Landcare Research - Manaaki Whenua

Landcare-Research -Manaaki Whenua

FNZ 36 - Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera) - Systematics

Towns, DR; Peters, WL 1996. Leptophlebiidae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera). Fauna of New Zealand 36, 144 pages.
( ISSN 0111-5383 (print), ; no. 36. ISBN 0-478-09303-9 (print), ). Published 19 Aug 1996
ZooBank: http://zoobank.org/References/B1ECE903-3693-45EF-887C-43BFB1937FE0

SYSTEMATICS

The first leptophlebiid mayfly known from New Zealand was Baetis scita (now referred to Neozephlebia), which was described by Walker (1853). In 1871 Eaton described two mayflies from New Zealand, one as Leptophlebia dentata and the other as L. nodularis (now considered to be a synonym of Neozephlebia scita). Eaton (1899) also described Deleatidium lillii and Atalophlebia versicolor. Unfortunately, Lillie (1898) confused D. lillii with N. scita, so by 1900 the identity of the four known species of New Zealand leptophlebiid mayflies was already clouded by confusion. The problems increased when Hudson (1904) described the distinctive Atalophlebia cruentata (now in Acanthophlebia) without designating a type specimen or type locality; these were later inferred by Towns (1983a). Further difficulties were generated by Phillips (1930), who described seven new species, none of them with type material designated. These latter descriptions lacked diagnostic detail, and were accompanied by rudimentary sketches of genitalia. Unfortunately, five of the species are in Deleatidium, among the most widespread and abundant of all New Zealand running-water invertebrates.

A semblance of order was applied to the family with generic revisions started by Penniket (1961) and continued by Peters (1971), Towns & Peters (1978, 1979a, b), and Towns (1983a), but the chaos surrounding Deleatidium has remained a "taxonomist's nightmare" to this day (Winterbourn 1977).

In their phylogeny of New Zealand leptophlebiids Towns & Peters (1980) identified five generic lineages. Modification of that phylogeny following the description of several new genera (Towns 1983a, Towns & Peters 1979a, b) now provides for six lineages (A F, below). Each of the six New Zealand generic lineages can be identified throughout much of the Southern Hemisphere (Pescador & Peters 1980a) (Text-fig. 1).

  1. Atalophlebioides and Deleatidium appear to be part of a lineage with representatives in South America (Meridialaris and Massartellopsis), Australia (Austrophlebioides), Celebes (Sulawesia), Sri Lanka and southern India (Petersula), and Madagascar (Petersophlebia) (Pescador & Peters 1980a, Campbell & Suter 1988, Peters & Edmunds 1990). Cryophlebia of the Auckland Islands may have affinities with this group.
  2. Austroclima and Mauiulus are apparently part of a lineage with representatives in South America (Dactylophlebia and Magallanella) (Pescador & Peters 1980a, b).
  3. Arachnocolus, Zephlebia, and Austronella n.gen. appear to be part of a lineage with representatives in South America (Demoulinellus) and in New Caledonia (Lepeorus, Celiphlebia, Poya, Tindea, Peloracantha, Coula, Ounia, Notachalcus, and Tenagophila) (Pescador & Peters 1982, Peters & Peters 1981a, b, 1979 80, Peters et al. 1978, 1990, and in press).
  4. Isothraulus and Tepakia n.gen. appear to have affinities with group C. Isothraulus may be related to undescribed genera in New Caledonia (W.L. and J.G. Peters, unpublished data), but also has many morphological similarities with the tropical genus Thraulus, which is represented in Australia (Peters & Campbell 1991). Tepakia has morphological similarities with a lineage previously known only from Madagascar and the Seychelles (Nesophlebia, Maheathraulus) (Peters & Edmunds 1984).
  5. Neozephlebia appears to be part of a lineage with representatives in New Caledonia (Simulacala and Fasciamirus) (Peters et al. 1990). Suggested affinities with southern South America and Australia (Nousia) may need to be reinterpreted (Pescador & Peters 1980a, 1985, Campbell & Suter 1988; J. G. Peters, pers. comm.).
  6. Acanthophlebia appears to be part of a lineage represented in Africa (Aprionyx), South America (Hapsiphlebia), Australia (Atalophlebia, Atalomicra, Jappa, and Ulmerophlebia), and New Caledonia (Papposa) (Pescador & Peters 1980a, Peters & Peters 1981b).

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