More Like this

1. Phylogenetic systematics of the genus Cyerce (Mollusca: Heterobranchia: Sacoglossa: Caliphyllidae) from the Pacific and Indian oceans with descriptions of nine new species

   https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf030  

   Moreno, Karina; Medrano, Sabrina; Gosliner, Terrence M; Wilson, Nerida G; Krug, Patrick J; Valdés, Ángel (May 2025, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society)

   Abstract The genus Cyerce Bergh, 1870 has been a model for the study of defensive strategies, including chemical defences, ceratal autotomy, and crypsis or aposematism. Specialization on different algae and diverse genital armatures also make Cyerce a useful system for investigating speciation by host shift versus sexual selection. Here, we review the genus Cyerce in the Pacific and Indian oceans using molecular and morphological data. Two mitochondrial genes (COI and 16S) and one nuclear gene (H3) were sequenced from 154 specimens, including representatives from the Atlantic Ocean. Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses were used to generate phylogenetic hypotheses. Species delimitation analyses performed on COI sequences recovered 17 genetically distinct Pacific and Indian Ocean species of Cyerce, 10 of which are new to science. Nine new species are named herein (C. takanoi sp. nov., C. katiae sp. nov., C. trowbridgeae sp. nov., C. blackburnae sp. nov., C. tutela sp. nov., C. basi sp. nov., C. whaapi sp. nov., C. goodheartae sp. nov., and C. liliuokalaniae sp. nov.). The 10th species, from the Red Sea, is not named due to the absence of internal anatomical data. These findings increase the species richness in Cyerce by about two-thirds, and demonstrate that even conspicuous taxa harbour considerable cryptic diversity. 

   more » « less
2. Genome analysis and description of Tunturibacter gen. nov. expands the diversity of Terriglobia in tundra soils

   https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.16640  

   Messyasz, Adriana; Männistö, Minna K; Kerkhof, Lee J; Häggblom, Max M (May 2024, Environmental Microbiology)

   Abstract Increased temperatures in Arctic tundra ecosystems are leading to higher microbial respiration rates of soil organic matter, resulting in the release of carbon dioxide and methane. To understand the effects of this microbial activity, it is important to better characterize the diverse microbial communities in Arctic soil. Our goal is to refine our understanding of the phylogenetic diversity ofTerriglobia, a common but elusive group within theAcidobacteriotaphylum. This will help us link this diversity to variations in carbon and nitrogen usage patterns. We used long‐read Oxford Nanopore MinION sequences in combination with metagenomic short‐read sequences to assemble completeAcidobacteriotagenomes. This allowed us to build multi‐locus phylogenies and annotate pangenome markers to distinguishAcidobacteriotastrains from several tundra soil isolates. We identified a phylogenetic cluster containing four new species previously associated withEdaphobacter lichenicola. We conclude that this cluster represents a new genus, which we have namedTunturibacter. We describe four new species:Tunturibacter lichenicolacomb. nov.,Tunturibacter empetritectussp. nov.,Tunturibacter gelidoferenssp. nov., andTunturibacter psychrotoleranssp. nov. By uncovering new species and strains within theTerriglobiaand improving the accuracy of their phylogenetic placements, we hope to enhance our understanding of this complex phylum and shed light on the mechanisms that shape microbial communities in polar soils. 

   more » « less
3. A new species of Hepatozoon in the common lancehead snake ( Bothrops atrox ) from the Eastern Amazonia region

   https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182025101388  

   Rocha_de_Paula, Fabiane; Picelli, Amanda Maria; da_Silva_Costa, Glaucilene; Calchi, Ana Cláudia; André, Marcos Rogério; Viana, Lucio André; Costa_Pessoa, Felipe Arley (December 2025, Parasitology)

   Abstract Although venomous snakes from the family Viperidae, such asBothrops atrox, are recognized for their medical importance due to snakebite accidents, few studies on parasitological aspects have been carried out with them, especially in the Amazonia region. Using morphological and molecular tools, we described a novel haemogregarine species infecting the common lancehead snakeB. atroxfrom Eastern Amazonia, Brazil.Hepatozoon atrocissp. nov. has mature gamonts that are morphologically distinct from those reported in the literature, which are often compact, with dispersed or encapsulated cytoplasm and chromatin. In the phylogeny recovered from the 18S rRNA gene, theHepatozoon atrocissp. nov. sequences formed a new clade, comprising a sister group toHepatozoonspp. detected in other snakes, anurans, lizards and marsupials. This study reports the firstHepatozoonspecies described in the common lancehead snake. In addition, it provides a robust review of haemogregarine species infecting viperids from all over the world. 

   more » « less
4. Potential transoceanic dispersal of Geodia cf. papyracea and six new tetractinellid sponge species descriptions within the Hawaiian reef cryptofauna

   https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18903  

   Nunley, Rachel M; Rutkowski, Emily C; Toonen, Robert J; Vicente, Jan (January 2025, PeerJ)

   Kāne‘ohe Bay has historically been known for the introduction of alien species from the Caribbean and the Western Indo-Pacific. Recent efforts that explore the reef cryptofauna have shown that in addition to the diversity of non-indigenous species, patch reef environments are rich with undescribed species. Here we integrate molecular phylogeny and systematics to distinguish introduced species from those that are potentially native or endemic. We focus on the order Tetractinellida and document the potential transoceanic dispersal ofGeodia papyraceafrom the Caribbean to Hawai‘i. Our integrative approach allowed us to describe new species ofStelletta(Stelletta kelasp. nov.,Stelletta hokunalohiasp. nov.,Stelletta kuhapasp. nov.,Stelletta hokuwanawanasp. nov.,Stelletta apapaolasp. nov.) and one new species ofStryphnus(Stryphnus hunasp. nov.); all collected from the reef cryptofaunaviathe use of Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures. Specimens were barcoded using 28S and COI molecular markers, providing insights into the phenotypic plasticity of sponges and the phylogenetic placement of these new species based on morphological characters. Using both molecular phylogeny and traditional taxonomy enhances the accuracy of species identification and classification, contributing to a broader understanding of sponge biodiversity within the Hawaiian archipelago. 

   more » « less
5. A review of Appalachian Dasycerus Brongniart and the recognition of cryptic diversity within Dasycerus carolinensis (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Dasycerinae)

   https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixae009  

   Caterino, Michael S; Harden, Curt W (March 2024, Insect Systematics and Diversity)

   Marvaldi, Adriana (Ed.)

   Abstract Previous analyses have revealed deep divergences among populations of the relictual and enigmatic rove beetle, Dasycerus carolinensis Horn. New data from additional populations, molecular markers, and morphology unambiguously reveal this “species” to represent a complex of closely related species, distinguishable by characters of the male genitalia and corresponding closely to geographically coherent clades discovered by molecular analyses. Calibrated dating analyses show Appalachian Dasycerus to have been diverging in the region for more than 10 million years, yet largely respecting important biogeographic barriers in the region, such as the French Broad and Little Tennessee River drainages. In addition to discussing finer scale biogeographic patterns in the group, we formally recognize 9 new species from within what was formerly known as Dasycerus carolinensis: Dasycerus virginiensis sp. nov., Dasycerus tuckasegee sp. nov., Dasycerus pacolet sp. nov., Dasycerus chattooga sp. nov., Dasycerus itseyi sp. nov., Dasycerus unicoi sp. nov., Dasycerus nikwasi sp. nov., Dasycerus egwanulti sp. nov., and Dasycerus gadalutsi sp. nov. It was not, however, possible to assign all samples to one of these species, and specimens from some sparsely sampled outlying areas, northern Alabama and central Tennessee in particular, may represent additional species. 

   more » « less