Anoplocaryum: A newly recorded genus of Boraginaceae from China

Anoplocaryum (Boraginaceae), a small genus previously known from Russia and Mongolia, is newly recorded from China. The specimen was discovered in the rock crevices of Zhangjiakou City, Hebei province, China, and was identified as A. helenae Volot. based on both morphological and molecular data. This study updates our knowledge on the geographic distribution of the genus Anoplocaryum. Two taxonomic keys were provided to distinguish Anoplocaryum and Chinese related genera, also to index taxa in Anoplocaryum.

Split distribution, biogeography and morphological and genetic diversity of the Iberobathynellini Tribe in the family Parabathynellidae (Crustacea, Malacostraca, Bathynellacea)

The “Iberobathynella group”, or Iberobathynellini tribe, is a complex of six genera consisting of 33 nominal species and several cryptic species with an amphiatlantic distribution (in Europe, North Africa and North America). A modern systematic revision of this group of subterranean crustaceans is presented here. A phylogenetic and biogeographic study using morphological and molecular data (mitocondrial coi and nuclear 18S) was carried out and allowed to a) re-evaluate the taxonomic status and validity of previously erected subtribes, genera and subgenera that show congruence in the data; b) assess whether the identified mitochondrial lineages represent cryptic species; c) provide a plausible phylogenetic hypothesis for the relationships within Iberobathynellini and with the other two genera of the family Parabathynellidae that inhabit North America and Europe (Montanabathynella and Parabathynella, respectively); d) propose a plausible temporal and historical framework (paleobiogeographic scenario) for the diversification and evolution of the Iberobathynellini tribe based on the current distribution of morphotypes and their estimated times of divergence. Our results show that in parabathynellids, molecular and morphological divergences are not always congruent. Subtribe and subgenus are invalid categories so they must be eliminated. Paraiberobathynella genus needs to be revisited. The molecular dating results support the early divergence of the Iberobathynellini Tribe (Upper Cretaceous, around 78 Mya) and the vicariance by plate tectonics as main factor to explain the amphi-Atlantic distribution shown by this ancient subterranean crustacean group. Since there are species morphologically very similar to I. magna and I. imuniensis, but genetically different, we can ensure the existence of at least three cryptic species. Texanobathynella is undoubtedly a valid genus distinct from Iberobathynella. Montanabathynella and Parabathynella are two well-differentiated genera closely related to the Iberobathynellini tribe.

 Gryon aetherium Talamas (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae): Parasitoid of Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) Adventive in Chile

A parasitoid wasp, Gryon aetherium Talamas (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae), was reared from eggs of the invasive stink bug Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) in Chile. The identification of G. aetherium, which is under study as a biological control agent, was made with morphological and molecular data in the context of a recent taxonomic treatment of this species. The presence of an adventive population of G. aetherium in South America has implications for biological control of B. hilaris in Chile, and other countries on the continent, where this stink bug may become a pest.

Genetic variations and interspesific relationships in Salvia (Lamiaceae) using SCoT molecular markers

The genus Salvia includes an enormous assemblage of nearly 1000 species dispersed around the World. Iran having 19 endemic species out of 61 is regarded as one of the important regions for Salvia diversity in Southwest Asia. Salvia species are herbaceous, rarely biennial or annual, often strongly aromatic. These species are of medicinal, commercial and horticultural value. Due to the importance of these plant species, we performed a combination of morphological and molecular data for this species. For this study, we used 145 randomly collected plants from 30 species in 18 provinces. Amplification of genomic DNA using 10 primers produced 134 bands, of which 129 were polymorphic (97.78%). The obtained high average PIC and MI values revealed high capacity of SCoT primers to detect polymorphic loci among Salvia species. The genetic similarities of 30 collections were estimated from 0.61 to 0.93. According to the SCoT markers analysis, S. tebesana and S. verticillata had the lowest similarity and the species of S. eremophila and S. santolinifolia had the highest similarity. The aims of present study are: 1) can SCoT markers identify Salvia species, 2) what is the genetic structure of these taxa in Iran, and 3) to investigate the species inter-relationship? The present study revealed that SCoT markers can identify the species.

Disentangling the Taxonomic History of the Widespread and Overlooked Centric Diatom Stephanodiscus makarovae and Its Transfer to Cyclostephanos

Stephanodiscus makarovae, a taxon originally described from Russia, is morphologically similar to several other taxa within Cyclostephanos, namely C. invisitatus, C. delicatus and C. tholiformis. However, it has not yet been transferred into Cyclostephanos, perhaps due to the difficulty in identifying it, as its original description is available only in the Russian language. To investigate its morphology, a detailed morphological comparison of S. makarovae and C. invisitatus was done from 286 SEM micrographs of 12 monoclonal strains. We performed a three-gene phylogenetic analysis with strains from eight additional taxa to independently confirm the position of S. makarovae. The morphology of S. makarovae shows key features of the genus Cyclostephanos and this attribution is supported by the phylogeny. Here we propose the transfer of the taxon S. makarovae to Cyclostephanos, considering the morphological and molecular data. According to both the molecular and morphological data, C. delicatus has a unique position within the genus; S. makarovae and C. invisitatus are morphologically very similar but genetically distinct. Furthermore, based upon the results, it was possible to reassign the authority of the transfer of S. delicatus into Cyclostephanos.

Insights on The Morphological and Phylogenetic Delimitation of Dacrymyces Nees

Dacrymycetes has four families and 13 genera, few of them with molecular data available and then usually polyphyletic in phylogenetic analyses. Dacrymyces Nees is one of the polyphyletic genera in Dacrymycetes and it was introduced to accommodate one species, D. stillatus Nees. The morphological features of the genus are a homogeneous composition of the intra-structure and an amphigenous or superior hymenium. In this study, we included Neotropical specimens in the phylogeny of the Dacrymycetes and Dacrymyces s.s. is emended to include species with resupinate basidiomata, unilateral hymenium and heterogeneous context. In this new delimitation, the new species Dacrymyces flavobrunneus is described using morphological and molecular data and three new combinations (D. ceraceus comb. nov., D. maxidorii comb. nov. and D. spathularia comb. nov.) are proposed based on DNA analyses.

Branching patterns of the afferent branchial arteries and their phylogenetic significance in rays (Batoidea)

Rays of the superorder Batoidea comprise the most diverse group of chondrichthyans in terms of valid species and morphological disparity. Up to the present little agreement is observed in studies based on morphological and molecular data focused on uncovering the interrelationships within Batoidea. Morphology-based phylogenies of batoids have not included characters related to the afferent branchial arteries, and little is known about the variation in this anatomical complex in rays. Herein, representatives of 32 genera from 19 families currently recognized of rays were examined as well as some shark taxa. Seven new characters are proposed and tested in two different analyses, one on their own and in the other they were added to the morphological data matrix of the most recent analysis of interrelationships within Batoidea. The arrangement of afferent branchial arteries differs mainly among orders and families of batoids. The absence of a common trunk from which the three posteriormost afferent arteries branch is interpreted as a synapomorphy for Myliobatiformes and the presence of a coronary cranial artery as an autapomorphy for Mobula hypostoma. A close spatial relationship between the second and third afferent arteries within the common branch from the ventral aorta is proposed as a synapomorphy for Rajiformes with a secondary modification in Sympterygia. Data about patterns in afferent branchial arteries in additional taxa such as Squaliformes and Chimaeriformes are needed to better understand the evolution of this character complex among chondrichthyans.

The taxonomic status of Cryptobatrachus frogs (Anura: Hemiphractidae) from the Serranía del Perijá

The Neotropical frog genus Cryptobatrachus includes six currently recognized species distributed throughout the northern Andes in Colombia and Venezuela. Cryptobatrachus conditus, C. pedroruizi, and C. remotus were described from the Colombian and Venezuelan slopes of the Serranía del Perijá. Due to the great morphological similarity among these species, we re-assess their taxonomic status based on morphological and molecular data from types, topotypes, and specimens from localities referred to in the original descriptions of these species. Morphometric comparisons showed that all these species are virtually indistinguishable, although some subtle qualitative differences in morphological traits distinguish C. conditus from the other species. Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences found that C. remotus and C. pedroruizi are not reciprocally monophyletic and exhibit low genetic divergence (< 1 %). Therefore, C. remotus should be considered a junior synonym of C. pedroruizi. This work stresses the importance of comprehensive taxon sampling in poorly explored areas, especially between neighbouring countries.

Two new species of snail-eating snakes of the genus Tropidodipsas (Serpentes, Dipsadidae) from southern Mexico, with notes on related species

We describe two new species of Tropidodipsas related to the T. fasciata species group as defined by Kofron (1987), and provide morphological and molecular data to support the novelty of both species. A partial molecular phylogeny of the Mexican species of snail-eating snakes (Serpentes, Dipsadidae) is presented, and we discuss evolutionary relationships as supported by our molecular results. We analyze specific relationships of the new species described herein with their closest relatives. We present a distribution map for all species of Tropidodipsas and include photographs of living individuals of each species. Finally, we discuss other taxonomic changes based on our molecular phylogeny as well as conservation priorities of the new species.

Two new species of Byrrhinus Motschulsky, 1858 (Coleoptera, Limnichidae, Limnichinae) from Negros, Philippines

Two new species of Limnichidae beetles, Byrrhinus negrosensissp. nov. and Byrrhinus villarinisp. nov., are described from the Island of Negros in the Philippines. The adult specimens of the new species can be differentiated by patterns of body punctation, colour and orientation of elytral pubescence, posterolateral angle of pronotum, tarsomere length ratio and aedeagal form. Two clades, representing the two new species, were retrieved in the Maximum Likelihood gene tree using the 3’-end of the COI gene. Maximum genetic divergence within B. negrosensis sp. nov. and B. villarini sp. nov. were recorded to be 2.3% and 1.3%, respectively, while the mean interspecific divergence between the two new species was 19.7%. Morphological descriptions, digital photographs and COI sequences were provided for the two species. The state of knowledge of Byrrhinus is reviewed and an updated Philippine checklist is provided. By coupling morphological and molecular data, this paper provides the first additional new species of Philippine Byrrhinus in the last 28 years.