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The Oswaldoi-konderi Complex (Anopheles, Nyssorhynchus) is composed of five species that have been distinguished and delimited using DNA sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear genes. At least two species of the complex have been formally described, namely Anopheles oswaldoi s.s. and An. konderi; however, the identity of An. konderi s.s. is unclear because two morphologically similar species co-exist in the type-locality in the municipality of Coari, Amazonas state, Brazil. Moreover, the study of resurrection and designation of the neotype of An. konderi s.s. included a mixture of both forms. In the present study, mosquitoes were collected in Coari to establish the molecular identity of An. konderi s.s. and describe a new species based on morphological and molecular data. Six females were collected and separated individually for oviposition. The parental progenies were obtained from field collected females, fourth-instar larva, pupa, and female and male were employed for morphological characterization. Genomic DNA from one fourth-instar larva of each progeny was extracted and sequenced for the mtDNA COI barcode region, CAD gene, and the ITS2 rDNA nuclear region to establish the molecular identity of the two morphological forms of An. konderi s.l. The An. konderi neotype was re-examined. The morphological and molecular analyses revealed two distinct groups: the first group was identical to the neotype of An. konderi s.s., whereas the second was found to belong to the group informally referred to as An. sp. near konderi or An. konderi B, herein described as Anopheles tadei n. sp.

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Anisakid nematodes have a worldwide distribution and are associated with fishes, birds, and marine mammals from freshwater, brackish, and marine systems. The aims of this work are to report for the first time Contracaecum mirounga parasitizing the Magellanic penguin Spheniscus magellanicus, to report another Contracaecum species in the same host species, and to discuss the validity of Contracaeceum spheniscus. Several dead chicks, juveniles, and adults of S. magellanicus were collected along the Argentinean coast from 2002 to 2009. Nematodes were removed from digestive tracts and studied using both light and scanning electron microscopy. Nematode prevalences were 2.38% for C. mirounga and 12.5% for Contracaecum sp. Contracaecum mirounga was found in 1 penguin from Península Valdés, Chubut. This species is known as a specific parasite of marine mammals such as Pinnipedia, thereby suggesting that this nematode is not as specific as believed. Another species of Contracaecum sp. was found parasitizing 1 penguin from the Río de la Plata coast. It possessed an unusual interlabial morphology and arrangement of male caudal papillae. Despite the low prevalence, the distinct morphological features are convincing and support the presence of a new Contracaecum species. However, a formal description is not presented because sufficient male specimens are lacking. Finally, C. spheniscus is considered a junior synonym of Contracaecum pelagicum. Future molecular studies might be helpful to determine the real diversity of Contracaecum species parasitizing S. magellanicus considering the number of sibling species recognized among the anisakids.

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The Lutzomyia subgenus (Diptera: Psychodidae) includes sibling species with morphologically indistinguishable females. The aims of this study were to analyse variations in the size and shape of wings of species within the Lutzomyia subgenus and to assess whether these analyses might be useful in their identification. Wings (n = 733) of 18 species deposited in Brazilian collections were analysed by geometric morphometrics, using other genera and subgenera as outgroups. Shape variation was summarized in multivariate analyses and differences in wing size among species were tested by analysis of variance. The results showed significant variation in the sizes and shapes of wings of different Lutzomyia species. Two clusters within the Lutzomyia subgenus were distinguished in analyses of both males and females. In Cluster 1 (Lutzomyia ischnacantha, Lutzomyia cavernicola, Lutzomyia almerioi, Lutzomyia forattinii, Lutzomyia renei and Lutzomyia battistinii), scores for correct reclassification were high (females, kappa = 0.91; males, kappa = 0.90), whereas in Cluster 2 (Lutzomyia alencari, Lutzomyia ischyracantha, Lutzomyia cruzi, Lutzomyia longipalpis, Lutzomyia gaminarai and Lutzomyia lichyi), scores for correct reclassification were low (females, kappa = 0.42; males, kappa = 0.48). Wing geometry was useful in the identification of some species of the Lutzomyia subgenus, but did not allow the identification of sibling species such as L. longipalpis and L. cruzi.

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We describe and name Phyllomedusa chaparroi sp. nov., a medium-sized species (snout-vent length in adult males 67.9-77.5 mm) of monkey frog from Amazonian rainforests of northern Peru. Although morphologically most similar to P. boliviana and P. camba (indistinguishable from the latter in external qualitative and quantitative traits), phylogenetic analysis of combined mitochondrial and nuclear markers place the new species sister to a clade containing P. neildi, P. tarsius, and P. trinitatis. Phyllomedusa chaparroi can be readily differentiated from these species by having a dark reddish-brown iris with indistinct tiny orange spots versus an orange iris with marked dark reticulation found in P. neildi, P. tarsius, and P. trinitatis. Furthermore, genetic distances for a 532 bp sequence of the 16S gene between the new species and its sister species are 2.8-4.1 %, whereas distances are 4.5-5.5 % to the morphologically cryptic P. camba. We briefly discuss the importance of DNA sequences in revealing morphologically cryptic species and modify the content of the P. tarsius species group based on phylogenetic analyses and observations on iris coloration.

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In most freshwater ecosystems, aquatic insects are dominant in terms of diversity; however, there is a disproportionately low number of records of alien species when compared to other freshwater organisms. The Chironomidae is one aquatic insect family that includes some examples of alien species around the world. During a study on aquatic insects in Amazonas state (Brazil), we collected specimens of Chironomidae that are similar, at the morphological level, to Chironomuskiiensis Tokunaga and Chironomusstriatipennis Kieffer, both with distributions restricted to Asia. The objectives of this study were to provide morphological information on this Chironomus population, to investigate its identity using DNA barcoding and, to provide bionomic information about this species. Chironomus DNA barcode data were obtained from GenBank and Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) and, together with our data, were analyzed using the neighbor-joining method with 1000 bootstrap replicates and the genetic distances were estimated using the Kimura-2-parameter. At the morphological level, the Brazilian population cannot be distinguished either from Chironomusstriatipennis or Chironomuskiiensis, configuring a species complex but, at the molecular level our studied population is placed in a clade together with Chironomusstriatipennis, from South Korea. Bionomic characteristics of the Brazilian Chironomus population differ from the ones of Chironomuskiiensis from Japan, the only species in this species complex with bionomic information available. The Brazilian Chironomus population has a smaller size, the double of the number of eggs and inhabits oligotrophic water, in artificial container. In the molecular analysis, populations of Chironomusstriatipennis and Chironomuskiiensis are placed in a clade, formed by two groups: Group A (which includes populations from both named species, from different Asiatic regions and our Brazilian population) and Group B (with populations of Chironomuskiiensis from Japan and South Korea). Genetic distance between the Brazilian population and specimens in Group A suggests that it was recently introduced in Brazil, and that its country of origin is probably South Korea.

RESUMO

The genus Lepidochitona (Gray 1821) contains relatively small chitons with a distinctive girdle, dorsally clothed with non-overlapping calcareous corpuscles. In the Caribbean, it is represented by four species: L. liozonis (Dall, & Simpson, 1901), L. rosea Kaas, 1972, L. rufoi García-Ríos, 2010 and L. bullocki García-Ríos, 2011. A rutinary morphological inspection of 10 specimens of a Lepidochitona species from the Florida Keys was concordant with L. liozonis (the only species of the genus informed for Florida). They did not show many morphological differences that could justify its separation from the specimens from Puerto Rico (the type locality). However, the comparison of sequences of the mitochondrial gene coding for cytochrome oxidase I (COI) of L. liozonis from Puerto Rico and the Florida specimens showed a divergence of 14%. This divergence is incompatible with a reproductively connected species. In addition to their genetic differences, the new species differs from L. liozonis in having bigger size, longer marginal spicules and a postmucronal slope very concave. Rev. Biol. Trop. 63 (2): 369-384. Epub 2015 June 01.

El género Lepidochitona (Gray, 1821) agrupa a quitones relativamente pequeños con un cinturón distintivo, por estar cubierto dorsalmente por corpúsculos calcáreos no solapados. Esta representado en el Caribe por cuatro especies: L. liozonis (Dall, & Simpson, 1901), L. rosea Kaas, 1972, L. rufoi García-Ríos, 2010 y L. bullocki García-Ríos, 2011. La inspección de una muestra de ejemplares de los cayos de la Florida permite distinguir ejemplares de lepidoquitones que podrían clasificarse como L. liozonis (la única especie del género informada para la Florida) por no presentar grandes diferencias morfológicas que justifiquen su separación de los de Puerto Rico (localidad del tipo). Sin embargo, la comparación de secuencias del gen mitocondrial que codifica para el citocromo oxidasa I (COI) de los ejemplares de la Florida con ejemplares de L. liozonis de Puerto Rico evidencia una divergencia de 14%. Esta divergencia es incompatible con especies reproductivamente conectadas. Además de sus diferencias genéticas, la nueva especie se puede distinguir de su especie gemela por ser de mayor tamaño, tener espículas marginales más largas y una pendiente posmucronal muy cóncava.

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The closure of the Isthmus of Panama (about 3.1 million years ago) separated previously continuous populations and created two groups of extant species, which live now in the Pacific and Atlantic drainage systems. This relatively recent event was a trigger to diversification of various species in the Neotropics, nonetheless there are exemplars that do not show sufficient morphologic variability to separate them by traditional morphological tools. About 60 years ago, some freshwater decapod species with high morphological similarity were separate by previous researchers, based on geographical distribution, in Pacific and Atlantic and considered as "sister species". However, the complete isolation of these prawns by this geographical barrier is questionable, and it has generated doubts about the status of the following transisthmian pairs of sibling species: Macrobrachiumoccidentale × Macrobrachiumheterochirus, Macrobrachiumamericanum × Macrobrachiumcarcinus, Macrobrachiumdigueti × Macrobrachiumolfersii, Macrobrachiumhancocki × Macrobrachiumcrenulatum, Macrobrachiumtenellum × Macrobrachiumacanthurus and Macrobrachiumpanamense × Macrobrachiumamazonicum. Here we evaluated the relation among these pairs of sibling species in a molecular phylogenetic context. We generated 95 new sequences: 26 sequences of 16S rDNA, 25 of COI mtDNA and 44 of 18S nDNA. In total, 181 sequences were analyzed by maximum likelihood phylogenetic method, including 12 Macrobrachium transisthmian species, as well as seven other American Macrobrachium species, and two other palaemonids. Our analysis corroborated the morphological proximity of the sibling species. Despite the high degree of morphological similarities and considerable genetic diversification encountered among the transisthmian sister species, our data support the conclusion that all species included in sibling groups studied herein are valid taxonomic entities, but not all pairs of siblings form natural groups.

RESUMO

The study was undertaken in eight endemic districts of Orissa, India, to find the members of the species complexes of Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles fluviatilis and their distribution patterns. The study area included six forested districts (Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Nayagarh and Khurda) and two non-forested coastal districts (Puri and Jagatsingpur) studied over a period of two years (June 2007-May 2009). An. culicifacies A, B, C and D and An. fluviatilis S and T sibling species were reported. The prevalence of An. culicifacies A ranged from 4.2-8.41 percent, B from 54.96-76.92 percent, C from 23.08-33.62 percent and D from 1.85-5.94 percent (D was reported for the first time in Orissa, except for occurrences in the Khurda and Nayagarh districts). The anthropophilic indices (AI) were 3.2-4.8 percent, 0.5-1.7 percent, 0.7-1.37 percent and 0.91-1.35 percent for A, B, C and D, respectively, whereas the sporozoite rates (SR) were 0.49-0.54 percent, 0 percent, 0.28-0.37 percent and 0.41-0.46 percent for A, B, C and D, respectively. An. fluviatilis showed a similarly varied distribution pattern in which S was predominant (84.3 percent overall); its AI and SR values ranged from 60.7-90.4 percent and 1.2-2.32 percent, respectively. The study observed that the co-existence of potential vector sibling species of An. culicifacies (A, C and D) and An. fluviatilis S (> 50 percent) was responsible for the high endemicity of malaria in forested districts such as Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Angul, Ganjam, Nayagarh and Khurda (> 5 percent slide positivity rate). Thus, the epidemiological scenario for malaria is dependent on the distribution of the vector sibling species and their vectorial capacity.

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Monocelis lineata consists of a complex of sibling species, widespread in the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean. Previous genetic analysis placed in evidence at least four sibling species. Nevertheless, this research was not conclusive enough to fully resolve the complex or to infer the phylogeny/phylogeography of the group. We designed specific primers aiming at obtaining partial sequences of the mtDNA gene Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I (COI) of M. lineata, and have identified 25 different haplotypes in 32 analyzed individuals. The dendrogram generated by Neighbor-Joining analysis confirmed the differentiation between Atlantic and Mediterranean siblings, as well as the occurrence of at least two Mediterranean sibling species. Thus validated, the method here presented appears as a valuable tool in population genetics and biodiversity surveys on the Monocelis lineata complex.

RESUMO

Monocelis lineata consists of a complex of sibling species, widespread in the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean. Previous genetic analysis placed in evidence at least four sibling species. Nevertheless, this research was not conclusive enough to fully resolve the complex or to infer the phylogeny/phylogeography of the group. We designed specific primers aiming at obtaining partial sequences of the mtDNA gene Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I (COI) of M. lineata, and have identified 25 different haplotypes in 32 analyzed individuals. The dendrogram generated by Neighbor-Joining analysis confirmed the differentiation between Atlantic and Mediterranean siblings, as well as the occurrence of at least two Mediterranean sibling species. Thus validated, the method here presented appears as a valuable tool in population genetics and biodiversity surveys on the Monocelis lineata complex.

RESUMO

Morphometric variability among shrimp populations of the genus Palaemonetes Heller, 1869 from seven lakes (Huanayo and Urcococha, in Peru; Amanã, Mamirauá, Camaleão, Cristalino e Iruçanga, in Brasil) in the Amazon Basin, presumably belonging to Palaemonetes carteri Gordon, 1935 and Palaemonetes ivonicus Holthuis, 1950, were studied. The morphometric studies were carried out from the ratios obtained from the morphometric characters. Multivariated analysis (Principal Components Analysis-PCA, Discriminant Function Analysis and Cluster Analysis) were applied over the ratios. Intra- and interpopulation variations of the rostrum teeth, and the number of spines in the male appendix, were analyzed through descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis (Spearman Rank Correlation test). Results indicated a wide plasticity and overlapping in the studied ratios between populations. The Principal Components Analysis was not able to separate different populations, revealing a large intrapopulation plasticity and strong interpopulation similarity in the studied ratios. Although the Discriminant Functions Analysis was not able to fully discriminate populations, they could be allocated in three subgroups: 1) Cristalino and Iruçanga; 2) Huanayo, Urcococha and Camaleão and 3) Mamirauá and Amanã. The first two groups were morphometrically separated from each other, whereas the third one presented a strong overlap with the former two. The Cluster Analysis confirmed the first two subgroups separation, and indicated that the first and third groups were closely related. Rostrum teeth and number of spines in the appendix masculina showed a large intrapopulation variation and a strong overlapping among the studied populations, regardless of the species.

Foram estudadas as variações morfométricas entre sete populações de camarões do gênero Palaemonetes Heller, 1869 da bacia Amazonica (lago Huanayo e lago Urcococha, no Peru; lago Amanã, lago Mamirauá, lago Camaleão, lago Cristalino e lago Iruçanga, no Brasil), presumivelmente das espécies Palaemonetes carteri Gordon, 1935 e Palaemonetes ivonicus Holthuis, 1950. Os estudos morfométricos foram realizados a partir das razões obtidas dos caracteres morfométricos. Análise multivariada (análise de componentes principais, análise de função discriminante e análise de agrupamento hierárquico) foram aplicadas unicamente sobre as razões. Variações intra- e interpopulacionais do número de dentes de rostro, assim como do número de espinhos no apêndice masculino, foram analisadas mediante estatística descritiva e análise bivariada (teste de Spearman). Os resultados indicaram uma grande plasticidade e sobreposição nos caracteres diagnósticos entre as populações. A análise de componentes principais não conseguiu separar as diferentes populações, revelando uma grande plasticidade intrapopulacional e forte semelhança interpopulacional nas razões estudadas. Embora a análise de funções discriminantes não tenha logrado discriminar completamente as populações, estas ficaram alocadas em três subgrupos: 1) Cristalino e Iruçanga; 2) Huanayo, Urcococha e Camaleão e 3) Mamirauá e Amanã. Os primeiros dois grupos ficaram morfologicamente separados entre si, enquanto que o terceiro apresentou uma forte sobreposição com os dois anteriores. A análise de agrupamento hierárquico confirmou a separação dos primeiros dois subgrupos, e indicou que o primeiro e o terceiro grupos se encontram mais estreitamente relacionados. O número de dentes de rostro e o número de espinhos do apêndice masculino apresentaram uma grande variação intrapopulacional e uma forte sobreposição entre as populações estudadas, independentemente da espécie.

RESUMO

Morphometric variability among shrimp populations of the genus Palaemonetes Heller, 1869 from seven lakes (Huanayo and Urcococha, in Peru; Amanã, Mamirauá, Camaleão, Cristalino e Iruçanga, in Brasil) in the Amazon Basin, presumably belonging to Palaemonetes carteri Gordon, 1935 and Palaemonetes ivonicus Holthuis, 1950, were studied. The morphometric studies were carried out from the ratios obtained from the morphometric characters. Multivariated analysis (Principal Components Analysis-PCA, Discriminant Function Analysis and Cluster Analysis) were applied over the ratios. Intra- and interpopulation variations of the rostrum teeth, and the number of spines in the male appendix, were analyzed through descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis (Spearman Rank Correlation test). Results indicated a wide plasticity and overlapping in the studied ratios between populations. The Principal Components Analysis was not able to separate different populations, revealing a large intrapopulation plasticity and strong interpopulation similarity in the studied ratios. Although the Discriminant Functions Analysis was not able to fully discriminate populations, they could be allocated in three subgroups: 1) Cristalino and Iruçanga; 2) Huanayo, Urcococha and Camaleão and 3) Mamirauá and Amanã. The first two groups were morphometrically separated from each other, whereas the third one presented a strong overlap with the former two. The Cluster Analysis confirmed the first two subgroups separation, and indicated that the first and third groups were closely related. Rostrum teeth and number of spines in the appendix masculina showed a large intrapopulation variation and a strong overlapping among the studied populations, regardless of the species.

Foram estudadas as variações morfométricas entre sete populações de camarões do gênero Palaemonetes Heller, 1869 da bacia Amazonica (lago Huanayo e lago Urcococha, no Peru; lago Amanã, lago Mamirauá, lago Camaleão, lago Cristalino e lago Iruçanga, no Brasil), presumivelmente das espécies Palaemonetes carteri Gordon, 1935 e Palaemonetes ivonicus Holthuis, 1950. Os estudos morfométricos foram realizados a partir das razões obtidas dos caracteres morfométricos. Análise multivariada (análise de componentes principais, análise de função discriminante e análise de agrupamento hierárquico) foram aplicadas unicamente sobre as razões. Variações intra- e interpopulacionais do número de dentes de rostro, assim como do número de espinhos no apêndice masculino, foram analisadas mediante estatística descritiva e análise bivariada (teste de Spearman). Os resultados indicaram uma grande plasticidade e sobreposição nos caracteres diagnósticos entre as populações. A análise de componentes principais não conseguiu separar as diferentes populações, revelando uma grande plasticidade intrapopulacional e forte semelhança interpopulacional nas razões estudadas. Embora a análise de funções discriminantes não tenha logrado discriminar completamente as populações, estas ficaram alocadas em três subgrupos: 1) Cristalino e Iruçanga; 2) Huanayo, Urcococha e Camaleão e 3) Mamirauá e Amanã. Os primeiros dois grupos ficaram morfologicamente separados entre si, enquanto que o terceiro apresentou uma forte sobreposição com os dois anteriores. A análise de agrupamento hierárquico confirmou a separação dos primeiros dois subgrupos, e indicou que o primeiro e o terceiro grupos se encontram mais estreitamente relacionados. O número de dentes de rostro e o número de espinhos do apêndice masculino apresentaram uma grande variação intrapopulacional e uma forte sobreposição entre as populações estudadas, independentemente da espécie.

RESUMO

Aplatophis zorro n. sp., the first known eastern Pacific species of this New World genus, is described from a shallow water trawl-caught specimen from the Golfo de San Miguel, Pacific Panama. It is similar to its only known congener, A. chauliodus from the tropical western Atlantic, but differs in its vertebral number, dentition, coloration, and other characters. Comments concerning the distribution of New World ophichthids are provided.

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