Dentre os representantes de Campanulariidae, o gênero Orthopyxis é conhecido pela ampla plasticidade morfológica de suas espécies, bem como pela semelhança com o gênero Campanularia. Essas características levaram à descrição de muitas espécies nominais no Atlântico sul-ocidental e confusões com o gênero Campanularia, dificultando a identificação das espécies. Nesse contexto, este estudo teve os objetivos de (1) rever as ocorrências de Orthopyxis no Atlântico sul-ocidental, (2) compreender a variação morfológica intra-específica de Orthopyxis e delimitar suas espécies por meio de estudo morfométrico e molecular, e (3) compreender as relações entre os gêneros Orthopyxis e Campanularia no Atlântico sul-ocidental, levantando evidências morfológicas e moleculares que pudessem delimitá-los. A análise das sequências de DNA resultou no monofiletismo do gênero Orthopyxis e na delimitação das espécies O. sargassicola, O. integra e O. crenata, esta última um novo registro para o Atlântico sul-ocidental. As análises morfológicas permitiram identificar os caracteres informativos para a delimitação dessas linhagens, bem como a amplitude de variação dos caracteres morfológicos frequentemente utilizados para diagnose das espécies de Orthopyxis. Esse estudo aponta evidências morfológicas informativas para a delimitação dos gêneros, principalmente em relação ao cnidoma. O presente estudo do gênero Orthopyxis no Atlântico sul-ocidental poderá servir como modelo para o delineamento de outras pesquisas envolvendo a família Campanulariidae, ao mostrar que as espécies podem ser corretamente delimitadas a partir de análises morfológicas e moleculares. / Within the Campanulariidae, the genus Orthopyxis is known for its morphological plasticity and resemblance with the genus Campanularia. These characteristics have led to the description of numerous nominal species in the southwestern Atlantic, and also to considerable confusion with the genus Campanularia, making taxonomic identification very difficult. In this context, the goal of this study was to (1) review the occurrences of Orthopyxis in the southwestern Atlantic, (2) understand its intraspecific morphological variation and delimit species using morphological and molecular data, and (3) investigate the relationships between Orthopyxis and Campanularia to find morphological and molecular evidence for their delimitation. The molecular analyses resulted in a monophyletic Orthopyxis, and in the delimitation of O. sargassicola, O. integra, and O. crenata, the latter a new record for the southwestern Atlantic. The morphological analyses identified the characters that are most informative for the delimitation of these lineages, as well as the amplitude of morphological variation within the characters frequently used in the taxonomy of Orthopyxis.This study identified some morphological evidence for the delimitation of both genera, especially in relation to the cnidae. The present study of the genus Orthopyxis in the southwestern Atlantic can be used as a model for the delineation of future investigations of the family Campanulariidae, in the sense that species may be successfully delimited with an integrated morphological and molecular approach.

Dentre os representantes de Campanulariidae, o gênero Orthopyxis é conhecido pela ampla plasticidade morfológica de suas espécies, bem como pela semelhança com o gênero Campanularia. Essas características levaram à descrição de muitas espécies nominais no Atlântico sul-ocidental e confusões com o gênero Campanularia, dificultando a identificação das espécies. Nesse contexto, este estudo teve os objetivos de (1) rever as ocorrências de Orthopyxis no Atlântico sul-ocidental, (2) compreender a variação morfológica intra-específica de Orthopyxis e delimitar suas espécies por meio de estudo morfométrico e molecular, e (3) compreender as relações entre os gêneros Orthopyxis e Campanularia no Atlântico sul-ocidental, levantando evidências morfológicas e moleculares que pudessem delimitá-los. A análise das sequências de DNA resultou no monofiletismo do gênero Orthopyxis e na delimitação das espécies O. sargassicola, O. integra e O. crenata, esta última um novo registro para o Atlântico sul-ocidental. As análises morfológicas permitiram identificar os caracteres informativos para a delimitação dessas linhagens, bem como a amplitude de variação dos caracteres morfológicos frequentemente utilizados para diagnose das espécies de Orthopyxis. Esse estudo aponta evidências morfológicas informativas para a delimitação dos gêneros, principalmente em relação ao cnidoma. O presente estudo do gênero Orthopyxis no Atlântico sul-ocidental poderá servir como modelo para o delineamento de outras pesquisas envolvendo a família Campanulariidae, ao mostrar que as espécies podem ser corretamente delimitadas a partir de análises morfológicas e moleculares. / Within the Campanulariidae, the genus Orthopyxis is known for its morphological plasticity and resemblance with the genus Campanularia. These characteristics have led to the description of numerous nominal species in the southwestern Atlantic, and also to considerable confusion with the genus Campanularia, making taxonomic identification very difficult. In this context, the goal of this study was to (1) review the occurrences of Orthopyxis in the southwestern Atlantic, (2) understand its intraspecific morphological variation and delimit species using morphological and molecular data, and (3) investigate the relationships between Orthopyxis and Campanularia to find morphological and molecular evidence for their delimitation. The molecular analyses resulted in a monophyletic Orthopyxis, and in the delimitation of O. sargassicola, O. integra, and O. crenata, the latter a new record for the southwestern Atlantic. The morphological analyses identified the characters that are most informative for the delimitation of these lineages, as well as the amplitude of morphological variation within the characters frequently used in the taxonomy of Orthopyxis.This study identified some morphological evidence for the delimitation of both genera, especially in relation to the cnidae. The present study of the genus Orthopyxis in the southwestern Atlantic can be used as a model for the delineation of future investigations of the family Campanulariidae, in the sense that species may be successfully delimited with an integrated morphological and molecular approach.

Understanding the mechanisms that generate shared morphologies across closely related taxa is important when identifying distinct evolutionary lineages using morphological characters. Desmognathus salamanders are an ideal group for testing hypotheses concerning the correlation between morphological similarity and genetic exchange within and among nominal species due to a pattern of high discordance between the two. Phylogeographic hypotheses are tested for populations of the D. quadramaculatus species complex throughout southern Appalachia by combining phylogenetic and population genetic methods with geographical information. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic inferences are then assessed in conjunction with morphological characteristics that have traditionally diagnosed taxonomic entities to understand the genetic basis of shared morphology in this complex, and to assess species boundaries. A history of fragmentation followed by range expansion is suggested as a recurrent pattern that has shaped the current population structure within this complex. The current taxonomy is found to unite populations that share similar morphologies due to parallel evolution rather than ancestry. We suggest revisions in taxonomy that will better reflect the evolutionary history of these lineages. Appreciation of the hidden genetic variation and homoplasious morphological variation often present in and among salamander species can foster the implementation of more appropriate methods for detecting and recognizing the complex history of these organisms.

Previous studies based on morphological, allozymic and mitochondrial sequence data have indicated that Liomys pictus is paraplyletic relative to L. spectabilis. The purpose of this study was to determine the species boundaries that exist within this complex. I estimated phylogenetic relationships within this complex using sequence data from 1,140 bp of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene and two nuclear introns from engrailed protein (190 bp) and myosin heavy chain (254 bp) genes for approximately 712 individuals representing 82 localities across the range of L. pictus and L. spectabilis. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analyses suggest that there are six species within the L. pictus complex using the Weins-Penkrot approach and Templeton's cohesion test for delimitating species whereas previously only two have been recognized.