Phantoms of Gondwana?—phylogeny of the spider subfamily Mynogleninae (Araneae: Linyphiidae)

This is the first genus‐level phylogeny of the subfamily Mynogleninae. It is based on 190 morphological characters scored for 44 taxa: 37 mynoglenine taxa (ingroup) representing 15 of the 17 known genera and seven outgroup taxa representing the subfamilies Stemonyphantinae, Linyphiinae (Linyphiini and Micronetini), and Erigoninae, and a representative of the family Pimoidae, the sister‐group to Linyphiidae. No fewer than 147 of the morphological characters used in this study are new and defined for this study, and come mainly from male and female genitalia. Parsimony analysis with equal weights resulted in three most parsimonious trees of length 871. The monophyly of the subfamily Mynogleninae and the genera Novafroneta, Parafroneta, Laminafroneta, Afroneta, Promynoglenes, Metamynoglenes, and Haplinis are supported, whereas Pseudafroneta is paraphyletic. The remaining seven mynoglenine genera are either monotypic or represented by only one taxon. Diagnoses are given for all genera included in the analysis. The evolution of morphological traits is discussed and we summarize the diversity and distribution patterns of the 124 known species of mynoglenines. The preferred topology suggests a single origin of mynoglenines in New Zealand with two dispersal events to Africa, and does not support Gondwana origin.     

Genera and species of Baetidae in Japan: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nigrobaetis,Alainites, Labiobaetis</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tenuibaetis</Emphasis> n. stat. (Ephemeroptera)

We describe morphological characters of the genera Nigrobaetis, Alainites, Labiobaetis, and Tenuibaetis n. stat. and provide generic situations of six Japanese species: Nigrobaetis chocoratus n. comb., N. sacishimensis n. comb., Alainites atagonis, A. florens, A. yoshinensis, and Tenuibaetis pseudofrequentus. To evaluate the polarities of the morphological characters and the monophyly of Nigrobaetis, Alainites, Labiobaetis, and Tenuibaetis, character states of these four genera were compared with the genus Cloeon as an outgroup. Labiobaetis is considered to be a monophyletic group supported by a wide paraglossa. Tenuibaetis is a monophyletic group that is distinguishable from the related genera by robust setae with a medial ridge on the dorsomedian surface of the nymphal femur. We did not find any synapomorphic characters of Nigrobaetis or Alainites. Although we tentatively treat Nigrobaetis and Alainites as distinct genera, they are considered to be paraphyletic taxa.     

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.     

Cladistics and revision of Alitocoris with considerations on the phylogeny of the Herrichella clade (Hemiptera,Pentatomidae, Discocephalinae,Ochlerini)

Alitocoris Sailer, 1950, consists of four valid species described from Central America. In a recent cladistic analysis of Ochlerini, the genus was considered paraphyletic in the Herrichella Distant, 1911, group of taxa. The present study provides a cladistic analysis of the Herrichella clade, using 88 morphological characters and 40 taxa representing 21 genera of Ochlerini, including all known species of Alitocoris plus 16 new species. Outgroups included Eritrachys bituberculata Ruckes, 1959, Phereclus pluto Stål, 1862, and Adoxoplatys comis Breddin, 1903, with the last used for rooting. The cladistic analysis was conducted using TNT under heuristic searches and implied weighting of characters; 11 K‐values calculated for an average character fit ranged from 50 to 90% of a perfectly hierarchical character. The results corroborated the paraphyly of Alitocoris, calling for changes in the classification of the genus with the proposition of three new genera for two, three, and ten species, respectively, that will be described elsewhere. Alitocoris is redescribed and a key for the species is presented. Alitocoris brunneus, Alitocoris maculosus, and Alitocoris parvus are removed from the genus, and the new species Alitocoris grandis sp. nov. , Alitocoris lateralis sp. nov. , and Alitocoris ornatus sp. nov. are described. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

The phylogeny of a reduced ‘sand goby’ group based on behavioural and life history characters

Phylogenetic analysis of 27 behavioural and life history traits for five Mediterranean sand goby species (Perciformes, Gobiidae) produced one tree with a consistency index (excluding uninformative characters) of 0.756. This tree agreed with previous molecular analyses in providing strong support for the monophyly of the sand gobies, indicating that Pomatoschistus and Knipowitschia are paraphyletic and helping to resolve the ambiguous position of Economidichthys pygmaeus, placing it as the basal member of the reduced data set. Although the tree was completely resolved, the branches above E. pygmaeus were only moderately supported in the bootstrap analysis. Overall, the behavioural data provide information that may eventually help clarify the speciation bursts within the Mediterranean sand goby clade as much as is possible. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 165 , 916–924.     

Madagascar: an unexpected hotspot of social Anelosimus spider diversity (Araneae: Theridiidae)

Abstract. The spider genus Anelosimus Simon, 1891 (Theridiidae) currently contains over forty described species, found worldwide in tropical to warm temperate areas. American Anelosimus are all social, a rare trait among spiders, but social behaviour has not been reported for Anelosimus species elsewhere. Old World Anelosimus are poorly known, both behaviourally and taxonomically, and no Anelosimus species have yet been described from sub-Saharan Africa or Madagascar. Based on a preliminary phylogenetic analysis we predicted sociality in an undescribed Madagascar species because it grouped among social New World species. An expedition to Madagascar then found no less than five undescribed periodic-social (subsocial) Anelosimus species in Périnet reserve. A sixth species from the same locality is known from museum specimens and the Anelosimus diversity of Périnet is comparable with the most diverse single locality in the Americas. Subsocial species play a key role in understanding the evolution of permanent sociality (quasisociality). This increased pool of available subsocial study species demonstrates the utility of phylogenies as predictors of traits in species thus far unstudied. Here, A. andasibe sp.n. , A. may Agnarsson sp.n. , A. nazariani sp.n. , A. sallee sp.n. , A. salut sp.n. and A. vondrona sp.n. are described. Anelosimus locketi Roberts, 1977 from Aldabra Atoll is a junior synonym of A. decaryi ( Fage, 1930 ) comb.n. from Madagascar. Preliminary data on the behaviour of the new species are given, indicating a level of sociality similar to the American A.‘arizona’¹. The phylogenetic analysis supports the monophyly of the Madagascar group and places it as sister to a clade containing the eximius lineage from the Americas, and a pair of undescribed Tanzanian species.     

Molecular phylogenetics and generic assessment in the tribe Morindeae (Rubiaceae–Rubioideae): How to circumscribe Morinda L. to be monophyletic?

Most of the species of the family Rubiaceae with flowers arranged in head inflorescences are currently classified in three distantly related tribes, Naucleeae (subfamily Cinchonoideae) and Morindeae and Schradereae (subfamily Rubioideae). Within Morindeae the type genus Morinda is traditionally and currently circumscribed based on its head inflorescences and syncarpous fruits (syncarps). These characters are also present in some members of its allied genera, raising doubts about the monophyly of Morinda. We perform Bayesian phylogenetic analyses using combined nrETS/nrITS/trnT-F data for 67 Morindeae taxa and five outgroups from the closely related tribes Mitchelleae and Gaertnereae to rigorously test the monophyly of Morinda as currently delimited and assess the phylogenetic value of head inflorescences and syncarps in Morinda and Morindeae and to evaluate generic relationships and limits in Morindeae. Our analyses demonstrate that head inflorescences and syncarps in Morinda and Morindeae are evolutionarily labile. Morinda is highly paraphyletic, unless the genera Coelospermum, Gynochthodes, Pogonolobus, and Sarcopygme are also included. Morindeae comprises four well-supported and morphologically distinct major lineages: Appunia clade, Morinda clade (including Sarcopygme and the lectotype M. royoc), Coelospermum clade (containing Pogonolobus and Morinda reticulata), and Gynochthodes–Morinda clade. Four possible alternatives for revising generic boundaries are presented to establish monophyletic units. We favor the recognition of the four major lineages of Morindeae as separate genera, because this classification reflects the occurrence of a considerable morphological diversity in the tribe and the phylogenetic and taxonomic distinctness of its newly delimited genera.     

Phylogenetic relationships of leptophlebiid mayflies as inferred by histone H3 and 28S ribosomal DNA

Abstract Leptophlebiidae is among the largest and most diverse groups of extant mayflies (Ephemeroptera), but little is known of family‐level phylogenetic relationships. Using two nuclear genes (the D2 + D3 region of 28S ribosomal DNA and histone H3) and maximum parsimony (MP), maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI), we inferred the evolutionary relationships of 69 leptophlebiids sampled from six continents and representing 30 genera plus 11 taxa of uncertain taxonomic rank from Madagascar and Papua New Guinea. Although we did not recover monophyly of the Leptophlebiidae, monophyly of two of the three leptophlebiid subfamilies, Habrophlebiinae and Leptophlebiinae, was recovered with moderate to strong support in most analyses. The Atalophlebiinae was rendered paraphyletic as a result of the inclusion of members of Ephemerellidae or the Leptophlebiinae clade. For the species‐rich Atalophlebiinae, four groups of taxa were recovered with moderate to strong branch support: (i) an endemic Malagasy clade, (ii) a Paleoaustral group, a pan‐continental cluster with members drawn from across the southern hemisphere, (iii) a group, uniting fauna from North America, southeast Asia and Madagascar, which we call the Choroterpes group and (iv) a group uniting three New World genera, Thraulodes, Farrodes and Traverella. Knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships of the leptophlebiids will aid in future studies of morphological evolution and biogeographical patterns in this highly diverse and speciose family of mayflies.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Serpulidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) based on 18S rDNA sequence data, and implications for opercular evolution

Phylogenetic relationships of (19) serpulid taxa (including Spirorbinae) were reconstructed based on 18S rRNA gene sequence data. Maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, and maximum parsimony methods were used in phylogenetic reconstruction. Regardless of the method used, monophyly of Serpulidae is confirmed and four monophyletic, well-supported major clades are recovered: the Spirorbinae and three groups hitherto referred to as the Protula-, Serpula-, and Pomatoceros-group. Contrary to the taxonomic literature and the hypothesis of opercular evolution, the Protula-clade contains non-operculate (Protula, Salmacina) and operculate taxa both with pinnulate and non-pinnulate peduncle (Filograna vs. Vermiliopsis), and most likely is the sister group to Spirorbinae. Operculate Serpulinae and poorly or non-operculate Filograninae are paraphyletic. It is likely that lack of opercula in some serpulid genera is not a plesiomorphic character state, but reflects a special adaptation.     

Monophyly of Euaesthetinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae): phylogenetic evidence from adults and larvae,review of austral genera,and new larval descriptions

Abstract We develop a morphological dataset for the rove beetle subfamily Euaesthetinae comprising 167 morphological characters (135 adult and 32 larval) scored from 30 terminal taxa including 25 ingroup terminals (from subfamilies Euaesthetinae and Steninae) and five outgroups. Four maximum parsimony analyses using different sets of terminals and character sets were run to test the monophyly of (1) Euaesthetinae, (2) Steninae, (3) Euaesthetinae + Steninae, (4) euaesthetine tribes Austroesthetini, Alzadaesthetini, Euaesthetini, Fenderiini and Stenaesthetini, and (5) the ten currently known austral endemic genera together. Analyses of adult and larval character sets separately and in combination recovered the monophyly of Euaesthetinae, Steninae, and both subfamilies together, with strong support. Analysis of 13 ingroup terminals for which complete data were available suggests that monophyly of Euaesthetinae is supported by 19 synapomorphies (13 adult, six larval), of Steninae by 23 synapomorphies (14 adult, nine larval), and of both subfamilies together by 24 synapomorphies (21 adult, three larval). Within Euaesthetinae, only the tribe Stenaesthetini was recovered as monophyletic based on adult characters, and in no analyses were the ten austral endemic genera recovered as a monophyletic group. Phylogenetic relationships among euaesthetine genera were weakly supported, although analyses including adult characters supported monophyly of Octavius and Protopristus separately, and of Octavius + Protopristus, Austroesthetus + Chilioesthetus and Edaphus + Euaesthetus. Steninae may include a third genus comprising two undescribed species probably possessing a ‘stick–capture’ method of prey capture, similar to that in Stenus. These two species formed a strongly supported clade recovered as the sister group of Stenus based on adult characters. Diagnoses and a key to adults are provided for the 15 euaesthetine genera currently known from the austral region (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and southern South America). Euaesthetine larvae previously were known only for Euaesthetus, and we describe the larvae of nine more genera and provide the first larval identification key for genera of Euaesthetinae.     

Phylogenetic relationships in the tribe Oxyptilini (Lepidoptera,Pterophoridae, Pterophorinae) based on morphological data of adults

The monophyly of the tribe Oxyptilini and phylogenetic relationships of the genera embraced in this tribe were examined using 171 (75 binary and 96 multistate) characters of adult morphology. The study material included 98 species of 30 genera, representing all previously recognized genera of Oxyptilini, together with the genera Sphenarches, Antarches, Diacrotricha, and Cosmoclostis, four species of Oidaematophorini, three species of Platyptiliini, as well as three and two other species belonging to Pterophorini and Exelastini respectively. Two Agdistis species were used as outgroups. The cladistic analysis resulted in six equally parsimonious trees. A majority of the recovered synapomorphic characters have previously been used in the taxonomy of the subfamily. However, 25 novel characters were found. The monophyly of Oxyptilini was supported, although only with homoplastic characters and low amounts of tree confidence; the genera Capperia, Procapperia, Paracapperia, Oxyptilus, Megalorhipida, and Trichoptilus were found to be nonmonophyletic; Sphenarches and Antarches were recovered as members of Oxyptilini; the two genera Cosmoclostis and Diacrotricha were placed out of Oxyptilini, inside the tribe Pterophorini; and close affinity of the genus Dejongia to Stangeia, Stenodacma, Megalorhipida, Trichoptilus, and Buckleria species was revealed. Four new combinations, Cosmoclostis lanceata (Arenberger) comb. nov. , Nippoptilia regulus (Meyrick) comb. nov. , Capperia tadzhica (Zagulajev) comb. nov. , and Buckleria negotiosus (Meyrick) comb. nov. are proposed; Capperia insomnis Townsend was considered as a senior synonym of Procapperia hackeri Arenberger syn. nov. , Buckleria negotiosus (Meyrick) as a senior synonym of Buckleria vanderwolfi Gielis syn. nov. , and Oxyptilus variegatus Meyrick syn. nov. as a junior synonym of Oxyptilus secutor Meyrick. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163 , 484–547.     

Mitochondrial phylogeny of the deep-sea squat lobsters, Munidopsidae (Galatheoidea)

The Munidopsidae, one of three squat lobster families in the Galatheoidea, contains the deepest dwelling squat lobsters, with some occurring at abyssal depths. Munidopsids were formerly divided into two subfamilies: Shinkaiinae, for the unusual hydrothermal vent genus Shinkaia; and Munidopsinae for remaining taxa. Four munidopsid genera are currently recognised (Shinkaia, Leiogalathea, Galacantha and Munidopsis) but the largest genus, Munidopsis, is highly diverse morphologically, with multiple genera or subgenera currently in its synonymy. Phylogenetic studies of galatheoids focussed on high level relationships indicate that Leiogalathea is sister to other munidopsids, but the position of Shinkaia with respect to Munidopsis and Galacantha is unclear, as is the reciprocal monophyly of the latter two genera. Phylogenetic analyses of the Munidopsidae based on mitochondrial 16S and COI sequences, sampling all current genera (including the majority of the formerly recognised subgenera), indicate that the generic and former subfamily classifications do not reflect the phylogeny. Shinkaia and Galacantha clades are nested within Munidopsis rendering the genus paraphyletic and the bi-subfamily classification phylogenetically invalid. Many of the Munidopsis clades recovered, however, correspond well to formerly recognised genera or subgenera, indicating good prospects for a natural subdivision of Munidopsis.     

A phylogenetic analysis of Primulaceae s.l. based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA sequence data

 Phylogenetic relationships in Primulaceae were investigated by analysis of nuclear rDNA ITS sequences. Thirty-four species of Primulaceae, two of Myrsinaceae and four outgroup taxa were analyzed. In accordance to the results of recently published papers on the phylogeny of Primulaceae we found the family to be paraphyletic and resolved the positions of some genera. Our results show (a) the rather basal position of Centunculus within Lysimachieae, the genus thus being rather distantly related to Anagallis, (b) the close relationship between Lysimachia sect. Lerouxia, Anagallis, Asterolinon, and Pelletiera, (c) the well-supported monophyly of a group consisting of the four genera Hottonia, Omphalogramma, Bryocarpum, and Soldanella, and (d) the affinity of Stimpsonia to the Myrsinaceae-Lysimachieae-Ardisiandra clade. The ITS sequence data do not provide sufficient information to resolve basal relationships within the Primulaceae s.l. There is evidence against the monophyly of the large genera Primula, Androsace, and Lysimachia. In contrast to the phylogenetic reconstructions based on plastid gene sequences, Cyclamen does not appear as a member of the Myrsinaceae-Lysimachieae clade, but its position remains unclear. Revised July 10, 2002; accepted November 21, 2002 Published online: March 20, 2003     

Phylogeny and taxonomy of the enigmatic genus Petalidium (Decapoda,Sergestidae), with biological remarks

Petalidium (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Sergestidae) is one of the least known genera of pelagic decapods. On the basis of collections taken during Dana Expedition 1920–22 and 1928–30, we revise the morphology of the genus. To understand the taxonomic status and position of Petalidium within other sergestid genera, we used 150 morphological characters (127 binary, 23 multistate). Three recognized species of Petalidium and eighteen type species representing all other genera of Sergestidae were included as terminals. Characters were polarized using Lucifer typus (Luciferidae: Sergestoidea) and Aristeomorpha foliacea (Aristeidae: Penaeoidea) as the outgroups. Phylogenetic analysis revealed monophyly of Petalidium comprising three species: Petalidium foliaceum Bate, 1881; Petalidium obesum (Krøyer, 1859); and Petalidium suspiriosum Burkenroad, 1937. Phylogenetic analyses also revealed possible monophyly of the clade including 15 new genera of the former Sergia and Sergestes and the position of Lucifer (family Luciferidae) within the clade Sergestidae. These results highlight necessity of future phylogenetic analyses of the remaining genera Lucifer, Acetes, Peisos, and Sicyonella involving all species of these genera and promise interesting changes for the classification of Sergestoidea. Morphological trends within Sergestoidea are discussed, and an emended diagnosis of Petalidium and diagnoses of the species it includes are given. All species are illustrated and biology of the genus is discussed. Keys to species of Petalidium based upon new information are presented. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

Molecular appraisal of Bunium and some related arid and subarid geophilic Apiaceae–Apioideae taxa of the Ancient Mediterranean

Bunium is unusual in Apiaceae in having a variable cotyledon number and broad infrageneric dysploidy. To test the monophyly of the genus, phylogenetic relationships among 39 Bunium species were investigated with DNA sequence data from nuclear (nrITS) and plastid (psbA‐trnH intergenic spacer) regions. Several other taxa with a similar ecology and geography were also included in the analyses. Our results suggest that Bunium is not monophyletic. Bunium spp. in the eastern part of the study area are more closely related to the Central Asian genera Elaeosticta, Galagania, Hyalolaena, Mogoltavia and Oedibasis than to those in the western part. Our study revealed that molecular, morphological (cotyledon number and width of fruit commissure) and karyological data reveal similar patterns in the taxa studied. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 160 , 149–170.     

Generic delimitation and biogeography of Maianthemum and Smilacina (Ruscaceae sensu lato): preliminary results based on partial 3′ matK gene and trnK 3′ intron sequences of cpDNA

The controversy over generic delimitation between Maianthemum and Smilacina has been unresolved for almost two centuries. Distributions of the two genera in the Northern Hemisphere also provide an excellent opportunity to further understand the disjunct distribution patterns of the North Temperate Flora. To test the generic delimitation and to investigate biogeographic patterns, we sequenced the partial 3′ matK gene and trnK 3′ intron of chloroplast DNA for 38 accessions, representing three species of Maianthemum, seven species of Smilacina, and four outgroup taxa. Maximum parsimony and neighbor-joining trees showed reciprocal monophyly of the two genera with very weak bootstrap support for each genus. Within each genus, relationships among species were poorly resolved. Despite its low resolution, this study shows that eastern Asian species of Smilacina and Maianthemum are generally more closely related to eastern North American taxa than to western ones. More detailed sampling of Smilacina from different geographic regions, especially from the two centers of diversity (southeastern Asia and Mexico/Central America), and additional sequences from cpDNA, as well as from nuclear DNA, are needed to test the reciprocal monophyly of the two genera and also to understand current distributions of disjunct taxa.     

Phylogeny of Neotropical Castniinae (Lepidoptera: Cossoidea: Castniidae): testing the hypothesis of the mimics as a monophyletic group and implications for the arrangement of the genera

A cladistic analysis of the Neotropical Castniidae is presented using 120 morphological characters, and a taxonomic treatment based on that analysis is also presented. The tribe Gazerini as previously delimited was found to be paraphyletic with respect to the genera Ceretes, Divana, Riechia, Frostetola, and Oiticicastnia. The genera Castnia, Geyeria, and Athis were also found to be non‐monophyletic taxa. The mimicry pattern had multiple independent origins in the Neotropical castniids, and at least two lineages, Riechia and Prometheus, are involved in Batesian mimicry rings with unpalatable butterfly models in the tribes Acraeini and Heliconiini (Nymphalidae). We propose for Castniini 13 new synonymies and 27 new combinations. Geyeria strigata (Walker, 1854) is revalidated. The generic placements of Athis superba (Strand, 1912) and Castnia eudesmia Gray, 1838 are questionable, but presently upheld. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London