			Home About us Contact

Junior Synonym (junior + synonym)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	75%
Earth and Environmental Science	25%

Selected Abstracts

Phenotypic plasticity, polymorphism and phylogeny within placoderms

ACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 2009
K. Trinajstic
Abstract Intraspecies variation, polymorphism and asymmetric traits are observed within two families of Arthrodira, the Incisoscutidae and Camuropiscidae, from the Gogo Formation in northern Western Australia. Individual plates of the head and trunk shield show considerable variation between individuals. Plates that show the greatest degree polymorphic traits are the rostral (R), marginal (M), submarginal (SM), preorbital (PrO), anterior dorsolateral, anterior median ventral (AMV) and posterior ventrolateral (PVL) plates. The paths of the sensory line canals are the most variable feature and the dermal plates of the cheek show the greatest asymmetry. It is apparent that if anatomical data in arthrodires are to be interpreted with greater precision, detailed knowledge of intraspecies variation, polymorphic and asymmetric traits is essential. How these variables are treated in cladistic analysis is also critical. Here multistate characters were coded differently in five discrete analyses, each analysis yielding a different number of trees and relationships. It was concluded that including and coding for multistate characters gave the most robust tree. In addition, further morphological characters from a new specimen of Gogosteus sarahae Long (1994) indicates many of the characters used to separate this genus from Incisoscutum are inconsistent and so it is here considered that the genus Gogosteus is a junior synonym of Incisoscutum. [source]

A redescription of the Early Carboniferous acanthodian Acanthodes lopatini Rohon, 1889

ACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 2009
Pavel Beznosov
Abstract Investigation of numerous well-preserved specimens of Early Carboniferous acanthodians collected over recent decades from southern central Siberia allowed their redescription as Acanthodes lopatini Rohon, 1889. The morphological characteristics supporting this classification, some peculiarities of ontogeny and a new reconstruction of this species are given. The genus Carycinacanthus Miles 1966 is regarded as a junior synonym of Acanthodes. Homalacanthus bergi (Obruchev 1962) is regarded as a junior synonym of A. lopatini. [source]

Taxonomy, evolutionary History and Distribution of the middle to late Famennian Wocklumeriina (Ammonoidea, Clymeniida)

FOSSIL RECORD-MITTEILUNGEN AUS DEM MUSEUM FUER NATURKUNDE, Issue 1 2000
R. Thomas Becker
Abstract Old collections, new records, and data from global literature are used for taxonomic revisions and for a new reconstruction of the evolutionary history of the triangularly coiled clymenids, the Wocklumeriaceae, and their ancestors. Epiwocklumeria applanata is first reported from the topmost Wocklum Limestone at Hasselbachtal and Drewer, and this supports the distinction of an applanata Subzone just prior to the global Hangenberg Event which wiped out the whole group. The Wocklumeriaceae and Glatziellidae record of the famous Oberrödinghausen Railway Cut and of other Rhenish sections is revised. The Maïder of Southern Morocco has yielded first Parawocklumeria patens, paprothae, Wocklumeria sphaeroides plana, Kielcensia ingeniens n. sp., and Synwocklumeria mapesi n. sp. Parawocklumeria distributa Czarnocki forms the type-species of Tardewocklumeria n. gen. Lecto- and neotypes for several taxa are designated. The variability and paedomorphic patterns of Wo. sphaeroides are discussed. The Wocklumeriaceae represent the terminal Famennian (Upper Devonian VI-C/D) radiation of a long-ranging lineage which evolved in parallel to other clymenid groups. They are characterized by sutural features and by longidomic and very slowly expanding whorls. The polyphyletic traditional Gonioclymeniina are divided into the suborder Wocklumeriina (with Wocklumeriaceae, Glatziellaceae n.superfam. and Biloclymeniaceae) and into the Gonioclymeniaceae of the Clymeniina. Gyroclymenia Czarnocki is regarded as a junior synonym of Pleuroclymenia Schindewolf which, however, does not include the ,Pleuro.' americana and eurylobica groups. Pleuroclymenia represents the ancestral form of the Wocklumeriina and also the phylogenetical link with Platyclymenia (Varioclymenia) of the Clymeniaceae. The Gonioclymeniaceae had their roots in advanced Platyclymeniidae. Alte Aufsammlungen, Neunachweise und globale Literaturdaten werden für taxonomische Revisionen und für eine neue Rekonstruktion der Evolution der Dreiecksclymenien (Wocklumeriaceae) und ihrer Vorfahren benutzt. Epiwocklumeria applanata wird zum ersten Mal im Hasselbachtal und bei Drewer nachgewiesen, und diese Funde bestätigen die Abtrennung einer applanata -Subzone im unmittelbar Liegenden des Hangenberg-Event, welcher zum Aussterben der gesamten Gruppe führte. Die Verbreitung von Wocklumeriaceae und Glatziellidae im klassischen Profil des Bahneinschnittes bei Oberrödinghausen und an anderen Fundorten im Rheinischen Schiefergebirge wird revidiert. Der Maïder in Süd-Marokko lieferte erstmalig Parawocklumeria patens, paprothae, Wocklumeria sphaeroides plana, Kielcensia ingeniens n. sp. und Synwocklumeria mapesi n. sp. Parawocklumeria distributa Czarnocki bildet die Typus-Art von Tardewocklumeria n.gen. Weiterhin werden die Variabilität und paedomorphe Erscheinungen bei Wo. sphaeroides diskutiert. Die Wocklumeriaceae repräsentieren im höchsten Famennium (UD VI-C/D) die Radiationsphase einer langlebigen phylogenetischen Linie, die sich parallel zu anderen Clymenien entwickelte. Sie ist durch Suturmerkmale und lange Wohnkammern bei niedrigmündigen Gehäusen charakterisiert. Die als polyphyletisch erkannten Gonioclymeniina werden in die Wocklumeriina (mit Wocklumeriaceae, Glatziellaceae n.superfam. und Biloclymeniaceae) und in die Gonioclymeniaceae der Clymeniina geteilt. Gyroclymenia Czarnocki ist ein jüngeres Synonym von Pleuroclymenia Schindewolf, umfasst jedoch nicht die ,Pleuro.' americana -und ,Pleuro.' eurylobica -Artgruppen. Die Gattung ist die ursprünglichste Form der Wocklumeriina und stellt gleichzeitig das Bindeglied zu Platyclymenia (Varioclymenia) der Clymeniaceae dar. Die Gonioclymeniaceae wurzeln in fortgeschrittenen Platyclymeniidae. [source]

Phylogenetics of European cyprinids: insights from allozymes

JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2000
B. Häunfling
Allozyme data from 23 central European cyprinid taxa suggest that the two sub-families Alburninae and Leuciscinae are paraphyletic. However together, both families seem to form a monophyletic group. By using a molecular clock, the radiation of this group is estimated to be as old as 20 million years. This is consistent with the fossil record. The genus Leuciscus is not monophyletic. The commonly used genus Blicca is a junior synonym to Abramis and both genera should become merged. The genus Tinca is rather distinct from the Alburninae Leuciscinae lineage and clearly does not belong to this group. These conclusions are consistent with published phylogenetic analyses of sequence data. These analyses underline that despite the developments in sequencing allozymes are a cheap and valuable tool in phylogenetics. Combining the estimate of the phylogenetic tree and biogeographic data, there was a decrease of distributional overlap when moving from the tips of the tree to the root. This pattern is consistent with sympatric speciation. [source]

Towards a phylogenetic classification of dendrocoelid freshwater planarians (Platyhelminthes): a morphological and eclectic approach

JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH, Issue 4 2006
R. Sluys
Abstract We explore and review the taxonomic distribution of morphological features that may be used as supporting apomorphies for the monophyletic status of various taxa in future, more comprehensive phylogenetic analyses of the dendrocoelid freshwater planarians and their close relatives. Characters examined are: (i) musculature of the pharynx; (ii) anatomy of the eye; (iii) distribution of testis follicles along the longitudinal axis of the body; (iv) epidermis of the body wall; (v) musculature of the ventral body wall; (vi) presence or absence of a penis papilla; (vii) position of the mouth opening; and (viii) anterior adhesive organ. A phylogenetic hypothesis, in the form of a character state tree, is developed. This hypothesis suggests that the Kenkiidae should be resurrected as a separate family, sharing a sistergroup relationship with the Dendrocoelidae. This sistergroup relationship is supported by the shared presence of an apomorphic anterior adhesive organ. Although the shape of the anterior adhesive organ, both within and between kenkiids and dendrocoelids, may differ considerably between species, they are all constructed according to the same principles. The monophyly of the Kenkiidae is supported by the presence of an apomorphic thickening of the marginal zone of the epidermis and presumably also by the presence of prepharyngeal testes. Within the Kenkiidae, the genus Macrocotyla should be considered as a junior synonym of Kenkia, which is characterized by the presence of an apomorphic ,planariid pharynx-type 2'. The monophyly of the Dendrocoelidae is suggested by the presence of a dendrocoelid type of pharynx. It is shown that multicellular eye cups with numerous photoreceptor cells are not restricted to the Dugesiidae and the Terricola but are also characteristic for the Dendrocoelidae; the phylogenetic implications of this character state distribution are discussed. It is pointed out that in planarians there may be a relationship between: (i) body size, the size of an eye cup and the number of its constituent pigment cells; and (ii) the size of an eye cup and the number of photoreceptor cells that it contains. Some tentative phylogenetic groups are suggested on the basis of the following presumed apomorphic characters: presence of transverse fibres in the ventral subepidermal musculature, presence of an extra longitudinal muscle layer in the outer pharynx musculature, a mouth opening that has shifted anteriad. It is suggested that the presumed monophyly of the genus Bdellocephala is supported by the apomorphic absence of a penis papilla, combined with a penial lumen provided with many plicae. Zusammenfassung Wir untersuchen und begutachten die taxonomische Verbreitung morphologischer Merkmale, die man als Apomorphien für die Monophylie verschiedener Taxa in einer zukünftigen umfangreicheren phylogenetischen Analyse der Dendrocoeliden und ihrer nächsten Verwandten heranziehen könnte. Zu diesen untersuchten Merkmalen gehören die Pharynxmuskulatur, die Augen-Anatomie, die Anordnung der Hodenfollikel entlang der Längsachse des Körpers, die Epidermis, die Muskulatur der ventralen Körperwand, das Vorhandensein oder Fehlen einer Penispapille, die Lage der Mundöffnung sowie des vorderen Hartorgans. Eine phylogenetische Hypothese wurde als character state-Stammbaum entwickelt. Hierin wird vorgeschlagen, die Kenkiidae wieder als eigenständige Familie und als Schwestergruppe der Dendrocoelidae zu betrachten. Dieses Schwestergruppen-Verhältnis wird durch den gemeinsamen Besitz eines apomorphen vorderen Haftorgans gestützt. Obwohl sich die Form dieses Organs sowohl innerhalb als auch zwischen Kenkiiden und Dendrocoeliden beträchtlich zwischen den Arten unterscheiden kann, ist es grundsätzlich gleich aufgebaut. Die Monophylie der Kenkiidae wird durch eine als apomorph betrachtete Verdickung des Epidermisrandes und durch das Auftreten praepharyngealer Hoden gestützt. Innerhalb der Kenkiidae sollte die Gattung Macrocotyla als Juniorsynonym von Kenkia angesehen werden, die durch den apomorphen Planarien-Pharynx-Typ 2 charakterisiert ist. Als Beleg für die Monophylie der Dendrocoelidae wird der Dendrocoeliden-Pharynx-Typ vorgeschlagen. Es wird gezeigt, dass vielzellige Augenbecher mit zahlreichen Photorezeptorzellen nicht auf die Dugesiidae und die Terricola beschränkt, sondern auch für die Dendrocoelidae charakteristisch sind; die phylogenetische Bedeutung dieser Merkmalsverteilung wird diskutiert. Es wird hervorgehoben, dass es in den Planarien wahrscheinlich eine Beziehung zwischen (i) Körpergröße, Größe der Augenbecher und Zahl der Photorezeptorzellen ebenso wie (ii) der Größe eines Augenbechers und der Zahl seiner Photorezeptorzellen gibt. Versuchsweise werden einige phylogenetische Gruppierungen auf der Basis der folgenden vermutlich apomorphen Merkmale vorgeschlagen: Vorhandensein transversaler Fasern in der ventralen subepidermalen Muskulatur, Auftreten einer zusätzlichen Längsmuskelschicht in der äußeren Pharynxmuskulatur und eine nach vorn verschobene Mundöffnung. Es wird weiterhin vorgeschlagen, die vermutete Monophylie der Gattung Bdellocephala durch das Fehlen einer Penispapille als Autapomorphie zu stützen, zusammen mit dem Merkmal eines durch viele Falten gekennzeichneten Penislumens. [source]

Vibrio harveyi: a significant pathogen of marine vertebrates and invertebrates

LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2006
B. Austin
Abstract Vibrio harveyi, which now includes Vibrio carchariae as a junior synonym, is a serious pathogen of marine fish and invertebrates, particularly penaeid shrimp. In fish, the diseases include vasculitis, gastro-enteritis and eye lesions. With shrimp, the pathogen is associated with luminous vibriosis and Bolitas negricans. Yet, the pathogenicity mechanisms are imprecisely understood, with likely mechanisms involving the ability to attach and form biofilms, quorum sensing, various extracellular products including proteases and haemolysins, lipopolysaccharide, and interaction with bacteriophage and bacteriocin-like substances. [source]

THE TAXONOMIC AND PHYLOGENETIC POSITION OF THE PLESIOSAUROIDEA FROM THE LOWER JURASSIC POSIDONIA SHALE OF SOUTH-WEST GERMANY

PALAEONTOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
FRANZISKA GROßMANNArticle first published online: 17 MAY 200
Abstract:, The two plesiosauroid species from the Posidonia shale of Holzmaden, ,Plesiosaurus'guilelmiimperatoris and ,Plesiosaurus'brachypterygius, do not belong to Plesiosaurus but form new monotypic genera. The new genus Hydrorion is erected for ,P.'brachypterygius, and the genus Seeleyosaurus is re-established for ,P.'guilelmiimperatoris. The recently described species Plesiopterys wildii is regarded as a junior synonym of S. guilelmiimperatoris. A short phylogenetic analysis shows that S. guilelmiimperatoris and Muraenosaurus are basal elasmosaurs. H. brachypterygius, Occitanosaurus tournemirensis from France and Microcleidus homalospondylus from England form a monophyletic clade, which is the sister taxon to the Cretaceous elasmosaurs. A palaeobiogeographical comparison of plesiosaur localities in the Lower Jurassic shows distinct palaeobiogeographical zones for the Toarcian, with different plesiosaur taxa in England, Germany and France. [source]

Morphological, Small Subunit rRNA, and Physiological Characterization of Trimyema minutum (Kahl, 1931), an Anaerobic Ciliate from Submarine Hydrothermal Vents Growing from 28°C to 52°C

THE JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2002
MANUELA BAUMGARTNER
ABSTRACT. A thermophilic strain of Trimyema minutum was isolated from the hydrothermally heated sea floor at Vulcano Island (Italy) and cultivated monoxenically on Marinobaaer sp. and Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus. It can be propagated strictly an aerobically and is sensitive to oxygen: if exposed to air at 48°C all cells die within 60 min. It grows from 0.45,7.2% (w/v) salt and at pH 6.0,8.0. The isolate is the most extreme thermophilic ciliate which ever has been cultivated, exhibiting an optimal growth temperature of 48°C (doubling time 6 h). Growth occurs between 28°C and 52°C. Trimyema minutum is redescribed using live observation and silver impregnation. Its morphology and the small subunit ribosomal RNA sequence is distinctly different from that of T. compressum, but morphology is highly similar to that of T. shoalsiaNerad et al. 1995, which is thus probably a junior synonym of T. minutum. To stabilize the bewildering species taxonomy in Trimyema. we suggest to recognize our population as a neotype of T. minutum. [source]

Revision of the genus Chalcasthenes Arrow (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Oryctoderini) from the Solomon Islands

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
Mary Liz Jameson
Abstract The genus Chalcasthenes Arrow (Dynastinae: Oryctoderini), a scarab beetle genus endemic to the Solomon Islands, is reviewed. Based on examination of type specimens, the genus Strehlia Frey (Rutelinae: Rutelini: Parastasiina) is a new junior synonym of Chalcasthenes. The historical classification of these genera (either in the subfamily Dynastinae or Rutelinae) and character-based criteria for assigning the taxa to the Dynastinae are provided. We discuss character states that support the monophyly of members of the genus Chalcasthenes, comment on the distribution and biogeography of species in the genus and provide a key to species. The genus includes four species: Chalcasthenes divinus Endrödi, Chalcasthenes pulcher Arrow, Chalcasthenes squamigerus Frey new combination and Chalcasthenes styracoceros Jameson and Ratcliffe n. sp. Species hypotheses are corroborated based on evidence from Pleistocene geological reconstructions of the Solomon Islands, geographic variation of bird species in the region and development in scarab beetles. [source]

Phylogeography of spiny mice (genus Acomys, Rodentia: Muridae) from the south-western margin of the Sahara with taxonomic implications

BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 1 2009
VIOLAINE NICOLAS
The present study aims to depict the overall pattern of Acomys history in south-western Sahara. We tested the specific predictions that: (1) several mitochondrial clades can be identified and that they coincide with the described species; (2) successive phases of desert expansion and contraction during the last 3 Myr have resulted in several phases of demographic expansion and population fragmentation in Acomys; and (3) isolation-by-distance occurs. The extent of phylogeographic patterns and molecular genetic diversity (cytochrome b gene and D-loop) were addressed in a survey of 90 individuals of Acomys from 38 localities. Our phylogeographical analyses show a strong genetic structure within western Saharan Acomys, with several phylogroups displaying non-overlapping geographic distributions. Restricted gene flow with isolation-by-distance was recorded and a signal of population expansion was detected within several clades. We suggest that during arid or semi-arid paleoclimatic periods, when large sandy areas were present, Acomys was restricted to rocky massifs, whereas, in more humid periods, when savannah and/or steppe habitat prevailed, this species was able to disperse and to survive outside rocky areas because food resources were abundant. Based on a comprehensive sampling and the use of an integrative approach (i.e. combining cytogenetic, molecular and morphological data), we firmly propose that Acomys airensis should be considered as a junior synonym of Acomys chudeaui. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 98, 29,46. [source]

Molecular phylogenetic evidence for paraphyly of the genus Sooglossus, with the description of a new genus of Seychellean frogs

BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 3 2007
ARIE VAN DER MEIJDEN
The Seychelles harbour an endemic frog family, the Sooglossidae, currently containing two genera: Sooglossus, with three species, and Nesomantis, with one species. These unique frogs are generally considered to be basal neobatrachians, although their relationships to other neobatrachian taxa, except the Nasikabatrachidae, remain unresolved. Our molecular phylogeny based on a dataset consisting of fragments of the nuclear rag-1 and rag-2 genes, as well as mitochondrial 16S rRNA in representatives of the major neobatrachian lineages, confirmed the previously postulated Sooglossidae + Nasikabatrachidae clade and the placement of the South American Caudiverbera with the Australian Myobatrachidae, but did not further resolve the position of sooglossids. Our results do, however, unambiguously show sooglossids to be monophyletic but the genus Sooglossus to be paraphyletic, with the type species Sooglossus sechellensis being more closely related to Nesomantis thomasseti than to Sooglossus gardineri and Sooglossus pipilodryas, in agreement with morphological, karyological, and bioacoustic data. As a taxonomic consequence, we propose to consider the genus name Nesomantis as junior synonym of Sooglossus, and to transfer the species thomasseti to Sooglossus. For the clade composed of the species gardineri and pipilodryas, here, we propose the new generic name Leptosooglossus. A significant genetic differentiation of 3% was found between specimens of Sooglossus thomasseti from the Mahé and Silhouette Islands, highlighting the need for further studies on their possible taxonomic distinctness. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 91, 347,359. [source]

A new Lyrodiscus (Mollusca, Gastropoda) assemblage from Saint-Acheul (Somme Valley): a reappraisal of MIS 11 malacofaunas from northern France

BOREAS, Issue 4 2006
NICOLE LIMONDIN-LOZOUET
Recent studies undertaken at Saint-Acheul in the Somme Valley (France) have provided an opportunity to recover malacological assemblages from a tufa deposit located at the top of a Middle Pleistocene fluvial sequence. Molluscan communities are rich and, although dominated by open grassland species, contain up to 23 forest taxa. This high diversity of thermophilous molluscs allows the recognition of fully temperate climatic conditions. Moreover, the occurrence of an extinct zonitid belonging to the genus Retinella (Lyrodiscus), along with several species beyond their modern range (Platyla polita, Ena montana, Ruthenica filograna Clausilia pumila, Clausilia dubia, Macrogastra ventricosa, Perforatella bidentata, Monachoides incarnatus, Belgrandia marginata, Hygromia limbata) allows correlation of the Saint-Acheul assemblage with malacofaunas recovered in other MIS 11 tufa deposits from the Somme and Seine valleys. This age attribution is reinforced at Saint-Acheul by stratigraphy and an ESR date on quartz of 403 9/73 kyr from the underlying fluvial deposits. In addition, old collections containing R. (Lyrodiscus) specimens have been rediscovered, allowing taxonomic reassessment of the species. This shows that Retinella (Lyrodiscus) skertchlyi Kerney, 1976 is a junior synonym of Retinella (Lyrodiscus) elephantium (Bourguignat, 1869) and that at least two extinct species of R. (Lyrodiscus) occurred in western Europe during the Quaternary. Finally, reappraisal of these French molluscan assemblages shows that they are similar to British malacofaunas of Hoxnian age. These new results strengthen the uniqueness and biostratigraphical value of the ,Lyrodiscus assemblage'. [source]

Phylogenetic relationships of Pseudis and Lysapsus (Anura, Hylidae, Hylinae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences

CLADISTICS, Issue 5 2007
O. Aguiar Jr
The previous uncertain placement of Lysapsus and Pseudis within the neobatrachians was recently resolved by molecular and morphological studies, which supported them as members of the Hylinae subfamily. Their inter- and intrageneric relationships, however, have long been under debate and no studies shed light on these questions. Aiming to elucidate such questions, this paper used 3.2 kb comprising the mitochondrial genes 12S, tRNA valine, 16S and cytochrome b, and the nuclear exon 1 coding for rhodopsin, to all representatives of both genera (except to two subspecies of Pseudis paradoxa). The results identified three major clades: the clade 1 was composed by Lysapsus species and subspecies; clade 2 included the subspecies of the Pseudis paradoxa (Pseudis paradoxa paradoxa, P. paradoxa platensis and P. paradoxa occidentalis), P. fusca, P. bolbodactyla and P. tocantins, and clade 3 was composed by Pseudis southern Brazil species (Pseudis cardosoi and P. minuta). As closely related taxa we found Pseudis minuta + P. cardosoi; P. tocantins + P. fusca, and the subspecies within each genus. Evidence that Pseudis is not monophyletic with respect to Lysapsus was found and we suggest Lysapsus to be a junior synonym of Pseudis. Based on pair-wise comparison among gene sequences, we also suggest that the subspecies of Pseudis paradoxa and Lysapsus limellum must be considered as full species. © The Willi Hennig Society 2007. [source]

The molecular phylogeny of the Miarus campanulae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) species group inferred from CO1 and ITS2 sequences

CLADISTICS, Issue 3 2006
Varpu Vahtera
Miarus is a Holarctic weevil genus with morphologically very similar species, all breeding on Campanula plants or their close relatives. Two European members of this genus, Miarus campanulae (L.), the type species, and Miarus graminis (Bohemann) have recently been split into several new species on the basis of slight external variations. The separation of these new forms has proved impossible and new data was needed. Molecular data were gathered from specimens from a number of locations in Finland, Estonia, Denmark and Sweden. The regions sequenced were mitochondrial CO1 and nuclear ITS2. Both combined and separate datasets were analyzed using the optimization alignment program POY, with parsimony as the optimality criterion. The recently separated Miarus species was found to be indistinguishable from the traditionally recognized form on the basis of this sequence data. On the other hand, the traditionally recognized species were characterized by numerous synapomorphies. Our data suggest that recent studies have underestimated the morphological variation in this genus. We propose that this may also be true for many taxonomically problematic beetle complexes in well-studied European regions. The idea that molecular evidence will inevitably reveal unnoticed cryptic variation may only apply to poorly known regions. Miarus fennicusKangas, 1978 is placed as a junior synonym of Miarus campanulae (Linnaeus, 1767) syn. nov. © The Willi Hennig Society 2006. [source]

The taxonomy and stratigraphical significance of the Anglo,Welsh Cryptolithinae (Trinucleidae, Trilobita)

PALAEONTOLOGY, Issue 6 2002
Alison Bowdler, Hicks
The taxonomic status of the stratigraphically,important Caradoc genera Salterolithus Bancroft, 1929, Broeggerolithus Lamont, 1935 and Smeathenia Dean, 1960 and the species therein is critically reviewed. The radial alignment patterns of the fringe pits within the E arcs are used to distinguish Salterolithus from Broeggerolithus; fringe morphology and pit counts are used to distinguish species within these genera. ,Broeggerolithus'harnagensis is reassigned to Salterolithus and S. praecursor, S. caractaci paucus and Smeathenia smeathenensis are all regarded as junior synonyms of Salterolithus harnagensis. This revision of the Anglo,Welsh Cryptolithinae reveals the evolution of morphologically very variable populations and environmentally constrained morphotypes and species. Eight species and subspecies of Salterolithus and Broeggerolithus are retained and redescribed and their stratigraphical distribution in the Caradoc of Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Scandinavia is clarified. [source]

Endemism and cryptogenesis in ,segmented' mites: A review of Australian Alicorhagiidae, Terpnacaridae, Oehserchestidae and Grandjeanicidae (Acari: Sarcoptiformes)

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2001
David Evans Walter
Abstract Endeostigmata are early derivative acariform mites, fossils of which are known from the Devonian. Extant species bear numerous plesiomorphies, the most striking being remnant opisthosomal segmentation. Also, many are all-female parthenogens with broad geographical distributions. Many of the species reported in the present study may represent clones of ancient Gondwana species. Before the present study only a handful of endeostigmatans had been reported from Australia. A key to the families of Endeostigmata is provided in the present paper, along with a review of the Australian fauna of the families Alicorhagiidae (new record), Grandjeanicidae (new record), Oehserchestidae (new record), and Terpnacaridae. Terpnacarus gibbosus (Womersley) is redescribed. A report of the first records of the cosmopolitan parthenogens Alicorhagia usitata Theron et al., Alycosmesis palmata (Oudemans), Stigmalychus veretrum Theron et al., Terpnacarus carolinaensis Theron, and Oehserchestes arboriger (Theron) in Australia is provided, along with a description of the new species Grandjeanicus theroni (Grandjeanicidae). Terpnacarus variolus Shiba and T. glebulentus Theron are junior synonyms of T. gibbosus. [source]