Japanese Taxa Research Articles

Molecular phylogeny of old-world Dryopoidea beetles (Coleoptera: Polyphaga: Elateriformia) based on ultraconserved elements of DNA sequence data from Japanese taxa

Abstract The superfamily Dryopoidea is a diverse group of beetles with a mixture of aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial life histories. These beetles exhibit remarkable morphological diversity, particularly in the larval stages, which is likely associated with their repeated adaptation to aquatic habitats. The phylogenetic relationships among Dryopoidea families and subfamilies are controversial, as phylogenetic analyses based on morphology have failed to propose robust and consistent hypotheses. However, recent molecular phylogenetic studies have provided better resolution for the interfamilial relationships and suggested the non-monophyly of a few families. In this study, we conducted phylogenetic analyses of Dryopoidea obtained in Japan along with other groups in the Elateriformia (Byrrhoidea, Dascilloidea, Buprestoidea, and Elateroidea) using sequence data from ultraconserved elements with the maximum-likelihood method and species-tree analysis based on a multispecies coalescent model. Our results show that Dryopoidea is a monophyletic group, not sister to Byrrhoidea. In Dryopoidea, Dryopidae is sister to all other groups, and Psephenidae and Ptilodactylidae are not monophyletic groups. In Psephenidae, Eubrianacinae has clearly diverged from the other subfamilies (Psepheninae, Psephenoidinae, and Eubriinae) and is closely related to Callirhipidae; in Ptilodactylidae, Cladotominae is related to Psephenidae (except Eubrianacinae) + Chelonariidae and separated from the other Ptilodactylidae subfamilies (Anchytarsinae and Ptilodactylinae). Although ML analyses indicated paraphyly of subfamilies in Limnichidae and Psephenidae (except Eubrianacinae), this was resolved in species tree analysis. Our results show that Eubrianacinae and Cladotominae are clearly distinct groups with different origins from other subfamilies of the respective families and can be separated as independent families.

A Three-Dimensionally Preserved Frog (Amphibia, Anura) from the Lower Cretaceous Kuwajima Formation, Tetori Group, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

The Early Cretaceous Kuwajima Formation, Tetori Group, Japan has yielded various aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates, but lissamphibian records are limited to albanerpetontids and an isolated longbone of a frog. Here we provide the first report of an associated frog specimen from the Tetori Group. The specimen is composed of a few skull elements and several postcranial bones, including the femur, ilium, and vertebrae. This new Tetori frog is distinguished from the previously reported Early Cretaceous Asian genera, Liaobatrachus from China, and Hyogobatrachus and Tambabatrachus from Japan, in having hatchet-shaped sacral diapophyses and a posteriorly tapering urostyle with a weakly developed dorsal crest. Phylogenetic analysis of this new material places it as a non-neobatrachian frog that may be related to previously described Chinese and Japanese taxa, but more complete material would be needed to establish its affinities with confidence.

Some cryptic Korean karst creatures: revalidation of the pseudoscorpion genus Spelaeochthonius (Pseudoscorpiones: Pseudotyrannochthoniidae) and description of two new species from Korea

South Korea is a country with more than 1000 caves that support a high diversity of invertebrate species. Here we review the pseudoscorpion genus Spelaeochthonius Morikawa, 1954 (family Pseudotyrannochthoniidae) that is exclusive to caves in Japan and South Korea and reinstated here as a valid taxon. Based on recent field collections, three species in this genus are described from South Korea: S. dentifer (Morikawa, 1970), comb. nov., S. cheonsooi sp. nov., and S. seungsookae sp. nov. Based on present-day knowledge about range sizes and morphological variability in this fauna, three Japanese taxa currently classified as subspecies are elevated to species rank: Pseudotyrannochthonius kobayashii akiyoshiensis (Morikawa, 1956) = Spelaeochthonius akiyoshiensis Morikawa, 1956, stat. nov., Pseudotyrannochthonius kobayashii dorogawanesis (Morikawa, 1956) = Spelaeochthonius dorogawaensis Morikawa, 1956, stat. nov.; and Pseudotyrannochthonius undecimclavatus kishidai (Morikawa, 1960) = Spelaeochthonius kishidai (Morikawa, 1960), stat. nov. We emphasize that no epigean Spelaeochthonius have ever been found despite considerable search effort in the forests of Japan and Korea, and that past glacial cycling may have resulted in the total extirpation of surface species in this lineage. We also note that all species are narrow-range endemics that may require conservation management.

Evolution of host use in fungivorous ciid beetles (Coleoptera: Ciidae): Molecular phylogeny focusing on Japanese taxa

Consumer–resource interactions between trophic levels are ubiquitous and important factors in shaping the diversity of insects. However, dietary patterns such as host specificity and conservatism have been insufficiently examined in fungivorous insects. Here we reconstructed the evolutionary history of host use in fungivorous ciid beetles (Coleoptera: Ciidae) and tested for host conservatism. Phylogenetic relationships among 49 species from Japan were inferred by using a large sequence data set from ultraconserved elements (UCEs). In addition, sequences of three genes (COI, 28S rRNA, 18S rRNA) were analyzed to reconstruct the phylogeny for 130 OTUs from a broader range of taxa and geographic regions using the UCE tree as a backbone topology. We found that Ciini and Orophiini are not recovered as reciprocally monophyletic groups. As previously suggested, the largest genus Cis Latreille was also not monophyletic. Ancestral-state reconstruction of host use in both datasets showed that Ciidae species were clustered by host-use group across the tree. This pattern was confirmed by the significantly lower transition rate compared with expectations under the random shift hypothesis. The observed conservatism in host use implied these beetles possess unique adaptations to specific fungal taxa, just as herbivorous insects are adapted to specific plant taxa.

ヤマイグチ亜科（イグチ科イグチ目）に含まれる日本産地下生菌の多様性と分類

ヤマイグチ亜科（イグチ科イグチ目）に含まれる日本産地下生菌の多様性と分類

Siamitoides gen. n., a new Oriental ant-like stone beetle genus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae).

Siamitoides carinatus gen. sp. n. is described, based on a male specimen collected on Sumatra. The new genus superficially resembles the Oriental Siamites in the shape of head, which in lateral view is subtriangular, with the highest site above the antennal fossae and the flat vertex gradually declining posterad up to the neck region. Among world Stenichnini, this peculiar shape of the head capsule can be found also in the Oriental Elacatophora, Nearctic Lophioderus, and the extinct Cretaceous Cenomaniola of Myanmar amber deposits. Morphological structures of the new genus are illustrated in detail, and an updated key to the Oriental genera of Stenichnini (excluding subtropical Chinese and Japanese taxa) is given.

A review of the Japanese Cybocephalidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea).

The Cybocephalidae of Japan is taxonomically treated. The following four species are recognized: Cybocephalus (Cybocephalus) nipponicus Endrödy-Younga, 1971, C. (C.) politissimus Reitter, 1898, C. (C.) chlorocapitis sp. nov., and Pastillus eminentithorax sp. nov. Also, species of the genus Pastillus are first recorded from the Palaearctic Region, and C. (C.) politissimus is first recorded from Japan. Cybocephalus (C.) flavocapitis Smith 2007 is newly designated as a junior synonym of C. (C.) politissimus Reitter, syn. nov. All species are described or redescribed. Dorsal habitus images, illustrations of male and female genitalia, and other important diagnostic characters are provided for all species. A key for identification of all Japanese taxa is also given.

Relationships among North American and Japanese Laetiporus isolates inferred from molecular phylogenetics and single-spore incompatibility reactions

Relationships were investigated among North American and Japanese isolates of Laetiporus using phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences and single-spore isolate incompatibility. Single-spore isolate pairings revealed no significant compatibility between North American and Japanese isolates. ITS analysis revealed 12 clades within the core Laetiporus clade, seven of which are known to occur in North America (including Hawaii and the Caribbean), three in Japan, two in South America, three in Europe and one in South Africa. The identity of L. sulphureus s.s. has yet to be determined and could be either L. “sulphureus” (clade C), which appears to be restricted to Europe and occurs on angiosperms and gymnospersm, or L. “sulphureus” (clade E), which is found in Europe, North America and South America exclusively on angiosperms. Three clades, one from the Caribbean, one from Hawaii and one from South Africa, have yet to be named formally. Of the three Laetiporus species found in Japan two have been named recently (L. cremeiporus and L. montanus) and one has been epitypified (L. versisporus). The single-spore incompatibility and ITS data support recognition of the three Japanese taxa as distinct biological and evolutionary species.

Karyotype Evolution of Shrew Moles (Soricomorpha: Talpidae)

The Chinese long-tailed mole (Scaptonyx fusicaudus) closely resembles American (Neurotrichus gibbsii) and Japanese (Dymecodon pilirostris and Urotrichus talpoides) shrew moles in size, appearance, and ecological habits, yet it has traditionally been classified either together with (viz subfamily Urotrichinae) or separately (tribe Scaptonychini) from the latter genera (tribe Urotrichini sensu lato). We explored the merit of these competing hypotheses by comparing the differentially stained karyotypes of S. fusicaudus and N. gibbsii with those previously reported for both Japanese taxa. With few exceptions, diploid chromosome number (2n = 34), fundamental autosomal number (FNa = 64), relative size, and G-banding pattern of S. fusicaudus were indistinguishable from those of D. pilirostris and U. talpoides. In fact, only chromosome 15 differed significantly between these species, being acrocentric in D. pilirostris, subtelocentric in U. talpoides, and metacentric in S. fusicaudus. This striking similarity is difficult to envisage except in light of a shared common ancestry, and is indicative of an exceptionally low rate of chromosomal evolution among these genera. Conversely, the karyotype of N. gibbsii deviates markedly in diploid chromosome and fundamental autosomal number (2n = 38 and FNa = 72, respectively), morphology, and G-banding pattern from those of Scaptonyx and the Japanese shrew moles. These differences cannot be explained by simple chromosomal rearrangements, and suggest that rapid chromosomal reorganization occurred in the karyotype evolution of this species, possibly due to founder or bottleneck events.

Phylogenetic relationships among Japanese flowering cherries (Prunus subgenus Cerasus) based on nucleotide sequences of chloroplast DNA

Flowering cherries are classified into Prunus subgenus Cerasus (family Rosaceae). Nine species and some varieties originated in Japan were used in this study. Phylogenetic relationships among Japanese taxa were analyzed by four chloroplast regions using 46 individuals from 16 taxa. Eighteen haplotypes were distinguished. P.pendula f. ascendens and P. cerasoides formed a clade which is distantly related to other Japanese taxa. These two species were morphologically different from other taxa. All Japanese taxa except for P. pendula f. ascendens formed another clade. All taxa in this clade except for P. maximowiczii showed very similar sequences. However, these taxa could be identified by many morphological characters. Even now, based on previous work, it is thought that interspecific hybridization frequently occurs in flowering cherries. We conclude from the current study, Japanese flowering cherries have experienced complicated speciation arising from hybridization.

An evolutionary view on the Japanese talpids based on nucleotide sequences

Japanese talpid moles exhibit a remarkable degree of species richness and geographic complexity, and as such, have attracted much research interest by morphologists, cytogeneticists, and molecular phylogeneticists. However, a consensus hypothesis pertaining to the evolutionary history and biogeography of this group remains elusive. Recent phylogenetic studies utilizing nucleotide sequences have provided reasonably consistent branching patterns for Japanese talpids, but have generally suffered from a lack of closely related South-East Asian species for sound biogeographic interpretations. As an initial step in achieving this goal, we constructed phylogenetic trees using publicly accessible mitochondrial and nuclear sequences from seven Japanese taxa, and those of related insular and continental species for which nucleotide data is available. The resultant trees support the view that four lineages (Euroscaptor mizura, Mogera tokuade species group [M. tokudae and M. etigo], M. imaizumii, and M. wogura) migrated separately, and in this order, from the continental Asian mainland to Japan. The close relationship of M. tokudae and M. etigo suggests these lineages diverged recently through a vicariant event between Sado Island and Echigo plain. The origin of the two endemic lineages of Japanese shrew-moles, Urotrichus talpoides and Dymecodon pilirostris, remains ambiguous. Further analyses on intra-species diversity are necessary to fully solve the evolutionary histories of Japanese moles and shrew-moles.

The genus Trichadenotecnum Enderlein (Insecta: Psocoptera: Psocidae) in Sumatra, Indonesia, with description of thirteen new species

Records of 20 species of Trichadenotecnum Enderlein (Psocidae) from Sumatra, including 13 species described here as new, are provided. Keys are given to the 33 species of the genus now known from Indonesia, and their relationships and distribution discussed. Most species are known from few individuals and appear to be scarce. Several new species are referable to species groups designated by Yoshizawa for Japanese taxa, but others are anomalous.

Genetic Variation in Flowering Cherries (Prunus subgenus Cerasus) Characterized by SSR Markers

Genetic variation among flowering cherries (Prunus subgenus Cerasus) was characterized by SSR markers developed from peach, sweet cherry and sour cherry, using a total of 144 individuals from 15 taxa. Twenty-five out of 85 SSR markers showed amplification in all tested samples, indicating that 29% of SSRs developed from related species could be transferred to flowering cherries. In contrast, 25 SSRs gave no amplification for any tested samples. The mean number of alleles per locus and the mean number of ne (the effective number of alleles per locus) assessed by 9 transferable SSRs were 17.3 and 7.3, respectively. All but 2 individuals were distinguished by 9 SSR loci. Genetic variation among flowering cherries was higher than that in peach and sweet cherry cultivars. On the other hand, the mean number of alleles per locus on each taxon ranged from 1.9 to 7.7, suggesting that each taxon accounted for a rather small part of the variation of flowering cherries. A phenogram of 144 individuals and a phenogram of 14 taxa based on SSR analysis were constructed. Many taxa were clustered in the sections to which they belong. Four taxa of section Incisae were closely related. Two taxa of section Apetalae were also closely related. P. maximowiczii and P. pendula f. ascendens were distant from the other Japanese taxa. These results were in good accordance with the morphological classification. We found the SSR markers developed from related species useful for evaluating the genetic variation and clustering flowering cherries.

Molecular taxonomy and phylogeny of the ‘living fossil’ lineages Triops and Lepidurus (Branchiopoda: Notostraca)

Mantovani B. Cesari M. & Scanabissi F. (2004). Molecular taxonomy and phylogeny of the ‘living fossil’ lineages Triops and Lepidurus (Branchiopoda: Notostraca). —Zoologica Scripta, 33, 367–374.European Triops cancriformis and Lepidurus apus were analysed for 12S and 16S mitochondrial genes and compared to North American and Japanese taxa. There are no cryptic species among European T. cancriformis populations, which are highly homogeneous in comparison to conspecific Japanese samples. T. cancriformis differs from congeneric taxa all over its range, which can be explained by its antiquity. In contrast, the parapatric subspecies L. apus apus and L. apus lubbocki are morphologically conserved and differ substantially at the mtDNA level. The genetic distance values between them are of the same order of magnitude as those observed between American Lepidurus species. Their subspecific status therefore requires further analysis. L. apus apus is more closely related to a L. arcticus sample from Iceland than to L. apus lubbocki. It is also related to a Canadian L. couesii population. Further analyses of populations from the whole range of L. arcticus and the European range of L. couesii are needed to understand the relationships among these notostracan taxa. When considering the two genera, it is clear that Lepidurus is a well supported monophyletic unit, while Triops is polyphyletic, embodying very divergent taxa.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi of the Philippines: a preliminary survey and notes on the geographic biodiversity of the Sclerodermatales

Basidiomata of putative ectomycorrhizal fungi have been collected from under pine or dipterocarp stands in Central Luzon in the Philippines. Over 100 collections are reported. Among the material, 75 taxa have been recognised and assigned to known genera or at least placed close to already documented European, Japanese or North American taxa. Formal identifications for 46 species are given along with comments on previous collections from South-East Asia. Species collected from under the native Pinus kesiya resemble the communities found under three-needled pines in North America and the West Himalayas, whereas those from dipterocarp forests were similar to communities found in Malaysia and Japan. Members of the Sclerodermatales were particularly common and are probably the pioneer colonizers of young seedlings in these ecosystems.

Genetic and biological characteristics ofTyphula ishikariensis isolates from Norway

Isolates ofTyphula ishikariensis, a snow mold fungus, were collected from five localities in Norway. They were divided into three groups according to genetics, cultural morphology, etc. Group I grew normally at 10 °C. Its mating patterns with Japanese taxa were variable: compatible with both biotypes A and B; compatible with biotype A but incompatible with biotype B; and incompatible with both biotypes. Group I was prevalent in southern inland districts such as Buskerud, Oppland, and Hedmark. Group II had smaller sclerotia as compared to other groups, and its sclerotia were often covered with white mycelium in nature and in culture. Group II was compatible with biotype B only. Group III was characterized by irregular growth at 10 ° C and genetic incompatibility with biotypes A and B. Cultural morphology of group III resembled that of group I at 0 °C. Rind cell patterns of sclerotia did not separate these two groups or biotypes. Isolates of groups II and III were often obtained from coastal regions in Finmark. Mating reactions were variable: monokaryons were compatible with their respective dikaryons, and monokaryons of groups II and III occasionally mated with group I dikaryons. Dikaryons of groups II and III, however did dikaryotize monokaryons of other groups. Norwegian isolates ofT. ishikariensis were highly variable, and the orthodox nomenclature system seemed inapplicalbe at the infraspecific level.