Research Article

First molecular data and phylogenetic relationships of the harvestman genus Metaphalangium Roewer, 1911

Volume: 19 Number: 3 September 15, 2026
TR EN

First molecular data and phylogenetic relationships of the harvestman genus Metaphalangium Roewer, 1911

Abstract

In determining taxonomic relationships, morphological data alone may be insufficient in some cases. Therefore, the integration of molecular data with morphological evidence enhances the reliability of studies, both in the identification of new taxa and in the elucidation of phylogenetic relationships. Metaphalangium Roewer, 1911 is a harvestman genus, and to date, no molecular data has been reported for this genus or species. This study investigated, the 16S rRNA gene region of the mitochondrial genome of Metaphalangium cirtanum (Koch, 1839), collected from Cyprus was sequenced, yielding an approximately 457 bp long fragment. Based on these molecular data, the phylogenetic relationships of the species and its genus are here inferred for the first time using Bayesian Inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) analyses. Purpose: This study aims to present the first molecular data on the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene region for the genus Metaphalangium and the species M. cirtanum, for which no molecular data previously existed, and to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships of the genus using these data. Method: 16S rRNA gene region of the species Metaphalangium cirtanum, collected from Cyprus, was amplified using the PCR method; the resulting DNA sequences were analyzed to calculate genetic distances between species, and phylogenetic trees were constructed using the Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. Findings: As a result of the analyses, a 457-bp sequence from the 16S rRNA gene region of this species was obtained. In the Maximum Likelihood analysis conducted using the obtained sequences, high bootstrap support values were obtained, while high posterior probability values were obtained in the Bayesian inference analysis. Since the phylogenetic trees derived from both methods exhibited similar topological structures, the results were combined and presented on a single tree. Conclusion: In this study, molecular data for the species Metaphalangium cirtanum were obtained for the first time. In the future, conducting studies that utilize additional gene regions and encompass a broader taxonomic sample will contribute to a clearer understanding of the phylogenetic relationships and systematic position of the genus Metaphalangium.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

No Funding Received

Ethical Statement

This study does not require ethical approval

Thanks

I would like to thank Dr. Kadir Boğanç KUNT (Cyprus Wildlife Research Institute, Taşkent, Girne, Cyprus) and Dr. Salih GÜCEL (Near East University, Cyprus) for collecting the specimens used in this study, and Dr. Kemal KURT (Gümüşhane University, Türkiye) for identifying the species.

References

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  5. [5] Roewer, C.-F. (1911). Übersicht der Genera der Subfamilie der Phalangiini der Opiliones Palpatores nebst Beschreibung einiger neuer Gattungen und Arten. Archiv für Naturgeschichte, 77, 1–106, plates 1–3.
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Animal Systematics and Taxonomy

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 15, 2026

Submission Date

April 17, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 9, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 19 Number: 3

APA
Kurt, P. (2026). First molecular data and phylogenetic relationships of the harvestman genus Metaphalangium Roewer, 1911. Biological Diversity and Conservation, 19(3), 203-209. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2026.1932965
AMA
1.Kurt P. First molecular data and phylogenetic relationships of the harvestman genus Metaphalangium Roewer, 1911. BioDiCon. 2026;19(3):203-209. doi:10.46309/biodicon.2026.1932965
Chicago
Kurt, Pınar. 2026. “First Molecular Data and Phylogenetic Relationships of the Harvestman Genus Metaphalangium Roewer, 1911”. Biological Diversity and Conservation 19 (3): 203-9. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2026.1932965.
EndNote
Kurt P (September 1, 2026) First molecular data and phylogenetic relationships of the harvestman genus Metaphalangium Roewer, 1911. Biological Diversity and Conservation 19 3 203–209.
IEEE
[1]P. Kurt, “First molecular data and phylogenetic relationships of the harvestman genus Metaphalangium Roewer, 1911”, BioDiCon, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 203–209, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.46309/biodicon.2026.1932965.
ISNAD
Kurt, Pınar. “First Molecular Data and Phylogenetic Relationships of the Harvestman Genus Metaphalangium Roewer, 1911”. Biological Diversity and Conservation 19/3 (September 1, 2026): 203-209. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2026.1932965.
JAMA
1.Kurt P. First molecular data and phylogenetic relationships of the harvestman genus Metaphalangium Roewer, 1911. BioDiCon. 2026;19:203–209.
MLA
Kurt, Pınar. “First Molecular Data and Phylogenetic Relationships of the Harvestman Genus Metaphalangium Roewer, 1911”. Biological Diversity and Conservation, vol. 19, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 203-9, doi:10.46309/biodicon.2026.1932965.
Vancouver
1.Pınar Kurt. First molecular data and phylogenetic relationships of the harvestman genus Metaphalangium Roewer, 1911. BioDiCon. 2026 Sep. 1;19(3):203-9. doi:10.46309/biodicon.2026.1932965

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