Phylogeny of the subfamily Chauliodinae (Megaloptera: Corydalidae), with description of a new genus from the Oriental Realm

Abstract.  A new Oriental fishfly genus, Sinochauliodes gen.n. , is described, including four species: S. fujianensis ( Yang & Yang, 1999 ) comb.n. , S. griseus ( Yang & Yang, 1999 ) comb.n. , S. maculosus sp.n. and S. squalidus sp.n. A cladistic analysis based on adult morphological characters clarified the phylogenetic status of the new genus and allowed the reconstruction of the intergeneric relationships of the subfamily Chauliodinae. Two main clades within Chauliodinae were recognized from the cladistic analysis. The Asian fishflies, together with the two Nearctic genera, Chauliodes and Nigronia , formed a monophyletic lineage, and the new genus was assigned as the sister group to the genus Parachauliodes . The biogeography of the Asian fishflies is discussed.     

Origin and spatio‐temporal diversification of a fishfly lineage endemic to the islands of East Asia (Megaloptera: Corydalidae)

Chauliodinae (fishflies), with their low capacity of long‐distance dispersal represent a suitable model insect group to investigate the biogeographical history. The genus Parachauliodes van der Weele, including the herein synonymized genus Sinochauliodes Liu & Yang, is endemic to East Asia. Here, we reconstruct the interspecific phylogeny of Parachauliodes based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Sinochauliodes syn.n. was recovered with a group of Parachauliodes species and not the sister group; we therefore treat it as the junior synonym of Parachauliodes. Species delimitation was performed combining the molecular identification with morphological evidence, with Parachauliodes inopinatus syn.n. treated as the junior synonym of Parachauliodes asahinai. The spatio‐temporal divergence pattern of Parachauliodes indicates that the genus might have originated from Eurasian continent no later than the early Miocene and the initial divergence within genus was likely to be correlated to the split of southwestern Japanese Islands from the continent. There likely was a southward dispersal in the Parachauliodes japonicus clade from southwestern Japan via the Ryukyus to Taiwan by the end of the Miocene. The present species diversity of the insular lineage of Parachauliodes was possibly shaped by island isolations and sympatric distribution.     

A new genus and four new species of felt scales on Eucalyptus (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) in south-eastern Australia

Abstract  A new Australian eriococcid genus Fragorbis gen. n. (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) is described for ' Sphaerococcus ' pustulans Green and four new species, F. fructus sp. n., F. pseudopustulans sp. n., F. stipites sp. n. and F. superfacies sp. n. Four of the five species are known only from Victoria and the fifth species from the High Country east of Tumut in New South Wales. All species feed on Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), either in blister galls, or under or on the bark. The adult female of each species and the first-instar nymph of F. pseudopustulans sp. n. are described and illustrated. Keys are provided to the adult females of the eriococcid genera found on Eucalyptus and Corymbia , and to the species of Fragorbis gen. n.     

Phylogenetic systematics of Pseudolebinthus, a new genus of Eneopterinae crickets (Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Eneopteridae) from south-east Africa

Abstract.  Within a framework of historical analysis of Eneopterinae crickets, the genus Pseudolebinthus Robillard gen.n. and two new species P. africanus Robillard, sp.n. and P. whellani Robillard, sp.n. , endemic from south-east Africa, are described. A cladistic analysis using 198 morphological characters and 47 terminals assessed the phylogenetic position of the new taxa within the subfamily. The resultant topologies support the previously proposed phylogeny for the subfamily and contained tribes. The monophyly of Pseudolebinthus is supported strongly as well as its sister relationship with Xenogryllus within the tribe Xenogryllini. A key to Eneopterinae tribes, Xenogryllini genera and Pseudolebinthus species is given. Taxonomic, evolutionary and acoustic issues raised by the recognition of Pseudolebinthus are discussed.     

Systematics, phylogeny and biogeography of Anterastes (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Tettigoniinae): evolution within a refugium

Çıplak, B. (2004). Systematics, phylogeny and biogeography of Anterastes (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Tettigoniinae): evolution within a refugium. — Zoologica Scripta , 33 , 19–44.
The genus Anterastes , distributed in southeastern Europe and the western part of Anatolia, is revised based on previous materials and numerous specimens collected from new localities. A key to all species is presented. Two new species, A. antitauricus sp. n. and A. ucari sp. n. are described. Anterastes akdaghensis Ramme is placed in synonymy with A. babadaghi Uvarov. Cladistic analysis confirmed the monophyly of Anterastes . The relationships among the species of Anterastes are: A. uludaghensis  + (( A. serbicus  +  A. burri  +  A. antitauricus sp. n.) + ( A. anatolicus  +  A. tolunayi  + ( A. niger  + ( A. babadaghi  +  A. turcicus  +  A. ucari sp. n.)))). The biogeography of the genus shows a correlation with its phylogeny. It is assumed that the genus arose from an ancestral stock in northwestern Anatolia in the Pliocene and the later range of this ancestral population expanded and contracted under the effects of the ice ages (glacial and interglacial periods, respectively). It is postulated that speciation within the genus, suggested by phylogenetic analysis, might have occurred when the range of ancestral populations expanded during glacial periods and contracted in subsequent warm periods. The present species may be the product of relict populations remaining in refugia at higher altitudes with alpine or subalpine vegetation in southern Anatolia.     

The collision of the Indian plate with Asia: molecular evidence for its impact on the phylogeny of freshwater crabs (Brachyura: Potamidae)

Aim We used molecular data to answer the following questions: (1) Is morphology‐based (and to some extent, geography‐based) classification of the freshwater crab family Potamidae congruent with a molecular phylogeny? (2) What historical biogeographical event could have shaped this phylogeny? Location Material from the entire geographical range of the family Potamidae was analysed, including specimens from East Asia (China, Taiwan, the Ryukyus), Southeast Asia, South Asia (northern India, the Middle East and Near East), North Africa, and southern Europe. Methods Mitochondrial DNA sequences encoding 503 base pairs (excluding the variable regions) of the large subunit rRNA (16S rRNA) gene were obtained from 72 species belonging to 49 potamid genera, representing 51% of all known genera in this species‐rich family. Sequences were compared by means of phylogenetic analyses (minimum evolution, Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony) and Bayesian relaxed molecular clock estimates. Results The family Potamidae was found to be monophyletic with two major lineages, and there was support for the recognition of two mostly allopatric subfamilies, Potaminae and Potamiscinae. This is largely consistent with the current classification proposed. The ‘Potamiscinae’ clade comprised three subclades: (1) a well‐supported ‘eastern Asia’ subclade that included species from the eastern part of the range (China, Taiwan, the Ryukyus, the Philippines, Indochina, Malay Peninsula, northern India and Myanmar/Burma); (2) a weakly supported ‘Sunda Shelf islands’ subclade that included species from the larger Southeast Asian islands on the Sunda Shelf (Borneo, Sumatra and Java); and (3) a ‘Socotra’ subclade that comprised only Socotrapotamon from Socotra Island, off the north‐east coast of Africa. Main conclusions The discrete distribution of the two subfamilies in Europe/Asia is hypothesized to be the result of vicariance due to the collision of the Indian tectonic plate with the Asian continent, and the orogeny that caused the separation of the two freshwater crab lineages around 22.8 Ma. Within the Potamiscinae, the ‘Sunda Shelf islands’ subclade separated from other potamiscines around 21.1 Ma; and the endemic fauna of the East Asian islands (Taiwan, the Ryukyus and mainland Japan) was isolated from the Asian continent c. 8.4 Ma, following the opening of the Okinawa Trough. The ‘Socotra’ subclade diverged from the ‘eastern Asia’ subclade at 19.1 Ma during the Miocene. Its taxonomic position, however, remains unclear as the members of this clade possess the key potamine character of a transverse ridge on thoracic sternite 8, suggesting that this may in fact be a relict potamid group.     

Phylogenetic analysis of a group of palaeonemerteans (Nemertea) including two new species from Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Sundberg, P., Gibson, R. & Olsson, U. (2003). Phylogenetic analysis of a group of palaeonemerteans (Nemertea) including two new species from Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. — Zoologica Scripta, 32, 279–296.
Based on 18S rDNA nucleotide sequences and morphological characters, we reconstruct the phylogeny for a group of palaeonemerteans estimated to be monophyletic. Two new palaeonemertean species from Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia are included in the phylogenetic analysis. The results confirm that one of the species, Cephalothrix queenslandica sp. n., is part of the Cephalothrix–Cephalotrichella–Procephalothrix group. These genera are redefined phylogenetically under the name Cephalothrix based on the cladistic analysis. The other species, Balionemertes australiensis gen. et sp. n., is placed in a new genus which forms a sister taxon to Cephalothrix . The morphology of both new species is described in detail.     

Revision of the Eastern Asian genera Ambrostoma Motschulsky and Parambrostoma Chen (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae)

The leaf beetle genera Ambrostoma Motschulsky, 1860 and Parambrostoma Chen, 1934 have been revised and now include 14 species. Two new species from Nepal are described, Parambrostoma kippenbergi sp.n. and P. medvedevi sp.n. Three new synonymies are established: Ambrostoma rugosopunctatum Chen = Ambrostoma (Parambrostoma) laosensis Kimoto & Gressitt, syn.n. , Ambrostoma rugosopunctatum Chen = Ambrostoma daccordii Medvedev, syn.n., Ambrostoma fortunei (Baly) = Ambrostoma quadriimpressum chusanica Gruev, syn.n . One species was transferred from Chrysomela Linnaeus to Ambrostoma Motschulsky: A. superbum (Thunberg), comb.n . All the species now included are described and illustrated. Microcomputer tomography was applied for the first time in a study on chrysomelid beetles. A cladistic analysis based on morphological characters of adults was conducted to reconstruct the intergeneric and interspecific phylogeny of Ambrostoma and Parambrostoma. The results show that the monophyly of both genera is well supported. Ambrostoma is widespread in East Asia, whereas Parambrostoma is restricted to the southern slope of the Himalayas, where a relatively recent and modest speciation took place.     

Species delimitation in the Hwamei Garrulax canorus

Due to the male's elaborate songs, the Hwamei Garrulax canorus is the most popular caged bird in the global Chinese community. Three allopatric Hwamei subspecies have been described: G. c. canorus in central and southern China and northern Indochina, G. c. owstoni from Hainan and G. c. taewanus from Taiwan. We sequenced the entire mitochondrial cytochrome b gene to reconstruct the molecular intraspecific phylogeny of the Hwamei. Molecular phylogenetic trees indicated that individuals of the three subspecies formed three monophyletic clades with high bootstrap support (> 95%). The basal clade was G. c. taewanus . According to a conventional molecular clock (2% divergence per million years), G. c. taewanus split from the other Hwamei taxa around 1.5 million years ago, and G. c. owstoni diverged from G. c. canorus around 0.6 million years ago. Considering the periodic connection between the Asian mainland and nearby continental islands during the glacial periods, habitat vicariance may have played a more important role than geographical vicariance in facilitating the differentiation of these taxa. Molecular diagnosability, population integrity, and concordance between the population ranges and the topology of the phylogenetic tree suggested that the Hwamei should be delimited into at least two full species: G. canorus and G. taewanus . Our work represents one of the first attempts to re-evaluate the intraspecific systematics for an eastern Asian bird species using molecular data.     

Phylogeography and recent emergence of the Old World screwworm fly, Chrysomya bezziana, based on mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences

Abstract.  A previous study had identified an African and an Asian race of the Old World screwworm fly, Chrysomya bezziana Villeneuve (Diptera: Calliphoridae), based on the 3' terminal 279 basepairs (bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The current study improved the phylogeographic resolution of cytochrome b for this species by characterizing more of the gene (the 3' terminal 715 bp) and by sampling more geographical populations, including Oman, Iran, Hong Kong and the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi and East Sumba. Strong support was found for recognizing an African race, but not for a monophyletic Asian race. The cladistic and genealogical relationships among the Asian populations were complex. There was sufficient genetic homogeneity throughout separate regions (mainland Asia and each Indonesian island) to suggest that there are no reproductive barriers within each region that might necessitate the production of more than one strain for control by the sterile insect technique (SIT). Primers were designed for the amplification by polymerase chain reaction of two nuclear loci, the highly conserved elongation factor-1α gene and the less conserved white gene, and the preliminary results indicated that these genes showed the same pattern of small-scale regional variation as cytochrome b . The cytochrome b haplotypes are useful markers for identifying the geographical origins of any emerging infestations of the species: the absence of Indonesian and African haplotypes in the Middle East demonstrates that the large-scale transport of livestock is not spreading Old World screwworm.     

Molecular systematics and historical biogeography of the Black-browed Barbet species complex (Megalaima oorti)

Although Southeast Asia is a global biodiversity hotspot, the tempo and mode of avian diversification there has not been well studied. We investigated the history of the diversification of an endemic Asian tropical bird, the Black-browed Barbet Megalaima oorti , by reconstructing its intraspecific molecular phylogeny with mitochondrial cytochrome- b gene sequences. Our molecular phylogeny suggests that the five subspecies of this montane barbet comprise four deeply divergent clades with strong geographical associations: M. o. oorti in the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, M. o. annamensis in Vietnam, M. o. nuchalis in Taiwan and M. o. faber / M. o. sini in Hainan and the southeastern Chinese mainland, respectively. Climate changes from the mid-Pliocene to the Pleistocene may have influenced their diversification through repeated contraction and expansion of Asian tropical forest. Moreover, our data indicate that the Black-browed Barbet complex is not monophyletic: M. asiatica is embedded in our phylogeny as the sister taxon to M. o. annamensis . The present taxonomic treatment has combined evolutionarily distinct taxa into a single paraphyletic species. Based on our molecular data and previously published plumage characters, we suggest a revision of traditional M. oorti into four monophyletic species: M. oorti , M. nuchalis , M. annamensis and M. faber .     

Evolution, mitochondrial DNA phylogeny and systematic position of the Macaronesian endemic Hydrotarsus Falkenström (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

Abstract.  Hydrotarsus Falkenström (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae) is the only genus of aquatic beetle considered to be endemic to the Atlantic islands of Macaronesia. Its three known species ( H. lundbladi Falkenström from Madeira, and H. compunctus (Wollaston) and H. pilosus Guignot from the Canary Islands) are revised, and their phylogenetic position studied based on sequences of the 16S rRNA and Cytochrome Oxidase I genes of mitochondrial DNA. Our results clearly indicate that the species of Hydrotarsus fall deep within the genus Hydroporus Clairville, in a clade formed by (in addition to Hydrotarsus ) species currently included in the H. fuscipennis , marginatus , nigrita and tessellatus groups, and in consequence a new synonymy is proposed: Hydrotarsus Falkenström =  Hydroporus Clairville syn.n. The origin of the species of ' Hydrotarsus ', based on molecular clock estimations, is late Miocene, relatively recent in the history of the Atlantic islands. They are therefore not palaeoendemics but highly derived, recently evolved elements in the Macaronesian fauna. The estimated ages of divergence among species are much more recent than the emergence of any of the islands on which they are found, suggesting rare long-range dispersal as the mechanism driving the diversification of the lineage. Morphological modifications of the species of ' Hydrotarsus ' are discussed, as well as those of other dytiscids from hygropetric habitats.     

Phylogeny of Agriotypinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), with comments on the subfamily relationships of the basal Ichneumonidae

Abstract. Agriotypinae is a small clade of aquatic parasitoid wasps with uncertain affinities. Its phylogeny was examined in a cladistic analysis of larval and adult morphological characters. The analysis found that Agriotypinae belongs within Ichneumonidae as sister group of Labeninae and related to Xoridinae and Cryptinae. All sixteen species in the subfamily should be assigned to Agriotypus Curtis. Two species groups were found, the Palaearctic armatus species group and the Oriental himalensis species group. Agriotypus chaoi sp.n. and Agriotypus masneri sp.n. are described from Vietnam and Atopotypus Chao is synonymized with Agriotypus forming Agriotypus succinctus (Chao) comb.n. A key and revision of the world species is provided, and the evolution of aquatic behaviour in Ichneumonidae is discussed.     

Revision and phylogenetic analysis of the Central American endemic genus Phalangogonia Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini)

Abstract.  Phalangogonia Burmeister is revised and now includes eight species: P . dispar Ohaus, P . jamesonae , sp.n., P . lacordairei Bates, P . obesa Burmeister, P . parilis Bates, P . punctata Franz, P . ratcliffei , sp.n. and P . sperata Sharp. Phalangogonia debilidens Ohaus is placed in synonymy with P . sperata . Lectotypes are designated for the following nominal species: P . dispar Ohaus, P . lacordairei Bates, P . parilis Bates and P . championi Bates. Neotypes are designated for: P . obesa Burmeister, P . sperata Sharp, P . stipes Sharp and P . debilidens Ohaus. A cladistic analysis of the species of Phalangogonia was executed using thirty-two morphological characters of adults.     

Monophyly and phylogenetic placement of the spider genus Labulla Simon, 1884 (Araneae, Linyphiidae) and description of the new genus Pecado

The genus Labulla Simon is circumscribed in phylogenetic terms to include the species Labulla thoracica (Wider), L. flahaulti Simon and L. machadoi sp. nov. The genital anatomy of the genus is described in detail and the taxonomy of the genus is reviewed. The monophyly of Labulla is supported by numerous morphological apomorphies of the male palp and female epigynum. Based on a cladistic analysis, a new genus, Pecado gen. nov. , is erected to place Labulla impudica Denis, from Northern Africa. Lepthyphantes insularis Saito and ' Labulla ' nepula Tikader, both formerly included in Labulla , are not congeneric with the type species of Labulla .  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 143 , 359–404.     

Discovery of sympatric cryptic species within Gekko hokouensis (Gekkonidae: Squamata) from the Okinawa Islands, Japan, by use of allozyme data

An electrophoretic survey of samples of the gekkonid lizard, Gekko hokouensis , from the East Asian islands demonstrated that two genetically divergent, but morphologically almost identical, entities occur on five islands of the Okinawa Group, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. These entities, while sharing all of the external character states diagnostic of G. hokouensis , exhibited fixed allele differences at six to eight out of 30 loci examined and great overall genetic distances [ Nei's (1978) D  = 0.489–0.654]. On Kumejima and Tonakijima Islands of the Okinawa Group, the two entities were collected together from identical microhabitats. These results indicate that the two entities represent separate biological species. Genetic comparisons of these two cryptic species from the Okinawa Group with ' G. hokouensis ' from other island groups revealed that one occurs broadly in the insular region of East Asia, whereas the other is restricted to the Okinawa Group. Implications of the present findings for the morphological evolution of ' G. hokouensis ' are also discussed.     

Ecology and systematics of mangrove crabs of the genus Perisesarma (Crustacea: Brachyura: Sesarmidae) from East Africa

East Africa has a reduced mangrove crab species richness when compared to Asian mangroves. To date, only one species of Perisesarma de Man, 1895 has been reported in East Africa, despite more than 30 years of mangrove research in this region. Based on morphology, colour, mtDNA and behaviour, we describe a new species of Perisesarma from Kenya, P. samawati sp. nov. Surprisingly, when comparing molecular data from other species within this genus, P. samawati sp. nov. and the sympatric P. guttatum (A. Milne Edwards, 1869) are not sister species. Some aspects of the ecology of P. guttatum and P. samawati sp. nov. are compared and the differences discussed. Additionally, we compare P. samawati sp. nov. with the ecological literature of a possible sister species P. eumolpe de Man, 1895 from Malaysian mangroves. Our findings suggest that the new species is an ecologically important species in East African mangroves.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 141 , 435–445.     

Questa (Annelida, Polychaeta, Orbiniidae) from Pacific regions — new species and reassessment of the genus Periquesta

On the basis of new material from various Pacific regions we critically evaluate the characters for the taxonomy of the genus Questa and the former Questidae, a taxon now concluded to be a lineage within the family Orbiniidae. Two new species, Questa retrospermatica sp. n. from Hawaii (with similar forms also from New Caledonia and China), and Questa fijiensis sp. n. from Fiji, are described, and the morphological character patterns and phylogeny of the genus are revisited on the basis of a cladistic analysis. The finding of Hawaiian material of a new species, Levinsenia hawaiiensis sp. n., similar to Periquesta canariensis Brito & Nunez, 2002 (=Levinsenia canariensis comb. n.), challenges the view that Periquesta Brito & Nunez, 2002 is closely related to Questa; rather, it belongs to Paraonidae as a junior synonym of Levinsenia Mesnil, 1897.     

Four new species of the Australian Pamborus Latreille (Coleoptera, Carabidae) carabid beetles

Abstract  Based on an examination of the type specimens of all the known species of the genus Pamborus Latrielle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) four new Australian species are recognised and are described as: P. euopacus sp. n., P. moorei sp. n., P. monteithi sp. n and P. cooloolensis sp. n. In addition, Pamborus viridis Gory, P. opacus Géhin and P. subtropicus Darlington are also redescribed based on the type material and lectotypes are designated for the first two species.     

Revision of the subgenus Neosynaptops Voss of Euops Schoenherr (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea, Attelabidae) from the Papuan region

The subgenus Neosynaptops Voss of Euops Schoenherr is revised. It contains two previously described species, E. cupreosplendens Macleay and E. viridiceps Voss, plus seven new ones: E. doertheae sp. n., E. gladiator sp. n., E. paraviridiceps sp. n., E. punctaticeps sp. n., E. similis sp. n., E. waigeoensis sp. n. and E. wapogae sp. n. A lectotype is designated for E. viridiceps Voss. The species are described and the characters relevant for their identification, especially the male genitalia, are illustrated. A key to the species is provided. Three distinct types of proventriculi found in species of Neosynaptops are illustrated. A cladistic analysis is performed which confirms the monophyly of Neosynaptops . The most important apomorphies are the punctate-rugose sculpture of the gena and the longitudinal costae on the ventral surface of the rostral base. The group is restricted to New Guinea and some small neighbouring islands.