An official website of the United States government
The genusDendrophorbiumoccurs in South America with one species known from the Caribbean. Despite recent advances in taxonomy and phylogeny, there is a still lack of molecular studies on the delimitation and identification of the genus.Dendrophorbiumis known to occupy a wide range of ecosystems mostly restricted to subtropical montane forests and montane scrub vegetation of the central Andes. In this study, a review of the species occurring in Peru is presented, in addition to material examined at different herbaria. The new combinationD. ligulatumwhich is separated fromD. yalusay, and the new species,D. arachnoideumis described from the department of Huánuco in central Peru. The species are assessed using the standards of the IUCN and additional notes are given.
more »
« less
Systematics, distribution patterns and historical biogeography of the Central America wandering spider genus Kiekie Polotow & Brescovit, 2018 (Araneae: Ctenidae)
KiekiePolotow & Brescovit, 2018 is a Neotropical genus of Ctenidae, with most of its species occuring in Central America. In this study, we review the systematics ofKiekieand describe five new species and the unknown females ofK. barrocoloradoPolotow & Brescovit, 2018 andK. garifunaPolotow & Brescovit, 2018, and the unknown male ofK. verbenaPolotow & Brescovit, 2018. In addition, we described the female ofK. montanensewhich was wrongly assigned asK. griswoldiPolotow & Brescovit, 2018 (both species are sympatric). We provided a modified diagnosis for previously described species based on the morphology of the newly discovered species andin situphotographs of living specimens. We inferred a molecular phylogeny using four nuclear (histone H3, 28S rRNA, 18S rRNA and ITS-2) and three mitochondrial genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I or COI, 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA) to test the monophyly of the genus and the evolutionary relationships of its species. Lastly, we reconstruct the historical biogeography and map diversity and endemism distributional patterns of the different species. This study increased the number of known species ofKiekiefrom 13 to 18, and we describe a new genus,Eldivowhich is sister lineage ofKiekie. Most of the diversity and endemism of the genusKiekieis located in the montane ecosystems of Costa Rica followed by the lowland rainforest of the Pacific side (Limon Basin).Kiekieoriginated in the North America Tropical region, this genus started diversifying in the Late Miocene and spread to Lower Central America and South America. In that region,Kiekiecolonized independently several times the montane ecosystems corresponding to periods of uplifting of Talamanca and Central Cordilleras.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1754289
- PAR ID:
- 10515195
- Publisher / Repository:
- PeerJ
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- PeerJ
- Volume:
- 12
- ISSN:
- 2167-8359
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- e17242
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Abstract Liotyphlopsis a genus of blindsnakes distributed in Central and South America. We reviewed specimens ofLiotyphlops albirostrisalong its current distribution range and, based on morphological data and ecological niche modeling analyses, we restrict the geographical range ofL. albirostrisand validate three previously described species. In this revision, we describe the morphological variation in the populations from Panamá, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, and propose a new taxonomic arrangement. We revalidate three previous synonyms ofL. albirostristo full species status, while dividing the populations from Colombia in two subspecies―one attributed to a previously recognized species from the Caribbean region, and a new one from the Andean region. The new species differs fromL. albirostrisfrom Panamá in cephalic scale arrangements that effectively reduces the previously reported variability of these scales inL. albirostris. We also explore some osteological differences that are congruent with the variation observed. We hope that the recognition of these new species better represents the diversity withinLiotyphlops, helping to bring these new species out of their cryptic status so that they will be considered in future conservation efforts.more » « less
-
Abstract Parablechnumis the most diverse genus in the fern family Blechnaceae, with about 70 species, mainly from Central and South America, the Austropacific, and a few in Africa. Species delimitation inParablechnumis challenging, and regional studies vary in species recognized. This genus is generally found in humid mid- to high-elevation forests, especially in the Andes. Ecuador is notable for its high species richness, particularly in the poorly explored Cordillera del Cóndor, a sub-Andean range with a distinctive geology contributing to high plant diversity and endemism. Since the early 2000s, botanical expeditions have revealed numerous endemic species, highlighting the region's significance. In 2006, an unusualParablechnumspecies was collected in the Cordillera del Cóndor. Here, we describe it as a new species,Parablechnum shuariorum. It grows on sandstone cliffs along small rivers and can be distinguished by its fertile fronds, which are shorter than its sterile ones, and its densely scaly rachis. This species, endemic to the Cordillera del Cóndor, is found at elevations of 900–1,600 m. It is named after the Shuar people, whose lands include the collection sites. Preliminary conservation assessment suggests thatP. shuariorumis endangered due to a limited area of occupancy and threats from human activities, such as mining.more » « less
-
A new genus and species of troglobiotic nicoletiid (Insecta, Zygentoma, Nicoletiidae) is described from northern Alabama, USA. The type species was collected from three caves in the Highland Rim section of the Interior Low Plateau physiographic province on the northern side of the Tennessee River Valley. Morphological and genetic analysis using the mitochondrial 16S rRNA locus show thatSpinanycta alabamensissp. nov.is quite distinct from related nicoletiids in North America. The species differs from members of other genera by its urosternum I, which in males is modified with a central pointy extension. The new species significantly extends the distribution of cave-dwelling members of the family into the southeastern United States and suggests that additional nicoletiid diversity remains to be discovered from karst regions of the eastern United States.more » « less
-
This contribution adopts the taxonomic concept approach, including the use oftaxonomic concept labels(name sec. [according to] source) and region connection calculus-5 (RCC–5) articulations and alignments. Prior to this study, the broad-nosed weevil genusMinyomerusHorn, 1876 sec. Jansen & Franz, 2015 (Curculionidae [non-focal]: Entiminae [non-focal]: Tanymecini [non-focal]) contained 17 species distributed throughout the desert and plains regions of North America. In this review ofMinyomerussec. Jansen & Franz, 2018, we describe the following four species as new to science:Minyomerus ampullaceussec. Jansen & Franz, 2018 (henceforth: [JF2018]), new species,Minyomerus franko[JF2018], new species,Minyomerus sculptilis[JF2018], new species, andMinyomerus tylotos[JF2018], new species. The four new species are added to, and integrated with, the preceding revision, and an updated key and phylogeny ofMinyomerus[JF2018] are presented. A cladistic analysis using 52 morphological characters of 26 terminal taxa (5/21 outgroup/ingroup) yielded a single most-parsimonious cladogram (Length = 99 steps, consistency index = 60, retention index = 80). The analysis reaffirms the monophyly ofMinyomerus[JF2018] with eight unreversed synapomorphies. The species-group placements, possible biogeographic origins, and natural history of the new species are discussed in detail.more » « less
- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17242
