DNA barcoding and integrative taxonomy of the heterolepisma sclerophylla species complex (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae: Heterolepismatinae) and the description of two new species
- Authors: Smith, Graeme , Mitchell, Andrew , Lee, Timothy , Espinasa, Luis
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Records of the Australian Museum Vol. 71, no. 1 (2019), p. 1-32
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- Description: We present one of the first studies of DNA barcodes (COI sequences) in the basal insect order Zygentoma, and compare the data with nuclear (28S) and mitochondrial (16S) rDNA sequences and morphology for an integrative taxonomic study of the Heterolepisma sclerophylla Smith species group. DNA sequence analyses identified deep divisions between Queensland and New South Wales populations, and among populations in each state. Detailed morphological and morphometric evaluation of the specimens failed, in most cases, to identify unambiguous morphological characters of diagnostic value for each population, possibly due to the interaction of morphological conservatism with high levels of variability resulting from their continued moulting after reaching sexual maturity. Several strong consistent characters were identified to support the description of a southern Queensland population as a new species (Heterolepisma cooloola sp. nov.). The combined molecular and morphological data support the view that the presence of lanceolate scales and the absence of macrochaetae from the anterior margin of the frons are more significant to phylogeny than the arrangement of styli and the shape of the thoracic sternites in Heterolepisma. Specimens from Glen Davis, NSW, while indistinguishable from H. sclerophylla in all other characters examined, were found to possess one fewer pair of abdominal styli in both sexes and are also described as a new species (Heterolepisma coorongooba sp. nov.). Five lineages are recognized within the remaining NSW material but as reliable (non-overlapping) morphological and morphometric differences could not be identified, they are not described here as new species. Heterolepisma sclerophylla sensu stricto is considered to be a complex of morphologically ill-defined species or perhaps subspecies.
On some Silverfish Taxa from Tasmania (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae and Nicoletiidae)
- Authors: Smith, Graeme
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Records of the Australian Museum Vol. 68, no. 2 (2016), p. 45-80
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- Description: The silverfish fauna of Tasmania is reviewed. Seven species are now recorded, including the introduced anthropophilic Ctenolepisma longicaudata Escherich. Within the Ctenolepismatinae Hemitelsella clarksonorum n.gen., n.sp. and Acrotelsella parlevar n.sp. are described. The Heterolepismatinae are represented by an unconfirmed record of Heterolepisma kraepelini Silvestri and Heterolepisma buntonorum n.sp. is described. The inquiline Atelurinae are represented by Australiatelura tasmanica Silvestri, which is redescribed, and a further sympatric species, Australiatelura eugenanae n.sp., is described.
New Silverfish Taxa from Queensland (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae)
- Authors: Smith, Graeme
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Records of the Australian Museum Vol. 67, no. 3 (2015), p. 67-81
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- Description: A new genus and species of the silverfish subfamily Ctenolepismatinae and the first endemic species of the Lepismatinae are described from Queensland. A single male specimen of Qantelsella louisae n.gen., n.sp., was collected from dry leaf litter in Bladensburg National Park near Winton. Xenolepisma monteithi n.sp. is known from one adult female and two juvenile specimens collected with ants (Crematogaster sp.) from the bark of a tree on the Cape York Peninsula. This genus is also known from southern Africa, India and Malaysia and the diagnosis of the genus is emended to include the morphological differences exhibited by the Australian species.