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Friday, June 21st, 2024
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 1:03a | [Entomology • 2024] Holaptilon abdullahii, H. iranicum, ... • The Six Dwarfs of the Middle East: Revision of the enigmatic Praying Mantis Genus Holaptilon (Mantodea: Gonypetidae: Gonypetinae) with the Description of Four New Species under Integrative Taxo
Abstract The dwarf-mantid genus Holaptilon Beier, 1964 is composed of small-sized ground-runner species distributed in the Middle East. Due to their elusive lifestyle, little is known about their behaviour, distribution, and phylogeny. The genus Holaptilon was once established for a single species, H. pusillulum Beier, 1964, based on material collected in Jerusalem, Israel. Later, H. brevipugilis Kolnegari, 2018, and H. yagmur Yılmaz and Sevgili, 2023 were described from Iran and Turkey, respectively. In this study, integrated morphology, molecular analyses, and ecology were used to revise the genus Holaptilon and define the boundaries of its species. New data on this genus are presented, based on Holaptilon specimens collected from various provinces of Iran, Israel, Jordan, and Turkey. Extensive analyses, including examinations of male and female genitalia, morphometrical analysis, and morphological hypervolumes were conducted to distinguish its species morphologically. In addition, four molecular markers (mitochondrial and nuclear) were studied to gain a better understanding of species delimitation and phylogenetic relationships. As a result, impressive inter- and intraspecific variability was recovered. In addition to the three already known species, four new species with their distributions restricted to Iran (H. abdullahii sp. nov., H. khozestani sp. nov., H. iranicum sp. nov., and H. tadovaniensis sp. nov.) are here described, and H. yagmur Yılmaz and Sevgili, 2023 is synonymized with H. brevipugilis Kolnegari, 2018. The integrative approach was essential for an adequate classification in Holaptilon taxonomy and also helpful in the clarification of problematic and cryptic Mantodea species. Additional information concerning the life cycle, ecological aspects, spermatophore feeding, as well as geographic range and historical biogeography of Holaptilon species is also provided. Keywords: Autecology, biogeography, morphology, species delimitation, species descriptions, systematics
Holaptilon pusillulum Beier, 1964 Holaptilon brevipugilis Kolnegari, 2018 Holaptilon abdullahii Mirzaee and Battiston, sp. nov. Holaptilon iranicum Mirzaee and Sadeghi, sp. nov. Holaptilon khozestani Mirzaee and Battiston, sp. nov. Holaptilon tadovaniensis Mirzaee and Sadeghi, sp. nov.  Zohreh Mirzaee, Roberto Battiston, Francesco Ballarin, Saber Sadeghi, Marianna Simões, Martin Wiemers and Thomas Schmitt. 2024. The Six Dwarfs of the Middle East: Revision of the enigmatic Praying Mantis Genus Holaptilon (Mantodea: Gonypetidae: Gonypetinae) with the Description of Four New Species under integrative taxonomy. Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny. 82: 89-117. DOI: 10.3897/asp.82.e112834 | ||||||
| 1:23a | [Arachnida • 2024] Complete Phylogeny of Micrathena Spiders suggests Multiple Dispersal Events among Neotropical Rainforests, Islands and Landmasses, and indicates that Andean Orogeny promotes Speciation
Abstract The Neotropical region is the most diverse on the planet, largely owing to its mosaic of tropical rainforests. Multiple tectonic and climatic processes have been hypothesized to contribute to generating this diversity, including Andean orogeny, the closure of the Isthmus of Panama, the GAARlandia land bridge and historical connections among currently isolated forests. Micrathena spiders are diverse and widespread in the region, and thus a complete phylogeny of this genus allows the testing of hypotheses at multiple scales. We estimated a complete, dated phylogeny using morphological data for 117 Micrathena species and molecular data of up to five genes for a subset of 79 species. Employing eventc-based approaches and biogeographic stochastic mapping while considering phylogenetic uncertainty, we estimated ancestral distributions, the timing and direction of dispersal events and diversification rates among areas. The phylogeny is generally robust, with uncertainty in the position of some of the species lacking sequences. Micrathena started diversifying around 25 Ma. Andean cloud forests show the highest in-situ speciation, while the Amazon is the major dispersal source for adjacent areas. The Dry Diagonal generated few species and is a sink of diversity. Species exchange between Central and South America involved approximately 23 dispersal events and started ~20 Ma, which is consistent with a Miocene age for the Isthmus of Panama closure. We inferred four dispersal events from Central America to the Antilles in the last 20 Myr, indicating the spiders did not reach the islands through the GAARlandia land bridge. We identified important species exchange routes among the Amazon, Andean cloud forests and Atlantic forests during the Plio-Pleistocene. Sampling all species of the genus was fundamental to the conclusions above, especially in identifying the Andean forests as the area that generated the majority of species. This highlights the importance of complete taxonomic sampling in biogeographic studies.  Ivan L. F. Magalhaes, Pedro H. Martins, Bárbara T. Faleiro, Teofânia H. D. A. Vidigal, Fabrício R. Santos, Leonardo S. Carvalho, Adalberto J. Santos. 2024. Complete Phylogeny of Micrathena Spiders suggests Multiple Dispersal Events among Neotropical Rainforests, Islands and Landmasses, and indicates that Andean Orogeny promotes Speciation. Cladistics. DOI: 10.1111/cla.12593 | ||||||
| 2:08a | [Ichthyology • 2024] Severe Bottleneck Impacted the Genomic Structure of Egg-Eating Cichlids in Lake Victoria
Abstract Within 15,000 years, the explosive adaptive radiation of haplochromine cichlids in Lake Victoria, East Africa, generated 500 endemic species. In the 1980s, the upsurge of Nile perch, a carnivorous fish artificially introduced to the lake, drove the extinction of more than 200 endemic cichlids. The Nile perch predation particularly harmed piscivorous cichlids, including paedophages, cichlids eat eggs and fries, which is an example of the unique trophic adaptation seen in African cichlids. Here, aiming to investigate past demographic events possibly triggered by the invasion of Nile perch and the subsequent impacts on the genetic structure of cichlids, we conducted large-scale comparative genomics. We discovered evidence of recent bottleneck events in 4 species, including 2 paedophages, which began during the 1970s to 1980s, and population size rebounded during the 1990s to 2000s. The timing of the bottleneck corresponded to the historical records of endemic haplochromines” disappearance and later resurgence, which is likely associated with the introduction of Nile perch by commercial demand to Lake Victoria in the 1950s. Interestingly, among the 4 species that likely experienced bottleneck, Haplochromis sp. “matumbi hunter,” a paedophagous cichlid, showed the most severe bottleneck signatures. The components of shared ancestry inferred by ADMIXTURE suggested a high genetic differentiation between matumbi hunter and other species. In contrast, our phylogenetic analyses highly supported the monophyly of the 5 paedophages, consistent with the results of previous studies. We conclude that high genetic differentiation of matumbi hunter occurred due to the loss of shared genetic components among haplochromines in Lake Victoria caused by the recent severe bottleneck. genetic structure, bottleneck, cichlid, paedophage, genetic diversity
Conclusion: We successfully demonstrated the population history and phylogenetic relationship of endemic haplochromines by performing large-scale comparative genomics. This study is the first example to present the impacts of the Nile perch upsurge on the genetic structure of Lake Victoria haplochromines. Signatures of bottleneck events in multiple endemic species further supported that the introduction and subsequent expansion of the exotic species Nile perch negatively influenced the demography of endemic species and eventually altered the genetic structure. The previously known hypothesis that piscivores, like paedophages, should have experienced a stronger bottleneck was further supported by inferred evidence of the intense bottleneck in paedophages, especially in matumbi hunters. Minami Imamoto, Haruna Nakamura, Mitsuto Aibara, Ryo Hatashima, Ismael A Kimirei, Benedicto B Kashindye, Takehiko Itoh, Masato Nikaido. 2024. Severe Bottleneck Impacted the Genomic Structure of Egg-Eating Cichlids in Lake Victoria. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 41(6); msae093. DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae093 https://phys.org/news/2024-06-nile-perch-i  | ||||||
| 2:57a | [Botany • 2024] Myrsine cirrhosa (Primulaceae) • A distinctive New shrub Species from Kaua‘i, Hawaiian Islands
Abstract Myrsine cirrhosa Lorence & K.R.Wood (Primulaceae), a new single-island endemic shrub species from Kaua‘i, Hawaiian Islands, is described and illustrated. Notes on its distribution, ecology and conservation status are included. The new species is known from an area with ca. 45 individuals, where it is restricted to the remote central windward region of Kaua‘i in open bogs and along open windy ridges. Suggested IUCN Red List status is CR (Critically Endangered). It differs from its Kaua‘i congeners by its longer petals and narrowly elliptic leaves with strongly undulate margins and tendril-like apex. Phylogenetic analysis using RADseq data supports the recognition of this new species. Key words: Conservation, Hawaiian Islands, Kaua‘i endemism, Myrsine, Primulaceae
Myrsine cirrhosa Lorence & K.R.Wood, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Myrsine cirrhosa is most similar morphologically to both M. helleri and M. fosbergii, from which it differs by its longer petals and leaves with a combination of strongly undulate margins and tendril-like, cirrhose apex. Etymology: Specific epithet refers to the curved or hooked, tendril-like leaf apices. However, the plant is shrubby and non-climbing. David H. Lorence, Kenneth R. Wood, Marc S. Appelhans and Warren L. Wagner. 2024. Myrsine cirrhosa (Primulaceae), A distinctive New shrub Species from Kaua‘i, Hawaiian Islands. PhytoKeys. 243: 47-61. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.243.123694 | ||||||
| 8:26a | [Arachnida • 2017] Portacosa cinerea • A New Genus for the south-east Australian Grey Wolf Spider (Araneae: Lycosidae: Lycosinae)
Abstract A new monotypic genus of Australian wolf spiders is proposed to accommodate the common south-east Australian Grey Wolf Spider, Portacosa cinerea gen. n. and sp. n. The genus includes large (total length 9.5–25.0 mm), uniformly grey-coloured wolf spiders with unique genital morphology, i.e. the ventral ridge of the tegular apophysis in the male pedipalp is comparatively sharp and situated towards its retrolateral edge, and the distinct anterior hood of the female epigyne is continuous with the inverted T-shaped median septum. Unlike most other members of the Lycosinae in Australia, the Grey Wolf Spider closes its burrow with a plug-like trapdoor. The species can be found in south-eastern mainland Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia) and Tasmania. It prefers compacted, open and often sun-exposed habitats such as road verges and river banks, but can also be found in open woodlands and grasslands. Key Words: taxonomy, systematics, Dingosa, trapdoor 
Family Lycosidae Sundevall, 1833 Subfamily Lycosinae Sundevall, 1833 Portacosa gen. n. Etymology: The genus-group name is a composite noun derived from the Latin word portus – door, referring to the trapdoor-building behaviour of the type species and –cosa, a generic ending used for genera in the family Lycosidae. The gender is feminine. The specific epithet is a Latin adjective (cinereus – grey), referring to the colour and common name of the species, Grey Wolf Spider.
 Volker W. Framenau. 2017. Portacosa, A New Genus for the south-east Australian Grey Wolf Spider (Araneae, Lycosidae, Lycosinae). Evolutionary Systematics. 1: 77-86. DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.1.14847 | ||||||
| 9:58a | [Ichthyology • 2024] Eigenmannia macuxi • Integrative Taxonomy reveals A New Species of the Glass Knifefish Genus Eigenmannia (Gymnotiformes: Sternopygidae) from the Rio Branco Basin, Brazil
Abstract A new species of Eigenmannia is described from the Rio Branco basin, Roraima, Brazil, based on morphological and molecular datasets. It is distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: lateral line stripe extending from first perforated lateral line scale to distal portion of caudal filament, presence of superior midlateral stripe with origin posterior to end of body cavity anal-fin hyaline, caudal filament corresponding to 15.2%–43.1% LEA, subterminal mouth, ii,14–16 pectoral-fin rays, 166–219 anal-fin rays, 10–13 scale rows above lateral line at vertical through posterior tip of pectoral fin, 100–128 scales on lateral line, 22–28 premaxillary teeth, 19–23 dentary teeth, 7–10 endopterygoid teeth, depth of posterodorsal expansion on infraorbitals 1 + 2 half as long as infraorbitals 1 + 2 length, basibranchial 1 unossified, 13 precaudal vertebrae, and length of coronomeckelian bone corresponding to 20% of Meckel's cartilage length. The new species has significant genetic divergence from species with accessible DNA sequences in public repositories, ranging from 10.8% to 17.7%. An osteological description of the new species, a review of Eigenmannia cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences available in public repositories based on voucher examination, and a hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships for the new species based on COI are provided. The critical importance of including voucher examination as one of the steps in the pipeline for using DNA sequences present in public repositories in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies is discussed.
Eigenmannia macuxi sp. nov. Etymology: The epithet “macuxi” is in reference to the indigenous people whose home territory is near the type locality of the new species in Roraima, Brazil. A noun in apposition. Guilherme Moreira Dutra, Luiz Antônio Wanderley Peixoto, Laura Modesti Donin, Carlos David de Santana and Naercio Aquino Menezes. 2024. Integrative Taxonomy reveals A New Species of the Glass Knifefish Genus Eigenmannia Jordan & Evermann, 1896 (Teleostei: Gymnotiformes: Sternopygidae) from the Rio Branco Basin, Brazil. Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15794 |
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