Species New to Science

Changyuraptor yangi

Han, Chiappe, Ji, Habib, Turner, Chinsamy, Liu & Han 2014

Microraptorines are a group of predatory dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaurs with aerodynamic capacity. These close relatives of birds are essential for testing hypotheses explaining the origin and early evolution of avian flight. Here we describe a new ‘four-winged’ microraptorine, Changyuraptor yangi, from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota of China. With tail feathers that are nearly 30 cm long, roughly 30% the length of the skeleton, the new fossil possesses the longest known feathers for any non-avian dinosaur. Furthermore, it is the largest theropod with long, pennaceous feathers attached to the lower hind limbs (that is, ‘hindwings’). The lengthy feathered tail of the new fossil provides insight into the flight performance of microraptorines and how they may have maintained aerial competency at larger body sizes. We demonstrate how the low-aspect-ratio tail of the new fossil would have acted as a pitch control structure reducing descent speed and thus playing a key role in landing.

Evolutionary tree of predatory dinosaurs, including the newly discovered Changyuraptor.

by L. Chiappe, Dinosaur Institute, NHM
doi: dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5382

Gang Han, Luis M. Chiappe,Shu-An Ji, Michael Habib,Alan H. Turner, Anusuya Chinsamy, Xueling Liu & Lizhuo Han. 2014. A New Raptorial Dinosaur with Exceptionally Long Feathering provides insights into dromaeosaurid Flight Performance. Nature Communications. 5, Article number: 4382

doi: dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5382

http://sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/news/medical/140715DINO.php?=marquee2

Abstract

Notolophus arquinotiensis, a new genus and species of the family Sparnotheriodontidae (Mammalia, Litopterna), is represented by several isolated teeth from the shallow-marine sediments of the La Meseta Formation (late Early-Late Eocene) of Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula, which have also yielded the youngest known sudamericids and marsupials. The new taxon belongs to the extinct order of ‘South American native ungulate’ Litopterna characterized by the convergence of the later forms with the equids and camelids. Notolophus arquinotiensis shows closest relationships with Victorlemoinea from the Itaboraian (middle Palaeocene) of Brazil and Riochican-Vacan (late Palaeocene-early Eocene) of Patagonia, Argentina. Although still poorly documented, this new taxon shows that the early Palaeogene Antarctic faunas might provide key data concerning the problems of the origin, diversity and basal phylogeny of some of the ‘South American ungulates’ (Litopterna). This new taxon shows the importance of Antarctica in the early evolution of the ungulates and illustrates our poor state of knowledge.

M. Bond, M. A. Reguero, S. F. Vizcaíno and S. A. Marenssi. 2006. A New ‘South American ungulate’ (Mammalia: Litopterna) from the Eocene of the Antarctic Peninsula. In J. E. Francis, D. Pirrie, J. A. Crame (eds). Cretaceous-tertiary high-latitude palaeoenvironments: James Ross Basin, Antarctica. The Geological Society of London. 258(1): 163–176. doi: dx.doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.2006.258.01.12.

researchgate.net/publication/249551916_A_new_'South_American_ungulate'_(Mammalia_Litopterna)_from_the_Eocene_of_the_Antarctic_Peninsula

Bond, M., Reguero, M. A., Vizcaíno, S. F. and Ortiz-Jaureguizar, E. 2009. Notiolofos, a replacement name for Notolophus Bond, Reguero, Vizcaíno and Marenssi, 2006, a preoccupied name. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 29, 979.

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1671/039.029.0321

Javier N. Gelfo, Thomas Mörs, Malena Lorente, Guillermo M. López, Marcelo Reguero. in press. The oldest mammals from Antarctica, early Eocene of the La Meseta Formation, Seymour Island. Palaeontology. doi: dx.doi.org/10.1111/pala.12121.

Figure 1. Geographical and stratigraphical provenance of the remains described here.
Figure 2. View of the north-west side of the Seymour Island. The arrow indicates the position of locality IAA 1/13.

Abstract

New fossil mammals found at the base of Acantilados II Allomember of the La Meseta Formation, from the early Eocene (Ypresian) of Seymour Island, represent the oldest evidence of this group in Antarctica. Two specimens are here described; the first belongs to a talonid portion of a lower right molar assigned to the sparnotheriodontid litoptern Notiolofos sp. cf. N. arquinotiensis. Sparnotheriodontid were medium- to large-sized ungulates, with a wide distribution in the Eocene of South America and Antarctica. The second specimen is an intermediate phalanx referred to an indeterminate Eutheria, probably a South American native ungulate. These Antarctic findings in sediments of 55.3 Ma query the minimum age needed for terrestrial mammals to spread from South America to Antarctica, which should have occurred before the final break-up of Gondwana. This event involves the disappearance of the land bridge formed by the Weddellian Isthmus, which connected West Antarctica and southern South America from the Late Cretaceous until sometime in the earliest Palaeogene.

Keywords: West Antarctica; Palaeogene; Ypresian; tooth and bone morphology; ungulates; Sparnotheriodontidae

Class MAMMALIA Linnaeus, 1758

Order LITOPTERNA Ameghino, 1889

Family SPARNOTHERIODONTIDAE Soria, 1980

Genus NOTIOLOFOS Bond, Reguero, Vizcaíno, Marenssi and Ortiz Jaureguizar, 2009

Type species: Notiolofos arquinotiensis(Bond, Reguero, Vizcaíno and Marenssi, 2006).

Notiolofos cf. N. arquinotiensis (Bond, Reguero, Vizcaíno and Marenssi, 2006)

Javier N. Gelfo, Thomas Mörs, Malena Lorente, Guillermo M. López, Marcelo Reguero. in press. The Oldest Mammals from Antarctica, early Eocene of the La Meseta Formation, Seymour Island. Palaeontology. doi: dx.doi.org/10.1111/pala.12121.

Bond, M., Reguero, M. A., Vizcaíno, S. F. and Ortiz-Jaureguizar, E. 2009. Notiolofos, a replacement name for Notolophus Bond, Reguero, Vizcaíno and Marenssi, 2006, a preoccupied name. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 29, 979.

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1671/039.029.0321

researchgate.net/publication/249551916_A_new_'South_American_ungulate'_(Mammalia_Litopterna)_from_the_Eocene_of_the_Antarctic_Peninsula

Lyrarapax unguispinus

Cong, Ma, Hou, Edgecombe & Strausfeld. 2014

a, b, Dorsal view of Lyrarapax unguispinus YKLP13305 (left side slightly tilted downwards) resolving straight midgut (mg) and sinusoidal alimentary tract (alt). Four neck and eleven trunk segments, the first providing paired oar-like flaps (fl between arrowheads), the last providing the tail fan (tf). Dark areas in the head indicate paired frontal appendage ganglia (frg), optic tract (opt) linking retinas (re) in eyes (ey) to flattened lateral protocerebral lobes (lpr in h) flanking an approximately bilaterally symmetric protocerebrum (pr). Metameric striate areas indicate muscle (m). c–e, Raised and indented grooves of muscle blocks (enlargements of boxed areas in b). f–h, Neural traces: blue digital filter (f) cancels colours in fossil except dark neural regions (for example, medial protocerebrum, mpr) that are resolved by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (g), as carbon-rich domains, and shown by oblique illumination relative to eye and head margins (h); bm, basement membrane and first optic neuropil. Raised neck segments gradually obscure caudally directed descending tracts (dt). Scale bars: a, b, 1 cm; c–e, 0.5 mm; f (also for g) and h, 5 mm.

Despite being among the most celebrated taxa from Cambrian biotas, anomalocaridids (order Radiodonta) have provoked intense debate about their affinities within the moulting-animal clade that includes Arthropoda. Current alternatives identify anomalocaridids as either stem-group euarthropods, crown-group euarthropods near the ancestry of chelicerates, or a segmented ecdysozoan lineage with convergent similarity to arthropods in appendage construction. Determining unambiguous affinities has been impeded by uncertainties about the segmental affiliation of anomalocaridid frontal appendages. These structures are variably homologized with jointed appendages of the second (deutocerebral) head segment, including antennae and ‘great appendages’ of Cambrian arthropods, or with the paired antenniform frontal appendages of living Onychophora and some Cambrian lobopodians. Here we describe Lyrarapax unguispinus, a new anomalocaridid from the early Cambrian Chengjiang biota, southwest China, nearly complete specimens of which preserve traces of muscles, digestive tract and brain. The traces of brain provide the first direct evidence for the segmental composition of the anomalocaridid head and its appendicular organization. Carbon-rich areas in the head resolve paired pre-protocerebral ganglia at the origin of paired frontal appendages. The ganglia connect to areas indicative of a bilateral pre-oral brain that receives projections from the eyestalk neuropils and compound retina. The dorsal, segmented brain of L. unguispinus reinforces an alliance between anomalocaridids and arthropods rather than cycloneuralians. Correspondences in brain organization between anomalocaridids and Onychophora resolve pre-protocerebral ganglia, associated with pre-ocular frontal appendages, as characters of the last common ancestor of euarthropods and onychophorans. A position of Radiodonta on the euarthropod stem-lineage implies the transformation of frontal appendages to another structure in crown-group euarthropods, with gene expression and neuroanatomy providing strong evidence that the paired, pre-oral labrum is the remnant of paired frontal appendages.

A spectacularly preserved creature, dubbed Lyrarapax unguispinus, was unearthed in China. The 520-million-year-old sea creature was so well-preserved that parts of its brain and nervous system were clearly defined.

photo: Peiyun Cong

Arthropoda von Siebold, 1848

Radiodonta Collins, 1996

Amplectobeluidae Vinther et al., 2014

Lyrarapax unguispinus gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology.lyra (Latin): referring to an overall lyre-like body shape; rapax (Latin): predator; unguis (Latin): claw; spinus (Latin): thorn, alluding to the spinose, claw-like frontal appendages.

Holotype. Holotype YKLP 13304a, b (Fig. 1 and Extended Data Figs 1a and 2a–d), part and counterpart.

Referred material. Paratypes YKLP 13305 (part only, Figs 2 and 3b, c), YKLP 13306 (part and counterpart, Extended Data Fig. 3).

Locality. Ercaicun (YKLP 13304, 13306) and Mafang (YKLP 13305) in Haikou, Yunnan Province, China.

Horizon. Heilinpu Formation, Cambrian Series 2, Stage 3, Yu’anshan Member (Eoredlichia–Wutingaspis assemblage zone).

Peiyun Cong, Xiaoya Ma, Xianguang Hou, Gregory D. Edgecombe & Nicholas J. Strausfeld. 2014. Brain Structure resolves the Segmental Affinity of anomalocaridid Appendages. Nature. doi: dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature13486

http://www.livescience.com/46830-cambrian-creature-preserved-brain.html

Kurziella gymnoclada (Collett & Hemsley) H. Rob. & S. Bunwong
Fig. 1. Photographs of Kurziella gymnoclada | ยุ้งปัดแม่หม้าย [Yoong Pad Maa Mai]
A, Habit, plant ca. 0.5 m high. B, Leaves in young branch in period before or after anthesis, larger leaves ca. 3 cm by 2 cm. C, Solitary terminal capitulum with pink flowers, capitulum ca. 10 mm long.

Abstract

A new genus, Kurziella, is named to accommodate the Southeast Asian species Vernonia gymnoclada Coll. & Hemsl., a species often determined in herbaria as Vernonia juncea Kurz in Hook.f., nom. nud.

Kurziella H. Rob. & S. Bunwong, gen. nov.

Type species.— Vernonia gymnoclada Collett & Hemsley

Plantae Vernonieae in habitis in anthesis subaphyllis et in caulibus glabris distinctae.

The new genus is named here for the botanist who has been credited with the first unvalidated naming of the species, Wilhelm Sulpiz Kurz,1834–1878.

Kurziella gymnoclada (Collett & Hemsley) H. Rob. & S. Bunwong, comb. nov.

Harold Robinson, Sukhonthip Bunwong, and Pranom Chantaranothai. 2010. A New Genus, Kurziella from Thailand (Vernonieae: Asteraceae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 123(2) 174-178 doi: dx.doi.org/10.2988/10-01.1

http://www.e-manage.mju.ac.th/file_referrent/MISDocRef_13012555103156_1761576927.pdf

Sukhonthip Bunwong, Pranom Chantaranothai, Sterling C. Keeley. 2014. Revisions and Key to the Vernonieae (Compositae) of Thailand. PhytoKeys 37: 25–101.

doi: dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.37.6499

A Acilepis attenuata B Camchaya loloana C Camchaya loloana var. mukdahanensis
D Decaneuropsis cumingiana E Decaneuropsis eberhardtii F Pseudelephantopus spicatus G Kurziella gymnoclada H Monosis parishii I Tarlmounia elliptica

Abstract

Seventeen genera and 48 species, in five subtribes, are recognized in Thailand. These include 15 endemic taxa, half of which are in the largest genus, Acilepis, with others in the genera Camchaya, Koyamasia, and Okia. A new monotypic genus, Pulicarioidea, is established withP. annamica, the new name for the species formerly known as Vernonia pulicarioides. New combinations are also made for Acilepis kerrii, Cyanthillium montanum, Koyamasia curtisii and Okiapseudobirmanica. Forty-six characters including habit, leaf, flower, achene and pollen morphology were analyzed using UPGMA. Five clusters of taxa were identified. Keys to genera, species and varieties, descriptions, vernacular names, ecological data and illustrations are provided.

Keywords: Acilepis, Asteraceae, Camchaya, Cichorioideae, Cyanthillium, Decaneuropsis, Elephantopus, Ethulia, Gymnanthemum, Iodocephalopsis, Koyamasia, Kurziella, Monosis, Okia, Pseudelephantopus, Pulicarioidea, southeast Asia, Strobocalyx, Struchium, Tarlmounia

Figure 5. Morphology of Vernonieae in Thailand 1.

A Acilepis attenuata B Acilepis divergens C Acilepis namnaoensis D Acilepis ngaoensis E Acilepis peguensis F Acilepis principis G Acilepis saligna H Acilepis silhetensis I Acilepissquarrosa.

Figure 6. Morphology of Vernonieae in Thailand 2.

A Camchaya gracilis B Camchaya loloana C Camchaya loloana var. mukdahanensis D Camchaya pentagona E–F Camchaya spinulifera G Camchaya tenuiflora H–I Camchaya thailandica.

Figure 7. Morphology of Vernonieae in Thailand 3.

A Cyanthillium cinereum B Cyanthillium montanum C Cyanthillium patulum D Decaneuropsis cumingiana E Decaneuropsis eberhardtii F Decaneuropsis garrettiana.

Figure 8. Morphology of Vernonieae in Thailand 4.

A Elephantopus mollis B–C Elephantopus scaber D Elephantopus scaber var. penicillatus E–F Pseudelephantopus spicatus.

Figure 9. Morphology of Vernonieae in Thailand 5.

A–B Gymnanthemum extensum C Iodocephalopsis eberhardtii D Koyamasia calcarea E–F Koyamasia curtisii G Kurziella gymnoclada H Monosis parishii I Monosis volkameriifolia

Figure 10. Morphology of Vernonieae in Thailand 6.

A Okia birmanica B Okia pseudobirmanica C Pulicarioidea annamica D–E Strobocalyx arborea F Strobocalyx solanifolia G–H Struchium sparganophorum I Tarlmounia elliptica.

Sukhonthip Bunwong, Pranom Chantaranothai, Sterling C. Keeley. 2014. Revisions and Key to the Vernonieae (Compositae) of Thailand. PhytoKeys 37: 25–101
doi: dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.37.6499

Ficus cornelisiana Chantaras. & Y.Q. Peng.

Abstract

A small fig tree has been misidentified as Ficus orthoneura for a long time. However, morphologically it is distinct from F. orthoneura and F. hookeriana. Typical are the ellipsoid, puberulous receptacle and caducous basal bracts. Leaf anatomy shows a multiple epidermis with the cells in the inner layer much larger than in the outer layer and thus both layers resemble an epidermis with a separate hypodermis. The abaxial cuticle is strongly sculptured, the palisade layer shows some long subdivided cells, and enlarged lithocysts are only present abaxially. Because of these differences we hereby describe it as a new species, named in honour of Cornelis (Cees) Berg: Ficus cornelisiana.

Keywords: China; Ficus; Moraceae; Vietnam; new species

B. Chantarasuwan; Y.-Q. Peng; P. Baas; J.-Y. Rasplus; B.-J. van Heuven and P.C. van Welzen. 2014. Ficus cornelisiana, A New Species of Ficus subsection Urostigma (Moraceae) from the Sino-himalayan region. Blumea - Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3767/000651914X681126

researchgate.net/publication/263428303_Ficus_cornelisiana_a_new_species_of_Ficus_subsection_Urostigma_%28Moraceae%29_from_the_Sino-himalayan_region

Pù Hu Bent-toed Gecko |Cyrtodactylus puhuensis

Nguyen, Yang, Thi Le, Nguyen, Orlov, Hoang, Nguyen,
Jin, Rao, Hoang, Che, Murphy & Zhang, 2014

Abstract

Species of bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus) in Vietnam have been described at a rate of nearly four species per year since 2007 mostly based on morphological data. A tool that guides species delimitation will accelerate the rate of documentation, and at a time when the recognition of species greatly benefits conservation. We use DNA barcoding using COI (550 bp) to re-examine the levels of genetic divergence and taxonomic status of 21 described species of Vietnamese bent-toed geckos. Tree-based analyses resolve all sampled species and identify potential undescribed taxa. Kimura 2-parameter genetic distances between the described species average 21.0±4.2% and range from 4.3% to 28.7%. Further, our analyses discover two potentially new species from Vietnam, two from Laos and one from China. Herein we describe the new species Cyrtodactylus puhuensis sp. nov. from Vietnam on the basis of both genetics and morphology. Genetically, it differs from the remaining species by an average K2P distance of 24.0±1.8%. Morphologically, the new species is diagnosed by its medium-size (snout-vent length 79.24 mm and tail length 82.59 mm, for the single known individual), in having a series of moderately enlarged transverse subcaudals and a series of moderately enlarged femoral scales that extend from precloacal scales, in possessing femoral scales without pores, with males having five precloacal pores, and in exhibiting 8 supralabials, 10 infralabials, 23 narrow subdigital lamellae on its fourth toe, and 36 transverse ventrals.

Key words: Cyrtodactylus puhuensis, Indochina, Thanh Hoa, genealogy

Nguyen, Sang N., Jun-xiao Yang, Thanh-ngan T. Le, Luan T. Nguyen, Nikolai L. Orlov, Chung V. Hoang, Truong Q. Nguyen, Jie-qiong Jin, Ding-Qi Rao, Thao N. Hoang, Jing Che, Robert W. Murphy & Ya-Ping Zhang. 2014. DNA Barcoding of Vietnamese Bent-toed Geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus) and the Description of A New Species. Zootaxa. 3784(1): 48–66.
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3784.1.2

researchgate.net/publication/261876584_DNA_barcoding_of_Vietnamese_bent-toed_geckos_%28Squamata_Gekkonidae_Cyrtodactylus%29_and_the_description_of_a_new_species

Cyrtodactylus vilaphongi

Schneider, Nguyen, Le, Nophaseud, Bonkowski & Ziegler, 2014

Abstract

We describe a new species of the gekkonid genus Cyrtodactylus on the basis of two specimens collected from limestone forests of Luang Prabang Province, northern Laos. Morphologically, the new species is distinguishable from its congeners by a combination of the following diagnostic characters: maximum SVL 86.1 mm; supralabials 9 or 10; infralabials 7–9; dorsal tubercles in 15 or 16 rows at midbody; ventral scale rows 34–36 at midbody; precloacal groove absent; femoral scales not distinctly enlarged; precloacal pores absent in females (unknown in males); subdigital lamellae under the fourth finger 18 or 19, under the fourth toe 18–20; subcaudals not transversally enlarged; dorsal bands white, 4 or 5 between limb insertions plus another one between hind limbs; tail banded. Based on molecular analyses, the new species is clustered in the same clade with C. wayakonei and two other species from Luang Prabang and Houaphan provinces.

Keywords: Bent-toed gecko, limestone forest, phylogeny, taxonomy, Luang Prabang Province

Schneider, Nicole, Truong Q. Nguyen, Minh D. Le, Liphone Nophaseud, Michael Bonkowski & Thomas Ziegler. 2014. A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Karst Forest of northern Laos. Zootaxa. 3835(1): 80–96.

http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3835.1.4
researchgate.net/publication/263766148_A_new_species_of_Cyrtodactylus_%28Squamata_Gekkonidae%29_from_the_karst_forest_of_northern_Laos

“Eodelphis” kabatensis (Horikawa, 1977)

Illustration: R. Boessenecker | CoastalPaleo.blogspot.com

ABSTRACT

The oldest reported fossil record of Delphinidae is from the late Miocene (11 Ma) of California. Reliable Miocene fossil delphinids, however, are few. “Eodelphis” kabatensis from the upper Miocene Mashike Formation (8.5-13.0 Ma), Hokkaido, northern Japan, is the oldest described Miocene delphinid including a skull. Therefore, this species is a significant clue to understanding the early evolutionary history of Delphinidae. The original taxonomic assignment of this species within the genus Stenella is questionable; thus, we propose a new combination for the species, “Eodelphis” kabatensisHorikawa, 1977. Eodelphis is a basal delphinid, and comprehensive morphological cladistic analysis, including molecular topological constraints, supported this taxonomic revision. Paleobiogeographic analyses based on the present morphological cladistic analysis and analysis under the molecular constraints suggest that the origin and early diversification of Delphinidae occurred in the middle Miocene Pacific Ocean or elsewhere, respectively.

SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY

CETACEA Brisson, 1762

ODONTOCETI Flower, 1867

DELPHINOIDEA Gray, 1821 DELPHINIDAE Gray, 1821

“EODELPHIS”, new genus

Type and Only Known Species: “Eodelphis” kabatensis (new combination).

Diagnosis: As for the type species.

Etymology: From the Ancient Greek ‘Eo,’ for dawn referring to the earliest delphinid; and from Latin ‘delphis,’ for dolphin.

EODELPHIS KABATENSIS (Horikawa, 1977), new combination

Delphinidae, gen. et sp. indet. Horikawa and Fujita, 1972:177, pl. 1.

Stenella kabatensis: Horikawa, 1977:98, figs. 2–8, pls. 1, 2.

Delphinidae, gen. indet. Ichishima, 2005:11.

CONCLUSIONS

We redescribed the late Miocene delphinid, Stenella kabatensis (8.5–13.0 Ma), from Hokkaido, northern Japan, as a new genus “Eodelphis”. Both a comprehensive morphological cladistic analysis and this analysis under the constraint tree of molecular phylogenetic analyses support a new combination of the species; i.e., Eodelphis is significantly more archaic than the Stenella complex. Those analyses also indicate that the two extinct species Stenella rayi and Tursiops osennae are not included in the Stenella complex. “Eodelphis” is significant for understanding the origin, early evolution, and paleobiogeography of Delphinidae, as well as calibration of the molecular divergence estimates: “Eodelphis” kabatensis is the oldest and only valid Miocene delphinid species yet described. However, paleobiogeographic analyses based on the present phylogenetic analyses suggest different biogeographic scenarios: origin and early diversification in the middle Miocene Pacific Ocean or outside the Pacific Ocean. To resolve the origin of Delphinidae, we need to include more fossil delphinids and kentriodontids in phylogenetic analyses.

Mizuki Murakami, Chieko Shimada and Yoshinori Hikida. 2014. “Eodelphis” kabatensis, a new name for the oldest true dolphin Stenellakabatensis Horikawa, 1977 (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Delphinidae), from the upper Miocene of Japan, and the phylogeny and paleobiogeography of Delphinoidea. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 34(3);

DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2013.816720

Unfortunately as it turns out - Eodelphis is a preoccupied name for Cretaceous marsupial. So, it will require an additional paper proposing yet another replacement name.

http://coastalpaleo.blogspot.com/2014/07/eodelphis-kabatensis-illustration-on.html

Dolphins swam the oceans six MILLION years earlier than thought
http://dailym.ai/1iigj5j via @MailOnline

Thamnosophis mavotenda

Glaw, Nagy, Köhler, Franzen & Vences, 2009

Abstract
We describe a new species of the pseudoxyrhophiine snake genus Thamnosophis from a dry forest of the karstic massif Tsingy de Bemaraha in central western Madagascar.Thamnosophis mavotenda sp. n. is characterised by 19 dorsal scale rows, 188 ventrals, 110 subcaudals, and by colouration (e.g. yellow head sides). Morphological and molecular phylogenetic data indicate that the species is most closely related to the recently described Thamnosophis martae from the far north of the island which inhabits dry karstic forest and subhumid lowland rainforest. This species pair represents a well-supported example of a sister-group relationship in snakes between northern Madagascar and the Tsingy de Bemaraha plateau, and corroborates preliminary observations in other reptile species. We discuss this finding in the light of recent hypotheses on the biogeographic zonation of Madagascar.

Keywords: Serpentes; Pseudoxyrhophiinae; Thamnosophis; New species; Madagascar; Biogeography

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the Malagasy words “mavo” (yellow) and “tenda” (throat) and refers to the yellow throat of the holotype. It is to be treated as a noun in apposition for the purposes of nomenclature.

Distribution and Conservation: Thamnosophis mavotenda is only known from a single individual captured in the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. Thus, any statements on the species’ distribution and conservation status must remain tentative. Several Malagasy reptile and amphibian species are known only from this nature reserve (e.g. Schimmenti and Jesu 1996; Puente et al. 2005; Glaw et al. 2007a; Köhler et al. 2007), suggesting its importance as a center of endemism. It is therefore possible that T. mavotenda is endemic to the Tsingy de Bemaraha as well. We did not notice any obvious threat to the species, and its occurrence in a relatively large, protected area seems to indicate that it is not severely threatened, although it is remarkable that intensive surveys in this park (Bora et al. in press) did not reveal further specimens. Using the same rationale and IUCN criteria as applied during the Global Amphibian Assessment for Malagasy amphibians (Andreone et al. 2005), we classify T. mavotenda as “Data Deficient”. [>> Near Threatened (IUCNRedlist.org)]

F. Glaw, Z.T. Nagy, J. Koehler, M. Franzen and M. Vences. 2009. Phylogenetic Relationships of A New Species of pseudoxyrhophiine Snake (Reptilia: Lamprophiidae: Thamnosophis) Suggest A Biogeographical Link Between western and northern Madagascar. Organisms, Diversity & Evolution 9:13-22.

researchgate.net/publication/224936803_Phylogenetic_relationships_of_a_new_species_of_pseudoxyrhophiine_snake_%28Reptilia_Lamprophiidae_Thamnosophis%29_suggest_a_biogeographical_link_between_western_and_northern_Madagascar

Fig. 1. Habitat of Voeltzkowia rubrocaudata: corn plantation (in foreground) near the village of Andranomaitso, Commune rurale de Sakaraha.

Fig. 2. Voeltzkowiarubrocaudata individual (MRSN R3726) in life from Andranomaitso village, southwestern Madagascar, found on the 11 December 2009:
A. dorso-lateral overview; B. dorsal view; C. head close up; D. individual burrowing in the substrate.

Photos by Gonçalo M. Rosa.

Abstract

Voeltzkowia is a monophyletic genus of burrowing skinks endemic to Madagascar. The fossorial habits of these species make them hard to see and study, and witness their life history traits. During two herpetological surveys in southwestern Madagascar (in 2009 and 2011) we found several Voeltzkowia rubrocaudata individuals in a corn plantation, a habitat that differs from the forested habitat reported in the literature. Life colouration for this shy scincid is described for the first time.

Key words. Southwestern Madagascar, corn plantation, Squamata, Scincidae.

Fig. 2.Voeltzkowia rubrocaudata individual (MRSN R3726) in life from Andranomaitso village, southwestern Madagascar, found on the 11 December 2009:
A. dorso-lateral overview; B. dorsal view; C. head close up; D. individual burrowing in the substrate.

Photos by Gonçalo M. Rosa.

Gonçalo M. Rosa, Paolo Eusebio Bergò, Angelica Crottini & Franco Andreone. 2012. Report on the Life Colouration of the enigmatic Burrowing Skink Voeltzkowia rubrocaudata (Grandidier, 1869) from southwestern Madagascar. Bonn zoological Bulletin.61 (1): 31–34

http://www.zoologicalbulletin.de/BzB_Volumes/Volume_61_1/031_034_BzB61_1_%20Rosa_GM_et_al.pdf

FIGURE 1. Adults of Helictophanes and Cyphophanes.
A. Helictophanes flava, n. sp. (holotype male). B. H. flava, n. sp. (paratype female).
C. Cyphophaneskhitchakutensis, n. sp. (holotype male). D. C. khitchakutensis, n. sp. (paratype female)

(scale bar=2 mm).

Abstract

Two new species of the tribe Enarmoniini (Tortricidae) are described from the Chanthaburi and Trat provinces of eastern Thailand: Helictophanes flava Muadsub and Pinkaew, n. sp., andCyphophanes khitchakutensis Muadsub and Pinkaew, n. sp. Illustrations of adults and genitalia are provided.

Key words: Cyphophanes, Helictophanes, Enarmoniini, Khao Khitchakut National Park, Olethreutinae, Trat Agroforestry Research and Training Station

Muadsub, Sawitree & Nantasak Pinkaew. 2014. Two New Species of Enarmoniini (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) from eastern Thailand. Zootaxa. 3841(1): 127–134.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3841.1.7

http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2014/f/zt03841p134.pdf

FIGURE 11. A. Zingiber brachystachys Triboun & K. Larsen; B. Z. callianthus Triboun & K. Larsen; C. Z. chantaranothaii Triboun & K. Larsen; D.-E. Z. cornubracteatum Triboun & K. Larsen; F. Z. isanense Triboun & K. Larsen; G. Z. parishii Hook.f. subsp. phuphanense Triboun & K. Larsen, H.-I. Z.pyroglossum Triboun & K. Larsen; J. Z.sadakornii Triboun & K. Larsen; K. Z. tenuiscapus Triboun & K. Larsen; L. Z. vittacheilum Triboun & K. Larsen.

ABSTRACT

A key to the genus Zingiber in Thailand is presented and 10 new taxa are described and illustrated: Z. brachystachys Triboun & K. Larsen, Z. callianthus Triboun & K. Larsen, Z.chantaranothaii Triboun & K. Larsen, Z. cornubracteatum Triboun & K. Larsen, Z. isanense Triboun & K. Larsen, Z. parashii Hook.f. subsp. phuphanense Triboun & K. Larsen, Z. pyroglossum Triboun & K. Larsen, Z. sadakornii Triboun & K. Larsen, Z. tenuiscapus Triboun & K. Larsen and Z. vittacheilum Triboun & K. Larsen.

KEYWORDS:new taxa, Zingiber, Zingiberaceae, Thailand

PRAMOTE TRIBOUN, KAI LARSEN and PRANOM CHANTARANOTHAI. 2014. A Key to the Genus Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in Thailand with Descriptions of 10 New Taxa. Thai Journal of Botany. 6(1): 53-77.

http://www.qsbg.org/database/bot/journal/showarticle.aspx?type=article&id=181

Fig. 51. Seven common murine genera in peninsular Myanmar-Thai-Malaysia. (A): Maxomys(M. surifer); (B): Niviventer (N. cremoriventer); (C): Rattus (R. tanezumi); (D): Leopoldamys (L. sabanus); (E): Berylmys (B. bowersi); (F): Bandicota (B. indica); (G): Sundamys (S. muelleri).

Not to scale. | Pimsai, et al. 2014 [Fulltext]

Abstract

Based on field surveys undertaken between 2010 and 2013, museum studies in Thailand and the UK, and an extensive literature review, this paper provides information on the 28 species and 12 genera of murine rodents currently known from peninsular Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia and Singapore. It incorporates a detailed summary of past research, 1851–2013, of the Murinae in the study area and includes descriptive characters of the external, cranial and dental morphology and measurements for each of the rodent species. It lists and maps the 93 murine taxa described from the peninsula, 84 of which are currently considered to be synonyms at species level. Each of the 389 different localities on the 28 distribution maps is numbered and linked to its source, either literature or museum specimen, and listed in the online gazetteer. The global conservation status of each species is obtained from the IUCN Red List. Remarks are made, where data are available, on the ecology, karyology, fossil history, sperm morphology, phylogeny, and taxonomic history and ambiguities. Recommendations are made for further research. A series of illustrated matrix keys is provided to assist with the identification of all the murine genera and species within the study area.

Key words: Taxonomy, distribution, identification keys, karyology, ecology, conservation status.

Fig. 1. Study area: peninsular Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia, and Singapore.

Uraiporn Pimsai, Malcolm J. Pearch, Chutamas Satasook, Sara Bumrungsri & Paul J.J. Bates. 2014. Murine Rodents (Rodentia: Murinae) of the Myanmar-Thai-Malaysian peninsula and Singapore: Taxonomy, Distribution, Ecology, Conservation Status, and Illustrated Identification Keys. Bonn zoological Bulletin. 63 (1): 15–114

http://www.zoologicalbulletin.de/BzB_Volumes/Volume_63_1/015-114_BzB63_1_Pimsai_et_al.pdf

Kulindadromeus zabaikalicus Godefroit, Sinitsa, Dhouailly, Bolotsky, Sizov, McNamara, Benton & Spagna, 2014
wanders the lake-dotted lowlands of Jurassic Siberia

illustration: Andrey Atuchin

ABSTRACT

Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous deposits from northeastern China have yielded varied theropod dinosaurs bearing feathers. Filamentous integumentary structures have also been described in ornithischian dinosaurs, but whether these filaments can be regarded as part of the evolutionary lineage toward feathers remains controversial. Here we describe a new basal neornithischian dinosaur from the Jurassic of Siberia with small scales around the distal hindlimb, larger imbricated scales around the tail, monofilaments around the head and the thorax, and more complex featherlike structures around the humerus, the femur, and the tibia. The discovery of these branched integumentary structures outside theropods suggests that featherlike structures coexisted with scales and were potentially widespread among the entire dinosaur clade; feathers may thus have been present in the earliest dinosaurs.

Pascal Godefroit, Sofia M. Sinitsa, Danielle Dhouailly, Yuri L. Bolotsky, Alexander V. Sizov, Maria E. McNamara, Michael J. Benton and Paul Spagna. 2014. A Jurassic ornithischian Dinosaur from Siberia with both feathers and scales. Science. 345(6195): 451-455. DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1253351

Feathers More Common Among Dinosaurs Than Previously Thought

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2014/07/24/feathers-common-among-dinosaurs-previously-thought/

http://theropoda.blogspot.com/2014/07/kulindadromeus-zabaikalicus-un.html

Abstract

A molecular phylogeny of the sphaerodactylid geckos of the genus Pristurus is inferred based on an alignment of 1845 base pairs (bp) of concatenated mitochondrial (12S) and nuclear (acm4, cmos, rag1 and rag2) genes for 80 individuals, representing 18 of the 23–26 species, and the three subspecies of P. rupestris. The results indicate that P. rupestris is polyphyletic and includes two highly divergent clades: the eastern clade, found in coastal Iran and throughout the Hajar Mountain range in northern Oman and eastern UAE; and the western clade, distributed from central coastal Oman, through Yemen, Saudi Arabia and north to southern Jordan. Inferred haplotype networks for the four nuclear genes show that the eastern and western clades of “P. rupestris” are highly differentiated and do not share any alleles. Moreover, although the two clades are differentiated by a morphological multivariate analysis, no one character or set of characters was found to be diagnostic. Based on the molecular analysis of specimens from the type locality of P. rupestris rupestris, the name P. rupestris is applied to the eastern clade. The name that should apply to the western clade cannot be clarified until morphological and genetic data for “P. rupestris” is available from the vicinity of Bosaso, Somalia, and therefore we refer to it as Pristurus sp. 1. The phylogenetic tree of Pristurus supports the hypothesis that P. celerrimus is sister to all the other species in the analyses and that the Socotra Archipelago was independently colonized a minimum of two times.

Keywords: gecko, Arabia, phylogeny, taxonomy, systematics, Socotra Archipelago, mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA

Badiane, Arnaud, Joan Garcia-Porta, Jan Červenka, Lukáš Kratochvíl, Roberto Sindaco, Michael D. Robinson, Hernan Morales, Tomas Mazuch, Thomas Price, Fèlix Amat, Mohammed Shobrak, Thomas M. Wilms, Marc Simó-Riudalbas, Faraham Ahmadzadeh, Theodore J. Papenfuss, Alexandre Cluchier, Julien Viglione & Salvador Carranza. 2014. Phylogenetic Relationships of Semaphore Geckos (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae: Pristurus) with an Assessment of the Taxonomy of Pristurus rupestris. Zootaxa. 3835(1): 33–58.

http://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3835.1.2

researchgate.net/publication/263747012_Phylogenetic_relationships_of_Semaphore_geckos_%28Squamata_Sphaerodactylidae_Pristurus%29_with_an_assessment_of_the_taxonomy_of_Pristurus_rupestris

http://www.philipdepous.com/author/flipdepous

Pseudocalotes cybelidermus

Harvey, Hamidy, Kurniawan, Shaney & Smith, 2014

Abstract

We describe three new species of Pseudocalotes from the Bukit Barisan Range of southern Sumatra, Indonesia. Pseudocalotes cybelidermus, P. guttalineatus, andP. rhammanotus differ from most congeners in having serrate dorsal crests that extend to the base of the tail and a dorsolateral series of enlarged heavily keeled scales. In these new species, subdigital lamellae of Toe III have prominent preaxial keels and lack or have greatly reduced postaxial keels. In contrast, P. rhammanotus resembles P. tympanistriga by having bicarinate subdigital lamellae at the base of Toe III. Like most congeners, these new species appear to be restricted to humid forests above 1000 m. We report several new morphological characters for Pseudocalotes and discuss their diagnostic value. Future systematic studies of this genus should assess presence/absence of interparietals, four different kinds of modified scales on the neck, a dorsolateral series of heavily keeled scales, and unicarinate lamellae under the distal phalanges of most fingers and toes. Our comparisons among congeners demonstrate the diagnostic value of width of the gap between the nuchal and dorsal crests and frequency data for contact between the nasal and supralabials and between the postmentals and infralabials. Finally, we discuss variation in morphology of subdigital lamellae at the base of Toe III and describe new conditions intermediate between the serrate fringe of most Indochinese species and the bicarinate lamellae of the P. tympanistriga.

Keywords: Color change, Draconinae, Pseudocalotes cybelidermus new species, Pseudocalotes guttalineatus new species, Pseudocalotes rhammanotus new species, Sauria

Harvey, Michael B., Amir Hamidy, Nia Kurniawan, Kyle Shaney & Eric N. Smith. 2014. Three New Species of Pseudocalotes (Squamata: Agamidae) from southern Sumatra, Indonesia. Zootaxa 3841(2): 211–238. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3841.2.3

Typhlomys chapensis (Osgood 1932)

Vietnamese Pygmy Dormouse [or Soft-furred Tree Mouse]

Figure 4. ~~Typhlomys cinereus~~. Adult female from Sa Pa, Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam.

Photographed by A. V. Abramov | doi: 10.3897/zookeys.164.1785

ABSTRACT

Background: The taxonomic position of enigmatic pygmy dormouse Typhlomys (Rodentia: Platacanthomyidae) from Vietnam is reconsidered based on both morphology and sequence data.

Results: The analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear genes has shown that the pygmy dormouse from Lao Cai Province of northern Vietnam belongs to a distinct phylogenetic lineage of Typhlomys. The DNA analysis has demonstrated a strong genetic difference (0.245 to 0.252 for the cytochrome oxidase gene (COI), 0.079 to 0.082 for interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein gene (IRBP), and 0.028 for the growth hormone receptor gene (GHR) between this lineage and the sample from South China. Multivariate analysis of cranial and dental data, as well as of some external characters, has also separated the Vietnamese population from the pygmy dormouse from Fujian in southern China, the type locality of Typhlomys cinereus (Bull Soc Philomath Paris 12:8–10, 1877).

Conclusions: Both genetic and morphological data confirm that there is a second species, Typhlomys chapensis (Field Mus Nat Hist Zool Ser 18:193–339, 1932), in the heretofore monotypic genus Typhlomys.

Alexei V Abramov, Alexander E Balakirev and Viatcheslav V Rozhnov. 2014. An enigmatic Pygmy Dormouse: Molecular and Morphological Evidence for the Species Taxonomic Status of Typhlomys chapensis (Rodentia: Platacanthomyidae). Zoological Studies. 53:34. DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40555-014-0034-2

researchgate.net/publication/264275000_An_enigmatic_pygmy_dormouse_molecular_and_morphological_evidence_for_the_species_taxonomic_status_of Typhlomys chapensis_%28Rodentia_Platacanthomyidae%29

Alexei V. Abramov, Vladimir M. Aniskin and Viatcheslav V. Rozhnov. 2012. Karyotypes of two rare rodents, Hapalomys delacouri and Typhlomys cinereus (Mammalia, Rodentia), from Vietnam. ZooKeys. 164: 41–49, doi: dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.164.1785

http://www.cokesmithphototravel.com/yunnan-expedition.html

Thismia betung-kerihunensis Tsukaya & H. Okada

ABSTRACT

A new species of Thismiaceae, Thismia betung-kerihunensis Tsukaya et H. Okada, found during a botanical survey of Betung-Kerihun National Park, West Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia, is described and illustrated. This species closely resembles Thismia clavigera (Becc.) F. Muell, which is distributed in Borneo, Sumatra, Langkawi, and Thailand; however, it differs in flower shape, size, and color, having conspicuous hood-like appendages at the tip of the brilliant blue-green colored mitre formed by the three inner tepals. Moreover, it differs in the shape of the anther connectives that lack acutely elongated apices and has rectangular glands. The smaller stature of the species also distinguishes it from T. clavigera.

Keywords: Borneo; Burmanniaceae; Kalimantan; Thismia betung-kerihunensis; Thismiaceae; key to Malaysian species of Thismia; mycoheterotrophic plant; new species

Hirokazu Tsukaya and Hiroshi Okada. 2012. A New Species of Thismia (Thismiaceae) from West Kalimantan, Borneo. Systematic Botany. 37(1): 53-57.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1600/036364412X616639

researchgate.net/publication/261972766_A_New_Species_of_Thismia_%28Thismiaceae%29_from_West_Kalimantan_Borneo

http://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/info.html?id=3966

[Paleontology • 2014] Changyuraptor yangi • A New Raptorial Dinosaur with Exceptionally Long Feathering provides insights into dromaeosaurid Flight Performance

[PaleoMammalogy • 2006] Notiolofos (Notolophus) arquinotiensis • A New ‘South American ungulate’ (Mammalia: Litopterna) from the Eocene of the Antarctic Peninsula

[PaleoMammalogy • 2014] Notiolofos cf. arquinotiensis • The Oldest Mammals from Antarctica, early Eocene of the La Meseta Formation, Seymour Island

[Paleontology • 2014] Lyrarapax unguispinus • Brain Structure resolves the Segmental Affinity of anomalocaridid Appendages

[Botany • 2010] A New Genus, Kurziella from Thailand (Vernonieae: Asteraceae)

[Botany • 2014] Revisions and Key to the Vernonieae (Compositae) of Thailand

[Botany • 2014] Ficus cornelisiana • A New Species of Ficus subsection Urostigma (Moraceae) from the Sino-himalayan region

[Herpetology • 2014] Cyrtodactylus puhuensis • DNA Barcoding of Vietnamese Bent-toed Geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae) and the Description of A New Species from northwestern Thanh Hóa Province, northern Vietnam

[Herpetology • 2014] Cyrtodactylus vilaphongi • A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Karst Forest of Luang Prabang Province, northern Laos

[PaleoMammalogy • 2014] “Eodelphis” kabatensis • A New Name for the Oldest True Dolphin Stenella kabatensis Horikawa, 1977 (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Delphinidae), from the upper Miocene of Japan, and the Phylogeny and Paleobiogeography of Delphinoidea

[Herpetology • 2009] Thamnosophis mavotenda • Phylogenetic Relationships of A New Species of pseudoxyrhophiine Snake (Reptilia: Lamprophiidae) Suggest A Biogeographical Link Between western and northern Madagascar

[Herpetology • 2012] Report on the Life Colouration of the enigmatic Burrowing Skink Voeltzkowia rubrocaudata (Grandidier, 1869) from southwestern Madagascar

[Entomology • 2014] Helictophanes flava & Cyphophanes khitchakutensis • Two New Species of Enarmoniini (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) from eastern Thailand

[Botany • 2014] A Key to the Genus Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in Thailand with Descriptions of 10 New Taxa | พรรณพฤกษชาติ สกุลขิง ในประเทศไทย

[Mammalogy • 2014] Murine Rodents (Rodentia: Murinae) of the Myanmar-Thai-Malaysian peninsula and Singapore: Taxonomy, Distribution, Ecology, Conservation Status, and Illustrated Identification Keys

[Paleontology • 2014] Kulindadromeus zabaikalicus • A Jurassic ornithischian Dinosaur from Siberia with both feathers and scales

[Herpetology • 2014] Phylogenetic Relationships of Semaphore Geckos (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae: Pristurus) with an Assessment of the Taxonomy of Pristurus rupestris

[Herpetology • 2014] Three New Species of Pseudocalotes (Squamata: Agamidae) from southern Sumatra, Indonesia; Pseudocalotes cybelidermus, P. guttalineatus & P. rhammanotus

[Mammalogy • 2014] An enigmatic Pygmy Dormouse: Molecular and Morphological Evidence for the Species Taxonomic Status of Typhlomys chapensis (Rodentia: Platacanthomyidae)

[Botany • 2012] Thismia betung-kerihunensis • A New Species of Thismia (Thismiaceae) from West Kalimantan, Borneo