Distinct Genera Research Articles

Scaling up morphological differentiation of pangolin scales: Serial, ontogenetic and evolutionary variation.

Pangolins are the most heavily trafficked mammals in the world, largely because of the high demand for their keratinous scales from the traditional Chinese medicine market. While seizures of pangolin material are largely composed of isolated scales, efficient approaches to reach species-level identification are missing. This mostly originates from the lack of comparative studies on the shape of pangolin scales, resulting in knowledge gaps on the imbricated effects of serial, ontogenetic, and evolutionary variations. Using a large sample of micro-CT scan data, we performed the first quantitative 3D analysis of scale shape variation among the eight species of extant pangolins. Our geometric morphometric approach suggests that pangolins grossly share similar trends of serial variation, with scale shape and size being similarly distinct across the different body regions. Relative elongation is by far the main component of scale shape variation at the intraspecific level, although degree of asymmetry and shape of scale bed area also allow distinction among different body areas, especially in adults. At the evolutionary level, Phataginus is the most distinctive genus, with Pseudacteon tricuspis having the most elongated scales overall. Scales of the back (dorsum) appear to be the best discriminator between species, providing one of the few scale shape differences recorded between the genera Smutsia and Manis. Our results provide an unprecedented, upstream understanding of broad differentiation patterns across the scaled body of pangolins. Together with other yet-to-be-explored morphological traits (e.g., scale size, ornamentation, and thickness), scale shape could provide a valuable matrix of information for forensic applications.

Attraction of Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) to selected gut microbiota supernatants: implications for pest control.

Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) is a distructive quarantine insect pest that causes significant economic losses on cucurbit crops. To explore a green control approach, we investigated the behavioral responses of B. cucurbitae larvae and adults to bacterial suspensions, sediments, and supernatants derived from eight gut microbial strains across four distinct genera. The proboscis extension response was used to evaluate the impact of these microbial strains. In addition, using food selection experiments, two-choice trap methods, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we isolated and identified the predominant volatile compounds in the microbiota supernatants. Among the tested gut microbial strains, Kluyvera, Morganella, and Providencia exhibited notable attraction toward B. cucurbitae. In particular, the supernatant of Providencia M38 revealed the most highly attractive effect on B. cucurbitae larvae, whereas the supernatant of Morganella M72 was highly attractive to B. cucurbitae adults. Primary components present in the supernatant of M38 and M72 were dimethyl disulfide, indole, 2-nonone, phenethyl alcohol, and 1-decanol. Strains of M38 and M72 displayed remarkable attractive properties for B. cucurbitae larvae and adults, respectively, presenting promising potential for developing a novel attractant for this pest species. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Legacy Effects of Cropping System and Precipitation Influence the Core Camelina sativa Microbiome

Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) is a potential biofuel crop and beneficial rotation crop in dryland cropping systems. Little is known about camelina microbiota or the legacy effect of soil origin/cropping system zones on camelina-associated microbiome assembly. To explore camelina-microbe associations, we grew camelina in the greenhouse using soil transplanted from 33 locations in the dryland wheat production area of eastern Washington. Bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities from bulk soil, rhizosphere and endosphere were characterized with 16S rRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing and were analyzed alongside site-specific climatic and edaphic data. We found soil from the highest precipitation zone had higher alpha diversity than soil from the driest zone, but this effect was not seen in the greenhouse rhizosphere or endosphere. Plant compartment, cropping system zone, and soil origin all significantly influenced microbial composition with soil pH and organic matter as well as precipitation at origin as major predictors. Analysis of abundance-occupancy distributions suggests that camelina selects for several different Actinobacteria (though distinct genera in the rhizosphere and endosphere). Rhizobium, and Clostridium. Sphingomonas ASVs were also consistently enriched in the rhizosphere, suggesting that they are present in soils collected throughout eastern Washington and may represent good candidate biostimulants. Several lignin decomposing fungi had site-specific rhizospheric distributions suggesting that they may be dispersal-limited or result from the legacy effect of long-term wheat cropping. Overall, this study contributes to our understanding of microbiome assembly in and on camelina roots while also highlighting the potential impact of cropping history on soil and plant-associated microbiomes.

Tolerance and Biodegradation of High Concentration of Phenol by a Bacterial Consortium Enriched From the Hurricane Ida Sediment

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to measure the efficiency of a bacterial consortium's ability to degrade high concentrations of phenol. The consortium was obtained from sediment that was deposited on the residential properties in southeastern Louisiana after Hurricane Ida in August 2021. A bacterial consortium was developed through an enrichment technique that used phenol as the sole carbon source. Phenol degradation followed a concentration gradient. The consortium was able to remove more than 95% of phenol within 14 days when the phenol concentration was 100 mg/L. However, phenol degradation efficiency decreased when the phenol concentration was increased in the culture medium. The consortium removed 30% of phenol at the highest concentration tested, 1000 mg/L, within 14 days. However, when the incubation time was extended to 70 days, 98% phenol removal was observed in the highest concentration of phenol tested of 1000 mg/L. The consortium was dominated by three distinct phyla and nine distinct genera. The dominant phylum was represented by proteobacteria, and the dominant genus in the consortium was Shigella. The consortium removed phenol via the β‐ketoadipate pathway with the production of the following metabolites: cis, cis‐muconic acid, succinate, and fumarate. The novelty of this study was the high tolerance of phenol concentration of 1000 mg/L by the bacterial consortium and its ability to degrade phenol without a lag phase. This is one of the highest phenol concentrations reported in the literature. This consortium may be useful in the removal of high concentrations of phenol from the environment.

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Tick Species Infesting Cattle in South Africa.

Ticks are a significant threat to livestock globally, with certain species displaying distinct host preferences at various developmental stages. Accurate species-level identification is essential for studying tick populations, implementing control strategies, and understanding disease dynamics. This study evaluated ticks infesting cattle across six provinces in South Africa using morphological and molecular methods. Ticks were preserved, examined morphologically using an Olympus Digital Camera Microscope, and identified using the 16S rRNA gene. The study identified four genera, namely Amblyomma, Hyalomma, Ixodes, and Rhipicephalus, comprising 15 ixodid species. Amblyomma hebraeum was the most prevalent species, with an infestation rate of 54.4%. Molecular analysis revealed genetic relationships among tick species, with genetic distances ranging from 0.00 to 0.13, and phylogenetic analysis clustered species into distinct genera with high bootstrap support. Principal Component Analysis highlighted clear genetic relatedness among species. These findings enhance our understanding of tick diversity, morphology, and distribution in South Africa's cattle populations, emphasizing their economic significance. The study provides critical baseline data for monitoring and developing effective strategies to manage tick-borne diseases, ensuring improved livestock health and productivity.

Genetic Profiling of Raoultella spp. in Pediatric Clinical Samples: Insights from Bauchi, North East Nigeria

Background: Raoultella species, are gram-negative bacteria of Enterobacteriaceae family, originally classified under Klebsiella, were reclassified in 2001 as a distinct genus. Members have emerged as notable pathogens, mostly in hospitalized and immunocompromised patients. Though once considered opportunistic, Raoultella spp. are now linked to various infections, including bacteremia, urinary tract infections, and neonatal sepsis, with antibiotic-resistant strains posing significant challenges in clinical settings. The true prevalence of Raoultella infections may be underreported due to diagnostic challenges, making early identification crucial for improved management in high-risk populations, particularly pediatrics. Raoultella species, emerging pathogens are increasingly linked to pediatric and neonatal infections in clinical settings. Aim: isolation and accurate identification of Raoultella species from pediatric clinical samples to address challenges in identification and genetic characterization. Study Design: This is a prospective, cross-sectional study involving pediatrics aged 0-5 years. Place and Duration of Study: Pioneering study in Bauchi, North-East Nigeria, from August 2021 to January 2022. Methodology: Samples from 262 pediatric patients with septicemia symptoms were processed at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH). The VITEK 2 Compact system was used for initial identification, while PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene confirmed Raoultella species. The genomic DNA of identified isolates underwent sequence and bioinformatics analysis. Results: The phylogenetic tree constructed using the 16S rRNA sequences of the isolates and reference strains visually represent the genetic relationships. The high homology observed in the sequence alignment is reflected in the phylogenetic clustering, with isolates RoP_2 (PQ213811), RoP_3 (PQ213812), and RoP_4 (PQ213813) grouping closely with known Raoultella planticola strains. This close genetic relationship further supports the species identification suggested by the gel electrophoresis and homology data. However, RoP_1 (PQ213810), identified as Proteus mirabilis through BLAST analysis of its 16S rRNA sequence, shows slightly lower homology with Raoultella planticola reference strains. In the phylogenetic tree, RoP_1 is positioned slightly apart from the other isolates, indicating some genetic variability. This discrepancy suggests that while RoP_1 shares characteristics with Raoultella, the distinct genetic makeup warrants further investigation to confirm its identification as R. planticola or otherwise. Conclusion: The phylogenetic analysis supports the identification of isolates RoP_2, RoP_3, and RoP_4 as Raoultella planticola, showing close genetic relationships. However, RoP_1 exhibits genetic variability, clustering separately and aligning more closely with Proteus mirabilis, suggesting the need for further investigation to confirm its species identification.

Merging Ajaniopsis (Asteraceae), an endangered genus endemic to the Tibet Plateau, into Artemisia: Implications for systematics and conservation

AbstractAjaniopsis is a monotypic genus of Asteraceae endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, growing on alpine scree slopes. It has been widely recognized as a separate genus and employed in many evolutionary and ecological analyses for its unique morphological characters. Despite being treated as an endangered species and once included in lists of key protected plant species, its systematic position has never been critically evaluated in a phylogenetic context. Furthermore, neither its past nor future distributional range has been assessed or predicted. In this study, we undertook morphological and molecular investigations to elucidate its systematics, and employed niche modeling to evaluate its historical, current, and potential future distributional range. Our phylogenetic analyses, based on the plastid genome and two nuclear DNA regions, show that Ajaniopsis is deeply nested in the mega‐diverse genus Artemisia. Morphological analysis indicates that its unique characters are also present in many distantly related species of Artemisia, implying significant convergent evolution. Consequently, Ajaniopsis can be reduced into Artemisia rather than being considered a distinct genus. Niche modeling reveals that its distributional range underwent a dramatic contraction ca. 3.3 Ma and is likely to continue shrinking in the future. This dramatic range contraction might be associated with climate changes and human activities in its unique habitat. Therefore, immediate in situ conservation is imperative for this critically endangered species, necessitating the establishment of a nature reserve on the Tibetan Plateau. Our studies highlight that it is beneficial to explore the evolutionary history of endangered species in detail when drafting conservation strategies.

A phylogenetic analysis and new delimitation of the Neotropical genus Werneria (Compositae, Senecioneae)

AbstractThe genus Werneria was first described from six species found in the northern Andes in 1818 by Karl S. Kunth. By 1970 the number of species increased to around 50. Werneria is mostly distributed in the Andean highlands with a single species, W. nubigena, reaching as far as southern Chiapas, Mexico. Today, the genus Werneria encompasses 28 species with its center of diversity located in Peru and Bolivia. It is defined, in part, by having involucral bracts fused at least halfway and lacking a well‐developed calyculus at the base of the head. Further research indicated that there was considerable variability between Werneria species, and several species were transferred into the related genera Anticona, Misbrookea, Senecio, and Xenophyllum. Recently, it has been brought to light that the type of the genus Werneria is W. rigida, an effective lectotypification made by Rockhausen that previous authors working on this group overlooked. Since W. rigida has been accepted so far as a member of the genus Xenophyllum, Rockhausen's typification has resulted in: (1) Xenophyllum a superfluous name for Werneria; (2) Werneria a name to be applied to the species treated thus far as Xenophyllum; and (3) describing the new genus Rockhausenia to place the “traditional” Werneria species. Instead of proposing to conserve the name Werneria to avoid the aforementioned undesirable disruptions in the interest of nomenclatural stability, 30 new combinations have been made. Herein, we present the first comprehensive phylogenetic study based on ITS, trnL, ndhF, matK, and psbA sequence data involving 29 out of the 51 known species of Werneria and Xenophyllum (including the monotypic genus Misbrookea). The results indicate that: (1) the treatment of Misbrookea as a distinct genus is well supported; and (2) Werneria and Xenophyllum are each clearly not monophyletic. This, in addition to the fact that there are no diagnostic morphological synapomorphies to support either of the two genera, suggests treating them as members of a single genus. Moreover, the type of W. subg. Anactis appears to be nested in the genus Senecio. The three species belonging to this subgenus are accordingly transferred to Senecio. Finally, two subgenera are here proposed for facilitating species identification: (1) W. subg. Werneria, including species previously treated under Xenophyllum; (2) W. subg. Rockhausenia comb. & stat. nov., including the “traditional” Werneria species centered around W. nubigena.

Two remarkable new species of the Australian moth genus Gallaba Walker (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae, Notodontinae) from the highlands of Tasmania.

The distinctive notodontine moth genus Gallaba Walker, 1865 is confined to eastern and southern Australia where multiple species inhabit forests, woodlands and heathlands from sea level to montane forests of at least 1650m. The continental island of Tasmania supports four Gallaba species (including these two new endemics) at the current global southern limit of Notodontidae. Two distinctive new species are described from montane and subalpine Tasmania: Gallaba constellata sp. nov. and Gallaba kirkpatricki sp. nov. Both exhibit distinctive phenotypes including extraordinarily long rami in the male antennae, but their phylogenetic relationships to the rest of the genus must await a full revision of Gallaba and allied genera. We find no evidence for earlier claims that G. duplicata Walker, 1865 occurs in Tasmania. It was likely confused with the phenotypically similar Hobartina amblyiodes (Turner, 1931) and we remove it from the Tasmanian checklist. Biological information about Gallaba is very limited, but we have discovered that the larva of Gallaba kirkpatricki sp. nov. feeds on the pandaniform tall shrub Richea pandanifolia (Ericaceae: Epacridoideae). The Ericaceae is a novel hostplant family for Australian Notodontinae, although it is sparingly used by notodontines in tropical Asia. The mesic habitat and foodplants of these species are vulnerable to fire risk in montane areas which has been increasing rapidly in frequency and extent in recent years due to drying of the environment caused by climate change.

Phylogenomics reveals a new generic delimitation of Asian Millettia, with reinstatements of Pongamia and Otosema (Fabaceae: Millettieae)

The generic relationships within the core Millettieae have not been well resolved to date. Millettia is considered one of the most problematic genera to classify within the core Millettieae, with approximately 150 species found in Asia and Africa. Recent molecular evidence has indicated that Millettia is highly polyphyletic. In this study, we utilized plastomes and single-copy nuclear genes from genome skimming sequencing to reconstruct the generic relationships and estimate the divergence time for the core Millettieae, focusing on the Asian species of Millettia. Our results revealed a broader circumscription of the core Millettieae with the inclusion of the Phaseoleae subtribe Ophrestiinae, consisting of 7 clades and 14 subclades within two main groups (canavanine and non-canavanine). The Asian species of Millettia were grouped into three distinct, well-supported subclades, leading us to propose a much narrower generic concept of Millettia, along with the reinstatements of the genera Pongamia and Otosema. Millettia s.str. was restricted to include only seven species. Pongamia was recognized as a medium-sized genus that includes Fordia and Ibatiria, with approximately 56 species. Otosema, usually treated as a subgenus or section of Millettia, was resurrected as a distinct genus with three species. Our findings also indicated that the sampled African Millettia species belong to three subclades distinct from the Asian Millettia subclades, warranting further investigation in future studies. The dating result showed that the early rapid diversification of the core Millettieae during the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum involved several major problematic genera, including Derris s.lato, Lonchocarpus s.lato, and Millettia s.lato, which may explain why these plant groups are difficult to classify. These results offer new insights into the phylogeny and taxonomy of the core Millettieae.

Challenges in the Vespertilionidae phylogeny: resolving Pipistrellus nathusii placement and affirming generic status for Asian pipistrelles

Abstract Vespertilionidae is a species-rich family of bats that experienced rapid diversification events and contains many morphologically conserved taxa, resulting in challenges to taxonomic and phylogenetic resolution for members of this family. One example of a challenging group is the pipistrelles, which several studies have recovered as paraphyletic. Pipistrellus nathusii is noteworthy for being recovered either as sister to other European Pipistrellus species, more closely related to Nyctalus, or sister to the clade comprising Nyctalus and European Pipistrellus species. Using a core data set of 6 nuclear introns, and an extended data set of 10 nuclear introns, we employ multiple independent phylogenetic methods that are robust in the presence of incomplete lineage sorting or hybridization to resolve the placement of P. nathusii. In addition, our data confirm the distinction of the Asian Pipistrelle taxa which form a distinct genus sister to the clade comprising Vansonia, Pipistrellus, and Nyctalus.

An unusual new ophiuroid (Echinodermata) from the Late Ordovician (early Katian) of Morocco

A distinctive new genus and species of the subphylum Asterozoa, Componaster spurius n. gen., n. sp., is described from the Late Ordovician (early Katian) of Morocco. Construction of the ambulacral column is considered key to delineation of classes of the subphylum Asterozoa: morphology and configuration of the mouth frame, axial (ambulacral series), and adaxial (lateral series) enable class-level assignment of C. spurius n. gen., n. sp. to the Ophiuroidea Gray, 1840. However, overall form and aspects of extraxial skeletal expression from beyond the ambulacral column are strongly reminiscent of expressions of the Asteroidea de Blainville, 1830. The character complex of C. spurius n. gen., n. sp. precludes its alignment with any available ophiuran ordinal concept, and available data do not justify proposal of new ordinal terminology: the species is left incertae sedis at the ordinal level but a new familial taxon, Componasteridae n. fam., is recognized. Although Late Ordovician, the complex morphology of Componaster spurius n. gen., n. sp. suggests either plesiomorphic expressions from asterozoan diversification surviving until the Katian or significant homoplasy during early ­asterozoan history.

Isolation, characterization, and receptor-binding protein specificity of phages PAS7, PAS59 and PAS61 infecting Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O103 and O146

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a foodborne pathogen with 6,534 annual reported cases in the EU in 2021. This pathotype generally contains strains with smooth LPS with O-antigen serogroup O157 being the predominant serogroup in the US. However, non-O157 STEC serogroups are becoming increasingly prevalent. Here we announce the complete genomes of three newly isolated phages that infect STEC serogroups O103 and O146, namely Escherichia phages vB_EcoP_PAS7, vB_EcoP_PAS59 and vB_EcoP_PAS61. The genome sequences revealed that they belong to three distinct genera, namely the newly proposed genus Cepavirus within the Slopekvirinae subfamily, the genus Suseptimavirus and the genus Uetakevirus, respectively. We identified the tailspikes of phages PAS7 and PAS61 as a primary specificity determinant for the O-antigens O103 and O146, respectively, and predicted their active site in silico.

Wētā Aotearoa-Polyphyly of the New Zealand Anostostomatidae (Insecta: Orthoptera).

The Anostostomatidae of Aotearoa New Zealand are well-characterized at the genus and species level, but the higher-level systematics of the family as a whole remain poorly resolved. We tested the hypothesis that the New Zealand anaostostomatid fauna consists of a single monophyletic group consistent with a single common ancestor. For phylogenetic analysis, we sampled the genera in Aotearoa New Zealand as well as representatives of the family from Australia and New Caledonia. Maximum likelihood analyses including topological comparison statistics with a DNA alignment of thirteen mitochondrial and four nuclear protein coding genes rejected the monophyly of lineages in New Zealand. We found phylogenetic support for four separate New Zealand lineages; three with their closest relatives in Australia and one in New Caledonia. The New Zealand genus Hemiandrus is paraphyletic and the establishment of a morphologically distinct genus is justified. We determined that six of the valid species previously placed in Hemiandrus form a distinct clade that we designated here as Anderus gen. nov. The putative Hemiandrus that we sampled from Australia was sister to neither of the New Zealand lineages.

Molecular systematics of chinchilla rats and taxonomic assessment of the Abrocoma cinerea species complex

Abstract Chinchilla rats (family Abrocomidae) are hystricomorph rodents primarily inhabiting the central Andes in South America with 8 species in the genus Abrocoma and 2 in Cuscomys. The systematics of this family—relying only on morphological differences—has faced several controversies, particularly in arid-adapted species of Abrocoma (the A. cinerea species complex, or ACC). By using partial DNA sequences of 1 mitochondrial (Cytochrome b) and 2 nuclear genes (GHR and RAG1), we: (i) inferred phylogenetic relationships between 5 species of Abrocoma and 1 of Cuscomys; (ii) performed molecular species-delimitation analyses in 4 species of the ACC (A. cinerea, A. famatina, A. schistacea, and A. uspallata); and (iii) estimated divergence times using stratigraphic ages of extinct taxa. Our phylogenetic analyses recovered 3 main clades: A. bennettii (basal); C. ashaninka; and the ACC. Striking differences in habitat use, morphology, and genetics suggest that each of these main clades might represent a distinct genus. In species-delimitation analyses in the ACC, only 2 species were recognized, and we thus suggest the synonymy of A. famatina with A. cinerea and of A. uspallata with A. schistacea. The origin of extant abrocomids was estimated at the late Miocene (~5.6 million years ago, Ma) with the subsequent origin of arboreal species during the early Pliocene (~4.3 Ma) and the ACC during the late Pliocene (~3.3 Ma). We hypothesize that topographic uplift of the central Andes and associated climatic and ecological changes were the main drivers of diversification in this family.

Unraveling Evolutionary Dynamics: Comparative Analysis of Chloroplast Genome of Cleomella serrulata from Leaf Extracts

Cleomella serrulata is a native flowering plant found in North America. Even though this plant is of ecological and native medicinal importance, very little is known about the genomic makeup of Cleomella and the Cleomaceae family at large. Here, we report the complete chloroplast genome of Cleomella serrulata and provide an evolutionary comparison to other chloroplast genomes from Cleomaceae and closely related families. This study not only confirms the taxonomic placement of Cleomella as a distinct genus, but also provides phylogenetic insights that imply potential adaptive strategies and evolutionary mechanisms driving the genomic diversity of the Cleomella genus. Whole-genome-based and ANI comparisons indicate that the Cleomella species form a distinct clade that is about equidistant from the other Cleomaceae genera as it is from the genera from the nearby Capparaceae and Brassicaceae. This is the first complete chloroplast-based phylogenetic comparison of Cleomella species to other related genera and helps refine the complex taxonomic distinctions of Cleomaceae.

A new species of Platypterygius (Ophthalmosauridae) from the lower Barremian of Colombia and assessment of the species composition of the genus

In this paper, we describe a new ophthalmosaurid specimen found in the lower Barremian beds of the Paja Formation at Villa de Leiva, Boyacá, Colombia. The specimen represents a new species of Platypterygius, P. elsuntuoso sp. nov. defined by three unique features within the genus: a small ventral peg in the anterior ventral border of the extracondylar area of the basioccipital; a supratemporal groove in the quadrate; and a shallow neck at the base of the acellular cementum ring on the teeth root. In support of our taxonomic determination, in this contribution we also assess the species composition of the genus Platypterygius, comparing the known anatomy of the type species P. platydactylus with that of the other species previously assigned to the genus. We found that a great morphological affinity in the forelimb of the species P. americanus, P. australis, P. hercynicus, and P. sachicarum (lower Barremian to lower Cenomanian) with that of the type species (Aptian) is unquestionable and differentiate them from all other ophthalmosaurids. Three new diagnostic features (synapomorphies of the genus) support their inclusion in Platypterygius. Consequently, the genus name “Kyhytysuka”, recently proposed to differentiate P. sachicarum from the genus Platypterygius is here rejected. A careful comparison of the cranial characteristics of Platypterygius specimens preserving associated cranial and fin remains demonstrate that Platypterygius is a genus distinguishable from other ophthalmosaurids not only by a typical forelimb but also by a particular combination of skull features. In this context, the skull morphology of “Simbirskiasaurus” concurs with that defining Platypterygius and its minor differences are not sufficient to support its generic distinction. The morphological comparisons and our phylogenetic analysis show the new species P. elsuntuoso more closely related to the Colombian species P. sachicarum than to other species of Platypterygius. Given that the new species came from the lower Barremian and P. sachicarum came from the upper Barremian, the minor differences in dentition found between the two species suggest a speciation by adaptation to new food sources in the Cretaceous epicontinental sea of Colombia.

Mitochondrial phylogenomics reveals the sister relationship between the endogean Mediterranean raymondionymine weevils and the remaining 51,000+ Curculionidae (Coleoptera)

The tribe Raymondionymini has long been neglected in phylogenetic studies. The tribe is characterized by uncertain monophyly, fluctuating taxonomic status, and a composition prone to instability. All raymondionymine weevils are wingless and have eyes either completely absent or, rarely, consisting of a single ommatidium. With body lengths predominantly below three millimeters, they inhabit deep soil environments and are infrequently collected. The core of this tribe comprises nine genera distributed in Europe and around the Mediterranean region and encompassing 76 species, while six additional genera include 17 species distributed in USA (California), Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, Russian Far East, and Madagascar. Here, we present eight new mitogenomes, complemented by one publicly available, encompassing all but two Mediterranean genera of raymondionymine weevils. We used publicly available Curculionoidea mitogenomes to compile an all-inclusive dataset with 391 terminals and a reduced dataset with 61 terminals representing main families of Curculionoidea and subfamilies within Curculionidae. Our maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses, employing both DNA and amino acids datasets under alternative partition schemes, consistently produced congruent phylogenies. Our results show that the Mediterranean raymondionymines form a strongly supported clade, and their easternmost and morphologically distinct genus Ubychia is sister to the rest of them. Most notably, our results consistently recover a sister relationship between the clade of Mediterranean raymondionymine weevils and a clade encompassing all remaining Curculionidae. Consequently, we propose a revision of weevil taxonomy: (i) Our target group is removed from the non-monophyletic subfamily Brachycerinae; (ii) this clade is resurrected to its former subfamily level within Curculionidae, as the subfamily Raymondionyminaestat. rev; (iii) the nine Mediterranean genera Alaocephala, Alaocyba, Coiffaitiella, Derosasius, Ferreria, Raymondiellus, Raymondionymus, Tarattostichus, and Ubychia compose Raymondionyminaestat. rev; (iv) and non-Mediterranean genera Alaocybites, Bordoniola, Gilbertiola, Homosomus, Neoubychia, and Schizomicrus are considered as “incertae sedis” pending further phylogenetic corroboration. We hypothesize that the remaining Brachycerinae and the non-Mediterranean representatives within Raymondionyminae constitute a series of species-poor early-diverging lineages representing currently unrecognized subfamilies of Curculionidae.

Tscherskia ningshaanensis: A neglected species based on phylogenetic and taxonomic analysis of Tscherskia and Cansumys (Cricetidae, Rodentia)

The greater long-tailed hamster is primarily distributed in North Korea, Siberia (Russia), and central and northern China, while the Gansu hamster is restricted to southern Gansu Province, China. The genera Tscherskia and Cansumys have each been considered monotypic. The taxonomic status of these two genera has long been debated, and the specific status of T. ningshaanensis has also been contentious. Researchers have variously treated T. ningshaanensis as a subspecies of either T. triton or Can. canus. In this study, we estimated the phylogeny, divergence times, species delimitation, and biogeographical history of T. ningshaanensis by using one mitochondrial (CYT B) and three nuclear loci (GHR, IRBP, and RAG1) and compared the external and skull morphology variations between T. ningshaanensis and T. triton. The results showed that: 1) The genus Cansumys is a distinct genus in Cricetinae; 2) The notion that the genus Tscherskia is a monotypic genus is unsupported, T. ningshaanensis and T. triton were identified within this genus; and 3) The formation of T. ningshaanensis may have been driven by uplift of the Qinling Mountains. We conclude that T. ningshaanensis is a valid species within the subfamily Cricetinae.

Phylotranscriptomic analyses reveal the evolutionary complexity of Paris L. (Melanthiaceae), a morphologically distinctive genus with significant pharmaceutical importance.

Previous phylogenetic studies on the pharmaceutically significant genus Paris (Melanthiaceae) have consistently revealed substantial cytonuclear discordance, yet the underlying mechanism responsible for this phenomenon remains elusive. This study aims to reconstruct a robust nuclear backbone phylogeny and elucidate the potential evolutionarily complex events contributing to previously observed cytonuclear discordance within Paris. Based on a comprehensive set of nuclear low-copy orthologous genes obtained from transcriptomic data, the intrageneric phylogeny of Paris, along with its phylogenetic relationships to allied genera were inferred, using coalescent and concatenated approaches. The analysis of gene tree discordance and reticulate evolution, in conjunction with an incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) simulation, was conducted to explore potential hybridization and ILS events in the evolutionary history of Paris and assess their contribution to the discordance of gene trees. The nuclear phylogeny unequivocally confirmed the monophyly of Paris and its sister relationship with Trillium, while widespread incongruences in gene trees were observed at the majority of internal nodes within Paris. The reticulate evolution analysis identified five instances of hybridization events in Paris, indicating that hybridization events might have recurrently occurred throughout the evolutionary history of Paris. In contrast, the ILS simulations revealed that only two internal nodes within sect. Euthyra experienced ILS events. Our data suggest that the previously observed cytonuclear discordance in the phylogeny of Paris can primarily be attributed to recurrent hybridization events, with secondary contributions from infrequent ILS events. The recurrent hybridization events in the evolutionary history of Paris not only drove lineage diversification and speciation but also facilitated morphological innovation, and enhanced ecological adaptability. Therefore, artificial hybridization has great potential for breeding medicinal Paris species. These findings significantly contribute to our comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary complexity of this pharmaceutically significant plant lineage, thereby facilitating effective exploration and conservation efforts.