Darwin Returns to the Galapagos: Genetic and Morphological Analyses Confirm the Presence of <i>Tramea darwini</i> at the Archipelago (Odonata, Libellulidae)

The status of the <i>Tramea</i> species present in the Galapagos Islands (Odonata, Libellulidae) has been the subject of a long-standing debate among odonatologists. Here, we use molecular and morphological data to analyze a series of specimens from this genus collected in 2018 from the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: María Olalla Lorenzo-Carballa, Rosser W. Garrison, Andrea C. Encalada, Adolfo Cordero-Rivera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/1/21
Description
Summary:The status of the <i>Tramea</i> species present in the Galapagos Islands (Odonata, Libellulidae) has been the subject of a long-standing debate among odonatologists. Here, we use molecular and morphological data to analyze a series of specimens from this genus collected in 2018 from the Islands of San Cristobal, Isabela, and Santa Cruz, with the aim of determining their relationship with <i>Tramea calverti</i> Muttkowski and with their currently considered senior synonym <i>T. cophysa</i> Hagen. We combined sequencing of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA with morphological examination of several specimens of <i>Tramea</i>, including representatives of continental <i>T. cophysa</i> and <i>T. calverti</i>. Our molecular analyses place the <i>Tramea</i> from Galapagos in the same clade as <i>T. calverti</i>, with <i>T. cophysa</i> as a closely related species. The morphological analyses found only one consistent difference between <i>T. cophysa</i> and <i>T. calverti</i>: the presence of an accessory lobe in the male vesica spermalis of <i>T. cophysa</i> that is absent in <i>T. calverti</i> and in the <i>Tramea</i> from Galapagos. In agreement with our genetic results, the overall morphological differences documented by us indicate that the Galapagos material examined is conspecific with <i>T. calverti</i>. In light of this, and following the principle of priority in taxonomic nomenclature, <i>Tramea calverti</i> Muttkowski, 1910 should hereafter be considered a junior synonym of <i>Tramea darwini</i> Kirby, 1889.
ISSN:2075-4450