Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Priscilla de Oliveira Fadel Yamada, Maria Isabel Mueller, Aline Cristina Zago, Fabio Hideki Yamada, Mariana Bertholdi Ebert, Lidiane Franceschini, Reinaldo Jose da Silva
Summary: This study describes three new species of monogeneans parasitizing anostomid fishes from Brazil's Upper Parana River basin. These new species have different morphology of the accessory piece compared to other congeners. Supplementary observations of the type-species Jainus piava are proposed. The paper presents a phylogenetic study that improves the understanding of host-parasite relationships in neotropical characiforms.
Article
Zoology
Jose Antonio Cruz-Barraza, Jose Luis Carballo, Jose Maria Aguilar-Camacho
Summary: This study describes new species and faunistic records of Coelosphaeridae from the Mexican Pacific Ocean. Molecular analyses suggest that Coelosphaeridae, Lissodendoryx, and Celtodoryx are not monophyletic.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Xander Velkeneers, P. A. K. N. Dissanayake, Filip Huyghe, Alex Nehemia, Hajaniaina Andrianavalonarivo Ratsimbazafy, Marc Kochzius
Summary: This study collected and identified 24 specimens of Tridacna elongatissima in order to investigate its distribution range, providing the first record for Tanzania and expanding the species' range in both northern (Zanzibar, Tanzania) and southern (Ponta de Ouro, Mozambique) areas.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sigitas Podenas, Jon Gelhaus, Virginija Podeniene, Vladimir Devyatkov, Oyunchuluun Yadamsuren, Maria Fernanda Torres Jimenez
Summary: A new species of Limoniidae crane flies, Tauroconopa gen. nov., is described from specimens found in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Russia. The study includes morphological descriptions, classification, and phylogenetic analysis, as well as habitat information.
Article
Entomology
Zhulidezi Aishan, Huan-Xi Cao, Hong-Ying Hu, Chao-Dong Zhu
Summary: This study reports a new species of the genus Pseudanaphes, named P. yadongicus, and provides DNA barcodes and illustrations of another known species, P. zhaoi. A key to the world species of Pseudanaphes is also provided, which is important for further studies on this genus of insects.
Article
Zoology
Wen-Bin Liu, Ying Wang, Kang-Zhu Zhao, Cheng-Yan Wang, Jun-Yu Zhang, Chun-Cai Yan, Xiao-Long Lin
Summary: In this study, the genus Parachironomus from China was revised and two new species were described based on adult morphology and molecular data. A neighbor-joining tree was reconstructed using DNA barcodes. A key to adult males of the genus Parachironomus from China was also provided.
Article
Microbiology
Viridiana Magana-Duenas, Jose Francisco Cano-Lira, Alberto Miguel Stchigel
Summary: The study collected over a hundred samples of plant debris from various freshwater locations in Spain and identified six new fungal species. Morphological comparison and phylogenetic analysis revealed that three strains belong to the family Didymellaceae and the remaining three strains belong to the family Phaeosphaeriaceae. The discovery of these new taxa significantly increases the number of coelomycetous fungi described from freshwater habitats.
Article
Parasitology
Bruno Leite Rodrigues, Israel de Souza Pinto, Eunice Aparecida Bianchi Galati
Summary: A new species of Trichophoromyia named Trichophoromyia peixotoi is described based on morphological and molecular analyses of male specimens collected in the Parque Nacional da Amazonia, Brazil. This brings the total number of Trichophoromyia species to 45, with 24 species found in Brazil. The use of COI barcodes proved effective in species delimitation.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ivan N. Marin, Ilya S. Turbanov, Gregoryi A. Prokopov, Dmitry M. Palatov
Summary: A new species of Niphargus found in the Tarkhankut Upland of Crimea is described. This species is co-occurring with Asellus cf. aquaticus and is related to other undescribed species from coastal habitats of the Black Sea. It belongs to the paraphyletic European stygius-longicaudatus group and its divergence from related European species occurred in the Late Miocene age. Speciation within the species started in the Pliocene, and the division into isolated subpopulations likely occurred during the Pleistocene. Stable isotopes analysis revealed distinct trophic niches for the discovered macrocrustaceans in the Tarkhankut Upland wells.
Article
Zoology
Neil Cumberlidge Fls, Savel R. Daniels
Summary: This study revises the taxonomy of Afrotropical freshwater crabs and provides an updated understanding of their phylogenetic relationships. The large-scale sampling and molecular techniques used in this research help improve the classification system and provide valuable information for species identification and distribution.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Olavi Kurina, Heli Kirik
Summary: A new species called Docosia caucasica sp. n. has been described from material collected in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains in Georgia (Sakartvelo). It is distinguished by specific characteristics in male terminalia and a unique COI sequence compared to other closely related species. The use of multiple sets of characters, such as morphology and DNA sequencing, is encouraged for accurate species description.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Lidia Yebra, Candela Garcia-Gomez, Nerea Valcarcel-Perez, Alma Hernandez de Rojas, Leocadio Blanco-Bercial, M. Carmen Castro, Francisco Gomez-Jakobsen, Jesus M. Mercado
Summary: This study characterized the variability in composition and structure of mesozooplankton communities in the Bay of Malaga using an integrative taxonomic approach. The combination of microscopic identification and metabarcoding allowed for higher resolution in species identification and broader taxonomic coverage. Differences in zooplankton communities between coastal-night and shelf-day were detected using both microscopy and metabarcoding. The integrative approach increased the knowledge of copepod species in the Southwest Mediterranean Sea by 9%.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Viridiana Magana-Duenas, Alberto Miguel Stchigel, Jose Francisco Cano-Lira
Summary: Coelomycetous fungi are commonly found in various environments, but freshwater species are rarely reported. This study isolated several new species of coelomycetous fungi from plant debris in freshwater habitats in Spain, contributing significantly to the knowledge of fungi in these environments.
Article
Zoology
Pavel Just, Frantisek Stahlavsky, Frantisek Kovarik, Jana Stundlova
Summary: In this study, we used an integrative approach combining cytogenetic data and sequence-based phylogeny to investigate the mechanisms of karyotype differentiation in scorpions of the genus Gint. Our results revealed significant karyotype diversity and chromosome heterozygosity in Gint species. We also found that interspecific differences in chromosome counts corresponded with genetic divergence. Furthermore, the study indicated ongoing structural changes in the genome architecture of some Gint species.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Andrey A. Balanov, Irina Epur, Vladimir A. Shelekhov, Sergey Turanov
Summary: In this study, the authors provide the first description of all larval stages of Stichaeus ochriamkini and find that it is very similar to Stichaeus punctatus in larvae form. Based on the COI mtDNA gene and larval characteristics, it is suggested to classify them into different genera.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tim Caro, Haji Hamad, Rashid Suleiman Rashid, Ulrike Kloiber, Victoria M. Morgan, Ossi Nokelainen, Barnabas Caro, Ilaria Pretelli, Neil Cumberlidge, Monique Borgerhoff Mulder
Summary: The coconut crab, the largest terrestrial decapod, is threatened by habitat destruction and overharvesting due to human activities. Research has shown that larger subpopulations are found in areas with crops and away from human activities, while the largest adult coconut crabs are located on more remote islands and in areas where they are not exploited. Protection and remote locations offer hope for the survival of this species, with opportunities for conservation through community involvement and tourism revenue.
Review
Evolutionary Biology
Theo Busschau, Werner Conradie, Savel R. Daniels
Summary: The phylogeographic structure of the forest thread snake in South Africa shows similarities to other forest-living taxa, with cladogenesis driven by late Miocene climatic shifts. Analysis revealed multiple putative species within the species complex, with morphological differences between forest and grassland species.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Boyang Shi, Da Pan, Yufang Sun, Xiaorui Liu, Xiulin Lv, Neil Cumberlidge, Hongying Sun
Summary: This study explores how past regional climatic differences have influenced the biogeographic history of endemic freshwater crabs in China. By studying the Sinopotamon yangtsekiense species complex, researchers found that divergence of crab lineages across the Qinling Mountains-Huaihe River Line was linked to significant past variations in monsoon intensity and the location of multiple refuges. The phylogeographical isolation observed in these crabs today is a result of different populations being isolated in separate refuges during the Last Glacial Maximum.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Evelyn M. Raphalo, Mary L. Cole, Savel R. Daniels
Summary: The study investigated the phylogeny and population genetic structure of several species within the terrestrial snail genus Gittenedouardia in South Africa. The results revealed deep genetic structure and diversification timing within the genus, suggesting the presence of undescribed diversity and the need for taxonomic revision.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Pierre A. Mvogo Ndongo, Thomas von Rintelen, Neil Cumberlidge
Summary: A new species of freshwater crab genus Potamonemus was described in this study, with distinguishing characteristics of the carapace and chelipeds. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial DNA genes confirmed the new species as a distinct lineage. The study also compared the new species to existing species of Potamonemus and discussed the conservation status of the genus.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Muriel Rabone, Joris Wiethase, Paul F. Clark, David Rollinson, Neil Cumberlidge, Aidan M. Emery
Summary: Paragonimiasis is a neglected disease caused by zoonotic trematodes of Paragonimus spp., particularly in Africa. Recent transmission was found in Southeast Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, and Cameroon, with higher prevalence of P. uterobilateralis than P. africanus. More studies are urgently needed to determine the distribution and diversity of Paragonimus species in Africa.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Neil Cumberlidge, Katelyn M. Ahles, Savel R. Daniels
Summary: The taxonomy of three species of freshwater crabs from Angola has been revised in this study, with updated diagnoses, illustrations, and distribution maps provided. The conservation status of these three species is also discussed.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Evelyn M. Raphalo, Mary L. Cole, Savel R. Daniels
Summary: South Africa harbors a diverse terrestrial snail fauna, but the alpha taxonomic diversity is poorly understood. DNA barcoding analysis reveals potential cryptic diversity among several terrestrial gastropod genera, highlighting the need for further taxonomic revision studies.
INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Ligia R. Benavides, Savel R. Daniels, Gonzalo Giribet
Summary: The study used phylotranscriptomics and deep Sanger sequencing to better understand the relationships, divergence times, and species ranges of the arachnid order Ricinulei. Results support the monophyly of the three recognized genera and further division into two or three deep clades, shedding light on their evolutionary history and biogeography.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Savel R. Daniels, Aaron Barnes, Hannes Marais, Gavin Gouws
Summary: Sampling of remote inland aquatic habitats in South Africa has led to the discovery and description of two new endemic freshwater crab species. Phylogenetic evidence derived from DNA sequence data and morphological and ecological data confirm the evolutionary distinction of the two novel species, suggesting the presence of more undiscovered species in remote mountainous areas of South Africa.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TAXONOMY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Aaron Barnes, Savel R. Daniels
Summary: In this study, two new species of Opisthopatus velvet worms from South Africa were described. The use of DNA sequence data revealed that the species diversity in Opisthopatus had been underestimated. The discovery of new species suggests the presence of unexplored biodiversity in South Africa.
INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Theo Busschau, Adriaan Jordaan, Werner Conradie, Savel R. Daniels
Summary: Comparative phylogeographic studies are lacking for southern African herpetofauna, despite their high diversity. This study statistically compared phylogeographic structure and divergence-time estimates among five co-distributed forest-living herpetofaunal taxa and identified congruent drivers of phylogeographic diversity.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Neil Cumberlidge Fls, Savel R. Daniels
Summary: This study revises the taxonomy of Afrotropical freshwater crabs and provides an updated understanding of their phylogenetic relationships. The large-scale sampling and molecular techniques used in this research help improve the classification system and provide valuable information for species identification and distribution.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Pierre A. Mvogo Ndongo, Salieu K. Sankoh, Paul F. Clark, Thomas von Rintelen, Christian Albrecht, Neil Cumberlidge
Summary: The current status of two Sierra Leone Afrithelphusa freshwater crabs is unknown, with one species considered possibly extinct and the other not reported for a long time. Fresh material from both species was collected in 2021, providing detailed information on their habitats.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Neil Cumberlidge, Julia B. Soma, Ellen M. Leever, Paul F. Clark, Savel R. Daniels
Summary: A new genus of freshwater crab, Crosnautesn. gen., and two species, C. ranomafanan. sp. and C. alainusn. sp., have been described from forested highlands in southeastern Madagascar. The new genus and species can be distinguished from other Malagasy genera based on phylogenetic and morphological characteristics.
JOURNAL OF CRUSTACEAN BIOLOGY
(2021)
