Search

Leptohyphes Eaton is one of the most species-rich American genera in Ephemeroptera, with 45 valid species distributed from south-central USA to Patagonia. Most species are distributed in central and northern Andes. Nymphs are frequent and abundant in mountain streams. We present a parsimony-based morphological phylogeny for the genus. Specific geographic records were studied using Hovenkamp’s protocol (barrier biogeography). Leptohyphes was recovered as a monophyletic group. The most ancient disjunction found in Leptohyphes separated Tepui-area from the rest of the Americas. Other interesting vicariant events were found, including the separation of eastern Atlantic mountains (Mata Atlantica) from the Andes; oriental and occidental slopes of the Andes; northern from central Andes; and northern Andes from Central and North America. An ancient tropical South American origin for the genus is supported, with a more recent diversification due to Andean orogeny. Clades and terminals reaching North America include few independent events of more recent range expansions.

Three new species of Leptohyphes Eaton,1882 (Ephemerotera: Leptohyphidae) are described,diagnosed and illustrated from nymphs collected in Colombia. Geographical ranges and ecological notes relating important environmental variables are given for each species. Leptohyphes andina sp. nov. is characterized by: forefemur length / maximum width 1.8-1.9,fore and hind margin of middle and hind femora with strong spine-like setae on elevated sockets,femoral surface covered by small pale spots,apex of femora with anterior margin roundly projected distally,tarsal claw only with 3-4 marginal denticles,pronotum with triangular lateral projection,hind wing pads present in female,gill formula 3/5/5/5/2,gill V with ventral extension on dorsal lamella. Leptohyphes quimbaya sp. nov. presents the following characters: body covered by hair-like setae,with paired short and blunt tubercles on abdominal terga V-IX,femora wide (forefemur length/ maximum width 1.6),fore and hind margin of femora with tiny spine-like setae,tarsal claws with 2-3 marginal denticles,pronotum with triangular (but apically blunt) lateral projection,hind wing pads present in females,gill formula 3/7/7/5/2,gill V without ventral extension on dorsal lamella. Leptohyphes calarca sp. nov. is distinguished by: pilose body,slender femora (forefemur length / maximum width 2.3),foremargin of middle and hind femora without setae,tarsal claws with 5 marginal denticles and 1 submarginal subapical denticle,pronotum strongly projected laterally,fore wingbuds blackish,hind wing pads present in females,gill formula 3/4/4/3/1,gill V with ventral extension on dorsal lamella. Fil: Molineri, Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical; Argentina Fil: Zuñiga, María del Carmen. Universidad del Valle; Colombia Fil: Ramos, Blanca. Universidad del Valle; Colombia Fil: Giraldo, Lina P.. Centro para la Investigación en Sistemas Sostenibles de Producción Agropecuaria; Colombia Fil: Cardona, William. Universidad del Valle; Colombia