Integrative Taxonomy of Australian Metopia (Sarcophagidae: Miltogramminae) Reveals a New Species and Challenges Traditional Phylogeny

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A taxonomic revision of all Australian species of Metopia Meigen (Sarcophagidae: Miltogramminae) is completed using an integrated approach combining molecular and morphological data. Metopia nudibasis (Malloch) is redescribed as a species complex and a new endemic Australian species, Metopia sputnik sp. n., is described. Evidence is presented that Metopia sauteri (Townsend) is absent from Australia and this species is therefore removed from the known Australian fauna. Molecular phylogenetics is used to reconstruct interspecific and generic relationships and support morphology-based species hypotheses. Phylogenetic analysis splits Metopia Meigen into two clades, separated by Aenigmetopia Malloch, rendering the former genus nonmonophyletic.The implications of this are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Article number5
JournalInsect Systematics and Diversity
Volume4
Issue number6
Number of pages13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

    Research areas

  • phylogenetics, flesh flies, Miltogramminae, integrative taxonomy, Metopia, DIPTERA SARCOPHAGIDAE, SYSTEMATICS, REVISION, DNA

ID: 256168638