Contributions to molecular systematics of water scavenger beetles (Hydrophilidae,Coleoptera)

Phylogenetic relationships within Hydrophilidae were examined by analyses of separate and combined nuclear and mitochondrial markers (28S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 16S rRNA, 12S rRNA, COI and COII genes). The preferred (Bayesian) tree topology suggests a sister group relationship between Spercheidae and Hydrophilidae, supporting the ‘hydrophilid lineage’; Epimetopidae are placed on the base of the ‘helophorid branch’, the monophyly of Sphaeridiinae is highly supported, nested deeply within Hydrophilidae closest to Enochrus, making Hydrophilinae and Acidocerini paraphyletic; Hydrobius appears as sister taxon to (Hydrochara + Hydrophilus) without a closer relationship to Acidocerini; the hydrophiloid–histeroid sister group relationship is confirmed. The topology of several taxa remains contradictory, and requires further investigations with a larger taxon sampling and additional molecular markers.     

A comprehensive molecular phylogeny of tiger beetles (Coleoptera,Carabidae, Cicindelinae)

Tiger beetles are a remarkable group that captivates amateur entomologists, taxonomists and evolutionary biologists alike. This diverse clade of beetles comprises about 2300 currently described species found across the globe. Despite the charisma and scientific interest of this lineage, remarkably few studies have examined its phylogenetic relationships with large taxon sampling. Prior phylogenetic studies have focused on relationships within cicindeline tribes or genera, and none of the studies have included sufficient taxon sampling to conclusively examine broad species patterns across the entire subfamily. Studies that have attempted to reconstruct higher‐level relationships of Cicindelinae have yielded conflicting results. Here, we present the first taxonomically comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Cicindelinae to date, with the goal of creating a framework for future studies focusing on this important insect lineage. We utilized all available published molecular data, generating a final concatenated dataset including 328 cicindeline species, with molecular data sampled from six protein‐coding gene fragments and three ribosomal gene fragments. Our maximum‐likelihood phylogenetic inferences recover Cicindelinae as sister to the wrinkled bark beetles of the subfamily Rhysodinae. This new phylogenetic hypothesis for Cicindelinae contradicts our current understanding of tiger beetle phylogenetic relationships, with several tribes, subtribes and genera being inferred as paraphyletic. Most notably, the tribe Manticorini is recovered nested within Platychilini including the genera Amblycheila Say, Omus Eschscholtz, Picnochile Motschulsky and Platychile Macleay. The tribe Megacephalini is recovered as paraphyletic due to the placement of the monophyletic subtribe Oxycheilina as sister to Cicindelini, whereas the monophyletic Megacephalina is inferred as sister to Oxycheilina, Cicindelini and Collyridini. The tribe Collyridini is paraphyletic with the subtribes Collyridina and Tricondylina in one clade, and Ctenostomina in a second one. The tribe Cicindelini is recovered as monophyletic although several genera are inferred as para‐ or polyphyletic. Our results provide a novel phylogenetic framework to revise the classification of tiger beetles and to encourage the generation of focused molecular datasets that will permit investigation of the evolutionary history of this lineage through space and time.     

Systematics and phylogeny of Vasseuromys (Mammalia,Rodentia, Gliridae) with a description of a new species from the late Miocene of eastern Europe

Vasseuromys is a species‐rich genus of small‐ to medium‐sized glirids spanning the latest Oligocene to late Miocene of Europe and western Asia. Despite extensive discoveries over the past 50 years, little phylogenetic work has been done on Vasseuromys. This study presents the first phylogenetic analysis of the genus that includes all the described species and a new taxon Vasseuromys tectus sp. nov. from the late Miocene of eastern Europe, providing the first insights into the evolutionary relationships within the clade. Results suggest that the genus is clearly paraphyletic. Two strongly supported genus‐level clades are recognized within ‘Vasseuromys’: a restricted Vasseuromys clade (containing the three species, V. pannonicus, V. rugosus and V. tectus) and the Glirulus clade that includes ‘Vasseuromys’ duplex. The remaining ‘Vasseuromys’ species are found to constitute a set of paraphyletic taxa, with the polyphyletic ‘Ramys’ nested within it. The genus Gliruloides is synonymized with Glirulus. Vasseuromys tectus sp. nov. is the most derived member of the genus in having a greater number of cheek teeth ridges including constantly present anterotrope, centrotrope, second prototrope on M1–2, third metatrope on M2, two to three posterotropids on p4 and strong ectolophids on lower molars. The results of the study confirm a European origin for Vasseuromys while suggesting that the late Miocene species of the genus dispersed from the east in the early Turolian.     

Redescription of the phytosaurs Paleorhinus (‘Francosuchus’) angustifrons and Ebrachosuchus neukami from Germany,with implications for Late Triassic biochronology

Phytosaurs are a diverse and morphologically distinctive clade of superficially crocodile‐like archosauriforms that had a near global distribution during the Late Triassic. Because their remains are among the most abundant vertebrate remains recovered in many Upper Triassic terrestrial formations, phytosaurs are used extensively in long‐range biochronological and biostratigraphic correlations. The biochronologically oldest and earliest branching known phytosaurs include an array of nominal species from the early Late Triassic of the United States, Germany, Poland, Morocco, and India that have been synonymized within the genus Paleorhinus, and subsequently used to define a global ‘Paleorhinus biochron’. However, recent phylogenetic work suggested that the North American species previously referred to Paleorhinus are paraphyletic. Here, we reassess the systematics and anatomy of putative specimens of Paleorhinus from southern Germany. Two well‐preserved basal phytosaur skulls from the Blasensandstein (Carnian) of Bavaria form the holotypes of Francosuchus angustifrons and Ebrachosuchus neukami, both of which were synonymized with Paleorhinus by previous workers. We demonstrate that Francosuchus angustifrons shares unique synapomorphies with specimens referred to Paleorhinus bransoni from the Late Triassic of Texas, and thus refer the species to Paleorhinus. By contrast, the longirostrine Ebrachosuchus is highly distinctive in morphology, and our new cladistic analysis of Phytosauria demonstrates that it represents a valid taxon that is more closely related to Phytosauridae than to Paleorhinus. We provide the first autapomorphy‐based support for a monophyletic but restricted Paleorhinus (supported by a nodal row on the jugal, and low paired ridges on the squamosal) and confirm that previous broader conceptions of Paleorhinus are likely to be paraphyletic. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Molecular phylogenetics and evolution of Orchidinae and selected Habenariinae (Orchidaceae)

Internal transcribed spacer (ITS nuclear rDNA) data have been obtained from 190 terrestrial orchid species, encompassing all genera and the great majority of the widely recognized species of Orchidinae, a heterogeneous selection of species of Habenariinae, and single species of Satyriinae and Disinae (the latter serving as outgroup). The resulting parsimony‐based phylogeny reveals 12 well‐resolved clades within the Orchidinae, based on Anacamptis s.l., Serapias, Ophrys, Steveniella–Himantoglossum s.l. (including ‘Comperia’ and ‘Barlia’, most species being 2n = 36), Neotinea s.l., Traunsteinera–Chamorchis, Orchis s.s., Pseudorchis–Amerorchis–Galearis–Neolindleya–Platanthera s.l. (most 2n = 42), Dactylorhiza s.l., Gymnadenia s.l. (most 2n = 40, 80), Ponerorchis s.l.–Hemipilia s.l.–Amitostigma–Neottianthe, and Brachycorythis (most 2n = 42). Relationships are less clearly resolved among these 12 clades, as are those within Habenariinae; the subtribe appears either weakly supported as monophyletic or as paraphyletic under maximum parsimony, and the species‐rich genus Habenaria is clearly highly polyphyletic. The triphyly of Orchis as previously delimited is confirmed, and the improved sampling allows further generic transfers to Anacamptis s.l. and Neotinea s.l. In addition, justifications are given for: (1) establishing Steveniella as the basally divergent member of an appreciably expanded Himantoglossum that incorporates the former genera ‘Barlia’ and ‘Comperia’, (2) reuniting ‘Piperia’ with a broadly defined Platanthera as section Piperia, necessitating ten new combinations, (3) broadening Ponerorchis to include Chusua, and Hemipilia to include single ‘orphan’ species of Ponerorchis and Habenaria, and (4) recognizing ‘Gymnadenia’camtschatica as the monotypic Neolindleya camtschatica within the Pseudorchis～Platanthera clade. Few further generic transfers are likely in Orchidinae s.s., but they are anticipated among habenariid genera, on acquisition of additional morphological and molecular evidence; one probable outcome is expansion of Herminium. Species‐level relationships are also satisfactorily resolved within most of the major clades of Orchidinae, with the notable exceptions of Serapias, the derived sections of Ophrys, Himantoglossum s.s., some sections within Dactylorhiza, the former genus ‘Nigritella’ (now tentatively placed within Gymnadenia s.l.), Hemipilia s.l., and possibly Ponerorchis s.s. Relationships among the 12 major clades broadly accord with bona fide records of intergeneric hybridization. Current evidence supports the recently recognized 2n = 36 clade; it also indicates a 2n = 40 clade that is further diagnosed by digitate root‐tubers, and is derived relative to the recently recognized clade of exclusively Asian genera (Ponerorchis s.l.–Hemipilia s.l.–Amitostigma–Neottianthe). This in turn appears derived relative to the Afro‐Asiatic Brachycorythis group; together, these two clades identify the plesiomorphic chromosome number as 2n = 42. If the African genus Stenogolottis is correctly placed as basally divergent within a monophyletic Habenariinae, the tribe Orchideae and subtribes Orchidinae and Habenariinae could all have originated in Africa, though in contrast the Asiatic focus of the basally divergent members of most major clades of Orchidinae suggests an Asiatic radiation of the subtribe. Morphological characters informally ‘mapped’ across the molecular phylogeny and showing appreciable levels of homoplasy include floral and vegetative pigmentation, flower shape, leaf posture, gynostemium features, and various pollinator attractants. Qualitative comparison of, and reciprocal illumination between, degrees of sequence and morphological divergence suggests a nested set of radiations of progressively decreasing phenotypic magnitude. Brief scenarios, both adaptive and non‐adaptive, are outlined for specific evolutionary transitions. Recommendations are made for further species sampling, concentrating on Asian Orchidinae (together with the Afro‐Asiatic Brachycorythis group) and both Asian and Southern Hemisphere Habenariinae, and adding plastid sequence data. Taxonomic changes listed are: Anacamptis robusta (T.Stephenson) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. , A. fragrans (Pollini) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. , A. picta (Loiseleur) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. , Neotinea commutata (Todari) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. , N. conica (Willdenow) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. , Platanthera elegans Lindley ssp. maritima (Rydberg) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. , P. elegans Lindley ssp. decurtata (R.Morgan & Glicenstein) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. , P. elongata (Rydberg) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. , P. michaelii (Greene) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. , P. leptopetala (Rydberg) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. , P. transversa (Suksdorf) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. , P. cooperi (S.Watson) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. , P. colemanii (R.Morgan & Glicenstein) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. , P. candida (R.Morgan & Ackerman) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. and P. yadonii (R.Morgan & Ackerman) R.M.Bateman, comb. nov. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 142 , 1–40.     

Phylogenetic analysis of higher-level relationships of Odonata

Abstract. This is the most comprehensive analysis of higher‐level relationships in Odonata conducted thus far. The analysis was based on a detailed study of the skeletal morphology and wing venation of adults, complemented with a few larval characters, resulting in 122 phylogenetically informative characters. Eighty‐five genera from forty‐five currently recognized families and subfamilies were examined. In most cases, several species were chosen to serve as exemplars for a given genus. The seven fossil outgroup taxa included were exemplar genera from five successively more distant odonatoid orders and suborders: Tarsophlebiidae (the closest sister group of Odonata, previously placed as a family within ‘Anisozygoptera’), Archizygoptera, Protanisoptera, Protodonata and Geroptera. Parsimony analysis of the data, in which characters were treated both under equal weights and implied weighting, produced cladograms that were highly congruent, and in spite of considerable homoplasy in the odonate data, many groupings in the most parsimonious cladograms were well supported in all analyses, as indicated by Bremer support. The analyses supported the monophyly of both Anisoptera and Zygoptera, contrary to the well known hypothesis of zygopteran paraphyly. Within Zygoptera, two large sister clades were indicated, one comprised of the classical (Selysian) Calopterygoidea, except that Amphipterygidae, which have traditionally been placed as a calopterygoid family, nested within the other large zygopteran clade comprised of Fraser's ‘Lestinoidea’ plus ‘Coenagrionoidea’ (both of which were shown to be paraphyletic as currently defined). Philoganga alone appeared as the sister group to the rest of the Zygoptera in unweighted cladograms, whereas Philoganga + Diphlebia comprised the sister group to the remaining Zygoptera in all weighted cladograms. ‘Anisozygoptera’ was confirmed as a paraphyletic assemblage that forms a ‘grade’ towards the true Anisoptera, with Epiophlebia as the most basal taxon. Within Anisoptera, Petaluridae appeared as the sister group to other dragonflies.     

Global interrelationships of Plesiosauria (Reptilia,Sauropterygia) and the pivotal role of taxon sampling in determining the outcome of phylogenetic analyses

Previous attempts to resolve plesiosaurian phylogeny are reviewed and a new phylogenetic data set of 66 taxa (67% of ingroup taxa examined directly) and 178 characters (eight new) is presented. We recover two key novel results: a monophyletic Plesiosauridae comprising Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus, Hydrorion brachypterygius, Microcleidus homalospondylus, Occitanosaurus tournemirensis and Seeleyosaurus guilelmiimperatoris; and five plesiosaurian taxa recovered outside the split between Plesiosauroidea and Pliosauroidea. These taxa are Attenborosaurus conybeari, ‘Plesiosaurus’macrocephalus and a clade comprising Archaeonectrus rostratus, Macroplata tenuiceps and BMNH 49202. Based on this result, a new name, Neoplesiosauria, is erected for the clade comprising Plesiosauroidea and Pliosauroidea. Taxon subsamples of the new dataset are used to simulate previous investigations of global plesiosaurian relationships. Based on these simulations, most major differences between previous global phylogenetic hypotheses can be attributed to differences in taxon sampling. These include the position of Leptocleididae and Polycotylidae and the monophyly or paraphyly of Rhomaleosauridae. On this basis we favour the results recovered by our, larger analysis. Leptocleididae and Polycotylidae are sister taxa, forming a monophyletic clade within Plesiosauroidea, indicating that the large‐headed, short‐necked ‘pliosauromorph’ body plan evolved twice within Plesiosauria. Rhomaleosauridae forms the monophyletic sister taxon of Pliosauridae within Pliosauroidea. Problems are identified with previous phylogenetic definitions of plesiosaurian clades and new, stem‐based definitions are presented that should maintain their integrity over a range of phylogenetic hypotheses. New, rank‐free clade names Cryptoclidia and Leptocleidia are erected to replace the superfamilies Cryptoclidoidea and Leptocleidoidea. These were problematic as they were nested within the superfamily Plesiosauroidea. The incongruence length difference test indicates no significant difference in levels of homoplasy between cranial and postcranial characters.     

Squatiniformes (Chondrichthyes,Neoselachii) from the Late Cretaceous of southern England and northern France with redescription of the holotype of Squatina cranei Woodward, 1888

Abstract: Bulk sampling of phosphate‐rich horizons within the Late Cretaceous of the Anglo‐Paris Basin yielded numerous teeth of members of the Squatiniformes. Along with isolated tooth remains, two museum specimens comprising partial articulated encoskeletal remains including the holotype of the species Squatina cranei Woodward, 1888a are described, and a new subgenus Cretascyllium is proposed for species of the genus Squatina with high degree of heterodonty and triangular anterior teeth. The species Squatina (Cretascyllium) cranei comb. nov. and Squatina (Cretascyllium) hassei comb. nov. are referred to this subgenus. The genus Parasquatina Herman, 1982 previously erected on a single tooth is valid, and two new species P. justinensis sp. nov. and P. jarvisi sp. nov. are described along with a third taxon Parasquatina sp. An enigmatic tooth referred to ?Neoselachii incertae sedis is also reported. The palaeoecology of these taxa is discussed.     

Phylogenetic reassessment and biogeography of the Ectateus generic group (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Platynotina)

Owing to the reinterpretation of its morphological synapomorphies, the taxonomic composition of the Ectateus generic group had been ambiguous. The present study scrutinized all existing taxonomic concepts of the group based on a cladistic analysis of the adult morphology of all of the Afrotropical platynotoid Platynotina genera. The phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed using parsimony and Bayesian inference. The results show that all previous taxonomic concepts of the Ectateus generic group concerned paraphyletic entities. The cladistic analysis revealed the following synapomorphies for the taxon: (1) presence of basal indentations of the pronotal disc, (2) ratio of prothorax width to its maximal height > 6.0, and (3) ratio of maximal height of the prothorax to total height < 0.3. Moreover, phylogenetic studies revealed the existence of the Upembarus generic group, a sister‐taxon group to the Ectateus generic group, within the Afrotropical platynotoid Platynotina. Autapomorphic and synapomorphic character mapping show that several taxonomic and nomenclatural changes are needed to consider the particular generic‐level entities traditionally assigned to Afrotropical platynotoid Platynotina as monophyletic lineages. The following taxonomic and nomenclatural adjustments are made in this paper: P teroselinus gen. nov. is erected to accommodate a single species that was previously assigned to Zidalus: Pteroselinus insularis comb. nov. Additionally, the following synonymies are proposed: Anchophthalmops (= Platykochius syn. nov. ), Angolositus (= Aberlencus syn. nov. , = Platymedvedevia syn. nov. ), Glyptopteryx (= Microselinus syn. nov. , = Quadrideres syn. nov. , = Synquadrideres syn. nov. ). In addition, Kochogaster is lowered in rank and is treated as one of the subgenera of Anchophthalmus. Moreover, Pseudoselinus is treated as a subgenus of Upembarus. An identification key to all Afrotropical platynotoid Platynotina genera and subgenera is presented. Zoogeographical analyses revealed the following dispersal barriers for the Ectateus generic group: (1) the Sahara (northern barrier); (2) the dry ecosystems of Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa (southern barrier); and (3) the Congolian rainforests (internal distributional gap). The ancestor of the taxon probably originated in East African ecoregions that predominantly contained wattletrees (acacias) and Commiphora Jacq. Moreover, past climate changes seem to have had a great impact on the observed generic distribution. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

First Potwarmus from the Miocene of Saudi Arabia and the early phylogeny of murines (Rodentia: Muroidea)

Potwarmus is recorded for the first time in Saudi Arabia. The material comes from the Middle Miocene of the Hofuf Formation at Al‐Jadidah. This species, Potwarmus flynni sp. nov. , is described and compared with all species currently placed in the genera Potwarmus, Dakkamys, Paradakkamys, Vallaris, and some species of ‘Myocricetodon’ (i.e. the so‐called ‘primitive dendromurids’) as well as with two of the most primitive definitive murines (namely Antemus chinjiensis and Progonomys debruijni). Potwarmus flynni sp. nov. differs from the above‐mentioned species in having the anterior part of the m1 strongly reduced. A cladistic analysis provides evidence that this new Arabian taxon is close to Potwarmus primitivus and Potwarmus sp. nov. from Jebel Zelten (Libya), and also that this genus is unlikely to be the sister taxon to Antemus. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 156 , 664–679.     

A new nothrotheriid xenarthran from the early Pliocene of Pomata‐Ayte (Bolivia): new insights into the caniniform–molariform transition in sloths

Tardigrade xenarthrans are today represented only by the two tree sloth genera Bradypus and Choloepus, which inhabit the Neotropical rainforests and are characterized by their slowness and suspensory locomotion. Sloths have been recognized in South America since the early Oligocene. This monophyletic group is represented by five clades traditionally recognized as families: Bradypodidae, Megalonychidae, Mylodontidae (?), Megatheriidae (?) and Nothrotheriidae (?). A new nothrotheriid ground sloth represented by a dentary and several postcranial elements, Aymaratherium jeani gen. nov. , sp. nov. , from the early Pliocene locality of Pomata‐Ayte (Bolivia) is reported. This small‐ to medium‐sized species is characterized especially by its dentition and several postcranial features. It exhibits several convergences with the ‘aquatic’ nothrotheriid sloth Thalassocnus and the giant megatheriid ground sloth Megatherium (M.) americanum, and is interpreted as a selective feeder, with good pronation and supination movements. The tricuspid caniniform teeth of Aymaratherium may represent a transitional stage between the caniniform anterior teeth of basal megatherioids and basal nothrotheriids (1/1C‐4/3M as in Hapalops or Mionothropus) and the molariform anterior teeth of megatheriids (5/4M, e.g. Megatherium). To highlight the phylogenetic position of this new taxon among nothrotheriid sloths, we performed a cladistic assessment of the available dental and postcranial evidence. Our results, derived from a TNT treatment of a data matrix largely based on a published phylogenetic data set, indicate that Aymaratherium is either sister taxon to Mionothropus or sister to the clade Nothrotheriini within Nothrotheriinae. They further support the monophyly of both the Nothrotheriinae and the Nothrotheriini, as suggested previously by several authors.     

Phylogenetic reassessment of the Exophthalmus genus complex (Curculionidae: Entiminae: Eustylini,Geonemini)

The monophyly of the Neotropical entimine weevil genus Exophthalmus Schoenherr, 1823 (Curculionidae: Entiminae: Eustylini Lacordaire) is reassessed. Exophthalmus presently includes more than 80 species, approximately half of which are restricted to either the Caribbean archipelago or the continental Neotropics. The taxonomic composition and position of Exophthalmus have been subject to longstanding disagreements; in particular, authors have questioned the relationship of Exophthalmus to other Caribbean genera such as Diaprepes Schoenherr, 1834 (Eustylini) and Lachnopus Schoenherr, 1840 (Geonemini Gistel), as well as to the speciose Central and South American genera Compsus Schoenherr, 1823, Eustylus Schoenherr, 1842, and Exorides Pascoe, 1881 (all Eustylini), among others. The present study scrutinizes these traditional perspectives, based on a cladistic analysis of 143 adult morphological characters and 90 species, representing 30 genera and seven tribes of Neotropical entimine weevils. The character matrix yielded eight most‐parsimonious cladograms (length = 239 steps; consistency index = 66; retention index = 91), with mixed clade support that remains particularly wanting for some of the deeper in‐group divergences. The strict consensus supports the existence of a paraphyletic Geonemini ‘grade’ that includes Lachnopus and related Caribbean genera such as Apotomoderes Dejean, 1834, followed by a monophyletic Eustylini in‐group clade. Within the latter, a monophyletic South American Eustylini clade – including Compsus, Eustylus, Exorides, and related genera – is sister to a major clade that contains a ‘grade’ of heterogeneous and often misclassified Caribbean members of the Eustylini, Geonemini (Tetrabothynus Labram & Imhoff, 1852 and Tropirhinus Schoenherr, 1823), and Tanymecini Lacordaire (Pachnaeus Schoenherr, 1826), as well as two major clades: one with the majority of Central American Exophthalmus species, and the other with most Caribbean members of Exophthalmus. The Central American Exophthalmus clade is paraphyletic with respect to Chauliopleurus Champion, 1911 (Geonemini) and Rhinospathe Chevrolat, 1878 (Phyllobiini Schoenherr). The Caribbean clade, in turn, contains two subclades: i.e. (1) the Greater Antillean Exophthalmus s.s. clade, including the type species Exophthalmus quadrivittatus (Olivier, 1807); and (2) the primarily Lesser Antillean Diaprepes. The latter genus is therefore nested within Central American and Caribbean species of a highly paraphyletic Exophthalmus, yet may be rendered monophyletic if several Lesser Antillean Exophthalmus species are (re‐)assigned to Diaprepes. The results thus provide a suitable basis for a revision of all Exophthalmus species, and furthermore suggest that historical biographic factors, including colonization via temporary continental Neotropics‐to‐Caribbean land connections, were important in the evolution of major eustyline lineages. Based on these preliminary insights, the following taxonomic and nomenclatural adjustments are made. Compsoricus gen. nov. is erected to accommodate two Puerto Rican species erroneously assigned to Compsus: i.e. the herein designated type species Compsoricus maricao comb. nov. and Compsoricus luquillo comb. nov. Eustylus dentipes comb. nov. is transferred from Compsus. Diaprepes marginicollis Chevrolat, 1880 is reinstated from synonymy under Exophthalmus. Lastly, the following five transfers are proposed: (1) Chauliopleurus Champion, 1911, from Geonemini to Eustylini; (2) Tetrabothynus Labram & Imhoff, 1852, from Geonemini to Eustylini; (3) Tropirhinus Schoenherr, 1823, from Geonemini to Eustylini; (4) Rhinospathe Chevrolat, 1878, from Phyllobiini to Eustylini; and (5) Pachnaeus Schoenherr, 1826, from Tanymecini to Eustylini. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 164 , 510–557.     

The evolutionary history of Trichoptera (Insecta): A case of successful adaptation to life in freshwater

The insect order Trichoptera (caddisflies) forms the second most species‐rich monophyletic group of animals in freshwater. So far, several attempts have been made to elucidate its evolutionary history with both morphological and molecular data. However, none have attempted to analyse the time frame for its diversification. The order is divided into three suborders – Annulipalpia, Integripalpia and ‘Spicipalpia’. Historically, the most problematic taxon to place within the order is ‘Spicipalpia’, whose larvae do not build traditional cases or filtering nets like the majority of the caddisflies. They have previously been proposed to be the sister group of all other Trichoptera or more advanced within the order, with equivocal monophyly and with different interordinal placements among various studies. In order to resolve the evolutionary history of the caddisflies as well as timing their diversification, we utilized fragments of three nuclear (carbamoylphosphate synthethase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and RNA polymerase II) and one mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase I) protein coding genes, with 16 fossil trichopteran taxa used for time calibration. The ‘spicipalpian’ families are recovered as ancestral to all other caddisflies, though paraphyletic. We recover stable relationships among most families and superfamilies, resolving many previously unrecognized phylogenetic affinities amongst extant families. The origin of Trichoptera is estimated to be around 234 Ma, i.e. Middle – Late Triassic.     

An assessment of the diversity of early Miocene Scolopaci (Aves,Charadriiformes) from Saint‐Gérand‐le‐Puy (Allier,France)

Abstract: ‘Totanus’lartetianus, Elorius paludicola and ‘Tringa’gracilis are the three scolopacid birds from the early Miocene of Saint‐Gérand‐le‐Puy described by the French palaeontologist Milne‐Edwards in the 19th century. Since then, no revision of these taxa has been performed. Our re‐examination revealed that not much of the material originally assigned to ‘Totanus’lartetianus can be retained within the species. Presumably plesiomorphic features of the humerus – and potentially the coracoid we attributed to this taxon – indicate that it is misplaced in the extant scolopacid genus and may not even belong to the Scolopacidae (sandpipers and allies), and we therefore place it in the new genus Scolopacimilis. Comparisons of the material assigned to Elorius paludicola and ‘Tringa’gracilis show that they are morphologically similar, both exhibiting distinct scolopacid anatomical features. The latter, however, cannot be referred to the extant taxon Tringa and is classified into the new genus Parvelorius. We further introduce three new species, ?Elorius limosoides sp. nov., and ?Parvelorius calidris sp. nov., which we have tentatively assigned to the extinct scolopacid genera Elorius and Parvelorius, respectively, and Becassius charadriioides gen. et. sp. nov., which, together with Scolopacimilis, display a morphology uncharacteristic for extant Scolopaci. For the first time we have assigned skulls to some of the postcranial elements described in this study. The presence of at least six species of Scolopaci from the early Miocene considerably increases the number of members of the group known from this time.     

Phylogeny and classification of Ochlerotatus and allied taxa (Diptera: Culicidae: Aedini) based on morphological data from all life stages

The phylogenetic relationships and generic assignments of ‘Ochlerotatus’ and related taxa of uncertain taxonomic position in the classification of Aedini previously proposed by the authors in 2004 and 2006 are explored using 297 characters from eggs, fourth‐instar larvae, pupae, adults and immature habitat coded for 158 exemplar species. The ingroup comprises 54 species and the outgroup includes four non‐aedine species and 100 aedine species, 21 of which were previously classified as incertae sedis. Data are analysed in a total‐evidence approach using implied weighting. The analysis produced 158 most parsimonious cladograms. The strict consensus tree (SCT) corroborates the monophyly of the 30 generic‐level taxa recognized previously that are included in the analysis. Overall, the results show remarkable congruence with those obtained previously despite differences in the taxa and morphological characters analysed in this and the two previous studies. All species of Ochlerotatus s.s., subgenus ‘Ochlerotatus’sensu auctorum, Geoskusea, Levua, Pseudoskusea and Rhinoskusea included in the analysis fall within a single clade that is treated as genus Ochlerotatus; thus, the last four taxa are restored to their previous subgeneric rank within this genus. Nine additional subgenera, of which four are new, are proposed for monophyletic clades of Ochlerotatus species based on the strength of character support and application of the principle of equivalent rank. Acartomyia stat. nov. , Culicelsa stat. nov. , Gilesia stat. nov. , Protoculex stat. nov. and Chrysoconops stat. nov. are resurrected from synonymy with Ochlerotatus; and Empihals subgen. nov. (type species: Culex vigilax Skuse), Pholeomyia subgen. nov. (type species: Aedes calcariae Marks), Buvirilia subgen. nov. (type species: Aedes edgari Stone & Rosen) and Sallumia subgen. nov. (type species: Aedes hortator Dyar & Knab) are described as new. The sister group of Ochlerotatus includes a number of species that were previously regarded as incertae sedis in ‘Oc. (Finlaya)’ and ‘Oc. (Protomacleaya)’. Based on previous observations, refined relationships and new character support, three additional genera are recognized for species previously included in ‘Finlaya’, i.e. Danielsia stat. nov . (type species: Danielsia albotaeniata Leicester), Luius gen. nov. (type species: Aedes fengi Edwards) and Hopkinsius gen. nov. (type species: Aedes ingrami Edwards). Additionally, Alloeomyia subgen. nov. (type species: Culex pseudotaeniatus Giles) and Yamada subgen. nov. (type species: Aedes seoulensis Yamada) are introduced as subgenera of Collessius and Hopkinsius, respectively. As is usual with generic‐level groups of Aedini, the newly recognized genera and subgenera are polythetic taxa that are diagnosed by unique combinations of characters. The analysis corroborates the previous observation that ‘Oc. (Protomacleaya)’ is a polyphyletic assemblage of species. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 153 , 29–114.     

A new species of Penicillium from soil: P. coalescens,sp. nov.

A new species of Penicillium Link ex Gray nom. cons. prop. is described and illustrated. It has been recovered from sandy soil under conifers near Valladolid (Spain). This species is classified, according to Pitt's System, into Sect. Coremigenum (Biourge) Pitt, comb. nov. and Ser. Dendritica Pitt, ser. nov. of the Subgen. Biverticillium Dierckx, because of its characteristically biverticillate penicilli and its ability to produce coremia after somewhat extended incubation under diffuse natural light. It is clearly different from species described so far and is, therefore, proposed as new taxon: P. coalescens, sp. nov.