Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Desmothrips (Thysanoptera,Aeolothripidae), an Australian genus of facultative flower‐living predators

A phylogenetic analysis of the Australian Aeolothripidae genus Desmothrips Hood is presented. A data matrix with 27 species is analysed under parsimony criteria. The monophyly of Desmothrips is recovered. Continuous and discrete characters were analysed separately and in combination, and continuous characters were rescaled and analysed under equal weights. Three new species from the northwestern and one from the southeastern areas of Australia are described and illustrated. A key to the 18 species of Desmothrips is provided.     

Description of a new species and phylogenetic analysis of the subtribe Cynopoecilina,including continuous characters without discretization (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae)

A new species of the subtribe Cynopoecilina is described from the rio Gravataí basin, laguna dos Patos system, southern Brazil. The relationships of the new species among taxa of the subtribe Cynopoecilina is discussed based on two analyses: one using 71 discrete characters and other with the addition of six continuous characters analyzed without discretization. The addition of the continuous characters resulted in the first fully resolved phylogenies for Cynopoecilus and Leptolebias species, not obtained in the analysis including only discrete characters. The new species is assigned to Cynopoecilus as sister group to the remaining species of the genus. A new diagnosis is proposed for Cynopoecilus to accommodate the new species. The resulting phylogeny indicates that the occupation of the grasslands of the Pampa biome by the species of Cynopoecilus occurred along the evolution of the genus and that this event was significant for the diversification of the genus. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

Polychaos centronucleolus n. sp. – a new terrestrial species of the genus Polychaos (Amoebozoa,Tubulinea) with nontypical nuclear structure

A new species of the “proteus-type” naked amoebae (large cells with discrete tubular pseudopodia) was isolated from tree bark sample of a birch tree in the surrounding of Kislovodsk town, Russia and named Polychaos centronucleolus n. sp. (Amoebozoa, Tubulinea). Amoebae of this species have a filamentous cell coat and a nucleus with a central compact nucleolus. This type of nucleolar organization has not been previously known for the genus Polychaos. A sequence of the 18S rRNA gene of this strain was obtained using whole genome amplification of DNA from the single amoeba cell, followed by NGS sequencing. The analysis of molecular data robustly groups this species with Polychaos annulatum within the family Hartmannellidae. Our results, together with the results of our previous studies, show that the taxonomic assignment of “proteus-type” amoebae species is becoming increasingly complex, and the taxonomic characters that can be used to classify these organisms are becoming more shadowed.     

Systematics of the genus Mayazomus (Arachnida: Schizomida): the relevance of using continuous characters and pedipalp setae patterns to schizomid phylogenetics

The schizomid genus Mayazomus Reddell & Cockendolpher, 1995, endemic to south‐eastern Mexico, currently comprises seven species. It was originally proposed to accommodate two species, from Chiapas and Tabasco. Recently, five additional species from Chiapas were described. The monophyly of the genus has never been tested using cladistic analysis. We undertook a phylogenetic analysis using the seven described species of Mayazomus as the ingroup, ten exemplar species representing the most similar New World hubbardiids as the outgroup, and one protoschizomid species to root the tree. The analysis was based on 130 morphological characters (continuous and discrete characters). The resulting topologies recovered Mayazomus as paraphyletic, with Heteronochrus estor Armas & Viquez, 2010, from Guatemala nested within the genus; therefore, we formally propose its synonymy herein. Mayazomus appears to be most closely related to Rowlandius Reddell & Cokendolpher, 1995, a South American genus. This contribution also provides new characters derived from the pedipalp setae with important phylogenetic information; as well as the implementation of morphometric ratios, as continuous characters, to partially codify the shape of the male flagellum. The relationships recovered amongst the outgroups used in this contribution are a reliable baseline for future analyses of the phylogeny of the New World schizomids.     

The Baikalian genus Rhyacodriloides in Europe: phylogenetic assessment of Rhyacodriloidinae subfam. n. within the Naididae (Annelida)

Martin, P., Martínez‐Ansemil, E. & Sambugar, B. (2010). The Baikalian genus Rhyacodriloides in Europe: phylogenetic assessment of Rhyacodriloidinae subfam. n. within the Naididae (Annelida). —Zoologica Scripta, 39, 462–482. Two new species of the oligochaete genus Rhyacodriloides Chekanovskaya, Rhyacodriloides aeternorum sp. n. and Rhyacodriloides latinus sp. n., are described from subterranean water bodies of Italy and Slovenia. A comparison with the known species of this genus, Rhyacodriloides abyssalis Chekanovskaya, 1975 and Rhyacodriloides gladiiseta Martin & Brinkhurst, 1998, both from Lake Baikal, shows that the enigmatic ‘cellular masses’ of the latter two species must be interpreted as different, not homologous structures. As a result, R. gladiiseta is to be ascribed to the Phallodrilinae, a primarily marine naidid subfamily, mentioned for the first time in Lake Baikal, and placed in its own genus, Phallobaikalus gen. n. The two new species are morphologically very similar, but their penial setae differ slightly. The phylogenetic relationships of R. latinus sp. n. and R. abyssalis within the Naididae (formerly the Tubificidae) were investigated using a combination of three genes, one nuclear (18S rDNA) and two mitochondrial (12S rDNA and 16S rDNA). A fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene, used as a barcode, also genetically characterized all Rhyacodriloides species. Sequences of 34 Naididae were obtained from EMBL, representative of five naidid subfamilies, and including five oligochaete outgroups. The data were analysed by parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. Taken in combination, the three genes investigated confirm that the two Rhyacodriloides species analysed are closer to each other than to any other naidid species. However, they are separated by 16S and COI distances that amount to 18.5% and 27.2%, respectively, suggesting an ancient separation between species, in good accordance with their present biogeographic distribution. Rhyacodriloides cannot be considered as a rhyacodriline, as assumed so far, as they never appeared related to this subfamily in any analysis considered. In contrast, they appear at the base of a naidid group, including the Tubificinae, the Phallodrilinae, the Limnodrilinae, as well as Branchiura sowerbyi, a species whose phylogenetic association with the rhyacodrilines has been questioned for a long time. Despite a lack of phylogenetic support, this position is congruent with a morphological reassessment of the Rhyacodrilinae, and strongly supports the erection of a new naidid subfamily to accommodate Rhyacodriloides.     

Revision of the Neotropical Genus Hemibidessus Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae: Bidessini)

The genus Hemibidessus Zimmermann, 1921 is revised. Six species are recognized in the genus. Two new species are described, H. spirodiscus sp. n. from Bolivia and H. spangleri sp. n. from Argentina. A key for identifying the species is presented. The female genitalia are thoroughly illustrated and described for the first time for any species of Bidessini. Other important diagnostic structures are also illustrated including the male genitalia. A cladistic analysis is presented for 8 species (6 ingroup and 2 outgroup species) and 13 characters. A single most parsimonious cladogram was found.     

Internal transcribed spacer rDNA can be used to infer the phylogenetic relationships of species within the genus Nematodirus (Nematoda: molineoidea)

Sequences of the first internal transcribed spacer rDNA were characterised for four veterinary important species of gastrointestinal nematodes from the genus Nematodirus. The sequence data were combined with previously published data of the second internal transcribed spacer to determine whether these rDNA regions provided a suitable number of informative characters to determine the phylogenetic relationships of species within the genus. A total of 32 alignment positions of the first internal transcribed spacer data set and 33 characters from the second internal transcribed spacer data set were informative in phylogenetic analyses. Irrespective of whether the data from each spacer were analysed separately or combined, only one most parsimonious tree was produced, with the relationships of the four species fully resolved. In addition, several regions of conservatism in the first internal transcribed spacer sequence among the four Nematodirus species suggests that this rDNA region may also provide phylogenetic information for higher taxonomic levels within the Molineoidea.     

A new genus and species of darkling beetles of the tribe Helopini (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae) from Turkey

A new genus and species Microdocnemis xerophilicus gen. et sp. n. of the tenebrionid-beetle tribe Helopini is described from southwestern Turkey. The new genus belongs to the cylindrinotoid group of genera and is closely related to the genus Odocnemis Allard, 1876 in the structure of the male genitalia and female genital tubes and in the denticulation of the inner margin of the fore tibia. Microdocnemis differs from Odocnemis in the following characters: body very weakly flattened dorsally and ventrally; apical part of elytra, body ventrally, and epipleura with hairs; anal sternite with double bordering; apical margins of tibiae with short thick spines. The only species of the new genus inhabits xerophytic stony biotopes and has been found under stones; the species of the genus Odocnemis live on tree trunks covered with lichens.     

Cochliopodium arabianum n. sp. (Amorphea,Amoebozoa)

A new species of Cochliopodium isolated from freshwater at Arabia Lake in Lithonia, GA, USA is described based on light microscopic morphology, fine structure, and molecular genetic evidence. Cochliopodium arabianum n. sp., previously labeled as “isolate Con1” in prior publications, has been shown to group within the genus Cochliopodium in our molecular phylogenetic analysis. Light microscopy and fine structure evidence indicates the new isolate not only shares characters of the genus but also unique distinctive features. Cochliopodium arabianum n. sp. is typically round when stationary; or oval to sometimes broadly flabellate or triangular in shape during locomotion, with average length of 35 μm and breadth of 51 μm. Fine structure evidence indicates C. arabianum n. sp. has tower‐like scales, lacking a terminal spine, sharing high similarity with its closest relative C. actinophorum. However, the scales of C. arabianum n. sp. are unique in height and the breadth of the base plate. Both morphological and molecular data, including SSU‐rDNA and COI, indicate that this new species falls in a clade sufficiently different from other species to suggest that it is a valid new species.     

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.     

A new species of Triatominae from Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract A new species of the genus Linshcosteus Distant, 1904 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) is described from specimens collected near Kalakkadu, Tamil Nadu state, southern India. Specimens were found in deep crevices between rocks, in a region of semi‐arid scrub jungle. The distinctiveness of the new species was demonstrated by a morphometric analysis including the five previously described species of Linshcosteus, all from India. Nine measurements of the head were used in an isometric size‐free principal component analysis. In terms of discrete morphology the new species, Linshcosteus karupus sp.n. Galvão, Patterson, Rocha & Jurberg differs from the most similar one, L. kali Lent & Wygodzinsky, 1979 , by its very prominent anterolateral projections of the pronotum, by the length to width ratio of the pronotum, by the pilosity of the head and several other characters, including phallic structures. A revised key is presented for the six species of the genus.     

Pseudoparamoeba garorimi n. sp., with Notes on Species Distinctions within the Genus

A new marine species of naked lobose amoebae Pseudoparamoeba garorimi n. sp. (Amoebozoa, Dactylopodida) isolated from intertidal marine sediments of Garorim Bay, Korea was studied with light and transmission electron microscopy. This species has a typical set of morphological characters for a genus including the shape of the locomotive form, type of subpseudopodia and the tendency to form the single long waving pseudopodium in locomotion. Furthermore, it has the same cell surface structures as were described for the type species, Pseudoparamoeba pagei: blister‐like glycostyles with hexagonal base and dome‐shaped apex; besides, cell surface bears hair‐like outgrowths. The new species described here lacks clear morphological distinctions from the two other Pseudoparamoeba species, but has considerable differences in the 18S rDNA and COX1 gene sequences. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rDNA placed P. garorimi n. sp. at the base of the Pseudoparamoeba clade with high PP/BS support. The level of COX1 sequence divergence was 22% between P. garorimi n. sp. and P. pagei and 25% between P. garorimi n. sp. and P. microlepis. Pseudoparamoeba species are hardly distinguishable by morphology alone, but display clear differences in 18S rDNA and COX1 gene sequences.     

Morphology,phylogeny and taxonomy of South American bothropoid pitvipers (Serpentes,Viperidae)

Carrasco, P.A., Mattoni, C.I., Leynaud, G.C. & Scrocchi, G.J. (2012). Morphology, phylogeny and taxonomy of South American bothropoid pitvipers (Serpentes, Viperidae). —Zoologica Scripta, 41, 109–124. South American bothropoids comprise a monophyletic and greatly diverse group of pitvipers that were initially included in the genus Bothrops and later assigned to five genera. Until recently, most phylogenetic analyses of bothropoids used exclusively mitochondrial DNA sequences, whereas few of them have included morphological traits. Moreover, the systematic affinities of some species remain unclear. In this study, we performed a parsimony analysis of morphological data obtained from the examination of 111 characters related to lepidosis, colour pattern, osteology, and hemipenial morphology of 35 of the 48 species that compose the bothropoid group. The morphological data analysed contain novel information about several species, including the incertae sedis. Morphology was analysed separately and combined with 2393 molecular characters obtained from published sequences of four mitochondrial genes. Five characters of the ecology were also included. A sensitivity analysis was performed using different weighting criteria for the characters. The congruence among different sources of evidence was evaluated through partitioned and total evidence analyses, the analyses of reduced datasets and the use of incongruence length difference test. With few exceptions, results showed groups of species similar to those obtained in previous studies; however, incongruences between morphological and molecular characters, and within the molecular partition, were revealed. This conflict affects the relationship between particular groups of species, leading to alternative phylogenetic hypotheses for bothropoids: hierarchical radiation or two major lineages within the group. The results also showed that Bothrops sensu stricto is paraphyletic. We discuss previous taxonomic approaches and, considering both phylogenetic hypotheses, we propose an arrangement that rectifies the paraphyly of Bothrops: maintaining Bothrocophias, assigning Bothrops andianus to this genus; and recognising the sister clade as Bothrops, synonymising Bothriopsis, Bothropoides and Rhinocerophis.     

Taxonomic position of the cricket genus Eneopteroides Chopard, 1956 (Orthoptera: Grylloidea,Podoscirtidae), with descriptions of two new species

The cricket genus Eneopteroides Chopard, 1956 is transferred from the Eneopteridae to the Podoscirtidae owing to characters in external morphology and male genitalia. One species initially described in the genus Aphonomorphus Rehn, 1903, A. bicolor Hebard, 1928b, is transferred to Eneopteroides and two new species from western Amazonia are described, E. loretensis n. sp. and E. cordobensis n. sp.     

Bewsiella Domrow (Acarina: Mesostigmata): a revision and the description of new species

The genus Bewsiella is considered to comprise a considerable number of species, despite having been regarded as monotypic. The structure of the male spermadactyl is proposed as a key character for separating congeneric species. This character seems likely to bear phylogenetic information on both the mites themselves and their hosts. Since the male of Bewsiella fledermaus Domrow, the type-species, has not been found, it is impossible to define the morphology of this species based on both sexes. Consequently, all mites that share many characters with the female of B. fledermaus are placed in a B. fledermaus species group. B. aelleni (Till) is considered as a valid species and both sexes and the protonymph are redescribed and illustrated. B. nycteris n. sp., B. emballonuris n. sp., B. cloeotis n. sp., B. haradai n. sp. and B. coelopos n. sp. are described and illustrated. The genus Bewsiella was originally allocated to the family Laelapidae and later transferred to the family Macronyssidae. Recently, the genus was returned to the Laelapidae, and some evidence supporting this action was obtained during the present study, but further studies are required for confirmation.