Rediscovery of Melanesobasis Donnelly, 1984 (Odonata: Zoenagrionidae) in Vanuatu reveals a patern of vicariance in insular damselfies

Saxton, Natalie A. and Powell, Gareth S. and Rashni, Bindiya and Jensen, Colin and Beaty, Christopher D. and Polhemus, Dan and Marinov, Milen and Bybee, Seth (2025) Rediscovery of Melanesobasis Donnelly, 1984 (Odonata: Zoenagrionidae) in Vanuatu reveals a patern of vicariance in insular damselfies. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 204 (2025). pp. 1-15. ISSN 0024-4082

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Abstract

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

Item Type:	Journal Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	biogeography; damselfy; phylogeny; South Pacifc; Vitiaz Arc; Zygoptera
Subjects:	Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions:	School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences (SAGEONS)
Depositing User:	Nirma Narayan
Date Deposited:	28 Jul 2025 00:33
Last Modified:	28 Jul 2025 00:33
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/15083

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