An extensive survey of Linyphiidae spiders during 1988–2006 in the Gaoligong Mountains and the adjacent areas of Yunnan Province revealed 110 species belonging to 53 genera, including seven new genera and 76 new species: Absconditus gen. nov., Absconditus acerus sp. nov. (♂♀); Amfractus gen. nov., A. dentefaberis sp. nov. (♂♀); Genus Bathyphantes Blackwall, 1859, A. acutala sp. nov. (♂♀); A. thailandica Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 (♀); Auricula gen. nov., A. aeda sp. nov. (♂♀), A. rutunda sp. nov. (♀), A. sanchaheensis sp. nov. (♀), A. triangulara sp. nov. (♂♀); Genus Bathyphantes Blackwall, 1859, B. ansulis sp. nov. (♂♀), B. gracilis (Blackwall, 1841) (♂), B. longiscapus sp. nov. (♂♀), B. magnis sp. nov. (♂♀); Genus Bolyphantes C. L. Koch, 1837, B. lishadiensis sp. nov. (♀), B. lushuiensis sp. nov. (♀); Genus Capsulia Saaristo, Tu & Li, 2006, C. tianmushana (Chen & Song, 1987) (♂♀); Genus Caviphantes Oi, 1960, C. catomidius sp. nov. (♂♀), C. pseudosaxetorum Wunderlich, 1979 (♀); Genus Ceratinella Emerton, 1882, C. acutalum sp. nov. (♂); Genus Cirrosus Zhao & Li, 2014, C. atrocaudatus Zhao & Li, 2014 (♀); Genus Collinsia O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1913, C. denticulata sp. nov. (♂♀), C. inerrans (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1885) (♂♀); Genus Conglin Zhao & Li, 2014, C. personatus Zhao and Li, 2014 (♀); Cristatus gen. nov., C. anfractus sp. nov. (♂♀), C. makuensis sp. nov. (♂♀); Genus Curtimeticus Zhao & Li, 2014, C. rutundus sp. nov. (♀); Genus Erigone Audouin, 1826, E. ansula sp. nov. (♂♀), E. atra Blackwall, 1833 (♂♀), E. prominens Bösenberg & Strand, 1906 (♂♀), E. sinensis Schenkel, 1936 (♂♀); Genus Frontinellina van Helsdingen, 1969 (new to China), F. gemalakaensis sp. nov. (♀); Genus Gnathonarium Karsch, 1881, G. dentatum (Wider, 1834) (♂♀), G. gibberum Oi, 1960 (♂♀), G. taczanowskii (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1873) (♀); Genus Gongylidiellum Simon, 1884, G. acerosus sp. nov. (♂); Genus Gongylidioides Oi, 1960, G. laqueus sp. nov. (♀), G. lingulatus sp. nov. (♀); Genus Gongylidium Menge, 1868, G. bifurcatus sp. nov. (♂♀), G. manibus sp. nov. (♂); Gracilentus gen. nov., G. denticulatus sp. nov. (♂♀), G. serratus sp. nov. (♀), G. tenchongensis sp. nov. (♀); Genus Himalaphantes Tanasevitch, 1992, H. aduncus sp. nov. (♂♀), H. azumiensis (Oi, 1979) (♂♀), H. auriculus sp. nov. (♀), H. fugongensis sp. nov. (♀), H. gyratus sp. nov. (♀), H. pseudoaduncus sp. nov. (♂), H. pulae sp. nov. (♀); Genus Houshenzinus Tanasevitch, 2006, H. tengchongensis Irfan & Peng, 2018 (♂♀) (male new to science); Genus Hylyphantes Simon, 1884, H. graminicola (Sundevall, 1830) (♂♀), H. spirellus Tu & Li, 2005 (♂); Genus Ketambea Millidge & Russell-Smith, 1992, K. acuta Tanasevitch, 2017 (♂♀), K. aseptifera sp. nov. (♀), K. falcata sp. nov. (♀), K. septifera sp. nov. (♀); Genus Laogone Tanasevitch, 2014, L. lunata Zhao & Li, 2014 (♂♀); Genus Lepthyphantes Menge, 1866, L. cordis sp. nov. (♂♀), L. serratus sp. nov. (♂); Genus Linyphia Latreille, 1804, L. gaoshidongensis sp. nov. (♀), L. pengdan
{"title":"Survey of Linyphiidae (Arachnida: Araneae) spiders from Yunnan, China","authors":"M. Irfan, Zhisheng Zhang, Xian-jin Peng","doi":"10.11646/megataxa.8.1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11646/megataxa.8.1.1","url":null,"abstract":"An extensive survey of Linyphiidae spiders during 1988–2006 in the Gaoligong Mountains and the adjacent areas of Yunnan Province revealed 110 species belonging to 53 genera, including seven new genera and 76 new species: Absconditus gen. nov., Absconditus acerus sp. nov. (♂♀); Amfractus gen. nov., A. dentefaberis sp. nov. (♂♀); Genus Bathyphantes Blackwall, 1859, A. acutala sp. nov. (♂♀); A. thailandica Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 (♀); Auricula gen. nov., A. aeda sp. nov. (♂♀), A. rutunda sp. nov. (♀), A. sanchaheensis sp. nov. (♀), A. triangulara sp. nov. (♂♀); Genus Bathyphantes Blackwall, 1859, B. ansulis sp. nov. (♂♀), B. gracilis (Blackwall, 1841) (♂), B. longiscapus sp. nov. (♂♀), B. magnis sp. nov. (♂♀); Genus Bolyphantes C. L. Koch, 1837, B. lishadiensis sp. nov. (♀), B. lushuiensis sp. nov. (♀); Genus Capsulia Saaristo, Tu & Li, 2006, C. tianmushana (Chen & Song, 1987) (♂♀); Genus Caviphantes Oi, 1960, C. catomidius sp. nov. (♂♀), C. pseudosaxetorum Wunderlich, 1979 (♀); Genus Ceratinella Emerton, 1882, C. acutalum sp. nov. (♂); Genus Cirrosus Zhao & Li, 2014, C. atrocaudatus Zhao & Li, 2014 (♀); Genus Collinsia O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1913, C. denticulata sp. nov. (♂♀), C. inerrans (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1885) (♂♀); Genus Conglin Zhao & Li, 2014, C. personatus Zhao and Li, 2014 (♀); Cristatus gen. nov., C. anfractus sp. nov. (♂♀), C. makuensis sp. nov. (♂♀); Genus Curtimeticus Zhao & Li, 2014, C. rutundus sp. nov. (♀); Genus Erigone Audouin, 1826, E. ansula sp. nov. (♂♀), E. atra Blackwall, 1833 (♂♀), E. prominens Bösenberg & Strand, 1906 (♂♀), E. sinensis Schenkel, 1936 (♂♀); Genus Frontinellina van Helsdingen, 1969 (new to China), F. gemalakaensis sp. nov. (♀); Genus Gnathonarium Karsch, 1881, G. dentatum (Wider, 1834) (♂♀), G. gibberum Oi, 1960 (♂♀), G. taczanowskii (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1873) (♀); Genus Gongylidiellum Simon, 1884, G. acerosus sp. nov. (♂); Genus Gongylidioides Oi, 1960, G. laqueus sp. nov. (♀), G. lingulatus sp. nov. (♀); Genus Gongylidium Menge, 1868, G. bifurcatus sp. nov. (♂♀), G. manibus sp. nov. (♂); Gracilentus gen. nov., G. denticulatus sp. nov. (♂♀), G. serratus sp. nov. (♀), G. tenchongensis sp. nov. (♀); Genus Himalaphantes Tanasevitch, 1992, H. aduncus sp. nov. (♂♀), H. azumiensis (Oi, 1979) (♂♀), H. auriculus sp. nov. (♀), H. fugongensis sp. nov. (♀), H. gyratus sp. nov. (♀), H. pseudoaduncus sp. nov. (♂), H. pulae sp. nov. (♀); Genus Houshenzinus Tanasevitch, 2006, H. tengchongensis Irfan & Peng, 2018 (♂♀) (male new to science); Genus Hylyphantes Simon, 1884, H. graminicola (Sundevall, 1830) (♂♀), H. spirellus Tu & Li, 2005 (♂); Genus Ketambea Millidge & Russell-Smith, 1992, K. acuta Tanasevitch, 2017 (♂♀), K. aseptifera sp. nov. (♀), K. falcata sp. nov. (♀), K. septifera sp. nov. (♀); Genus Laogone Tanasevitch, 2014, L. lunata Zhao & Li, 2014 (♂♀); Genus Lepthyphantes Menge, 1866, L. cordis sp. nov. (♂♀), L. serratus sp. nov. (♂); Genus Linyphia Latreille, 1804, L. gaoshidongensis sp. nov. (♀), L. pengdan","PeriodicalId":52569,"journal":{"name":"Megataxa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80846532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mark D. Scherz, A. Crottini, C. Hutter, Andrea Hildenbrand, F. Andreone, T. Fulgence, G. Köhler, S. Ndriantsoa, A. Ohler, M. Preick, Andolalao Rakotoarison, Loïs Rancilhac, A. P. Raselimanana, Jana C. Riemann, Mark‐Oliver Rödel, G. Rosa, Jeffrey W. Streicher, D. Vieites, J. Köhler, M. Hofreiter, F. Glaw, M. Vences
Malagasy frogs of the subgenus Brygoomantis in the mantellid frog genus Mantidactylus currently comprise 14 described species of mostly brown, riparian frogs. Data from DNA barcoding suggested that the diversity of this subgenus is dramatically underestimated by current taxonomy. We here provide a comprehensive revision of this subgenus. We use hybrid-enrichment based DNA barcode fishing to obtain mitochondrial DNA fragments from the name-bearing type material of 16 of the 20 available names for members of this subgenus, and integrate these into a genetic dataset consisting of 1305 individuals sampled across Madagascar. By thus assigning the nomina to genetic lineages, we can confidently establish synonyms, revalidate old names, and describe the remaining diversity. We take an integrative approach to our descriptions, drawing together genetics, morphometrics and morphology, and bioacoustics for assignment. We also provide a robust phylogenomic hypothesis for the subgenus, based on 12,951 nuclear-encoded markers (almost 10 million base pairs) for 58 representative samples, sequenced using a hybrid-enrichment bait set for amphibians. Those data suggest a division of the subgenus into eight major clades and shows that morphological species complexes are often paraphyletic or polyphyletic. Lectotypes are designated for Rana betsileana Boulenger, 1882; Rana biporus Boulenger, 1889; Rana curta Boulenger, 1882; Mantidactylus ambohimitombi Boulenger, 1918; Mantidactylus tripunctatus Angel, 1930; and Rana inaudax Peracca, 1893. For several other nomina, previous authors had considered a certain syntype as holotype; this has been seen as lectotype designation by implication, which, however, is ambiguous according to the provisions of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Hence, we validate a previous lectotype designation by implication for Limnodytes ulcerosus Boettger, 1880 by explicitly designating the same individual as lectotype. In one other such case, that of Mantidactylus brauni Ahl, 1929, we deviate from previous authors and designate a different specimen as lectotype. We revalidate Rana inaudax Peracca, 1893 as Mantidactylus inaudax (Peracca, 1893) bona species, and Mantidactylus tripunctatus Angel, 1930 bona species. The identities of three further species (M. ambohimitombi, M. biporus, M. tricinctus) are largely redefined based on new genetic data. By designating the lectotype of Rana aluta (MZUT An725.1) as the neotype of Mantidactylus laevis Angel, 1929 we also stabilize the latter nomen (as junior synonym of M. alutus) whose original type material is lost. Based on DNA sequences of its lectotype, we consider Mantidactylus brauni Ahl, 1929 as junior synonym of M. ulcerosus (rather than M. biporus). We formally name 20 new species and four new subspecies: M. ambohimitombi marefo ssp. nov., M. ambohimitombi miloko ssp. nov., M. mahery sp. nov., M. steinfartzi sp. nov., M. incognitus sp. nov., M. jonasi sp. nov., M. katae sp. nov.,
{"title":"An inordinate fondness for inconspicuous brown frogs: integration of phylogenomics, archival DNA analysis, morphology, and bioacoustics yields 24 new taxa in the subgenus Brygoomantis (genus Mantidactylus) from Madagascar","authors":"Mark D. Scherz, A. Crottini, C. Hutter, Andrea Hildenbrand, F. Andreone, T. Fulgence, G. Köhler, S. Ndriantsoa, A. Ohler, M. Preick, Andolalao Rakotoarison, Loïs Rancilhac, A. P. Raselimanana, Jana C. Riemann, Mark‐Oliver Rödel, G. Rosa, Jeffrey W. Streicher, D. Vieites, J. Köhler, M. Hofreiter, F. Glaw, M. Vences","doi":"10.11646/megataxa.7.2.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11646/megataxa.7.2.1","url":null,"abstract":"Malagasy frogs of the subgenus Brygoomantis in the mantellid frog genus Mantidactylus currently comprise 14 described species of mostly brown, riparian frogs. Data from DNA barcoding suggested that the diversity of this subgenus is dramatically underestimated by current taxonomy. We here provide a comprehensive revision of this subgenus. We use hybrid-enrichment based DNA barcode fishing to obtain mitochondrial DNA fragments from the name-bearing type material of 16 of the 20 available names for members of this subgenus, and integrate these into a genetic dataset consisting of 1305 individuals sampled across Madagascar. By thus assigning the nomina to genetic lineages, we can confidently establish synonyms, revalidate old names, and describe the remaining diversity. We take an integrative approach to our descriptions, drawing together genetics, morphometrics and morphology, and bioacoustics for assignment. We also provide a robust phylogenomic hypothesis for the subgenus, based on 12,951 nuclear-encoded markers (almost 10 million base pairs) for 58 representative samples, sequenced using a hybrid-enrichment bait set for amphibians. Those data suggest a division of the subgenus into eight major clades and shows that morphological species complexes are often paraphyletic or polyphyletic. Lectotypes are designated for Rana betsileana Boulenger, 1882; Rana biporus Boulenger, 1889; Rana curta Boulenger, 1882; Mantidactylus ambohimitombi Boulenger, 1918; Mantidactylus tripunctatus Angel, 1930; and Rana inaudax Peracca, 1893. For several other nomina, previous authors had considered a certain syntype as holotype; this has been seen as lectotype designation by implication, which, however, is ambiguous according to the provisions of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Hence, we validate a previous lectotype designation by implication for Limnodytes ulcerosus Boettger, 1880 by explicitly designating the same individual as lectotype. In one other such case, that of Mantidactylus brauni Ahl, 1929, we deviate from previous authors and designate a different specimen as lectotype. We revalidate Rana inaudax Peracca, 1893 as Mantidactylus inaudax (Peracca, 1893) bona species, and Mantidactylus tripunctatus Angel, 1930 bona species. The identities of three further species (M. ambohimitombi, M. biporus, M. tricinctus) are largely redefined based on new genetic data. By designating the lectotype of Rana aluta (MZUT An725.1) as the neotype of Mantidactylus laevis Angel, 1929 we also stabilize the latter nomen (as junior synonym of M. alutus) whose original type material is lost. Based on DNA sequences of its lectotype, we consider Mantidactylus brauni Ahl, 1929 as junior synonym of M. ulcerosus (rather than M. biporus). We formally name 20 new species and four new subspecies: M. ambohimitombi marefo ssp. nov., M. ambohimitombi miloko ssp. nov., M. mahery sp. nov., M. steinfartzi sp. nov., M. incognitus sp. nov., M. jonasi sp. nov., M. katae sp. nov., ","PeriodicalId":52569,"journal":{"name":"Megataxa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84567907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The remit of the Natural History Museum, London, encompasses the whole of the natural world and places it at the forefront of global concerns about human impact on the biosphere. The Museum’s stature as a world leading institution for storing and recording living diversity brings responsibilities, obligations and new prospects. In addition to revealing the genetic evolution of life in considerable detail, advances in molecular biology and cryogenics offer exciting new opportunities to extend beyond the Museum’s traditional role as a storehouse for recording living diversity and to take a lead in biodiversity conservation. In its strategy for the coming decade, the Museum has declared a planetary emergency for which we need an unprecedented response, asserting that we must act now, that we must act on scientific evidence and that we must act together. However, the Museum is no longer led by scientists; its relevant expertise and the prioritisation of its collection-based world-leading role is being rapidly dismantled. It has been taken over by an administrative structure and placed under a government Department that have no notion of the importance of this role. Much of the Museum’s activity is no longer led by science intimately connected to its role as a collections-based institution and its public profile is dominated by journalistic presentations from sources that are widely available to a broad range of the media. Inappropriate leadership and recruitment have diverted its science base in directions that place much of its research within the activities of numerous other academic agencies, undermining the reason and justification for the Museum’s existence. The move of about half of the collections and associated scientific staff to a location outside of London is a self-imposed act of institutional vandalism. It will mutilate a national treasure, not only inflicting a massive and permanent financial burden but also irrevocably damaging the Museum’s, cultural identity and function as an integrated collections and research institution. Rather than responding to a planetary emergency, the Museum is tragically descending into irrelevance.
{"title":"The tragedy of the Natural History Museum, London","authors":"F. Naggs","doi":"10.11646/megataxa.7.1.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11646/megataxa.7.1.2","url":null,"abstract":"The remit of the Natural History Museum, London, encompasses the whole of the natural world and places it at the forefront of global concerns about human impact on the biosphere. The Museum’s stature as a world leading institution for storing and recording living diversity brings responsibilities, obligations and new prospects. In addition to revealing the genetic evolution of life in considerable detail, advances in molecular biology and cryogenics offer exciting new opportunities to extend beyond the Museum’s traditional role as a storehouse for recording living diversity and to take a lead in biodiversity conservation. \u0000In its strategy for the coming decade, the Museum has declared a planetary emergency for which we need an unprecedented response, asserting that we must act now, that we must act on scientific evidence and that we must act together. However, the Museum is no longer led by scientists; its relevant expertise and the prioritisation of its collection-based world-leading role is being rapidly dismantled. It has been taken over by an administrative structure and placed under a government Department that have no notion of the importance of this role. Much of the Museum’s activity is no longer led by science intimately connected to its role as a collections-based institution and its public profile is dominated by journalistic presentations from sources that are widely available to a broad range of the media. Inappropriate leadership and recruitment have diverted its science base in directions that place much of its research within the activities of numerous other academic agencies, undermining the reason and justification for the Museum’s existence. The move of about half of the collections and associated scientific staff to a location outside of London is a self-imposed act of institutional vandalism. It will mutilate a national treasure, not only inflicting a massive and permanent financial burden but also irrevocably damaging the Museum’s, cultural identity and function as an integrated collections and research institution. Rather than responding to a planetary emergency, the Museum is tragically descending into irrelevance.","PeriodicalId":52569,"journal":{"name":"Megataxa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87845682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Type specimens are the cornerstones of modern taxonomy and systematics, and should be the starting point of any study of diversity, especially considering the increasing ability to sample them genetically. However, no compilation of type material (beyond holotypes) exists for turtles (Order Testudines). This is the first attempt to locate and compile a list of all type specimens (holotypes, paratypes, syntypes, lectotypes, neotypes, etc.) for all described turtles, whether currently recognized or synonymized. A total of 1222 named taxa are included here (including synonyms), but only 875 of them (71.6%) have at least one identified type specimen (excluding neotypes and iconotypes). Part or all of the type series for another 102 taxa are considered lost. This list represents a 45-year search effort, and although still incomplete, should benefit current and future turtle systematicists, as well as direct ongoing efforts to locate type specimens still missing.
{"title":"A review of Chelonian type specimens (order Testudines)","authors":"J. Iverson","doi":"10.11646/megataxa.7.1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11646/megataxa.7.1.1","url":null,"abstract":"Type specimens are the cornerstones of modern taxonomy and systematics, and should be the starting point of any study of diversity, especially considering the increasing ability to sample them genetically. However, no compilation of type material (beyond holotypes) exists for turtles (Order Testudines). This is the first attempt to locate and compile a list of all type specimens (holotypes, paratypes, syntypes, lectotypes, neotypes, etc.) for all described turtles, whether currently recognized or synonymized. A total of 1222 named taxa are included here (including synonyms), but only 875 of them (71.6%) have at least one identified type specimen (excluding neotypes and iconotypes). Part or all of the type series for another 102 taxa are considered lost. This list represents a 45-year search effort, and although still incomplete, should benefit current and future turtle systematicists, as well as direct ongoing efforts to locate type specimens still missing.","PeriodicalId":52569,"journal":{"name":"Megataxa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83890141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ischnopelta Stål, 1868 is a Discocephalini genus with three known species, I. scutellata (Signoret, 1851), I. oblonga (Fieber, 1851), and I. luteicornis (Walker, 1867), and distribution restricted to South America. The examination of 284 specimens from several localities in Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay, revealed the existence of new species. Measurements of 24 morphometric parameters were taken using stereomicroscope and tpsDig2 version 2.16 from images captured with an MShot MD50 camera coupled to a Techno RZ stereomicroscope and edited in MShot DIS version 1.1. The genitalia of both sexes was dissected upon specimen availability, digested in KOH 10%, dehydrated in ethanol 70%, stained in Congo red (when needed), and preserved in liquid glycerin. Photographs were made in a Nikon AZ100M stereomicroscope, and a focus stacking procedure was done with Nikon NIS-Elements Ar Microscope Imaging Software. Drawings were produced over the images with a vectorial image processor. In this work Ischnopelta is revised, I. scutellata and I. luteicornis are redescribed, and keys to males and females of the species are proposed. We describe 20 new species: I. alalonga sp. n., I. anangulata sp. n., I. bechyneorum sp. n., I. confusa sp. n., I. coralinae sp. n., I. cordiformis sp. n., I. crassula sp. n., I. cristulata sp. n., I. cylindrata sp. n., I. guarani sp. n., I. impunctata sp. n., I. magna sp. n., I. marginella sp. n., I. montana sp. n., I. paiagua sp. n., I. parvula sp. n., I. pellucidula sp. n., I. ruckesi sp. n., I. vellozia sp. n., and I. wigodzinskyi sp. n.. We were unable to locate the syntypes of I. oblonga (Fieber, 1851) and the species is treated here as incertae sedis.
{"title":"Revision of Ischnopelta Stål, 1868 with the description of twenty new species (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Discocephalinae)","authors":"P. Rosso, L. A. Campos","doi":"10.11646/megataxa.6.2.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11646/megataxa.6.2.3","url":null,"abstract":"Ischnopelta Stål, 1868 is a Discocephalini genus with three known species, I. scutellata (Signoret, 1851), I. oblonga (Fieber, 1851), and I. luteicornis (Walker, 1867), and distribution restricted to South America. The examination of 284 specimens from several localities in Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay, revealed the existence of new species. Measurements of 24 morphometric parameters were taken using stereomicroscope and tpsDig2 version 2.16 from images captured with an MShot MD50 camera coupled to a Techno RZ stereomicroscope and edited in MShot DIS version 1.1. The genitalia of both sexes was dissected upon specimen availability, digested in KOH 10%, dehydrated in ethanol 70%, stained in Congo red (when needed), and preserved in liquid glycerin. Photographs were made in a Nikon AZ100M stereomicroscope, and a focus stacking procedure was done with Nikon NIS-Elements Ar Microscope Imaging Software. Drawings were produced over the images with a vectorial image processor. In this work Ischnopelta is revised, I. scutellata and I. luteicornis are redescribed, and keys to males and females of the species are proposed. We describe 20 new species: I. alalonga sp. n., I. anangulata sp. n., I. bechyneorum sp. n., I. confusa sp. n., I. coralinae sp. n., I. cordiformis sp. n., I. crassula sp. n., I. cristulata sp. n., I. cylindrata sp. n., I. guarani sp. n., I. impunctata sp. n., I. magna sp. n., I. marginella sp. n., I. montana sp. n., I. paiagua sp. n., I. parvula sp. n., I. pellucidula sp. n., I. ruckesi sp. n., I. vellozia sp. n., and I. wigodzinskyi sp. n.. We were unable to locate the syntypes of I. oblonga (Fieber, 1851) and the species is treated here as incertae sedis.","PeriodicalId":52569,"journal":{"name":"Megataxa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76469674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Describing a substantial proportion of the world’s species could be made much easier by the 3D digitization of collections, which would facilitate the dissemination of taxonomic information locked up in natural history museums. Three-dimensional imaging captures many characters and allows a lot of versatility in the way that morphological data is displayed and used (Wheeler et al. 2012; Faulwetter et al. 2013). Moreover, the loss and damage of valuable specimens, many of which are very fragile, can be reduced as a result of the use and sharing of 3D model substitutes among researchers. This can also lead to a reduction in the handling and transportation expenses of many specimens.
对世界上相当大一部分物种的描述可以通过藏品的3D数字化变得更加容易,这将促进锁在自然历史博物馆里的分类信息的传播。三维成像捕获许多字符,并允许在形态数据的显示和使用方式上具有很大的通用性(Wheeler等人,2012;Faulwetter et al. 2013)。此外,由于研究人员之间使用和共享3D模型替代品,许多非常脆弱的珍贵标本的丢失和损坏可以减少。这也可以减少许多标本的处理和运输费用。
{"title":"Virtual Equivalents of Real Objects (VEROs): A type of non-fungible token (NFT) that can help fund the 3D digitization of natural history collections","authors":"Samuel J. Bolton, Joe Cora","doi":"10.11646/megataxa.6.2.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11646/megataxa.6.2.2","url":null,"abstract":"Describing a substantial proportion of the world’s species could be made much easier by the 3D digitization of collections, which would facilitate the dissemination of taxonomic information locked up in natural history museums. Three-dimensional imaging captures many characters and allows a lot of versatility in the way that morphological data is displayed and used (Wheeler et al. 2012; Faulwetter et al. 2013). Moreover, the loss and damage of valuable specimens, many of which are very fragile, can be reduced as a result of the use and sharing of 3D model substitutes among researchers. This can also lead to a reduction in the handling and transportation expenses of many specimens.","PeriodicalId":52569,"journal":{"name":"Megataxa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78500703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Detailed study of the Monniot collection of copepods belonging to the family Notodelphyidae has revealed an extraordinary diversity of novel taxa. With rare exceptions notodelphyids live in association with ascidians and the Monniot collection was built up over several decades of field collecting and taxonomic research on the ascidian hosts by Drs Claude & Françoise Monniot (MNHN, Paris). This paper describes a total of 178 new species of notodelphyids from ascidian hosts and 37 new genera are established: Bathynotodelphys gen.nov., Pronotodelphys gen. nov., Ooishillgia gen. nov., Nobinerilla gen. nov., Notopygus gen. nov., Chelipygus gen. nov., Sympygus gen. nov., Vaoda gen. nov., Gosbia gen. nov., Pentachaetus gen. nov., Diceratus gen. nov., Prodoroixys gen. nov., Notoixys gen. nov., Borixys gen. nov., Cystixys gen. nov., Ammonixys gen. nov., Ctenixys gen. nov., Ademoixys gen. nov., Gallincola gen. nov., Scoliosoma gen. nov., Contoura gen. nov., Unimeria gen. nov., Mecodelphys gen. nov., Tubipedia gen. nov., Procampodelphys gen. nov., Janius gen. nov., Campodelphys gen. nov., Hamaticoxa gen. nov., Adrodelphys gen. nov., Phyllodelphys gen. nov., Lissodelphys gen. nov., Nodoscarus gen. nov., Diblastus gen. nov., Chilodelphys gen. nov., Scaridelphys gen. nov., Socotradelphys gen. nov., and Aplodelphys gen. nov. Prior to this study the Notodelphyidae comprised exactly 200 valid species classified in 46 genera, a mean species richness of 4.3 species per genus. After the addition of the new taxa described here, the family now comprises 378 species in 83 genera, a mean species richness of 4.6 species per genus. Generic diagnoses are provided for all genera represented in the collection and the availability of a wider range of taxa has allowed certain generic boundaries to be better defined, resulting in transfers of species between genera and the recognition of 16 new combinations. A further 51 existing species are also reported, and brief supplementary notes or full redescriptions are provided as appropriate.
{"title":"Untold diversity: the astonishing species richness of the Notodelphyidae (Copepoda: Cyclopoida), a family of symbiotic copepods associated with ascidians (Tunicata)","authors":"Il-Hoi Kim, G. Boxshall","doi":"10.11646/MEGATAXA.4.1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11646/MEGATAXA.4.1.1","url":null,"abstract":"Detailed study of the Monniot collection of copepods belonging to the family Notodelphyidae has revealed an extraordinary diversity of novel taxa. With rare exceptions notodelphyids live in association with ascidians and the Monniot collection was built up over several decades of field collecting and taxonomic research on the ascidian hosts by Drs Claude & Françoise Monniot (MNHN, Paris). This paper describes a total of 178 new species of notodelphyids from ascidian hosts and 37 new genera are established: Bathynotodelphys gen.nov., Pronotodelphys gen. nov., Ooishillgia gen. nov., Nobinerilla gen. nov., Notopygus gen. nov., Chelipygus gen. nov., Sympygus gen. nov., Vaoda gen. nov., Gosbia gen. nov., Pentachaetus gen. nov., Diceratus gen. nov., Prodoroixys gen. nov., Notoixys gen. nov., Borixys gen. nov., Cystixys gen. nov., Ammonixys gen. nov., Ctenixys gen. nov., Ademoixys gen. nov., Gallincola gen. nov., Scoliosoma gen. nov., Contoura gen. nov., Unimeria gen. nov., Mecodelphys gen. nov., Tubipedia gen. nov., Procampodelphys gen. nov., Janius gen. nov., Campodelphys gen. nov., Hamaticoxa gen. nov., Adrodelphys gen. nov., Phyllodelphys gen. nov., Lissodelphys gen. nov., Nodoscarus gen. nov., Diblastus gen. nov., Chilodelphys gen. nov., Scaridelphys gen. nov., Socotradelphys gen. nov., and Aplodelphys gen. nov. Prior to this study the Notodelphyidae comprised exactly 200 valid species classified in 46 genera, a mean species richness of 4.3 species per genus. After the addition of the new taxa described here, the family now comprises 378 species in 83 genera, a mean species richness of 4.6 species per genus. Generic diagnoses are provided for all genera represented in the collection and the availability of a wider range of taxa has allowed certain generic boundaries to be better defined, resulting in transfers of species between genera and the recognition of 16 new combinations. A further 51 existing species are also reported, and brief supplementary notes or full redescriptions are provided as appropriate.","PeriodicalId":52569,"journal":{"name":"Megataxa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87025973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anthony J. J. (Tony) Rees, L. Vandepitte, B. Vanhoorne, W. Decock
We give estimated counts of known accepted genera of the world (297,930±65,840, of which approximately 21% are fossil), of a total 492,620 genus names presently held for “all life”, based on the March 2020 release of the Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera (IRMNG). A further c. 9,400 accepted genus names are anticipated to have been published over the period 2014–2019 which are not yet included in IRMNG; together with a lower confidence estimate that perhaps an additional 3,000 historic names are also missing from the present version of IRMNG, we therefore estimate that approximately 310,000 accepted generic names have been published to the end of 2019, with the holdings of IRMNG being around 96% complete. A breakdown of the data is presented by phylum and, in some cases, lower taxonomic group such as class or order; the actual lists of names on which the totals are based are available for download via the IRMNG web site and are also included as supplementary data to this paper. These data provide the most complete and consistent coverage of all kingdoms of life presently available in such a form and, despite their “interim” nature (not completely vetted by taxonomic experts, not all genera yet placed to family), serve to illustrate the scope of a project for a more detailed survey of “all genera of the world” as well as providing a comparison with existing lists (for example, to indicate names that may be missed from either side), and preliminary content that can be of value for the compilation of new lists. We note areas (chiefly very recently published names) where present IRMNG data may be incomplete and briefly address other issues encountered in the assembly of such data, including those associated with the construction of a unified and/or consensus classification within which genera and their containing families can be placed.
{"title":"All genera of the world: an overview and estimates based on the March 2020 release of the Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera (IRMNG)","authors":"Anthony J. J. (Tony) Rees, L. Vandepitte, B. Vanhoorne, W. Decock","doi":"10.11646/megataxa.1.2.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11646/megataxa.1.2.3","url":null,"abstract":"We give estimated counts of known accepted genera of the world (297,930±65,840, of which approximately 21% are fossil), of a total 492,620 genus names presently held for “all life”, based on the March 2020 release of the Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera (IRMNG). A further c. 9,400 accepted genus names are anticipated to have been published over the period 2014–2019 which are not yet included in IRMNG; together with a lower confidence estimate that perhaps an additional 3,000 historic names are also missing from the present version of IRMNG, we therefore estimate that approximately 310,000 accepted generic names have been published to the end of 2019, with the holdings of IRMNG being around 96% complete. A breakdown of the data is presented by phylum and, in some cases, lower taxonomic group such as class or order; the actual lists of names on which the totals are based are available for download via the IRMNG web site and are also included as supplementary data to this paper. These data provide the most complete and consistent coverage of all kingdoms of life presently available in such a form and, despite their “interim” nature (not completely vetted by taxonomic experts, not all genera yet placed to family), serve to illustrate the scope of a project for a more detailed survey of “all genera of the world” as well as providing a comparison with existing lists (for example, to indicate names that may be missed from either side), and preliminary content that can be of value for the compilation of new lists. We note areas (chiefly very recently published names) where present IRMNG data may be incomplete and briefly address other issues encountered in the assembly of such data, including those associated with the construction of a unified and/or consensus classification within which genera and their containing families can be placed.","PeriodicalId":52569,"journal":{"name":"Megataxa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73974237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Documenting, naming and classifying the diversity of life on Earth provides baseline information on the biosphere, which is crucially important to understand and mitigate the global changes of the Anthropocene. We should meet three main challenges, using new technological developments without throwing the well-tried and successful foundations of Linnaean nomenclature overboard. 1. Fully embrace cybertaxonomy, machine learning and DNA taxonomy to ease, not burden the workflow of taxonomists. 2. Emphasize diagnosis over description, images over words. 3. Understand promises and pitfalls of omics approaches to avoid taxonomic inflation.
{"title":"The promise of next-generation taxonomy","authors":"M. Vences","doi":"10.11646/megataxa.1.1.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11646/megataxa.1.1.6","url":null,"abstract":"Documenting, naming and classifying the diversity of life on Earth provides baseline information on the biosphere, which is crucially important to understand and mitigate the global changes of the Anthropocene. We should meet three main challenges, using new technological developments without throwing the well-tried and successful foundations of Linnaean nomenclature overboard. 1. Fully embrace cybertaxonomy, machine learning and DNA taxonomy to ease, not burden the workflow of taxonomists. 2. Emphasize diagnosis over description, images over words. 3. Understand promises and pitfalls of omics approaches to avoid taxonomic inflation.","PeriodicalId":52569,"journal":{"name":"Megataxa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75534285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}