Abstract The well‐known Bryopsidalean genusCodiumhas a worldwide distribution and contains almost 150 species, with cryptic diversity confusing the actual number. In the Hawaiian Islands, 15 species have been previously recorded, with several of these described in the past several decades, largely from specimens collected from mesophotic coral ecosystems. We assessed the diversity ofCodiumin Hawai‘i from both shallow and mesophotic habitats by employing DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analyses of partialrbcL andtufA gen plastid markers and morphological characterization. DNA sequence analyses supported 18 species of HawaiianCodium(eight of which are considered endemic), which is a 20% increase in recognized species richness for this genus in Hawai‘i. Ten previously reported species were confirmed or provisionally confirmed, six new species have been described (C.pikoiisp. nov.,C.upohoaesp. nov.,C.hakakaupiliisp. nov.,C.kanepohihiaesp. nov.,C.torulosumsp. nov., andC.iolekaaesp. nov.), and two new records have been reported (C.“geppiorium4” andC. taylorii). Twenty‐eight percent of HawaiianCodiumclades were mesophotic only, and 22% were shallow only, while 50% of clades were known from both shallow and mesophotic depths. Recent emphasis on the systematics of Hawaiian mesophotic algae has sufficiently increased specimen numbers from this habitat to allow a more complete assessment of the genus in this location, making it one of the most thoroughly collected and studied marine algal genera from Hawai‘i and an excellent model for future examination of both horizontal (i.e., spatial) and vertical (i.e., depth) distributional trends.
more »
« less
Integrative systematics of the tooth-tailed scorpions, Odontobuthus (Buthidae), with descriptions of three new species from the Iranian Plateau
Abstract The ‘tooth-tailed’ scorpions of the buthid genus Odontobuthus comprises six species with an allopatric or parapatric pattern of distribution in the Middle East, but the diversity of Odontobuthus in Iran appears to be underestimated, with the limits of several species remaining unclear. In the present contribution, an integrative approach to the systematics of Odontobuthus was applied, to determine the taxonomic validity and phylogenetic relationships among its species. Statistical analyses of five meristic characters, 38 morphometric characters and 21 morphometric ratios, combined with molecular phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, were conducted. All previously described species of Odontobuthus were found to be well supported, and new morphological diagnoses are here presented. Additionally, three new species: Odontobuthus baluchicus sp. nov. from the Makkoran Mountains, Odontobuthus chabaharensis sp. nov. from the coast of the Gulf of Oman (Sistan and Baluchistan Provinces) and Odontobuthus kermanus sp. nov. from Kerman Province, are described, raising the total number of Odontobuthus species to nine, six of which are endemic or subendemic to the Iranian Plateau. A distribution map and identification key to the species of Odontobuthus are also provided.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1655050
- PAR ID:
- 10329455
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
- Volume:
- 195
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 0024-4082
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 355 to 398
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
The genus Chiropterotriton is endemic to Mexico with a geographical distribution along the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Trans Mexican Volcanic Belt and the Sierra de Juárez. The recent use of molecular tools has shown that Mexico’s amphibian diversity is highly underestimated, including a large number of cryptic, unnamed species. Chiropterotriton has 18 described species including terrestrial, arboreal and cave-dwelling species. In previous molecular studies, the presence of multiple undescribed species was evident. We present a phylogenetic hypothesis based on mitochondrial data, which includes all described species and six undescribed taxa. Based on the morphological analyses and, when available, combined with molecular data, we describe five new species of the genus; Chiropterotriton casasi sp. nov., C. ceronorum sp. nov., C. melipona sp. nov., C. perotensis sp. nov. and C. totonacus sp. nov. In addition, we redescribe two others: Chiropterotriton chiropterus and C. orculus , and provide a comparable account of one additional sympatric congener. This increases the number of species in the genus to 23, which represent a considerable component of Mexican plethodontid richness.more » « less
-
Abstract Phylogenetic relationships of Vestini with extensive sampling were inferred using 37 taxa scored for 66 morphological characters. Consistent with recent DNA analyses, Vesta is found to be sister to Photurinae rendering Vestini monotypic. Conversely, our parsimony and model-based analyses robustly support the new subfamily Cladodinae established for Neotropical species of the former Vestini. The cladodine lineage includes Cladodes, Dodacles, Dryptelytra, Ledocas, plus the newly proposed Andecladodes gen. nov. and Brasilocladodes gen. nov. While Ledocas is mostly paraphyletic, Cladodes is polyphyletic and, therefore, Cladodes s.s. is introduced. Further, most trees presented a distinct Nyctocrepis, which is revalidated and includes the subgenus Fenestratocladodes (transferred from Cladodes). Finally, a highly supported crown clade designated as the Dodacles lineage is regularly recovered, splitting into two sister-clades: (1) Dodacles, Brasilocladodes and (2) Dryptelytra, C. proteus, C. solieri and Andecladodes. Four new Andean species are described: Andecladodes cosangensis sp. nov., A. ovalis sp. nov., Dryptelytra pampahermosae sp. nov. and Ledocas pikillactanus sp. nov. To recover the monophyly of genera, the following new combinations are proposed: Brasilocladodes carinatuscomb. nov., Brasilocladodes delalandeicomb. nov., Brasilocladodes illigericomb. nov., Dodacles lateraliscomb. nov. and Dodacles nigercomb. nov. (transferred from Cladodes); Ledocas emissuscomb. nov., Ledocas remixtuscomb. nov. (from Dodacles); Cladodes proteus comb. nov. (from Ledocas) Nyctocrepis malleri comb. nov. and Nyctocrepi stellatacomb. nov. (from Cladodes); and Cladodes cincticolliscomb. nov. and Cladodes melanuruscomb. nov. (from Vesta).more » « less
-
Collins, Allen (Ed.)Among octocorals, colonies of the deep-sea pennatulacean genus UmbellulaGray, 1870 are some of the most instantly recognisable forms. Historically however, species identification in this genus has been usually based on few morphological characters with very little knowledge of associated intraspecific variability. This fact, combined with the very limited access to these deep-sea organisms, has resulted in numerous uncertainties about the true characters that should be used in species determination and recognition of synonyms and questionable species. Recent phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers has shown to be an excellent complementary source of information to morphological examination, being able to detect incongruent taxonomic assignments in classifications based only on morphological characters. Molecular analyses can reveal the presence of paraphyletic or polyphyletic groupings of taxa that may then be the subject of further research integrating morphological and molecular techniques. This paper addresses the existence of a set of specimens initially assigned to the genus UmbellulaGray, 1870 but that have been shown to be distantly related to the type species Umbellula encrinus (Linnaeus, 1758) based on molecular phylogenetic hypotheses. Phylogenetic analyses based on four genetic markers, three mitochondrial (mtMutS, ND2, Cox1) and one nuclear (28S), validate the definition of a new family (Pseudumbellulidae fam. nov.) and two new genera (Pseudumbellula gen. nov. and Solumbellula gen. nov). These analyses also justify the segregation of some of the morphological characters previously included in the diagnosis of the genus Umbellula and the monotypic family Umbellulidae Kölliker, 1880. Moreover, a new species, Pseudumbellula scotiae sp. nov. is described and illustrated with material from the North Eastern Atlantic and compared with congeners. Additionally, the well-known but atypical species Umbellula monocephalusPasternak, 1964 is transferred and described here as Solumbellula monocephalus (Pasternak, 1964), comb. nov., based on both molecular data and morphology.more » « less
-
The Peruvian genera of Edrotini (Pimeliinae) are revised. A new genus Pachacamacius Flores & Giraldo gen. nov. with two new species, Pachacamacius aguilari Giraldo & Flores sp. nov. (type species) and Pachacamacius koepckeae Flores & Giraldo sp. nov., is described. Two species originally described in the genus ProhylithusKaszab, 1964 are reassigned to two new monotypic genera: Sechuranus Flores and Giraldo gen. nov. (type species Prohylithus barbatusKaszab, 1964) and Koneus Giraldo and Flores, gen. nov. (type species Prohylithus peruanusKaszab, 1981). This article includes diagnoses for five genera and redescriptions or descriptions, distributional data, habitat records and habitus photographs for six species. A dichotomous key for all 11 Peruvian species of Edrotini, drawings of new species' male genitalic features, and distribution maps are also provided. A discussion of the external morphological characters and male genitalia of the new taxa compared to the genera and species previously described and on endemicity and zoogeography of Peruvian Edrotini is presented.more » « less
An official website of the United States government

