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Issue: Vol. 1069 No. 1: 25 Oct. 2005
Type: Articles
Published: 2005-10-25
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1069.1.1
Page range: 1-32
Abstract views: 35
PDF downloaded: 3

Molecular systematics and geographical distribution of the Drosophila longicornis species complex (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA Department of Biology, University of Vermont, VT, USA
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
Diptera Drosophila longicornis complex molecular systematics species concept conflict host cactus

Abstract

Here we examine the phylogenetic relationships of eleven species previously hypothesized to be members of the Drosophila longicornis complex (repleta group, mulleri subgroup) using combined analyses of four mitochondrial genes. This complex, as currently redefined, is composed of the longicornis cluster (D. longicornis, D. pachuca, D. propachuca, and D. mainlandi), the ritae cluster (D. desertorum, D. mathisi, and D. ritae), and several miscellaneous species (D. hamatofila, D. hexastigma, D. spenceri, and an undescribed species “from Sonora”). A maximum likelihood inference also includes the huckinsi cluster (D. huckinsi and D. huichole) as the most distant members in the longicornis complex, a condition not recovered using maximum parsimony. We were unable to diagnose species in the triad of sibling species D. longicornis, D. pachuca, and D. propachuca using rapidly evolving mitochondrial DNA data, and we discuss possible species concept conflict for this triad. Comprehensive distribution information for these species, gathered over the past 60 years, is synthesized and displayed in range maps. Available information about the ecology and host plants of each species is also included.

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