Quezada-Euán JJG, HD Sheets, E De Luna & T Eltz. 2015

Identification of cryptic species and morphotypes in male Euglossa: morphometric analysis of forewings (Hymenoptera: Euglossini). APIDOLOGIE 46 (6): 787-795.

DOI 10.1007/s13592-015-0369-7

Abstract. Males of sibling orchid bees Euglossa viridissima and Euglossa dilemma are morphologically cryptic, except for the number and shape of mandibular teeth. An alternative morph of E. viridissima has a third tooth similar to males of E. dilemma. We used this model system to evaluate the potential of wing morphometrics for the resolution of these groups. We found differences in the size characters of forewings of E. viridissima and E. dilemma albeit with substantial overlapping amongst them. However, geometric morphometrics of forewing vein intersections separated both species and, to a lesser extent, morphotypes. A discriminant analysis of the shape of the radial cell showed separation between all three groups, too, albeit with higher misclassification between E. viridissima and E. dilemma. We show that sibling cryptic species and morphotypes can be identified by geometric morphometrics, supporting its application with other methods as powerful aids to infrageneric taxonomy in bees.

Keywords: orchid bee cryptic species morphotypes geometric morphometrics forewing

Nájera-Cortazar LA, ST Álvarez-Castañeda and E De Luna. 2015

An Analysis of Myotis peninsularis (Vespertilionidae) Blending Morphometric and Genetic Datasets.

Nájera-Cortazar LA, ST Álvarez-Castañeda and E De Luna. 
Acta Chiropterologica 17(1):37-47. 2015
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3161/15081109ACC2015.17.1.003 

ABSTRACT. Myotis peninsularis Miller, 1898 is an endemic bat from the Cape Region in Baja California Sur, México. Its taxonomic status is unclear, either as a valid species or as a subspecies of M. velifer (J. A. Allen, 1890). In order to assess its taxonomic status, the objective of this study was to examine phylogenetic relationships of M. peninsularis, using molecular and geometric morphometric data. Two mitochondrial genes were analyzed: cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome b (Cytb). The phylogenetic analysis (maximum likelihood and Bayesian Inference) showed that M. peninsularis and M. velifer were sister groups, collectively forming a monophyletic assemblage. We observed less than 2% of genetic distance in the Cytb, considered an interval at the subspecies level. The geometric morphometric analysis showed differences in skull shape. We obtained three morphotypes: M. peninsularis (Baja California group), M. velifer incautus (northern population) and M. v. velifer (southern population). The most important differences were located in the braincase (ventral, dorsal and lateral view). The lateral view was the most discriminating. The Cape Region specimens had the sagittal crest more procumbent in the front than the rear of the braincase. The slope line at the rostral lateral view was more abrupt in M. velifer populations. Morphologically, the three lineages tended to possess the same normal variation as the entire Mexican population of M. velifer but with a specific morphotype associated to its distribution. In a combined molecular and landmark configuration of the phylogenetic analysis, the ancestral shape corresponded to an intermediate shape between M. peninsularis and M. velifer, presenting a similar variation to the one of intra-specific level in M. velifer. We considered M. peninsularis a junior-synonym of M. velifer.

Received: February 19, 2015; Accepted: June 10, 2015

Keywords: geometric morphometrics, mtDNA, Myotis peninsularis, phylogeny, skull

Fragoso-Martínez I, M. Martínez-Gordillo & E. De Luna. 2015

Salvia semiscaposa (Lamiaceae) a new species from Nanchititla, México. PHYTOTAXA 219 (1): 58-68.
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Abstract
A new species of Salvia section Lavanduloideae from the Estado de México is described and illustrated. Salvia semiscaposa is a procumbent plant morphologically similar to S. scaposa and S. helianthemifolia . It differs from the former by having mostly obovate leaf blades, more than six flowers per verticillaster and posterior calyx lobes narrower and apiculate. On the other hand, S. helianthemifolia differs from the new species by the presence of an erect stem, ovate leaves and trichomes on the calyx surface distributed only on the veins.

Resumen
Se describe e ilustra una nueva especie de Salvia sección Lavanduloideae del Estado de México. Salvia semiscaposa es una planta procumbente morfológicamente similar a S. scaposa y S. helianthemifolia . De la primera difiere por presentar generalmente hojas obovadas, más de seis flores por verticilastro y lóbulos posteriores del cáliz más estrechos y apiculados. Por otro lado , S. helianthemifolia difiere de la especie nueva por la presencia de un tallo erecto, hojas ovadas y tricomas del cáliz presentes solamente en las venas.

Key words: multivariate analyses, Calosphace, geometric morphometrics

Mejía O, F. Pérez-Miranda, Y. León-Romero, E. Soto-Galera, & E. De Luna. 2015

Morphometric variation of the Herichthys bartoni species group: How many species comprise H. labridens?. NEOTROPICAL ICHTHYOLOGY 13(1): 61-76.
doi: 10.1590/1982-0224-20140067
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Abstract
Cichlids of the tribe Heroini have long been a source of taxonomical conflict. In particular, the species included in the Herichthys bartoni group have failed to be recovered as monophyletic in different molecular studies. In this paper we use traditional and geometric morphometrics to evaluate morphological variation in the species included in the H. bartoni complex in order to evaluate the number of species it contains. An update of a previously published DNA barcoding study suggests the existence of three genetic clusters that included the six recognized species analyzed in this study, none of them recovered as monophyletic. On the other hand, geometric morphometrics arise as a useful tool to discriminate species due that traditional morphometrics showed a high overlap in the characters analyzed that prevents the proposal of diagnostic characters.

Los cíclidos de la tribu Heroini han experimentado un largo conflicto taxonómico. En particular, las especies incluidas en el grupo Herichthys bartoni no han sido recuperadas como monofiléticas en diversos estudios moleculares. En este artículo nosotros usamos morfometría tradicional y geométrica para evaluar la variación morfológica de las especies incluidas en el complejo H. bartoni para evaluar el numero de especies que contiene. Una actualización de un estudio previo de código de barras de ADN sugiere la existencia de tres grupos genéticos que incluyen las seis especies reconocidas analizadas en este estudio, ninguna de las cuales fue recuperada como monofilética. Por otro lado, la morfometría geométrica surge como una herramienta de utilidad para discriminar especies debido a que la variación en caracteres morfométricos tradicionales muestra altos niveles de solapamiento que previene la propuesta de caracteres diagnósticos.

Keywords: Cichlids, COI, DNA barcode, Geometric morphometrics, Mexico.