Saturday, November 30, 2019

[Botany • 2019] Acranthera collina (Rubiaceae) • A Splendid New Species from the Serikin Area, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia


 Acranthera collina C. W. Lin & C. H. Lee

in Lin & Lee, 2019

 Acranthera collina (Rubiaceae), a new species from Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, is described and illustrated. Acranthera collina resembles A. bullata Merr. but is easily distinguished by its ca. 10 pairs of lateral veins (vs. 13–15 pairs), 6-merous flowers (vs. 5-merous), golden yellow corolla (vs. red) and anthers ca. 5 mm long (vs. 10 mm long).

Key words: Acranthera, Borneo, new species, Rubiaceae, Sarawak

Fig. 2.  Acranthera collina C. W. Lin & C. H. Lee.
 A. Habit; B. Stipule; C. Bract; D. Corolla, face view; E. Calyx and ovary; F. Vertical section of ovary; G. Vertical section of corolla; H. Stamens; I. Stamens and style; J & J'. Stamens, ventral and side views; K. Style; L. Fruit.

Fig. 3.  Acranthera collina C. W. Lin & C. H. Lee.
 A & B. Habit and habitat; C. Stem, showing stipules; D. Inflorescence; E. Portion of adaxial leaf surface; F. Portion of abaxial leaf surface; G. Basal part of corolla; H. Vertical section of corolla; I. Stamens and style (left), side (center) and ventral (right) views of stamen; J. Ovary and calyx, also showing vertical section of ovary; K. Fruits; L. Vertical section of an immature fruit.

Acranthera collina C. W. Lin & C. H. Lee, sp. nov.

Acranthera collina resembles A. bullata Merr. (1937: 284) in having bullate obovate leaves, a short stature and an erect habit, but differs in having fewer lateral veins (10 or 11 pairs in A. collina vs. 13–15 pairs in A. bullata), 6-merous flowers (vs. 5-merous), golden yellow corolla (vs. red), and smaller anthers (ca. 5 mm long in A. collina vs. 10 mm long).



Distribution and habitat. Endemic to Sarawak. Currently known only from the Serikin area (Fig. 1); lowlands in mixed dipterocarp forest on riverbank and at base of limestone hills in semi-shaded and consistently humid areas, ca. 100 m elevation. 

Etymology. the epithet collina refers to the lowland mountains where Acranthera collina was collected.


Che-Wei Lin and Chi-Hung Lee. 2019. Acranthera collina (Rubiaceae), A Splendid New Species from the Serikin Area, Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 70(3); 189–194. DOI: 10.18942/apg.201904  

 

[Botany • 2019] Camellia debaoensis (Theaceae) • A New Species of Yellow Camellia from Limestone Karsts in southwestern China


Camellia debaoensis R.C.Hu & Y.Q.Liufu

in Hu, Wei, Liufu, et al., 2019. 

Abstract
Camellia debaoensis R.C.Hu & Y.Q.Liufu, sp. nov. is described and illustrated as a new species from southwestern Guangxi, China. It is morphologically similar to Camellia pubipetala Y. Wan & S. Z. Huang, C. mingii S.X. Yang and C. tuyenquangensis D.V. Luong, N.N.H. Le & N. Tran, but it differs from these species in having glabrous young branches, glabrous petiole, glabrous sepals, glabrous petals, glabrous stamens and glabrous ovary, 10 petals, cylindrical ovary and style 3-lobed to 1/6 style length.

Keywords: Camellia, China, limestone flora, taxonomy, Theaceae

Figure 1. Camellia debaoensis R.C.Hu & Y.Q.Liufu, sp. nov. A flowering branch B lateral view of flower C fruit and style D fruit, sepals and bracteoles E stamen F pistil. Drawn by Xincheng Qu. 

Figure 2. Camellia debaoensis R.C.Hu & Y.Q.Liufu, sp. nov. A habit B flowering branch C face view of flower D fruit, sepals and bracteoles E fruiting branch F pistil. Photographed by Renchuan Hu.

Camellia debaoensis R.C.Hu & Y.Q.Liufu, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Morphologically, the new species is similar to Camellia pubipetala Y. Wan & S.Z. Huang, C. mingii S.X. Yang and C. tuyenquangensis D.V. Luong, N.N.H. Le & N. Tran, but it differs from these species in having glabrous young branches, glabrous petiole, glabrous sepals, glabrous petals, glabrous stamens and glabrous ovary, 10 petals, cylindrical ovary and 3-lobed to 1/6 style length.

Type: China. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Debao County, Jingde Town, Tuoliang village, at the entrance of one of karst caves, rare, ..., 760 m a.s.l., 13 January 2017 (fl.), R.C. Hu HRC170113002 (holotype: GXMI!, isotypes: GXMI!, KUN!, NHMG! and IBK!).

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Debao County, Guangxi.


Renchuan Hu, Sujuan Wei, Yongqing Liufu, Yunkai Nong, Wei Fang. 2019. Camellia debaoensis (Theaceae), A New Species of Yellow Camellia from Limestone Karsts in southwestern China. PhytoKeys. 135: 49-58.  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.135.38756

[Invertebrate • 2019] New Species of Lissodendoryx Topsent, 1892 (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida, Coelosphaeridae) and Myxilla Schmidt, 1862 (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida, Myxillidae) from the Northeast Pacific


Myxilla (Myxilla) austini 

Ott, Reiswig, et al., 2019. 

Abstract
Collections of sponges by the late Dr. William C. Austin and the authors (N. McDaniel, R. Harbo and B. Ott) provided material for descriptions of new species from two genera of Poecilosclerida for shallow waters of Southern British Columbia, Canada and Northern Washington, USA: Lissodendoryx and Myxilla. There have been no new species of these two genera described for the Northeast Pacific since Laubenfels’ work in central California (Laubenfels 1930, 1932) and Lambe’s reports in 1893 to 1895 for Geological Survey of Canada sponge collections from British Columbia, Canada to the Bering Sea. We describe three new species of Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida, Coelosphaeridae) and one new species of Myxilla (Myxilla) (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida, Myxillidae): L. (L.) barkleyensis n. sp., L. (L.) littoralis n. sp., L. (L.) toxaraphida n. sp. and M. (M.) austini n. sp. Lissodendoryx (L.) barkleyensis n. sp. is cave-dwelling, has acanthostyles 112–260 µm, tornotes 107–177 µm, arcuate isochelas 8–28 µm and two sizes of sigmas 18–29, 26–55 µm. Lissodendoryx (L.) littoralis n. sp. fistulate habitus is adapted to muddy substrates similar to some Polymastia species also found commonly in the Northeast Pacific. It has subtylostyles 185–336 µm, tylotes 112–229 µm, arcuate isochelas 11–23 µm, and sigmas 30–75 µm. Lissodendoryx (L.) toxaraphida n. sp. is the only described Lissodendoryx species with raphides shaped like toxas. It has acanthostyles 140–286 µm, tornotes 143–195µm, arcuate isochelas 18–34 µm and toxiform raphides 65–156 µm. Myxilla (M.) austini n. sp. has a fistulate habitus and both tornote and tylote megascleres. It appears to be tolerant of low oxygen environments. Myxilla (M.) austini n. sp. has smooth to sparsely spined styles 193–353 µm, tylotes 153–221 µm, tornotes 174–260 µm, two sizes of anchorate isochelas 13–27, 42–81 µm, and two sizes of sigmas 13–47, 33–78 µm. All specimens were collected from shallow water (intertidal to 25 m).

Keywords: Porifera, biodiversity, morphology, Northern Washington, Porifera, shallow water, Southern British Columbia, taxonomy


Class Demospongiae Sollas, 1885
Order Poecilosclerida Topsent, 1928
Family Coelosphaeridae Dendy, 1922

Genus Lissodendoryx Topsent, 1892
Subgenus Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) Topsent, 1892

Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) barkleyensis n. sp.

Etymology. The sponge is named after the location, Barkley Sound, BC.

Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) littoralis n. sp. 

Etymology. The species name derives from the intertidal habitat of the sponge.

Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) toxaraphida n. sp. 

Etymology. The species name refers to the presence of toxa-shaped raphides.


Myxilla (Myxilla) austini n. sp. The holotype in situ.

Family Myxillidae Dendy, 1922

Genus Myxilla Schmidt, 1862
Subgenus Myxilla Schmidt, 1862,
sensu Desqueyroux-Faúndez & Van Soest, 1996

Myxilla (Myxilla) austini n. sp. 
Etymology. The sponge is named in honour of the late Dr. William C. Austin. Bill was a highly regarded marine biologist, environmentalist and educator who studied and documented marine life of the Pacific Coast of North America for close to 60 years.


B. Ott, H. M. Reiswig, N. McDaniel and R. Harbo. 2019. New Species of Lissodendoryx Topsent, 1892 (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida, Coelosphaeridae) and Myxilla Schmidt, 1862 (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida, Myxillidae) from the Northeast Pacific. Zootaxa. 4700(1); 1–29. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4700.1.1

[Entomology • 2019] Genus Cheilonycha Lacordaire, 1842 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) [Taxonomic and Nomenclatorial Revision within the Neotropical Genera of the Subtribe Odontocheilina W. Horn in A New Sense—22]


Cheilonycha auripennis auripennis (Lucas, 1857)

in Moravec, 2019. 

Abstract
Taxonomic and nomenclatorial revision of the genus Cheilonycha Lacordaire, 1842 with type species Cheilonycha chalybea (by original monotypy), based on Cicindela chalybea Dejean, 1825, is presented. It is concluded here that a subsequent type designation by Horn (1910), who without any explanation mentioned Ch. auripennis (Lucas, 1857) as the type species of the genus, was unjustified and must be considered invalid according to ICZN (1999). Examinations of type specimens have revealed that Cheilonycha auripennis sensu auctorum (sensu Horn 1922 and subsequent authors) is a complex of taxa. As a result, one new subspecies of Ch. auripennis (Lucas, 1857) and one new species of the genus are described and the following taxa of Cheilonycha are recognized and presented here: Ch. chalybea (Dejean, 1825), Ch. a. auripennis (Lucas, 1857), Ch. a. chiquitosiana ssp. nov. and Ch. bucephalauripennis sp. nov. Type specimens of Ch. a. angustedilatata (W. Horn, 1922) based on Odontochila (Chilonycha) auripennis angustedilatata W. Horn, 1922, proved to be fully conspecific with the type specimens of Ch. auripennis based on Cicindela auripennis Lucas, 1857. Consequently, Ch. a. angustedilatata syn. nov. is treated here as a junior synonym of Ch. a. auripennis. The history of the taxonomy of these taxa, their distribution and biology, including photographs of the termitophilous habitat, relevant lectotype designations, descriptions (redescriptions respectively) and illustrations in colour photographs of the habitus, diagnostic characters and variability are provided.

Keywords: Coleoptera, Cicindelidae, Odontocheilina, taxonomy, Cheilonycha, new species, new subspecies, distribution, termitophilous habitat, Neotropical Region



Cheilonycha auripennis auripennis (Lucas, 1857)


Jirí Moravec. 2019. Taxonomic and Nomenclatorial Revision within the Neotropical Genera of the Subtribe Odontocheilina W. Horn in A New Sense—22. Genus Cheilonycha Lacordaire, 1842 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae). Zootaxa. 4700(4); 501–534. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4700.4.9

[Entomology • 2019] Taxonomy and Distribution of Pimpline Parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae) in Ukraine


Scambus gallicerator Kasparyan, 1974

in Varga, 2019. 
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4693.1.1 

Abstract
Data on the ichneumonid parasitoid wasps of the subfamily Pimplinae from Ukraine are summarized. The fauna of the Ukrainian pimplines numbers 35 genera and 146 species equivalent to almost 63% of European fauna. Twenty-four species are recorded from Ukraine for the first time. Pimpla femorella Kasparyan, 1974 is a first record for Western Palaearctic. The highest species richness (91–94 spp.) occurs in Ivano-Frankivsk and Transcarpathian Regions situated mostly in the Carpathian Mountains basin. The Carpathian Montane Forests were found to be the most species rich (112 species) of the six ecoregions present in Ukraine. The flight period of Pimplinae-wasps in Ukraine lasts nine months with a maximum number of species collected in June and genera in July respectively.

Keywords: Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea, Europe, inventory, survey, checklist, new records


Oleksandr Varga. 2019. Taxonomy and Distribution of Pimpline Parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae) in Ukraine. Zootaxa. 4693(1); 1-65. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4693.1.1

[Paleontology • 2019] Mimodactylus libanensis • First Complete Pterosaur from the Afro-Arabian Continent: Insight Into Pterodactyloid Diversity


Mimodactylus libanensis 
Kellner, Caldwell, Holgado, Dalla Vecchia, Nohra, Sayão & Currie, 2019

Artwork of Julius T. Csotonyi.

Abstract
Despite being known from every continent, the geological record of pterosaurs, the first group of vertebrates to develop powered flight, is very uneven, with only a few deposits accounting for the vast majority of specimens and almost half of the taxonomic diversity. Among the regions that stand out for the greatest gaps of knowledge regarding these flying reptiles, is the Afro-Arabian continent, which has yielded only a small number of very fragmentary and incomplete materials. Here we fill part of that gap and report on the most complete pterosaur recovered from this continent, more specifically from the Late Cretaceous (~95 mya) Hjoûla Lagerstätte of Lebanon. This deposit is known since the Middle Ages for the exquisitely preserved fishes and invertebrates, but not for tetrapods, which are exceedingly rare. Mimodactylus libanensis gen. et sp. nov. differs from the other Afro-Arabian pterosaur species named to date and is closely related to the Chinese species Haopterus gracilis, forming a new clade of derived toothed pterosaurs. Mimodactylidae clade nov. groups species that are related to Istiodactylidae, jointly designated as Istiodactyliformes (clade nov.). Istiodactyliforms were previously documented only in Early Cretaceous sites from Europe and Asia, with Mimodactylus libanensis the first record in Gondwana.

Figure 1: Geographical location where the new pterosaur, Mimodactylus libanensis gen. et sp. nov., was collected. (a) Geological map of Lebanon (adapted from Dubertret, 1955). (b) Detail showing the location of the most important fossil Lagerstätten of Lebanon (modified from Dalla Vecchia et al., 2002). (c) Position of Lebanon in the broad carbonate platform that surrounded the northern part of the Afro-Arabian continent during the late Cenomanian (modified from Philip and Floquet, 2000).
Abbreviations. a = Apulian Carbonate Platform (southern Italy); acp = Adriatic Carbonate Platform (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia); bd = Bei Daglari (Turkey); bih = Bihor Massif (Romania); bm = Bohemian Massif (Central Europe); et = Eastern Taurus (Turkey); g = Gavrovo (Greece); gm = Golija Massif (Serbia); inm = Insubrian Massif (Alps); sy = Seydisehir (Turkey); uks = Ukrainian Shield (Ukraine). The yellow star indicated on each map the location of the Hjoûla Lagerstätte(a,b), whilst the red asterisk Lebanon(c).




Reconstructed silouette of Mimodactylus libanensis showing the long wings regards the body.
Scale bar: 50 mm.

Systematic palaeontology
Pterosauria Kaup, 1834.
Pterodactyloidea Plieninger, 1901.
Ornithocheiroidea Seeley, 1870 sensu Kellner (2003).
Pteranodontoidea Marsh, 1876 sensu Kellner (2003).

Lanceodontia Andres et al., 2014.

Istiodactyliformes clade nov.

Branch-based definition: The most inclusive clade containing Istiodactylus latidens, but not Anhanguera blittersdorffi.

Diagnosis: Slender-built lanceodontian pterodactyloids with the following synapomorphies: mandibular rostral end pointed, teeth confined to the anterior half of the jaws, and labiolingually compressed crowns with a cingulum.

Included taxa: Istiodactylidae, Mimodactylidae, and Hongshanopterus lacustris.

Mimodactylidae clade nov.

Branch-based definition: The most inclusive clade containing Mimodactylus libanensis gen. et sp. nov., but not Istiodactylus latidens, Ikrandraco avatar, and Anhanguera blittersdorffi.

Diagnosis: Istiodactyliforms with cone-shaped teeth, crowns with a slight labiolingual compression, and sternal articular surface of the coracoid slightly concave.

Included species: Haopterus gracilis and Mimodactylus libanensis gen. et sp. nov.

Mimodactylus libanensis gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology: Mimodactylus, from the acronym MIM (Mineral Museum) for the museum housing the specimen, in recognition of both the museum and the wishes of the anonymous philanthropist who facilitated the acquisition of the specimen thus keeping it in Lebanon, and the Greek ‘dactylos’ (δάκτυλος), meaning digit; libanensis from Lebanon, where the specimen was found.

Holotype: Almost complete skeleton, including the skull and lower jaw, housed at the Mineral Museum (MIM) of Beirut, Lebanon, MIM F1. Cast at the University of Alberta, Edmonton and Museu Nacional/UFRJ (MN 7216-V).

Locality and horizon: Hjoûla Lagerstätte of the Sannine Limestone (late Cenomanian), near the town of Hjoûla located 35 km NNE of Beirut and 10 km inland from Jbail, Lebanon.

Diagnosis: Mimodactylid with the following autapomorphies: humerus with a rectangular deltopectoral crest; humerus smaller than half the length of the second phalanx of the wing finger (hu/ph2d4 < 0.5). This species can be further distinguished from other ornithocheiroid pterodactyloids by the following combination of characters: discrete palatal ridge; 11 and 10 cone-shaped teeth on each side of the upper and lower jaws, respectively; scapula slightly longer than coracoid; humerus much longer than femur (hu/fe ~1.3); deltopectoral crest extends for around 40% of the humerus shaft length (see Supplementary Information for further details and measurements).
...

Life reconstruction of Mimodactylus libanensis gen. et sp. nov.
Artwork of Julius T. Csotonyi.

Phylogenetic relationships of Mimodactylus libanensis gen. et sp. nov. within Ornithocheiroidea. Colours show their continental origin: Afro-arabia (brown), Asia (orange), Europe (red), North America (blue), and South America (green).
Outgroup relationships are not shown (see Holgado et al., 2019 and Supplementary Information for further details). Intermittent bars show uncertain temporal range. Stratigraphic chart modified from Cohen et al., 2013


Alexander W. A. Kellner, Michael W. Caldwell, Borja Holgado, Fabio M. Dalla Vecchia, Roy Nohra, Juliana M. Sayão and Philip J. Currie. 2019. First Complete Pterosaur from the Afro-Arabian Continent: Insight Into Pterodactyloid Diversity. Scientific Reports. 9, 17875. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54042-z  

   

 

Friday, November 29, 2019

[Botany • 2019] Chrysosplenium macrospermum (Saxifragaceae) • A New Species of Chrysosplenium from Northeastern China


Chrysosplenium macrospermum Y.I.Kim & Y.D.Kim

in Kim, Shin, Lee, et al., 2019. 
천지괭이눈 | 天池金腰 ||  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.135.39036

Abstract
This study describes and illustrates Chrysosplenium macrospermum Y.I.Kim & Y.D.Kim, a new plant species from Changbaishan Mt. (Baekdusan Mt.) in northeastern China. The species is most similar to Chrysosplenium valdepilosum in the series Pilosa but is readily distinguishable by short arching sterile branches, multiple (up to 3) flowering stems, and smooth surfaced seeds (without tubercles), which are ca. 30–50% larger than those of other members in the series.

Keywords: Saxifragales, seed morphology, sterile branch, taxonomy

Figure 1. Chrysosplenium macrospermum Y.I.Kim & Y.D.Kim, sp. nov. A flowering individual B fruiting individual C inflorescence and bracteal leaves D infructescence and bracteal leaves E seed F seed coat, enlarged G flower (top view) H capsule, after dehiscence (top view) I stamen at various stages J capsule with persistent sepals (side view) K capsule, sepals removed L capsule, longitudinal section. 

Figure 2. Chrysosplenium macrospermum Y.I.Kim & Y.D.Kim, sp. nov. A fruiting individual B infructescence, bracteal leaves and seeds in capsules C plant habit during flowering D fruiting individual showing short arch-shaped sterile branches and thick fibrous roots.

Chrysosplenium macrospermum Y.I.Kim & Y.D.Kim, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Chrysosplenium macrospermum is most similar to Chrysosplenium valdepilosum (Ohwi) S.H. Kang & J.W. Han, 2011 (see Han et al. 2011), but the former is readily distinguishable by short arching sterile branches, multiple (up to 3) flowering stems, and smooth surfaced seeds (without tubercles), which are ca. 30–50% larger than those of other members in the series Pilosa (Figure 3).

Etymology: The specific epithet of the new species refers to the distinctly larger size of the seeds compared with those of other members in the series Pilosa.

Vernacular name: Cheon Ji Gwaeng I Nun (Korean pronunciation); 천지괭이눈 (Korean name), Tiān Chí Jīn Yāo (Chinese pronunciation); 天池金腰 (Chinese name)


    


Distribution: Chrysosplenium macrospermum is only known from Changbaishan Mt. in Jilin Province of China, at an elevation of ca. 2,600 m. To date, only a few subpopulations with approximately 5,000 individuals have been discovered near Tianchi Crater Lake. In the absence of additional data, we presently score it as Data Deficient (DD) according to the IUCN Red List criteria (IUCN 2001).

Ecology: Chrysosplenium macrospermum occurs in alpine tundra, where it grows in humid and semi-shaded areas near the Tianchi volcanic crater along with Papaver radicatum var. pseudoradicatum (Kitag.) Kitag., Bistorta ochotensis Kom., Micranthes laciniata (Nakai & Takeda) S. Akiyama & H. Ohba, Sedum rosea (L.) Scop., and Pedicularis verticillata L. The flowering period of this species is from late May to early July, and the fruiting period is from July to August.



 Yong-In Kim, Jae-Seo Shin, Sangwoo Lee, Jia-Hui Chen, Sangho Choi, Jin Hee Park and Young-Dong Kim. 2019. A New Species of Chrysosplenium (Saxifragaceae) from Northeastern China.  PhytoKeys. 135: 39-47. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.135.39036

[Paleontology • 2020] The Oldest Lambeosaurine Dinosaur from Europe: Insights Into the Arrival of Tsintaosaurini


 Lambeosaurine Dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous northeastern Spain.

in Conti, Vila, Sellés, et al., 2020. 
 Illustration: Oscar Sanisidro  www.icp.cat  

Abstract
Hollow-crested lambeosaurine hadrosaurids represent one of the latest and most rapid radiations of ornithischian dinosaurs, attaining a nearly global distribution during the Late Cretaceous. Although their presence in Europe is well documented, there are questions about the origin and timing of their arrival in this continent. The analysis of old and newfound lambeosaurine specimens from the Els Nerets locality (eastern Tremp Syncline, northeastern Spain) have shown that the ornithopod dinosaurs from this classic site belong to Lambeosaurinae. Recent chronostratigraphic data places the locality in the lower Maastrichtian, implying that the Els Nerets lambeosaurine is the first occurrence of the clade in Europe. The Els Nerets lambeosaurine exhibits some noticeable pelvic features only shared with the Asian taxon Tsintaosaurus spinorhinus and thus we hypothesize a close taxonomic affinity between the lambeosaurine from Els Nerets and the Eurasian Tsintaosaurini. Members of this tribe would have dispersed into the Ibero-Armorican Domain not later than the early Maastrichtian, coexisting with endemic dinosaurian groups for some time.

Keywords: Anatomy, Phylogeny, Biogeography, Cretaceous, Hadrosauridae, Lambeosaurinae





 Simone Conti, Bernat Vila, Albert G. Sellés, Àngel Galobart, Michael J. Benton and Albert Prieto-Márquez. 2020. The Oldest Lambeosaurine Dinosaur from Europe: Insights Into the Arrival of Tsintaosaurini. Cretaceous Research. 107; 104286. DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2019.104286


El primer dinosaure lambeosaurí d’Europa va viure als actuals Pirineus  www.icp.cat/index.php/ca/sala-de-premsa-4/noticies-icp/item/2968-primer-dinosaurie-lambeosauri-europa-icp

[Botany • 2019] Muscari sabihapinari (Asparagaceae) • A New Species from South Anatolia, Turkey


Muscari sabihapinari Eroğlu, Pinar & Fidan

in Eroğlu, Pinar & Fidan, 2019. 
Hanım müşkürüm  ||  DOI: 10.1111/njb.02514

Abstract
We describe Muscari sabihapinari (Asparagaceae: Scilloideae) as a new species from the Adana and Sivas provinces in South Anatolia, Turkey. It grows in rocky‐stony steppe habitats. Muscari sabihapinari shows general aspect similar to that of M. anatolicum, M. atillae and M. discolor but is easily distinguished from them by its bulb, leaf and flower characteristics. A complete morphological description, identification key, pollen characteristics, detailed photographs, comparative photographs and comparison table with the closely related species are presented.

Keywords: Asparagaceae, Muscari, new species, taxonomy, Turkey


Muscari sabihapinari Eroğlu, Pinar & Fidan, sp. nov. 

Etymology: This species was named to the memory of the late Sabiha Pınar—mother of the second author of the article. We propose that the Turkish common name of this new species—“Hanım müşkürüm”—be used as per the guidelines of Menemen et al. (2016).


 Huseyin Eroğlu, Süleyman Mesut Pinar and Mehmet Fidan. 2019. Muscari sabihapinari sp. nov. (Asparagaceae) from Anatolia, Turkey. Nordic Journal of Botany. 37(11). DOI: 10.1111/njb.02514


Thursday, November 28, 2019

[Herpetology • 2019] Cyrtodactylus muangfuangensis • A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Vientiane Province, northern Laos


Cyrtodactylus muangfuangensis  
Sitthivong, Luu, Ha, Nguyen, Le & Ziegler, 2019


Abstract
A new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus from Vientiane Province, northern Laos is described based on morphological and molecular data. Cyrtodactylus muangfuangensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from remaining congeners by the following combination of characters: maximum SVL 83.9 mm; dorsal pattern consisting of dark nuchal loop, nape band and five dark transversal bands between limb insertions; intersupranasals two; dorsal tubercles present on occiput, body, hind limbs and tail base; 15 or 16 irregular dorsal tubercle rows at midbody; lateral folds clearly defined, without interspersed tubercles; 31–37 ventral scales between ventrolateral folds; six precloacal pores and 15 femoral pores in males, which are interrupted by six to eight poreless scales; six precloacal pitted scales plus in total 10–15 pitted femoral scales in females, which are separated by six to eight poreless scales; enlarged precloacal and femoral scales present; two or three postcloacal tubercles; median subcaudal scales transversely enlarged. In molecular analyses, the new species is strongly supported as a member of the Cyrtodactylus phongnhakebangensis species group, and weakly corroborated as a sister taxon to C. pageli. Pairwise genetic comparison shows that it is at least 18% divergent from other congeners in the species group based on a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene.

Keywords: Reptilia, Cyrtodactylus muangfuangensis sp. nov., morphology, phylogeny, taxonomy



Cyrtodactylus muangfuangensis sp. nov.


Saly Sitthivong, Vinh Quang Luu, Ngoan Van Ha, Truong Quang Nguyen, Minh Duc Le and Thomas Ziegler. 2019. A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Vientiane Province, northern Laos. Zootaxa. 4701(3); 257–275. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.3.3

[Paleontology • 2019] On Targaryendraco wiedenrothi gen. nov. (Pterodactyloidea, Pteranodontoidea, Lanceodontia) and Recognition of A New Cosmopolitan Lineage of Cretaceous Toothed Pterodactyloids


Targaryendraco wiedenrothi (Wild, 1990) 

in Pêgas, Holgado & Leal, 2019.
Illustration: Vítor Silva 

Holotype SMNS 56628 (Hauterivian, Engelbostel clay pit, Hannover).
in Rodrigues & Kellner, 2013. 

ABSTRACT
Ornithocheirus wiedenrothi, from the Hauterivian (Early Cretaceous of Germany), is a taxon represented by three-dimensional remains of the lower jaw and wing elements. Its phylogenetic affinities have for long been elusive, though several works had already pointed out that it probably did not belong within the wastebasket genus Ornithocheirus. In the present contribution, we redescribe this species, assigning it to the new genus Targaryendraco and offering updated morphological comparisons. Subsequently, we present a phylogenetic analysis in which we recover a clade formed by TargaryendracoAussiedracoBarbosaniaAetodactylusCamposipterus and Cimoliopterus. This newly recognised clade is interesting in being quite cosmopolitan and spanning from the Hauterivian to the Cenomanian, like its sister-group, the Anhangueria. The recognition of this clade helps fill the temporal gap between the Anhangueria and Cimoliopterus, and also demonstrates that the diversity of Cretaceous toothed pterosaurs was higher than previously thought.

KEYWORDSPterosaur phylogeny, systematics, taxonomy, skull morphology, Targaryendraconia


Systematic palaeontology
Pterosauria Kaup, 1834
Pterodactyloidea Plieninger, 1901
Ornithocheiroidea Seeley 1870 sensu Bennett, 1994
Pteranodontoidea Marsh, 1876 sensu Kellner 2003

Lanceodontia Andres et al. 2014

Targaryendraconia new clade

Type genus: Targaryendraco gen. nov. 
Content: Targaryendraco, Aussiedraco, Barbosania, Aetodactylus, Camposipterus and Cimoliopterus.

Cimoliopteridae new clade 
Type genus: Cimoliopterus
Content: Aetodactylus, Camposipterus and Cimoliopterus.




Ornithocheirus’ wiedenrothi, holotype SMNS 56628 (Hauterivian, Engelbostel clay pit, Hannover), anterior part of the mandibular symphysis. A dorsal view B respective line drawing C left lateral view D respective line drawing.
 Abbreviations: d – dentary, sul – sulcus. Arrows and numbers indicate alveoli or teeth and their respective position.
 Scale bar = 10 mm.

Rodrigues & Kellner, 2013. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.308.5559

Targaryendraconidae new clade 

Type genus: Targaryendraco gen. nov. 
Content: Targaryendraco, Aussiedraco and Barbosania.


Targaryendraco gen. nov. 

Etymology A combination of Targaryen and draco (from the Latin word for dragon), in reference to the fictional dragons of the saga A Song of Ice and Fire that exhibit dark-coloured bones. This refers to the dark colour of the type specimen of Targaryendraco wiedenrothi comb. nov., as well as to the classic association between pterosaurs and dragons (e.g. Seeley 1870). This reference also honours the fact that pterosaurs have inspired some biological aspects of the dragons featured in the novels. 

Type species Ornithocheirus wiedenrothi Wild 1990. 

Targaryendraco wiedenrothi (Wild 1990) comb. nov.

  


Rodrigo V. Pêgas, Borja Holgado and Maria Eduarda C. Leal. 2019. On Targaryendraco wiedenrothi gen. nov. (Pterodactyloidea, Pteranodontoidea, Lanceodontia) and Recognition of A New Cosmopolitan Lineage of Cretaceous Toothed Pterodactyloids. Historical Biology: An International Journal of PaleobiologyDOI: 10.1080/08912963.2019.1690482 

Taissa Rodrigues and Alexander Wilhelm Armin Kellner. 2013. Taxonomic Review of the Ornithocheirus complex (Pterosauria) from the Cretaceous of England. ZooKeys. 308: 1-112. DOI:  10.3897/zookeys.308.5559