[Herpetology • 2024] Rhacophorus dulongensis • Hidden in the Bamboo: A New Parachuting Frog (Anura: Rhacophoridae: Rhacophorus) from the borderlands of western China, with Comments on the Taxonomy of R. rhodopus

Rhacophorus dulongensis Chen, Lee & Yuan,

in Lee, B. Liu, Ouyang, Ai, X.-L. Liu, He, Huang, Li, Naveen, Yuan et Chen, 2024. 

 Dulongjiang Tree Frog  |  独龙江树蛙  ||  DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.120224

Abstract

The Gaoligong Mountains are characterized by large variations in elevation and topography, which support high levels of biodiversity and endemism that remain largely understudied. Herein, based on the integration of morphological comparisons and phylogenetic reconstruction, we describe a new species of Rhacophorus from the northern Gaoligong Mountains, Yunnan Province, China. The new species, Rhacophorus dulongensis sp. nov., is morphologically distinguishable from its congeners based on the differences in body size, head length, tibia length, snout and tongue shape, toe webbing formula and coloration, ventral skin texture and coloration, dorsal pattern and coloration, body macroglands, iris coloration, and pattern of markings on flanks. Phylogenetically, it differs from its congeners by uncorrected p-distances of >4.8% for the 16S rRNA gene fragment. Rhacophorus dulongensis sp. nov. is likely to be found in Myanmar, considering its type locality lies close to the China-Myanmar border. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the “widespread” species, R. rhodopus, is a species complex and a composite of five distinct lineages. The results revealed that R. napoensis is also found in Vietnam, making it a new country record for Vietnam. Interestingly, R. dulongensis sp. nov. likely breeds in bamboo, a hidden behavioral characteristic that makes them easy to overlook. Given the ongoing habitat loss and degradation in the region, further biological exploration is urgently needed in the Gaoligong Mountains as a biodiversity reservoir.

Key Words: Biodiversity hotspot, frog, Gaoligong Mountains, new record species, new species, systematics

Holotype of Rhacophorus dulongensis sp. nov. (ANU010645) in life.
A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Dorso-lateral view; D. Ventral surface of the thigh and the cloacal region; E. Plantar view of the left foot; F. Thenar view of the right hand. The blue arrow in D points to large black warts.

Photos by Renda Ai.

 Rhacophorus dulongensis Chen, Lee & Yuan, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis: Rhacophorus dulongensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of morphological characters: (1) body size small (SVL 31.7 mm in male; 35.3 mm in female); (2) head length longer than head width; (3) tibia length shorter than half of snout-vent length; (4) third finger disk smaller in diameter than tympanum; (5) snout pointed without a distinct bulge; (6) the tibiotarsal articulation reaches the eye when hindlimb is stretched along the side of the body; (7) dorsal surface of body uniformly green, and dorsal surface of limbs brown with irregular green patches; (8) belly mostly yellowish, rough, and granular (9) large black warts present on ventral surface of thigh near vent; (10) webs between toes red and webbing formula on toes: I10-12/3II1--21/2III1+-21/3IV21/3-11/3V; (11) black spots at axillary region absent; (12) vomerine teeth weakly developed; (13) iris darkgoldenrod; (14) maxillary teeth distinct; (15) tongue notably notched posteriorly.

Etymology: The specific epithet “dulongensis” is given as a noun in apposition and refers to the name of the Dulongjiang Village, where the new species occurs. We suggest the English common name “Dulongjiang tree frog” and the Chinese common name “独龙江树蛙” (dú lóng jiāng shù wā).

Habitat of Rhacophorus dulongensis sp. nov. at the type locality in Dulongjiang Village, Yunnan Province, China. B, C. show the native bamboo species, Cephalostachyum virulentum, where the new species inhabits.

Photos by Ying-Chun Li.

 

Ping-Shin Lee, Ben Liu, Meng Ouyang, Ren-Da Ai, Xiao-Long Liu, Yan-Hong He, Ping-Qian Huang, Ying-Chun Li, R. S. Naveen, Zhi-Yong Yuan and Jin-Min Chen. 2024. Hidden in the Bamboo: A New Parachuting Frog (Rhacophoridae, Rhacophorus) from the borderlands of western China, with Comments on the Taxonomy of R. rhodopus. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 100(3): 851-862. DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.120224

[Entomology • 2024] Muscuspina neblina • A New Genus of Pleminiini Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Pseudophyllinae) from the Colombian Andes

 Muscuspina neblina Mendes, 

in Mendes, Pádua, Araujo, Mazariegos et Fernandes, 2024.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5437.2.5

  academia.edu/117375772

 

Abstract

The Pleminiini tribe (Pseudophyllinae: Tettigoniidae) currently comprises 51 genera and 227 valid species with a Neotropical and Afrotropical distribution. Herein, the new monotypic genus Muscuspina Mendes gen. nov. is described with a new species, Muscuspina neblina Mendes sp. nov., distributed in the Andean montane forest of Antioquia, Colombia. Maps and natural history observations are provided.

Key words: Andean cloud forest, Biodiversity, Katydid, Mesenia-Paramillo nature reserve, taxonomy

 Muscuspina neblina sp. nov., female specimen alive. 

Diego M. M. Mendes, Diego G. Pádua, Rodrigo O. Araujo, Luis A. Mazariegos and Daniell R. R. Fernandes. 2024. New Genus of Pleminiini Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Pseudophyllinae) from the Colombian Andes.  Zootaxa. 5437(2); 262-272. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5437.2.5

  academia.edu/117375772/New_genus_of_Pleminiini_from_the_Colombian_Andes

Researchgate.net/publication/379756238_New_genus_of_Pleminiini_(Tettigoniidae_Pseudophyllinae)_from_the_Colombian_Andes

[Paleontology • 2024] A Comprehensive Phylogenetic Analysis on early Ornithischian Evolution

 

 A Comprehensive Phylogenetic Analysis on early Ornithischian Evolution

in Fonseca, Reid, Venner, Duncan, Garcia & Müller, 2024.

 DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2024.2346577  

 x.com/Andre_O_Fonseca

Abstract

Resolving the evolutionary relationships of early diverging (‘basal’) ornithischian dinosaurs is a challenging topic in palaeontology, with multiple competing hypotheses on the phylogenetic relationships of heterodontosaurids, ‘hypsilophodontids’, and other early-diverging forms. These hypotheses cannot be directly compared because they are derived from differently constructed datasets (i.e. distinct samples of taxa and characters). This study aims to address these issues by revising and combining the distinct datasets into a single analysis in order to create the most comprehensive dataset for the investigation of the phylogenetic relationships of early-diverging ornithischians. A diphyletic model of Dinosauria is supported, with silesaurs nesting as members of Ornithischia. Heterodontosauridae is resolved as a clade of non-genasaurian ornithischians, rejecting a potential relationship with Marginocephalia. ‘Hypsilophodontid’ taxa span the neornithischian and ornithopod stem, with Thescelosauridae as the sister taxon to Cerapoda. A more restricted Ornithopoda is composed of five main clades: Hypsilophodontidae, Rhabdodontomorpha, Elasmaria, Dryosauridae and Ankylopollexia. Hypsilophodontidae is a valid clade, reduced to two European Barremian taxa. Rhabdodontomorpha does not contain Muttaburrasaurus as originally proposed, but instead expands to include a North American clade formed by Convolosaurus, Iani and Tenontosaurus. Elasmaria contains all non-dryomorph Gondwanan ornithopods, with its members possessing multiple distinct body plans. New results and comparison with previous studies suggest that some members of Dryosauridae are not ‘true dryosaurids’ but various early euiguanodontians that may be more closely related to either Elasmaria or Ankylopollexia. Results group most ‘hypsilophodontids’ in larger clades, significantly reducing the number and extension of ghost lineages throughout all of Neornithischia. These clades also show a degree of endemism, with different lineages present at different continents in the Late Cretaceous. This new phylogenetic analysis unifying previous works will provide a framework for future studies on origins and relations of early diverging ornithischians, and attempting to find stability among the different competing hypotheses.

Keywords: Silesauridae, Heterodontosauridae, Thyreophora, Neornithischia, Ornithopoda, Marginocephalia

 

André O. Fonseca, Iain J. Reid, Alexander Venner, Ruairidh J. Duncan, Mauricio S. Garcia and Rodrigo T. Müller. 2024. A Comprehensive Phylogenetic Analysis on early Ornithischian Evolution. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 22(1); 2346577. DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2024.2346577 

 x.com/Andre_O_Fonseca/status/1804154614607909152

 

[Ornithology • 2024] Sakesphoroides niedeguidonae • A New Antshrike (Aves: Thamnophilidae) endemic to the Caatinga and the Role of Climate Oscillations and Drainage Shift in Shaping Cryptic Diversity of Neotropical Seasonal Dry Forests

 male [back] and female [front] individuals of Sakesphoroides niedeguidonae

Cerqueira, Gonçalves, Quaresma, Silva, Pichorim & Aleixo, 2024

DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12672

 Illustration by Eduardo Brettas

[Pattern 1] Sakesphoroides niedeguidonae

Cerqueira, Gonçalves, Quaresma, Silva, Pichorim & Aleixo, 2024

 

[Pattern 2] Sakesphoroides cristatus (Wied, 1831)

DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12672

 

Abstract

The Caatinga is the largest patch of Seasonal Dry Tropical Forest in the Neotropics, located in northeastern Brazil and characterized mainly by deciduous vegetation and extreme rainfall seasonality. It has historically been treated as a biologically impoverished domain, but recent studies uncovered new diversification patterns and several new taxa of frogs, mammals, insects, and fishes. Here we employed a dense sampling regime to evaluate whether the São Francisco River (SFR) would have promoted genetic diversification and fixed phenotypic differences and how Quaternary climatic oscillations shaped distribution and population sizes in a Caatinga endemic species, the Silvery-cheeked Antshrike (Sakesphoroides cristatus). We adopted an integrative approach using multilocus genetic, plumage, vocal data, and ecological niche modelling (ENM) to characterize evolutionary units and niche suitability in past scenarios. We recovered strong genetic structure across the SFR that was congruent with plumage and vocal variation, revealing a yet undescribed species named herein as Sakesphoroides niedeguidonae, sp. nov.. The splitting time estimated between the newly described species and S. cristatus is consistent with the establishment of the modern course of SFR, with a more recent course shift apparently promoting the secondary contact between the two species in the Raso da Catarina region. After their split, both species experienced increases in population sizes and range sizes at similar times during the Last Glacial Maximum. We expect other Caatinga avian endemic lineages to show similar patterns of genetic differentiation across the SFR that were enhanced by Quaternary climatic oscillations.

Geographic distribution of diagnostic plumage characters in Sakesphoroides cristatus females. Green and blue circles represent diagnostic patterns numbered 1 and 2, respectively, recovered from plumage analyses using study skins and digital photographs (see text for details). The dark-blue line represents the modern course of the São Francisco River (SFR), with the red dashed lines representing the estimated position of abandoned meanders of a Late Pleistocene paleocourse of the SFR. The colour gradient represents altitudinal variation.

Credit photos: Rocílio Ribeiro Rocha (pattern 1) and Oberdan Nunes (pattern 2).

...

Once we defined S. cristatus as the applicable name for clade 2 and no taxon name is available for clade 1 birds, herein we describe the latter group as a new species:

 male [back] and female [front] individuals of Sakesphoroides niedeguidonae 

Illustration by Eduardo Brettas, from Cerqueira et al., 2024)

Sakesphoroides niedeguidonae, sp. nov. Cerqueira, Gonçalves, Quaresma, Silva, Pichorim & Aleixo

Northern Silvery-cheeked Antshrike (English).

Choca-do-nordeste-de-cauda-barrada (Portuguese).

 Diagnosis: 

Morphology: The new species is assigned to the genus Sakesphoroides based on its morphological diagnostic characters as described by Grantsau (2010), and its sister relationship to Sakesphoroides cristatus.

Males of Sakesphoroides niedeguidonae are similar in plumage to Sakesphoroides cristatus, but females differ from the former by distinct crown, back, and tail colours, (Table 1). Sakesphoroides niedeguidonae has an overall lighter (Amber) colour rather than Chestnut as S. cristatus. The back is olive brown in S. niedeguidonae, whereas that of S. cristatus is Cinnamon-Brown. The overall tail colour in S. niedeguidonae is darker than in S. cristatus, with the most conspicuous difference being the black and white barring, replaced in S. cristatus only by discreet dull brown and rufous bars and complete absence of white barring (Figure S1).

Voice: The loudsong of S. niedeguidonae is slightly similar in general pattern to that of S. cristatus, but differs conspicuously by the shape of the first notes. While the loudsong of S. niedeguidonae has initial notes with an ascending–descending pattern of frequency modulation, looking visually like an inverted ‘U’ letter on sound spectrograms, that of S. cristatus has initial ascending notes reaching quickly a high frequency (~2300 Hz) and then descending to the maximum amplitude and continuing to descend further to a lower frequency (~580 Hz), which confers to it a sigmoid shape on spectrograms (Figure 2). Additionally, the loudsong of S. niedeguidonae differs from that of S. cristatus by a significantly greater number of notes, longer overall duration, and slower pace in total song (see Table 3). Female recordings present noticeable higher pitched songs than males (ML579640291; Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca).

Etymology: 

It is our pleasure to name this species in honour of Niède Guidon, a Brazilian archaeologist who in 1970's explored the largest and oldest concentration of prehistoric sites in the Americas. Niède's efforts helped to create the Serra da Capivara National Park in Piauí state, where her research found evidence of artefacts that have provoked a re-evaluation of the traditional theories about human settlement in the Americas. Moreover, she is a symbol of power and persistence in preserving the Caatinga environment not just for archaeological purposes but also considering biodiversity and local human communities, highlighting the Caatinga as a singular place in the world, which has inspired us every day.

The English name (Northern Silvery-cheeked Antshrike) is a reference to its range in the Caatinga domain and the sister taxon S. cristatus (now called Southern Silvery-cheeked Antshrike). The Portuguese name (Choca-do-nordeste-de-cauda-barrada) highlights the main plumage feature in females distinguishing the new species from S. cristatus (Choca-do-nordeste in Portuguese). Both names maintain in its composition the name used in S. cristatus for an easy reference to their close phylogenetic relationship.

Pablo Cerqueira, Gabriela R. Gonçalves, Tânia F. Quaresma, Marcelo Silva, Mauro Pichorim and Alexandre Aleixo. 2024. A New Antshrike (Aves: Thamnophilidae) endemic to the Caatinga and the Role of Climate Oscillations and Drainage Shift in Shaping Cryptic Diversity of Neotropical Seasonal Dry Forests. Zoologica Scripta. DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12672

Nova espécie de ave da Caatinga é descoberta e tem origem em variações históricas do São Francisco

https://abori.com.br/ambiente/aves-da-caatinga-mudancas-climaticas-nova-especie/

[Botany • 2024] Impatiens karenensis (Balsaminaceae) • A New tiny flowered Species from Myanmar

 Impatiens karenensis Chit Soe Paing & Ruchis., 

in Paing, Suksathan et Ruchisansakun, 2024.  

DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.243.123303 

Abstract

Impatiens karenensis (I. sect. Semeiocardium) from Kayin State, Myanmar is described and illustrated here. It is most similar to I. micromeris, but differs in having lower petals with outer margins strongly undulate in the lower half (vs. lower petals entire), apex of upper petals acute to obtuse (vs. apex rounded), short stout spur, ± as long as the depth of lower sepal, ca. 2.5 mm long (vs. long attenuate spur, twice as long as the depth of lower sepal, ca. 5 mm long). Its conservation status is also assessed as Critically Endangered.

Key words: Critically endangered, endemic, Kayin State, limestone species, Southeast Asia

 Impatiens karenensis Chit Soe Paing & Ruchis.
A habit B flower, front view C flower, side view D inner lateral sepals E outer lateral sepals F–H lower sepal I–J dorsal petal K lateral united petals L ovary, pedicel and bract M fruit (from Chit Soe Paing 002).

Drawn by S. Ruchisansakun.

 Impatiens karenensis Chit Soe Paing & Ruchis. in vivo
A flower, front view B flowers, side view C habit.

Photographed by Chit Soe Paing.

 Impatiens karenensis Chit Soe Paing & Ruchis., sp. nov. 

 

Diagnosis: Impatiens karenensis resembles I. micromeris, but differs in having lower petals with outer margins strongly undulate in the lower-half (vs. lower petals entire), apex of upper petals acute to obtuse (vs. rounded), short stout spur, ± as long as the depth of lower sepal, ca. 2.5 mm long (vs. long attenuate spur, twice as long as the depth of lower sepal, ca. 5 mm long).

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the former name of the state of its type locality “Karen”.

 

 Chit Soe Paing, Piyakaset Suksathan and Saroj Ruchisansakun. 2024.  Impatiens karenensis (Balsaminaceae), A New tiny flowered Species from Myanmar. PhytoKeys. 243: 113-119. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.243.123303

 

[Paleontology • 2024] Parvosuchus aurelioi • A New small-sized predatory pseudosuchian Archosaur (Pseudosuchia: Gracilisuchidae) from the Middle-Late Triassic of Southern Brazil

 Parvosuchus aurelioi  

Müller, 2024 

   

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63313-3

 Artwork by Matheus Fernandes.

Abstract

Before the rise of dinosaurs and pterosaurs, pseudosuchians—reptiles from the crocodilian lineage—dominated the Triassic land ecosystems. This lineage diversified into several less inclusive clades, resulting in a wide ecomorphological diversity during the Middle and Late Triassic. Some giant pseudosuchians occupied the top of the trophic webs, while others developed extensive bony armor as a defense mechanism, which later evolved as a convergence in the avemetatarsalian lineage. On the other hand, there were groups like the Gracilisuchidae, which was composed of carnivorous forms with lightweight build and less than 1 m in length. The fossil record of gracilisuchids is geographically restricted to China and Argentina, with one ambiguous record from Brazil. In the present study, the first unambiguous gracilisuchid from Brazil is described. Parvosuchus aurelioi gen. et sp. nov. comes from the Dinodontosaurus Assemblage Zone of the Santa Maria Formation, which is associated with the Ladinian-Carnian boundary. Composed of a complete cranium, vertebrae, pelvic girdle and hindlimbs, the new species nests with Gracilisuchus stipanicicorum and Maehary bonapartei in a phylogenetic analysis. Its discovery fills a taxonomic gap in Brazilian pseudosuchian fauna and reveals the smallest known member of this clade from the Dinodontosaurus Assemblage Zone, highlighting the diversity of pseudosuchians during the moment that preceded the dawn of dinosaurs.

 

Skull and lower jaws of Parvosuchus aurelioi gen. et sp. nov.
Holotype (CAPPA/UFSM 0412)
 from the Pinheiros-Chiniquá Sequence (Ladinian-Carnian boundary) of the Santa Maria Supersequence, southern Brazil. 

Provenance of Parvosuchus aurelioi gen. et sp. nov. 
(a) Location and geological context of the Linha Várzea 2 site, Paraíso do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. (b) General view of the Linha Várzea 2 site (taken in January 2023).
(c) Hypothetical reconstruction of the skeleton of the Parvosuchus aurelioi gen. et sp. nov. depicting (in orange) the preserved portions of CAPPA/UFSM 0412. Unpreserved portions are based on the skeletal reconstruction of Gracilisuchus stipanicicorum by Jorge González.

Systematic paleontology

Archosauria Cope, 1869

Pseudosuchia Zittel, 1887–1890

Gracilisuchidae Butler et al., 2014

Parvosuchus aurelioi gen. et sp. nov. 

Holotype: CAPPA/UFSM 0412, a partial skeleton, including a skull with lower jaws, 11 dorsal vertebrae, two sacral vertebrae, a complete pelvic girdle, both femora (lacking the distal portion), partial left tibia, partial left fibula, and left calcaneum.

Etymology: The genus name combines the Latin word “parvus” (= small) and the Greek word “suchus” (= crocodile). The specific epithet honors Pedro Lucas Porcela Aurélio for his passion for paleontology and prospecting, as well as for having discovered the fossil material described here.

Results of the phylogenetic analysis and diversity of the Dinodontosaurus Assemblage Zone of Brazil. (a) Time-calibrated reduced strict consensus tree depicting the phylogenetic position of Parvosuchus aurelioi gen. et sp. nov. Number on nodes represent Bremer support values higher than 1. The temporal bars for each OTU represent the maximum and minimum ages of each geological unit. Divergence times set as approximately 1 million years. (b) Percentage of taxonomic groups recorded in the Dinodontosaurus Assemblage Zone according to the number of species. (c) Approximate body length of pseudosuchian species from the Dinodontosaurus ZA.

Artistic representation of a Middle-Late Triassic landscape of southern Brazil.
(a) A large Prestosuchus chiniquensis feeds on the carcass of a dicynodont while individuals of Parvosuchus aurelioi gen. et sp. nov. compete for scraps. (b) and (c) depict details of individuals of Parvosuchus aurelioi gen. et sp. nov. Artwork by Matheus Fernandes.

Rodrigo T. Müller. 2024. A New small-sized predatory pseudosuchian Archosaur from the Middle-Late Triassic of Southern Brazil. Scientific Reports. 14, 12706. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63313-3

[Cnidaria • 2024] Zancleopsis grandis & Melicertum tropicalis • Additional Observations on Hydromedusae during Night Dives in the Gulf Stream

Zancleopsis grandis 

Schuchert & Collins, 2024

 

DOI: 10.35929/RSZ.0113

Abstract

This work is a supplement of our previous study (Schuchert & Collins, 2021) on hydromedusae observed and collected during night-time dives in the Gulf Stream off Florida. Close-up photos and collection of selected specimens for DNA extraction and 16S barcode sequencing permitted us to distinguish 49 distinct morphotypes or species of hydromedusae. Eighteen of them are new additions to the ones reported in our 2021 paper. Seven potential species of the 49 were only identified to the genus level, one to the family level. Two new species are described: Zancleopsis grandis sp. nov. and Melicertum tropicalis sp. nov. 16S sequences permitted us to identify the previously unknown subadult medusa of Podocoryna martinicana Galea & Ferry, 2013. Three species are new records for the Northwest Atlantic: Leuckartiara adnata Pagès, Gili & Bouillon, 1992, Corymorpha valdiviae (Vanhöffen, 1911), and Cnidocodon leopoldi Bouillon, 1978. The 16S data indicated the potential presence of cryptic species in Thecocodium quadratum (Werner, 1965), Laodicea undulata (Forbes & Goodsir, 1853), Orchistoma pileus (Lesson, 1843), and Pseudaegina rhodina (Haeckel, 1879).

KEYWORDS: 16S DNA barcodes, blackwater diving, Cnidaria, Florida, Hydrozoa, taxonomy

Zancleopsis grandis sp. nov. Holotype, BFLA4559, total height size 29 mm. The brownish objects are crustaceans.
 Structural details: green arrows – the same individual capitulum; red arrows – filiform tentacles, blue arrows – broken ends of the long tentacles, yellow arrows – developmental zone of the side-branches, purple arrow – gonad folds.
(A) Lateral view. (B) Manubrium in lateral view. (C-D) Tentacle details. (E-F) Partially relaxed filiform and branched tentacles, the axis of the medusa is horizontal. 

Zancleopsis grandis sp. nov. Paratype, BFLA4561, size 25 mm, tentacles and capitula relaxed; green arrows indicate branched tentacles, blue arrows the shorter, filiform tentacles.
(A) Lateral view. (B) View on velar opening, the green arrow points to incipient side-branches of a long tentacle. (C) Long tentacle region with large capitula. (D) Higher magnification of capitula. Photos by Linda Ianniello.

Zancleopsis grandis sp. nov.

 

Zancleopsis dichotoma. – Bigelow, 1938: 102, figs 1-2. [not Zancleopsis dichotoma (Mayer, 1900)].

  

Type locality: USA, Florida, about 10 km east of Palm Beach; ...; depth 10 m.

Etymology: The specific epithet “grandis” refers to the relatively large size of this medusa and to the very large capitula of the tentacular side branches.

Diagnosis: Zancleopsis medusa with total bell height up to 29 mm, with large apical process, with two long tentacles with abaxial side branches, the latter ending in very large capitula, much larger than marginal bulbs, spherical or ovoid depending on state of contraction, other two tentacles relatively long, tapering, without swollen end or capitulum; gonads in vertical folds.

Peter Schuchert and Richard Collins. 2024. Additional Observations on Hydromedusae during Night Dives in the Gulf Stream. Revue suisse de Zoologie. 131(1):43-120. DOI: 10.35929/RSZ.0113

[Paleontology • 2024] Xianyuechelys yingliangi • A New nanhsiungchelyid Turtle (Cryptodira: Nanhsiungchelyidae) from the Late Cretaceous of Ganzhou Basin, China

 

Xianyuechelys yingliangi 

Ke, Niu, Rummy, Tong, Hu & Han, 2024

 

DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2024.2346838

  Researchgate.net/publication/381306467

Abstract

Nanhsiungchelyidae is a group of large Pan-Trionychia that lived in North America and Asia during the Cretaceous. Despite a long research history, their taxonomy and internal nodes are still controversial. Here, we erect a new taxon, Xianyuechelys yingliangi gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Cretaceous Lianhe Formation of Ganzhou Basin, China. Xianyuechelys yingliangi is attributed to Nanhsiungchelyidae based on its carapace being covered by a sculpturing of large pits. However, the new species also possesses an unique combination of characteristics among nanhsiungchelyids such as a wide, crescentic nuchal, absence of a pair of anterolateral processes, and the fourth and fifth vertebral scutes that contact at a point. The holotype is a juvenile or sub-adult based on the incomplete ossification of carapace, but its morphological characteristics can mostly be regarded as taxonomically informative rather than ontogenetic in origin. Phylogenetic analysis suggests Xianyuechelys yingliangi forms a monophyletic group with Nanhsiungchelys spp. and Anomalochelys angulata, supported by two unambiguous synapomorphies: wide vertebral scutes and wide neurals. The phylogenetic analysis also suggests Basilemys, Jiangxichelys and ‘Zangerlia’ form a monophyletic group. Our new finding increases the known diversity of nanhsiungchelyids in southern China.

Keywords: Nanhsiungchelyidae, Late Cretaceous, phylogeny, Ganzhou Basin, China

Xianyuechelys yingliangi gen. et sp. nov.

 

Yuzheng Ke, Kecheng Niu, Paul Rummy, Haiyan Tong,Jinfeng Hu and Fenglu Han. 2024. Xianyuechelys yingliangi: A New nanhsiungchelyid Turtle from the Late Cretaceous of Ganzhou Basin, China. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 22(1); 2346838. DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2024.2346838

  Researchgate.net/publication/381306467_Xianyuechelys_yingliangi_a_new_nanhsiungchelyid_turtle_from_the_Late_Cretaceous_of_Ganzhou_Basin_China

[Paleontology • 2024] Oldest southern Sauropterygian reveals early Marine Reptile Globalization

  Morphology and biogeographic context of GNS CD 540, the oldest Southern Hemisphere sauropterygian.

in Kear, Roberts, Young, Terezow, Mantle, Barros & Hurum, 2024. 

DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.035

Artwork: Johan Egerkrans

Summary

Sauropterygians were the stratigraphically longest-ranging clade of Mesozoic marine reptiles with a global fossil record spanning ∼180 million years1. However, their early evolution has only been known from what is now the Northern Hemisphere, extending across the northern and trans-equatorial western margins of the Tethys paleo-ocean after the late-Early Triassic (late Olenekian, ∼248.8 million years [Ma] ago), and via possible trans-Arctic migration to the Eastern Panthalassa super-ocean prior to the earliest Middle Triassic (Olenekian–earliest Anisian, ∼247 Ma). Here, we describe the geologically oldest sea-going reptile from the Southern Hemisphere — a nothosaur (basal sauropterygian) from the Middle Triassic (Anisian, after ∼246 Ma) of New Zealand. Time-scaled ancestral range estimations thus reveal an unexpected circum-Gondwanan high-paleolatitude (>60° S7) dispersal from a northern Tethyan origination center. This coincides with the adaptive diversification of sauropterygians after the end-Permian mass extinction8 and suggests that rapid globalization accompanied their initial radiation in the earliest Mesozoic.

  Morphology and biogeographic context of the oldest Southern Hemisphere sauropterygian.
(A) mCT image of the GNS CD 540 dorsal vertebra in posterior view.
(B) Time-scaled Bayesian phylogeny (Figure S1G) of Nothosauroidea (silhouettes) with estimated ancestral ranges (pie charts), dispersal (orange circles) and vicariance (blue circles) events (Table S1). Node numbers indicate geographic ranges (red) and percent (>50%) support (black) for ancestral range estimations.
(C) Middle Triassic global map showing ancestral ranges (solid arrows) and possible dispersal routes (dashed arrows; modified from maps compiled by Colorado Plateau Geosystems Inc. https://deeptimemaps.com/).
(D) Middle Triassic southern polar map with occurrence of GNS CD 540 (red star).

Anatomical abbreviations: as, centrum articular surface; le, laterally expanded neural arch contact; ns, neural spine; tp, transverse process; zg, zygantrum; zy, postzygapophysis. 

Geographic ranges: (1) Northeastern to Northwestern Tethys; (2) Northwestern Tethys to Eastern Panthalassa; (3) Northern Tethys to Southern Polar Panthalassa; (4) Northern Tethys to Southwestern Tethys.

Reconstruction of the New Zealand nothosaur. The oldest sea-going reptile from the Southern Hemisphere.

Artwork: Johan Egerkrans

 

 Benjamin P. Kear, Aubrey J. Roberts, George Young, Marianna Terezow, Daniel J. Mantle, Isaias Santos Barros and Jørn H. Hurum. 2024. Oldest southern Sauropterygian reveals early Marine Reptile Globalization. Current Biology. 34(12);  R562-R563. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.035

[PaleoIchthyology • 2023] Macabi tojolabalensis • A new Mesozoic teleost of the subfamily Albulinae (Albuliformes: Albulidae) highlights the proto-Gulf of Mexico in the early Diversification of extant Bonefishes

Macabi tojolabalensis 

L-Recinos, Cantalice, Caballero-Viñas & Alvarado-Ortega, 2023

 

DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2023.2223797 

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Abstract

We present a new fossil species of the order Albuliformes, †Macabi tojolabalensis gen. et sp. nov., from Campanian outcrops of Chiapas state, south-eastern Mexico. The number of branchiostegal rays, a fusion of the lower hypural elements in the caudal-fin skeleton, and the two types of cycloid scales over the body are features that separate this new taxon from other members of the order. Its inclusion in a phylogenetic analysis including fossil and extant species shows that †Macabi tojolabalensis gen. et sp. nov. is closely related to the extant Albula vulpes. The biogeographical analysis shows four distinct regions of bonefish diversification during the Cretaceous and identifies the proto-Gulf of Mexico as an important place to understand the early divergence of living albuliformes.

 

Keywords: Albuliformes, Late Cretaceous, Mexico, systematics, biogeography, new species

 

Macabi tojolabalensis

 

Marleni L-Recinos, Kleyton M. Cantalice, Carmen Caballero-Viñas and Jesús Alvarado-Ortega. 2023. A new Mesozoic teleost of the subfamily Albulinae (Albuliformes: Albulidae) highlights the proto-Gulf of Mexico in the early diversification of extant bonefishes. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.  21(1);  2223797. DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2023.2223797

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[Entomology • 2024] Aspila pibooni • A peculiar New Species of Aspila (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Grapholitini) from Thailand

Aspila pibooni

Pinkaew, 2024

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5397.3.7

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Abstract

Aspila pibooni sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Thailand. The species is provisionally assigned to Aspila on the basis of morphological features of the male and female genitalia. Superficially, the new species resembles three Afrotropical species of Cydia (Grapholitini), all of which lack the distinctive coremata and a pair of short projections from the eight sternite that characterize the Grapholita group of genera to which Aspila belongs.

Lepidoptera, Cydia, Grapholita coremata, new species, Thailand.

 Nantasak Pinkaew. 2024. Aspila pibooni (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Grapholitini), A peculiar New Species from Thailand.  Zootaxa. 5397(3); 427-434. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5397.3.7

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