Latest Articles from Zoosystematics and Evolution Latest 4 Articles from Zoosystematics and Evolution https://zse.pensoft.net/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 10:38:03 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://zse.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Zoosystematics and Evolution https://zse.pensoft.net/ Taxonomic revision of Phoxinus minnows (Leuciscidae) from Caucasus, with description of a new narrow-ranged endemic species https://zse.pensoft.net/article/115696/ Zoosystematics and Evolution 100(1): 291-308

DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.115696

Authors: Oleg N. Artaev, Ilya S. Turbanov, Aleksey A. Bolotovskiy, Aleksandr A. Gandlin, Boris A. Levin

Abstract: Taxonomic revision of Phoxinus from the Caucasus revealed two distinct species. One species, P. colchicus, was known from eastern drainage of Black Sea, but was recorded also in the middle reach of the Kuban (Sea of Azov basin), for the first time. The Kuban population represents a genetically unique sub-lineage of P. colchicus. Its ancestors might have colonized the Kuban system through the event of ancient river capture. Another species inhabits only the Adagum River basin in the lower Kuban and represents a new narrow-ranged endemic species – Phoxinus adagumicus sp. nov. According to mtDNA phylogeny (COI and cytb), P. adagumicus sp. nov. represents deeply divergent and one of the two early branched lineages of the genus Phoxinus being distant to other species (min. p-distance = 0.074) including geographical neighbors – P. chrysoprasius from Crimean Peninsula and P. colchicus from the Caucasus. The new species differs from most Phoxinus species by frequently occurring single-row pharyngeal teeth (modal formula 5–4). The narrow geographic range (ca. 55 km in length and 15–20 km in width) and high anthropogenic load on local water systems suggests the new species is under threat and needs protection.

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Research Article Wed, 20 Mar 2024 16:02:22 +0200
The trouts of the Marmara and Aegean Sea drainages in Türkiye, with the description of a new species (Teleostei, Salmonidae) https://zse.pensoft.net/article/112557/ Zoosystematics and Evolution 100(1): 87-99

DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.112557

Authors: Davut Turan, Esra Bayçelebi, Sadi Aksu, Münevver Oral

Abstract: The taxonomic status of native trout species of the Marmara and Aegean Sea drainages is evaluated and three species, Salmo duhani, S. coruhensis and S. brunoi sp. nov., are recognized. Salmo brunoi, a new species, is described from the Nilüfer River, a tributary of the Susurluk River. It is distinguished by a general brownish body color in life; few black spots (fewer than 60) on the body, generally scattered on the back and the upper part of the flank, rarely in the median part; few (fewer than 40) and small (smaller than pupil) red spots on the body, scattered on the median part and lower half of the flank; a number of black and red spots not increasing with size in both sexes; a long adipose fin (adipose-fin height 8–9% SL); a short distance between adipose-fin and caudal-fin (12–14% SL); and a short anal fin (anal-fin height 12–15% SL). Salmo brunoi sp. nov. is separated from the rest of the Marmara and Aegean trouts of Anatolia based on genome-wide distributed 187.385 unlinked SNP markers. According to the best of the authors’ knowledge, whole genome data is used for the first time here to characterize a new species of trout.

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Research Article Fri, 26 Jan 2024 19:00:08 +0200
The Caucasus is neither a cradle nor a museum of diversity of the land snail genus Helix (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Helicidae), while Crimea is home to an ancient lineage https://zse.pensoft.net/article/110610/ Zoosystematics and Evolution 99(2): 535-543

DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.110610

Authors: Ondřej Korábek, Igor Balashov, Marco T. Neiber, Frank Walther, Bernhard Hausdorf

Abstract: The Caucasus and the adjacent Pontic Mountains in north-eastern Anatolia are home to numerous endemic land snail genera and species. The diversity of the region is the result of both intra-regional speciation and the persistence of relict lineages. The same seemed to be true for the genus Helix, which has been present in the Greater Caucasus since the Miocene. In the Caucasus region, there are three Helix species. Helix buchii (Pontic Mountains and Georgia) and Helix albescens (southern Ukraine to northern Lesser Caucasus) are both separated by deep splits from the major Helix clades in the mitochondrial phylogeny. In contrast, Helix lucorum belongs to the Anatolian radiation of Helix. At least part of its intraspecific diversification may have occurred in north-eastern Anatolia and the adjacent parts of the Caucasus. Here, we report new evidence suggesting that the Caucasus and the Pontus regions were less important as a refugium of ancient Helix lineages or as a diversification centre than previously hypothesised. Helix lucorum probably diversified more westwards, while H. buchii is a less ancient lineage than previously thought. Helix albescens had its long-term refugium on the Crimean Peninsula in southern Ukraine, not in the Caucasus. The Caucasus is close to the eastern limit of the distribution range of the genus and, although the fossil record shows that Helix was present there as early as the Miocene, the current diversity of the genus there is the result of much later colonisation.

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Research Article Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:10:18 +0200
A contribution on the morphometrics of the thick-clawed crayfish Pontastacus pachypus (Rathke, 1837) (Decapoda, Astacoidea, Astacidae) https://zse.pensoft.net/article/98291/ Zoosystematics and Evolution 99(1): 93-100

DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.98291

Authors: Aiman Imentai, Martin Bláha, Lukáš Veselý, Jiří Křišťan, Tomas Policar

Abstract: The thick–clawed crayfish Pontastacus pachypus (Rathke, 1837) is an endangered, and the least known, crayfish species in Europe. Currently, detailed information regarding the morphology, ecology and reproduction of thick–clawed crayfish is outdated. This study presents, for the first time, detailed photographs of the thick-clawed crayfish, and updated information on distinctive morphological characters and morphometric analysis. New specifications of the carapace and appendage morphological characteristics were established as: 1) the rostrum is long, sharply pointed and has three pairs of distinctive sub-apical lateral spines, 2) two well–developed pairs of post–orbital ridge on the carapace are ended by prominent spine; 3) each finger of chelae ends with a black sharp tip. Among the 18 morphometric indices, carapace width to the total length (CPW/TL), abdomen width to the total length (ABW/TL) and claw height to the claw width (CLH/CLW) clearly differentiate P. pachypus from the other representatives of Astacus genus (A. colchicus and A. astacus) and P. leptodactylus (P<0.05). Comparison of individual indices between P. pachypus and P. leptodactylus revealed that almost all indices differed significantly except head length to the total length (HEL/TL) and rostrum length to the total length (ROL/TL). This study contributes to the identification of the thick–clawed crayfish for the purpose of conservation and protection of its localities.

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Research Article Tue, 24 Jan 2023 18:53:03 +0200