Monophyletic Assemblage Research Articles

Genic Differentiation in Pocket Gophers of the Genus Pappogeomys, with Comments on Intergeneric Relationships in the Subfamily Geomyinae

Patterns of genetic differentiation revealed by starch-gel electrophoresis of proteins are examined at the species level within the genus Pappogeomys and at the generic level within the subfamily Geomyinae. Data from electrophoresis and morphology indicate that the subgenera Pappogeomys and Cratogeomys of the genus Pappogeomys deserve generic recognition. These data further suggest that the castanops species group (Cratogeomys castanops and C. merriami) is not monophyletic, and that C. gymnurus and C. tylorhinus of the gymnurus species group may be conspecific. Overall patterns of genie and chromosomal variation within Pappogeomys and Cratogeomys are similar to patterns seen in other pocket gopher genera. These patterns are compared to genic and chromosomal variation in Thomomys. The genie data suggest the following intergeneric relationships for the Geomyinae: 1) the tribes (Thomomyini and Geomyini) are distinct, monophyletic assemblages; 2) Orthogeomys and Zygogeomys form a distinct clade; 3) the Pappogeomys-Cratogeomys and Orthogeomys-Zygogeomys lineages may be more closely related to each other than either is to Geomys.

The Relationships of the Wrentit as Indicated by DNA-DNA Hybridization

The of the Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata) have been debated since its discovery in 1845. The titmice (Parus), babblers (Timaliini), Old World warblers (Sylviini), bushtits (Psaltriparus), wrens (Troglodytidae), and mockingbirds (Mimini) have been suggested as its closest relatives. Many authors have placed the Wrentit in a monotypic family, Chamaeidae. DNA-DNA hy- bridization comparisons between the homologous nucleotide sequences of the single-copy DNAs of the Wrentit and other passerines indicate that Chamaea is most closely related to the babblers and the Old World warblers, and that the latter two groups are ecotypes of a single, varied, monophyletic assemblage. The Wrentit is annroximatelv eauidistant from the sylviines and the timaliines, but ecologically it is a babbler. _ The Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata) occurs in chaparral and other dense, brushy, plant for- mations in western Oregon, California, and northwestern Baja California. The question of its affinities to other passerines has been de- bated since the 1850's. Sibley (1970:57-60) reviewed the taxonomic history of the Wrentit and presented electrophoretic comparisons between its egg white proteins and those of many other oscine taxa. He concluded that the total evidence did not offer a clear choice be- tween the sylviine warblers and the timaliine babblers as the closest relatives of Chamaea and that the question of the relationships of the wren-tit remains open and further evidence should be presented before the affinities of the wren-tit are considered to have been proved beyond doubt (p. 60). More recently, Sibley and Ahlquist (1980) concluded that Cha- maea is a babbler. In the present paper we offer additional data showing that the sylviine warblers and timaliine babblers are actually ecotypes of a single varied assemblage and that the Wrentit probably was derived from an Asiatic babbler. METHODS

A Functional Approach to the Phylogeny of the Pharyngognath Teleosts

Synopsis. Functional morphological analysis has revealed the existence of three functionally and morphologically different mechanisms underlying the tongue-parasphenoid and pharyngeal-parasphenoid bites in advanced teleost fishes. The bite is specialized differently in Pristolepis and the Anabantoidei, and in a primitive condition in both the Nandidae and Channiformes. These taxa belong to at least three unrelated lineages and do not share a common ancestry as was previously postulated. It has been possible to show how an originally primitive character can acquire a new biological and phylogenetic meaning by being integrated into a specialized functional complex. Based on functional data on the pharyngeal jaw apparatus, a new hypothesis is proposed stating that the Cichlidae, Embiotocidae, Labridae, Odacidae and Scaridae represent a monophyletic assemblage. This case study has demonstrated that reciprocal illumination of functional morphological and phylogenetic findings can lead to: (1) better tested and more precise phylogenetic hypotheses; (2) the construction of new hypotheses on the basis of specialized character complexes which were unrecognized by the use of a purely descriptive morphological approach.

Immunodiffusion systematics of the primates. Part V. The Platyrrhini.

Evolutionary relationships between New World monkeys and marmoset genera and the place of the Ceboidea within the primates are considered in terms of the immunological specificity of ceboid proteins. Antigenic distances between the New World primates are measured using antisera produced in rabbits to nine ceboid genera: Alouatta, Aotes, Ateles, Callicebus, Cebus, Chiropotes, Lagothrix, Saimiri and Saguinus. A cladogram constructed on the basis of increasing degrees of antigenic distance between branches depicts Ceboidea as a monophyletic assemblage within which Alouatta is grouped with the Atelinae genera, Lagothrix and Ateles, Chiropotes joins Cacajao and Cebus joins Saimiri. The joining of the cebid genera Aotes and Callicebus with callithricid genera Callimico and Saguinus into a single complex lineage suggests that Cebidae is a paraphyletic or polyphyletic taxon. A phylogenetic taxonomy for Platyrrhini is proposed.

The whalebill is a stork

THE avian order Ciconiiformes contains a heterogeneous assemblage of long legged, long necked birds which have traditionally been classified together because of superficial resemblance. The order usually contains the storks, ibises, herons and two rather aberrant birds, the whalebill (Balaeniceps rex) and the hammerkop (Scopus umbretta), which are placed in monotypic families, the Balaencipitidae and Scopidae, respectively. The evolutionary relationships among the members of the Ciconiiformes and between this order and other living birds are little understood. Using an analysis of the morphology of the stapes (the single avian ear ossicle)1,2, I have obtained evidence for the evolutionary affinity of the whalebill with the storks, which now seem to form a monophyletic assemblage.

Origins of the Ceboidea viewed from an immunological perspective

Ceboid origins were reviewed from the standpoint of immunodiffusion systematics. Computer processing of spur size data from several thousand trefoil Ouchterlony plate comparisons using rabbit antisera to proteins of various primate, tree shrew and elephant shrew species depicted antigenic distances among the various species. A least squares procedure (executed by a new computer program AJUST) corrected for nonreciprocity in the raw antigenic distance matrix. Another computer program (UWPGM) then produced a cladogram from the normalized antigenic distance matrix. Within the cladogram, tree shrews are closer to undisputed primates than to non-primates. The undisputed primates appear as a monophyletic assemblage, consisting of two major lineages: the Strepsirhini, including lorisoid and lemuroid branches, and the Haplorhini. Haplorhini divides into a tarsioid branch and Anthropoidea. The latter consists of two sister groups, Catarrhini (Hominoidea and Cercopithecoidea) and Platyrrhini (Ceboidea). Thus, this cladogram supports those hypotheses of ceboid origins which depict the phyletic line ancestral to the extant Anthropoidea as first separating from strepsirhine and tarsioid lineages before splitting apart into Platyrrhini and Catarrhini. Present evidence does not reveal if the most recent common ancestor of platyrrhines and catarrhines was morphologically still a prosimian or if it existed late enough in the Tertiary to have reached the simian grade.

A GENERIC REVISION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN HELIOTHIDINAE (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE)

AbstractThe noctuid subfamily Heliothidinae, which is represented in North America by 158 species, is redefined, largely on the basis of male genitalic characters. Of genera included in the subfamily in McDunnough's 1938 check list, only four are recognized as valid, these being Heliothis Ochs., Schinia Hbn., Heliolonche Grt., and Melaporphyria Grt. Helicoverpa Hdwk., which was described subsequent to the appearance of McDunnough's list, and Protoschinia which is described as new here, are also included. Grotella Harv., Hemigrotella B. & McD., and Neogrotella B. & B. are not considered heliothidine genera and are removed to the Stiriinae.Eight genera, which have been assigned to the Amphipyrinae because they lack the mid and hind tibial setae characteristic of other heliothidine components, have also been incorporated in the Heliothidinae; these genera are Microhelia Hamp., Heliothodes Hamp., Baptarma Sm., Eutricopis Morr., Derrima Wlk., Erythroecia Hamp., Rhodoecia Hamp., and Pyrrhia Hbn. Because of the close similarity in structure and habits between these genera and those previously mentioned, the two groups are considered to constitute a monophyletic assemblage within the Noctuidae, despite the discrepancy with respect to mid and hind tibial setae.A key to the 14 North American genera of the Heliothidinae is presented. Descriptions of genera and figures of the male and female genitalia of the type species of all valid genera and of many genera in synonymy are provided. Canthylidia Butl. and Timora Wlk. are newly synonymized to Heliothis, and Heliosea Grt. to Heliolonche Grt. A check list of the North American Heliothidinae is appended to the text.The possible phylogenetic relationship of the Heliothidinae to the Stiriinae is discussed. The latter group is raised from tribal rank in the Amphypyrinae to subfamily rank; a number of genera are added to it, and a provisional redefinition of the subfamily is presented.

Phylogenetic relationships of southern African geckos in the Pachydactylus group (Squamata: Gekkonidae)

Pachydactylus and its close relatives (Chondrodactylus, Colopus, Palmatogecko) constitute the most species‐rich component of the southern African gekkonid fauna. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial (cytb, 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA) and nuclear (RAG‐1) gene sequences for these geckos. Pachydactylus tetensis + P. tuberculosus form the sister group to the remaining taxa, and we resurrect the genus Elasmodactylus to accommodate these two basal species. The P. bibronii group is sister to Chondrodactylus angulifer, and is here transferred to the latter genus. Pachydactylus kochii is the sister species of Colopus wahlbergii and is transferred to that genus. All remaining taxa ‐ including the P. namaquensis group, the ‘small‐bodied’ Pachydactylus, and Palmatogecko ‐ form a well‐supported monophyletic assemblage recognised herein as Pachydactylus sensu stricto. The major clades within Pachydactylus s.s. include the capensis, serval/weberi, rangei, rugosus, and geitje groups, as well as a diverse “northwestern group” that occurs chiefly in northern Namibia and southern Angola. The fine‐scale regional endemism apparent among members of the southern African Pachydactylus Group probably reflects an interplay between substrate specialisation and vicariant events (both geologically and climatically associated) since at least the Miocene. Explicit phylogenies for Pachydactylus, cordylid lizards, scorpions, and other taxa provide a basis for the first fine‐scaled analytical biogeographic analysis of southern Africa.

THE STOMACH IN THE EULAMELLIBRANCHIA; STOMACH TYPE IV

SUMMARY The internal structure and function of the stomach is described for representatives of seventeen families of Eulamellibranchia. Detailed comparisons are made among these and comparable data previously obtained from four families in the Filibranchia and Pseudolamellibranchia, and it is concluded that there are no grounds for sub‐dividing these twenty‐one families into two or more groups. In all cases the stomach is of Type IV. A new definition for Stomach Type IV is provided. It is concluded that on the basis of the internal structure of the stomach these twenty‐one families appear to comprise a natural and monophyletic assemblage.