade ◽  
African Species ◽  
Spicule Length ◽  
Tail Tip ◽  
A New Species

Steinernema beitlechemi n. sp. is a new species of entomopathogenic nematode isolated from soil samples collected in Bethlehem, Free State province, South Africa. The infective juveniles of S. beitlechemi n. sp. are characterised by a body length of 696 (606-768) μm, position of nerve ring of 96 (86-105) μm from the head and lateral fields with six ridges (i.e., seven lines) in mid-body. First-generation males of S. beitlechemi n. sp. can be distinguished by a spicule length of 93 (88-100) μm and 12 pairs of genital papillae. First-generation females have a moderately protruding vulva and a rounded tail tip bearing one spine-like projection. The new species is further characterised by sequences of the ITS and partial 28S regions of the ribosomal DNA. Phylogenetic analyses show S. beitlechemi n. sp. as a member of a strongly supported monophyletic clade with three other African species: S. sacchari, S. cameroonense and S. nyetense.

Molecular phylogenetic insights into the evolution of Eriosema (Fabaceae): a recent tropical savanna-adapted genus

2020 ◽  
Vol 194 (4) ◽  
pp. 439-459
Author(s):  
Elisa Silva Cândido ◽  
Mohammad Vatanparast ◽  
Wanderleia de Vargas ◽  
Luísa M P A Bezerra ◽  
Gwilym P Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Divergence Time ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
South American ◽  
Tropical Savanna ◽  
African Species ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Nuclear Its ◽  
Combined Data

Abstract Eriosema comprises c. 150 species and has a pantropical distribution and two centres of diversity, Africa and America. The species occur in tropical savannas and grasslands, including the cerrado in Brazil. They have adapted to these environments by developing specialized underground organs, and an abundance of trichomes. Here we present the first comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis of Eriosema, including species from its entire distribution range and generating 391 new DNA sequences. We sampled 140 species from nine genera of Cajaninae, of which 94 (60% of the genus) were Eriosema. Our analyses were based on the nuclear ITS and plastid rpl32 and trnQ regions, and used maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of individual and combined data sets. In all analyses, Eriosema was resolved as monophyletic, but its interspecific relationships are not well resolved. Rhynchosia is not monophyletic, and some African Rhynchosia spp. emerged together as sister to Eriosema. Our study supports the monophyly of Adenodolichos, Dunbaria, Flemingia and Cajanus, but Chrysoscias and Bolusafra formed a clade that is sister to a group of Rhynchosia spp. Paracalyx was resolved as paraphyletic and nested among African Rhynchosia spp. Divergence time analysis suggested that the Eriosema lineages diverged 6.5–10.7 Mya. Two major lineages have diversified in Eriosema, one including most of the African species (4.41–6.68 Mya), the other mainly composed of the South American cerrado species (3.56–5.78 Mya). These results revealed that Eriosema is a recent and tropical savanna-adapted group, and its diversification occurred in the late Miocene in parallel with the expansion of C4 grasslands.

scholarly journals A new species of Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 from the Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam, with additional information on Oligodon annamensis Leviton, 1953 (Squamata: Colubridae)

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e8332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hung Ngoc Nguyen ◽  
Bang Van Tran ◽  
Linh Hoang Nguyen ◽  
Thy Neang ◽  
Platon V. Yushchenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
First Record ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
12S Rrna ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Sister Relationships ◽  
High Level ◽  
A New Species

We describe a new species of Oligodon from the highlands of the Langbian Plateau, southern Truong Son Mountains, Vietnam, based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The new species, Oligodon rostralis sp. nov is distinguished from its congeners by the following morphological characters: medium size in adults (male TL = 582 mm); small and broad head with long protruding snout; dorsal scale row formula 15-15-13; 167 ventrals, 47 subcaudals; single preocular, single postocular; loreal and presubocular absent; six supralabials, third and fourth entering orbit; six infralabials, anterior four contacting first pair of chin shields; internasals separate from prefrontals; nasal divided; single anterior and two posterior temporals; cloacal plate undivided; hemipenes short, bilobed, bifurcating in anterior one third of their length, extending to 8th subcaudal, lacking spines and papillae, with a prominent transverse flounces and distal calyces; six maxillary teeth, the posterior three enlarged; dorsal pattern consisting of 14+4 large dark-brown blotches and a bright-orange vertebral stripe on tail and dorsum; and ventral surfaces in life cream laterally with dark quadrangular spots; dark temporal streak present, edged with white. We also provide additional information on O. annamensis, including a morphological dataset of all specimens known from natural history collections and confirmation of an earlier record of O. annamensis from Cambodia. We also provide the first record of O. annamensis for Dak Lak Province. Phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA genes (3,131 bp of 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and cyt b) suggest sister relationships of Oligodon rostralis sp. nov. and O. annamensis and place them in one clade with the O. cyclurus and O. taeniatus species groups, which is concordant with previous studies on the phylogenetic relationships of Oligodon. Our study demonstrates high level of herpetofaunal diversity and endemism of Langbian Plateau and further supports the importance of this area for conservation herpetofaunal diversity in Indochina.

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