[Paleontology • 2021] Pelecanimimus polyodon (Ornithomimosauria: Macrocheiriformes) • Postcranial Anatomy and the Evolution of the Specialized Manus in Ornithomimosaurs and Sternum in Maniraptoriforms

 

Pelecanimimus polyodon  

Pérez-Moreno, Sanz, Buscalioni, Moratalla, Ortega & Rasskin-Gutman, 1994

in Cuesta, Vidal, ... et Sanz, 2021.

 DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab013  

 twitter.com/ElenaPaleo 

 

Abstract

Pelecanimimus polyodon was discovered in 1993 in the Spanish Barremian fossil site of Las Hoyas, being the first ornithomimosaur described from Europe. So far, there has been no detailed description of the holotype of Pelecanimimus, which is composed of the anterior-half of an articulated skeleton. Here we report a new, detailed, revised and more accurate osteological description of its postcranial skeleton, comparing this new data to information about Ornithomimosauria from the last three decades. This osteological and phylogenetic analysis of Pelecanimimus shows several ornithomimosaur synapomorphies and a unique combination of characters that emend its original diagnosis. Pelecanimimus diverged early in Ornithomimosauria and reveals an enlargement trend of the manus, shared with derived ornithomimosaurians, due to a long metacarpal I and elongated distal phalanges. This evolutionary novelty, and other synapomorphies, has led to the definition of a new clade, Macrocheiriformes, including Pelecanimimus and more derived ornithomimosaurs. Pelecanimimus has the only ossified sternal plates among ornithomimosaurs and the first evidence of uncinate processes in a non-maniraptoran theropod, indicating a convergent appearance of these structures in Coelurosauria. The character combination in an early-diverging ornithomimosaur like Pelecanimimus found in this analysis provides a key step in the evolution of the manus and pectoral girdle in Ornithomimosauria.

Keywords: Early Cretaceous, Las Hoyas, osteology, phylogeny, Spain

 

Elena Cuesta, Daniel Vidal, Francisco Ortega, Masateru Shibata and José L. Sanz. 2021. Pelecanimimus (Theropoda: Ornithomimosauria) Postcranial Anatomy and the Evolution of the Specialized Manus in Ornithomimosaurs and Sternum in Maniraptoriforms. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. zlab013. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab013

   twitter.com/ElenaPaleo/status/1390596778924380163

taller-rest-paleo-cuenca-2018.blogspot.com/2018/09/

    

[Paleontology • 2020] Evidence of Proteins, Chromosomes and Chemical Markers of DNA in Exceptionally Preserved Dinosaur Cartilage

Hypacrosaurus stebingeri Horner & Currie, 1994

in Bailleul, Zheng, Horner, et al., 2020. 

 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwz206 
Art by Michael Rothman.

Abstract

A histological ground-section from a duck-billed dinosaur nestling (Hypacrosaurus stebingeri) revealed microstructures morphologically consistent with nuclei and chromosomes in cells within calcified cartilage. We hypothesized that this exceptional cellular preservation extended to the molecular level and had molecular features in common with extant avian cartilage. Histochemical and immunological evidence supports in situ preservation of extracellular matrix components found in extant cartilage, including glycosaminoglycans and collagen type II. Furthermore, isolated Hypacrosaurus chondrocytes react positively with two DNA intercalating stains. Specific DNA staining is only observed inside the isolated cells, suggesting endogenous nuclear material survived fossilization. Our data support the hypothesis that calcified cartilage is preserved at the molecular level in this Mesozoic material, and suggest that remnants of once-living chondrocytes, including their DNA, may preserve for millions of years.

Keywords: cartilage, dinosaur, nuclei, chromosomes, collagen II, DNA markers

Ground section of Hypacrosaurus (MOR 548) supraoccipital shows exceptional histological preservation of calcified cartilage.
(A) An isolated supraoccipital (So) of Hypacrosaurus in dorsal view. (B–D) Ground section of another So showing calcified cartilage with hypertrophic chondrocyte lacunae. (C) Some cell doublets appear empty (green arrow), but others (pink arrow) present darker, condensed material consistent in shape and location with a nucleus (white arrows). (D) Dark, condensed, and elongated material with morphological characteristics of metaphase chromosomes. The limit of the cell lacuna is visible (black arrow). (E) Caudal view of a juvenile emu skull (∼8–10 months old) showing the So and exoccipitals (Exo) in articulation. (F, G) Ground section (stained with Toluidine blue) of calcified cartilage from this emu skull showing cell doublets (pink arrows) with remnants of nuclei (white arrows) and others without intracellular content (green arrow).

Reconstruction of the nesting ground of Hypacrosaurus stebingeri from the Two Medicine formation of Montana. In the center can be seen a deceased Hypacrosaurus nestling with the back of its skull embedded in shallow waters. A mourning adult is portrayed on the right.

Art by Michael Rothman.

CONCLUSIONS:

 The identification of chemical markers of DNA in Hypacrosaurus suggest it may preserve much longer than originally proposed [30,31]. Even though it is clear that contamination does exist in fossil material and complicates identifications of original organic molecules, it can be accounted for with proper controls. Contamination is not a plausible explanation in this case, and to this date, the possible preservation of original proteins and DNA in deep time has not been convincingly eliminated with data. Although extensive research and sequencing is required to further understand DNA preservation in Mesozoic material, along with its chemical and molecular alterations, our data suggest the preserved nuclear material in Hypacrosaurus was in a condensed state at the time of the death of the organism, which may have contributed to its stability. We propose that DNA condensation may be a favorable process to its fossilization. Additionally, as was suggested for protein fossilization [20,45,46], crosslinking may be another mechanism involved in the preservation of DNA in deep time. 

Alida M. Bailleul, Wenxia Zheng, John R. Horner, Brian K. Hall, Casey M. Holliday and Mary H. Schweitzer. 2020. Evidence of Proteins, Chromosomes and Chemical Markers of DNA in Exceptionally Preserved Dinosaur Cartilage. National Science Review. nwz206. DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwz206

  

[Mammalogy • 2018] Second Record of Lasiurus ebenus (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae), with Comments on Its Taxonomic Status

Lasiurus ebenus Fazzolari-Correa, 1994

in Cláudio, Barbosa, Novaes, et al., 2018. 

  OI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4403.3.5 

Abstract

Lasiurus ebenus was known only from the holotype, which was collected in 1991, in an Atlantic Forest remnant of Ilha do Cardoso State Park, southeastern Brazil. The species was described based on qualitative and quantitative morphological features. Since its original description, based on a single individual, the taxonomic status of Lasiurus ebenus has been questioned. Here we report a second record for the species that comes from Carlos Botelho State Park, São Paulo, ca. 100 km north from the type locality. This new record allowed us to confirm the validity of the species, by presenting additional data that fits in the distinction from sympatric congeners proposed on the original description of L. ebenus.

Keywords: Mammalia, Atlantic Forest, Lasiurini, morphology, taxonomy

Vinícius C. Cláudio, Gedimar P. Barbosa, Roberto Leonan M. Novaes, Fabrício B. Rassy, Vlamir J. Rocha and Ricardo Moratelli. 2018. Second Record of Lasiurus ebenus (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae), with Comments on Its Taxonomic Status.  Zootaxa. 4403(3); 513–522. OI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4403.3.5

facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1789791547707650

[Crustacea • 2017] New Data on the Taxonomy, Ecology, and Conservation of the Rediscovered Louisea edeaensis (Bott, 1969) (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae), an Endangered Freshwater Crab from Cameroon

 Louisea edeaensis (Bott, 1969)  

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4231.2.9 

Abstract

The rare and endangered Cameroonian potamonautid freshwater crab Louisea edeaensis (Bott, 1969) was recently rediscovered during a biological inventory of the freshwater decapods of southern Cameroon. The previous record dated back more than 100 years. The new specimens allow an updated diagnosis of the species based on comparisons of important taxonomic characters. Photographs of the carapace, gonopods, third maxillipeds, and chelipeds of the largest adult male specimen from Lake Ossa, Cameroon are provided, as are the first photographs of living specimens. The conservation implications of the new data on habitat, population structure, distribution, and threats for this rare and endangered species are discussed.

Keywords: Crustacea, taxonomy, Lake Ossa, IUCN Red List

Pierre A. Mvogo-Ndongo, Thomas von Rintelen, Christoph D. Schubart, Christian Albrecht, Joseph L.Tamesse and Neil. Cumberlidge. 2017. New Data on the Taxonomy, Ecology, and Conservation of the Rediscovered Louisea edeaensis (Bott, 1969) (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae), an Endangered Freshwater Crab from Cameroon.
Zootaxa. 4231(2); 273–280. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4231.2.9

Cumberlidge, N. 1994. Louisea, a new genus of fresh-water crab (Brachyura, Potamoidea, Potamonautidae) for Globonautes macropus edeaensis Bott, 1969 from Cameroon. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 107, 122–131.

http://commons.nmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1074&context=facwork_journalarticles

[Herpetology • 1994] Cylindrophis engkariensis • A New Species of Cylindrophis (Serpentes: Cylindrophiidae) from Sarawak, Western Borneo

Cylindrophis engkariensis

Stuebing, 1994

ABSTRACT

A new species of fossorial snake, Cylindrophis engkariensis, from the Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary in southwestern Sarawak, Borneo, is described. It differs from other members of the genus in its distinctive colour pattern and the unique number of mid-body scale rows.

Stuebing, R. 1994. A New Species of Cylindrophis (Serpentes: Cylindrophiidae) from Sarawak, Western Borneo. Raffles Bull. Zool. 42 (4): 967-973.

http://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/42/42rbz967-973.pdf

[Palaeontology • 1994] ภูเวียงโกซอรัส สิรินธรเน | Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae • A New Genus of Sauropod Dinosaur from the Sao Khua formation (Late Jurassic or early Cretaceous) of northeastern Thailand

Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae

Martin, Buffetaut & Suteethorn 1994

Phuwiangosaurus (meaning "Phu Wiang lizard") is the name given to a genus of dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous. It was a titanosaur which lived in Thailand. The type species, P. sirindhornae, was described by Martin, Buffetaut, and Suteethorn in 1994; it was named to honour Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, who was interested in the geology and palaeontology of Thailand. It was around 27.1 m (90 feet) long.

nearly complete Phuwiangosaurus at Phu Kum Khao, Kanlasin http://fb.me/1afTlNXdR

Type of Phuwiangosaurus http://fb.me/I2K1xrdn

  

On 28 of August 1997, Post Authority of Thailand issued a set of four stamps shows reconstructions of dinosaurs fossils of which found in Northeastern part of the country.

http://www.paleophilatelie.eu/description/stamps/thailand_1997.html

MARTIN, V., BUFFETAUT, E. and SUTEETHORN, V. 1994. Un nouveau genre de dinosaure sauropode de la Formation Sao Khua (Jurassique supérieur ou Crétacé inférieur) du Nord-Est de la Thaïlande. [A New Genus of Sauropod Dinosaur from the Sao Khua formation (Late Jurassic or early Cretaceous) of northeastern Thailand] Comptes Rendus de l’ Academie des Science de Paris. 319(2): 1085-1092.

MARTIN, V., BUFFETAUT, E. and SUTEETHORN, V. 1993. Jurassic sauropod dinosaurs of Thailand: a preliminary report. In THANASUTIPITAK, T. (ed.). Proceedings of the International Symposium on Biostratigraphy of mainland Southeast Asia. Chiang Mai University. 2: 415-425.

MARTIN, V., SUTEETHORN, V. and BUFFETAUT, E. 1999. Description of the type and referred material of Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae Martin, Buffetaut and Suteethorn, 1994, a sauropod from the Lower Cretaceous of Thailand. Oryctos 2: 39-91.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuwiangosaurus

[Ornithology • 1994] Diademed Tapaculo | Scytalopus schulenbergi • A new Scytalopus Tapaculo (Rhinocryptidae) from Bolivia, with notes on other Bolivian members of the genus and the magellanicus complex

Diademed  Tapaculo | Scytalopus schulenbergi sp. nov.,

a  new tapaculo from the humid-temperate forests of Bolivia and southern Peru. Painting  by  Jon  FjeldsB. 

Adult  male  Scytalopus schulenbergi,  

showing  silvery-white  diadem,  pale throat,  and  blackish  mask. 

http://www.digimages.info/listeoiseauxmonde/Rhinocryptid.html

Abstract

In  Bolivia  in  1992  I  tape-recorded  and  observed  several  individuals  of  an undescribed  tapaculo  of  the  systematically  complex  genus  Scytalopus in  humid-temperate forest  near  the  city  of  La  Paz.  During  March  1993,  Bolivian  colleagues  and  I  collected  a series of  the undescribed  taxon  from  two  geographically  distinct  regions  of  Depto.  La  Paz, and  confirmed  its  presence  as  far  south  as  Prov.  Chapare,  Depto.  Cochabamba.  The  new species, the  Diademed  Tapaculo  (Scytalopus schulenbergi), is described  and  its distribution and  vocalizations  are  compared  with  some  other  members  of  the  genus,  mostly  in  Bolivia. I reexamine  systematics  of  the magellanicus  group  and,  based  primarily  upon  striking  and consistent  vocal  differences  across  the  North  Peruvian  Low  in  northwestern  Peru,  I  recommend  its division  into  two  superspecies with  the  names magellanicus  (southern  populations)  and griseicollis  (northern  populations).

Whitney, B.M. (1994). A new Scytalopus Tapaculo (Rhinocryptidae) from Bolivia, with notes on other Bolivian members of the genus and the  magellanicus complex. Wilson Bulletin, 106, 585–614.

http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Wilson/v106n04/p0585-p0614.pdf

[Paleontology • 1994] Zhejiangopterus linhaiensis • a new pterosaur from Upper Cretaceous in Linhai, Zhejiang, China

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhejiangopterus

Abstract

The text describes a new genus and species of pterosaur from Late Cretaceous sediments around the municipality of Linhai, Zhejiang Province: Zhejiangopterus linhaiensis gen. et sp. nov. which morphologically approaches Nyctosaurus from the Upper Cretaceous Santonian Stage of Kansas, in the U.S. The new taxon is thereby assigned to the family Nyctosauridae.

 Zhejiangopterus linhaiensis 

via ~eurwentala @ DeviantArt

Cai, Z., and Wei, F. 1994. On a new pterosaur (Zhejiangopterus linhaiensis gen. et sp. nov.) from Upper Cretaceous in Linhai, Zhejiang, China. Vertebrata Palasiatica, 32: 181-194.

http://www.paleoglot.org/files/Cai&Wei_94.pdf

Unwin, D. & Lü J. 1997. On Zhejiangopterus and the relationships of Pterodactyloid Pterosaurs. Historical Biology, 12, p. 200 DOI:10.1080/08912969709386563

A summary of recent studies on the interrelationships of pterodactyloid pterosaurs is used as a framework for reassessing the taxonomic status of Zhejiangopterus, a new, long‐necked, Late Cretaceous pterosaur from China that has been assigned to the Nyctosauridae. Characters cited in support of this decision include: a notarium, edentulous jaws, and lack of a cranial crest. However, none of these is diagnostic of the Nyctosauridae. Zhejiangopterus exhibits a number of derived characters (orbit relatively small and located in a low position, posteroventrally facing occiput, features of the humerus and ‘T‐shaped’ cross‐section of wing phalanges two and three) only otherwise found in azhdarchids, thus we propose that Zhejiangopterus be reassigned to the Azhdarchidae.

Key words: Pterosaur, Zhejiangopterus, Taxonomy, Phylogeny, Cretaceous, China

[Invertebrate • 1994] 6 new Desmoxytes • Review of the Dragon millipedes, genus Desmoxytes Chamberlin, 1923

6 new Desmoxytes

• Review of the Dragon millipedes, genus Desmoxytes Chamberlin, 1923

New Species:

Desmoxytes acantherpestes Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994 Thailand

Desmoxytes gigas Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994 Thailand

Desmoxytes jeekeli Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994 Thailand

Desmoxytes pterygota Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994 Thailand

Desmoxytes rubra Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994 Thailand

Desmoxytes hostilis Golovatch & Enghoff, 1994 Vietnam

Redescription

Desmoxytes taurina (Pocock, 1895) Myanmar

Golovatch, S.I. & Enghoff, H. (1994) Review of the dragon millipedes, genus Desmoxytes Chamberlin, 1923 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae). Steenstrupia, 20, 45–71.: http://www.taxonomytraining.eu/sites/default/files/Golovatch%20Enghoff%201994%20Desmoxytes_1.pdf