North American Genus Research Articles

Notes on Chisosa (Araneae, Pholcidae), with the description of a new species from Mexico.

The genus Chisosa Huber, 2000 previously included only three species of small to tiny North American and Caribbean spiders that are rare in collections and poorly studied. Originally placed in the subfamily Ninetinae, Chisosa is currently considered a representative of Arteminae, close to the North American genus Physocyclus Simon, 1893. This placement has been suggested by molecular data, and it affects the interpretation of morphological characters that were originally thought to support the monophyly of Chisosa: they are shared with Physocyclus and thus plesiomorphic for Chisosa. Here we describe a new species from Mexico, C. calapa sp. nov., and restudy in detail the morphology (incl. ultrastructure) of the type species C. diluta (Gertsch & Mulaik, 1940) and of C. caquetio Huber, 2019, based on newly collected material. We document further similarities with Physocyclus but find only weak morphological support for the monophyly of Chisosa (body size reduction and short legs). In addition, we document surprisingly large genetic distances among C. caquetio specimens from Curaao (>14% CO1 K2P distances), possibly indicating species limits. Finally, we propose that the Dominican amber genus Serratochorus Wunderlich, 1988, based on a single male specimen, is also phylogenetically close to Chisosa and should be included in future studies on these enigmatic spiders.

Climatic Niche Dynamics of the Astereae Lineage and Haplopappus Species Distribution following Amphitropical Long-Distance Dispersal.

The tribe Astereae (Asteraceae) displays an American Amphitropical Disjunction. To understand the eco-evolutionary dynamics associated with a long-distance dispersal event and subsequent colonization of extratropical South America, we compared the climatic and geographic distributions of South American species with their closest North American relatives, focusing on the diverse South American Astereae genus, Haplopappus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that two South American genera are closely related to seven North American genera. The climatic niche overlap (D = 0.5) between South and North America exhibits high stability (0.89), low expansion (0.12), and very low unfilling (0.04). The distribution of the North American species predicted the climatic and geographic space occupied by the South American species. In central Chile, Haplopappus showed a non-random latitudinal gradient in species richness, with Mediterranean climate variables mainly explaining the variation. Altitudinal patterns indicated peak richness at 600 m, declining at lower and higher elevations. These findings support climatic niche conservatism in shaping Haplopappus species distribution and diversity. Two major endemism zones were identified in central Chile and the southern region, with a transitional zone between Mediterranean and Temperate macro-bioclimates. Our results indicate strong niche conservatism following long-distance dispersal and slight niche expansion due to unique climatic variables in each hemisphere.

Notorhinus floresi sp. nov. gen. nov.: The first records of Siphonophorida in Chile and Siphonorhinidae in South America (Colobognatha)

The millipede family Siphonorhinidae (order Siphonophorida) shows a scattered distribution in South Africa, Madagascar, India, Southeast Asia, and North America. So far, the family is unknown from South America, while species of Siphonophoridae, the second family of the order, are relatively abundant on the continent. However, not a single Siphonophorida is known from Chile. Here we describe the monotypic genus Notorhinusgen. nov. with N. floresisp. nov. and record a second Notorhinus (undescribed) species, as first records of the order Siphonophorida in Chile and of the family Siphonorhinidae in South America. Notorhinusgen. nov. is distinct from the remaining Siphonorhinidae by the arrangement of the sensilla basiconica on the antennae and other somatic and sexual characters. However, it shows close morphological affinities to the North American genus IllacmeCook and Loomis 1928. In the Americas Siphonorhinidae were previously only known from California (USA), where they inhabit subterranean micro-habitats. The Chilean species was found under a piece of decaying wood in a small patch of fragmented native forest. Thus, the group shows a disjunct antitropical distribution in America at ca. 37° North and 38° South. They might be the relict of a once greater distribution, which persisted in these areas due to similar climatic conditions.

Randersonia Chamorro, a new genus with two new species of North American Cryptorhynchinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

A new North American genus Randersonia Chamorro with two new species, Randersonia cartwrighti Chamorro & Presnall sp. n. from Prince William County, Virginia, USA and Randersonia schwarzi Chamorro & Presnall sp. n. from Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico are described. The unique specimen of R. cartwrighti was collected under deer droppings in 1965 and the only known specimens of R. schwarzi were collected more than 109 years ago in 1912. An updated couplet is provided for use in the key to genera in American Beetles as well as a key to the species of Randersonia. A short discussion is included regarding veracity of collections. Habitus photographs are included.

Erinaceomorpha and Soricomorpha (Mammalia) of the Miocene Tagay fauna (Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, Eastern Siberia): A preliminary report

The current paper is a preliminary attempt to describe the eulipotyphlan fauna from the Early/Middle Miocene (MN5) Tagay-1 locality. Our results reveal one hedgehog species, Parvericius cf. P. buk (Erinaceinae), one desman species, Desmaninae gen. et sp. indet. (Desmaninae), three mole species, Quyania sp., Urotrichini gen. et sp. indet. and Yanshuella cf. Y. primaeva, one Desmanodon species (Talpidae incertae sedis) and three shrew species, Plesiosorex sp., Heterosorex sp. and Miosorex sp. (Plesiosoricidae, Soricidae). Therefore, the Tagay fauna is composed of European, Asian and North American genera. The desman remains are very similar to Late Miocene representatives of European Archaeodesmana, and represent the first Miocene record of Desmaninae in northern Asia. Our small mammal assemblage of the Tagay-1 section allows us to confirm the earlier reconstruction of the local palaeoenvironmental conditions as linked habitats such as closed forest and open ecotonal habitats preferred by ground-dwelling hedgehogs, shrew moles and shrews, and subterranean groups such as digging moles. The presence of desmans indicates flowing waters and probably wetland areas that would also be the favoured habitat of shrews.

Vegetative and Trichome Morphology Distinguish the Monardella ovata Species Complex from the Monardella odoratissima Species Complex: Taxonomic Studies in Monardella (Lamiaceae) VII

Abstract— Monardella (Lamiaceae) is a taxonomically complex western North American genus ranging from the Pacific coast to the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains and from southern British Columbia in Canada to the Cape region of Baja California Sur in Mexico. We applied a combination of gross vegetative morphology, trichome morphology and abundance/distribution, and molecular data to clarify taxonomic discontinuities, specifically regarding the monophyly of plants formerly treated within Monardella odoratissima. The data suggest a clear distinction between the non-monophyletic M. odoratissima species complex and the M. ovata species complex, thus resolving taxonomic ambiguities within and between them. We formally recognize plants from southern Oregon, northern California, and western Nevada previously misapplied to M. odoratissima as belonging to the M. ovata species complex. We introduce the following taxonomic and nomenclatural revisions: describe M. ovata Greene subsp. lenmaniae as a novel subspecies; present M. ovata subsp. pallida at a new position and rank; recognize M. modocensis, M. ovata, and M. rubella as accepted taxa; designate lectotypes for M. modocensis and M. rubella; and designate M. californica and M. tortifolia as new synonyms under M. ovata.

Insufficient Evidence for Multiple Species of Tyrannosaurus in the Latest Cretaceous of North America: A Comment on “The Tyrant Lizard King, Queen and Emperor: Multiple Lines of Morphological and Stratigraphic Evidence Support Subtle Evolution and Probable Speciation Within the North American Genus Tyrannosaurus”

The Late Cretaceous dinosaur Tyrannosaurus rex was recently split into three species based on the premise that variation in the T. rex hypodigm is exceptional, indicating cryptic species and “robust” and “gracile” morphs. The morphs are based on proportional ratios throughout the skeleton. The species are claimed to be stratigraphically separate, with an early robust species followed by robust and gracile descendants. There are problems with the hypothesis: the taxon diagnoses are based on two features that overlap between the species; several skulls cannot be identified based on the diagnoses; proportional comparisons between Tyrannosaurus and other theropods are based on incomparable samples; the tooth data are problematic; the stratigraphic framework divides the Hell Creek Formation into thirds, without the stratigraphic position of each specimen, or independent age control showing the subdivisions are coeval over the entire geographic area; previous work found variation in T. rex, but it cannot be parsed into discrete categories. We tested for “gracile” and “robust” morphs by analyzing the femoral and tooth ratios that were published in the multiple species study using agglomerative hierarchical clustering. The results found that each set of ratios are explained by one cluster, showing that dimorphism is not supported. We tested for exceptional variation of the femoral ratio of Tyrannosaurus; we calculated the mean intraspecific robusticity for 112 species of living birds and 4 nonavian theropods. The results showed that the absolute variation in Tyrannosaurus is unexceptional and it does not indicate cryptic diversity. We conclude that “T. regina” and “T. imperator” are subjective junior synonyms of T. rex.

Phylogenetic position of genera Acrostilicus Hubbard and Pachystilicus Casey (Staphylinidae, Paederinae) and their redescription

Acrostilicus Hubbard, 1896 and Pachystilicus Casey, 1905 are North American genera known from only one and two species, respectively, and have never been a subject of a modern revision. In fact, Acrostilicus was not even properly described as its author provided only a sketchy diagnosis of the genus and species. Here, we provide a redescription of the genus Acrostilicus and its species and illustrate the habitus and male genital features. For the first time, we also redescribe Pachystilicus and its two species, and provide their differential diagnoses. Additionally, we tested the phylogenetic position of both genera. They were scored into a morphological matrix supplemented with molecular data and the analyses were run using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods. A total of 119 morphological characters and 4859 bp of nuclear (28S, TP, Wg, CADA, CADC, ArgK) and mitochondrial (COI) sequences were analysed for 46 taxa. The results confirmed that both Acrostilicus and Pachystilicus are members of the subtribe Stilicina, but at the same time challenged the monophyly of the subtribe in its current composition. Additionally, we provided further evidence for non-monophyly of the subtribe Medonina and discussed the biology of Acrostilicus and Pachystilicus.

Revision of the North American Genus Bistanta Anderson, 2018

Revision of the North American Genus Bistanta Anderson, 2018

The Tyrant Lizard King, Queen and Emperor: Multiple Lines of Morphological and Stratigraphic Evidence Support Subtle Evolution and Probable Speciation Within the North American Genus Tyrannosaurus

The Tyrant Lizard King, Queen and Emperor: Multiple Lines of Morphological and Stratigraphic Evidence Support Subtle Evolution and Probable Speciation Within the North American Genus Tyrannosaurus

New Distributional Records of Phidippus (Araneae: Salticidae) for Baja California and Mexico: An Integrative Approach

Because of its heterogeneity in ecoregions and its varied topography, the Mexican peninsula of Baja California (BCP) is an area of high diversity for many taxa, including spiders. However, a paucity of studies means that the diversity of BCP’s spiders is generally poorly known. The North American jumping spider genus Phidippus comprises over 60 species, of which approximately 45% are found in Mexico. Among those, 6 have been recorded to date from the BCP but adding up the species recorded in nearby states, up to 20 more can be expected. As part of a larger study on the evolution and biogeography of the North American genus Phidippus, the aim here was to explore the diversity of the genus in the BCP using an integrative taxonomic approach and to present new distributional records. Until now, at least ten species have been collected from the BCP, one of which is a new record for Mexico, three new records for the BCP, and at least one undescribed species.

Phylogeny, biogeography and diversification of the mining bee family Andrenidae

AbstractThe mining bees (Andrenidae) are a major bee family of over 3000 described species with a nearly global distribution. They are a particularly significant component of northern temperate ecosystems and are critical pollinators in natural and agricultural settings. Despite their ecological and evolutionary significance, our knowledge of the evolutionary history of Andrenidae is sparse and insufficient to characterize their spatiotemporal origin and phylogenetic relationships. This limits our ability to understand the diversification dynamics that led to the second most species‐rich genus of all bees, Andrena Fabricius, and the most species‐rich North American genus, Perdita Smith. Here, we develop a comprehensive genomic dataset of 195 species of Andrenidae, including all major lineages, to illuminate the evolutionary history of the family. Using fossil‐informed divergence time estimates, we characterize macroevolutionary dynamics, incorporate paleoclimatic information, and present our findings in the context of diversification rate estimates for all other bee tribes. We found that diversification rates of Andrenidae steeply increased over the past 15 million years, particularly in the genera Andrena and Perdita. This suggests that these two groups and the brood parasites of the genus Nomada Scopoli (Apidae), which are the primary cleptoparasitic counterparts of Andrena, are similar in age and represent the fastest diversifying lineages of all bees. Using our newly developed time frame of andrenid evolution, we estimate a late Cretaceous origin in South America for the family and reconstruct the past dispersal events that led to its present‐day distribution.

The beginning of the adaptive radiation of Theridomorpha (Rodentia) in Western Europe: morphological and phylogenetic analyses of early and middle Eocene taxa; implications for systematics

This paper provides a revision of the early and middle Eocene European rodents previously referred to as Ischyromyoidea, including taxa considered to be at the origin of the Theridomorpha. The use of an accurate dental terminology and a better understanding of the size and shape of their infra-orbital foramen (i.o.f.) led us to a substantial revision of this group, which allowed to better characterize them and to appreciate their variability. On these bases, phylogenetic analyses (cladistic and standard Bayesian approaches) of early Ypresian to late Priabonian European rodent species were undertaken in order to highlight the root of the early Theridomorpha and its content. The phylogeny was established based on 343 characters (338 dental) through 45 early Paleogene taxa. The ingroup included on one hand a few North American genera (Reithroparamys, Microparamys, and Acritoparamys) and European ones (Eogliravus, Ailuravus, Corbarimys, Meldimys, Euromys, Plesiarctomys, and Pseudoparamys) considered until now as being related with the North American superfamily Ischyromyoidea. On the other hand, it included genera close to the root of the Theridomorpha (Sparnacomys, Pantrogna, and Hartenbergeromys) and early Theridomyoidea (Masillamys, Protadelomys, and some Pseudosciuridae). The phylogenetic results obtained via the two distinct reconstruction approaches are consistent in virtually all relationships. The proposed systematics here derives from these phylogenetic results. This phylogenetic context led us to change the suprafamilial, familial, subfamilial or generic attribution of several species. Characters of Theridomorpha, like the obliquely developed postprotocristid allied with the occurrence of a metalophulid I, have been found in genera previously considered as Ischyromyidae (Pseudoparamys, Euromys, Sparnacomys, Meldimys, Pantrogna, and Hartenbergeromys) as well as the large i.o.f., when preserved (Pseudoparamys, Hartenbergeromys, and Masillamys). Based on these morphological observations and new phylogenetic considerations, the content of the Theridomorpha clade is here enlarged, thereby extending back the first theridomorph radiations to the early Eocene. Aside, a new taxon (Reinomys rhomboides gen. and sp. nov.) is described from Avenay. In addition, a new genus, Auroremys, is created for the species subita (Comte et al., 2012) from Chery-Chartreuve.

Brachyericines (Erinaceidae, Eulipotyphla) from the early Miocene of central Nei Mongol, China

ABSTRACT Brachyericinae is a subfamily of Erinaceidae (hedgehogs and moonrats) with a very short history and limited distribution. Fossil records of brachyericines, with rare materials, were confined to the Oligocene and early Miocene in Central Asia and to the Miocene in North America. Here, we report three forms of short-faced hedgehogs: Synexallerix junggarensis, Brachyericinae gen. et sp. indet. 1 and Brachyericinae gen. et sp. indet. 2 from Aoerban and Gashunyin Adege, localities of the early Miocene in Central Nei Mongol. S. junggarensis is the first discovery outside the Suosuoquan Formation in Xinjiang and detailed description of the new materials, including a nearly complete skull, clarifies its taxonomic position within the Brachyericinae. The new Nei Mongol material is important not only because they include a nearly complete skull of S. junggarensis (previously known by a rostral part of the skull) but also because of the presence of three taxa of the brachyericines from the same general area. The similarity of its morphological characteristics with the North American genera also further confirms the close affinities of brachyericines from the two continents during the early Miocene.

Carinacuma umesi, a new genus and species of bodotriid cumacean (Crustacea: Malacostraca: Peracarida) from shallow waters of the Maryland Coastal Bays, Mid-Atlantic region, USA.

Carinacuma, a new bodotriid cumacean genus, is diagnosed to receive Spilocuma watlingi Omholt & Heard as its type species and C. umesi sp. nov., described from shallow waters (0.8 to 2.8 m) on the Mid-Atlantic coast of North America. Carinacuma gen. nov. has its closest affinities to the North American genera Spilocuma and Mancocuma, but can be distinguished from them and the other genera within the subfamily Vaunthompsoniinae by a combination of characters, including the presence of a dorsal carina or keel on pereonite 3 of the female, morphology of the antenna, absence of pleopods in the male, and the setation and segmentation of the uropods. Carinacuma umesi sp. nov., can be differentiated from its northern Gulf of Mexico cognate, C. watlingi comb. nov. by several characters, including: (1) maxilliped 3 carpus of female with inner margin bearing four to five simple setae, (2) uropod peduncle of female with inner margin bearing one sub-distal micro-serrate seta with single sub-terminal medial setule, (3) male antennule peduncle articles 1–2 sub-equal length, and (4) male antennule accessory flagellum slightly longer than basal article of main flagellum. A key to the five known males lacking pleopods within Vaunthompsoniinae is provided.

, a new North American genus of family Ceratophyllaceae: evidence based on cladistic analyses of current molecular data of

The major goal of this study was to re-analyse a published molecular dataset based on ITS and matK sequences of the genus Ceratophyllum (Ceratophyllaceae) within a cladistic framework, operating only with rooted trees. The problem is lack of an identifiable suitable outgroup to Ceratophyllum. We show different ways to root trees and thus resolve the sister group relationships within this genus. We root the trees using an all zero outgroup or a combination of exemplar taxa from among monocots (Acorus), eudcots (Ranunculus) and Chloranthus. Ceratophyllum echinatum was consistently strongly supported as sister to all of the remaining taxa of the genus. This observation is congruent with the earlier results of Les who noted the uniqueness of C. echinatum in a series of comprehensive morphological and biosystematic studies. We, here, transfer C. echinatum to a new and presumably monotypic genus Fassettia Mavrodiev. The exact taxonomic circumscription of Fassettia requires further investigation.

A new species of the genus Hyalella (Crustacea, Amphipoda) from northern Mexico.

A new species, Hyalella tepehuanasp. nov., is described from Durango state, Mexico, a region where studies on Hyalella have been few. This species differs from most species of the North and South American genus Hyalella in the number of setae on the inner plate of maxilla 1 and maxilla 2, characters it shares with Hyalella faxoni Stebbing, 1903. Nevertheless, H. faxoni, from the Volcan Barva in Costa Rica, lacks a dorsal process on pereionites 1 and 2. Also, this new species differs from other described Hyalella species in Mexico by the shape of the palp on maxilla 1, the number of setae on the uropods, and the shape of the telson.

Species delimitation, classical taxonomy and genome skimming: a review of the ground beetle genusLionepha(Coleoptera: Carabidae)

AbstractThe western North American genus Lionepha is shown to contain at least 11 species through a combination of eight-gene species delimitation analyses and morphological study. In order to confirm the names of several species, we sequence DNA of primary types of several names, including a LeConte lectotype collected in the 1850s, using next-generation sequencing. We examine chromosomes of eight species, and show that all have 12 pairs of autosomes and an X0/XX sex-chromosome system. The following species are described as new: Lionepha australerasa, L. kavanaughi, L. lindrothi and L. tuulukwa. The name Lionepha erasa is shown to belong to a relatively rare, western species ranging from Oregon through Alaska; the common, widespread species previously known as Lionepha erasa now takes the name L. probata. Bembidion chintimini, B. lindrothellus and B. lummi are synonymized with L. erasa. We provide tools to identify specimens to species, including illustrations, diagnoses and distribution maps.

Adaptation to hummingbird pollination is associated with reduced diversification in Penstemon.

A striking characteristic of the Western North American flora is the repeated evolution of hummingbird pollination from insect‐pollinated ancestors. This pattern has received extensive attention as an opportunity to study repeated trait evolution as well as potential constraints on evolutionary reversibility, with little attention focused on the impact of these transitions on species diversification rates. Yet traits conferring adaptation to divergent pollinators potentially impact speciation and extinction rates, because pollinators facilitate plant reproduction and specify mating patterns between flowering plants. Here, we examine macroevolutionary processes affecting floral pollination syndrome diversity in the largest North American genus of flowering plants, Penstemon. Within Penstemon, transitions from ancestral bee‐adapted flowers to hummingbird‐adapted flowers have frequently occurred, although hummingbird‐adapted species are rare overall within the genus. We inferred macroevolutionary transition and state‐dependent diversification rates and found that transitions from ancestral bee‐adapted flowers to hummingbird‐adapted flowers are associated with reduced net diversification rate, a finding based on an estimated 17 origins of hummingbird pollination in our sample. Although this finding is congruent with hypotheses that hummingbird adaptation in North American Flora is associated with reduced species diversification rates, it contrasts with studies of neotropical plant families where hummingbird pollination has been associated with increased species diversification. We further used the estimated macroevolutionary rates to predict the expected pattern of floral diversity within Penstemon over time, assuming stable diversification and transition rates. Under these assumptions, we find that hummingbird‐adapted species are expected to remain rare due to their reduced diversification rates. In fact, current floral diversity in the sampled Penstemon lineage, where less than one‐fifth of species are hummingbird adapted, is consistent with predicted levels of diversity under stable macroevolutionary rates.

917. CORETHROGYNE FILAGINIFOLIA

SummaryCorethrogyne filaginifolia (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt. (Compositae: Astereae: Machaerantherinae) is illustrated and described. The full synonymy of this monospecific North American genus is provided together with the location of known type material and relevant comments made where applicable. The Conservation Status of the species is considered LC (Least Concern), as previous listings in California are shown to refer to Corethrogyne filaginifolia (Hook. & Arn.) var. incana (Lindl.) D.R. Morgan & R.L. Hartman, which is now considered a synonym of the rather variable Dieteria canescens (Pursh) Nutt. The taxonomic placement of Diplopappus incanus Lindl. is discussed, and a synonymy has been provided for Dieteria canescens subsp. canescens var. incana (Lindl.) D.R. Morgan & R.L. Hartman, of which it is the basionym. The location of the probable holotype of Diplopappus leucophyllus Lindl. ex DC. is discussed, together with the relevance of material mounted on a Kew sheet.