Species New to Science

Kururubatrachus gondwanicus

Agnolin, Carvalho, Rolando, Novas, Xavier-Neto, Andrade & Freitas, 2020

DOI: 10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102633

illustration: Gabriel Lio

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Highlights:

• A new neobatrachian anuran coming from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Crato Formation from Brazil is described.

• Present record constitutes an important addition to the scarse fossils of Mesozoic anurans in South America.

• Present finding indicates that modern frog clades were well-diversified by 40 million years before the K/T boundary.

• In Patagonia, the K/T boundary does not accounts for a massive anuran extinction.

Abstract

The fossil record of anurans in South America is scarse, especially for Mesozoic-aged beds. The aim of the present paper is to describe a new neobatrachian anuran coming from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Crato Formation from Brazil. The specimen, represented by a nearly complete skeleton is reminiscent to the extant clade Hyloidea. In contrast with recent claims, this finding, together with previously known fossils from South America indicates that modern frog clades were present and well-diversified by 40 million years before the K/T boundary. In the same sense, the analysis of Mesozoic and Paleogene anuran record in South America contradicts the hypothesis of massive anuran extinction at the K/T boundary.

Keywords: Anura, Neobatrachia, Early Cretaceous, Crato formation, Brazil

Anura Fischer von Waldheim, 1813

Neobatrachia Reig, 1958.

Kururubatrachus nov. gen.

Etymology. Kururu, is the common name of a living species of South American toad (Rhinella schneideri) but also, according a legend of the tupí-guaraní culture, is the animal that brings the fire to humans during the creation of the world; batrachus is the Latin word for “toad”

Kururubatrachus gondwanicus nov. sp.

Etymology. The species name, gondwanicus, comes from the Gondwanan context of the Araripe Basin.

Phylogenetic relationships of Kururubatrachus gondwanicus nov. gen. et sp. among anurans. Numbers indicate Bremer support value for each tree node. Fossil taxa include continental silhouettes indicating its geographical origin.

Skeletal reconstruction of Kururubatrachus gondwanicus nov. gen. et sp. (UFRJ-DG 08 A). Shaded areas indicate preserved bones of the holotype specimen.

Holotype of Kururubatrachus gondwanicus nov. gen. et sp. (UFRJ-DG 08 A)

Selected elements of holotype specimen of Kururubatrachus gondwanicus nov. gen. et sp. (UFRJ-DG 08 A).
A, dissarticulated skull; B, left foot in plantar view; C, right hand in palmar view. References. an, angular; cl, clavicle; dt1, first distal tarsal; dt2+3, second plus third distal tarsal; fi, fibulare; fr, frontoparietal; mx; maxilar; pha, prehallical element; pa, parasphenoid; pal, neopalatine; pr, prepollex basal component; prmx, premaxilar; ra, radiale; sc, scapula; sph?, sphenethmoid?; ti, tibiale; ul, ulnare; Y, “Y” element; 3,4,5, distal carpal elements.

Conclusions:

We describe here the new fossil and species of anuran Kururubatrachus gondwanicus nov. gen. et sp., coming from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Crato Formation from Brazil. The specimen, represented by a nearly complete and articulated skeleton belongs to Neobatrachia, and it is reminiscent to the extant clade Hyloidea. Further, a brief overview on the fossil record of anurans indicate that several relevant reports have been overlooked by previous literature (e.g., Báez and Gómez, 2017; Báez et al., 2009, 2012; Agnolin, 2012). These, reinforce previous ideas of an old diversification of neobatrachians deep in the Cretaceous period. As for example, in spite of the poor fossil record in Patagonia, members of Calyptocephalellidae appear to be abundant and well-diversified in the Maastrichtian. Further, the diverse fossil record of neobatrachians from Crato indicates that modern frogs were present and well-diversified by 40 million year before the K/T boundary, countering recent proposals that sustain a postK/T diversification of main modern anuran clades.

In addition, in spite of the sketchy fossil record, by Late Cretaceous times, members of Pipoidea and Calyptocephalellidae are well represented in Patagonia. Remarkably, both clades survive the K/T and remain relatively diverse and abundant during Paleogene times. This indicates that anurans from Patagonia (at least) were probably not strongly affected by the extinction event at the K/T boundary.

Federico Agnolin, Ismar de Souza Carvalho, Alexis M. Aranciaga Rolando, Fernando E. Novas, José Xavier-Neto, José Artur Ferreira Gomes Andrade and Francisco Idalécio Freitas. 2020. Early Cretaceous Neobatrachian Frog (Anura) from Brazil sheds light on the Origin of Modern Anurans. Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 101, 102633. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102633

Researchgate.net/publication/341201534_Early_Cretaceous_neobatrachian_frog_Anura_from_Brazil

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https://igeo.ufrj.br/inc/isc/3/3_69-Kururubatrachus-Early-Neobatrachian-JSAES-Agnolin-et-al-%202020.pdf

Macropodia czernjawskii (Brandt, 1880)

in Spiridonov, Simakova, Anosov, et al., 2020.

DOI: 10.3897/zse.96.48342

Abstract

Macropodia czernjawskii (Brandt, 1880), described from the Black Sea, was ignored in the regional faunal accounts for more than a century, although it was recognised in the Mediterranean. Instead, M. longirostris (Fabricius, 1775) and M. rostrata (Linnaeus, 1761) were frequently listed for the Black Sea. We selected a lectotype and redescribed the species on the basis of the type series from the Crimean Peninsula and the new material collected in the Black Sea. Historical and new collections, as well as the analysis of publications, indicate that M. czernjawskii is the only Macropodia species occurring in the Black Sea. Molecular barcode (COI gene marker) data show that M. czernjawskii is a species well-diverged from other studied species of the group. Furthermore, M. parva van Noort & Adema, 1985 has very low genetic distances from M. rostrata and M. longipes A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier, 1899 is indistinguishable from M. tenuirostris (Leach, 1814), using COI sequences. The respective synonimisations, supported by morphological data, are proposed. M. czernjawskii is a Black Sea – Mediterranean endemic occurring also in the neighbouring Atlantic coastal zone of the Iberian Peninsula and occupying shallower depth, compared to other Mediterranean species of Macropodia. As an upper subtidal inshore species, it is particularly specialised in self-decoration and stimulates abundant epibiosis, providing masking and protection. The bulk of epibiosis consists of algae and cyanobacteria. Amongst the 25 autotrophic eukaryote taxa, identified to the lowest possible level, green chlorophytes Cladophora sp. and calcareous rhodophytes Corallinales gen. sp. were most commonly recorded. Non-indigenous red alga Bonnemaisonia hamifera Hariot, first officially recorded at the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea in 2015, was present in the epibiosis of M.czernjawskii in Crimea as early as 2011.

Key Words: Majoidea, historical collections, upper subtidal biotopes, endemism, Mediterranean, egg size, epibiosis, non-indigenous species

Figure 5. Macropodia czernjawskii, photographs in natural coloration. a. male (ZMMU Ma 3547), dorsal view. b. Same specimen as a. ventral view. c. female ov (ZMMU Ma 3542), dorsal view. d. Same specimen as c. ventral view. Scale bar: 10 mm. Photographs by SE Anosov.

Class Malacostraca Latreille, 1802

Order Decapoda Latreille, 1802

Suborder Pleocyemata Burkenroad, 1963

Infraorder Brachyura Linnaeus, 1758

Section Heterotremata Guinot, 1977

Superfamily Majoidea Samouelle, 1819

Family Inachidae MacLeay, 1838

Macropodia czernjawskii (Brandt, 1880)

Diagnosis: Cephalothorax, pleon and thoracopods densely and unevenly setose. Rostral spines covered with large curled setae, moderately ascending, slightly convex to straight in lateral view, somewhat over-reaching (in males), reaching or nearly reaching end of antennal peduncle, usually about as long as 30% of total carapace length in females and about 35% in males. Epistome trapezoidal with two conspicuous lateral spinules on each side. All carapace protuberances, spines and tubercles setose. Gastric region with a pair of lateral protogastric protuberances or spines, a pair of mesogastric tubercles and robust median metagastric spine of moderate height, directed slightly anteriorly or straight dorsally. Two conspicuous hepatic protuberances on each side, lower being most robust. Pterygostomial process seen dorsally in males, but barely in females. Cardiac region elevated, with strong median obtuse spine directed slightly posteriorly. Intestinal region with median spiniform tubercle at border with cardiac region. Basal antennal segment with three (in some specimens two or four) spines. Merus of P 2–5 with a distal dorsal spine. Dactyli of P 4 and 5 little narrower than propodi, markedly curved (sickle-shaped), with a dense row of robust sharp spinules located on flexor margin, along with setae; adductor face with few setae and mostly naked.

Figure 10. Natural habitats of Macropodiz czernjawskii in the Black Sea.
a, b. Male (ZMMU Ma 3549) in Cystoseira sp., on rock, Tuaphat coastal rock masif, near Gelendzhik.
c. Male (ZMMU Ma 3547), on sand, of Blagoveschenskaya village, near Anapa. d. Specimen collected of Blagoveschensakya in aquarium, decorated with red algae after few days of keeping.
e. A characteristic biotope of M. czernjawskii in Tuaphat.
f. Biotope in Kazachya Cove, Crimean Peninsula where M. czernjawskii has been repeatedly observed. Photographs by SE Anosov.

Ecology and epibiosis:

In the Black Sea, the species was recorded between 0.5 and 9–12.8 m depth, but mostly within the upper 5–6 m on various substrates from rock and boulders to sand (Fig. 10e, f), in growing or detached aquatic vegetation, i.e. Ulva sp., filamentous green algae, Cystoseira sp., red algae (Fig. 10d). One male was also recorded in a community dominated by clams Chamelea gallina (Linnaeus, 1758), hermit crabs Diogenes pugilator (Roux, 1829) and predatory whelks Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) at about 10 m depth, where macrophyte vegetation is generally lacking, according to the underwater observations by the authors. It is very difficult to spot the crabs when they are hiding in algae (Fig. 10a). However, the males (but not females) were repeatedly observed walking on bare substrate, although a short distance from shelters and being decorated with pieces of algae (Fig. 10c).

...

Vassily A. Spiridonov, Ulyana V. Simakova, Sergey E. Anosov, Anna K. Zalota and Vitaly A. Timofeev. 2020. Review of Macropodia in the Black Sea supported by Molecular Barcoding Data; with the Redescription of the Type Material, Observations on Ecology and Epibiosis of Macropodia czernjawskii (Brandt, 1880) and Notes on other Atlanto-Mediterranean Species of Macropodia Leach, 1814 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Inachidae). Zoosystematics and Evolution. 96(2): 609-635. DOI: 10.3897/zse.96.48342

Piper of Thailand

in Suwanphakdee, Simpson, Hodkinson & Chantaranothai, 2020.

DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2020.48.2.08

(photos by C. Suwanphakdee).

ABSTRACT

All native and introduced Thai Piper are enumerated to include 46 species and two varieties. Typifications for accepted names and synonyms are made where necessary. Family and generic descriptions, based on Thai collections, are provided. A key to species and varieties and relevant synonymy are also presented. Additional morphological characters for P. smitinandianum are summarised. Data on the distribution, ecology, vernacular names, utilization and collections of each taxon in Thailand are presented in the standard Flora of Thailand format.

Keywords: Distribution, Flora of Thailand, key to species, tropical plant, taxonomy

Figure 1. A. Piper arcuatumBlume; B. P. argyrites Ridl. ex C.DC.; C.P. baccatum Blume; D. P. betle L.;
E. P.boehmeriifolium (Miq.) C.DC. var. boehmeriifolium; F. P. durionoides Suwanph. & Chantar.; G.P. griffithii C.DC.; H.P. kongkandanum Suwanph. & Chantar.

(photos by Suwanphakdee).

Figure 2. A. Piper kurziiRidl.; B. P. laetispicum C.DC.; C. P. lanatum Roxb.; D.P. leptostachyumWall. ex Miq.;
E. P. lonchitesRoem. & Schult.; F.P. peepuloidesRoxb.; G.P. rostratum Roxb.; H. P. smitinandianumSuwanph. & Chantar.

(photos by Suwanphakdee).

Chalermpol Suwanphakdee, David A. Simpson, Trevor R. Hodkinson and Pranom Chantaranothai. 2020. A Synopsis of Thai Piper (Piperaceae). Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany). 48(2), 145-183. DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2020.48.2.08

Zhangixalus jodiae

Nguyen, Ninh, Orlov, Nguyen & Ziegler, 2020

DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1754484

twitter.com/JodiRowley

ABSTRACT
A new rhacophorid species is described from Vietnam on the basis of nine specimens collected in Quan Ba District, Ha Giang Province, northeastern Vietnam. The new species is morphologically similar to Zhangixalus pinglongensis, Z. dorsoviridis, and Z. nigropunctatus, however, it differs from the latter by having the flank cream with large black blotches on axilla and groin. The genetic distance between the new species and Zhangixalus pinglongensis, Z. dorsoviridis and Z. nigropunctatus is >3.57% (16S mtDNA gene fragment). Zhangixalus jodiae sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species of Zhangixalus and other small rhacophorid species from Southeast Asia by a combination of the following characters: size small (SVL 36.1–39.8 mm in males); head as long as wide; vomerine teeth present; dorsal surface of head and body green without spots; axilla cream with large black blotches, groin and front-rear parts of the thigh, ventral surface of tibia black with orange blotches; lower jaw region greyish, chest and belly cream.

KEYWORDS: Zhangixalus jodiae sp. nov., molecular phylogeny, taxonomy, Ha Giang Province

Zhangixalus jodiae sp. nov.
Lateral views (A, B) and dorsal views of the left hand (C) & left foot (D) of the adult male holotype (VNMN 07121) from Quan Ba District, Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam.

Zhangixalus jodiae sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific epithet is in honour of Dr. Jodi Rowley from the Australian Museum for her great contribution to amphibian taxonomy in Asia. We propose the following colloquial names: Jodi’s Treefrog (English) and Ếch cây jô-đi (Vietnamese).

Tao Thien Nguyen ,Hoa Thi Ninh,Nikolai Orlov,Truong Quang Nguyen and Thomas Ziegler. 2020. A New Species of the Genus Zhangixalus (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae) from Vietnam. Journal of Natural History. Amphibian taxonomy: Early 21st century case studies. DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1754484

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Karethraichnus zaratan

Sato & Jenkins, 2020

DOI: 10.2110/palo.2019.077

ABSTRACT

Trace fossils preserved in fossilized tissues provide a key resource for exploring the paleoecology of past ecosystems. Endobiont organisms are commonplace in modern ecosystems, but their trace fossils on vertebrates are rare as the organisms usually attack or attach to soft tissue. Here, we report the novel occurrence of flask-shaped boreholes representing the ichnotaxon Karethraichnus n. isp. in the carapace of the basal leatherback sea turtle Mesodermochelys sp. from the Upper Cretaceous of northern Japan. The distribution of the boreholes was determined by observing the carapace surface. Using X-ray computed tomography, we were also able to produce a 3D reconstruction of the whole carapace and examine a cross section of a borehole to analyze the histological aspects of the bone. In total, 43 holes were observed, 12 holes contained probable pholadoid bivalves, and 32 holes were not bored entirely through the carapace. Some of the bivalves found in the holes are larger than the aperture of the hole, suggesting that they continued to grow during boring. The holes are hemispherical to clavate in shape and developed on the exterior side of the carapace. Healing traces, i.e., repairing of bone, can be observed at the surface of the holes. Our observations strongly suggest that these pits were bored by pholadoid bivalves while the turtle was alive. This is the first report of the behavior of boring bivalves as sea-turtle endobionts boring into a unique free-living, i.e., “swimming substrate”.

SYSTEMATIC ICHNOLOGY

Karethraichnus zaratan isp. nov.

Etymology.— From the name of the mythical turtle ‘‘Zaratan’’ in the Middle Eastern legend. It was easily mistaken for small islands due to its huge size, and so animals and sailors accidentally settled on its carapace.

Holotype.— Boreholes in the carapace of the basal leatherback sea turtle Mesodermochelys sp. from the Late Cretaceous of northern Japan, which is housed at Nakagawa Museum of Natural History (collection number: NMV 50). This carapace contains 43 boreholes (paratypes) and the one selected as a holotype is from the carapace fragment (Fig. 4; NMV 50-a).

Kei Sato and Robert G. Jenkins. 2020. Mobile Home for Pholadoid Boring Bivalves: First Example from A late Cretaceous Sea Turtle in Hokkaido, Japan. PALAIOS. 35(5); 228–236. DOI: 10.2110/palo.2019.077

Life in a nutshell: New species found in the carapace of late cretaceous marine turtle phys.org/news/2020-08-life-nutshell-species-carapace-late.html

Lithopanopeus truesdalei Felder & Thoma, 2020

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4845.3.7

Abstract
Several specimens of a small panopeid crab from coastal waters of the western Gulf of Mexico were long suspected to represent an undescribed species and are herein designated as representatives of a new genus. While the originally collected specimens from over four decades ago were not of gene-sequence quality, later collections from the same locality produced materials that yielded sequence data for inclusion in molecular phylogenetic studies. Building on results of those analyses, the present taxonomic description draws upon morphology to support the description of a unique species in which especially the male first gonopods differ from those of all other described panopeid genera. To date, the species remains known from only two western Gulf of Mexico sites, both of which are wave-washed intertidal rocky habitats where substrates are heavily burrowed by boring bivalves and sipunculans. While we cannot exclude the possibility that the species was introduced, recurrent collections show its populations to be at very least persistent, the species most likely being a long-overlooked among a confusing hard-substrate assemblage of small panopeid crabs.

Keywords: Crustacea, Xanthoidea, mud crab, western Atlantic, shoreline

Taxonomy

Superfamily Xanthoidea MacLeay, 1838

Family Panopeidae Ortmann, 1893

Lithopanopeus n. gen.

Type species. Lithopanopeus truesdalei n. sp., by present designation.

Diagnosis. Carapace outline ovoid to subhexagonal, length about ¾ greatest width (including lateral extremes of anterolateral teeth, slightly less in large females), fronto-orbital width less than ¾ greatest carapace width, front more than twice width of orbit, with deep median V-shaped notch, laterally forming lobiform tooth; dorsal surface appearing nearly smooth with scattered fine granules, coarser near margins, across front, or where forming rows across anterior carapace regions; areolations weakly marked, separated at most by shallow depressed furrows anteriorly, anterior regions surmounted by elongate ridges of low granules; anterolateral margin with five distinct anterolateral teeth (counting as first the outer orbital), second anterolateral tooth rounded subtriangular to lobiform, partially coalesced to first tooth, third and fourth teeth subtriangular, acute to subacute tips directed anteriorly to anterolaterally, fifth tooth smallest, distinctly developed, subtriangular; lacking subhepatic tubercle below margin. Eyestalk short, ending in globular cornea about width of eyestalk shaft. Distalmost article of antennal peduncle elongate, rectangular in outline, reaching to and filling orbit hiatus. Chelipeds unequal, dorsal surface finely granulate with some enlarged granules in short rows and ridges; carpus dorsal surface irregular, distal furrow extending from superior to distolateral surface, deeply depressed, inner corner marked by enlarged blunt, distally directed tooth; propodus upper surface weakly convex longitudinally, granulation slightly coarser, some in short transverse rows dorsally, weakly defined broken dorsal furrow between very low to obsolete longitudinal ridge to internal side and stronger rounded longitudinal ridge to external side; major chela dactylus opposable margin bearing enlarged, lobiform, basal tooth. Ambulatory pereopod merus, carpus, and propodus superior margin bearing narrow tract of subacute granules or small tubercles, superior margin of merus including row of long, closely set, plumose, feathery setae, these less dense on more distal articles, distalmost articles bearing broad tracks of very short, densely plumose setae on margins, densest on inferior and especially superior surface of dactylus; dactylar-propodal locking mechanism not developed, dactyl inferior margin lacking calcareous prehensile tooth. Male thoracic sternum length from apex to suture between fourth and fifth sternites (measured at edge of pleon near or exceeding 0.7 greatest width of fourth sternite (including episternites), sternopleonal cavity in fourth sternite not sculpted or excavate to accommodate first gonopod tips; fifth sternite with granulate press button to each side of sternopleonal cavity; male pleonal margins thick, reflected toward thoracic sternum, edges appearing heavy, press-button depression deep, thick; third to fifth somites of male pleon fused, second somite spanning almost full width of sternum, narrow tract of eighth sternite exposed between lateral margin and condyle of fifth pereopod coxa, third somite about 1.2 width of second, lateral flange reaching to base of fifth peropod condyle. Male first gonopod tip of modified trifid panopeid form, sternomesial side of trunk lined by heavy teeth in distal half and subterminally with broad, acute, bladelike subterminal tooth. Male second gonopod less than 1/3 length of first. Female gonopore (including opening and surrounding lips or vulva) centered in anterior half of sixth thoracic sternite, in spanning more than half of sixth thoracic sternite adjacent length.

Etymology. The generic name Lithopanopeus merges the prefix “litho”, for its rocky habitat, with the suffix “panopeus”, derived from the type genus of Panopeidae. The gender is masculine. The few known specimens all have been found in association with calcareous intertidal rocks eroded by burrowing molluscs and sipunculan worms. Appropriately, the species bears close general resemblance to a number of other small panopeid crabs.

Lithopanopeus truesdalei n. gen., n. sp.
A, male holotype (USNM 1611097 = ULLZ 17919) cw 9.6 mm, northwestern Gulf of Mexico;
B, juvenile male paratype (USNM 1541468 = ULLZ 6447) cw 6.3 mm, southwestern Gulf of Mexico.

Lithopanopeus truesdalei n. gen., n. sp.

Hexapanopeus nov. sp.—Thoma et al. 2009: 554, table 2, 558, fig. 1, 559, fig. 2, 560.

Nov. gen. nov. sp. near Acantholobulus schmitti.—Thoma et al. 2014: 92, fig. 1.

Gen. nov., sp. nov. near A. schmitti.—Thoma et al. 2014: 90, table 1, 98.

Etymology. The species name is assigned in recognition of Frank M. Truesdale for his many contributions to crustacean biology through his personal research and training of students, but also in gratitude for many years of supportive assistance and collaborations with DLF and his students. In addition to his renowned compilations on the history of carcinological research, his special expertise in the rearing of decapod larvae has contributed substantially to understanding of decapod crustacean life histories, including those of panopeid crabs.

Distribution. Brazos Santiago Inlet in extreme south Texas and a natural rocky shoreline platform along Playa de la Mancha, Veracruz, Mexico.

Darryl L. Felder and Brent P. Thoma. 2020. A New Genus and Species of Mud Crab (Crustacea, Brachyura, Panopeidae) from Shoreline Waters of the western Gulf of Mexico. Zootaxa. 4845(3); 425–435. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4845.3.7

Mammut americanum (Kerr, 1792)

in Karpinski, Hackenberger, Zazula, et al., 2020.

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17893-z

Illustration: Julius Csotonyi facebook.com/JuliusCsotonyi

Abstract

Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles are correlated with dramatic temperature oscillations. Examining how species responded to these natural fluctuations can provide valuable insights into the impacts of present-day anthropogenic climate change. Here we present a phylogeographic study of the extinct American mastodon (Mammut americanum), based on 35 complete mitochondrial genomes. These data reveal the presence of multiple lineages within this species, including two distinct clades from eastern Beringia. Our molecular date estimates suggest that these clades arose at different times, supporting a pattern of repeated northern expansion and local extirpation in response to glacial cycling. Consistent with this hypothesis, we also note lower levels of genetic diversity among northern mastodons than in endemic clades south of the continental ice sheets. The results of our study highlight the complex relationships between population dispersals and climate change, and can provide testable hypotheses for extant species expected to experience substantial biogeographic impacts from rising temperatures.

Fig. 2: Model of mastodon extirpation and expansion in response to glacial cycles.
a Global stack of benthic foraminifera δ18O for the last 1 million years, which tracks changes in deep-water temperature and global ice volume. The y-axis has been inverted so that periods of low ice buildup (and higher temperatures—red) are at the top of the graph, and periods of greater ice buildup (and lower temperatures—blue) are at the bottom. Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) extents are indicated with black bars above (interglacials) or below (glacials) the δ18O record. δ18O values and MIS terminations can be found in Lisiecki and Raymo. One full glacial cycle is represented, showing the change from glacial (b) to interglacial (c) conditions, followed by a fall back into another glaciation (d). North American ice-sheet cover at each stage (c, d) is approximated from recorded δ18O to similar conditions during the transition out of the last glaciation, or from published simulations where available (b). The ecological implications of these transitions are summarised in (e, f), with mastodons being able to occupy most of eastern Beringia and Canada during interglacials (e), but progressively extirpated from these regions as conditions descend into the next glacial period (f). Populations would either need to retract to unglaciated regions south of the ice sheets or north to temporarily unglaciated refugia which would be unlikely to support mastodon populations throughout long glaciations.

Emil Karpinski, Dirk Hackenberger, Grant Zazula, Chris Widga, Ana T. Duggan, G. Brian Golding, Melanie Kuch, Jennifer Klunk, Christopher N. Jass, Pam Groves, Patrick Druckenmiller, Blaine W. Schubert, Joaquin Arroyo-Cabrales, William F. Simpson, John W. Hoganson, Daniel C. Fisher, Simon Y. W. Ho, Ross D. E. MacPhee and Hendrik N. Poinar. 2020. American Mastodon Mitochondrial Genomes Suggest Multiple Dispersal Events in Response to Pleistocene Climate Oscillations. Nature Communications. 11: 4048. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17893-z

yukon.ca/en/news/yukon-palaeontology-program-helps-reveal-mysteries-mastodon-important-new-study

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Anomaloglossus saramaka& A. vacheri

Fouquet, Jairam, Ouboter & Kok, 2020

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4820.1.7

twitter.com/biodiversitario

Abstract
Anomaloglossus is a species-rich genus of frogs endemic to the Guiana Shield that still harbours several unnamed species. According to a recent integrative taxonomic survey, the A. stepheni species group includes five valid nominal species and at least four putatively unnamed species, two in Brazil and two in Suriname. In this paper, we describe the two species from Suriname based on adult and tadpole morphology as well as their calls and natural history. Both have exotrophic tadpoles transported by the male to small water bodies. These two new species differ from each other and from other congeners in body size, colouration pattern, call characteristics and breeding sites. Both have narrow distributions and should be considered Endangered according to IUCN criteria.

Keywords: Amazonia, Conservation, Endemism, Guiana Shield, Taxonomy

Phylogenetic tree adapted from Fouquet et al. (2019) and Vacher et al. (2017) and maps of the distribution of the species of Anomaloglossus of the stepheni group. The phylogenetic positions of A. stepheni and A. apiau remain ambiguous and corresponding branches are depicted with dashed lines. The ranges of the two species with endotrophic tadpoles (A. baeobatrachus and A. stepheni) are illustrated with a solid yellow and an orange polygon, respectively. The known populations of the species with exotrophic tadpoles are depicted by coloured dots except the range of the putatively introgressed populations related to A. baeobatrachus that is illustrated with a black-contoured triangle (Fouquet et al. 2019b).

Anomaloglossus saramaka sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to the Saramaka people who live nearby the type locality and are one of the Maroon communities living in Suriname.

Anomaloglossus vacheri sp. nov.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to Jean-Pierre Vacher, in honour of his strong contribution to the understanding of the diversity and the evolution of the genus Anomaloglossus.

Two males (top) and one female (bottom) of the two species described herein,Anomaloglossus saramakasp. nov. andA. vacherisp. nov., along with one male of the three additional species of the A. stepheni group occurring in Suriname.

Antoine Fouquet, Rawien Jairam, Paul Ouboter and Philippe J. R. Kok. 2020. Two New Species of Anomaloglossus (Anura: Aromobatidae) of the stepheni group from Suriname. Zootaxa. 4820(1); 147–164. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4820.1.7

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Begonia trucatifolia R.Bustam. M.Pranada, Tandang, & Y.P.Ang

in Bustamante, Tandang, et al., 2020.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.458.3.4

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Abstract

A new species of Begonia sect. Baryandra with 2-locular ovary and cucullate abaxial wing from the town of San Vicente, Palawan is described and illustrated. The new species, Begonia trucatifolia, is diagnosed against the morphologically similar B. blancii. Both species are endemic to Palawan and are similar in having spathulate leaves, 4-tepaled staminate & pistillate flowers and bilocular ovaries, but B. truncatifolia is significantly different in being comparatively smaller in size (stipules, lamina and inflorescences) and having obtusely rounded to acute lamina apices. The new species is proposed Critically Endangered following the criteria set by the IUCN.

Keywords: Begonia blancii, Critically Endangered, Eudicots, Malesia, riparian, San Vicente, taxonomy

Begonia trucatifolia
A. Habitat; B. Habitat of variegated variant; C. Stipules also showing petiole and rhizome; D. Leaf abaxial; E. Inflorescence and bracts; F. Staminate flowers face view; G. Staminate flower side view; H. Pistillate flower face view; I. Pistillate flower side view; J. Ovary cross-section. Photos A–B by D. Tandang, C–J by Y.P. Ang.

Begonia trucatifolia R.Bustam. M.Pranada, Tandang, & Y.P.Ang

Rene Alfred Anton Bustamante, Danilo N. Tandang, MC Andrew K. Pranada and Yu Pin Ang. 2020. Begonia truncatifolia (Begoniaceae, section Baryandra), A New Species from Palawan Island, the Philippines. Phytotaxa. 458(3); 215–222. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.458.3.4

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Chiroderma sp.

in Garbino, Lim & Tavares, 2020.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4846.1.1

Abstract

We present a revision of the Neotropical bat genus Chiroderma, commonly known as big-eyed bats. Although species of Chiroderma have a wide distribution from western México to southern Brazil, species limits within Chiroderma are not clearly defined, as attested by identification errors in the literature, and there is no comprehensive revision of the genus that includes morphological and molecular data. Our review is based on phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial (COI and CYTB) and two nuclear (RAG2 and DBY) genes, coalescence analyses of mitochondrial genes, and morphological analyses including type specimens of all named taxa. We recognize seven species in three clades: the first clade includes (1) C. scopaeum Handley, 1966, endemic to western México and previously considered a subspecies of C. salvini; and (2) C. salvini Dobson, 1878, a taxon associated with montane forests, distributed from México to Bolivia; the second clade includes (3) C. improvisum Baker and Genoways, 1976, endemic to the Lesser Antilles, and (4) C. villosum Peters, 1860, widely distributed on the continental mainland and polytypic, with subspecies C. v. villosum and C. v. jesupi; and the third clade includes (5) the polytypic C. doriae Thomas, 1891, with C. d. doriae distributed in eastern Brazil and Paraguay, and C. d. vizottoi, occurring in northeastern Brazil; (6) C. trinitatum Goodwin, 1958, distributed from Trinidad to Amazonia; and (7) C. gorgasi Handley, 1960, distributed from Honduras to trans-Andean South America, previously considered a subspecies of C. trinitatum.

Keywords: Mammalia, Chiroderma gorgasi, Chiroderma scopaeum, species delimitation, taxonomy, Vampyressina

Guilherme S. T. Garbino, Burton K. Lim and Valéria Da C. Tavares. 2020. Systematics of Big-eyed Bats, Genus Chiroderma Peters, 1860 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae). Zootaxa. 4846(1); 1-93. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4846.1.1

Palmorchis triquilhada Ferreira Filho & Barberena

in Filho & Barberena, 2020.

DOI: 10.1111/njb.02740

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Abstract

The Neotropical genus Palmorchis (Orchidaceae) contains 38 species distributed from Nicaragua to Peru, including northern Brazil. The genus is characterized by whitish or greenish tubular flowers with morphologically similar sepals and petals, a generally trilobed lip basally adnated to the gynostemium, and a gynostemium with a more or less curved apex. Here, a new species of Palmorchis belonging to the informal Palmorchis sobralioides group is described and illustrated from the state of Pará in the Brazilian Amazon, and its taxonomic affinities are discussed. Palmorchis triquilhada is close to P. sobralioides, differing basically by having a smaller size, pubescent leaves, deltoid and pubescent floral bracts, pubescent lip with ciliate margin, and a three‐keeled lanceolate median lobe without calli and with an acute apex. A description, photos, illustrations and ecological and taxonomic comments are provided for the species, as well as an identification key for related species.

Keywords: endemism, Epidendroideae, Neotropical, orchid, taxonomy

Palmorchis triquilhada Ferreira Filho & Barberena

Palmorchis triquilhada Ferreira Filho & Barberena sp. nov.
(a)–(c) habit; (d)–(e) flowers.

Palmorchis triquilhada Ferreira Filho & Barberena sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet is a reference to the three keels present on the lip of the species.

Ricardo Leite Ferreira Filho and Felipe Fajardo Villela Antolin Barberena. 2020. Palmorchis triquilhada sp. nov. (Orchidaceae; Neottieae) from the Brazilian Amazon. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: 10.1111/njb.02740

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Vanilla tiendatii Vuong, V.H. Bui, V.S. Dang & Aver.

in Nguyen, Averyanov, Bui, et al., 2020.

taiwania.ntu.edu.tw

Abstract

Vanilla tiendatii, discovered in limestone mountain area of Quang Binh Province in Northern Vietnam, is described as a species new for science. Morphologically this species appears to be closely related to V. yesiniana and V. albida, but well differs in the leaf shape, flower color, lip densely papillate-hairy at apex, and column fimbriate-hairy in the basal half. The key for identification of Vanilla species occurring in Vietnam is provided.

Keyword: New species, Orchidaceae, plant diversity, plant taxonomy, Vanilla, Vietnam

Fig. 2. Vanilla tiendatii.
A. Flowering plant; B. Leaf; C. Alcohol fixed inflorescences; D. Inflorescence bract; E. Flower, frontal view; F & G. Flowers, side views; H. Intact lip, frontal view; I. Dorsal sepal; J. Lateral sepals; K. Petals; L. Intact lip and column, side view; M. Lip and column separated, side view; N. Flattened lip, adaxial surface; O. Group of imbricate scarious bracts on the lip disk; P. Hairs on the lip apex; Q. Column, side view; R. Apical part of column, at different views; S. Front view of the column apex with pollinia removed; T. Anther cap with, and without pollinia; U. Pollinia.

All photos by Truong Ba Vuong, correction of photos and design by L. Averyanov.

Fig. 3. Vanilla tiendatii.
A. Flowering plant; B. Infloresence; C. Flower, front view; D. Dorsal sepal; E. Lateral sepals; F. Petals; G. Lip; H. Column and pedicel; I. Column with anther cap (left) and without anther cap (right); J Anther cap; K. Papillate hairs.

Drawing from the type specimens by Truong Ba Vuong.

Fig. 1. Vanilla tiendatii
A. Flowering plants in the wild B. plants in their natural habitat,. Photo by Bui Tien Dat.

Vanilla tiendatii Vuong, V.H. Bui, V.S. Dang & Aver., sp. nov.

Etymology: The species is named after Mr. Bui Tien Dat, an orchid enthusiast who collected material used for the preparation of the type specimen.

Habitat: Found growing as a lithophytic creeping vine, in both open and shady rather dry limestone forest together with Rhaphidophora species.

Distribution: Know from two locations in Quang Binh Province (Minh Hoa District, Trung Hoa and Yen Hoa communes).

Minh Ty Nguyen, Leonid V. Averyanov, Van Huong Bui, Nghia Son Hoang, Van Son Dang and Ba Vuong Truong. 2020. Vanilla tiendatii, A New Climbing Orchid from Vietnam. Taiwania. 65(4); 438-442.

taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract.php?type=abstract&id=1706

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2020.65.438

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A. Leucogeorgia abchasica (Lohmander, 1936) comb. nov., ♂ from Abraskila Cave.
B. L. caudata sp. nov., type ♂ from Novoafonskaya Cave.
C. L. gioi sp. nov., paratype ♀ (SMNG).
D. L. lobata sp. nov., specimens from Motena Cave.
E. L. prometheus sp. nov., specimen from Prometheus Cave.
F. L. profunda sp. nov., non-type ♀ from Veryovkina Cave.

Antić & Reip, 2020.

DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.713

(photos: Ilya Turbanov, Olga Chervyatsova, Hans Reip & Sergei Ivanov).

Abstract

The Caucasian leucogeorgiinine genera Archileucogeorgia Lohmander, 1936 and Leucogeorgia Verhoeff, 1930 are revised, with Leucogeorgia being considered as a senior subjective synonym of Archileucogeorgia, syn. nov. The following new combinations are thus warranted: Leucogeorgia abchasica (Lohmander, 1936) and L. satunini (Lohmander, 1936), both comb. nov. ex Archileucogeorgia. All four previously described species, viz., L. longipes Verhoeff, 1930, L. abchasica, L. satunini and L. rediviva Golovatch, 1983, are redescribed based on new material, partly also on the type series, with a lectotype being designated for L. longipes. In addition, eleven new species of Leucogeorgia are described, both with normal (L. borealis sp. nov., L. gioi sp. nov., L.golovatchi sp. nov., L. lobata sp. nov., L. oculata sp. nov. and L. prometheus sp. nov.) and modified mouthparts (L. caudata sp. nov., L. mystax sp. nov., L. profunda sp. nov., L. redivivoides sp. nov. and L. turbanovi sp. nov., all clearly troglobionts). Additionally, a new monotypic genus, Martvilia gen. nov., is erected, with M. parva gen. et sp. nov. as the type species, another presumed troglobiont. An identification key to both genera and all 16 species of Caucasian Leucogeorgiini is presented. Several other members of this tribe are also re-examined, including a syntype male of Telsonius nycteridonis Strasser, 1976, from Greece, herewith designated as the lectotype. Troglomorphisms and mouthpart modifications, as well as the distributions and relationships within both Leucogeorgia and Leucogeorgiini, and a Leucogeorgiini species richness estimate for the western Caucasus are discussed.

Keywords: Western Caucasus; modified mouthparts; troglomorphism; taxonomy; leucogeorgiinines

Leucogeorgia Verhoeff, 1930 species in situ.
A. Leucogeorgia abchasica (Lohmander, 1936) comb. nov., ♂ from Abraskila Cave (photo: Ilya Turbanov). B. L. caudata sp. nov., type ♂ from Novoafonskaya Cave (photo: Olga Chervyatsova). C. L. gioi sp. nov., paratype ♀ (SMNG) (photo: Hans Reip). D. L. lobata sp. nov., specimens from Motena Cave (photo: Hans Reip). E. L. prometheus sp. nov., specimen from Prometheus Cave (photo: Hans Reip). F. L. profunda sp. nov., non-type ♀ from Veryovkina Cave (photo: Sergei Ivanov). G. L. turbanovi sp. nov., non-type ♂ from Krubera Cave (photo: Ilya Turbanov).

Dragan Ž. Antić and Hans S. Reip. 2020. The Millipede Genus Leucogeorgia Verhoeff, 1930 in the Caucasus, with Descriptions of Eleven New Species, Erection of A New Monotypic Genus and Notes on the Tribe Leucogeorgiini (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae). European Journal of Taxonomy. 713: 1–106. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.713

Liolaemus anqapuka Huamaní-Valderrama, Quiroz, Gutiérrez, Aguilar-Kirigin, Chaparro & Abdala

in Huamaní-Valderrama, Quiroz, Gutiérrez, Aguilar-Kirigin, ... et Abdala, 2020.

amphibian-reptile-conservation.org

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Abstract

The desert of southern Peru and northern Chile is an area with a high degree of endemism in squamate reptiles. In this work, an endemic new species is described in the genus Liolaemus with a restricted geographical distribution on the western slopes of the La Caldera batholith in the Department of Arequipa, southern Peru, that inhabits the Desert province of southern Peru, between 1,800 and 2,756 m asl. The new species is characterized by a unique combination of morphological and molecular characters that distinguish it from all other Liolaemus species, and it is included in the L. reichei clade within the L. montanus group. Evidence presented shows that the category of threat corresponds to Endangered under the IUCN Red List criteria.

Keywords. Arequipa, coastal desert, Endangered, La Caldera batholith, Liolaemusinsolitus, lizard, Reptilia

Fig. 3. Adult male of the holotype, Liolaemus anqapuka sp. nov. (MUSA 5573; SVL = 73.5 mm, Tail = 63.9 mm), from the Department of Arequipa, 2,460 m asl.

Photos by C.S. Abdala.

Fig. 4. Male specimens of the Liolaemus anqapuka sp. nov.

Photos by A. Quiroz (A–D) and C.S. Abdala (E).

Fig. 5. Female specimens of the Liolaemus anqapuka sp. nov.

Photos by A. Quiroz.

Liolaemus anqapuka Huamaní-Valderrama, Quiroz, Gutiérrez, Aguilar-Kirigin, Chaparro, Abdala sp. nov.

1885 Ctenoblepharis adspersus—Boulenger, Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition 2: 136–137.

1978b “Ctenoblepharus sp.” Péfaur et al. Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Études Andines VII (1–2): 129–139.

1982 Liolaemus insolitus Cei and Péfaur, In Actas 8vo Congreso Latinoamericano de Zoología. Pp. 573–686.

1995 Ctenoblepharys adspersa—Etheridge, American Museum Novitates 3142: 1–34.

2004 Phrynosaura [sp.] Nuñez, Noticiario Mensual Museo de Historia Natural 353: 28–34.

2010 Liolaemus cf. insolitus, Gutierrez and Quiroz, Herpetofauna del Sur del Perú, Available: / herpetofaunadelsurdelperu.blogspot.com [Accessed: 13 June 2020].

2011 Liolaemus species 2, Langstroth, Zootaxa 2809: 32.

2020 Liolaemus aff. insolitus7, Abdala et al., Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 189: 1–29.

Diagnosis. We assign Liolaemus anqapuka sp. nov. to the L. montanus group because it presents a blade-like process on the tibia, associated with the hypertrophy of the tibial muscle tibialis anterior (Abdala et al. 2020; Etheridge 1995) and its placement in the morphological and molecular phylogenies (Fig. 11). Within the L. montanus group, Liolaemus anqapuka sp. nov. differs from L. andinus, L. annectens, L. aymararum, L. cazianiae, L. chlorostictus, L. dorbignyi, L. fabiani, L, forsteri, L. foxi, L. gracielae, L. huayra, L. inti, L. jamesi, L. melanogaster, L. multicolor, L. nigriceps, L. orientalis, L. pachecoi, L. pantherinus, L. patriciaiturrae, L. pleopholis, L. polystictus, L. puritamensis, L. qalaywa, L. robustus, L. scrocchii, L. signifer, L. vallecurensis, L. victormoralesii, L. vulcanus, and L. williamsi, for being species of larger size (SVL greater than 75 mm) unlike L. anqapuka sp. nov., which has a maximum SVL of 73.5 mm. Liolaemus anqapuka sp. nov., has between 58 and 72 (mean = 64.8) scales around the body, which differentiates it from species of the group with more than 80 scales, such as L. cazianiae, L. duellmani, L. eleodori, L. erguetae, L. forsteri, L. gracielae, L. molinai, L. multicolor, L. nigriceps, L. patriciaiturrae, L. pleopholis, L. poecilochromus, L. porosus, L. pulcherrimus, L. robertoi, L. rosenmanni, L. ruibali, and L. vallecurensis; and also from species with less than 55 scales, like L. aymararum, L. jamesi, L. pachecoi, and L. thomasi. Liolaemus anqapuka sp. nov. have 60–72 dorsal scales (mean = 65.5), and differs from L. andinus, L. cazianiae, L. eleodori, L. erguetae, L. forsteri, L. foxi, L. gracielae, L. halonastes, L. molinai, L. multicolor, L. nigriceps, L. patriciaiturrae, L. pleophlolis, L. poecilochromus, L. porosus, L. pulcherrimus, L. robertoi, L. rosenmanni, L. ruibali, L. schmidti, and L. vallecurensis, which have between 75–102 dorsal scales. The number of ventral scales between 73–87 (mean = 81.3) differentiates it from species with more than 90 ventral scales, such as L. andinus, L. cazianiae, L. erguetae, L. eleodori, L. foxi, L. gracielae, L. halonastes, L. hajeki, L. molinai, L. nigriceps, L. patriciaiturrae, L. pleopholis, L. poecilochromus, L. porosus, L. robertoi, L. rosenmanni, and L. vallecurensis. Liolaemus anqapuka sp. nov. has juxtaposed or subimbricate dorsal scales, without keel or mucron, this differentiates it from species with conspicuous keel and mucron, as L. aymararum, L. etheridgei, L. famatinae, L. fttkaui, L. griseus, L. huacahuasicus, L. montanus, L. orko, L. ortizi, L. polystictus, L. pulcherrimus, L. qalaywa, L. signifer, L. tajzara, L. thomasi, L. victormoralesii, and L. williamsi. Females of L. anqapuka sp. nov. present 1–4 (mean = 2.6) precloacal pores, this character differentiates it from species like L. andinus, L. balagueri, L. fttkaui, L. multicolor, L. ortizi, L. polystictus, L. puritamensis, L. robertoi, L. robustus, L. rosenmanni, L. ruibali, L. thomasi, and L. vallecurensis, because they do not present precloacal pores in females.

Etymology. The specifc name refers to the coloration patterns of males. The word “anqapuka” is an original word in the Quechua language (spoken currently in the Peruvian Andes), corresponding to a complex word between “anqa” assigned to the blue color, and “puka” which means orange or red color.

Distribution and natural history. Liolaemusanqapuka sp nov. is restricted to the western slopes of the La Caldera batholith, Arequipa, Peru, between 1,800 and 2,756 m asl, which includes the upper altitude limit of the La Joya desert (Fig. 6). The distribution is within the Desert biogeographic province (sensu Morrone 2014). Liolaemus anqapuka sp. nov. inhabits arid environments, characteristic of the desert of southern Peru, with sandy-stony substrates and little slope, seasonal herbaceous vegetation, and columnar and prostrate cacti. This species also inhabits sectors without vegetation (Fig. 7). It takes refuge mainly under stones, and in burrows that surround the roots of small bushes, prostrate cacti, and in cavities underground or in hardened sand.

Ling Huamaní-Valderrama, Aarón J. Quiroz, Roberto C. Gutiérrez, Álvaro Aguilar-Kirigin, Wilson Huanca-Mamani, Pablo Valladares-Faúndez, José Cerdeña, Juan C. Chaparro, Roy Santa Cruz and Cristian S. Abdala. 2020. Some Color in the Desert: Description of A New Species of Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from southern Peru, and Its Conservation Status. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. 14(3) [Taxonomy Section]: 1–30 (e250).

amphibian-reptile-conservation.org/pdfs/Volume/Vol_14_no_3/ARC_14_3_[Taxonomy_Section]_1-30_e250.pdf

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Vectaerovenator inopinatus

Barker, Naish, Clarkin, Farrell, Hullmann, Lockyer, Schneider, Ward & Gostling, 2020

DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1338

Abstract

A series of axial elements from the Aptian Ferruginous Sands Formation of the Lower Greensand Group, discovered on the foreshore near Knock Cliff on the Isle of Wight, UK are (bar some isolated teeth and fragmentary postcranial material from the Cenomanian Cambridge Greensand) the youngest non‐avian theropod remains reported from the British Mesozoic. These specimens have the potential to shed light on a poorly known section of the European dinosaur record. Consistency in size, appearance and adhering matrix indicates that the vertebrae belong to the same individual. This was a mid‐sized tetanuran, the presence of several diagnostic characters indicating that it should be recognized as a new taxon, herein named Vectaerovenator inopinatus. The cervical and dorsal vertebrae are camerate and highly pneumatic. Tetanuran features include opisthocoelous cervicals and pneumatic foramina located within fossae; however, assigning this specimen to a specific clade is problematic. Within Tetanurae, Vectaerovenator possesses axial structures and homoplastic features seen in megalosauroids, carcharodontosaurians and certain coelurosaurs. Not only is Vectaerovenator one of the UK's youngest non‐bird dinosaurs, and one of few valid British Greensand taxa, it is also the first diagnosable theropod taxon to be named from Aptian deposits of Europe.

Keywords: Aptian, Cretaceous, pneumaticity, theropod, vertebra

Figure 1: Locality map of the new theropod taxon and stratigraphy of the Ferruginous Sands formation at Knock Cliff, Isle of Wight (UK). A, map of the Isle of Wight (inset) and photograph of Knock Cliff at Shanklin (credit: Trudie Wilson), where the specimens were collected. B, stratigraphy of Knock Cliff, focusing on the Ferruginous Sands Formation; black triangle indicates Horse Ledge; white triangle indicates the location of the ‘pebble bed’. Based on Ruffell et al. (2002), Young et al. (2014) and Gale (2019). Scale bar represents 10 km.

Figure 2: Silhouette of Vectaerovenator inopinatus showing the approximate position of the vertebral elements (see description for further discussion). Elements not to scale.

Systematic palaeontology

DINOSAURIA Owen, 1842

THEROPODA Marsh, 1881

TETANURAE Gauthier, 1986

INCERTAE SEDIS

Genus VECTAEROVENATOR nov.

Derivation of name: Vectis (Latin): referring to the discovery of this new taxon on the Isle of Wight; aero (Greek): ‘air’, referring to its high degree of skeletal pneumaticity; ‐venator (Latin): meaning hunter. We imagine the name to be pronounced ‘vect‐air‐oh‐ven‐ah‐tor’.

Vectaerovenator inopinatus sp. nov.

Derivation of name: inopinatus (Latin): ‘unexpected’, referring to its surprise discovery in the notably dinosaur‐poor Lower Greensand strata of the Isle of Wight. The name thus translates as ‘unexpected Isle of Wight air‐filled hunter’.

Holotype: IWCMS 2020.407, 2019.84, 2020.400.

Diagnosis: Tetanuran theropod diagnosed by: conspicuous lateral furrow between the lateral margin of the postzygapophysis and prezygoepipophyseal lamina in cervical vertebrae; convex spinoprezygapophyseal laminae in anterior cervical vertebra; curved lamina bisecting the postzygocentrodiapophyseal fossa; external extension of the air sac ventral to the parapophysis of anterior dorsal vertebra; complex partitioning of the anteriormost dorsal pneumatic foramen into several internal pneumatic features; anterior articular facet of anterior dorsal vertebrae wider than centrum such that vertebra is T‐shaped in dorsal or ventral view; shallow fossae lateral to the base of the postzygapophyses in mid caudal vertebrae.

Type locality and horizon: Knock Cliff, Isle of White, UK. Upper Aptian, Lower Greensand, Ferruginous Sands Formation, Member XIII, Parahoplites nutfieldensis Zone (possibly Tropaeum subarcticum subzone; Fig. 1A).

Chris T. Barker, Darren Naish, Claire E. Clarkin, Paul Farrell, Gabriel Hullmann, James Lockyer, Philipp Schneider, Robin K. C. Ward and Neil J. Gostling. 2020. A highly Pneumatic middle Cretaceous Theropod from the British Lower Greensand. Papers in Palaeontology. DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1338

Impatiens periyarensis B. Mani, Sinj. Thomas & Britto

in Mani, Thomas & Britto, 2020.

taiwania.ntu.edu.tw

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Abstract

A new Impatiens species, Impatiens periyarensis is described from the Western Ghats, India. It is found on the open dripping rocks in semi-evergreen forests in Idukki. Additionally, an enigmatic taxon I. aliciae, from Valara, Idukki, is rediscovered after its type collections in 1933 by Barnes. A detailed description, illustration, phenology, and notes on both the species are provided.

Keyword: Balsams, Impatiens josephia, Kerala, Travancore

Impatiens periyarensis.
A. Habit; B. Extrafloral nectaries; C. Flowers; D. Lateral sepals; E. Dorsal petal; F. Lateral united petal; G. Lower sepal with spur; H. Stamen; I. Fruit; J. Seeds.

Impatiens periyarensis B. Mani, Sinj. Thomas & Britto, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Impatiens periyarensis is similar to I. josephia Sinj. Thomas, B. Mani & Britto but differs by its spatulate and toothed extrafloral nectaries (vs. nonspatulate and non-toothed), lanceolate leaves (vs. linear), glabrous lateral sepals (vs. pubescent), funnel-shaped lower sepal (vs. boat-shaped), 1–2 mm long stout spur (vs. ca. 3 mm long tubular spur), ovate dorsal petal (vs. orbicular), ca. 1 mm long dorsal auricle (vs. ca. 2.5 mm long dorsal auricle), and ellipsoid seeds (vs. reniformdiscoid seeds).

Etymology: The new species is named after the Periyar River, which is the longest river in Kerala, running through the type locality.

Habitat and distribution: Grows on wet and dripping open rocky slopes in the semi-evergreen forests at elevations of 800–900 m. Presently, it is known only from the hill ranges of Idukki district in Kerala.

Notes: Impatiens periyarensis is similar to I. josephia in its habit, nature of inflorescences, shape of the lateral sepals, shape of the basal lobe of the wing petals and organisation of the staminal column. However, it differs from I. josephia by various vegetative and floral characters which are depicted in Table 1.

Impatiens aliciae.
A. Flowering branch; B. A pair of flowers; C. Flower front view; D. Lateral sepals; E. Dorsal petal; F. Lateral united petal; G. Lower sepal with spur; H. Stamen; I. Fruit.

Impatiens aliciae C.E.C. Fisch.,

Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1934(9): 389 (1934)

Type: INDIA. Kerala, Travancore Hills, near Munnar, down the Ghat, 5000 ft., September 1933, Barnes 617 (holotype K!, K000381735 image!)

Habitat and distribution: Grows on wet and dripping open rocky slopes and also in marshy places in the evergreen forests at an elevation of 350–600 m in Idukki, Kerala.

Bince Mani, Sinjumol Thomas and Susai John Britto. 2020. A New Species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) and Rediscovery of Impatiens aliciae from the Western Ghats of India. Taiwania. 65(4); 451-455. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2020.65.451

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Changmiania liaoningensis

Yang, Wu, Dieudonné & Godefroit,. 2020

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9832

naturalsciences.be

A new basal ornithopod dinosaur, based on two nearly complete articulated skeletons, is reported from the Lujiatun Beds (Yixian Fm, Lower Cretaceous) of western Liaoning Province (China). Some of the diagnostic features of Changmiania liaoningensis nov. gen., nov. sp. are tentatively interpreted as adaptations to a fossorial behavior, including: fused premaxillae; nasal laterally expanded, overhanging the maxilla; shortened neck formed by only six cervical vertebrae; neural spines of the sacral vertebrae completely fused together, forming a craniocaudally-elongated continuous bar; fused scapulocoracoid with prominent scapular spine; and paired ilia symmetrically inclined dorsomedially, partially covering the sacrum in dorsal view. A phylogenetic analysis places Changmiania liaoningensis as the most basal ornithopod dinosaur described so far. It is tentatively hypothesized that both Changmiania liaoningensis specimens were suddenly entrapped in a collapsed underground burrow while they were resting, which would explain their perfect lifelike postures and the complete absence of weathering and scavenging traces. However, further behavioural inference remains problematic, because those specimens lack extensive sedimentological and taphonomic data, as it is also the case for most specimens collected in the Lujiatun Beds so far.

Figure 1: Changmiania liaoningensis, an ornithopod dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Lujiatun (Liaoning Province, China).

(A) Holotype PMOL AD00114 in dorsal view; (B) anterior part of the holotype PMOL AD00114 in caudolateral view; (C) referred specimen PMOL LFV022 in dorsal view. Red arrows indicate the emplacement of the gastrolith clusters.

Figure 2: Changmiania liaoningensis.
Skull of PMOL AD00114 in right lateral view. (A) Photograph; (B) line drawing.

Systematic Paleontology

Dinosauria Owen (1842)

Ornithischia Seeley (1887)

Neornithischia Cooper (1985)

Ornithopoda Marsh (1881)

Changmiania liaoningensis nov. gen., nov. sp.

Etymology —Changmian: eternal sleep, in Chinese Pinyin; liaoningensis: from Liaoning.

Holotype — PMOL AD00114, a nearly complete articulated skeleton (Figs. 1A and 1B)

Referred specimen — PMOL LFV022, another nearly complete skeleton, in dorsal view (Fig. 1C).

Locality and Horizon — Lujiatun, Shangyuan, Beipiao City, western Liaoning, China; Lujiatun Beds, lowest beds of Yixian Formation, Barremian, Lower Cretaceous.

Diagnosis (autapomorphies preceded by an asterisk): Fused premaxillae; nasal laterally expanded, overhanging the maxilla; long and straight posterior process of supraorbital, nearly contacting the postorbital; *rostrocaudally elongated frontals: maximum length to width ratio >4; *no sagittal crest on parietal; infratemporal fenestra triangular in lateral view, wider dorsally than ventrally; jugal process of postorbital rostrocaudally narrow along its whole height; *rostral process of squamosal straight and rostrocaudally elongated; *prominent caudal boss at the dorsolateral corner of the squamosal; *ventral border of dentary convex and ventral border of angular deeply concave, so that the lower jaw looks sigmoidal in lateral view; six cervical vertebrae; *neural spines of the sacral vertebrae completely fused together, forming a craniocaudally-elongated continuous bar; fused scapulocoracoid; *scapular blade asymmetrically expanded both ventrally and dorsally; *paired ilia symmetrically inclined dorsomedially, partially covering the sacrum in dorsal view; dorsal margin of ilium regularly convex along the whole length of the bone; *proximal half of fibula as robust as the corresponding portion of the tibia.

....

Conclusions:

Changmiania liaoningensis nov. gen., nov. sp., from the Lower Cretaceous Lujiatun Beds of western Liaoning Province (China), is placed at the base of the clade Ornithopoda. The perfect preservation of the skeleton of both its holotype and referred specimen in a lifelike posture implies that the animals were rapidly entombed while they were still alive. Although its hindlimb proportions indicate that Changmiania was an efficient cursorial dinosaur, some of is diagnostic features are tentatively interpreted as adaptations to a fossorial behavior. It is therefore tentatively hypothesized that both Changmiania specimens were suddenly entrapped in a collapsed underground burrow while they were resting.

Yuqing Yang, Wenhao Wu, Paul-Emile Dieudonné and Pascal Godefroit. 2020. A New Basal Ornithopod Dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of China. PeerJ. 8:e9832 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9832

Eternal Sleep: Dinosaurs Died Underground, Fossils Perfectly Preserved

naturalsciences.be/en/news/item/19274

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Kebodesmus zonarius

Mesibov & Rodriguez, 2020

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.966.56308

twitter.com/Juanita_Rodr

Abstract

Kebodesmus zonarius gen. nov. et sp. nov. is only known from a small area on the Great Western Tiers in northern Tasmania, Australia, and like species of Paredrodesmus Mesibov, 2003 has no detectable paranota on the diplosegments. The gonopod telopodite of the new species is divided into a large, lateral, cowl-like structure, a solenomere and a medial branch with three processes.

Keywords: Australia, Dalodesmidae, Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Tasmania

Figure 1.
A Kebodesmus zonarius gen. nov., sp. nov. female (top) and male (bottom) paratypes ex QVMAG QVM:2020:23:0003 after two days in 80% ethanol
B mercator projection of Tasmania with K. zonarius gen. nov., sp. nov. localities (red circle marked with arrow) and Paredrodesmus localities with spatial uncertainty ±1 km or less (black squares). Localities for named Paredrodesmus species are from the Atlas of Living Australia (https://www.ala.org.au/) and for undetermined Paredrodesmus (females and juveniles) from the QVMAG collection database.

Order Polydesmida Pocock, 1887

Suborder Dalodesmidea Hoffman, 1980

Family Dalodesmidae Cook, 1896

Kebodesmus Mesibov & Rodriguez, gen. nov.

Type species: Kebodesmus zonarius sp. nov., by present designation.

Diagnosis: Closely similar in general appearance to species of Paredrodesmus Mesibov, 2003, but distinguished from Paredrodesmus species in having H+20 body plan rather than H+19; normal pore formula rather than 5, 7–18; sphaerotrichomes on legs rather than no sphaerotrichomes; dorsal spinnerets within depression below epiproct tip rather than on epiproct rim; and a phenolic defensive secretion rather than no odour detectable from living specimens. Distinguished from all other Tasmanian Dalodesmidea (apart from Paredrodesmus) by the complete absence of paranota or traces of paranota on the diplosegments, and by the deep division of the gonopod telopodite.

Name: In honour of Kevin Bonham (Ke – bo), Tasmanian naturalist, collector and identifier, who emailed the senior author in May 2020 to say he had collected a millipede “whose gonopods I couldn’t even remotely match to anything”.

Remarks: In gonopod structure Kebodesmus gen. nov. is unlike any of the undescribed Dalodesmidae so far examined in mainland Australian collections, and unlike any of the New Zealand Dalodesmidae described by Johns (1964, 1970). The gonopod in the new species is similar to that of Abatodesmus velosoi Demange & Silva, 1971, a H+20 dalodesmid from the Cordillera de Nahuelbuta in southern Chile, but differs in having the solenomere base clearly separated from the other telopodite processes.

Figure 2. Kebodesmus zonarius gen. nov., sp. nov.
A right posterolateral view of gonopods in situ; ANIC 64:000360
B medial view of left gonopod telopodite; paratype ex QVMAG QVM:2020:23:0003.

lb = lateral branch, mba = process “a” of medial branch, mbb = process “b” of medial branch, mbc = process “c” of medial branch, pg = prostatic groove, s = solenomere. Scale bars: 0.25 mm (A, B).

Kebodesmus zonarius Mesibov & Rodriguez, sp. nov.

Name: Latin zonarius, zonal, adjective. This species appears to be restricted to a narrow altitudinal zone on Tasmania’s Great Western Tiers.

Distribution and ecology: So far known from four sites in wet eucalypt forest at ca 800 m a.s.l. on the Great Western Tiers in northern Tasmania, south of the town of Deloraine, with a linear range extent of less than 1 km (Fig. 1B). Adults and juveniles are found in patches of richly organic soil and humus in the forest, which is dominated by Eucalyptus delegatensis subsp. tasmaniensis Boland. The new species co-occurs in humus with the native dalodesmids Lissodesmus alisonae Jeekel, 1984 and L. perporosus Jeekel, 1984, but was found in greater numbers than the other two species during searches in 2020.

Robert Mesibov and Juanita Rodriguez. 2020. A New Genus and Species of Narrow-range Millipede (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Dalodesmidae) from Tasmania, Australia. ZooKeys. 966: 1-8. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.966.56308

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Lusitanipus xanin Gilgado

in Gilgado, Martínez-Pillado & Prieto, 2020.

DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.714

facebook.com/TxominGHormaechea

Abstract

Recent samplings in cavities of the Iberian Peninsula led to the discovery of a new millipede species of the order Callipodida in one cave in the region of El Bierzo (León, Spain): Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. In additional samplings (near that cave), more specimens of this new species were discovered in surface habitats. The species has various distinctive characteristics, such as its green colour, but the morphology of the gonopod has several similarities with that of Lusitanipus alternans (Verhoeff, 1893), indicating a close relationship between them. The diagnosis of the genus Lusitanipus Mauriès, 1978 has to be changed to accommodate the new species. The presence of crests in two different sizes is no longer a diagnostic character of the genus Lusitanipus, but of the species L. alternans. Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. is the fourth species of the order Callipodida for the Iberian Peninsula, and the second species for the genus. Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. seems to be an epigean but troglophile species.

Keywords: El Bierzo; Myriapoda; new species; troglophile; Xanín

Fig. 2. External morphology of Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. in lateral view.
A. ♂ holotype (MNCN 20.07/2069). B. ♀ paratype (MNCN 20.07/2070). Scale bar = 5 mm.

Living specimen of Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. in a defensive position over a clay layer below the limestone pebbles where it was found.

Fig. 1. Location and characteristics of the sampling points and a living specimen of Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov.
A. Aerial view of the area at the Peñarrubia reservoir and its location in the Iberian Peninsula, with sampling point marked with a red star. B. Geological map of the area (modified from Abril Hurtado et al. 1982), with sampling point marked by a red star.
C. Aspect of the landscape where Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. was collected. D. Living specimen of Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. in a defensive position over a clay layer below the limestone pebbles where it was found.

Order Callipodida Pocock, 1894

Family Dorypetalidae Verhoeff, 1900

Genus Lusitanipus Mauriès, 1978

Diagnosis as given in Reboleira & Enghoff (2015), but a change needs to be made to accommodate the new species. The presence of setiferous metazonital crests of two sizes (primary crests and secondary crests) is no longer a diagnostic character of the genus Lusitanipus but only of the species Lusitanipus alternans. Therefore, Lusitanipus differs from Cyphocallipus Verhoeff, 1909 by the simple gonocoxite and straight rodlike gonopodal pseudoflagellum, and from Dorycallipus Verhoeff, 1909 by males not having the forehead flattened.

Lusitanipus xanin Gilgado sp. nov.

Diagnosis Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. differs from the other Iberian callipodidan species in the same characters as Lusitanipus alternans (see Reboleira & Enghoff 2015), except that Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov., has metazonital crests of similar size, whereas Lusitanipus alternans has crests of different sizes (Verhoeff 1893; Spelda 2015; Reboleira & Enghoff 2015). Furthermore, Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. differs from L. alternans in its green colour, the higher number of body rings, the shape of the gonocoxite, and the curvature and shape of the processes of the tip of telopodites of gonopods.

Etymology The specific epithet xanin (noun in apposition) is the name of a goblin-like mythological creature, the “Xanín”. This being supposedly inhabits the forests of the region were this species was found (El Bierzo). As the “Xanín”, this species is a small creature dwelling on the ground under the shade of the foliage that is seldomly seen and tries to hide when discovered.

José Domingo Gilgado, Virginia Martínez-Pillado and Carlos E. Prieto. 2020. A New Green-coloured Lusitanipus Mauriès, 1978 from the Iberian Peninsula (Diplopoda: Callipodida: Dorypetalidae). European Journal of Taxonomy. 714: 1–14. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.714

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Kapi ramnagarensis

Gilbert, Ortiz, Pugh, Campisano, et al., 2020.

DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1655

twitter.com/CCGilbs

Abstract

The fossil record of ‘lesser apes’ (i.e. hylobatids = gibbons and siamangs) is virtually non-existent before the latest Miocene of East Asia. However, molecular data strongly and consistently suggest that hylobatids should be present by approximately 20 Ma; thus, there are large temporal, geographical, and morphological gaps between early fossil apes in Africa and the earliest fossil hylobatids in China. Here, we describe a new approximately 12.5–13.8 Ma fossil ape from the Lower Siwaliks of Ramnagar, India, that fills in these long-standing gaps with implications for hylobatid origins. This ape represents the first new hominoid species discovered at Ramnagar in nearly a century, the first new Siwalik ape taxon in more than 30 years, and likely extends the hylobatid fossil record by approximately 5 Myr, providing a minimum age for hylobatid dispersal coeval to that of great apes. The presence of crown hylobatid molar features in the new species indicates an adaptive shift to a more frugivorous diet during the Middle Miocene, consistent with other proposed adaptations to frugivory (e.g. uricase gene silencing) during this time period as well.

Keywords: Asia, fossil, lower Siwaliks, gibbon, biogeography, hylobatid

Map illustrating the location of Kapi ramnagarensis (black star) relative to modern (dark green) and historical (light green) populations of hylobatids and the approximate distribution of stem hominoid sites in East Africa (blue triangles). Green triangles mark the location of the hylobatid fossil taxa Bunopithecus and Yuanmoupithecus; yellow rectangles mark the location of the fossil catarrhine taxon Dionysopithecus sp. from Middle Miocene sites in Pakistan.

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Systematic palaeontology

Order Primates Linnaeus, 1758

Suborder Anthropoidea Mivart, 1864

Infraorder Catarrhini Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1812

Superfamily Hominoidea Gray, 1825

Family Hylobatidae Gray, 1870

Kapi ramnagarensis gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology: Genus name from the Hindi word for a common anthropoid ape or monkey (kapi). Species name in reference to Ramnagar (Jammu and Kashmir), India, where the type specimen was found.

Horizon: Lower Siwalik deposits; approximately 12.5–13.8 Ma

Christopher C. Gilbert, Alejandra Ortiz, Kelsey D. Pugh, Christopher J. Campisano, Biren A. Patel, Ningthoujam Premjit Singh, John G. Fleagle and Rajeev Patnaik. 2020. New Middle Miocene Ape (Primates: Hylobatidae) from Ramnagar, India fills Major Gaps in the Hominoid Fossil Record. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 287(1934), 20201655. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1655

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