Composition of the genus Leptosagitta of the family Sagittidae (Chaetognatha) with descriptions of four new species from coastal waters of the Northwestern Sea of Japan

Keys for the identification of the presently known species of the genus Leptosagitta (fam. Sagittidae) are presented. Four new species of this genus found in shallow waters of Vostok Bay, Amursky Bay (Peter the Great Bay), and Kievka Bay (all of the Sea of Japan) are described in detail: L. kiyashkoi sp. n., L. latyshevi sp. n., L. magna sp. n., and L. pauca sp. n.     

Diversity of Halimeda (Bryopsidales,Chlorophyta) in New Caledonia: a Combined Morphological and Molecular Study

Halimeda is a genus of calcified and segmented green macroalgae in the order Bryopsidales. In New Caledonia, the genus is abundant and represents an important part of the reef flora. Previous studies recorded 19 species that were identified using morphological criteria. The aim of this work was to reassess the diversity of the genus in New Caledonia using morpho‐anatomical examinations and molecular analyses of the plastid tufA and rbcL genes. Our results suggest the occurrence of 22 species. Three of these are reported for the first time from New Caledonia: Halimeda kanaloana, H. xishaensis, and an entity resembling H. stuposa. DNA analyses revealed that the species H. fragilis exhibits cryptic or pseudocryptic diversity in New Caledonia. We also show less conclusive evidence for cryptic species within H. taenicola     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosagitta</Emphasis> (Chaetognatha) from Vityaz Bay (Peter the Great Bay in the Sea of Japan)

New species of Leptosagitta (L. laxoradiata sp. n. and L. nitida sp. n.) from Vityaz Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan) are described and shown in figures.     

The Argasidae, Ixodidae and Nuttalliellidae (Acari: Ixodida): A World List of Valid Tick Names

The world's argasid tick fauna comprises 183 species in four genera, namely Argas, Carios, Ornithodoros and Otobius in the family Argasidae. The ixodid tick fauna consists of 241 species in the genus Ixodes and 442 species in the genera Amblyomma, Anomalohimalaya, Bothriocroton, Cosmiomma, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Margaropus, Nosomma, Rhipicentor and Rhipicephalus in the family Ixodidae, with the genus Boophilus becoming a subgenus of the genus Rhipicephalus. The family Nuttalliellidae is represented by the monospecific genus Nuttalliella. The species names of these ticks, based on seven previous complete or partial listings, as well as those of recently described new species, are presented in tabular format. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phylogenetic and biogeographic analysis of the genus Phytoseiulus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Kanouh, M., Tixier, M.‐S., Okassa, M. & Kreiter, S. (2010). Phylogenetic and biogeographic analysis of the genus Phytoseiulus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) —Zoologica Scripta, 39, 450–461. The taxonomy of the genus Phytoseiulus (sub‐family Amblyseiinae), has a tumultuous and confused history. This genus currently contains four species, but in previous revisions it contained five, sometimes grouped in two genera. There are no thorough phylogenetic analyses available for the group, analyses against which taxonomic and evolutionary hypotheses could be tested. The present study aims to apply morphological and molecular data to determine phylogenetic relationships among the four species presently included in this genus plus Afroseiulus robertsi, which was previously included in this genus. The new analyses show that the species of the genus Phytoseiulus do not constitute a monophyletic group. A delineation between (i) P. macropilis, P. persimilis, P. fragariae and (ii) P. longipes and A. robertsi is observed. Biogeographic data sets showed that the Neotropical and Afrotropical regions contain the highest diversity of species of Phytoseiulus and of their host plants. Consequently, the western part of Gondwana is hypothesized to be the probable centre of origin for this taxon.     

Relationships and divergence of some taxa of the subfamily Lycodinae (Zoarcidae,Pisces) based on molecular-genetic and morphological data

An integrated molecular-genetic and morphological study of 14 species of 6 genera of Zoarcidae of the subfamily Lycodinae was performed. A high coincidence of study results obtained using both methods was found. The generic independence of the genus Petroschmidtia that includes species P. albonotata and P. toyamensis was justified. It was shown that species L. schmidti and L. nigrocaudatus belong to the genus Lycogrammoides; and the generic status of the genus Bothrocarichthys with species B. microcephalus and of the genus Allolepis with species A. hollandi was restored. The studied taxa fall into three large monophyletic groups that include species of the genus Petroschmidtia, species of the genus Lycodes, and species of the genera Bothrocara, Allolepis, Bothrocarichthys, and Lycogrammoides. Taxa of the last group are characterized by a large complex of morphological differences from the first two groups, including the absence of ventral fins. A key to species and genera of Lycogrammoides and Bothrocarichthys was compiled. The problem of determination of the time of divergence of the studied zoarcid-like fish using the concept of “molecular clock” and its calibration according to paleontological and paleogeographic data is discussed.     

A new fungal genus, Teracosphaeria, with a phialophora-like anamorph (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota)

The new genus and species Teracosphaeria petroica is described for a perithecial ascomycete and its anamorph occurring on decayed wood collected in New Zealand. The fungus produces immersed, non-stromatic ceratosphaeria-like perithecia in nature, with hyaline, septate ascospores produced in unitunicate, non-amyloid asci. The anamorph produced in vitro is phialophora-like with lightly pigmented phialides terminating in flaring, deep collarettes that are often noticeably brown with conspicuous periclinal thickening. Phylogenetic analysis of LSU rDNA sequence data indicates that this fungus is distinct from morphologically similar fungi classified in the Chaetosphaeriales, the Trichosphaeriales or the Magnaporthaceae. It forms a monophyletic group with recently described, chaetosphaeria-like ascomycetes, such as the pyrenomycete genus Mirannulata, and shows affinity with the anamorphic species Dictyochaeta cylindrospora. The usefulness of describing anamorph genera for morphologically reduced anamorphs, when anamorph characteristics are actually part of the holomorph diagnosis, is discussed. An apparently contradictory example of the so-called Cordana and Pseudobotrytis anamorphs of Porosphaerella spp. is also discussed.     

Phylogeny and species delimitation of North European Lumbricillus (Clitellata,Enchytraeidae)

The enchytraeid genus Lumbricillus comprises about 80 described species of clitellate worms, which are up to a few centimetres long, and they mostly inhabit the littoral zone of non‐tropical marine and brackish waters world‐wide. The phylogeny of this genus is poorly studied, but previous work has suggested that Lumbricillus is a non‐monophyletic group. In this study, species boundaries and the phylogeny of this genus is re‐assessed using more than 300 DNA‐barcoded specimens (using COI mtDNA), part of which was also sequenced for two additional mitochondrial and four nuclear molecular markers. Statistical and coalescent based applications were used for the delimitation of a total of 24 species, of which 20 were identified as belonging to 17 described morphospecies; one morphospecies was found to be a complex of four delimited species, and another four delimited species could not be matched with any described species. Furthermore, gene trees, concatenation and multispecies coalescent based species trees were estimated using Bayesian inference. The estimated phylogenies confirm a non‐monophyletic Lumbricillus as L. semifuscus is clearly excluded from the genus. Furthermore, the placement of a monophyletic clade consisting of L. arenarius, L. dubius, and an unidentified species varies between analyses; they are either found as the sister‐group to the genus Grania or as sister‐group to the remaining Lumbricillus, where the latter relationship is supported by the multispecies coalescent, which we consider as the most reliable method.     

Inferring phylogenetic patterns of land snails of the genus Albinaria on the island of Dia (Crete,Greece)

Albinaria (Gastropoda, Clausiliidae) is a pulmonate genus distributed around the north-eastern coasts of the Mediterranean. It is the most 'speciose' genus within the family of Clausiliidae, exhibiting a high degree of morphological and genetic differentiation, and serving as a model for several ecological, systematics and evolutionary studies. Nevertheless, many aspects remain uncertain mainly due to the large number of taxa whose classification has not yet been evaluated with solid synapomorphic characters. Thirty-one morphological species are currently recognized on the island of Crete and its satellite islets. Four of them (A. retusa, A. torticollis, A. jaeckeli, and A. teres) are distributed on the island of Dia (north of Crete); the first three are island endemics. Here, we combined mitochondrial and nuclear DNA information and Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood approaches to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships, and assess the genetic distinctiveness and cohesiveness of all described species of Dia Island. The produced phylogeny was not congruent with the morphological species, demonstrating a more complex pattern of speciation and diversification. Although each island endemic constitutes a monophyletic lineage, the number of island endemic species could be greater than the three currently recognized species so far (A. retusa, A. torticollis, and A. jaeckeli), since a newly discovered lineage (north-western part of the island), that morphologically differs from the populations of A. torticollis in the eastern part, and genetically is more closely related to A. jaeckeli, could be elevated to the species level. Considering the fourth species found on the island of Dia, A. teres is genetically highly variable, showing low geographic structuring due to either long-distance gene flow or retained ancestral polymorphisms, or a combination of both. Further work (analysis of more specimens and DNA data) both from Dia and Crete is indispensable in order to shed light on aspects of the evolutionary history of the genus in Dia.     

Nervostroma, gen. nov. in the Sclerotiniaceae, the teleomorph of Cristulariella, and Hinomyces anam. gen. nov. to accommodate the anamorph of Grovesinia: reassessment of the genus Cristulariella

Taxonomy of the genus Cristulariella is revised, retaining Cristulariella (Crist.) depraedans as the type. Two new species, Crist. cercidiphylli and Crist. corni, are additionally described under the genus. The new anamorphic genus Hinomyces is erected to accommodate Botrytis (Cristulariella) moricola and Cristulariella pruni. A new genus and species, Nervostroma depraedans, is erected in the Sclerotiniaceae to accommodate the teleomorph of Crist. depraedans, with an additional species, Nervostroma cercidiphylli.     

Molecular phylogenetics,character evolution and systematics of the genus Micranthes (Saxifragaceae)

With c. 85 species, the genus Micranthes is among the larger genera of the Saxifragaceae. It is only distantly related to the morphologically similar genus Saxifraga, in which it has frequently been included as Saxifraga section Micranthes. To study the molecular evolution of Micranthes, we analysed nuclear ribosomal (internal transcribed spacer, ITS) and plastid (trnL–trnF) DNA sequences in a comprehensive set of taxa comprising c. 75% of the species. The molecular phylogenetic tree from the combined dataset revealed eight well‐supported clades of Micranthes. These clades agree in part with previously acknowledged subsections or series of Saxifraga section Micranthes. As these eight groups can also be delineated morphologically, we suggest that they should be recognized as sections of Micranthes. New relationships were also detected for some species and species groups, e.g. section Davuricae sister to sections Intermediae and Merkianae, and M. micranthidifolia as a member of section Micranthes. Species proposed to be excluded from the genus Micranthes for morphological reasons were resolved in the molecular tree in Saxifraga. Many morphological characters surveyed were homoplasious to varying extents. Micromorphological characters support comparatively well the clades in the phylogenetic tree. An updated nomenclature and a taxonomic conspectus of sections and species of Micranthes are provided. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 178 , 47–66.     

Comparative osteology,relationships, and systematics of fish of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zoarces</Emphasis> (Zoarcidae,Perciformes)

Comparative-osteological investigation of all species of the genus Zoarces is made: Z. fedorovi, Z. andriashevi, Z. elongatus, Z. viviparus, Z. americanus, and Z. gillii. In the skeleton of hyoid arch in species of Zoarces, Lycozoarces, and Lycodes, paired bony elements are found, not described previously, identified as parurohyalia which may be synapomorphy of Zoarcidae. Differences between the Zoarces species are revealed by 56 external morphological and osteological characters. Cladistic analysis yielded one tree 135, Ci 0.57, Ri 0.54 long. Cladistic analysis confirms validity of a recently described species Z. fedorovi, which turned out to be the most generalized in the genus Zoarces, as well as the validity of Z. elongatus. The species Z. americanus and Z. gillii occupy a terminal position preventing their isolation to independent genera as was previously supposed, as this would lead to paraphyly of the genus Zoarces.     

Microstructure,evolution, and ontogeny of scale surfaces in cordylid and gerrhosaurid lizards

The distal oberhautchen and proximal beta layer of 41 species and every genus of cordylid and gerrhosaurid lizard were examined with a scanning electron microscope. Scale organs in these families are concentrated on the face, and scale organs occur singly or in pairs below the keel on the dorsals of cordylids but not gerrhosaurids. Most species examined possess primitive, lenticular scale organs. Unique and previously unknown, projecting scale organs occur in two species of Cordylus. Scale organs appear to be absent in species of Chamaesaura. The scale surfaces of cordylids are covered in macrohoneycomb. Individual compartments of cordylid macrohoneycomb are not intracellular structures but may be overlain by apparent oberhautchen cells. In some cordylid species, part of each cell is free and projects away from the scale surface as a pointed flap. Gerrhosaurids lack macrohoneycomb. Instead, their scale surfaces are covered in lamellae without dentate borders, 50–100 times as long as wide. The epidermis of Platysaurus is unique among cordylids in possessing lamellae 1–8 times as wide as long that overlap macrohoneycomb in some regions of the body. The scale surfaces of Cordylus cordylus undergo an ontogenetic change similar to that recently described for the xenosaurid genus Shinisaurus. Phylogenetic analysis of scale surface features allows the partitioning of Cordylus into three species groups and Chamaesaura into two species groups. Synapomorphies of the species of Chamaesaura, the species of Platysaurus, and the genera of the gerrhosaurids are also described. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Nothotalisia, a new genus of Picramniaceae from tropical America

A new genus of Picramniaceae from tropical America, Nothotalisia, is described. Of the three species in the genus, N. piranii and N. cancellata, are new to science. The third, N. peruviana, was originally described as Talisia peruviana in the Sapindaceae. The genus and all three species are described, illustrated, and distinguished by means of a key.     

New species of black corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Antipatharia) from the New Zealand region,part 2

ABSTRACT

One new genus and ten new species of antipatharian corals are described from the New Zealand region. Differential diagnoses are given and comparisons are made to related nominal species. Described as new is the genus Acanthosaropathes and the following species: Antipathes coronata, A. dicrocrada, A. polyhedra, Acanthosaropathes uniseriata, Phanopathes ctenocrada, Cupressopathes simplex, Stylopathes stenotes, Stauropathes stellata, Telopathes tasmaniensis, and Heteropathes intricata. This research highlights the diversity of deepsea corals for the region, improves knowledge of the distributional limits of species, which in turn can inform assessments of species prevalence for conservation initiatives and management decisions.     

Monophyletic origin of Caryophyllia (Scleractinia,Caryophylliidae), with descriptions of six new species

The genus Caryophyllia Lamarck, 1816 is the most diverse genus within the azooxanthellate Scleractinia comprising 66 Recent species and a purported 195 nominal fossil species. Examination of part of the deep-sea scleractinian collection made by the Paris Museum off New Caledonia and part of the material collected by CSIRO off Australian waters revealed the occurrence of 23 species of Caryophyllia, of which six are new to science. All new records, including the new species, are described, and synonyms, distribution, type locality, type material and illustration are provided for each species. An identification key to all Recent species of Caryophyllia is presented. In addition, the validity of the genus Caryophyllia was investigated by phylogenetic analyses of a dataset consisting of partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequences from 12 species assigned to this genus together with seven species representing some of the most morphologically similar caryophylliid genera, and 14 non-caryophyllid species representing 14 scleractinian families. Irrespective of the method of analysis employed, all of the Caryophyllia species formed a well-supported clade together with Dasmosmilia lymani and Crispatotrochus rugosus. Although based on a subset of the Recent Caryophyllia species, these results are consistent with Caryophyllia being a valid genus, but call for a reexamination of Dasmosmilia and Crispatotrochus.     

Genus delimitation,biogeography and diversification of Choristoneura Lederer (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) based on molecular evidence

Widely known for pest species that include major modulators of temperate forests, the genus Choristoneura is part of the species‐rich tribe Archipini of leafroller moths (Tortricidae). Delimitation of the genus has remained unresolved because no phylogeny has included species endemic to Africa and studies have often omitted the type species of the genus. Further taxonomic confusion has been generated by the transfer of Archips occidentalis (Walsingham) to Choristoneura, creating a homonym with Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, an important defoliator of North American forests. To define the limits of the genus, we reconstructed a phylogeny using DNA sequences for mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I and nuclear ribosomal 28S genes. Our ingroup included 23 Choristoneura species‐level taxa, complemented by a large sample of outgroups comprising 82 species of Archipini and other Tortricidae. We generated a time‐calibrated tree using fossil and secondary calibrations and we inferred biogeographic and diversification processes in Choristoneura. Our analysis recovered the genus as polyphyletic, with Archips occidentalis, Choristoneura simonyi and Choristoneura evanidana excluded from the main clade. Based on the recovered phylogenies and a redefinition, we restrict Choristoneura primarily to species with a northern hemisphere distribution. Our analysis supports A. occidentalis as the sister group of Cacoecimorpha pronubana, C. simonyi as the sister of ‘Xenotemna’ pallorana, and C. evanidana as the sister of Archips purpurana. A new combination is proposed: Archips evanidana comb.n. ; the availability of ‘Xenotemna’ as a valid name is discussed and A. occidentalis is considered as an orphaned name within the Archipini. We found support for a Holarctic origin of Choristoneura about 23 Ma, followed by early divergence in the Palearctic region. The main divergence occurred at 16 Ma, with one clade in the Nearctic and another in the Palearctic. Subsequent cladogenetic events were synchronous and related to herbivorous specialization, with each clade divided into coniferophagous and polyphagous lineages. Their specialization as conifer feeders temporally matched the expansion of boreal forest during the Miocene.     

Ichneumon wasps of the Khasurty locality in Transbaikalia (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae)

One new genus and four new species of ichneumon wasps are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Buryatia (Khasurty locality): Amplicella mininae, sp. nov., A. shcherbakovi, sp. nov., A. bashkuyevi, sp. nov., Khasurtella buriatica, gen. et sp. nov. The species Tanychora sinensis Zhang, 1991 is transferred to the new genus Khasurtella. Similarity of the ichneumonid faunas of Khasurty and the Chinese localities Yixian and Laiyang indicates the age similarity between these localities. Identification key to genera and species of Tanychorinae is given.     

Molecular phylogeny of the diverse parasitoid wasp genus Ophion Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ophioninae)

Ophion Fabricius is a diverse genus of nocturnal ichneumonid wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera) that is particularly species‐rich in temperate areas, yet has received little taxonomic attention in the Holarctic region, where most species occur. While there have been some attempts to divide Ophion into monophyletic species groups, the vast majority of species have been lumped into a single, paraphyletic group, the O. luteus species group, which is defined only by the lack of characters specific to the other groups. The challenging morphology of this large catch‐all group has limited attempts to subdivide it, and no phylogenetic hypothesis has been proposed for the genus as a whole. In this study, we use DNA sequence data [28S ribosomal RNA (28S), cytochrome oxidase 1 (COI) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2)] to present the first molecular phylogeny of Ophion. We also describe the secondary structure of ITS2 for the first time in Ichneumonidae, and explore its implications for phylogeny estimation. We define 13 species groups, nine of which were previously considered part of the O. luteus species group s.l. The included species groups are the O. minutus, O. areolaris, O. scutellaris, O. flavidus, O. parvulus, O. slossonae, O. nigrovarius, O. pteridis, O. luteus s.s., and O. obscuratus species groups, along with three groups lacking described species (Species group 1, New Zealand group, Madagascar group). This study provides a framework for future studies of this diverse and morphologically challenging genus.