Abstract
Meghimatium is a group of terrestrial slugs distributed in Asia. 185 specimens were collected from Taiwan, China, Okinawa (Japan), Thailand and Malaysia. Phylogenetic analyses using concatenated DNA sequences of cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1,16S ribosomal RNA and nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA genes revealed that clades in the resulting molecular phylogeny of Meghimatium are largely congruent with taxa identified on the basis of their genitalia. Four monophyletic groups, i.e., the M. fruhstorferi, M. burchi, M. uniforme and M. striatum complexes, with moderate to strong statistical supports (86/53/0.98/66, 100/100/1.00/100,100/100/1.00/100,100/100/1.00/100) were identified. M.pictum is paraphyl-etic and is clustered with M. bilineatum to constitute an additional monophyletic group (100/100/1.00/100). Body size does not show an evolutionary trend either from small to large or vice versa, based on the phylogenetic tree. A new species, M. baoshanense sp. nov., is named based on the included specimens constituting a monophyletic group, its medium size (40.1-52.7 mm in body length) and its genitalia with 10-18 papillae at the lower end of the spermathecal duct where it connects to the uterus and vagina.
NSTL