Morphological Cladistic Analysis Research Articles

Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of Lasiodora C. L. Koch, 1850 (Araneae, Theraphosidae) with notes on related genera.

The genus Lasiodora C. L. Koch, 1850 is revised and morphological cladistic analyses carried out including all of its species, as well as most of those of the related genera Vitalius Lucas, Silva & Bertani, 1993, Nhandu Lucas, 1983, Pterinopelma Pocock, 1901, Proshapalopus Mello-Leito, 1923, Eupalaestrus Pocock, 1901, Lasiocyano Galleti-Lima, Hamilton, Borges & Guadanucci, 2023, Parvicarina Galleti-Lima, Hamilton, Borges & Guadanucci, 2023, and Tekoapora Galleti-Lima, Hamilton, Borges & Guadanucci, 2023. A matrix with 50 terminal taxa, 2 continuous and 48 discrete characters was analyzed with TNT 1.5. The result shows a monophyletic Lasiodora as sister group of Nhandu, and Vitalius is the sister group of this clade. Lasiodora comprises 7 species: Lasiodora klugi (C. L. Koch, 1841) (type species), L. benedeni Bertkau, 1880, L. parahybana Mello-Leito, 1917, L. subcanens Mello-Leito, 1921, L. camurujipe n. sp., L. sertaneja n. sp., and L. franciscana n. sp. Lasiodora itabunae Mello-Leito, 1921 is considered a junior synonym of L. klugi. Lasiodora differens Chamberlin, 1917, L. curtior Chamberlin, 1917, L. mariannae Mello-Leito, 1921, L. difficilis Mello-Leito, 1921, L. erythrocythara Mello-Leito, 1921, and Acanthoscurria cristata Mello-Leito, 1923 are considered junior synonyms of L. benedeni. Lasiodora acanthognatha Mello-Leito, 1921 is considered junior synonym of L. parahybana. Lasiodora dulcicola Mello-Leito, 1921 is considered junior synonym of L. subcanens. Nhandu sylviae Sherwood, Gabriel & Brescovit, 2023 is considered junior synonym of Vitalius sorocabae Mello-Leito, 1923. The holotype of Crypsidromus isabellinus Ausserer, 1871 (type species of the genus) was reanalyzed and is considered the senior synonym of Proshapalopus anomalus Mello-Leito, 1923 (type species of the genus). Thus, the genus Crypsidromus Ausserer, 1871 is considered valid, removed from the synonymy with Lasiodora, and Proshapalopus is considered a junior synonym of Crypsidromus. The new combination C. multicuspidatus (Mello-Leito, 1929) n. comb. is established. Crypsidromus bolivianus Simon, 1892 is considered a junior synonym of Acanthoscurria insubtilis Simon, 1892. Five species from Costa Rica described in Crypsidromus are transferred back from Lasiodora: Crypsidromus brevibulbus Valerio, 1980 comb. rev., C. carinatus Valerio, 1980 comb. rev., C. icecu Valerio, 1980 comb. rev., C. puriscal Valerio, 1980 comb. rev., C. rubitarsus Valerio, 1980 comb. rev. Lasiodora lakoi Mello-Leito, 1943 is transferred to Megaphobema, making the new combination Megaphobema lakoi (Mello-Leito, 1943) n. comb. Lasiodora spinipes Ausserer, 1871 is transferred to Theraphosa, making the new combination Theraphosa spinipes (Ausserer, 1871) n. comb. Nhandu chromatus Schmidt, 2004 is transferred to Vitalius making the new combination Vitalius chromatus (Schmidt, 2004) n. comb. Lasiodora sternalis is transferred to Acanthoscurria making the new combination Acanthoscurria sternalis (Mello-Leito, 1923). Due to the homonymy with Acanthoscurria sternalis Pocock, 1903, the new name Acanthoscurria melloleitaoi nom. nov. is proposed. The following species are considered nomina dubia: Lasiodora saeva (Walckenaer, 1837), Lasiodora striatipes (Ausserer, 1871), Lasiodora moreni (Holmberg, 1876), Crypsidromus fallax Bertkau, 1880, Trechona pantherina Keyserling, 1891, Lasiodora bahiensis Strand, 1907, Lasiodora citharacantha Mello-Leito, 1921, Lasiodora cryptostigma Mello-Leito, 1921, Lasiodora dolichosterna Mello-Leito, 1921, Lasiodora fracta Mello-Leito, 1921, and Lasiodora pleoplectra Mello-Leito, 1921. A discussion on the relationship of Lasiodora, Nhandu, Vitalius, Pterinopelma and Crypsidromus as well maps with the distributions of all Lasiodora species are provided.

A plurality of morphological characters need not equate with phylogenetic accuracy: A rare genomic change refutes the placement of Solifugae and Pseudoscorpionesin Haplocnemata.

Recent advances in higher-level invertebrate phylogeny have leveraged shared features of genomic architecture to resolve contentious nodes across the tree of life. Yet, the interordinal relationships within Chelicerata have remained recalcitrant given competing topologies in recent molecular analyses. As such, relationships between topologically unstable orders remain supported primarily by morphological cladistic analyses. Solifugae, one such unstable chelicerate order, has long been thought to be the sister group of Pseudoscorpiones, forming the clade Haplocnemata, on the basis of eight putative morphological synapomorphies. The discovery, however, of a shared whole genome duplication placing Pseudoscorpiones in Arachnopulmonata provides the opportunity for a simple litmus test evaluating the validity of Haplocnemata. Here, we present the first developmental transcriptome of a solifuge (Titanopuga salinarum) and survey copy numbers of the homeobox genes for evidence of systemic duplication. We find that over 70% of the identified homeobox genes in T. salinarum are retained in a single copy, while representatives of the arachnopulmonates retain orthologs of those genes as two or more copies. Our results refute the placement of Solifugae in Haplocnemata. Subsequent reevaluation of putative interordinal morphological synapomorphies amongchelicerates reveals a high incidence of homoplasy, reversals, and inaccurate coding within Haplocnemata and other small clades, as well as Arachnida more broadly, suggesting existing morphological character matrices are insufficient to resolve chelicerate phylogeny.

Shedding light on the Ophel biome: the trans-Tethyan phylogeography of the sulfide shrimp Tethysbaena (Peracarida: Thermosbaenacea) in the Levant.

Tethysbaena are small peracarid crustaceans inhabiting extreme environments such as subterranean lakes and thermal springs, represented by endemic species found around the ancient Tethys, including the Mediterranean, Arabian Sea, Mid-East Atlantic, and the Caribbean Sea. Two Tethysbaena species are known from the Levant: T. relicta, found along the Dead Sea-Jordan Rift Valley, and T. ophelicola, found in the Ayyalon cave complex in the Israeli coastal plain, both belonging to the same species-group based on morphological cladistics. Along the biospeleological research of the Levantine subterranean fauna, three biogeographic hypotheses determining their origins were proposed: (1) Pliocenic transgression, (2) Mid-late Miocenic transgression, and (3) The Ophel Paradigm, according to which these are inhabitants of a chemosynthetic biome as old as the Cambrian. Tethysbaena specimens of the two Levantine species were collected from subterranean groundwaters. We used the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and the nuclear ribosomal 28S (28S rRNA) gene to establish the phylogeny of the Levantine Tethysbaena species, and applied a molecular clock approach for inferring their divergence times. Contrary to the morphological cladistic-based classification, we found that T. relicta shares an ancestor with Tethysbaena species from Oman and the Dominican Republic, whereas the circum-Mediterranean species (including T. ophelicola) share another ancestor. The mean age of the node linking T. relicta from the Dead Sea-Jordan Rift Valley and Tethysbaena from Oman was 20.13 MYA. The mean estimate for the divergence of T. ophelicola from the Mediterranean Tethysbaena clade dated to 9.46 MYA. Our results indicate a two-stage colonization of Tethysbaena in the Levant: a late Oligocene transgression, through a marine gulf extending from the Arabian Sea, leading to the colonization of T. relicta in the Dead Sea-Jordan Rift Valley, whereas T.ophelicola, originating from the Mesogean ancestor, inhabited anchialine caves in the coastal plain of Israel during the Mid-Miocene.

Looks are deceiving: a cladistic analysis, three new species, and a new diagnosis of Paravima Caporiacco, 1951 (Opiliones: Agoristenidae)

A morphological cladistic analysis, consisting of 45 terminals and 58 characters was performed to evaluate the monophyly of the genusParavimaCaporiacco, 1951, and its relationship to other Leiosteninae. The analysis resulted in two most parsimonious trees, all recoveringParavimaas monophyletic with the inclusion of two species formerly described inAvimaRoewer, 1949, therefore, the following nomenclatural acts are herein proposed:Paravima plana(Goodnight & Goodnight, 1949)comb. nov., andParavima quirozi(González-Sponga, 1981)comb. nov.,Avima vigirima(Villarreal-M & Rodríguez-Manzanilla, 2003) is here considered as a junior subjective synonym ofP. quirozi(González-Sponga, 1981)comb. nov.,Paravima acanthoconusVillarreal-Manzanilla & DoNascimiento, 2005 is here considered as a junior subjective synonym ofParavima propespeluncaGonzález-Sponga, 1987, andParavima flumencaurimarensisGonzález-Sponga, 1987 is here considered as a junior subjective synonym ofParavima goodnightorumCaporiacco, 1951. Additionally, three new species are described:P. lokurasp. nov.(Tamá National Natural Park, Norte de Santander department) andP. magistrisp. nov.(Los Tunos Natural Reserve, Cundinamarca department), both from Colombia; andP. totorosp. nov.(Henri Pittier National Park, Aragua state) from Venezuela. Finally, an emended generic diagnosis, a key for all the species, and a distributional map are presented.

First record of the genus Eliberidens (Annelida: Dorvilleidae) from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean and cladistic analysis of the genus

Knowledge on the family Dorvilleidae Chamberlin, 1919 is still limited, mainly due to the scarcity of studies and the rarity of many genera and species in samples collected from shallow waters to great depths. This work presents a two folds aim: i) report the first record of Eliberidens from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, with Eliberidens forceps Wolf, 1986 and Eliberidens hartmannschroederaeHilbig, 1995; ii) providing a morphological cladistic analysis to test the monophyly of Eliberidens and its relationship with related genera. These new records increase the taxonomic knowledge and distribution of dorvilleids in the Southern Hemisphere through a detailed description of Eliberidens species. The cladistic analysis supports the monophyly of the taxon Eliberidens by two synapomorphies: presence of geniculate chaeta with short distal end in the first parapodia and the absence of maxillary plates of superior row. The genus is a sister group of the clade formed by all dorvilleids included in the present analysis, excluding Gymnodorvillea.

Description of six new species to Grammedessa Correia amp; Fernandes, 2016 (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Edessinae).

Correia Fernandes (2016) described the new genus Grammedessa comprising twelve species. Da Silva Fernandes (2021) described the new genus Calcatedessa including four species and conducted its morphological cladistic analysis associated with all the species of the sister genus Grammedessa including six other new species not yet described. We describe in this paper these six new species: G. fundicava sp.n., G. graciligramma sp.n., G. acalyptoprocta sp.n., G. stichtocephala sp.n., G. nigricava sp.n. and G. longispina sp.n. Also, the female of G. brunneotarsata Correia Fernandes, 2016 is described, and the redescription of G. hamata (Walker, 1868) (transferred from genus Edessa) is presented. The diagnosis, description, and identification key to the species of Grammedessa have been updated, and the distribution of Grammedessa has been extended to Suriname and two other Brazilian states: Maranho and Rondnia.

Revisions of Holocnemus and Crossopriza: the spotted-leg clade of Smeringopinae (Araneae, Pholcidae)

The genera Holocnemus Simon, 1873 and Crossopriza Simon, 1893 are revised. Together with Stygopholcus Kratochvíl, 1932 (revised recently) and the newly described genus Maghreba gen. nov., they constitute the spotted-leg clade within the northern clade of Smeringopinae. Males and females in this group are characterized by dark marks on the leg femora and tibiae. The native area of the spotted-leg clade ranges from northern Africa and the Mediterranean to Central Asia and NW India. A morphological cladistic analysis suggests that Holocnemus is paraphyletic while Crossopriza is monophyletic, but morphology seems only partly adequate to resolve phylogenetic relationships convincingly. The genus Holocnemus includes four species, all of which are redescribed: H. pluchei (Scopoli, 1763); H. reini (C. Koch, 1873) comb. nov. (transferred from Pholcus); H. caudatus (Dufour, 1820); and H. hispanicus Wiehle, 1933. The genus Maghreba gen. nov. includes eight species from NW Africa: M. aurouxi (Barrientos, 2019) gen. et comb. nov. (transferred from Holocnemus; redescribed, female newly described) and seven newly described species. The genus Crossopriza includes six previously described species (of which five are redescribed), and 18 newly described species. The Madagascan C. nigrescens Millot, 1946 is synonymized with C. lyoni (Blackwall, 1867). All new species are described on the basis of both sexes.

Harvestmen in the semiarid: a new genus and three new species of Pachylinae (Opiliones: Gonyleptidae) from Caatinga dry vegetation, with a cladistic analysis

Abstract Opiliones are highly diverse in the Neotropics. Because of biological constraints, most harvestmen communities are associated with humid forests, exhibiting a high species diversity and endemism in these habitats. Drier formations, such as the Caatinga biome in northeastern Brazil, are less diverse and still considered under-sampled for the order. This study represents an effort to examine the aforementioned diversity by describing a new Gonyleptidae genus, Sertanejagen. nov., comprising two new species from Ceará state, Sertaneja bicuspidatasp. nov. and Sertaneja crassitibialissp. nov., and one new species from Rio Grande do Norte state, Sertaneja falcatasp. nov. A morphological cladistic analysis consisting of 20 terminals and 72 characters was performed to evaluate monophyly of the new genus and relate it to other Gonyleptidae. The analysis resulted in a single most parsimonious tree, corroborating Sertanejagen. nov. monophyly and relatedness to Gyndoides springmanni Soares & Soares, 1947, which in turn is the sister group to the DRMN clade. Taking into account the morphological traits and phylogenetic placement of Sertanejagen. nov., we chose to place the new genus in Pachylinae despite its polyphyletic status, given that the Sertanejagen. nov. clade is closely related to one of the Brazilian Pachylinae lineage. A resolution to the Pachylinae conundrum is needed to further explain the subfamily intricacies. Future research requires a larger scope, but currently, based on the new genus monophyly, support, and relatedness, we formally propose its creation and hope to shed light on the possible evolutionary scenarios for the subfamily.

Resolving phylogenetic and classical nomenclature: A revision of Seraphsidae Jung, 1974 (Gastropoda: Neostromboidae).

This revision demonstrates that an integrated taxonomic approach to classical taxonomic practice can lead to increased internal cladistic resolution within a clade, including the recognition of new taxa at all nomenclatural levels. In particular, this revision has two aims: 1) to complete an α-taxonomic revision of Seraphsidae (Stromboidea); and 2) to resolve the infrafamilial relationships within Seraphsidae using morphological cladistics. An annotated synonymy was generated for each taxon, the precedence of names determined, and revised descriptions formulated. Character sets that reflect the synapomorphies within the major subclades of Seraphsidae were coded and a cladogram generated using maximum likelihood within the tnt program with default settings. Four forms of material and evidence were used in this systematic review: 1) the type material for each taxon; 2) non-type physical material; 3) published images; and 4) literary references for specimen localities without illustration. The current morphologically-based classification of Seraphsidae was found to be sound in terms of current species delimitations. Regardless of this, the use of an integrated taxonomy improved understanding of the internal cladistic relationships within Seraphsidae, which led to higher resolution of the internal cladistic arrangements and taxonomic delimitation. Furthermore, this increased resolution is now reflected in the family nomenclature. Two new subfamilies are proposed, Seraphsinae and Pseudoterebellinae, which are used to distinguish the two clades within Seraphsidae based on form: members of Seraphsinae are involute, while members of Pseudoterebellinae are evolute. Pseudoterebellum is proposed as a new genus to show the discontinuity in the fossil record and highlight the structural differences between it and Terebellum. A new species from Jamaica, Seraphs kaindraperi, is described, being the first record from that location and that geological period and is morphologically distinct from other described taxa. This revision included Mauryna within Seraphsidae on the grounds that it provides a basal link to the Seraphsidae sister taxa Semiterebellum and Terebellopsis, all of which are currently contained within Rostellariidae, and all three clades may in time be brought together under one family. All clades have been constructed to be in compliance with both the ICZN and PhyloCode. It was not possible within the context of this revision to test the results of the α-taxonomic findings against phylogenies generated with molecular data. This was due to the high number of extinct taxa within the Seraphsidae.

World revision of Iteaphila with unbranched radial vein (Diptera: Empidoidea: Iteaphilidae).

Iteaphila Zetterstedt is redefined to include species with both branched and unbranched radial vein (R4+5) on the basis of a morphological cladistic analysis and parsimony analysis of COI mitochondrial DNA barcode sequences. As a result, Anthepiscopus Becker is hypothesized as a junior synonym of Iteaphila and species of the Iteaphila setosa group are transferred to the new genus, Paraiteaphila gen. nov. The following new combinations are proposed: P. arundela (Shamshev Sinclair, 2009) comb. nov., P. caucasica (Shamshev Sinclair, 2009) comb. nov., P. italica (Loew, 1873) comb. nov., P. kubaniensis (Shamshev Sinclair, 2009) comb. nov., P. merzi (Shamshev Sinclair, 2009) comb. nov. and P. setosa (Bezzi, 1924) comb. nov. These two genera are assigned to the family Iteaphilidae stat. rev. Thirty-five species of Iteaphila with unbranched radial vein are revised, including 26 new species: bulbosa species group (I. beringiensis sp. nov., I. bifida sp. nov., I. recta sp. nov., I. tribulosa sp. nov.), macquarti species group (I. bartaki sp. nov., I. falki sp. nov., I. kyrgyzstanensis sp. nov., I. ribesii (Becker, 1891) comb. nov.), nitidula species group (I. longiphallus sp. nov.), nupta species group (I. arnaudi sp. nov., I. bayarea sp. nov., I. brooksi sp. nov., I. dichoptica sp. nov., I. flavipilosa (Coquillett, 1900) comb. nov., I. glabricula sp. nov., I. gracilis sp. nov., I. grandis sp. nov., I. lolo sp. nov., I. longipalpis (Melander, 1928) comb. nov., I. luteitibia sp. nov., I. nupta (Melander, 1928) comb. nov., I. sierrensis sp. nov., I. spinosa sp. nov., I. subnupta sp. nov.), oedalina species group (I. aktruensis sp. nov., I. incus sp. nov., I. miranda sp. nov., I. oedalina (Zetterstedt, 1838) comb. nov., I. polygyna (Melander, 1928) comb. nov., I. recurvata sp. nov., I. sakhalinensis sp. nov., I. zontaki (Nowicki, 1871) comb. nov.), stentor species group (I. parastentor sp. nov., I. stentor (Melander, 1902) comb. nov.) and unplaced to species group (I. caelebs (Becker, 1891) comb. nov.). The following new synonyms are proposed: I. flavicoxa (Melander, 1928) is a junior synonym of I. polygyna (Melander, 1928); I. hirsutus (Melander, 1928) is a junior synonym of I. oedalina (Zettersedt, 1838). Lectotypes are designated for the following species: I. flavipilosa, I. fraternella Zetterstedt, I. nigra Zetterstedt, I. nupta, I. oedalina, I. polygyna and I. ribesii. All species of Iteaphila with unbranched R4+5 are described, key to species presented, male terminalia illustrated, distributions plotted and flowers visited by these species are listed. COI mitochondrial DNA barcode sequences were obtained for 18 identified Nearctic species of Iteaphila with both branched and unbranched R4+5.

On the phylogenetic relationships of Muscopilio, a new Andean genus of basibiont harvestmen (Opiliones: Agoristenidae)

Based on the most recently published morphological cladistic analysis of the family Agoristenidae, the taxonomic position of an undescribed harvestman species was evaluated. According to the results of an updated phylogenetic analysis, the description of a new monotypic genus is proposed to accommodate this new species. The diagnostic characters of the new genus are: free tergites II and III with three large tubercles, and femora and tibiae of legs II–IV with longitudinal rows of conspicuous tubercles. Muscopilio onod gen. et sp. nov. inhabits Andean rainforests in Cundinamarca department, Central Colombia. Remarkably, almost all individuals collected in the field had at least three families of bryophytes, including mosses (Leucomiaceae) and liverworts (Plagiochilaceae, Lejeuneaceae), growing on their legs, and suggesting a mutualistic relationship between epizoic organisms and harvestmen.

Revision and cladistic analysis of Psalistops Simon, 1889, Trichopelma Simon, 1888 and Cyrtogrammomma Pocock, 1895 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) based on a cladistic analysis of relationships of Theraphosidae, Barychelidae and Paratropididae

The genera Psalistops Simon, 1889, Trichopelma, Simon, 1888 and Cyrtogrammomma Pocock, 1895 are revised and included in cladistics analyses including almost all species of these genera. In order to test previous morphological hypotheses on the relationships of Barychelidae, Paratropididae and Theraphosidae and because of the controversial taxonomic position of Psalistops and Trichopelma, a set of terminal taxa representing all subfamilies of Paratropididae (Paratropidinae, Glabropelmatinae), Barychelidae (Barychelinae, Sasoninae, Trichopelmatinae) and most theraphosid subfamilies were included, as well as a diplurid, a nemesiid, and a pycnothelid, the later used to root the cladogram. The matrix with 66 terminal taxa, 2 continuous and 93 discrete characters was analysed with TNT 1.5. We found that Trichopelmatinae is not a monophyletic group, and Psalistops is transferred to Theraphosidae, as well as the barychelid genus Cyrtogrammomma and the paratropidid genus Melloina Brignoli. Cyrtogrammomma was retrieved as the sister group of Trichopelma, and Melloina as the sister group of Holothele Karsch. Psalistops was retrieved as the sister group of Reichlingia Rudloff, and the clade with these two genera is the most basal in Theraphosidae. Barychelidae was found to be monophyletic and the sister group of Theraphosidae. Paratropididae was retrieved as the sister group of Barychelidae + Theraphosidae. The relationship and possible synapomorphies of the three families are herein discussed. This is the first time since Raven (1985) that representatives of all barychelid (Barychelinae, Sasoninae, Trichopelmatinae), paratropidid (Paratropidinae, Glabropelmatinae) and most theraphosid subfamilies have been included in a morphological cladistic analysis. Psalistops comprises two species, P. melanopygius Simon, 1889 (type species) and P. colombianus sp. nov. Psalistops montigena Simon, 1889, P. tigrinus Simon, 1889 and P. zonatus Simon, 1889 are synonymized with P. melanopygius Simon, 1889. Psalistops fulvus Bryant, 1948, P. hispaniolensis Wunderlich, 1988 (fossil), P. maculosus Bryant, 1948, P. venadensis Valerio, 1986 and P. steini (Simon, 1889) are transferred to Trichopelma. Psalistops gasci Maréchal, 1996 is transferred to Hapalopus Ausserer (Theraphosidae); P. opifex (Simon, 1889) and P. solitarius (Simon, 1889) are transferred to Schismatothele Karsch, 1879 (Theraphosidae). Schismatothele solitarius (Simon, 1889) n. comb. is synonymized with Schismatothele lineata Karsch, 1879, n. syn. Psalistops nigrifemuratus Mello-Leitão, 1939 is probably a nemesiid or pycnothelid, and herein considered as nomen dubium in Pycnothelidae. Trichopelma comprises 22 species: Trichopelma nitidum Simon, 1888 (type species), T. coenobita (Simon, 1889), T. steini (Simon, 1889), T. affine (Simon, 1892), T. cubanum (Simon, 1903), T. maculatum (Banks, 1906), T. zebra (Petrunkevitch, 1925), T. banksia Özdikmen & Demir, 2012, T. insulanum (Petrunkevitch, 1926), T. fulvus (Bryant, 1948) n. comb., T. laselva Valerio, 1986, T. venadensis (Valerio, 1986) n. comb., T. huffi sp. nov., T. gabrieli sp. nov., T. tostoi sp. nov., T. goloboffi sp. nov., T. juventud sp. nov., T. laurae sp. nov., T.bimini sp. nov., T. loui sp. nov., T. platnicki sp. nov., and T. hispaniolensis Wunderlich, 1988 n. comb. (fossil). Trichopelma maculosus (Bryant, 1948) n. comb. is synonymized with P. fulvus Bryant, 1948; T. corozalis (Petrunkevitch, 1929) is synonymized with T. insulanum (Petrunkevitch, 1926). Trichopelma astutum Simon, 1889 is transferred to Euthycaelus Simon, 1889, and T. maddeni Esposito & Agnarsson, 2014 to Holothele Karsch, 1879 (Theraphosidae). Trichopelma flavicomum Simon, 1891 is transferred to Neodiplothele (Barychelidae, Sasoninae). The species T. illetabile Simon, 1888, T. spinosum (Franganillo, 1926), T. scopulatum (Fischel, 1927) and T. eucubanum Özdikmen & Demir, 2012 are considered as nomina dubia. Cyrtogrammomma comprises two species: C. monticola Pocock, 1895 (type species) and C. raveni sp. nov.

Revision of the Nearctic species of Gimnomera Rondani (Diptera: Scathophagidae), with morphological phylogeny and DNA barcodes.

The Nearctic species of Gimnomera Rondani are revised and includes eight species, of which three are new to science (G. aquilonia sp. nov., G. cerea (Coquillett), G. cuneiventris (Zetterstedt), G. incisurata Malloch, G. subvittata (Malloch), G. terrywheeleri sp. nov., G. tibialis (Malloch), G. vockerothi sp. nov.). Gimnomera cuneiventris is newly recognized as Holarctic in distribution. Gimnomera fasciventris Malloch is removed and transferred to the genus Acerocnema, comb. nov. An additional Nearctic species is recognized but not described due to lack of male specimens. Species descriptions, diagnoses and distribution maps are presented, including images of the male terminalia as well as additional diagnostic characters. A key to the Nearctic species is also provided. A morphological cladistic analysis of 12 species reveals that the Nearctic and Palearctic species do not form separate monophyletic groups. COI mitochondrial DNA barcode sequences were obtained for eight Nearctic species of Gimnomera.

A first cladistic analysis of Antarctoperlinae (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae) and a new micropterous species from Patagonia

AbstractGripopterygidae is a diverse family of stoneflies, Plecoptera, distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. It has been traditionally divided into five subfamilies, but the monophyly of most of these is not supported by molecular the more comprehensive molecular analysis of the order. To test the monophyly of Antarctoperlinae, and to establish the phylogenetic position of a new Gripopterygidae species, we performed a morphological cladistic analysis including 38 morphological characters and 27 terminal taxa, with representatives of the four subfamilies present in South America and three Austroperlidae. Based on published information, we rooted the tree with Penturoperla barbata, Austroperlidae. As a result, Antarctoperlinae was recovered as polyphyletic, with Vesicaperla kuscheli and Plegoperla punctata, two members of the subfamily, placed outside the clade that includes the nine remaining genera of Antarctoperlinae. Vesicaperla also falls outside the family in previous molecular analysis. Based on this evidence, it should not be placed in Antarctoperlinae. Plegoperla punctata, known only from the type series, possesses many missing entries in our data matrix. Based on this, it seems convenient to maintain its subfamilial placement. In the tree obtained, the potential new species nests together with Pehuenioperla llaima. We thus accept it as a member of Pehuenioperla and describe it as P. microptera sp. nov.

A phylogeny and classification of the Talitroidea (Amphipoda, Senticaudata) based on interpretation of morphological synapomorphies and homoplasies.

A morphological cladistic analysis was carried out on talitroid Amphipoda. Each character state was carefully analysed to determine whether it could be most parsimoniously ascribed to a synapomorphy or to a homoplasy. Within the Talitroidea, two new epifamilies, the Protorchestoidae and the Talitroidae, six new families, the Uhlorchestiidae, the Protorchestiidae, the Arcitalitridae, the Brevitalitridae, the Curiotalitridae and the Makawidae and three new subfamilies in the Talitridae, the Talitrinae the Floresorchestiinae and the Pseudorchestoidinae are established. A formal classification is provided to the level of subfamilies. Families and subfamilies are diagnosed.

Revision of the Holarctic genus Gloma Meigen (Diptera: Empidoidea: Brachystomatidae: Trichopezinae).

The Holarctic genus Gloma Meigen is revised and includes five species (G. fuscipennis Meigen, G. fuscipes Melander, G. luctuosa Melander, G. pectinipes Melander, G. pyricornis Saigusa Sinclair sp. nov.) and two undescribed species from China, presently known only from females. The monotypic Baltic amber genus Palaeoparamesia Meunier is discussed as possibly congeneric with Gloma. The Baltic amber species Gloma hirta Loew is considered a nomen dubium. A lectotype is designated for Gloma luctuosa. All species are described or diagnosed, and their geographic distributions mapped. A World key to the species of Gloma is provided. Phylogenetic placement of the genus, including a possible new relationship with Oreogeton Schiner is considered, and the relationships and zoogeographic history of the species are discussed based on a morphological cladistic analysis.

Phylogenetic analysis and preliminary classification of the Parathalassiinae (Diptera: Empidoidea: Dolichopodidae sensu lato).

Phylogenetic relationships of the subgroups of Parathalassiinae are presented, based on a morphological cladistic analysis. Worldwide, all known extant genera, species groups and newly discovered undescribed lineages are represented in the analysis. Some previously proposed generic relationships are supported by the analysis, but recognition of many current genera renders the present concept of Microphorella Becker as both paraphyletic and polyphyletic. Microphorella merzi Gatt is here classified in Eothalassius Shamshev Grootaert, as Eothalassius merzi (Gatt) comb. nov. A preliminary classification with all included extant lineages within the Parathalassiinae (at the genus and species group level) is outlined. The ranking of these lineages is discussed and several species groups of Microphorella may need to be elevated to generic or subgeneric level, whereas some currently recognized genera may need to be relegated to subgenera.

Coenocytic Growth Phases in Land Plant Development: A Paleo-Evo-Devo Perspective

Premise of research. The evolutionary origin of the seed habit coincided with profound physiological and structural changes associated with underlying developmental patterns. A coenocyte is formed during megagametophyte development in many vascular plants, including some lycophytes and all spermatophytes; this structure compares closely with similar free-nuclear growth phases during embryo development in gymnosperms and endosperm development in angiosperms. Methodology. We review the various free-nuclear growth phases that occur during development of the megaspore and of the ensuing seed of land plants in the context of phylogenies of extant embryophytes and recent studies of the genes that underlie plant development. Pivotal results. Two contrasting types of coenocyte are controlled by different genetic systems: coenocytic growth phases that subsequently become cellularized and contribute to the plant body (type a) and terminally differentiated multinucleate structures such as haustorial suspensor cells (type b). Conclusions. Coding decisions made for coenocytic characters may have contributed to the ongoing instability that characterizes morphological cladistic analyses of land plants. Coenocytic growth phases in lycophytes and spermatophytes probably have independent evolutionary origins. However, the strong similarity between them indicates similar underlying genetic machinery; we hypothesize that this type of growth is controlled by ancient regulatory factors that were recruited during the development of novel structures. Combined with heterospory and endospory, a free-nuclear proembryo likely represented a preadaptive factor that facilitated the evolutionary origin of the seed habit. We highlight a positive correlation between a coenocytic growth phase and increased ovule/seed size in early spermatophytes. In general terms, the relatively derived seed plant lineages—including extant conifers, gnetaleans, and angiosperms—have reverted to a smaller seed size and concomitantly restricted coenocytic growth phases that reflect heterochronic change. A positive correlation between coenocytic growth phases and the absence of a preprophase band indicates that suppression of cytokinesis is a significant aspect of early growth phases in spermatophyte life histories.

Integrated data analysis allows the establishment of a new, cosmopolitan genus of marine Macrodasyida (Gastrotricha)

Macrodasyida (phylum Gastrotricha) comprises 365 species distributed across 34 genera and 10 families. However, current classification is under revision due to the contradictory results of molecular and morphological cladistic analyses. Studies aimed at bridging the gaps took advantage of supplementary assessments of poorly known species and particularly from observations of new taxa showing original traits that could help to identify plesiomorphic character states in these anatomically diverse micrometazoa. We follow this path by describing three new interesting macrodasyidan species respectively from Italy, Brazil and Sweden. In many respects, the new species resemble most closely species of the genus Macrodasys; however, details of the external morphology, in combination with the different lay-out of the reproductive system and the tiny spermatozoa lacking a visible flagellum, suggest they belong to a new genus, possibly in the family Macrodasyidae. These hypotheses are supported by the phylogenetic relationships of 47 taxa inferred from analyses of the 18S rRNA gene, which found the new species clustering with Thaidasys tongiorgii in a subset of a larger clade containing Macrodasys. Accordingly, the establishment of the following taxa is proposed: Kryptodasys gen. nov., K. marcocurinii sp. nov., K. carlosrochai sp. nov. and K. ulfjondeliusi sp. nov.

Proshapalopus marimbai, a new tarantula species (Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae) and first genus record from Colombia

A new species of Proshapalopus Mello-Leitao, 1923, distributed in the Southwest Colombia in the Choco Region, is described. A morphological cladistic analysis based on the previous matrix of a Ther...