[Botany • 2025] Arctostaphylos nipumu (Ericaceae) • Investigating a hybrid mixed population leads to recognizing A New Species of Arctostaphylos

 

Arctostaphylos nipumu  T.Abbo, M.A.Stickrod, A.Krohn, V.T.Parker, M.C.Vasey, W.Waycott & A.Litt., 

in Abbo, Stickrod, Krohn, Parker, Vasey, Waycott et Litt, 2025.  

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.251.139172

Abstract

While investigating the potential for Arctostaphylos species to hybridize in the mixed populations of Point Sal and Burton Mesa in Santa Barbara County, California, we discovered that Arctostaphylos from the Nipomo Mesa (San Luis Obispo County), formerly considered a northern population of A. rudis, are genetically and morphologically distinct. We name this new taxon A. nipumu after the ytt (Northern Chumash language) word for the Nipomo Mesa region. For morphological and molecular analyses, we sampled 54 plants, focusing on A. purissima, A. rudis, and A. crustacea from multiple species and comparative single species populations. Parametric and nonparametric clustering analyses (STRUCTURE and PCA) of ddRADseq data show that Arctostaphylos from the Nipomo Mesa segregate from all other samples in the dataset. In mixed populations A. purissima and A. crustacea samples cluster with samples from other unmixed populations of the same species but A. rudis samples form two distinct clusters. One is composed of the mixed populations in Santa Barbara County, and the other consists of the Nipomo Mesa population. Additionally, the Santa Barbara County A. rudis samples are admixed in STRUCTURE analysis unlike the samples from the Nipomo Mesa. A principal component analysis of eight morphological characters shows that A. rudis individuals from Santa Barbara County tend to be phenotypically variable, occurring in a wide morphological cluster that overlaps with the tight clusters formed by A. purissima, A. crustacea, and Arctostaphylos from the Nipomo Mesa. Based on this evidence we describe the Nipomo Mesapopulation as a new species of Arctostaphylos. Given its limited and fragmented distribution we believe that A. nipumu is of critical conservation concern.

Key words: Arctostaphylos, conservation, ddRADseq, Ericaceae, fragmented population, hybridization, new species, reproductive isolation

Line drawing of Arctostaphylos nipumu.
 Top right (mature main trunk): bark shredding; base lacking burl. Top left (fruiting branch): twigs and petioles with moderately to very dense, short, nonglandular hairs; leaves generally lanceolate to ovate; fruit depressed. Bottom Left (nascent inflorescences): nascent inflorescences short/compressed; bracts overlapping, ± scale-like. Bottom center (flowering branch): inflorescences short, ± same length as nascent inflorescences; flowers urn-shaped.

Diagnostic photographs of Arctostaphylos nipumu (Nipomo Mesa, San Luis Obispo County, CA) and A. rudis (Burton Mesa, Santa Barbara County, CA)
A A. nipumu in situ, maritime chaparral habitat B depressed fruit of A. nipumu C nascent inflorescence, with leaf-like bracts proximally grading to scale-like bracts distally D A. nipumu, lacking a burl at the base of the stem  F–H gray to reddish-gray, thinly shredding bark of A. nipumu
E A. rudis with a pronounced burl at the base of the stem I–K pronouncedly red to reddish-gray, coarsely and variably shredding bark of A. rudis.

 Arctostaphylos nipumu T.Abbo, M.A.Stickrod, A.Krohn, V.T.Parker, M.C.Vasey, W.Waycott & A.Litt., sp. nov.

Description: Shrub up to 2, 3 (5) m ht. and < 10 m width; often layering, rooting when branches contact soil; burl 0 but with branchlets sprouting infrequently on stems; bark (red tinged) gray and shredding, from large stems up to new growth; twigs and petioles with moderately to very dense, short, nonglandular hairs; leaves isofacial (with stomata on both surfaces), green, shiny, generally lanceolate to ovate (elliptic to rounded with mucronate tip); blade 1.4–3.2 cm length, 0.9–1.9 cm width; petiole 0.4–0.8 cm; inflorescence a raceme or few-branched panicle (generally < 5-branched), nascent and mature inflorescences of similar length and thickness, 0.5 to 1.1 cm, and ca. 1 mm; bracts ± scale-like, often grading to ± leaf-like proximally, generally green, photosynthetic in summer; flowers 5-merous, urn-shaped, white to pinkish-white; fruit a multi-seeded drupe, generally reddish-orange, depressed axially; mesocarp mealy; endocarp generally rough, fused or separating into a variable number of nutlets.

Etymology: Based on discussions with the yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini (Northern Chumash Tribe), we selected the name Arctostaphylos nipumu because nipumu is the ytt (Northern Chumash language) word for the Nipomo Mesa region. The word nipumu is literally translated to English as “of the big house”, so we treat the epithet nipumu as a noun in apposition; ergo, Arctostaphylos nipumu is translated as “Arctostaphylos of the big house”. We recommend that A. nipumu be referred to by the common name nipumu manzanita or Nipomo Mesa manzanita; the latter regional name, Nipomo Mesa, is more well known in current usage, but the word Nipomo is an inferior Spanish transliteration of the word nipumu.

 Tito Abbo, Morgan A. Stickrod, Alexander Krohn, V. Thomas Parker, Michael C. Vasey, William Waycott and Amy Litt. 2025. Investigating a hybrid mixed population leads to recognizing A New Species of Arctostaphylos (Ericaceae). PhytoKeys. 251: 119-142. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.251.139172

[Mammalogy • 2022] Is Malaysia’s “Mystery Monkey” A Hybrid between Nasalis larvatus and Trachypithecus cristatus? An Assessment of Photographs

“mystery monkey”  evidence for a possible hybridization event between Nasalis larvatus and Trachypithecus cristatus

in Lhota, Yap, Benedict, ... et Ruppert, 2022.

DOI: 10.1007/s10764-022-00293-z 

  facebook.com/MarkLouisBenedict 

Abstract

Interspecific hybridization in primates is common but hybridization between distantly related sympatric primate species is rarely observed in the wild. We present evidence for a possible hybridization event between Nasalis larvatus and Trachypithecus cristatus in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sabah, through assessment of photographs. We used a set of categorical characters and metric measurements to compare the putative hybrid with the likely parent species. Nonmetric comparison showed that this “mystery monkey” is intermediate in several characters. Measurements of limb proportions on photographs showed that the brachial, humerofemoral, and intermembral indexes are above 100 for N. larvatus and below 100 for T. cristatus on all photographs, whereas the crural index is higher than 100 in both species and the distributions of this index in the two species overlap. Brachial and intermembral indices of the putative hybrid were similar to those of N. larvatus. Crural and humerofemoral indices were closer to the values for T. cristatus than those of N. larvatus. Multiple observers confirmed the occurrence of mixed-species groups in the area, and interspecific mating has been photographed. The putative hybrid is now an adult female and was last photographed in September 2020 with an infant and swollen breast, suggesting lactation. We propose further noninvasive fecal sampling for genetic analyses to confirm the origins of this “mystery monkey.” This case of hybridization may be related to anthropogenic changes to the landscape, whereby expansion of oil palm plantations confines N. larvatus and T. obscurus to narrow riverine forest patches along the Kinabatangan. This observation therefore also may have conservation implications, indicating limited mate access and dispersal opportunities for these threatened primates.

 

Keywords: Hybrid, Hybridization, Colobines, Proboscis monkey, Silvery lutung, Silvery langur, Interspecies interactions, Sabah

A. Juvenile “mystery monkey” near Kampung Bilit, Kinabatangan, Sabah, groomed by adult female Trachypithecus cristatus (likely the mother) (photo by Ken Ching, June 19, 2017). B. Subadult “mystery monkey,” alone (photo by Ben Duncan Angkee, November 17, 2018). In this photo, the individual may appear younger, because the phone camera had an automatic softening filter activated.

C. Subadult “mystery monkey,” alone, feeding (photo by Bob Shaw, November 17, 2018). D. Subadult “mystery monkey” with juvenile T. cristatus (in color change phase), adult female T. cristatus, and another T. cristatus individual while grooming (photo by Ken Ching, November 22, 2018).

 E. Adult male Nasalis larvatus mating with adult female T. cristatus in the same area (photo by Jean-Jay Mao, September 10, 2017). F. Adult putative hybrid now clearly identifiable as female with swollen breasts, holding an infant, which appears to be her offspring (photo by Nicole Lee, September 7, 2020)

Stanislav Lhota, Jo Leen Yap, Mark Louis Benedict, Ken Ching, Bob Shaw, Ben Duncan Angkee, Nicole Lee, Vendon Lee, Jean-Jay Mao and Nadine Ruppert. 2022. Is Malaysia’s “Mystery Monkey” A Hybrid between Nasalis larvatus and Trachypithecus cristatus? An Assessment of Photographs. International Journal of Primatology. DOI: 10.1007/s10764-022-00293-z

facebook.com/MarkLouisBenedict/posts/10227273555413697

 

[Botany • 2021] Spiranthes bightensis (Orchidaceae) • A New and Rare Cryptic Hybrid Species Endemic to the U. S. Mid-Atlantic Coast

 

Spiranthes bightensis M.C. Pace

in Pace, 2021. 

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.498.3.2  

Atlantic Ladies Tresses || facebook.com/425278 

Abstract

Recognizing species diversity is challenging in genera that display interspecific similarity and intraspecific variation; hybridization and the evolution of cryptic hybrid species amplifies these challenges. Recent molecular and morphological research focused on the systematics of Spiranthes (Orchidaceae) support hybrid speciation as an important driver of species diversity, particularly within the S. cernua species complex. Working under an integrated history-bound phylogenetic species concept, new molecular and morphometric data provide evidence for a new and rare cryptic hybrid species resulting from the ancient hybridization of S. cernua × S. odorata, here described as Spiranthes bightensis. Although S. bightensis is regionally sympatric with S. cernua it does not co-occur with that species, and it is allopatric with respect to S. odorata. Endemic to a narrow region extending from the Delmarva Peninsula to Long Island, New York, this new species occurs in the shadow of the Northeast megalopolis and appears to have undergone a major population decline over the last 200 years. By recognizing this distinct evolutionary lineage as a new species, this research is the first step towards developing conservation protocols for this rare species and highlights the importance of the North American Geologic Coastal Plain for biodiversity conservation and evolution.

Keywords: evolutionary phylogenetics, North American Geologic Coastal Plain, Northeast megalopolis, Spiranthes cernua, Spiranthes odorata, species complex, Monocots

Line drawing of Spiranthes bightensis M.C. Pace.
A. Habit and leaf detail. B. Inflorescence. C. Inflorescence detail. D. Floral bract and flower. E–M. Dissected flower. E. Dorsal sepal. F. Dorsal petal. G. Lateral sepal. H. Labellum, flattened. I. Labellum and column in natural position. J. Column, profile view. K. Column, ventral and dorsal view. L. Anther. M. Pollinia.

Drawn from Austin s.n. barcode 01392822 (NY) and Pace 608 (NY) by Bobbi Angell.

Spiranthes bightensis M.C. Pace, sp. nov. 

[ancient S. cernua × S. odorata].

—Type: U. S. A. Maryland: Worcester County, Bainbridge Park pond, Ocean Pines, off of Beaconhill Rd., ca. 3.5 km west of Isle of Wight Bay, 23 October 2013, 

Pace 608 (holotype: NY, isotypes: K, US).

Diagnosis. Spiranthes bightensis is most similar to S. cernua, from which it can be distinguished by its stoloniferous roots (vs. non-stoloniferous), typically longer and wider, more lanceolate leaves (vs. linear-lanceolate, 15–21.4 × 1.4–1.7 cm vs. 8.7–20 × 0.4–1.1 cm, Fig. 3, 4, Table 1) commonly fragrant flowers (vs. typically lacking fragrance), and slightly thickened central labellum (vs. centrally membranous). Spiranthes bightensis can be distinguished from S. odorata by its truncate column to rostellum transition zone, vs. lanceolate, and shorter and narrower leaves (15.0–21.4 × 1.4–1.7 cm vs. 13–51.7 × 1.8–2.7 cm).

...

Etymology:— From the Old English / Anglo-Saxon ‘byht’, meaning bend or bay, a bight is a shallowly curved coastline or extremely wide bay; its use here refers to the Mid-Atlantic and New York Bights, which stretches from the Nantucket Shoals off southern New England southward to Cape Lookout, North Carolina. Spiranthes bightensis is endemic to the central region of this bight. Atlantic Ladies Tresses is the suggested common name. 

Distribution map of Spiranthes bightensis, highlighting population loss over time.
A. Collections made pre-1890’s–present (the hypothesized original distribution of S. bightensis). B. 1900–present. C. 1950–present. D. 2000–present.

Prepared by Elizabeth Gjieli, NYBG GIS Lab.

Matthew C. Pace. 2021. Spiranthes bightensis (Orchidaceae), A New and Rare Cryptic Hybrid Species Endemic to the U. S. Mid-Atlantic Coast. Phytotaxa. 498(3); 159–176. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.498.3.2

   facebook.com/425278/posts/10107318257120865

    

[Botany • 2021] Saxifraga × klimesii (Saxifragaceae) • A New Natural Hybrid in Saxifraga sect. Porphyrion Tausch from Himalaya

Saxifraga ×klimesii Hajman, Horák & Hroneš

in Horák, Hajman, Hroneš & Pavelka, 2021.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.498.1.3

 twitter.com/ThismiaGuy 

Abstract

A new natural hybrid Saxifraga ×klimesii Hajman, Horák & Hroneš from Ladakh (NW India) is described and illustrated. This hybrid resulted from cross between Saxifraga meeboldii Engler & Irmscher and Saxifraga pulvinaria Harry Smith. The morphology of the hybrid plants and its parental taxa was evaluated using morphometric analysis of both living plants and herbarium specimens. An artificial cross was also made to compare its morphology with spontaneous hybrids. Ploidy level and relative genome size was established using flow cytometry. Saxifraga ×klimesii is intermediate in morphology and relative genome size between both parents. It differs from S. meeboldii by shorter and wider rosette leaves and lighter yellow, larger and wider petals and from S. pulvinaria by larger rosettes, often more than one pore on leaves and usually yellow coloured petals. A lectotype is selected for S. pulvinaria.

Keywords: Alpine flora, hybridisation, Ladakh, taxonomy, typification, Saxifraga

Saxifraga ×klimesii Hajman, Horák & Hroneš

 

David Horák, Martin Hajman, Michal Hroneš and Mojmír Pavelka. 2021. A New Natural Hybrid in Saxifraga sect. Porphyrion Tausch (Saxifragaceae). Phytotaxa. 498(1); 25–34. DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.498.1.3

Its parents are Saxifraga meeboldii and Saxifraga pulvinaria. It occurs in Ladakh, Himalaya and it is named in honor of czech botanist Leoš Klimeš who was probably its first observer.

 twitter.com/ThismiaGuy/status/1385528055444221952

[Botany • 2019] Natural Hybridization – Recombination – An ever-ongoing Process

Figure 5. Spathe limbs of the Cryptocoryne crispatula Engl. complex. – A. C. crispatula var. yunnanensis (H.Li) H.Li & N.Jacobsen, Ban Phon Gun Nam Ken, central Laos; B. C. crispatula var. crispatula (albida like), Nam Cheng, central Laos;  M. C. crispatula var. flaccidifolia N.Jacobsen, Khao Sok River, PEN Thailand;  Q. C. albida (crispatula like), 3 Pagoda Pass, SW Thailand.  Scale 2 cm.
Figure 1. Cryptocoryne albida Parker on a sandbank and C. crispatula Engl. var. flaccidifolia N.Jacobsen submerged in the river; Khao Sok River, S Thailand.

in Jacobsen & Ørgaard, 2019. 

  DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2019.47.1.05

ABSTRACT

Exemplified by studies of the SE Asian genus Cryptocoryne (Araceae) we provide evidence that: 1) interspecific hybridization is an everongoing process, and introgression and gene exchange takes place whenever physically possible throughout the region; 2) artificial hybridization experiments confirm that wide crosses are possible in a large number of cases; 3) rivers and streams provide numerous, diverse habitats for Cryptocoryne diaspores to settle in; 4) the changes in habitats caused by recurrent glaciations resulting in numerous splitting and merging of populations facilitates hybridization and segregation of subsequent generations; 5) hybridization is a major driving element in speciation; 6) populations are the units and stepping stones in evolution – not the species.

KEYWORDS:  Araceae, Chromosome numbers, Cryptocoryne, hybridization, evolution

Figure 3. Spathe limbs of different Cryptocoryne species.
 A. C. usteriana Engl., Philippines; B. C. nevillii Hook.f., Sri Lanka; C. C. walkeri Schott, Sri Lanka;  D. C. matakensis Bastm. et al., Anambas Islands; E. C. bangkaensis Bastm., South Sumatera Province and the Islands Bangka and Belitung; F. C. alba De Wit, Sri Lanka; G. C. griffithii Schott, southern Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Riau Islands and southern Central Kalimantan; H. C. idei Budianto, Central Kalimantan. Scale bar 2 cm.

Figure 5. Spathe limbs of the Cryptocoryne crispatula Engl. complex. – A. C. crispatula var. yunnanensis (H.Li) H.Li & N.Jacobsen, Ban Phon Gun Nam Ken, central Laos; B. C. crispatula var. crispatula (albida like), Nam Cheng, central Laos;  M. C. crispatula var. flaccidifolia N.Jacobsen, Khao Sok River, PEN Thailand;  Q. C. albida (crispatula like), 3 Pagoda Pass, SW Thailand.  Scale 2 cm.
Figure 1. Cryptocoryne albida Parker on a sandbank and C. crispatula Engl. var. flaccidifolia N.Jacobsen submerged in the river; Khao Sok River, S Thailand.

Niels Jacobsen and Marian Ørgaard. 2019. Natural Hybridization – Recombination – An ever-ongoing Process. Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany). 47(1); 19-28.  DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2019.47.1.05

[Entomology • 2019] In Search of the Real Pseudomallada prasinus (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae)

 Pseudomallada prasinus (Burmeister, 1839)

in Duelli & Obrist, 2019. 

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4571.4.4

 Abstract

Three sympatric morphs of Pseudomallada prasinus (Burmeister, 1839) were hybridized in search of reproductively separated species. In addition, 26 morphological and biological traits were recorded for living and preserved specimens of the three morphotypes.

Cross-breeding experiments showed that the prasinoid morph “marianus” is a different species from either the “greenhead” or “sulfurhead” morphs. All three are morphologically and biologically distinct. “Greenhead” and “sulfurhead” are small to medium sized and deposit eggs singly, without obligatory diapause in the second instar. In most specimens of these two smaller “prasinus” morphs there is a red or brown suture below the antennae, which can fade with age or preservation. P. “marianus” is a large species, depositing bundled eggs, with an obligatory diapause in about half of the L2. In none of the collected or reared P. “marianus” was a red or brown suture below the eyes observed. The forewing sizes of the type specimens of Chrysopa prasina Burmeister, 1839, C. coerulea Brauer, 1851, and C. marianus Navás, 1915 differ significantly from those of C. aspersa Wesmael, 1841 and other, later synonymized type specimens such as C. sachalinensis Matsumura, 1911, C. burri Navás, 1914, C. caucasica Navás, 1914, or C. vernalis Navás, 1926. This strongly suggests that the “marianus” morph is the real P. prasinus and the “greenhead” and “sulfurhead” morphs correspond to P. aspersus or one of the later synonymized species with smaller wing size.

Pseudomallada marianus (Navás, 1905) is confirmed as a synonym of P. prasinus, depositing bundled eggs, whereas smaller prasinoid morphs, depositing single eggs, are not P. prasinus—and are morphologically distinct from P. abdominalis (Brauer, 1856). Pseudomallada aspersus (Wesmael, 1841) is a valid species, but at this point it is not possible to assign it to one of the prasinoid morphs because most of the live color traits are not discernible in old type specimens. A diagnostic description of the “real” P. prasinus can separate almost all P. prasinus specimens, even in museum collections, from P. aspersus (likely to be the “greenhead” morph) and the Mediterranean “sulfurhead”.

 Keywords: Neuroptera, species delineation, crossing experiment, reproductive isolation, hybridization, morphotype, lacewings, Chrysopa aspersa, Chrysopa mariana

Pseudomallada prasinus (Burmeister, 1839)

Peter Duelli and Martin K. Obrist. 2019.  In Search of the Real Pseudomallada prasinus (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae).  Zootaxa.  4571(4);  510–530.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4571.4.4

[Mammalogy • 2019] Taxonomic Status of the Australian Dingo: the Case for Canis dingo Meyer, 1793

Canis dingo Meyer, 1793

An example of a typical dingo phenotype. Photograph depicts a male from K’gari-Fraser Island (Queensland) by John Williams. 

in Smith, Cairns, Adams, et al., 2019.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4564.1.6

Abstract 

The taxonomic status and systematic nomenclature of the Australian dingo remain contentious, resulting in decades of inconsistent applications in the scientific literature and in policy. Prompted by a recent publication calling for dingoes to be considered taxonomically as domestic dogs (Jackson et al. 2017, Zootaxa 4317, 201-224), we review the issues of the taxonomy applied to canids, and summarise the main differences between dingoes and other canids. We conclude that (1) the Australian dingo is a geographically isolated (allopatric) species from all other Canis, and is genetically, phenotypically, ecologically, and behaviourally distinct; and (2) the dingo appears largely devoid of many of the signs of domestication, including surviving largely as a wild animal in Australia for millennia. The case of defining dingo taxonomy provides a quintessential example of the disagreements between species concepts (e.g., biological, phylogenetic, ecological, morphological). Applying the biological species concept sensu stricto to the dingo as suggested by Jackson et al. (2017) and consistently across the Canidae would lead to an aggregation of all Canis populations, implying for example that dogs and wolves are the same species. Such an aggregation would have substantial implications for taxonomic clarity, biological research, and wildlife conservation. Any changes to the current nomen of the dingo (currently Canis dingo Meyer, 1793), must therefore offer a strong, evidence-based argument in favour of it being recognised as a subspecies of Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758, or as Canis familiaris Linnaeus, 1758, and a successful application to the International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature - neither of which can be adequately supported. Although there are many species concepts, the sum of the evidence presented in this paper affirms the classification of the dingo as a distinct taxon, namely Canis dingo.

Keywords: Mammalia, dingo, dog, canid, Canidae, domestication, hybridisation, nomenclature, species concept, taxonomy

FIGURE 1. An example of a typical dingo phenotype. Photograph depicts a male from K’gari-Fraser Island (Queensland) by John Williams. 

FIGURE 1. An example of a typical dingo phenotype. Photograph depicts a male from K’gari-Fraser Island (Queensland) by John Williams.
FIGURE 2. Cranial 3-D reconstructions of a dingo (bottom) and a free-ranging dog (top), highlighting the differences in cranial morphology mentioned in the text. The dog cranium has been scaled to match the length of the dingo cranium to facilitate the comparison of feature shape. The dingo (male) was collected from Minburra Station in South Australia. The dog (female, 14.5 kg) was collected in 1981 from the Victorian Highlands (Evan Jones Collection). 

 Bradley P. Smith, Kylie M. Cairns, Justin W. Adams, Thomas M. Newsome, Melanie Fillios, Eloïse C. Déaux, William C. H. Parr, Mike Letnic, Lily M. V. Eeden, Robert M. Appleby, Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Peter Savolainen, Euan G. Ritchie, Dale G. Nimmo, Clare Archer-Lean, Aaron C. Greenville, Christopher R. Dickman, Lyn Watson, Katherine E. Moseby, Tim S. Doherty, Arian D. Wallach, Damian S. Morrant and Mathew S. Crowther. 2019. Taxonomic Status of the Australian Dingo: the Case for Canis dingo Meyer, 1793. Zootaxa. 4564(1); 173–197. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4564.1.6

[Mammalogy • 2018] Multi-locus Phylogeny of the Tribe Tragelaphini (Mammalia, Bovidae) and Species Delimitation in Bushbuck: Evidence for Chromosomal Speciation Mediated by Interspecific Hybridization

in Hassanin, Houck, Tshikung,et al., 2018. 

 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.08.006  

Highlights

• Two species of bushbuck: Tragelaphus scriptus in NW Africa and T. sylvaticus in SE Africa.

• The two species have 2n = 57M/58F and 2n = 33M/34F chromosomes, respectively.

• T. scriptus is related to T. angasii with mtDNA, and to T. sylvaticus with nuDNA.

 • Mitochondrial introgressive hybridization in the common ancestor of T. scriptus.

• Evidence for chromosomal speciation after an event of interspecific hybridization.

Abstract

The bushbuck is the most widespread bovid species in Africa. Previous mitochondrial studies have revealed a polyphyletic pattern suggesting the possible existence of two distinct species.

To assess this issue, we have sequenced 16 nuclear genes and one mitochondrial fragment (cytochrome b gene + control region) for most species of the tribe Tragelaphini, including seven bushbuck individuals belonging to the two divergent mtDNA haplogroups, Scriptus and Sylvaticus. Our phylogenetic analyses show that the Scriptus lineage is a sister-group of Sylvaticus in the nuclear tree, whereas it is related to Tragelaphus angasii in the mitochondrial tree. This mito-nuclear discordance indicates that the mitochondrial genome of Scriptus was acquired by introgression after one or several past events of hybridization between bushbuck and an extinct species closely related to T. angasii. The division into two bushbuck species is supported by the analyses of nuclear markers and by the karyotype here described for T. scriptus (2n= 57M/58F), which is strikingly distinct from the one previously found for T. sylvaticus (2n= 33M/34F). Molecular dating estimates suggest that the two species separated during the Early Pleistocene after an event of interspecific hybridization, which may have mediated massive chromosomal rearrangements in the common ancestor of T. scriptus.

Keywords: Spiral-horned antelopes, species complex, introgressive hybridization, chromosomes, cytogenetics

Figure 3. Bayesian divergence times (in million years ago, Mya) estimated using the nuclear concatenation of 16 genes (A) or the mitochondrial fragment (B). Divergence times were estimated with BEAST 2.4.7 (see main text for details). Taxa other than Tragelaphini were removed from the figures. Bold values at the nodes are mean ages. Grey bars and values between brackets represent the 95% Highest Posterior Density (HPD) interval.

 Alexandre Hassanin, Marlys L. Houck, Didier Tshikung, Blaise Kadjo, Heidi Davis and Anne Ropiquet. 2018. Multi-locus Phylogeny of the Tribe Tragelaphini (Mammalia, Bovidae) and Species Delimitation in Bushbuck: Evidence for Chromosomal Speciation Mediated by Interspecific Hybridization. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. In Press.  DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.08.006 

[Ornithology • 2018] Discovery of A Rare Hybrid Specimen Known as Maria’s Bird of Paradise at the Staatliches Naturhistorisches Museum in Braunschweig

Figure 1. Plate of the male hybrid bird of paradise Paradisaea maria from Reichenow (1897). 

Figure 2. Plates of Paradisaea guilielmi (upper) and P. raggiana augustaevictoriae (lower),
the presumed parental species of P. maria, related to the original descriptions by Cabanis (1888).  

Reproduced from the Biodiversity heritage library (biodiversitylibrary.com). 

in Koch, 2018.   DOI: 10.3897/zse.94.25139 

Abstract

The discovery of a rare hybrid specimen of Maria’s bird of paradise (Paradisaea maria, i.e., P. guilielmi × P. raggiana augustaevictoriae) in the ornithological collection of the Staatliches Naturhistorisches Museum in Braunschweig (SNMB) is reported. Until today only six male specimens (deposited in the natural history museums in Berlin and New York) and presumably one female have been identified in collections world-wide. The male specimen in Braunschweig corresponds well in its plumage colouration with an historical illustration and photographs of the original type specimen from the 19th century housed at the Berlin collection. It shows intermediate characteristics between both parental species, viz. the Emperor bird of paradise (P. guilielmi) and the Raggiana bird of paradise (P. raggiana augustaevictoriae). In addition, we try to elucidate the circumstances how this rare specimen of hybrid origin, which formerly belonged to the natural history collection of the factory owner Walter Behrens from Bad Harzburg, came to the SNMB. Our unexpected discovery highlights the importance to maintain, support and study also smaller private natural history collections, since they may house historical voucher specimens of high scientific value.

Key Words: Paradisaea maria, Ornithology, Natural history collections, New Guinea, Type specimens, Hybridisation, Private collector, Walter Behrens, Haus der Natur

 André Koch. 2018. Discovery of A Rare Hybrid Specimen Known as Maria’s Bird of Paradise at the Staatliches Naturhistorisches Museum in Braunschweig. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 94(2): 315-324.  DOI: 10.3897/zse.94.25139

Zusammenfassung: Es wird über die Entdeckung eines seltenen Exemplars des Hybrid-Paradiesvogels Paradisaea maria (d.h. Paradisaea guilielmi × P. raggiana augustaevictoriae), in der ornithologischen Sammlung des Staatlichen Naturhistorischen Museums in Braunschweig (SNMB) berichtet. Bis heute sind lediglich sechs männliche (aus den Museen in Berlin und New York) und vermutlich ein weibliches Exemplar in internationalen Naturkundesammlungen bekannt geworden. Das männliche Exemplar aus Braunschweig entspricht in seiner Gefiederfärbung einer historischen Abbildung und Fotos des ursprünglichen Typusexemplars aus dem 19. Jahrhundert, das sich im Berliner Museum befindet. Es zeigt deutlich intermediäre Merkmalsausprägungen zwischen den beiden Elternarten, dem Kaiserparadiesvogel (P. guilielmi) und dem Raggi-Paradiesvogel (P. raggiana augustaevictoriae). Die Umstände, wie dieser seltene Hybrid-Paradiesvogel, der ehemals Teil der Sammlung des Fabrikanten Walter Behrens aus Bad Harzburg war, in die SNMB-Sammlung gelangte, werden erläutert. Unsere unerwartete Entdeckung unterstreicht die Bedeutung, auch kleinere private naturkundliche Sammlungen zu bewahren, zu erhalten und zu erforschen, da sie historische Belegexemplare von hoher wissenschaftlicher Bedeutung enthalten können.

[Ornithology • 2017] Heliangelus zusii • An Extinct Hummingbird Species That Never Was: A Cautionary Tale About Sampling Issues in Molecular Phylogenetics

Phylogenetic relationships among species and populations of Aglaiocercus, Taphrolesbia, the Rogitama hybrid hummingbird, and Heliangelus zusii based on sequences of the ND2 mitochondrial gene. Strongly supported nodes (0.95 Bayesian posterior probability, 80% maximum-likelihood bootstrap) are indicated with black dots. Although nodal support for deep branches is low, note that both the Rogitama bird and H. zusii have haplotypes closely allied to those of A. kingii from the Eastern Andes of Colombia, indicating they are both hybrids sharing A. kingii as female parent.

in Perez-Eman, Ferreira, Gutierrez-Pinto, et al., 2017.

 DOI:  10.1101/149898  

Illustrations courtesy of Lynx Edicions; Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 15, 1999.

Abstract

The Bogota Sunangel (Heliangelus zusii) was described based on a historical specimen lacking locality data as a striking - and potentially extinct - new species of hummingbird more than two decades ago. However, it was considered a dubious taxon by some researchers until a molecular study with strong species-level taxon sampling revealed its phylogenetic affinities and validated its status as a distinct species. We reanalysed existing mitochondrial DNA data together with a new data set sampling multiple populations of the Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii), a species broadly distributed in the Andes of South America. In contrast to previous work, we found that H. zusii shares a haplotype with specimens of A. kingii from the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia, which is phylogenetically nested within a clade formed by populations of A. kingii from the Colombian Andes. These results suggest that H. zusii is not a distinct species, but is most likely the result of hybridization between a female A. kingii and a male of another hummingbird species. These findings highlight the importance of thorough taxonomic and geographic sampling when assessing the likelihood of hybrid origin of an organism, particularly in cases potentially involving wide-ranging species in areas where deep phylogeographic structure is likely.

Keywords: Aglaiocercus, geographic sampling, Heliangelus zusii, hybridization, phylogeography.

Figure 1. (A) Geographic ranges of Aglaiocercus kingii, A. coelestis, and Taphrolesbia griseiventris in northern South America (polygons), and geographic provenance of specimens of these species and of the Rogitama hybrid hummingbird included in molecular phylogenetic analyses (dots and star).

Figure 1. (A) Geographic ranges of Aglaiocercus kingii, A. coelestis, and Taphrolesbia griseiventris in northern South America (polygons), and geographic provenance of specimens of these species and of the Rogitama hybrid hummingbird included in molecular phylogenetic analyses (dots and star).
(B) Phylogenetic relationships among species and populations of Aglaiocercus, Taphrolesbia, the Rogitama hybrid hummingbird, and Heliangelus zusii based on sequences of the ND2 mitochondrial gene. Strongly supported nodes (0.95 Bayesian posterior probability, 80% maximum-likelihood bootstrap) are indicated with black dots. Although nodal support for deep branches is low, note that both the Rogitama bird and H. zusii have haplotypes closely allied to those of A. kingii from the Eastern Andes of Colombia, indicating they are both hybrids sharing A. kingii as female parent.

 Illustrations courtesy of Lynx Edicions; Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 15, 1999.

Jorge L. Perez-Eman, Jhoniel Perdigon Ferreira, Natalia Gutierrez-Pinto, Andres M. Cuervo, Laura N. Cespedes, Christopher C. Witt and Carlos Daniel Cadena. 2017. An Extinct Hummingbird Species That Never Was: A Cautionary Tale About Sampling Issues in Molecular Phylogenetics. bioRxiv. DOI:  10.1101/149898 

[Botany • 2017] Cypripedium × fred-mulleri • First Guatemalan Record of Natural Hybridisation between Neotropical Species of the Lady’s Slipper Orchid (Orchidaceae, Cypripedioideae)

Cypripedium × fred-mulleri  Szlach., Kolan. & Górniak

in Szlachetko, Kolanowska, Muller, Vannini, Rojek & Górniak​, 2017

 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4162 

Abstract

The first natural hybrid in the section Irapeana of the orchid genus Cypripedium is described and illustrated based on Guatemalan material. A molecular evaluation of the discovery is provided. Specimens with intermediate flowers between C. irapeanum and C. dickinsonianum within ITS and Xdh sequences have the signal sequence of both these species. The analysis of plastid sequences indicated that the maternal line is C. irapeanum. Information about the ecology, embryology and conservation status of the novelty is given, together with a distribution map of its parental species, C. irapeanum and C. dickinsonianum. A discussion of the hybridization between Cypripedium species is presented. The potential hybrid zones between the representatives of Cypripedium section Irapeana which were estimated based on the results of ecological niche modeling analysis are located in the Maya Highlands (C. dickinsonianum and C. irapeanum) and the eastern part of Southern Sierra Madre (C. molle and C. irapeanum). Moreover, all three Cypripedium species could inhabit Cordillera Neovolcánica according to the obtained models; however, it should be noticed that this region is well-distanced from the edges of the known geographical range of C. molle.

 Figure 10: Flowers of Cypripedium. Cypripedium dickinsonianum (A), C. irapeanum (B) and Cypripedium × fred-mulleri   (C). Photos by F Muller. 

Figure 9: Habit of  Cypripedium × fred-mulleri.  Photo by F Muller. 

Figure 9: Comparison of the habit of Cypripedium dickinsonianum (A), C. irapeanum (B)

Photos by F Muller. 

Taxonomic treatment

Due to the detection of gene flow between C. dickinsonianum and C. irapeanum and mixed morphological characters of the population discovered by Mr Muller in Guatemala we decided to describe it as the first, natural hybrid in the section Irapeana under the name Cypripedium × fred-mulleri.

Cypripedium × fred-mulleri Szlach., Kolan. & Górniak, hybr. nov.

Diagnosis: Cypripedium × fred-mulleri is characterized by having flowers 5.2–7 cm across, elliptic, acute dorsal sepal, oblong-elliptic, obtuse petals, deeply saccate, obovoid-globose lip and trullate, acute staminode. It differs from C. irapeanum in its smaller flowers, deeper color (closer to C. dickinsonianum), density of windows on the lip, and form of dorsal sepal and petal apex. From C. dickinsonianum it is distinguished, inter alia, by the shape of the staminode and lip as well as by the petal form.

Type: Guatemala, Alta Verapaz. South of Cobán. 30 May 2013. F. Muller s.n. (BIGU! 309 holotype). UGDA-DLSz! - drawing of type, photos.

 Etymology: Dedicated to the discoverer of this hybrid, Fred Muller.

Distribution: Known so far to be exclusively from the Guatemalan department of Alta Verapaz. Due to the vulnerability of populations of C. irapeanum, C. dickinsonianum and C. × fred-mulleri to illicit harvesting, the exact locality is not given. The known localities of C. irapeanum are distributed from Central Mexico to Guatemala and Honduras while the currently known range of C. dickinsonianum is discontinuous, extending from eastern Chiapas (México), through the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes and the Sierra de Chamá to the central Honduran uplands (although herbarium vouchers are currently lacking Dix & Dix, 2000). Figure 8.

Ecology: The hybrid population was found on a south-oriented limestone hillside at an altitude of about 1,500 m. The plants grow in an open, seasonally dry pine-oak forest with Brahea dulcis (Kunth) Mart. (Arecaceae) and species of Agave L. (Asparagaceae). Other terrestrial orchid species occurring in this area are: Cyrtopodium punctatum (L.) Lindl., Stenorrhynchos pubens (A. Rich. & Galeotti) Schltr. and Dichromanthus cinnabarinus (La Llave & Lex.) Garay. Moreover, two species of Bletia Ruiz & Pav. have been reported from this location. The hybrid plants begin blooming in mid-May, at the beginning of the rainy season. The flowers have been observed as late as at the end of July, which is the beginning of the flowering season for both C. irapeanum and C. dickinsonianum in nearby colonies. Field observations in 2013 suggested that the population might have benefited from a recent wild fire, as a significant increase in the number of flowering specimens had previously been recorded in the season following a fire at the locality.

Dariusz L. Szlachetko, Marta Kolanowska, Fred Muller, Jay Vannini, Joanna Rojek and Marcin Górniak​. 2017.   First Guatemalan Record of Natural Hybridisation between Neotropical Species of the Lady’s Slipper Orchid (Orchidaceae, Cypripedioideae). PeerJ. 5:e4162.  DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4162