Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America
In this study, we describe seven new species of Ligidium Brandt, 1833 from the Southern Appalachian Mountains based on morphological and molecular data: Ligidium enotahensis sp. nov., L. nantahala sp. nov., L. protuberans sp. nov., L. gadalutsi sp. nov., L. pacolet sp. nov., L. whiteoak sp. nov., a...
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Consortium of European Natural History Museums
2025-02-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Taxonomy |
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| Online Access: | https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/2783 |
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| author | Ernesto Recuero Michael S. Caterino |
| author_facet | Ernesto Recuero Michael S. Caterino |
| author_sort | Ernesto Recuero |
| collection | DOAJ |
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In this study, we describe seven new species of Ligidium Brandt, 1833 from the Southern Appalachian Mountains based on morphological and molecular data: Ligidium enotahensis sp. nov., L. nantahala sp. nov., L. protuberans sp. nov., L. gadalutsi sp. nov., L. pacolet sp. nov., L. whiteoak sp. nov., and L. schultzi sp. nov. Our findings significantly enhance the known diversity of this genus in the Nearctic, particularly in eastern North America. Morphological diagnoses are primarily based on traits of the male pleopod 2 endopodite, while molecular data, including mitochondrial Cox1 and nuclear 28S and NaK genes, help delimit all newly described species. Together these genes reveal considerable genetic divergence among the new species and from previously described ones. Phylogenetic analyses revealed clear genetic distinctions among the new species, but did not resolve all relationships. Furthermore, we propose elevating three subspecies of Ligidium elrodii (Packard, 1873) to full species status based on consistent morphological differences, Ligidium chatoogaensis Schultz, 1970, L. hancockensis Schultz, 1970, and L. scottensis Schultz, 1970, thereby increasing the total number of Ligidium species to 68. This research underscores the high species diversity in the Southern Appalachians and the importance of integrating morphological and molecular approaches in taxonomy.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ed6c08c25cdf4f45a0c2ef45d2bf7e77 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2118-9773 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Consortium of European Natural History Museums |
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| series | European Journal of Taxonomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-ed6c08c25cdf4f45a0c2ef45d2bf7e772025-02-07T19:48:12ZengConsortium of European Natural History MuseumsEuropean Journal of Taxonomy2118-97732025-02-01976110.5852/ejt.2025.976.2783Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North AmericaErnesto Recuero0Michael S. Caterino1Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences, 277 Poole Agricultural Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0310, USADepartment of Plant & Environmental Sciences, 277 Poole Agricultural Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0310, USA In this study, we describe seven new species of Ligidium Brandt, 1833 from the Southern Appalachian Mountains based on morphological and molecular data: Ligidium enotahensis sp. nov., L. nantahala sp. nov., L. protuberans sp. nov., L. gadalutsi sp. nov., L. pacolet sp. nov., L. whiteoak sp. nov., and L. schultzi sp. nov. Our findings significantly enhance the known diversity of this genus in the Nearctic, particularly in eastern North America. Morphological diagnoses are primarily based on traits of the male pleopod 2 endopodite, while molecular data, including mitochondrial Cox1 and nuclear 28S and NaK genes, help delimit all newly described species. Together these genes reveal considerable genetic divergence among the new species and from previously described ones. Phylogenetic analyses revealed clear genetic distinctions among the new species, but did not resolve all relationships. Furthermore, we propose elevating three subspecies of Ligidium elrodii (Packard, 1873) to full species status based on consistent morphological differences, Ligidium chatoogaensis Schultz, 1970, L. hancockensis Schultz, 1970, and L. scottensis Schultz, 1970, thereby increasing the total number of Ligidium species to 68. This research underscores the high species diversity in the Southern Appalachians and the importance of integrating morphological and molecular approaches in taxonomy. https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/2783integrative taxonomyArthropodaCrustaceaNearctic Regiondiversity |
| spellingShingle | Ernesto Recuero Michael S. Caterino Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America European Journal of Taxonomy integrative taxonomy Arthropoda Crustacea Nearctic Region diversity |
| title | Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America |
| title_full | Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America |
| title_fullStr | Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America |
| title_short | Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America |
| title_sort | is there anybody new out there seven new species of ligidium isopoda oniscidea ligiidae from the southern appalachians eastern north america |
| topic | integrative taxonomy Arthropoda Crustacea Nearctic Region diversity |
| url | https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/2783 |
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