Morphological and molecular evidence of ultra-abyssal genus Angustebranchia (Bivalvia: Anomalodesmata: Verticordioidea)

Selaginella sanguinolenta group is widely distributed from the Himalayas to Siberia and the Russian Far East, including four to nine taxa. Despite progress in recent phylogenetic studies of the S. sanguinolenta group, the problem of species delimitation in this group remains. We revise the taxonomy of the S. sanguinolenta group based on an integrative approach considering morphological, molecular, and geographical evidence. The sampling for molecular analysis based on rbcL, psbA, and 26S nrDNA sequence data involved 71 individuals, covering the geographical range of this group. A total of 21 morphological traits from 103 specimens were explored using principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The LDA results indicate that the combination of ventral leaf cilium length and ventral/dorsal leaf carinate characteristics enable a success rate of more than 90% in distinguishing between S. aitchisonii (western Himalayas to northern China), S. jacquemontii (western Himalayas to southwest China), and S. sanguinolenta (Russian Far East regions to northeast China). The phylogenetic analysis results of nuclear and plastid DNA markers further disclose the clear molecular differentiation. Selaginella nummularifolia, S. rossii, and S. sajanensis are well‐defined species based on morphological and molecular evidence with narrow distribution ranges respectively. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, in combination with distribution information, we finally recognize seven species in the S. sanguinolenta group, including a new species, S. baodongii sp. nov. from the bordering regions of Russia and China in northeast Asia.

Phylogeny and systematics of the brake fern genus Pteris (Pteridaceae) based on molecular (plastid and nuclear) and morphological evidence

Petrocodon tongziensis R.B.Zhang & F.Wen, a new species from northern Guizhou province, China, is described and illustrated based on molecular and morphological evidence. The new species was found growing in crevices and on tufa of moist surfaces of limestone hills in Tongzi County. A maximum parsimony (MP) analysis based on the combined ITS and trnL‐F DNA regions showed that the new species falls within a large polytomy within Petrocodon, but is resolved as most closely related to an unidentified species (WF2014) and these two taxa are in turn resolved as sister to Petrocodon hunanensis X.L.Yu & Ming Li. This is congruent with the fact that both P. hunanensis and P. tongziensis have four fertile stamens, a character state likely to be an ancestral state distinguishing this clade from the rest of Petrocodon. Petrocodon tongziensis differs from P. hunanensis by lacking a terrestrial stem, as well as by the number of bracts, presence of bracteoles, shape of the lobes of the upper lip, and reduced number and length of staminodes.

Simple SummaryThe scoliid wasps are larval parasitoids of scarabaeoid beetles and pollinators of various plants and therefore are important in biological control and pollination. However, some species of these wasps are extremely morphologically similar and difficult to identify. In this study, we used an integrative approach of species delimitation, combining morphology with molecular data, to investigate the species of Scoliidae from southern China. On the basis of both morphological and molecular evidence, we recognized 22 morphospecies of 9 genera in two tribes, among which one undescribed cryptic species of the polytypic species Solia (Discolia) superciliaris Saussure, 1864, five newly recorded species and one pending subspecies were discovered. Our study indicates that such an integrative approach is a potent tool in the effort to tackle the taxonomic challenges in Scoliidae, and even in other diverse groups of Aculeata, of which sexual dimorphism and cryptic species are common.Species of the family Scoliidae are larval parasitoids of scarabaeoid beetles and pollinators of various plants. Despite their great importance in pest biological control and plant pollination, the taxonomy and systematics of these parasitoids are far from clear. Some species of the family are extremely morphologically similar and difficult to identify, especially in males. In this study, an integrative taxonomic approach, combining morphology and molecular data, was used to discriminate the species of Scoliidae from southern China. In total, 52 COI sequences belonging to 22 morphospecies of 9 genera in two tribes were obtained. The COI sequences worked well for the identification of all the studied species, with intraspecific genetic distances generally less than 2%, while interspecific distances ranged between 5.3% and 20.8%. The delimitations of the problematic species and subspecies of Scolia and Megacampsomeris are well solved by COI sequences, suggesting that DNA barcoding could be a useful identification tool for Scoliidae. Based on both morphological and molecular evidence, we discovered one undescribed cryptic species of the polytypic species Solia (Discolia) superciliaris Saussure, 1864, five newly recorded species, i.e., Scolia (Discolia) sikkimensis Bingham, 1896, Sericocampsomeris flavomaculata Gupta and Jonathan, 1989, Megacampsomeris asiatica (Saussure, 1858), Megacampsomeris pulchrivestita (Cameron, 1902) and Megacampsomeris shillongensis (Betrem, 1928) and one pending subspecies of Scolia (Discolia) watanabei (Matsumura, 1912) from China. Our study indicates that such an integrative approach, combing both molecular and morphological evidence, is a potent tool to tackle the taxonomic challenges in the family Scoliidae, or even, in other diverse groups of Aculeata, of which sexual dimorphism and cryptic species are common.

Inventario de las especies de elatéridos (Coleoptera: Elateridae) de un bosque tropical caducifolio mexicano

A new species, Phlegmacium ochraceosquamosum, is described from southwestern China based on morphological and molecular evidence. The new taxon is associated with subtropical fagaceous trees and is characterized by a combination of viscid pale yellow to ochraceous yellow pileus covered with ochraceous brown squamules and fibrils, cylindrical to clavate stipe with ochraceous brown fibrillose girdles, and elongate to subamygdaliform basidiospores. Four species, namely P. glaucopus, P. paracephalixum, P. patrickense, and P. violaceorubens, were first discovered in China. Additional vouchers for two species, namely P. caesiocolor and P. kytoevuorii very recently reported from China, were provided. Illustrated morphological descriptions and comparisons with closely related species are provided. The recognition of these species was further confirmed by phylogenetic analysis based on ITS sequences.

This study aimed to evaluate species level taxonomy and phylogenetic relationship among Thorea species in Brazil and other regions of the world using two molecular markers - RUBISCO large subunit plastid gene (rbcL) and nuclear small-subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA). Three samples of Thorea from Brazil (states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Sao Paulo) and one sample from Dominican Republic (DR) were sequenced. Analyses based on partial sequences of rbcL (1,282 bp) and complete sequences of SSU (1,752 bp) were essentially congruent and revealed that Thoreales formed a distinct monophyletic clade, which had two major branches with high support, representing the genera Thorea and Nemalionopsis. Thorea clade had four main branches with high support for all analyses, each one representing the species: 1) T. gaudichaudii C. Agardh from Asia (Japan and Philippines) - this clade occurred only in the rbcL analyses; 2) T. violacea Bory from Asia (Japan) and North America (U.S.A. and DR); 3) T. hispida (Thore) Desvaux from Europe (England) and Asia (Japan); 4) a distinct group with the three Brazilian samples (sequence identity: rbcL 97.2%, 1,246 bp; SSU 96.0-98.1%, 1,699-1,720 bp). The Brazilian samples clearly formed a monophyletic clade based on both molecular markers and was interpreted as a separate species, for which we resurrected the name T. bachmannii Pujals. Morphological and molecular evidences indicate that the Thoreales is well-resolved at ordinal and generic levels. In contrast, Thorea species recognized by molecular data require additional characters (e.g. reproductive and chromosome numbers) to allow consistent and reliable taxonomic circumscription aiming at a world revision based on molecular and morphological evidences.

The species diversity of Lepidapedon Stafford, 1904 (Lepidapediae) in the Western Mediterranean was assessed based on samples from five deep-sea gadiform fishes collected between the Balearic Islands and the Catalonian coast of Spain: Lepidion lepidion (Risso) and Mora moro (Risso) (both Moridae); Coelorinchus mediterraneus Iwamoto & Ungaro and Trachyrincus scabrus (Rafinesque) (both Macrouridae); and Phycis blennoides (Brünnich) (Phycidae). Integration of morphological and molecular evidence (28S rRNA gene and the mitochondrial nad1 gene) revealed that the deep-sea fishes in the Western Mediterranean share two species of Lepidapedon. Lepidapedon desclersae Bray & Gibson, 1995 was recovered in all five fish species of three families [Moridae (L. lepidion and M. moro); Macrouridae (C. mediterraneus and T. scabrus); and Phycidae (P. blennoides)] and L. guevarai Lopez-Roman & Maillard, 1973 was recovered in three fish species of three families [Phycidae (P. blennoides); Macrouridae (T. scabrus); and Moridae (L. lepidion)]. Therefore, both species are considered to be euryxenic but restricted to gadiforms. The voucher material for the two species from different fish hosts is described in detail and the host-related variability based on the morphometric data is assessed.

Hedwigia is a small genus that currently comprises only 12 accepted species. However, taxonomic issues within this genus remain not thoroughly resolved, and its species diversity in China is still debatable. In this study, we conducted an integrative taxonomic revision of Hedwigia in China based on both molecular and morphological evidence. We found an interesting species from Yunnan and Sichuan Province having an unknown combination of morphological characters. The molecular phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial nad5, chloroplast trnL-trnF and nuclear ITS markers suggest that this unknown moss represents a new species described here as H. sinica W.Z.Huang & R.L.Zhu, sp. nov. In addition, Hedwigia nemoralis Ignatova, Ignatov & Fedosov is proposed as a new synonym of H. filiformis (Michx.) P.Beauv. based on morphological and molecular evidence. Furthermore, H. czernyadjevae Ignatova, Ignatov & Fedosov, previously known only from Russia, is newly reported for China. The presence in China of H. stellata Hedenäs and H. ciliata (Hedw.) Boucher is doubtful because the voucher specimens of these two species were re-identified as H. sinica and H. emodica or H. filiformis, respectively. In conclusion, at present, four species of Hedwigia are confirmed in China.

Three new species of Laccaria infundibuliformis, L. pallidus, and L. darjeelingensis, collected from Darjeeling, India, are described based on morphological and molecular evidence. Laccaria infundibuliformis is characterized by its small infundibuliform basidiocarps, and echinulate basidiospores with spines up to 1.36µm long. Laccaria pallidus is characterized by medium-sized greyish-red basidiocarps, and echinulate basidiospores with spines up to 1.9µm long. Laccaria darjeelingensis is characterized by dull red basidiocarps, and echinulate basidiospores with spines up to 1.27µm long. Altogether, the study shows that these three Laccaria species are previously unknown to science.

Ourapteryx is widely distributed in the Palearctic and Oriental regions, with the highest species diversity found in China. As of 2024, 95 described species have been recorded globally; however, no comprehensive revision of this genus has been published. Identifying Ourapteryx species based solely on wing patterns is challenging due to their extreme similarity, often leading to frequent misidentifications and the oversight of cryptic species. In this study, we utilized 68 morphological species, along with 1050 COI sequences, to develop an integrative taxonomy for Ourapteryx. This taxonomy integrates morphological, molecular, distributional, and ecological evidences. Our findings identified nine candidate species (labeled as sp1–sp7, O. horishana and O. brachycerca), increasing the total number of recognized species from 68 to 77. Using this updated checklist, we compared four molecular delimitation methods against the outcomes of morphological taxonomy. The analysis indicated that a 2% threshold produced the highest efficiency. Additionally, we explored the reasons behind morpho‐molecular discordance and the presence of hidden species. Our study underscores the importance and reliability of integrative taxonomy, which relies on multiple lines of evidence for accurate species identification and classification.

We present the results of a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of parts of the nuclear 28S rDNA of a representative sample of the Peronosporales. Peronospora s.l. is shown to be paraphyletic. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, several species of the genus Peronospora are transferred to Hyaloperonospora. Plasmopara oplismeni appears to be related only distantly to the other Plasmopara species, and is transferred to the new genus Viennotia based on molecular, morphological, and ecological evidence. The remaining Plasmopara species are likely to be paraphyletic with respect to Bremia, Paraperonospora, and Basidiophora. Phytophthora is shown to be paraphyletic with respect to the obligatory biotrophic genera. Evidence for the assumption that obligatory biotrophism arose independently at least twice in Peronosporales is demonstrated.Key words: LSU rDNA, Straminipila, Peronosporomycetes, Peronosporales, downy mildews, Bayesian phylogenetic analysis.

PhilodendronsubgenusMeconostigma has been a well-circumscribed group since 1829. Members of this group are easily distinguished by diagnostic morphological characters as well as by a distinct ecology and geographical distribution. Based on molecular, morphological and cytological evidence, we propose the recognition of P.subg.Meconostigma as a distinct genus, Thaumatophyllum Schott. We also present the necessary new combinations, an emended key and some nomenclatural and taxonomic corrections regarding 21 names of Thaumatophyllum.

Autocrates soni sp. nov. is described from Vietnam based on morphological and molecular evidence. This beetle is characterised by reddish-brown pubescence on its ventral side and much shorter setae on its femora compared to the closely related species Autocrates vitalisi Vuillet, 1912. The validity of this new species is strongly supported by DNA barcode data from all known species of the genus Autocrates.

Sudan's unique biogeographic position at the Afrotropical-Palearctic interface, coupled with the ecological gradient of the Nile River, fosters a diverse odonate fauna. Despite this, the genus Paragomphus Cowley, 1934 remains understudied in the region. This study describes Paragomphus alami sp. nov., a new species of Paragomphus from the White Nile floodplain in Sudan, based on integrated morphological and molecular evidence. Field surveys conducted between 2017 and 2022 documented adult populations across the Sudanese floodplains. Specimens were morphologically analysed using microscopy compared to congeners P. lacustris Karsch, 1890 and P. elpidius Ris, 1921. DNA barcoding (COI gene) was performed on two specimens, with maximum-likelihood phylogenetic reconstruction using 28 sequences of Paragomphus and related species in addition to an outgroup. Mean interspecific genetic distance was computed manually. Morphological comparisons with congeners revealed unique diagnostic traits in P. alami sp. nov., including short, thick cerci ending with a black tooth, and an epiproct that is noticeably shorter than those of P. lacustris and P. elpidius. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that P. alami forms a well-supported monophyletic clade (bootstrap value = 100%), which is corroborated by morphological evidence, and no observed intraspecific variation, which supports the recognition of this species as distinct; this was further supported by the mean interspecific distance of 12.34%. This discovery highlights Sudan's role as a biogeographic crossroads and the need for further research of Odonata in the region. Habitat sensitivity highlights conservation urgency. The species seasonal emergence, habitat specificity, and sensitivity to deforestation underscore its conservation importance.