Thesis--University of Florida. / Description based on print version record. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-125).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Preliminary phylogenetic analyses of Passalidae and the genus Popilius are presented based on 207 characters for the family level part of this study and 232 characters for the generic portion. The strict consensus and successive approximation trees show that the New World passalid fauna is monophyletic, and that Popilius is paraphyletic and intertwined with several closely related, also paraphyletic, genera (at least Heliscus, Odontotaenius and Petrejoides). An unrooted analysis of Popilius identified four species groups, two that are monophyletic, one that is probably paraphyletic (more closely related to Petrejoides than to other members of Popilius) and one for a distinct species, the single specimen of which was not available for examination. New character systems were investigated and the metendosternite, eversible internal sac of the male genitalia, prostheca of the right mandible, epipharynx, and hypopharynx provided useful characters to supplement those traditionally used. A new autapomorphy for the family is reported, an organ on the inner surface of both elytral humeri. The structure has a membranous covering and appears to contact an apophysis on the base of the wing. Its position and structure suggest that it may be a sound receptor. A rigorous investigation of the relationships among the genera closely related is required to define generic boundaries and identify the out-group taxa most appropriate for the analysis of the component taxa.

Submitted by Reginaldo Soares de Freitas (reginaldo.freitas@ufv.br) on 2016-03-09T10:50:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 2738696 bytes, checksum: 2654ff024bcd2db78a131c0d4f76e5b7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-09T10:50:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 2738696 bytes, checksum: 2654ff024bcd2db78a131c0d4f76e5b7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-05-13 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Na primeira parte, descreve-se a nível morfoanatômico, histológico e ultraestrutural os órgãos reprodutivos meso e ectodérmicos “internos” de passalídeos com ocorrência na região sudeste do Brasil, enfatizando nas espécies do estado de Minas Gerais. A sua finalidade é fornecer novas informações destas estruturas e contribuir à compreensão da sua organização e função. Como exemplificação para as masculinas estudou-se a Spasalus robustus (Percheron 1835) e para as femininas Veturius sinuatus (Eschscholtz 1829). A constituição geral do sistema reprodutor de ambos os sexos é semelhante à descrita para outros representantes americanos. Nas fêmeas de V. sinuatus ressaltam-se diferenças estruturais no filamento terminal em relação ao presente nos ovários de tipo meroísitico telotrófico em Polyphaga. Considera-se que esta região do filamento tentativamente pode estar relacionada com as células germinativas. Nos machos de S. robustus o testículo divide-se em septos e o ducto eferente é intrafolicular na maior parte, o que reflete no arranjo da espermiogênese, a qual não segue um padrão de organização definido como em outros insetos. Neste passalídeo, cada cisto contem 128 espermatozoides de aspecto filiforme, com núcleos pequenos em relação ao tamanho do flagelo. Na segunda parte, a morfoanatomia das genitália ectodérmicas “externas” (machos) e “internas” (fêmeas) foram estudadas para 16 espécies de Passalidae com esta distribuição: Passalus coniferus Eschscholtz 1829, P. binominatus Percheron 1835, P. denticollis (Kaup 1869), P. ferenudus (Kuwert 1898), P. glaberrimus Eschscholtz 1829, P. perplexus (Kaup 1869), P. peruvianus (Kuwert 1898), P. quadricollis Eschscholtz 1829, P. nasutus Percheron 1835, P. latifrons Percheron 1841, P. morio Percheron 1835, Passalus sp. 1, Paxillus brasiliensis (Le Peletier & Serville 1825), S. robustus, Veturius simillimus Kuwert 1891 e V. sinuatus. Os caracteres morfológicos destas estruturas reprodutivas, em conjunto com caracteres externos do corpo dos adultos evidenciaram e apoiaram as ideias atuais de que a composição sistemática da fauna desta região do país é distinta à que tem sido considerada, igualmente ideias da heterogeneidade filogenética no que respeita ao gênero Passalus Fabricius. Assim, sete grupos de espécies foram propostos dentro de Passalus s. autores, nomeados: “coniferus-peruvianus”, “binominatus”, “ferenudus”, “glaberrimus-perplexus”, “morio”, “nasutus-sp. 1”, “quadricollis”. Só o grupo “coniferus-peruvianus” representa realmente a Passalus s. str. Como consequência, todos os demais grupos pertencem aos gêneros incertae sedis. Por outro lado, como foi indicado na literatura recente, Pertinax latifrons pertence a este gênero distinto e com Paxillus brasiliensis constata-se a estreita relação entre Paxillus e Passalus s. str. Com estas considerações, novas ideias foram inferidas sobre as possíveis relações filogenéticas entre os táxons ao nível genérico da fauna do sudeste do Brasil. / The first part describes the anatomical, morphological, histological and ultrastructural level the meso and ectodermal "internal" reproductive organs to passalid occurring in southeastern Brazil, emphasizing the species of Minas Gerais state. Its purpose is to provide new information of these structures, to contribute in understanding of the organization and function. For example for males studied to Spasalus robustus (Percheron 1835) and for female to Veturius sinuatus (Eschscholtz 1829). The general constitution of the reproductive system of both sexes is similar as compared to the American’s Passalidae. In V. sinuatus females we emphasize the structural differences in the terminal filament in relation to meroisitic telotrophic type of ovaries in Polyphaga. We considered that this region of filament can tentatively be related to the germ cells. In males of S. robustus the testicle is divided into septa and the efferent duct is intrafollicular mostly reflecting the arrangement of spermatogenesis, which does not follow the pattern of organization defined as in other insects. In this passalid, each cyst contains 128 sperm thread-like appearance, with small nuclei relative to the size of the flagellum. In second part, the morphoanatomy of ectodermal "external" (males) and "internal" (females) genitalia were studied for 14 more species Passalidae with this distribution: Passalus coniferus Eschscholtz 1829, P. binominatus Percheron 1835, P. denticollis (Kaup 1869), P. ferenudus (Kuwert 1898), P. glaberrimus Eschscholtz 1829, P. perplexus (Kaup 1869), P. peruvianus (Kuwert 1898), P. quadricollis Eschscholtz 1829, P. nasutus Percheron 1835, P. latifrons Percheron 1841, P. morio Percheron 1835, Passalus sp. 1, Paxillus brasiliensis (Le Peletier & Serville 1825) and V. simillimus Kuwert 1891. The morphological characters of these reproductive structures, together with external characters of the adult body showed and supported the current ideas that systematic fauna composition of this region of the country is different to that which has been considered, also ideas of phylogenetic heterogeneity with regard to genre Passalus Fabricius. Thus, seven groups of species have been proposed in Passalus s. authors, named: “coniferus-peruvianus”, “binominatus”, “ferenudus”, “glaberrimus-perplexus”, “morio”, “nasutus- sp. 1”, “quadricollis”. Only the group "coniferus-peruvianus" really represent to Passalus s. str. As a consequence, all other groups belong to genres incertae sedis. On the other hand, as indicated in the recent literature, Pertinax latifrons belongs to this distinct genre, also with Paxillus brasiliensis indicates the close relationship between Paxillus and Passalus s. str. With these considerations, new ideas were inserted for possible phylogenetic relationships among taxa to generic level of fauna the southeast Brazil.