A review of flying fishes of the subgenus Hirundichthys (Genus Hirundichthys, Exocoetidae). Part 2. Nerito-oceanic species: H. oxycephalus, H. affinis

The second part of the review of the subgenus Hirundichthys s.str. dealt with two nerito-oceanic species of the subgenus which have weakly pronounced “mirror” on the pectoral fins: H. oxycephalus and H. affinis. The validity of H. coromandelensis (Hornell, 1923) as a subspecies of H. oxycephalus is restored. A comparison of local populations showed that H. oxycephalus is a polytypic species and forms three subspecies: nominative H. oxycephalus oxycephalus from the Western Pacific and Eastern Indian Ocean, H. oxycephalus coromandelensis from the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and adjoining waters of the Indian Ocean, and known by the only specimen from the waters of New Guinea H. oxycephalus frereensis ssp.n. Populations of H. affinis from the Western and Eastern Atlantic differ in the color of pectoral fins. Maps showing the geographical distribution of species and subspecies in the World Ocean are drawn up. A key for identification of species and subspecies belonging to the subgenus is proposed.     

A review of flying fishes of the subgenus Hirundichthys (genus Hirundichthys, exocoetidae). 1. Oceanic species: H. speculiger, H. indicus sp. nova

A systematic revision of flying fishes of the subgenus Hirundichthys s.str was carried out based on a study of meristic and morphometric traits and characteristics of pigmentation of fishes from the local populations of species belonging to the subgenus. It is found out that the subgenus includes four species: oceanic H. speculiger from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, oceanic H. indicus sp.n. from the waters of the Indian Ocean, nerito-oceanic H. oxycephalus from the waters of the Indo-West Pacific and nerito-oceanic H. affinis from the Atlantic Ocean. The first part of the review focuses on two oceanic species with a large “mirror” on the pectoral fins: H. speculiger and H. indicus. A comparison of local populations showed that the species H. indicus is polytypic and consists of two subspecies. One of the subspecies—nominative H. indicus indicus—is distributed in the western and the central parts of the Indian Ocean and the other—H. indicus orientalis ssp.n.—in the Eastern Indian Ocean. Maps showing a geographical distribution of the species and the subspecies in the World Ocean are drawn up.     

Development of SCAR molecular markers for early and late differentiation of Eucalyptus globulus ssp globulus from E. globulus ssp maidenii

The genus Eucalyptus includes over 700 species, some of which are the most widely planted hardwoods worldwide. Each species and subspecies of Eucalyptus present different characteristics regarding its wood quality and yield. This fact makes it very important to work with known species/subspecies so as to optimize handling and conservation of forest resources. Some of them are morphologically very similar, making it difficult to differentiate by simple observation. This is the case with Euclyptus globulus ssp globulus and E. globulus ssp maidenii, which can only be distinguished in the adult tree. These issues can be avoided using well-characterized seeds. This can be quite expensive, especially for the small growers. An alternative approach is to develop simple methods for the differentiation of the two subspecies. In this work, we develop a quick method, based on SCAR molecular markers derived from RAPD molecular markers, for the differentiation of the subspecies of E. globulus, in particular E. globulus ssp globulus and E. globulus ssp maidenii.     

Metallopolia, a new subgenus of Polia (Noctuidae,Noctuinae, Hadenini), with the description of two new species and a new subspecies

A new subgenus of Polia, Metallopolia subgen. n., two new species (Polia (Metallopolia) dysgnorima sp. n. and P. (M.) metagnorima sp. n.) from China (Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu), and a new subspecies, P. (M.) subviolacea kanchenjunga ssp. n. from Nepal and SE Tibet (Sikkim) are described. Habitus, antennae, male and female genitalia of all Metallopolia species are characterised, depicted and compared with the related species.     

On Two Little Known Species of Leaf Beetles (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) from the South Urals

120 years ago G.G. Jacobson described two species of leaf beetles from the South Urals that have remained poorly studied until recently. Chrysolina roddi, previously known only from the foothills and low mountains of the South Urals, the low Zhiguli Mountains, and the limestone cliffs on the Don River, is recorded here for the first time from the alpine tundra of the Iremel massif; its host plant in the alpine zone is the small alpine lovage Pachypleurum simplex (= Ligusticum mutellinoides), family Apiaceae. Two species of the subgenus Crositops, Ch. roddi and Ch. kabaki, are presently treated as foothill-alpine disjunct taxa. The distribution of Ch. poretzkyi, described from the low-montane part of Bashkortostan, also shows a foothill-alpine disjunction. Alpine populations of Ch. poretzkyi are described here as a new subspecies Ch. (Arctolina) poretzkyi olschwangi Mikhailov subsp. n. Revision of the type of Ch. poretzkyi that has long been considered lost confirms that this species belongs to the subgenus Arctolina, in disagreement with its previous placement in the subgenus Pleurosticha. Within Arctolina, the identity of Ch. tundralis and its differences from Ch. poretzkyi are discussed.     

Morphological differentiation among closely related species with disjunct distributions: a case study of Mediterranean Cyclamen L. subgen. Psilanthum Schwarz (Primulaceae)

In Cyclamen subgenus Psilanthum , previous authors have recognized three species ( C. repandum, C. balearicum and C. creticum ), with C. repandum subdivided into three subspecies (ssp. repandum , ssp. peloponnesiacum and ssp. rhodense ), and two varieties (var. vividum and var. peloponnesiacum ) within C. repandum ssp. peloponnesiacum . To examine the validity of this classification and the degree of morphological differentiation among closely related endemic taxa with disjunct distributions, we undertook analyses of three quantitative and eight qualitative morphological traits of flowers and leaves, most of which have previously been used without statistical comparison in the classification of the different taxa. Cyclamen balearicum showed high levels of morphological differentiation from all other taxa in subgenus Psilanthum consistent with its specific status. In contrast, morphological differentiation between C. creticum and subspecies of C. repandum was similar to that among the three subspecies of C. repandum . When compared with a recent molecular phylogeny of this subgenus, our results suggest that C. creticum may best be described as a geographical subspecies of C. repandum . The two varieties of C. repandum ssp. peloponnesiacum showed few significant differences for individual traits and their overall morphology is very similar to each other. The morphology of plants at three sites on Corsica strongly suggest, consistent with molecular data, the occurrence of hybrid populations between C. balearicum (outside of its previously recognized distribution) and local C. repandum .  © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 139 , 133–144.     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nalassus</Emphasis> Mulsant (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Helopini) from the Baltic amber

The first Eocene species of the tribe Helopini, Nalassus klebsi sp. nov., from the Baltic amber is described. The new species is included in the nominative subgenus and similar to the extant species N. dermestoides (Illiger) and N. laevioctostriatus (Goeze), from which it differs in the shape of eyes (eyes are considerably less transverse than in living Palearctic species of the genus Nalassus Mulsant), the shape of the pronotum with acute posterior angles (other Palearctic Nalassus have obtuse or straight pronotal angles) as well as convex elytral intervals. Species of the less specialized nominative subgenus are widespread in forests and (partly) alpine landscapes of Europe (eastwards up to the Urals) and eastern Asia.     

Contributions to the fauna and systematics of the Stenopelmatoidea (Orthoptera) of Indochina and some other territories: VIII

Material on the Indo-Malayan Gryllacridinae (Stenopelmatidae) of the genera Zalarnaca Gor., Dinolarnaca gen. n., Phryganogryllacris Karny, Neanias Br.-W., and Aancistroger B.-Bien. is considered. A new genus, a new subgenus, 17 new species, and 2 new subspecies are described. Some insufficiently known taxa are redescribed. Systematic position of several species and subspecies is clarified.     

Diversity and Systematics of Schizomavella Species (Bryozoa: Bitectiporidae) from the Bathyal NE Atlantic

Eight NE Atlantic and Mediterranean species, which were originally assigned to the genus Schizoporella (Family Schizoporellidae) when introduced, are redescribed and stabilized by typification. Seven of these species are transferred to the bitectiporid genus Schizomavella: S. fischeri, S. glebula, S. neptuni, S. obsoleta, S. richardi, S. triaviculata, and S. triaviculata var. paucimandibulata, which is here raised to species rank. The eighth species, Schizoporella fayalensis, is transferred to the lanceoporid genus Stephanotheca. Schizomavella obsoleta and S. glebula are considered junior subjective synonyms of S. fischeri and S. richardi, respectively. Two new species are described: Schizomavella rectangularis n. sp. from the Strait of Gibraltar, and Schizomavella phterocopa n. sp. from the Great Meteor Bank. A new subgenus, Calvetomavella n. subgen. is established as a result of a phylogenetic analysis based on morphological characters; it includes S. neptuni, S. triaviculata, S. paucimandibulata and S. phterocopa n. sp., together with Schizomavella discoidea and Schizomavella noronhai. The rest of the species remain in the nominotypical subgenus Schizomavella.     

The family Ctenobelbidae (Acari,Oribatida), with description of a new species and discussion on systematic placement and taxonomic status of the genus Berndamerus Mahunka, 1977

The oribatid mite genus Berndamerus Mahunka, 1977 is transferred into the family Ctenobelbidae as the subgenus Ctenobelba (Berndamerus) Mahunka, 1977, stat. n. from the family Amerobelbidae. The known species of Berndamerus combined: C. (B.) bicostata (Berlese, 1910), comb. n., C. (B.) eremuloides (Berlese, 1910), comb. n., C. (B.) hellenica (Mahunka, 1977), comb. n. A new species, Ctenobelba (Berndamerus) bugiamapensis sp. n., is described from soil, Bu Gia Map National Park, southern Vietnam. It differs from the other species of the subgenus by the heterotrichy of notogastral setae, presence of adanal neotrichy and localization of adanal lyrifissures. Ctenobelbidae is recorded in Vietnam for the first time. A new diagnosis of the family Ctenobelbidae and the identification keys to the known subgenera of the genus Ctenobelba and species of the subgenus Ctenobelba (Berndamerus) are provided.     

Contribution to the taxonomy and nomenclature ofLeuzea DC. andRhaponticum auct

The relationship betweenLeuzea DC. andRhaponticum auct. was studied. The differences between these taxa are shown to be insufficient to justify classification at the generic level. The resulting genus is preliminarily subdivided into seven subgenera. Its correct name isLeuzea DC. 1805. A new subgenus is described and 27 new nomenclatural combinations are proposed including 5 for subgenera, 20 for species and 2 for subspecies.     

Molecular genetic relationships and some issues of systematics of rock lizards of the genus Darevskia (Squamata: Lacertidae) based on locus analysis of SINE-type repeats (Squam1)

To study the molecular genetic relationships and correlate them with the taxonomy within the complex of lacertid lizards of the genus Darevskia, the locus analysis of the copies of the SINE-type repeat (Squam1) specific for the order Squamata was used. It was demonstrated that one of the loci (No. 34) contained the Squam1 copy insert in all species and subspecies of the examined genus. SINE allelic copies in some of the loci contained large indels and specific sets of mutations. The allelic variant M (medium, about 340 bp) was found most frequently; it was detected in all subspecies of D. saxicola (saxicola, darevskii, szczerbaki, lindholmi) and in most of the other species of the genus. Two species, D. derjugini and D. praticola, differed from the other species in the presence of long (L) and short (S) alleles. The longest allele was characteristic of the D. derjugini population from the Northern Caucasus (L, 379 bp, ssp. silvatica), while the shortest allele (97 bp) united the derjugini and barani subspecies. The second allele S (279 bp) characterizes the subspecies D. praticola praticola, some individuals of which also carry allele M. The second subspecies, D. p. pontica, contains allele L2, which differs from all other medium alleles in the presence of strictly specific short indel. In addition to apomorphic indels, the specificity and mutation distribution patterns among the Squam1 alleles were also examined. An analysis of the NJ tree indicated the concordance between morphological and molecular genetic characters of the species derjugini, praticola, and saxicola. Furthermore, four subspecies of D. saxicola were much closer to each other than the subspecies within the first two species; D. d. silvatica and the group of D. d. derjugini + barani were clearly separated. It cannot be excluded that populations from Azerbaijan and Serbia can be treated as the independent subspecies of D. praticola.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Kailasius autocrator</Emphasis> (Avinov, 1913) (Lepidoptera,Papilionidae) found in the alai mountain ridge (the Pamir-Alai)

A new subspecies, Kailasius autocrator murun Korb, ssp. n., of the species Kailasius autocrator (Avinov, 1913) from the eastern part of the Alai Mountain Ridge is described. This subspecies differs from the other known ones in the smaller size (the fore-wing length is less than 23 mm) and in the presence of 5 black rounded spots in the submarginal area of the hind-wing upper side (4 spots in the nominotypical subspecies and K. a. pshartanus). The new subspecies is shown to be the most archaic one among the subspecies of the genus Kailasius by the wing pattern. Possible ways for the origin of local and small populations of morphologically different subspecies of the genus are discussed.     

New data on the taxonomy,distribution, and ecology of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otiorhynchus</Emphasis> germar (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

The subgenus Pocusogetus Rtt. of the genus Otiorhynchus Germ. is revised. The subgenus includes O. rosti Strl., O. shapovalovi Davidian et Yunakov, O. obsulcatus Strl., O. fischtensis Rtt., and O. gusakovi sp. n. closely related to O. fischtensis (both from Mt. Fisht, the Western Caucasus). O. fischtensis is transferred from the subgenus Vicoranius Rtt., its lectotype is designated. A key to species of Pocusogetus is given. The systematic position of the subgenera Pocusogetus and Vicoranius in the genus Otiorhynchus is discussed. New data on the geographical distribution and ecology of the little-known species of the subgenera Obvoderus Rtt., Pseudoprovadilus Magnano, and Clypeorhynchus Yunakov et Arzanov are given. Some features of ecological differentiation between Otiorhynchus species in the alpine and subalpine zones of the Caucasus are discussed.     

Phylogenetics,historical biogeography and molecular species delimitation of Gnaptorina Reitter (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Blaptini)

With 38 described species or subspecies, Gnaptorina Reitter is the second‐most species‐rich genus in the darkling beetle subtribe Gnaptorinina (Tenebrionidae: Tenebrioninae). In this study, we reconstructed a phylogeny of the genus based on one nuclear and three mitochondrial genes and used this phylogeny to explore the historical biography and diversification of Gnaptorina species. We implemented multiple molecular species delimitation approaches to reassess the status of Gnaptorina species and taxonomic subdivisions of the genus. Dating and historical biogeography analyses suggest an early Eocene origin of the genus, with the southeastern regions of the Tibetan Plateau most likely as areas of origin. Based on these results, we propose a new classification for Gnaptorina with three major clades identified. Consequently, the monotypic subgenus Boreoptorina is newly synonymized with the more species‐rich subgenus Hesperoptorina, and G. dongdashanensis Shi is transferred from Hesperoptorina to the subgenus Gnaptorina. In addition, G. minxiana Medvedev, formerly treated as a subspecies of G. potanini Reitter, is elevated to species. Results of molecular species delimitation analyses are largely congruent and confirm the status of most morphological species.     

Veronica: Chemical characters for the support of phylogenetic relationships based on nuclear ribosomal and plastid DNA sequence data

Molecular phylogenetic analyses have revealed many relationships in Veronica (Plantaginaceae) never anticipated before. However, phytochemical characters show good congruence with DNA-based analyses. We have analysed a combined data set of 49 species and subspecies derived from the nuclear ribosomal ITS-region (18 new sequences) and the plastid trnL-F region (12 new sequences) of Veronica emphasizing subgenera Chamaedrys and Pocilla and separate analyses of subgenera Pentasepalae (ITS only) and Pseudolysimachium. Results for subgenus Chamaedrys show that European and Asian perennial species are monophyletic sister groups with the annual species consecutive sisters to them. All species of Veronica that contain cornoside are found in this subgenus, although some species seem to have secondarily lost the ability to produce this compound. Subgenera Pocilla and Pentasepalae are well supported sister groups characterized by the occurrence of 8-hydroxyflavones. The traditional subsection Biloba of subgenus Pocilla is biphyletic with Veronica intercedens being clearly separate from the rest of the group. This result is mirrored by the unusual phytochemical arsenal of V. intercedens, which is the only species in the genus analysed to date to contain melittoside and globularifolin. Subgenus Pentasepalae appears to be a clade of diverse lineages from southwestern Asia and a single European clade. Species shown to have 6-hydroxyflavones do not form a monophyletic group. Subgenus Pseudolysimachium seems to have originated in Eastern Asia. 6-Hydroxyflavones acylated with phenolic acids are common in this subgenus but may have originated only later in the evolution of the group. Possible chemotaxonomic markers for other groups are discussed.