Taxonomic Proposals Research Articles

Corrigendum: ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Ophioviridae.

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses has ratified a taxonomic proposal to change the name of the family Ophioviridae to Aspiviridae, and to change the names of species in the family to Blueberry mosaic associated ophiovirus, Citrus psorosis ophiovirus, Freesia sneak ophiovirus, Lettuce ring necrosis ophiovirus, Mirafiori lettuce big-vein ophiovirus, Ranunculus white mottle ophiovirus and Tulip mild mottle mosaic ophiovirus. These species are all members of the genus Ophiovirus, the genus name being unchanged.

Phylogenomic analyses of a clade within the roseobacter group suggest taxonomic reassignments of species of the genera Aestuariivita, Citreicella, Loktanella, Nautella, Pelagibaca, Ruegeria, Thalassobius, Thiobacimonas and Tropicibacter, and the proposal of six novel genera

Roseobacters are a diverse and globally abundant group of Alphaproteobacteria within the Rhodobacteraceae family. Recent studies and the cophenetic correlations suggest that the 16S rRNA genes are poor phylogenetic markers within this group. In contrast, the cophenetic correlation coefficients of the core-gene average amino acid identity (cAAI) and RpoC protein sequences are high and likely more predictive of relationships. A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree calculated from 53 core genes demonstrated that some of the current genera were either polyphyletic or paraphyletic. The boundaries of bacterial genera were redefined based upon the cAAI, the percentage of conserved proteins, and phenotypic characteristics and resulted in the following taxonomic proposals. Loktanella vestfoldensis, Loktanella litorea, Loktanella maricola, Loktanella maritima, Loktanella rosea, Loktanella sediminilitoris, Loktanella tamlensis, and Roseobacter sp. CCS2 should be reclassified into the novel genus Yoonia. Loktanella hongkongensis, Loktanella aestuariicola, Loktanella cinnabarina, Loktanella pyoseonensis, Loktanellasoe soekkakensis and Loktanella variabilis should be reclassified in the novel genus Limimaricola. Loktanella koreensis and Loktanella sediminum should be reclassified in the novel genus Cognatiyoonia. Loktanella marina should be reclassified in the novel genus Flavimaricola. Aestuariivita atlantica should be reclassified in the novel genus Pseudaestuariivita. Thalassobius maritima should be reclassified in the novel genus Cognatishimia. Similarly, Ruegeria mobilis, Ruegeria scottomollicae, Ruegeria sp. TM1040 and Tropicibacter multivorans should be reclassified in the genus Epibacterium. Tropicibacter litoreus and Tropicibacter mediterraneus should be reclassified in the genus Ruegeria. Thalassobius abyssi and Thalassobius aestuarii should be reclassified in the genus Shimia. Citreicella aestuarii, Citreicella manganoxidans, Citreicella marina, Citreicella thiooxidans, Pelagibaca bermudensis and Thiobacimonas profunda should be reclassified in the genus Salipiger. Nautella italica should be reclassified in the genus Phaeobacter. Because these proposals to reclassify the type and all others species of Citreicella, Nautella, Pelagibaca and Thiobacimonas, these genera are not used in this taxonomy.

On the Monophyly and Relationships of Several Genera of Hylini (Anura: Hylidae: Hylinae), with Comments on Recent Taxonomic Changes in Hylids

We present a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the hylid tribe Hylini, with the goals of testing the monophyly of the genera Duellmanohyla, Isthmohyla, and Ptychohyla and providing a discussion on the monophyly of Bromeliohyla, Charadrahyla, Ecnomiohyla, Exerodonta, Megastomatohyla, and Sarcohyla. Our results indicate the paraphyly of Ptychohyla, with Bromeliohyla and Duellmanohyla nested within it, and, as in previous analyses, the paraphyly of Duellmanohyla (due to Ptychohyla legleri and P. salvadorensis being nested within it). To resolve this situation, we restrict the contents of Ptychohyla, redelimit those of Duellmanohyla and Bromeliohyla, and erect two new genera, one to include the former Ptychohyla panchoi and P. spinipollex, and the other for the former Ptychohyla acrochorda, P. sanctaecrucis, P. zoque, and tentatively, P. erythromma. Exerodonta as currently defined is not monophyletic, inasmuch as Exerodonta juanitae is nested within Charadrahyla. Consequently, we transfer this species and, tentatively, E. pinorum to Charadrahyla. Also, we discuss some possible taxonomic problems within Exerodonta. Our results indicate that Isthmohyla is polyphyletic, the bromeliad-dwelling Isthmohyla melacaena being the sister taxon of our only exemplar of Bromeliohyla, B. bromeliacia. For this reason, we transfer I. melacaena to Bromeliohyla, rendering Isthmohyla monophyletic. The former Isthmohyla pictipes Group is shown to be paraphyletic due to having the non-monophyletic I. pseudopuma Group within it. Accordingly, we recognize a redelimited I. pseudopuma Group (contents: I. infucata and I. pseudopuma), an I. zeteki Group (contents: I. picadoi and I. zeteki), and a newly defined I. tica Group (contents: I. angustilineata, I. calypsa, I. debilis, I. graceae, I. lancasteri, I. pictipes, I. tica, I. rivularis, and, tentatively, I. insolita and I. xanthosticta). The three groups of Isthmohyla are supported by molecular evidence with jackknife support values > 90%, and two of them by putative morphological synapomorphies. We discuss the recognition of Dryophytes, Hyliola, Rheohyla, and Sarcohyla and whether it is useful to recognize Anotheca, Diaglena, and Triprion as three distinct, monotypic genera. Finally, we discuss a recent taxonomic proposal involving changes in rank and from ranked to unranked names in hylids that overall we consider to have been poorly justified and only superficially discussed.

Taxonomy of the family Arenaviridae and the order Bunyavirales: update 2018.

In 2018, the family Arenaviridae was expanded by inclusion of 1 new genus and 5 novel species. At the same time, the recently established order Bunyavirales was expanded by 3 species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the family Arenaviridae and the order Bunyavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and summarizes additional taxonomic proposals that may affect the order in the near future.

Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: update 2018.

In 2018, the order Mononegavirales was expanded by inclusion of 1 new genus and 12 novel species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and summarizes additional taxonomic proposals that may affect the order in the near future.

Sequence, genome organization, annotation and proteomics of the thermophilic, 47.7-kb Geobacillus stearothermophilus bacteriophage TP-84 and its classification in the new Tp84virus genus.

Bacteriophage TP-84 is a well-characterized bacteriophage of historical interest. It is a member of the Siphoviridae, and infects a number of thermophilic Geobacillus (Bacillus) stearothermophilus strains. Its’ 47.7-kbp double-stranded DNA genome revealed the presence of 81 coding sequences (CDSs) coding for polypeptides of 4 kDa or larger. Interestingly, all CDSs are oriented in the same direction, pointing to a dominant transcription direction of one DNA strand. Based on a homology search, a hypothetical function could be assigned to 31 CDSs. No RNA or DNA polymerase-coding genes were found on the bacteriophage genome indicating that TP-84 relies on the host’s transcriptional and replication enzymes. The TP84 genome is tightly packed with CDSs, typically spaced by several-to-tens of bp or often overlapping. The genome contains five putative promoter-like sequences showing similarity to the host promoter consensus sequence and allowing for a 2-bp mismatch. In addition, ten putative rho-independent terminators were detected. Because the genome sequence shows essentially no similarity to any previously characterised bacteriophage, TP-84 should be considered a new species in an undefined genus within the Siphoviridae family. Thus a taxonomic proposal of a new Tp84virus genus has been accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. The bioinformatics genome analysis was verified by confirmation of 33 TP-84 proteins, which included: a) cloning of a selected CDS in Escherichia coli, coding for a DNA single-stranded binding protein (SSB; gene TP84_63), b) purification and functional assays of the recombinant TP-84 SSB, which has been shown to improve PCR reactions, c) mass spectrometric (MS) analysis of TP-84 bacteriophage capsid proteins, d) purification of TP-84 endolysin activity, e) MS analysis of the host cells from infection time course.

On the taxonomic status of Bufo brasiliensis Laurenti, 1768.

The name Bufo brasiliensis was proposed by Laurenti (1768) and, for a long time, has been associated with the widely distributed Marine toad - Rhinella marina (Linnaeus, 1758). However, we found several inconsistences in this taxonomic proposal and disagree with it. We argue that the specimen illustrated does not correspond to any bufonid form (even less the Neotropical genus Rhinella) based on the following argumentation presented below. Laurenti (1768) used Seba's (1734) illustration in plate 73 (Fig. 1) to establish the name B. brasiliensis.

On geographic barriers and Pleistocene glaciations: Tracing the diversification of the Russet-crowned Warbler (Myiothlypis coronata) along the Andes.

We studied the phylogeography and plumage variation of the Russet-crowned Warbler (Myiothlypis coronata), from Venezuela to Bolivia, with focus on populations from Ecuador and northern Peru. We analyzed sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, geographic distributions, as well as photographs of specimens deposited at museum collections. Phylogenetic analyses identified three major lineages formed by populations from: Venezuela and Colombia (M. c. regulus), Ecuador and northern Peru (M. elata, M. castaneiceps, M. orientalis, M. c. chapmani), and central Peru and Bolivia (M. c. coronata). We found further population structure within M. c. regulus and M. c. coronata, and population structure and complexity of plumage variation within the Ecuador-northern Peru lineage. Time-calibrated trees estimated that most intraspecific variation originated during the Pleistocene; however, this pattern may not be attributed to an increase in diversification rate during that period. We discuss these results in the context of the importance of geographic-ecological barriers in promoting lineage diversification along the Andes and put forward a preliminary taxonomic proposal for major lineages identified in this study.

Contribution to the knowledge of the oribatid mite genus Licnodamaeus Grandjean, 1931 and synonymy of Licnodamaeolus Covarrubias, 1998 (Acari, Oribatida, Licnodamaeidae)

Two new oribatid mite species of the genus Licnodamaeus (Oribatida, Licnodamaeidae) are described based on adult material collected from a termite nest in South Africa. Licnodamaeus navalhillensis sp. nov. is similar to L. travei (Covarrubias, 1998) comb. nov., but differs by the clavate bothridial setae. Licnodamaeus sacculatus sp. nov. is similar to L. asetosus (Ermilov & Hugo-Coetzee, 2012) comb. nov., but differs by the unilaterally dilated bothridial setae, four pairs of notogastral setae, tridactylous legs and saccules on all leg femora and trochanters III, IV. The taxonomic status of the genus Licnodamaeolus is discussed, resulting in the following taxonomic proposal: Licnodamaeus Grandjean, 1931 (=Licnodamaeolus Covarrubias, 1998 syn. nov.).

Concepciones y prácticas de la(s) comunicación(es) para la paz. Actores y propuestas formales en perspectiva crítica

<p>Communication for peace is a multi-faceted area which is based primordially in practice and lacks of academic quorum. With the aim of collecting and analyzing the various acceptations that can be found in formal literature, this study presents a taxonomic proposal. This proposal includes the variety of senses presents in academic papers, the practices associated to those, and the actors that facilitate its implementation. Taking into account the conclusions found, this paper also analyses the dominant paradigms from a critical approach; and it offers questions for further research.</p><strong>Received</strong>: 31 March 2015<br /><strong>Accepted</strong>: 30 June 2015<br /><strong>Published online</strong>: 11 December 2017

New and interesting oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) near Potchefstroom (South Africa), with description of two new species

The present study is based on oribatid mite material (Acari, Oribatida) collected near the city of Potchefstroom in South Africa. A list of identified taxa, including 44 species from 34 genera and 21 families, is presented; of these, five species (Epilohmannia dimorpha, Cultroribula bicuspidata, Suctobelbila fonticula, Protoribates paracapucinus, Galumna baloghi) and one genus (Cultroribula) are recorded in the fauna of South Africa for the first time; one species (Limnozetes palmerae) is recorded in the Ethiopian region for the first time. Two new species belonging to the genera Scheloribates and Galumna are described. Scheloribates (Scheloribates) potchefstroomensis sp. nov. is morphologically most similar to S. (S.) diversidactylus (Hammer, 1961) and Scheloribates (S.) tricarinus Coetzer, 1968, but differs by the bothridial setae with developed heads and porose body surface. Galumna (Galumna) curvifamulus sp. nov. is morphologically most similar to G. (G.) colombiana Ermilov, 2017, but differs by the posteromedial localization of setal alveoli la, tuberculate medioanterior part of prodorsum, striate pteromorphs, smooth subcapitular mentum and the positions of lyrifissures ih and ips. The systematic placement of Urubambates calcaratus Mahunka, 1984 is discussed, resulting in the following taxonomic proposal: Scheloribates calcaratus (Mahunka, 1984) comb. nov.

Phenotypic evolution in marmoset and tamarin monkeys (Cebidae, Callitrichinae) and a revised genus-level classification

Marmosets and tamarins (Cebidae, Callitrichinae) constitute the most species-rich subfamily of New World monkeys and one of the most diverse phenotypically. Despite the profusion of molecular phylogenies of the group, the evolution of phenotypic characters under the rapidly-emerging consensual phylogeny of the subfamily has been little studied, resulting in taxonomic proposals that have limited support from other datasets. We examined the evolution of 18 phenotypic traits (5 continuous and 13 discrete), including pelage, skull, dentition, postcrania, life-history and vocalization variables in a robust molecular phylogeny of marmoset and tamarin monkeys, quantifying their phylogenetic signal and correlations among some of the traits. At the family level, our resulting topology supports owl monkeys (Aotinae) as sister group of Callitrichinae. The topology of the callitrichine tree was congruent with previous studies except for the position of the midas group of Saguinus tamarins, which placement as sister of the bicolor group did not receive significant statistical support in both Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Inference analyses. Our results showed that the highest value of phylogenetic signal among continuous traits was displayed by the long call character and the lowest was exhibited in the home range, intermediate values were found in characters related to osteology and skull size. Among discrete traits, pelage and osteology had similar phylogenetic signal. Based on genetic, osteological, pelage and vocalization data, we present an updated genus-level taxonomy of Callitrichinae, which recognizes six genera in the subfamily: Callimico, Callithrix, Cebuella, Mico, Leontopithecus and Saguinus. To reflect their phenotypic distinctiveness and to avoid the use of the informal “species group”, we subdivided Saguinus in the subgenera Leontocebus, Saguinus and Tamarinus (revalidated here).

Importance of Resolving Fungal Nomenclature: the Case of Multiple Pathogenic Species in the Cryptococcus Genus.

Cryptococcosis is a major fungal disease caused by members of the Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans species complexes. After more than 15years of molecular genetic and phenotypic studies and much debate, a proposal for a taxonomic revision was made. The two varieties within C.neoformans were raised to species level, and the same was done for five genotypes within C.gattii. In a recent perspective (K. J. Kwon-Chung et al., mSphere 2:e00357-16, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.00357-16), it was argued that this taxonomic proposal was premature and without consensus in the community. Although the authors of the perspective recognized the existence of genetic diversity, they preferred the use of the informal nomenclature "C. neoformans species complex" and "C. gattii species complex." Here we highlight the advantage of recognizing these seven species, as ignoring these species will impede deciphering further biologically and clinically relevant differences between them, which may in turn delay future clinical advances.

Molecular systematics, species delimitation and diversification patterns of the Phyllodactylus lanei complex (Gekkota: Phyllodactylidae) in Mexico

The description of cryptic gecko species worldwide has revealed both that many putative species are, in fact, conformed by a complex of morphologically conserved species that are genetically distinct and highly divergent, and that gecko species diversity could be underestimated. The taxonomy and species delimitation of geckos belonging to the genus Phyllodactylus is still controversial, 16 of which are distributed in Mexico and 13 are endemic. Although the large morphological variation shown by the Phyllodactylus species from Mexico has been amply documented, little is known about their genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships, and much less regarding cryptic speciation. Here, we included the most comprehensive sampling of populations and species of the Phyllodactylus lanei complex distributed in Mexico, and applied an analytical approach that included probabilistic phylogenetic analyses, jointly with species delimitation methods and Bayesian putative species validation analysis. Our results suggest the existence of 10 lineages within the complex, supporting the existence of cryptic species, and in great contrast with the current taxonomic proposal that includes only four subspecies. The most recent common ancestor (MRCA) for the P. lanei clade originated on the Early Eocene (∼54Mya), along the southern coasts of Mexico, followed by the highest diversification of the complex MRCA during the Eocene (34–56Mya). Lineages subsequently dispersed and diversified towards the northwest, and the diversification process ended with the most recent lineages inhabiting two islands on the coasts of Nayarit (Miocene; 5.5–23Mya). Our results highlight three vicariant events associated with the evolution of the lineages, two of them intimately related to the formation of the Sierra Madre del Sur and the Transmexican Volcanic Belt mountain ranges, main geographic barriers that isolated and facilitated the divergence and speciation in this group of geckos. Finally, we propose that there are 10 species in the P. lanei complex, from which four represent taxonomic changes and six are new species and require a formal description. We acknowledge that more analyses, including a detailed evaluation of morphological characters and use of more unlinked nuclear loci with enough variability, are needed to further support their taxonomic description.

Comments on the current taxonomy of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae)

Since the first, and simplest, description of a species of the genus Brachycephalus Fitzinger 1826, by Spix (1824), an increasing number of informative traits has been investigated to facilitate species diagnoses, including those dealing with osteology (Izecksohn 1971), sexual dimorphism in body size (Alves et al. 2006), hyperossification of the skull and skeleton (Haddad et al. 2010) and advertisement call (Garey et al. 2012), plus traits from molecular data (Condez et al. 2016). However, the recent descriptions of nine species of Brachycephalus (see Pie & Ribeiro 2015; Ribeiro et al. 2015; Bornschein et al. 2016) included inadequate diagnoses, which lacked indispensable information for any further comparisons among species. Herein, we intend to address the main flaws of these species descriptions and highlight the urgent need for a rigorous review of the genus Brachycephalus in order to assess the validity of these taxonomic proposals.

Molecular phylogenetic analyses reveal the importance of taxon sampling in cryptic diversity: Liolaemus nigroviridis and L. monticola (Liolaeminae) as focal species

BackgroundMitochondrial markers are widely used as a first approach in determining evolutionary relationships among vertebrate taxa at different hierarchical scales. Cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase I are among the most common markers; they are particularly useful in phylogeography and species delineation studies. Simulation and empirical studies show that increasing the taxon sampling has a clear and strong effect on the accuracy of the inferred trees and therefore on hypothesized phylogenetic relationships (and eventually in new taxonomic rearrangements); this should be considered in the design of studies. The lizard genus Liolaemus is widely distributed in southern South America and includes more than 250 described species. The number of taxa and the distribution of Liolaemus species/populations makes them a good model for testing different hypotheses in systematics.MethodsWe studied two Liolaemus species, Liolaemus nigroviridis and L. monticola as focal species to evaluate their monophyly and the influence of adding new samples from related taxa in the resulting phylogenies. We performed phylogenetic analyses (maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) using 141 sequences of the mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome b (cyt-b) of 11 Liolaemus species.ResultsOur study show that using intensive taxon sampling for phylogenetic reconstructions, two species (L. uniformis and L. nitidus) are placed within the clades of the two focal species (L. nigroviridis and L. monticola, respectively).ConclusionsOur study confirms the importance of taxon sampling to infer more accurate phylogenetic relationships, particularly to reveal hidden polyphyly or paraphyly, which may have a strong impact on taxonomic proposals and/or inferring cryptic diversity.

Cyanidium from caves: a reinstatement of Cyanidium chilense Schwabe (Cyanidiophytina, Rhodophyta)

The nomenclatural history of the genus Cyanidium (Tilden) Geitler is long and complex, due to uncertainties regarding its taxonomic position. In the course of the last two centuries, Cyanidium has been assigned to Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, and finally to Rhodophyta (Ott & Sechback 1994, Albertano et al. 2000). On the basis of morphological, ultrastructural and reproductive characters, Merola et al. (1981) instituted two new genera, Galdieria and Cyanidioschyzon, strictly related to Cyanidium, and assigned all three genera to the new class Cyanidiophyceae. Later, in the treatment proposed by Ott & Sechback (1994), all species belonging to Galdieria or Cyanidioschyzon were transferred to Cyanidium. In the most recent taxonomic proposal by Yoon et al. (2014), the tripartite generic architecture has been confirmed, even though a different taxonomic hierarchy was applied at the higher ranks.

Notes on the taxonomy of mountain viscachas of the genus Lagidium Meyen 1833 (Rodentia: Chinchillidae)

Mountain viscachas of the genus Lagidium Meyen 1833 are medium-to-large hystricomorph rodents (1.5 -- 3 kg) that live in rocky outcrops from Ecuador to southern Argentina and Chile. Lagidium includes more than 20 nominal forms, most of them based on one or two individuals, which were first described during the 18th and 20th. Subsequent revisions reduced the number of species to three to four, depending upon the author. Within the genus, Lagidium viscacia (Molina, 1782) is the most widely distributed species, with populations apparently extended from western Bolivia to southern Argentina and Chile. We reviewed > 100 individuals of Lagidium, including skins and skulls, most of them collected in Argentina. We performed multivariate statistical analysis (i. e., principal component analysis [PCA], discriminant analysis [DA]) on a subset of 55 adult individuals grouped according to their geographical origin, using 16 skull and tooth measurements. In addition, we searched for differences in cranial anatomy across populations. PCA and DA indicate a moderate overlap between individuals from southern Argentina, on one hand, and northwestern Argentina, western Bolivia and northern Chile, on the other. The external coloration, although variable, showed a predominance of gray shades in southern Argentina and yellowish gray in northwestern Argentina. Specimens of southern Argentina were characterized by their bigger overall size, nasals expanded in its front half, and narrow dorsal root of the zygomatic process of the maxillary, while those of northwestern Argentina were smaller, with nasals lacking expansions and the dorsal root of the zygomatic process of the maxillary broad. Our study provides coincident results from quantitative and qualitative morphology that allow us to clearly differentiate southern Argentinean populations of Lagidium viscacia from those of northwestern Argentina and western Bolivia. The oldest available name for the populations from southern Argentina, sometimes referred as L. boxi, is moreni, a taxon with an unclear type locality. The status of the populations from northwestern Argentina and western Bolivia is relatively more complex, since at least eight nominal forms were described from this general area and because our sampling is far from being extensive. In addition, is also unclear if these populations correspond to one or more species, as well as their degree of differentiation from L. viscacia s. s. Without analyzing topotypes of all nominal forms and adequate samples across the entire distribution range, it is premature to put forward a formal taxonomic proposal; as such, at this moment we prefer to maintain those populations from northwestern Argentina, western Bolivia and central Chile under L. viscacia.

Intricate evolutionary histories in montane species: a phylogenetic window into craniodental discrimination in thePeromyscus mexicanusspecies group (Mammalia: Rodentia: Cricetidae)

Mountain-associated species, which exhibit allopatric distributions associated with elevation, endemisms and complex evolutionary histories, pose challenging evolutionary scenarios in which to discern the diversification of species. The Peromyscus mexicanus mice group, distributed along mountains in southern Mexico and Central America, is morphometrically variable, a key rationale for the ongoing controversy regarding its species delimitation. Based on the recognized 15 mitochondrial lineages for the group, we analysed external and craniodental morphometric variables to test whether lineages can be differentiated morphometrically and allow for the delimitation of species. We also aimed to test the prediction that the phylogenetic structure of the morphometric data is concordant with that of the molecular information. Based on 19 craniodental measurements from 521 specimens, multivariate and discriminant analyses showed that lineages are morphometrically discernible, representing distinct phenotypes, and that overall size and mandible measurements are significant features that discriminate lineages, supporting hypotheses about differences in feeding habits between species. Also, a pattern of increasing size with elevation was observed, further supported by specific morphological differences exhibited between highland and lowland lineages inhabiting the same mountain. Our results demonstrate that P. mexicanus is both genetically and morphometrically variable, where most highland montane species are differentiated from lowland species; also, a significant correlation between mitochondrial and morphometric information is indicative of phenetic concordance, altogether in agreement with a recent taxonomic proposal for the group. We suggest that the group's intricate diversification responds to ecological diversification and adaptation to a variety of mountain habitats and Pleistocene biogeographic climatic dynamics.

Contribution to the knowledge of the oribatid mite genus Microzetes (Acari, Oribatida, Microzetidae)

The oribatid mite genus Microzetes (Oribatida, Microzetidae) is recorded for the first time in the Philippines; one new species is described herein from secondary forest litter in Samar Island. Microzetes (Microzetes) samarensis n. sp. differs from other species of the subgenus by the insertions of notogastral setae c and la (close to each other vs. distanced in the other species). Updated generic and subgeneric diagnoses for Microzetes are given. The taxonomic status of Teraja Mahunka, 1995 and the systematic placement of representatives of this genus are discussed, resulting in the following taxonomic proposals: Microzetes Berlese, 1913 (=Teraja Mahunka, 1995) n. syn.; M. (Microzetes) asymmetricus (Mahunka, 2001) n. comb.; M. (Microzetes) sungai (Mahunka, 1997) n. comb.; M. (Megazetes) wongi (Mahunka, 1995) n. comb. The initial systematic placement of Microzetes flagellifer and M. tuberculatus (in the subgenus Microzetes) is supported, and the inclusion of M. fimbriatus in Microzetes (Megazetes) and Megazetes rugosus (Mahunka, 1986) in M. (Microzetes) is proposed. An identification key to the known taxa of Microzetes is provided.