Rediscovery of Melanesobasis Donnelly, 1984 (Odonata: Zoenagrionidae) in Vanuatu reveals a patern of vicariance in insular damselfies
2025
Saxton, Natalie A. | Powell, Gareth S. | Rashni, Bindiya | Jensen, Colin | Beaty, Christopher D. | Polhemus, Dan | Marinov, Milen | Bybee, Seth
Te Vitiaz Arc provides a compelling opportunity to examine biogeographical paterns in the South Pacifc. Previously, however, many groups lacked the appropriate taxon sampling to examine this system fully. Fieldwork aimed at improving our understanding of Vanuatu insect diversity and evolution resulted in the collection of two specimens of Melanesobasis bicellulare Donelly, 1984, a species previously known from a single specimen collected 40 years ago. Using a combination of morphological and molecular methods, we are able to associate the female, update distributional data, and record intraspecifc variation, including the number of post-discoidal cells. We also use this genus, Melanesobasis Donnelly, 1984, found across Fiji and Vanuatu, to explore biogeographical paterns across the Vitiaz Arc. Our results provide additional evidence of the importance of the Vitiaz Arc in South Pacific damselfy biogeography and show a patern of vicariance between the two island archipelagos
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