[Paleontology • 2015] Cushingia ellenbergeri • A Camel Spider from Cretaceous Burmese Amber

Cushingia ellenbergeri 

Dunlop, Bird, Brookhart & Bechly, 2015

the first camel spider (Arachnida: Solifugae) from Cretaceous Burmese amber. SMNS Bu-161.  

DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2015.05.003

Abstract

The first camel spider (Arachnida, Solifugae) from the Upper Cretaceous (lowermost Cenomanian, ca. 99 Ma) Burmese amber from Myanmar is described as Cushingia ellenbergeri gen. et sp. nov. It represents one of only a handful of fossils belonging to this arachnid order, but its precise systematic affinities are difficult to resolve. It shares characters with Karschiidae, the subfamily Gylippinae among the Gylippidae and the subfamily Dinorhaxinae containing a single, monotypic genus Dinorhax Simon, 1879 in the family Melanoblossiidae; the latter genus occurring in South-East Asia today. Its general habitus is closest to Dinorhax, but differences between the fossil and this modern genus remain. On balance, the uncertain nature of some features precludes unequivocal referral to any one of the families above. We prefer to place this new genus as Solifugae incertae sedis and further discuss the wider biogeographical implications of this find. Our new fossil is also significant for coming from a presumed forest habitat, whereas most camel spiders today are associated with arid environments.

Keywords: Arachnida; Solifugae; Amber; Cenomanian; Myanmar; Biogeography

Systematic palaeontology

Order Solifugae Sundevall, 1833

Solifugae incertae sedis

Genus Cushingia gen. nov.

Type-species. Cushingia ellenbergeri sp. nov., designated herein.

Etymology. In honour of Paula Cushing (Denver Museum of Nature and Science Colorado) in recognition of her important contributions towards camel spider biology and systematics.

Diagnosis. Gracile camel spider with all leg tarsi undivided; leg I with weak claws, legs II and III with one slender distal tibial and three slender metatarsal spiniform setae. Chelicerae with a row of elongated mesal setae; fixed finger dorsally flat and with narrow ridge along outer margin, but with acute ventral bend towards distal end. Opisthosoma strongly tapering; anus subterminal.

Cushingia ellenbergeri gen. et sp. nov.

Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6.

Etymology. In honour of the holotype's original owner, Sieghard (Ziggi) Ellenberger, who kindly made this important specimen available for study.

Holotype. SMNS Bu-161.

Type-locality. Burmese amber, Hukawng Valley, Myanmar. Upper Cretaceous (lowermost Cenomanian).

Fig. 2. Cushingia ellenbergeri gen. et sp. nov., the first camel spider (Arachnida: Solifugae) from Cretaceous Burmese amber. SMNS Bu-161. A. Dorsal view.
Fig. 3. Camera lucida drawings of the specimen shown in Fig. 1 A. Dorsal view.

Abbreviations: ch, chelicera; pp, pedipalp; legs numbered from I–IV. Scale bar equals 2 mm.

Fig. 1. Map of Myanmar showing the position of the Hukawng Valley, the locality from which most of the Burmese amber originates.

Concluding remarks

Fossil camel spiders are extremely rare and Cushingia ellenbergeri gen. et sp. nov. is the first example to be formally described from the Cretaceous Burmese amber of South-East Asia. Its familial affinities cannot be unequivocally resolved, but it appears to have most characters in common with the living genus Dinorhax. This is itself a rarity, being the only living species found in South-East Asia and one of the few camel spiders not associated with an exclusively arid environment.

Jason A. Dunlop, Tharina L. Bird, Jack O. Brookhart and Günter Bechly. 2015. A Camel Spider from Cretaceous Burmese Amber. Cretaceous Research. 56; 265–273. DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2015.05.003

[Paleontology • 2015] Desmatochelys padillai • Oldest Known Marine Turtle? A New protostegid from the Lower Cretaceous of Colombia

Desmatochelys padillai  Cadena & Parham. 2015

 PaleoBios. 32(1).
eScholarship.org/uc/item/147611bv
Illustration: Jorge Blanco 

Recent studies suggested that many fossil marine turtles might not be closely related to extant marine turtles (Chelonioidea). The uncertainty surrounding the origin and phylogenetic position of fossil marine turtles impacts our understanding of turtle evolution and complicates our attempts to develop and justify fossil calibrations for molecular divergence dating. Here we present the description and phylogenetic analysis of a new fossil marine turtle from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Barremian-lower Aptian, >120 Ma) of Colombia that has a minimum age that is >25 million years older than the minimum age of the previously recognized oldest chelonioid. This new fossil taxon, Desmatochelys padillai sp. nov., is represented by a nearly complete skeleton, four additional skulls with articulated lower jaws, and two partial shells. The description of this new taxon provides an excellent opportunity to explore unresolved questions about the antiquity and content of Chelonioidea. We present an updated global character-taxon matrix that includes D. padillai and marine turtles known from relatively complete specimens. Our analysis supports D. padillai as sister taxon of D. lowi within Protostegidae, and places protostegids as the sister to Pan-Dermochelys within Chelonioidea. However, this hypothesis is complicated by discrepancies in the stratigraphic appearance of lineages as well as necessarily complicated biogeographic scenarios, so we consider the phylogeny of fossil marine turtles to be unresolved and do not recommend using D. padillai as a fossil calibration for Chelonioidea. We also explore the definition of “marine turtle,” as applied to fossil taxa, in light of many littoral or partially marine-adapted fossil and extant lineages. We conclude that whereas the term “oldest marine turtle” depends very much on the concept of the term being applied, we can confidently say that D. padillai is the oldest, definitive, fully marine turtle known to date.

The skeleton of the fossilized sea turtle measures almost 2 meters.

Cadena & Parham. 2015. PaleoBios. 32(1).

The skeleton of Desmatochelys padillai sp. is almost completely preserved.

Cadena & Parham. 2015. PaleoBios. 32(1).

Oldest Fossil Sea Turtle Discovered - The fossilized turtle is at least 120 million years old

 alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=156060&CultureCode=en

Scientists at the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt have described the world’s oldest fossil sea turtle known to date. The fossilized reptile is at least 120 million years old – which makes it about 25 million years older than the previously known oldest specimen. The almost completely preserved skeleton from the Cretaceous, with a length of nearly 2 meters, shows all of the characteristic traits of modern marine turtles. The study was published today in the scientific journal “PaleoBios.”

“Santanachelys gaffneyi is the oldest known sea turtle” – this sentence from the online encyclopedia Wikipedia is no longer up to date.  “We described a fossil sea turtle from Colombia that is about 25 million years older,” rejoices Dr. Edwin Cadena, a scholar of the Alexander von Humboldt foundation at the Senckenberg Research Institute. Cadena made the unusual discovery together with his colleague from the US, J. Parham of California State University, Fullerton.

This is what the habitat of Desmatochelys padillai might have looked like 120 million years ago.

 PaleoBios. 32(1).
 Illustration: Jorge Blanco 

“The turtle described by us as Desmatochelys padillai sp. originates from Cretaceous sediments and is at least 120 million years old,” says Cadena. Sea turtles descended from terrestrial and freshwater turtles that arose approximately 230 million years ago. During the Cretaceous period, they split into land and sea dwellers. Fossil evidence from this time period is very sparse, however, and the exact time of the split is difficult to verify. “This lends a special importance to every fossil discovery that can contribute to clarifying the phylogeny of the sea turtles,” explains the turtle expert from Columbia.

The fossilized turtle shells and bones come from two sites near the community of Villa de Leyva in Colombia. The fossilized remains of the ancient reptiles were discovered and collected by hobby paleontologist Mary Luz Parra and her brothers Juan and Freddy Parra in the year 2007. Since then, they have been stored in the collections of the “Centro de Investigaciones Paleontológicas” in Villa Leyva and the “University of California Museum of Paleontology.”

Cadena and his colleague examined the almost complete skeleton, four additional skulls and two partially preserved shells, and they placed the fossils in the turtle group Chelonioidea, based on various morphological characteristics. Turtles in this group dwell in tropical and subtropical oceans; among their representatives are the modern Hawksbill Turtle and the Green Sea Turtle of turtle soup fame.

“Based on the animals‘ morphology and the sediments they were found in, we are certain that we are indeed dealing with the oldest known fossil sea turtle,” adds Cadena in summary.

Cadena, E.A. and J.F. Parham. 2015. Oldest Known Marine Turtle? A New protostegid from the Lower Cretaceous of Colombia. PaleoBios. 32(1). escholarship.org/uc/item/147611bv

alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=156060

[Paleontology • 2015] The First Dromaeosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Early Cretaceous Bayan Gobi Formation of Nei Mongol, China

Figure 6. A palaeoreconstruction of IVPP V22530 next to its inferred depositional setting, a muddy lake environment.

Illustration: Julius T. Csotonyi || DOI: 10.7287/PeerJ.preprints.1340v1

Abstract

The first dromaeosaurid theropod from the Early Cretaceous Bayan Gobi Formation is identified based on an incompletely preserved partially-articulated left leg, increasing the known diversity of its understudied ecosystem. The leg belongs to specimen IVPP V22530 and includes a typical deinonychosaurian pedal phalanx II-2 with a distinct constriction between the enlarged proximal end and the distal condyle as well as a typical deinonychosaurian enlarged pedal phalanx II-3. It possesses a symmetric metatarsus and a slender and long MT V that together suggest it is a dromaeosaurid. Two anatomical traits suggest the leg is microraptorine-like, but a more precise taxonomic referral was not possible: metatarsals II, III and IV are closely appressed distally and the ventral margin of the medial ligament pit of phalanx II-2 is close to the centre of the rounded distal condyle. This taxonomic status invites future efforts to discover additional specimens at the study locality because - whether it is a microraptorine or a close relative - this animal is expected to make important contributions to our understanding of dromaeosaurid evolution and biology. IVPP V22530 also comprises of an isolated manual ungual, a proximal portion of a right dorsal rib and an indeterminate bone mass that includes a collection of ribs. However, these specimens cannot be confidently referred to Dromaeosauridae, although they may very well belong to the same individual from whom the left leg belongs.

Keywords: dromaeosaurid, microraptorine, paravian, deinonychosaur, theropod, Elesitai, Bayan Gobi Formation, Nei Mongol, Early Cretaceous

Conclusions

IVPP V22530 comprises of an incompletely preserved partially-articulated left dromaeosaurid leg, an isolated pennaraptorans manual ungual, a proximal portion of a right theropod dorsal rib and an indeterminate bone mass that includes a collection of ribs. Two anatomical traits suggest that the left leg belongs to a microraptorine or a close relative: metatarsals II, III and IV are closely appressed distally and the ventral margin of the medial ligament pit of phalanx II-2 is close to the centre of the rounded distal condyle. This referral means that IVPP V22530 is the first described dromaeosaurid - and small-sized theropod (<1kg) - from the Bayan Gobi Formation, helping to expand our understanding of this understudied Early Cretaceous ecosystem. Aptian to Albian ages have been specifically suggested for the Formation, but constraining them further would be invaluable as a well supported Albian age could make IVPP V22530 the first-known Albian microraptorine-like dromaeosaurid. As a microraptorine IVPP V22530 would extend the geographical range of this clade because the study site is ~500km northwest of Liaoning Province, which is the only area that Early Cretaceous microraptorines are known from. As a close microraptorine relative IVPP V22530 would be the first non-North American example. Thus, further discoveries at the study site will help fill important gaps in our knowledge of dromaeosaurid evolution and biology between the Aptian/Albian and Campanian stages of the Cretaceous.

Michael Pittman​, Rui Pei and Xing Xu. 2015. The First Dromaeosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Early Cretaceous Bayan Gobi Formation of Nei Mongol, China. PeerJ. PrePrints 3:e1654 DOI: 10.7287/PeerJ.preprints.1340v1

[Botany • 2015] Aristolochia phuphathanaphongiana | กระเช้านางพันธุรัต • A New Species of Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae) from southwestern Thailand

กระเช้านางพันธุรัต |  Aristolochia phuphathanaphongiana Do

DOI: 10.1111/njb.00889

Aristolochia phuphathanaphongiana Do sp. nov. from southwestern Thailand is described here. The new species is most similar to A. acuminata and A. kongkandae, but it is distinguished by having a broad-ovate to cordate bracteole that is sessile and 8–15 × 6–12 mm, the entire perianth being dark purple to maroon black, with lanceolate limb and abaxial surface densely covered with long grey hairs, as well as by non-winged seeds. In addition to the description, a key to the species of Aristolochia subsect. Podanthemum from the Himalayan region and Indochina is provided.

Truong Van Do, Stefan Wanke, Christoph Neinhuis and Rachun Pooma. 2015. Aristolochia phuphathanaphongiana sp. nov. from southwestern Thailand.

Nordic Journal of Botany. 33(5); 567–571. DOI:  10.1111/njb.00889 

ResearchGate.net/publication/281227768_Aristolochia_phuphathanaphongiana_sp._nov._from_southwestern_Thailand

http://vnmn.ac.vn/en/news/70-aristolochia-phuphathanaphongiana-a-new-species-from-southwestern-thailand

[Crustacea • 2015] Notes on the Taxonomy and Ecology of Labuanium politum (De Man, 1887) (Decapoda: Sesarmidae), An Obligate Arboreal Crab on the Nipah Palm, Nypa fruticans (Arecales: Arecaceae)

 Labuanium politum from Pulau Ubin, Singapore.
Fig. 3. A–H, specimens climbing and foraging on nipah leaves, ca. 2–5 m above ground.
Fig. 4. A, C, male (36.6 × 32.7 mm) (ZRC 2014.0861); E, male (36.6 × 32.7 mm) (ZRC 2014.0861); G, female (34.7 × 32.0 mm) (ZRC 2014.0861). A, in situ on nipah palm leaf; C, live specimens as photographed in the laboratory; E, G, dorsal overall views.

   Ng, Yan, Lee & Tan. 2015 || LKCNHM.nus.edu.sg

Abstract

The taxonomy of the rarely reported and poorly known arboreal sesarmid crab Labuanium politum (De Man, 1887), which is the type species of Labuanium Serène & Soh, 1970, is clarified. The species is an obligate associate of the mangrove nipah palm (Arecaceae: Nypa fruticans), hiding at the frond base during the day and feeding on the leaves at night. The species is recorded from Singapore for the first time.

Key words. Sesarmidae, Labuanium politum, taxonomy, new records, nipah palm

Habitats associated with Labuanium politum in the Loboc River, Bohol, Philippines.
Fig. 1. A, B, lower reach of the river showing nipah forest; C, base of nipah palms; D, E, Labuanium politum emerging from between the stems of the nipah palm; F, G, L. politum foraging on nipah leaves; H, L. politum male (35.5 × 32.1 mm) (ZRC 2003.0381) feeding on leaflet.
Fig. 2. A, female (37.3 × 33.5 mm) (ZRC 2003.0381); C, male (30.5 × 28.5 mm) (ZRC 2003.0381); E, frontal view; G, outer view of left chela.

  Ng, Yan, Lee & Tan. 2015 || LKCNHM.nus.edu.sg

TAXONOMY 

FAMILY SESARMIDAE DANA, 1851 

Labuanium Serène & Soh, 1970

Labuanium politum (De Man, 1887)

Fig. 1. Habitats associated with Labuanium politum in the Loboc River, Bohol, Philippines.
A, B, lower reach of the river showing nipah forest; C, base of nipah palms; D, E, Labuanium politum emerging from between the stems of the nipah palm; F, G, L. politum foraging on nipah leaves; H, L. politum male (35.5 × 32.1 mm) (ZRC 2003.0381) feeding on leaflet.

  Ng, Yan, Lee & Tan. 2015 || LKCNHM.nus.edu.sg

ECOLOGY: Arboreal crabs are well known, and a large number of species have this habit. In the Indo-West Pacific, most members of the sesarmid genera Labuanium sensu lato, Selatium Serène & Soh, 1970, and Scandarma Schubart, Liu & Cuesta, 2003, as well as some species of Parasesarma De Man, 1895, and Geosesarma De Man, 1895, occur regularly on trees (see Cumberlidge et al., 2005; Fratini et al., 2005; Godsall & Smallegange, 2011; Naruse & Ng, 2007; Ng, 1988; Schubart et al., 2003, 2009; Sivasothi, 2000; Sivasothi et al., 1993; Vannini & Ruwa, 1994; Vannini et al., 1997). These should be regarded as obligate tree-dwelling crabs. Various species of Grapsidae also have arboreal habits to varying degrees (see Fratini et al., 2005; Sivasothi, 2000; Sivasothi et al., 1993; Vannini et al., 1997). Some true freshwater crabs in Africa, South and Southeast Asia (Gecarcinucoidea) are also primarily arboreal (see Cumberlidge & Sachs, 1991; Cumberlidge et al., 2005; Ng, 1991, 1995).

......

Peter K. L. Ng, Bee Yan, Lee and H. H. Tan. 2015. Notes on the Taxonomy and Ecology of Labuanium politum (De Man, 1887) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Sesarmidae), An Obligate Arboreal Crab on the Nipah Palm, Nypa fruticans (Arecales: Arecaceae).
RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. Supplement No. 31: 216–225.

http://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/nus/images/data/raffles_bulletin_of_zoology/supplement31/S31rbz216-225.pdf

[Herpetology • 2015] Leptobrachella juliandringi • Description of A New Species of the Genus Leptobrachella (Anura, Megophryidae) from Borneo

Leptobrachella juliandringi

Eto, Matsui & Nishikawa, 2015

Fig. 7. Dorsolateral view of a male paratype of Leptobrachella juliandringi sp. nov. (SRC 00230) from the type locality.

doi: 10.5358/hsj.34.128

Abstract

We describe a tiny megophryid frog Leptobrachella juliandringi sp. nov. from Northeastern to Central Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. This species is distributed in hilly and montane regions, and has long been confused with L. mjobergi. Based on the assessment using morphological and bioacoustic approaches, we conclude that the new species is distinct from all the other congeneric species including topotypic L. mjobergi from western Sarawak in possessing a series of elongate glands ventrolaterally on the trunk, broken reticulated marking on the ventrum, strap-like lineae masculinae, and an advertisement call with a chirp. The new species is also differentiated phylogenetically from the other congeners, and tends to form a group with true L. mjobergi but with a large genetic divergence.

Keywords: New species, MtDNA, Phytogeny, Leptobrachella mjobergi, Borneo, Taxonomy

Fig. 7. Dorsolateral view of a male paratype of Leptobrachella juliandringi sp. nov. (SRC 00230) from the type locality.

Leptobrachella juliandringi sp. nov. 

English name: Dring’s Dwarf Litter Frog

Nesobia mjobergi: Inger, 1966: 49 (part). 

Leptobrachella mjobergi: Dring, 1983: 92 (part); Inger, 1983: 27 (part);
Inger, 1985: 6 (part); Oberhummer et al., 2014: 63. 

Etymology: The species is named in honor of Mr. Julian Dring in recognition of his great contribution to the taxonomic study of the Bornean amphibians.  

Range: Northeastern to Central Sarawak, eastern Malaysia. 

Natural history: In the type locality, males seemed to prefer calling from open places such as on leaves (ca. 0.2 to 0.8 m above the ground or the water surface: Fig. 7), close to small streams (ca. 1 to 3 m wide).  Males were seldom found calling on the ground or in hidden places.  These habitat selections are similar to those of topotypic L. mjobergi, males of which also preferred open places for calling, but were often found calling on the ground and the rocks (Matsui and Eto, unpublished data).  The eggs, the tadpoles, and the oviposition site are unknown, although some previous studies on the larvae of L. mjobergi (e.g., Inger, 1983, 1985) may contain information on the tad-poles of the new species. 

Koshiro Eto, Masafumi Matsui and Kanto Nishikawa. 2015. Description of A New Species of the Genus Leptobrachella (Amphibia, Anura, Megophryidae) from Borneo. Current Herpetology. 34(2):128-139. doi: 10.5358/hsj.34.128
ResearchGate.net/publication/281457105_Description_of_a_New_Species_of_the_Genus_Leptobrachella_(Amphibia_Anura_Megophryidae)_from_Borneo

[Herpetology • 2015] Systematics and Ecology of Oligodon sublineatus Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854, An Endemic Snake of Sri Lanka, including the Designation of A Lectotype

Figure 1. A live male of Oligodon sublineatus (not collected) at Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka

photo: H. Jayasinghe || DOI: 10.3897/zse.91.4971

Abstract

The description of Oligodon sublineatus Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 was based on two syntypes located at Paris Natural History Museum (MNHN). The larger specimen (SVL 254 mm) was described in detail, but erroneously labelled as originating from the Philippines, the second specimen (SVL 150 mm) was labelled as originating from ‘Ceylan’ (=Sri Lanka). The smaller specimen, up to this point, has always been considered as the holotype by monotypy. Since recognising the larger specimen in the collection of MNHN as a syntype, we hereby designate it as the lectotype of Oligodon sublineatus and redescribe comprehensively both syntypes. Oligodon sublineatus (SVL 152–310 mm) has 130–161 ventral scales, 23–42 divided subcaudals, a divided anal plate, a loreal, seven supralabials, and 1+2 temporals. Furthermore, we provide a detailed account of the distribution and natural history of this widely distributed Sri Lankan endemic snake.

Key Words: Colubridae, distribution, kukri snake, natural history, systematic, taxonomy, Sri Lanka

......

Natural history: 

A nocturnal snake, sometimes active during day time. Temperature, humidity, and light intensities for daytime activity were respectively measured at 24.8–27.2 °C, 67–82%, and 38–365 lux, based on 50 observations in dense forested areas. It usually does not bite, but if this does occur then it will lead to soreness, pain and temporary bleeding in the victim. Biting has been occasionally observed during touching or handling attempts by the victim. When frightened, the snake either coils up and hides its head within its coiled up body; or it quickly tries to escape to a safe hiding place inside the leaf litter. When the snake coils, it enlarges its body and displays its vivid skin colours (white, pink and brown), which is visible between the scales around the mid body. We observed, on a number of occasions, the snake practicing thanatosis (death mimicry) for up to 10–15 minutes after carrying out our own handling attempts. Once the snake had noticed that threat had disappeared, it quickly escaped and hid itself in the leaf litter. We have observed this species living in sympatry with other snakes of several families such as Aspidura guentheri Ferguson, 1876 (Natricidae); Hypnale zara (Gray, 1849) (Viperidae); and Sibynophis subpunctatus (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854) (Colubridae).

Based on our observations, its diet consists mostly of lizards (saurophagy) and small snakes eggs (oophagy), small spiders, beetles, other insects and the larvae of other invertebrates. More specifically, we observed the snake feeding on ground dwelling skinks (Lankascincus sp.) and geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus and Cnemaspis sp.). If the prey is large, the snake wraps itself around it and squeezes it until it suffocates. In captivity, it was fed with jumping spiders, small wild cockroaches, annelid worms, meal-worms, small frogs, and the freshly detached tail tips of geckos.

During the breeding season (May–June) 3–5 individuals can be observed close by and we observed several copulations in the evenings just after dark (18.0–19.0 hrs). The species lays 3–5 eggs at a time on dry, cool, loose soil or under decaying logs on the ground (soil temperature 26.2–27.9 °C; humidity 58–73%; light intensity 0–27 lux, based on observations of 10 ovipositions). Eggs are cream in colour and oval in shape (12–14 mm long and 4–5 mm wide, n = 40). The lectotype MNHN 3238 is a gravid female with three eggs in its genital tract. The incubation period is 38–45 days (based on observations of 10 incubating clutches). We did not see the parents close by during the incubation nor shortly afterwards, indicating the lack of parental care of the eggs or hatchlings. The new born juveniles were 4–5 cm in total length and their body colour varied from dark brown to black. We noticed that ants were their main egg predators on about ten occasions. We also observed on several occasions, this snake attempting to avoid ant-nests when moving or resting.

We have found this species inside termite mounds on many occasions, an observation also made by Smith (1943). This may indicate either a strategy used by the snake to avoid ants (because we never observed ant nests in or around termite mounts) or a neat way for the snake to have instant access to food (may be feeding on termite eggs). Further studies on habitat ecology would be interesting. Even though this is a ground dwelling species, we observed it climbing on rock boulders which have crevices, indicating that this snake may be searching for geckos or their eggs for food. During floods, the snake is usually found off the floor, in trees at 1–2 m above ground level. It is also found deep inside forests, and has been observed under old coconut harnesses, decaying logs on the ground, and inside termite mounds (as mentioned earlier) set in well maintained home gardens.

Road kills are identified as a major growing threat in addition to forest fragmentation and habitat loss. People are also a threat, killing the snake out of fear, believing that it to be venomous, especially because as it displays such vivid head and body colours. We observed natural predators including birds: the yellow-billed babbler [Turdoides affinis (Jerdon, 1845)], southern coucal (Centropus parroti Stresemann, 1913), common mynah [Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766)], white-throated kingfisher [Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus, 1758)], and the Sri Lankan grey hornbill (Ocyceros gingalensis Shaw, 1811); ophiophagous snakes including: two elapids, the Sri Lankan krait (Bungarus ceylonicus Günther, 1864), and the Indian krait (Bungarus caeruleus Schneider, 1801); and amphibians including forest toads (Duttaphrynus sp.). In addition, Karunarathna and Asela (2007), and Karunarathna (2009) have observed the common rat snake (Ptyas mucosus Linnaeus, 1758) feeding on Oligodon sublineatus and Oligodon calamarius (Linnaeus, 1758) in Sri Lanka

AA Thasun Amarasinghe, D.M.S. Suranjan Karunarathna, Patrick D. Campbell and Ivan Ineich. 2015. Systematics and Ecology of Oligodon sublineatus Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854, An Endemic Snake of Sri Lanka, including the Designation of A Lectotype.

Zoosystematics and Evolution. 91(1): 71-80. DOI: 10.3897/zse.91.4971
 ResearchGate.net/publication/275334248_Systematics_and_ecology_of_Oligodon_sublineatus_an_endemic_snake_of_Sri_Lanka
facebook.com/SuranjanKarunarathna/posts/10157139502287907

[Herpetology • 2013] Palleon gen. nov. • A New Genus Name for An Ancient Malagasy Chameleon Clade

Palleon lolontany  (Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995)
Figure 1. First published colour photograph of Palleon lolontany in life (male from the Sorata massif, a new locality for this species).
Figure 2. Skeleton of an adult female of Palleon lolontany from the left (ZSM 1679/2012, snout–vent length 33.4 mm, total length 52.9 mm).

Recent research has led to enormous progress in the understanding of chameleon phylogeny, and new genus names were introduced for most of the identified deep chameleon clades (Kinyongia, Nadzikambia, Rieppeleon), or available names were resurrected from synonymy (Archaius) or elevated from subgenus level (Trioceros). A remarkable exception is a deep lineage composed of the two morphologically distinct species Brookesia ­nasus and B. lolontany from Madagascar. Raxworthy et al. (2002) found this lineage to be the basal clade in the family Chamaeleonidae, but more recent studies regarded it (with limited support) as a sister group of all other Brookesia that split off in the Cretaceous or Palaeocene. Thus, the Brookesia ­nasus-lolontany clade split off much earlier than all other extant chameleon clades recognized today as distinct genera. In the present paper, we provide new data on B.­ lolontany (including an embedded 3D-PDF model of its skeleton) and a morphologi-cal diagnosis of the B.­ nasus-lolontany clade, and transfer the two species to a new genus. As already emphasized by Vences et al. (2013), this decision results in two clearly monophyletic genera with improved morphological diagnosability.

.......................

Palleon lolontany  (Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995)
Figure 1. First published colour photograph of Palleon lolontany in life (male from the Sorata massif, a new locality for this species).
Figure 2. Skeleton of an adult female of Palleon lolontany from the left (ZSM 1679/2012, snout–vent length 33.4 mm, total length 52.9 mm).

Palleon gen. n. 

Type species: Brookesia nasus Boulenger, 1887 

Content: Palleon nasus nasus (Boulenger, 1887), 

Palleon nasus pauliani (Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1972), 

Palleon lolontany (Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995).

Etymology. The new genus name Palleon is derived from the Greek word “Palae-” (meaning “old”) and the Greek word “leon” (meaning “lion”; as used for other chameleon genera), referring to the very early separation of this clade. The resulting composite Palae-o-leon is shortened to Palleon for simplified pronunciation. The gender of the genus is masculine. 

Frank Glaw, Oliver Hawlitschek and Bernhard Ruthensteiner. 2013. A New Genus Name for An Ancient Malagasy Chameleon Clade and A PDF-embedded 3D Model of Its Skeleton. SALAMANDRA. 49(4) 237–238.

http://www.zsm.mwn.de/her/pdf/321_Glaw_et_al_2013_New_chameleon_genus_Palleon_and_embedded_pdf_model_SALAMANDRA.pdf

IUCN - A new genus name for an ancient Malagasy chameleon clade and a PDF-embedded 3D model of its skeleton http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/who_we_are/ssc_specialist_groups_and_red_list_authorities_directory/amphibians_and_reptiles/chameleon/?16054%2FPalleon-Chameleon

http://markscherz.tumblr.com/post/70629343762/palleon-gen-nov-a-new-genus-of-chameleons-from

[Herpetology • 2013] Resolving An Enigma by Integrative Taxonomy: Madagascarophis fuchsi (Serpentes: Lamprophiidae), A New Opisthoglyphous and Microendemic Snake from northern Madagascar

(A) Holotype of Madagascarophis fuchsi sp. nov. in life (ZSM 2130/2007).
(B) Madagascarophis colubrinus septentrionalis from Windsor Castle (ZSM 2212/2007) in life, representing a typical color morph of the northernmost populations.

Map of northern Madagascar showing localities of Madagascarophis specimens studied morphologically

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3630.2.7

Abstract

Herpetological surveys in the dry forests of the limestone massif Montagne des Français in the far north of Madagascar have recently yielded a number of undescribed reptile species. Here we describe an additional new and potentially microendemic species of the snake genus Madagascarophis (Squamata: Serpentes: Pseudoxyrhophiinae) which lives in this massif syntopically with M. colubrinus septentrionalis and differs distinctly from M. colubrinus and M. meridionalis in its mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences. Morphologically Madagascarophis fuchsi sp. nov. is characterized by a broad contact between the posterior inframaxillaries (genials), 25 dorsal scale rows at midbody, and a low number of ventrals (171–172). We re-describe the holotype of M. ocellatus and present new data on the morphological variation of the northern subspecies M. c. septentrionalis and M. c. citrinus. Although Montagne des Français has recently been included into the network of nature reserves in Madagascar, continuous deforestation is strongly threatening this important center of reptile endemism. In line with the assessment of other microendemic reptiles of this massif we suggest to consider the new species as Critically Endangered according to the IUCN criteria and encourage new efforts to protect this area more efficiently.

Key words: Squamata, Montagne des Français, microendemism, conservation, Madagascarophis colubrinus citrinus, Madagascarophis colubrinus septentrionalis, Madagascarophis ocellatus

Glaw, Frank, Christoph Kucharzewski, Jörn Köhler, Miguel Vences & Zoltán T. Nagy. 2013. Resolving An Enigma by Integrative Taxonomy: Madagascarophis fuchsi (Serpentes: Lamprophiidae), A New Opisthoglyphous and Microendemic Snake from northern Madagascar. Zootaxa. 3630(2): 317-332. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3630.2.7

http://www.zsm.mwn.de/her/pdf/311_Glaw_et_al_2013_Madagascarophis_fuchsi.pdf

[Crustacea • 2015] Macrolabrum maui • The First pagurapseudid Species (Peracarida: Tanaidacea) from New Zealand with remarks on paguridean (Decapoda: Paguridea) and pagurapseudid convergence and competition

 Macrolabrum maui

Bird & Webber, 2015 || photo: Jean-Claude Stahl 

 NIWA.co.nz DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3995.1.15

Abstract

A new species of pagurapseudid, Macrolabrum maui, is described from the lower eulittoral rocky shore on the East Coast of the North Island, New Zealand. It is similar to M. haikung from Bass Strait, Australia and M. distonyx from New Caledonia. Males and females show little dimorphism. Typical of the subfamily Pagurapseudinae, M. maui inhabits shells of micro-molluscs such as the gastropods Eatoniella, Merelina, and Pisinna. A dichotomous key to the species of Macrolabrum is given. Possible competition for micro-mollusc shells between small pagurideans, notably their glaucothoe stage, and pagurapseudids is considered based on their convergent morphologies and on body sizes.

 Keywords: Crustacea, glaucothoe, hermit-crabs, Macrolabrum, megalopa, micro-molluscs, Pagurapseudidae, Pagurapseudinae, taxonomy

Bird & Webber. 2015. The First pagurapseudid Species (Peracarida: Tanaidacea) from New Zealand with remarks on paguridean (Decapoda: Paguridea) and pagurapseudid convergence and competition. Zootaxa. 3995(5): 149-168. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3995.1.15

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa #CritteroftheWeek
    NIWA.co.nz/blogs/critteroftheweek/176

Empty gastropod shells are usually prime real estate for #hermit crabs, which are decapod crustaceans with specially designed appendages to hold onto the shell. This week we bring you a very peculiar find – the first description in New Zealand of a tanaid (a distant cousin of the hermit crab) living inside a tiny gastropod shell! This new species has just been published by some colleagues (Bird & Webber, 2015) and they have kindly shared their images with us. The new species has been named Macrolabrum maui after two different ‘Maui’s’. The first is the Māori mythological character #Maui, whom emerged from the sea wrapped up in seaweed by spirits, alluding to the fact that the new species was found among coralline and brown algae. And the second reason it was named maui, is after a well-known holiday camper-van hire firm in New Zealand alluding to the use of the gastropod shell as a mobile home in this family.

facebook.com/NIWAInvertebrateCollection/photos/935859023148651

[Ichthyology • 2015] Pseudorasbora pugnax • A New Species of Minnow from central Honshu, Japan, and Redescription of P. pumila (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Pseudorasbora pugnax Kawase & Hosoya, 2015
a, KUN-P 43543, holotype, 59.7 mm SL, male; Japan: Gifu Prefecture: Mino (photograph by Toshihiko Morimune); b, about 35 mm TL, female; Japan: Gifu Prefecture: Ogaki; aquarium specimen, not preserved (photograph by Ryu Uchiyama).

Pseudorasbora pugnax, new species, is described from the Ise Bay area in central Honshu, Japan. It is distinguished from its Japanese congener P. pumila by the absence of a dark lateral stripe (vs. presence), 33-34 (vs. 34-35) vertebrae, a comparatively more developed infraorbital canal of the cephalic lateralis system with a rostral branch present (vs. absent), a nasal canal present (vs. absent) and mandibular canal complete (vs. incomplete). It is distinguished from the sympatric P. parva, by the longer head (27.5-31.9 % SL vs. 23.5-27.3), incomplete (vs. complete) lateral line, and incomplete (vs. complete) infraorbital, supraorbital and supratemporal canals of the cephalic lateralis. Pseudorasbora pumila is redescribed and a lectotype designated.

Etymology. The specific epithet, pugnax, is Latin for ‘belligerent, aggressive, pugnacious’. Mature males protect their territory very aggressively during spawning season. Locally, this species is called ‘Kenka-Moroko’ (kenka means fighting in Japanese) (Niwa, 1967). Hence, the specific epithet well represents the behavioral characteristics of this species.

Seigo Kawase and Kazumi Hosoya. 2015. Pseudorasbora pugnax, A New Species of Minnow from Japan, and Redescription of P. pumila (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters. 25(4): 289-298.

http://www.pfeil-verlag.de/04biol/pdf/ief25_4_01.pdf

facebook.com/israquarium/photos/865645830168684

[PaleoMammalogy • 2015] Isthminia panamensis • A New Fossil inioid (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the Chagres Formation of Panama and the Evolution of ‘River Dolphins’ in the Americas

Isthminia panamensis

Pyenson, Vélez-Juarbe, Gutstein, Little, Vigil & O’Dea, 2015

Life reconstruction of Isthminia panamensis, feeding on a flatfish, which would have been abundant in the neritic zone of the late Miocene equatorial seas of Panama. 

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1227

Abstract

In contrast to dominant mode of ecological transition in the evolution of marine mammals, different lineages of toothed whales (Odontoceti) have repeatedly invaded freshwater ecosystems during the Cenozoic era. The so-called ‘river dolphins’ are now recognized as independent lineages that converged on similar morphological specializations (e.g., longirostry). In South America, the two endemic ‘river dolphin’ lineages form a clade (Inioidea), with closely related fossil inioids from marine rock units in the South Pacific and North Atlantic oceans. Here we describe a new genus and species of fossil inioid, Isthminia panamensis, gen. et sp. nov. from the late Miocene of Panama. The type and only known specimen consists of a partial skull, mandibles, isolated teeth, a right scapula, and carpal elements recovered from the Piña Facies of the Chagres Formation, along the Caribbean coast of Panama. Sedimentological and associated fauna from the Piña Facies point to fully marine conditions with high planktonic productivity about 6.1–5.8 million years ago (Messinian), pre-dating the final closure of the Isthmus of Panama. Along with ecomorphological data, we propose that Isthminia was primarily a marine inhabitant, similar to modern oceanic delphinoids. Phylogenetic analysis of fossil and living inioids, including new codings for Ischyrorhynchus, an enigmatic taxon from the late Miocene of Argentina, places Isthminia as the sister taxon to Inia, in a broader clade that includes Ischyrorhynchus and Meherrinia, a North American fossil inioid. This phylogenetic hypothesis complicates the possible scenarios for the freshwater invasion of the Amazon River system by stem relatives of Inia, but it remains consistent with a broader marine ancestry for Inioidea. Based on the fossil record of this group, along with Isthminia, we propose that a marine ancestor of Inia invaded Amazonia during late Miocene eustatic sea-level highs.

Keywords: Ecology, Evolutionary Studies, Marine Biology, Paleontology, Zoology

Figure 1: Map of fossil and living Inioidea.
Global map of living and fossil inioids, projected onto an orthographic globe, centered on 15°N, 45°W. Extant distributions of Inia geoffrensis (teal and black waterways) and Pontoporia blainvillei (dark gray), follow data from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) (2013) and Secchi, Ott & Danilewicz (2003), respectively. Occurrences for fossil data derive from location of type localities for each taxon, except for reports for the Northern Europe by Pyenson & Hoch (2007), Western South America by Gutstein et al. (2015), and Amazonia and Eastern South America by Cozzuol (2010). Major fossil localites for enumerated inioids identified at least to the generic level, are listed alphabetically by region, and represented by teal or blue dots, for freshwater and marine deposits, respectively.

Base map generated by Indiemapper (http://indiemapper.com).
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1227

Systematic paleontology

Cetacea Brisson, 1762

Odontoceti Flower, 1867

Delphinida Muizon, 1988a

Inioidea Gray, 1846 sensu Muizon, 1988a

Pan-Inia (NCN) (panstem-based version of Inia (Blainville, 1817))

Isthminia, gen. nov. 

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:83F6A9B4-289D-45DE-A3D1-C361DAAAF973.

Definitions ‘Pan-Inia’ refers to the panstem that includes crown Inia (CCN), and all other lineages closer to Inia than to Pontoporia, such as Isthminia and Ischyrorhynchus. Subjective synonymies of Pan-Inia include: Iniidae Gray, 1846; Iniinae Flower, 1867; Saurocetidae Ameghino, 1891; Iniidae Muizon, 1984; Ischyrorhynchinae (Cozzuol, 1996); Iniidae Cozzuol, 2010; Iniidae Gutstein, Cozzuol & Pyenson, 2014b. Crown group Inia refers to the crown clade arising from the last common ancestor of all named species of Inia, including Inia boliviensis d’Orbigny, 1834 and Inia araguaiaensis Hrbek et al., 2014. Although we follow the suggestions of the Society for Marine Mammalogy’s Committee on Taxonomy (2014) in provisionally recognizing two sub-species of Inia geoffrensis (I. g. geoffrensis and I.g. humboldtiana Pilleri & Gihr, 1977), the phylogenetic definition of Inia can accommodate a plurality of species and subspecies.

Type and only known species. Isthminia panamensis, sp. nov.

Etymology. Isthm- reflects the type specimen’s provenance from the Isthmus of Panama and the crucial role that the formation of this isthmus played in Earth history and evolution of the biota of the Americas. This epithet follows in the tradition of another fossil cetacean from the Chagres Formation, Nanokogia isthmiaVelez-Juarbe et al., 2015. The feminine generic epithet Inia reflects its similarities to the living Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis). Pronunciation: ‘Ist-min-ee-a,’ with the emphasis on the second syllable.

Isthminia panamensis sp. nov.

Type locality. STRI locality 650009 (9°16′55.4880″N, 80°02′49.9200″W), less than 100 m northeast of the main road in the town of Piña, along the Caribbean Sea coastline of the Republic of Panama (Fig. 2).

Formation. Piña Facies of the Chagres Formation.

Etymology. The species epithet recognizes the Republic of Panama, its people, and the many generations of scientists who have studied its geological and biological histories.

Figure 14: Reconstruction of Isthminia.
Life reconstruction of Isthminia panamensis, feeding on a flatfish, which would have been abundant in the neritic zone of the late Miocene equatorial seas of Panama.

Art by Julia Molnar. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1227

Figure 15: Stratigraphically calibrated phylogenetic tree of Inioidea.
Time calibrated phylogenetic tree of select Delphinida, pruned from our consensus cladogram in Fig. 13, including Isthminia, with Delphinoidea collapsed. Stratigraphic range data derives from published accounts for each taxon, including global ranges. Geologic time scale based on Cohen et al. (2013). Calibration for major nodes depths follow mean divergence date estimates by McGowen, Spaulding & Gatesy (2009: table 3) for the following clades: a, Delphinida (24.75 Ma); b, Inioidea + Lipotes (22.15 Ma); c, Delphinoidea (18.66 Ma); and Inioidea (in open white circle, 16.68 Ma). All minor node depths are graphical heuristics, and not intended to reflect actual divergence dates. Arc indicates stem-based clade, Pan-Inia. Ecological habitat preference is based on depositional environment or extant habitat.

Abbreviations: Aquitan., Aquitanian; H., Holocene; Langh., Langhian; Mess., Messinian; P., Piacenzian; Ple., Pleistocene; Plioc., Pliocene; Serra., Serravallian; Zan., Zanclean.  DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1227

Isthminia panamensis

Pyenson, Vélez-Juarbe, Gutstein, Little, Vigil & O’Dea, 2015

Life reconstruction of Isthminia panamensis, feeding on a flatfish, which would have been abundant in the neritic zone of the late Miocene equatorial seas of Panama. 

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1227

Nicholas D. Pyenson, Jorge Vélez-Juarbe, Carolina S. Gutstein, Holly Little, Dioselina Vigil and Aaron O’Dea. 2015. Isthminia panamensis, A New Fossil inioid (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the Chagres Formation of Panama and the Evolution of ‘River Dolphins’ in the Americas. PeerJ. 3:e1227 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1227