Species New to Science

Reconstruction of the Trans-Saharan Seaway waters from the Late Cretaceous–early Paleogene. Sunlight of the tropics illuminated seawater filled with mangrove roots near shore where freshwater influence was highest. Mollusks lined the floor of the shallow sea, and tube-shaped burrows opened onto the seafloor.

in O'Leary, Bouaré, Claeson, et al., 2019.

digitallibrary.AMNH.org

Illustration: Carl Buell AMNH.org

Abstract

An epicontinental sea bisected West Africa periodically from the Late Cretaceous to the early Eocene, in dramatic contrast to the current Sahara Desert that dominates the same region today. Known as the Trans-Saharan Seaway, this warm and shallow ocean was a manifestation of globally elevated sea level associated with the rapid break-up of the supercontinent Gondwana in the late Mesozoic. Although it varied in size through time, the Trans-Saharan Seaway is estimated to have covered as much as 3000 km2 of the African continent and was approximately 50 m deep. The edges of the sea were defined in part by the high topography of the Precambrian cratons and mobile belts of West Africa. Over its approximately 50 million year episodic existence, through six major periods of transgression and regression, the Trans-Saharan Seaway left behind extensive nearshore marine sedimentary strata with abundant fossils. The waters that yielded these deposits supported and preserved the remains of numerous vertebrate, invertebrate, plant, and microbial species that are now extinct. These species document a regional picture of ancient tropical life that spanned two major Earth events: the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary and the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). Whereas extensive epeiric seas flooded the interior portions of most continents during these intervals, the emerging multicontinental narrative has often overlooked the Trans-Saharan Seaway, in part because fundamental research, including the naming of geological formations and the primary description and analysis of fossil species, remained to be done. We provide such synthesis here based on two decades of fieldwork and analyses of sedimentary deposits in the Republic of Mali. Northern parts of the Republic of Mali today include some of the farthest inland reaches of the ancient sea.

We bring together and expand on our prior geological and paleontological publications and provide new information on ancient sedimentary rocks and fossils that document paleoequatorial life of the past. Ours is the first formal description of and nomenclature for the Upper Cretaceous and Lower Paleogene geological formations of this region and we tie these names to regional correlations over multiple modern territorial boundaries. The ancient seaway left intriguing and previously unclassified phosphate deposits that, quite possibly, represent the most extensive vertebrate macrofossil bone beds known from anywhere on Earth. These bone beds, and the paper shales and carbonates associated with them, have preserved a diverse assemblage of fossils, including a variety of new species of invertebrates and vertebrates, rare mammals, and trace fossils. The shallow marine waters included a wide range of paleoenvironments from delta systems, to hypersaline embayments, protected lagoons, and carbonate shoals.

Our overarching goal has been to collect vertebrate fossils tied to a K-Pg stratigraphic section in Africa. We provide such a section and, consistent with prior ideas, indicate that there is a gap in sedimentation in Malian rocks in the earliest Paleocene, an unconformity also proposed elsewhere in West Africa. Our phylogenetic analyses of several vertebrate clades across the K-Pg boundary have clarified clade-by-clade species-level survivorship and range extensions for multiple taxa. Few macrofossil species from the Trans-Saharan Seaway show conspicuous change at either the K-Pg boundary or the PETM based on current evidence, although results are very preliminary. Building on our earlier report of the first record of rock-boring bivalves from the Paleocene of West Africa, we further describe here a Cretaceous and Paleogene mollusk fauna dominated by taxa characteristic of the modern tropics. Among the newly discovered fossil osteichthyans, large body size characterizes both the pycnodonts and a new freshwater Eocene catfish species, one of the largest fossil catfishes found in Africa. Our new paleoecological and faunal reconstructions show an evergreen, broadleaf forest that included some of the oldest mangroves known. The ancient Malian ecosystem had numerous apex predators including Crocodyliformes, Serpentes, and Amiidae, some of which were among the largest species in their clades. The Trans-Saharan Seaway exhibited intermittent isolation from major seas. This environmental variable may have created aquatic centers of endemism, stimulating selection for gigantism as previously observed for species on terrestrial islands.

During the Late Cretaceous–early Paleogene, the shallow waters of the Trans-Saharan Seaway waters were teeming with aquatic species which ranged from small mollusks to giant sea snakes and catfish.

Illustration: Carl Buell

Maliamia gigas, Cretalamna (Serratolamna) maroccana, Palaeophis colossaeus,
Pycnodus jonesae, Plesielephantiform mammal, Lavocatodus giganteus,
Acleistochelys maliensis, Rhabdognathus aslerensis, Myliobatis wurnoensis
and Adrar des Iforas massif.

Maureen A. O'Leary, Mamadou L. Bouaré, Kerin M. Claeson, Kelly Heilbronn, Robert V. Hill, Jacob A. McCartney, Jocelyn A. Sessa, Famory Sissoko, Leif Tapanila, Elisabeth Wheeler and Eric M. Roberts. 2019. Stratigraphy and Paleobiology of the Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene Sediments from the Trans-Saharan Seaway in Mali. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 436; 1–177. digitallibrary.AMNH.org/handle/2246/6950

Large Sea Snakes, Giant Catfish Once Swam in the Sahara AMNH.org/explore/news-blogs/research-posts/sea-snakes-catfish-sahara

Ancient Saharan seaway shows how Earth's climate and creatures can undergo extreme change phys.org/news/2019-07-ancient-saharan-seaway-earth-climate.html via @physorg_com

Laticallichirus grandis Karasawa & Goda, 1996

in Komai, Yokooka, Henmi & Itani, 2019.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4604.3.4

Abstract
A new genus of the family Callianassidae, Laticallichirus, is established for “Neocallichirus” grandis Karasawa & Goda, 1996, a ghost shrimp species heretofore represented only by fossil materials from the middle to upper Pleistocene of Japan. The newly collected specimens came from two Japanese localities: Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture (Suruga Bay) and Tosa, Kochi Prefecture (Tosa Bay), included within the known geographical range derived from fossil records. The species identification was based on the close agreement in the cheliped morphology and the known fossil distributions. The new genus is assigned to the subfamily Callichirinae Manning & Felder, 1991, and compared with seven genera, Balsscallichirus Sakai, 2011, Callichirus Stimpson, 1866, Callichiropsis Sakai, 2010, Grynaminna Poore, 2000, Michaelcallianassa Sakai, 2002, Lepidophthalmus Holmes, 1904 and Podocallichirus Sakai, 1999, all characterized by the antennular peduncle being longer and stouter than the antennal peduncle. The new genus is characteristic in combination of the following characters: rostrum spiniform; maxilliped 3 devoid of exopod; ischium-merus of maxilliped 3 broadly operculiform; maxilliped 3 ischium devoid of crista dentata; major cheliped devoid of meral hook or associated lobe-like structure; tergites of the pleomeres 3–5 without conspicuous ornamentation; male pleopod 2 biramous, its endopod devoid of appendices interna and masculina; uropodal endopod suboval in shape; telson distinctly wider than long, with shallowly concave posterior margin. The genetic analysis using the mitochondrial 16S rRNA places the new genus as sister to Callichirus Stimpson, 1866, although bootstrap support for major branches is generally low. The newly collected specimens were found in burrows in soft sediments of shallow subtidal zone being accessible at low tide.

Keywords: Crustacea, Callichirinae, fossil, genetic analysis, Laticallichirus grandis, Pleistocene, 16S rRNA

FIGURE 6. Laticallichirus grandis(Karasawa & Goda, 1996), male (cl 18.2 mm), CBM-ZC 15247, habitus in dorsal and lateral views, showing colouration in life..

Tomoyuki Komai, Hiroyuki Yokooka, Yumi Henmi and Gyo Itani. 2019. A New Genus for “Neocallichirus” grandis Karasawa & Goda, 1996, A Ghost Shrimp Species (Decapoda: Axiidea: Callianassidae) Heretofore Known Only by Fossil Materials. Zootaxa. 4604(3); 461–481. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4604.3.4

Pelser, Nickrent, van Ee & F. Barcelona, 2019.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106555

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Highlights

• Philippine Rafflesia is monophyletic.

• Rafflesia phylogeny displays strong biogeographic signal.

• Borneo probably constitutes the ancestral range of Rafflesia.

• Rafflesia lineages might be older and evolved more gradually than previously assumed.

• Rafflesia possibly disperse poorly between islands.

Abstract

Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) is a small endo-holoparasitic Asian plant genus known for its exceptionally large flowers, rare species, and high island endemism. In this study, phylogenetic (parsimony and Bayesian inference) and biogeographic (BioGeoBEARS) analyses of DNA sequence data (atp6 and matR genes, and nad1 B-C intron from the mitochondrial genome, and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer) were used to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships among 12 of the 13 known Philippine Rafflesia species and to determine the timing and pathways of their diversification. The results of these analyses confirm those of previous Rafflesia studies (which were largely focused on non-Philippine species) in finding pronounced biogeographic patterns. They suggest that dispersal between islands has been relatively uncommon, and indicate that the high island endemism of Rafflesia is a result of poor inter-island dispersal abilities. The results further suggest that its ancestral range might have been in Borneo, and that its lineages and species evolved earlier and more gradually than previously assumed.

Keywords: biogeography, dispersal, parasitic plants, divergence time, Malesia, parasitic plants

Pieter B. Pelser, Daniel L. Nickrent, Benjamin W. van Ee and Julie F. Barcelona. 2019. A Phylogenetic and Biogeographic Study of Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) in the Philippines: Limited Dispersal and High Island Endemism. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. In Press. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106555

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Microhyla okinavensis

in Tominaga, Matsui, Shimoji, Khonsue, et al., 2019.

DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12361

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Abstract

The Ryukyu Archipelago, located at the southwestern part of Japan, is known as a group of continental islands and harbours many endemic taxa, supposedly reflecting its fairly long isolation from the Eurasian continent, Taiwan and the Japanese main islands. Microhyla okinavensis has been known as an endemic member of the terrestrial fauna of this archipelago. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using samples from nearly all island populations of the species and representative samples of other east Asian congeneric species revealed that M. okinavensis consists of four distinct subclades, of which the Amami, Okinawa and Miyako subclades, though exhibiting distinct genetic differentiations from each other, formed a monophyletic group (clade A). The remaining Yaeyama subclade was exclusively sister to M. mixtura from inland China, forming another monophyletic group (clade B), rendering M. okinavensis in the current definition paraphyletic. These results, as well as estimated dates of divergence from related taxa, indicate that M. okinavensis actually includes more than one distinct species. The results indicate that M. okinavensis and M. mixtura are relict species with disjunct distributions which had been most probably caused by invasion of M. fissipes in intervening areas.

Keywords: Continental Island, East Asia, Microhyla, phylogeography, relict lineage

Figure 2: Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree of total 826 bp of the mitochondrial genes (12S and 16SrRNA) for 75 samples of Microhyla and additional five M. beilunensis.

DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12361

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Atsushi Tominaga, Masafumi Matsui, Naoko Shimoji, Wichase Khonsue, Chi‐Shiun Wu, Mamoru Toda, Koshiro Eto, Kanto Nishikawa and Hidetoshi Ota. 2019. Relict Distribution of Microhyla (Amphibia: Microhylidae) in the Ryukyu Archipelago: High Diversity in East Asia maintained by Insularization. Zoologica Scripta. 48(4); 440-453. DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12361

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Pogoneleotris heterolepis (Günther, 1869)

in Larson & Hui, 2019.

RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 67

Abstract

The poorly known butid gudgeon Pogoneleotris heterolepis is redescribed based on 15 specimens obtained from fish markets and local fishers from 1982 to 2018, plus examination of the holotype. It is unique among butids in having a longitudinal papilla pattern and the preopercular canal continuous with the oculoscapular canal and is one of only two gobioids (other than Rhyacichthys and Terateleotris) known to have this latter condition.

Key words: riverine fish, Borneo, aquatic biodiversity, Butidae, Pogoneleotris

TAXONOMY

Pogoneleotris Bleeker, 1875: 107

(type species Eleotris heterolepis Günther, 1869,

by original designation and monotypy).

Pogoneleotris heterolepis (Günther, 1869)

Eleotris heterolepis Günther, 1869: 445 (type locality: Malaysia: Borneo: Sarawak).

Pogoneleotris heterolepis – Bleeker, 1875: 107 (Borneo); Vinciguerra, 1926: 543, pl. 1; Koumans, 1953: 323; Tortonese, 1963: 342; Kottelat & Lim, 1995: 247; Larson in Randall & Lim, 2000: 639; Larson & Murdy, 2001: 3577; Parenti & Lim 2005: 194; Atack, 2006: 167; Kottelat, 2013: 395; Tan & Grinang, 2018: 203–210.

Diagnosis. First dorsal fin VI; second dorsal fin I,11–12; anal fin I,10; pectoral fin 20–23, usually 22; 17 segmented caudal fin rays in 9/8 pattern, branched caudal fin rays 15- 17, usually 15 in 8/7 pattern, procurrent caudal elements 11–15 dorsally, 11–13 ventrally; lateral scales about 38–64, counting main rows only (difficult to see scale rows due to many auxiliary scales); TRB 15–25. Vertebrae 10+16=26 (n = 15); dorsal pterygiophore pattern 3-22110; epurals 2; 2 anal pteryiophores before first caudal vertebra. Pelvic fins separate, space between fin bases scaled. Body with large scales, ctenoid scales alternating with clusters of cycloid scales and auxiliary scales present. Teeth sharp, in about six rows in both jaws. Sensory canals and pores mostly obscured by skin and sensory papillae, but canal extends from pore just above upper lip continuously to rear of opercle; pores usually at ends of branches from main canal; four preopercular pores present, in canal continuous with oculoscapular canal. Sensory papillae in longitudinal pattern, papillae themselves are mostly elongate thin flaps or variously branched, others are seated in oval pits on cheek. Known only from estuarine rivers in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Fig. 4. Fresh Pogoneleotris heterolepis from Simunjan, Sarawak; ZRC56949, female above (166.7 mm SL), male below (160.0 mm SL).

Fig. 5. Simunjan River habitat of this species; showing fishers’ boat moored beside lines onto bank from gill net.

Fig. 2. Dorsal view (right side reversed) of head of fresh Pogoneleotris heterolepis (ZRC56949, 160.0 mm SL male); showing extent of scalation and sensory papillae.

Habitat. Known only from estuarine habitats; found in turbid rivers with mud substrate (Fig. 5). Tan & Grinang (2018) describe the habitat from which these came, and dissected one specimen (which contained crustacean remains).

Remarks. It is commonly known as the bearded gudgeon, Ikan buccat butta or Batu betutu, and has been referred to as the Sarawak mud gudgeon. At the Rajang River delta, the local name in the Melanau dialect is Ilong mapak [=blind fish] (Tan & Grinang, 2018).

This species’ conservation status has not been assessed by the IUCN. As it is regularly consumed by the local people and is restricted to mangrove habitats (which are generally threatened throughout South-east Asia), its conservation status deserves assessment sooner rather than later.

Helen K. Larson and Tan Heok Hui. 2019. A Redescription of the Bearded Gudgeon, Pogoneleotris heterolepis (Günther, 1869) (Teleostei: Gobioidei: Butidae). RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 67: 385–390.

Hesperornithoides miessleri

Hartman, Mortimer, Wahl, Lomax, Lippincott & Lovelace, 2019

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7247

Illustration by Gabriel Ugueto twitter.com/SerpenIllus

Abstract

The last two decades have seen a remarkable increase in the known diversity of basal avialans and their paravian relatives. The lack of resolution in the relationships of these groups combined with attributing the behavior of specialized taxa to the base of Paraves has clouded interpretations of the origin of avialan flight. Here, we describeHesperornithoides miessleri gen. et sp. nov., a new paravian theropod from the Morrison Formation (Late Jurassic) of Wyoming, USA, represented by a single adult or subadult specimen comprising a partial, well-preserved skull and postcranial skeleton. Limb proportions firmly establish Hesperornithoides as occupying a terrestrial, non-volant lifestyle. Our phylogenetic analysis emphasizes extensive taxonomic sampling and robust character construction, recovering the new taxon most parsimoniously as a troodontid close to Daliansaurus, Xixiasaurus, and Sinusonasus. Multiple alternative paravian topologies have similar degrees of support, but proposals of basal paravian archaeopterygids, avialan microraptorians, and Rahonavis being closer to Pygostylia than archaeopterygids or unenlagiines are strongly rejected. All parsimonious results support the hypothesis that each early paravian clade was plesiomorphically flightless, raising the possibility that avian flight originated as late as the Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous.

Figure 3: Reconstructed quarry map of WYDICE-DML-001. Association of skeletal elements assembled from 3D scans of specimen blocks prior to final mechanical preparation. Scale bar = 6 cm.

Figure 4: Primary blocks of WYDICE-DML-001. “Left” (A) and “right” (B) sides of the blocks after final preparation (B). Scale bar = one cm. Images taken by Levi Shinkle

Systematic Palaeontology

Theropoda Marsh, 1881

Maniraptora Gauthier, 1986

Paraves Sereno, 1997

Deinonychosauria Colbert & Russell, 1969

Troodontidae Gilmore, 1924

Hesperornithoides miessleri gen. et sp. nov.

Holotype: WYDICE-DML-001 (Wyoming Dinosaur Center, Thermopolis), a single, partially articulated skeleton consisting of most of an articulated skull and mandibles missing the anteriormost portions, hyoids, five cervical vertebrae, first dorsal vertebra, isolated anterior dorsal rib, portions of 12 caudal vertebrae, five chevrons, partial left scapula and coracoid, portions of the proximal left humerus and distal right humerus, left ulna and radius, radiale, semilunate carpal, left metacarpals I–III, manual phalanges III-2 and 3, manual unguals I, II, and III, ilial fragment, most of an incomplete femur, right and left tibiae and fibulae, left astragalus and calcaneum, portions of right and left metatarsal packets, left pedal phalanges III-1, III-2, III-3, IV-1, IV-2, IV-3, IV-4, and pedal unguals II and III and the proximal portion of IV.

Etymology: “Hesper,” (Greek) referring to the discovery in the American West, “ornis,” (Greek) for bird and “oeides,” (Greek) for similar, referring to the avian-like form of derived paravians. The trivial epithet honors the Miessler family, who have been avid supporters of the project.

Occurrence: Douglas, Converse County, Wyoming, USA; middle portion of Morrison Formation, which has been variously dated between Oxfordian and Tithonian in age (Trujillo, 2006; Trujillo et al., 2014), associated vertebrate fossils include the sauropod Supersaurus, a stegosaurid plate, and isolated large theropod teeth.

Diagnosis: A paravian with the following derived characters: pneumatic jugal (also in Zanabazar and some eudromaeosaurs among maniraptorans); short posterior lacrimal process (<15% of ventral process length, measured from internal corner; also present in Zanabazar, Archaeopteryx, and Epidexipteryx); quadrate forms part of lateral margin of paraquadrate foramen; small external mandibular fenestra (<12% of mandibular length; also in Zhenyuanlong and Dromaeosaurus among non-avian paravians); humeral entepicondyle >15% of distal humeral width (also in some avialans); manual ungual III subequal in size to ungual II (also in Daliansaurus, IGM 100/44 and Mahakala); mediodistal corner of tibia exposed anteriorly (also in Archaeopteryx and Jeholornis).

Figure 5: Rigorous skeletal reconstruction of WYDICE-DML-001. Scale bar = 25 cm.

Figure 18: Partially expanded, time calibrated phylogenetic results. Clades containing potentially volant taxa (red) are expanded to show their position nested within flightless taxa (black). Taxa exhibiting aerial locomotion directly connected to crown clade Aves are colored blue. Zhongornis is colored purple to reflect the uncertainty revolving around this juvenile specimen. Barred lineages indicate uncertainty in age (Xiaotingia) or referred taxa (Koparion to troodontids and non-Jehol taxa to Confuciusornithiformes).

Conclusions:

We have described Hesperornithoides miessleri, a new paravian theropod from the Late Jurassic of North America. We ran a phylogenetic analysis based on previous TWiG datasets with expanded taxonomic sampling and recovered it as a troodontid, the oldest diagnostic specimen from North America known from more than teeth. Hesperornithoides was clearly a non-volant, terrestrial theropod that spent at least a portion of its life in a marginal lacustrine or wetland environment. The terrestrial and flightless lifestyle is consistent with the base of Paraves, and with the base of paravian subclades, suggesting that avian flight evolved within Avialae, most likely in the Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous.

Scott Hartman, Mickey Mortimer, William R. Wahl, Dean R. Lomax, Jessica Lippincott and David M. Lovelace. 2019. A New Paravian Dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of North America supports A Late Acquisition of Avian Flight. PeerJ. 7:e7247. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7247

Meet Lori, a tiny dinosaur that may help explain how birds evolved flight on.natgeo.com/2NHQ5RR @NatGeoScience

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Aphanapteryx bonasia Frauenfeld, 1868

in Hume, 2019.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4626.1.1

Abstract

Five species in five genera of extinct endemic rails have been described from the Mascarene Islands of Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues: the Mauritian Red Rail or Poule Rouge Aphanapteryx bonasia; Mascarene Coot or Poule d’eau Fulica newtonii; which occurred on Mauritius and Réunion; Réunion Wood Rail Dryolimnas augusti; Réunion Gallinule or Oiseaux bleu ‘Porphyrio caerulescens’; and Rodrigues or Leguat’s Rail Erythromachus leguati. All are known from fossil remains and/or from contemporary accounts and illustrations. A sixth species of rail Dryolimnas sp. nov. is described herein from fossils from Mauritius, but was not unequivocally previously reported in the contemporary literature. This paper provides an analysis of the Rallidae of the Mascarene Islands based on existing and newly discovered fossil remains, and details historical reports and accounts. Comprehensive osteological descriptions and synonymies are also included. Their ecology and extinction chronologies are interpreted from historical evidence. The relationships of Aphanapteryx and Erythromachus are unresolved, having clearly been isolated for a considerable time; the middle Miocene is the earliest their ancestors could have arrived on the Mascarenes, but this may have happened more recently. Mascarene derivatives of Fulica, Porphyrio and Dryolimnas are of much more recent origin, and appear to have originated in Africa or Madagascar. All terrestrial rails on Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues, were probable victims of cat predation following their historic introduction to the islands, whereas over-hunting by humans was probably the primary cause of extinction of ‘Porphyrio caerulescens’ on Réunion. The only extant rail on the Mascarenes today, the Madagascar race of Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus pyrrhorrhoa, is a recent arrival, having colonised Mauritius and Réunion after the extinction of Fulica newtonii.

Keywords: Aves, Mascarene rails, Rallidae, Aphanapteryx, Erythromachus, Dryolimnas, Porphyrio, Gallinula, Leguatia, extinction, affinities, ecology, sexual dimorphism

An almost complete, associated skeleton of Aphanapteryx bonasia (MI 923) collected by Etienne Thirioux in September 1899 in the Vallée des Prêtres, Moka Range, mid-west Mauritius. Scale bar = 200 mm

Julian Pender Hume. 2019. Systematics, Morphology and Ecology of Rails (Aves: Rallidae) of the Mascarene Islands, with One New Species. Zootaxa. 4626(1); 1–107. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4626.1.1

Knodus nuptialis

Menezes & Marinho, 2019

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217915

Abstract

Knodus nuptialis n. sp. is described from the Rio Curuá drainage, Rio Xingu basin, Brazil. It can be diagnosed from its congeners by having dentary teeth decreasing gradually in size posteriorly, outer premaxillary teeth row with five cusps, 12–15 branched anal-fin rays and a single humeral spot. The species presents notable sexual dimorphism consisting of densely concentrated nuptial tubercles on head, body, and fins, gill-gland, and bony hooks in the anal fin of mature males. It was found that these sexually dimorphic features are useful and functional in males of the new species only during the reproductive season and after this period, they become atrophied, and eventually disappear. The list of characiform species presenting breeding tubercles is updated and nine species and two genera of the Characidae, Deuterodon and Bryconacidnus, are for the first time reported to have breeding tubercles.

Fig 1. Type specimens of Knodus nuptialis. Brazil, Pará, Altamira, Rio 13 de Maio at PCH Salto do Três de Maio, tributary of Rio Curuá, Rio Xingu basin
(A) holotype, preserved coloration, MZUSP 124829, 46.5 mm SL, male;
(B) paratype MZUSP 124828, female, 50.8 mm SL.

Knodus nuptialis, new species

Diagnosis: Knodus nuptialis can be distinguished from all congeners, except K. deuteronoides Eigenmann in Eigenmann and K. tiquiensis Ferreira and Lima, by having the dentary teeth arranged in a continuous series, with teeth decreasing gradually in size posteriorly (versus arranged in a discontinuous series with the anterior teeth conspicuously larger, followed by abruptly smaller teeth posteriorly). Knodus nuptialis differs from K. deuteronoides by having 3–5 (rarely 3) premaxillary teeth in the outer row (versus 2–3 (rarely 3)), 4 scale rows below lateral line (versus 3), the origin of the dorsal fin closer to snout tip than to caudal-fin base (versus dorsal-fin origin in the middle of the distance between snout tip and caudal-fin base), the origin of the anal fin posterior to vertical crossing base of last dorsal-fin ray (versus anal-fin origin anterior to vertical crossing base of last dorsal-fin ray in K. deuteronoides; data from [13], and midlateral dark stripe reaching humeral spot (versus not reaching, humeral spot with a pale area behind; data from [14]. The new species can be distinguished from K. tiquiensis by having a single humeral spot (versus two) and the relatively narrow midlateral stripe (versus broad stripe). Knodus nuptialis can be further distinguished from all congeners, except K. deuterodonoides, K. figueiredoi Esguícero and Castro, K. geryi Lima, Britski and Machado, K. meridae Eigenmann, K. orteguasae Fowler, and K. tiquiensis, by having 12–15 branched anal-fin rays (versus 16–26). It can be further distinguished from K. figueiredoi by having inner premaxillary teeth with 5 to 8 cusps (versus 3), from K. meridae and K. orteguasae by having 4 scale rows between lateral line and pelvic-fin origin (versus 2 ou 3) and from K. deuterodonoides and K. tiquiensis by the features aforementioned. The presence of densely concentrated nuptial tubercles in mature males may also help to diagnose the new species.

Fig 10. Type locality of Knodus nuptialis. Rio 13 de Maio, tributary of Rio Curuá, upper Rio Xingu basin at Serra do Cachimbo.

Fig 9. Geographic distribution of Knodus nuptialis.
Rio 13 de Maio, tributary of Rio Curuá, upper Rio Xingu basin at Serra do Cachimbo, state of Pará, Brazil. Shaded area corresponds to rio Tapajós basin.

Etymology: The species name nuptialis is from the Latin meaning pertaining to marriage, in allusion to the presence of a series of sexual dimorphic traits (hooks, gill glands and nuptial tubercles) during the breeding season of this species.

Distribution: Knodus nuptialis is so far known from the Rio 13 de Maio, tributary of Rio Curuá, upper Rio Xingu basin in the state of Pará, Brazil (Figs 9 and 10).

Naércio A. Menezes and Manoela M. F. Marinho. 2019. A New Species of Knodus Eigenmann (Characiformes: Characidae: Stevardiinae) with Comments on Nuptial Tubercles and Gill Gland in Characiform Fishes. PLoS ONE. 14(7): e0217915. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217915

Scolomastax sahlsteini

Noto, Drumheller, Adams & Turner, 2019

DOI: 10.1002/ar.24174

ABSTRACT

New discoveries at the Arlington Archosaur Site (AAS), a Cenomanian (Late Cretaceous) locality in north‐central Texas, are filling gaps in our knowledge of mid‐Cretaceous Appalachian ecosystems, which remain poorly characterized. The AAS is notable because it preserves a diverse crocodyliform record. As seen in other sites that preserve four or more crocodyliform taxa, the species present at the AAS exhibit different snout shapes and body sizes, indicating that this high diversity of sympatric species was likely sustainable due to niche partitioning. Here we describe Scolomastax sahlsteini gen. et sp. nov., a new species of crocodyliform from the AAS, currently known from a partial right mandibular ramus. This species differs from other crocodyliforms in possessing features associated with durophagy or omnivory, including a shortened mandible, reduced tooth count, heterodonty, a dorsally expanded surangular, and enlarged attachments for jaw adductor muscles. Our phylogenetic analysis places this new taxon within Eusuchia as a member of Paralligatoridae and sister taxon to Paralligator gradilifrons. Scolomastax sahlsteini extends the record of paralligatorids into the Late Cretaceous of North America. This discovery represents the first appearance of this clade on the poorly known landmass of Appalachia, supporting a biogeographic connection between North America and Asia in the Early Cretaceous prior to completion of the Western Interior Seaway. However, relationships among other endemic crocodyliforms and tree instability within Paralligatoridae suggest further analysis is needed to resolve phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships

Keywords: Crocodyliformes, Paralligatoridae, paleoecology, niche partitioning, Cenomanian

Systematic Paleontology

Crocodyliformes (Hay, 1930).

Mesoeucrocodylia (Whetstone and Whybrow, 1983).

Neosuchia (Benton and Clark, 1988).

Paralligatoridae (Konzhukova, 1954).

Genus Scolomastax nov.

Type species: Scolomastax sahlsteini, sp. nov.

Etymology: Derived from the Greek words scolos meaning anything pointed, and mastax meaning jaws or mouth; in reference to the tapered anterior dentary, which would have made a pointed, V‐shaped mandible in ventral view.

Scolomastax sahlsteini, sp. nov.

Etymology: In honor of Arthur Sahlstein, who co‐discovered the AAS and discovered the holotype specimen, recognizing his invaluable contributions to this project since its inception.

Holotype: DMNH 2013‐07‐1256, a partial right mandibular ramus.

Type locality and horizon: The AAS, city of Arlington, Tarrant County, Texas. Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Woodbine Formation. Exact locality data are on file with the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, Texas.

Diagnosis: A paralligatorid crocodyliform differing from other known paralligatorids in having the following combination of characters (* denotes an autapomorphy relative to other paralligatorids): elongate mandibular symphysis with an anteroposterior length three times its dorsoventral height; splenial participation in the symphysis; dorsal expansion on the anterodorsal surangular, creating a process that makes half the total dorsoventral height of the mandible*; no external mandibular fenestra; rugose, anteroposteriorly oriented ridge on the ventrolateral surface of the angular; large, dorsally directed flange on medial portion of angular*; 10–11 alveoli; anterior teeth mildly procumbent; heterodont dentition, with smaller circular alveoli anteriorly, becoming enlarged and labiolingually wide posteriorly*; two waves of tooth enlargement, with the tenth alveolus the largest followed by the third.

Christopher R. Noto, Stephanie K. Drumheller, Thomas L. Adams and Alan H. Turner. 2019. An Enigmatic Small Neosuchian Crocodyliform from the Woodbine Formation of Texas. The Anatomical Record. DOI: 10.1002/ar.24174

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Tarsomordeo winkleri Adams, 2019

DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2019.1623226

ABSTRACT

Within the Twin Mountains Formation, the Proctor Lake dinosaur locality in central Texas is distinct from other Early Cretaceous localities by having an abundance of vertebrate fossils representing a low-diversity assemblage. However, it has yielded two small-bodied crocodyliforms, Wannchampsus kirpachi and Tarsomordeo winkleri, gen. et sp. nov. This new species is represented by a single partial skeleton with a complete dentary, trough-shaped mandibular symphysis, amphicoelous vertebrae, nearly square dorsal osteoderms, and gracile, elongated limbs. In addition, limb morphology indicates a parasagittal posture, an attribute for a terrestrial lifestyle that could have allowed T. winkleri to fill an ecological niche as an active predator of nesting dinosaurs and other small prey. A phylogenetic analysis places this new taxon within Eusuchia as a member of Paralligatoridae and the sister taxon to Paralligator major and Rugosuchus nonganensis, providing further evidence for the presence of this clade in North America. This new Proctor Lake crocodyliform expands the taxonomic diversity of the Early Cretaceous units of central Texas and provides additional insight into the paleoecology of the Proctor Lake dinosaur nesting site.

Comparisons of Tarsomordeo winkleri, gen. et sp. nov., with the maximum size of the Proctor Lake ornithopod, Convolosaurus marri(from Andrzejewski et al., 2019). Scale bar equals 10 cm.

Map of fossil block (SMU field number 2AC) containing the partial skeleton of Tarsomordeo winkleri, gen. et sp. nov., SMU 76870, holotype, from Proctor Lake, Texas. Numbered osteoderms correspond to the order the elements were prepared from the block. White represents elements that have not been identified. Scale bar equals 5 cm.

Interpretive reconstruction of Tarsomordeo winkleri, gen. et sp. nov., showing position of recovered elements discussed in the text. Notosuchus silhouette used as model for reconstruction (phylopic.org). Scale bar equals 10 cm.

SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY

CROCODYLIFORMES Hay, 1930

MESOEUCROCODYLIA Whetstone and Whybrow, 1983

NEOSUCHIA Benton and Clark, 1988

PARALLIGATORIDAE Konzhukova, 1954

TARSOMORDEO, gen. nov.

Type Species— Tarsomordeo winkleri, sp. nov.

Etymology—‘Tarso’ and ‘mordeo,’ derived from the Latin terms for ‘ankle biter’ in reference to the small size of the type specimen.

TARSOMORDEO WINKLERI, sp. nov.

Etymology— Tarsomordeo winkleri, in honor of Dr. Dale Winkler, for his contributions to the study of Texas paleontology and geology.

Thomas L. Adams. 2019. Small Terrestrial Crocodyliform from the Lower Cretaceous (late Aptian) of central Texas and Its Implications on the Paleoecology of the Proctor Lake Dinosaur Locality. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. e1623226. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2019.1623226

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Witte paleontologist discovers ancient cat-sized crocodile species that hunted on land kens5.com/article/life/animals/witte-paleontologist-discovers-ancient-cat-sized-crocodile-species-that-hunted-on-land/273-519029d1-7c3d-406a-8b95-0290e910075a via @KENS5

Kate A. Andrzejewski, Dale A. Winkler and Louis L. Jacobs. 2019. A New Basal Ornithopod (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) from the Early Cretaceous of Texas. PLoS ONE 14(3): e0207935. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207935

Dziriblatta (Pauciscleroblatta) galilaeana

in Bohn, 2019.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4610.1.1

Abstract

An initial contribution to the revision of the genus Dziriblatta Chopard, 1936a, formerly synonymized erroneously with Lobolampra Houlbert, 1927, is presented. The species of the genus, hitherto placed in the subgenera Phyllodromica, Arbiblatta Chopard, 1936a and Lobolampra Houlbbert, 1927, of the genus Phyllodromica Fieber 1853, are distributed on the northern Macaronesian Islands, in southern Spain, North Africa, and the Near East (Israel, Cyprus). The genus is divided into nine new subgenera: Autumnoblatta subgen. nov., Blattantis subgen. nov., Discleroblatta subgen. nov., Dziriblatta subgen. nov., Macaroblatta subgen. nov., Monoscleroblatta subgen. nov., Pauciscleroblatta subgen. nov., Sculptoblatta subgen. nov., and Sulcoblatta subgen. nov.. The characteristics of the genus and its subgenera are described including also a determination key which allows the discrimination of the subgenera in both sexes. The presumable phylogenetic position of the genus and the relationships between the subgenera are discussed and shown in cladograms. The described species and their distribution are shown in numerous figures and distribution maps, respectively.

Three new species are described: Dziriblatta (Sculptoblatta) prisca spec. nov., Dziriblatta (Autumnoblatta) nasuta spec. nov., and Dziriblatta (Macaroblatta) dendroglandulosa spec. nov. Nomenclatory changes: The species Blatta carpetana Bolívar, 1873, is designated as lectotype for the subgenus Lobolampra Houlbert, 1927. New synonyms: Aphlebia cazurroi Bolívar, 1885, is a junior synonym of Dziriblatta algerica (Bolívar, 1881); Dziriblatta theryi Chopard, 1936a, Hololampra finoti Bolívar, 1914, and Lobolampra adelungi Chopard, 1943, are synonyms of Dz. (Pauciscleroblatta) kroumiriensis (Adelung, 1914); Dz. vicina Chopard, 1936b, is a synonym of Dz. (Monoscleroblatta) merrakescha (Adelung, 1914).

Keywords: Blattodea, new subgenera, new combinations, new synonyms, designation of a lectotype, phylogeny

female of Dziriblatta (Pauciscleroblatta) galilaeana carrying an ootheca, in dorsal view. Notice orientation of the keel (arrow) forming an angle of about 45° to the longitudinal axis.

Dziriblatta (Pauciscleroblatta) subgen. nov.

Horst Bohn. 2019. Revision of the Genus Dziriblatta Chopard, 1936 (Blattodea, Ectobiidae, Ectobiinae) from North Africa, Spain, and the Macaronesian islands. I. The Nine Subgenera of the Genus. Zootaxa. 4610(1); 1-73. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4610.1.1

Calliostoma bullatum (Philippi, 1844) on various substrates

in Hoffman, Beuck, van Heugten & Freiwald, 2019.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4613.1.4

Abstract

Three species in the gastropod genus Calliostoma are confirmed as living in Deep-Water Coral (DWC) habitats in the NE Atlantic Ocean: Calliostoma bullatum (Philippi, 1844), C. maurolici (Seguenza, 1876) and C. leptophyma Dautzenberg & Fischer, 1896. Up to now, C. bullatum was only known as fossil from Early to Mid-Pleistocene outcrops in DWC-related habitats in southern Italy; our study confirmed its living presence in DWC off Mauritania. A discussion is provided on the distribution of DWC-related calliostomatids in the NE Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea from the Pleistocene to the present.

Keywords: Mollusca, Calliostoma, deep-water coral associations, NE Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, systematics

FIGURES 9–14. Calliostoma bullatum on various substrates.

9. MSM16-3/GeoB 14871 (ROV4). Grazing on hydroids. 10. MSM16-3/GeoB 14871 (ROV4). Elongated, muscular foot supports feeding on polyp tissue (Madrepora oculata). Operculum and dorsal groove on foot indicated by arrow.

11. MSM16-3/GeoB 14873 (ROV7). Muscular foot enables elevation of body above substrate (live Lophelia pertusa). Epipodial sense organs spread directly below the shell (arrow). 12. MSM16-3/GeoB 14871 (ROV4). Feeding on apical portions of a live Madrepora oculata.

13. MSM16-3/GeoB 14779 (ROV2). Two individuals feeding on Lophelia pertusa tissue; note the grazing tracks showing the bare, white coral skeleton devoid of polyp tissue in contrast to the orange to pale-pinkish live portions. 14. MSM16-3/GeoB 14891 (ROV9). Three individuals of different sizes all feeding on epibionts of Lophelia pertusa framework; note the grazing traces on adjacent live Lophelia pertusa portions (see arrow).

[Figs 9-20 were taken by ROV “Sperre”, Tomas Lundälv, Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Infrastructure, Tjärnö, University of Gothenburg, Strömstad, Sweden].

FIGURES 15–20.Calliostoma bullatum on substrates.
15. MSM16-3/GeoB 14871 (ROV5). Grazing on carnivorous sponge Cladorhiza corallophila; arrow indicating grazing effect. 16. MSM16-3/GeoB 14902 (ROV10). On framework encrusting sponge.
17. MSM16-3/GeoB 14902 (ROV10). Grazing on a valve of live Acesta excavata, which is colonised by epibionts; the two laser points are at a distance of 6 cm. 18. MSM16-3/GeoB 14902 (ROV10). Grazing on a valve of dead Acesta excavata (note in direct surrounding the free portions of epibionts on the valve and the white framework portions of Lophelia pertusa lacking any tissue).
19. MSM16-3/GeoB 14902 (ROV10). Grazing on a gastropod shell (Ranella olearium). 20. MSM16-3/ GeoB 14891 (ROV9). Grazing on dead hydroid axis in close vicinity to a Solenogastres.

Leon Hoffman, Lydia Beuck, Bart van Heugten and André Freiwald. 2019. Last Snails Standing Since the Early Pleistocene, A Tale of Calliostomatidae (Gastropoda) Living in Deep-water Coral Habitats in the north-eastern Atlantic. Zootaxa. 4613(1); 93–110. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4613.1.4

Elektorornis chenguangi

Xing, O’Connor, Chiappe, McKellar, Carroll, Hu, Bai & Lei, 2019

DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.05.077

Illustration: Zhongda Zhang

Highlights:

• New fossil is first avian species recognized from amber

• Elektorornis is distinct from all other birds based on the proportions of the foot

• Scutellae scale filaments on foot suggest probing function for elongated third toe

Summary

Recent discoveries of vertebrate remains trapped in middle Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar have provided insights into the morphology of soft-tissue structures in extinct animals, in particular, into the evolution and paleobiology of early birds. So far, five bird specimens have been described from Burmese amber: two isolated wings, an isolated foot with wing fragment, and two partial skeletons. Most of these specimens contain the remains of juvenile enantiornithine birds. Here, we describe a new specimen of enantiornithine bird in amber, collected at the Angbamo locality in the Hukawng Valley. The new specimen includes a partial right hindlimb and remiges from an adult or subadult bird. Its foot, of which the third digit is much longer than the second and fourth digits, is distinct from those of all other currently recognized Mesozoic and extant birds. Based on the autapomorphic foot morphology, we erect a new taxon, Elektorornis chenguangi gen. et sp. nov. We suggest that the elongated third digit was employed in a unique foraging strategy, highlighting the bizarre morphospace in which early birds operated.

Keywords: Cretaceous, Cenomanian, Burma, Hukawng, stem Aves, Enantiornithes, ecology, feathers

Tarsal with Integumentary Structures Preserved in Elektorornis chenguangi HPG-15-2

Systematic Paleontology:

Aves Linnaeus 1758

Ornithothoraces Chiappe 1995

Enantiornithes Walker 1981

Elektorornis gen. nov.

Elektorornis chenguangi gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology:Elektorornis, ‘‘Elektor,’’ the word for amber; ‘‘-ornis,’’ Greek, meaning bird. The species name ‘‘chenguangi’’ is in honor of Chen Guang, a curator at the Hupoge Amber Museum.

Lida Xing, Jingmai K. O’Connor, Luis M. Chiappe, Ryan C. McKellar, Nathan Carroll, Han Hu, Ming Bai and Fuming Lei. 2019. A New Enantiornithine Bird with Unusual Pedal Proportions Found in Amber. Current Biology. In Press. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.05.077

Bird with unusually long toes found fossilized in amber phys.org/news/2019-07-bird-unusually-toes-fossilized-amber.html via @physorg_com

Cirrhilabrus wakanda

Tea, Pinheiro, Shepherd & Rocha, 2019

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.863.35580

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Abstract

Cirrhilabrus wakanda sp. nov. is described on the basis of the holotype and four paratypes collected between 50 and 80m depth over low-complexity reef and rubble bottoms at the east coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa. The new species belongs to a group of fairy wrasses from the western Indian Ocean, sharing a combination of characters that include: short pelvic fins (not or barely reaching anal-fin origin); relatively unmarked dorsal and anal fins; males with a strongly lanceolate caudal fin (except in C. rubrisquamis); both sexes with a pair of prominent facial stripes above and below the orbit; and both sexes with prominent purple scales and osseus elements that persist, and stain purple, respectively, even in preservation. This group of fairy wrasse is part of a larger complex that includes related species from the western Pacific Ocean. In addition to meristic and morphometric comparisons, we also compare mitochondrial DNA sequence data to the aforementioned, putatively related species.

Keywords: Coral reefs, deep reefs, Indian Ocean, rebreather diving, reef fish

Figure 1. Cirrhilabrus wakanda sp. nov., freshly euthanized male holotype (CAS 246395), 70.3 mm SL, male, collected at a depth of 75 m, east coast of Zanzibar, Africa (above). Note the pair of facial stripes above and below orbit. Photograph by H.T. Pinheiro and B. Shepherd.

Figure 2. Paratypes of Cirrhilabrus wakanda sp. nov., not to scale
A1 CAS 246397, 61.3 mm SL, male, freshly euthanized A2 CAS 246397, male in preservation B1 CAS 246398, 57.38 mm SL, female, freshly euthanized B2 CAS 246398, female in preservation C1 CAS 246399, 54.32 mm SL, female, freshly euthanized C2 CAS 246399, female in preservation.

Photographs by H.T. Pinheiro and B. Shepherd (A1, B1, C1), and J. Fong (A2, B2, C2).

Cirrhilabrus wakanda sp. nov.

Vibranium fairy wrasse

Diagnosis: Cirrhilabrus wakanda shares similar meristic characters to other members of this genus. However, it is readily distinguished from all other Cirrhilabrus in having the following combination of colouration and morphological characters: caudal fin strongly lanceolate in males; both sexes with a series of purple scales (in life and in preservation) arranged in a chain-link pattern across dorsal two-thirds of body.

Figure 4. Cirrhilabrus wakanda sp. nov., in situ photographs at 75 m depth, in the east coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa. Specimens not retained. Note intensity of yellow on the heads of males (A), transitioning males (B), and females (C). Photographs by L.A. Rocha.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the fictional East African nation of Wakanda, home of the superhero Black Panther, as is the case for the new species, which has remained hidden from the world for a long time. To be treated as a noun in apposition. The common name refers to the fictional metal vibranium, a rare substance found on Wakanda that is woven into Black Panther’s suit. The purple chain-link scale pattern of the new species is reminiscent of this detail.

Distribution and habitat: Cirrhilabrus wakanda is presently known only from the east coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania. The species inhabits deep shelves consisting of small patch reefs dominated by rhodolith and sponge beds, at depths between 50 and 80 m.

Figure 5. A selection of Cirrhilabrus species from the western Indian Ocean group of the Cirrhilabrus jordani complex
A Cirrhilabrus wakanda sp. nov., in situ photograph from the east coast of Zanzibar, Africa B Cirrhilabrus blatteus, in situ photograph from the Red Sea, off the coast of Eilat; C: Cirrhilabrus sanguineus, aquarium photograph of a specimen from Mauritius D Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis, aquarium photograph of a specimen from the Maldives.

Photographs by L.A. Rocha (A); E. Brokovich (B), and Y.K. Tea (C, D).

Yi-Kai Tea, Hudson T. Pinheiro, Bart Shepherd and Luiz A. Rocha. 2019. Cirrhilabrus wakanda, A New Species of Fairy Wrasse from Mesophotic Ecosystems of Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa (Teleostei, Labridae). ZooKeys. 863: 85-96. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.863.35580

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twitter.com/CoralReefFish/status/1149303530890678272
Wakanda Forever! Scientific divers describe new purple species of “twilight zone” fish from Africa https://blog.pensoft.net/2019/07/11/wakanda-forever-scientific-divers-describe-new-purple-species-of-twilight-zone-fish-from-africa/

Aquilarhinus palimentus

Prieto-Márquez, Wagner & Lehman, 2019

DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2019.1625078

Abstract

We describe a new genus and species of hadrosaurid dinosaur, Aquilarhinus palimentus, from the lower shale member of the Aguja Formation (lower Campanian) of Big Bend National Park, south-western Texas. This species is characterized by several autapomorphies of the facial skeleton and mandible, including a crest composed of broadly arched nasals. Notably, the symphyseal processes of the dentary are elongated and reflected dorsally, causing the dentaries to meet with a ‘W’-shaped anterior profile. A hypothesized shovel-shaped ‘bill’, associated with widening of the skull, in A. palimentus might have been used in shovelling out and scooping up semiaquatic vegetation. This animal is otherwise superficially similar to kritosaurins like Gryposaurus but differs in the retention of key plesiomorphic character states in the maxilla and jugal. Phylogenetic analysis reveals Aquilarhinus to be a non-saurolophid hadrosaurid allied to Latirhinus from the late Campanian of Mexico, which bears a similar broadly arched nasal. The recognition of this lineage adds to the diversity of non-saurolophid hadrosaurids and points to the existence of a hitherto unknown diversity of ‘duck-billed’ dinosaurs outside of the saurolophine-lambeosaurine radiation. Cranial crests were ancestral for early hadrosaurids and evolved before the saurolophid radiation. Ancestrally, crests were ‘solid’, and consisted of arched nasals. These were retained among kritosaurins and subsequently modified into the diverse crest morphologies observed among derived saurolophines. Lambeosaurine ‘hollow-crested’ crest morphology departed from the ancestral, ‘solid-crested’ pre-saurolophid condition early following the origin of that clade.

Keywords: Dinosauria, Hadrosauridae, phylogeny, evolution, Cretaceous, North America

The dentary of Aquilarhinus, showing the unusual upturned end of the mandible.

Photo by Albert Prieto-Marquez;
material housed at the Texas Vertebrate Paleontology Collections at The University of Texas at Austin.

Systematic palaeontology

Dinosauria Owen, 1842

Ornithischia Seeley, 1887

Ornithopoda Marsh, 1881

Iguanodontia Dollo, 1888

Hadrosauridae Cope, 1870 (sensu Prieto-Márquez, 2010)

Aquilarhinus gen. nov.

Type species. Aquilarhinus palimentus sp. nov.

Etymology. From the Latin ‘aquila’, meaning ‘eagle’, and the Greek ‘rhinos’, meaning ‘nose’. The combination of these two words references the morphology of the rostrum.

Aquilarhinus palimentus sp. nov.

Kritosaurus sp. nov. Wagner, 2001; Wagner & Lehman, 2001

Etymology. The specific name is a combination of the Latin words ‘pala’, shovel, and ‘mentus’, chin, in reference to the assumed resemblance of the predentary to a spade or shovel given the dorsomedial projection of the symphyseal process of the dentary.

Albert Prieto-Márquez, Jonathan R. Wagner and Thomas Lehman. 2019. An Unusual ‘Shovel-billed’ Dinosaur with Trophic Specializations from the early Campanian of Trans-Pecos Texas, and the Ancestral Hadrosaurian Crest. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2019.1625078

Strange new species of duck-billed dinosaur identified phys.org/news/2019-07-strange-species-duck-billed-dinosaur.html via @physorg_com

Ptychozoon cicakterbang

Grismer, Wood, Grismer, Quah, Thy, et al., 2019

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4638.2.1

Abstract

An integrative taxonomic analysis of the Ptychozoon lionotum group across its range in Indochina and Sundaland recovers P. lionotum sensu lato Annandale, 1905 as paraphyletic with respect to P. popaense Grismer, Wood, Thura, Grismer, Brown, & Stuart, 2018a and composed of four allopatric, genetically divergent, ND2 mitochondrial lineages. Multivariate and univariate analyses of continuous and discrete morphological and color pattern characters statistically and discretely diagnose each lineage from one another and together, with maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses, provide the foundation for the recognition of each lineage as a new species—hypotheses corroborated with a Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent species delimitation analysis. Ptychozoon cicakterbang sp. nov. ranges throughout Peninsular Malaysia to Pulau Natuna Besar, Indonesia; P. kabkaebin sp. nov. is endemic to northern and central Laos; and P. tokehos sp. nov. ranges from southern Thailand south of the Isthmus of Kra northward to Chiang Mai, fringing the Chao Phraya Basin and ranging southward through Cambodia to southern Vietnam. Ptychozoon lionotum sensu stricto ranges from northwestern Laos through southern Myanmar to eastern India. The phylogeographic structure within each species varies considerably with P. lionotum s.s. showing no genetic divergence across its 1,100 km range compared to P. cicakterbang sp. nov. showing upwards of 8.2% sequence divergence between syntopic individuals. Significant phylogeographic structure exists within P. tokehos sp. nov. and increased sampling throughout Thailand may require additional taxonomic changes within this species.

Keywords: Reptilia, Asia, Gekkonidae, gliding, integrative taxonomy, phylogeography, species complex

Ptychozoon cicakterbang

L. Lee Grismer, Perry L. Jr. Wood, Jesse L. Grismer, Evan S. H. Quah, Neang Thy, Somphouthone Phimmachak, Niane Sivongxay, Sengvilay Seateun, Bryan L. Stuart, Cameron B. Siler, Daniel G. Mulcahy, Tashitso Anamza and Rafe M. Brown. 2019. Geographic Structure of Genetic Variation in the Parachute Gecko Ptychozoon lionotum Annandale, 1905 Across Indochina and Sundaland with Descriptions of Three New Species. Zootaxa. 4638(2); 151–198. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4638.2.1

Rosa × binaloudensis

in Vaezi, Arjmandi & Sharghi, 2019.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.411.1.2

Abstract

Rosa x binaloudensis, a new natural hybrid between R. beggeriana and R. persica is described and characterized after analyzing a set of morphological and molecular data. The putative hybrid with a small population occurs in the mountainous area of northeastern Iran. This taxon resembles R. beggeriana in having white corolla and pinnately compound leaves but its petals have red blotch at the base of each more similar to R. persica. In the morphological study we performed both the univariate and multivariate analyses. Results of Mann-Whitney U test show that among 62 vegetative and floral morphological traits used, 37 (59%) of the hybrid characters are parental-like, 14 (23%) traits are intermediate and 11 (18%) appear to be transgressive (both new and extreme characters). Multivariate analyses (PCoA) generally show that the hybrid is intermediate between its putative parents. In the molecular study we amplified, cloned, and sequenced ribotypes (nuclear rDNA-ITS region) of the hybrid, its putative parents and all members of the subgenus Rosa to detect their possible involvement in the hybridization. In addition to phylogenetic tree reconstruction, due to low molecular resolution among the ITS ribotypes, a phylogenetic network was also provided. Both the phylogenetic tree and haplotype network analysis confirmed the occurrence of the hybridization between the proposed parental species, R. beggeriana and R. persica. By using the chloroplastic trnL-F sequences, our phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that R. persica has played as a maternal role in the hybridization.

Keywords: Rosaceae, hybridization, morphology, molecular phylogeny, network, Eudicots

Rosa x binaloudensis

Jamil Vaezi, Ali Asghar Arjmandi and Hamid Reza Sharghi. 2019. Origin of Rosa x binaloudensis (Rosaceae), A New Natural Hybrid Species from Iran. Phytotaxa. 411(1); 23–38. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.411.1.2

Aenigmachanna mahabali

Kumar, Basheer & Ravi, 2019

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4638.3.6

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Abstract

Aenigmachanna mahabali, a new species of troglophilic snakehead is described on the basis of a single specimen recovered from a well in Kerala, India, over 200km south of the type locality for the only known species in the genus. The new species can be distinguished from its congener in possessing fewer dorsal fin rays (53 vs 56-57), fewer total vertebrae (61 vs 64), fewer scales in lateral series (76 vs 83-85) and in the pectoral-fin rays being extended beyond the margin of the membrane into filaments.

Keywords: Pisces, Subterranean fish, troglomorph, anabantiform

Rahul G. Kumar, V.S. Basheer and Charan Ravi. 2019. Aenigmachanna mahabali, A New Species of Troglophilic Snakehead (Pisces: Channidae) from Kerala, India. Zootaxa. 4638(3); 410–418. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4638.3.6

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Persicaria rotunda (Z.Z.Zhou & Q.Y.Sun) Bo Li

in Guo, Chen, Chen & Li, 2019.

DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.126.35442

Abstract

Persicaria jucunda (Meisn.) Migo var. rotunda (Z.Z.Zhou & Q.Y.Sun) Bo Li was originally published in the genus Polygonum L. and treated as a variety of P. rotundum Meisn. [≡Persicaria jucunda (Meisn.) Migo]. After carefully comparing the macro- and micro-morphological characteristics of the achenes, leaf epidermis and tepals and the habitat between the variety and its typical variety, we confirmed that P. jucunda var. rotunda is clearly different from P. jucunda and should not be treated as a variety, but be raised to a specific rank as P. rotunda (Z.Z.Zhou & Q.Y.Sun) Bo Li. The species is distylous and could be easily distinguished from all other Persicaria taxa by a combination of morphological characters, such as completely decumbent leafless basal branches, almost sessile leaves, linear-lanceolate with rounded leaf bases, spicate, short and dense inflorescences, slender pedicels longer than bracts and dimorphic flowers and achenes. P. rotunda is endemic to several large wetlands of eastern China and usually occurs as one of the dominant species in some plant communities.

Keywords: Distyly, micro-morphology, new combination, Polygonum, variety

Figure 1. Persicaria rotunda (Z.Z.Zhou & Q.Y.Sun) Bo Li
A plant community with P. rotunda

Figure 1. Persicaria rotunda (Z.Z.Zhou & Q.Y.Sun) Bo Li
B close-up view of an individual in situ C an individual showing branches D leaves E leaf base F ocrea G inflorescences. Scale bars: 1 cm (E, F, G).

Persicaria rotunda (Z.Z.Zhou & Q.Y.Sun) Bo Li, comb. &, stat. nov.

≡Polygonum jucundum Meisn. var. rotundum Z.Z.Zhou & Q.Y.Sun, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 45(5): 714 (713–718; figs.). 2007. Type: CHINA. Anhui Province, Dongzhi County, Shengjin Lake, on riparian plains, Alt. 6–20 m, 4 October 2006, Z.Z.Zhou 0602 (holotype: PE!, isotype: ANU).

≡Persicaria jucunda (Meisn.) Migo var. rotunda (Z.Z.Zhou & Q.Y.Sun) Bo Li, Phytotaxa. 91 (1): 24. 2013.

Diagnosis: This species is easily distinguished from other Persicaria taxa by its completely decumbent leafless basal branches, almost sessile leaves, truncate, linear-lanceolate leaf blades, spicate, short and dense inflorescences, pedicels longer than bracts and dimorphic flowers and achenes. It occurs as one of the dominant species of some lakeshore plant communities in several large wetlands of northern Jiangxi and south-western Anhui provinces, eastern China.

Figure 2. Line drawing of Persicaria rotunda (Z.Z.Zhou & Q.Y.Sun) Bo Li
A branches and inflorescences B ocrea and leaf C inflorescence D S-morph flower and its pistil E L-morph flower and its pistil F S-morph achene G L-morph achene.

Distribution and habitat: Persicaira rotunda is currently known only from several wetlands in north of Jiangxi Province and southwest of Anhui Province, eastern China and mainly grows in marshy and grassy areas around Daguan Lake, Lihu Lake, Longgan Lake, Poyang Lake Qingcao Lake, Shengjin Lake, Shimeng Lake and Wuchang Lake, which are several small to large lakes located near the Yangtze River. It usually occurs as one of the dominant species of some lakeshore plant communities (Fig. 1A).

Yue-Ning Guo, Shao-Feng Chen, Ming-Lin Chen and Bo Li. 2019. Persicaria jucunda var. rotunda (Polygonaceae, Persicarieae), A Distinct Distylous Taxa raised to Specific Rank. PhytoKeys. 126: 127-138. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.126.35442

[upper] Aldiomedes angustirostris

Mayr & Tennyson, 2019

[lower] extant Black‐footed Albatross Phoebastria nigripes

DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12757

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Abstract

We describe a nearly complete, three‐dimensionally preserved skull of a new albatross species from the late Pliocene (3.0–3.4 million years ago) Tangahoe Formation of New Zealand. Aldiomedes angustirostris, n. gen. et sp. has only about 90% of the length of the skull of the smallest extant albatross and is the geologically youngest record of a small‐sized albatross known to date. The new species is characterized by a mediolaterally compressed beak, which is not found in any living albatross. The small size and some cranial features of A. angustirostris indicate that, in spite of its comparatively young geological age, the new species was not part of crown group Diomedeidae. We hypothesize that A. angustirostris was more piscivorous than extant albatrosses, which predominantly feed on squid. The reasons for the extinction of smaller‐sized albatrosses are elusive but may be related to changes in seabird fauna during the Pliocene epoch, which witnessed the radiation of various non‐procellariiform seabird groups.

Keywords: Aldiomedes angustirostris, n. gen. et sp., Aves, evolution, palaeoecology

Skull of Aldiomedes angustirostris, n. gen. et sp. from the late Pliocene of South Taranaki, New Zealand (holotype, NMNZ S.046313)

Skull of Aldiomedes angustirostris, n. gen. et sp. [upper] from the late Pliocene of South Taranaki, New Zealand (holotype, NMNZ S.046313), in comparison with extant Black‐footed Albatross Phoebastria nigripes [lower].

Scale bars: 1 cm.

Systematic Palaeontology

Aves Linnaeus, 1758

Procellariiformes Fürbringer, 1888

Diomedeidae Gray, 1840

Aldiomedes, n. gen.

Aldiomedes angustirostris, n. sp.

Differential diagnosis: Small‐sized albatross, which differs from all extant Diomedeidae (Phoebetria, Phoebastria, Thalassarche and Diomedea) in: smaller size (Table 1), beak mediolaterally narrower and culmen more ridge‐like, nostrils proportionally larger and with slit‐like caudal margin, fossae glandularum nasales narrower, processus paroccipitales more caudally directed, fossae temporales deeper, and crista nuchalis transversa more sharply defined.

Etymology: The taxon is named in honour of Alastair (‘Al’) Johnson, who found the holotype of the new species; the second part of the name refers to Diomedes, the Greek mythological figure, after which the albatross family was named.

Aldiomedes angustirostris, n. sp.

Etymology :The species epithet is derived from angustus (Lat.): narrow and rostrum (Lat.): beak and refers to the unusually narrow beak of the new species.

Gerald Mayr and Alan J. D. Tennyson. 2019. A Small, Narrow‐beaked Albatross from the Pliocene of New Zealand demonstrates A Higher Past Diversity in the Feeding Ecology of the Diomedeidae. Ibis. DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12757

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