Phylogenomics of the leafhopper genus Neoaliturus Distant, 1918 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) reveals genetically divergent lineages in the invasive beet leafhopper.

Phylogenomic analysis based on nucleotide sequences of 398 nuclear gene loci for 67 representatives of the leafhopper genus Neoaliturus yielded well-resolved estimates of relationships among species of the genus. Subgenus Neoaliturus (Neoaliturus) is consistently paraphyletic with respect to Neoaliturus (Circulifer). The analysis revealed the presence of at least ten genetically divergent clades among specimens consistent with the previous morphology-based definition of the leafhopper genus "Circulifer" which includes three previously recognized "species complexes." Specimens of the American beet leafhopper, N. tenellus (Baker), collected from the southwestern USA consistently group with one of these clades, comprising specimens from the eastern Mediterranean. Some of the remaining lineages are consistent with ecological differences previously observed among eastern Mediterranean populations and suggest that N. tenellus, as previously defined, comprises multiple monophyletic species, distinguishable by slight morphological differences.

Revisionary notes on the genus Paraphysifer Sinaiko & Dietrich, 2020 (Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae).

The monotypical genus Paraphysifer Sinaiko & Dietrich, 2020 is revised. The type species of the genus, Paraphysifer wilsoni Sinaiko & Dietrich, 2020, is placed in synonymy under Psammotettix pictipennis (Kirschbaum, 1868), with a new combination proposed-Paraphysifer pictipennis (Kirschbaum, 1868), comb. n. Psammotettix narsikulovi Dlabola, 1960, P. salsuginosus Logvinenko, 1961, and P. perpictus Logvinenko, 1978 are transferred to the genus Paraphysifer with new combinations proposed-Paraphysifer narsikulovi (Dlabola, 1960), comb. n., P. salsuginosus (Logvinenko, 1961), comb. n., and P. perpictus (Logvinenko, 1978), comb. n. Key to species of Paraphysifer given. Relationships of Paraphysifer and Psammotettix Haupt, 1929 are discussed.

To be or not to be tchernovi: a taxonomic revision of the snake genus Micrelaps (Squamata: Serpentes), in Israel.

The enigmatic snake genus Micrelaps has uncertain phylogenetic affinities. The type species of the genus, Micrelaps muelleri, inhabits the Southern Levant. Snakes inhabiting the Jordan River Valley just south of the Sea of Galilee have been described as a new species, Micrelaps tchernovi, based on their distinct colour patterns, despite M. muelleri being well known to be variable in colour-pattern traits. Here we use morphological and molecular data to examine the taxonomic status and phylogenetic affinity of Levantine Micrelaps. We show that all scalation, colour, and pattern-related traits are extremely variable across the range of these snakes. Some morphological features show clinal variation related to temperature and precipitation, and snakes with a 'tchernovi' morph are merely at one end of a continuum of morphological variation. Both 'classical muelleri' and 'tchernovi' morphs occur in syntopy in the Jordan Valley and elsewhere in Israel. Against this background of high morphological variation, neutral genetic markers show almost no differentiation between snakes, no genetic structure is evident across populations, and no differences are to be found between the two putative species. We conclude that Levantine Micrelaps belongs to a single, morphologically variable, and genetically uniform species, Micrelaps muelleri, of which M. tchernovi is a junior synonym.

A new genus and species of Paralimnini leafhoppers from Israel (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae).

A new genus and species of the leafhopper tribe Paralimnini are described from Israel, viz., Paraphysifer Sinaiko Dietrich gen. n. with P. wilsoni Sinaiko Dietrich sp.n. as type species.

Taxonomic revision of Israeli snakes belonging to the Platyceps rhodorachis species complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae).

The Platyceps rhodorachis species complex encompasses a widespread group of morphologically similar colubrid snakes. The number and identities of species from this complex in Israel have recently been debated. Studies from the previous decade concluded that there are two species in Israel and its vicinity (compared with one previously recognized), but their identity remained contested. We estimated the number of species and their taxonomic identity using morphological and molecular data. We found some evidence for clinal variation in many of the characters used to differentiate the species, and a great overlap in traits of putative species. Genetic data revealed very low sequence divergence, with all putative species being paraphyletic. Platyceps rogersi emerged as genetically closer to Platyceps saharicus rather than to its putative conspecific, P. karelini. The phylogenetic and taxonomic results thus indicate that the Israeli populations of the P. rhodorachis complex all belong to a single species, Platyceps saharicus (Schätti McCarthy 2004).