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Invertebrate Systematics Invertebrate Systematics Society
Systematics, phylogeny and biogeography

Invertebrate Systematics

Invertebrate Systematics

Invertebrate Systematics publishes significant contributions and reviews on the systematics, phylogeny and biogeography of all invertebrate taxa. Read more about the journalMore

Editor-in-Chief: Gonzalo Giribet

Publishing Model: Hybrid. Open Access options available.

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Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. Invertebrate Systematics is published under a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.


Image showing the bodies of six marine littoral Adota species.

Here, we present the results of the first phylogenetic and biogeographical analysis of the marine littoral Adota on the Pacific coasts of the Northern Hemisphere. The biogeographic patterns were compared with those of different lineages of aleocharine beetles with different microhabitats. Reconstructions of the ancestral areas suggest that the common ancestor of Adota occurred widely along the East Asian coasts. Both dispersal and vicariance were important in shaping the current distribution. (Image credit: Jong-Keun Jung and Kee-Jeong Ahn.)

Published online 20 December 2024

IS24071Reappraising the species validity of Cuneopsis szechenyii comb. nov. (Neumayr, 1899) and revising the taxonomy of Middendorffinaia mongolica (Middendorff, 1851)

Kaiyu Hou, Liping Zhang, Lili Liu 0009-0009-1164-7735, Xiongjun Liu, Junli Jia and Ruiwen Wu 0000-0002-8936-6054
 

Freshwater unionid bivalves, with a new combination, second Chinese endemic species and new record for China.

The maternal mitochondrial genomes of Unio szechenyii, Cuneopsis kiangsiensis, Middendorffinaia mongolica and Pseudocuneopsis wuana are sequenced. The validity of Unio szechenyii, previously considered a synonym of Cuneopsis heudei, is supported by the integration of conchometry, soft-body anatomy and molecular evidence, and a recombination as Cuneopsis szechenyii comb. nov. is proposed. The intrageneric relationships within the genera Cuneopsis and Pseudocuneopsis are elucidated based on the mitochondrial phylogenomics. Middendorffinaia mongolica, a new record for China, is proposed for transfer from the tribe Middendorffinaiini to the tribe Unionini and classification under the subtribe Middendorffinaiina stat. rev. (Image credit: Ruiwen Wu.)

Published online 09 December 2024

IS24001The subarctic ancient Lake El’gygytgyn harbours the world’s northernmost ‘limnostygon communityʼ and reshuffles crangonyctoid systematics (Crustacea, Amphipoda)

Denis Copilas-Ciocianu 0000-0002-6374-2365, Alexander Prokin, Evgeny Esin, Fedor Shkil, Dmitriy Zlenko, Grigorii Markevich and Dmitry Sidorov 0000-0003-2635-9129
 

Composite image showing two new stygomorphic amphipods, their phylogenetic position within the superfamily, and subarctic type locality

In this study we report two new stygomorphic amphipods, Palearcticarellus hyperboreus sp. nov. and Pseudocrangonyx elgygytgynicus sp. nov., from Lake El’gygytgyn in north-eastern Siberia. Molecular phylogenetic analyses confirm their affinity to Crangonyctidae and Pseudocrangonyctidae, respectively, and reveal that speciation preceded Pleistocene glaciations. Although adapted to subterranean life, these species are found exclusively in surface waters, highlighting Lake El’gygytgyn as a high latitude refugium for ancient pre-glacial fauna and expanding the known distribution of stygomorphic amphipods. (Image credit: Denis Copilaş-Ciocianu and Dmitry Sidorov.)

Published online 28 November 2024

IS24058Systematics of cybaeid spiders endemic to the Japanese Archipelago, and their historical biogeographic implications (Araneae: Cybaeidae)

Yusuke Sugawara, Yoh Ihara, Naoki Koike, Hong-Yul Seo, Larisa A. Prozorova, Zhi-Sheng Zhang and Takafumi Nakano 0000-0001-6107-2188
 

Molecular phylogenetic relationships between Cybaeus and other cybaeid genera endemic to East Asia.

The epigean and subterranean spider genus Cybaeus is highly species rich in the Japanese Archipelago. The Japanese Cybaeus spiders are classified into ~100 species, but their phylogeny is unclear. We conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses and divergence time estimation based on 73 species and demonstrated that several Cybaeus species should be classified into other genera. Divergence dating suggested that the opening of the Sea of Japan c. 20 million years ago may have promoted diversification and speciation of Japanese cybaeids. (Image credit: Yoh Ihara and Takafumi Nakano.)

Published online 11 November 2024

IS24044A molecular assessment of species boundaries and relationships in the Australian brine shrimp Parartemia (Anostraca: Parartemiidae)

Md Aminul Islam 0000-0003-3396-5792, Jennifer Chaplin, Angus D’Arcy Lawrie, Mahabubur Rahman and Adrian Pinder
 

Photograph of male (top) and female (bottom) Australian brine shrimp, Parartemia (P. informis).

The brine shrimp Parartemia is a diverse, salt-tolerant genus found in Australian salt lakes. Its current taxonomy is mainly based on morphological data. We used molecular data to investigate the number and relationships of Parartemia species and found two new morphospecies and three cryptic species. Although most species were valid, molecular divergence among and within some species was substantial. Our results confirm the species richness of the genus and our updated species list will aid in targeted conservation efforts. (Image credit: Md Aminul Islam.)

Published online 08 November 2024

IS24053Genetic barcodes for species identification and phylogenetic estimation in ghost spiders (Araneae: Anyphaenidae: Amaurobioidinae)

Mariana L. Barone, Jeremy D. Wilson 0000-0002-5984-7674, Lorena Zapata, Eduardo M. Soto, Charles R. Haddad, Cristian Grismado, Matías Izquierdo 0000-0002-1258-6454, Elizabeth Arias, Jaime Pizarro-Araya, Raúl Briones, Juan Enrique Barriga, Luciano Peralta 0009-0001-2967-1073 and Martín J. Ramírez 0000-0002-0358-0130
 

Section of the molecular phylogeny of Sanogasta (left) and comparisons between COI and morphology (right) in S. maculosa (centre).

Taxonomic identification of spider species from morphological structures has limitations in cases of closely related species or intraspecific variability. We investigate the utility of genetic barcoding with the mitochondrial marker cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) in ghost spiders of the subfamily Amaurobioidinae. Most discrepancies between DNA barcoding and morphological identification are explained by low geographic sampling or by geographically structured lineages. In addition, we show that the marker COI is phylogenetically informative for deeper nodes in the tree. (Image credit: Martín Ramírez.)

Published online 30 October 2024

IS24041Systematics of Apatelodidae Neumoegen & Dyar, 1894 (Lepidoptera: Bombycoidea) based on molecular and morphological data

Elton Orlandin 0000-0002-1987-9727, Mônica Piovesan and Eduardo Carneiro
 

Photograph of mating apatelodid moths (left) and schematic evolutionary relationships using combined molecular and morphological data (right).

We sampled ~75% of Apatelodidae species from all valid genera and combined morphological and molecular data to test monophyly of its genera. Our findings demonstrate that most Apatelodidae genera, as currently understood, are not monophyletic and revealed that groups of species with similar characters may constitute valid genera. We propose a new genus-level classification for Apatelodidae and include data on its natural history and geographical distribution. (Image credit: Guilherme Fischer.)

Published online 30 October 2024

IS24009Molecular phylogeny of Boninia (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida), with description of a new species from the Pacific coasts of Panama

Aoi Tsuyuki 0000-0002-6001-0679, Jon Norenburg, Francesca Leasi and Marco Curini-Galletti
 

Photograph of a living specimen of the new species, Boninia panamensis, showing its characteristic cerebral and marginal eyespots.

Boniniidae is a family of marine polyclad flatworms harbouring nine named species distributed worldwide. We describe a new boniniid species, Boninia panamensis from the Pacific coasts of Panama based on morphological and molecular data. We also report Boninia cf. uru from Hawai’i and Boninia oaxaquensis from Panama along with morphological descriptions. In addition, we discuss synapomorphic traits and possible speciation pathways in this genus based on the reconstructed molecular phylogenetic results using 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, 16S rDNA and COI. (Photograph by Marco Curini-Galletti.)

Published online 11 October 2024

IS23025Integrative taxonomy of Teucriogethes pollen beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae), with implications on the systematics of the genus Teucrium (Lamiaceae)

Meike Liu 0000-0001-8206-0936, Qiuhong Li 0009-0002-0320-6322, Pietro Gardini 0000-0002-6308-709X, Paolo Audisio and Simone Sabatelli
 

Images showing the male of the new pollen beetle species, the host plant and phylogenetic relationships.

Pollen beetles of the genus Teucriogethes (Meligethinae) are strictly associated with the flowers of germanders, Teucrium (Lamiaceae). We analysed and described a new species, Teucriogethes huangae, recently discovered in Central China, associated as larvae with a strongly isolated member of Teucrium, T. ornatum. The new species occupies an isolated position inside Teucriogethes revealed by combining both morphological and molecular analyses, as well as bionomical data. This paper provides a significant contribution to many important evolutionary and taxonomical aspects of Teucriogethes. (Image credit: Meike Liu, Simone Sabatelli and Paolo Audisio.)

Published online 08 October 2024

IS24012DNA but not always morphology help to recognise monophyletic genera within ‘Cercyon’ terrestrial water scavenger beetles: a case study of Asiacyon gen. nov. (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)

Zuqi Mai 0000-0003-3124-2021, Liyang Wang 0009-0004-4474-026X, Sergey K. Ryndevich 0000-0001-6699-9062, Martin Fikácek 0000-0002-2078-6798, Emmanuel Arriaga-Varela 0000-0001-6206-9212 and Fenglong Jia 0000-0003-2391-5038
 

Image showing the DNA-based phylogeny of the new genus, Asiacyon, its supporting male genitalic characters and distribution across Asia

Morphology is not always a good indicator of biological diversity, aswe illustrate in Asian species classified under Cercyon, a genus of terrestrial water scavenger beetles. We describe Asiacyon gen. nov., which is strongly supported by DNA data, has limited distribution and unique habitat preferences, yet it highly resembles other unrelated ʻCercyonʼ. The species diversity of this lineage was under-estimated: we describe 11 new species from China. We argue that ‘Cercyon’ should be divided into DNA-based natural genera despite their morphological similarity. (Image credit: Martin Fikáček.)

Published online 30 September 2024

IS24023An integrative taxonomy study of cave-dwelling aeglids (Decapoda: Anomura: Aeglidae) from Natural Protected Areas in south-eastern Brazil, with description of three new species

Sérgio Luiz de Siqueira Bueno 0000-0002-4434-779X, Alexandre Lopes Camargo, Heros Augusto Santos Lobo, Ana Luiza Vera-Silva, Marcos Tavares and Fernando Luis Mantelatto 0000-0002-8497-187X
 

Three images of three new species of Aegla found in freshwater streams of caves in the Alto Ribeira karst of south-eastern Brazil.

Three new cave-dwelling aeglid species are described from the Alto Ribeira karst region, south-eastern Brazil using morphological and molecular (16S rDNA) data. Comparison of molecular sequences from several subterranean and epigean species in the region reveal two dispersal events involving epigean ancestors that resulted in two distinct subclades of extant cave-dwelling species. Adaptation to subterranean habitats among the cave-dwelling species developed independently within each subclade resulting in each having an exclusive group of both stygobitic and stygophilic species. (Image credit: Sérgio Bueno.)

Published online 16 September 2024

IS24021A new genus of bamboo coral (Octocorallia: Scleralcyonacea: Keratoisididae) from the Whittard Canyon, Ireland, Northeast Atlantic

Declan Morrissey 0000-0003-3064-3560, A. Louise Allcock and Andrea M. Quattrini
 

A picture of a maximum likelihood tree, a photograph of Explorisis katharina, and a photograph of Explorisis poppyae.

Deep-sea corals are often not identified to species rank due to a lack of taxonomic expertise. Bamboo corals are an exclusively deep sea and prolific group of corals found in every ocean basin. In this study, we describe a new genus and two new species of bamboo coral from the Northeast Atlantic. By analysing both their morphology and DNA, we determined that this newly identified genus, named Explorisis, is closely related to the genera Dokidisis and Jasonisis. (Image credit: Declan Morrissey.)


Colour patterning of a new species of plant bug, Carenotus schwartzi, showing myrmecomorphic traits

A new genus of an ant-mimetic plant bug, Carenotus gen. nov. and eight included species are described as new to science. The ant-mimetic or myrmecomorphic traits of Carenotus and other ant-mimetic taxa are documented. This genus is analysed phylogenetically using myrmecomorphic and genitalic characters. Three ant-mimetic genera form a monophyletic group on the basis of myrmecomorphic traits and the Carenotus species relationships are fully resolved on the basis of genitalic characters. (Image credit: Hannah Mathews.)

Published online 08 August 2024

IS24040UCE-based phylogenomics of the lepidopteran endoparasitoid wasp subfamily Rogadinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) unveils a new Neotropical tribe

Eduardo M. Shimbori 0000-0003-4655-2591, Rubén Castañeda-Osorio 0000-0003-0507-5477, Jovana M. Jasso-Martínez 0000-0001-6497-7150, Angélica M. Penteado-Dias 0000-0002-8371-5591, Sian S. Gadelha 0000-0002-6612-6672, Seán G. Brady 0000-0003-0468-940X, Donald L. J. Quicke 0000-0003-4471-6775, Robert R. Kula and Alejandro Zaldívar-Riverón 0000-0001-5837-1929
 

Phylogram of subfamily Rogadinae and Soraya venus Shimbori & Zaldívar-Riverón sp. nov. (inset), habitus and face.

Tribal relationships within the braconid subfamily Rogadinae are reconstructed based on nuclear UCE data and extensive taxon sampling. Our fully supported estimate of phylogeny and the morphological evidence led us to erect a new rogadine tribe, Gondwanocentrini Shimbori & Zaldívar-Riverón trib. nov. Facitorini was also confirmed as a separate rogadine tribe. Our updated classification expands the number of tribes and genera within Rogadinae to 8 and 66 respectively. (Image credit: Eduardo M. Shimbori.)

Published online 06 August 2024

IS24032Panmixia and local endemism: a revision of the Eubranchus rupium species complex with a description of new species

Darya Y. Grishina 0000-0002-4511-6125, Dimitry M. Schepetov 0000-0002-1195-0461, Tatiana I. Antokhina 0000-0002-0857-4186, Manuel António E. Malaquias 0000-0002-9668-945X, Ángel Valdés 0000-0002-2347-4896 and Irina A. Ekimova 0000-0002-1846-0780
 

Integrative taxonomy reveals a new species of Eubranchus nudibranch among the trans-Arctic Eubranchus rupium species complex

Species of the genus Eubranchus Forbes, 1838 are common in boreal benthic ecosystems. Recent studies suggest the trans-Arctic Eubranchus rupium (Møller, 1842) is a species complex. This paper conducts an integrative taxonomic study of Eubranchus rupium and related species, confirming its amphiboreal distribution. The divergence of the species complex is estimated from the late Miocene or the Miocene–Pliocene boundary to the late Pliocene with the north-western Pacific as the probable ancestral region, followed by dispersal and allopatric speciation. (Image credit: Darya Grishina.)

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These articles have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. They are still in production and have not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

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Collections

Myriapoda and Onychophora constitute two clades of mostly soil-dwelling multi-legged panarthropods, once thought to form the clade Uniramia, but now genomic evidence strongly suggest that Onychophora is the sister group of Arthropoda, where myriapods are nested. The articles compiled in this Collection include several examples of the integrative work we publish in our journal, and we welcome further submissions of your best work on myriapods and onychophorans.

Last Updated: 19 Jun 2017

Invertebrate Systematics has focused on the publication of primary research and review articles on all aspects related to systematics of invertebrates, including taxonomic papers with a focus on evolution and ecology. To celebrate 30 years of publication of Invertebrate Systematics, this Collection contains some of our most highly cited papers.

Last Updated: 14 Dec 2016

In this Collection, we present articles covering a diversity of taxa (Bivalvia, Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora) and approaches (molecular, morphological – including morphometrics – and total evidence) to better understand molluscan diversification at different time-scales. These articles encompass research and species found globally, highlighting both the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of the science published in Invertebrate Systematics.

Last Updated: 30 Jun 2016

Invertebrate Systematics has published many significant studies of the Decapoda, of which 12 are showcased in this Collection. Launched to coincide with the 8th International Crustacean Congress in Frankfurt, Germany (18-23 August 2014), this Collection spans molecular and morphological phylogenetic and revisionary taxonomic studies of crabs, crayfish, freshwater and marine shrimps.

Last Updated: 08 Aug 2014

Invertebrate Systematics has published many important studies on hymenopterans, 14 of which are showcased in this Collection. Launched to coincide with the 8th International Congress of Hymenopterists in Cusco, Peru (20-25 July 2014), this significant collection comprises molecular and morphological phylogenetic and taxonomic studies on a wide range of families.

Last Updated: 01 Jul 2014

This Collection, launched to coincide with the 19th International Congress of Arachnology in Taiwan in June 2013, comprises 12 important studies on arachnids from Invertebrate Systematics. Together, the publications in this Collection reveal key aspects of the systematics, biology and biogeography of these invertebrate animals.

Last Updated: 01 Jun 2013

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