Revision ofMesorhyphus Handlirsch,Eoplecia Handlirsch andHeterorhyphus Bode (Diptera: Anisopodomorpha,Bibionomorpha) from the upper liassic of Germany

The holotypes of the Lower Jurassic DipteraMesorhyphus nanus Handlirsch 1920,M. areolatus Handlirsch 1939,M. anomalus Handlirsch 1939,Eoplecia primitiva Handlirsch 1920,Heterorhyphus latus Bode 1953,H. analivarius Bode 1953 andProtorhyphus (?)ovisimilis Bode 1953 were re-examined. The holotype ofEoplecia primitiva is the counterpart ofMesorhyphus areolatus. M. areolatus is a junior synonym ofM. nanus. Mesorrhyphoides Rohdendorf 1962 is a synonym ofHeterorhyphus Bode 1953.Heterorhyphus analivarius is a synonym ofProtorhyphus (?)ovisimilis, being mistakenly described from the counterpart of the holotype of the latter. The genusHeterorhyphus is valid and comprises onlyH. anomalus (Handlirsch 1939) n. comb.;H. latus is a synonym of the latter species. As the wing venation ofHeterorhyphus is conspicuously different from all fossil and Recent Anisopodomorpha, it is placed into a new family, Heterorhyphidae, within the Bibionomorpha.     

Burmoniscus kitadaitoensis Nunomura, 2009 (Crustacea,Isopoda, Oniscidea) from southern Japan,a junior synonym of B. meeusei (Holthuis, 1947)

Re-examination of the holotype of Burmoniscus kitadaitoensis Nunomura, 2009 from Kitadaitojima Island, southern Japan reveals that this species is a junior synonym of B. meeusei (Holthuis, 1947). Partial regions of mitochondrial COI, 12S and 16S rRNA genes, and nuclear 18S and 28S rRNA genes were detected for species identification in the future.     

On the taxonomy of the Genus Coenosia Meigen, 1826 (Diptera,Muscidae) in the Russian Fauna,with a Description of Coenosia tschernovi sp. n.

Coenosia tschernovi sp. n. is described and illustrated from the Altai and Tuva republics. Coenosia nigrotincta Hennig, 1961 and C. xuei Cui et Li, 1996, are redescribed; the latter species is recorded from Russia for the first time. The new “apukaensis” group is erected for several similar Asian species. Coenosia altaica Sorokina, 2009 is considered a junior synonym of C. subgracilis Xue et Cui, 2001. Supplements to the key to the Siberian representatives of Coenosia Meigen, 1826 (Sorokina, 2009), to include new and recently found species, are given.     

Funaria maryanneae n. sp. and Proleptonchus weischeri n. sp. (Nematoda: Dorylaimida) from Europe and New Synonyms in Leptonchoidea

Funaria maryanneae n. sp., distinguished by its large size and long prerectum, is described from specimens collected in Bad Sooden, Germany, D. B. R. This nematode was collected also from Fräkmüntegg (Mt. Pilatus), Switzerland. Proleptonchus weischeri n. sp., with short hemispheroid female tail and relatively anterior vulva, is described from specimens collected in Kaufunger Wald near Kassel, Germany, D. B. R. This is the first report of either genus from the continent of Europe. Leptonchus parisii Zullini, 1973, from Chiapas, Mexico, becomes a junior synonym of Funaria obtusa (Thorne, 1939) Goseco, Ferris and Ferris, 1974. Leptonchus acutus Zulliui, 1973 becomes Funaria acuta n. comb., and Funaria rothi Goseco, Ferris and Ferris, 1974 becomes a junior synonym of Funaria acuta.     

Nomenclatural changes in the tribe Empoascini of the subfamily Typhlocybinae (Hemiptera,Cicadellidae)

One genus and species are synonymized in the tribe Empoascini of the subfamily Typhlocybinae. Bhatasca Dworakowska, 1995is a junior synonym of Alebrasca Hayashi & Okada, 1994, Bhatasca rectangulata Qin & Zhang, 2011is a junior synonym of Alebrasca actinidiae Hayashi & Okada, 1994. Furthermore, Bhatasca expansa is (necessarily) transferred to the genus Alebrasca.     

New data on the systematics of leaf-beetle genus Chrysolina (Coleoptera, Chrysomelinae) from the Palaearctic region

Chrysolina przewalskii (Jacobson, 1895) and Ch. lucidula Chen, 1934 are redescribed based on the type specimens. Neotype of Ch. przewalskii is designated. Ch. daccordii Lopatin, 2000 is a new junior synonym of Ch. juldusana (Lopatin, 1962); Ch. daosana Lopatin, 2007 is a new junior synonym of Ch. tani Lopatin, 1998; Ch. burchana Lopatin, 1998 is a new junior synonym of Ch. przewalskii (Jacobson, 1895). Ch. lucidula Chen, 1934 described from a mislabeled specimen is a new junior synonym of the South European Ch. lucida (Olivier, 1807). Ch. hyrcana var. cyanescens (Jacobson, 1894) is synonymized with Ch. circumducta (Ménétriés, 1848) and is merely a color form of the latter species.     

Species boundaries in Malagasy snakes of the genus Madagascarophis (Serpentes: Colubridae sensu lato) assessed by nuclear and mitochondrial markers

We studied mitochondrial divergence in 27 individuals of colubrid snakes of the genus Madagascarophis Mertens from most of its distribution area in Madagascar. Combined analyses of 16S rRNA and cytochrome b sequences identified six major clades which only partly agreed with previously proposed classifications. Analysis of nuclear DNA sequences of the c-mos gene as well as of ISSR fingerprints revealed consistent differences only among three clades which we consider as distinct species: a widespread Madagascarophis colubrinus (Schlegel), with M. citrinus (Boettger) as a junior synonym, a southern M. meridionalis Domergue, and a presumably undescribed species from the extreme north of Madagascar. The species M. ocellatus Domergue was not available for our study. Within M. colubrinus there are two populations from the north-west, each showing two divergent haplotypes with pairwise divergences of up to 5.2% in the cytochrome b gene. Maximum divergence in this gene within M. colubrinus was 7.1%. These high values emphasise that caution needs to be applied before genetic distance values are used for species delimitation. Phylogeographically, most of the genetic variation in M. colubrinus is found in northern Madagascar, indicating that the species might have originated in this region. Later one haplotype clade colonised western and eastern Madagascar, with a putative secondary introgression into north-western populations.     

Ectomyelois Heinrich, 1956 in China,with descriptions of two new species and a key (Lepidoptera,Pyralidae, Phycitinae)

Only three species belonging to the genus Ectomyelois Heinrich, 1956 are recorded from China, of which two species, Ectomyelois bipectinalis sp. n. and Ectomyelois furvivena sp. n. are described as new. We discuss the status of Ectomyelois that has been treated as a junior synonym by previous authors; we treat it as a valid genus, revised status, based on characters of the venation and female genitalia. Photographs of the adults and illustrations of the genitalia are given, along with a key to the three known Chinese species.     

A partial systematic revision of the day geckos, Phelsuma Gray, of Madagascar (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae)

Recent survey work in Madagascar has led to significant changes in the systematics of Madagascan Phelsuma. A new species from the Masoala Peninsula in northeastern Madagascar is described, which has a nostril position typical of Phelsuma from Mauritius, Reunion and Rodriguez islands. Phelsuma breviceps was rediscovered in extreme southern Madagascar and is resurrected from the synonymy of P. mutabilis. Phelsuma breviceps has fragile skin, a probable predator escape mechanism, similar to the condition found in geckos of the genera Ailuronyx and Geckokpis. Three new synonyms are recognized. Phelsuma befotahensis and P. checki are junior synonyms of P. abbotti , and P. minuthi is a junior synonym of P. lineata. Twenty species of Phelsuma occur in Madagascar, of which 16 are endemic. A checklist and identification key are provided. Conservation problems of Phelsuma in the coastal regions of Madagascar are briefly discussed.     

Validite D'Orbitolina subconcava Leymerie, 1878

A detailed revision of the type localities of a new species, Orbitolina subconcava, described by A. Leymerie, has permitted the authors to demonstrate the invalidity of this taxa. As a result of R.C. Douglass' work (3), O. subconcava LEYM. sensu SCHROEDER [(4)–(6)] must be a junior synonym of Orbitolina (Mesorbitolina) texana (ROEMER, 1852); however the previous investigations of R.C. Douglass (3) should be confirmed by a further revision of the type material of F. Roemer.     

Review of the Acanthopagrus latus complex (Perciformes: Sparidae) with descriptions of three new species from the Indo‐West Pacific Ocean

Acanthopagrus latus, long considered a single valid Indo‐West Pacific Ocean species, characterized by having yellow pelvic, anal and caudal fins, is reviewed and separated into A. latus (east Asian shelf) and Acanthopagrus longispinnis (Bengal Bay), and three new species: Acanthopagrus morrisoni sp. nov. (north‐western Australia), Acanthopagrus arabicus sp. nov. [Middle East (except for the Red Sea) to coasts of Iran and Pakistan, and western Indian coast] and Acanthopagrus sheim sp. nov. (The Gulf). Although A. latus as redefined considerably varies in morphology and colouration, it can be recognized as a discrete east Asian endemic, with the following nominal species being junior synonyms: Chrysophrys auripes, Chrysophrys xanthopoda, Chrysophrys rubroptera and Sparus chrysopterus. Chrysophrys novaecaledoniae, known only from the holotype (type locality: Nouméa, New Caledonia), is a questionable junior synonym of A. latus, the lack of subsequent collections suggesting that the type locality is erroneous. Acanthopagrus longispinnis is differentiated from the other species in the complex by consistently having 12 dorsal‐fin spines and a much larger second anal‐fin spine, 21–26% (mean 23%) of standard length (L_S) (v. 14–24%, mean 18–21% in the other four species). Acanthopagrus morrisoni sp. nov. has the entire caudal fin yellow with a wide black posterior margin (persisting in preserved specimens) and consistently 3 ½ scale rows between the fifth dorsal‐fin spine base and the lateral line. Acanthopagrus sheim sp. nov. has the pelvic, anal and lower caudal fins vivid yellow, with two (rarely three) small black blotches on the lower inter‐radial membranes between the spinous and soft dorsal‐fin rays. Acanthopagrus arabicus sp. nov. consistently has 4 ½ scale rows between the fifth dorsal‐fin spine base and the lateral line, whereas A. latus always has black streaks proximally on the inter‐radial membranes between the yellow anal‐fin rays. A neotype and lectotye, respectively, are designated for A. latus and A. longispinnis. The p‐distance (net nucleotide substitutions per site) of partial mitochondrial 16s ribosomal RNA genes (538 bp) among the above species (except A. longispinnis) and three other congeners (Acanthopagrus berda, Acanthopagrus pacificus and Acanthopagrus bifasciatus) strongly indicates that each is a distinct species. A key is provided for the 20 species of Acanthopagrus currently known from the Indo‐West Pacific Ocean.     

Distinct Patterns of Desynchronized Limb Regression in Malagasy Scincine Lizards (Squamata,Scincidae)

Scincine lizards in Madagascar form an endemic clade of about 60 species exhibiting a variety of ecomorphological adaptations. Several subclades have adapted to burrowing and convergently regressed their limbs and eyes, resulting in a variety of partial and completely limbless morphologies among extant taxa. However, patterns of limb regression in these taxa have not been studied in detail. Here we fill this gap in knowledge by providing a phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences of three mitochondrial and four nuclear gene fragments in an extended sampling of Malagasy skinks, and microtomographic analyses of osteology of various burrowing taxa adapted to sand substrate. Based on our data we propose to (i) consider Sirenoscincus Sakata & Hikida, 2003, as junior synonym of Voeltzkowia Boettger, 1893; (ii) resurrect the genus name Grandidierina Mocquard, 1894, for four species previously included in Voeltzkowia; and (iii) consider Androngo Brygoo, 1982, as junior synonym of Pygomeles Grandidier, 1867. By supporting the clade consisting of the limbless Voeltzkowia mira and the forelimb-only taxa V. mobydick and V. yamagishii, our data indicate that full regression of limbs and eyes occurred in parallel twice in the genus Voeltzkowia (as hitherto defined) that we consider as a sand-swimming ecomorph: in the Voeltzkowia clade sensu stricto the regression first affected the hindlimbs and subsequently the forelimbs, whereas the Grandidierina clade first regressed the forelimbs and subsequently the hindlimbs following the pattern prevalent in squamates. Timetree reconstructions for the Malagasy Scincidae contain a substantial amount of uncertainty due to the absence of suitable primary fossil calibrations. However, our preliminary reconstructions suggest rapid limb regression in Malagasy scincids with an estimated maximal duration of 6 MYr for a complete regression in Paracontias, and 4 and 8 MYr respectively for complete regression of forelimbs in Grandidierina and hindlimbs in Voeltzkowia.     

A review of the threadfin breams of the genusNemipterus (Nemipteridae) from Japan and Taiwan,with description of a new species

Species of the fish genusNemipterus (Nemipteridae) from Japan and Taiwan are reviewed. A key, diagnoses and synonymies are provided for 9 species, including a new species:N. aurora sp. nov. (previously misidentified asN. delagoae Smith);N. bathybius Snyder;N. furcosus (Valenciennes) [mistakenly referred to asN. peronii (Valenciennes)];N. hexodon (Quoy et Gaimard);N. japonicus (Bloch);N. peronii (Valenciennes) [previously referred to asN. tolu (Valenciennes), a junior synonym];N. thosaporni Russell [previously misidentified asN. marginatus (Valenciennes)];N. virgatus (Houttuyn); andN. zysron (Bleeker) [previously referred to asN. metopias (Bleeker), a junior synonym].N. aurora is described from specimens from Taiwan, the Gulf of Thailand, East Malaysia and Indonesia. It appears to be closely allied toN. bipunctatus (Ehrenberg) (N. delagoae is a junior synonym), an Indian Ocean species, but the two species are readily distinguished on the basis of colour pattern of the dorsal and anal fins:N. aurora has a broad orange-yellow submedial stripe along the dorsal fin, and a lemon submedial stripe on the anal fin; whereas inN. bipunctatus the dorsal fin is uniformly rosy, and the anal fin has 2–4 wavy yellow stripes.     

Nuclear microsatellite variation in Malagasy baobabs (Adansonia,Bombacoideae, Malvaceae) reveals past hybridization and introgression

Background and Aims Adansonia

comprises nine species, six of which are endemic to Madagascar. Genetic relationships between the Malagasy species remain unresolved due to conflicting results between nuclear and plastid DNA variation. Morphologically intermediate individuals between distinct species have been identified, indicative of interspecific hybridization. In this paper, microsatellite data are used to identify potential cases of hybridization and to provide insights into the evolutionary history of the genus on Madagascar.

Methods

Eleven microsatellites amplified with new primers developed for Adansonia rubrostipa were used to analyse 672 individuals collected at 27 sites for the six Malagasy species and morphologically intermediate individuals. Rates of individual admixture were examined using three Bayesian clustering programs, STRUCTURE, BAPS and NewHybrids, with no a priori species assignment.

Key Results

Population differentiation was coherent, with recognized species boundaries. In the four Malagasy species of section Longitubae, 8·0, 9·0 and 9·5 % of individuals with mixed genotypes were identified by BAPS, NewHybrids and STRUCTURE, respectively. At sites with sympatric populations of A. rubrostipa and A. za, NewHybrids indicated these individuals to be F₂ and, predominantly, backcrosses with both parental species. In northern Madagascar, two populations of trees combining A. za and A. perrieri morphology and microsatellite alleles were identified in the current absence of the parental species.

Conclusions

The clear genetic differentiation observed between the six species may reflect their adaptation to different assortments of climate regimes and habitats during the colonization of the island. Microsatellite variation reveals that hybridization probably occurred in secondary contact between species of section Longitubae. This type of hybridization may also have been involved in the differentiation of a local new stabilized entity showing specific microsatellite alleles and morphological characters, suggesting a potential role of hybridization in the recent history of diversification on Madagascar.     

Gondysia preceded Neadysgonia (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Erebinae), a new generic synonymy from southeastern United States

The recently proposed genus Neadysgonia Sullivan, 2010, was preceded in the literature by Gondysia Berio, 1955, a monotypic genus based on specimens without locality labels but presumed to be from Madagascar. The genus Gondysia replaces Neadysgonia and the species Gondysia pertorrida Berio, 1955, becomes a junior synonym of Gondysia consobrina (Guenée, 1852).     

Revision of the genus Paridea Baly, 1886 from Taiwan (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae)

The Taiwanese species of the genus Paridea Baly, 1886, are revised. Two new species, Paridea (Semacia) houjayi sp. n. and P. (S.) kaoi sp. n. are described. Both were confused previously with P. (S.) sexmaculata (Laboissière, 1930) and P. (S.) angulicollis (Motschulsky, 1854) respectively. Paridea (P.) sauteri (Chûjô, 1935) and P. (P.) taiwana (Chûjô, 1935) are removed from synonymy with P. (P.) sinensis Laboissière, 1930. The synonymy of Paraulaca flavipennis Chûjô, 1935 with Paridea (Paridea) testacea Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963 is supported. Paridea (Semacia) nigrimarginata Yang, 1991 is regarded as a junior synonym of P. (S.) angulicollis and excluded from the Taiwan fauna. Lectotypes are designated for Paraulaca costata Chûjô, 1935, P. flavipennis Chûjô, 1935, P. taiwana Chûjô, 1935, Semacia nipponensis Laboissière, 1930, and Paridea sinensis Laboissière, 1930.