Molecular Phylogeny and Infraordinal Classification of Zoraptera (Insecta).

ABSTRACT: Zoraptera is a small and predominantly tropical insect order with an unresolved higher classification due to the extremely uniform external body morphology. We, therefore, conducted a multigene molecular phylogeny of extant Zoraptera and critically re-evaluated their morphological characters in order to propose a natural infraordinal classification. We recovered a highly-resolved phylogeny with two main clades representing major evolutionary lineages in Zoraptera, for which we propose family ranks. The two families exhibit striking differences in male genitalia and reproductive strategies. Each family contains two subclades (subfamilies) supported by several morphological synapomorphies including the relative lengths of the basal antennomeres, the number and position of metatibial spurs, a

SUBMITTER: Kocarek P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7023341 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature