Molecular and morphological analyses disclose the existence of three species of Dolichopoda (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) in the Calabria region (Italy)

For a long time, Dolichopoda palpata was the only species of this genus thought to live in the cave habitats of the Calabrian region. The results of our study, based on morphological and molecular data, highlight the existence of three species in the Calabria region. In particular, our data demonstr...

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Published inJournal of natural history Vol. 57; no. 5-8; pp. 372 - 394
Main Authors Di Russo, Claudio, Allegrucci, Giuliana, Rampini, Mauro
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Abingdon Taylor & Francis 15.02.2023
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Archipelagoes
Biodiversity
Calabria
cave crickets
Caves
Dolichopoda
Genetic diversity
Glaciation
Glaciology
Italy
Massifs
Morphology
New species
Pleistocene
Pliocene
Rhaphidophoridae
Speciation
Species diversity
Species richness
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Summary:For a long time, Dolichopoda palpata was the only species of this genus thought to live in the cave habitats of the Calabrian region. The results of our study, based on morphological and molecular data, highlight the existence of three species in the Calabria region. In particular, our data demonstrate the occurrence of two well-separated species, one in the northern Tyrrhenian area and one in the Calabrian Ionian area, attesting to the validity of D. calabra Galvagni 1968 , and the discovery of a new species, D. apollinea sp. nov. Both species appear to be geographically very limited. Dolichopoda calabra occurs in the mountain region between Scalone Pass in the north and the Savuto Valley in the south (a district called 'Catena Costiera'), whereas D. apollinea sp. nov. appears to be distributed on the eastern slope of Pollino Massif. On the other hand, D. palpata shows a vast distribution, occurring in caves from La Sila in the north to the Aspromonte Massif in the extreme south of Calabria. About 1/3 of the Italian Dolichopoda species are present in this relatively small geographical area, supporting the importance of Calabria as a geographical region characterised by a high level of biodiversity. It shows the maximum values of genetic diversity and species richness in comparison with the rest of the Italian peninsula. This fact could be related to the palaeogeological and palaeoclimatic history of the region, as it was affected by glaciation events and eustatic movements. The combination of these two conditions that occurred during the Pliocene and Pleistocene transformed the Calabria into a vast archipelago of little islands, favouring the isolation of populations and the consequent speciation processes. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AB64936E-EAEF-4730-A517-4F0C11226A94
ISSN:0022-2933
1464-5262
DOI:10.1080/00222933.2023.2186277