Phylogenomics for Chagas Disease Vectors of the Rhodnius Genus (Hemiptera, Triatominae): What We Learn From Mito-Nuclear Conflicts and Recommendations

We provide in this study a very large DNA dataset on Rhodnius species including 36 samples representing 16 valid species of the three Rhodnius groups, pictipes, prolixus and pallescens. Samples were sequenced at low-depth with whole-genome shotgun sequencing (Illumina technology). Using phylogenomics including 15 mitochondrial genes (13.3 kb), partial nuclear rDNA (5.2 kb) and 51 nuclear protein-coding genes (36.3 kb), we resolve sticking points in the Rhodnius phylogeny. At the species level, we confirmed the species-specific status of R. montenegrensis and R. marabaensis and we agree with the synonymy of R. taquarussuensis with R. neglectus. We also invite to revisit the species-specific status of R. milesi that is more likely R. nasutus. We proposed to define a robustus species complex that comprises the four close relative species: R. marabaensis, R. montenegrensis, R. prolixus and R. robustus. As Psammolestes tertius was included in the Rhodnius clade, we strongly recommend reclassifying this species as R. tertius. At the Rhodnius group level, molecular data consistently supports the clustering of the pictipes and pallescens groups, more related to each other than they are to the prolixus group. Moreover, comparing mitochondrial and nuclear tree topologies, our results demonstrated that various introgression events occurred in all the three Rhodnius groups, in laboratory strains but also in wild specimens. We demonstrated that introgressions occurred frequently in the prolixus group, involving the related species of the robustus complex but also the pairwise R. nasutus and R. neglectus. A genome wide analysis highlighted an introgression event in the pictipes group between R. stali and R. brethesi and suggested a complex gene flow between the three species of the pallescens group, R. colombiensis, R. pallescens and R. ecuadoriensis. The molecular data supports also a sylvatic distribution of R. prolixus in Brazil (Pará state) and the monophyly of R. robustus. As we detected extensive introgression events and selective pressure on mitochondrial genes, we strongly recommend performing separate mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies and to take advantages of mito-nuclear conflicts in order to have a comprehensive evolutionary vision of this genus.

A Catalogue of Indian Hydraenidae (Insecta: Coleoptera)

This catalogue lists 46 valid species included in 7 genera and two subfamilies of the family Hydraenidae (Coleoptera), recorded from India. The subfamily Hydraeninae accommodates 24 species (5 genera), and Ochthebiinae 22 species (2 genera). We include synonyms, type localities, type depositories, and distribution of the species. The Himalayan region supports the maximum diversity (31 species), followed by Deccan Peninsula (5 species), Western-Ghats (5 species), Northeast (4 species), Gangetic Plains (4 species), Semi-Arid (2 species), and Islands (one species).

Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Gryllacrididae (Orthoptera) IV: New additions of Chinese Furcilarnaca Gorochov, 2004

Based on the specimens from Guangxi and Yunnan deposited in the Guangxi Normal University, the paper is firstly reported the female sex of two known species from China, viz. Furcilarnaca armata (Bey-Bienko, 1957) and Furcilarnaca forceps (Bey-Bienko, 1962). The female of Furcilarnaca armata (Bey-Bienko, 1957) is very similar to Furcilarnaca chiangdao in seventh abdominal tergite and subgenital plate, and they may belong to the same species. After examining the female subgenital plate of Furcilarnaca chirurga (Bey-Bienko, 1962), we treat Furcilarnaca hirta as a valid species. Mitochondrial genomes of six specimens of three Furcilarnaca species were sequenced and annotated in this study. The organization and gene content of new sequenced mitogenomes were conserved, except for significant variation of the control region. All the PCGs started with the typical ATN codons and most ended with complete TAA or TAG codons. Combined with five mitogenomes in NCBI, a total of twelve specimens (including one outgroup) were used in phylogenetic analysis based on 13 PCGs. The result revealed that Furcilarnaca was a monophyletic group. These data will provide more meaningful genetic information and validate the phylogenetic relationships within the Gryllacrididae.

Halyomorpha halys fixed as the type species of the genus Halyomorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

The genus Halyomorpha Mayr, 1864 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae: Cappaeini) was established based on a single species, Halys timorensis Westwood, 1837 (currently a junior subjective synonym of Halyomorpha picus (Fabricius, 1794)). The examination of the voucher specimens identifi ed as Halyomorpha timorensis by Mayr, a syntype of Halys timorensis, and syntypes of Pentatoma halys Stål, 1855 revealed that: i) Halyomorpha timorensis (Westwood), stat. restit., must be reinstated as a valid species, and not considered as a junior subjective synonym of H. picus; ii) Mayr’s specimens belong to two different species, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) and H. picus. The problem of double misidentification of the type species of Halyomorpha is resolved by action of the first revising author(s) according to the Article 70.3 of the ICZN (1999): we fi x here Pentatoma halys Stål, 1855 (= Halys timorensis sensu Mayr, nec Westwood) as the type species of Halyomorpha Mayr, 1864. A list of 36 valid species currently placed in Halyomorpha and their synonyms is compiled. We also issue a warning concerning the use of the citizen science approach for monitoring H. halys in Southeast Asia (which may also apply to other taxa): It is necessary to keep in mind that H. halys belongs to a group of habitually similar species (distributed from Pakistan and southern China to Indonesia and the Philippines) which cannot be identified with certainty without examination of their male genitalia; records merely based on observations or habitus photographs cannot be accepted as reliable.

Taxonomy and Distribution of the Deep-Sea Batfish Genus Halieutopsis (Teleostei: Ogcocephalidae), with Descriptions of Five New Species

The deep-sea batfish genus Halieutopsis is reviewed based on worldwide collections. Sixteen species are recognized, including five newly described species: Halieutopsis echinoderma sp. nov. from eastern Taiwan and northeastern Australia, Halieutopsis kawaii sp. nov. from Taiwan and Indonesia, Halieutopsis okamurai sp. nov. from southeastern Japan, Halieutopsis murrayi sp. nov. from the Gulf of Aden, and Halieutopsis taiwanea sp. nov. from northeastern Taiwan. These species differ from their congeners in escal morphology, squamation, and morphometric proportions. Dibranchus nasutus Alcock, 1891, a senior synonym of Halieutopsis vermicularis Smith & Radcliffe, 1912, as well as Dibranchus nudiventer Lloyd, 1909 and Coelophrys oblonga Smith & Radcliffe, 1912, are recognized as valid species in Halieutopsis. Comments on the systematics and biogeographic distributions of the species of Halieutopsis are provided, along with a key to the species.

On the Taxonomic Status of the Red Icefish Channichthys rugosus (Notothenioidei: Channichthyidae) from the Kerguelen Islands (South Ocean)

The presented work is the final part of the taxonomic revision of the Antarctic icefishes of the genus Channichthys Richardson, 1844 (Notothenioidei: Channichthyidae) from the Kerguelen Islands, the species composition of which was discussed until recently. Based on the morphological study of all available specimens from the ZIN and BMNH collections (including the holotype), a comprehensive redescription of the Red icefish Channichthys rugosus Regan, 1913 from the waters of the Kerguelen islands (South Ocean) was carried out, including external morphology, seismosensory system, gill apparatus, and axial skeleton. As a result, new diagnostic features of Red icefish were discovered and previously known ones were clarified, which made it possible to confirm the species validity. Comparison with other valid species icefishes was done. Channichthys rugosus differs from Ch. rhinoceratus Richardson, 1844 by a high anterior dorsal fin, the fin membrane of which reaches the apexes of its longest rays (does not reach in Ch. rhinoceratus), as well as a narrow and concave interorbital space (compared to the wider and flat one), by stronger granulation and a uniform reddish body color (dark spotted-marble in Ch. rhinoceratus). Channichthys rugosus differs from Ch. velifer Meissner, 1972 by the number of rays in the first dorsal fin (7–9 versus 9–12) and pectoral fin (18–20 versus 20–21), the presence of bone plaques in the proximal part of the medial lateral line (absent in Ch. velifer), and monochromatic reddish body coloration (spotted in Ch. velifer). Channichthys rugosus differs from Ch. panticapaei Shandikov, 1995 by the presence of only 1 row of gill rakers on the first gill arch (2 rows in Ch. panticapaei) and by light coloration (brownish-black in Ch. panticapaei).

Postulating the Modality of Integrative Taxonomy in Describing the Cryptic Congener Pampus griseus (Cuvier) and Systematics of the Genus Pampus (Perciformes: Stromateidae)

Pomfrets (genus Pampus), a highly commercial fishery resource distributed in the Indo-Western Pacific that includes Lessepsian migrants, have witnessed a series of systematic reforms. In this study, based on comprehensive sampling spanning type localities and coevals in the Northern Indian Ocean, the cryptic and valid species Stromateus griseus is resurrected from the synonymy and re-described as Pampus griseus (New Combination) based on 35 specimens from the Bay of Bengal, corroborated by a molecular analysis, which indicated a confined distribution of the species. The Bayesian phylogeny of the genus was reconstructed, incorporating redressed barcodes (582 nucleotides) and concatenated mitochondrial gene sequence data (1,822 nucleotides) generated from the recorded species P. candidus, P. chinensis and the neophyte along with sequences from GenBank entrusting the latest literature. The phylograms differed in topology as for seven valid species, and the one predicated on the concatenated data erected a highly supported polytomous clade for the P. cinereus complex (P. griseus, P. cinereus, and P. candidus) which shares synapomorphies. Pampus argenteus and P. minor, together, formed a sister clade to the rest. Climate-driven vicariant events during glacial epochs and the Indo-Pacific Barrier effect can be the drivers behind the Indian and Pacific Ocean sister lineages in P. chinensis. A multivariate analysis isolated the cryptic species from its congeners. This article portrays the systematics revision of genus Pampus with an integrative taxonomic approach compiling distinctive molecular, morphological, and anatomical features, revised key for species identification, taxonomic archives of Indian stromateids, and winds up with specific remarks.

Clitobius grimmi sp. n. from Egypt with notes on C. oblongiusculus (Fairmaire, 1875) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Blaptinae)

Ten valid species of the genus Clitobius Mulsant & Rey, 1859 have been published so far from the Palaearctic, Afrotropical and Oriental Regions. With C. grimmi sp. n. from Egypt an eleventh species is here described and illustrated. Specimens representing the newly proposed species were identified as C. oblongiusculus (Fairmaire, 1875) in many of the surveyed entomological collections. This could potentially be explained by the superficial convergence of C. grimmi sp. n. with the description of Halomenus lineicollis Fairmaire, 1879, which is now considered a junior synonym of C. oblongiusculus. Morphological distinctiveness of all of the above mentioned taxa is hereby discussed. The lectotype for Halonomus lineicollis Fairmaire, 1879 is designated in order to fix the nomenclatural status of that taxon. The determination key of Purchart & Kamiński (2017) to the Clitobius species is updated with the following taxa: Clitobius subplumbeus (Fairmaire, 1892) and C. grimmi sp. n.

Revalidation of Mazama rufa (Illiger 1815) (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) as a Distinct Species out of the Complex Mazama americana (Erxleben 1777)

The red brocket deer Mazama americana Erxleben, 1777 is considered a polyphyletic complex of cryptic species with wide chromosomal divergence. Evidence indicates that the observed chromosomal divergences result in reproductive isolation. The description of a neotype for M. americana allowed its genetic characterization and represented a comparative basis to resolve the taxonomic uncertainties of the group. Thus, we designated a neotype for the synonym Mazama rufa Illiger, 1815 and tested its recognition as a distinct species from the M. americana complex with the analysis of morphological, cytogenetic and molecular data. We also evaluated its distribution by sampling fecal DNA in the wild. Morphological data from craniometry and body biometry indicated an overlap of quantitative measurements between M. rufa and the entire M. americana complex. The phylogenetic hypothesis obtained through mtDNA confirmed the reciprocal monophyly relationship between M. americana and M. rufa, and both were identified as distinct molecular operational taxonomic units by the General Mixed Yule Coalescent species delimitation analysis. Finally, classic cytogenetic data and fluorescence in situ hybridization with whole chromosome painting probes showed M. rufa with a karyotype of 2n = 52, FN = 56. Comparative analysis indicate that at least fifteen rearrangements separate M. rufa and M. americana (sensu stricto) karyotypes, which confirmed their substantial chromosomal divergence. This divergence should represent an important reproductive barrier and allow its characterization as a distinct and valid species. Genetic analysis of fecal samples demonstrated a wide distribution of M. rufa in the South American continent through the Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and south region of Amazon. Thus, we conclude for the revalidation of M. rufa as a distinct species under the concept of biological isolation, with its karyotype as the main diagnostic character. The present work serves as a basis for the taxonomic review of the M. americana complex, which should be mainly based on cytogenetic characterization and directed towards a better sampling of the Amazon region, the evaluation of available names in the species synonymy and a multi-locus phylogenetic analysis.

A review of the worldwide distribution of Marenzelleria viridis, with new records for M. viridis, M. neglecta and Marenzelleria sp. (Annelida: Spionidae)

Marenzelleria Mesnil, 1896 is a small group of spionid polychaetes comprising five valid species, all of which appear similar to each other. The identification of worms based on morphological features is often confusing, and thus molecular data have been suggested as providing crucial additional diagnostic characters. Here we summarize and map available records of M. viridis (Verrill, 1873) worldwide, and, based on the analysis of fragment sequences of COI, 16S, 18S, 28S and Histone 3, report this species for the first time from Norway. We also summarize and map the records of Marenzelleria from North America, distinguishing those based on morphology and molecular data. We report new records for Marenzelleria sp. from Baffin Is., Nunavut, Canada, and for M. neglecta Sikorski & Bick, 2004 from Washington, USA.