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Deladenus hebetocaudatus n. sp. was recovered from rotten wood samples of a dead broad-leaved forest tree, collected from forests of the city of Savadkooh, northern Iran. It was described and illustrated using morphological and partial SSU rDNA data. Females of the new species were mainly characterised by their 540-625 μm long body and conical tail with a wide blunt mucron-like differentiation at tip. They were further characterised by eight lines in lateral fields, 8.5-9.5 μm long stylet, pharyngo-intestinal junction at level with nerve ring, vulva at 89.7-91.0% of body, the vulva to anus distance 2.4-2.8 times vulval body width, presence of 9.2-11.0 μm long postvulval uterine sac (PUS), sperm inside female reproductive system and no males recovered. The new species was morphologically compared with free-living phase females of all known species under the genera Deladenus, Hexatylus and Rubzovinema. The morphological differences of the new species with four species of Deladenus sensu lato, namely D. ipini, D. megacondylus, D. saccatus and D. ulani, having a PUS in their free-living phase, were discussed. The phylogenetic relationships of the partial SSU rDNA sequence of the new species with other relevant sequences of related taxa were reconstructed using Bayesian approach and the resulting topology was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a multifactorial disorder as its development may be based on several different pathophysiological mechanisms. Interaction of gut microbiome with the host has been proposed as a potential mechanism involved in the disease's pathogenesis. Aim/Methods: We aimed to characterize microbiome profiling on duodenal luminal content (DLC) of FD patients and compare it to that of controls (CG) and patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Outpatients fulfilling Rome IV criteria for FD, IBS, and control group (CG) underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and 2 cc of duodenal aspirate (3rd – 4th part) was aspirated in sterile traps. Duodenal microbiome was assessed after DNA extraction and 16S gene–based sequencing on Oxford Nanopore MinION followed by EPI2ME analysis (ONT/Metrich‐ore Ltd). Bioanalysis of the microbiome (alpha‐, beta‐diversity, comparisons of relative abundances for all taxonomic ranks) was implemented in Python. Multiple group means comparisons were performed with one‐way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal–Wallis test with Tuckey's and Dunn's post hoc tests respectively, in case of significance (P‐value <0.05). Results: 20 subjects with FD (8 females; age 49.9 ± 13.5 yrs.), 20 with IBS (14 females; age 57.6 ± 14.8 yrs.) and 10 CG (6 females; age 49.2 ± 13.8 yrs.) had their DLC analyzed. The α‐diversity index of subjects with FD was significantly lower compared to controls (Shannon's index, p = 0.0218) and similar to that of patients with IBS. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) generated from species relative abundances (beta‐diversity) showed no difference in the DLC profile of subjects with FD and IBS when compared to controls (p = 0.513). Compared to controls, the relative abundance (RA) of Chloroflexota phylum was lower in subjects with FD (p = 0.017) and IBS (p = 0.026), respectively. Additionally, the RA of the Rhodothermota and Thermotogota phyla was lower in FD (p = 0.017 and p = 0.018, respectively) but not in IBS patients (p = 0.15 and p = 0.06, respectively) compared to controls. Interestingly, the RA of specific taxa from Chloroflexota, Rhodothermota and Thermotogota phyla were consistently lower in subjects with FD when compared to CG but similar to IBS, during analysis of all the subsequent major ranks of taxonomy. At the class level, there were significant differences in Syntrophobacteria, Acidithiobacillia, Cytophagia and Flavobacteriia between the FD and CG groups (p < 0.05), but no such difference between FD and IBS was found. Finally, multiple significant differences at the order, family, genus and species level between the FD and CG groups were also detected. A positive relationship between the RA of Streptococcus and those from genus Granulicatella was observed both in FD (p = 0.014) and IBS (p = 0.014) patients. Conclusion & Inferences: The microbiome profiling from duodenal luminal content of FD patients is significantly different to that of controls, including lower microflora diversity, different microflora structure/composition and specific taxa. Similar differences in the DLC between FD and IBS patients were not evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers the first cladistic analysis of the genus Argentocricus Verhoeff, 1941 based on the most comprehensive morphological data matrix focusing on Rhinocricidae to date. We evaluated 50 morphological characters for 40 species as terminal taxa, representing all the nine species of Argentocricus and 31 outgroups. We performed a parsimony analysis under Implied Weighting (IW), obtaining one most parsimonious tree (K = 8.274, fit = 4.680). We obtained a monophyletic Argentocricus including two species of Rhinocricus supported by the following synapomorphies: sternite of anterior gonopod with median portion and very evident coxite; telopodite of anterior gonopod in posterior view with a membranous bulge; and external branch of the posterior gonopod digitiform. Expanded coxae of the male leg pairs 3, a character traditionally used to diagnose the genus, was not recovered as a synapomorphy. Based on the resulting topology, we propose transferring Rhinocricus boggianii Silvestri, 1898 and R. venefica Chamberlin, 1947 to Argentocricus resulting in a new combination of Argentocricus boggianii (Silvestri, 1898) comb. nov. and Argentocricus venefica comb. nov. In addition, a new diagnosis for the genus and a distribution map for all species are provided. We propose new characters potentially useful for future phylogenetic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cheiruridae is one of the most diverse families of trilobites known from the Ordovician with 453 species assigned. Within Cheiruridae eight subfamilies (Acanthoparyphinae, Cheirurinae, "Cyrtometopinae", Deiphoninae, Eccoptochilinae, Heliomerinae, Pilekiinae, and Sphaerexochinae) have historically been recognised. Insights about the evolution of the family and the relationships within and between subfamilies have been published. However larger scale phylogenetic hypotheses are needed in order to explore the monophyly, the basal structure, the deep nodes and the relationships of the subfamilies. Cheirurinae, Deiphoninae and "Cyrtometopinae" have historically been defined by various morphological features (e.g., anteroposterior constriction of the thoracic pleura, pleural furrow morphology, pygidial morphology) that differentiate them from the rest of Cheiruridae. However, the phylogenetic status of "Cyrtometopinae" is unclear owing to a lack of obvious synapomorphies. Here, we present phylogenetic analyses of Cheirurinae, Deiphoninae, and "Cyrtometopinae". The results indicate that both Cheirurinae and Deiphoninae are monophyletic. "Cyrtometopines" are resolved as a paraphyletic grade at the base of Deiphoninae and Cyrtometopinae should be considered a junior subjective synonym of Deiphoninae. The new phylogenetic hypothesis reveals that paedomorphosis plays an important role in the evolution of Deiphoninae. Within Cheirurinae two major clades are identified, the 'Ceraurus-like' clade and the 'Ceraurinella-like' clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a routine macrofungal survey in various regions of Kashmir Himalayas, we collected specimens of Phlegmacium. After a detailed literature review, coupled with morphological examinations and molecular phylogenetic analysis, the species was found to be conspecific with Phlegmacium balteatocumatile, which was originally described from Europe. We hereby report P. balteatocumatile as a new record from India, providing a comprehensive account with detailed morphological description, illustrations, nrITS based phylogenetic analysis and comparisons with related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cladistics analysis of the high-altitude tarantulas of the genus Hapalotremus was carried out for the first time with a matrix of 21 taxa and 69 morphological characters using both equal and implied weights. Two consistent topologies were obtained with a concavity = 10.541, resulting from a sensitivity analysis. Both cladograms suggest Hapalotremus as monophyletic. Hapalotremus synapomorphies are females with spermathecae consisting in a single oval receptacle and tibia of the first pair of legs of males very short. Hapalotremus is composed of 15 species including a new species: Hapalotremus munaycha sp. nov. This new species was found to be the sister species of H. vilcanota and is distributed in central Peru at elevations about 4000 m.a.s.l. on interandean valleys. The new species distinguishes from the other known species of the genus by the intense white color on legs, carapace and cheliceae, together with a male palpal bulb carrying a slightly developed prolateral superior keel and the subapical keel ending with two very small teeth. Also, females of Hapalotremus munaycha sp. nov. are characterized by the spermathecae with very wide basal portion and small apical projections pointing upwards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe four new species of the fossil genus Dapalis (Ambassidae), Dapalis absconditus sp. nov., Dapalis octospinus sp. nov., Dapalis parvus sp. nov. and Dapalis quintus sp. nov., based on articulated skeletons with otoliths in situ from a freshwater habitat of the lower Oligocene of Raljin/Strelac (Serbia). Besides in body shape (e.g., body length, body depth, head length, preanal length), the species differ in morphological characters like, e.g., the serration of the preopercle, the length of the first two spines of the first dorsal and the anal fin and the morphology of the sagittal otoliths (e.g., ratio of otolith height to otolith length, ratio of otolith width to otolith length). Together with D. pauciserratus, also described from Raljin, these four species represent the most species-rich assemblage of freshwater Dapalis known so far. The compartmentalization of the internal structure of the spines reveals the close relationship of Dapalis and extant Ambassidae. Additionally, we discuss a new character from the ventral field of the otolith, a ventral depression, only found in species from Raljin. This new character is unique among the European Dapalis species and allows us to separate these five species into two species groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species Chiton echinatus was first described by Barmes in 1824. Subsequently, it has been allocated to several widely distributed genera (e.g., Acanthopleura, Enoplochiton, Mesotomura) within the subfamily Acanthopleurinae. In order to resolve this species' taxonomic uncertainty, specimens were collected throughout its entire distribution (i.e. from Peru and Chile) and subjected to a series of morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Scanning electron microscopy was used to improve this species' morphological description, whereas publicly available sequences were used to infer its phylogenetic position. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses suggest that this species merits its own genus, endemic to the Southeastern Pacific. Of the aforementioned genera, Mesotomura appears to be the most appropriate designation. Therefore, it is proposed that the name Mesotomura echinata be restored, and the range of this species be extended to 39° S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macraucheniidae is one of the most diverse families of South American native ungulates. In the last decade, Macraucheniidae systematics has been the focus of several studies with the aim of enhancing understanding of the diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the group. This study proposes a new phylogenetic hypothesis for the Macraucheniidae based on new characters and new outgroups. We included eight non-macraucheniid taxa as outgroups (three Didolodontidae, one Protolipternidae, two Proterotheriidae, and two Adianthidae); additionally, we included the 16 genera that are currently accepted as belonging to Macraucheniidae based on other cladistic studies. The matrix used in the cladistic analysis comprised 24 taxa and 71 characters. The genus Polymorphis was recovered as the sister taxon of a clade composed of Proterotheriidae + Adianthidae + Macraucheniidae, not as a macraucheniid. Disregarding Polymorphis, all other genera attributed to the Macraucheniidae were recovered in a monophyletic group. We found support for two macraucheniid clades, one formed by Cramaucheniinae (including Theosodon) and the other by all Macraucheniinae with the inclusion of Llullataruca. The late Pliocene Windhausenia was recovered as the sister group of 'Quaternary macraucheniids', with Xenorhinotherium as the sister group of Macraucheniopsis + Macrauchenia. Based on this topology, Polymorphis must be considered as family incertae sedis. Our findings have significant implications for understanding the origin and diversification of Macraucheniidae, altering the temporal range of the family to the late Oligocene–Late Pleistocene/Holocene. Additionally, Llullataruca becomes the oldest recorded member of the Macraucheniinae. The evolution of the nasal retraction in the iconic species Macrauchenia patachonica has consistently been interpreted through the lens of the phyletic gradualism model, with Theosodon as the intermediate form between species with totally reduced or absent nasals, and those basal forms with well-developed nasals and terminal nostrils. However, the monophyly of Cramaucheniinae suggests a rapid morphological shift among Macraucheniinae, which fits with a punctuated equilibrium evolutionary model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dicynodont genus Endothiodon, known for its unusual anatomy and possession of multiple tooth rows in some specimens, has a complex taxonomic history. We conducted a comprehensive review of 150 Endothiodon specimens from South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Brazil and India to clarify taxonomy, diagnose species and understand relationships. Additionally, we analysed the biostratigraphic distribution of South African Endothiodon specimens, confined to the Endothiodon Assemblage Zone (AZ). Using 24 specimens, including four outgroup taxa, we created a character matrix with 22 new characters. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three clades: a basal clade representing the species Endothiodon mahalanobisi and two clades formed by the species Endothiodon tolani and Endothiodon bathystoma. Endothiodon bathystoma is diagnosed by a large pineal boss, E. tolani by an enlarged caniniform and a thin collar of bone around the pineal foramen, and E. mahalanobisi by an unornamented pineal foramen. 'Endothiodon uniseries' subsumes within E. bathystoma, suggesting that tooth row count must be used with caution as a character. Endothiodon mahalanobisi is exclusive to India, whereas all three of the valid Endothiodon species co-occur in Mozambique, whilst South African specimens exclusively represent E. bathystoma. Assuming contemporaneous deposition, a longitudinal gradient of Endothiodon diversity is evident, with East African basins harbouring the greatest diversity. This taxonomic revision clarifies the species diversity, intrageneric relationships and geographical distribution of Endothiodon. Our findings contribute to understanding the evolutionary history of these unique dicynodonts and emphasize the importance of considering both anatomical characteristics and geographical patterns in taxonomic investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a long time, the taxonomic status of Denscantia, a genus endemic to the Atlantic Forest along the Brazilian coast, has been a topic of discussion. Phylogenetic analyses using two nuclear and four chloroplast DNA markers from 82 accessions representing 19 genera of the Spermacoce clade (tribe Spermacoceae, Rubiaceae) confirm that the Brazilian genus Denscantia is biphyletic. Together with the recovered phylogenetic relationships, the analyses of reproductive morphological characters, leaf morphology and anatomy, histochemical, geographic distribution ranges, and ecological niche derived from climatic space further demonstrate that Denscantia calcicola is a distinct lineage from the other Denscantia species. Therefore, the above-mentioned species should be taxonomically designated as a new monospecific genus, Leonoria. Significant morphological differences between Leonoria and Denscantia were found in inflorescence organization, style shape, fruit dehiscence and pollen morphology. Morphological and anatomical variation among leaf traits was found in epidermal cells, trichome distribution, mesophyll histochemistry and vascular organization. The analysis of occurrence records of 207 specimens demonstrates a clear ecological distinction between of Denscantia s.s. and Leonoria, which is ecologically confined to limestone outcrops associated with seasonally dry forests. The current study highlights the importance of an integrative taxonomic approach combining multiple sources of evidence to unravel complex taxonomic history within Spermacoceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the placement of Agojie rupicola Zacca, 2023 in the Euptychiina phylogenetic tree, highlighting the importance of molecular data and morphology in identifying and classifying new butterfly species. The study extracted DNA from specimens to determine the systematic position of Agojie rupicola within the Euptychiina tree, revealing its placement in the "Amphidecta clade." The discovery of this new species expands its known distribution, raising conservation concerns and emphasizing the need for further research in understanding and protecting butterfly species in the Neotropical region. [Extracted from the article]

Historical biogeography is the study of geographic distributions of taxa through space and time. Over the last 50 years, several methods have been proposed to reconstruct these histories. However, despite their particularities, conceptually they have been most often derived from the reconstruction of area relationships. Here we advocate that area cladograms lack explanatory power and that biogeography needs to move towards a more mechanistic approach. We discuss the ontological problems related to areas of endemism and their validity as biogeographic units. Specifically, we propose that areas of endemism are not discrete historical entities and that area‐based analyses are inappropriate for analytical biogeography. Instead, we suggest that biogeographic analyses should focus on those spatial–geographic elements that cause diversification, namely barriers. We discuss how barriers have more discrete boundaries in space and time than do areas of endemism, which allows the identification of homologous units and the recovery of vicariant events. Reconstructing the history of vicariant events results in a better understanding of spatial evolution within a biota because barrier formation is the relevant causal mechanism of diversification. We end by acknowledging the largely ignored views of Peter Hovenkamp and his conceptual contributions to developing a mechanistic biogeography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis are two important foodborne human and animal parasites that can be disseminated through both food and water, leading to diarrheal disease. Nevertheless, available information on the circumstances of Cryptosporidium and Giardia duodenalis from Ningxia is limited. Methods: A total of 208 stool samples of dairy calves derived from large-scale farms (> 1000 heads) of five cities randomly in Ningxia were gathered randomly, were amplified and analyzed by nested PCR based on the three target genes (18S rRNA, gp60 and tpi)and phylogenetic systematics. Results: The prevalence of cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis in dairy calves in Ningxia were 13.0% (27/208 samples, 95% CI 9.1–18.2%) and 1.9% (4/208, 95% CI 0.8–4.9%) respectively. Three Cryptosporidium species appeared in this study which are Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), Cryptosporidium andersoni (C. andersoni) and Cryptosporidium ryanae (C. ryanae) based on the 18S rRNA gene sequence. IIdA15G1 and IIdA13G1 belonging to the subtypes of Cryptosporidium were detected by the gp60 PCR. The genotypes of Giardia duodenalis were only assemblage E through the amplification of the triosephosphate-isomerase gene (tpi gene). Conclusion: There is a risk of transmission to humans in Ningxia because of zoonotic genotypes (C. parvum, C. andersoni, assemblage E) and subtypes (IId) of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis in dairy calves, and it is necessary to pay attention to the disease to prevent a widespread epidemic of the disease with the purpose to protect human and livestock health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Accurate differentiation and identification of flea species are essential for both basic and applied research on fleas, as well as for the diagnosis of flea-borne diseases. However, distinguishing between flea species can be challenging, especially among those with minimal morphological differences. Therefore, some scholars have suggested the necessity of comprehensive revisions to the classification of fleas, incorporating morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic data. In this study, we focused on classifying the rodents' parasitic fleas in southeastern China and provided molecular and phylogenetic data. We also described a new subspecies Ctenophthalmus breviprojiciens fujiansis n. ssp. A total of 392 fleas were collected from 8 species of rodents in 10 counties. Morphologically, they belonged to 10 species, 9 genera and 5 families. Barcode identification based on COI gene and phylogenetic analysis based on five genetic markers (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, EF-1a, COI, COII) revealed that the molecular and morphological identification of Xenopsylla cheopis, Aviostivalius klossi bispiniformis, Leptopsylla segnis, Monopsyllus anisus and Ctenocephalides felis felis were consistent. The taxonomic status of Neopsylla specialis minpiensis and Peromyscopsylla himalaica sinica as subspecies is questionable due to significant intraspecific genetic distance, and further morphological and molecular data are required to determine if they should be elevated to species level. The molecular identification of C. breviprojiciens n. ssp., N. dispar fukienensis, and Nosopsyllus nicanus could not be completed at this time due to a lack of sequences for related species in existing GenBank databases. Additionally, phylogenetic relationships of 31 species from 9 genera and 5 families of Siphonaptera were inferred based on five molecular markers (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, EF-1a, COI and COII) using Maximum Likelihood analyses. The analyses revealed that various taxa of Siphonaptera are monophyletic at the subspecies, species, and genus levels. However, at the family level, Leptopsyllidae, Ceratophyllidae, Pulicidae, and Pygiopsyllidae are all monophyletic, while Ctenophthalmidae is paraphyletic. we support the view of some authors that revising the catchall group Ctenophthalmidae and elevating each of its constituent subfamilies to family status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In anurans communities, vocalizations play a fundamental role in social interactions, being the most important behavioral modality of communication. Therefore, the description of acoustic signals is indispensable for understanding aspects of their evolutionary history. The Cycloramphus genus consists of 30 species allocated into five groups, of which only 19 have the vocalization described. Cycloramphus lithomimeticus is a small-sized frog belonging to the C. granulosus group. This poorly known species is associated with rock surfaces near waterfalls in Atlantic montane forests, restricted to the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. Currently, it's classified as Near Threatened species category of IUCN and many aspects of its natural history remain unknown. Herein, we describe the advertisement call of C. lithomimeticus extending its known geographical distribution and providing additional data on the natural history of the species. We recorded and analyzed 44 calls from 10 males of C. lithomimeticus. The advertisement call of C. lithomimeticus consists of a single pulsed note with 0.3–0.8 sec of duration, emitted sporadically, with an interval between calls of 27.5–226.3 sec, composed by 7–17 pulses emitted at a rate of 18–26/sec, with a peak frequency of 2062.5–3000 Hz. After defining the correspondence between structures for systematic purposes, we made a comparative analysis determined by establishing homology connections with other species of the genus. According to our dominant frequency evolutionary reconstruction, an evolutionary increase in frequency mainly occurred in the C. lithomimeticus species lineage from an ancestral dominant frequency of 1500 Hz of the clade with C. eleutherodactylus species group, C. granulosus species group, and C. fuliginosus species group. This study contributes to our knowledge about the biology of C. lithomimeticus, and our results provide basic data for further acoustic, taxonomic and ecological studies in the genus Cycloramphus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phylogenetic relationships of the monospecific genus Paratricharia , with the single species P. paradoxa , within the family Gomphillaceae are resolved using newly generated sequences of the mtSSU and nuLSU markers for three specimens collected in Costa Rica. The results support placement as sister to the genus Caleniopsis , the two genera sister to a clade containing the genera Aulaxina and Aulaxinella. This placement confirms earlier studies based on cladistic analysis of phenotype characters and phenotype-based phylogenetic binning, suggesting that apothecial features are more informative for the phylogenetic placement of taxa within Gomphillaceae than thallus characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the radially ribbed mytilid genus Brachidontes are often dominant filter feeders on hard intertidal substrata in the Indo-Pacific region. However, there is still a great deal of uncertainty and confusion over their species identities, taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships. At least six species names (crebristriatus , karachiensis , mutabilis , pharaonis , ustulatus and variabilis) have at one time or another been synonymized with each other and applied to these common intertidal mussels. They occur widely across the Indian and Pacific Oceans from East Africa to Hawaii. Our results, based on sequences of five genes and anatomical features, suggest there are at least eight closely related sibling species in three monophyletic clades: (1) Brachidontes variabilis -form A in the western Indian Ocean; (2) Brachidontes pharaonis in the Red Sea; (3) Brachidontes variabilis -form B, found from India to East Asia; (4) Brachidontes mutabilis , restricted to southern Japan and China; (5) Brachidontes crebristriatus , in the Indian Ocean through to Southeast Asia and Hawaii; (6) Brachidontes ustulatus , an endemic species in western and southern Australia; (7) Brachidontes maritimus , so far known only from Hawaii; and (8) Brachidontes erosus , a southern Australian endemic. The latter two species form a small clade (Clade 1) that is sister to two larger Clades 2 and 3, each comprising three species. Clade 2 contains Brachidontes crebristriatus , Brachidontes mutabilis and Brachidontes ustulatus , whilst Clade 3 is made up of Brachidontes pharaonis , Brachidontes variabilis -form A and variabilis -form B. The shells of these eight species are not only variable but can greatly overlap in morphology. Many are also nearly impossible to distinguish without geographical information. However, the absence or presence of plicate organs in the mantle cavity, and the shape of guard papillae lining the inhalant aperture, may serve as important diagnostic morphological characters when used alongside geographical provenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of spider species presents many challenges, since in most cases the characters used are from genital structures that are only fully developed in the adult stage, hence the identification of immatures is most often not possible. Additionally, these structures usually also present some intra-specific variability, which in some cases makes the identification of closely related species difficult. The genetic barcode technique (DNA barcodes), based on sequencing of the mitochondrial marker cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), has proven a useful, complementary tool to overcome these limitations. In this work, the contribution of DNA barcoding to the taxonomy of the subfamily Amaurobioidinae is explored using the refined single linkage analysis (RESL) algorithm for the delimitation of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), in comparison with the assemble species by automatic partitioning (ASAP) algorithm, and presented in conjunction with an updated molecular phylogenetic analysis of three other markers (28S rRNA, 16S rRNA, Histone H3), in addition to COI. Of a total of 97 included species identified by morphology, 82 species were concordant with the operational taxonomic units obtained from RESL, representing an 85% correspondence between the two methods. Similar results were obtained using the ASAP algorithm. Previous observations of morphological variation within the same species are supported, and this technique provides new information on genetic structure and potentially cryptic species. Most of the discrepancies between DNA barcoding and morphological identification are explained by low geographic sampling or by divergent or geographically structured lineages. After the addition of many specimens with only COI data, the multi-marker phylogenetic analysis is consistent with previous results and the support is improved. The markers COI , closely followed by 28S , are the most phylogenetically informative. We conclude that the barcode DNA technique is a valuable source of data for the delimitation of species of Amaurobioidinae, in conjunction with morphological and geographic data, and it is also useful for the detection of cases that require a more detailed and meticulous study. Taxonomic identification of spider species from morphological structures has limitations in cases of closely related species or intraspecific variability. We investigate the utility of genetic barcoding with the mitochondrial marker cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) in ghost spiders of the subfamily Amaurobioidinae. Most discrepancies between DNA barcoding and morphological identification are explained by low geographic sampling or by geographically structured lineages. In addition, we show that the marker COI is phylogenetically informative for deeper nodes in the tree. (Image credit: Martín Ramírez.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phytophagous insect superfamily Coreoidea (Heteroptera) is a diverse group of ~3100 species in five extant families, with many of agricultural importance and model organisms in behavioural studies. Most species (~2800 species) are classified in the family Coreidae (four subfamilies, 37 tribes). While previous phylogenetic studies have primarily focused on the larger and more diverse subfamilies and tribes of Coreidae, several smaller tribes remain poorly studied in a phylogenetic context. Here, we investigated the phylogenetic positions of three less diverse tribes using ultraconserved elements: Agriopocorini, Amorbini, and Manocoreini. Our study is the first to test phylogenetic hypotheses for the Agriopocorini and Amorbini in a cladistic analysis. All three tribes were recovered within the subfamily Coreinae with robust support. The monophyletic Agriopocorini were supported as the sister-group of Colpurini, the monophyletic Amorbini as sister to Mictini, and the monogeneric Manocoreini as sister to Dasynini + Homoeocerini. We briefly discuss the evolution of wing development in Coreidae, putative synapomorphies for clades of interest, and taxonomic considerations. Our study emphasizes the importance of including smaller, less diverse groups in phylogenetic analyses. By doing so, we gain valuable insights into evolutionary relationships, identify future investigations of trait evolution, and resolve systematic controversies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While investigating macrofungi diversity in Gansu province, northwestern China, five fresh and fleshy specimens were collected, which are characterized by nearly white to buff hemispherical pileus with waved margins, a disc depressed with coral to brownish red fibrillose scales, adnate to sub-decurrent lamellae with four relatively regular rows of lamellulae, a stipe that is central, hollow, frequently straight to curved; basidiospores that are globose to subglobose, 5.0–6.0 × (3.5−) 4.0–5.0 (−5.5) μm, narrowly clavate cheilocystidia predominantly, pleurocystidia and caulocystidia not observed; and a cutis pileipellis, with hyphae slightly inflated in the KOH. The results of phylogeny analysis indicated that the species forms an independent lineage in Phyllotopsidaceae based on the ITS (ITS5/ITS4) and nLSU (LR0R/LR7) dataset. Molecular clock analyses suggested the common ancestor of Neotricholomopsis emerged later than upper Cretaceous with a mean crown age of 229.36 Mya (95% highest posterior density of 129.63–343.08 Mya). These five specimens were described as an unreported taxon based on the phylogeny analysis combined with morphological examination and ecological and geographical distribution. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic trees to demonstrate the placement of this species and discussions with its related species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomy plays a central role in understanding the diversity of life, translating the products of biological exploration and discovery specimens and observations into systems of names that settle a "classification home" to taxa. The ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes family Thelephoraceae has been understudied in subtropical ecosystems. Many species of Thelephoraceae are important edible and medicinal fungi, with substantial economic value. Four new species, Thelephora resupinata, T. subtropica, T. yunnanensis, and Tomentella tenuifarinacea, are proposed based on a combination of the morphological features and molecular evidence. Thelephora resupinata is characterized by the resupinate basidiomata having a tuberculate pileal surface hymenial, and the presence of the subglobose to globose basidiospores (9–12 × 7–9 µm). T. subtropica is solitary coriaceous infundibuliform gray-brown basidiomata with a presence of the subclavate basidia and subglobose to globose basidiospores (6–8 × 5–7 µm). T. yunnanensis is typical of the laterally stipitate basidiomata having a smooth, umber to coffee hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and the presence of the subglobose basidiospores (7–10 × 6–8 µm). Tomentella tenuifarinacea is typical of the arachnoid basidiomata having a smooth, gray, or dark gray hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and the presence of the subglobose to globose basidiospores (7–9 × 6–8 µm). Sequences of ITS+nLSU+mtSSU genes were used for the phylogentic analyses using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The three genes' (ITS+nLSU+mtSSU) phylogenetic analysis showed that the genera Thelephora and Tomentella grouped together within the family Thelephoraceae and three new species were nested into the genus Thelephora, and one new species was nested into the genus Tomentella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequences derived from organisms sharing common evolutionary origins exhibit similarity, while unique sequences, absent in related organisms, act as good diagnostic marker candidates. However, the approach focused on identifying dissimilar regions among closely-related organisms poses challenges as it requires complex multiple sequence alignments, making computation and parsing difficult. To address this, we have developed a biologically inspired universal NAUniSeq algorithm to find the unique sequences for microorganism diagnosis by traveling through the phylogeny of life. Mapping through a phylogenetic tree ensures a low number of cross-contamination and false positives. We have downloaded complete taxonomy data from Taxadb database and sequence data from National Center for Biotechnology Information Reference Sequence Database (NCBI-Refseq) and, with the help of NetworkX, created a phylogenetic tree. Sequences were assigned over the graph nodes, k -mers were created for target and non-target nodes and search was performed over the graph using the depth first search algorithm. In a memory efficient alternative NoSQL approach, we created a collection of Refseq sequences in MongoDB database using tax-id and path of FASTA files. We queried the MongoDB collection for the target and non-target sequences. In both the approaches, we used an alignment free sliding window k -mer–based procedure that quickly compares k -mers of target and non-target sequences and returns unique sequences that are not present in the non-target. We have validated our algorithm with target nodes Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Neisseria gonorrhoeae , and Monkeypox and generated unique sequences. This universal algorithm is a powerful tool for generating diagnostic sequences, enabling the accurate identification of microbial strains with high phylogenetic precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Silver-backed Chevrotain (Tragulus versicolor), a mammal endemic to the unique coastal arid ecosystem in south-central Vietnam, is an enigmatic mouse deer with little information available about its ecology and evolutionary history. The recent rediscovery of the species provides a rare opportunity to clarify its taxonomy and phylogenetic relationship within the genus Tragulus. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene for samples of T. versicolor and T. kanchil from Vietnam. Our molecular results show that the species forms a distinct evolutionary lineage sister to all other species in the genus, confirming the earlier hypothesis based on morphological evidence. However, further research is needed to assess the genetic diversity of the species and design appropriate conservation measures. As the species has not been secured over much of its range, it is recommended that the population in Nui Chua National Park, the only one covered by a protected area, be prioritized for conservation actions. Conserving the species in this unique and imperiled ecosystem will also benefits a suite of locally endemic and threatened species of fauna and flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Euathlus (Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich‐Königlichen Zoologisch‐Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien, 1875, 25, 125) from Argentina are described. Euathlus ameghinoi sp. n. and Euathlus ventus sp. n. are the first records for the Patagonian Steppe. Here we used mitochondrial DNA (cox1) to perform the first molecular phylogeny of some representatives of the genus. In addition, we present the first description of the sexual behaviour of the genus. Both molecular and cladistic morphological analysis showed the genus Euathlus as monophyletic, and new species were recovered as sister groups. New species show new morphological variations of typical characters for the genus (e.g. tibial apophyses and palpal organs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi are one of the most diverse groups of organisms on Earth, in which the wood-inhabiting fungi play an important role in forest ecosystem processes and functions. Four new wood-inhabiting fungi, Lyomyces hengduanensis, L. niveomarginatus, L. wumengshanensis and L. zhaotongensis, are proposed, based on morphological features and molecular evidence. Lyomyces hengduanensis differs in the brittle basidiomata with pruinose hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system and ellipsoid basidiospores (3.5–6 × 3–4.5 µm). Lyomyces niveomarginatus is distinguished by the subceraceous basidiomata with crackled hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system and ellipsoid basidiospores (4.5–7 × 3–4 µm). Lyomyces wumengshanensis is distinguished by the grandinioid hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system and ellipsoid to broad ellipsoid basidiospores (4–6 × 3–5 µm). Lyomyces zhaotongensis is unique in the grandinioid hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores measuring as 2.6–3.5 × 2.5–3 µm. Sequences of ITS and nLSU rRNA markers of the studied samples were generated and phylogenetic analyses were performed using the Maximum Likelihood, Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Inference methods. The phylogram, based on the ITS + nLSU rDNA gene regions, included three genera within the Schizoporaceae viz. Fasciodontia, Lyomyces and Xylodon, in which the four new species were grouped into Lyomyces. The phylogenetic tree inferred from the ITS sequences highlighted that L. hengduanensis group with L. zhaotongensis and then closely grouped with L. crustosus, L. ochraceoalbus, and L. vietnamensis. The new taxon L. niveomarginatus was retrieved as a sister to L. juniperi. The new species L. wumengshanensis was sister to L. macrosporus. The new taxon L. zhaotongensis grouped with L. hengduanensis and then closely grouped with L. crustosus, L. ochraceoalbus and L. vietnamensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gymnopus aquosus (Bull.) Antonin & Noordel and Inocybe subporospora Kuyper were recorded for the first time in Türkiye, among the fungal specimens collected during field studies in Kütahya. The specimens were identified based on morphological, microscopic features and analysis of ITS gene sequences. The habitats and characteristic features of the species are briefly explained and relevant photographs are presented. GenBank accession numbers were assigned to the samples in this study and phylogenetic trees were constructed to compare them with similar taxa. Gymnopus aquosus is mainly characterized by and distinguishes it from related species; have an almost to the center translucently striate, pileus center pale yellow to ochre, pallescent to almost white towards to margin and a distinctly bulbous base with pinkishchromic rhizomorphs. Inocybe subporospora; have spores with an indistinct germ-pore, redbrown stipe and dark grayish brown pileus with rimulose margin is a very characteristic species that can be distinguished from its close species with its features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new cyprinid fish, Opsariichthys rubriventris sp. nov., is described from the Xizhijiang River, a tributary of the Pearl River basin in Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, southern China. The species is distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters: predorsal scales 13–14; lower jaw projecting slightly beyond upper jaw; cheek with two mainly longitudinal rows of tubercles; and lower jaw, belly, pectoral fin, and anterior margin of anal fin in adult males being reddish-orange. The principal component analysis result of the morphological data indicated that O. rubriventris sp. nov. could be clearly distinguished fromfour other congeners. The phylogenetic analysis conducted in this study, utilizing both Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) methods, supported the monophyly of the novel species O. rubriventris sp. nov. at the species level. Additionally, the genetic distance analysis revealed that O. rubriventris sp. nov. exhibits a genetic distance ranging from 0.14 to 0.16 with its congeneric species, further affirming its taxonomic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abiogenesis is frequently envisioned as a linear, ladder-like progression of increasingly complex chemical systems, eventually leading to the ancestors of extant cellular life. This "pre-cladistics" view is in stark contrast to the well-accepted principles of organismal evolutionary biology, as informed by paleontology and phylogenetics. Applying this perspective to origins, I explore the paradigm of "Stem Life," which embeds abiogenesis within a broader continuity of diversification and extinction of both hereditary lineages and chemical systems. In this new paradigm, extant life's ancestral lineage emerged alongside and was dependent upon many other complex prebiotic chemical systems, as part of a diverse and fecund prebiosphere. Drawing from several natural history analogies, I show how this shift in perspective enriches our understanding of Origins and directly informs debates on defining Life, the emergence of the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA), and the implications of prebiotic chemical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research on mysticete fossils from the Late Eocene and Oligocene has revolutionised our understanding of the diversity and evolutionary scenarios for early baleen whales. For example, aetiocetids are a possible, though controversial, lineage that bridges the gap between the toothed and baleen-bearing mysticetes, and eomysticetids show a further transitional step towards the baleen-bearing status, with the presence of non-functional dentition in adults. However, information about the origin of crown mysticetes, including the most recent common ancestor of all extant lineages and its descendants, is critical to further understanding the evolution of baleen whales. The phylogenetic positions of the Oligocene Toipahautea, Whakakai, Horopeta, and Mauicetus from New Zealand remain unresolved and problematic, but all four genera show a close relationship with crown mysticetes. The original and subsequent cladistic analyses have consistently revealed a sister relationship between the Toipahautea-to-Mauicetus grade and crown mysticetes, and Horopeta has been placed close to the cetotheriids within the crown group. This review aims to stimulate more research on this topic by elucidating the origin of crown mysticetes, which likely experienced a poorly known radiation event during the Oligocene that established the modern lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dorvilleidae Chamberlin, 1919 is a family of Annelida containing some of the smallest 'polychaetes' species, being poorly studied worldwide, and with little knowledge regarding its diversity and occurrence. Samples obtained in oceanographic campaigns performed in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean (Brazilian coast) revealed a high number of specimens of dorvilleids, adding to our knowledge of the family's biodiversity. A detailed morphological analysis of these organisms has revealed a new genus, Ceciamaraliagen. nov., with two new species. The new genus differs from other Dorvilleidae genera in (i) the robust and enlarged pharynx which are frequently everted, (ii) unique composition of maxillae, with an elongated pair of serrated basal plates and one pair of anterior free maxillary plates with a long and thin anterior spine and (iii) ventral cirri present only in few first chaetigers. Ceciamaralia lanaigen. et sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of a broad and large dorsal cirrus on a few anterior parapodia and by furcate chaeta in supra-acicular fascicles. While Ceciamaralia nonatoigen. et sp. nov. presents one geniculate chaeta instead of one furcate, the absence of dorsal cirri and, in some specimens, the absence of palps. A cladistic analysis supported the monophyly of Ceciamaraliagen. nov. by four synapomorphies related to the unique morphology of its maxillae, pharynx and appendages. This study is part of several recent taxonomic studies aiming to elucidate and increase the knowledge of Dorvilleidae, since it is part of a Ph.D project focused on the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to analyze the cladistics and population structure analysis of Rhipicephalus microplus ticks infesting buffaloes in Haryana, India, as well as the assessment of the anti-tick efficacy of the ethanolic extracts of Cassia fistula (bark, pod pulp, and flowers) against R. microplus larvae. The molecular characterization and population structure analysis were performed by targeting the amplification of the partial mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene, whereas anti-tick efficacy was evaluated using a larval packet test. The sequences generated herein revealed a homology of 98.26–100% to the GenBank-archived R. microplus sequences. In population structure analysis, high haplotype (0.500 ± 0.265) and low nucleotide (0.002 ± 0.001) diversities were recorded for the sequences generated in this study. Significantly negative neutrality indices were recorded for the overall dataset. The extracts were found to significantly affect mortality rates in a dose-dependent manner, and the ethanolic extracts of the bark, pod pulp, and flowers of C. fistula exhibited median lethal concentration (LC50) values of 27.989, 40.457, and 49.43 mg/mL, respectively. The LC50 value recorded for the combination of the ethanolic extracts of the bark, flower, and pod pulp of C. fistula was 19.724 mg/mL, whereas the synthetic acaricide ivermectin had an LC50 value of 351.56 mg/mL. In conclusion, R. microplus populations infesting cattle and buffalo hosts in India exhibited negligible genetic differentiation and high gene flow between them. Additionally, the combination of all C. fistula extracts could serve as a potential substitute for the synthetic acaricide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abundant variety of yeasts and their diverse applications have essential roles in traditional Mexican alcoholic beverage fermentation processes. During our investigation of yeast diversity associated with Pulque, 41 yeast strains were characterized. Among them, 31 strains were eight known species belonging to seven genera. According to morphological and phylogenetic analyses (ITS and LSU rDNA), ten unidentified yeast strains were identified to be three novel species and proposed: Starmerella elongatum sp. nov., Kazachstania paragamospora sp. nov. and Pichia teotihuacanensis sp. nov. Our study has resulted in the isolation of yeast species not previously detected in Pulque, expanding our knowledge of the diversity of its associated yeast communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomy plays a central role in understanding the diversity of life, translating the products of biological exploration and discovery specimens and observations into systems of names that settle a "classification home" to taxa. Up to this point, studies on the taxonomy and phylogeny of the basidiomycetous genus Tomentella stemmed mainly from the temperate to boreal zones of the North Hemisphere, but were scarce in tropical Asia. In this study, four new species, viz. Tomentella olivaceobasidiosa, T. velutina, T. wumenshanensis and T. yunnanensis from China, are described and illustrated based on the morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses, in which the sequences of ITS+nLSU+mtSSU+RPB2 genes were used for the phylogenetic analyses using Maximum Likelihood, Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Inference methods. All the new species can be well recognised by their macroscopical and anatomical characteristics. The four new species, closely related taxa in the phylogenetic tree and morphologically similar species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Vigna includes economically vital crops and wild species. Molecular systematic studies of Vigna species resulted in generic segregates of many New World (NW) species. However, limited Old World (OW) sampling left questions regarding inter‐ and intraspecific relationships in Vigna s.s. Methods: African species, including the putative sister genus Physostigma, were comprehensively sampled within the context of NW relatives. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of the chloroplast matK‐trnK and nuclear ribosomal ITS/5.8 S (ITS) DNA regions were undertaken to resolve OW Vigna taxonomic questions. Divergence dates were estimated using BEAST to date key nodes in the phylogeny. Results: Analyses of matK and ITS data supported five clades of Vigna s.s.: subg. Lasiospron, a reduced subg. Vigna, subg. Haydonia, subg. Ceratotropis, an enlarged subg. Plectrotropis, and a clade including V. kirkii and V. stenophylla. Genome size estimates of 601 Mb for V. kirkii are near the overall mean of the genus, whereas V. stenophylla had a larger genome (810 Mb), similar to some Vigna subg. Ceratotropis or Plectrotropis species. Conclusions: Former subg. Vigna is reduced to yellow‐ and blue‐flowered species and subg. Plectrotropis is enlarged to mostly all white‐, pink‐, and purple‐flowered species. The age of the split between NW and OW Vigna lineages is ~6–7 Myr. Genome size estimates cannot rule out a polyploid or hybrid origin for V. stenophylla, potentially involving extinct lineage ancestors of Vigna subg. Ceratotropis or Plectrotropis, as indicated by network and phylogenetic analyses. Taxonomic revisions are suggested based on these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A new genus is proposed to accommodate an undescribed dorylaimid form collected in Iran. Persianema gen. n. is characterised by its three-layered cuticle, oral field appreciably sunken but its perioral area visibly protruding, odontostyle less than one-half of lip region diam. and with large aperture, guiding ring simple and always located in front of odontostyle, odontophore 4-5 times longer than odontostyle, dorsal gland nucleus (DN) very posteriorly located, female genital system di-ovarian with well-developed pars refringens vaginae , tail short and rounded in both sexes, spicules dorylaimid and 3-4 spaced ventromedian supplements with hiatus. Its type and only species, P. enigmaticum sp. n., is described and illustrated, including SEM observations. It is distiguished by its 1.45-2.03 mm long body, lip region offset by shallow depression and 15.5-17.5 μ m wide, odontostyle 6-7 μ m long with aperture occupying more than half of its length, neck 285-340 μ m long, pharyngeal expansion 38-43% of the total neck length, three gland cells present at pharyngo-intestinal junction, simple uterus 81-113 μ m or 1.7-3.1 body diam. long, transverse vulva (V = 50-54), tail 15-25 μ m long (c = 69-106, c′ = 0.6-0.8) and spicules 38-48 μ m long. Molecular analysis of D2-D3 28S rDNA sequences revealed its closest similarity with Pungentus sequences, and an integrative comparison supports its belonging to Pungentinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a new species of Centrolene from the Subandean Cordillera of Kutukú in southeastern Ecuador. The new species differs from all other glassfrogs by the combination of the following characters: presence of processes of vomers but without vomerine teeth; humeral spines in males; dorsum green with light green dots and without dark marks; dorsal skin with abundant tubercles; all visceral peritonea translucent (except for pericardium); and small body size (snout-vent length 21.5–21.9 mm in adult males). The new species is sister to Centrolene camposi from the Western Cordillera of the Andes of southwestern Ecuador, and together they form a clade with C. condor from the Subandean Cóndor Cordillera in southeastern Ecuador. Our time tree suggests that the new species originated at the end of the Pliocene. In addition, we present new information for C. zarza, expanding its geographic range across the southeastern Andes and the Kutukú and Cóndor cordilleras, amending its definition and diagnosis, and offering new information on its natural history and extinction risk. We also discuss the taxonomic status of Ecuadorian populations reported as C. huilensis and conclude that they are C. muelleri based on their close phylogenetic relationships and morphological similarity to samples of C. muelleri from Peru. Centrolene huilensis is a valid species and not closely related to C. muelleri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ascidian fauna of the Bahamas remains grossly understudied. Here, we examined specimens of the genus Clavelina collected from four Bahamian islands using morphological observations and genetic barcoding. Only three species of Clavelina have been previously reported in the Caribbean: C. picta, C. oblonga, and C. puertosecensis. Here, we report C. picta and three species new to science: C. rochae, C. pawliki, and C. erwinorum. C. picta and C. pawliki were found in the northernmost island surveyed, while C. rochae and C. erwinorum were particularly prevalent on the southeastern Bahamian islands. A complete review of genetic barcoding data and morphological characters of accepted Clavelina species was performed. The unique combination of in vivo coloration, morphological characteristics, haplotypes, and species distribution supported the establishment of three new species, significantly adding to the diversity of the genus Clavelina in the Caribbean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past efforts to identify and characterize minimally monophyletic groups (microgenera) by deconstructing larger bryophyte genera successfully determined 10 microgenera comprising the moss family Streptotrichaceae. Thirty other microgenera have also been found in the moss family Pottiaceae. A microgenus consists of one ancestral species and, optimally, four immediate descendant species, each of which shares exactly the same ancestral traits. To determine if microgenera were common, evidence of these in larger genera was garnered from published estimates of species per genus in other groups and from molecular cladograms in the moss family Pottiaceae. Both classical mesogenera and cladistically enlarged macrogenera exhibited an internal granularity of one to five species, either as multiple species below the inflection point in the hollow curve of logarithmic graphs of species per genus or as small groups of molecular cladogram branches. Microgenera are basic units of evolution. The constancy of size and monothecy of traits in microgenera give them properties that larger taxonomic groups lack. Sequences of microgenera monophyletic are easily concatenated, adaptational changes may be directly determined, self-similarity across scale allows extended scientific inferences, and traits can be associated with survival across millions of years of environmental perturbation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present descriptions of two newly discovered species of Myxobolus (Myxobolidae) that infect Mugil curema: Myxobolus mundauensis n. sp. found in gills and Myxobolus patriciae n. sp. found in intestines. These descriptions are based on the morphology of myxospores, histological analysis, and sequencing of the small subunit ribosomal DNA (ssrDNA). The myxospores of both species differ in the width and length of their spore bodies, and their ssrDNA sequences showed a 10.6% difference. These findings support the identification of these parasites as distinct and previously unknown species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a subclade consisting of species that parasitize Mugiliformes, with Myxobolus mundauensis n. sp. being closely related to Myxobolus maceioensis, and Myxobolus patriciae n. sp. being closely related to Myxobolus curemae. Our analysis aligns with previous research suggesting a strong correlation between host orders and phylogenetic patterns within the Myxobolidae family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular phylogenetics has fundamentally altered our understanding of the taxonomy, systematics and biogeography of corals. Recently developed phylogenomic techniques have started to resolve species-level relationships in the diverse and ecologically important genus Acropora , providing a path to resolve the taxonomy of this notoriously problematic group. We used a targeted capture dataset (2032 loci) to investigate systematic relationships within an Acropora clade containing the putatively widespread species Acropora tenuis and its relatives. Using maximum likelihood phylogenies and genetic clustering of single nucleotide polymorphisms from specimens, including topotypes, collected across the Indo-Pacific, we show ≥ 11 distinct lineages in the clade, only four of which correspond to currently accepted species. Based on molecular, morphological and geographical evidence, we describe two new species; Acropora rongoi n. sp. and Acropora tenuissima n. sp. and remove five additional nominal species from synonymy. Systematic relationships revealed by our molecular phylogeny are incongruent with traditional morphological taxonomy and demonstrate that characters traditionally used to delineate species boundaries and infer evolutionary history are homoplasies. Furthermore, we show that species within this clade have much smaller geographical ranges and, consequently, population sizes than currently thought, a finding with profound implications for conservation and management of reef corals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The subfamily Neanurinae is the largest in the family, with almost 800 species. These springtails are different from all other Collembola in their appearance, behaviour and habitats. A division of Neanurinae into tribes was proposed by Cassagnau in 1989, but it has not yet been tested using cladistic methods. New studies suggest that the tribes currently recognised may not be monophyletic. A dataset of 101 discrete morphological characters was analysed to explore the phylogenetic relationships among major lineages of the Neanurinae. Bayesian and maximum parsimony analyses yielded similar tree topologies. The results indicate that the taxonomic characters used in the classification of Neanurinae are shared among members of the different tribes. The article discusses the phylogenetic significance of morphological characters, including those recognised as key to the evolution and history of Neanurinae. The subfamily Neanurinae is the largest in the family, with almost 800 described species. These springtails differ significantly from all other Collembola in their morphology, behaviour, and natural habitats. A systematic division of the Neanurinae into tribes was proposed more than 30 years ago by Cassagnau (1989), but it has not yet been tested using cladistic methods. Recent studies, both phylogenetic analyses of individual tribes or genera and descriptions of new taxa, suggest that the currently recognised tribes may not be monophyletic. The phylogenetic relationships among major lineages of the Neanurinae were explored by analysing a dataset of 101 discrete morphological characters. Bayesian and maximum parsimony analyses yielded similar tree topologies. The relationships among the Neanurinae were not resolved in any of the analyses, except for the support for the monophyly of the tribe Lobellini. The results indicate that the taxonomic characters used in the classification of Neanurinae are shared among members of the different tribes, which may have resulted in a classification with little phylogenetic basis. The article discusses the phylogenetic significance of morphological characters, including those recognised as key to the evolution and history of Neanurinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree diagrams are the prevailing form of visualization in biological classification and phylogenetics. Already during the time of the so-called Systematist Wars from the mid-1960s until the 1980s most journal articles and textbooks published by systematists contained tree diagrams. Although this episode of systematics is well studied by historians and philosophers of biology, most analyses prioritize scientific theories over practices and tend to emphasize conflicting theoretical assumptions. In this article, I offer an alternative perspective by viewing the conflict through the lens of representational practices with a case study on tree diagrams that were used by numerical taxonomists (phenograms) and cladists (cladograms). I argue that the current state of molecular phylogenetics should not be interpreted as the result of a competition of views within systematics. Instead, molecular phylogenetics arose independently of systematics and elements of cladistics and phenetics were integrated into the framework of molecular phylogenetics, facilitated by the compatibility of phenetic and cladistic practices with the quantitative approach of molecular phylogenetics. My study suggests that this episode of scientific change is more complex than common narratives of battles and winners or conflicts and compromises. Today, cladograms are still used and interpreted as specific types of molecular phylogenetic trees. While phenograms and cladograms represented different forms of knowledge during the time of the Systematist Wars, today they are both used to represent evolutionary relationships. This indicates that diagrams are versatile elements of scientific practice that can change their meaning, depending on the context of use within theoretical frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around the world, the spread of pheretimoid earthworm species from Southeast Asia has raised ecological, environmental, and conservation concerns in urban-suburban settings and forest habitats. There is currently a global discourse surrounding the taxonomic status of pheretimoid earthworms. Therefore, a comparative molecular systematics study was conducted on pheretimoid, utilizing an integrative taxonomy approach that relied on morpho-anatomical characterization and the COI gene. The study generated and compared the 51 COI barcodes of pheretimoid with existing 156 COI sequences of pheretimoid earthworms worldwide, with the primary goal of testing various analytical methods for species delimitation and examining phylogenetic reconstruction. Seven different methods of species delineation were applied, viz., Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD), Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP), General Mixed Yule Coalescence (GMYC), Poisson Tree Processes (PTP), Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes (bPTP), Multiple Poisson Tree Processes (mPTP), and Refined Single Linkage (RESL). Additionally, trees using Bayesian Inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) were created for phylogenetic studies. The results unveiled 10 species belonging to 3 genera, viz., Amynthas, Metaphire, and Polypheretima. Furthermore, the study reported one new record from India, Amynthas andersoni choprai, and range expansion of Amynthas alexandri, Metaphire posthuma, and Polypheretima elongata to Manipur, the north-eastern region of India. Further, the peregrine species Amynthas corticis was reported for the first time in Madhya Pradesh in the central part of India. The study concluded that the genera Amynthas, Metaphire, and Pheretima do not exhibit monophyletic lineages which corroborates with previous studies. The study aligns with earlier studies that recommended reassessing the numerical revision of the genus Pheretima auct. (Sims & Easton, 1972). In addition, a comprehensive analysis of the evolutionary relationships between multiple pheretimoid earthworms in India has been provided, laying the foundation for understanding their origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pollinarium morphologies of 85 species and four subspecies of Hoya were investigated in the present study. The longest pollinium was found in Hoya multiflora , the widest in H. archboldiana , and the smallest in H. bilobata. Pollinium shape showed the widest variation range of all palynological characters, and nine shapes were distinguished in this study. A pellucid margin was present in the pollinium of 84 taxa, and absent in five species. In total, 10 types of pollinarium were recognized based on the following characters: presence/absence of a pellucid margin and the caudicle wing, the ratio of corpusculum/pollinarium length, width/length of pollinium, and curving orientation of the caudicle wings. Types V and X were found in a greater number of taxa compared with the other eight types. Type V is a combination of obliquely elongate or oblong pollinium, presence of a pellucid margin and caudicle wing, and corpusculum length less than half of the pollinium. Type X combines pollinium with variable shapes, a pellucid margin, unwinged and twisted caudicle, and corpusculum with obvious lateral extensions. The characters of 46 taxa with a resolved position in the latest phylogeny of Hoya were mapped and ancestral reconstruction analysis was carried out, indicating that the presence of a pellucid margin in the pollinium, corpusculum length less than half of the pollinium, and rhomboid-shaped corpusculum with lower extensions represent the ancestral state of the genus. Clade II is characterized by the absence of a pellucid margin and twisted caudicles. Loss of the pellucid margin occurring in Clade II and sometimes in other clades is considered independent reversals to the plesiomorphic state. The presence of a pellucid margin and rhomboid corpusculum, and absence of caudicle wings characterizes Clade IV. Ancestral reconstruction analysis revealed that pollinarium type V was the ancestral state of the core lineage Clade V. The species in this clade share presence of both a pellucid margin and caudicle wing, straight caudicle, and pollinium width of 201–300 µm. Clade VI (the largest lineage) as well as Clades I and III have diverse palynological characters, but pollinarium type X and type V is probably the ancestral state of Clades VI and I, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new species Verrucaria aptrootii sp. nov. is described from Darel Valley, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. A comparative morpho-anatomical, chemical study and ITS-based molecular analyses confirmed the position of this new species within the genus Verrucaria. Verrucaria aptrootii sp. nov. is closely related to V. squamulosa and characterized by a not squamulose thallus, plane to concave areoles, excipulum of 25–40 µm, simple, branched periphyses, ascospores of 27–35 × 10–15 µm and calcareous rock substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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With more than 886 species in ∼137 genera, Ectrichodiinae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) are the largest animal clade of millipede predators. Recent phylogenetic studies have created a framework for our understanding of ectrichodiine evolutionary history, but no fossil species have been described. EctrichodiellaFracker and Bruner, 1924, belongs to the earliest diverging lineage of Ectrichodiinae, and a better understanding of the morphology and biodiversity of this genus may provide insights into the early evolution of the subfamily. The genus is composed of two described species, Ectrichodiella minima (Valdés, 1910) and Ectrichodiella rafaeli (Gil-Santana and Coletto-Silva, 2005) from Cuba and Brazil, respectively. Here, four new species of Ectrichodiella are described, with three representing extant taxa known only from French Guiana (E. caballina, n. sp., E. nouraguensis, n. sp., and E. obscura, n. sp.), while the fourth is based on a Miocene Dominican amber fossil (Ectrichodiella electrina, n. sp.). Diagnoses, descriptions, habitus and detailed morphological images, an identification key, and a distribution map are provided. A cladistic analysis based on 45 morphological characters that includes the fossil species corroborates the monophyly of Ectrichodiella, but the relationship of the fossil species to the five extant species remains ambiguous. Nevertheless, this phylogenetic placement makes Ectrichodiella electrina, a valuable fossil calibration for future divergence dating analyses, despite its relatively young age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing evidence that studying aquatic acoustic communities can provide ecologically relevant information. Understanding these communities may offer unique insights into species behaviour and ecology, while consolidating passive acoustic monitoring as a tool for mapping the presence of target species or estimating changes in aquatic biodiversity. Fish can be significant soundscape contributors, but most soniferous fish species are yet to be identified. Here, we crossed information of three key fish acoustic communities in the Lusitanian Province of the Temperate Northern Atlantic (the Madeira archipelago, the Azores archipelago and Arrábida in mainland Portugal) to unveil potential sources of unidentified fish sounds. We found that the three communities shared various sound types and we were able to narrow down the list of possible fish sound sources. Several sound types were suggested to be produced by species of the Pomacentridae, Scorpaenidae and Serranidae families. We also observed that the sound type /kwa/, associated with Scorpaena spp., exhibited more variations in the geographic area where more species of this genus are known to be present. This study showcases that, as databases of unidentified fish sounds continue to grow, future comparisons of multiple acoustic communities may provide insights into unknown fish sound sources and sound types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]