Adult Male Morphology Research Articles

Advancing into the morphology of female differentiation in the seabob shrimps Xiphopenaeus dincao and X. kroyeri: Insights into the taxonomy

Xiphopenaeus shrimps species are among the main marine organisms exploited in commercial fishing in the Americas. Recent investigations have unveiled a species complex formerly identified as X. kroyeri. Within it, two species coexist along the Brazilian southeastern coast: X. dincao and X. kroyeri. However, their identification currently relies on the morphology of adult males, with no available morphological information enabling the identification of females. We employed an integrative approach to explore morphological traits aiding species discrimination using female morphology. Molecular assessments were conducted for these species’ identification. Morphology, morphometry and computerized tomography were employed to examine the usefulness of thelycum morphology in their identification. Conspicuous differences were observed between X. dincao and X. kroyeri. The analyses showed that thelycum is an informative character for their identification, with the main differences being related to the width and shape of the anterior median protuberance. These results fill the information gap concerning the identification of both species and provide greater precision in future research that requires the correct identification of these shrimps.

Two New Species of Helicopsyche (Feropsyche) Johanson (Trichoptera: Helicopsychidae) from Central Amazon, Brazil

Helicopsyche von Siebold, 1856 is divided into six subgenera, of which two occur in Brazil: H. (Cochliopsyche) with nine spp. and H. (Feropsyche) with 25 spp. Although the latter subgenus is the most species-rich in the country, only three species are known from the Brazilian Amazon. In this study, we describe and illustrate two new species for Central Amazonia, Brazil: Helicopsyche johansoni sp. nov. and Helicopsyche manaos sp. nov. based on the morphology of adult males. In addition, a map with the distribution of the species of this subgenus for the Brazilian Amazon is provided.

Description of a new species of Laelaspis Berlese (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Brazil, with a key to the species of the Western Hemisphere.

Laelaspis loeckii Duarte Moreira sp. nov. is described based on the morphology of adult females and males collected from soil in a survey carried out in southern Brazil, in the temperate Pampa biome. This is the first species of this genus described from this country. A key to the species that have so far been reported from the Western Hemisphere is provided.

Gonad morphology of Rhyacichthys aspro (Valenciennes, 1837), and the diagnostic reproductive morphology of gobioid fishes.

Rhyacichthys aspro is a “basal” taxon in the Suborder Gobioidei of the teleost order Gobiiformes. We provide detailed descriptions of the reproductive morphology of adult males and females to assess the diagnostic reproductive morphological characters of this speciose clade of bony fishes. Female R. aspro are asynchronous spawners: they are able to spawn more than once in a breeding season. Oocytes are inferred to have short attachment filaments. A conspicuous feature of the external anatomy of the reproductive system (RSy) of female R. aspro is an ornate fimbriate pad upon which the urogenital papilla rests. The male reproductive system is characterized by an intralobar collection system in both the testicular and secretory lobes, termed the “sperm‐collecting canal” and “milt‐collecting canal,” respectively. These may provide additional storage for sperm and milt. The spermatogenic lobe, or testis, is that portion of the male gobioid RSy comprising seminiferous lobules and separate from other RSy components. The secretory lobe is that portion of the male gobioid reproductive system that consists of secretory lobules and is separated from other components of the male RSy. The secretory lobe has also been called, in English, the sperm‐duct gland, accessory gonadal structure, or seminal vesicle, and is endorsed as a synapomorphy of gobioid fishes.

First finding of Caprella cf. equilibra say, 1818 (Amphipoda, Caprellidae) in coastal zone south-west of Crimea (Black sea)

Specimens from genus Caprella (Amphipoda, Caprellidae) were revealed in fouling of constructions of oyster sea farm near coastal zone of Sevastopol (Crimea, the Black Sea) in 2018. Morphologically specimens of this species are close to the species C. equilibra Say, 1818. Earlier specimens of this species were not found in the Black Sea. Stable population of this species (adult males, adult females, juvenile specimens) were investigated from 2018 till 2020. Morphology of adult males, adult females including microtrichs was investigated. Information on ecology of this species is present.

A review of neococcid scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha) based on the morphology of the adult males.

The importance of adult male morphology in elucidating the phylogeny of scale insects (Coccomorpha) was first suggested by Balachowsky and Ferris in the late 1930s. However, the first extensive comparisons of adult male morphology were made by Jancke (1955) and Theron (1958), both of whom looked at the morphology of various groups of Coccomorpha. Theron's study, under the guidance of K.L. Boratyński, set a new standard for detail and accuracy (although he did not describe the setae). These studies were closely followed by Beardsley (1962), who described the adult males of 30 mealybug species from Hawaii, and then by three more of Boratyński's students who produced highly significant monographs on particular families, namely Ghauri (1962) who described 26 species of Diaspididae, Giliomee (1967a) who described 22 species of Coccidae and Afifi (1968) who described 17 species of Pseudococcidae and 7 species of Eriococcidae. Since then, the adult males of more than 300 neococcoid species have been described in considerable detail (Appendix A). Adult males of a further 48 species are described or redescribed and illustrated in this monograph (Acanthococcus adenostomae (Ehrhorn), Eriochiton armatus Brittin; Apiomorpha munita tereticornuta Gullan; A. ovicola (Froggatt); A. pharetrata (Schrader); A. rosaeformis (Froggatt); A. spinifer Froggatt; Dactylopius coccus (Costa); Callococcus leptospermi (Maskell); Lachnodius ?eucalypti (Maskell); Tanyscelis verrucula (Froggatt); Beesonia dipterocarpi Green; Parastictococcus brachystegiae (Hall); P. hargreavesi (Vayssière); P. multispinosus (Newstead); Stictococcus intermedius Newstead; S. vayssierei Richard; Conchaspis angraeci Cockerell; C. capensis Linnaeus; C. socialis Green; C. vayssierei Mamet; Leucaspis gigas (Maskell); Labidaspis myersi (Green); Allokermes galliformis (Riley); Kermes shastensis Ehrhorn; Kermes sp.; Tachardina aurantiaca (Cockerell); Tachardiella sp.; Cerococcus artemisiae (Cockerell); Antecerococcus indicus (Maskell); A. ornatus (Green); Bambusaspis delicata (Green); B. longa (Green); Asterolecanium petrophilae (Fuller); Hsuia cheni Borchsenius; Aclerda arundinariae McConnell; A. distorta Green; A. tillandsiae Howell; A. tokionis Cockerell; Aclerda sp. A; Aclerda sp. B; Luzulaspis caricis (Ehrhorn); Akermes scrobiculatus (Maskell); A. pingue (Maskell); Cardiococcus major (Maskell); Ctenochiton serratus Green; C. eucalypti Maskell, and ?Pulvinaria dodonaeae Maskell). This paper summarises the data from all of these descriptions, and provides diagnoses for the adult male morphology for all of the neococcoid families and other taxa discussed here. Because our concept of the "Eriococcidae" remains uncertain, extra attention has been payed to the taxa considered to be most closely involved. At least 1 illustration is included of an adult male of each of the taxa (mainly families) discussed here. Identification keys are provided for most of the males described to-date.

Sperm characterization of the Amazonian freshwater cururu stingray Potamotrygon wallacei (Potamotryogonidae): basic knowledge for reproduction and conservation plans.

This study aimed to describe the morphology and sperm quality of free-living adult males of cururu stingray Potamotrygon wallacei, endemic from the Rio Negro basin, Brazilian Amazon. The sperm was collected in loco from the seminal vesicle region and fixed in buffered saline formaldehyde solution for further evaluation of morphometry, sperm plasma membrane integrity and sperm concentration. The spermatozoa presented a total length of 138.25 ± 1.82 μm with a helical shape and a long head. A high percentage of cells with intact membrane (98 ± 2%) and normal spermatozoa (92 ± 1%) were observed. The cell concentration was 0.34 ± 0.05 × 1010 spermatozoa/ml of semen. These observations are unprecedented for potamotrygonid species and will serve as a basis for future management and conservation strategies.

Molecular phylogeny of Himalopsyche (Trichoptera, Rhyacophilidae)

AbstractSpecies of the genus Himalopsyche (Trichoptera, Rhyacophilidae) inhabit alpine to montane environments in Central and East Asia and North America. Diversity of the genus is concentrated primarily in the Himalayas and surrounding mountain ranges. Phylogenetic hypotheses have hitherto been proposed based on morphological data. Here, we present the first molecular phylogeny of Himalopsyche based on six gene fragments, using three methods of phylogenetic inference. Based on the phylogenetic analyses, we re‐evaluated species groups suggested by previous authors based on adult male morphology. We found that the previously defined groups are largely supported by molecular evidence as well as larval and adult morphology. However, we modify the species groups so that Himalopsyche phryganea and Himalopsyche lepcha constitute monotypic groups, and so that the tibetana group and anomala group sensu Schmid & Botosaneanu are merged to a single group, here defined as the tibetana group. Thus, we propose that Himalopsyche can be divided into five groups: kuldschensis group, lepcha group, navasi group, phryganea group, and tibetana group. We also provide a biogeographic synthesis of Himalopsyche distributions.

Revision of the genera Cyphonethes Verhoeff, 1926 and Titanethes Schioedte, 1849 (Isopoda: Oniscoidea: Trichoniscidae) with a description of a new genus and three new taxa

A taxonomic study of two troglobite genera resulted in remarkable changes to their composition and our perception of their relationship. The genus Titanethes is treated as monotypic, with one newly described taxon, Titanethes albus matovici n. ssp. One species is transferred from Titanethes to the genus Cyphonethes, Cyphonethes biseriatus (Verhoeff, 1900) comb. nov. A species and a genus are synonymized, Microtitanethes licodrensis syn. nov. The diagnosis of the genus Cyphonethes is amended and revised using comparative morphology of adult males. A new species, Cyphonethes tajanus n. sp, is described. A close relationship between the genera Titanethes and Spelaeonethes is established. Cetinjella monasetrii n. g., n. sp, is described as a new genus and species close to the genus Cyphonethes. It is assumed to be a higropetric cave inhabitant, based on its pereopode structure, with elongated fused dactylus and unguis, and partly by its slightly modified mouthparts. Unique water uptake (for the water conducting system) by the dorsal surface of the frontal pereionite is also assumed for the species, based on the presence, distribution and orientation of specific small scales. The presence and structure of male tergal glands in the genus Tithanethes are treated as taxonomically irrelevant.

The eastern Nearctic species Rasvena terna (Frison, 1942) (Plecoptera, Chloroperlidae)

New and prior valid records of the endemic eastern Nearctic species Rasvena terna (Frison, 1942) were compiled and a dot distribution map is provided. Rasvena terna is reported from Canada (Quebec) for the first time. External reproductive morphology of adult males and adult females were studied across this species range. Scanning electron microscopy images of reproductive structures and the larval mandible are presented for the first time.

A new flesh fly species (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) parasitic on leptodactylid frogs.

Here we describe a new species of sarcophagid fly reared from larvae found feeding on three species of leptodactylid frogs collected in subtropical Corrientes Province in northeastern Argentina. Our species description is based on adult male and female external morphology and genitalia. Adult males and females of the new species were associated with certainty because all specimens studied were reared from single clutches of larvae on each of three infested frogs. Thus, adult males and females reared from each clutch were siblings that emerged almost simultaneously. The paper provides line drawings, high-resolution photographs, and SEM images to aid in identifying Lepidodexia (Notochaeta) adelina sp. nov. and to distinguish the new species from its closely related congeners. We include brief notes on the host species and on larval feeding behavior of L. (N.) adelina. This is the first and only species in the genus Lepidodexia reported to parasitize leptodactylid frogs. Further, our observations reported here are the first to fully document a completed life cycle by sarcophagid fly larvae on three different species of leptodactylid frogs and the only well-documented case of myiasis of an amphibian in Argentina.

Phylogeny of the Neotropical genus Gephyrocharax (Characiformes: Characidae: Stevardiinae), with remarks on the tribe Stevardiini

AbstractStevardiinae, which consists of 326 species and 44 genera, is a monophyletic subfamily within the family Characidae. In a recent classification of the subfamily, the tribe Stevardiini was expanded from three (Corynopoma, Gephyrocharax and Pterobrycon) to six genera by the addition of Chrysobrycon, Hysteronotus and Pseudocorynopoma. However, no morphological evidence has supported this definition of the tribe and the monophyly of Gephyrocharax. To address these issues, a phylogenetic study of most stevardiins focusing on Gephyrocharax was conducted. A data matrix including 532 characters and 213 taxa (73 stevardiines, 19 of which were stevardiins) was processed using maximum parsimony in TNT 1.5. All characters were analysed under extended implied weighting, exploring 21 k values. A strict consensus (comprising the most stables trees obtained) was used as the final topology. The results support the current definition of Stevardiini, as well as the monophyly of Chrysobrycon, Gephyrocharax and Pterobrycon. Corynopoma was obtained as the sister group of Gephyrocharax, the latter being phylogenetically diagnosed by two synapomorphies associated with caudal-fin morphology of adult males. The following interspecific relationships within Gephyrocharax are hypothesised: (G. martae ((G. chocoensis (G. major (G. atracaudatus, G. intermedius))) (G. venezuelae (G. sinuensis (G. valencia (G. caucanus (G. melanocheir, G. torresi)))))))).

A new species of Binodacarus (Acari: Mesostigmata: Rhodacaridae), with a new characterization of the genus

A new species of Binodacarus Castilho & Moraes, Binodacarus aceguensis sp. nov., is described based on morphology of adult females and males collected from soil in a survey carried out in the southern of Brazil in 2012–2013, raising to two the number of species known in this genus. The genus is rediagnosed to accommodate the morphological features of the new species.

A new species of Epicriopsis Berlese (Acari: Mesostigmata: Ameroseiidae)from Brazil, with a key to the world species of the genus.

Epicriopsis atuberculatus n. sp. is described, based on the morphology of adult females and males collected from macaúba palms (Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.; Arecaceae) in Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. This is the first species of the genus described from the American continent, from where it has been rarely reported. A key to the world species of Epicriopsis is provided.

The first fossil record of Nandeva Wiedenbrug, Reiss & Fittkau (Diptera: Chironomidae) in early Eocene Fushun amber from China

Giłka, W., Zakrzewska, M., Baranov, V., Wang, B. & Stebner, F., May 2016. The first fossil record of Nandeva Wiedenbrug, Reiss & Fittkau (Diptera: Chironomidae) in early Eocene Fushun amber from China. Alcheringa 40, xxx–xxx. ISSN 0311-5518The first fossil representative of the extant chironomid genus Nandeva Wiedenbrug, Reiss & Fittkau, 1998 is described based on a specimen found in early Eocene (50–53 Ma) Fushun amber from China. The adult male of Nandeva pudens sp. nov. has the long RM vein as a continuation of M and R4+5, the bare squama, the strongly reduced anal area of the wing and hypopygial characters typical of extant species of the genus. Following the systematic concept based on adult male morphology and characters examinable in fossil specimens, we present N. pudens as a possible member of the Tanytarsini, arguing that Nandeva is part of this tribe or a possible sister group to the tribe. This is the first record of Nandeva from the Palaearctic region.Wojciech Giłka [wojciech.gilka@biol.ug.edu.pl] University of Gdańsk, Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland; Marta Zakrzewska [marta.zakrzewska@biol.ug.edu.pl] University of Gdańsk, Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland; Viktor Baranov* [baranov@igb-berlin.de] Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany; Bo Wang† [bowang@nigpas.ac.cn] Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing 210008, PR China; Frauke Stebner [frauke.stebner@uni-bonn.de] University of Bonn, Steinmann-Institute, Section Palaeontology, Nussallee 8, 53115, Bonn, Germany. *Also affiliated with Humboldt University of Berlin, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Geography Department, Rudower Chaussee 16, 12489 Berlin, Germany. †Also affiliated with Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology, Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Beijing 100101, PR China.

Six, not two, species of Acisoma pintail dragonfly (Odonata: Libellulidae).

The dragonfly genus Acisoma is revised based on adult male morphology and COI sequence data. Six species are recognised, including the new species A. attenboroughi sp. nov. Diagnoses and a key to males of all species and illustrations of all relevant characters are provided. A. inflatum, A. variegatum and A. trifidum are confined to continental Africa, while A. panorpoides is restricted to Asia. A. ascalaphoides is known only from threatened littoral forest fragments on the east coast of Madagascar, while A. attenboroughi is widespread across the island. The new species honours Sir David Attenborough on his 90^th birthday.

Description of the larva of Mitosynum vockerothi Campbell, 1982, with remarks on the adult male genital morphology (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Oxytelinae).

The previously unknown larva of Mitosynum vockerothi Campbell, 1982, is described and illustrated. Adult male terminalia and genitalia are illustrated with line drawings. Adults of this species exhibit little difference in size or external morphology between males and females.

A gall mite, Aceria rhodiolae (Acari: Eriophyidae), altering the phytochemistry of a medicinal plant, Rhodiola rosea (Crassulaceae), in the Canadian Arctic

ABSTRACTThe eriophyid mite Aceria rhodiolae (G. Canestrini) is known to induce galls on the flowers and leaves of roseroot, Rhodiola rosea L., in subarctic and alpine regions of Europe. After discovering galls on the inflorescences of roseroot in Nunavik (Québec), northeastern Canada, we examined the mites extracted from the galls and compared them with specimens of A. rhodiolae from Europe. Through morphological analyses, we demonstrate that the mites from galls in Nunavik are conspecific with A. rhodiolae from Europe. We then provide a detailed redescription of the mite species based on the morphology of adult females and males from Canada and Europe, using a combination of standard light microscopy, confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Because roseroot is well-known for its medicinal properties, we tested the hypothesis that roseroot galled by the mite had altered phytochemistry, by using salidroside and rosavins as indicators. Our results show a significant reduction of almost half in salidroside content (45.8%), but not in rosavins. Moreover, because the mite sometimes affects most or all of the inflorescence of R. rosea, it can considerably reduce the production of seeds. We also show that A. rhodiolae is widespread along the Ungava Bay (Nunavik), with 31.5% of 92 sites surveyed having at least a few to numerous plants galled. Given the importance of roseroot as a crop for Inuit communities and as medicinal products used by them and other Canadians, and also in view of the commonness of A. rhodiolae in the Canadian Arctic and its broad distribution in Europe, the impact of the mite and its relationship with roseroot should be examined further in Nunavik and elsewhere.

Elusive ditrysian phylogeny: an account of combining systematized morphology with molecular data (Lepidoptera).

BackgroundDitrysia comprise close to 99 % of all butterflies and moths. The evolutionary relationships among the ditrysian superfamilies have received considerable attention in phylogenetic studies based on DNA and transcriptomic data, but the deepest divergences remain for large parts unresolved or contradictory. To obtain complementary insight into the evolutionary history of the clade, and to test previous hypotheses on the subdivision of Ditrysia based on morphology, we examine the morphology of larvae, pupae and adult males and females of 318 taxa representing nearly all ditrysian superfamilies and families. We present the most comprehensive morphological dataset on Ditrysia to date, consisting of over 500 morphological characters. The data are analyzed alone and combined with sequence data (one mitochondrial and seven nuclear protein-coding gene regions, sequenced from 422 taxa). The full dataset consists of 473 exemplar species. Analyses are performed using maximum likelihood methods, and parsimony methods for the morphological dataset. We explore whether combining morphological data and DNA-data can stabilize taxa that are unstable in phylogenetic studies based on genetic data only.ResultsMorphological characters are found phylogenetically informative in resolving apical nodes (superfamilies and families), but characters serving as evidence of relatedness of larger assemblages are few. Results include the recovery of a monophyletic Tineoidea, Sesioidea and Cossoidea, and a stable position for some unstable taxa (e.g. Epipyropidae, Cyclotornidae, Urodoidea + Schreckensteinioidea). Several such taxa, however, remain unstable even though morphological characters indicate a position in the tree (e.g. Immidae). Evidence supporting affinities between clades are suggested, e.g. a novel larval synapomorphy for Tineidae. We also propose the synonymy of Tineodidae with Alucitidae, syn. nov.ConclusionsThe large morphological dataset provides information on the diversity and distribution of morphological traits in Ditrysia, and can be used in future research on the evolution of these traits, in identification keys and in identification of fossil Lepidoptera. The “backbone” of the phylogeny for Ditrysia remains largely unresolved. As previously proposed as an explanation for the scarcity of molecular signal in resolving the deeper nodes, this may be due to the rapid radiation of Ditrysia in the Cretaceous.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0520-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A review of Norwegian Gymnometriocnemus (Diptera, Chironomidae) including the description of two new species and a new name for Gymnometriocnemusvolitans (Goetghebuer) sensu Brundin.

Examination of the syntypes of Metriocnemus volitans Goetghebuer, 1940 revealed that these specimens belong to the genus Chaetocladius and are not con-specific with Gymnometriocnemus volitans (Goetghebuer, 1940) sensu Brundin (1956) and Sæther (1983). A literature search showed that Gymnometriocnemus kamimegavirgus Sasa & Hirabayashi, 1993 fits well with the species figured and diagnosed by Brundin (1956) as well as with specimens of this species from Norway. We present arguments for Chaetocladius volitans (Goetghebuer) comb. n. and for the use of Gymnometriocnemus kamimegavirgus for Gymnometriocnemus volitans sensu Brundin. In addition, we provide DNA barcode data that indicate the presence of at least seven Gymnometriocnemus species in Norway of which six are collected as male adults. Two of these, Gymnometriocnemus (Gymnometriocnemus) pallidus sp. n. and Gymnometriocnemus (Raphidocladius) autumnalis sp. n. are regarded as new to science and diagnosed based on adult male morphology and DNA barcodes. The species Gymnometriocnemus (Gymnometriocnemus) marionensis Sæther, 1969 is re-established and a key to all Holarctic species is provided.