Systematics (Taxonomy)

Phylogeny of the ankylosaurian dinosaurs - with page numbers

by Susannah Maidment

Matching dimorphic sexes and immature stages with adults: resolving the systematics of the Bekilya group of Malagasy assassin bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Peiratinae) [Systematic Entomology]

by Guanyang Zhang

Published in 'Systematic Entomology'

The Madagascar endemic assassin bugs Bekilya Villiers and Hovacoris Villiers were described from macropterous male... more The Madagascar endemic assassin bugs Bekilya Villiers and Hovacoris Villiers were described from macropterous male specimens with striking colour patterns, and are currently monotypic. Mutillocoris Villiers, with two species from Madagascar, was based on brachypterous female specimens that resemble female mutillid wasps. To investigate the validity of the three genera, recently collected specimens from Madagascar were studied with both morphological and molecular techniques. Morphology alone appeared to be of limited value for associating males with females, and immature stages with adults, because of drastic differences between the sexes and the life stages. However, the use of morphology in conjunction with molecular data resolved these associations and showed that species of Mutillocoris represent females of Bekilya and Hovacoris, which we transfer accordingly to these two genera and refer to them as the Bekilya group. The type species of Mutillocoris belongs in Bekilya, resulting in the synonymy of these two genera (Mutillocorissyn.n.). The Bekilya group is diagnosed and several new species are described: Bekilya mahafalyasp.n., Bekilya tenebrasp.n., Bekilya tulearasp.n., Hovacoris bicolornotumsp.n., Hovacoris melanocepssp.n. and Hovacoris rufiventrissp.n. A total of ten species are recognized within the Bekilya group. The monophyly of Bekilya, Hovacoris and the Bekilya group is confirmed by morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses.

THE SMALL MAMMALS OF BARIO, KELABIT HIGHLANDS SARAWAK

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

This paper discusses on the bat diversity in the highland of Sarawak. Some taxonomic errors. This paper discusses on the bat diversity in the highland of Sarawak. Some taxonomic errors.

COMPARATIVE DISTRIBUTION AND DIVERSITY OF BATS FROM Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. 2011.1

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Read other papers by Vijaya et al in this page

Surveys on the chiropteran diversity were conducted at eight different localities in Sarawak to document the bat... more Surveys on the chiropteran diversity were conducted at eight different localities in Sarawak to document the bat diversity as well as to estimate the composition of bats in these areas. The major finding of bat surveys shows that montane areas have distinct chiropteran composition compared with those in lowland and logged areas. Disturbed habitats do pose a threat to the overall diversity of bats, with the generalist bats been more successful in colonising altered area than those with specialised habitat requirements. Sampling of bats targeted at different site and vegetation type from several protected areas in Sarawak have revealed the current record of bats in Sarawak and its diversity can be monitored for better management of biodiversity in this important region.

Keywords: Diversity, chiroptera, forest types, montane, habitat disturbance, Borneo

Phylogenetic Analysis of the Malaysian Rhinolopus and Hipposideros using mtDNA cytochrome b gene. PJTAS 34(2):281-294.

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Read Abdullah (2003)

The phylogenetic relationships among 10 species of Rhinolophus and 10 species of Hipposideros from Borneo and... more The phylogenetic relationships among 10 species of Rhinolophus and 10 species of Hipposideros from Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia were successfully inferred from the partial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome (cyt) b sequences. Of the 413 nucleotide positions examined, there were 171 positions (41.4%), of which 164 positions (95.9%) were parsimoniously informative. The phylogenetic trees reconstruction using neighbour-joining (NJ), unweighted maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods suggest the monophyletic clustering of these families. The interspecific relationships within Rhinolophidae were completely resolved, while those within Hipposideridae were not fully resolved, as supported by the low bootstrap values. Overall, the phylogenetic analysis using partial mtDNA cyt b gene was useful to discriminate these complicated taxa and successfully revealed the misidentification of several specimens before due to their similar morphologies.

Keywords: Cytochrome b, Hipposideros, mitochondrial DNA, phylogenetics, Rhinolophus

Malaysian fruit bats phylogeny inferred using ribosomal RNA. Ryan, J.R., K.H.G. Andy, V.K. Jayaraj, Y. Esa, A.A. Sallehin and Abdullah, M.T. 2008. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science 31(1):107-117. (SCOPUS-Cited Publication).

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Fourteen species of the Malaysian fruit bats (Pteropodidae) were used in this DNA taxonomy using 1,334bp of the 12S... more Fourteen species of the Malaysian fruit bats (Pteropodidae) were used in this DNA taxonomy using 1,334bp of the 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA) valine and 16S rRNA gene segments. Previous studies using DNA found contradictions between morphology and molecular data in inferring the phylogeny of the fruit bats proposed by Andersen (1912). Our phylogenetic analysis using the neighbor-joining and the maximum parsimony methods did not support the monophyly of the subfamily Macroglossinae and the cynopterine group of the subfamily Pteropodinae as proposed by classical taxonomists. This is congruent with previous molecular studies. Here, we provide the first registered 12S rRNA, tRNA valine and 16S rRNA sequence records for Dyacopterus spadiceus in the GenBank database. This study represents the first attempt to infer the phylogenetic relationship of fruit bats from Malaysia using molecular methods.

Molecular phylogenetics and systematics of five genera of Malaysian murine rodents (Maxomys, Sundamys, Leopoldamys, Niviventer and Rattus) inferred from partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene.

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Nur Aida Md Tamrin and M. T. Abdullah. 2011. Journal of Science and Technology in the Tropics 7: 75-86. (SCOPUS-indexed).

We genetically analysed 50 specimens of Murinae from Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, assigned to 12 species.... more We genetically analysed 50 specimens of Murinae from Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, assigned to 12 species. Phylogenetic analyses of partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (476 base pairs) using four methods, namely, neighbour-joining (NJ), maximum parsimony (MP), maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian method resulted in similar statistically supported clades with minimal change in branching order. The analyses discovered that there were intermediate form of Maxomys species within M. whiteheadi and M. ochraceiventer populations. They display same external morphology as M. whiteheadi but genetically closer to M. ochraceiventer. Craniodental measurements showed significant differences between the three populations. Rattus and Sundamys appeared not fully resolved while Leopoldamys and Niviventer were steadily clustered. The intraspecific geographic variation in some species agrees with previous studies on the vicariance scenario and diversification of flora and fauna in Malaysia and Borneo.

Nur Aida Md Tamrin and M. T. Abdullah. 2011. Journal of Science and Technology in the Tropics 7: 75-86. (SCOPUS-indexed).

Biogeography of fruit bats in Southeast Asia. Les S. Hall, Gordon G. Grigg, Craig Moritz, Besar Ketol, Isa Sait, Wahab Marni and M.T. Abdullah.

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Should read Abdullah (2003).

We studied on the biogeography and diversity of fruit bats in Southeast Asia, from Borneo to Asian Mainland.The... more We studied on the biogeography and diversity of fruit bats in Southeast Asia, from Borneo to Asian Mainland.The patterns of distribution of distribution, diversity and abundance are related to ecological and biogeographical factors and possible past Pleistocene events.

Les S. Hall, Gordon G. Grigg, Craig Moritz, Besar Ketol, Isa Sait, Wahab Marni and M.T. Abdullah. 2004. Sarawak Museum Journal 81: 191-284.

A morphological analysis of Malaysian Kerivoula (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae).

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Related study by Faisal Anwali Khan et al. 2010

Recent identification of new species within the genus Kerivoula from the Southeast Asian region has indicated that... more Recent identification of new species within the genus Kerivoula from the Southeast Asian region has indicated that this genus was understudied and currently underestimated in terms of its species diversity. Thus, this morphological study was carried out to record and analyse the morphological characters of available specimens of Malaysian Kerivoula from the Museum of Zoology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. Thirty-one external, skull and dental characters were taken and analysed using the multivariate analysis, dicriminant function analysis. As the result, six groupings of Kerivoula was identified, namely K. intermedia, K. hardwickii, K. pellucida, K. lenis and K. papillosa which were divided into two distinctive groupings of K. papillosa type large (K.
papillosa type L, hereafter) and K. papillosa type small (K. papillosa type S, hereafter). Variable dentary length was identified as the best predictor to characterize each group of Kerivoula. The
separation of the K. papillosa specimens into two separate morphotypes were characterised by their different sizes whereby the former group was larger in size compared to the latter. It is suggested that each represents an independent species even though both morphotypes occur sympatrically. The homogenising effect of the previous environmental events might have been the primary factor of the sympatric occurrence of both morphotypes. Nevertheless, further study regarding ecology, morphology and genetics should be carried out to provide a better insight regarding the cryptic population of K. papillosa in Borneo and Malaysia.

Hasan, N.H., Abdullah, M.T. 2011. Mammal Study 36: 87-97.

Endau Rompin Sumatran rhinoceros Plan. 1985

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Five years later, there was widespread local extinction of the Sumatran rhinoceros in Malaysia. Five years later, there was widespread local extinction of the Sumatran rhinoceros in Malaysia.

Revision and phylogenetic analysis of the Hadronema group (Miridae: Orthotylinae: Orthotylini), with descriptions of new genera and new species, and comments on the Neotropical genus Tupimiris

by Dimitri Forero

Published in: Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 312: 1-172. (2008)

Aoplonema Knight, Daleapidea Knight, Hadronema Uhler, and Hadronemidea Reuter are revised. Aoplonema nigrum, sp. nov.,... more Aoplonema Knight, Daleapidea Knight, Hadronema Uhler, and Hadronemidea Reuter are revised. Aoplonema nigrum, sp. nov., A. rubrum, sp. nov., Hadronema incognitum, sp. nov., and H. mexicanum, sp. nov. are described. Hadronemidea echinata, comb. nov. is proposed for Hadronema echinata Gruetzmacher and Schaffner, 1977. Aoplonemella, gen. nov. is described to accommodate Hadronema festiva Van Duzee, 1910; and Origonema, gen. nov. is described to accommodate Hadronema splendida Gibson, 1918. Scutomiris setosus, gen. et sp. nov. are described from Baja California Sur, Mexico. This new genus is superficially similar to the Neotropical genus Tupimiris. Male genitalic characters not mentioned in the original description of T. scutellatus are illustrated and compared with those of S. setosus, showing that the two are not related. Aoplonema, Aoplonemella, Daleapidea, Hadronema, Hadronemidea, Origonema, and Scutomiris form a monophyletic group herein denominated the Hadronema group. Dorsal habitus color photographs of all the species, scanning electron micrographs of selected species for each genus, and illustrations of male and female genitalic characters are provided for all species. Keys to separate the genera and species treated in this paper are presented. A phylogenetic hypothesis of relationships among the genera is proposed, and host-plant associations are discussed.

Abstract, Dedication, and Acknowledgments for the Hobbs (2011) dissertation published by SAS.

by Robert Dean Hobbs

The Hobbs (2011) doctoral study is published in the ProQuest Dissertations and These database, UMI No. 3484309

The purpose of the qualitative research was to assess models of education developed for the study to investigate how... more The purpose of the qualitative research was to assess models of education developed for the study to investigate how and when to incorporate second and third languages into the curriculum to improve language acquisition. Research indicates that L3 enhances and reinforces L2 and L1. The stratified systematic grounded theory study explored the perspectives of neurolinguists, psycholinguists, sociolinguists, and interdisciplinary education researchers to derive variables for constructing a new model of education. The outcome of the Internet survey revealed that 100% of the participants agreed that education must change and that teacher training must improve. Variables from the cross-disciplinary data contributed to the construction of an integrated model of multilingual education consisting of four primary models and other models to serve as tools for designing curriculum, instruction, and assessment as well as determining demographics and student meta-analysis of language abilities and storage in the brain. The first model emerged from the data to offer multilingual principles of education. The other primary models are macro, meso, and micro models. The macro model represents schools, instruction, assessment, and the curriculum cycle. The meso model depicts the developmental domains of the individual learner and includes a cyclical equation. The micro model delineates multilingual processing in the brain based on neurolinguistic research, variables from the current study, and Kees de Bot's bilingual adaptation of Levelt's language processing model. Recommendations include the incorporation of notional-functional pragmatic-aesthetic concepts as depicted in the models developed for the study and enhanced by input from published researchers with unique language and research repertoires who were located on four continents.

SKULL SHAPE AND SIZE DIVERGENCE IN DOLPHINS OF THE GENUS SOTALIA: A TRIDIMENSIONAL MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS

by Leandro Monteiro

SAARAS: Systematic Assessment And Reform Of Archaeological Systematics (Proposal)

by Kevin C. Nolan

Mapping the Biosphere: Exploring Species to Understand the Origin, Organization, and Sustainability of Biodiversity

by Andrew Hamilton

Co-authored with Q. D. Wheeler, S. Knapp, D. W. Stevensonc, J. Stevenson, S. D. Blum, B. M. Boom, G. G. Borisy, J. L. Buizer, M. R. De Carvalho, A. Cibrian, M. J. Donoghue, V. Doyle, E. M. Gerson, C. H. Graham, P. Graves, S. J. Graves, R. P. Guralnick, J. Hanken, W. Law, D. L. Lipscomb, T. E. Lovejoy, H. Miller, J. S. Miller, S. Naeem, M. J. Novacek, L. M. Page, N. I. Platnick, H. Porter-Morgan, P. H. Raven, M. A. Solis, A. G. Valdecasas, S. Van Der Leeuw, A. Vasco, N. Vermeulen, J. Vogel, R. L. Walls, E. O. Wilson and J. B. Woolley

The time is ripe for a comprehensive mission to explore and document Earth's species. This calls for a campaign to... more The time is ripe for a comprehensive mission to explore and document Earth's species. This calls for a campaign to educate and inspire the next generation of professional and citizen species explorers, investments in cyber-infrastructure and collections to meet the unique needs of the producers and consumers of taxonomic information, and the formation and coordination of a multi-institutional, international, transdisciplinary community of researchers, scholars and engineers with the shared objective of creating a comprehensive inventory of species and detailed map of the biosphere. We conclude that an ambitious goal to describe 10 million species in less than 50 years is attainable based on the strength of 250 years of progress, worldwide collections, existing experts, technological innovation and collaborative teamwork. Existing digitization projects are overcoming obstacles of the past, facilitating collaboration and mobilizing literature, data, images and specimens through cyber technologies. Charting the biosphere is enormously complex, yet necessary expertise can be found through partnerships with engineers, information scientists, sociologists, ecologists, climate scientists, conservation biologists, industrial project managers and taxon specialists, from agrostologists to zoophytologists. Benefits to society of the proposed mission would be profound, immediate and enduring, from detection of early responses of flora and fauna to climate change to opening access to evolutionary designs for solutions to countless practical problems. The impacts on the biodiversity, environmental and evolutionary sciences would be transformative, from ecosystem models calibrated in detail to comprehensive understanding of the origin and evolution of life over its 3.8 billion year history. The resultant cyber-enabled taxonomy, or cybertaxonomy, would open access to biodiversity data to developing nations, assure access to reliable data about species, and change how scientists and citizens alike access, use and think about biological diversity information.

Wüster, W. & R.S. Thorpe (1989) Population affinities of the Asiatic cobra (Naja naja) species complex in south east Asia: reliability and random resampling. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 36: 391 409.

by Wolfgang Wüster

Wüster, W. & R.S. Thorpe (1990) Systematics and biogeography of the Asiatic cobra (Naja naja) species complex in the Philippine Islands. In G. Peters & R. Hutterer (Eds.), Vertebrates in the Tropics: 333 344. Museum A. Koenig, Bonn.

by Wolfgang Wüster

Wüster, W. & R.S. Thorpe (1991) Asiatic cobras: systematics and snakebite. Experientia, 47: 205 209.

by Wolfgang Wüster

Wüster, W., S. Otsuka, A. Malhotra & R.S. Thorpe (1992) Population systematics of Russell's viper: a multivariate study. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 47: 97-113.

by Wolfgang Wüster

Wüster, W., S. Otsuka, R.S. Thorpe & A. Malhotra (1992) Morphological variation in Russell's viper in Burma and Thailand. Herpetological Journal, 2: 99-101

by Wolfgang Wüster