Systematic implications of chloroplast DNA VARIATION IN Jaltomata and selected physaloid genera (Solanaceae)

Chloroplast DNA restriction site data were used to assess relationships among the solanaceous genera Jaltomata, Hebecladus. Old and New World Physalis, Chamaesaracha, Leucophysalis, Margaranthus, Nicandra, and Saracha, and to assess interspecific relationships within Jaltomata. Cladograms rooted with Nicotiana tabacum were constructed with Wagner and Dollo parsimony. Strict consensus trees indicate that Hebecladus originated from within Jaltomata; together these genera are monophyletic and constitute the recently circumscribed genus Jaltomata. There are two primary clades in Jaltomata: one a morphologically diverse group confined to western (largely Andean) South America, the Greater Antilles, and the Galapagos Islands; and the other a morphologically homogeneous group widely distributed from the southwestern United States to Bolivia. The controversial Leucophysalis viscosa, formerly treated as Jaltomata viscosa, is related to Leucophysalis, Physalis, Chamaesaracha, and Margaranthus; it does not group with any of the sampled species of Jaltomata. Physalis appears to be polyphyletic since P. alkekengi of the Old World branches off prior to a clade including Chamaesaracha, Margaranthus, and the two New World Physalis species sampled.     

Physalis (Solanaceae) and allied genera: Tzeltalia, a new genus from the highlands of southern Mexico and northwestern Guatemala

A morphological analysis ofPhysalis and several closely related genera, with emphasis on a group of species known as “atypicalPhysalis,” showed that two of the atypical species are better treated as a distinct genus.Tzeltalia is described and two new combinations are made:T. amphitricha andT. calidaria. Restricted to the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, and adjacent Guatemala,Tzeltalia is distinguished fromPhysalis by a combination of characters including shrubby habit; fasciculate flowers; lobed corolla; scabrate pollen; and non-invaginated, partially open, coriaceous, and reticulate-veined fruiting calyx.

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Resumen  El análisis de un grupo de especies atípicas dePhysalis y otros géneros relacionados demostró que dos especies deben considerarse como otro género. Se describeTzeltalia, un género restringido a los altos de Chiapas, México, y Guatemala y se hacen dos nuevas combinaciones,T. amphitricha yT. calidaria.Tzeltalia se distingue dePhysalis por una combinación de caracteres que incluyen un habito arbustivo, flores fasciculadas, corola lobulada, polen escabroso, cáliz del fruto no invaginado, parcialmente abierto, coriáceo y con venación reticulada.

     

Assessing Genetic Diversity in Mexican Husk Tomato Species

Mexico is the center of diversity of the husk tomato (Physalis L., Solanaceae), which includes a number of commercially important edible and ornamental species. Taxonomic identification is presently based on morphological characteristics, but the presence of high inter- and intraspecific morphological variation makes this task difficult. Six ISSR primers were used on eight Mexican species of Physalis to determine their utility for interspecific taxonomic discrimination and to assess their potential for inferring interspecific relationships. The six ISSR primers amplified 101 bands, with 100% polymorphism across samples. The number of bands per primer varied from 10 to 21. All primers produced different fingerprint profiles for each species, confirming the ISSR value in taxonomic discrimination. Discrimination values based on Simpson’s diversity index varied from 0.48 to 0.58. Genetic interspecific similarity values ranged from 0.20 to 0.57, and intraspecific similarity values were highest for Physalis angulata (0.71), followed by Physalis philadelphica (0.63) and Physalis lagascae (0.55). The UPGMA analysis grouped accessions of the same species together and clustered together Physalis species of similar morphological traits. Thus, ISSR markers are useful in estimating genetic relationships in Physalis.     

Pollen grain morphology of Nolana L. (Solanaceae: Nolanoideae: Nolaneae) and related genera of southern South American Solanaceae

Nolana comprises 89 species almost entirely restricted to the Atacama and Peruvian deserts. These species are adapted to the arid lomas environment of northern Chile and southern Peru, where they depend on marine fog locally known as garúa or camanchaca for their development. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies provide support for the placement of Nolana in the Solanaceae rather than Nolanaceae. Additionally, a sister relationship with the tribe Lycieae has been suggested. The pollen morphology of 111 species from 18 genera of southern South American Solanaceae was investigated under light and scanning electron microscopes in order to establish the palynological affinities of Nolana within the Solanaceae and to investigate if pollen morphology is congruent with the phylogenetic relationships and former taxonomic classification of the species of Nolana. The following genera were studied: Nolana, Cestrum, Combera, Dunalia, Fabiana, Jaborosa, Latua, Lycium (incl. Grabowskia, Phrodus), Nicandra, Nicotiana, Nierenbergia, Petunia, Physalis, Reyesia, Salpiglossis, Schizanthus, Solanum and Vestia. Two pollen types that differ in exine structure were distinguished within Nolana; these pollen types are congruent with recent phylogenetic studies, thus, we propose to reinstate Nolana sect. Sorema.     

Phylogeny of the Myllaenini and related taxa (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae)

A cladistic analysis of the tribe Myllaenini Ganglbauer and related genera is presented. Monophyly of the Myllaenini is tested, and the tribe is hypothesized to be a monophyletic group consisting of nine genera (Myllaena Erichson, Amazonopora Pace, Dimonomera Cameron, Bryothinusa Casey, Philomina Blackwelder, Polypea Fauvel, Brachypronomaea Sawada, Rothium Moore and Legner, and Lautaea Sawada), based on the synapomorphy of antero‐lateral angles of mentum prolonged into spinose processes. A history of the classification of the Myllaenini is discussed. The data set for phylogenetic analysis comprised 99 characters representing 297 character states derived from adult morphology. The analysis agrees on the monophyly of the Myllaenini and the monophyly of the Pronomaeini Ganglbauer (Pronomaea Erichson, Pseudomniophila Pace, Nopromaea Cameron and Tomoxelia Bernhauer). The tribe Dimonomerini (Dimonomera Cameron) is confirmed to be a member of the Myllaenini. Masuriini is a possible sister group of the Myllaenini. Stylopalpus Cameron shows a sister group relationship to the Pronomaeini. Several other clades are also consistently recovered. However, the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Dysacrita are ambiguous. The rogue genus Diglotta Champion is not recovered as a member of the Myllaenini or Pronomaeini. On the contrary, it forms a monophyletic clade with the liparocephaline genera Halorhadinus Sawada and Amblopusa Casey. Evolution of the defensive gland on abdominal tergite VII among aleocharine lineages is reconsidered, and the origin of an intertidal habitat in the Myllaenini is discussed.     

A global phylogeny of apple snails: Gondwanan origin, generic relationships, and the influence of outgroup choice (Caenogastropoda: Ampullariidae)

Apple snails (Ampullariidae) are a diverse family of pantropical freshwater snails and an important evolutionary link to the common ancestor of the largest group of living gastropods, the Caenogastropoda. A clear understanding of relationships within the Ampullariidae, and identification of their sister taxon, is therefore important for interpreting gastropod evolution in general. Unfortunately, the overall pattern has been clouded by confused systematics within the family and equivocal results regarding the family's sister group relationships. To clarify the relationships among ampullariid genera and to evaluate the influence of including or excluding possible sister taxa, we used data from five genes, three nuclear and two mitochondrial, from representatives of all nine extant ampullariid genera, and species of Viviparidae, Cyclophoridae, and Campanilidae, to reconstruct the phylogeny of apple snails, and determine their affinities to these possible sister groups. The results obtained indicate that the Old and New World ampullariids are reciprocally monophyletic with probable Gondwanan origins. All four Old World genera, Afropomus, Saulea, Pila, and Lanistes, were recovered as monophyletic, but only Asolene, Felipponea, and Pomella were monophyletic among the five New World genera, with Marisa paraphyletic and Pomacea polyphyletic. Estimates of divergence times among New World taxa suggest that diversification began shortly after the separation of Africa and South America and has probably been influenced by hydrogeological events over the last 90 Myr. The sister group of the Ampullariidae remains unresolved, but analyses omitting certain outgroup taxa suggest the need for dense taxonomic sampling to increase phylogenetic accuracy within the ingroup. The results obtained also indicate that defining the sister group of the Ampullariidae and clarifying relationships among basal caenogastropods will require increased taxon sampling within these four families, and synthesis of both morphological and molecular data. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 98 , 61–76.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) based on molecular and morphological characters

The intrasubfamilial classification of Microdontinae Rondani (Diptera: Syrphidae) has been a challenge: until recently more than 300 out of more than 400 valid species names were classified in Microdon Meigen. We present phylogenetic analyses of molecular and morphological characters (both separate and combined) of Microdontinae. The morphological dataset contains 174 characters, scored for 189 taxa (9 outgroup), representing all 43 presently recognized genera and several subgenera and species groups. The molecular dataset, representing 90 ingroup species of 28 genera, comprises sequences of five partitions in total from the mitochondrial gene COI and the nuclear ribosomal genes 18S and 28S. We test the sister‐group relationship of Spheginobaccha with the other Microdontinae, attempt to elucidate phylogenetic relationships within the Microdontinae and discuss uncertainties in the classification of Microdontinae. Trees based on molecular characters alone are poorly resolved, but combined data are better resolved. Support for many deeper nodes is low, and placement of such nodes differs between parsimony and Bayesian analyses. However, Spheginobaccha is recovered as highly supported sister group in both. Both analyses agree on the early branching of Mixogaster, Schizoceratomyia, Afromicrodon and Paramicrodon. The taxonomical rank in relation to the other Syrphidae is discussed briefly. An additional analysis based on morphological characters only, including all 189 taxa, used implied weighting. A range of weighting strengths (k‐values) is applied, chosen such that values of character fit of the resulting trees are divided into regular intervals. Results of this analysis are used for discussing the phylogenetic relationships of genera unrepresented in the molecular dataset.     

A phylogenetic analysis of Primulaceae s.l. based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA sequence data

 Phylogenetic relationships in Primulaceae were investigated by analysis of nuclear rDNA ITS sequences. Thirty-four species of Primulaceae, two of Myrsinaceae and four outgroup taxa were analyzed. In accordance to the results of recently published papers on the phylogeny of Primulaceae we found the family to be paraphyletic and resolved the positions of some genera. Our results show (a) the rather basal position of Centunculus within Lysimachieae, the genus thus being rather distantly related to Anagallis, (b) the close relationship between Lysimachia sect. Lerouxia, Anagallis, Asterolinon, and Pelletiera, (c) the well-supported monophyly of a group consisting of the four genera Hottonia, Omphalogramma, Bryocarpum, and Soldanella, and (d) the affinity of Stimpsonia to the Myrsinaceae-Lysimachieae-Ardisiandra clade. The ITS sequence data do not provide sufficient information to resolve basal relationships within the Primulaceae s.l. There is evidence against the monophyly of the large genera Primula, Androsace, and Lysimachia. In contrast to the phylogenetic reconstructions based on plastid gene sequences, Cyclamen does not appear as a member of the Myrsinaceae-Lysimachieae clade, but its position remains unclear. Revised July 10, 2002; accepted November 21, 2002 Published online: March 20, 2003     

A phylogeny of Xanthopygina (Insecta,Coleoptera) reveals major lineages and the origin of myrmecophily

Xanthopygina is a group of colourful, neotropical rove beetles (Staphylinidae) comprising 28 genera and more than 350 species. While many genera are found on rotting fruits, carrion, dung and mushrooms, several taxa have evolved associations with social insects. Previous phylogenetic analyses have used only a subset of genera and were based solely on molecular data. In this paper, we performed Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses of all known genera, including three potentially new genera, based on molecular (4,797 bp) and morphological (91) characters. Our results reaffirmed the monophyly of the subtribe and divided it into eight major lineages: the Elmas, Gastrisus, Isanopus, Ocyolinus, Plociopterus, Smilax, Trigonopselaphus and Xanthopygus groups. We hypothesized that myrmecophily evolved once in the common ancestor of the Smilax group, and that sphecophily possibly evolved twice, in the Trigonopselaphus and Xanthopygus groups.     

Gaidropsarus (Gadidae,Teleostei) of the North Atlantic Ocean: a brief phylogenetic review

The phylogenetic relationships among the North Atlantic Gaidropsarus and between the three Gaidropsarinae genera Gaidropsarus, Ciliata and Enchelyopus are reviewed with the hitherto most comprehensive taxonomic sampling of this group. Phylogenetic results (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) based on nuclear (rhodopsin) and concatenated mitochondrial (12s, 16s and cytb) markers clearly support this subfamily. For the north‐eastern Atlantic species of Gaidropsarus, two previously unreported clades were strongly supported, clarifying the relationships within the genus, and revealing fewer distinct taxa in the north Atlantic Gaidropsarus than previously stipulated. The data challenge the specific status of Gaidropsarus mediterraneus and Gaidropsarus guttatus and raise doubts concerning the distinctiveness of other species. A taxonomic revision of the genus is suggested.     

Molecular phylogeny and systematics of the Polysphincta group of genera (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae)

The phylogenetic relationships between genera of the Polysphincta group of Pimplinae (Ichneumonidae) were surveyed using molecular markers, partial sequences of cytochrome c oxidase I (COI), 28S rRNA and elongation factor 1α, and maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches to obtain a robust phylogenetic hypothesis to understand the evolution of the group. The Polysphincta group was recovered as monophyletic, although relationships between genera were different from previous hypotheses based on morphological data. Within the Polysphincta group, three major clades were recognized and phylogenetic relationships among them were well resolved as (Schizopyga subgroup + (Acrodactyla subgroup + Polysphincta subgroup)). The Schizopyga subgroup consisted of the genera Piogaster, Schizopyga, Zabrachypus and Brachyzapus. As the genus Schizopyga was found to be polyphyletic, the genus Dreisbachia, which had been synonymized under Schizopyga, was resurrected and Iania gen.n. is proposed for Dreisbachia pictifrons, to maintain monophyletic genera. Species of the Schizopyga subgroup utilize spiders constructing egg‐laying chambers or funnel webs as hosts. The genus Piogaster was not recovered as the sister to all other members of the genus group, unlike previous hypotheses, but was nested in this clade as (Zabrachypus + ((Brachyzapus + Schizopyga) + (Dreisbachia + (Iania + Piogaster)))). Members of the Acrodactyla and Polysphincta subgroups attack spiders that weave aerial webs. The host range of the former is centred on tetragnathid and linyphiid spiders, the host range of the latter seems to centre mainly on orb‐weaving araneids and partly on theridiids weaving three‐dimensional (3D) irregular webs. Based on the obtained phylogeny of the group, the evolution of larval and cocoon morphology, and the mode of parasitism are discussed. Acrodactyla varicarinata Uchida & Momoi and A. inoperta Kusigemati are transferred to the genus Megaetaira ( comb.n.). This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0AB1086F‐9F23‐4057‐B7ED‐3A3943E19C61 .     

CHROMOSOME CYTOLOGY OF EUCHARIS,CALIPHRURIA, AND URCEOLINA (AMARYLLIDACEAE)

Karyotypes are presented for 19 taxa of Eucharis, Caliphruria, and Urceolina, a monophyletic group of Andean Amaryllidaceae within “infrafamily” Pancratioidinae Traub. All three genera are characterized by 2n = 46, the most common somatic number occurring in the “infrafamily.” Incidences of polyploidy are low. Only two tetraploid (2n = 92) species of Eucharis are so far known, E. bouchei and E. bonplandii, the northernmost species of E. subg. Eucharis. The 2n = 68 karyotype of E. amazonica is interpreted as triploid-derived (3x – 1). Chromosomal heteromorphism is reported for C. subedentata. Karyotype data is analyzed with principal component analysis and unweighted pairgroup cluster analysis. In a number of cases, phenetic relationships among the karyotypes correlate with phenetic and cladistic relationships based on morphological data. Karyotype evolution among the three genera is discussed in the context of classical theories of karyotypic symmetry. Stability of chromosome number in Eucharis and related genera suggests that chromosomal evolution has proceeded via nonreciprocal interchanges between chromosomes and infrachromosomal structural change. In at least one case (E. bakeriana), rapid sympatric speciation may have been vectored by chromosomal change.     

A mitochondrial DNA based phylogeny of weakfish species of the Cynoscion group (Pisces: Sciaenidae)

We infer the phylogeny of fishes in the New World Cynoscion group (Cynoscion, Isopisthus, Macrodon, Atractoscion, Plagioscion) using 1603 bp of DNA sequence data from three mitochondrial genes. With the exception of Plagioscion, whose position was ambiguous, the Cynoscion group is monophyletic. However, several genera examined are not monophyletic. Atlantic and Pacific species of Cynoscion are interspersed in the tree and geminate species pairs are identified. Intergeneric relationships in the group are clarified. Our analysis is the first comprehensive phylogeny for the Cynoscion group based on molecular data and provides a baseline for future comparative studies of this important group.     

Multigene‐based phylogeny of Urostylida (Ciliophora,Hypotrichia), with establishment of a novel family

The Urostylida is a major taxon of hypotrichs with many unresolved evolutionary relationships. Due to incomplete or inaccurate character states and a paucity of morphogenetic data, the phylogeny of several taxa within urostylids is unresolved. Molecular phylogeny studies based on single gene (SSU rDNA) data may lead to conflict between morphological classification and SSU rDNA tree. In this work, 20 new sequences (SSU rDNA, ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 and LSU rDNA) of five genera of urostylids are provided to further investigate the phylogenetic relationships of this group. The main findings are as follows: (i) the establishment of Hemicycliostylidae, a novel family presently including Hemicycliostyla and Australothrix, is supported by both single gene and concatenated phylogenies; (ii) all molecular data support the exclusion of Eschaneustyla from the family Epiclintidae; (iii) Australothrix, Bergeriella and Thigmokeronopsis are distinctly separated in all gene trees although they share the character that each posterior streak generates the ventral row together with the midventral pair; (iv) compared with closely related genera in all trees, that is Metaurostylopsis and Apourostylopsis, Neourostylopsis is characterized by having more than three frontal cirri arranged in distinct or indistinct corona rather than the length of the midventral complex; (v) Hemicycliostyla and Pseudourostyla, two morphologically similar genera, do not form a monophyletic group in all molecular trees, suggesting that the bicorona, multiple marginal cirral rows and high numbers of dorsal kineties may result from convergent evolution; (vi) species of Bakuella fall into three separate clades in all trees suggesting that this genus needs to be split.     

Thlaspi s.str. (Brassicaceae) versus Thlaspi s.l.: morphological and anatomical characters in the light of ITS nrDNA sequence data

 Nuclear ribosomal (ITS) DNA sequence data from representatives of eleven out of 12 genera previously included in Thlaspi sensu lato were analyzed to elucidate relationships within the former genus Thlaspi sensu lato. Sequences from Thlaspi segregates Noccaea, Masmenia, Callothlaspi, Kotschyella, Microthlaspi, and Noccidium were added to the existing data sets, and only some Thlaspi sensu lato segregates formed a monophyletic group. The recently renamed genus Pseudosempervivum, formerly part of the genus Cochlearia, has been shown to be closely related to this group as well. Microthlaspi consists of three independent lineages of which Microthlaspi umbellatum is closely related to Neurotropis. The Thlaspi s.str. taxa including the type species T. arvense, are closely related to Peltaria and Alliaria and they represent a monophyletic group. Kotschyella and Noccidium, which were also integrated into Thlaspi s.l. are not closely related to any Thlaspi lineage. Therefore, we suggest major taxonomical changes which are not in agreement with concepts based on morphological data. Our ITS based phylogeny demonstrates that subtribe Thlaspidinae comprises some additional genera such as Teesdalia, Peltaria, and Alliaria, the latter two even previously classified in other tribes than tribe Lepidieae. Received August 15, 2000 Accepted January 30, 2001     

Molecular phylogeny of sea snakes reveals a rapidly diverged adaptive radiation

Evolutionary relationships within and between the marine hydrophiine sea snake groups have been inferred primarily using morphological characters, and two major groups traditionally are recognized. The Aipysurus group comprises nine species in two genera, and the taxonomically chaotic Hydrophis group comprises as many as 40 species, of which 27 are generally allocated to the genus Hydrophis and 13 to ten additional genera. In addition to these two major groups are three putatively ‘primitive’ monotypic genera, Hydrelaps darwiniensis, Ephalophis greyi and Parahydrophis mertoni. The present study investigated the evolutionary relationships of 23 representative species of marine hydrophiines, comprising 15 species from the Hydrophis group, six species from the Aipysurus group, and H. darwiniensis and P. mertoni, to address two broad aims. First, the aim was to provide a robust phylogeny for sea snakes to test previous phylogenetic hypotheses based on morphology, and thus provide some taxonomic stability to the group. Second, there was interest in evaluating the hypothesis that the Hydrophis group might represent a rapidly diverged adaptive radiation. A large mitochondrial DNA data set based on the cytochrome b gene (1080 bp, 401 parsimony informative) and the 16S rRNA gene (510 bp, 57 parsimony informative) was assembled and these data were analysed using parsimony, maximum‐likelihood and Bayesian approaches. All analyses yielded virtually the same optimal tree, confirming that hydrophiine sea snakes comprise at least three lineages. The Aipysurus group formed a strongly supported and well‐resolved monophyletic clade. The Hydrophis group also formed a strongly supported clade; however, resolution among the genera and species was very poor. Hydrelaps darwiniensis and P. mertoni formed a sister clade to the Hydrophis lineage. Our phylogeny was used to test the validity of previous taxonomic and phylogenetic hypotheses, and to demonstrate that the genus Hydrophis is not monophyletic. Genetic diversity relative to phenotypic diversity is four to seven times greater in the Hydrophis lineage compared with the Aipysurus lineage. The topology of our phylogenetic hypothesis, combined with the levels of genetic divergence relative to morphological diversity, demonstrate that the Hydrophis lineage represents a rapidly diverged adaptive radiation. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that this adaptive radiation may be due to historical sea level fluctuations that have isolated populations and promoted speciation. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 89 , 523–539.     

Phylogeny and reclassification of species groups in Aquarius Schellenberg, Limnoporus Stål and Gerris Fabricius (Insecta: Hemiptera-Heteroptera, Gerridae)

Abstract. We investigated phylogenetic relationships of water striders (Hemiptera‐Heteroptera: Gerridae) from the three principal Holarctic genera, Aquarius Schellenberg, Limnoporus Stål and Gerris Fabricius with parsimony analyses of sixty‐six morphological characters and DNA sequences from mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I + II; large mitochondrial ribosomal subunit) and nuclear (elongation factor 1‐alpha) genes. The taxon sampling included all species of Aquarius and Limnoporus, and a dense, near complete, sample of Gerris species with representatives from all subgenera and species groups, and Gigantometra gigas (China) was selected as an outgroup species. A simultaneous analysis of all data sets gave eight equally parsimonious trees, and a strict consensus tree left only a few relationships within Gerris unresolved. While Limnoporus and Gerris each were resolved as monophyletic entities, Aquarius was found to be polyphyletic, because the Nearctic Aquarius remigis‐group, comprising A. remigis (Say), A. amplus (Drake and Harris), A. nyctalis (Drake and Hottes) and A. remigoides Gallant and Fairbairn, was placed as sister group to Gerris, while the Andean Aquarius chilensis (Berg) was sister group to all three genera. Remaining species of Aquarius comprised a sister group to the Gerris + the A. remigis‐group clade. Based on our phylogenetic reconstruction we discuss relationships within and among the three genera, reassess and diagnose species groups, and discuss zoogeographical relationships among all taxa.     

Evolution of the Canthonini Longitarsi (Scarabaeidae) in Madagascar

Dung beetle species belonging to the worldwide tribe Canthonini (Scarabaeidae) and occurring in Madagascar are all endemic to that island. The Malagasy Canthonini form three lineages, one of which is the group Longitarsi that includes five genera. The phylogenetic relationships of Malagasy Canthonini are not fully resolved and only few species of Longitarsi have been included in previous studies. Here we infer the phylogenetic relationships within the Longitarsi group using molecular data and together with morphological examination revise the systematics of the group. The five genera of the Longitarsi group form one monophyletic clade and thus we suggest the synonymization of the younger genera Sikorantus, Phacosomoides, Madaphacosoma and Aleiantus; with the oldest genus belonging to this clade Epactoides. We describe two new species: Epactoides jounii sp. n and Epactoides mangabeensis sp. n. Most of the species of Longitarsi inhabit the eastern rainforests, with very low local species diversity and highly restricted geographical ranges. In the group Longitarsi four species are wingless. The loss of wings has evolved at least twice, at high altitude along the mountain range.     

Molecular phylogeny of Sericostomatoidea (Trichoptera) with the establishment of three new families

We inferred the phylogenetic relationships among 58 genera of Sericostomatoidea, representing all previously accepted families as well as genera that were not placed in established families. The analyses were based on five fragments of the protein coding genes carbamoylphosphate synthetase (CPSase of CAD), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), Elongation factor 1a (EF‐1a), RNA polymerase II (POL II) and cytochrome oxidase I (COI). The data set was analysed using Bayesian methods with a mixed model, raxml , and parsimony. The various methods generated slightly different results regarding relationships among families, but the shared results comprise support for: (i) a monophyletic Sericostomatoidea; (ii) a paraphyletic Parasericostoma due to inclusion of Myotrichia murina, leading to synonymization of Myotrichia with Parasericostoma; (iii) a polyphyletic Sericostomatidae, which is divided into two families, Sericostomatidae sensu stricto and Parasericostomatidae fam.n. ; (iv) a polyphyletic Helicophidae which is divided into Helicophidae sensu stricto and Heloccabucidae fam.n. ; (v) hypothesized phylogenetic placement of the former incerta sedis genera Ngoya, Seselpsyche and Karomana; (vi) a paraphyletic Costora (Conoesucidae) that should be divided into several genera after more careful examination of morphological data; (vii) reinstatement of Gyrocarisa as a valid genus within Petrothrincidae. A third family, Ceylanopsychidae fam.n. , is established based on morphological characters alone. A hypothesis of the relationship among 14 of the 15 families in the superfamily is presented. A key to the families is presented based on adults (males). Taxonomic history, diagnosis, habitat preference and distribution data for all sericostomatoid families are presented. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CF6A6B9F‐6A72‐4265‐BD09‐3A710DFCD7B1 .