A new endemic lineage of the Andean frog genus Telmatobius (Anura,Telmatobiidae) from the western slopes of the central Andes

The amphibian genus Telmatobius is a diverse group of species that inhabits the Andes. This study analysed the phylogenetic relationships of 19 species described from the central Andes of Chile and Bolivia, and 12 undescribed populations of Chile. A molecular phylogeny based on mitochondrial DNA 16S and cytochrome b shows that the Chilean species belong to three groups: (1) the Telmatobius marmoratus group, widespread in the Chilean and Bolivian Altiplano; (2) the Telmatobius hintoni group, including the species Telmatobius philippii, Telmatobius fronteriensis, and Telmatobius huayra, occurring in the south‐western Altiplano of Chile and Bolivia, and (3) the Telmatobius zapahuirensis group, a new clade which also includes Telmatobius chusmisensis, Telmatobius dankoi, and Telmatobius vilamensis, restricted to western slopes of the Andes, and which was recovered as more closely related to the T. hintoni group than the T. marmoratus group. The divergence times between clades were traced to the late Pleistocene. The molecular phylogeny also confirmed that the groups of the Altiplano and western Andes slopes form a clade separated from the species that inhabit the eastern Andes (Telmatobius verrucosus and Telmatobius bolivianus groups), supporting the forest origin of the Altiplano groups proposed by several previous authors. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

Further fragmentation of the polyphyletic genus Polyalthia (Annonaceae): molecular phylogenetic support for a broader delimitation of Marsypopetalum

The species-rich genus Polyalthia has previously been shown to be highly polyphyletic, with species represented in at least five different clades. The Polyalthia species that are associated with Marsypopetalum and Trivalvaria (as revealed either by previous phylogenetic studies or inferred on the basis of comparative morphology) were included in a molecular phylogenetic study based on three chloroplast DNA regions (matK, rbcL and trnL-F). Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses consistently revealed that several Polyalthia species form a well-supported clade with Marsypopetalum pallidum, and that this clade is sister to Trivalvaria. Diagnostic morphological characters for the clades are re-evaluated and shown to be congruent with the molecular phylogeny. Five Polyalthia species (P. crassa, P. littoralis, P. lucida, P. modesta and P. tristis) are accordingly transferred to Marsypopetalum.     

Molecular phylogenetics of Alternanthera (Gomphrenoideae,Amaranthaceae): resolving a complex taxonomic history caused by different interpretations of morphological characters in a lineage with C4 and C3–C4 intermediate species

Alternanthera (Amaranthaceae) is a diverse genus (80–200 species) largely restricted to the American Tropics. With Pedersenia and Tidestromia, it makes up the ‘Alternantheroid clade’ in Gomphrenoideae. Parsimony and Bayesian analyses of nucleotide sequences of nuclear (ITS) and plastid (rpl16, trnL‐F) and morphological characters identify that the capitate stigma of Alternanthera is a synapomorpy within the Alternantheroids. Within Alternanthera, two major clades were resolved, both of which were marked by otherwise homoplasious characters of the gynoecium: Clade A [99% jackknife (JK); 1.0 posterior probability (PP)] with nine species and Clade B (60% JK; 0.98 PP) with 22 species. Four subclades (B1–B4), strongly supported statistically, were identified in Clade B. Previous subgeneric classifications of Alternanthera appear artificial in light of our new molecular phylogenetic analyses. Most major lineages are congruently resolved by nuclear and plastid data but some incongruence between the nrITS and plastid phylogenetic trees suggests hybridization may have played a role in the rampant speciation in Alternanthera. Whereas C₄ photosynthesis appears to have evolved in a single clade, the position of A. littoralis var. maritima (C₃) in this clade may be explained by hybrid speciation rather than a reversal from C₄ to C₃. All C₃–C₄ intermediates belong to a different clade that also contains C₃ species, but species limits, including the widely studied A. tenella, are unclear. The clade including A. tenella and A. halimifolia contains most of the species endemic to the Galápagos whereas A. nesiotes, also endemic to the islands, is nested among widespread American taxa. This suggests that the Galápagos radiation of Alternanthera may have arisen from at least two independent colonization events followed by a subsequent radiation in the former lineage. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 169 , 493–517.     

Microanatomy of the amniote femur and inference of lifestyle in limbed vertebrates

The femoral microanatomy of 155 species of extant amniotes (57 species of mammals, 15 species of turtles, 56 species of lepidosaurs, and 27 species of birds) of known lifestyle is studied to demonstrate a possible link between some basic parameters of bone structure and specific lifestyles, as well as phylogenetic relationships between taxa. Squared change parsimony with random taxon reshuffling and pairwise comparisons reveal that most compactness and size parameters exhibit both phylogenetic and ecological signals. A discriminant analysis produces several inference models, including a ternary model (aquatic, amphibious, terrestrial) that yield the correct lifestyle in 88% of the cases. These models are used to infer the lifestyle of three extinct Permian temnospondyls: Eryops megacephalus, Acheloma dunni, and Trimerorhachis insignis. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 109 , 644–655.     

Morphological phylogenetic analysis of Ophrys (Orchidaceae): insights from morpho‐anatomical floral traits into the interspecific relationships in an unresolved clade

Reconstructing the phylogeny of the sexually deceptive orchid genus Ophrys is crucial to our understanding of the evolution of its complex floral morphology. Molecular phylogenetic analyses showed that section Pseudophrys forms a well supported clade with Ophrys bombyliflora, O. tenthredinifera and O. speculum, but were unable to elucidate the relationships between these four groups of taxa. Here we conduct a morphological phylogenetic analysis of this unresolved clade of Ophrys based on a data matrix of 45 macro‐ and micromorphological and anatomical floral characters, using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. Our cladistic analysis yielded a single most parsimonious tree and a Bayesian 50% majority‐rule consensus tree which differed in their overall topology but agreed that O. tenthredinifera and O. bombyliflora are not sister groups. The phylogenetic placement of O. tenthredinifera was ambiguous since it shares six valid synapomorphies each with the cluster of O. speculum–O. bombyliflora and with section Pseudophrys. In contrast, O. bombyliflora is most likely the sister group to O. speculum, a finding that rejects an earlier morphological phylogenetic hypothesis and favours the existing molecular trees based on nuclear ITS rather than plastid data. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 179 , 454–476.     

The phylogenetic systematics of blue‐tailed skinks (Plestiodon) and the family Scincidae

Blue‐tailed skinks (genus Plestiodon) are a common component of the terrestrial herpetofauna throughout their range in eastern Eurasia and North and Middle America. Plestiodon species are also frequent subjects of ecological and evolutionary research, yet a comprehensive, well‐supported phylogenetic framework does not yet exist for this genus. We construct a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Plestiodon using Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of a nine‐locus data set comprising 8308 base pairs of DNA, sampled from 38 of the 43 species in the genus. We evaluate potential gene tree/species tree discordance by conducting phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated and individual locus data sets, as well as employing coalescent‐based methods. Specifically, we address the placement of Plestiodon within the evolutionary tree of Scincidae, as well as the phylogenetic relationships between Plestiodon species, and their taxonomy. Given our sampling of major Scincidae lineages, we also re‐evaluate ‘deep’ relationships within the family, with the goal of resolving relationships that have been ambiguous in recent molecular phylogenetic analyses. We infer strong support for several scincid relationships, including a major clade of ‘scincines’ and the inter‐relationships of major Mediterranean and southern African genera. Although we could not estimate the precise phylogenetic affinities of Plestiodon with statistically significant support, we nonetheless infer significant support for its inclusion in a large ‘scincine’ clade exclusive of Acontinae, Lygosominae, Brachymeles, and Ophiomorus. Plestiodon comprises three major geographically cohesive clades. One of these clades is composed of mostly large‐bodied species inhabiting northern Indochina, south‐eastern China (including Taiwan), and the southern Ryukyu Islands of Japan. The second clade comprises species inhabiting central China (including Taiwan) and the entire Japanese archipelago. The third clade exclusively inhabits North and Middle America and the island of Bermuda. A vast majority of interspecific relationships are strongly supported in the concatenated data analysis, but there is nonetheless significant conflict amongst the individual gene trees. Coalescent‐based gene tree/species tree analyses indicate that incongruence amongst the nuclear loci may severely obscure the phylogenetic inter‐relationships of the primarily small‐bodied Plestiodon species that inhabit the central Mexican highlands. These same analyses do support the sister relationship between Plestiodon marginatus Hallowell, 1861 and Plestiodon stimpsonii (Thompson, 1912), and differ with the mitochondrial DNA analysis that supports Plestiodon elegans (Boulenger, 1887) + P. stimpsonii. Finally, because the existing Plestiodon taxonomy is a poor representation of evolutionary relationships, we replace the existing supraspecific taxonomy with one congruent with our phylogenetic results. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 165 , 163–189.     

The phylogenetic relationships of the Andean swamp rat genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neotomys</Emphasis> (Rodentia,Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae) based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers

The aim of this study was to assess the phylogenetic position of the South American cricetid genus Neotomys using two molecular markers: one nuclear (Irbp) and one mitochondrial (mt-cyb). This genus is currently considered as incertae sedis in the Sigmodontinae radiation. The phylogenetic relationships were estimated using three approaches: Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood and parsimony. We found the genus Neotomys closely related to the genera Euneomys and Irenomys, which are also considered incertae sedis. Our results suggest a common origin for this group of genera; this fact should be reflected in the taxonomy as a supra generic group with a tribal level. However, further and deeper analysis of both molecular and morphological data are needed to diagnose and formalize the proposed tribe. The relationships of this clade to the other members of Sigmodontinae were not clear as assessed by these data sets. The three genera are distributed around the Central and Southern Andes in South America evidencing that the Andes have played an important role in the diversification of several tribes of sigmodontine rodents.     

Phylogenetic analysis of Chloraeinae (Orchidaceae) based on plastid and nuclear DNA sequences

The phylogenetic relationships of subtribe Chloraeinae, a group of terrestrial orchids endemic to southern South America, have not been satisfactorily investigated. A previous molecular phylogenetic analysis based on plastid DNA supported the monophyly of Chloraeinae and Gavilea, but showed that Chloraea is non‐monophyletic and that the sole species of Bipinnula analysed is sister to Geoblasta. However, that analysis included only 18 of the 73 species belonging to this subtribe. Here, the phylogenetic relationships of Chloraeinae were assessed by analysing aproximately 7500 bp of nucleotide sequences from nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and plastid DNA (rbcL, matK, trnL‐trnF, rpoB‐trnC) for 42 species representing all four currently accepted genera of Chloraeinae and appropriate outgroups. Nuclear and plastid data were analysed separately and in combination using two different methods, namely parsimony and Bayesian inference. Our analyses support the monophyly of Chloraeinae and their inclusion in an expanded concept of Cranichideae, but none of the genera of Chloraeinae that includes more than one species is monophyletic. Gavilea and Bipinnula are paraphyletic, with Chloraea chica nested in Gavilea and Geoblasta penicillata in Bipinnula. As currently delimited, Chloraea is polyphyletic. The taxonomic changes proposed recently are for the most part not justifiable on phylogenetic grounds, except for recognition of the monotypic genus Correorchis. The lack of resolution for the relationships among species of ‘core’Chloraea suggests a relatively recent diversification of this group. The current generic classification is in need or revision, but additional study is advisable before carrying out further taxonomic changes. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 168 , 258–277.     

Unravelling a tangle of Mexican serpents: a systematic revision of highland pitvipers

As most recently recognized, the name Cerrophidion barbouri Dunn, 1919, refers to a highland species of pitviper endemic to Guerrero, Mexico, of which Agkistrodon browni Shreve, 1938, is considered a junior synonym. This species is rarely collected and prior to recent decades it was known from only a few specimens. A careful re‐examination of nearly all known specimens of C. barbouri and the type series of A. browni reveals that both names represent valid species and we therefore resurrect A. browni. Both species are extremely variable with respect to cephalic scalation and colour pattern, which has previously confounded efforts to identify them. We provide phylogenetic analyses using both Bayesian and maximum parsimony criteria of New World pitvipers to investigate the phylogenetic position of A. browni and C. barbouri. Our phylogenetic tree, based on 2235 bp of mitochondrial data [12S, 16S, cytochrome b (cyt b), NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4)], strongly supports a clade consisting of A. browni, C. barbouri, and Ophryacus melanurus, which has a distant sister relationship to Ophryacus undulatus. Based on the deep phylogenetic divergences amongst these species and distinctive morphology we recommend that a new genus be recognized for A. browni, C. barbouri, and O. melanurus. Finally, we revise the genera Cerrophidion and Ophryacus in accordance with our new classification. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163 , 943–958.     

Phylogenetics and taxonomy of the New World leafy spurges,Euphorbia section Tithymalus (Euphorbiaceae)

The 480 species of leafy spurges, Euphorbia subgenus Esula, represent the main temperate radiation in the large genus Euphorbia. This group is distributed primarily in temperate Eurasia, but with smaller, disjunct centres of diversity in the mountains of the Old World tropics, in temperate southern Africa and in the New World. The majority of New World diversity (32 species) occurs in a single section, section Tithymalus. We analysed sequences of the nrITS and plastid ndhF, trnH‐psbA, trnS‐trnG and trnD‐trnT regions to reconstruct the phylogeny of section Tithymalus and to examine the origins and diversification of the species native to the New World. Our results indicate that the New World species of section Tithymalus form a clade that is sister to the widespread, weedy E. peplus. The New World species fall into two primary groups: a ‘northern annual clade’ from eastern North America and a diverse clade of both annual and perennial species that is divided into three subgroups. Within the second group, there is a small ‘southern annual clade’ from Texas and northern Mexico, a perennial ‘Brachycera clade’ from the western United States and northern Mexico, and a perennial ‘Esuliformis clade’ from montane areas of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Ancestral state reconstructions indicate that the annual habit probably evolved in the ancestor of E. peplus and the New World clade, with a subsequent reversal to the perennial habit. In conjunction with this phylogenetic framework, the New World species of section Tithymalus are comprehensively reviewed. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 175 , 191–228.     

The role of landscape change and paleoclimatic events in shaping the evolutionary history of the Polioptila gnatcatchers (Passeriformes,Polioptilidae) with emphasis on species associated with open habitats

We conducted a large‐scale phylogenetic and biogeographical inference of the Poliptila gnatcatchers and investigated the evolutionary history of two closely related neotropical bird species linked to open habitats, Polioptila dumicola and Polioptila plumbea. A Bayesian inference was employed based on the NADH subunit 2 gene to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship of the gnatcatchers, and ancestral area reconstructions were estimated using BioGeoBEARS. For the phylogeographic analysis, we analyzed two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome b and ND2, of 102 individuals from P. dumicola and P. plumbea distributed throughout the complete range of both species. To reconstruct the dates related to the splitting events, we included a subset of sequences from the nuclear gene beta‐fibrinogen intron‐7. A striking result was the recovery of the sister relationship between the lineages of P. dumicola /plumbea and the paraphyly among the subspecies of P. plumbea: the first group was formed by P. dumicola, P. p. plumbea, P. p. parvirostris, P. p. atricapilla and P. lactea, occurring mainly on the Brazilian shield; while the second group consisted of lineages from north of the Amazon, west of the Andes, and Central America, and included P. maior, P. p. cinericia, P. p. bilineata and P. p. innotata. Significant phylogeographic structure was evident within lineages attributed to P. plumbea, with high levels of differentiation in the well‐defined clades according to all phylogenetic analyses. Our biogeographic analyses support distinct evolutionary histories related to founder events and vicariance, occurring during the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene. Several dispersal episodes between North/Central America and South America led to the establishment of populations which became differentiated due to landscape changes, such as the establishment of riverine barriers, the uplift of the Andes and the formation of the Panama Isthmus.     

Phylogenetic investigation and divergence dating of Poa (Poaceae,tribe Poeae) in the Australasian region

The Australasian region contains a significant proportion of worldwide Poa diversity, but the evolutionary relationships of taxa from this region are incompletely understood. Most Australasian species have been placed in a monophyletic Poa subgenus, Poa supersection Homalopoa section Brizoides clade, but with limited resolution of relationships. In this study, phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed for Australasian Poa, using three plastid (rbcL and matK genes and the rpl32‐trnL intergenic spacer) and two nuclear [internal/external transcribed spacer (ITS/ETS)] markers. Seventy‐five Poa spp. were represented (including 42 Australian, nine New Guinean, nine New Zealand and three Australian/New Zealand species). Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference criteria were applied for phylogenetic reconstruction. Divergence dates were estimated using Bayesian inference, with a relaxed clock applied and rates sampled from an uncorrelated log‐normal distribution. Australasian Poa spp. are placed in three lineages (section Brizoides, section Parodiochloa and the ‘X clade’), each of which is closely related to non‐Australasian taxa or clades. Section Brizoides subsection Australopoa is polyphyletic as currently circumscribed. In Australasia, Poa has diversified within the last 4.3 Mya, with divergence dating results broadly congruent with fossil data that record the appearance of vegetation with a prominent grassland understorey or shrubland/grassland mosaic vegetation dating from the mid‐Pliocene. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 175 , 523–552.     

Taxonomic Characterization and Experimental Host Ranges of Four Newly Recorded Species of Alternaria from Japan

Alternaria fungi are important plant pathogens. Here, we identified three species new to the Japanese mycoflora: Alternaria celosiae, Alternaria crassa and Alternaria petroselini. We proposed a new name for A. celosiae (E.G. Simmons & Holcomb) Lawrence, Park & Pryor, a later homonym of A. celosiae (Tassi) O. S?vul. To characterize these and a fourth morphological taxon, Alternaria alstroemeriae, which was recently added to Japan's mycoflora, an integrated species concept was tested. We determined the host range of each isolate using inoculation tests and analysed its phylogenetic position using sequences of the internal transcribed spacer rDNA. The pathogenicity of our A. alstroemeriae isolate was strictly limited to Alstroemeria sp. (Alstroemeriaceae), but the species was phylogenetically indistinguishable from other small‐spored Alternaria. Alternaria celosiae on Celosia argentea var. plumosa (Amaranthaceae) was also pathogenic to Amaranthus tricolor, to Alternanthera paronychioides and weakly to Gomphrena globosa (all Amaranthaceae) and formed a clade with the former Nimbya celosiae. Alternaria crassa on Datura stramonium (Solanaceae) was also pathogenic to Brugmansia × candida and Capsicum annuum in Solanaceae, but not to other confamilial plants; phylogenetically it belonged to a clade of large‐spored species with filamentous beaks. Morphological similarity, phylogenetic relationship and experimental host range suggested that A. crassa, Alternaria capsici and Alternaria daturicola were conspecific. Alternaria petroselini on Petroselinum crispum (Apiaceae) was pathogenic to five species in the tribe Apieae as well as representatives of Bupleureae, Coriandreae, Seliaeae and Scandiceae in Apiaceae. Both phylogeny and morphology suggested conspecificity between A. petroselini and Alternaria selini.     

Investigation of a freshwater acrochaetioid alga (Rhodophyta) with molecular and morphological methods

An enigmatic acrochaetioid alga was collected from Niangziguan spring in Shanxi Province, northern China. Morphological data indicated that this alga reproduces exclusively asexually by monosporangia and its morphological characteristics suggested that it might be referred to Audouinella heterospora. To ascertain its phylogenetic position, phylogenetic trees were reconstructed using partial sequences of the plastid‐encoded gene (rbcL) and the nuclear‐encoded gene (SSU rDNA) applying Bayesian inference (BI), maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML). However, phylogenetic reconstructions showed that this acrochaetioid alga does not belong in a clade with the genus Audouinella, but forms a clade with Thorea hispida (Thoreales). Based on this analysis it is concluded that A. heterospora represents the ‘chantransia’ stage of T. hispida.     

Gnidia (Thymelaeaceae) is not monophyletic: taxonomic implications for Thymelaeoideae and a partial new generic taxonomy for Gnidia

We address the generic limits of Gnidia (Thymelaeaceae) through a phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and plastid rbcL, trnL intron and trnL‐F intergenic spacer regions. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference were used to produce trees and assess internal support. The most significant conclusion drawn from the molecular analysis is that Gnidia is polyphyletic as currently circumscribed, comprising at least four distinct lineages that are each related to other genera within Thymelaeoideae. Gnidia pinifolia and G. racemosa are members of a clade within which Struthiola is embedded; a second group of species allies with Drapetes as sister to Passerina; and a third lineage corresponds to the previously recognized genus Lasiosiphon. The remaining species of Gnidia included in this study are allied with the Australian genus Pimelea. The taxonomic implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the principle of monophyly. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 160 , 402–417.     

An assessment of the status of Polycirridae genera (Annelida: Terebelliformia) and evolutionary transformation series of characters within the family

A phylogenetic analysis was performed to determine the monophyly of non‐monotypic genera of the terebelliform family Polycirridae, i.e. Polycirrus, Amaeana, Lysilla, and Hauchiella, and the evolution of characters among members of this clade. The monotypic genera, Enoplobranchus and Biremis, were also included, together with members of both known species in Hauchiella. Representative species were included for remaining genera: 14 species of Polycirrus, six species of Amaeana, and six species of Lysilla. Out‐groups consisted of representatives of Spionidae, Cirratulidae, and Sabellariidae, as well as several species of Telothelepodidae. A total of 40 in‐ and out‐group species were coded for 50 subjects (‘characters’) and 117 subject–predicate relationships (‘states’). Although results are consistent with recent phylogenetic studies within Terebelliformia that suggest Polycirridae monophyly, only Hauchiella was found to be monophyletic, albeit part of the more inclusive clade comprising remaining polycirrid genera. Evolutionary transformation series are discussed for selected characters in relation to the non‐monophyly of Polycirrus, Lysilla, and Amaeana. Implications for the use of supraspecific taxa as ‘taxonomic surrogates’ are highlighted. The definition of Polycirridae is emended. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

Phylogenetic analysis and revision of the linyphiid spider genus Solenysa (Araneae: Linyphiidae: Erigoninae)

In this paper we carry out a taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the linyphiid spider genus Solenysa Simon, 1894. A total of 12 species is treated here, including five new species collected from China and Japan: Solenysa akihisai Tu sp. nov., Solenysa lanyuensis Tu sp. nov., Solenysa retractilis Tu sp. nov., Solenysa tianmushana Tu sp. nov. , and Solenysa yangmingshana Tu sp. nov. Solenysa circularis Gao, Zhu & Sha, 1993 is a junior synonym of Solenysa protrudens Gao, Zhu & Sha, 1993. We have assembled two different character matrices to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of Solenysa. In the first matrix (Matrix 1), five representative species of Solenysa were added to the morphological dataset of Miller & Hormiga to test the monophyly of the genus and its placement within Linyphiidae. The genitalic structures and somatic morphology of Solenysa were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy for the first time. To infer the species‐level phylogenetic relationships of Solenysa we produced a second matrix (Matrix 2) that includes all 12 Solenysa species and six outgroup species chosen from the results of the analysis of the first matrix. The two most parsimonious trees from the analysis of Matrix 1 support the monophyly of Solenysa and its placement within the ‘Distal Erigonines’ clade. The single most parsimonious tree resulting from the analysis of the second matrix suggests that the Solenysa clade includes four monophyletic groups, each group represented by a distinct genitalic pattern. The morphology of Solenysa, both somatic and genitalic, is highly autapomorphic. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 161 , 484–530.     

Molecular phylogeny of the subterranean genus Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in the Middle East: a comparison with European Niphargids

The subterranean genus Niphargus is one of the most species‐rich genera among freshwater amphipods in the world, distributed in the Western Palearctic. Thus far, taxonomic and phylogenetic research has focused mainly on the European half of the genus range. In this study, 25 populations of Niphargus from Iran, Lebanon and the Crimean Peninsula were investigated. Bayesian inference based on 28S, H3 and COI gene sequences suggests that populations from the area belong to four different clades. Three species from Crimea and one species from Iran are nested at basal nodes, indicating their rather ancient origin. The rest of the species are younger and belong to two separate clades. One Crimean species is a sister‐species to east Romanian species. The second clade includes one species from Lebanon and all but one population from Iran. The origin of this clade corresponds to marine transgression between the Black Sea and Mediterranean approximately 12 Mya. This clade was further investigated taxonomically. Revision of qualitative morphological traits and unilocus species delimitation methods using COI suggest that this clade comprises 12–16 species, of which only three have been described so far. Multilocus coalescence delimitation methods (using fragments of COI, 28S, H3 and ITS) strongly supported 11 of these species. The remaining populations comprise at least two species complexes that require further and more detailed taxonomic research. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

A morphological and genetic analysis of the European bitterling species complex

Bitterling fishes lay their eggs on the gills of living freshwater mussels and are valuable models in behavioural and evolutionary ecology. We used morphological and genetic data to resolve the taxonomic relationships of bitterling in Europe. Previous studies have suggested the European bitterling is either a single species with a wide but discontinuous geographic distribution, or a complex of species. Morphometric and meristic data identified differences between three putative species; with a clear distinction between the eastern Asian Rhodeus sericeus, western European bitterling Rhodeus amarus, and colchian bitterling, Rhodeus colchicus. Polymorphism in the mitochondrial DNA control region was predominantly due to insertion/deletion events, making phylogenetic inference difficult, but the single haplotype found in R. sericeus populations was detected at low frequency (one of 24 individuals) in R. amarus and R. colchicus populations. Eight control region haplotypes were found in R. amarus populations, which were distinct from the two haplotypes in a R. colchicus population. Cytochrome b data produced a phylogeny with strongly‐supported differentiation between a clade of two R. sericeus haplotypes and a clade of six R. amarus/colchicus haplotypes. The star‐like topology of the R. amarus/colchicus haplotypes in a minimum spanning network suggested a rapid radiation in this clade. Our results are consistent with an hypothesis of relatively ancient divergence of R. sericeus from R. amarus/colchicus and more recent and rapid differentiation between R. amarus and R. colchicus. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95 , 337–347.