Morphology of four plagiogrammacean diatoms; Dimeregramma minor var. nana,Neofragilaria nicobarica,Plagiogramma atomus and Psammogramma vigoensis gen. et sp. nov., and their phylogenetic relationship inferred from partial large subunit rDNA

A marine araphid pennate diatom obtained from sand grains sampled at two sites at Vigo, Spain is described as Psammogramma vigoensis S. Sato et Medlin, a member of the family Plagiogrammaceae, based on observations of frustule fine structure. The species possesses elongated valves with apical pore fields and parallel rows of striae oriented perpendicular to the apical axis. Valve poroids are occluded by perforated rotae. There is a weak sternum along the apical axis and rimoportulae are absent. Detailed observations of Dimeregramma minor var. nana (Gregory) Ralfs, Neofragilaria nicobarica Desikachary, Prasad et Prema and Plagiogramma atomus Greville, were also undertaken. Based on morphological features, the transfer of Neofragilaria nicobarica from the Fragilariaceae to the Plagiogrammaceae is proposed. Partial large subunit rDNA phylogeny also supported inclusion of both Psammogramma and Neofragilaria in Plagiogrammaceae.     

A Phylogeny of the Family Poritidae (Cnidaria,Scleractinia) Based on Molecular and Morphological Analyses

The family Poritidae formerly included 6 genera: Alveopora, Goniopora, Machadoporites, Porites, Poritipora, and Stylaraea. Morphologically, the genera can be differentiated based on the number of tentacles, the number of septa and their arrangement, the length of the polyp column, and the diameter of the corallites. However, the phylogenetic relationships within and between the genera are unknown or contentious. On the one hand, Alveopora has been transferred to the Acroporidae recently because it was shown to be more closely related to this family than to the Poritidae by previous molecular studies. On the other hand, Goniopora is morphologically similar to 2 recently described genera, Machadoporites and Poritipora, particularly with regard to the number of septa (approximately 24), but they have not yet been investigated at the molecular level. In this study, we analyzed 93 samples from all 5 poritid genera and Alveopora using 2 genetic markers (the barcoding region of the mitochondrial COI and the ITS region of the nuclear rDNA) to investigate their phylogenetic relationships and to revise their taxonomy. The reconstructed molecular trees confirmed that Alveopora is genetically distant from all poritid genera but closely related to the family Acroporidae, whereas the other genera are genetically closely related. The molecular trees also revealed that Machadoporites and Poritipora were indistinguishable from Goniopora. However, Goniopora stutchburyi was genetically isolated from the other congeneric species and formed a sister group to Goniopora together with Porites and Stylaraea, thus suggesting that 24 septa could be an ancestral feature in the Poritidae. Based on these data, we move G. stutchburyi into a new genus, Bernardpora gen. nov., whereas Machadoporites and Poritipora are merged with Goniopora.     

Comparative Flower and Inflorescence Organogenesis among Genera of Betulaceae: Implications for Phylogenetic Relationships

Betulaceae have simple flowers but complex inflorescences. Recent phylogenetic analyses using molecular data have produced robust phylogenetic trees of Betulaceae. In this study, we evaluated the phylogenetic value of comparative organogenetic data of reproductive organs in the context of molecular phylogenies. Flower and inflorescence developmental processes of 21 species from all six genera in Betulaceae were documented with scanning electron microscopy. In each pistillate cyme, there are one primary bract, two secondary bracts, and two or three flowers in the six genera; only in Alnus are there two tertiary bracts on the abaxial side. The pistillate flower of all genera but Alnus has tepal primordia. Two tepals stop developing early on, resulting in the lack of tepals in mature flowers of Betula; while the tepals are initiated from a common circular primordium at the base of pistil in Corylus, Ostryopsis, Carpinus, and Ostrya, and the developed tepals with irregular shape and unstable number of lobes are adnate to the top of the pistil. In staminate organogenesis, each cyme has one primary bract and three flowers in all genera; two secondary bracts are only present in Alnus, Betula, and Corylus. Staminate flowers have no tepals except in Alnus and Betula, and exhibit high variation in number of stamens among genera. The number of secondary and tertiary bracts in each pistillate and staminate cyme, as well as the presence of tepals in pistillate and staminate flowers was clarified in all genera. Micro-morphological characters were used to infer the phylogenetic relationships of genera and sections of Betulaceae. Our analyses support the division of two subfamilies: Betuloideae (Alnus and Betula) and Coryloideae (Corylus, Carpinus, Ostrya, and Ostryopsis), and three tribes: Betuleae (Alnus and Betula), Coryleae (Corylus), and Carpineae (Carpinus, Ostrya, and Ostryopsis). The results agree with those from molecular phylogenetic studies, and suggest that micro-morphological characters are phylogenetically informative in Betulaceae, and reproductive organs of Betulaceae have evolved in the direction of reduction in bracts and tepals.     

Diversity and phylogeny of percolomonads based on newly discovered species from hypersaline and marine waters

Percolomonads are common freshwater, marine and hypersaline tetraflagellated organisms. Current phylogenetic analyses of eukaryotes comprise only two species of this underinvestigated family. Here, we studied the morphology, salinity tolerance and 18S rDNA gene-based phylogeny of seven percolomonad cultures. We describe three new genera and five novel species of Percolomonadida based on phylogenetic distances and morphological characteristics: Barbelia atlantica, B. abyssalis, Lula jakobsenorum, Nakurumonas serrata and Percolomonas doradorae.The new species show features typical for percolomonads, one long flagellum for skidding, three shorter flagella of equal length and a ventral feeding groove. The new species comprise organisms living in marine and athalassic hypersaline waters with salinity ranging from 10 to 150 PSU. Based on these novel taxa, the taxonomy and phylogeny of Percolatea was extended and further resolved.     

Molecular phylogeny of the Paleogene fungus gnat tribe Exechiini (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) revisited: Monophyly of genera established and rapid radiation confirmed

The phylogeny of the fungus gnat tribe Exechiini (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) is reconstructed based on the combined analysis of five nuclear (18S, two parts of 28S, CAD, EF1α) and two mitochondrial (12S, COI) gene markers. According to known fossil record, and recent higher‐level phylogenies, the tribe constitutes the most apomorphic, distinctly monophyletic clade of the family Mycetophilidae. The tribe originated in the Paleogene and apparently quickly diversified in the Neogene with an unusual rapid radiation of complex male terminalia. Earlier attempts to reconstruct the phylogeny of the tribe, based on both morphology and molecular methods, have not yielded reliable hypotheses, neither in terms of resolution nor in terms of support for major clades. Increased taxon sampling and wider gene sampling have been suggested to achieve better phylogenetic resolution. Aiming at this, we present new phylogenies, for the first time with all known genera and subgenera of Exechiini represented. While many terminal intergeneric relationships are well supported, both in maximum likelihood and in Bayesian analyses, most of the major, deeper clades remain poorly supported. We suggest that a rapid radiation event close to the root may be causing the low resolution at this level in the phylogeny. This contrasts parallel phylogenies of the older subfamilies and tribes of the family Mycetophilidae, where traditional clades have usually been recovered with high support. Further in‐depth studies into the evolutionary history of the tribe are needed to enlighten and coalesce the specific phenomena driving their unique morphological, genetic and phylogeographic histories.     

Scientific data laundering: Chimeric mitogenomes of a sparrowhawk and a nightjar covered-up by forged phylogenies

In 2017, Gang Liu and colleagues published a paper in this journal in which they described the first mitochondrial genome of Japanese Sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis (Aves, Accipitriformes). The paper included two phylogenies (one based on full mitogenomes, the other on mitochondrial 12S/16S rRNA sequences) that placed this species among the goshawks and sparrowhawks (genus Accipiter). These phylogenies also included a previously published mitogenome of Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus. Here, we show that the published mitogenome of A. gularis is a chimera of three species (a sparrowhawk, a buzzard and a dove), and that the published mitogenome of C. indicus is a chimera of two owl species. Phylogenetic re-analysis showed substantial differences from those published by Liu et al. (2017): the A. gularis sequence was placed among Streptopelia doves in the 12S/16S rRNA tree, and the C. indicus sequence was placed among Otus owls in the mitogenomic and mitochondrial 12S/16S rRNA trees. The phylogenies in Liu et al. (2017) showed several other peculiarities: (i) the inclusion of Javan Hawk-eagle Nisaetus bartelsi in the mitogenome tree (whereas no mitogenome is available of this species and no such sequence has been described in the literature), (ii) reciprocal monophyly of the genera Buteo, Leucopternis and Buteogallus (whereas multiple previous studies have shown these to be para- or polyphyletic), and (iii) the placement of Black-chested Buzzard Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus and Crane Hawk ‘Geranoaetus’ (=Geranospiza) caerulescens as sister species (whereas all previous studies have shown these to be distantly related). Close examination of the figures in Liu et al. (2017) revealed that both phylogenies have been manually prepared or modified. The evidence indicates that Liu et al. (2017) published phylogenies that were not based on existing data but were fabricated to reflect preconceived ideas about phylogenetic relationships. The phylogenies published by Liu et al. (2017) give the impression that the mitogenomic sequence described in their paper (A. gularis) and another one (C. indicus) described by Zhao et al. (2016) are authentic and correctly identified, whereas in reality these sequences are highly problematic chimeras. The term ‘scientific data laundering’ is proposed for the practice of hiding poor or erroneous research data with fabricated or falsified figures.     

Hidden among Sea Anemones: The First Comprehensive Phylogenetic Reconstruction of the Order Actiniaria (Cnidaria,Anthozoa, Hexacorallia) Reveals a Novel Group of Hexacorals

Sea anemones (order Actiniaria) are among the most diverse and successful members of the anthozoan subclass Hexacorallia, occupying benthic marine habitats across all depths and latitudes. Actiniaria comprises approximately 1,200 species of solitary and skeleton-less polyps and lacks any anatomical synapomorphy. Although monophyly is anticipated based on higher-level molecular phylogenies of Cnidaria, to date, monophyly has not been explicitly tested and at least some hypotheses on the diversification of Hexacorallia have suggested that actiniarians are para- or poly-phyletic. Published phylogenies have demonstrated the inadequacy of existing morphological-based classifications within Actiniaria. Superfamilial groups and most families and genera that have been rigorously studied are not monophyletic, indicating conflict with the current hierarchical classification. We test the monophyly of Actiniaria using two nuclear and three mitochondrial genes with multiple analytical methods. These analyses are the first to include representatives of all three currently-recognized suborders within Actiniaria. We do not recover Actiniaria as a monophyletic clade: the deep-sea anemone Boloceroides daphneae, previously included within the infraorder Boloceroidaria, is resolved outside of Actiniaria in several of the analyses. We erect a new genus and family for B. daphneae, and rank this taxon incerti ordinis. Based on our comprehensive phylogeny, we propose a new formal higher-level classification for Actiniaria composed of only two suborders, Anenthemonae and Enthemonae. Suborder Anenthemonae includes actiniarians with a unique arrangement of mesenteries (members of Edwardsiidae and former suborder Endocoelantheae). Suborder Enthemonae includes actiniarians with the typical arrangement of mesenteries for actiniarians (members of former suborders Protantheae, Ptychodacteae, and Nynantheae and subgroups therein). We also erect subgroups within these two newly-erected suborders. Although some relationships among these newly-defined groups are still ambiguous, morphological and molecular results are consistent enough to proceed with a new higher-level classification and to discuss the putative functional and evolutionary significance of several morphological attributes within Actiniaria.     

Molecular systematics of gerbils and deomyines (Rodentia: Gerbillinae,Deomyinae) and a test of desert adaptation in the tympanic bulla

Recent molecular studies in gerbils found multiple instances of discordance between molecular and morphological phylogenies. In this study, we analyse the largest molecular data set to date of gerbils and their sister group the deomyines to estimate their phylogenetic relationships. Maximum‐likelihood and Bayesian analyses were largely concordant, and both generally had high levels of node support. For gerbils, the results were generally concordant with previous molecular phylogenies based on allozymes, chromosomes, DNA/DNA hybridization and DNA sequences, and discordant with morphological phylogenies. None of the traditional gerbil tribes and subtribes were monophyletic. In addition, paraphyly was found in the genera Gerbillus, Gerbilliscus and Meriones as well as in five subgenera within Dipodillus, Gerbillurus and Meriones. Short branches separating taxa in small clusters within Dipodillus and Meriones suggest synonymy. Within deomyines, all genera and subgenera were monophyletic; however, two species groups within Acomys appear to contain synonymous taxa. We also find support for the discordance between molecular and morphological phylogenies in gerbils being partly due to convergent adaptations to arid environments, primarily in the suite of traits associated with inflation of the tympanic bullae. Relative bullar size does appear to be a desert adaptation and is correlated with aridity independent of phylogeny. Further, it varies more strongly along bioclimatic clines than between binary habitat classifications (desert versus mesic).     

First steps to understand the systematics of Echinorhynchidae Cobbold, 1876 (Acanthocephala), inferred through nuclear gene sequences

Acanthocephalans of the order Echinorhynchida are one of the most diverse groups in their phylum, with approximately 470 species classified into 11 families that largely consist of parasites of freshwater, brackish and marine fishes and, sporadically, reptiles and amphibians distributed worldwide. Previous phylogenies inferred with molecular data have supported the paraphyly or polyphyly of some families, suggesting that most of them have been diagnosed based on unique combinations of characters, rather than shared derivative features. We expand the taxonomic sampling of several genera such as Acanthocephalus, Echinorhynchus and Pseudoacanthocephalus of Echinorhynchidae from diverse biogeographical zones in the Americas, Europe and Asia with the aim of testing the monophyly of the family by using two molecular markers. Sequences from small (SSU) and large (LSU) subunits of ribosomal DNA were obtained for six species representing the genera Acanthocephalus and Echinorhynchus from the Neotropical, Nearctic, Palearctic and Oriental regions. These sequences were aligned with other sequences available in the GenBank dataset from Echinorhynchidae. Phylogenetic trees inferred with the combined (SSU + LSU) and the individual data sets consistently placed the genera Acanthocephalus, Pseudoacanthocephalus and Echinorhynchus into three independent lineages. Two families, Paracanthocephalidae Golvan, 1960, and Pseudoacanthocephalidae Petrochenko, 1956, were resurrected to accommodate the genera Acanthocephalus and Pseudoacanthocephalus, respectively. The species of the genus Acanthocephalus from the Nearctic, Palearctic and Oriental biogeographic regions formed a clade that was well supported. However, Acanthocephalus amini from the Neotropical region was nested inside Arhythmacanthidae. Therefore, the genus Calakmulrhynchus was created to accommodate A. amini and resolve the paraphyly of Acanthocephalus. Finally, the diagnoses of the families Echinorhynchidae and Arhythmacanthidae were amended. The molecular phylogenies should be used as a taxonomic framework to find shared derived characters (synapomorphies) and build a more robust classification scheme that reflects the evolutionary history of the acanthocephalans.     

Reconsideration of systematic relationships within the order Euplotida (Protista, Ciliophora) using new sequences of the gene coding for small-subunit rRNA and testing the use of combined data sets to construct phylogenies of the Diophrys-complex

Comprehensive molecular analyses of phylogenetic relationships within euplotid ciliates are relatively rare, and the relationships among some families remain questionable. We performed phylogenetic analyses of the order Euplotida based on new sequences of the gene coding for small-subunit RNA (SSrRNA) from a variety of taxa across the entire order as well as sequences from some of these taxa of other genes (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and histone H4) that have not been included in previous analyses. Phylogenetic trees based on SSrRNA gene sequences constructed with four different methods had a consistent branching pattern that included the following features: (1) the “typical” euplotids comprised a paraphyletic assemblage composed of two divergent clades (family Uronychiidae and families Euplotidae–Certesiidae–Aspidiscidae–Gastrocirrhidae), (2) in the family Uronychiidae, the genera Uronychia and Paradiophrys formed a clearly outlined, well-supported clade that seemed to be rather divergent from Diophrys and Diophryopsis, suggesting that the Diophrys-complex may have had a longer and more separate evolutionary history than previously supposed, (3) inclusion of 12 new SSrRNA sequences in analyses of Euplotidae revealed two new clades of species within the family and cast additional doubt on the present classification of genera within the family, and (4) the intraspecific divergence among five species of Aspidisca was far greater than those of closely related genera. The ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 coding regions and partial histone H4 genes of six morphospecies in the Diophrys-complex were sequenced along with their SSrRNA genes and used to compare phylogenies constructed from single data sets to those constructed from combined sets. Results indicated that combined analyses could be used to construct more reliable, less ambiguous phylogenies of complex groups like the order Euplotida, because they provide a greater amount and diversity of information.     

Multilocus phylogeny and recent rapid radiation of the viviparous sea snakes (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae)

The viviparous sea snakes (Hydrophiinae: Hydrophiini) comprise a young but morphologically and ecologically diverse clade distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific. Despite presenting a very promising model for marine diversification studies, many relationships among the 62 species and 16 genera in Hydrophiini remain unresolved. Here, we extend previous taxonomic and genomic sampling for Hydrophiini using three mitochondrial fragments and five nuclear loci for multiple individuals of 39 species in 15 genera. Our results highlight many of the impediments to inferring phylogenies in recent rapid radiations, including low variation at all five nuclear markers, and conflicting relationships supported by mitochondrial and nuclear trees. However, concatenated Bayesian and likelihood analyses, and a multilocus coalescent tree, recovered concordant support for primary clades and several previously unresolved inter-specific groupings. The Aipysurus group is monophyletic, with egg-eating specialists forming separate, early-diverging lineages. All three monotypic semi-aquatic genera (Ephalophis, Parahydrophis and Hydrelaps) are robustly placed as early diverging lineages along the branch leading to the Hydrophis group, with Ephalophis recovered as sister to Parahydrophis. The molecular phylogeny implies extensive evolutionary convergence in feeding adaptations within the Hydrophis group, especially the repeated evolution of small-headed (microcephalic) forms. Microcephalophis (Hydrophis) gracilis is robustly recovered as a relatively distant sister lineage to all other sampled Hydrophis group species, here termed the ‘core Hydrophis group’. Within the ‘core Hydrophis group’, Hydrophis is recovered as broadly paraphyletic, with several other genera nested within it (Pelamis, Enhydrina, Astrotia, Thalassophina, Acalyptophis, Kerilia, Lapemis, Disteira). Instead of erecting multiple new genera, we recommend dismantling the latter (mostly monotypic) genera and recognising a single genus, Hydrophis Latreille 1802, for the core Hydrophis group. Estimated divergence times suggest that all Hydrophiini last shared a common ancestor ～6 million years ago, but that the majority of extant lineages diversified over the last ～3.5 million years. The core Hydrophis group is a young and rapidly speciating clade, with 26 sampled species and 9 genera and dated at only ～1.5–3 million years old.     

Global Diversity and Phylogeny of Pelagic Shrimps of the Former Genera Sergestes and Sergia (Crustacea,Dendrobranchiata, Sergestidae), with Definition of Eight New Genera

We revise the global diversity of the former genera Sergia and Sergestes which include 71 valid species. The revision is based on examination of more than 37,000 specimens from collections in the Natural History Museum of Denmark and the Museum of Natural History, Paris. We used 72 morphological characters (61 binary, 11 multistate) and Sicyonella antennata as an outgroup for cladistic analysis. There is no support for the genera Sergia and Sergestes as they have been defined until now. We define and diagnose eight genera of the former genus Sergia (Sergia and new genera Gardinerosergia, Phorcosergia, Prehensilosergia, Robustosergia, Scintillosergia, Challengerosergia, and Lucensosergia) and seven genera of the former genus Sergestes (Sergestes, Deosergestes, Eusergestes, Allosergestes, Parasergestes, Neosergestes, and a new genus Cornutosergestes). An identification key is presented for all genera of the family Sergestidae. The phylogeny of Sergestidae is mainly based on three categories of characters related to: (1) general decapod morphology, (2) male copulatory organs, and (3) photophores. Only simultaneous use of all three character types resulted in a resolved tree with minimal Bootstrap support 75 for each clade. Most genera are interzonal mesopelagic migrants, some are benthopelagic (Scintillosergia, Lucensosergia), bathypelagic (Sergia), or epipelagic (Cornutosergestes). Within each of meso- and benthopelagic genera there is one species with panoceanic distribution, while most species ranges are restricted to a single ocean. The genera demonstrate two different strategies expressed both in morphology and behavior: protective (Eusergestes, Sergestes, Cornutosergestes, Prehensilosergia, Scintillosergia, Lucensosergia, Challengerosergia, Gardinerosergia, Robustosergia, Phorcosergia, Sergia) and offensive (Neosergestes, Parasergestes, Allosergestes, Deosergestes).     

Evolutionary implications of a rRNA-based phylogeny of Harpellales

The Harpellales (Trichomycetes) are endosymbiotic microfungi, mostly unculturable and predominantly associated with larval aquatic insects worldwide. Molecular phylogenies including ‘gut fungi’ have included at most only four axenic isolates of the 38 genera of Harpellales. Cladistic analyses were used to infer the phylogeny of the Harpellales using partial 18S or 28S nu-rRNA sequences generated for 16 genera of Harpellales, with 64 of 72 sequences generated from unculturable samples. Both analyses placed Orphella outside an otherwise monophyletic group of Harpellales, more closely allied to the Kickxellales. The current classification recognizing two families is not corroborated and continued use of the family Legeriomycetaceae may not be supportable. The largest genera of Harpellales, Smittium and Stachylina, were polyphyletic and the 28S rRNA sequences separate Smittium culisetae from the remainder of its genus. The cladograms did not support the consistent mapping of important morphological taxonomic characters, including trichospore shape and zygospore type or appendage numbers for both. This study demonstrates the use of microscopic thalli from host guts for molecular phylogenies and suggests the need for more data from the remaining Harpellales, especially with the future inclusion of protein-coding genes.     

Molecular phylogeny of black fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaroidea: Sciaridae) and the evolution of larval habitats

The phylogeny of the family Sciaridae is reconstructed, based on maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian analyses of 4809 bp from two mitochondrial (COI and 16S) and two nuclear (18S and 28S) genes for 100 taxa including the outgroup taxa. According to the present phylogenetic analyses, Sciaridae comprise three subfamilies and two genus groups: Sciarinae, Chaetosciara group, Cratyninae, and Pseudolycoriella group + Megalosphyinae. Our molecular results are largely congruent with one of the former hypotheses based on morphological data with respect to the monophyly of genera and subfamilies (Sciarinae, Megalosphyinae, and part of postulated “new subfamily”); however, the subfamily Cratyninae is shown to be polyphyletic, and the genera Bradysia, Corynoptera, Leptosciarella, Lycoriella, and Phytosciara are also recognized as non-monophyletic groups. While the ancestral larval habitat state of the family Sciaridae, based on Bayesian inference, is dead plant material (plant litter + rotten wood), the common ancestors of Phytosciara and Bradysia are inferred to living plants habitat. Therefore, shifts in larval habitats from dead plant material to living plants may have occurred within the Sciaridae at least once. Based on the results, we discuss phylogenetic relationships within the family, and present an evolutionary scenario of development of larval habitats.     

New dicrocoeliid digeneans from mammals in Ecuador including a highly genetically divergent new genus from an ancient marsupial lineage

The Dicrocoeliidae is a highly diverse and broadly distributed family of digeneans typically parasitic in the gall bladder and liver of their tetrapod hosts. So far, no study has reported dicrocoeliids, or any digeneans, from the ancient marsupial family Caenolestidae. Herein, we describe a new genus of dicrocoeliids (Otongatrema n. gen.) from Tate's shrew opossum Caenolestes fuliginosus and a new species of Metadelphis (Metadelphis cesartapiai n. sp.) from a phyllostomid bat Anoura peruana collected in Ecuador. Otongatrema can be readily distinguished from the morphologically closest dicrocoeliid genera Concinnum, Conspicuum and Canaania based on the position of the genital pore, distribution/position of the uterus and extent of vitellarium. Metadelphis cesartapiai can be easily differentiated from other Metadelphis spp. based on a combination of morphological characters including body shape and size, distribution of vitellarium, shape of the gonads as well as size of suckers and cirrus sac. In addition, we used newly generated partial sequences of the nuclear 28S rRNA gene and mitochondrial cox1 genes to examine phylogenetic affinities of the new taxa within the Dicrocoeliidae. Both the 28S and cox1 phylogenies confidently positioned Otongatrema as a sister/basal group to all other dicrocoeliids sequenced so far. The phylogenetic position of Otongatrema may be explained by a close co-evolutionary relationship with Caenolestidae, one of the most basal and most ancient groups of marsupials. In addition, our 28S phylogeny provides evidence that the complete or partial loss of intestinal structures has likely occurred independently at least 3 times in the evolutionary history of the Dicrocoeliidae.     

Phylogenetic Systematics of Peccaries (Tayassuidae: Artiodactyla) and a Classification of South American Tayassuids

Tayassuidae is a family of pig-like Artiodactyla restricted to the New World. Despite its rich fossil history, they have received less attention from a taxonomic and phylogenetic perspective when compared to the Old World pigs, Suidae. In this study, we performed a computer assisted phylogenetic analysis using morphological and molecular data including fossil and extant Tayassuidae, using parsimony and Bayesian approaches. We recovered the monophyly of the family Tayassuidae, confirming previous proposals, as well as the monophyly of the subfamilies Hesperhyinae and Tayassuinae, and the genus Platygonus, which we placed in a new taxon of tribe level. The three living peccaries and a number of fossil species belong to a new, tribe level, monophyletic group. The genus Catagonus comes out as paraphyletic, leading us to propose to restrict the generic name to the type species, C. metropolitanus, and a new taxonomic arrangement for the remaining species previously included in it, revalidating the genera Brasiliochoerus and Parachoerus, and describing a new genus, Protherohyus, gen. nov.     

Characterization of the satellite DNA Msat-160 from species of Terricola (Microtus) and Arvicola (Rodentia, Arvicolinae)

In the subfamily Arvicolinae (Cricetidae, Rodentia) the satellite DNA Msat-160 has been so far described in only some species from the genus Microtus and in one species from another genus, Chionomys nivalis. Here we cloned and characterized this satellite in two new arvicoline species, Microtus (Terricola) savii and Arvicola amphibius (terrestris). We have also demonstrated, by PCR and FISH, its existence in the genomes of several other species from both genera. These results suggest that Msat-160 already occurred in the common ancestor of the four genera/subgenera of Arvicolinae (Microtus, Chionomys, Arvicola, and Terricola). In Arvicola and Terricola, Msat-160 showed the basic monomer length of 160 bp, although a higher-order repeat (HORs) of 640 bp could have been probably replacing the original monomeric unit in A. a. terrestris. Msat-160 was localized by FISH mostly on the pericentromeric regions of the chromosomes, but the signal intensity and the number of carrier chromosomes varied extremely even between closely related species, resulting in a species-specific pattern of chromosomal distribution of this satellite. Such a variable pattern most likely is a consequence of a rapid amplification and contraction of particular repeats in the pericentromeric regions of chromosomes. In addition, we proposed that the rapid variation of pericentromeric repeats is strictly related to the prolific species radiation and diversification of karyotypes that characterize Arvicolinae lineage. Finally, we performed phylogenetic analysis in this group of related species based on Msat-160 that results to be in agreement with previously reported phylogenies, derived from other molecular markers.     

Frankixalus,a New Rhacophorid Genus of Tree Hole Breeding Frogs with Oophagous Tadpoles

Despite renewed interest in the biogeography and evolutionary history of Old World tree frogs (Rhacophoridae), this family still includes enigmatic frogs with ambiguous phylogenetic placement. During fieldwork in four northeastern states of India, we discovered several populations of tree hole breeding frogs with oophagous tadpoles. We used molecular data, consisting of two nuclear and three mitochondrial gene fragments for all known rhacophorid genera, to investigate the phylogenetic position of these new frogs. Our analyses identify a previously overlooked, yet distinct evolutionary lineage of frogs that warrants recognition as a new genus and is here described as Frankixalus gen. nov. This genus, which contains the enigmatic ‘Polypedates’ jerdonii described by Günther in 1876, forms the sister group of a clade containing Kurixalus, Pseudophilautus, Raorchestes, Mercurana and Beddomixalus. The distinctiveness of this evolutionary lineage is also corroborated by the external morphology of adults and tadpoles, adult osteology, breeding ecology, and life history features.