Cladistic analysis of the family Baetidae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) in South America

Abstract

Abstract. The family Baetidae, which belongs to the order Ephemeroptera, was first described by Leach in 1815. Since then, almost 100 genera and 900 species have been described. Although diverse, this family is relatively homogeneous. The adults are extremely similar to one another, the wings vary little and the penes are membranous, features that significantly reduce differentiation among taxa. In contrast, the larvae have more conspicuous differences. Most are collector-gatherers, but a few are carnivorous or filter feeders. In South America, although knowledge concerning the 27 genera and 132 species of Baetidae described for this region has improved in the last three decades, phylogenetic relationships remain unknown. The present study, the first cladistic analysis of Baetidae in South America, included 70 species (55 are Neotropical) and 126 morphological characters. The matrix was analysed using tnt, under implied weights. Although the monophyly of the family Baetidae was obtained with good support, the subfamilies proposed originally (Baetinae, Cloeoninae and Callibaetinae) were recovered as paraphyletic. The Baetodes complex, as well as the relationships between genera, is discussed. The validity of some structures or characters as support of different groupings is also discussed.

An estimate of the potential number of mayfly species (Ephemeroptera, Insecta) still to be described in Brazil

“…This predominance of descriptions of adults may be related to the relative simplicity of identifying and describing the adults in comparison with the nymphs, in most ephemeropteran species, given the number of morphological characters in both cases. This is demonstrated clearly by the matrix of morphological traits used by Nieto (2010) for the analysis of South American baetid species, which was based on 104 characters for the nymphs, but only 14 for the adults. On a global scale, Kluge (2014) used 65 additional traits for the analysis of the nymphs (a total of 179) in comparison with the adults, for which only 114 traits were used (see http://www.insecta.bio.spbu.ru/z/ Eph-phyl/ index of characters.htm).…”

Phylogenetic analyses of CloeodesTraver and related genera (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae)

“…In this case we chose 15 species of Baetidae matching at least one of the following criteria: (A) the presence of a sub proximal row of setae at the base of tibiae; (B) South American genera that have been considered related to Cloeodes previously (i.e. Nieto, ; Kluge & Novikova, ); (C) representatives of the distinct lineages recently proposed by Kluge (, ) and Kluge & Novikova (). These included: Afroptilum sudafricanum (Lestage): criterion C (Protopatellata); Aturbina georgei Lugo‐Ortiz & McCafferty: criteria B and C [Anteropatellata: Baetovectata: Aturbina/g(1)]; Baetis monikae Kopelke: criterion C (Anteropatellata: Baetovectata: Baetungulata); Bugilliesia margaretae Gattolliat & Barber‐James: criterion C (Protopatellata: Rhithrocloeon/fg1); Centroptilum luteolum (Müller): criteria A and C (Anteropatellata: Centroptilum g/1); Cheleocloeon yolandae Wuillot & Gillies: criteria A and C [Anteropatellata: Cheleocloeon/g(1)]; Cloeon dipterum (Linnaeus): criteria A and C (Anteropatellata: Cloeon/fg1: Cloeon/fg2); Procloeon pennulatum (Eaton) and two undescribed species related to Procloeon Bengtsson from Indonesia ( Procloeon sp.…”

“…Following recent analyses (Nieto & Richard, ; Nieto, ), we decided to root the tree with Siphlaenigma janae Penniket (Siphlaenigmatidae). Despite the results of recent analyses based on molecular and morphological data (Ogden et al ., ), this family has been historically considered as the sister group of Baetidae (Staniczek, ; Kluge, ) and the morphological traits found in both families allow a more plausible codification of characters.…”

“…Nieto & Richard () performed a cladistic analysis on South American Cloeodes , but it was in order to test the validity of Bernerius so ingroup sampling was relatively limited. In a cladistic analysis of primarily South American Baetidae in South America, Nieto () recovered Cloeodes as the sister‐group of Dabulamanzia , both being closely related to a clade comprising the Neotropical genera Aturbina Lugo‐Ortiz & McCafferty, Zelusia Lugo‐Ortiz & McCafferty and Tomedontus Lugo‐Ortiz & McCafferty. In all of the cases related above, the most striking character (and potential synapomorphy) associated with the Cloeodes complex is the presence of an arc of setae at the base of tibiae and, in the strict case of Cloeodes , the presence of a row of setae on some abdominal sterna.…”

A new genus and species of Baetidae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from Brazil

“…Since then, however, a series of studies have increased considerably the knowledge about the taxonomy and systematics of the family (Lugo-Ortiz and McCafferty, 1995, 1996a, 1996b, 1996c, 1996dLugo-Ortiz and McCafferty, 1997;Salles and Francischetti, 2004;Salles et al, , 2005Salles, 2007;Nieto and Richard, 2008;Salles and Polegatto, 2008;Nieto, 2010). Currently, the neotropics have records of 28 genera and more than 210 species, most of them endemic (Gattolliat and Nieto, 2009;Nieto and Derka, 2011).…”