Unique Combination Of Morphological Characters Research Articles

A new species of Craterium (Myxomycetes, Physarales, Physaraceae) with a mottled peridium

A new species of Craterium, described herein as С. guttatum, was recovered in Russia, during intensive field work in the Kaluzhskiye Zaseki Nature Reserve (Kaluga Oblast’) and in the Sudogodskiy District of the Vladimir Oblast’. Morphological details of sporocarps and spores were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The new species is characterized by a unique combination of morphological characters, such as a beaker-shaped sporotheca with a mottled peridium and a prominent line of dehiscence separating the upper part of the sporotheca in the form of a convex white lid, as well as spores densely ornamented with small warts grouped in clusters. The partial sequences of the 18S rRNA, EF1α and mtSSU genes of C. guttatum differ significantly from all Craterium species sequences available to date.

Uncovering Norway: Descriptions of Four New Aphidiinae Species (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) with Identification Key and Notes on Phylogenetic Relationships of the Subgenus Fovephedrus Chen.

With only 33 reported species, Norway ranks among the European countries with the lowest documented diversity of parasitoids from the subfamily Aphidiinae. The "MUST Malaise" project, carried out by Museum Stavanger in Norway, aimed to assess insect abundance and biodiversity and create a reference base for future studies. The preliminary results of our study revealed four species new to science, indicating that the current number of recorded species in Norway is significantly lower than the actual diversity. All species possess unique combinations of morphological characters, distinguishing them from other known Aphidiinae species. Molecular analysis of the barcoding region confirmed that these specimens all belong to the previously undescribed species. In this study, we describe Aphidius norvegicus sp.n., Praon breviantennalis sp.n., Ephedrus gardenforsi sp.n., and Ephedrus borealis sp.n., all collected in Norway. We also provide an identification key and discuss the phylogenetic relationships within the subgenus Fovephedrus Chen, 1986.

Filling the gap in the evolution of the genus Echinochara Peck (Clavatoraceae, Charophyta)

Echinochara is a poorly known charophyte genus of the extinct family Clavatoraceae that thrived in the Middle Jurassic–Early Cretaceous of North America, Europe, and North Africa. It represents the most ancient and plesiomorphic genus of this family. However, the fossil record of Echinochara is discontinuous, showing several gaps, one of them especially significant in evolutionary terms between the Kimmeridgian and the early Barremian. The new species Echinochara pontis sp. nov., described here from the late Berriasian of the Maestrat Basin (NE Spain), bridges, in part, this gap, shedding light on the evolution of the genus during the earliest Cretaceous. The fructification (utricle) has bilateral symmetry, formed by two superimposed series of bract cells that abaxially cover the gyrogonite. The inner series has three long cells that are born by a short basal cell and reach the oospore apex. The outer series shows a central fan of bract cells, composed of a small basal cell, triangular in shape, that bears three long cells growing upwards, which are in turn flanked by two long bract cells on each side. The central basal cell and these two lateral cells are directly attached to the base of the utricle. The thallus is corticated with cells twisting at an angle of 30°. The utricle of Echinochara pontis displays a combination of features present in Echinochara peckii (Bathonian?–Kimmeridgian) and Echinochara lazarii (Barremian–early Aptian). For instance, the bilateral symmetry of the utricle and the morphology of the inner bract-cell series allow comparison with E. lazarii, whilst the morphology of the outer bract-cell series is closer to E. peckii. Moreover, the thallus of the new species shows cortical cells with a twisting angle intermediate between that of Echinochara peckii (40°–45°) and Echinochara lazarii (not twisted). The unique combination of morphological characters in the utricle of Echinochara pontis fits well with its intermediate chronostratigraphic position between the two former species. Echinochara pontis formed monospecific meadows in brackish settings. A preference for brackish settings is also observed for Echinochara peckii and in the older populations of Echinochara lazarii, suggesting that this habitat is probably a basal character in the evolution of the genus Echinochara.

First record of Bathynellacea (Crustacea: Malacostraca) in Benin (West Africa): two new species and their phylogenetic position within the Parabathynellidae family

ABSTRACT One new species of Racovitzaibathynella Serban and Coineau, 1994 and one of Cteniobathynella Schminke, 1973 of the order Bathynellacea Chappuis, 1915 (family Parabathynellidae Noodt, 1065) are described from Benin in West Africa. These represent the first records of Bathynellacea species in Benin following a broad sampling throughout the country. Two species of the genus Racovitzaibathynella are known from South Africa and one is known from Chad and Israel. Specimens of Racovitzaibathynella beninensis Camacho and Lagnika sp. n. and Cteniobathynella boutini Camacho and Lagnika sp. n. have a unique combination of morphological characters and several shared generic features. Racovitzaibathynella beninensis sp. n. has a six-segmented antennule with three aesthetascs on segment five; a five-segmented antenna; concave labrum; mandible with only three teeth on the distal endite; no epipod on thoracopods I to III; plumose setae on the exopod of thoracopods I to VII; female thoracopod VIII distal-end bilobed, and two plumose setae on the endopod of the uropod. Cteniobathynella boutini sp. n. has a six-segmented antennula; five-segmented antenna; no epipod on thoracopods I to III; endopod on ThVIII of males as exopod, and five setae on the endopod of the uropod. To complement the morphological description of the two new species, a phylogenetic analysis based on the 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene was performed to infer their phylogenetic position within the family Parabathynellidae. The phylogenetic reconstruction shows an Afrotropical clade, which includes the new African species, and is clearly distinct from the European, Australian and Asiatic clades. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7F97EBD0087C4324A601-EE8194E8E577

Morphometric and taxonomic approach to describe Heterospio variabilis (Annelida, Longosomatidae), a new species with three size-dependent morphotypes, from the Gulf of California, Eastern Pacific.

The Longosomatidae, a poorly known polychaete family, includes only 23 recognized species; in this study, based on morphometric and taxonomic analyses, we describe a new species with three morphotypes: Heterospio variabilis from the Gulf of California, Mexico. The specimens examined exhibit large morphological variations but were clearly separated from close species due to a unique combination of morphological characters: chaetiger 9 as the first elongated chaetiger, four to eight branchial pairs; chaetae from chaetiger 10 forming rings in two rows, posterior row with thin and robust capillaries, anterior row with subuluncini, aristate spines, acicular spines and thick acicular spines. With the discriminant analysis, carried out on 11 morphometric characters, the presence of three morphological groups were recognized (Wilks' lambda= 0.093, p = 0.0001). However, the variables selected to discriminate the specimens (partial Wilks' lambda >0.57) were correlated to their size: number of branchiae, body width, prostomium width, rate length CH9/CH1-CH8, length CH1-CH8 and length CH9 (r>0.5). So, we concluded that they belong to a single species with three morphotypes: morpho A with eight branchial pairs, morpho B with 5-6-7 pairs and morpho C with 4 pairs. No correlations between the distribution of the distinct morphotypes along the eastern gulf shelf and the environmental conditions where they settle were detected.

New species of Bolbapium Boucomont, 1910 (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae) from Brazil

Bolbapium Boucomont, 1910 is a Neotropical genus of Geotrupidae with 22 known species. In this paper, we describe Bolbapium vazdemelloi sp. nov. in Southwestern Bahia, Brazil. This new species is distinguished from congeneric species by its unique combination of morphological characters: cephalic tubercle adjacent to each eye; pronotum with little expanded bidentate tubercle; parameres symmetric, with acute and divergent apex. The new species was incorporated into a previously published identification key for Bolbapium.

A New Miniature Species of Arthroleptis (Anura: Arthroleptidae) from Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda

A new, very small-sized species of Arthroleptis is described from western Rwanda. The new species occurs locally endemic in Nyungwe Forest and Cyamudongo Forest, where it inhabits the leaf litter of montane forests between 1800 and 2200 m a.s.l. It differs from all other members of the genus by a unique combination of morphological characters, including size (SVL of adult males 16.0–16.5 mm), skin texture, length of hindlimbs, and ventral colour pattern; by characteristics of its advertisement call that consists of a single note lasting 17.4 ± 6.4 [11–32] ms and has a dominant frequency of 5861 ± 188 [5531–6029] Hz; and also in the sequence of the 16S rRNA gene that differs from available homologous sequences of other species of the genus by an uncorrected p-distance of at least 4.6%. Details of the natural history as well as two additional call types are described.

Description of a new species of Hobbsinella (Crustacea, Bathynellacea, Bathynellidae) from Colorado (USA) based on morphological and molecular characters

A new species of Bathynellidae is described from Colorado (USA). Hobbsinella gunnisonensis Camacho & Taylor sp. nov. displays a unique combination of morphological characters including seven-segmented antenna lacking medial seta on exopod, antennule slightly longer than antenna, three-segmented mandibular palp, four articles on endopod of thoracopods I to VII and five spines on sympod and three spines on endopod of the uropods. Partial sequences of cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and 18S have been obtained from several specimens of the new species. The mitocondrial and nuclear DNA data complement the traditional morphological taxonomic description support the validity of the new species. Molecular data for the Bathynellidae demonstrate the presence of two highly divergent genetic units, with the new species placed in the genus Hobbsinella. With the description of Hobbsinella gunnisonensis Camacho & Taylor sp. nov. and its molecular characterization, we discovered an interesting distribution of the genus, which occurs in both sides of the Continental Divide (Texas and Colorado) and different habitats.

A distinctive new species of the coral shrimp genus Microprosthema Stimpson, 1860 from the Atlantic coast of Florida and Honduras (Decapoda: Stenopodidea: Spongicolidae).

A new species of the spongicolid coral shrimp genus Microprosthema Stimpson, 1860 is described on the basis of three specimens collected by hand while scuba diving off the Atlantic coast of southern Florida, with additional photographic records from Roatan, Honduras. Microprosthema dimitrisorum sp. nov. can be separated from all presently known species of the genus by a unique combination of morphological characters, and most easily, by its highly diagnostic and conspicuous colour pattern consisting of large red spots on most of the body and appendages.

A checklist and key to the Ivorian freshwater crabs, with the description of a new species of Liberonautes Bott, 1955 (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae).

A new freshwater crab species of Liberonautes Bott, 1955 from Mt. Tonkori in the Upper Guinea rainforest in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa is described. Liberonautes constantini n. sp. is morphologically distinct from other species of this genus found in Côte d'Ivoire and the neighboring countries. The new species is recognised by a unique combination of morphological characters of the carapace, thoracic sternum, major cheliped, and adult male first gonopod. Illustrations of L. constantini n. sp. are provided and differences from congeners found elsewhere in West Africa are discussed. The addition of L. constantini n. sp. raises the number of species of freshwater crabs known to occur in Côte d'Ivoire to seven. An updated checklist and key are provided to the Ivorian species of freshwater crabs, and their conservation status is discussed.

Extensive morphological and behavioural diversity among fourteen new and seven described species in Phytophthora Clade 10 and its evolutionary implications.

During extensive surveys of global Phytophthora diversity 14 new species detected in natural ecosystems in Chile, Indonesia, USA (Louisiana), Sweden, Ukraine and Vietnam were assigned to Phytophthora major Clade 10 based on a multigene phylogeny of nine nuclear and three mitochondrial gene regions. Clade 10 now comprises three subclades. Subclades 10a and 10b contain species with nonpapillate sporangia, a range of breeding systems and a mainly soil- and waterborne lifestyle. These include the previously described P. afrocarpa, P. gallica and P. intercalaris and eight of the new species: P. ludoviciana, P. procera, P. pseudogallica, P. scandinavica, P. subarctica, P. tenuimura, P. tonkinensis and P. ukrainensis. In contrast, all species in Subclade 10c have papillate sporangia and are self-fertile (or homothallic) with an aerial lifestyle including the known P. boehmeriae, P. gondwanensis, P. kernoviae and P. morindae and the new species P. celebensis, P. chilensis, P. javanensis, P. multiglobulosa, P. pseudochilensis and P. pseudokernoviae. All new Phytophthora species differed from each other and from related species by their unique combinations of morphological characters, breeding systems, cardinal temperatures and growth rates. The biogeography and evolutionary history of Clade 10 are discussed. We propose that the three subclades originated via the early divergence of pre-Gondwanan ancestors > 175 Mya into water- and soilborne and aerially dispersed lineages and subsequently underwent multiple allopatric and sympatric radiations during their global spread. Citation: Jung T, Milenković I, Corcobado T, et al. 2022. Extensive morphological and behavioural diversity among fourteen new and seven described species in Phytophthora Clade 10 and its evolutionary implications. Persoonia 49: 1-57. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2022.49.01.

A new species of the genus Siambathynella Camacho, Watiroyram & Brancelj, 2011 (Crustacea, Bathynellacea, Parabathynellidae) from a Thai cave

Siambathynella janineanasp. nov. (family Parabathynellidae) discovered in Thailand is herein described. The new species displays an exclusive character: a distinctive organ on the antennule of males. It also displays a unique combination of morphological characters, including a seven-segmented antennule and antenna, sexual dimorphism of the antennule, a one-segmented exopod on thoracopod I and a two-segmented one on thoracopods II to VII, a male thoracopod VIII without basipodial setae and with a trapezoidal outer lobe, a female thoracopod VIII with two denticles at the base of two setae, pleopods absent, a sympod of the uropod with an inhomonomous row of spines and an uropod endopod with a spinous distal process and a very large distal spine covered with setules. This is the fifth record of Bathynellacea (family Parabathynellidae) found in caves in Thailand.

A New Species of Baleen Whale (Isanacetus-Group) from the Early Miocene, Japan

The Isanacetus-group is one of the most enigmatic groups of cetaceans. Although their phylogeny is still controversial, many previous studies suggested that they are a paraphyletic group of baleen whales, including an ancestor of Balaenopteridae and Eschrichtiidae. A new fossil from an Isanacetus-group baleen whale has been recovered from the Minamishirado Formation (latest early Miocene, Burdigalian), Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The specimen consists of a cranium, mandible, and postcranial elements, including cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae, scapula, ulna, and ribs. We describe and diagnose the specimen as a new genus and species, Jobancetus pacificus. A unique combination of morphological characters characterized the specimen, e.g. frontals forming a triangular elevated plateau at the vertex, sharp, and well-developed transverse crest on the supraorbital process of frontal, sagittal crest formed by frontals and parietals, and large squamosal fossa, which is posteriorly extended well beyond the level of the posterior surface of the occipital condyle. Phylogenetic analysis under equal weighting suggests that J. pacificus is a stem group of Pligogulae, whereas the phylogenetic analyses under implied weightings suggest that J. pacificus is a stem group of Balaenopteridae + Eschrichtiidae. The discovery of J. pacificus expands our knowledge of the enigmatic Isanacetus-group.

Laberiini, a new tribe of Tropiduchidae planthoppers from Madagascar (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)

The tropiduchid monotypic genus Laberia Stål, 1866, endemic to Madagascar, is placed in a new tribe of its own Laberiini trib. nov. The tribe is placed in the subfamily Elicinae, and can be distinguished from other representatives of the subfamily by the unique combination of morphological characters of the head, tegmina, legs and genital structures. The genus Laberia and its only species Laberia palliata Stål, 1866 are redescribed, chresonymy is presented and nomenclatorial questions are clarified. Distributional data from Madagascar and doubtful presence of the taxon in Mauritius are discussed. Taxonomic content of Elicinae is briefly discussed.

Salmoneus shojaei, a new species of mangrove-dwelling alpheid shrimp (Decapoda: Caridea) from Iran.

During a survey of the mangrove infauna on the Iranian side of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman several specimens of a new alpheid shrimp, Salmoneus shojaei sp. nov., were collected around pneumatophores of mangrove trees, mostly in association with the larger burrowing snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798. The new species appears to be a member of the S. gracilipes species group and is morphologically closest to S. colinorum De Grave, 2004 and S. alpheophilus Anker Marin, 2006. However, a unique combination of morphological characters, such as the carapace without rostral carina, the unarmed ischium of the major cheliped, the armed ischia of the minor cheliped and second pereiopod, the very slender dactyli of the fourth and third pereiopods, and the posterior margin of the telson with a deep U-shaped notch, distinguishes the new species from all other members of the S. gracilipes group. In addition, S. shojaei sp. nov. presents a diagnostic, albeit very faint, banding of the pleon, which separates it from most other species of the S. gracilipes group with known colour patterns. A DNA barcode (a partial fragment of the mitochondrial gene, CO1), as well as partial fragments of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and the nuclear H3 genes, are provided to genetically characterise the new taxon.

A redescription of Hypogastrura gisini Strenzke, 1954 (Collembola: Hypogastruridae) and description of a new related species from Crete (Greece).

Hypogastrura gisini Strenzke, 1954 is redescribed based on paratypes and other available material. A description of similar new species from CreteH. cretensis sp. nov., formerly known as H. cf. gisini sensu Ellis (1976), is also provided. Both species belong to the manubrialis group and resemble H. breviempodialis (Stach, 1949), H. tianshanica Martynova, 1970 and H. ubsunurensis Babenko, 1999, which have a retinaculum with 3 + 3 teeth and a maxillary head of the H. vernalis type. H. gisini has a unique combination of morphological characters: claws without inner tooth, empodium shorter than half inner edge of claw, without basal lamella and setae m1 on abdominal tergum V usually absent. This species prefers sandy habitats on the shores of the Baltic Sea, Kattegat, North Sea, Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea. H. cretensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following features: claws with small inner tooth, empodium with basal lamella equal to or slightly longer than half of the inner edge of claws and setae m1 on abdominal tergum V usually present. The new species seems to be associated with anthropogenic habitats mainly (e.g. roadsides, orchards, meadows) in the interior of Crete.

A new species in the Cyrtodactylusoldhami group (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand.

Cyrtodactylusmonilatus sp. nov. is described from Si Sawat District, Kanchanaburi Province, in western Thailand. The new species superficially resembles C.zebraicus Taylor, 1962 from southern Thailand. However, differences between the new species from C.zebraicus and other congeners were supported by an integrative taxonomic analysis of molecular and morphological data. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene showed that the new species is a member of the C.oldhami group and closely related to Cyrtodactylus sp. MT468911 from Thong Pha Phum National Park, Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province. Uncorrected pairwise genetic divergences (p-distances) between the new species and its congeners, including C.zebraicus, ranged from 7.7-17.7%. Cyrtodactylusmonilatus sp. nov. can also be distinguished from all members of the C.oldhami group by having a unique combination of morphological characters, including a snout to vent length of 53.7-63.3 mm in adult males and 58.6-75.8 mm in adult females; 22-34 paravertebral tubercles; 34-42 ventral scales; 30-39 enlarged contiguous femoroprecloacal scales; femoral pores and precloacal pores absent in both sexes; four or five rows of postprecloacal scales; enlarged median subcaudal scales absent; weak ventrolateral folds present; 4-7 rows of paired, paravertebral, dark-brown blotches edged in yellow or yellowish white; and two rows of small, diffuse, yellow or yellowish white spots on flanks. The new species occurs in a narrow range of forest at mid to low elevations associated with karst landscapes in the Tenasserim mountain range.

A new species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from southwestern Yunnan, China.

A new species of the Cyrtodactyluschauquangensis species group is described based on four specimens collected from the karst formations of Menglian County, Puer City, Yunnan Province, China. The new species can be separated from all other congeners by having a unique combination of morphological characters: a medium-sized body; ventrolateral folds present with interspersed small tubercles; seven precloacal pores in a continuous series in males, absent in females; enlarged femoral scales and femoral pores absent; two postcloacal tubercles on each side; and one or two rows of enlarged subcaudals. Genetically, the new species most closely related to C.wayakonei and the uncorrected sequence divergences of the ND2 gene and its flanking tRNAs between the new species and investigated congeners range from 7.2% to 18.4%.

A remarkable new species of Hypogastrura (Collembola, Hypogastruridae) from the Romanian Carpathiansnbsp.

A new species of Hypogastrura from the Romanian Carpathians is described and illustrated. The new species is characterised by unique combination of morphological characters: presence of seven ocelli, the antennal segment IV with 4 thin, cylindrical sensilla, the presence of 5 setae on ventral tube, the short anal spines situated on high papillae and distinct chaetotaxy. The species is not easy to classify in the present system of the generic subdivision. Considering the presence of only 7+7 ocelli, the new species can be compared only with H. pyrenaica (Cassagnau, 1959), while in other morphological features it is similar to H. aterrima Yosii, 1972 and H. tethyca Ellis, 1976. The similarity between these species and systematic position of the new species are discussed.

A New Species of <i>Cyrtodactylus</i> Gray, 1827 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Southern Yunnan, China

A new species of Cyrtodactylus is described based on five specimens collected from the karst formations of Maguan County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. The new species is recognized by having a unique combination of morphological characters: medium body size, ventrolateral folds present without interspersed tubercles, 7 – 9 precloacal pores in a continuous series, enlarged femoral scales present and continuous with pore-bearing precloacal scales, femoral pores on each enlarged femoral scale in males, 1 – 4 postcloacal tubercles on each side, subcaudals enlarged, a black postocular streak extending from posterior corner of eye rearwards to above tympanum, nuchal loop discontinuous, 6 – 7 black irregular dorsal bands between limbs, most bands discontinuous. Genetically, uncorrected sequence divergences of the ND2 gene and its flanking tRNAs between the new species and investigated congeners ranged from 12.5% to 18.2%.