Taxonomic Priority Research Articles

A thorny taxonomic issue of Quaternary deer (Cervidae: Mammalia) from the South American Highlands resolved based on the recognition of a paleopathology

ABSTRACTThe diversity of South American deer genera during the Quaternary is considered one of the greatest in the world. However, this was established during the beginning of the twentieth century, when the recognition of new extinct deer taxa was based only on differences in antler morphology. Thus, South American extinct deer taxa need a detailed taxonomic revision, and this is the case of the Andean deer genera Agalmaceros and Charitoceros. First, both taxa are diagnosed by the presence of thorns in their antlers. Consequently, by taxonomic priority, Agalmaceros is a senior synonym of Charitoceros. Second, we recognize here that the thorns of the antlers of Agalmaceros are the symptom of a pathology that also affects some extant deer. Excluding the thorns of the antlers, the antler of Agalmaceros is identical to that of Odocoileus virginianus, indicating that Agalmaceros is a junior synonym to this extant deer. The recognition of epizootic hemorrhagic disease as the possible cause for the thorny antlers of Andean O. virginianus and the ample record of this affecting antlers in deer from the tropical Andes suggests that an epidemic occurred in this region in the Late Pleistocene. Before describing a new taxon, taxonomists must exhaust all possibilities to explain morphological variations. In this regard, this contribution provides an interesting, important and weakly explored area in paleontology, namely taxonomic revision under a paleopathology context. With the taxonomic invalidation of Agalmaceros and Charitoceros proposed here, the diversity of South American deer genera during the Pleistocene is poorer than previously established and includes 11 taxa – seven extant and four extinct.

Resolution of the long-standing controversy over the type species of the genus Pseudotypotherium (Notoungulata, Typotheria, Mesotheriidae)

Mesotheres (Notoungulata: Typotheria) are among the most common mammals found in upper Miocene to Pliocene deposits of central Argentina, including the classic type Monte Hermoso locality, which defines the Montehermosan South American Land Mammal “Age”. Nevertheless, the correct name for the mesothere species from this site has been shrouded in uncertainty for well over a century due to questions of taxonomic priority, specimen provenance, and ontogenetic changes in dental formula. Since the mesotheres from Monte Hermoso were named, three distinct species have been formally considered as the type species of the genus: (1) Pseudotypotherium bravardi; (2) “Pseudotypotherium” maendrum; and (3) Pseudotypotherium exiguum. However, none of these species is a nominal species of the Pseudotypotherium genus; all three were originally referred to Typotherium. Article 67.2 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN, 1999) indicates that only species considered as nominal species are eligible to set the type; in the case of Pseudotypotherium, these include: P. pulchrum, P. carlesi, P. hystatum, and P. carhuense. We conclude that Pseudotypotherium pulchrumF. Ameghino, 1904 (holotype MACN A 10299, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Ameghino Collection), is the type species of the mesotheriid notoungulate genus from Monte Hermoso. According to Article 68.2, F. Ameghino fixed the type by original designation in 1904 when he described P. pulchrum and included “n. g., n. sp.”. Two of the other species previously considered species P. (= T.) bravardi and P. (= T.) exiguum are invalid as type species according to Article 70.2, since their designations overlooked the previous type fixation. The third species (M. (= T.) maendrum) represents a different mesothere genus (Mesotherium) that only occurs in younger (Pleistocene) deposits. Our analysis puts an end to a historical debate that has been ongoing for more than a century regarding the identity of this well-represented late Miocene–Pliocene mesotheriine genus (Pseudotypotherium). This study provides a solid taxonomic foundation for future studies on intraspecific and ontogenetic variation of Pseudotypotherium pulchrum.

Redefining Chlorobotryaceae as one of the principal and most diverse lineages of eustigmatophyte algae

Eustigmatophyceae is one of the ∼17 classes of the vast algal phylum Ochrophyta. Over the last decade, the eustigmatophytes emerged as an expansive group that has grown from the initially recognized handful of species to well over 200 genetically distinct entities (potential species). Yet the majority of eustigs, remain represented by unidentified strains, or even only metabarcode sequences obtained from environmental samples. Moreover, the formal classification of the group has not yet been harmonized with the recently uncovered diversity and phylogenetic relationships within the class. Here we make a major step towards resolving this issue by addressing the diversity, phylogeny and classification of one of the most prominent eustigmatophyte clades previously informally called the “Eustigmataceae group”. We obtained 18S rDNA and rbcL gene sequences from four new strains from the “Eustigmataceae group”, and from several additional eustig strains, and performed the most comprehensive phylogenetic analyses of Eustigmatophyceae to date. Our results of these analyses confirm the monophyly of the “Eustigmataceae group” and define its major subclades. We also sequenced plastid genomes of five “Eustigmataceae group” strains to not only improve our understanding of the plastid gene content evolution in eustigs, but also to obtain a robustly resolved eustigmatophyte phylogeny. With this new genomic data, we have solidified the view of the “Eustigmataceae group” as a well-defined family level clade. Crucially, we also have firmly established the genus Chlorobotrys as a member of the “Eustigmataceae group”. This new molecular evidence, together with a critical analysis of the literature going back to the 19th century, provided the basis to radically redefine the historical concept of the family Chlorobotryaceae as the formal taxonomic rubric corresponding to the “Eustigmataceae group”. With this change, the family names Eustigmataceae and Characiopsidaceae are reduced to synonymy with the Chlorobotryaceae, with the latter having taxonomic priority. We additionally studied in detail the morphology and ultrastructure of two Chlorobotryaceae members, which we describe as Neustupella aerophytica gen. et sp. nov. and Lietzensia polymorpha gen. et sp. nov. Finally, our analyses of partial genomic data from several Chlorobotryaceae representatives identified genes for hallmark flagellar proteins in all of these strains. The presence of the flagellar proteins strongly suggests that zoosporogenesis is a common trait of the family and also occurs in the members never observed to produce flagellated stages. Altogether, our work paints a rich picture of one of the most diverse principal lineages of eustigmatophyte algae.

Genomics and ecological modelling clarify species integrity in a confusing group of butterflies.

Recent advances in both genomics and ecological modelling present new, multidisciplinary opportunities for resolving species boundaries and understanding the mechanisms that maintain their integrity in regions of contact. Here, we use a combination of high-throughput DNA sequencing and ecological niche modelling to resolve species boundaries and niche divergence within the Speyeria atlantis-hesperis (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) complex, a confusing group of North American butterflies. This complex is notorious for its muddled species delimitations, morphological ambiguity, and extensive mitonuclear discordance. Our admixture and multispecies coalescent-based analyses of single nucleotide polymorphisms identified substantial divergences between S. atlantis and S. hesperis in areas of contact, as well as between distinct northern and southern lineages within S. hesperis. Our results also provide evidence of past introgression relating to another species, S. zerene, which previous work has shown to be more distantly related to the S. atlantis-hesperis complex. We then used ecological models to predict habitat suitability for each of the three recovered genomic lineages in the S. atlantis-hesperis complex and assessed their pairwise niche divergence. These analyses resolved that these three lineages are significantly diverged in their respective niches and are not separated by discontinuities in suitable habitat that might present barriers to gene flow. We therefore infer that ecologically-mediated selection resulting in disparate habitat associations is a principal mechanism reinforcing their genomic integrity. Overall, our results unambiguously support significant evolutionary and ecological divergence between the northern and southern lineages of S. hesperis, sufficient to recognize the southern evolutionary lineage as a distinct species, called S. nausicaa based on taxonomic priority.

On the Unnecessary and Misleading Taxon “Cetartiodactyla”

The name “Cetartiodactyla” was proposed in 1997 to reflect the molecular data that suggested that Cetacea is closely related to Artiodactyla. Since then, that taxon has spread in popularity, even outside the scientific literature. However, the implications of the name are confusing, because Cetacea and Artiodactyla are not sister-taxa. Instead, the evidence clearly shows that cetaceans are a group embedded within Artiodactyla, not a sister-taxon of equal rank. It has long been accepted practice that systematists do not modify the names of higher groups when new subgroups are added to them. For example, Owen’s original concept of Artiodactyla did not change its name when more and more disparate taxa were added to it. Dinosauria did not become “Avedinosauria” when it became clear that birds are a subgroup of dinosaurs, nor did Reptilia become “Avereptilia”. In the interests of taxonomic priority and stability, and especially because the name is inherently misleading, we recommend that the name “Cetartiodactyla” be abandoned. If one wishes to make a reference to the fact that whales are now considered to be a subgroup of artiodactyls, they could be referred to informally as “whales and other artiodactyls” or “whales and terrestrial artiodactyls” without using a formal taxonomic name that is confusing and misleading.

Catapleura Cope, 1870 is Euclastes Cope, 1867 (Testudines: Pan-Cheloniidae): synonymy revealed by a new specimen from New Jersey

The famous ‘Bone Wars’ between Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh resulted in the naming of numerous vertebrate taxa from the Cretaceous formations of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, including many species that have since been shown to be of indeterminate affinities or synonyms of each other. Here, we describe a new specimen of the pan-cheloniid turtle Euclastes named by Cope in 1867 which demonstrates that another pan-cheloniid he named in 1870, Catapleura, is actually the same taxon. Each of these genera were originally based on incomplete and fragmentary remains from the Paleocene of New Jersey, with Euclastes named for a partial skull and Catapleura named for partial carapace bones, and their poor fossil records have generated considerable taxonomic confusion and debate for over 150 years. The new skeleton, recovered from the earliest Danian Main Fossiliferous Layer (MFL) of the Hornerstown Formation, includes a rostrum and mandible exhibiting autapomorphies of Euclastes wielandi (Hay, 1908) (e.g. dentary with an elongated symphysis) and a carapace and plastron exhibiting autapomorphies of Catapleura repanda Cope, 1870 (e.g. no contact between second suprapygal and eleventh peripheral), demonstrating that they are synonyms. Taxonomic priority is given to the senior synonym Euclastes. By incorporating character scorings based on the new specimen into a revised phylogenetic analysis, we found Euclastes to occupy a derived position within Pan-Cheloniidae, with close relationships to Mexichelys Brinkman et al., 2009 and Corsochelys Zangerl, 1960. Euclastes wielandi was found to be the most basal species of the genus owing to its broad contribution of the frontal to the orbital margin in adult individuals. These insights reduce the apparent diversity of chelonians in the MFL and highlight how the discovery (and description) of new specimens including both cranial and shell remains is critical to advancing our understanding of the evolutionary relationships and palaeoecology of extinct turtles.

Natural Area Weeds: Mexican Petunia (Ruellia simplex)

Minor Revision.
 Ruellia simplex (Mexican bluebell, Mexican petunia, or Britton's wild petunia) is an herbaceous perennial (USDA Hardiness Zone 8–11) in the family Acanthaceae. Five species of Ruellia are native to Florida, and three non-native species are listed as naturalized in the state, including R. simplex (Wunderlin et al. 2019). There has been some confusion about the name of this species, commonly referred to as Ruellia brittoniana, Ruellia coerulea, Ruellia tweediana, orRuellia malacosperma (USDA NRCS 2019; Wunderlin et al. 2019). Ruellia simplex C. Wright was the name used when this species was first described in Cuba in 1870; therefore, it has taxonomic priority (Ezcurra and Daniel 2007). This name is now widely used in the horticultural trade and amongst state agencies and will therefore be used in this publication.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep415

On the Foundations of Psychology: the Problem Is Grammatical, Not Theoretical.

Zagaria et al. (Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, X 1-44, 2020) argue that psychology is a science marked by theoretical chaos and that it is possible to rectify this by letting the theoretical framework of evolutionary psychology serve as a foundation for psychology at large. While agreeing to the fact that psychology lacks direction, I maintain that this problem is not theoretical and hence, not rectifiable through the postulations of a theory. Following Wittgenstein, I argue that the disorganised state of psychology is due to an insufficient sensitivity to the meaning of psychological terms in ordinary language. In short, psychology's problem is grammatical. Hence, what needs to be done is to examine the grammar of psychological concepts. Many scholars have contributed to this kind of examination but few as extensively as Harré, who stressed the primacy of the concept of a person for discourses about human mental powers and their exercise. This is the Taxonomic Priority Principle. Grounding psychological research in evolutionary theory would amount to a violation of it and thus, I claim that it is mistaken to do so. The approach best suited to administer this principle is that of cultural psychology.

A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the genera of fruit doves and allies using dense taxonomic sampling

Fruit doves and their allies are a diverse group within the pigeon and dove family (Aves: Columbidae). Progress towards subfamilial classification of Columbidae relies on identifying major groups and the phylogenetic relationships within these groups. One such recently proposed group is the Raphinae based on previous evidence that the extinct dodo is potentially within what was formerly recognized as the Treroninae (fruit doves and allies). Although several studies have explored the phylogenetic relationships within Columbidae, most have focused either on broad-scale, familial level relationships or finer scale, species level relationships. Here we use mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences from a diverse taxonomic sample to identify relationships among the genera and species of fruit doves and their allies. In particular our goal is to identify which of these genera should be included within Raphinae (the name which has taxonomic priority over Treroninae), focusing on an inclusive, well-supported monophyletic group. We also use dense taxon sampling to explore relationships among genera and species in this group, expanding on previous studies. In addition, we use resulting phylogenetic hypotheses to reconstruct the ancestral evolutionary history of foraging mode and biogeographic patterns of dispersal within the group. We used two data sets for our phylogenetic analysis: the first consisting of novel sequences generated for this project and the second with additional, previously published sequences from the fruit dove genus (Ptilinopus). Our analyses found support for the monophyly of a clade that contains a large fraction of the genera currently classified within Raphinae and also found several well-supported clades within this group of pigeons and doves. Character reconstruction methods based on the resulting phylogeny recover multiple transitions from a terrestrial to an arboreal foraging mode and evidence for multiple dispersal events from Asia to Africa throughout the history of the clade.

Synopsis and taxonomic revision of three genera in the snake tribe Sonorini

ABSTRACTDelimiting species is a crucial goal of integrative biology, and yet can be misled by homoplasy and high levels of morphological variation. The snake tribe Sonorini contains three genera that have long confounded taxonomists: Chilomeniscus, Chionactis and Sonora. Dynamic colour evolution in this group, including rampant geographic variation in colour and colour polymorphism, has led to a chaotic taxonomy. We used mitochondrial and high-throughput nuclear data (ddRADseq) and complete taxonomic sampling of each genus to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and systematically revise the genus. Our research revealed that Sonora is paraphyletic with regards to Chilomeniscus and Chionactis and that at least one species (S. semiannulata) is paraphyletic with respect to at least one other recognized species. Additionally, we found substantial undescribed genetic diversity within multiple species which is incongruent with morphological variation in coloration. Accordingly, we proposed synonymizing Chionactis and Chilomeniscus with Sonora, which has taxonomic priority over both genera. As we found genetic evidence that supported some of the historically delimited diversity within multiple taxa, we revised species-level taxonomy accordingly. This new taxonomy recognizes a revised genus of Sonora that contains 15 species of diminutive and often brightly coloured snakes that are distributed from central Mexico to north-western USA.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:45A553D8-6435-4E0A-84ED-DF31E2CCD872

Taxonomical Synonymy of Red Seaweed Gracilaria foliifera (Forsskal) Borgesen, 1932 with Gracilaria corticata J. Agardh, 1852 based on Multi-Local Phylogeny

In this study, we assessed taxonomical position of Gracilaria corticata J. Agardh and Gracilaria foliifera (Forsskal) Borgesen collected from various locations along Indian coastline by combined morphological and multi-local molecular approaches. The species were indistinguishable based on morphological features which were previously claimed by various authors as diagnosing traits for the two species.These taxa were polyphyletic in our phylograms based either on chloroplast DNA rbcL-rbcS or mitochondrial DNA Cox2-3 spacer sequences. A clade consisting of Gracilaria corticata and Gracilaria foliifera was indeed monophyletic and strongly supported, resolving the conspecificity of these two taxa. Based on article 11 of ICN, the principle of taxonomic priority, the binomen Gracilaria corticata is valid and preferable. Gracilaria foliifera nomen rejiciendum is therefore a synonym of the valid binomen Gracilaria corticata.

Taxonomic realignment in the southern African Tetraria (Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae; Schoenus clade)

Tetraria – an austral genus with 54 currently accepted species – is polyphyletic, with species located across at least three different clades of the Schoeneae tribe of Cyperaceae. The small African endemic genus Epischoenus is embedded within one of these clades—the Schoenus clade of Tetraria. The majority of species in two of the major clades of Tetraria (the Tricostularia and Schoenus clades) are endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of southern Africa. Species in the Tricostularia clade have noded culms and reticulate sheath bases, whereas species of the Schoenus clade do not have nodes along their culms or reticulate sheaths. Importantly, the type species of the genera Schoenus, Tetraria and Epischoenus are resolved as part of the Schoenus clade, and the former has taxonomic priority. Here, we realign the taxonomy of the Schoenus clade of Tetraria to reflect our current understanding of the phylogenetic relationships within the Schoeneae. In addition, we outline the characteristics of three subclades (Tetraria compar–Tetraria picta and allies, Epischoenus and allies as well as Tetraria cuspidata and allies) that will be used to guide species groupings in forthcoming taxonomic revisions. Finally, we transfer 17 species of Tetraria and seven species of Epischoenus to Schoenus.

Molecular phylogenetics of western deer mice (Peromyscus): Taxonomic and biogeographic implications

Abstract The deer mouse species group centers around Peromyscus maniculatus and contains four peripherally distributed species. In order to address phylogenetic, taxonomic, and biogeographic questions concerning the westernmost deer mice, we analyzed mitochondrial sequence variation for 174 specimens from California to Washington and compared these to relevant reference specimens. These analyses confirm the genetic distinction of a clade of physiographically bounded deer mouse populations from Southern and Baja California and the close affinity of this clade to the endangered and island-endemic Peromyscus sejugis. In accordance with the phylogenetic species concept and taxonomic priority, we recommend that all populations currently recognized as Peromyscus maniculatus coolidgei (Baja California) and those of Peromyscus maniculatus gambelii from south of the San Francisco Bay and west of the Sierra Nevada mountains be recognized as Peromyscus gambelii. Despite its low level of mitochondrial sequence diverg...

Are Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaris suum a single species?

Since the original description and naming of Ascaris lumbricoides from humans by Linnaeus in 1758 and later of Ascaris suum from pigs by Goeze 1782, these species have been considered to be valid. Four hypotheses relative to the conspecificity or lack thereof (and thus origin of these species) are possible: 1) Ascaris lumbricoides (usually infecting humans) and Ascaris suum (recorded mostly from pigs) are both valid species, with the two species originating via a speciation event from a common ancestor sometime before the domestication of pigs by humans, or 2) Ascaris lumbricoides in humans is derived directly from the species A. suum found in pigs with A. suum then existing as a persistent ancestor after formation of A. lumbricoides, or 3) Ascaris suum is derived directly from A. lumbricoides with the persistent ancestor being A. lumbricoides and A. suum being the newly derived species, and finally, 4) Ascaris lumbricoides and A. suum are the same species, this hypothesis being supported by studies showing both low morphological and low genetic divergence at several genes. We present and discuss paleoparasitological and genetic evidence that complement new data to evaluate the origin and evolution of Ascaris spp. in humans and pigs, and the uniqueness of the species in both hosts. Finally, we conclude that Ascaris lumbricoides and A. suum are a single species and that the name A. lumbricoides Linnaeus 1758 has taxonomic priority; therefore A. suum Goeze 1782 should be considered a synonym of A. lumbricoides.

Synonymy of the yeast genera Moniliella and Trichosporonoides and proposal of Moniliella fonsecae sp. nov. and five new species combinations

Analyses of nucleotide sequences from the D1/D2 domains of the large-subunit rDNA and phenotypic characteristics showed that the genera Moniliella and Trichosporonoides are members of a single, monophyletic clade that would be best represented by a single anamorphic genus. On the basis of taxonomic priority, we propose the transfer of the five species of the genus Trichosporonoides to the genus Moniliella. The description of the genus Moniliella is emended and the following new combinations are proposed: Moniliella madida comb. nov., Moniliella megachiliensis comb. nov., Moniliella nigrescens comb. nov., Moniliella oedocephalis comb. nov. and Moniliella spathulata comb. nov. In addition, ten strains representing a novel yeast species belonging to the Moniliella clade were isolated from flowers in Thailand, Cuba and Brazil. Analysis of the internal transcribed spacer and D1/D2 large-subunit rDNA sequences indicated that the isolates represent a single species that was distinct from other species of the Moniliella clade. The name Moniliella fonsecae sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these strains. The type strain is BCC 7726(T) (=CBS 10551(T)).

Multigene phylogenetic analysis of the Trichomonascus, Wickerhamiella and Zygoascus yeast clades, and the proposal of Sugiyamaella gen. nov. and 14 new species combinations

Relationships among species assigned to the ascosporic yeast genera Sporopachydermia, Stephanoascus, Trichomonascus, Wickerhamiella and Zygoascus, and to the associated anamorphic genera Arxula, Blastobotrys, Sympodiomyces and Trigonopsis, were determined from phylogenetic analyses of gene sequences from the nearly complete large-subunit rRNA gene, the mitochondrial small-subunit rRNA gene, and cytochrome oxidase II. The genus Stephanoascus is polyphyletic, resulting in reassignment of two species to the older genus Trichomonascus and the third to Sugiyamaella gen. nov. (type species Sugiyamaella smithiae). The genera Sporopachydermia, Wickerhamiella and Zygoascus appear to be monophyletic. The species Pichia ofunaensis and P. tannicola are proposed for transfer to Zygoascus. Arxula, Blastobotrys and Sympodiomyces are members of the Trichomonascus clade, with the genus Blastobotrys having taxonomic priority for anamorphic states. Trigonopsis variabilis and three species of Candida represent a distinct clade. From the foregoing gene sequence analyses, the new ascosporic genus Sugiyamaella is proposed, as are 14 new species combinations and the new family Trichomonascaceae.

Taxonomic priority in Psoroptes mange mites: P. ovis or P. equi?

The taxonomic priority of Psoroptes mange mites (Acari: Psoroptidae) is reviewed and the original species descriptions re-examined. The question of whether the name Psoroptes equi or Psoroptes ovis has priority has importance with respect to the descriptions used in any legislation required for compulsory treatment of infested animals. It is concluded that in the work by Hering [(1838) Nova Acta Physico-Medica Acadamiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae Naturae Curiosorum. Tomi 18, Pars 2, Vratislaviae und Bonn], which is generally assumed to present the type description, the first Psoroptes mite described is P. ovis, and that P. ovis (Hering 1838) should therefore, carry taxonomic priority for the synonomised genus.

Two new species in the clade: sp. nov., the ascosporic state of , and comb. nov

Pichia caribbica sp. nov. (type strain DBVPG 4519, NRRL Y-27274, CBS 9966) is described as the ascosporic state of Candida fermentati, and Candida guilliermondii var. carpophila (type strain DBVPG 7739, NRRL Y-17905, CBS 5256) is elevated to species status as Candida carpophila comb. nov. These new taxa, which are indistinguishable on the basis of conventional taxonomic criteria, differ from one another and from Pichia guilliermondii by low DNA base sequence relatedness, different electrophoretic karyotypes, and nucleotide divergence in domains D1/D2 of 26S rDNA. Pichia caribbica produces one, rarely two, saturn-shaped ascospores in persistent asci. On the basis of molecular criteria, C. carpophila comb. nov., C. fukuyamaensis, and C. xestobii are conspecific, with the name C. carpophila having taxonomic priority.

Use of molecular markers for species identification of Korean Perkinsus sp. isolated from Manila clams Ruditapes philippinarum

Perkinsus is the pathogen responsible for mass mortality of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum. Perkinsus sp. isolated from Manila clams collected in Korean waters was assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine its phylogenetic affinity with other congeneric species. Regions of rRNA of Perkinsus sp. isolated from clam haemolymph were cloned and sequenced. Sequences of a non-transcribed spacer (NTS), internal transcribed spacers (ITS 1, 2) and 5.8S rRNA genes were compared to those available from other Perkinsus species. The NTS sequence of Korean Perkinsus was approximately 99.9 to 100% similar to that of P. atlanticus and 98.06 to 98.15% and 73.05 to 73.14% similar to those of P. olseni and P. marinus, respectively. The ITS 1, 5.8S rRNA and ITS 2 sequences of Korean Perkinsus showed 100% similarity to P. atlanticus and Perkinsus sp. reported from Japan. The ITS-5.8S rRNA sequences of Korean Perkinsus were 99.86 and 93.73% similar to those of P. olseni and P. marinus, respectively. The sporulation pattern and morphology of the Korean Perkinsus were very similar to those of P. atlanticus. Our data suggest that the Perkinsus sp. isolated from clams in Korean waters is P. atlanticus, which is currently synonymous with P. olseni reported from Australia. By considering that P. olseni has taxonomic priority, Korean Perkinsus sp. is accepted as P. olseni (atlanticus).

The taxonomic status ofGraecopithecus

In 1944 a single mandibular specimen was found in Pyrgos, southern Greece.von Koenigswald (1972) described this specimen and allocated it to a new taxon,Graecopithecus freybergi.de Bonis and colleagues later described new hominid specimens from northern Greece and allocated them to the new taxon,Ouranopithecus macedoniensis.Martin andAndrews (1984), however, argued that there was no reason for maintaining a generic or specific distinction between the northern and southern Greek fossil populations as suggested byde Bonis andMelentis. This paper reexamines the taxonomic status of the southern and northern Greek hominids in light of recent fossil discoveries and concludes that there is no evidence for recognizing two hominine genera from the Miocene of Greece. There is evidence, however, to suggest that the Macedonian hominid is specifically distinct from the southern Greek hominid. Thus, becauseGraecopithecus has taxonomic priority overOuranopithecus, it is concluded that the Macedonian specimens should be allocated to a separate species ofGraecopithecus.