Identification of Natural Hybrids between Ahlbergia frivaldszkyi (Lederer, 1853) and Callophrys rubi (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) Using Mitochondrial and Nuclear Markers

Natural hybridization is rather widespread and common in animals and can have important evolutionary consequences. In terms of taxonomy, exploring hybridization and introgression is crucial in defining species boundaries and testing taxonomic hypotheses. In the present paper, we report on natural hybrid specimens between Ahlbergia frivaldszkyi (Lederer, 1853) and Callophrys rubi (Linnaeus, 1758). To test the hypothesis of their hybrid origin, we employed the molecular mitochondrial (COI gene) and nuclear (wingless, RPS5, and Ca-ATPase genes) markers commonly used in phylogenetic studies and explored the morphology of the specimens. Our analysis revealed that hybrids bear mitochondrial haplotypes of C. rubi, while nuclear fragments are heterozygous, sharing a combination of A. frivaldszkyi and C. rubi lineages. The hybrid specimens combine morphological characters of both genera. Our results for the first time empirically demonstrate the possibility of genetic introgression between these species and between the genera Callophrys and Ahlbergia on the whole.

Morphological characteristics and mitochondrial COI gene of the green water dragon in Phu Quoc island, Vietnam

The green water dragons of Phu Quoc island, Vietnam have been given a VU rating (vulnerable) by the Vietnam red data book and the International Union for conservation of nature and natural resources. A description of the morphological characteristics and sequenced mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 COI gene was completed following a survey of thirty individuals from September 2018 to May 2019. Their body weights ranged from 115 to 850 g and their snout-vent length ranged from 120 to 280 mm. They were identified to have the highest similarity to the species Physignathus cocincinus by the barcode of life data system. Their COI gene sequence was compared to GenBank (KM272197.1) and the following alternations were found: C5483T, A5486C, C5537A, A5564G, A5591G, T5633C, G5684A, A5771G, A5849C, C5927T, T5942C, C5993T, G6002A, and A6020G. The neighbourjoining tree of their COI sequence divergence indicated a distance (compared to the same published species) from 2.3 to 2.8%. Thus, it might be possible that the green water dragons of Phu Quoc island are evolving into a specific subspecies. However, more green water dragon specimens from Phu Quoc should be sequenced to ensure a conclusion and further research into farming should be initiated to protect this vulnerable species.

Pseudanthias hangapiko, a new anthiadine serranid (Teleostei, Serranidae, Anthiadinae) from Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Pseudanthias hangapikosp. nov. (Teleostei, Serranidae, Anthiadinae) is herein described from three specimens collected from a depth of 83 m in a mesophotic coral ecosystem off Hanga Piko, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile. Pseudanthias hangapikosp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners in live coloration and by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays X, 17; anal-fin rays III, 8; pectoral-fin rays 16 (left side of one specimen 17); vertebrae 10+16; scales relatively large, two scales above lateral-line to base of fifth dorsal spine, and 16–17 circumpeduncular scales; gill rakers 11+23; and a slender body, with greatest body depth 3.6 (3.4–3.8) in SL. The most similar DNA barcodes (mitochondrial COI gene) are from Pseudanthias ventralis Randall, 1979 and Pseudanthias hawaiiensis Randall, 1979, with 16.8% and 17.0% uncorrected divergence, respectively. This fish is one of four new species that were documented from a pair of technical dives at a single location in Rapa Nui, emphasizing the high number of undescribed species likely still unknown in mesophotic coral ecosystems, especially in geographically remote locations. Pseudanthias hangapikosp. nov. adds to the Rapa Nui ichthyofauna, which hosts the second-highest level of endemism in both shallow and deep-water fishes.

A new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Ninh Thuan Province, southern Vietnam

A new species of the Cyrtodactylus irregularis group is described from Ninh Thuan Province, southern Vietnam based on molecular divergence and morphological differences. Cyrtodactylus orlovi sp. nov. is distinguished from the remaining Indochinese bent-toed geckos by having the unique combination of the following characters: size medium (SVL 61.0–77.7 mm); dorsal tubercles in 16–20 irregular rows; 36–39 ventral scale rows; precloacal pores absent in females, 5 or 6 in males, in a continuous row; femoral pores absent; 3–8 enlarged femoral scales; postcloacal spurs 1 or 2; lamellae under toe IV 16–19; a continuous neckband; a highly irregular transverse banded dorsal pattern; the absence of transversely enlarged median subcaudal scales. In phylogenetic analyses, the new species was revealed to be the sister taxon to a clade consisting of Cyrtodactylus cattienensis and the most recently described species from Vietnam, C. chungi, with 12.1–12.4% and 11.7 % pairwise genetic divergence from the two species, respectively, based on a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene.

Description of Idaea josephinae sp. n. from the Iberian Peninsula (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

Idaea josephinae sp. n. is described from the Iberian Peninsula. Differential characters from its North African sister species Idaea lobaria (Chrétien, 1909) in external appearance and genitalia, and in the 5’ barcode fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene (the DNA barcode) are presented.

Genetic Evidence Confirms That the Porostomate Nudibranch Dendrodoris gunnamatta Allan, 1932 Is a Morphotype of Dendrodoris krusensternii (Gray, 1850) (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia)

Conspecificity of the morphologically-similar, sympatric nudibranch species Dendrodoris gunnamatta (Allen, 1932) and Dendrodoris krusensternii (Gray, 1850) was tested using sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene. Data analysis supports the presence of phenotypic polymorphy in D. krusensternii where specimens from large estuaries and embayments in central New South Wales, Australia either lack or have highly reduced sky-blue ocellae.

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Metaphire vulgaris Based on the Mitochondrial COI Gene and Microsatellites

The earthworm species Metaphire vulgaris (a member of the Clitellata class) is widely distributed across China, and has important ecological functions and medicinal value. However, investigations into its genetic diversity and differentiation are scarce. Consequently, we evaluated the genetic diversity of five populations of M. vulgaris (GM, HD, NYYZ, QDDY, and QDY) in Yancheng, China via the mitochondrial COI gene and the novel microsatellites developed there. A total of nine haplotypes were obtained by sequencing the mitochondrial COI gene, among which NYYZ and QDDY populations had the greatest number of haplotypes (nh = 5). Further, the nucleotide diversity ranged from 0.00437 to 0.1243. The neighbor-joining trees and the TCS network of haplotypes indicated that earthworm populations within close geographical range were not genetically isolated at these small scale distances. Results of the identification of microsatellite molecular markers revealed that the allele number in 12 microsatellite loci ranged from 4 to 13. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.151 to 0.644, whereas the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.213 to 0.847. The polymorphism data content of most sites was >0.5, which indicated that the designed sites had high polymorphism. Structural analysis results indicated that GM, HD, and NYYZ had similar genetic structures across the five populations. The Nei’s genetic distance between HD and NYYZ populations was the smallest (Ds = 0.0624), whereas that between HD and QDY populations was the largest (Ds = 0.2364). The UPGMA tree showed that HD were initially grouped with NYYZ, followed by GM, and then with QDDY. Furthermore, cross-species amplification tests were conducted for Metaphire guillelmi, which indicated that the presented markers were usable for this species. This study comprised a preliminary study on the genetic diversity of M. vulgaris, which provides basic data for future investigations into this species.

New species of Sargassum-boring Limnoria Leach, 1814 (Crustacea, Isopoda, Limnoriidae) from Japan

A new marine Sargassum-boring species of Limnoria (Limnoriidae) is described on the basis of specimens obtained at Kamogawa-shi, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Limnoria aspera sp. nov. shares a reduced mandibular palp to a seta, algal-feeding, and the clavate shaped epipod of the maxilliped with the other species of non-mandibular-palp group. L. aspera sp. nov. differs morphologically from the congeneric species by secondary unguis of pereopods and unique carinae of pleonite 5 and pleotelson. We describe the sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene and the nuclear 28S rDNA gene. L. aspera sp. nov. differs by 14.2–18.0% in p-distance based on COI sequences from other Japanese species, L. furca and L. nagatai.