[Ichthyology • 2010] Leptodoras marki • A new species of thorny catfish Leptodoras (Doradidae) from from Rio Fresco, Xingu Basin, Brazil

Leptodoras marki, new species

Family: Doradidae

Abstract

A new species of the thorny catfish genus Leptodoras (family Doradidae) is described. The new species shares three characters with its congeners, the modified oral hood with distinct upper labial extensions, the first gill arch with enlarged accessory lamellae extending well onto medial face of gill filaments, and the pelvic fin inserted in anterior half of body. The new species is distinguished from congeners by having a large dark submarginal blotch on distal half of dorsal-fin spine and anteriormost dorsal-fin branched rays, lower labial extension of modified oral hood extending more posteriorly than upper labial extension, relatively few midlateral scutes, gas bladder moderately sized (not reduced), paired bony capsules on anteriormost vertebrae reduced to paired cup-like laminar ossifications separated by a triangular septum, pair of small, swelling-like diverticula on each side of the anterior chamber of gas bladder, a well-developed anterior nuchal plate, and nuchal foramina present. The new species was discovered from a single specimen collected in the rio Fresco, a tributary of the rio Xingu, and is described based on this and on additional material recently collected in the same area. A discussion of its placement within Leptodoras is also presented.

Birindelli, J.L.O. & Sousa, L.M. 2010. New Species of the Thorny Catfish Genus Leptodoras (Siluriformes: Doradidae) from Rio Fresco, Xingu Basin, Brazil. Copeia. 2010 (2): 292-299.: http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1643/CI-09-153

[Ichthyology • 2010] Microglanis minutus • A new catfish (Pseudopmelodidae) from the rio Barra Seca basin, southeastern Brazil

Microglanis minutus

Family: Pseudopmelodidae

New species of bumblebee catfish described

Brazilian ichthyologists have described a new species of bumblebee catfish in the genus Microglanis from southeastern Brazil.

Felipe Ottoni, José Mattos and Maria Barbosa name the new catfish Microglanis minutus in the most recent issue of the journal Vertebrate Zoology.

Microglanis minutus is a member of the M. parahybae species group, and is distinguished from all members of this species group in having mottled or relatively faint bands on the pectoral and anal fins, an emarginate caudal fin that is lightly mottled and with narrow vertical dark brown bands across the central portions of the lobes, dark brown saddles on the trunk, an irregular dark blotch on the caudal peduncle, the adipose fin with a dark saddle beneath it that does not extend ventrally to the anal fin as a continuous bar, the lateral line not reaching the vertical through the origin of the adipose fin, a distinct bony point on the tip of the pectoral spine, a wider head, the absence of a dark band on the distal portion of the anal fin, and a light oval spot below the dorsal spine.

The new species is known from the Barra Seca river drainage in southeastern Brazil, and is named after its comparatively small size (Latin minutus = small).

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=3530

Ottoni, F.P., Mattos, J.L.O. & Barbosa, M.A. 2010. Description of a new species of Microglanisfrom the rio Barra Seca basin, southeastern Brazil (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Pseudopmelodidae). Vertebrate Zoology. 60 (3): 187–192. : http://www.vertebrate-zoology.de/vz60-3/01_Vertebrate_Zoology_60-3_Ottoni.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2011] Trichogenes claviger • A new Trichogenes from the rio Itapemirim drainage, southeastern Brazil

Trichogenes claviger

Family: Trichomycteridae

de Pinna, M.C.C., Helmer, J.L., Britski, H.A. & Nunes, L.R. 2010. A new species of Trichogenes from the rio Itapemirim drainage, southeastern Brazil, with comments on the monophyly of the genus (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae). Neotropical Ichthyology. 8 (4): 707-717. : http://www.ufrgs.br/ni/vol8num4/v08n4a02.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2010] Trichomycterus maculosus • A new Trichomycterus from the rio Paraíba do Sul basin, southeastern Brazil

Trichomycterus maculosus

Family: Trichomycteridae

Barbosa, M.A. & Costa, W.J.E.M. 2010. Description of a new species of the catfish genus Trichomycterus (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from the rio Paraíba do Sul basin, southeastern Brazil. Vertebrate Zoology. 60 (3): 193–197. : http://www.vertebrate-zoology.de/vz60-3/02_Vertebrate_Zoology_60-3_Barbosa.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2011] Trichomycterus tropei • A new Trichomycterus lacking pelvic fins and pelvic girdle from Southern Brazil

Trichomycterus tropeiro

Family Trichomycteridae

Abstract

Trichomycterus tropeiro, new species, is described from the headwaters of the rio das Antas, laguna dos Patos system, Southern Brazil. Trichomycterus tropeiro is distinguishable from other species of the genus by the absence of pelvic fins and pelvic girdle, except fromTrichomycterus candidus and Trichomycterus catamarcensis. It differs from these two species in several counts and measurements. The apparent endemism of the species is discussed.

Key words: Neotropical, Laguna dos Patos system, Endemic fish, Trichomycterus candidus, Trichomycterus catamarcensi

Ferrer, J. & Malabarba, L.R. 2011. A new Trichomycterus lacking pelvic fins and pelvic girdle with a very restricted range in Southern Brazil (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae). Zootaxa, 2912: 59–67. : http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2011/f/z02912p067f.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2011] Taxonomic revision of catfish Genus Scorpiodoras (Family Doradidae) with A new species, S. liophysus, from Brazil

Scorpiodoras heckelii

the most widespread species, occurring in the Orinoco, Branco, Negro, and Amazonas rivers downstream of its confluence with Rio Negro.

Abstract

Three species of Scorpiodoras are recognized: S. calderonensis, S. heckelii, and S. liophysus; the latter species is described herein. Scorpiodoras calderonensis occurs in the upper Amazon basin, including the Solimo˜es, Jurua´ , Japura´ , and Tefe´ rivers. Its type locality, originally stated as ‘‘Caldero´ n’’, is elucidated as Tabatinga, Brazil. Scorpiodoras heckelii is the most widespread species, occurring in the Orinoco, Branco, Negro, and Amazonas rivers downstream of its confluence with Rio Negro. Scorpiodoras liophysus is only known from the middle Rio Madeira basin and presents a morphological feature unique within the genus: gas bladder without secondary bladder. An osteological description of the genus is provided, as well as redescriptions of S. calderonensis and S. heckelii. Additionally, a key allowing identification of the species is presented, as well as a biogeographic discussion.

Distribution of Scorpiodoras

Fig. 14. Scorpiodoras liophysus, INPA 33829, holotype, 125.5 mm SL.

Scorpiodoras liophysus, new species

Holotype.—INPA 33829, 125.5 mm SL, Brazil, Rondoˆnia, Porto Velho, Lago Madalena, Rio Jaciparana´ , Rio Madeira, 9u179000S

Sousa, L.M. & Birindelli, J.L.O. 2011. Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Scorpiodoras (Siluriformes: Doradidae) with Resurrection of Scorpiodoras calderonensis and Description of a New Species. Copeia. 2011 (1): 121-140.

[Ichthyology • 2011] Taxonomic revision of thorny catfish Genus Hassar (Doradidae) with A new species, H. gabiru, from Amazonia Brazil

Hassar gabiru, new species

Family: Doradidae

Abstract

The genus Hassar (Doradidae) is diagnosed by a single exclusive feature: basioccipital with ventral ring-like arch surrounding aorta; and by the combination of several non-exclusive characters, including dark blotch in distal half of anterior branched rays of dorsal fin, and anteriormost postinfranuchal scutes reduced in size.

Three nominal species are recognized and redescribed in Hassar: H. orestis from the Orinoco, Essequibo and Amazonas basins, excluding Tocantins and middle to upper Xingu drainages; H. wilderi from Tocantins; and H. affinis from northeastern Brazil, including Turiaçu, Pindaré-Mearim, Itapecuru and Parnaíba drainages.

The nominal Hemidoras notospilus and Hassar ucayalensis are recognized as junior synonyms of Hassar orestis; Hassar woodi is considered a junior synonym of H. affinis; Hassar iheringi is recognized as a junior synonym of H. wilderi, and its type locality as originally reported is considered incorrect.

A fourth new species, Hassar gabiru, is described from middle to upper Xingu river basin.

Hassar is considered to be the sister taxon of Anduzedoras + Leptodoras. A detailed anatomical description and discussion of the phylogenetic relationships of Hassar among fimbriate-barbel doradids are provided.

Key words: Doradinae, New species, Phylogeny, Systematics.

Birindelli, J.L.O., Fayal, D.F. & Wosiacki, W.B. 2011. Taxonomic revision of thorny catfish genus Hassar (Siluriformes: Doradidae). Neotropical Ichthyology. 9 (3): 515-542. : http://www.ufrgs.br/ni/vol9num3/v09n3a06.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2011] Spinipterus acsi • A New Genus of Small, Spiny Catfish (Auchenipteridae) from the Peruvian Amazon

Spinipterus acsi

Family: Auchenipteridae

Abstract

A new species of small auchenipterid catfish is described based on a single specimen from the Amazon basin and is placed into a new genus. Spinipterus, new genus, is diagnosed by the following striking autapomorphic features: pectoral and dorsal-fin spines with four prominent rows of serrations; lateral margin of the skull roofing bones ornamented with a single row of spines; size reduction of hipurals; elongation and angle of posterior cleithral process; and adducted dorsal fin rests into a mid-dorsal groove. The new genus also differs from most other auchenipterid genera by having lower counts for some fin rays. Current diagnoses of auchenipterid genera do not allow us to place the new species into any genus, which requires us to propose the new genus Spinipterus.

Key words: Neotropical region, driftwood catfish, miniaturization, sexual dimorphism

Akama, A. and Ferraris, C.J., jr. 2011. Spinipterus, A New Genus of Small, Spiny Catfish (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) from the Peruvian Amazon. Zootaxa. 2992: 52-60. : http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2011/f/z02992p060f.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2011] Nemuroglanis furcatus • A new Nemuroglanis from the rio Guariba, rio Madeira basin, Brazil

Nemuroglanis furcatus

Family: Heptapteridae

Abstract

Nemuroglanis furcatus is described from streams of the rio Guariba, a clear water tributary of the rio Aripuanã, rio Madeira basin in Brazil. Nemuroglanis furcatus can be distinguished from its congeners by the possession of a long lateral line, reaching the middle portion of the adipose-fin base; a narrow posterior cranial fontanel (16 to 27% of its length); and the anterior border of pectoral bridge with a pointed contour. The plesiomorphic state of some of the synapomorphies for Nemuroglanis in N. furcatus suggests that this species might be the sister-group to the remaining species of the genus. A key for all four valid species of Nemuroglanis species is provided.

Key words: taxonomy, South America, small catfish, Amazon fish

Ribeiro et al. 2011. A new species of Nemuroglanis (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) from the rio Guariba, rio Madeira basin, Brazil. Zootaxa. 2799: 41–48. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2011/f/z02799p048f.pdf

[Paleontology • 2010] Koreanosaurus boseongensis • A New Basal Ornithopod Dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of South Korea

Koreanosaurus boseongensis

Huh, Lee, Kim, Lim & Godefroit, 2011

Abstract

The Seonso Conglomerate (?Santonian – Campanian, Late Cretacous) of Boseong site 5 (southern coast of Korean Peninsula) has yielded well-preserved postcranial material belonging to a new taxon of ornithischian dinosaur, Koreanosaurus boseongensis nov. gen., nov. sp. This dinosaur is characterized by elongated neck vertebrae, very long and massive scapulocoracoid and humerus, proportionally short hindlimbs with a low hindlimb ratio for tibia/femur, and anteroposteriorly-elongated femoral head forming an obtuse 135° angle with the femoral shaft. Koreano saurus displays a series of neornithischian synapomorphies. Amongst Neornithischia, most features of the postcranial skeleton suggest affinities with basal ornithopods and, amongst them, particularly with a small clade formed by three genera from the Cretaceous of Montana: Zephyrosaurus schaffi, Orodromeus makelai, and Oryctodromeus cubicularis. According to the morphological, phylogenetic, sedimentological, and taphonomic data at hand, it is tentatively postulated that Koreanosaurus was a burrowing dinosaur, like Oryctodromeus.

Key words: Boseong, Korea, Late Cretaceous, Koreanosaurus boseongensis nov. gen., nov. sp., dinosaurs, basal ornithopods

Min Huh, Dae-Gil Lee, Jung-Kyun Kim, Jong-Deock Lim, Pascal Godefroit. 2011. "A new basal ornithopod dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of South Korea". Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Palaeontologie, Abhandlungen. 259 (1): 1–24. doi:10.1127/0077-7749/2010/0102.

[Paleontology • 2011] Koreaceratops hwaseongensis • the First Ceratopsian dinosaur in the Korean peninsula — A Swimming Ceratopsian?

Koreaceratops is a combination of "Korea" and the Greek κερας/keras meaning 'horn' and οψις/opsis meaning 'face'. The type species is K. hwaseongensis, named after Hwaseong City.

The remains of Koreaceratops - the tip of the tail is to the upper right and the partial legs are to the lower left. From Lee et al., 2011.

Abstract

In 2008, a new basal neoceratopsian was discovered in the Tando beds (Albian) of Tando Basin in SouthKorea. It represents the first ceratopsian dinosaur in the Korean peninsula and is assigned to Koreaceratops hwaseongensisgen. et sp. nov. Autapomorphies of Koreaceratops includevery tall neural spines over five times higher than the associated centra in the distal caudals, and a unique astragalus divided into two fossae by a prominent craniocaudal ridge on the proximal surface. A phylogenetic analysis indicates that Koreaceratops is positioned between Archaeoceratops and all more derived neoceratopsians, and the elongation of caudal neural spines was an important derivedcharacter in non-ceratopsid neoceratopsians. The very tall caudal neural spines in Koreaceratops, Montanoceratops,Udanoceratops, Protoceratops, and Bagaceratops appear tobe homoplasious, suggesting an independent adaptation, possibly for swimming. Skeletal evidence suggests that obligate quadrupedalism occurred gradually in neoceratopsians progressing from bipedal through facultative quadrupedalism, to complete quadrupedalism in Coronosauria.

Keywords: Basal neoceratopsian, Koreaceratops hwaseongensis, Tando beds, Late Early Cretaceous, Hwaseong City, South Korea

Koreaceratops hwaseongensis

The first Ceratopsian dinosaur from South Korea

— A Swimming Ceratopsian? from blogs.smithsonianmag.com

Lee, Yuong-Nam; Ryan, Michael J.; and Kobayashi, Yoshitsugo. 2011. "The first ceratopsian dinosaur from South Korea". Naturwissenschaften. 98 (1): 39–49.

doi: 10.1007/s00114-010-0739-y

[Paleontology • 2010] Sinoceratops zhuchengensis • the First Ceratopsid, Horned Dinosaur, from China

Sinoceratops zhuchengensis

• the First Ceratopsid, Horned Dinosaur, from China

Image Credit: Olorotitan on DeviantArt

Abstract

Ceratopsid dinosaurs represent one of the best known dinosaur groups in the Late Cretaceous, and their unquestionable fossil records are exclusively restricted to western North America. Here we report a new ceratopsid dinosaur, Sinoceratops zhuchengensis gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Cretaceous Wangshi Group of Zhucheng, Shandong Province, China. Cladistic analysis places this new taxon as the only known ceratopsid from outside North America, in a basal position within the Centrosaurinae. It is con-siderably larger than most other centrosaurines but similar in size to basal chasmosaurines. Furthermore, it is more similar to chasmosaurines than to other centrosaurines in several features, thus blurring the distinction of the two ceratopsid subgroups. This new find not only provides significant information on the morphological transition from non-ceratopsid to ceratopsid dinosaurs, but also complicates the biogeography of the Ceratopsidae, and further demonstrates that fossil sampling has profound effects on recon-structing dinosaurian biogeography.

Keywords: Late Cretaceous, Wangshi Group, Ceratopsidae, Centrosaurinae, biogeography

Figure 1: Photograph of Sinoceratops zhuchengensis holotype. ZCDMV0010 skull in right lateral (a) and right laterodorsal (b) views; ZCDMV0010 parietals in dorsal (c), posterior (d), and ventral (e) views. Abbreviations: bp, bump; ff, frontal fontanelle; mb, median bump; mr, midline ramus;nb, nasal bump; nh, nasal horn; ob, orbit; pb, postorbital bump; sb, supraorbital bump. Scale bar = 8 cm for (a), (b) and 6 cm for (c), (d), and (e).

Sinoceratops zhuchengensis

— the First Ceratopsid, Horned Dinosaur, from China

http://csb.scichina.com:8080/kxtbe/EN/abstract/abstract417557.shtml

Xu, X., Wang, K., Zhao, X. & Li, D. (2010). "First ceratopsid dinosaur from China and its biogeographical implications". Chinese Science Bulletin. 55(16): 1631–1635. DOI: 10.1007/s11434-009-3614-5.

[Paleontology • 2010] Coahuilaceratops magnacuerna • First horned dinosaur from Mexico, with the Largest Horn in Animal Kingdom

Coahuilaceratops magnacuerna, translates in part to "great horned horny face," and the dinosaur lives up to its description.

CREDIT: Lukas Panzarin

Coahuilaceratops magnacuerna [Late Cretaceous, 84 - 70 Ma]

— the Largest Horn in Animal Kingdom

First horned dinosaur from Mexico

Plant-eater had largest horns of any dinosaur

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-05/uou-fhd052510.php

NEW DINOSAUR HAD RECORD-SIZED HORNS

The 72-million-year-old herbivore found in Mexico used its 4-foot-long horns mainly to attract mates.

http://news.discovery.com/dinosaurs/big-horned-dinosaur-mexico.html

Loewen, M.A., Sampson, S.D., Lund, E.K., Farke, A.A., Aguillón-Martínez, M.C., de Leon, C.A., Rodríguez-de la Rosa, R.A., Getty, M.A., Eberth, D.A., 2010, "Horned Dinosaurs (Ornithischia: Ceratopsidae) from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Cerro del Pueblo Formation, Coahuila, Mexico", In: Michael J. Ryan, Brenda J. Chinnery-Allgeier, and David A. Eberth (eds), New Perspectives on Horned Dinosaurs: The Royal Tyrrell Museum Ceratopsian Symposium, Indiana University Press, 656 pp.

[Paleontology • 2011] Titanoceratops ouranos • a giant horned dinosaur from the Late Campanian of New Mexico, the US

Titanoceratops ouranos

[Late Cretaceous, New Mexico, USA]

New Dinosaur: Titanic Triceratops Ancestor? http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/02/110203-new-dinosaur-triceratops-father-science-titanoceratops/

New Dinosaur Species Discovered http://www.yalescientific.org/2011/05/new-dinosaur-species-discovered/

Nicholas R. Longrich. 2011. "Titanoceratops ouranos, a giant horned dinosaur from the Late Campanian of New Mexico". Cretaceous Research. 32 (3): 264–276. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2010.12.007.

[Paleontology • 2010] Utahceratops gettyi & Kosmoceratops richardsoni • from Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah, the US

Artist's rendering of two new dinosaur species -- Utahceratops gettyi (top) and Kosmoceratops richardsoni -- discovered in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument of southern Utah.

CREDIT: Courtesy of Utah Museum of Natural History.

Utahceratops gettyi

κέρας (keras, "horn") and ὤψ (ōps, "face")

Kosmoceratops richardsoni

from Ancient Greek κόσμος (kosmos "ornament, decoration"),

κέρας (keras, "horn") and ὤψ (ōps, "face")

Phylogeny of the Ceratopsinae from Sampson et al. (2010)

Scott D. Sampson, Mark A. Loewen, Andrew A. Farke, Eric M. Roberts, Catherine A. Forster, Joshua A. Smith, Alan L. Titus (2010). Stepanova, Anna. ed. "New Horned Dinosaurs from Utah Provide Evidence for Intracontinental Dinosaur Endemism".

PLoS ONE. 5 (9): e12292 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012292.

Really Horny Dinosaur Heralded from Lost Continent http://www.livescience.com/8652-horny-dinosaur-heralded-lost-continent.html via @LIVESCIENCEdotcom