Full Species Rank Research Articles

The missing piece of the puzzle solved: Heteronebo Pocock, 1899 (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) occurs at Isla de Pinos, Cuba

The diplocentrine scorpion genus Heteronebo Pocock, 1899 is recorded herein for the first time from Isla de Pinos, southwestern Cuba. A total of 15 specimens of Heteronebo bermudezi (Moreno, 1938) were collected in two nearby localities of the southern coast of the island, where it occurs in exactly the same habitat previously known for this species in Guanahacabibes Peninsula and two cays of Canarreos Archipelago. The allegedly polytypic status of this species is also revised and full species rank is restored to the subspecies Heteronebo bermudezi morenoi (Armas, 1973). An updated distribution map of H. bermudezi is provided.

The diaptomid fauna of Israel (Copepoda, Calanoida, Diaptomidae), with notes on the systematics of Arctodiaptomus similis (Baird, 1859) and Arctodiaptomus irregularis Dimentman & Por, 1985 stat. rev

To date, only scarce information is available about the diaptomid copepods of the Middle East despite the ecological and biogeographical importance of the family Diaptomidae in the inland waters of the Holarctic region. Moreover, the taxonomic status of some of the taxa occurring in the area is in need of revision. We studied crustaceans collected from temporary and permanent lentic water bodies in Israel with the aim of providing an updated census of the diaptomid copepods occurring in the country. Furthermore, we morphologically and genetically analysed samples of Arctodiaptomus similis s.l. to shed light on its taxonomy. Five diaptomid taxa were collected during this survey. Among these, Phyllodiaptomus blanci is new for the country and the whole circum-Mediterranean area and might be an allochthonous species of eastern origin. Within the collected samples, we singled out two parapatric groups of populations within A. similis s.l.; these consistently differ both based on morphology (chaetotaxy of the left male antennule) and molecular data (divergence over 17% at the mitochondrial gene for the cytochrome b). We thus attribute the full species rank to Arctodiaptomus irregularis Dimentman & Por, 1985 stat. rev., originally described as a subspecies of the widespread species Arctodiaptomus similis (Baird, 1859). We critically evaluated all species hitherto reported for Israeli inland waters. Considering both the confirmed literature data and the new findings, Israeli diaptomid fauna is composed of at least seven species. However, the need for further surveys in the Middle East and for detailed systematic revisions of some controversial taxa is stressed. Our results on the systematics of A. similis s.l. illustrate the importance of implementing molecular analyses when investigating diversity patterns of groups which are difficult to resolve based on morphology alone.

The maculosus group of the genus Celaenorrhinus Hübner, 1819 from China, with discovery of female C. kuznetsovi Devyatkin, 2000 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Pyrginae).

The maculosus group of the genus Celaenorrhinus from China is reviewed, in which 7 species are treated. Taiwanese maculosus taiwanus is reinstated to full species rank. The hitherto unknown female of C. kuznetsovi, as well as the female genitalia of C. maculosus and C. major are described. Adults and genitalia are illustrated, and a brief description of each species is given. A Key to the Chinese species of the maculosus group is provided.

Notes on two species of the cavernicolous subgenus Neobisium (Blothrus) Schiödte, 1847 (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) from Transylvania (Romania), with a key to the species of the Carpathian Mountains.

Redescriptions of Neobisium (Blothrus) minutum (Tömösváry, 1882) and N. (B.) brevipes (Frivaldszky, 1865) are given, accompanied by new illustrations. Neobisium (B.) brevipes montanum is elevated to full species rank as N. (B.) montanum Beier, 1939. New records of N. (B.) minutum and N. (B.) brevipes from Romania are presented. A key to the members of the subgenus Blothrus occurring in the Carpathian Mountains is provided.

New species of the genus Zeuxo (Peracarida, Tanaidacea)

Two new species ofZeuxoTempleton, 1840 are described, one from Korea (Z. koreaensis), belonging to theZ. normani(Richardson, 1905) species complex, and one from Turkey (Z. turkensis). Two otherZeuxospecies (Z. exsargassoSieg, 1980 andZ. holdichiBamber, 1990) are redescribed. The speciesZ. paranormaniSieg, 1980 is demoted to a junior synonym ofZ. normani, while the ‘Zeuxo normani’ from Australia is raised to full species rank under the nameZ. edgari.

Revisiting the octopicolid copepods (Octopicolidae: Octopicola Humes, 1957): comparative morphology and an updated key to species

A review of the present state of knowledge on the octopicolid copepods (Octopicolidae: Octopicola Humes, 1957) is presented. Characteristic morphological features are illustrated with scanning electron micrographs of Octopicola superba superba Humes, 1957. Comparative morphology analysis led to the conclusion that there is sufficient evidence to justify raising the two subspecies of O. superba to full species rank. A new identification key for the four species of Octopicola Humes, 1957, i.e. O. superba Humes, 1957, O. antillensis Stock, Humes & Gooding, 1963, O. stocki Humes, 1963 and O. regalis Humes, 1974, is proposed after evaluation of the morphological characters which vary more markedly between them. Among other characters, these species differ in the ornamentation of the third antennal segment, maxilla and male maxilliped. They are further distinguished by a combination of several character states concerning the fifth pedigerous somite.

Reinstatement of <I>Dermacentor kamshadalus</I> Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae) as a Valid Species Parasitizing Mountain Goats and Sheep in the United States, Canada, and Russia

Reexamination of Dermacentor albipictus (Packard, 1869) holdings stored in the United States National Tick Collection revealed several collections of a morphologically distinct Dermacentor species. Comparison of these specimens with other Dermacentor taxa showed that they are identical to an old taxon originally described as Dermacentor variegatus kamshadalus Neumann, 1908. For more than a century, this taxon was known only from the male holotype specimen collected in Russia, and the name was considered a junior synonym of D. albipictus. D. kamshadalus is reinstated here to a full species rank, and its male is redescribed and its female and nymph are described for the first time. Adults of D. kamshadalus can be distinguished from those of D. albipictus by a short spur on trochanters I, shorter spurs on coxae I, shorter dorsal cornua, more numerous perforations on spiracular plates, less numerous and shorter setae on idiosoma, especially around spiracular plates, and considerably paler coloration of the conscutum and scutum. The nymph of D. kamshadalus can be differentiated from that of D. albipictus by shorter spurs on coxae I and the numerous perforations on the spiracular plates. Adults and nymphs ofD. kamshadalus are recorded from the United States, Canada, and Russia, where they have been collected from mountain goats, Oreamnos americanus (de Blainville), bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis Shaw, and sheep, Ovis sp. of which the species was not stated.

Taxonomic and biological notes on some Atlantic species of the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda, Alpheidae)

The present study is a preliminary report on 36 Atlantic species of the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888; 32 from the western Atlantic and four from the eastern Atlantic. The vast majority of specimens were collected along the Caribbean coast of Panama between 2005 and 2008 and around São Tomé Island in 2006. Additional specimens were collected in Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Aruba, Venezuela, Florida, Brazil and Cape Verde, between 1998 and 2011. Some older museum material was also examined. Three nominal varieties or subspecies, viz. S. tumidomanus africanus Crosnier & Forest, 1965, S. tumidomanus congoensis Crosnier & Forest, 1965 and S. minus var. antillensis Coutière, 1909 are elevated to full species rank, becoming S. africanus, S. congoensis, and S. antillensis, respectively. Several species are reported for the first time from Panama, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Aruba, St. Martin, and Brazil. General taxonomic and/or ecological notes are provided for all species treated herein. The need for more taxonomic and molecular work is highlighted for the western Atlantic S. cf. africanus, S. anasimus Chace, 1972, S. apioceros Coutière, 1909, S. bousfieldi Chace, 1972, S. brooksi Coutière, 1909, S. fritzmuelleri Coutière, 1909, S. goodei Coutière, 1909, S. herricki Coutière, 1909, S. cf. longicarpus (Herrick, 1891), S. ul (Ríos & Duffy, 2007) and S. yano (Ríos & Duffy, 2007), as well as the eastern Atlantic S. cf. africanus. Most species reported are illustrated in colour, some for the first time. New sponge hosts are recorded for several species of the S. gambarelloides (Nardo, 1847) group. A table summarising life habits and social organisation for all presently known Atlantic species of Synalpheus is provided. Keys for the identification of all presently known western and eastern species of Synalpheus are also provided.

A review of subspecies recognition in polydesmidan millipedes (Diplopoda) with a revision of the subspecies of Euryuridae (Xystodesmoidea)

Jorgensen, M. C., Sierwald, P. & Mason‐Gamer, R. J. (2012). A review of subspecies recognition in polydesmidan millipedes (Diplopoda) with a revision of the subspecies of Euryuridae (Xystodesmoidea). —Zoologica Scripta, 42, 317–326.Taxonomic subspecies recognition is controversial due to the lack of an objective definition of the concept and inconsistent use of the category. The practice of designating subspecies is assessed here through a thorough review of 244 subspecies designations of polydesmidan millipedes over a 50‐year period. The survey focuses on the justification given for subspecies recognition, the amount of data available for the designation, the handling of nominate subspecies and the criteria used for diagnosis. We address several problematic issues and provide suggestions to enhance future work. Three examples of subdivided species from the Euryuridae (Polydesmida) are presented in detail with some taxonomic revision. Euryurus leachii leachii and E. leachii fraternus are synonymized, and the subspecific epithets are discarded. Auturus erythropygos erythropygos and A. erythropygos becki are returned to full species rank.

A new species of Nitocra Boeck 1865 (Harpacticoida, Ameiridae, Ameirinae) from South Africa, with notes on its ecology and remarks on the status of Nitocra sewelli husmanni Kunz 1976

A new species of the genus Nitocra Boeck, 1865, Nitocra taylori sp. n. is described from the St Lucia Estuary, Africa’s largest estuarine lake. It is also suggested that Nitocra sewelli husmanni Kunz, 1976 and Nitocra reducta fluviatilisGalhano, 1968 are granted full species rank as Nitocra husmanni stat. n. Kunz, 1976 and Nitocra fluviatilis stat. n. Galhano, 1968. Nitocra taylori sp. n. appears to be closely related to Nitocra husmanni. Unfortunately, the original description of the micro-characters of the species lacks the detail needed to make reliable comparisons between species of the genus Nitocra. The main differences observed are the number of spinules along the posterior margin of the anal operculum, length ratio of the exopod and endopod of the first swimming leg, shape of the outer spine on the male third endopodal segment of the third swimming leg, number of segments of the male antennule, relative length of the setae on the male baseoendopod of the fifth leg, shape of the male exopod of the fifth leg, relative length of the two setae of the male sixth leg, and shape of the female baseoendopod of the fifth leg. The current distribution of Nitocra taylori sp. n. is limited to the lake part of the estuary, an area which is most severely affected by the current freshwater deprivation crisis. During closed mouth conditions, these regions (South/North Lake and False Bay) are characterized by low water levels, high salinities and high turbidity levels. This suggests that Nitocra taylori sp. n. may favor these environmental conditions and the significant correlations found between the abundance of Nitocra taylori sp. n. and salinity and turbidity confirm this to a degree. Nitocra taylori sp. n. individuals are also able to withstand a wide range of fluctuations. They were recorded at turbidities ranging from 2 to 102 NTU, temperatures from 20.9 to 34.8 ºC and salinity levels ranging from 9.81 to 53.7 psu. However, in the current state of the system, salinity and temperature levels in the northern regions frequently exceed this value. Continued freshwater deprivation may, therefore, further limit the distribution range of this species.

The land snail genus Epirobia and allied genera in México and Central America, with the description of a new family, the Epirobiidae (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Urocoptoidea)

The species-level taxonomy of three closely related urocoptoid land snails, Epirobia Strebel & Pfeiffer 1880, Propilsbrya Bartsch 1906, and Pectinistemma Rehder 1940, are reviewed and a new family is erected for them. Gyrocion Pilsbry 1904 and Prionoloplax Pilsbry 1953 may also belong in this new family, but remain unknown anatomically. New species named in this work are Epirobia subsulca n. sp., Epirobia brevior n. sp., Epirobia longior n. sp., Epirobia interupta n. sp., Epirobia adusta n. sp., Pectinistemma roesslingi n. sp., Pectinistemma gracilidens n. sp., and Pectinistemma ceramicum n. sp. Epirobia alternans Thompson 1976 is elevated from subspecific status within Epirobia swiftiana (Crosse 1863) to full species rank. Epirobiidae new family is recognized as distinct from other urocoptoid families by characteristics of the shell, the reproductive system, the radula, and the genome. Morphology and molecular data support the monophyly of the Epirobiidae and their independence from other groups of urocoptoid gastropods. These data also support the independence and monophyly of the Holospiridae Pilsbry 1946 and the Eucalodiidae Crosse & Fischer 1868.

On two new cave pseudoscorpions, Chthonius (Chthonius) pagus n.sp. (Chthoniidae) and Roncus navalia n.sp. (Neobisiidae), from the island of Pag, Croatia

An analysis of the pseudoscorpion material from Croatia has supported the elevation of two taxa to full species rank: Chthonius (Chthonius) pagus n. sp. and Roncus navalia n. sp., both from Dalmatia; Croatia. Most diagnostic characters of the analyzed species are thoroughly described or figured. Some taxonomic interrelationships and features of geographic distribution have also been briefly discussed. Both studied taxa, which currently inhabit a cave on the Island of Pag in Dalmatia (Croatia), are probably endemics and relics of the Tertiary period.

Acuaria paraguayensis n. sp. from Sirystes sibilator (Aves: Tyrannidae) in Paraguay and a redescription of A. mamillaris (Molin, 1860) from Cyanocorax cayanus (Corvidae) in Brazil, with a key to the species of Acuaria Bremser, 1811 (Nematoda: Acuariidae) in the New World

Acuaria paraguayensis n. sp. is described on the basis of specimens from Sirystes sibilator (Vieillot) (Aves: Passeriformes, Tyrannidae) in Paraguay. In addition, A. mamillaris (Molin, 1860) from Cyanocorax cayanus (L.) (Corvidae) in Brazil is redescribed on the basis of its type-series from the collection of the Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna. A review of the species of Acuaria Bremser, 1811 in the New World is presented. Currently, 16 species belong to this genus, which are mostly parasitic in passeriform birds (one record in piciform birds). An identification key to the species of Acuaria occurring in the New World is presented. Acuaria multispinosa (Vigueras, 1938) originally described from Botaurus lentiginosus (Rackett) (Ardeidae) in Cuba, also known from various herons (Ciconiiformes, Ardeidae) in southern states of the USA, does not correspond to the generic diagnosis of Acuaria and is considered a species incertae sedis. Acuaria gracilis var. sturni Boyd, 1951 is elevated to full species rank as Acuaria sturni Boyd, 1951.

Studies on African Agama. II. Resurrection of Agama agama kaimosae Loveridge, 1935 (Squamata: Agamidae) from Synonymy and Its Elevation to Species Rank

In the course of recent taxonomic studies of the genus Agama we revised East African taxa of the Agama agama group. In this paper, we resurrect A. agama kaimosae Loveridge, 1935 from synonymy of Agama caudospinosa and elevate it to full species rank. Studies of the morphology, color pattern and genetic distance indicate that Agama kaimosae is most closely related to A. mwanzae and to A. caudospinosa . It is clearly distinct and genetic distant to A. planiceps and the A. lionotus and A. agama complexes. New distribution records and the first photograph of a living male of A. kaimosae are provided.

Phylogeography and systematics of Acanthogammarus s. str., giant amphipod crustaceans from Lake Baikal

Daneliya, M. E., Kamaltynov, R. M. & Väinölä, R. (2011). Phylogeography and systematics of Acanthogammarus s. str., giant amphipod crustaceans from Lake Baikal. —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 623–637.To illustrate the dynamics of evolution of the rich endemic crustacean diversity in the ancient Siberian Lake Baikal, we explored the phylogenetic relationships and intralake phylogeographic structure in members of the genus Acanthogammarus Stebbing (Amphipoda, Gammaridea, Acanthogammaridae), which involves some of the most spectacular gigantic freshwater amphipods in the world. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene sequence data gave only partial support to either of the recent competing views of systematic diversity. The three species Acanthogammarus victorii, Acanthogammarus maculosus and Acanthogammarus lappaceus along with a fourth, undescribed taxon endemic to the Ushkanii archipelago, made a monophyletic group corresponding to the subgenus Ancyracanthus. A sister relationship of the vicarious ‘subspecies’A. victorii and A. maculosus was not supported, rather the southerly A. victorii was basal to the cluster of the three other northerly, overlapping species. The data generally supported full species rank for the previously debated subspecies taxa, apart from the purported distinction between ‘Acanthogammarus longispinus’ and Acanthogammarus lappaceus, which seems to represent intraspecies morphological variation, partly related to sexual dimorphism. The sister status of Acanthogammarus godlewskii and A. gracilispinus (and thus subgenus Acanthogammarus) had weak support; reassessment of museum collections showed that they both are widespread and sympatric throughout the lake. The observed interspecies sequence differences were 13–22% (23–64% in terms of model‐based distance), suggesting divergence times of several million years under conventional calibrations, calling the applicability of external clocks into question. Strong patterns of intraspecific, intralake phylogeographic subdivision were found in A. lappaceus, A. maculosus and A. gracilispinus, each comprising several disjunct lineages with 1–5% divergence. Other species showed only slight differentiation. In all, the patterns of geographical differentiation were unique for each species, varying from moderate allele frequency differentiation to well‐established geographically segregated lineages, presumably of Early and Middle Pleistocene age. The patterns of differentiation in Acanthogammarus support an important role of allopatric diversification in the evolution of Lake Baikal fauna.

Reevaluation of theDiceroprocta texanaSpecies Complex (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae)

AbstractThe Diceroprocta texana species complex is currently composed of Diceroprocta texana texana (Davis, 1916) and Diceroprocta texana lataDavis, 1941. We analyzed physiological, morphological, and biogeography to determine whether these taxa in fact represent two distinct species rather than subspecies. There are statistically significant differences in morphological, acoustic, and thermal parameters as well as the biogeographic patterns of the two taxa. From these data, we suggest that the two taxa actually represent two species and that D. texana lata be elevated to species full species rank with the name Diceroprocta lataDavis, 1941 n. stat. We provide the first records of D. lata collected in the United States.

Phylogenetic systematics of day geckos, genus Phelsuma, based on molecular and morphological data (Squamata: Gekkonidae)

We review the intrageneric systematics of day geckos, genus Phelsuma (Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae) in the light of a recently published multigene phylogeny, and provide an overview of 19 selected chromatic, morphological and behavioural characters for all currently recognized species and subspecies in the genus. To replace previous attempts of dividing the genus into phenetic species assemblages, we propose the following monophyletic species groups and summarize the morphological characters that partly support this grouping: Phelsuma barbouri group (P. barbouri, P. pronki); P. dubia group (P. berghofi, P. dubia, P. flavigularis, P. hielscheri, P. malamakibo, P. modesta, P. nigristriata, P. ravenala); P. mutabilis group (P. borai, P. breviceps, P. mutabilis); P. cepediana group (P. borbonica, P. cepediana, P. guentheri, P. guimbeaui, P. inexpectata, P. ornata, P. rosagularis as well as the extinct species P. edwardnewtonii and P. gigas); P. astriata group (P. astriata, P. sundbergi); P. madagascariensis group (P. abbotti, P. grandis, P. guttata, P. kochi, P. madagascariensis, P. parkeri, P. seippi and probably P. masohoala); P. lineata group (P. antanosy, P. comorensis, P. kely, P. lineata, P. pusilla, P. quadriocellata and probably P. hoeschi); P. laticauda group (P. laticauda, P. pasteuri, P. robertmertensi, P. v-nigra); P. klemmeri group (P. klemmeri); P. andamanense group (P. andamanense) and P. standingi group (P. standingi). Due to their equivocal placements based on different molecular markers, we refrain from assigning P. serraticauda and P. vanheygeni to any of these species groups at this time. We complement the molecular data with new trees based on partial sequences of the 16S rRNA gene for the P. madagascariensis- and P. lineata groups and propose to elevate P. lineata dorsivittata and P. quadriocellata parva to full species rank as P. dorsivittata and P. parva.

A new species of Sonorella (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Helminthoglyptidae) from southwestern New Mexico, with a revision of the subspecies of Sonorella hachitana (Dall)

Abstract Sonorella painteri, new species is described from the San Luis Mountains, Hidalgo County, New Mexico, U.S.A. Based on comparative studies of shell characters and genitalia, Sonorella hachitana flora Pilsbry & Ferriss, 1915 and Sonorella hachitana peloncillensis Pilsbry & Ferriss, 1915 from southwestern New Mexico are elevated to full species rank.

A revision of the mantispid genus Nampista (Neuropterida, Mantispidae)

The poorly known mantispid genus Nampista is revised, which has previously been considered to contain its type species, Nampista auriventris (Guerin-Meneville, 1838), only. The genus is diagnosed and briefly compared with Euclimacia. Two species-group names are newly transferred to Nampista: Euclimacia africana (Esben-Petersen, 1927) and Euclimacia africana ragazziana (Navas, 1929), the latter raised to full species rank. The three species now placed in Nampista are keyed, diagnosed and described. All available information on collecting records and geographic distribution are provided. Digital images of specimens of all species are given. A considerable amount of sexual dimorphism in Nampista is recorded: Both sexes have disc-shaped antennal segments, but they are markedly wider in male Nampista (relative to the rest of the body) than in females. This is the first case of sexual dimorphism in antennal morphology reported in Mantispidae. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Mitochondrial DNA Variation Reveals Recent Evolutionary History of MainBoa constrictorClades

We sequenced a 1114-bp fragment of cytochrome b gene in six subspecies (115 samples) of Boa constrictor and detected 67 haplotypes. Our analyses revealed the presence of two distinct clades, one from Central America (CA) including the neighboring part of South America west of the Andes, and the other covering the rest of South America (SA). Sequence divergence between CA and SA clades is about 5-7%, which roughly corresponds to a separation at the time of uplift of the Colombian Andes following formation of the Panama Isthmus before 3.5 Myr Sequence divergence within the SA and CA clades is only 2-3%, suggesting a fairly recent spread of these clades Into their current geographic ranges. Thus, we may not be dealing with taxa with a markedly old evolutionary history. Because juveniles of B. constrictor feed mostly on small rodents, we hypothesized that spread of this species was allowed by a new food source represented by murold rodents that appeared after closure of the Panama portal. With respect to the taxonomy, B. c. imperator may be elevated to full species rank. Within the SA clade, a haplotype of Argentinian B. c. occidentalis is markedly distinct, while the remaining haplotype groups analyzed are distributed throughout large ranges and may all belong to a single nominotypic subspecies.