Assessing the taxonomic status of tropical frogs through bioacoustics: geographical variation in the advertisement calls in the Eleutherodactylus discoidalis species group (Anura)

The taxonomic status of a very poorly known group of Andean frogs (the Eleutherodactylus discoidalis group) is assessed through acoustic and statistical analyses of differences in temporal parameters of advertisement calls, such as the number of pulses and the call duration, and also in a spectral parameter, dominant frequency. As these species are usually misidentified or ignored because of their taxonomic complexity in both ecological and biodiversity studies, we provide a bioacoustical diagnosis for each species in order to facilitate identification in the field. Differences in acoustic parameters support the specific status of Eleutherodactylus cruralis , E. discoidalis , Eleutherodactylus ibischi , and Eleutherodactylus madidi . The name E. cruralis is probably applied to three different species: the nominal form from Amazonian forests of the Andean slopes and adjacent lowlands, and two cryptic species restricted to inter-Andean dry valleys and cloud forests from central Bolivia. Moreover, the distribution of energy through the call and the aggregation of pulses seem to be useful meristic characters for detecting interspecific differences. Populations from each macrohabitat can be recognized by distinctive advertisement calls, usually corresponding to a recognized species. For the whole group, pulse rate is significantly correlated to latitude, which could indicate a speciation process along the Andes in relation to habitat changes and isolation. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 152 , 353–365.     

Systematics of the Neotropical caddisfly genus Notidobiella Schmid (Trichoptera, Sericostomatidae), with the description of 3 new species

Three new species of Notidobiella Schmid (Insecta: Trichoptera) are described from South America: Notidobiella amazonianasp. n. (Brazil), Notidobiella brasilianasp. n. (Brazil), and Notidobiella ecuadorensissp. n. (Ecuador). In addition, the 3 previously described species in the genus, Notidobiella chacayana Schmid, Notidobiella inermis Flint, and Notidobiella parallelipipeda Schmid, all endemic to southern Chile, are redescribed and illustrated, including the females of each species for the first time, and a key to males of the species in the genus is provided. The occurrence of Notidobiella in Brazil and Ecuador represents a significant extension of the range of the genus beyond southern Chile where it previously was thought to be endemic. The biogeography of Sericostomatidae and other austral South American Trichoptera is reviewed. The presence of the family in South America may not be part of a "transantarctic" exchange, but instead may represent an earlier occurence in the region. The distribution of Notidobiella in tropical South America likely represents recent dispersal from southern South America to the north.     

Dealing with allometry in linear and geometric morphometrics: a taxonomic case study in the Leporinus cylindriformis group (Characiformes: Anostomidae) with description of a new species from Suriname

To achieve maximum efficacy, taxonomic studies that seek to distinguish amongst species must first account for allometric shape variation within species. Two recently developed software packages (SMATR and MorphoJ) offer regression‐based allometric approaches that are notable for their statistical power and ease of use and that may prove highly useful to taxonomists working with linear or geometric morphometric data. We investigate species delimitation of the slender‐bodied fishes in the Leporinus cylindriformis group using these programs and demonstrate the utility of the allometric corrections that they provide. Without allometric correction, many pairs of species are difficult to distinguish on the basis of morphometrics, but once regressions are used to account for marked allometric variation within species, most of the recognized species in this group can be readily distinguished with linear or geometric morphometrics, particularly using variation in the depth of the body. Both approaches returned congruent patterns of separation amongst putative species, but the geometric approach in MorphoJ distinguished amongst four more pairs of species than did the linear approach in SMATR and appears to provide slightly more statistical power. Based on distinctive morphometrics, meristics, and coloration, a highly elongate species of Leporinus from the Suriname, Corantijn, and Coppename rivers of Suriname is described herein as a new species, Leporinus apollo sp. nov. The unique L. cylindriformis holotype from Porto de Moz, Brazil differs in morphology, meristics, and pigmentation from specimens commonly referred to that species from the main basin of the Amazon; the latter specimens may represent an additional undescribed species. The L. cylindriformis holotype itself may represent a rare species or a specimen collected at the edge of its native range. Measurements of the holotype and paratype of Leporinus niceforoi, which were collected in the Amazonian slope of Colombia, differ substantially from similarly pigmented and putatively conspecific specimens from Amazonian portions of Ecuador and Peru. Recently collected specimens from Colombia are needed to determine whether the observed morphometric variation encompassed by the current concept of L. niceforoi indicates a morphocline within a single species, suggests the presence of multiple cryptic species, or results from shrinkage of the types. In all these cases, linear or geometric morphometric data can reliably differentiate amongst species, but only after one accounts for allometric shape variation. The new SMATR and MorphoJ software packages both offer easy and effective approaches to such allometrically informed taxonomy, and may prove useful to any systematist working on taxa that change shape as they grow. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 162 , 103–130.     

Systematics of a widespread Southeast Asian frog,Rana chalconota (Amphibia: Anura: Ranidae)

The abundant Sundaland forest frog, Rana chalconota, has long been considered a single widespread species, although some authors have recommended its division into regional subspecies. The discovery of co‐occurring pairs of morphologically distinct populations in three widely separated parts of the range led to a morphological and molecular analysis of populations from all parts of the known range. The results suggest that R. chalconota consists of at least seven species from Thailand through Borneo and Java. Existing names are applied to three of these species, R. chalconota (Schlegel), R. raniceps (Peters) and R. labialis Boulenger. We describe four others as new species and suggest the existence of one or two additional, unnamed species. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 155 , 123–147.     

A new species of Chaetostoma (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Orinoco basin with comments on Amazonian species of the genus in Colombia

Chaetostoma chimu sp. nov. is described from 119 specimens collected in the Andean foothills of the Orinoco River in Colombia. The new species can be distinguished from congeners by a combination of characters, including shape of cheek odontodes, presence of a supraoccipital excrescence, sexual dimorphism characters and colour pattern. In addition, this species can be distinguished from the sympatric and geographically close congeners of the Orinoco that have curved cheek odontodes (i.e., Chaetostoma anale, Chaetostoma formosae and Chaetostoma joropo), by presenting a generally larger orbital diameter and interorbital distance, details of sexual dimorphism and colour pattern. The type locality of specimens collected by Kjell von Sneidern in the mid-twentieth century in the Colombian Amazon is also clarified. Chaetostoma alternifasciatum and Chaetostoma vagum are proposed as junior synonyms of C. anale. An identification key for the species of Chaetostoma from cis-Andean drainages in Colombia is provided. The new species is herein categorized as Vulnerable (Vu) B1a (i, iii), following the IUCN criteria.     

Introducing a new species of the fern genus Doryopteris (Pteridaceae,Polypodiopsida) from the Neotropics

Doryopteris adornata is described as a new species from west‐central South America (Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina). The dense indument of scales on the abaxial surface of the lamina is the most prominent diagnostic feature of this new species. Illustrations of the diagnostic characters are provided, as well as a table comparing the morphological characters of D. adornata with those of the two most similar species. The ecology and distribution are described. The conservation status for the new species using World Conservation Union (IUCN) guidelines/criteria is recommended. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 73–77.     

A remarkable new species of Euragallia from Peru (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Agalliini), including the description of a peculiar structure of the male genitalia

A new species of Euragallia Oman, 1938 from Peru (Pasco Department) is described and illustrated. Euragallia batmanisp. n. can be distinguished from the other species of the genus by the very posteriorly pronounced male pygofer, with an apical hook-like projection, and by the well-developed dorsal area of the aedeagal base, resembling the open wings of a bat. With the addition of Euragallia batmani sp. n., the number of Euragallia species is increased to 21. Only one additional species of the genus is recorded from Peru (Euragallia prion Kramer, 1976). A comparison between the new species and Euragallia prion is provided. A conspicuous structure, which connects the subgenital plates to the styles, is described in detail and named.     

The diversification of South American murid rodents: evidence from mitochondrial DNA sequence data for the akodontine tribe

Phylogenetic relationships based on 801 base pairs (bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene are examined for eight genera and 28 species of the akodontine tribe of South American murid rodents. The akodontine tribe comprises some 35% of the total diversity of the subfamily Sigmodontinae, but the current taxonomy at virtually all levels is uncertain because of inadequate generic diagnoses and assessments of variation and trends in traditional morphological characters. Monophyly of the tribe cannot be resolved by the sequence data, based on comparisons to outgroup taxa in three other tribes (Oryzomyini, Phyllotini, and Thomasomyini). However, highly corroborated monophyletic units within the group are obtained in a variety of both parsimony and distance analyses. These include a redefined and numerically dominant genus Akodon (with Microxus and Hypsimys as synonyms), Bolomys, Lenoxus, Oxymycterus, and a strongly supported assemblage that includes the central Andean Chroeomys and 'Akodon' andinus and the southern Abrothrix, 'Akodon' olivaceus, and the long-clawed mice of the genera Notiomys, Geoxus, and Chelemys. Sequence divergence within species is typically less than 5%, although levels can reach 10% for some highly polytypic forms. Divergence among genera within the tribe reaches 35% in corrected estimates, a level that is as great as that among representatives of different tribes. Changes in the current classification of akodontines are suggested based on these data, and the timing and place of origin of the tribe and its radiation is discussed.     

A re-appraisal of two members of the genus Notholca from the Andes,with a note on the fine structure of the lorica of N. foliacea (Ehrenberg)

Rotifers described from the Andes by Murray (1913) and De Beauchamp (1939) as Notholca foliacea (Ehrenberg) are reviewed and re-assessed as Notholca walterkostei De Paggi, 1982. They are compared with N. foliacea and details of the lorica of this species seen with the scanning electron microscope are presented.     

Four new species of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) from Brazil and updated identification keys

Four new species of longhorn beetles are described from Brazil: Coleoxestia diamantina n. sp. (Cerambycinae, Cerambycini), from Bahia; Mirador bravoi n. sp. (Cerambycinae, Ectenessini), from Bahia; Compsibidion antonietae n. sp. (Cerambycinae, Neoibidionini), from Goiás, Bahia and São Paulo; and Amphicnaeia quadrifasciata n. sp. (Lamiinae, Apomecynini) from Bahia. Coleoxestia diamantina and Compsibidion antonietae are included in previous keys.     

A new species of Amblyodus Westwood, 1878 (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae, Dynastinae) from South America

A second species of Amblyodus Westwood, 1878, Amblyodus castroi sp. n., is described from the northern South America based on 12 specimens from Brazil and Peru (Amazonian subregion). The new species is here compared with the type species of the genus, Amblyodus taurus Westwood, 1878 and both species and their male genitalia are illustrated. Diagnostic characters for the genus are discussed, especially the metatibial teeth. A distribution map including the type species and the new species is provided. The genus Amblyodus is recorded for the first time from Peru and from Brazil states of Pará and Rondônia.     

Phylogenetic relationships among Rhacophorinae (Rhacophoridae, Anura, Amphibia), with an emphasis on the Chinese species

The partial nucleotide sequence of mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA genes was determined for 23 Chinese species of Rhacophoridae (Amphibia: Anura), representing four of the eight recognized genera. Using Buergeriinae as the outgroup, phylogenetic analyses (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference) were performed in combination with already published mitochondrial 12S and 16S sequences of Rhacophorinae frogs. In all cases, Philautus romeri Smith, 1953 is recovered as the sister taxon to all other Rhacophorinae, although the support values are weak. Chirixalus doriae Boulenger, 1893 is closer to Chiromantis [ Chiromantis rufescens (Günther, 1868) and Chiromantis xerampelina Peters, 1854] than to Chirixalus vittatus (Boulenger, 1887). The clade { Philautus odontotarsus Ye & Fei, 1993, [ Philautus idiootocus (Kuramoto & Wang, 1987), Kurixalus eiffingeri (Boettger, 1895)]} is recovered with strong support. The monophyly of Theloderma and Rhacophorus rhodopus Liu & Hu, 1959 is not supported. It is suggested that Philautus albopunctatus Liu & Hu, 1962 should be placed into the synonymy of Theloderma asperum (Boulenger, 1886), and that Philautus rhododiscus Liu & Hu, 1962 should be assigned to Theloderma , so as to correct the paraphyly. Additionally, the monophyly of ' Aquixalus ' is not supported, and this requires further examination. Results also indicate that the Rhacophorus leucomystax (Gravenhorst, 1829)/ Rhacophorus megacephalus (Hallowell, 1861) complex needs further revision. Studies employing broader sampling and more molecular markers will be needed to resolve the deep relationships within the subfamily Rhacophorinae.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 153 , 733–749.     

Delturinae, a new loricariid catfish subfamily (Teleostei, Siluriformes), with revisions of Delturus and Hemipsilichthys

A new subfamily, Delturinae, is described to accommodate the loricariid catfish genera Delturus Egenmann & Eigenmann, 1889 and Hemipsilichthys Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889, a clade recently demonstrated to be the sister group of all remaining loricariids except Lithogenes . The genus Hemipsilichthys is restricted to three species, H. gobio (Lütken, 1874), its sister species H. papillatus Pereira et al ., 2000, and H. nimius Pereira et al ., 2003. Relationships among species of Delturus were not resolved and a new species, D. brevis , is described from the Rio Jequitinhonha basin in eastern Brazil. The geographical distribution of Delturinae, exclusively on the south-eastern Brazilian Shield, indicates that south-eastern Brazil acts as either a refugium for basal loricariid taxa or a point of origin for the Loricariidae. Lectotypes are designated for D. parahybae Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889 and Plecostomus angulicauda Steindachner, 1877. Keys are presented for subfamilies of Loricariidae and for genera and species of Delturinae. Diagnoses are provided for all delturine clades and species.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 147 , 277–299.     

Systematics of Andean gladiator frogs of the Hypsiboas pulchellus species group (Anura,Hylidae)

Köhler, J., Koscinski, D., Padial, J. M., Chaparro, J. C., Handford, P., Lougheed, S. C. & De la Riva, I. (2010). Systematics of Andean gladiator frogs of the Hypsiboas pulchellus species group (Anura, Hylidae). —Zoologica Scripta, 39, 572–590. We revisit the taxonomic status of Andean species and populations of frogs of the Hypsiboas pulchellus group using multiple lines of evidence potentially indicative of evolutionary lineage divergence in anurans: differences in qualitative morphological or bioacoustic character states, no overlap in quantitative characters of advertisement calls, and monophyly of gene genealogies. We found qualitative and quantitative morphological characters to be extremely variable among species and populations of the group and thus of very limited use in assessing lineage divergence. In contrast, phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and cytochrome b sequences resolved highly supported clades that are in concordance with bioacoustic differences. The results support the specific distinctness of most nominal species recognized in the group, including the Bolivian Hypsiboas balzani and Hypsiboas callipleura, two species that were considered to be synonymous, and revealed the presence of an undescribed species from southern Peru, which is here described as Hypsiboas gladiator sp. n. In contrast, Hypsiboas andinus and Hypsiboas riojanus were mutually paraphyletic, and showed no differences in morphology and acoustic characters. Consequently, we regard the former as a junior synonym of the latter. However, we discovered that populations of H. riojanus from central Bolivia exhibit some degree of genetic differentiation and advertisement call differences with respect to Argentine populations, but sampling of these Bolivian populations is too sparse to draw taxonomic conclusions. Our phylogenetic results support the hypothesis that ancestral lineages of the Andean H. pulchellus group experienced successive splitting events along a latitudinal gradient from north to south.