300 million years of diversification: elucidating the patterns of orthopteran evolution based on comprehensive taxon and gene sampling

Orthoptera is the most diverse order among the polyneopteran groups and includes familiar insects, such as grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, and their kin. Due to a long history of conflicting classification schemes based on different interpretations of morphological characters, the phylogenetic relationships within Orthoptera are poorly understood and its higher classification has remained unstable. In this study, we establish a robust phylogeny of Orthoptera including 36 of 40 families representing all 15 currently recognized superfamilies and based on complete mitochondrial genomes and four nuclear loci, in order to test previous phylogenetic hypotheses and to provide a framework for a natural classification and a reference for studying the pattern of divergence and diversification. We find strong support for monophyletic suborders (Ensifera and Caelifera) as well as major superfamilies. Our results corroborate most of the higher-level relationships previously proposed for Caelifera, but suggest some novel relationships for Ensifera. Using fossil calibrations, we provide divergence time estimates for major orthopteran lineages and show that the current diversity has been shaped by dynamic shifts of diversification rates at different geological times across different lineages. We also show that mitochondrial tRNA gene orders have been relatively stable throughout the evolutionary history of Orthoptera, but a major tRNA gene rearrangement occurred in the common ancestor of Tetrigoidea and Acridomorpha, thereby representing a robust molecular synapomorphy, which has persisted for 250 Myr.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Old lineage on an old island : Pixibinthus, a new cricket genus endemic to New Caledonia shed light on gryllid diversification in a hotspot of biodiversity

Few studies have focused on the early colonization of New Caledonia by insects, after the re-emergence of the main island, 37 Myr ago. Here we investigate the mode and tempo of evolution of a new endemic cricket genus, Pixibinthus, recently discovered in southern New Caledonia. First we formally describe this new monotypic genus found exclusively in the open shrubby vegetation on metalliferous soils, named 'maquis minier', unique to New Caledonia. We then reconstruct a dated molecular phylogeny based on five mitochondrial and four nuclear loci in order to establish relationships of Pixibinthus within Eneopterinae crickets. Pixibinthus is recovered as thesister clade of the endemic genus Agnotecous, mostly rainforest-dwellers. Dating results show that the island colonization by their common ancestor occurred around 34.7 Myr, shortly after New Caledonia re-emergence. Pixibinthus and Agnotecous are then one of the oldest insect lineages documented so far for New Caledonia. This discovery highlights for the first time two clear-cut ecological specializations between sister clades, as Agnotecous is mainly found in rainforests with 19 species, whereas Pixibinthus is found in open habitats with a single documented species. The preference of Pixibinthus for open habitats and of Agnotecous for forest habitats nicely fits an acoustic specialization, either explained by differences in body size or in acoustic properties of their respective habitats. We hypothesize that landscape dynamics, linked to major past climatic events and recent change in fire regimes are possible causes for both present-day low diversity and rarity in genus Pixibinthus. The unique evolutionary history of this old New Caledonian lineage stresses the importance to increase our knowledge on the faunal biodiversity of 'maquis minier', in order to better understand the origin and past dynamics of New Caledonian biota

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Stenonemobius gracilis Jakovlev 1871

Stenonemobius gracilis (Jakovlev, 1871) Gryllus (Nemobius) gracilis Jakovlev, 1871: 20 [N.V.]. Type locality: North Africa (Eades and Otte 2009), Southern Russia (Chopard 1943). Distribution: North Africa, Mesopotamia (Chopard 1963); southern Europe up to southeast Asia, Africa, Madagascar, Indo-malaysia, China, Corea, Japan (Gorochov and Llorente 2001). Biogeographic zones: Saharian Atlas, Northern Sahara. Bioclimatic zones: Arid, saharian. Records in Algeria: Biskra [34 ° 51 ’N 5 ° 43 ’E) (Finot 1893 as Nemobius mayeti Finot, 1893). Laghouat [33 ° 48 ’N 2 ° 52 ’E] (Chopard 1943).Published as part of Desutter-Grandcolas, Laure, 2010, A check-list of Ensifera from Algeria (Insecta: Orthoptera), pp. 1-44 in Zootaxa 2432 on page 20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.29425

Gryllodinus kerkennensis Finot 1893

Gryllodinus kerkennensis (Finot, 1893) Gryllodes kerkennensis Finot, 1893: 252. Type locality: Tunisia, Kerkennah island (female). Algeria, Biskra (male). Distribution: Southern part of the palearctic region, from Spain and North Africa up to Central Asia (Gorochov and Llorente 2001). Biogeographic zones: Saharian Atlas, Northern Sahara, Central Sahara. Bioclimatic zones: Subhumid, arid, saharian. Records in Algeria: Biskra [34 ° 51 'N 5 ° 43 'E] (Finot 1893). Ouargla [31 ° 57 'N 5 ° 18 'E]; Touggourt [33 ° 6 'N 6 ° 4 'E]; Temassin [34 ° 40 'N 3 ° 15 'E]; Mraier [33 ° 57 'N 5 ° 55 'E]; Biskra [34 ° 51 'N 5 ° 43 'E] (Krauss 1902).Published as part of Desutter-Grandcolas, Laure, 2010, A check-list of Ensifera from Algeria (Insecta: Orthoptera), pp. 1-44 in Zootaxa 2432 on page 9, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.29425

Nouvelles données sur les Phalangopsidae néotropicaux (Orthoptères, Grylloidea)

Summary. — As a part of the study of neotropical Phalangopsidae, two genera, Stenotes, n. gen. and Smicrotes, n. gen., and five species from Peruvian Amazonia are described. A diagnosis of each genus is given, and its relationships discussed.Résumé. — Dans le cadre général de l'étude des Phalangopsidae néotropicaux, deux genres, Stenotes, n. gen. et Smicrotes, n. gen., et cinq espèces sont décrits d'Amazonie péruvienne. Pour chaque genre une diagnose est donnée et ses parentés phylétiques sont discutées.Desutter-grandcolas Laure. Nouvelles données sur les Phalangopsidae néotropicaux (Orthoptères, Grylloidea). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 96 (5), décembre 1991. pp. 451-461

Leptopsis nouveau nom pour Stenotes Desutter-Grancolas (Orth., Grylloidea)

Desutter-grandcolas Laure. Leptopsis nouveau nom pour Stenotes Desutter-Grancolas (Orth., Grylloidea). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 101 (5), décembre 1996. p. 507

Mogoplistes argentatus Bolivar 1881

Mogoplistes argentatus (Bolivar, 1881) Mogisoplistus argentatus Bolivar, 1881 a: 505. Type locality: North Africa, Algeria, Blida. Distribution: Species known from the type locality only. Biogeographic zone: Tellian Atlas. Bioclimatic zone: Subhumid. Record in Algeria: Blida [36 ° 28 'N 2 ° 49 'E] (Bolivar 1881 a).Published as part of Desutter-Grandcolas, Laure, 2010, A check-list of Ensifera from Algeria (Insecta: Orthoptera), pp. 1-44 in Zootaxa 2432 on page 17, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.29425

Rhicnogryllus lepidus Chopard, 1961, un Trigonidiinae bleu de Tanzanie (Grylloidea, Trigonidiidae)

Summary. -The male genitalia of Rhicnogryllus lepidus Chopard, 1961 (Trigonidiidae, Trigonidiinae) are described here for the first time, together with its remarkable blue coloration.Résumé. -La description de Rhicnogryllus lepidus Chopard, 1961 (Trigonidiidae, Trigonidiinae) est complétée par l'étude de ses genitalia mâles ; des précisions sont également apportées sur sa coloration bleue, remarquable chez les grillons.Desutter-grandcolas Laure. Rhicnogryllus lepidus Chopard, 1961, un Trigonidiinae bleu de Tanzanie (Grylloidea, Trigonidiidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 101 (1), avril 1996. pp. 31-34

Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa Linnaeus 1758

Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa (Linnaeus, 1758) Gryllus (Acheta) gryllotalpa Linnaeus, 1758: 428 Type locality: Europe. Distribution: Western Europe, from Great Britain and the South of Scandinavia up to the baltic coast, central Russia and western Siberia in the north, and from the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic islands up to Kazakhstan in the south, including southern France, Italy, Ukraine and Russia. Presence in the Northwest of North Africa doubtful (Gorochov and Llorente 2001). Species introduced in the USA (Olmo-Vidal 2000). Biogeographic zones: Shoreline, Tellian Atlas, High Plateaux, Saharian Atlas, Northern Sahara, Central Sahara. Bioclimatic zones: Humid, subhumid, semiarid, arid, saharian. Records in Algeria: Surroundings of Houbeira lake, near La Calle [El Kala] [36 ° 53 'N 8 ° 26 'E] (Lucas 1849, as Gryllotalpa vulgaris Latreille, 1804). Nemours [35 ° 6 'N 1 ° 51 'W]; Biskra [34 ° 51 'N 5 ° 43 'E] (Finot 1896). Mraier [33 ° 57 'N 5 ° 55 'E]; Biskra [34 ° 51 'N 5 ° 43 'E] (Krauss 1902). El Khreider [34 ° 9 'N 0° 4 'E] (Krauss and Vossler 1896, var. cophta Haan). In Salah, Tidikelt [27 °0'N 1 ° 30 'E]; Biskra [34 ° 51 'N 5 ° 43 'E] (Bolivar 1913). Aïn Sefra [32 ° 45 'N 0° 35 'W]; Biskra [34 ° 51 'N 5 ° 43 'E] (Werner, 1914, as G. v u l g a r i s). Béni Abbès [30 ° 7 'N 2 ° 10 'W] (Chopard 1940). Hammam Bou Hadjar [35 ° 22 'N 0° 58 'W]; Bou Saada [35 ° 12 'N 4 ° 10 'E]; Biskra [34 ° 51 'N 5 ° 43 'E]; Geryville [El-Bayadh] [33 ° 40 'N 1 ° 4 'E] (Chopard 1943). Biskra (Doumandji-Mitiche et al. 1999). Draa El-Mizan [36 ° 32 'N 3 ° 50 'E] (Doumandji et al. 1992). Ouargla [31 ° 57 'N 5 ° 18 'E] (Briki 1999). Médéa [36 ° 16 'N 2 ° 45 'E] (Seghier 2002). Mellah Lake [36 ° 54 'N 8 ° 12 'E] (Henda 1997). Boughzoul dam [35 ° 41 'N 2 ° 50 'E] (Baziz 1991). Réghaia [36 ° 44 'N 3 ° 20 'E] (Molinari 1989). Tonga Lake [36 ° 51 'N 8 ° 29 'E] (Tellailia 1990). Oued Aissi [36 ° 42 'N 4 °07'E] (Boukhemza 2001).Published as part of Desutter-Grandcolas, Laure, 2010, A check-list of Ensifera from Algeria (Insecta: Orthoptera), pp. 1-44 in Zootaxa 2432 on pages 16-17, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.29425