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[Paleontology • 2019] Chaohusaurus brevifemoralis • The New Ichthyosauriform (Reptilia, Ichthyosauromorpha) from Majiashan, Chaohu, Anhui Province, China

September 9, 2019, 7:42 am
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Chaohusaurus brevifemoralis 
 Huang, Motani​, Jiang, Tintori, Rieppel, Zhou, Ren & Zhang, 2019


Abstract
A new species of ichthyosauriform is recognized based on 20 specimens, including nearly complete skeletons, and named Chaohusaurus brevifemoralis. A part of the specimens was previously identified as Chaohusaurus chaoxianensis and is herein reassigned to the new species. The new species differs from existing species of Chaohusaurus in a suite of features, such as the bifurcation of the caudal peak neural spine and a short femur relative to trunk length. The specimens include both complete and partially disarticulated skulls, allowing rigorous scrutiny of cranial sutures. For example, the squamosal does not participate in the margin of the upper temporal fenestra despite previous interpretations. Also, the frontal unequivocally forms a part of the anterior margin of the upper temporal fenestra, forming the most medial part of the anterior terrace. The skull of the holotype largely retains three-dimensionality with the scleral rings approximately in situ, revealing that the eyeball was uncovered in two different directions, that is, laterally and slightly dorsally through the main part of the orbit, and dorsally through the medial extension of the orbit into the skull roof. This skull construction is likely a basal feature of Ichthyosauromorpha. Phylogenetic analyses place the new species as a sister taxon of Chaohusaurus chaoxianensis.


Figure 4: Skull of the holotype of Chaohusaurus brevifemoralis sp. nov. (AGB7401).
 (A) Dorsal view. (B) Lateral and slightly dorsal view. (C) Approximate bone map for (A). (D) Same for (D). See the section “Osteological abbreviations” for abbreviations. Scale bar is one cm in total.


Figure 2: Holotype of Chaohusaurus brevifemoralis sp. nov. (AGB7401).
(A) Photograph. (B) Approximate bone map. See the section “Osteological abbreviations” for abbreviations. Scale bar is five cm in total.

Chaohusaurus brevifemoralis sp. nov.

Chensaurus chaoxianensis Motani and You 1998a, in part, Motani et al. 2015c, in part, Zhou et al. 2017, in part
Chaohusaurus geishanensis Motani and You 1998b, in part

Diagnosis. Humeral anterior flange poorly developed, with weakly concave preaxial margin near midshaft; radial antero-proximal flange poorly developed; ulnar distal fan asymmetrical relative to bone axis, due to anterior expansion of distal preaxial margin; femur short for trunk length in comparison to Chaohusaurus chaoxianensis; tibia proximally narrow for trunk length in comparison to Chaohusaurus chaoxianensis; bifurcated neural spine near caudal peak; three tarsal ossifications in most individuals except newborns (Figs. 3 and 7).

Locality. Majiashan, Chaohu, Anhui Province, China.

Horizons. Ammonoid Subcolumbites zone, Spathian, Lower Triassic. Known specimens are from beds 621 to 638 (about 248.53–248.34 Ma) that were previously dated using astrochronology (Fu et al., 2016).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the shortness of the femur relative to the body in comparison to other species.

Conclusions: 
The new ichthyosauriform Chaohusaurus brevifemoralis is distinguished from existing species based on a suite of features, including the bifurcation of the neural spines near the caudal peak and short femora relative to the body. These differences are unlikely to be sexual dimorphisms, which are present in the species as an independent suite of characters (Motani et al., 2018). Chaohusaurus brevifemoralis is larger than its sister taxon, Chaohusaurus chaoxianensis, in body size. The two species were sympatric but likely pursued different resources from each other’s.

Jian-Dong Huang, Ryosuke Motani​, Da-Yong Jiang, Andrea Tintori, Olivier Rieppel, Min Zhou, Xin-Xin Ren and Rong Zhang. 2019. The New Ichthyosauriform Chaohusaurus brevifemoralis (Reptilia, Ichthyosauromorpha) from Majiashan, Chaohu, Anhui Province, China. PeerJ. 7:e7561. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7561

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[PaleoMammalogy • 2019] The Hind Limbs of Sobrarbesiren cardieli (Eocene, Northeastern Spain) and New Insights into the Locomotion Capabilities of the Quadrupedal Sirenians

September 9, 2019, 8:12 am
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Sobrarbesiren cardieli  Díaz-Berenguer, Badiola, Moreno-Azanza & Canudo, 2018

in Díaz-Berenguer, Houssaye, Badiola & Canudo, 2019. 
Paleoillustration by Rosa Alonso. the Museo de Ciencias Naturales de la Universidad de Zaragoza

Abstract
In the transition from a terrestrial to an aquatic environment, sirenian marine mammals reduced and lost their hind limbs and developed a horizontal caudal fin, the main propulsive organ in extant sirenians. Quadrupedal forms are only known from the Eocene and are represented by three different clades: the amphibious “prorastomids,” the aquatic quadrupedal protosirenids, and Sobrarbesiren cardieli, a four-legged sirenian from the middle Eocene of Spain, considered the sister taxon of the fully aquatic Dugongidae. This ecological shift from terrestrial to an aquatic environment was naturally associated with adaptations, among others, of the skeleton. However, sirenian hind limb bones have been poorly studied because of the scarce material available in the fossil record. Here, we describe in detail the hind limb bones of Sobrarbesiren, analyzing their functional morphology and comparing them with other basal sirenians and cetaceans, and with related terrestrial mammals such as proboscideans and hyracoids. The hind limbs of Sobrarbesiren were capable of a great variety of movements. Based on the presence of a strong sacroiliac articulation, we propose that it swam by dorsoventral pelvic undulation combined with pelvic paddling analogous to extant otters and the “prorastomid” Pezosiren. We also conduct the first microanatomical analysis of hind limb bones of an Eocene sirenian. Data reveal extreme inner compactness in the Sobrarbesiren innominate and femur, with the first description of osteosclerosis in an amniote innominate combined with the highest degree of osteosclerosis observed in amniote femora. The results confirm that the microanatomical changes precede the external morphological changes in such ecological transitions. The process of adaptation of sirenians to an aquatic life was thus a more complex process than previously thought.

Keywords: Marine mammals, Aquatic adaptation, Bone microanatomy, Functional morphology 

Fig. 1: Life restoration based on cranial and postcranial bones of the middle Eocene (Lutetian) sirenian Sobrarbesiren cardieli Díaz-Berenguer et al., 2018, from the northeastern Atlantic coast (Bay of Biscay, Spain), the first adequately-known quadrupedal sirenian from Eurasia, which inhabited a deltaic plain.
Paleoillustration by Rosa Alonso. the Museo de Ciencias Naturales de la Universidad de Zaragoza



Ester Díaz-Berenguer, Alexandra Houssaye, Ainara Badiola and José Ignacio Canudo. 2019. The Hind Limbs of Sobrarbesiren cardieli (Eocene, Northeastern Spain) and New Insights into the Locomotion Capabilities of the Quadrupedal Sirenians. Journal of Mammalian Evolution. DOI: 10.1007/s10914-019-09482-9 
  twitter.com/HoussayeCnrs/status/1170961065842266113
 twitter.com/mmazanza/status/983740310105751553

Ester Díaz-Berenguer, Ainara Badiola, Miguel Moreno-Azanza and José Ignacio Canudo. 2018. First Adequately-known Quadrupedal Sirenian from Eurasia (Eocene, Bay of Biscay, Huesca, northeastern Spain). Scientific Reports. 8: 5127. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23355-w

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[PaleoMammalogy • 2018] Morphology of Cheek Teeth and Dental Replacement in the Extinct Rodent Neoepiblema Ameghino, 1889 (Caviomorpha, Chinchilloidea, Neoepiblemidae)

September 10, 2019, 1:13 am
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Neoepiblema acreensis 

in Kerber, Negri & Sanfelice, 2018. 
Illustration: Márcio L. Castro 

ABSTRACT
Neoepiblemidae (Caviomorpha) includes South American hystricognath rodents that together with Chinchillidae and Dinomyidae compose the clade Chinchilloidea. Despite the considerable advance in knowledge of the past decades, these extinct rodents are still poorly studied. To contribute to the taxonomy, systematics, and ontogeny of this group, in this paper we study the cheek tooth morphology of the genus Neoepiblema Ameghino, 1889, from upper Miocene deposits through qualitative and quantitative analyses. For this purpose, we describe the anatomical variation, perform a quantitative analysis using linear measurements, and provide comments on the dental replacement. Based on the cheek tooth morphology, our interpretations indicate that there are two species of Neoepiblema that can be differentiated from each other. Neoepiblema ambrosettianus is not a valid name, and N. horridula, the first described Neoepiblema species, is the senior synonym. Hence, N. acreensis is a valid name for the second species of the genus. In neoepiblemids, the premolar is replaced during the early postnatal period, similar to euhypsodont dinomyids and in contrast to some other euhypsodont caviomorphs (e.g., cavioids), which replace the premolar during the intrauterine stage. These data on dental replacement in neoepiblemids contribute to knowledge about the ontogeny of this extinct rodent group.

Illustration: Márcio L. Castro 


Leonardo Kerber, Francisco Ricardo Negri and Daniela Sanfelice. 2018. Morphology of Cheek Teeth and Dental Replacement in the Extinct Rodent Neoepiblema Ameghino, 1889 (Caviomorpha, Chinchilloidea, Neoepiblemidae). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.  38(6); e1549061. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2018.1549061

Pesquisadores estudam parente da capivara que viveu há cerca de 10 milhões de anos na Amazônia UFSM.br/2019/03/18/pesquisadores-estudam-parente-da-capivara-que-viveu-na-amazonia-ha-cerca-de-10-milhoes-de-anos/

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[Entomology • 2019] Hylophasma luica • First Record of Hylophasma Townes (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae) from Palaearctic Region

September 10, 2019, 2:18 am
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Hylophasma luica Sheng, Li & Wang

in Wang, Li & Sheng, 2019.

Abstract

A new species of Cryptinae, Hylophasma luica Sheng, Li & Wang, sp. n., collected from Shandong Province, in the southern border of the Eastern Palaearctic Region of China, is described and illustrated. The new species is placed within the existing key to species.


Keywords: Hymenoptera, Goryphina, Cryptini, Palaearctic region, key, taxonomy


 Xi-Nan Wang, Tao Li and Mao-Ling Sheng. 2019. First Record of Hylophasma Townes (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae) from Palaearctic Region. Zootaxa. 4668(2); 283–288. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4668.2.9

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[Paleontology • 2019] Cryodrakon boreas • A Late Cretaceous Canadian Azhdarchid Pterosaur

September 10, 2019, 2:34 am
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Cryodrakon boreas
Hone, Habib & Therrien, 2019

Illustration: David Maas 

Azhdarchid pterosaurs have been known since 1972 from upper Campanian deposits of Alberta, Canada. Originally represented by only very fragmentary remains tentatively assigned to the genus Quetzalcoatlus, additional material uncovered over the years has revealed that the taxonomic identity of the Alberta pterosaur material is at odds with this in the light of the growing understanding of azhdarchid diversity. Here, we describe previously undocumented pterosaur remains from Alberta and reassess previously studied material. The specimens collected from the Dinosaur Park Formation can be assigned to a new genus and species Cryodrakon boreas, gen. et sp. nov. The largest elements referable to this taxon suggest that this genus reached sizes comparable to those of other giant azhdarchids.

 Cervical vertebra of TMP 1992.83.07

Humerus of TMP 1992.83

SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY 

PTEROSAURIA Kaup, 1834 
PTERODACTYLOIDEA Plieninger, 1901 
AZHDARCHOIDEA Nessov, 1984 
AZHDARCHIDAE Nessov, 1984 

CRYODRAKON BOREAS, gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology:— Cryodrakon derived from the Ancient Greek for ‘cold’ and ‘dragon,’ boreas from the Greek god of the north wind. This is therefore the ‘cold dragon of the north winds.’




David W. E. Hone, Michael B. Habib and François Therrien. 2019. Cryodrakon boreas, gen. et sp. nov., A Late Cretaceous Canadian Azhdarchid Pterosaur. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. e1649681. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2019.1649681

New flying reptile species was one of largest ever flying animals https://eurekalert.org/e/9fzd via @QMUL @EurekAlert 

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[Ichthyology • 2019] Electrophorus varii & E. voltai • Unexpected Species Diversity in Electric Eels with A Description of the Strongest Living Bioelectricity Generator

September 10, 2019, 9:34 pm
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Electrophorus voltai
de Santana, Wosiacki, Crampton, Sabaj, Dillman, Castro e Castro, Bastos and Vari

de Santana, Crampton, Dillman, Frederico, Sabaj, et al., 2019. 

Abstract
Is there only one electric eel species? For two and a half centuries since its description by Linnaeus, Electrophorus electricus has captivated humankind by its capacity to generate strong electric discharges. Despite the importance of Electrophorus in multiple fields of science, the possibility of additional species-level diversity in the genus, which could also reveal a hidden variety of substances and bioelectrogenic functions, has hitherto not been explored. Here, based on overwhelming patterns of genetic, morphological, and ecological data, we reject the hypothesis of a single species broadly distributed throughout Greater Amazonia. Our analyses readily identify three major lineages that diverged during the Miocene and Pliocene—two of which warrant recognition as new species. For one of the new species, we recorded a discharge of 860 V, well above 650 V previously cited for Electrophorus, making it the strongest living bioelectricity generator.

Map of northern South America showing distributions of sampled records and type localities (indicated by numbers) for three electric eel species: Electrophorus electricus (red dots, 1 = Suriname River, Suriname); Electrophorus voltai (blue dots, 2 = Rio Ipitinga, Brazil); and Electrophorus varii (yellow dots, 3 = Rio Goiapi, Brazil). Bicolor dots (blue/yellow) indicate sympatric co-occurrence of E. voltai and E. varii. The map was created in ArcGIS (https://www.arcgis.com) with images available at Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, Global Multi-resolution Terrain Elevation Data, and HydroSHEDS database.

Systematic biology
Electrophorus Gill, 1864
 Type species:Gymnotus electricus Linnaeus, 1766. 

Electrophorus electricus (Linnaeus, 1766)

Diagnosis: Ten nucleotides in COI (BOL-COIfishF1/R1; 569-bp fragment): G(8), A(50), T(76), T(77), T(107), C(119), C(182), G(272), G(494), A(560). Ventral outline of head U-shaped, widest at terminus of branchial opening (Fig. 2a) and lateral-line pores 88–101 (versus ovoid, widest anterior to branchial opening, Fig. 2b; 112–146 in E. voltai). Distinguished by skull depressed, cleithrum lies between vertebrae 5 and 6 (Fig. 2a), pectoral-fin rays 32–38, and lateral-line pores 88–101 (versus skull deep, cleithrum lies between vertebrae 1 and 2, Fig. 2c, 20–28, and 124–186 in E. varii, respectively).

Fig. 1 Sampling localities and gene trees for the three species of Electrophorus. a Map of northern South America showing distributions of sampled records and type localities (indicated by numbers) for three electric eel species: Electrophorus electricus (red dots, 1 = Suriname River, Suriname); E. voltai (blue dots, 2 = Rio Ipitinga, Brazil); and E. varii (yellow dots, 3 = Rio Goiapi, Brazil). Bicolor dots (blue/yellow) indicate sympatric co-occurrence of E. voltai and E. varii. The map was created in ArcGIS (https://www.arcgis.com) with images available at Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, Global Multi-resolution Terrain Elevation Data, and HydroSHEDS database. b *BEAST2.4 species tree (top cladogram; 94 specimens: 15 E. electricus, 41 E. voltai, 38 E. varii) based on 5 mitochondrial (trees 1–5; 107 specimens: 19 E. electricus, 43 E. voltai, 45 E. varii) and 5 nuclear genes (6–10; 94 specimens). Higher shading densities represent areas where the majority of trees agree in topology and branch lengths (posterior probabilities >0.99), while lower densities represent areas of uncertainty (Supplementary Data 1)

South American rivers are home to at least three different species of electric eels, including a newly identified species capable of generating a greater electrical discharge than any other known animal, according to a new analysis published in the Sept. 10 issue of the journal Nature Communications. One of the two newly discovered electric eel species, Electrophorus varii (shown above), named is after the late Smithsonian ichthyologist Richard Vari and swims through murky, slow-flowing lowland waters.
photo: D. Bastos

Electrophorus varii, sp. nov. de Santana, Wosiacki, Crampton, Sabaj, Dillman, Mendes-Júnior and Castro e Castro

Etymology: In honor of Richard Peter Vari (1949–2016) for his contributions to ichthyology.

Diagnosis: Eleven nucleotides in COI: A(64), A(80), G(146), G(164), T(190), A(251), A(467), C(512), T(517), A(536), and C(569). Pectoral-fin rays 20–28 and lateral-line pores 124–186 (versus 32–38, and 88–101, respectively, in E. electricus). Distinguished by head narrow, Fig. 2a (versus wide, Fig. 2b, in E. voltai; distance between medial margins of contralateral dentaries at transverse through last two ventral pores 2–3 times shorter in E. varii than E. voltai, Fig. 2a, b), skull deep, cleithrum lies between vertebrae 1 and 2, Fig. 2b (versus skull depressed, cleithrum lies between vertebrae 5 and 6, in both E. electricus and E. voltai Fig. 2a, c).

South American rivers are home to at least three different species of electric eels, including a newly identified species capable of generating a greater electrical discharge than any other known animal, according to a new analysis published in the Sept. 10, 2019 issue of the journal Nature Communications. Electrophorus voltai (shown above), one of the two newly discovered electric eel species, primarily lives further south than Electrophorus electricus on the Brazilian Shield, another highland region.Scientists discovered that E. voltai can discharge up to 860 Volts of electricity--significantly more than the previously known 650 Volts generated by E. electricus. This makes the species the strongest known bioelectric generator, and may be an adaptation to the lower conductivity of highland waters.
photo: L. Sousa

Electrophorus voltai, sp. nov. de Santana, Wosiacki, Crampton, Sabaj, Dillman, Castro e Castro, Bastos and Vari

Etymology: In honor of Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta (1745–1827).

Diagnosis: Eight nucleotides in COI: A(25), C(29), C(50), C(86), C(140), A(230), A(338), and C(545). Ventral outline of head ovoid, widest anterior to branchial opening (Fig. 2b) and lateral-line pores 112–146 (versus U-shaped, Fig. 2a, 88–101 in E. electricus). Distinguished by skull depressed, cleithrum lies between vertebrae 5 and 6; and head wide (versus skull deep, cleithrum lies between vertebrae 1 and 2, Fig. 2b, and head narrow in E. varii), and distance between medial margins of contralateral dentaries at transverse through last two ventral pores 2–3 times longer in E. voltai than in E. varii, Fig. 2b, c.



C. David de Santana, William G. R. Crampton, Casey B. Dillman, Renata G. Frederico, Mark H. Sabaj, Raphaël Covain, Jonathan Ready, Jansen Zuanon, Renildo R. de Oliveira, Raimundo N. Mendes-Júnior, Douglas A. Bastos, Tulio F. Teixeira, Jan Mol, Willian Ohara, Natália Castro e Castro, Luiz A. Peixoto, Cleusa Nagamachi, Leandro Sousa, Luciano F. A. Montag, Frank Ribeiro, Joseph C. Waddell, Nivaldo M. Piorsky, Richard P. Vari and Wolmar B. Wosiacki. 2019.  Unexpected Species Diversity in Electric Eels with A Description of the Strongest Living Bioelectricity Generator. Nature Communications. 10; 4000. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11690-z

Electric eels are naked-back knifefishes (Gymnotidae) and are more closely related to catfish and carp than to other eel families.

The study, published in Nature Communications, not only provides new knowledge about the animal more than 250 years after it was first described but also opens up new avenues of research into the origin and production of strong electric discharges in other fish species.

Gymnotiformes, the knifefish family to which Gymnotidae belong, are native to Mexico and South America, are found almost exclusively in freshwater habitats, and are mostly nocturnal. There are currently approximately 250 valid gymnotiform species among 34 genera and five families.

A new species of electric eel produces the highest voltage discharge of any known animal phys.org/news/2019-09-species-electric-eel-highest-voltage.html via @physorg_com

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[Herpetology • 2019] Lycodon pictus • A New Species of Lycodon Boie, 1826 (Serpentes, Colubridae) from northern Vietnam

September 11, 2019, 8:00 pm
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Lycodon pictus
 Janssen, Pham, Ngo, Le, Nguyen and Ziegler, 2019


Abstract
A new species of the genus Lycodon is described from Cao Bang Province, Vietnam, based on three individuals with distinct differences in morphology and molecular data. The new species is differentiated from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: dorsal scales in 17-17-15 rows, smooth throughout; supralabials usually eight (rarely nine); infralabials ten; one elongated loreal on each side, in contact with the eye; precloacal plate single; ventral scales 212–218 (plus one or two preventral scales); subcaudals 90 or 91; maxillary teeth 13 or 14; dorsal surface of body with 28 or 29 light body bands; dorsal surface of tail with 13 cream bands, forming a distinct blotch in the vertebral region. Based on phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence data, the new species is recovered as the sister species to a clade containing L. multizonatus and L. liuchengchaoi with strong support from the Bayesian analysis. The new species is at least 7.5% divergent from other species within this clade in uncorrected pairwise distance calculated using a fragment of more than 1000 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome b. This discovery increases the number of Lycodon species known from Vietnam to 16.

Keywords: Cao Bang Province, Lycodon pictus sp. nov., morphology, phylogeny, taxonomy

Figure 2. Holotype of Lycodon pictus sp. nov. (IEBR 4166) in life. Photograph T. Lehmann. 


Lycodon pictus sp. nov.


Diagnosis: Lycodon pictus sp. nov. can be differentiated from its congeners by the following morphological characters: dorsal scales in 17–17–15 rows, all smooth; supralabials usually eight (rarely nine); infralabials ten; one elongated loreal on each side, in contact with the eye; precloacal plate single; ventral scales 212–218 (plus one or two preventral scales); subcaudals 90 or 91; a total length of 597+ mm in males and 543 mm in females; tail / total length ratio 0.211–0.215; maxillary teeth 13 or 14; dorsal surface of body with 28 or 29 light body bands; dorsal surface of tail with 13 cream bands forming a distinct blotch in the vertebral region; ventral surface of body and tail mostly cream with the dark body bands in part extending towards the venter, sometimes forming complete dark bands around the body.
...

Figure 4. Female paratype of Lycodon pictus sp. nov. (ZFMK 93746) in life. Photographs T.Q. Nguyen.

Figure 8. Habitat of Lycodon pictus sp. nov.: the female paratype (ZFMK 93746) was found in Ha Lang District, Cao Bang Province.

Figure 7. Map showing the type locality of Lycodon pictus sp. nov. in Cao Bang Province. 

Distribution: Lycodon pictus sp. nov. is currently known only from Ha Lang and Trung Khanh districts, Cao Bang Province, northern Vietnam (Fig. 7).

Etymology: The name of the species pictus means painted or decorated in Latin and refers to its unique dorsal colour pattern.

Natural history: Lycodon pictus sp. nov. seems to be closely associated with karst environment. Specimens were found at night between 19:00 and 23:00, on forest paths or on the ground near cave entrances. The surrounding habitat was secondary karst forest, consisting of medium and small hardwood trees mixed with shrubs and vines. Air temperature was 23.4–29.6°C and humidity was 66–79%. Other reptiles were also found at the site, including Acanthosaura lepidogaster (Cuvier, 1829), Gekko adleri Nguyen, Wang, Yang, Lehmann, Le, Ziegler & Bonkowski, 2013, Goniurosaurus luii Grismer, Viets & Boyle, 1999, Lycodon futsingensis (Pope, 1928), and Protobothrops trungkhanhensisOrlov, Ryabov & Nguyen, 2009 (Fig. 8).


 Helen Y. Janssen, Cuong T. Pham, Hanh Thi Ngo, Minh Duc Le, Truong Q. Nguyen, Thomas Ziegler. 2019. A New Species of Lycodon Boie, 1826 (Serpentes, Colubridae) from northern Vietnam. ZooKeys. 875: 1-29.  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.875.35933

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[Botany • 2019] Zingiber perenense • A New Species in Zingiber section Cryptanthium (Zingiberaceae) from Nagaland, India

September 11, 2019, 8:35 pm
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 Zingiber perenense N. Odyuo, D.K. Roy, C. Lyngwa & A.A. Mao

in Odyuo, Roy, Lyngwa & Mao, 2019. 
 The Thailand Natural History Museum Journal. 13(1)

ABSTRACT
 Zingiber perenense N. Odyuo, D.K. Roy, C. Lyngwa & A.A. Mao, a new species belonging to Zingiber section Cryptanthium Horan. under family Zingiberaceae from Nagaland, Northeastern India is described and illustrated. Its affinities with the allied species are discussed.

KEY WORDS: new species, Zingiber, Cryptanthium, Zingiberaceae, Nagaland, India.

Figure 1. Zingiber perenense N. Odyuo, D.K. Roy, C. Lyngwa & A.A. Mao:
 A. Habit, B. Inflorescences, C. Petiole and ligule, D. Lamina surface above, E. Lamina surface beneath, F. Transverse section of Rhizome. Photographed by Dilip Kr. Roy.

Figure 2. Zingiber perenense N. Odyuo, D.K. Roy, C. Lyngwa & A.A. Mao:
A. Inflorescence, B. A flower with bract and bracteole, C. Bract (dorsal view), D. Bract (frontal view), E. A flower with bracteole, F. Bracteole (frontal view), G. A flower, H. Calyx, I. Labellum, J. Lateral staminodes, K. Stamen, with style and stigma, L. Ovary and epigynous glands, M. Transverse section of ovary. Photographed by Dilip Kr. Roy.

Zingiber perenense N. Odyuo, D.K. Roy, C. Lyngwa & A.A. Mao, sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: The new species differs from its allied congeners, Z. kangleipakensein pubescent, bilobed ligule, oblonglanceolate bracteole longer than corolla tube with 2-dentate apex, pubescent corolla tube with red lobes, white with purplish red streaked labellum, stalked anther with 3–4 mm long filament and in comparatively shorter style, 4.5–5 cm long and from Z. roseum in ovate to oblanceolate leaf blade pubescent on both sides, comparatively shorter, 1.5–3 cm long peduncle, oblong-lanceolate to oblong-linear pale green to creamy white bracts, corolla tube shorter than bracts, white with purplish red streaked labellum, with reduced, ovate, 2-dentate lateral staminodes and in pollen grains with striae non-confluent at apices. 

Distribution. INDIA: Nagaland (Peren district, Tesen village forest). So far only known from the type locality.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the place of occurrence of this species.


 Nripemo Odyuo, Dilip Kr. Roy, Chalbasson Lyngwa and Ashiho A. Mao. 2019. Zingiber perenense, A New Species in Zingiber section Cryptanthium (Zingiberaceae) from Nagaland, India. The Thailand Natural History Museum Journal. 13(1); 1-10.


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[Ornithology • 2019] A Laurasian Origin for A Pantropical Bird Radiation is Supported by Genomic and Fossil Data (Aves: Coraciiformes)

September 12, 2019, 3:11 am
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Biogeography and macroevolutionary dynamics of Coraciiformes.   

in McCullough, Moyle, Smith & Andersen, 2019. 
Artwork by Madison E. Mayfield. twitter.com/Jenna_Merle

Abstract
The evolution of pantropically distributed clades has puzzled palaeo- and neontologists for decades regarding the different hypotheses about where they originated. In this study, we explored how a pantropical distribution arose in a diverse clade with a rich fossil history: the avian order Coraciiformes. This group has played a central role in the debate of the biogeographical history of Neoaves. However, the order lacked a coherent species tree to inform study of its evolutionary dynamics. Here, we present the first complete species tree of Coraciiformes, produced with 4858 ultraconserved elements, which supports two clades: (1) Old World-restricted bee-eaters, rollers and ground-rollers; and (2) New World todies and motmots, and cosmopolitan kingfishers. Our results indicated two pulses of diversification: (1) major lineages of Coraciiformes arose in Laurasia approximately 57 Ma, followed by independent dispersals into equatorial regions, possibly due to tracking tropical habitat into the lower latitudes—the Coracii (Coraciidae + Brachypteraciidae) into the Afrotropics, bee-eaters throughout the Old World tropics, and kingfishers into the Australasian tropics; and (2) diversification of genera in the tropics during the Miocene and Pliocene. Our study supports the important role of Laurasia as the geographical origin of a major pantropical lineage and provides a new framework for comparative analyses in this charismatic bird radiation.

Keywords: target capture, Coraciiavian systematics, North American gateway hypothesis, macroevolutionary dynamics, historical biogeography

Figure 1. Biogeography and macroevolutionary dynamics of Coraciiformes.
(a) Time-calibrated, maximum clade credibility tree showing species-level relationships of Coraciiformes based on 500 ultraconserved elements, fossil calibrations and maximum-likelihood topology constraints. Node ages were estimated in BEAST with three fossil calibrations (electronic supplementary material, table S2), indicated by daggers (†), and two secondary calibrations indicated by asterisks (*). Representative taxa are illustrated (from top to bottom): pitta-like ground-roller (Atelornis pittoides); Oriental dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis); rainbow bee-eater (Merops ornatus); Cuban tody (Todus multicolor); rufous motmot (Baryphthgenus martii); north Philippine dwarf kingfisher (Ceyx melanurus); belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon); and white-breasted kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis). Biogeographical information is summarized from the full results (see electronic supplementary material, figure S9). Branch colours represent the most recent ancestral node’s range reconstruction and correspond to the following areas on the map: (a) Nearctic, (b) Caribbean islands, (c) South America, (d) Palaearctic, (e) Africa and Madagascar, (f ) Indomalaya, (g) Wallacea and the Philippines, (h) New Guinea and Australia and (i) Oceania. Grey branches indicate a broad distribution of three or more areas.
 (b) Results from macroevolutionary rate analysis in BAMM. The phylorate plot depicts an inferred core rate shift in Todiramphus. Clade-specific rate through time plots are shown for (a) all Coraciiformes, (b) all Todiramphus and (c) the background rate of Coraciiformes excluding Todiramphus with mean evolutionary rates (λ), respectively.
Original artwork by Madison E. Mayfield. 


Jenna M. McCullough, Robert G. Moyle, Brian T. Smith and Michael J. Andersen. 2019. A Laurasian Origin for A Pantropical Bird Radiation is Supported by Genomic and Fossil Data (Aves: Coraciiformes). Proc. R. Soc. B. 286: 20190122. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0122

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[Herpetology • 2019] Cnemaspis anslemi • A New Species of Dwarf Day Gecko (Reptilia: Gekkonidae: Cnemaspis) from Lower-elevations of Samanala Nature Reserve in Central massif, Sri Lanka

September 12, 2019, 8:00 pm
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Cnemaspis anslemi  
Karunarathna & Ukuwela, 2019

 Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. 13(2)  

 Abstract
A new day gecko species of genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 is described from a midland forested area of Udamaliboda (north-western foothills of Samanala Nature Reserve) in Sri Lanka. This species is medium in size (30–35 mm SVL) and can be differentiated from all other Sri Lankan congeners by a suite of distinct morphometric, meristic, and color characters (dorsum with smooth and homogeneous granular scales; chin, gular, pectoral, and abdominal scales smooth; precloacal pores absent in males, 14–15 femoral pores separated by 9–11 unpored interfemoral scales in males; subcaudals smooth, subhexagonal, enlarged, subequal, forming a regular median row). It was recorded from tall trees with smooth bark in home gardens, and also on clay walls in very old tall houses in wet, cool, and shady forests, distributed across mid elevations (~450–650 m) with limited anthropogenic disturbance. They can climb to heights of 7 m on vertical surfaces of trees. The most noteworthy behavior of this species is that when “scared,” it runs only upward to the canopy of the tree or along the wall to hide within crevices. The major threats for this species in Udamaliboda and other locations in lower Samanala Nature Reserve are habitat loss due to expansion of commercial-scale agriculture and monoculture plantations, and illicit forest encroachments. Therefore, these foothill forests warrant special conservation, habitat protection, further in-depth research, and specifc hands-on management practices. 

Keywords. Arboreal, conservation, ecology, rainforest, redlist, taxonomy, Sripadha, threats 

Fig. 4. Cnemaspis anslemi sp. nov. male holotype (NMSL.2019.14.01) in life in-situ.
(A) Dorsal view of the full body displaying the typical color pattern and a straight black middorsal dash over midpoint of neck, (B) Ventral aspect showing gular and femoral colorations, (C) lateral view showing labial coloration and zigzag pattern,
(D) dorsal view of the full body of female paratype (NMSL.2019.14.02) in life in-situ from Udamaliboda, Samanala Nature Reserve, Sri Lanka.
 Photos: Kanishka Ukuwela and Suranjan Karunarathna.

Cnemaspis anslemi sp. nov. 
Anslems’ Day Gecko (English) 
Anslemge divaseri hoona (Sinhala) Anslemvin pahalpalli (Tamil)


Diagnosis. Cnemaspis anslemi sp. nov. can be readily distinguished from its Sri Lankan congeners by a combination of the following morphological and meristic characteristics, and also color pattern: maximum SVL 34.4 mm; dorsum with homogeneous, smooth granular scales; 2/2 supranasals, one internasal, and 1/1 postnasal present; three enlarged postmentals; postmentals bounded by fve chin scales; chin and gular scales smooth, granular, juxtaposed; pectoral and abdominal scales smooth and subimbricate; 3–5 well developed tubercles on posterior fank; 118–122 paravertebral granules linearly arranged; 19–21 belly scales across venter; precloacal pores absent in males, 14–15 femoral pores on each side in males separated by 9–11 unpored interfemoral scales in males, and 2–3 unpored posterior femoral scales in males; 111–117 ventral scales; 87–91 midbody scales; subcaudals smooth, subhexagonal, enlarged, subequal, forming a regular median row; 8–9 supralabials; 8–9 infralabials; 16–17 total lamellae on digit IV of manus, and 20–21 total lamellae on digit IV of pes (Table 1). Dorsal body reticulated brown, black, and white; two large oval patches present on the neck; chin and gular with bright yellow, and femur dirty yellow.

Etymology. The specifc epithet is an eponym Latinized (anslemi) in the masculine genitive singular, honoring the veteran Sri Lankan herpetologist Kongahage Anslem Lawrence de Silva (the father of modern herpetology in Sri Lanka) for his valuable contributions to Sri Lankan herpetology and for inspiring the next generation of herpetologists, including the authors.

Fig. 5. General habitat of Cnemaspis anslemi sp. nov. at Udamaliboda, Samanala Nature Reserve, Kegalle District, Sri Lanka.
(A) Complete view of the forest hill, (B) shady forest with thick leaf litter, (C) hundred years old house made using clay and bricks, also with wattle and daub, (D) communal egg laying site on a clay wall.
Photos: Madhava Botejue and Suranjan Karunarathna.

Natural history. The lower Samanala Nature Reserve area (along with Udamaliboda) comprises home gardens, and tropical evergreen rainforests (Gunatileke and Gunatileke 1990) mixed with tea and rubber plantations. The area comprises the Ratnapura and Kegalle districts and ..., at an elevation of 350–850 m. The mean annual rainfall varies between 3,500 and 4,500 mm, received mostly via the southwest monsoon (May– September). The mean annual temperature of the area is 26.4–27.9 ºC. Cnemaspis anslemi sp. nov. is a quite rare species as six (± 0.1) geckos per survey-hour were found after covering a total area of 20 ha. This species was restricted to tall straight trees with smooth bark and thick canopy cover, and houses with tall clay walls with crevices. These geckos could climb up to 7 m on vertical surfaces of trees (Fig. 5). They were active during the day time (08.00–17.00 h) and, when disturbed, sought refuge in tree tops with crevices. The new species was sympatric (at local habitat scale) with several other geckos (Cnemaspis samanalensis, Cnemaspis sp., Cyrtodactylus triedrus, Cyrtodactylus sp., Gehyra mutilata, Hemidactylus depressus, H. pieresii, H. frenatus, H. parvimaculatus, and Hemiphyllodactylus typus). The eggs were pure white in color and almost spherical in shape (~5 mm), with a slightly fattened side that attached to the clay-wall substrate. This species has also been recorded from the Lihinihela, Borangamuwa, and Warnagala areas in lower Samanala Nature Reserve.


Suranjan Karunarathna and Kanishka D.B. Ukuwela. 2019. A New Species of Dwarf Day Gecko (Reptilia: Gekkonidae: Cnemaspis) from Lower-elevations of Samanala Nature Reserve in Central massif, Sri Lanka. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. 13(2) [General Section]: 14–27 (e187).  


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[Ichthyology • 2019] Pristella ariporo • A New Pristella (Characiformes: Characidae) from the Río Orinoco Basin, Colombia, with A Redefinition of the Genus

September 13, 2019, 2:08 am
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 Pristella ariporo
Conde-Saldaña, Albornoz-Garzón, García-Melo, Villa-Navarro, Mirande & Lima, 2019

DOI:  10.1643/CI-18-147  

Abstract
A new species of Pristella is described from the Río Meta drainage, Río Orinoco basin, Colombia. Pristella ariporo, new species, is described as the second known species of the genus and differs from P. maxillaris by lacking maxillary teeth, possessing all teeth of premaxilla and dentary conical, by the absence of a dark blotch on the pelvic fin and the absence of a humeral blotch. The evaluation of the relationships of the new taxon within Characidae through an extensive phylogenetic analysis recovered Pristella as a monophyletic clade, sister to Bryconella pallidifrons. A new diagnosis of Pristella is provided. Hyphessobrycon axelrodi, the only species of this genus possessing only conical teeth, may actually be a species of Pristella.

Fig. 2.  Pristella ariporo, holotype, CZUT-IC 19972, 29.7 mm SL, female, Colombia, Casanare, Maní, La Porfía, Río Ariporo.

Genus Pristella Eigenmann, 1908 

Pristella Eigenmann, 1908: 99. 
Type species: Holopristes riddlei Meek, 1907. Type by original designation (also by monotypy). Gender: feminine.

 Pristella ariporo, new species

Etymology.—The specific name, ariporo, comes from the Río Ariporo drainage, where the first specimens of this species were found. The word ‘‘ariporo’’ is probably derived from some indigenous language, but we were unable to trace its origin or meaning. The Río Ariporo is an important tributary of the Río Casanare because of its extensive wetlands, which help to maintain a rich biodiversity and the connectivity among regional fish communities. A noun in apposition.


Cristhian C. Conde-Saldaña, Juan G. Albornoz-Garzón, Jorge E. García-Melo, Francisco A. Villa-Navarro, J. Marcos Mirande and Flávio C. T. Lima. 2019. A New Pristella (Characiformes: Characidae) from the Río Orinoco Basin, Colombia, with A Redefinition of the Genus. Copeia. 107(3); 439-446. DOI:  10.1643/CI-18-147 

Una nueva especie de Pristella es descrita para la cuenca del Río Meta, cuenca del R´ıo Orinoco, Colombia. Pristella ariporo, nueva especie, es descrita como la segunda especie conocida del genero y difiere de ´ P. maxillaris por la ausencia de dientes maxilares, todos los dientes de la premaxila y dentario conicos, ausencia de una mancha oscura en la aleta ´ pelvica y ausencia de mancha humeral. La evaluaci ´ on de las relaciones del nuevo tax ´ on a trav ´ es de un amplio ana ´ ´lisis filogenetico de Characidae, recuper ´ o a ´ Pristella como un clado monofiletico, formando el grupo hermano de ´ Bryconella pallidifrons. Se proporciona una nueva diagnosis para Pristella. Se sugiere que Hyphessobrycon axelrodi, la unica especie de ´ este genero que presenta s ´ olo dientes c ´ onicos, es una especie de ´ Pristella.

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[Botany • 2019] Impatiens tanyae (Balsaminaceae) • A New Species from Western Ghats, India

September 13, 2019, 2:19 am
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Impatiens tanyae R.Kr.Singh, Arigela & Kabeer

in Arigela, Singh & Kabeer, 2019

Impatiens tanyae, a new species from Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Ghats area of Tamil Nadu, India is described and illustrated. The new species is allied with I. tomentosa B.Heyne ex Wight & Arn. but differs in its ovate leaves with a cordate base, pubescent on both surfaces, flower white, pedicels longer than leaves, pubescent throughout, spur incurved and 7 – 8 mm long, dorsal petal broadly ovate, lateral united petals with oblong claw, distal lobe white with pinkish blotch in centre.

Key Words: Endemic, Impatiens tomentosa, Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary, new species, Tamil Nadu 

Fig. 2 Impatiens tanyae.
 A habitat; B habit; C front view of flower; D lateral view of flower; E leaf and dissected flower parts; F close up of lateral sepals, lower sepal with spur and dorsal petal.
photos: R. K. Arigela & R. Kr. Singh.

Impatiens tanyae R.Kr.Singh, Arigela & Kabeer sp. nov.

Etymology. The new species is named in honour of the late Tanya Balcar for her excellent contributions to conserve the Shola forests and grasslands of the Palni hills, Tamil Nadu through Vattakanal Conservation Trust and local inhabitants. She was the pioneer locator of this new species in the grassland of Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary and also conserved 25 – 30 plants in her garden.


R. K. Arigela, R. Kr. Singh and K. A. A. Kabeer. 2019. Impatiens tanyae (Balsaminaceae), A New Species from Western Ghats, India. Kew Bulletin. 74:48. DOI: 10.1007/s12225-019-9831-4

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[Botany • 2019] Oreocharis tetrapterus (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from East Guangxi, China

September 13, 2019, 7:37 am
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Oreocharis tetrapterus F.Wen, B.Pan & T.V.Do

in Pan, Tang, Do, et al., 2019.

Abstract
A new species, Oreocharis tetrapterus F.Wen, B.Pan & T.V.Do (Gesneriaceae) from Gupo Mountain area, Hezhou city, Guangxi Zhuangzu Autonomous Region, China, is described and illustrated. The new species has a zygomorphic tetramerous corolla with two adaxial and two abaxial lobes and two fertile stamens in the posterior position, making this a unique combination of floral characteristics in the expanded Oreocharis.

Keywords: Didymocarpinae, Didymocarpoideae, Flora of Guangxi, Gupo Mountain Area, New taxon, Trichosporeae



Figure 1. Oreocharis tetrapterus F.Wen, B.Pan & T.V.Do sp. nov. A habit B lateral view of flower C adaxial surfaces of calyx lobes D opened corolla for showing the two fertile stamens in posterior position E pistil with disc, sepals removed F stigma G anthers in side view.

 Drawn by Wen-Hong Lin from the holotype.


Oreocharis tetrapterus F.Wen, B.Pan & T.V.Do, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: The large bright yellow corolla is 2 lobed with the adaxial and abaxial lips both consistently 2-lobed, with irregular dark reddish-brown spots on the interior surfaces of the corolla lobes and 2 fertile stamens in posterior position distinguishes Oreocharis tetrapterus from all other species of Oreocharis s. l.

Figure 2. Oreocharis tetrapterus F.Wen, B.Pan & T.V.Do sp. nov. in its natural habitat
A habitat B flowering plant C plant with flowering cymes D frontal view of corolla E lateral view of corolla F top view of corolla.
Photographed by Fang Wen and Bo Pan, charted by Wen-Hua Xu. 

Figure 4. Some species in Oreocharis with typically four corolla lobes 
A Oreocharis tetrapterus F.Wen, B.Pan & T.V.Do sp. nov.
B O. sinensis (Oliv.) Mich.Möller & A.Weber (1 Lateral view of flowering cyme 2 Frontal view of flowering cyme)
C O. esquirolii Léveillé (1 Corolla with four lobes and four stamens 2 Corolla with five lobes and five stamens).
Photographed by Fang Wen and Bo Pan, charted by Wen-Hua Xu.

Etymology: The specific epithet, ‘tetrapterus’ from the Greek meaning having four wings or wing-like appendages. Here it refers to the four ‘wing-like’ lobes of the corolla, with adaxial and abaxial lips both having 2 lobes.,

Vernacular name: The Chinese name of this new species is 姑婆山马铃苣苔. The pronunciation of the Chinese of this species is ‘Gū Pó Shān Mǎ Líng Jù Tái’.

Distribution and ecology: Oreocharis tetrapterus is currently known only from one population of ca. 50 individuals at the type locality. The species may be endangered, but more data is needed to evaluate this reliably. The species grows on moist surfaces, on moss-covered granite rocks with other plants under subtropical bamboo and evergreen broad-leaved forest cover in Hezhou City, Guangxi.


 Bo Pan, Guang-Da Tang, Truong Van Do, Stephen Maciejewski, Chong-Lang Deng and Fang Wen. 2019. Oreocharis tetrapterus (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from East Guangxi, China. PhytoKeys. 131: 83-89. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.131.35434

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[Paleontology • 2019] The Mystery of Mystriosaurus: Redescribing the poorly known Early Jurassic Teleosauroid Thalattosuchians Mystriosaurus laurillardi and Steneosaurus brevior

September 13, 2019, 8:07 am
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Mystriosaurus laurillardi Kaup, 1834

in Sachs, Johnson, Young & Abel, 2019. 

The genus Mystriosaurus, established by Kaup in 1834, was one of the first thalattosuchian genera to be named. The holotype, an incomplete skull from the lower Toarcian Posidonienschiefer Formation of Altdorf (Bavaria, southern Germany), is poorly known with a convoluted taxonomic history. For the past 60 years, Mystriosaurus has been considered a subjective junior synonym of Steneosaurus. However, our reassessment of the Mystriosaurus laurillardi holotype demonstrates that it is a distinct and valid taxon. Moreover, we find the holotype of “Steneosaurus” brevior, an almost complete skull from the lower Toarcian Whitby Mudstone Formation of Whitby (Yorkshire, UK), to be a subjective junior synonym of M. laurillardi. Mystriosaurus is diagnosed in having: a heavily and extensively ornamented skull; large and numerous neurovascular foramina on the premaxillae, maxillae and dentaries; anteriorly oriented external nares; and four teeth per premaxilla. Our phylogenetic analyses reveal M. laurillardi to be distantly related to Steneosaurusbollensis, supporting our contention that they are different taxa. Interestingly, our analyses hint that Mystriosaurus may be more closely related to the Chinese teleosauroid (previously known as Peipehsuchus) than any European form.

 Key words: Thalattosuchia, Teleosauroidea, Mystriosaurus, Jurassic, Toarcian Posidonienschiefer Formation, Whitby Mudstone Formation, Germany, UK.

Fig. 2. Teleosauroid thalattosuchian Mystriosaurus laurillardi Kaup, 1834 (NHMUK PV OR 14781, holotype of Steneosaurus brevior Blake, 1876, lower Toarcian of Whitby (Yorkshire, UK); skull in lateral, dorsal, and ventral views.

Teleosauroid thalattosuchian Mystriosaurus laurillardi Kaup, 1834:
HLMD V946-948, holotype, lower Toarcian of Altdorf (southern Germany); skull in dorsal view.
NHMUK PV OR 14781, holotype of Steneosaurus brevior Blake, 1876, lower Toarcian of Whitby (Yorkshire, UK); skull in dorsal view.
Reconstruction of Mystriosaurus laurillardi Kaup, 1834 cranium and mandible in dorsal view.


Systematic palaeontology

Thalattosuchia Fraas, 1901
Teleosauroidea Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1831

Genus Mystriosaurus Kaup, 1834

Type species: Mystriosaurus laurillardi Kaup, 1834,
Altdorf bei Nürnberg, lower Toarcian, Lower Jurassic.

Mystriosaurus laurillardi Kaup, 1834

1834 Mystriosaurus laurillardi gen. et sp. nov.; Kaup 1834: p. 28 [not figured].
1876 Steneosaurus brevior sp. nov.; Blake 1876: pl. 1:1, 2.

 Holotype: HLMD V946-948, an incomplete cranium and mandible.

Type locality: Altdorf bei Nürnberg, Nürnberger Land district, Bavaria, southern Germany. Type horizon: Posidonienschiefer Formation, Schwarzjura Group, probably Harpoceras serpentinum Sub-Mediterranean Ammonite Zone, lower Toarcian, Lower Jurassic (Page 2003; German Stratigraphic Commission 2016).

Emended diagnosis.— Teleosauroid crocodylomorph with the following unique combination of characters (proposed autapomorphic characters indicated by an asterisk): robust skull with well-developed and extensive ornamentation on the premaxillae, maxillae, nasals*, frontal, prefrontal, lacrimal, jugal*,postorbital and squamosal*; frontal ornamentation composed of small sub-circular to elongate pits that are closely spaced or that fuse and become a ridge-groove pattern; mesorostrine snout (preorbital length is approximately 66% of skull length), which is broad near the orbits but narrows and becomes slightly more slender anteriorly; slight constriction of the snout in front of the orbits; ...


Photograph of teleosauroid thalattosuchian specimen (UH 7), lower Toracian of Holzmaden (southwestern Germany), which was described by Mueller-Töwe (2006) as “Steneosaurus” brevior Blake, 1876, and which we herein refer to tentatively as ?Mystriosaurus sp.

Conclusions:
The presented combination of characters clearly demonstrates that Mystriosaurus is a distinct and valid genus. Recognition of this taxon, and its presence in England and Germany, furthers our understanding of European teleosauroid biodiversity during the Toarcian. From lower Toarcian deposits of England, Luxembourg, and Germany, a diverse array of teleosauroids have been recovered: the lateral-orbited and small-bodied longirostrine species Steneosaurus gracilirostris; the large-bodied longirostrine form Steneosaurus bollensis; the mesorostrine and robust toothed taxon Mystriosaurus laurillardi, and the heavily armoured and longirostrine Platysuchus multiscrobiculatus (Westphal 1962; Johnson et al. 2018; Young and Steel in press). Although these taxa are found in many of the same formations, their geographical distributions need to be re-examined based on our developing understanding of their comparative anatomies. Nevertheless, our re-description of Mystriosaurus further highlights that teleosauroids had already achieved ecological diversity through niche partitioning, and large body-size by the early Toarcian.


Sven Sachs, Michela M. Johnson, Mark T. Young, and Pascal Abel. 2019.  The Mystery of Mystriosaurus: Redescribing the poorly known Early Jurassic Teleosauroid Thalattosuchians Mystriosaurus laurillardi and Steneosaurus brevior. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 64(3); 565–579. DOI:  10.4202/app.00557.2018


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[PaleoEntomology • 2019] Aragomantispa lacerata • A Mantidfly in Cretaceous Spanish Amber provides insights into the Evolution of Integumentary Specialisations on the Raptorial Foreleg

September 14, 2019, 2:25 am
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Aragomantispa lacerata  
Pérez-de la Fuente & Peñalver, 2019. 

Abstract
Multiple predatory insect lineages have developed a raptorial lifestyle by which they strike and hold prey using modified forelegs armed with spine-like structures and other integumentary specialisations. However, how structures enabling the raptorial function evolved in insects remains largely hypothetical or inferred through phylogeny due to the rarity of meaningful fossils. This is particularly true for mantidflies (Neuroptera: Mantispidae), which have a scarce fossil record mostly based on rock compressions, namely isolated wings. Here,Aragomantispa lacerata gen. et sp. nov. is described from ca. 105-million-year-old San Just amber (Spain), representing the oldest and one of the few mantidflies hitherto described from amber. The fossil shows exquisitely preserved forefemoral spine-like structures composed of integumentary processes each bearing a modified seta, and prostrate setae on foretibiae and foretarsi. The fine morphology of these structures was unknown in fossil mantidflies. An assessment of integumentary specialisations from raptorial forelegs across mantispoid lacewings is provided. The present finding reveals how the specialised foreleg armature associated to the raptorial lifestyle in extant mantidflies was present yet not fully established by the Early Cretaceous, at least in some lineages, and provides palaeontological evidence supporting certain evolutionary patterns of acquisition of integumentary specialisations related to the raptorial function in the group.

Systematic palaeontology
Order Neuroptera Linnaeus, 1758

Family Mantispidae Leach, 1815
Subfamily Drepanicinae Enderlein, 1910

Genus Aragomantispa gen. nov

Type species: Aragomantispa lacerata sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Scape moderately elongate, about 4× longer than wide basally. Forecoxa not particularly elongate, shorter than forefemur (ratio forecoxae/forefemoral length 0.6). Forefemur not laterally flattened ventrally, widening distally and reaching its maximum width slightly beyond its midlength. Forefemur slightly longer than combined length of foretibia and foretarsus (about 1.1×). Forefemur with three types of spine-like structures composed of integumentary processes (IPs) each bearing a modified seta distally, arranged in two longitudinal rows: (1) two ectal and two ental major IPs bearing modified setae; ratio IP length/modified seta length of largest IP (basalmost, ental) 7:1, same ratio of three remaining IPs 3:1; (2) about ten ectal and five ental minor IPs bearing needle-like setae placed on proximal three quarters, ratio IP length/needle-like seta length about 1:3; (3) three ectal and three ental thick, minor IPs bearing thick setae on distal quarter, ratio IP length/thick seta length 3:2. Foretibia slightly arched ventrad, ventrally bearing a single row of closely-spaced prostrate setae, visible only on the distal half of the tibia. Foretarsus pentamerous, with tarsomeres cylindrical and compact. Foretarsomere 1 not particularly elongate, not produced apically. Foretarsomere 5 the longest. Foretarsomeres 1‒4 ventrally with one or two transverse pairs of prostrate setae each. Foretarsal prostrate setae distinct from those on foretibiae, i.e., thicker, with basal stretch erect at about 45° angle and a distal stretch abruptly inclined forwards and running parallel to the tarsus (not directed towards the cuticle). Claws paired and simple (not bifid or multipronged) in all legs. Arolium present in all legs. Meso- and metathoracic legs with tarsomeres 3 and 4 subequal in length. Hind wing with single trichosors along all anterior margin, with costal space very narrow; Sc meeting RA at about 2/3 of the wing length, pterostigmal area hyaline; two ra-rp crossveins before the pterostigmal area, 1rp-ma crossvein straight (not sigmoidal).

Etymology: After “Aragón”, name of the Autonomous Community in Spain where the San Just outcrop is located, and Mantispa, type genus of Mantispidae. Gender: feminine.

 Photomicrographs of Aragomantispa lacerata gen. et sp. nov. (Mantispidae: Drepanicinae), holotype SJ-10-22, from San Just amber.
Dorsolateral habitus, with discernible body parts tagged.

Abbreviations: Ar ‒ Abdominal remains, Fw ‒ Forewing, H ‒ head, Hw ‒ Hind wing, LFl ‒ Left foreleg, RFl ‒ Right foreleg. The asterisk marks a partially preserved snakefly wing (Raphidioptera).

Figure 1: Photomicrographs of Aragomantispa lacerata gen. et sp. nov. (Mantispidae: Drepanicinae), holotype SJ-10-22, from San Just amber.
 (b) Left foreleg in lateral (ectal) view, with inset showing pretarsal claws and arolium (arrow). 


Aragomantispa lacerata sp. nov.

Age and locality: San Just amber, northeastern Spain (Teruel Province). Dated as middle‒upper Albian, but most likely upper Albian according to new extensive, unpublished data on palynomorphs.

Etymology: Specific name is after Latin verb lacerare, meaning “to tear to pieces, to shatter, to destroy”, in its feminine, singular participle perfect passive conjugation, referring to the fragmentary and disintegrated appearance of the holotype’s body.

Figure 5: Reconstruction of Aragomantispa lacerata gen. et sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) striking a potential prey, an Alavesia sp. fly, on a hypothetical gleicheniacean fern. Antennal length, thoracic (including pronotal shape and the proportions of meso- and metathoracic legs) and abdominal morphology, striking pose and colouration of the new taxon based on extant mantidfly relatives. Species classified within the genus Alavesia have been found in two Spanish amber localities74, and the fern group is recorded as trichome inclusions and spores within the sediments associated to Spanish amber75; both were most likely abundant in the Iberian amber forest.


Ricardo Pérez-de la Fuente and Enrique Peñalver. 2019. A Mantidfly in Cretaceous Spanish Amber provides insights into the Evolution of Integumentary Specialisations on the Raptorial Foreleg. Scientific Reports. 9: 13248. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49398-1

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[Herpetology • 2019] Cordylus phonolithos • A New Species of Girdled Lizard (Squamata: Cordylidae) from the Serra da Neve Inselberg, Namibe Province, southwestern Angola

September 14, 2019, 3:01 am
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Cordylus phonolithos 
 Marques, Ceríaco, Stanley, Bandeira, Agarwal & Bauer, 2019

N’Dolondolo Girdled Lizard • Lagarto Espinhoso de N’Dolondolo  || DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4668.4.4
photos: Luis Ceríaco facebook.com/LuisCeriaco

Abstract
A new species of rupicolous girdled lizard is described from Serra da Neve Inselberg, Namibe Province, southwestern Angola. We sequenced two mitochondrial gene regions (16S and ND2) for the new species and compared these data with those previously published for other Cordylus species. The new species is genetically divergent from the closely related Cordylus machadoi and C. namakuiyus and morphologically distinguished by head scale arrangement, coloration, and osteological characters. Serra da Neve is the second highest peak in Angola and one of the most understudied areas of the country. The discovery of this new species highlights the importance of this inselberg for regional endemism and emphasizes the high conservation importance of the area.

Keywords: Reptilia, Cordylus phonolithos sp. nov., molecular phylogeny, computed tomography, endemism, taxonomy, Africa


Cordylus phonolithos sp. nov. in life ([Holotype] CAS 263581). N’Dolondolo, Serra da Neve, southwestern Angola.
Photo by Luis Ceríaco

Cordylus phonolithos sp. nov. in life ([Paratype] INBAC: AMB 10272). N’Dolondolo, Serra da Neve, southwestern Angola.
Photo by Luis Ceríaco

Cordylus phonolithos sp. nov. 
C. namakuiyus [part]: Stanley et al. (2016: 209)

Etymology. The specific epithet “phonolithos” is a noun in apposition from the Greek “phono” = sound + “lithos” = rock, which means “sound stone”. In the local Mucobal language the type locality name, “N’Dolondolo” means literally “rock that sounds like a bell” or “bell” and stems from the presence of a large and famous phonolite stone at the locality. Phonolites are rare igneous volcanic stones of intermediate composition between felsic and maphic, with aphanitic to porphyritic texture that produce a very distinctive metallic sound when hit, similar to the ringing of a metallic bell. We suggest “N’Dolondolo Girdled Lizard” and “Lagarto Espinhoso de N’Dolondolo” as the English and Portuguese common names, respectively, for this species.


Mariana P. Marques, Luis M. P. Ceríaco, Edward L. Stanley, Suzana Bandeira, Ishan Agarwal and Aaron M. Bauer. 2019. A New Species of Girdled Lizard (Squamata: Cordylidae) from the Serra da Neve Inselberg, Namibe Province, southwestern Angola. Zootaxa. 4668(4); 503–524. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4668.4.4 

 Edward L. Stanley, Luis M. P. Ceríaco, Suzana Bandeira, Hilaria Valerio, Michael F. Bates and William R. Branch. 2016. A Review of Cordylus machadoi (Squamata: Cordylidae) in southwestern Angola, with the Description of A New Species from the Pro-Namib Desert. Zootaxa. 4061(3): 201–226.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4061.3.1

  

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[Herpetology • 2019] Cyrtodactylus manos • A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from central New Guinea

September 15, 2019, 7:13 pm
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Cyrtodactylus manos
Oliver, Karkkainen, Rösler & Richards, 2019


Abstract
We describe a new species of bent-toed gecko in the genus Cyrtodactylus from hill forest in Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. Cyrtodactylus manos sp. nov. can be distinguished from all congeners in New Guinea by its small size in combination with aspects of colouration and body and tail scalation. The new species adds to the growing number of vertebrate species known only from karstic mountains along the southern edge of New Guinea’s Central Cordillera, suggesting that this region holds previously overlooked endemic karst-associated biota.

Keywords: Reptilia, gecko, hill forest, karst, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea


 Cyrtodactylus manos sp. nov. 


Paul M. Oliver, Denise Taimi Karkkainen, Herbert Rösler and Stephen J. Richards. 2019. A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from central New Guinea. Zootaxa. 4671(1); 119–128. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4671.1.9


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[Herpetology • 2019] Andrias sligoi • Historical Museum Collections Clarify the Evolutionary History of Cryptic Species Radiation in the World's Largest Amphibians

September 16, 2019, 8:28 pm
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[upper] Andrias davidianus (Blanchard, 1871) 

[lower] Andrias sligoi (Boulenger, 1924) 

in Turvey, Marr, Barnes, et al., 2019.

Abstract
Inaccurate taxonomic assessment of threatened populations can hinder conservation prioritization and management, with human‐mediated population movements obscuring biogeographic patterns and confounding reconstructions of evolutionary history. Giant salamanders were formerly distributed widely across China, and are interpreted as a single species, Andrias davidianus. Previous phylogenetic studies have identified distinct Chinese giant salamander lineages but were unable to associate these consistently with different landscapes, probably because population structure has been modified by human‐mediated translocations for recent commercial farming. We investigated the evolutionary history and relationships of allopatric Chinese giant salamander populations with Next‐Generation Sequencing methods, using historical museum specimens and late 20th‐century samples, and retrieved partial or near‐complete mitogenomes for 17 individuals. Samples from populations unlikely to have been affected by translocations form three clades from separate regions of China, spatially congruent with isolation by either major river drainages or mountain ranges. Pliocene–Pleistocene divergences for these clades are consistent with topographic modification of southern China associated with uplift of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau. General Mixed Yule Coalescent model analysis indicates that these clades represent separate species: Andrias davidianus (Blanchard, 1871) (northern Yangtze/Sichuan), Andrias sligoi (Boulenger, 1924) (Pearl/Nanling), and an undescribed species (Huangshan). Andrias sligoi is possibly the world's largest amphibian. Inclusion of additional reportedly wild samples from areas of known giant salamander exploitation and movement leads to increasing loss of biogeographic signal. Wild Chinese giant salamander populations are now critically depleted or extirpated, and conservation actions should be updated to recognize the existence of multiple species.

Keywords: amphibian, Andrias, Chinese giant salamander, conservation, cryptic species, historical baselines, translocation

Andrias sligoi, probably originally prepared for inclusion in Boulenger (1924).
Artist unknown; courtesy of Zoological Society of London library.

Andrias sligoi (Boulenger, 1924)



Figure 1: Map of eastern Asia showing Chinese river drainages and mountain regions, and giant salamander sample localities: 1, Ya'an; 2, Meishan; 3, Zhongba/Chongqing; 4, Xi'an; 5, Yuanqu; 6, Zhangjiajie; 7, Huangshan; 8, northern Guangxi; 9, northern Guangdong; 10, Guangzhou; 11, Hong Kong. Arrows indicate direction of human‐mediated movement of giant salamanders associated with trade and farming. Gray hatching indicates distribution of giant salamanders in Japan based on IUCN (2018).
Inset, Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) found during 2013–2016 survey, assigned to clade B of Yan, Lü, et al. (2018); see Turvey et al., 2018


Samuel T. Turvey, Melissa M. Marr, Ian Barnes, Selina Brace, Benjamin Tapley, Robert W. Murphy, Ermi Zhao and Andrew A. Cunningham. 2019. Historical Museum Collections Clarify the Evolutionary History of Cryptic Species Radiation in the World's Largest Amphibians. Ecology and Evolution. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5257

New species of giant salamander is world's biggest amphibian phys.org/news/2019-09-species-giant-salamander-world-biggest.html via @physorg_com

  

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[PaleoOrnithology • 2019] Protodontopteryx ruthae • Oldest, Smallest and Phylogenetically Most Basal Pelagornithid, from the early Paleocene of New Zealand, Sheds Light on the Evolutionary History of the Largest Flying Birds

September 18, 2019, 12:01 am
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 Protodontopteryx ruthae  
Mayr, De Pietri, Love, Mannering & Scofield, 2019
Illustration: Derek Onley

Abstract
The Cenozoic Pelagornithidae, or pseudotoothed birds, are characterized by unique bony projections along the cutting edges of the beak. These birds were previously known from late Paleocene to Pliocene fossil sites and some species reached wingspans up to 6.4 m. Here we describe a partial skeleton of a small‐sized pelagornithid from the early Paleocene of New Zealand. Protodontopteryx ruthae gen. et sp. nov. is the oldest record of the clade, the smallest known species, and the first pre‐Eocene pelagornithid from the Southern Hemisphere. The skull of the new species exhibits the characteristic pelagornithid morphology, but the postcranial skeleton distinctly differs from other pelagornithids, and various plesiomorphic features indicate that it is the earliest‐diverging representative of the Pelagornithidae. The much stouter humerus suggests that the new species was less adapted to sustained soaring than previously known pelagornithids. Pseudoteeth therefore evolved before pelagornithids became highly specialized gliders. Unlike the giant Neogene pelagornithid species, which presumably were skimmers, early Paleocene pelagornithids are likely to have targeted selected prey items and may have been predominantly piscivorous. The new species furthermore suggests that pelagornithids evolved in the Southern Hemisphere and documents a very early radiation of neornithine seabirds, which may have been triggered by changes in marine ecosystems around the K–Pg boundary.

Keywords: Aves, fossil bird, evolution, Odontopterygiformes, Protodontopteryx ruthae gen. et sp. nov., Waipara Greensand



Protodontopteryx ruthae gen. et sp. nov.

Dr Paul Scofield and amateur palaeontologist Leigh Love examine a section of riverbank on the Waipara River, near where the Protodontopteryx fossil was found.
 Image Available CC BY NC and for News and and Current Affairs Use


Gerald Mayr, Vanesa L. De Pietri, Leigh Love, Al Mannering and Richard Paul Scofield. 2019. Oldest, Smallest and Phylogenetically Most Basal Pelagornithid, from the early Paleocene of New Zealand, Sheds Light on the Evolutionary History of the Largest Flying Birds. Papers in Palaeontology. DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1284  

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[Botany • 2019] Strobilanthes twangensis (Acanthaceae) • A New Species from the East Himalayas

September 18, 2019, 3:07 am
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Strobilanthes twangensis J.R.I.Wood & D.Borah

in Wood, Borah, Yama & Mipun, 2019.

Summary
A new species, Strobilanthes twangensis J.R.I.Wood & D.Borah is described from Arunachal Pradesh State in northeastern India near the border with Bhutan and Tibet. The new species is illustrated with photographs and its possible relationships with other Himalayan species are discussed.

Key Words: Arunachal Pradesh, endemic, India, Tawang

Fig. 1: A habit; B inflorescence from above; C stem showing leaves and inflorescences D leaf (adaxial surface); E leaf (abaxial surface); F inflorescence; G corolla with bract; H bract; J bracteoles; K calyx lobes; L corolla opened out to show anthers; M ovary and style.
photos: Dipankar Borah.




Strobilanthes twangensis J.R.I.Wood & D.Borah, sp. nov. 

Recognition. The small incurved, broadly ellipsoid anthers indicate this species belongs to the Goldfussia group of Strobilanthes species which is well-represented in the Himalayas. However, the white flowers and creeping habit are unusual and suggest an affinity with S. nutans (Nees) T.Anderson, which is endemic to Nepal and has similar subequal calyx lobes. The new species differs in the glabrous stem and leaves (apart from the ciliate leaf margins), the subcapitate inflorescence and in the green, foliose persistent outer bracts with a repand or undulate, ciliate margin. In S. nutans the stem and leaves are uniformly pilose, the inflorescence is formed of drooping, cone-like spikes with glabrous, deciduous, pale green, entire bracts (Wood & Adhikari 2014). The new species also somewhat resembles S. jennyae J.R.I.Wood in habit, flower colour and androecium (Wood 1994). S.jennyae grows in not very distant locations in Eastern Bhutan but is distinguished by its conspicuous pilose indumentum with large-celled, brown hairs, its lax spicate inflorescence and oblong-elliptic bracts.


Etymology. The epithet twangensis is not a misspelling of the district name Tawang but is chosen to reflect the pronunciation “twang” used by the Monpa people who inhabit the district.

Note. Strobilanthes twangensis was originally found and photographed in flower in 2017 and was collected and again photographed in flower in 2018. It appears, therefore, to be an annual flowering species like many that grow at higher altitudes such as S. attenuata (Nees) T.Anderson, S. nutans, S. lachenensis C.B.Clarke and, at least in the East Himalayas, S. atrocyanea Nees.


John R. I. Wood, Dipankar Borah, Lod Yama and Puranjoy Mipun. 2019. Strobilanthes twangensis (Acanthaceae), A New Species from the East Himalayas. Kew Bulletin. 74:41. DOI: 10.1007/s12225-019-9829-y

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