Paraphyly of Euglossa (Glossura)

Although the six species until now treated as Euglossa (Glossuropoda) did present some apparently exclusive synapomorphic characters (such as a much enlarged mesotibia, lack of mesotibial spurs; acute, triangular metatibia), they do not lack any of the main synapomorphic characters shared by other Euglossa (Glossura). Roubik (2004: 251) mentioned that the exclusive characters of Euglossa (Glossuropoda) “suggest relictual status as biological populations and/or a basal phylogenetic position with some very long-lived species. A subgeneric status seems warranted”. The phylogenetic study by Ramírez et al. (2010), however, places Euglossa (Glossuropoda) quite inside Euglossa (Glossura) (sensu Moure et al. 2007), suggesting exactly the opposite of Roubik’s (2004) opinion: Euglossa (Glossuropoda) seems to be a derived lineage within Euglossa (Glossura), not a basal lineage in Euglossa. The presence of the morphological characters which characterize Glossura associated to the molecular phylogenetic data provided by Ramírez et al. (2010) make it more reasonable to consider Euglossa (Glossuropoda) as a junior synonym of Euglossa (Glossura). Nevertheless, Ramírez et al. (2010) found less than 50% branch support for E. (Glossuropoda) as a sister group to E. (Glossura), a low value for supporting a taxonomic change in the status of the subgenus. Additional data are needed to better understand the relationships between both groups.