Revision and cladistic analysis of the jumping spider genus Onomastus (Araneae: Salticidae)

The jumping spider genus Onomastus Simon, 1900 is revised. Four new species: Onomastus indra sp. nov. , Onomastus kaharian sp. nov. , Onomastus pethiyagodai sp. nov. , and Onomastus rattotensis sp. nov. are described. Parsimony analysis of 26 morphological characters supported the monophyly of Onomastus. Lyssomanes is sister to Onomastus. Onomastus separates into two clades: the widespread South‐East Asia clade and the South Asia clade. The South Asia clade is restricted to the Sri Lanka–Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. Species of the South Asia clade appear to be spot endemics, highly in danger of extinction because of habitat loss and climate change. Male palps are complex and species‐specific, suggesting rapid divergent evolution. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 159 , 711–745.     

A preliminary cladistic analysis of Nipponoserica,with implications for phylogenetic relationships among sericine chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini)

A cladistic analysis of the species of Nipponoserica Nomura, 1972, was executed using 36 morphological characters of adults. From the generated phylogenetic tree, the monophyly of the genus is supported, when Pseudosericania Kobayashi, 1980 is included. Consequently, Pseudosericania Kobayashi, 1980 is considered a junior subjective synonym of Nipponoserica Nomura, 1972. Interestingly, the analysis indicates the monophyly of the East Asian Nipponoserica and the North American Stilbolemma. A new genus, Xenoserica gen. nov., is established for the basal monophyletic clade found for the Himalayan species so far assigned to Nipponoserica including the first brachypterous species of Sericini from the Himalaya. Two new species are described: Xenoserica brachyptera sp. nov. from Nepal, and Nipponoserica dahongshanica sp. nov. from Hubei (China).     

Aphis (Hemiptera: Aphididae) species groups found in the Midwestern United States and their contribution to the phylogenetic knowledge of the genus

A phylogeny of the genus Aphis Linnaeus, 1 758 was built primarily from specimens collected in the Midwest of the United States. A data matrix was constructed with 68 species and 41 morphological characters with respective character states of alate and apterous viviparous females. Dendrogram topologies of analyses performed using UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean), Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian analysis of Cytochrome Oxidase I, Elongation Factor 1‐α and primary endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola 16S sequences were not congruent. Bayesian analysis strongly supported most terminal nodes of the phylogenetic trees. The phylogeny was strongly supported by EF1‐α, and analysis of COI and EF1‐α molecular data combined with morphological characters. It was not supported by single analysis of COI or Buchnera aphidicola 16S. Results from the Bayesian phylogeny show 4 main species groups: asclepiadis, fabae, gossypii, and middletonii. Results place Aphis and species of the genera Protaphis Börner, 1952, Toxoptera Koch, 1856 and Xerobion Nevsky, 1928 in a monophyletic clade. Morphological characters support this monophyly as well. The phylogeny shows that the monophyletic clade of the North American middletonii species group belong to the genus Protaphis: P. debilicornis (Gillette & Palmer, 1929 ), comb. nov., P. echinaceae (Lagos and Voegtlin, 2009 ), comb. nov., and P. middletonii (Thomas, 1879 ). The genus Toxoptera should be considered a subgenus of Aphis (stat. nov.). The analysis also indicates that the current genus Iowana Frison, 1954 should be considered a subgenus of Aphis (stat. nov.).     

DNA sequences corroborate Soesiladeepakius as a non‐salticoid genus of jumping spiders: placement with lapsiines,phylogeny, and description of six new species (Araneae,Salticidae)

Species of the Amazonian jumping spider genus Soesiladeepakius Makhan are confirmed as non‐salticoids. Sequences of nuclear (28S, Actin) and mitochondrial (16S through NADH dehydrogenase subunit I, ‘16S‐ND1’) gene regions, analysed under parsimony and maximum likelihood, placed the genus within the lapsiines, closely related to Galianora Maddison. Additionally, six new species of this genus are herein described, namely Soesiladeepakius lyra sp. nov. , Soesiladeepakius retroversus sp. nov. , Soesiladeepakius arthrostylus sp. nov. , Soesiladeepakius gasnieri sp. nov. , Soesiladeepakius biarmatus sp. nov. , and Soesiladeepakius uncinatus sp. nov. , all from the Amazon region in Brazil. To test the monophyly of Soesiladeepakius within lapsiines, a cladistic analysis was carried out using a data matrix comprising 24 morphological characters scored for 12 taxa. The analysis resulted in two equally parsimonious trees of 29 steps. One of these trees is used to discuss the relationships among the species of Soesiladeepakius and character evolution. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 165 , 274–295.     

Phylogenetic analysis and revision of the linyphiid spider genus Solenysa (Araneae: Linyphiidae: Erigoninae)

In this paper we carry out a taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the linyphiid spider genus Solenysa Simon, 1894. A total of 12 species is treated here, including five new species collected from China and Japan: Solenysa akihisai Tu sp. nov., Solenysa lanyuensis Tu sp. nov., Solenysa retractilis Tu sp. nov., Solenysa tianmushana Tu sp. nov. , and Solenysa yangmingshana Tu sp. nov. Solenysa circularis Gao, Zhu & Sha, 1993 is a junior synonym of Solenysa protrudens Gao, Zhu & Sha, 1993. We have assembled two different character matrices to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of Solenysa. In the first matrix (Matrix 1), five representative species of Solenysa were added to the morphological dataset of Miller & Hormiga to test the monophyly of the genus and its placement within Linyphiidae. The genitalic structures and somatic morphology of Solenysa were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy for the first time. To infer the species‐level phylogenetic relationships of Solenysa we produced a second matrix (Matrix 2) that includes all 12 Solenysa species and six outgroup species chosen from the results of the analysis of the first matrix. The two most parsimonious trees from the analysis of Matrix 1 support the monophyly of Solenysa and its placement within the ‘Distal Erigonines’ clade. The single most parsimonious tree resulting from the analysis of the second matrix suggests that the Solenysa clade includes four monophyletic groups, each group represented by a distinct genitalic pattern. The morphology of Solenysa, both somatic and genitalic, is highly autapomorphic. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 161 , 484–530.     

Revision and phylogenetic assessment of the rove beetle genus Pseudohesperus Hayashi,with broad reference to the subtribe Philonthina (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini)

This paper studies the phylogeny of the rove beetle subtribe Philonthina, to test its hypothetical monophyly and to unravel the evolutionary relationships of the subtribe and its included genus‐level taxa, with emphasis on the genus Pseudohesperus and its close‐allied relatives. The phylogenetic analyses are based on 105 adult morphological characters and 66 terminal taxa, i.e., all six members of Pseudohesperus, 51 species to represent 29 other genera of the subtribe Philonthina, seven species to represent the other six subtribes of Staphylinini, one species of the tribes Arrowinini, and one of the Platyprosopini. According to the phylogenetic results obtained, the genus Erichsonius should move out from the hitherto‐defined subtribe Philonthina and thus the monophyly of this taxon is challenged. The phylogenetic tree suggests that the genera Hesperus and Belonuchus might not be monophyletic, but the monophyly of Pseudohesperus and the sister relationship between it and Bisnius are well supported. The species‐level phylogenetic relationships of the genus Pseudohesperus reveal a clear pattern of species diversification that can be correlated well with the species' zoogeographical patterns. The paper also revises the taxonomy of Pseudohesperus and describes five new species from China: Pseudohesperus luteus Li & Zhou sp. nov. , Pseudohesperus pedatiformis Li & Zhou sp. nov. , Pseudohesperus tripartitus Li & Zhou sp. nov. , Pseudohesperus sparsipunctatus Li & Zhou sp. nov. , and Bisnius lubricus Li & Zhou sp. nov. An identification key to the species of Pseudohesperus is provided and their geographical distributions are mapped. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163 , 679–722.     

Cladistics and revision of Alitocoris with considerations on the phylogeny of the Herrichella clade (Hemiptera,Pentatomidae, Discocephalinae,Ochlerini)

Alitocoris Sailer, 1950, consists of four valid species described from Central America. In a recent cladistic analysis of Ochlerini, the genus was considered paraphyletic in the Herrichella Distant, 1911, group of taxa. The present study provides a cladistic analysis of the Herrichella clade, using 88 morphological characters and 40 taxa representing 21 genera of Ochlerini, including all known species of Alitocoris plus 16 new species. Outgroups included Eritrachys bituberculata Ruckes, 1959, Phereclus pluto Stål, 1862, and Adoxoplatys comis Breddin, 1903, with the last used for rooting. The cladistic analysis was conducted using TNT under heuristic searches and implied weighting of characters; 11 K‐values calculated for an average character fit ranged from 50 to 90% of a perfectly hierarchical character. The results corroborated the paraphyly of Alitocoris, calling for changes in the classification of the genus with the proposition of three new genera for two, three, and ten species, respectively, that will be described elsewhere. Alitocoris is redescribed and a key for the species is presented. Alitocoris brunneus, Alitocoris maculosus, and Alitocoris parvus are removed from the genus, and the new species Alitocoris grandis sp. nov. , Alitocoris lateralis sp. nov. , and Alitocoris ornatus sp. nov. are described. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

A combined morphological and molecular phylogeny of the genus Chironius Fitzinger, 1826 (Serpentes: Colubridae)

Chironius is one of the most speciose genera of the South American colubrid snakes. Although the genus represents a well‐known radiation of diurnal racers, its monophyly, affinities with other Neotropical colubrid genera, and intrageneric relationships are open questions. Here, we present a phylogenetic analysis of Chironius based on a data matrix that combines one nuclear (c‐mos) and two mitochondrial (12S and 16S rRNA) genes with 37 morphological characters derived from scutellation, skull, and hemipenial features. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML). Our combined morphological and molecular analyses strongly support the monophyly of the genus Chironius and its sister‐group relationship with a clade formed by the genera Dendrophidion and Drymobius. Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Chironius is still controversial, although five clades are retrieved with medium to strong support. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

A new genus in the diverse Andean Pedaliodes complex uncovered using target enrichment (Lepidoptera,Nymphalidae)

A new genus of Neotropical Satyrinae butterflies, Viloriodes Pyrcz & Espeland gen. n. is described in the Pedaliodes Butler complex comprising 11–13 genera and more than 400 species. Support for the new genus is provided by a phylogenetic analysis based on target enrichment (TE) data including 618 nuclear loci with a total of 248,940 nucleotides, and the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI). Five species, whose DNA sequences were obtained by TE during this study, form a strongly supported clade sister to the large clade comprising Pedaliodes and four other genera. Complementary COI analysis confirms the monophyly of Viloriodes gen. n., with the above five plus eight other species clustering in highly supported clades in both Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood analyses, and a TE + COI concatenated tree. Based on molecular and morphological data, 30 species are assigned to Viloriodes gen. n. The new genus can be recognized by a set of subtle morphological characteristics of colour patterns and male and female genitalia. An analysis of divergence times indicates that Viloriodes gen. n. and Steromapedaliodes Forster separated around 5.9 Mya. Viloriodes gen. n. has a wider geographic distribution than any other genus of the Pedaliodes complex, being found from central Mexico to northern Argentina and to the Guyana Shield, typically occurring at lower elevations than Pedaliodes.     

Integrative taxonomy uncovers hidden species diversity in the rheophilic genus Potamometra (Hemiptera: Gerridae)

The genus Potamometra Bianchi, 1896 represents big rheophilic semi-aquatic bugs that typically inhabit middle-altitude mountainous streams. Here, we integrated molecular and morphological data for delimiting species boundaries and understanding the evolutionary history of the genus Potamometra. Twenty-seven complete mitochondrial genomes of Potamometra were sequenced, with samples representing most of the known geographically distributed locations around the Sichuan Basin. The results of different species delimitation methods (ABGD, bPTP, GMYC and BPP) based on the monolocus or multilocus data strongly supported the existence of two cryptic new species (Potamometra anderseni Zheng, Ye & Bu, sp. nov. and Potamometra zhengi Zheng, Ye & Bu, sp. nov.) although more entities were found in the tree-based delimitation methods. The two new species were successfully validated using morphological characters within a detailed taxonomic framework. Phylogenetic analyses supported the reciprocal monophyly of the seven highly node-supported clades, which were matched with the five known species and two new taxa. A novel gene arrangement pattern that two trnF (trnF1 and trnF2) genes separated by an intergenic spacer (IGS) were found in all the species except the sister group of Potamometra berezowskii Bianchi, 1896 and Potamometra linnavuorii Chen, Nieser & Bu, 2016. This gene rearrangement event could be explained by the tandem duplication and random loss (TDRL) model. Our study emphasized that the combination of molecular sequence data, morphological characters and mitochondrial structural information could improve the accuracy of species delimitation.     

An integrative approach to characterize cryptic species in the Thoracostoma trachygaster Hope, 1967 complex (Nematoda: Leptosomatidae)

Nematode diversity may seriously be underestimated when taking into account cryptic speciation. Thoracostoma trachygaster is commonly found in kelp holdfasts along the California coastline and was recently shown to consist of at least two distinct molecular clades (I and II). Here, we provide detailed morphological analysis of both clades, based on measurements taken from video vouchers of respectively eight and 16 individuals from the previous study, as well as 80 newly collected specimens from four Californian beaches. The latter were vouchered, measured, and then subjected to molecular analyses of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) gene, and the ribosomal D2D3 and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. This integrative approach shows that the three molecular clades are phylogenetically and morphologically distinct species, but a combination of morphological characters is needed to distinguish them. Two new species, Thoracostoma fatimae sp. nov. and Thoracostoma igniferum sp. nov. , are identified and described. The spicule length of T. fatimae sp. nov. is significantly shorter than that of T. trachygaster. Thoracostoma igniferum sp. nov. can be distinguished by the irregular posterior edge of the cephalic capsule and the two internal subdorsal tropis‐like projections in the wall of the cephalic capsule, which are lacking in T. fatimae sp. nov. and T. trachygaster. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 164 , 18–35.     

Phylogeny of the genus Hesperodiaptomus (Copepoda) based on nucleotide sequence data of the nuclear ribosomal gene

The genus Hesperodiaptomus Light, 1938, one of the most diverse groups of freshwater copepods that occur in North and Central America, plays a major role in the food webs of the alpine freshwater communities. Phylogenetic relationships of these taxa remain poorly understood due to difficulties in obtaining reliable morphological characters for phylogenetic analyses. To understand the phylogenetic relationships within this group, we reconstructed a partial phylogeny of the genus Hesperodiaptomus based on nuclear ribosomal gene sequences. Phylogenetic analyses based upon the taxa examined supported the monophyly the genus and revealed two clades. The eiseni clade comprised species that are morphologically similar to Hesperodiaptomus eiseni (Lilljeborg, 1889), and the shoshone clade included species morphologically similar to Hesperodiaptomus shoshone (S.A. Forbes, 1882). The two groups can be distinguished by a modification of the right basis, the arrangement of spinules on the distal pad of the second exopod, and the degree of presence the inner lamellar expansion of the right coxa. Handling editor: P. Spaak     

UPDATING THE GENUS DICTYOSPHAERIUM AND DESCRIPTION OF MUCIDOSPHAERIUM GEN. NOV. (TREBOUXIOPHYCEAE) BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR DATA1

Recent molecular analyses of Dictyosphaerium strains revealed a polyphyletic origin of this morphotype within the Chlorellaceae. The type species Dictyosphaerium ehrenbergianum Nägeli formed an independent lineage within the Parachlorella clade, assigning the genus to this clade. Our study focused on three different Dictyosphaerium species to resolve the phylogenetic position of remaining species. We used combined analyses of morphology; molecular data based on SSU and internally transcribed spacer region (ITS) rRNA sequences; and the comparison of the secondary structure of the SSU, ITS‐1, and ITS‐2 for species and generic delineation. The phylogenetic analyses revealed two lineages without generic assignment and two distinct clades of Dictyosphaerium‐like strains within the Parachlorella clade. One clade comprises the lineages with the epitype strain of D. ehrenbergianum Nägeli and two additional lineages that are described as new species (Dictyosphaerium libertatis sp. nov. and Dictyosphaerium lacustre sp. nov.). An emendation of the genus Dictyosphaerium is proposed. The second clade comprises the species Dictyosphaerium sphagnale Hindák and Dictyosphaerium pulchellum H. C. Wood. On the basis of phylogenetic analyses, complementary base changes, and morphology, we describe Mucidosphaerium gen. nov with the four species Mucidosphaerium sphagnale comb. nov., Mucidosphaerium pulchellum comb. nov., Mucidosphaerium palustre sp. nov., and Mucidosphaerium planctonicum sp. nov.     

Reconsideration of anopheline mosquito phylogeny (Diptera: Culicidae: Anophelinae) based on morphological data

The phylogeny of anopheline mosquitoes (Culicidae: Anophelinae) is re‐examined using morphological data derived from adults, fourth‐instar larvae and pupae. Based on the data set of Sallum et al. (2000), we add some previously missing data and simplify and recode characters to eliminate ambiguities and more accurately reflect homologies, with special emphasis on characters of the male genitalia that provide the main criteria for the subgeneric classification of genus Anopheles. The principal aim of the study is to assess objectively the phylogenetic relationships and classification of two taxa not included by Sallum et al. (2000): Anopheles corethroides, a representative of the Australasian Stigmaticus Group, and An. kyondawensis, an unusual Oriental species whose adult and pupal stages were only recently discovered. The revised data set consists of 167 characters for 66 species representing the three traditionally recognised genera of Anophelinae, the six traditionally accepted subgenera of genus Anopheles and all informal series and most species groups of subgenera Anopheles, Cellia and Nyssorhynchus. The data are analysed using equal weighting (EW) and implied weighting (IW). Analysis under EW generates a strict consensus tree with principal lineages consistent with those reported by Sallum et al. (2000). Analysis under IW supports the monophyly of Anophelinae, the basal position of Chagasia, the monophyly of subgenera Cellia, Kerteszia and Nyssorhynchus, and the sister relationship of Kerteszia + Nyssorhynchus, but otherwise yields relationships that differ significantly in one respect or another from those obtained in all previous analyses of both morphological and molecular data. Subgenus Anopheles is arrayed as a polyphyletic lineage basal to a monophyletic clade comprising the Neotropical Kerteszia + Nyssorhynchus and the Old World Cellia in a sister‐group relationship. Bironella, Lophopodomyia and Stethomyia are firmly nested within subgenus Anopheles, which would nevertheless still be paraphyletic if these taxa were subsumed within it. Anopheles kyondawensis is well supported as the sister group of Bironella + all other Anopheles. Bironella, Stethomyia, An. corethroides and several other Anopheles clades are each strongly supported in a pectinate series of relationships, terminating in the clade comprising subgenera Cellia, Kerteszia and Nyssorhynchus. These relationships and other aspects of the phylogeny are discussed in relation to the formal and informal classification of genus Anopheles.     

Welcome back Janolidae and Antiopella: Improving the understanding of Janolidae and Madrellidae (Cladobranchia,Heterobranchia) with description of four new species

Proctonotidae and Madrellidae are families that belong to the suborder Cladobranchia. Historically, both have been the subjects of taxonomic confusion. Thus, Proctonotidae Gray, 1853, was subsequently named as Zephyrinidae Iredale and O'Donoghue, 1923 and Janolidae Pruvot‐Fol, 1933, but currently both are considered as synonyms of Proctonotidae. On the other hand, Alder and Hancock (1864) erected the genus Madrella in Proctonotidae. Here, we completed a detailed morphological and molecular study of four apparently undescribed species of Madrellidae and Proctonotidae from the Indo‐Pacific. We performed a maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference phylogenetic analyses using two mitochondrial and one nuclear genes to improve the understanding of the families. Prompted by our results, Janolidae is removed from synonymy with Proctonotidae. Within Janolidae, there are two well‐supported clades. One includes species with smooth cerata that are found in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans. The taxa in this clade include the type species of Antiopella and several other species. We resurrect Antiopella as the valid name for this clade. The sister clade to Antiopella includes a variety of taxa with species that have been traditionally included in Janolus Bergh, 1884 and Bonisa Gosliner, 1981. Further systematic revision requires more comprehensive taxon sampling. The new species discovered have clear morphological differences and strong molecular support. They include Madrella amphora Pola and Gosliner sp. nov. , Janolus tricellariodes Pola and Gosliner sp. nov. , Janolus flavoanulatus Pola and Gosliner sp. nov., and Janolus incrustans Pola and Gosliner sp. nov.     

Multigene phylogeny of Synura (Synurophyceae) and descriptions of four new species based on morphological and DNA evidence

We used phylogenetic analyses based on multiple gene sequences (partial nr SSU and LSU rDNA, partial pt LSU rDNA, psaA and rbcL) from 148 strains (including three outgroups) and scale ultrastructure to examine phylogenetic relationships among species of the colonial genera Synura and Tessellaria. The phylogenetic tree based on the combined dataset was congruent with ultrastructural characteristics of the scales. Synura was divided into three major clades, two including species in section Synura, and one representing section Peterseniae. One clade, consisting of seven strains of S. uvella (section Synura), diverged at the base of the genus. The second clade consisted of the remaining species belonging to the section Synura. The third clade, containing organisms in the section Peterseniae and characterized by scales possessing a keel, was monophyletic with strong support values. Based on our findings, S. uvella needs to be in a separate section from other spine-bearing species, and we therefore propose new sectional ranks; Synura, Peterseniae, Curtispinae (presence of body scales with slender spines, tubular scales and caudal scales). We further propose four new species based on phylogenetic analyses and unique scale characters: S. longitubularis sp. nov., S. sungminbooi sp. nov., S. soroconopea sp. nov. and S. lanceolata sp. nov. Lastly, we propose a new genus name, Neotessella, to replace the invalid use of the name Tessellaria.     

Phylogenetic systematics of the gondwanan Empis macrorrhyncha group (Diptera,Empididae, Empidinae)

The Empis macrorrhyncha group (Diptera: Empididae) from cool to warm temperate areas of South America and Australia is diagnosed and cladistically analysed, and five new species, Empis animosa sp.n. , E. austera sp.n. , E. maculosa sp.n. , E. occidentalis sp.n. and E. pedivillosula sp.n. , are described. Cladistic analysis of 23 adult morphological characters for 14 species of the group generated a single tree of 28 steps (CI = 0.82; RI = 0.93). Monophyly was established on the basis of a single apomorphy, possession of a bilobed cercus of the male hypopygium. Three main clades were inferred: clade 1 included three Patagonian and a single southwestern Australian species; clade 2 included two species from southeastern Australia; clade 3 included a large Patagonian group of five species and a single southeastern Australian species. The E. fulvicollis complex (clade 1) is a sister‐group of the E. macrorrhyncha complex (clades 2 + 3). A provisional historical biogeographic hypothesis is advanced correlating the appearance of the South American and Australian sister lineages with the timing of the break‐up of Gondwana.     

Molecular phylogeny and systematics of Neotropical toucanets in the genus Aulacorhynchus (Aves,Ramphastidae)

Bonaccorso, E., Guayasamin, J. M., Peterson, A. T. & Navarro‐Sigüenza, A. G. (2011). Molecular phylogeny and systematics of Neotropical toucanets in the genus Aulacorhynchus (Aves, Ramphastidae). —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 336–349. We studied the phylogenetic relationships in the genus Aulacorhynchus, an assemblage of Neotropical toucanets distributed from Mexico south to Bolivia. Based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA characters, we obtained a robust hypothesis of relationships for all recognized species, including good representation of distinct geographic populations. Our results support the monophyly of the genus Aulacorhynchus, but contradict previous taxonomic arrangements. The genus is made up of three major clades: the Aulacorhynchus prasinus complex, Aulacorhynchus huallagae + Aulacorhynchus coeruleicinctis, and Aulacorhynchus haematopygus + Aulacorhynchus sulcatus + Aulacorhynchus derbianus. Andean populations of A. derbianus are more closely related to A. sulcatus than to Pantepuian populations of A. derbianus, rendering A. derbianus paraphyletic. Based on the molecular phylogeny, and information on geographic distributions and morphological and behavioural characters, we review the specific status of these taxa and propose a new taxonomic arrangement within Aulacorhynchus.     

A scolopocryptopid centipede (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha) from Mexican amber: synchrotron microtomography and phylogenetic placement using a combined morphological and molecular data set

The first scolopocryptopid centipede known from the fossil record is a specimen of the subfamily Scolopocryptopinae in Miocene amber from Chiapas, southern Mexico. It is described here as Scolopocryptops simojovelensis sp. nov. , displaying a distinct combination of morphological characters compared to extant congeners. Anatomical details of the fossil specimen were acquired by non‐invasive 3D synchrotron microtomography using X‐ray phase contrast. The phylogenetic position of the new species is inferred based on a combination of morphological data with sequences for six genes (nuclear 18S and 28S rRNA, nuclear protein‐coding histone H3, and mitochondrial 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and protein‐coding cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) for extant Scolopendromorpha. The data set includes eight extant species of Scolopocryptops and Dinocryptops from North America, east Asia, and the Pacific, rooted with novel sequence data for other blind scolopendromorphs. The molecular and combined data sets, analysed in a parsimony/direct optimization framework, identified a stable pattern of two main clades within Scolopocryptopinae. North American and Asian species of Scolopocryptops are united as a clade supported by both morphological and molecular characters. Its sister group is a Neotropical clade in which the type species of Dinocryptops is nested within a paraphyletic assemblage of Scolopocryptops species; Dinocryptops is placed in synonymy with Scolopocryptops. The strength of support for the relationships of extant taxa from the molecular data allow the Chiapas fossil to be assigned with precision, despite ambiguity in the morphological data; the fossil is resolved as sister species to the extant Laurasian clade. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 166 , 768–786.