Taxonomy, cladistics and biogeography of the Australian genus Putoniessa Kirkaldy (Hemiptera : Cicadelloidea : Cicadellidae)

Abstract

The morphology of Putoniessa Kirkaldy is reviewed and the genus revised. In total, 28 species are recognised: the type species, P. dignissima Kirkaldy, which is removed from synonymy; one new combination, P. dorsalis (Walker); eight previously described species, P. nigra (Walker), P. minima Evans, P. mackei Evans, P. draba Evans, P. taradalensis Evans, P. sordida Evans, P. nigrella Evans and P. turneri Evans; and 18 new species, P. rieki, P, brisbanensis, P. hickmani, P, neboissi, P. stanthorpensis, P. woodwardi, P. striata, P. evansi, P. variegata, P. tasmaniensis, P. grossi, P. serrata, P. northamensis, P. bifurcata, P. kiataensis, P. watsoni, P. fusca and P. aroka. P. nota Evans is excluded from the genus, and P. maculata Evans is synonymised under P. dorsalis (Walker). P. rivularis (Walker), originally described under Bythoscopus Germar, and P. galliensis Evans are considered as species of uncertain identity.

The genus is shown to have a disjunct Bassian distribution with some eastern species extending northwards into the south-east of the Tomesian province. A consensus cladogram for Putoniessa, based on morphological characters, is presented. Large areas of the cladogram remain unresolved because of high levels of homoplasy among the limited number of reliable ingroup characters available.

The cladogram does not support a purely vicariant biogeographic hypothesis. Theories that receive qualified support involve an eastern origin for the group followed by either an east-to-west dispersal or a vicariance event affecting a single taxon subsequent to initial speciation. A western origin for the group is strongly refuted.