Pub Date : 2025-07-09DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf063
Roberta Martino, Carolina Di Patti, María Ríos, Lorenzo Rook, Mirko Di Febbraro, Pasquale Raia, Luca Pandolfi
Hippopotamus pentlandi, although lacking a comprehensive description, is regarded as one of the best known dwarfed hippopotamid species within the Mediterranean region. This study provides a detailed analysis of a hippopotamus mandible from Amoroso Cave (Palermo, Sicily). Morphological and morphometric comparisons with insular and continental species reveal a significant similarity between the Amoroso mandible and some specimens from San Ciro Cave (Palermo, Sicily), as well as with Hippopotamus amphibius. Conversely, material from Cannita Cave (Palermo, Sicily) attributed to H. pentlandi is less robust, more elongated and smaller. 3D geometric morphometric analysis performed on the symphyseal sagittal cross-section further support a closer morphological affinity of the Amoroso mandible to San Ciro Cave specimens and H. amphibius, suggesting an attribution to the latter. Our research reveals the presence of at least two different, potentially coeval, taxa in the Pleistocene of Sicily: the dwarfed Hippopotamus pentlandi primarily known from Cannita Cave, and H. amphibius. While Cannita Cave material has been thoroughly studied over the years, abundant remains from other localities, e.g. San Ciro Cave, require re-evaluation. A thorough analysis of Sicilian hippopotamids is crucial to improve our understanding of their systematics and to provide new insights into the palaeobiogeography, palaeobiology, and palaeoenvironment of Sicily during the Pleistocene.
{"title":"An enduring palaeontological riddle: how many hippopotamid species roamed Sicily? The case study of Amoroso Cave","authors":"Roberta Martino, Carolina Di Patti, María Ríos, Lorenzo Rook, Mirko Di Febbraro, Pasquale Raia, Luca Pandolfi","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf063","url":null,"abstract":"Hippopotamus pentlandi, although lacking a comprehensive description, is regarded as one of the best known dwarfed hippopotamid species within the Mediterranean region. This study provides a detailed analysis of a hippopotamus mandible from Amoroso Cave (Palermo, Sicily). Morphological and morphometric comparisons with insular and continental species reveal a significant similarity between the Amoroso mandible and some specimens from San Ciro Cave (Palermo, Sicily), as well as with Hippopotamus amphibius. Conversely, material from Cannita Cave (Palermo, Sicily) attributed to H. pentlandi is less robust, more elongated and smaller. 3D geometric morphometric analysis performed on the symphyseal sagittal cross-section further support a closer morphological affinity of the Amoroso mandible to San Ciro Cave specimens and H. amphibius, suggesting an attribution to the latter. Our research reveals the presence of at least two different, potentially coeval, taxa in the Pleistocene of Sicily: the dwarfed Hippopotamus pentlandi primarily known from Cannita Cave, and H. amphibius. While Cannita Cave material has been thoroughly studied over the years, abundant remains from other localities, e.g. San Ciro Cave, require re-evaluation. A thorough analysis of Sicilian hippopotamids is crucial to improve our understanding of their systematics and to provide new insights into the palaeobiogeography, palaeobiology, and palaeoenvironment of Sicily during the Pleistocene.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144594125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-07DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf062
Krystal A Tolley, Graham J Alexander, Isabelle C Winder, Claire Dobson, Cara Hall, Axel Barlow, Elysha McBride, Jens Reissig, Jean-François Trape, Zoltan T Nagy, Catharine Wüster, Wolfgang Wüster
The African mambas (Dendroaspis) comprise an iconic genus of four large-bodied, highly venomous elapid snakes: the black mamba (D. polylepis) from open formations across sub-Saharan Africa is comprised of two allopatric populations, and three species of green mamba (D. angusticeps, D. jamesoni, and D. viridis) from tropical and sub-tropical forests. Dendroaspis angusticeps occurs in multiple isolated forest patches, and the presence of cryptic species within D. angusticeps has been suggested. The striking coloration of the three green species, a trait unique among elapids, suggests their monophyly to the exclusion of D. polylepis. We generated a dated, multilocus phylogeny of the mambas and assessed species boundaries. Species distribution modelling (SDM) was used to assess the past and present potential connectivity between allopatric populations of D. angusticeps and D. polylepis. The phylogeny suggests that diversification of the crown clade began c. 6 Mya and, contrary to previous suggestions, we found no convincing signal of species-level diversification within D. polylepis or D. angusticeps. The hypothesis of green mamba monophyly was rejected, with D. angusticeps being sister to D. polylepis. The SDMs suggested that allopatric populations of D. polylepis and D. angusticeps were historically connected, and that their vicariance is recent.
非洲曼巴（Dendroaspis）由一个标志性的四种大型、剧毒的蛇属组成：来自撒哈拉以南非洲开阔地带的黑曼巴（D. polylepis）由两个异域种群组成，来自热带和亚热带森林的三种绿曼巴（D. angusticeps， D. jamesoni和D. viridis）。栓皮栎分布在多个孤立的森林斑块中，并且在栓皮栎中存在隐种。这三种绿色物种的醒目颜色，是elapids中独特的特征，表明它们是单系的，而不包括D. polylepis。我们生成了一个古老的、多位点的曼巴系统发育，并评估了物种边界。采用物种分布模型（SDM）对异域居群间的潜在连通性进行了评估。系统发育表明，冠枝的多样化始于约6亿年前，与之前的观点相反，我们没有发现在d.p olylepis或d.p angusticeps中有令人信服的物种水平多样化的信号。绿曼巴单系假说被否定了，angusticeps绿曼巴是polylepis绿曼巴的姐妹。SDMs结果表明，在历史上，异域居群的分布是有联系的，它们的迁移是最近发生的。
{"title":"Phylogeny and species delimitation in an iconic snake genus: the African mambas (Serpentes: Elapidae: Dendroaspis)","authors":"Krystal A Tolley, Graham J Alexander, Isabelle C Winder, Claire Dobson, Cara Hall, Axel Barlow, Elysha McBride, Jens Reissig, Jean-François Trape, Zoltan T Nagy, Catharine Wüster, Wolfgang Wüster","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf062","url":null,"abstract":"The African mambas (Dendroaspis) comprise an iconic genus of four large-bodied, highly venomous elapid snakes: the black mamba (D. polylepis) from open formations across sub-Saharan Africa is comprised of two allopatric populations, and three species of green mamba (D. angusticeps, D. jamesoni, and D. viridis) from tropical and sub-tropical forests. Dendroaspis angusticeps occurs in multiple isolated forest patches, and the presence of cryptic species within D. angusticeps has been suggested. The striking coloration of the three green species, a trait unique among elapids, suggests their monophyly to the exclusion of D. polylepis. We generated a dated, multilocus phylogeny of the mambas and assessed species boundaries. Species distribution modelling (SDM) was used to assess the past and present potential connectivity between allopatric populations of D. angusticeps and D. polylepis. The phylogeny suggests that diversification of the crown clade began c. 6 Mya and, contrary to previous suggestions, we found no convincing signal of species-level diversification within D. polylepis or D. angusticeps. The hypothesis of green mamba monophyly was rejected, with D. angusticeps being sister to D. polylepis. The SDMs suggested that allopatric populations of D. polylepis and D. angusticeps were historically connected, and that their vicariance is recent.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144577911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-07DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf066
Anna Fedorova, Eleonora Pustovalova, Mykola Drohvalenko, Olha Biriuk, Marie Doležálková-Kaštánková, Maryna Kravchenko, Olexii Korshunov, Peter Mikulíček, Lukáš Choleva, Dmytro Holovnia, Dmitrij Dedukh, Dmytro Shabanov
European water frogs from the Pelophylax esculentus complex include two sexual species, Pelophylax ridibundus (genome RR) and Pelophylax lessonae (genome LL), and their hybrids (genome LR), which usually clonally transmit one of the parental species’ genomes. This reproductive strategy, known as hybridogenesis, allows hybrids to reproduce with parental species, creating diverse population systems. Unlike most well-studied populations in Europe, in the Siverskyi Donets River basin (eastern Ukraine), P. lessonae is absent, while diploid and polyploid hybrids coexist with P. ridibundus (R-E system). To reveal diverse system compositions, genetic divergence, and tadpole selective mortality, we combined novel data from over a decade of observations with previous research on population systems in the Siverskyi Donets River. Two key population types of the R-E system were identified: those with diploid hybrids in northern localities and those with both diploid and triploid hybrids, extending from the mainstream of the Siverskyi Donets River to its tributaries. Both sexes were found among both P. ridibundus and hybrids. Additionally, we found higher genetic diversity in R-genomes compared to L-genomes and discuss the cause of variation differences between the genomes. We highlighted the importance of continuous monitoring to unravel water frog population dynamics and complexity.
{"title":"Hybridogenetic reproduction of Pelophylax water frogs from different hemiclonal population systems from Eastern Ukraine: selective mortality, and clonal and ploidy diversity","authors":"Anna Fedorova, Eleonora Pustovalova, Mykola Drohvalenko, Olha Biriuk, Marie Doležálková-Kaštánková, Maryna Kravchenko, Olexii Korshunov, Peter Mikulíček, Lukáš Choleva, Dmytro Holovnia, Dmitrij Dedukh, Dmytro Shabanov","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf066","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf066","url":null,"abstract":"European water frogs from the Pelophylax esculentus complex include two sexual species, Pelophylax ridibundus (genome RR) and Pelophylax lessonae (genome LL), and their hybrids (genome LR), which usually clonally transmit one of the parental species’ genomes. This reproductive strategy, known as hybridogenesis, allows hybrids to reproduce with parental species, creating diverse population systems. Unlike most well-studied populations in Europe, in the Siverskyi Donets River basin (eastern Ukraine), P. lessonae is absent, while diploid and polyploid hybrids coexist with P. ridibundus (R-E system). To reveal diverse system compositions, genetic divergence, and tadpole selective mortality, we combined novel data from over a decade of observations with previous research on population systems in the Siverskyi Donets River. Two key population types of the R-E system were identified: those with diploid hybrids in northern localities and those with both diploid and triploid hybrids, extending from the mainstream of the Siverskyi Donets River to its tributaries. Both sexes were found among both P. ridibundus and hybrids. Additionally, we found higher genetic diversity in R-genomes compared to L-genomes and discuss the cause of variation differences between the genomes. We highlighted the importance of continuous monitoring to unravel water frog population dynamics and complexity.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"72 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144578468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-04DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf074
Sam Arnold, David Nos, Raquel Sáez-Liante, Fernando Á Fernández-Álvarez
Cryptic biodiversity poses challenges to the accurate description and assessment of global biodiversity and ecosystem health. In this work, the morphology and DNA sequence of Ancistrocheirus lesueurii, the sole accepted member of the family Ancistrocheiridae, was studied. The primary literature and, where possible, type specimens of all synonyms of Ancistrocheirus were reviewed and re-examined, respectively. Large morphological differences were found among the 46 examined individuals. Ancistrocheirus alessandrinii was resurrected, its morphology was redescribed based on eight mature specimens, it was molecularly characterized, and a neotype was proposed to ensure taxonomic stability. The morphology of two specimens of Ancistrocheirus sp. A did not match any previously known Ancistrocheirus species and could not be linked to a taxonomic name. The remaining 34 individuals exhibited morphological variation, yet the limited number of adult individuals and deteriorated state of these specimens precluded further morphospecies’ classification. Nonetheless, the observed morphological diversity among those individuals suggests the presence of additional undescribed species within this complex. Molecular analyses revealed at least six cryptic Ancistrocheirus species. Future molecular and morphological research might solve this cryptic species complex. Unexpectedly, a specimen previously identified as A. lesueurii could not be assigned to any oegopsid family. Consequently, Mobydickia poseidonii fam. nov., gen. nov., et sp. nov. was described from this single specimen sampled from a sperm whale stomach from Antarctic or sub-Antarctic waters.
隐性生物多样性对全球生物多样性和生态系统健康的准确描述和评估提出了挑战。本文对恙螨科唯一已知成员lesueuranstrocheirus的形态和DNA序列进行了研究。我们分别对原始文献和可能的所有兽喙类近义词的模式标本进行了复习和复核。在46个被检查的个体中发现了很大的形态学差异。对亚历山德甲切螨进行了复活，并在8个成熟标本的基础上对其形态进行了重新描述，对其进行了分子表征，并提出了一个新型以确保分类的稳定性。这两个标本的形态与以前已知的任何一种都不匹配，也无法与分类学名称联系起来。其余34个标本虽有形态变异，但由于成虫数量有限，且状态恶化，无法进一步进行形态种分类。尽管如此，在这些个体中观察到的形态多样性表明，在这个复合体中存在其他未描述的物种。分子分析显示至少有6种隐切蚊属。未来的分子和形态学研究可能会解决这个神秘的物种复合体。出乎意料的是，一个先前被鉴定为lesueurii的标本不能被分配到任何一科。因此，波塞冬白鲸（Mobydickia poseidon fam）。从南极或亚南极水域的抹香鲸胃中采集的单个标本中描述了nov. gen. nov. et sp. nov.。
{"title":"Diversity in the squid family Ancistrocheiridae and description of a new family of the order Oegopsida (Cephalopoda)","authors":"Sam Arnold, David Nos, Raquel Sáez-Liante, Fernando Á Fernández-Álvarez","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf074","url":null,"abstract":"Cryptic biodiversity poses challenges to the accurate description and assessment of global biodiversity and ecosystem health. In this work, the morphology and DNA sequence of Ancistrocheirus lesueurii, the sole accepted member of the family Ancistrocheiridae, was studied. The primary literature and, where possible, type specimens of all synonyms of Ancistrocheirus were reviewed and re-examined, respectively. Large morphological differences were found among the 46 examined individuals. Ancistrocheirus alessandrinii was resurrected, its morphology was redescribed based on eight mature specimens, it was molecularly characterized, and a neotype was proposed to ensure taxonomic stability. The morphology of two specimens of Ancistrocheirus sp. A did not match any previously known Ancistrocheirus species and could not be linked to a taxonomic name. The remaining 34 individuals exhibited morphological variation, yet the limited number of adult individuals and deteriorated state of these specimens precluded further morphospecies’ classification. Nonetheless, the observed morphological diversity among those individuals suggests the presence of additional undescribed species within this complex. Molecular analyses revealed at least six cryptic Ancistrocheirus species. Future molecular and morphological research might solve this cryptic species complex. Unexpectedly, a specimen previously identified as A. lesueurii could not be assigned to any oegopsid family. Consequently, Mobydickia poseidonii fam. nov., gen. nov., et sp. nov. was described from this single specimen sampled from a sperm whale stomach from Antarctic or sub-Antarctic waters.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144566074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-04DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf018
Daniel Martin, Marwa Chaibi, Nicolas Lavesque, Guillemine Daffe, Flore Daramy, Pat Hutchings, Jérôme Jourde, Chiara Romano
Marphysa (Polychaeta: Eunicidae) is represented in the Mediterranean by M. aegypti, M. birgeri, and M. chirigota. Previous reports of M. sanguinea are doubtful, because it has a confirmed distribution around the southern English coasts (NE European Atlantic). In this study, we combine morphological and molecular (using 16S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase I) analyses to reveal for the first time the presence of M. gaditana in the NW Mediterranean (Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia) and to substantiate its presence along the Atlantic coasts of France—previously relying solely on molecular data—drawing on specimens collected in Arcachon Bay and Oléron Island. Our findings also allow us to describe a new species of Marphysa from the Mediterranean coasts of southern France, namely Marphysa gili Martin and Romano, sp. nov., based only on morphological data. Our research highlights previously overlooked diversity within Marphysa on Atlantic and Mediterranean European coasts, thus contributing to the growing series of recent rigorous taxonomic studies that are challenging the historical tendency to merely report ‘M. sanguinea’ without a thorough taxonomic examination or when undertaking physiological, reproductive, or resource management studies on ‘M. sanguinea’ without questioning the appropriateness of using this species’ name.
Marphysa（多毛目：蚊科）在地中海以埃及伊蚊、伯氏伊蚊和chirigota伊蚊为代表。先前关于血支原体的报告是可疑的，因为它在英国南部海岸（欧洲大西洋东北部）有一个确定的分布。在这项研究中，我们结合形态学和分子（使用16S rDNA和细胞色素c氧化酶I）分析，首次揭示了M. gaditana在地中海西北部（突尼斯突尼斯湾）的存在，并证实了它在法国大西洋沿岸的存在-以前仅依赖于在Arcachon湾和olacimron岛收集的标本的分子数据。我们的发现还允许我们仅根据形态学数据描述来自法国南部地中海沿岸的Marphysa新种，即Marphysa gili Martin和Romano， sp. nov.。我们的研究突出了以前被忽视的大西洋和地中海欧洲海岸Marphysa的多样性，从而促进了最近一系列严格的分类学研究，这些研究挑战了仅仅报告“M”的历史倾向。在没有进行彻底的分类学检查或进行生理，生殖或资源管理研究的情况下，对‘ M ’进行研究。在不质疑使用该物种名称的适当性的情况下，将其命名为Sanguinea。
{"title":"Integrative taxonomy reveals further hidden diversity of Marphysa (Polychaeta: Eunicidae) in European Atlantic and Mediterranean waters","authors":"Daniel Martin, Marwa Chaibi, Nicolas Lavesque, Guillemine Daffe, Flore Daramy, Pat Hutchings, Jérôme Jourde, Chiara Romano","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf018","url":null,"abstract":"Marphysa (Polychaeta: Eunicidae) is represented in the Mediterranean by M. aegypti, M. birgeri, and M. chirigota. Previous reports of M. sanguinea are doubtful, because it has a confirmed distribution around the southern English coasts (NE European Atlantic). In this study, we combine morphological and molecular (using 16S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase I) analyses to reveal for the first time the presence of M. gaditana in the NW Mediterranean (Gulf of Tunis, Tunisia) and to substantiate its presence along the Atlantic coasts of France—previously relying solely on molecular data—drawing on specimens collected in Arcachon Bay and Oléron Island. Our findings also allow us to describe a new species of Marphysa from the Mediterranean coasts of southern France, namely Marphysa gili Martin and Romano, sp. nov., based only on morphological data. Our research highlights previously overlooked diversity within Marphysa on Atlantic and Mediterranean European coasts, thus contributing to the growing series of recent rigorous taxonomic studies that are challenging the historical tendency to merely report ‘M. sanguinea’ without a thorough taxonomic examination or when undertaking physiological, reproductive, or resource management studies on ‘M. sanguinea’ without questioning the appropriateness of using this species’ name.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"147 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144566075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-03DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf075
Natalie A Saxton, Gareth S Powell, Bindiya Rashni, Colin R Jensen, Christopher D Beatty, Dan Polhemus, Milen Marinov, Seth M Bybee
The Vitiaz Arc provides a compelling opportunity to examine biogeographical patterns in the South Pacific. Previously, however, many groups lacked the appropriate taxon sampling to examine this system fully. Fieldwork aimed at improving our understanding of Vanuatu insect diversity and evolution resulted in the collection of two specimens of Melanesobasis bicellulare Donelly, 1984, a species previously known from a single specimen collected 40 years ago. Using a combination of morphological and molecular methods, we are able to associate the female, update distributional data, and record intraspecific variation, including the number of post-discoidal cells. We also use this genus, Melanesobasis Donnelly, 1984, found across Fiji and Vanuatu, to explore biogeographical patterns across the Vitiaz Arc. Our results provide additional evidence of the importance of the Vitiaz Arc in South Pacific damselfly biogeography and show a pattern of vicariance between the two island archipelagos.
{"title":"Rediscovery of Melanesobasis Donnelly, 1984 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) in Vanuatu reveals a pattern of vicariance in insular damselflies","authors":"Natalie A Saxton, Gareth S Powell, Bindiya Rashni, Colin R Jensen, Christopher D Beatty, Dan Polhemus, Milen Marinov, Seth M Bybee","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf075","url":null,"abstract":"The Vitiaz Arc provides a compelling opportunity to examine biogeographical patterns in the South Pacific. Previously, however, many groups lacked the appropriate taxon sampling to examine this system fully. Fieldwork aimed at improving our understanding of Vanuatu insect diversity and evolution resulted in the collection of two specimens of Melanesobasis bicellulare Donelly, 1984, a species previously known from a single specimen collected 40 years ago. Using a combination of morphological and molecular methods, we are able to associate the female, update distributional data, and record intraspecific variation, including the number of post-discoidal cells. We also use this genus, Melanesobasis Donnelly, 1984, found across Fiji and Vanuatu, to explore biogeographical patterns across the Vitiaz Arc. Our results provide additional evidence of the importance of the Vitiaz Arc in South Pacific damselfly biogeography and show a pattern of vicariance between the two island archipelagos.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144566077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-02DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf072
Karin R Seger, Raoni Rebouças, Diego Baldo, Mariana M Vasconcellos, Paulo C A Garcia, Célio F B Haddad, Ana Carolina Carnaval, Luciana B Lourenço
The Proceratophrys bigibbosa species group has a disjunct distribution in South America, with four out of five species inhabiting the Araucaria Forest. In this study, we investigated whether cycles of expansions/retractions of the Araucaria Forest or marine transgressions leading to the formation of the Paranean Sea may have contributed to the divergence of these frogs. It was inferred through DNA sequences from three mitochondrial and three nuclear genes across 82 individuals. Genetic divergence was assessed with haplotype networks, while demographic trends were explored using extended Bayesian skyline plots (EBSP). An environmental principal component analysis (ePCA) was also implemented to evaluate the degree of similarity of climatic spaces occupied by each species. Our phylogenetic analyses positioned P. palustris as the sister-species to P. brauni, forming a sister-clade to P. bigibbosa and an undescribed species (Proceratophrys sp.). In addition, we propose P. kaingang as a junior synonym of P. palustris. Our coalescent species tree showed divergence-time estimates ranging between 7.67 and 3.51 Mya, indicating that a marine transgression played a key role in this group diversification. Our findings highlight the combined role of Miocene marine transgressions and climatic variation as drivers of diversification in the Proceratophrys bigibbosa group.
{"title":"Miocene marine transgression and climate variation drove diversification of subtropical Proceratophrys frogs in the Araucaria Forest","authors":"Karin R Seger, Raoni Rebouças, Diego Baldo, Mariana M Vasconcellos, Paulo C A Garcia, Célio F B Haddad, Ana Carolina Carnaval, Luciana B Lourenço","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf072","url":null,"abstract":"The Proceratophrys bigibbosa species group has a disjunct distribution in South America, with four out of five species inhabiting the Araucaria Forest. In this study, we investigated whether cycles of expansions/retractions of the Araucaria Forest or marine transgressions leading to the formation of the Paranean Sea may have contributed to the divergence of these frogs. It was inferred through DNA sequences from three mitochondrial and three nuclear genes across 82 individuals. Genetic divergence was assessed with haplotype networks, while demographic trends were explored using extended Bayesian skyline plots (EBSP). An environmental principal component analysis (ePCA) was also implemented to evaluate the degree of similarity of climatic spaces occupied by each species. Our phylogenetic analyses positioned P. palustris as the sister-species to P. brauni, forming a sister-clade to P. bigibbosa and an undescribed species (Proceratophrys sp.). In addition, we propose P. kaingang as a junior synonym of P. palustris. Our coalescent species tree showed divergence-time estimates ranging between 7.67 and 3.51 Mya, indicating that a marine transgression played a key role in this group diversification. Our findings highlight the combined role of Miocene marine transgressions and climatic variation as drivers of diversification in the Proceratophrys bigibbosa group.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144546940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-02DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf073
Victor Beccari, Alexandre R D Guillaume, Marc E H Jones, Andrea Villa, Natalie Cooper, Sophie Regnault, Oliver W M Rauhut
Here, we describe a new species of Jurassic rhynchocephalian from the Solnhofen Archipelago, Sphenodraco scandentis gen. et sp. nov., and highlight the importance of the postcranial anatomy for ecomorphological studies in the rhynchocephalian clade. The holotype of Sphenodraco scandentis is divided into a main slab, which has been mentioned in the literature and previously assigned to Homoeosaurus maximiliani, and a counterslab containing most of its skeletal remains. This new taxon shows an exclusive combination of osteological features that differs from previously described rhynchocephalians. Sphenodraco was recovered in our phylogenetic analysis as a component of a clade including Homoeosaurus and Kallimodon. To evaluate the ecomorphology of the new taxon, we compare fossil rhynchocephalians with the extant tuatara and squamates. We quantify the diversity of body proportions in lepidosaurs systematically, inferring lifestyle for extinct rhynchocephalians. Our analysis suggests that fossil rhynchocephalians had a diverse array of substrate uses, with some categorized as good climbers, and with Sphenodraco showing the extreme condition of limb elongation found in strictly arboreal lizards. This new taxon is here regarded as the first predominantly or even strictly arboreal rhynchocephalian. Furthermore, our analysis shows that the diversity of fossil rhynchocephalians might still be underestimated.
本文描述了一种来自索恩霍芬群岛的侏罗纪喙头类新种Sphenodraco scandentis gen. et sp. nov.，并强调了颅后解剖学对喙头类进化支系生态形态学研究的重要性。Sphenodraco scandentis的完整型被划分为一个主板，这在文献中被提到过，以前被指定为maximiliani Homoeosaurus，以及一个包含其大部分骨骼遗骸的底板。这个新的分类群显示出与先前描述的舌头类不同的独特的骨特征组合。在我们的系统发育分析中，蝶龙被恢复为包括异龙和卡利莫顿在内的一个分支的组成部分。为了评估新分类群的生态形态，我们将化石喙头类与现存的鳄目和有鳞目进行了比较。我们系统地量化了鳞翅龙身体比例的多样性，推断了已灭绝的喙头类动物的生活方式。我们的分析表明，喙头蜥化石具有多种基质用途，其中一些被归类为优秀的攀登者，而蝶蜥则显示出在严格的树栖蜥蜴中发现的四肢伸长的极端条件。这个新分类单元在这里被认为是第一个主要或甚至严格的树栖喙头类动物。此外，我们的分析表明，化石舌头动物的多样性可能仍然被低估了。
{"title":"An arboreal rhynchocephalian from the Late Jurassic of Germany, and the importance of the appendicular skeleton for ecomorphology in lepidosaurs","authors":"Victor Beccari, Alexandre R D Guillaume, Marc E H Jones, Andrea Villa, Natalie Cooper, Sophie Regnault, Oliver W M Rauhut","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf073","url":null,"abstract":"Here, we describe a new species of Jurassic rhynchocephalian from the Solnhofen Archipelago, Sphenodraco scandentis gen. et sp. nov., and highlight the importance of the postcranial anatomy for ecomorphological studies in the rhynchocephalian clade. The holotype of Sphenodraco scandentis is divided into a main slab, which has been mentioned in the literature and previously assigned to Homoeosaurus maximiliani, and a counterslab containing most of its skeletal remains. This new taxon shows an exclusive combination of osteological features that differs from previously described rhynchocephalians. Sphenodraco was recovered in our phylogenetic analysis as a component of a clade including Homoeosaurus and Kallimodon. To evaluate the ecomorphology of the new taxon, we compare fossil rhynchocephalians with the extant tuatara and squamates. We quantify the diversity of body proportions in lepidosaurs systematically, inferring lifestyle for extinct rhynchocephalians. Our analysis suggests that fossil rhynchocephalians had a diverse array of substrate uses, with some categorized as good climbers, and with Sphenodraco showing the extreme condition of limb elongation found in strictly arboreal lizards. This new taxon is here regarded as the first predominantly or even strictly arboreal rhynchocephalian. Furthermore, our analysis shows that the diversity of fossil rhynchocephalians might still be underestimated.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"92 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144533122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-02DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf068
Matyáš Hiřman, Ivo Karaman, Jana Štundlová, Pavel Just, František Šťáhlavský
We investigated the genus Cyphophthalmus within the suborder Cyphophthalmi (Arachnida: Opiliones), focusing on its cytogenetic evolution in the Balkan Peninsula. Our comprehensive analysis of 21 species revealed a notable range in diploid chromosome numbers (2n = 24–30), challenging previous assumptions of genetic uniformity within this group. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with an 18S rDNA probe, we detected variability in the number of loci, with evidence of independent increases in this cluster (up to five pairs). This study combines the results of phylogenetic reconstruction based on analysis of mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) (including karyotyped individuals) with standard and molecular cytogenetic techniques, making it the first of its kind in harvestman research. The findings reveal a significantly higher level of biodiversity in the Balkan Peninsula than previously recognized, suggesting complex differentiation within the genus Cyphophthalmus. Additionally, our results highlight the efficacy of cytogenetics as a tool for species’ delineation, enriching our understanding of the evolutionary history of the genus and emphasizing the intricate genetic diversity shaped by the unique geological and environmental history of the Balkan Peninsula.
{"title":"Evolutionary dynamics of the chromosomal changes in the genus Cyphophthalmus (Arachnida: Opiliones) on the Balkan Peninsula","authors":"Matyáš Hiřman, Ivo Karaman, Jana Štundlová, Pavel Just, František Šťáhlavský","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf068","url":null,"abstract":"We investigated the genus Cyphophthalmus within the suborder Cyphophthalmi (Arachnida: Opiliones), focusing on its cytogenetic evolution in the Balkan Peninsula. Our comprehensive analysis of 21 species revealed a notable range in diploid chromosome numbers (2n = 24–30), challenging previous assumptions of genetic uniformity within this group. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with an 18S rDNA probe, we detected variability in the number of loci, with evidence of independent increases in this cluster (up to five pairs). This study combines the results of phylogenetic reconstruction based on analysis of mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) (including karyotyped individuals) with standard and molecular cytogenetic techniques, making it the first of its kind in harvestman research. The findings reveal a significantly higher level of biodiversity in the Balkan Peninsula than previously recognized, suggesting complex differentiation within the genus Cyphophthalmus. Additionally, our results highlight the efficacy of cytogenetics as a tool for species’ delineation, enriching our understanding of the evolutionary history of the genus and emphasizing the intricate genetic diversity shaped by the unique geological and environmental history of the Balkan Peninsula.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"71 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144547170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf065
Pavel Sroka, Priya Agnihotri, Hukam Singh
Insect inclusions in Early Eocene Indian Cambay amber represent the fauna of the drifting Indian plate just prior to its collision with Asia, which led to the uplift of the Himalayas. Despite the fact that India represented a fragment of Gondwana, taxa with Gondwanan affinities are nearly absent in Cambay amber. This phenomenon is caused by extinctions on the drifting Indian plate triggered by extensive volcanism on the one hand, and, on the other, the subcontinent’s relative proximity to neighbouring landmasses, which facilitated faunal exchange as early as during India’s northward passage. Here, we present a description of the first mayfly fossils from Cambay amber, consisting of two male imagoes from the family Leptophlebiidae, clade Atalophleboculata. We describe one of the studied specimens as Aikahika veta gen. et sp. nov. This record represents the oldest unambiguous occurrence of Atalophleboculata, reaching its highest extant diversity in the fragments of former Gondwana, where it most likely originated. The mayfly fossils reported herein thus probably constituted one of the few Gondwanan survivors on the drifting Indian plate.
早始新世印度坎贝琥珀中的昆虫包裹体代表了印度板块在与亚洲碰撞之前漂移的动物群，这导致了喜马拉雅山脉的隆起。尽管印度代表了冈瓦纳的一个片段，但在坎贝琥珀中几乎没有冈瓦纳的类群。造成这种现象的原因，一方面是由于广泛的火山活动引发了印度板块上的物种灭绝，另一方面，次大陆与邻近大陆的相对接近，这促进了早在印度向北航行期间的动物交换。本文报道了在Cambay琥珀中发现的第一个蜉蝣化石，其中包括两具雄性蜉蝣化石，属于轻蝇科，Atalophleboculata分支。我们将其中一个研究标本描述为Aikahika veta gen. et sp. 11 .这个记录代表了Atalophleboculata最古老的明确存在，在它最有可能起源的前冈瓦纳（Gondwana）碎片中达到了最高的现存多样性。因此，本文报道的蜉蝣化石可能是漂移的印度板块上为数不多的冈瓦纳化石之一。
{"title":"The first record of mayflies (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from Cambay amber suggests a Gondwanan mayfly fauna in Early Eocene India","authors":"Pavel Sroka, Priya Agnihotri, Hukam Singh","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf065","url":null,"abstract":"Insect inclusions in Early Eocene Indian Cambay amber represent the fauna of the drifting Indian plate just prior to its collision with Asia, which led to the uplift of the Himalayas. Despite the fact that India represented a fragment of Gondwana, taxa with Gondwanan affinities are nearly absent in Cambay amber. This phenomenon is caused by extinctions on the drifting Indian plate triggered by extensive volcanism on the one hand, and, on the other, the subcontinent’s relative proximity to neighbouring landmasses, which facilitated faunal exchange as early as during India’s northward passage. Here, we present a description of the first mayfly fossils from Cambay amber, consisting of two male imagoes from the family Leptophlebiidae, clade Atalophleboculata. We describe one of the studied specimens as Aikahika veta gen. et sp. nov. This record represents the oldest unambiguous occurrence of Atalophleboculata, reaching its highest extant diversity in the fragments of former Gondwana, where it most likely originated. The mayfly fossils reported herein thus probably constituted one of the few Gondwanan survivors on the drifting Indian plate.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144520857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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