Taxonomic History Research Articles

Contribution of ovule anatomy to the taxonomic context of Parodia Spegazzini (Cactaceae)

Abstract The taxonomic history of Parodia Speg. is marked by many incongruences regarding its circumscription. The main question remains regarding the union of five genera into Notocactus s.l. and, later, the union of Notocactus s.l. with Parodia s.s., leading to Parodia s.l. Given that the ovules are conserved structures and that their anatomical structure remains unexplored within the genus, we sought to identify whether the anatomical traits of these structures show potential taxonomic applicability and whether they provide information that allows the genus to be circumscribed. Samples of flower buds of 15 species and two taxa in synonymy were processed and stained using plant anatomy methods for light microscopy. The ovules of Parodia are campylotropous, bitegmic, and crassinucellate, with the micropyle delimited by the inner integument; in Parodia s.s. we observed the nucellus and embryo sac projection and changes to the micropyle type, characteristics that reflect the circumscriptions that distinguish this genus from others in the synonymy of Parodia s.l. The results may also be useful with regard to infrageneric issues, allowing the distinction of some morphologically similar taxa, adding to the discussion of their infrageneric positions. Thus, we highlight the importance of ovule anatomical traits within the taxonomic context of Parodia.

The spiraling story of Tyleropappus and a new name for Calea (Asteraceae: Neurolaeneae) from Venezuela

Tyleropappus was described in 1931 by Greenman and is characterized by its spiral, alternate leaves and epaleaceous receptacle. Throughout its taxonomic history, the genus was placed into the tribes Helenieae and Neurolaeneae, often treated as the sister genus of Geissopappus, which is currently a synonym of Calea. Later, Tyleropappus was synonymized with Calea; however, when its synonymization was proposed, the sole species in the genus, T. dichotomus, had not been synonymized under a previously described species nor properly transferred to Calea. Ongoing taxonomic studies in Neurolaeneae have provided opportunities to clarify the challenging taxonomic history of this monotypic genus. We confirm the synonymy of Tyleropappus in Calea; however, we recognize T. dichotomus as a distinct species that should be accepted in Calea. Nonetheless, the name C. dichotoma already exists, and is a synonym of C. ternifolia. Therefore, we propose the new name C. spiralis to accommodate this species, which is morphologically similar to C. linearifolia. The former can be distinguished from the latter by the spiral, alternate (vs. decussate) arrangement of leaves, receptacle epaleaceous (vs. oligopaleaceous) and cypselae hirsute (vs. glabrous). We also provide a detailed description of the species, the first map of its geographic occurrence, an illustration with diagnostic characters, and the first taxonomic key for the Nana clade of Calea.

Checklist of Omophoita Chevrolat, 1836 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) and diagnoses for some species from southern Brazil: notes on the taxonomic history, redescriptions and new records.

Morphological descriptions, taxonomic history and distribution data of Omophoita species recorded for southern Brazil (states of Paran, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul) are presented. Through the analysis of the existing literature, databases, loaned material, and specimen collecting, we studied seven species of Omophoita recorded for southern Brazil: O. communis (Bechyn 1959), O. equestris (Fabricius 1787), O. magniguttis (Bechyn 1955), O. octoguttata (Fabricius 1775), O. personata (Illiger 1807), O. sesquilunata (Klug 1829), and O. sexnotata (Harold 1876). We report O. sesquilunata for this region for the first time. Updated morphological descriptions, including novel information for male and female genitalia are presented for those taxa with dissected specimens.

Mitochondrial phylogenomics of the Australian scribbly gum moth Ogmograptis (Lepidoptera: Bucculatricidae) and an examination of deep‐level relationships within Lepidoptera

AbstractLarval feeding by the moth genus Ogmograptis (Bucculatricidae: Lepidoptera) creates one of the most iconic features of the Australian bush—the ‘scribbles’ found on smooth‐barked Eucalyptus. The taxonomic history of Ogmograptis has been challenging, with members of the genus being initially described in four different genera representing three different superfamilies. While prior phylogenetic analysis has placed Ogmograptis within the Bucculatricidae, these findings were not strongly supported and there was poor resolution of the early diverging, non‐Apoditrysia superfamilies that Ogmograptis has been assigned to by different authors. As a consequence, the unique larval biology of scribbly moths cannot yet be interpreted in an evolutionary context. Phylogenomic analysis of whole mitochondrial (mt) genome data for Ogmograptis, related non‐Apoditrysia and taxa representing the superfamily‐level diversity of the order strongly supports its placement within the Bucculatricidae, a monophyletic Gracillarioidea and a clade of Gracillarioidea + Yponomeutoidea that was sister to the Apoditrysia. The hypermetamorphic larval development in Ogmograptis can thus be interpreted as an elaboration of the ancestral pattern of the clade Gracillarioidea + Yponomeutoidea that has specialised for phellogen/callus feeding within the bark. The utility of mt genomes for deep‐level phylogenetic study of the Lepidoptera is reviewed against prior multi‐locus and nuclear phylogenomic datasets. Mt phylogenomic analyses are sensitive to analytical methods and the inclusion versus exclusion of high‐variability data partitions for deep‐level relationships, already shown to be uncertain by multi‐locus or nuclear phylogenomic analyses, in particular relationships between apoditrysian and obtectomeran superfamilies. While mt genomes are ideal for examining the relationships of rare, physically small or difficult to collect taxa such as Ogmograptis, due to the low technical hurdles to collecting whole genomes, continued attention to the analytical sensitivities of phylogenies that use this data source is needed to reliably advance our understanding of deep lepidopteran evolution.

A contribution to knowledge of Procloeon Bengtsson, 1915 from the Chinese mainland (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) with description of a new species.

The mayflies of the genus Procloeon Bengtsson, 1915 are common insects in China. However, partially because of its complicated taxonomic history and numerous species, this genus has never been revised locally in China. Here, we review all reported and related species from the Chinese mainland and confirmed three species of Procloeon occurred namely, Procloeon pennulatum (Eaton, 1870) (= Centroptilum henanensis Zhou et al., 1997, syn. n.) distributed in northern China, P. chinensis (She et al., 1995) (comb. nov.) from southern China and P. strumiferum sp. n. found in eastern China. The imagoes of the new species lack a costal projection of the hindwings but the gills IV of the nymphs have double lamellae. In contrast, both the former species have costal process in the hindwings and double lamellae of gills IVI. The three species can all be differentiated by imaginal genitalia and nymphal color. This revision clarifies all historical species in the genus Procloeon and Centroptilum from the Chinese mainland and provides a base for further research.

Understanding the diversification and functional radiation of Aporrectodea (Crassiclitellata, Lumbricidae) through molecular phylogenetics of its endemic species

The genus Aporrectodea includes some of the most conspicuous earthworm species, but its taxonomic history is among the most complex within the family Lumbricidae. Molecular phylogenetic studies have produced some advances by assigning former Aporrectodea species to other monophyletic clades and by detecting species level lineages within the cosmopolitan caliginosa-trapezoides complex. However, little attention has been devoted to endemic taxa of Aporrectodea such as Ap. rubra, Ap. arverna, Ap. gogna, Ap. balisa, Ap. velox, Ap. giardi voconca and Ap. longa ripicola. These earthworms (and additional populations of Ap. longa and Ap. nocturna) were included in a molecular phylogenetic framework in order to reconstruct the ancestral range of the genus, as well as to help understand its diversification within its native range and to perform a systematic revision. Species delimitation, ancestral area reconstruction and Bayesian inference of the phylogenetic relationships were performed using a large gene sequence (COI) dataset and a narrower dataset composed of 5 mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Phylogenetic position and species delimitation indicated that Ap. giardi voconca and Ap. longa ripicola constitute species-level entities not closely related to Ap. giardi or Ap. longa, and they were thus redescribed as Aporrectodea voconca stat. nov. and Aporrectodea ripicola stat. nov. Ancestral area reconstruction enabled location of the origin of Aporrectodea in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alps, in Southeastern France. The study findings provide some insight into the evolution of functional traits in this ecologically successful genus. Ap. rubra and Ap. arverna (small, reddish, epigeic/epianecic) and Ap. gogna (very large, dark, anecic) were recovered as the earliest branching taxa, suggesting a complex evolution of functional traits within this genus.

Phylogenetic review of the comb-tooth blenny genus Hypleurochilus in the northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico

As some of the smallest vertebrates, yet largest producers of consumed reef biomass, cryptobenthic reef fishes serve a disproportionate role in reef ecosystems and are one of the most poorly understood groups of fish. The blenny genera Hypleurochilus and Parablennius are currently considered paraphyletic and the interrelationships of Parablennius have been the focus of recent phylogenetic studies. However, the interrelationships of Hypleurochilus remain understudied. This genus is transatlantically distributed and comprises 11 species with a convoluted taxonomic history. In this study, relationships for ten Hypleurochilus species are resolved using multi-locus nuclear and mtDNA sequence data, morphological data, and mined COI barcode data. Mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data from 61 individuals collected from the western Atlantic and northern Gulf of Mexico (N. GoM) delimit seven species into a temperate clade, a tropical clade, and a third distinct lineage. This lineage, herein referred to as H. cf. aequipinnis, may represent a species of Hypleurochilus whose range has expanded into the N. GoM. Inclusion of publicly available COI sequence for an additional three species provides further phylogenetic resolution. H. bananensis forms a new eastern Atlantic clade with H. cf. aequipinnis, providing further evidence for a western Atlantic range expansion. Single marker COI delimitation was unable to elucidate the relationships between H. springeri/H. pseudoaequipinnis and between H. multifilis/H. caudovittatus due to incomplete lineage sorting. Mitochondrial data are also unable to accurately resolve the placement of H. bermudensis. However, a comprehensive approach using multi-locus phylogenetic and species delimitation methods was able to resolve these relationships. While mining publicly available sequence data allowed for the inclusion of an increased number of species in the analysis and a more comprehensive phylogeny, it was not without drawbacks, as a handful of sequences are potentially mis-identified. Overall, we find that the recent divergence of some species within this genus and potential introgression events confound the results of single locus delimitation methods, yet a combination of single and multi-locus analyses has allowed for insights into the biogeography of this genus and uncovered a potential transatlantic range expansion.

A taxonomic synopsis of Heliotropiaceae and new combinations in Heliotropium from Thailand.

A synopsis of Heliotropiaceae in Thailand is presented and, as part of this, the taxonomic history, identification keys, distribution maps, herbarium specimen citations and diagnostic characters are provided. Two genera and 12 species are recognised and four new combinations are proposed of Tournefortia under the genus Heliotropium, namely H.hookeri, H.intonsum, H.montanum and H.ovatum. Two species are newly recorded in Thailand: Euplocaovalifolia and H.hookeri. The neotype and lectotype are designated here for Tournefortiamontana and T.boniana, respectively.

Clarifying a male color morph of Sphaerodactylus macrolepis Gnther, 1859 and resolving the taxonomic confusion on Saint Croix.

Many species of sphaerodactyl gecko exhibit sexual dichromatism. In particular, dichromatism plays an important role in intersexual signaling for Sphaerodactylus. Furthermore, some species exhibit polymorphism in male color and pattern. Here, we describe a regional male color morph of Sphaerodactylus macrolepis from St. Croix. After generating both mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies, we found that individuals with the St. Croix-specific yellow/orange head morph are part of the S. macrolepis clade. This distinct color morph likely contributed to the turbulent taxonomic history of the S. macrolepis species group. Given the documented diversity of the color patterns in this group and that sexual signals evolve rapidly, we suggest S. macrolepis is an excellent group to study the ecological and evolutionary consequences of dichromatism and polymorphism.

Systematic revision of the Grateloupia complex (Rhodophyta) from Vietnam using rbcL and LSU sequences, with the description of Phyllymenia nhatrangensis sp. nov.

ABSTRACT Grateloupia sensu lato has had a long and troublesome taxonomic history because of superficial similarities in morphology, ill-defined species boundaries and lack of diagnostic characters that leave many gaps that still need to be fully resolved. In this study, we carried out detailed observations on female reproductive structures, and inferred the phylogenetic relationships of the Grateloupia-like species occurring in Vietnam based on rbcL and LSU rDNA sequence analyses. The new species Phyllymenia nhatrangensis sp. nov. differs from its sister species P. gibbesii in the thickness of the cortex. The new species is slightly flattened, composed of two to four main blades, bearing numerous marginal and a few superficial, lanceolate bladelets. Blade sizes of P. nhatrangensis are also smaller than those of P. gibbesii, which are longer and wider. However, the new species shares with species from western Pacific Ocean, such as P. taiwanensis and P. huangiae, the presence of frequent marginal proliferations. Based on rbcL, the divergence between P. nhatrangensis and P. gibbesii was 3.3% (39 bp). With the present addition, Grateloupia sensu lato now comprises 16 species, including nine species of Grateloupia, three species of Phyllymenia, two species of Yonagunia and one species each of Dermocorynus and Prionitis.

Revision of the extinct island-shrews Nesophontes (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Nesophontidae) from Cuba

Nesophontes is an extinct, shrew-like mammal endemic to the Greater Antilles. Within this genus, the Cuban taxa have a challenging taxonomic history. The dichotomy in the interpretation of species limits arises from the ample size variation observed in skeletal remains. Here, I provide a detailed systematic revision of Cuban species through multivariate morphometric and qualitative analyses. These include discrete osteological characteristics of the cranium, dentary, dentition, humerus, femur, pelvis, and endocranial casts from a wide range of specimens, several maturity levels, and radiocarbon-dated paleontological contexts, all of which can help resolve current taxonomic ambiguities and elucidate the species limits of the Cuban taxa. Furthermore, stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were obtained to approximate aspects of diet, habitat, and resource partitioning between the Cuban Nesophontes. Collectively, these analyses support the presence of three species that are divided into two morphotypes. The larger included Nesophontes major and Nesophontes longirostris, whereas Nesophontes micrus is smallest. Morphotypes of N. major and N. micrus showed further intraspecific variation, which could be attributed to sexual dimorphism. Chronologic and geographic variations, at least during the Late Holocene, were quantitatively detected but poorly supported. The isotope signals suggest slight microhabitat segregation between N. major and N. micrus, but overall similar diets. Altogether, these new data provide insights into the morphology and natural history of these peculiar and extinct Antillean land mammals.

TaiCOL Scientific Names Management Tool: Rebuilding the National Checklist in Taiwan Based on References

Many checklist databases encounter common challenges. While they may fulfill the requirements of scientific name collection and species inquiries successfully, they often fall short in recording and presenting diverse opinions on scientific name usage over time and among different scholars. Moreover, due to the rapidity of classification changes and limited workforce for database maintenance, these checklists usually cannot be updated promptly. Last but not least, exchanging checklists poses a complex challenge such as name matching for synonym, homonym, orthographic variations and misapplied names. Therefore, an ideal database design should maintain neutrality and objectivity by recording comprehensive taxonomic history information of scientific names. The database can then present multiple views on scientific name usage after integrating data, allowing users to judge and interpret for themselves. “Catalogue of Life in Taiwan” (TaiCOL*1) is the national database established in 2003 aiming to provide the most updated species checklist of Taiwan. However, it faces the challenges aforementioned. To design the database model, we conducted a method study to investigate how taxonomy works. Our findings identified key concepts (e.g., scientific name, name usage, similarities or differences in name usage, and namespace) for building the database structure to connect and interpret nomenclatural and taxonomic information. Furthermore, to effectively manage the vast amount of complex taxonomic history, we aim to develop a tool as the core for TaiCOL data management, enabling taxonomy researchers to assist in enriching the content of the database while completing scientific names management and research work. Additionally, we surveyed the nomenclature codes (Ride 1999, Turland 2018) and interviewed taxonomists in zoological and botanical fields to understand their working methods, processes, and writing conventions. This ensured that our tool aligns with the taxonomy research workflow and meets the needs of various biological disciplines. “Scientific Names Management Tool”*2 is now available for use and undergoing continuous optimization. It is not limited to use in Taiwan, but only scientific names labeled as "existing in Taiwan" will be integrated into the TaiCOL portal. For public use, the taxa are generated or updated for the TaiCOL portal through logical processing based on the latest classification results from the tool. Although the TaiCOL portal currently presents only one taxonomic view, the different usages of scientific names and various species information can be traced by giving the references. As for checklist exchange, in case of discrepancies or conflicts, alternative usages will be provided during name matching. In the future, users can have the option to choose references to obtain different taxonomic views of checklists.

Overview of the current status of Charipinae (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea, Figitidae): taxonomy, distribution, and diversity.

The subfamily Charipinae (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae) has had a problematic taxonomic history as many species have been described without comprehensive revisions being undertaken. Reliably identifying these species based on morphological assessment has been almost impossible. Recently, the types of all species have been re-examined and photographed, resulting in numerous taxonomic corrections that have been published elsewhere. Consequently, a summary checklist of all species that have ever been described within the Charipinae is provided with their current accepted status, including all associated references dealing with the historical nomenclatural changes and synonymy. We also provide up-to-date information on the diversity and distribution patterns of Charipinae to assist researchers working on these species in aphid biological control programs.

The Rhabdodontidae (Dinosauria, Ornithischia), an enigmatic dinosaur group endemic to the Late Cretaceous European Archipelago

The Rhabdodontidae was one of the most important dinosaur groups inhabiting the Late Cretaceous European Archipelago. Currently, the clade comprises nine species within six genera, which have been found in southern France, northern Spain, eastern Austria, western Hungary and western Romania, ranging from the Santonian to the late Maastrichtian. Phylogenetic analyses consistently place the Rhabdodontidae at the very base of the iguanodontian radiation, whereas the in-group relationships of rhabdodontids are relatively poorly understood; nevertheless, the clade seems to have had a rather complicated biogeographical history. Generally, rhabdodontids were small- to medium-sized, probably habitually bipedal herbivores, characterised by a rather stocky build and a comparatively large, triangular skull. Several lines of evidence suggest that they were presumably gregarious animals, as well as selective browsers that fed on fibrous plants and occupied different ecological niches than sympatric herbivorous dinosaur clades. Moreover, the sympatry of at least two rhabdodontid taxa was rather common and can be explained, at least in some instances, by niche partitioning. While rhabdodontids disappeared prior to the K/Pg extinction event in Western Europe, they survived close to the end of the Cretaceous in Eastern Europe, where they were amongst the last non-avian dinosaurs still present before the end of the Cretaceous. In this paper, we provide an overview of the rhabdodontid taxonomic history, diversity, phylogenetic relationships and palaeobiogeographic history, as well as palaeoecology and extinction. In addition, we also highlight still open questions on each of these topics and suggest potential future research directions.

Foot-Powered Machines, a Functional Taxonomy in the Age of Sustainability

Since the Middle Ages, human-powered tools and machines have played an important role in societies. Prominent among these are pedal-powered machines, which harness the overall power from the strongest muscles in the human body. The article identifies a historical taxonomy of pedal-powered machines to provide designers with an orientation map for devising new solutions, suggesting some contexts in which today’s pedal-powered machines can re-purpose ancient mechanisms to perform an innovative function. The reduction in energy consumption, the low environmental impact, and the autonomy of the process, in fact, can represent not only a technical rediscovery of engineering, but also a new way of supporting human subsistence.

Otolith characterization and integrative species identification of adult mesopelagic fishes from the western North Atlantic Ocean

Fish diversity and ecology in the ocean’s mesopelagic zone are understudied compared to other marine regions despite growing interest in harvesting these potential resources. Otoliths can provide a wealth of taxonomic and life history information about fish, which can help fill these knowledge gaps; however, there has been relatively little research to date on the otoliths of mesopelagic species. Here, a species-specific image library was assembled of sagittal otoliths from 70 mesopelagic fishes belonging to 29 families collected in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Images of adult sagittal otoliths from 12 species were documented and photographed for the first time. The fish were identified to species with a combination of morphological characters and DNA barcoding. Regressions between otolith size and fish length are presented for the six species with the largest sample sizes in this study. This otolith image library, coupled with otolith-length and width to fish-length relationships, can be used for prey identification and back-calculation of fish size, making it a valuable tool for studies relating to food webs in the important yet poorly understood mesopelagic zone. In addition, the 44 fish barcodes generated in this study highlight the benefit of using an integrative taxonomic approach to studies of this nature, as well as add to existing public databases that enable cryptic species and metabarcoding analyses of mesopelagic species.

Ixeridiumsagittarioides (Asteraceae-Cichorieae) revisited: range extension and molecular evidence for its systematic position in the Lactuca alliance.

Our first record of the rare and scatteredly distributed Ixeridiumsagittarioides for Guizhou, China, triggered a study to assess its systematic position. The species was placed in four different genera in the course of its taxonomic history and was recently treated with doubts as a member of Ixeridium in the Flora of China. Comparative morphological investigation and phylogenetic analyses based on the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and five non-coding plastid DNA regions (petD region, psbA-trnH, trnL-trnF, rpl32-trnL (UAG) and 5´rps16-trnQ (UUG) spacers) provided evidence that the species is not a member of Ixeridium and the Crepidinae but has evolved by ancient hybridisation of members of the Lactuca alliance (Lactucinae). It is reinstated as Lactucasagittarioides and a comprehensive morphological description is provided, based on material from its entire range of distribution.

Vickianthus, a new genus of the Vernonieae (Compositae) from Mexico

The morphologically diverse and globally distributed tribe Vernonieae (Compositae) has had a long taxonomic history whereby the majority of its taxa ended up being put into its “core” genus, Vernonia Schreb. Recent phylogenetic studies using DNA sequence data are only now beginning to tease apart this complicated “evil tribe” and provide a better understanding of the underlying morphological relationships within. With strong support from a recent molecular phylogenetic study of the Vernonieae across its entire geographical range, ten Mexican species of Vernonia and Vernonanthura are examined in this paper and placed in a new genus, Vickianthus.

A revision of Cordiaceae (Boraginales) in Central America, Mexico, and the United States

A taxonomic revision is provided for Cordiaceae (Boraginales) in Mexico and Central America and the adjacent portions of the United States, including 44 species of Cordia and 17 species of Varronia. Eight of the 44 species of Cordia were described as new to science elsewhere in earlier parts of this study. Cordiaceae are distinguished from other families of Boraginales in being erect woody plants with a style that is twice-divided with four stigmas. Taxonomic history of generic delimitation in the Cordiaceae is presented, along with discussions of morphology of Cordia and Varronia, an overview of breeding systems in the family, provisional conservation assessments, infrageneric classification, keys to species, and descriptions, with complete nomenclature and notes on geographic distribution and how to recognize individual species.

EQUINOIDES DA FORMAÇÃO JANDAÍRA, CRETÁCEO SUPERIOR DA BACIA POTIGUAR, NORDESTE DO BRASIL: ESTADO DA ARTE

Echinoids from Jandaíra Formation, Upper Cretaceous, Potiguar Basin, Northeastern Brazil. The present paper analyzes the studies about fossil echinoids from the Jandaíra Formation, Upper Cretaceous, Potiguar Basin, Northeastern Brazil, with the purpose of showing the current knowledge about the species of the geological unit. The bibliography was obtained by searching websites such as Scholar Google, Memória da Biblioteca Nacional, Biodiversity Heritage Library, and Periódicos Capes. Furthermore, we contacted several researchers in the area of study, looking for access to any missing bibliography. We surveyed 32 studies, including monographs, dissertations, abstracts, papers in scientific journals, and book chapters. A timeline was produced for each species. We concluded that are fourteen valid species for the formation: Petalobrissus lehugeurae Alves; Petalobrissus setifensis Cotteau; Petalobrissus cubensis Weisbord; Mecaster texanus Roemer; Mecaster fourneli Agassiz & Desor; Hemiaster cearensis Brito; Hemiaster catandubensis Maury; Mecaster sp.; Rosadosoma riograndensis (Maury); Phymosoma major Coquand; Goniopygus durandi Perón & Gauthier; Coenholectypus upanemensis Beurlenou, Coenholectypus serialis sp.?; Phymosoma sp.; and Pygorhynchus sp.?. A considerable diversity. However, apart from taxonomy, few studies address other subjects such as paleoecology, taphonomy, biogeography, and stratigraphy. The observations raised, help to understand the taxonomic history of the echinoid species. Accordingly, they might indicate the direction of future studies about echinoids of the Jandaíra Formation. Keywords: Echinodermata, Echinoidea, Taxonomy, Upper Cretaceous.