[Mammalogy • 2024] Murina yushuensis • A New Dpecies of Tube-nosed Bat (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Murina) from Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China

  

Murina yushuensis Han, Csorba & Wu, 

  

in Wang, Han, Csorba, Wu, Chen, Zhao, Dong, Yu et Lu, 2024. 

DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyae104

Abstract

In 2018, an adult male of a small-sized Tube-nosed Bat (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Murina) was captured at an arid cave located on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in Yushu City, Qinghai Province, China. Despite external morphological similarities with those of M. harpioloides and M. chrysochaetes, the individual in question displays explicit craniodental differences that distinguish it from either species. Morphological and morphometric evidence, coupled with phylogenetic analyses utilizing the mitochondrial COI gene, confirmed that it represents a distinct and still unknown species of Murina, described herewith as M. yushuensis sp. nov. Our research highlights the importance of future surveys aimed at exploring cryptic species diversity in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and adjacent under-surveyed regions.

morphometrics, Murininae, phylogeny, systematics, taxonomy

Skull and dentition of Murina yushuensis sp. nov. (Holotype, GZHU 20077).
(A) Lateral view of skull and mandible. (B) Dorsal view of skull. (C) Ventral view of skull with details of the upper toothrow. (D) Occlusal view of mandible with details of the lower toothrow.

 External features and habitat of Murina yushuensis sp. nov. (Holotype, GZHU 20077).
(A) Live individual. (B) Dorsal, and (C) ventral aspect of the body. (D) Surrounding environment of the cave in July, and (E) in March. (F) Type specimen hibernating in the cave.

Photos by Xuesong Han, Yi Wu, and Wenhua Yu.

Xiaoyun Wang, Xuesong Han, Gábor Csorba, Yi Wu, Huaiqing Chen, Xiang Zhao, Zhengyi Dong, Wenhua Yu and Zhi Lu. 2024. A New Species of Tube-nosed Bat (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Murina) from Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China. Journal of Mammalogy. gyae104. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyae104

Researchgate.net/publication/385175912_A_new_species_of_Murina_from_Qinghai-Tibet_Plateau_China

本研究于2018年在中国青海玉树1个河流旁的干燥洞穴中捕获1只雄性小型管鼻蝠（翼手目Chiroptera：蝙蝠科Vespertilionidae：管鼻蝠属Murina）。其主要特征为，前臂长31.34 mm，颅全长14.14 mm；耳小而圆，无缺刻；背毛呈现基部黑色，顶端为棕金色；腹毛基部较长，呈深黑色，顶部呈灰白色。基于形态学证据和COI构建的系统发育树，本研究将其鉴定为管鼻蝠属的新物种，命名为玉树管鼻蝠（Murina yushuensis sp. nov. Han, Csorba et Wu, 2024）。该发现不仅丰富了翼手目物种多样性，还说明了在青藏高原及周边区域等特殊生境开展翼手目调查的重要性。 ||   形态度量学, 管鼻蝠亚科, 系统发育关系, 系统学, 分类学

 

[PaleoIchthyology • 2024] Ngamugawi wirngarri • A Late Devonian coelacanth reconfigures Actinistian Phylogeny, Disparity, and Evolutionary Ddynamics

 

Ngamugawi wirngarri 

Clement, Cloutier, Lee, King, Vanhaesebroucke, Bradshaw, Dutel, Trinajstic & Long, 2024 

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51238-4

Abstract

The living coelacanth Latimeria (Sarcopterygii: Actinistia) is an iconic, so-called ‘living fossil’ within one of the most apparently morphologically conservative vertebrate groups. We describe a new, 3-D preserved coelacanth from the Late Devonian Gogo Formation in Western Australia. We assemble a comprehensive analysis of the group to assess the phylogeny, evolutionary rates, and morphological disparity of all coelacanths. We reveal a major shift in morphological disparity between Devonian and post-Devonian coelacanths. The newly described fossil fish fills a critical transitional stage in coelacanth disparity and evolution. Since the mid-Cretaceous, discrete character changes (representing major morphological innovations) have essentially ceased, while meristic and continuous characters have continued to evolve within coelacanths. Considering a range of putative environmental drivers, tectonic activity best explains variation in the rates of coelacanth evolution.

 

Ngamugawi wirngarri 
A, B ‘Part a’ of WAM 09.6.148 (holotype) shown in left dorsolateral view and skull close up in left lateral view. C ‘Part b’ of WAM 09.6.148 (holotype) showing all exposed elements; D partial braincase of NMV P231504 (paratype) shown in right lateral view; E cleithrum of NMV P231504 (paratype) in mesial and lateral view; F, G skull reconstruction in dorsal and left lateral view.

Abbreviations: Ang angular, Cl cleithrum, Clv clavicle, Dt dentary, Exc extracleithrum, icj intracranial joint, ioc infraorbital canal, L.Gu lateral gular, Lj lachrymojugal, mc mandibular canal, L.Ex lateral extrascapular, Op operculum, Par Parietal, Po postorbital, Pop preoperculum, Pp postparietal, Pmx premaxilla, Psym parasymphysial, Q quadrate, Ro.p1 anterior pore of the rostral organ, Ro.p2 antero-lateral pore of the rostral organ, Ro.p3 postero-lateral pore of the rostral organ, So supraorbitals, soc supraorbital canal, Sop Suboperculum, Spl splenial, Sq squamosal.

Systematic palaeontology

Osteichthyes Huxley 1880

Sarcopterygii Romer 1955

Actinistia Cope 1871

Ngamugawi wirngarri gen. et sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Ngamugawi wirngarri gen. et sp. nov. is distinguished from all other coelacanths by the following apomorphies: jugal canal with prominent branches; large sensory pore openings between supraorbitals and parietals; teeth on parasymphysial tooth plate, but not on the dentary; prearticular and/or coronoid teeth rounded; cleithra and extracleithra with broad triangular anteroventral overlap for clavicle bearing a large ventral foramen; and scales with long ornamental ridges extending beyond the posterior margin of the base (Figs. 1, 2, Supplementary Fig. 1).

Locality and horizon: Canning Basin, in northern Western Australia, circa 100 km southeast of Fitzroy Crossing; Gogo Formation, early Frasnian, Late Devonian (~384–382 Ma). The holotype was found between Stromatoporoid Camp and Longs Well, the paratype was found in Paddys Valley. 

Etymology: Generic name meaning “ancient fish” in Gooniyandi/Guniyandi, language of the First Nations people from Country around Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Specific name is given in honour of respected Gooniyandi elder and ancestor Wirngarri, who lived in the Emanuel Range. Generic and specific names were both provided to Prof. John Long in September 2023, who has a longstanding and ongoing relationship with the community, with permissions to use the language granted by elder Rosemary Nuggett, on behalf of the Gooniyandi people of the Mimbi community.

Phylogenetic relationships and divergence dates within coelacanths, based on tip-dated Bayesian inference.

A live recreation of the Ngamugawi wirngarri coelacanth in its natural habitat. P3D graphic credit: Katrina Kenny. 

 Illustration by Katrina Kenny (courtesy Flinders University)

 Alice M. Clement, Richard Cloutier, Michael S. Y. Lee, Benedict King, Olivia Vanhaesebroucke, Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Hugo Dutel, Kate Trinajstic and John A. Long. 2024. A Late Devonian coelacanth reconfigures Actinistian Phylogeny, Disparity, and Evolutionary Ddynamics. Nature Communications. 15: 7529. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51238-4

  

[Entomology • 2024] Aspistomella duo, A. quinquincisa, A. tres, Ulivellia arcuata, U. pseudinsolita, ... • Revision of the Aspistomella Group of Genera (Diptera: Ulidiidae: Pterocallinae: Lipsanini)

Adults of bamboo-inhabiting Ulidiidae from Peru.
[B] Aspistomella lobioptera on a bamboo culm; [D] Aspistomella sachavaca sp. nov.;
[E–F] Ulivellia laetitiae sp. nov. on a bamboo culm showing wings during courtship or territorial behaviour.  

in Kovac, Kameneva, S. V. Korneyev, Araújo, Savaris, Smit, Schneider, Schreiber et V. A. Korneyev, 2024. 

 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5530.1.1

 (All photographs by John T. Smit.)

 

Abstract

Twenty-three species of the genera Aspistomella Hendel, 1909, Polyteloptera Hendel, 1909, and Ulivellia Speiser, 1929 occurring in South America (Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil) form a monophyletic lineage sharing certain combinations of plesiomorphies and apomorphies with similar larval biology. The name Aspistomella Hendel, 1909 is a new senior subjective synonym of Paraphyola Hendel, 1909. The group of genera is extended by the addition of six known species, Aspistomella angustifrons (Hendel, 1909) comb. nov., A. crucifera (Hendel, 1909) comb. nov., A. lobioptera Hendel, 1909, A. heteroptera Hendel, 1909, A. lunata (Hendel, 1909) comb. nov., Polyteloptera apotropa Hendel, 1909, and Ulivellia inversa Speiser, 1929, and 17 previously unknown species. Aspistomella duo Kovac, Kameneva & V. Korneyev, sp. nov., A. enderleini Kameneva & V. Korneyev, sp. nov., A. garleppi Kameneva & V. Korneyev, sp. nov., A. obliqua Kameneva, V. Korneyev & Savaris, sp. nov., A. pachitea Kameneva & V. Korneyev, sp. nov., A. quinquincisa Kameneva & V. Korneyev, sp. nov., A. sachavaca Smit & Kameneva, sp. nov., A. schnusei Kameneva & V. Korneyev, sp. nov., A. steyskali Kameneva & S. Korneyev, sp. nov., A. teresensis Araújo, V. Korneyev & Savaris, sp. nov., A. tres Kovac, Kameneva & V. Korneyev, sp. nov., Ulivellia amnoni Smit, sp. nov., U. arcuata Kovac & Kameneva, sp. nov., U. laetitiae Smit, sp. nov., U. pseudinsolita Kameneva & V. Korneyev sp. nov., and U. tenoris Kovac & Kameneva sp. nov. are described. A key to the genera and species is given. Among the Lipsanini, this group of genera is easily recognised by the combination of an enlarged, anteriorly produced epistome (lower part of the face) and a low clypeus (in the other lipsanine genera the clypeus is high and the epistome is not enlarged), which supports its monophyly, and the differentiated short parafrontal setulae and long and strong frontal and interfrontal setae, which is a synapomorphy of a larger monophyletic lineage that also includes Chaetopsis Loew, 1868 and related taxa, as well as Amethysa Macquart, 1835, Euphara Loew, 1868 and their relatives. As far as is known, most species of this larger lineage are associated with various Poaceae plants. The species included here in the Aspistomella group are also associated with neotropical tall grasses: bamboo (Guadua) and wild cane (Gynerium). Aspistomella and Ulivellia larvae inhabit water-filled internode cavities (= “bamboo phytotelmata”) of living bamboo culms of Guadua angustifolia. Newly emerged larvae use tunnels made by lepidopteran borers (Crambidae caterpillars) to penetrate the hard bamboo walls. Aspistomella and Ulivellia larvae are saprophagous and adapted to an aquatic lifestyle. The last instar larvae jump easily and pupate in the soil. The external morphology, cuticular sensilla and cephalopharyngeal skeletons of the third instar larvae of five Aspistomella and Ulivellia species (one with unknown adult stage) were studied by light and scanning electron microscopy. The main features that allow the identification of larvae and puparia are the unique posterior spiracles and the structure of the abdominal creeping welts. The morphological characteristics of Aspistomella and Ulivellia larvae are compared with other Lipsanini and their feeding habits with other ulidiids. An identification key for Aspistomella and Ulivellia is given. The adaptations to life in bamboo phytotelmata found in both neotropical Aspistomella and Ulivellia and in oriental members of the closely related family Tephritidae are discussed.

Diptera, Acalyptratae, Tephritoidea, taxonomy, distribution, biology, adults, larvae, identification key, bamboo, Neotropical Region

Adults of bamboo-inhabiting Ulidiidae from Peru. A–C, Aspistomella lobioptera on a bamboo culm; D, Aspistomella sachavaca sp. nov.; E–F, Ulivellia laetitiae sp. nov. on a bamboo culm showing wings during courtship or territorial behaviour. (All photographs by John T. Smit.)

 Aspistomella duo Kovac, Kameneva & V. Korneyev, sp. nov., 

A. enderleini Kameneva & V. Korneyev, sp. nov., 

A. garleppi Kameneva & V. Korneyev, sp. nov., 

A. obliqua Kameneva, V. Korneyev & Savaris, sp. nov., 

A. pachitea Kameneva & V. Korneyev, sp. nov., 

A. quinquincisa Kameneva & V. Korneyev, sp. nov., 

A. sachavaca Smit & Kameneva, sp. nov., 

A. schnusei Kameneva & V. Korneyev, sp. nov., 

A. steyskali Kameneva & S. Korneyev, sp. nov., 

A. teresensis Araújo, V. Korneyev & Savaris, sp. nov., 

A. tres Kovac, Kameneva & V. Korneyev, sp. nov., 

Ulivellia amnoni Smit, sp. nov., 

U. arcuata Kovac & Kameneva, sp. nov., 

U. laetitiae Smit, sp. nov., 

U. pseudinsolita Kameneva & V. Korneyev sp. nov., 

U. tenoris Kovac & Kameneva sp. nov.

Damir Kovac, Elena P. Kameneva, Severyn V. Korneyev, Alexandre Santos Araújo, Marcoandre Savaris, John T. Smit, Alexander Schneider, Robert Schreiber and Valery A. Korneyev. 2024. Revision of the Aspistomella group of genera (Diptera: Ulidiidae: Pterocallinae: Lipsanini).  Zootaxa. 5530(1); 1-117. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5530.1.1

[Botany • 2024] Gastrodia lohitensis (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Gastrodieae) • A New mycotrophic Orchid from India

 

 Gastrodia lohitensis   

in Chowlu, Tsering, Ray, Rao, Pertin, Dash et Kabeer, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.1111/njb.04556

Abstract

A new mycotrophic species of the genus Gastrodia (Orchidaceae), is described and illustrated from Arunachal Pradesh, India. The species is unique within the genus in having two oblong–linear calli which are parallelly arranged along the margins of the claw of the labellum, and white flowers. The new species is assessed as 'Endangered' according to the IUCN red list criteria.

Krishna Chowlu, Jambey Tsering, Ajit Ray, Abbareddy Nageswara Rao, Abing Pertin, Sudhansu Sekhar Dash and Altaf Kabeer. 2024. Gastrodia lohitensis sp. nov. (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae) from India. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/njb.04556

[PaleoEntomology • 2024] Palaeorhoptrocentrus tenuicornis, Taphaeus obscurus & Eubazus electrus • New Species of braconid parasitoid wasps from the Subfamilies Doryctinae and Brachistinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from late Eocene Baltic Amber

 

Belokobylskij, Pankowski & Zaldívar-Riverón, 2024 

DOI: 10.11646/palaeoentomology.7.5.8

Abstract

Three new fossil species of braconid wasps are described and illustrated from late Eocene Baltic amber: Palaeorhoptrocentrus tenuicornis sp. nov. (Doryctinae), Taphaeus obscurus sp. nov. (Brachistinae: Diospilini), and Eubazus electrus sp. nov. (Brachistinae: Brachistini). Keys to the known species of Palaeorhoptrocentrus Belokobylskij, 2023 and to species of Eubazus Nees, 1812 described from Baltic amber are provided. An illustrated redescription of Blacus (Electroblacus) facialis Brues, 1933 (Brachistinae: Blacini) is also provided, along with digital photographs for the first time of the female of B. (Electroblacus) facialis, whose type material was lost during the World War II. We also provide morphological notes and digital photographs of a male belonging to an undescribed species of Meteorus (Euphorinae).

Eocene, parasitoids, wasp, fossil, Diospilini, Blacini, Brachistini, Meteorus

 

Sergey A. Belokobylskij, Madeline V. Pankowski, Alejandro Zaldívar-Riverón. 2024. New Species of braconid parasitoid wasps from the Subfamilies Doryctinae and Brachistinae from late Eocene Baltic Amber.  Palaeoentomology. 7(5); 645–658. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/palaeoentomology.7.5.8

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