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Adaptive shifts in Phanaeini dung beetles of the Mexican plateau cenocron in the Mexican transition zone Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-13 Viridiana Lizardo, Federico Escobar, Enrique Martínez‐Meyer, Juan J. Morrone
The Mexican Transition Zone is a biogeographically complex area where old and new lineages of Neotropical and Nearctic affinities overlap. Its biota was assembled by successive dispersal events of cenocrons, which are sets of taxa that dispersed during a given time interval from both North and South America and then diversified in the area. The Mexican Plateau cenocron, with Neotropical affinities
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Biogeography, speciation and niche evolution of doraditos (Aves: Pseudocolopteryx) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-02 Emilio A. Jordan, Juan I. Areta
Ecological and geographical factors shape the current distribution of species. Analysing their interplay in a phylogenetic framework is key to understand the historical processes that have shaped the evolution of a group. Here, we modelled the ecological niches and geographic distributions of the five species of doraditos (Pseudocolopteryx spp.) to study their biogeographic histories, niche evolution
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Zooming in on amphibians: Which is the smallest vertebrate in the world? Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-07 Wendy H. Bolaños, Iuri Ribeiro Dias, Mirco Solé
During the last decades several miniaturized frogs have been described from different parts of the world. Those frogs, measuring less than 25 mm, show similar miniaturization features as the loss of phalanges in both the anterior and posterior limbs and the reduction of bone elements. However, there seems to be a limit regarding the minimum size of frogs and here we wanted to find an answer to the
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Capitella (Annelida: Capitellidae) species in the Gulf of Mexico: Delimitation, phylogeography and phylogeny Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-06 Justin Hilliard, Marissa Hajduk, Nuria Méndez, Anja Schulze
Capitella spp. are found in marine and estuarine benthos world-wide. They are often treated as environmental sentinels because they occur in high densities in areas of anthropogenic disturbance and organic pollution. However, there are many cryptic species around the world, often grouped into the Capitella capitata complex. Historically, these have been differentiated using allozymes and developmental
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Species delimitation and phylogenetic relationships of the Prionospio complex (Annelida, Spionidae) in the Northeast Atlantic Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-05 Martin M. Hektoen, Torkild Bakken, Torbjørn Ekrem, Vasily I. Radashevsky, Glenn Dunshea
The Prionospio complex comprises the most diverse and complex group within the polychaete family Spionidae. The phylogenetic relationships within the group are still poorly understood, and the generic breakdown is unstable. In this study, we assessed the diversity, relationships, and distribution of species of the Prionospio complex occurring in Norwegian waters. We analysed mitochondrial genomes and
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Speciation in the Iranian plateau: Molecular phylogeny and evolutionary history of the Persian long-tailed desert lizard Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-01 Hamid Boroumand, Reihaneh Saberi-Pirooz, Soheila Shafiei Bafti, Wolfgang Böhme, Faraham Ahmadzadeh
Mesalina watsonana is a well-known species of small lacertid lizards with an extensive species distribution that exhibits high genetic diversity. The species has a wide distribution range in Iran, some parts of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northwest India. This study aims to generate phylogenetic and phylogeographic evidence to derive taxonomic recommendations supporting. Furthermore, this
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Genetic structuring and species boundaries in the Atlantic stony coral Favia (Scleractinia, Faviidae) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-29 Carolina de Lima Adam, Robert J. Toonen, David B. Carlon, Carla Zilberberg, Marcos Soares Barbeitos
Scleractinian corals are the main modern builders of coral reefs, which are major hot spots of marine biodiversity. Southern Atlantic reef corals are understudied compared to their Caribbean and Indo-Pacific counterparts and many hypotheses about their population dynamics demand further testing. We employed thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) recovered via ezRAD to characterize genetic
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Phylogenetic relationships among horseshoe bats within the Rhinolophus ferrumequinum group (Mammalia, Chiroptera) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-24 Marek Uvizl, Zuzana Kotyková Varadínová, Petr Benda
The horseshoe bats of the Rhinolophus ferrumequinum group form a well-defined lineage within the Afro-Palaearctic clade of the genus Rhinolophus. The group currently comprises four species widely distributed across the Palaearctic and Afrotropic regions: R. bocharicus (Central Asia), R. clivosus (from northern Africa and the Levant through Arabian Peninsula and eastern Africa to southern Africa), R
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Revisiting the genus Pseudocuneopsis (Bivalvia, Unionidae): Morphology, mitochondrial phylogenomics, and the description of a new species Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-08 Yu-Ting Dai, Zhong-Guang Chen, Ke-Jia Peng, Shan Ouyang, Xiao-Chen Huang, Xiao-Ping Wu
Species diversity can be underestimated due to a lack of regional studies and limitations in research methods. China is widely recognized as one of the primary hotspots for the biodiversity of freshwater mussels as it harbours a wealth of endemic species. Pseudocuneopsis was recently established to belong to the Unioninae subfamily within Unionidae and is endemic to China. Recent research has expanded
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Linnean shortfall and space-time patterns in species description of New World coralsnakes (Serpentes: Elapidae) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-05 Lívia Estéfane Fernandes Frateles, Nelson Jorge da Silva, Levi Carina Terribile, José Alexandre Felizola Diniz-Filho
The magnitude of life on Earth and human limitations hinder the understanding of even the most basic aspects of biodiversity, such as the identity of species inhabiting the Earth, the so-called Linnean shortfall. Evaluating patterns in species description dates and their relationship with macroecological variables can help guide where taxonomic efforts should be focused. Therefore, we aim to assess
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Taxonomic status of hares (Lepus spp.) in Xinjiang, China (Lagomorpha: Leporidae): An integrative approach Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-02 Wen-Juan Shan, Zu-Rui Li, Hui-Ying Dai, Peng-Cheng Dong, Yu-Cong Zhang
The taxonomic status and interspecies relationships of hares (genus Lepus) in Xinjiang, China, remain ambiguous owing to extremely similar external morphologies, introgressive hybridization between species and a lack of molecular genetic records. In this study, a total of 154 hare specimens were used to clarify their taxonomic status. Based on multiple lines of evidence, including observations and
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Morphological and genetic diversity in a South American forest-dependent bat Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-29 Sofia Marques Silva, Ana Carolina Pavan, Samara Alves Barroso de Souza, Gilmax Gonçalves Ferreira, José de Sousa e Silva, Leonardo C. Trevelin
The Neotropical realm is vastly known for its richness, being the Amazon one of the main cradles of taxonomic diversity in the region. In the last decades, molecular analyses have been further increasing the number of Amazonian vertebrate species, hidden under traditional taxonomy due to morphological convergence. Bats represent an interesting example, as the number of recognized bat species is continuously
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Leveraging museum specimens, genomics and legacy datasets to unravel the phylogeny and biogeography of cryptin wasps (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptini) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-23 Bernardo F. Santos, Seán G. Brady
Modern genomic techniques have enabled the generation of phylogenetic datasets of unprecedented scale. However, there are also troves of molecular data accumulated from past studies using Sanger sequencing, often at fine taxonomic scales. Combining both sources of data is an obviously appealing possibility, but it can also lead to inconsistency due to high levels of missing data, disparities in the
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On the specific status of eastern Mediterranean Dendrophyllia corals (Cnidaria, Anthozoa): Genetic characterization and speciation scenarios Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-19 Didier Aurelle, Anne Haguenauer, Chloé Blaise, Lauric Reynes, Sophie Arnaud-Haond, Joana Boavida, Cédric Cabau, Christophe Klopp, Tomas Lundalv, Camille Noûs, Stéphane Sartoretto, Claudia Wienberg, Carlos E. Jiménez, Covadonga Orejas
The deep-sea corals Dendrophyllia ramea and Dendrophyllia cornigera occur in Mediterranean and Atlantic waters. Both species are found in different environmental conditions, and they can colonize hard and soft substrates. These species then display an important ecological plasticity along with morphological plasticity. Nevertheless, there is a large knowledge gap on the genetic characteristics of the
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Multilocus phylogeography of Italian Moorish geckos adds insights into the evolutionary history of European populations Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-18 Francesco Belluardo, Daniele Pellitteri-Rosa, Walter Cocca, Cristiano Liuzzi, Catarina Rato, Angelica Crottini, Adriana Bellati
Geckos of clade III of the Tarentola mauritanica species complex are widespread throughout southern Europe and northern Africa. We investigated the genetic variability of the Italian populations by performing a widespread sampling throughout the mainland and the two main islands of Sicily and Sardinia. We analysed 199 newly generated sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and 269 nuclear genotypes
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Mito-nuclear discordance and phylogeography of the surf clam Mesodesma donacium along the Southeast Pacific coast Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-13 Carmen R. Liza, Wolfgang B. Stotz, Pilar A. Haye
Mesodesma donacium is a surf clam endemic to the southeast Pacific coast, and it is an important resource species of the sandy beach artisanal fishery in Peru and Chile. Over time, the species has shown high variability in population dynamics (presence and abundance), which has been attributed to overfishing and environmental events. In this study, we assess the phylogeography of seven natural beds
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Cracking the glass-perchlet code: Integrative taxonomy uncovers high species-level diversity within the glass-perchlet genus Ambassis (Ambassidae) in tropical Asia Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-11 Siti Zafirah Ghazali, Sébastien Lavoué, Norli Fauzani Mohd Abu Hassan Alshari, Danial Hariz Zainal Abidin, Jamsari Amirul Firdaus Jamaluddin, Min Pau Tan, Siti Azizah Mohd Nor
Glass-perchlets of the genus Ambassis (Teleostei; Ambassidae) form an important component of the brackish and marine coastal fish communities of tropical Asia. However, their species-level diversity is still poorly documented because of the absence of recent taxonomic revisions in this region and the limited availability of specimens for research. In addition, long-standing taxonomic and nomenclatural
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Unveiling the spatiotemporal evolutionary patterns of eriophyoid mites in China Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-11-27 Ni Li, Yue Hu, Liang-Fei Yao, Wei-Nan Gao, Xiao-Feng Xue
Eriophyoid mites are among the most species-rich superfamilies (Eriophyoidea) in the Acari, consisting of over 5000 named species. Although they exhibit a geographically uneven worldwide distribution, their regional spatiotemporal evolutionary patterns remain largely unknown. Here, we compiled a data set including 3058 occurrence records assigned into 1203 species in China. We found that eriophyoid
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Underestimated diversity: Integrative taxonomy of Mesenchytraeus (Enchytraeidae, Clitellata) from Changbai Mountain, China Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-11-03 Juanjuan Chen, Rüdiger M. Schmelz, Junqian Zhang, Zhicai Xie
The holarctic genus Mesenchytraeus is one of the species-rich genera in the family Enchytraeidae. Changbai Mountain supports high diversity of Mesenchytraeus species, making it an ideal area to explore species boundaries. We explored species boundaries of Mesenchytraeus using an integrative approach. Morphological taxonomy recognized 10 species in this region, five of them new to science. In contrast
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River drainage rearrangements and the phylogeographic pattern of the annual fish Austrolebias arachan (Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-10-27 Marcelo Loureiro, Sofía Stareczek, Alejandro D'anatro, Andrew W. Thompson, Guillermo Ortí
Palaeogeographical and climatic processes are among the main factors affecting biological diversity and distribution patterns. In freshwater systems, major dispersal processes are caused by river drainage rearrangements where the direction of flow of a stream changes, allowing range expansions and connection of previously isolated communities. In the Neotropical region, this process has been known
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Independent origins or single dispersal? Phylogenetic study supports early Cenozoic origin of three endemic Indo-Sri Lankan Lygosomine skink genera Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-10-16 Avrajjal Ghosh, Maitreya Sil, Kanishka D. B. Ukuwela, Aniruddha Datta-Roy
The Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot is home to three endemic Lygosomine (Reptilia, Scincidae) skink genera—Kaestlea, Ristella and Lankascincus. Phylogenetic reconstructions in the past have suggested a sister relationship between the Western Ghats endemic Ristella and the Sri Lankan endemic Lankascincus, while the placement of Kaestlea has been uncertain. We reconstruct a global, genus-level
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Population genetic structure and implication for adaptive differentiation of the snail (Gastropoda, Provannidae) in deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-10-04 Yu Zhang, Jiao Cheng, Zhongli Sha, Min Hui
The snail Provanna glabra is a dominant species inhabiting both hydrothermal vents and cold seeps of the Northwest Pacific Ocean. The genetic diversity and population structure of the snail from the hydrothermal vents of Okinawa Trough and a methane seep in the South China Sea were investigated using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms
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Origin of endemic species in a moderately isolated ancient lake: The case of a snakehead in Inle Lake, Myanmar Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-09-24 Yusuke Fuke, Prachya Musikasinthorn, Yuichi Kano, Ryoichi Tabata, Shoko Matsui, Sein Tun, L. K. C. Yun, Bunthang Touch, Phanara Thach, Katsutoshi Watanabe
Inle Lake is an ancient lake in Myanmar, which is an important area with unique and diverse fauna. Its ichthyofauna is believed to have formed non-radiatively, but the historical processes are poorly understood. To elucidate the mechanisms that shape species diversity in this moderately isolated biogeographical ‘island’, this study focused on a typical endemic fish of Inle Lake, Channa harcourtbutleri
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Biogeographic influences on the evolution and historical dispersal of the Australo-Pacific Dacini fruit flies (Tephritidae: Dacinae) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-09-14 Melissa L. Starkie, Stephen L. Cameron, Matt N. Krosch, Andrew D. Sweet, Anthony R. Clarke
Fruit flies (Tephritidae: Dacini) are a frugivorous insect group that exhibit high endemic diversity in the rainforests of Australia and the western Pacific. In this region, biogeography has been influenced by tectonic plate movements and cycles of isolation and re-connection of landmasses and rainforest habitats during glacial periods. However, how such factors have influenced the speciation and historical
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From historical expedition diaries to whole genome sequencing: A case study of the likely extinct Red Sea torpedo ray Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-09-13 Anja Palandačić, Martin Kapun, Carola Greve, Tilman Schell, Sandra Kirchner, Luise Kruckenhauser, Nikolaus Szucsich, Nina Bogutskaya
Torpedo rays (Torpedinidae, Torpediniformes) are small to moderately large batoids that produce an electric discharge. They are distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical seas and are, as a result of their bottom-dwelling behaviour, susceptible to trawl fishing and often end up as victims of bycatch. The distribution ranges of most recognized species seem to be restricted; however, their species-level
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Combining RADseq and contact zone analysis to decipher cryptic diversification in reptiles: Insights from the Spiny-footed Lizard (Reptilia, Lacertidae) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-08-27 Paul Doniol-Valcroze, Loïs Rancilhac, José-Carlos Brito, Aurélien Miralles, Philippe Geniez, Laure Benoit, Anne Loiseau, Raphaël Leblois, Christophe Dufresnes, Pierre-André Crochet
Uncertainties on species taxonomy and distribution are major factors hampering efficient conservation planning in the current context of biodiversity erosion, even concerning widespread and abundant species in relatively well-studied regions. Species delimitation have long been based on phylogenetic analyses of a small number of standard markers, but accurate lineage identification through this approach
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Notes on the ecology and distribution of a water flea complex (Anomopoda, Daphniidae) revealed by new DNA barcodes in the Iberian Peninsula Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-08-26 Charo López-Blanco, María Sahuquillo, Eduardo Vicente, Antonio García-Alix, Laura S. Epp
Available DNA barcodes of freshwater zooplankton are scarce in regions like the Iberian Peninsula, which harbours many rare and endemic species and is considered a hotspot of crustacean biodiversity. Recently, a new species of Ceriodaphnia (Cladocera: Daphniidae) was described using morphological analysis of specimens in the Mediterranean region and molecular data on a single locality in southern Spain
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Peeking back in time: Novel insights into the evolutionary relationships of diplommatinids (Caenogastropoda, Cyclophoroidea) from around Australia Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-08-22 Frank Köhler
Based both on published GenBank DNA sequences and newly produced sequences, I have assembled the largest multi-loci sequence dataset of the Diplommatinidae to date to investigate their evolutionary history. The focus of this study is on the diverse genus Palaina, which is represented by new sequences of its type species as well as additional samples from Timor and the Solomon Islands. In addition,
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Molecular phylogeny of the marine snail genus Haminoea (Gastropoda, Cephalaspidea): A framework to study marine diversity and speciation Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-08-18 Martina Turani, Ángel Valdés, Manuel António E. Malaquias
Haminoea are herbivorous, coastal snails occurring in temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific oceans, with one species present in temperate South Africa (Indian Ocean). The genus is taxonomically difficult as several available nominal species were introduced based on shell descriptions alone, or described based on subtle differences in morpho-anatomical features, without a
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Species of the cyprinid genus Garra in Mount Kenya, East Africa: Species delineation, taxonomy and historical biogeography Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-07-26 Liang Cao, Wanja Dorothy Nyingi, Henry L. Bart Jr, E Zhang
The cyprinid genus Garra is so far represented in Mount Kenya streams by a single species, but which species it should be referred to as remains yet to be determined. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Garra species from the mountain is still lacking. Here, an integrative analysis, based on morphological and molecular data, unravelled the hidden species diversity of Garra from Mount Kenya. In mitochondrial
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New integrated evidences reveal male polymorphism and species delimitation in stalk-eyed fruit flies Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-07-25 Xiaolin Chen, Ning Huangfu, Yong Wang, Yu Zeng, Tock H. Chua, Chaodong Zhu
Species of stalk-eyed fruit flies, in the genera Pelmatops Enderlein and Pseudopelmatops Shiraki, have a distinct head structure with eyes located at the ends of stalks, setting them apart from other tephritids. Despite their unique morphology, the intraspecific variation of morphological and behavioural traits in these flies is still not well-studied, leaving some questions about species definition
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The PhyloCode: The logical outcome of millennia of evolution of biological nomenclature? Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-07-23 Michel Laurin
Biological nomenclature harks back to a remote prehistoric past, as shown by the universality of fairly sophisticated folk taxonomies and nomenclatures found on all inhabited continents. Ethnobiologists have suggested that these nomenclatures include cryptic ‘ethnotaxonomic ranks’, although the existence of these ranks has been increasingly questioned recently. The fact that no trace of such ranks
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Phylogeny of the tribe Riorajini with comments on the morphological character evolution within Rajiformes (Chondrichthyes, Batoidea) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-07-14 Karla D. A. Soares, Renan A. Moreira, Ulisses L. Gomes
The tribe Riorajini is composed of four species, Rioraja agassizii, Atlantoraja castelnaui, A. cyclophora and A. platana, which are endemic to the inshore waters of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Previous studies have hypothesized the monophyly of this group but interrelationships within its members remain not fully understood. In this study, we analysed quantitative as well as qualitative morphological
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Molecular analysis separates the Atlantic population of Montagu's stellate barnacle into two cryptic species Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-07-13 Omri Bronstein, Uzi Motro, Noa Simon-Blecher, Papa Demba Ndao, Amit Savaya, Yair Achituv
The distribution of the intertidal barnacle Chthamalus montagui spans the West Mediterranean Sea and the Northeast Atlantic shores of Europe and West Africa. Knowledge of the phylogeography of this species has been limited to the Mediterranean and the European shores of the Atlantic. The present study considers the populations of West Europe, but also focuses on the overlooked populations of West Africa
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2D approach to reconstruct the evolutionary history of clevelandellids (Ciliophora, Armophorea) inhabiting the hindgut of the Panesthiinae cockroaches Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-07-12 Lukáš Pecina, Peter Vďačný
The ciliate order Clevelandellida unites endosymbionts of the digestive tract of a variety of invertebrates and vertebrates. In the present study, the primary and secondary structures of nuclear and hydrogenosomal rRNA molecules were employed to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships and to estimate the divergence times of clevelandellids inhabiting the hindgut of the Panesthiinae cockroaches.
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High utility of Ultraconserved Elements (UCE) for disentangling the elusive relationships of tarantulas Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-07-09 David Ortiz
Although tarantulas are a widespread, highly diversified, and charismatic spider group, our understanding of their evolution remains limited. A recent transcriptome-based approach, including 16% of the nominal tarantula genera (25), provided the first robust phylogenetic hypothesis of deep tarantula relationships. However, transcriptomics has practical downsides, making it less than ideal for phylogenomic
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Molecular phylogeny and systematics of the South Asian freshwater-fish genus Puntius (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-07-04 Hiranya Sudasinghe, Lukas Rüber, Madhava Meegaskumbura
During the past decade, the ca 120 species of small, colourful tropical Asian freshwater fishes previously referred to the cyprinid genus Puntius have been shown to consist of multiple morphologically distinct evolutionary lineages that resolve as monophyletic groups in molecular studies. Many of these clades have been allocated to new genera such as Dawkinsia, Desmopuntius, Haludaria, Oliotius, Pethia
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Molecular systematics of tamarins with emphasis on genus Tamarinus (Primates, Callitrichidae) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-06-30 Gerson Paulino Lopes, Fábio Rohe, Fabrício Bertuol, Érico Polo, João Valsecchi, Tamily Carvalho Melo Santos, Felipe Ennes Silva, Ivan Junqueira Lima, Ricardo Sampaio, Maria Nazareth Ferreira da Silva, Claudia Regina Silva, Jean Boubli, Rodrigo Costa-Araújo, Benoît de Thoisy, Manuel Ruiz-García, Marcelo Gordo, Iracilda Sampaio, Izeni Pires Farias, Tomas Hrbek
The genus Saguinus comprises three principal clades that diverged in the Middle to Late Miocene. Their taxa are ecologically differentiated and allopatrically distributed. These clades were recently recognized as different genera, Saguinus, Tamarinus and Oedipomidas. In Tamarinus, the phylogenetic relationships among species/subspecies are poorly understood. Thus, in this study we present a comprehensive
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One generalist or several specialists? Comparative analysis of the polyphagous butterfly Adelpha serpa celerio and its serpa-group relatives Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-06-21 Cassidi E. Rush, André V. L. Freitas, Luiza Magaldi, Keith R. Willmott, Ryan I. Hill
Patterns of larval food plant use and immature stage morphology help clarify Neotropical butterfly species diversity, and, in many cases, lineages identified with molecular data are corroborated by morphology and ecology of immature stages. Here, we investigate cryptic species in Adelpha butterflies (Nymphalidae), a group known for challenging adult wing similarity coupled with mimicry, and for its
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A new species of Homonota (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) from the Uruguayan Savanna Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-06-20 Matías M. Malleret, Nádia F. Pisetta, Nelson J. R. Fagundes, Laura V. Verrastro
Cryptic diversity is frequent among lizards from the Neotropical region. In particular, geckos belonging to the genus Homonota exhibit high levels of phenotypic and ecological conservatism. Homonota uruguayensis is endemic to rocky outcrops in the Uruguayan Savanna, and a previous study based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) revealed a highly divergent clade in an isolated population. In this study, we
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Revealing cryptic diversity and population divergence in subtropical aphids through DNA barcoding Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-05-30 Qiang Li, Qian Liu, Yuhua Yu, Xiaolan Lin, Xueyou He, Xiaolei Huang
Aphids are worldwide distributed pests, which feed on plant sap and cause serious losses to agricultural and forestry industries. Relatively few comprehensive studies have been conducted on aphid diversity in subtropics, although these regions may harbour hidden aphid diversity due to high plant diversity. In this study, we conducted DNA barcoding analysis for aphids in subtropical regions based on
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Factors affecting the accuracy of molecular delimitation in minute herbivorous mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-05-23 Yue Yin, Yue Hu, Zi-Kai Shao, Liang-Fei Yao, Ni Li, Paul D. N. Hebert, Xiao-Feng Xue
Single-locus molecular delimitation plays a key role in meeting the need to expedite the exploration and description of the species on our planet. Multiple methods have been developed to aid data interpretation over the past 20 years, but species delimitation remains difficult due to their varying performance. In this study, we examine the accuracy of five widely used delimitation methods (i.e. BIN
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Ancistrocerus wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) from the Centre of Europe: Phylogeny, cryptic species, neutral and non-neutral markers Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-05-19 Eduardas Budrys, Svetlana Orlovskytė, Miglė Lazauskaitė, Anna Budrienė
The aim of the study was to clarify the phylogenetic relationships among Northern European Ancistrocerus and comparison of the applicability of evolutionarily neutral and non-neutral markers for reconstruction of phylogeny. We used a 19,400 bp long dataset that included parts of mitochondrial DNA, nuclear rDNA operon, and 10 nuclear protein-coding genes. Application of molecular barcoding and species
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Molecular phylogeny of Cercopidae (Hemiptera, Cercopoidea) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-05-02 Elorde S. Crispolon, Adeline Soulier-Perkins, Eric Guilbert
With 175 described genera and 1556 described species, Family Cercopidae is currently divided into two subfamilies: the paraphyletic Cercopinae and the monophyletic Ischnorhininae. This study, with emphasis on the family Cercopidae, is in line with the extensive work of Cryan and Svenson which is the first phylogenetic study testing the monophyly of this family and higher-level relationships within
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Insights into the evolutionary history of Diestramimini cave crickets (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-04-26 Qidi Zhu, Zhijun Zhou, Qi Guo, Yanhao Duan, Haijian Wang, Fuming Shi
Diestramimini is one of the two tribes of Aemodogryllinae and is mainly distributed in southern China and Southeast Asia. The intergeneric phylogenetic relationship and historical biogeography of this tribe remain unclear. Here, we present the first phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses of Diestramimini based on three mitochondrial (COI, 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA) and two nuclear (18S rRNA and 28S
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Mitogenomic phylogeny of Muricidae (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-04-24 Yi Yu, Lingfeng Kong, Qi Li
Muricidae is one of the most species-rich and morphologically diverse families in Gastropoda, with a worldwide distribution. The classification of Muricidae has traditionally been based on shell and radular characteristics; however, the phylogenetic relationships within the family are debated due to morphological convergence and plasticity. In this study, to explore the phylogenetic relationships of
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Evolutionary history of New World crakes (Aves: Rallidae) with emphasis on the tribe Laterallini Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-04-07 Emiliano A. Depino, Jorge L. Pérez-Emán, Elisa Bonaccorso, Juan I. Areta
New World crakes are intriguing, poorly known birds with cursorial cryptic habits; they belong to two unrelated tribes: Laterallini and Pardirallini. Recent genetic studies contributed to the phylogenetic knowledge of these tribes, but a complete phylogenetic reconstruction is still missing. Here, we present the most taxonomically complete dated gene-based phylogeny of New World crakes, with an emphasis
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The role of systematics for understanding ecosystem functions: Proceedings of the Zoologica Scripta Symposium, Oslo, Norway, 25 August 2022 Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-03-07 Lutz Bachmann, Jan Beermann, Thomas Brey, Hugo J. de Boer, Jennifer Dannheim, Bente Edvardsen, Per G. P. Ericson, Kevin C. Holston, Veronika A. Johansson, Paul Kloss, Rebecca Konijnenberg, Karen J. Osborn, Paula Pappalardo, Hendrik Pehlke, Dieter Piepenburg, Torsten H. Struck, Per Sundberg, Stine Svalheim Markussen, Katharina Teschke, Maarten P. M. Vanhove
On 25 August 2022, the Zoologica Scripta - An International Journal of Systematic Zoology and the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters arranged a symposium entitled ‘The role of systematics for understanding ecosystem functions’ in the Academy's premises in Oslo, Norway. The symposium aimed at offering a forum for exploring and discussing trends and future developments in the field of systematics
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Integrative approach resolves the systematics of barred wolf snakes in the Lycodon striatus complex (Reptilia, Colubridae) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-03-06 Amarasinghe A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Rafaqat Masroor, Hmar T. Lalremsanga, Sanjaya Weerakkody, Natalia B. Ananjeva, Patrick D. Campbell, Stevie R. Kennedy-Gold, Sanjaya K. Bandara, Andrey M. Bragin, Atthanagoda K. A. Gayan, Vivek R. Sharma, Amit Sayyed, Lal Biakzuala, Andradige S. Kanishka, Sumaithangi R. Ganesh, Ivan Ineich, Anslem de Silva, Lakshman J. M. Wickramasinghe, Sampath S. Seneviratne, Nikolay
We reviewed the systematics of Lycodon striatus (Shaw, 1802), including all available name-bearing types of its synonyms after evaluating phylogeographic (genetics), morphological (morphometry, meristic, and hemipenes), osteological and distribution evidence. Lycodon striatus sensu lato is widely distributed throughout South and Central Asia and mimics elapids. Based on phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial
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On the end of evolution – Humankind and the annihilation of species Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-03-03 Matthias Glaubrecht
For too long and with ever-increasing ferocity during the past decades of an exponentially growing human world population, humankind has been waging a genuine war against nature, of which we ourselves are nevertheless also a part. We are plundering the unique biological treasure, the diversity of species, without which the ecosystems we rely on for our food, our water and so much more would not function
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Insights into the systematics of Alluaudinella and allied Aethiopomyia and Ochromusca (Muscidae, Diptera) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-02-21 Kinga Walczak, Thomas Pape, Mfon Ekanem, Krzysztof Szpila, Andrzej Grzywacz
The muscid genera Alluaudinella Giglio-Tos, 1895, Aethiopomyia Malloch, 1921 and Ochromusca Malloch, 1927 form a monophyletic group supported by immature and adult morphology and a highly specialised snail-feeding strategy of immature stages. In contrast to the undoubted monophyly of the Alluaudinella-Aethiopomyia-Ochromusca clade, previous studies have provided contradictory hypotheses of the subfamiliar
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The wealth of shared resources: Improving molecular taxonomy using eDNA and public databases Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-02-21 James F. Fleming
Public databases such as the NCBI's GenBank have been used as repositories for genomic studies for more than 30 years. In this time, our understanding of the natural world, and especially the genomic world, has expanded vastly, and the size of these databases represent this genomic revolution. Databases like GenBank now help populate many molecular studies, supplementing a researcher's newly gathered
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Comparative phylogeography and integrative systematic revision of Iberian endemic earthworms (Crassiclitellata, Lumbricidae) Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-02-21 Sergio Jiménez Pinadero, Daniel Fernández Marchán, Alejandro Martínez Navarro, Natasha Tilikj, Marta Novo, Jorge Domínguez, Darío J. Díaz Cosín, Dolores Trigo
The Iberian Peninsula and south-western France have been postulated as centres of diversification of a wide variety of endemic earthworm species and genera within the Lumbricidae family. However, the phylogenetic position and identity of some of these endemisms is still uncertain and their phylogeographic patterns totally unknown. In the present study, phylogenetic analyses were carried out with the
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New insights into the phylogeny and evolution of Chinese Ovophis (Serpentes, Viperidae): Inferred from multilocus data Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-02-21 Yang-Mei Zeng, Ke Li, Qin Liu, Ya-Yong Wu, Shao-Bing Hou, Gui-Gang Zhao, Sang Ngoc Nguyen, Peng Guo, Lei Shi
The Asian pitviper genus Ovophis is a group of venomous snakes widely distributed in mid to high elevation mountains in Asia, and presently five species are recognised. However, its systematics, species diversity and species distribution boundaries remain poorly understood. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships and explored species diversity of Chinese Ovophis based on two mitochondrial fragments
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A new lineage of fresh- and brackish-water mussels (Bivalvia, Mytilidae) from Southeast Asia Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-02-21 Koh Siang Tan, Samuel H. M. Tan, Kitithorn Sanpanich, Teerapong Duangdee, Reni Ambarwati
Three species of mussels collected from fresh- and low salinity (10 psu or lower) brackish-water environments in southern Thailand, Singapore, northern Borneo and south Sulawesi formed a new, well-supported and distinct mytilid clade based on molecular phylogeny. All are small (< 30 mm) species with either radially ribbed or smooth shells. Internally, the upper edges of the ascending lamellae of the
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Discordant phylogenies in the Sorex araneus group (Soricidae, Mammalia): Footprints of past reticulations? Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-02-20 Alexandra A. Raspopova, Vladimir S. Lebedev, Jeremy B. Searle, Anna A. Bannikova
In the present study, we reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within the chromosomally variable Sorex araneus species group based on 20 nuclear loci and the mitochondrial cyt b gene. In the species tree, Nearctic S. arcticus represents the earliest offshoot of the group followed by Holarctic S. tundrensis and Siberian S. daphaenodon. Five other species distributed mostly in Europe form a well-supported
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A complete COI library of Samoan butterflies reveals layers of endemic diversity on oceanic islands Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-02-17 Claudia Bruschini, Eric D. Edwards, Gerard Talavera, Varea D. Vaurasi, Galumalemana F. Latu, Leonardo Dapporto
We investigated the entire butterfly fauna of the Samoan Archipelago (Pacific Ocean) by combining COI barcode sequences for specimens from these islands with those available in repositories at larger biogeographic scale. Haplotype networks and a generalized mixed Yule-coalescent (GMYC) model were applied to identify evolutionary significant units (ESUs). The ESUs from Samoan islands were compared with
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Genomic analysis of Bornean geckos (Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus) reveals need for updated taxonomy Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-02-01 Hayden R. Davis, Izneil Nashriq, Kyra S. Woytek, Shanelle A. Wikramanayake, Aaron M. Bauer, Benjamin R. Karin, Ian G. Brennan, Djoko T. Iskandar, Indraneil Das
Using molecular genetic data, recognised diversity within the gecko genus Cyrtodactylus has more than doubled, with many lineages that were once thought to be wide-ranging being delimited into multiple independent species. On the Southeast Asian island of Borneo, there has been a recent renewed focus on reptile taxonomy, as genetic data have demonstrated a high amount of unrecognised biodiversity.
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Phylogeny of Urostylididae (Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea) reveals rapid radiation and challenges traditional classification Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-01-29 Yujie Duan, Siying Fu, Zhen Ye, Wenjun Bu
Urostylididae, a phytophagous heteropteran family that feeds on the sap of various trees and shrubs, comprises 8 genera and 173 species. Its phylogeny has received little attention, and no studies have revealed its generic monophyly or relationships. We present the first molecular phylogeny of Urostylididae based on complete mitogenomes and nuclear ribosomal genes from almost all genera and representative
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New Caledonia's enigmatic terrestrial diving beetle Typhlodessus monteithi is a derived species of Paroster Zool. Scr. (IF 2.5) Pub Date : 2023-01-24 Adrián Villastrigo, Louis Deharveng, Michael Balke
The classification of highly adapted species in well-studied clades may be obscured by convergent character evolution. This is for example the case in aquatic lineages adapted to subterranean (and shallow subterranean) habitats, in which species usually possess reduced eyes and wings as well as translucent cuticles. In 1985, the terrestrial diving beetle genus and species Typhlodessus monteithi Brancucci