Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society最新文献

{"title":"Ancient polymorphism, secondary contact, taxonomic inflation or all of them together? Mito-nuclear discordance in the Angolan girdled lizard (Cordylidae: Cordylus), with the description of a new species from the central highlands","authors":"Javier Lobón-Rovira, Pedro Vaz Pinto, Chad Keates, Edward L Stanley","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf112","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf112","url":null,"abstract":"Species delimitation and the process of speciation are central themes in evolutionary biology and taxonomy. Modern molecular techniques have challenged the dogmatic assumption that speciation represents a simple bifurcating process, revealing complex evolutionary dynamics, such as incomplete lineage sorting and reticulated speciation. The diverse topography of Angola, which includes coastal savannahs and high-elevation grasslands, fosters intricate evolutionary processes across a broad range of faunal taxa. Recent studies on Angolan species, such as Cordylus or Afroedura lizards, have provided evidence for these complex patterns of diversification and introgression between populations from different regions. We investigate these processes by revisiting the Angolan Cordylus to gain a better understanding of their diversity, biogeographical patterns, and the evolutionary forces driving their speciation. To investigate this, we conducted a broad geographical survey and performed a detailed examination of molecular and morphological (both internal and external) data. Our results necessitate the description of a new species from the central highlands, Cordylus cultratus sp. nov., and have identified mito-nuclear discordance, which challenges the taxonomic stability of the Cordylus machadoi group. However, this inconsistency might be explained by incomplete lineage sorting, introgression, and/or taxonomic inflation, thus hindering any taxonomic actions within this group.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"195 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145089577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A new genus of amebelodonts from the Miocene of China and a re-examination of the phylogeny of the Amebelodontidae","authors":"Shi-Qi Wang, Chunxiao Li, Xiaoxiao Zhang, Yongtao Quan","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf116","url":null,"abstract":"Amebelodontidae, a group of proboscideans with distinctive shovel-like mandibular symphysis and tusks, have been the subject of contentious classification due to ambiguous morphological traits. We construct a comprehensive character matrix for longirostrine elephantiform species and conduct a cladistic analysis using the most-parsimonious approach. Our results strongly support the monophyly of Amebelodontidae but necessitate taxonomic revisions. Notably, we propose a new genus, Saegusaia, for Chinese specimens previously classified as Protanancus, which represent a more basal lineage than true Protanancus found in Africa and South Asia. We identify two monophyletic subfamilies within Amebelodontidae: Platybelodontinae and Amebelodontinae. Megabelodon and Eubelodon, traditionally considered aberrant gomphotheres lacking mandibular tusks, are now placed within the Amebelodontinae based on their cheek teeth similarity to other amebelodontines. Additionally, our re-evaluation suggests that Konobelodon britti may be a junior synonym of Torynobelodon campester, restricted to North America. Eurasian forms attributed to ‘Konobelodon’ are stem elephantoids rather than members of Amebelodontidae. These revised classifications enhance our understanding of ­Amebelodontidae and other longirostrine elephantiforms, highlighting their importance in the broader context of proboscidean evolution. They represent a critical stage in the diversification and adaptation of early elephants and their relatives.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"74 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145035263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Osteology of the appendicular skeleton of Macrocollum itaquii (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) sheds light on early dinosaur wrist evolution","authors":"André O Fonseca, Fabiula P Bem, Rodrigo T Müller","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf100","url":null,"abstract":"Known from exquisitely preserved specimens from early Norian beds of southern Brazil, Macrocollum itaquii is a crucial taxon for understanding sauropodomorph evolution. This species provides a glimpse at the transition between the earliest sauropodomorphs and the classic ‘prosauropods’. To date, the appendicular anatomy of this taxon has not been described in detail. Therefore, in this contribution we present a detailed description of its appendicular skeleton. As expected from its chronostratigraphic position, the limbs of M. itaquii exhibit a combination of plesiomorphic (e.g. absence of a radial fossa, ossified proximal carpals, iliac acetabular wall not fully open) and derived traits (e.g. metacarpal I inset into the carpus, sub-triangular preacetabular process, straight femur). Phylogenetic analyses support the classification of this taxon, along with two or three other Norian taxa, as members of Unaysauridae, an early radiation of plateosaurian sauropodomorphs. An articulated wrist offers rare insights into this region, confirming that sauropodomorphs (like other dinosaur groups) ancestrally possessed at least nine carpals. This finding enhances our understanding of carpal morphology and evolution within sauropodomorphs. Macrocollum itaquii reveals the presence of a unique third phalanx of manual digit V, raising questions about the confidence we can infer the phalangeal counts of the outermost digits.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145002938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular phylogeny, morphological diversity, and species’ distribution of cestodes of the genus Neoskrjabinolepis Spassky, 1947 (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) in the Palaearctic","authors":"Svetlana A Kornienko, Valeriy Stakheev, Sargis A Aghayan, Alexander A Kirillov, Nadezhda Y Kirillova, Dmitry S Kornienko, Nikolai Е Dokuchaev","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf081","url":null,"abstract":"Morphological and genetic diversity of species of the cestode genus Neoskrjabinolepis, which parasitise Sorex shrews and are widespread in the Palaearctic, was studied. A set of morphological characteristics is presented. Because the type material of Neoskrjabinolepis schaldybini has been lost, a neotype from the type host Sorex araneus and from a region close to the type locality (Altai Republic, Russia) was designated. Host specificity and the geographical distribution of Neoskrjabinolepis species were analysed. Of the 17 species of Neoskrjabinolepis, four species parasitise hosts in the European part of the Palaearctic, 16 in the Asian part and two in the Nearctic. Neoskrjabinolepis cestodes in 16 species of Sorex have been recorded to date. High endemism (40%) and euryxeny of Neoskrjabinolepis were observed. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequences of the 28S rRNA gene and of the mitochondrial nad1 gene revealed significant genetic diversity of Neoskrjabinolepis species. The level of interspecific divergence was established at 0.2–1.7% for the 28S rRNA gene and 4.4–19.4% for the nad1 gene. The molecular data showed some genetic lineages that may represent separate species. Complicated genetic structure of N. schaldybini and N. merkushevae, primarily in the Caucasus, was demonstrated, suggesting that these species are composite taxa.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144928016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Description of three new species of Zenometridae (Echinodermata, Crinoidea, Comatulida), with new insights on species and genus delimitation","authors":"Jingwen Mao, Ruiyan Zhang, Marc Eléaume, Yadong Zhou, Dongsheng Zhang, Shao’e Sun, Zhongli Sha, Chunsheng Wang","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf089","url":null,"abstract":"Zenometridae A.H. Clark, 1909 is a family of Comatulida that co-habits with corals or sponges in the deep-sea. It comprises five species attributed to three genera, characterized by a cavernous centrodorsal cavity, a complete basal circlet with a large central lumen, and a concave fulcral bowl of the cirrus sockets. This study reveals a high cryptic diversity of the family, with three new species (Sarametra varians sp. nov., Sarametra subtilis sp. nov., and Sarametra acuta sp. nov.), two undescribed species, and a novel clade from the Pacific Ocean. The new species demonstrate limited intra-specific COI genetic divergence (< 0.4%), yet showing a spectrum of morphological variations that used to be considered as intergeneric differences. A review of characters is carried out based on the new specimens and type specimens of the five known species. COI, 16S, and 28S genes are used for phylogenetic reconstruction, providing the first molecular phylogenetic tree of the family. Genera Psathyrometra and Sarametra are monophyletic with robust supports. A novel clade, Zenometridae gen. et sp. indet., is retrieved as sister to the Sarametra clade. The integration of molecular and morphological data has led to a revision of the generic diagnosis, offering a better understanding of the taxonomy and evolutionary relationships of the family.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"71 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144900496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Osteology and ontogeny of the Permian dicynodont Rastodon procurvidens (Synapsida, Therapsida) based on micro-CT scanning and its phylogenetic and biogeographical implications","authors":"João L da Silva, Voltaire D P Neto, Christian F Kammerer, Julia L R de Souza, Bruno A Bulak, Marina B Soares, Tiago R Simões, Felipe L Pinheiro","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf083","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf083","url":null,"abstract":"Dicynodonts were a globally distributed group of herbivorous synapsids that first appeared during the middle Permian (Guadalupian) and survived the Permian–Triassic Mass Extinction, until their extinction in the Late Triassic. Their fossil record in South America is almost entirely concentrated in the Triassic, with only two described Permian species. One of these, Rastodon procurvidens, was found in the Rio do Rasto Formation in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and represents one of the best-preserved Permian therapsids from South America. The phylogenetic position of Rastodon within dicynodonts remains debated, with competing hypotheses leading to radically different conclusions regarding the early biogeography of dicynodonts. In this study, we present a detailed description of both the cranial and postcranial skeleton of the R. procurvidens holotype using microcomputed tomography. Phylogenetic analyses under both maximum parsimony and Bayesian criteria support the placement of Rastodon within the emydopoid clade Kingoriidae. These findings provide the first evidence of Emydopoidea and Kingoriidae in South America and underscore the limited knowledge of dicynodonts during the Guadalupian, particularly outside southern Africa. Furthermore, they suggest an earlier origin of Kingoriidae and the possibility that the group originated in west rather than east Gondwana.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144900497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The endless forms are the most differentiated—how taxonomic pseudo-optimization masked natural diversity and evolution: the nudibranch case","authors":"Tatiana Korshunova, Karin Fletcher, Alexander Martynov","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf057","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, a global-encompassing, fine-scale differentiated taxonomy is consistently presented from the high level of a major nudibranch suborder, Aeolidacea, and then consequentially to lower levels of superfamilies, families, genera, and species to conjoin the underlying evolutionary pathways of aeolidacean nudibranchs and systematic representation to a maximal degree. The suborder Aeolidacea is reinstated and the superfamily system of Aeolidacea is reformed; 10 aeolidacean superfamilies are recognized encompassing 29 families in an all-family Synopsis, and the superfamily Embletonioidea is included in addition. Two new families, Chudidae fam. nov. and Hantazuidae fam. nov., are described, which show unique morphological and molecular patterns. Seven new species are described within various superfamilies, and five species are reinstated. The genus-level taxonomy of the family Coryphellidae is revisited, 11 genera are recognized, including nine reinstated and two new genera. We show that recent synonymization of all valid Coryphellidae genera into just a single genus was based on an erroneous phylogenetic analysis, the careless treatment of morphological characters, and established preconceptions. Uniting fine-scale morphological and molecular data, order-level nudibranch taxonomy is refined, order Nudibranchia is restricted, and order Doridida is reinstated. Within the order Nudibranchia, five suborders are recognized: Arminacea, restricted, reinstated; Tritoniacea, reinstated; Dendronotacea, restricted, reinstated; Janolacea, reinstated; and Aeolidacea, revised, reinstated.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144900502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Host associations, host switching, geographic location, and potential reticulate evolution shape the systematics of sucking lice (Psocodea: Anoplura) belonging to the genera Hoplopleura and Polyplax","authors":"Conrad A Matthee, Nina Du Toit-Heunis, Sonja Matthee, Lance A Durden, Jessica E Light","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf095","url":null,"abstract":"Sucking lice (Psocodea: Anoplura) represent a species-rich parasite group that shares an intimate evolutionary relationship with their mammalian hosts. Two anopluran genera, Polyplax and Hoplopleura, primarily parasitize rodents and the taxonomy of these lice is mainly based on morphological characters with some inferences derived from host associations. To shed more light on the systematics and the evolutionary mechanisms that gave rise to Polyplax and Hoplopleura species diversity, data derived from the 16S rRNA, COI, 18S rRNA, and EF-1α genes were used to generate a phylogeny for 105 individuals representing ∼56 morphologically identified species. Concatenated data analyses found significant nodal support for five higher level monophyletic Clades among Hoplopleura and four higher level Clades and 15 subclades among Polyplax species. The monophyly of neither Polyplax nor Hoplopleura was supported and topological conflict among individual gene trees resulted in a non-tested hypothesis that ancestral hybridization and/or independent lineage sorting may have shaped the evolution of some Polyplax species. Several species complexes or cryptic divergences were detected specifically within the hoplopleurid species Hoplopleura acanthopus, Hoplopleura arizonensis, Hoplopleura hesperomydis, Hoplopleura oryzomydis, Hoplopleura pacifica, and Hoplopleura sciuricola, and the polyplacid species Polyplax arvicanthis, Polyplax auricularis, Polyplax biseriata, Polyplax myotomydis, Polyplax otomydis, Polyplax reclinata, and Polyplax spinulosa. Four morphological and genetically distinct taxa were sampled from Gerbillinae or Deomyinae and these probably represent new species. The taxonomy of Polyplax and Hoplopleura needs a thorough revision, and the species diversity of these lice can be attributed to an interplay between host associations, host switching and geographic locations of host species.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144850401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Temporal genomic change in the Scandinavian Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)","authors":"Johanna von Seth, Petter Larsson, Malin Hasselgren, Nicolas Dussex, Liliana Farelo, Johan Wallén, Verena E Kutschera, Nina E Eide, Arild Landa, Anders Angerbjörn, Øystein Flagstad, José Melo-Ferreira, Karin Norén, Love Dalén","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf078","url":null,"abstract":"Demographic declines have important consequences for population viability, since they can lead to losses in genome diversity, as well as increased inbreeding and expression of deleterious mutations. Scandinavia was colonized by the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) at the Pleistocene/Holocene transition, and the population has since been on the periphery of the global distribution. The Scandinavian population became even more fragmented in the early 1900s due to human persecution, and experienced an additional decline in the 1980s. We generated high-coverage genomes from pre-bottleneck, as well as modern Scandinavian and Russian specimens, and found that genome-wide diversity was lower and inbreeding higher in Scandinavia compared to the Siberian population, even prior to the historical bottleneck, most likely reflecting the long-term partial isolation and recent postglacial origin of the Scandinavian population. The southern subpopulation has the highest inbreeding levels, likely due to having been recently founded and highly isolated. Our results also show that although inbreeding increased substantially over the past century, the amount of total genetic load did not change. Overall, these findings illustrate the utility of a temporal approach to disentangle the genomic consequences of recent declines from ancient biogeographic processes.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"175 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144850435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Out of the darkness - a new genus of Paederinae from the Neotropics (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and its phylogenetic position","authors":"Katarzyna Koszela, Karen Bonilla Farinango, Dagmara Żyła","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf071","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf071","url":null,"abstract":"We describe a new genus of Paederinae rove beetles, Karillantu gen. nov., which occurs only in the Neotropics. The genus accommodates Lathrobium macrocephalum Sharp, 1876 as a type species Karillantu macrocephalus comb. nov., originally described more than 100 years ago. Intense surveys across museum collections allowed for describing eight new species: Karillantu amazonaensis sp. nov., Karillantu ecuadoriensis sp. nov., Karillantu lauretensis sp. nov., Karillantu napoensis sp. nov., Karillantu obidensis sp. nov., Karillantu paraensis sp. nov., Karillantu pastazaensis sp. nov., and Karillantu peruviensis sp. nov. We provide descriptions of the genus and species, a redescription of Karillantu macrocephalus comb. nov., an identification key, and a distribution map. To determine the sister-group relationships of Karillantu gen. nov., we conducted a phylogenetic analysis based on seven gene fragments, resulting in the largest Paederinae phylogeny up to date and a hypothesis about Karillantu gen. nov. placement. The analysis resolved the genus within the tribe Lathrobiini, nested in the informal clade of genera traditionally assigned to the subtribe Lathrobiina. We also provide information on the phylogenetic position of 17 newly sequenced taxa expanding our understanding of Paederinae relationships. The present research underscores the importance of museum collections in studying biodiversity of poorly-known groups, especially in the tropical regions.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144747502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}