Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research最新文献

Clarifying the identity of type specimens without information and developing novel procedures for this task are important issues in taxonomy. Because female insects frequently lack taxonomically useful morphological characters, their taxonomic assignment is challenging without sufficient locality information. Using the cryptic species complex previously treated as “Pterostichus (Rhagadus) polygenus Bates” as a model, this study presents a novel procedure based solely on morphological data for the taxonomic assignment of female type specimens that lack sufficient locality information. Without a priori species hypotheses, males were divided into morphotypes based on the morphology of the endophallus, a genital structure that has recently been found to be useful in the taxonomy of insects, particularly Coleoptera. Then, geometric morphometrics of the pronotum followed by discriminant analysis were conducted using females obtained from the same localities as the males (not including female type specimens). The obtained discriminant function unambiguously assigned all female type specimens to the morphotypes, including those without sufficient locality information, resulting in the following Japanese Rhagadus Motschulsky species: Pterostichus microcephalus (Motschulsky) ( = Pterostichus kimurai Morita syn. nov.), Pterostichus negylopus sp. nov. (type locality: Tokyo, Hachiôji-shi, Todorimachi), Pterostichus nimbatidius (Chaudoir), Pterostichus polygenus ( = Pterostichus brittoni Habu, Pterostichus harponifer Tanaka, both syn. nov.), Pterostichus takaosanus Habu ( = Pterostichus freyellus Jedlička, Pterostichus komiyai Morita, both syn. nov.), Pterostichus thorectes Bates ( = Pterostichus latemarginatus (Straneo), Pterostichus mundatus Jedlička, Pterostichus straneoi Habu, Pterostichus satsumanus Habu, all syn. nov.), and Pterostichus thorectoides Jedlička ( = Pterostichus ishiii Morita, Kurosa, and Mori syn. nov.). A morphological phylogeny of Japanese and Korean Rhagadus species was constructed, and their differentiation process is discussed. In addition, based on the observed genital morphology, the possible functions of male and female genitalia are discussed in terms of sexual conflict. Pterostichus glabripennis Jedlička from China was removed from Rhagadus based on type examinations.

The evolutionary history of the Himalayan biota has been shaped by geological and climatic changes over time. The Himalayan bent-toed geckos, Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), is an ideal group to study the phylogeography of the Himalayas due to its early origin, wide distribution, and ongoing diversification across its range. However, the specific impact of geological events on the diversification of Central Himalayan Cyrtodactylus has not been fully investigated. In this study, we sampled Cyrtodactylus from the Central Himalayan region and analyzed concatenated mitochondrial (NADH dehydrogenase 2, 1038 bp) and nuclear (phosducin [PDC], 393 bp, and recombination activating gene, 861 bp) DNA sequences totaling 2292 bp. We complemented these by the sequences from the Himalayan and the Indo-Burma regions. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the Cyrtodactylus samples from the Himalayan region are grouped into four major groups: C. lawderanus group, C. fasciolatus group, C. peguensis group, and C. khasiensis group. The geckos sampled in this study from the Central Himalayas belonged to the C. fasciolatus and C. khasiensis groups. Our results indicate that Cyrtodactylus underwent radiation events from the early Eocene to the late Pleistocene, with a relatively constant rate of divergence but a significant deviation from a constant rate of lineage accumulation. These findings establish a complex relationship between gecko diversification and the orogenic process of the Himalayas, which created a diverse landscape, global climate changes that led to different environments, intermittent arid conditions, shifting south Asian monsoon patterns, and the evolution of rivers. These factors facilitated allopatric speciation in the Himalayan region. Our results support a west to east diversification pattern within the range of Cyrtodactylus. Further extensive sampling and integrated genetic and ecological analyses are warranted to understand the evolution of the least studied herpetofauna of the Central Himalayan region.

Argali, also known as wild sheep (Ovis ammon), is a prominent alpine mammal found in Central Asia. It is of conservation concern globally and domestically in China. Our study aims to unveil the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among argali populations in China using the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) and control region (CR) sequences. We noninvasively collected a total of 77 fecal or tissue samples from various locations within Xinjiang, covering most of its range. Consequently, we identified 22 distinct haplotypic sequences for Cytb (1140 bp) and 36 for CR (1107–1260 bp). In our phylogenetic analyses, all sequences from China and abroad were grouped into 10 different clades, labeled as clade A through clade J. The network clustering pattern was consistent with the phylogenetic topology. The genetic distance and genetic divergence between clades ranged from 1.21% to 9.25% and from 0.30 to 0.94, respectively. Our analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) analysis also revealed that more than 70% of the variation was accounted for among the clades. The genetic differentiation between populations was positively corelated with geography distances (r = 0.472, p < 0.01). We observed significant differences in genetic diversity among the various populations. The mismatch distribution analysis showed a multimodal distribution for all clades. Fu’s Fs and Tajima’s D values were not statistically significant. In conclusion, we genetically identified 10 matrilineal populations, which may represent subspecies of argali population, eight of which were in China. The demographic history analyses suggest that the population size of all argali evolutionary populations remained relatively stable. Nonetheless, some populations need special attention due to their low level of genetic diversity.

Brachyura represents the focus of species diversity within Decapoda. However, this diversity increases the difficulty of species identification and obscures the natural phylogenetic relationships. Mitogenomes, with their rich phylogenetic signal and evolutionary informatics, provide critical insights into brachyuran systematics. Here, we present 12 newly sequenced mitogenomes spanning 10 families, which exhibit diverse lengths, ranging from 15,320 to 16,135 bp. All circular genomes except Conchoecetes artificiosus (lacking tRNA-S2) encode the typical 37 mitochondrial genes. Meanwhile, we identified unique gene order of Pleistacantha cervicornis and provided preliminary speculation on its hypothetical evolutionary history, which involved four gene inversion and translocation events. Phylogenomic reconstruction revealed: (1) Goneplacidae was closely related to Xanthoidea; meanwhile, Tetraliidae and Trapeziidae show divergence, resulting in the polyphyly of Goneplacoidea and Trapezioidea; (2) freshwater crabs were intimately related to thoracotrematan, and we recommended Potamoidea and Gecarcinucoidea should be classified under Thoracotremata; (3) Extensive mitochondrial gene order (MGO) diversity across Brachyura, with lineage-specific rearrangement patterns serving as phylogenetic markers. Our research offers new insights into the phylogenetic relationships within Brachyura from mitogenome perspective, unraveling the diversity and rearrangement trajectories of MGO in Brachyura.

Bufo eichwaldi (Amphibia: Anura) is a toad species endemic to the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran and southeastern Azerbaijan, increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures, underscoring the urgent need for conservation measures. We assessed the genetic diversity, population structure, and potential distribution of B. eichwaldi using molecular analyses and Species Distribution Modeling in order to inform management plans for the species. We analyzed two mitochondrial gene fragments (16S rRNA and D-loop) and one nuclear gene (Recombination activating gene 1), totaling 1865 bp, in 23 individuals from four populations. Our genetic analyses revealed high haplotype diversity (0.984) and significant genetic differentiation (F_ST) among populations, with the Azerbaijan population showing a genetic distance of 1.85%–2.04% from Iranian populations in the D-loop gene fragment. Genetic results support the hypothesis that B. eichwaldi recently expanded into the Hyrcanian forests after the last glacial maximum (LGM). Species distribution models calibrated using maximum entropy (MaxEnt) under average current climatic conditions (1970–2000) were projected to the Mid-Holocene (6 Kya) and LGM (21 Kya), as well as on 256 time slices of 10 ky BP to assess historic habitat stability. Our models showed good predictive accuracy, with the most influential environmental variable being precipitation of the wettest month (50.1%), followed by temperature annual range (39.7%). Suitable habitats for B. eichwaldi have become increasingly available in the Hyrcanian region after the LGM, in agreement with genetic evidence of a recent range expansion into these forests. This study highlights the value of integrating genetic and ecological data to inform conservation strategies for B. eichwaldi.

Springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) are unique among Alpine arthropods for including cryophilic species, able to live in contact with glacial ice, the so-called ‘glacier fleas’. Despite being historically recorded, their taxonomy and distribution are largely unknown. In this article, we present the first comprehensive study of ice-dwelling springtails (family Isotomidae) of the European Alps and Apennines. Morphological and molecular analyses of two mitochondrial genes (cox1 and 16S) were performed after an extensive field sampling across 48 European sites. Five new species were identified and described on the Alps: Desoria orobica sp. nov., Vertagopus glacialis sp. nov., V. psychrophilus sp. nov., V. glacieinigrae sp. nov. and V. fradustaensis sp. nov., together with the already known D. saltans and V. alpinus. The evidence for two further new species was also reported, with the first occurrence of Gnathisotoma bicolor for the Alpine chain. Desoria calderonis occurs on the only glacier of the Apennines. Among the new species, V. glacialis and V. psychrophilus exhibit a wide range distribution, while the other species show a narrow endemic distribution. The study highlighted the unexplored diversity of Alpine ‘glacier fleas’ and their ecological and biogeographic interest, together with the conservation concern in the context of the present warming cycle.

Mushroom soft corals in the subfamily Anthomastinae are among the most remarkable octocorals found in the deep sea, characterized by their capitate or mushroom-shaped red colonies and large autozooids. To date, their species diversity remains largely unknown due to limited research, and their phylogenetic relationships have yet to be explored. Based on samples collected from four seamounts in the tropical Northwestern Pacific, we establish a new genus and six new species within Anthomastinae: Neoanthomastus stellatus gen. et sp. nov., Neoanthomastus elongatus gen. et sp. nov., Anthomastus sphaericus sp. nov., Anthomastus tongi sp. nov., Pseudoanthomastus ornatus sp. nov., and Pseudoanthomastus applanatus sp. nov. We transfer four species of Anthomastus with the siphonozooids extending into the stalk to the new genus Neoanthomastus, and four additional species of Anthomastus to Pseudoanthomastus. A dichotomous key to all five known genera and 43 species of Anthomastinae is provided. Meanwhile, we utilize the concatenated nucleotides of 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCGs), the full-length coding regions of the mitochondrial MutS gene (mtMutS) and the barcodes of partial mtMutS to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among all the five genera (Anthomastus, Bathyalcyon, Heteropolypus, Pseudoanthomastus, and Neoanthomastus gen. nov.) and available species of Anthomastinae. The phylogenetic trees constructed from the three types of sequences suggest a hierarchical relationship where Neoanthomastus gen. nov. and Pseudoanthomastus form a clade that clusters with Bathyalcyon, which in turn with Heteropolypus, and finally with Anthomastus, all with high nodal supports. We also identify a second species in octocorals that lack the unique mtMutS. The study reveals a high diversity of mushroom soft corals and underscores the need for further systematic and zoogeographic research.