Abstract
The small subunit rRNA (SSrRNA) genes of seven species of urostyloids representing four genera were sequenced. These were:
Apokeronopsis crassa,
A. bergeri,
Anteholosticha sp-QD-1,
Metaurostylopsis sp-QD-1,
M. sp-QD-2,
M. sp-QD-3 and
Thigmokeronopsis sp-QD-1. Gene trees were constructed in order to investigate their phylogenetic relationships. The results indicate that: (1)
Apokeronopsis,
Thigmokeronopsis and
Metaurostylopsis form a well-supported, clearly isolated, monophyletic group; (2)
Metaurostylopsis species analysed consistently group together indicating that it is a well-outlined genus; (3) the validity of the genus
Apokeronopsis is supported; (4) the separation of
Holosticha and
Anteholosticha is supported although
Anteholosticha species exhibit a high molecular diversity; (5)
Pseudokeronopsis and
Thigmokeronopsis, which have been considered closely related, may not share a recent common ancestor, casting doubt on the monophyly of the family Pseudokeronopsidae.