Drosophila melanogaster species subgroup | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Family: | Drosophilidae |
Genus: | Drosophila |
Species group: | melanogaster |
Species subgroup: | melanogaster |
The Drosophila melanogaster species subgroup contains 9 species of flies, including the best known species Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans . The subgroup belongs to the Drosophila melanogaster species group within the subgenus Sophophora .
Males can discriminate between females of different species, in part, by detecting differences in the hydrocarbon pheromones coating their bodies. [1] Females can discriminate between males of different species, in part, by detecting species-specific differences in the male's courtship behavior. [2] When copulation does occur between different species, the hybrid progeny are often non-viable, sterile or fertile with lower fitness.
The phylogeny of the melanogaster complex
simulans complex
erecta complex
The species of the simulans complex form a hard polytomy. Most likely, the island species D. (S.) mauritiana (Mauritius) and D. (S.) sechellia (Seychelles) branched off from the mainland species D. (S.) simulans in such a narrow time frame that it is impossible to distinguish which species branched off first and which second.