Multiple invasions of the Ryukyu Archipelago by Oriental frogs of the subgenus Odorrana with phylogenetic reassessment of the related subgenera of the genus Rana

The genus Rana, notably diversified in Oriental regions from China to Southeast Asia, includes a group of cascade frogs assigned to subgenera Odorrana and Eburana. Among them, R. ishikawae and the R. narina complex represent the northernmost members occurring from Taiwan to the Ryukyu Archipelago of Japan. Relationships of these frogs with the continental members, as well as the history of their invasions to islands, have been unclear. The taxonomic status of Odorrana and related genera varies among authors and no phylogenetic reassessment has been done. Using partial sequences of mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA genes, we estimated phylogenetic relationships among 17 species of the section Hylarana including Odorrana and Eburana, and related species from the Ryukyus, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. We estimate that (1) Odorrana is monophyletic and encompasses species of Eburana and R. hosii, which is now placed in Chalcorana, (2) the ancestor of R. ishikawae separated from other Rana in the middle to late Miocene prior to its entry to the Ryukyu Archipelago, (3) the ancestor of the R. narina complex later diversified in continental Asia, and invaded the Ryukyu Archipelago through Taiwan, (4) the R. narina complex attained its current distribution within the Ryukyus through niche segregations, and (5) vicariance of R. hosii between Malay Peninsula and Borneo occurred much later than the divergence events in the R. narina complex. Current subgeneric classification of Rana, at least of Southeast Asian members, requires full reassessment in the light of phylogenetic relationships.     

Taxonomic study of the Iberian Cobitis (Osteichthyes, Cobitidae), with description of a new species

Morphometric and electrophoretic variation are analysed among Iberian and African populations of Cobitis (Cobitidae). Three discrete morphotypes are distinguished, showing a remarkable genetic differentiation among them. Each of the three morphotypes is judged to represent a species, one being described as a new species. Both approaches agree on the separate status of the Iberian populations from the Alagón drainage, Tagus basin of west central Spain. This population is described as a new species, Cobitis vettonica sp. nov., a sexually dimorphic spined loach was assigned to the subgenus Iberocobitis Bacescu, 1961. Morphometric and electrophoretic data placed this new species phenetically close to Cobitis maroccana Pellegrin, 1929 and Cobitis pahdica De Buen, 1930, but differs from these species in overall shape, male coloration pattern, shorter barbels and fins, posterior lamina of the cleithrum, seven branched rays on the dorsal fin and in having a unique alleles at sAAT-2*, EST-1* and MPI* loci. The new species range described in this paper is more restricted than that of C. pahdica. Both inhabit the Tagus basin but have not been reported to be sympatric.     

The Hawaiian amphibious caterpillar guild: new species of Hyposmocoma (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae) confirm distinct aquatic invasions and complex speciation patterns

Although aquatic caterpillars are a globally rare lifestyle, we have found them in multiple, independent lineages of the endemic moth genus Hyposmocoma across all of the Hawaiian Islands with flowing water. We formally describe 11 new species of Hyposmocoma that belong to four different larval case types: cone, bugle, medium burrito, and large burrito: Hyposmocoma kahamanoa sp. nov. from Oahu Island, Hyposmocoma kamakou sp. nov. from Molokai Island, Hyposmocoma kahaiao sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma waihohonu sp. nov. , and Hyposmocoma moopalikea sp. nov. from Maui Island, and Hyposmocoma aumakuawai sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma eepawai sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma ipowainui sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma kawaikoi sp. nov. , Hyposmocoma uhauiole sp. nov. , and Hyposmocoma wailua sp. nov. from Kauai Island. We also illustrate and describe in detail the aquatic case‐bearing larva of Hyposmocoma kahamanoa. Despite having similar ecologies as algae and lichen grazers at and below the water line of streams, prior research indicates that species with each case type constitute an independent lineage, with terrestrial sister taxa, and therefore the different groups of species bearing unique case types each represent an independent aquatic invasion. The case‐bearing larvae often occur sympatrically, and on Kauai even species with similar case‐types occur together, suggesting complex patterns of speciation and either past periods of isolation or sympatric speciation. Phylogenetic analysis of 2243 base pairs from two nuclear and one mitochondrial gene for 18 species confirm that each species is endemic to a single volcano, and that morphological divergence within case‐types has not been dramatic. Diversification has been complex, and superficially similar case type lineages are not all monophyletic. Kauai, the oldest but smallest of the major high islands, supports more species in the aquatic guild than any other island, thus island age, rather than size, may be important in generating diversity in this group. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 162 , 15–42.     

中国臭蛙属两新种记述(无尾目：蛙科)

对云南臭蛙Odorrana andersonii各地居群的形态特征进行了深入研究,将原定名为云南臭蛙的9个地区标本分为3个形态型。这3个形态型被确定为3个不同的种,即云南臭蛙和2个新种：景东臭蛙O.jingdongensis sp.nov.和海南臭蛙O.hainanensis sp.nov.。海南臭蛙Odorrana hainanensis sp.nov.,正模CIB64Ⅲ3916,雄性成体59.5mm;采自海南白沙县鹦歌岭,海拔520;1964年8月25日。景东臭蛙Odorrana jingdongensis sp.nov.,正模CIB581505,雌性成体体长90.4mm;采自云南景东县新民乡,海拔1480m,1958年5月29日。模式标本保存在中国科学院成者生物研究所。     

Systematic revision of the genus Reinboldiella (Ceramiaceae,Rhodophyta) from Taiwan based on comparative morphology and rbcL sequence analyses,including two new species of Reinboldiella

The genus Reinboldiella essentially consists of tiny, membranous blades, epiphytic on benthic red algae, with a wide distribution in the north-western Pacific Ocean (Taiwan, Korea and Japan). In this study, we re-examined the generitype R. schmitziana from Taiwan and neighbouring islands. Two new species of Reinboldiella, R. orientalis sp. nov. and R. taiwanensis sp. nov. are recognized from Taiwan based on comparative morphological studies and molecular analyses of RuBisCO large subunit (rbcL) gene sequences. Reinboldiella orientalis is characterized by its rosette-like appearance, with both erect and prostrate, membranous flat blades whereas R. taiwanensis is distinguishable by mainly consisting of erect, membranous blades with few, short prostrate blades in basal parts of the thalli. Thalli of R. schmitziana also have a rosette-like appearance, but their erect flat blades have cylindrical bases or stipes. The rbcL phylogenetic analyses also support the separation of R.‘schmitziana’ from Taiwan and R. schmitziana from Japan and Korea.     

山东省的长肢林蛙种组物种

前人报道天津和山东有日本林蛙的分布,但也有学者表示怀疑。本文报道采集于山东徂徕山的该类物种。从成体量度和蝌蚪唇踟式来看,与现报道的镇海林蛙和峨眉林蛙有一定差异。该物种体型大小与峨眉林蛙相近似,唇齿式为1：2-2／111     

Taxonomy, morphology and speciation of the Semicytherura henryhowei group (Crustacea, Ostracoda)

The genus Semicytherura belongs to the family Cytheruridae, and was distinguished from Cytherura on the basis of carapace features. Species of Semicytherura from Japan and adjacent seas can be divided into two groups. One is represented by Semicytherura miurensis Hanai, 1957, characterized by a thin, oval carapace covered with fine reticulation. The other is represented by Semicytherura henryhowei Hanai & Ikeya, 1977, characterized by a thick sub-rectangular carapace in lateral view. Semicytherura henryhowei, which is distributed from Hokkaido to Okinawa in Japan, has been regarded as having several morphotypes distinguishable on outline and reticulation of carapace. However, as a result of detailed observations on the copulatory organ, carapace outline and distributional pattern of pore systems, remarkable differences are shown to exist between the two most frequently occurring morphotypes. In order to recognize S. henryhowei sensu stricto, the carapace of the holotype was re-examined. Consequently, neither of the two morphotypes are considered to belong to S. henryhowei due to differences of carapace outline and distribution of pore systems. The two morphotypes are here regarded as independent taxa, described as new: S. kazahanan. sp. and S. sasameyukin. sp. The geographical distributions of the two new species overlap, but their micro-habitats differ from each other; the former lives on calcareous algae on rocky shores, the latter lives on silty sand bottom within the inner bay. A third new species, S. slipperi sp. nov., is also described. In view of their present geographical distributions and fossil records, the origin of this group of species would appear to be the Japanese islands or adjacent areas in and after the Miocene. This group then migrated to the Arctic Ocean and East Pacific Ocean during or before the middle Pliocene.     

Rhabdias esculentarum n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from green frogs of the Rana esculenta species complex in Italy: molecular evidence, morphological description and genetic differentiation from its congeners in frogs and toads

A new taxon, Rhabdias esculentarum n. sp., is described based on DNA sequence analysis at multiple loci (i.e. mtDNA cox-1, 12S rRNA, ITS-1 and partial ITS-2 regions of the nuclear rDNA) and morphometric analysis carried out on specimens collected from the green frogs of the Rana esculenta species complex in Italy (i.e. R. lessonae Camerano and R. esculenta Linnaeus, identified genetically by diagnostic allozyme loci). Rhabdias esculentarum n. sp. was differentiated genetically, at both mitochondrial and nuclear levels, from Rh. bufonis (Schrank, 1788) (sensu Hartwich, 1972) and Rh. sphaerocephala Goodey, 1924 recovered from the toad Bufo bufo Linnaeus collected sympatrically with the specimens of Rana lessonae and R. esculenta examined in the present study. Moreover, the new taxon proved to be different from the other species of Rhabdias from anurans, which had previously been sequenced using the same genes and deposited in GeneBank. Phylogenetic analyses (MP and ML) inferred from mitochondrial (mtDNA cox-1 and 12S ribosomal RNA) and nuclear (ITS-1 and ITS-2 of the rDNA regions) sequences datasets were congruent in depicting Rh. esculentarum n. sp. as forming a highly supported clade distinct from the sympatric species Rh. bufonis, as well as from Rh. sphaerocephala, characterised on the basis of the same loci. Morphometric analysis and the differential diagnosis of genetically characterised specimens of the new species have revealed differences in several features in comparison with the type-species, Rh. bufonis. Material of the latter species included voucher specimens from Germany deposited by Hartwich (1972) and other specimens collected from B. bufo in Italy. Among the diagnostic characters, the particular cup-shaped buccal capsule characterising Rh. esculentarum is clearly different from the tear-shaped buccal capsule observed in material of R. bufonis obtained from Berlin Museum and collected in the same geographical area as the green frogs under study. Rh. esculentarum was also found to differ in some measurements and allometric characters from Rh. bufonis (sensu Moravec et al., 1997). The data so far collected appear to indicate a host-preference of Rh. esculentarum for Rana lessonae and R. esculenta, which belong to the R. esculenta hybridogenetic species complex in Italy.     

A new species of leopard frog (Anura: Ranidae) from the urban northeastern US

Past confusion about leopard frog (genus Rana) species composition in the Tri-State area of the US that includes New York (NY), New Jersey (NJ), and Connecticut (CT) has hindered conservation and management efforts, especially where populations are declining or imperiled. We use nuclear and mitochondrial genetic data to clarify the identification and distribution of leopard frog species in this region. We focus on four problematic frog populations of uncertain species affiliation in northern NJ, southeastern mainland NY, and Staten Island to test the following hypotheses: (1) they are conspecific with Rana sphenocephala or R. pipiens, (2) they are hybrids between R. sphenocephala and R. pipiens, or (3) they represent one or more previously undescribed cryptic taxa. Bayesian phylogenetic and cluster analyses revealed that the four unknown populations collectively form a novel genetic lineage, which represents a previously undescribed cryptic leopard frog species, Rana sp. nov. Statistical support for R. sp. nov. was strong in both the Bayesian (pp=1.0) and maximum-likelihood (bootstrap=99) phylogenetic analyses as well as the Structure cluster analyses. While our data support recognition of R. sp. nov. as a novel species, we recommend further study including fine-scaled sampling and ecological, behavioral, call, and morphological analyses before it is formally described.     

Allozyme Variation among Populations of Rana pirica (Amphibia: Anura)

Genetic variation of Rana pirica , an east Asian brown frog of the R. temporaria group, was elucidated by analysing 140 specimens from 11 populations from Hokkaido and Sakhalin, both locating near the eastern coasts of the Asian continent, and 12 specimens of R. ornativentris from Honshu, Japan mainland, as an outgroup, through horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Rana pirica shows relatively low genetic differentiation, and high genetic affinities are found between Hokkaido and Sakhalin populations. Populations from these islands are morphologically somewhat differentiated but should be regarded as conspecific. Degree of genetic divergence among populations of amphibian species from Hokkaido, including R. pirica , is not so extensive as that reported for species from Japan mainland and relatively recent formation of amphibian fauna in Hokkaido is suggested.     

ADAPTIVE GENETIC VARIATION IN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF TADPOLES OF THE HYBRIDOGENETIC RANA ESCULENTA COMPLEX

The distribution and proportion of the sexual species Rana lessonae to the hemiclonal hybrid R. esculenta among natural habitats suggests that these anurans may differ in adaptive abilities. I used a half-sib design to partition phenotypic and quantitative genetic variation in tadpole responses at two food levels into causal variance components. Rana lessonae displays strong phenotypic variation across food levels. Growth rate is strictly determined by environmental factors and includes weak maternal effects. Larval period and body size at metamorphosis both contain moderate levels of additive genetic variance. The sire x food interactions and the lack of environmental correlations indicate that adaptive phenotypic plasticity is present in both of these traits. In contrast, R. esculenta displays less phenotypic variation across food levels, especially for larval period. Variation in body size at metamorphosis is underlain by genetic variation as shown by high levels of additive genetic variance, yet growth rate and larval period are not. Significant environmental correlations between larval period at high food level and growth, larval period, and body size at low food, indicate phenotypic plasticity is absent. A positive phenotypic correlation between body size at metamorphosis and larval period for R. lessonae at both food levels suggests a trade-off between growing large and metamorphosing quickly to escape predation or pond drying. The lack of a similar correlation for R. esculenta at the high food level suggests it may be less constrained. Different levels of adaptive genetic variation among larval traits suggest that the sexual species and the hybridogenetic hemiclone differ in their abilities to cope with temporally and spatially heterogeneous environments.     

Morphological comparison among Drosophila lini and its two new sibling species (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Morphological differences are investigated using several culture strains of three sibling species collected from Taiwan and Guangdong in China and Pyinoolwin and Yangon in Myanmar. Careful examination of male terminalia reveals distinguishable differences in the paramere and the aedeagal basal process among the three species. In addition, a number of quantitative characters are compared. Kruskal-Wallis tests with Bonferroni correction, which are carried out separately for each sex, detect significant differences in 15 characters, of which two are male-specific, among the three species. Canonical discriminant analysis using these characters reveals that the three species can be distinguished from each other with high confidence for both sexes. The results clearly show the presence of three good species, Drosophila (Sophophora) lini Bock & Wheeler, 1972 and its two new siblings. The new species are described as Drosophila (Sophophora) ohnishii sp. nov. from Pyinoolwin and Drosophila (Sophophora) ogumai sp. nov. from Yangon. The morphological differentiation among the three sibling species does not coincide with the degree of reproductive isolation (based on a previous study). The premating isolation pattern suggests two possibilities that premating isolation has been evolved or reinforced in sympatric populations between D. ohnishii and D. lini and between D. ohnishii and D. ogumai or that it has evolved in a very restricted local population of D. ohnishii, possibly by a few mutations.     

中国台湾秃蝗亚科一新属四新种(直翅目，斑腿蝗科)(英文)

记述了采自中国台湾斑腿蝗科秃蝗亚科1新属台秃蝗属Taipoodisma gen. nov. 和4新种：红股台秃蝗Taipodisma rufifemora sp. nov., 谢氏台秃蝗Taipodisma hsiehi sp. nov., 周氏台秃蝗Taipodisma chowi sp. nov., 黑胫台秃蝗Taipodisma nigritibia sp. nov.。新属台秃蝗属Taipoodisma gen. nov.同蹦蝗属Sinopodisma Chang, 1940近似,不同之处为前胸背板后缘中央缺凹口,中隆线在沟前区不显,在沟后区留有痕迹。新属同辽秃蝗属Liaopodisma Zheng, 1990也近似,不同之处为雄性后胸腹板两侧叶分开,不毗连。新种红股台秃蝗T. rufifemora sp. nov. 后足股节内侧和下方红色可与同属其他种相区别。新种谢氏台秃蝗T. hsiehi sp. nov. 缺黑色眼后带可与同属其他种相区别。新种周氏台秃蝗T. chowi sp. nov. 同红股台秃蝗T. rufifemora sp. nov.近似,不同之处为后足股节内侧和下方非红色。新种黑胫台秃蝗T. nigritibia sp. nov. 同周氏台秃蝗T. chowi sp. nov.近似,不同之处为前胸背板沿中隆线缺黑色纵带和前翅黄褐色,缺黑色带纹。列出了该属的种检索表。     

中国台湾尼蝗属三新种及种检索表（直翅目, 蝗总科, 斑腿蝗科, 秃蝗亚科）(英文)

记述了中国台湾尼蝗属 Niitakacris Tinkham, 1936 的3新种。新种阿里山尼蝗 Niitakacris arishanensis sp. nov.后足股节内侧非红色和雄性尾须基部的最大宽度为端部宽度的4倍,可与本属所有已知种相区别。新种夏氏尼蝗 Niitakacris xiai sp. nov.与红胫尼蝗 N. rosaceanum 和台湾尼蝗 Niitakacris taiwanensis sp. nov.近似,不同之处为中胸腹板中隔的长度大于最狭处,前翅不到达腹部第1节背板后缘。新种台湾尼蝗 Niitakacris taiwanensis sp. nov.与红胫尼蝗 N. rosaceanum 近似, 不同之处为复眼较小,纵径为眼下沟长的1.4 倍;两尾片分开;肛上板基部纵沟较短,不到达中部,沟端圆,不尖。列出了尼蝗属全部5个种的检索表。     

New data on lance flies (Diptera,Lonchaeidae) associated with figs (Moraceae,Ficus spp.) in Japan and Taiwan,with descriptions of two new species of the genus Silba Macquart

Larvae of the genus Silba Macquart, 1875 were obtained from the syconia of three different species of Ficus growing on the southern islands of Japan and Taiwan. Examination of the emerged adults identified four species, two of which are described as new to science: Silba erecta MacGowan and Arimoto sp. nov. and Silba thunbergii MacGowan and Arimoto sp. nov. Of the four species observed, the larvae of S. erecta, Silba ishigaki MacGowan and Okamoto, 2013 and S. thunbergii feed on the tissue of the fig syconia. Silba inubiwa MacGowan and Okamoto, 2013 was observed as a predator of three fig wasp species. The biogeographic distribution and biological data are provided for each of these fig-associated species.     

New species of Crotonia (Acari: Oribatida) from South Africa

Four new species of oribatid mites of the genus Crotonia , ( C. pauropelor sp. nov., C. dicella sp. nov., C. lyrata sp. nov. and C. ecphylla sp. nov. ) are described from soil and plant litter from South Africa. Crotonia pauropelor, C. dicella and C. ecphylla are allied to the 'capistrata' species-group, previously known only from Queensland, Australia, in that they possess the full complement of c setae on the notogaster. They differ in having eight pairs rather than nine pairs of genital setae. In addition, C. ecpylla is unusual in the genus Crotonia in that it appears to possess two pairs of setae on each of the second epimera. Crotonia lyrata has only two pairs of c setae and is allied to the 'cophinaria' species-group. This is only the second published record of the genus Crotonia from South Africa, and the first of any named species. A key to the African Crotonia species is provided, which includes the only two previously known species C. alluaudi and C. rothschildi (Berlese, 1916).     

Tardigrades from Taiwan, with the description of a new species of Doryphoribius (Tardigrada, Hypsibiidae)

A total of eleven species of tardigrades from Taiwan are reported in this article. They belong to two classes, three orders, four families, and ten genera. Ten species are new records for Taiwan and one is new to science. Doryphoribius taiwanus sp. nov. is similar to Dor. mariae , but differs from it by larger body size, by conspicuous tubercles on the lateral side and dorsal sides of the body, by lacking gibbosities and undulations, by a narrower buccal tube, and by longer claws.     

Two spiders in subfamily Mynogleninae (Araneae: Linyphiidae) from the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic

Two new taxa, Falklandoglenes spinosa gen. nov. and sp. nov. and Beauchenia striata gen. nov. and sp. nov. , are described from Beauchêne Island, the most remote island in the Falkland Islands archipelago. Both species are in subfamily Mynogleninae, previously thought to be confined to Central Africa and to New Zealand and its neighbouring subantarctic islands. Both species show intermediate characters between the Mynogleninae and the remainder of the Linyphiidae, and hence they throw some light on the phylogeny of this large, complex, world–wide family of spiders.     

中国扇瘿蚊属六新种(双翅目,瘿蚊科)

报道了双翅目瘿蚊科中国新纪录属:扇瘿蚊属Rhipidoxylomyia Mamaev 6新种,提出了1新组合:Rhipidoxylomyia concava(Yukawa),comb.nov,编制了扇瘿蚊属世界种类检索表.模式标本保存于南开大学生物系.