[Botany • 2008] Musa rubinea, a new Musa species (Musaceae) from Yunnan, China

this wild banana (Musa rubinea) is only known to occur in the Nujiang, Cangyan County in the western Chinese province of Yunnan on the border with Myanmar. Because of its beauty, it is used as an ornamental species in horticulture.

Häkkinen, M., and CH Teo. 2008. Musa rubinea, a new Musa species (Musaceae) from Yunnan, China. Folia Malaysiana 9: 23-33. http://www.foliamy.com/content4.htm

[Botany • 2008] Musa zaifui sp. nov. (Musaceae) from Yunnan, China

The center of diversity of the genus Musa (Musaceae) is in southeast Asia, a region not studied in detail and where new species and varieties are reported continously. Here, a new wild banana species Musa zaifui Häkkinen & H. Wang from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. These studies are based on observed morphological characteristics in the field and from cultivated plants in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. Musa sect. Rhodochlamys in west Yunnan and east Myanmar have a rich diversity caused by their hermaphroditic flowers in which self-pollination takes place before the bracts open. This habit has evolved in response to their isolation in different watersheds and the lack of proper pollinators. The seeds of these plants’ fruits are dispersed in the local area by small mammals. Hybrids are very seldomly encountered due to self-pollination. Musa zaifui is only observed in a wet ditch covered with secondary forest on the eastern bank of Da Yingjiang River, on the way from Yingjiang to Longchuan (about 50 km from Yingjiang), Dehong District, west Yunnan. A key to M. zaifui and related taxa is provided.

Musa zaifui sp. nov. (Musaceae) from Yunnan, China

http://english.xtbg.cas.cn/rh/ss/hm/200808/t20080820_27748.html

Häkkinen, M. & H. Wang. 2008. Musa zaifui sp. nov. (Musaceae) from Yunnan, China. Nordic J. Bot. 26:42–46. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.0107-055X.2008.00267.x/abstract

[Botany • 2008] Musa aurantiaca • A taxonomic revision of Musa aurantiaca Baker (1893) (Musaceae) in Southeast Asia

Living specimen of Musa aurantiaca 

Abstract  

Since the initial description, the name  Musa aurantiaca   has been unclear to most botanists. The aim of this study is to settle its true identity and to update the description. The plant is distributed in the regions of Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India, Northern Myanmar and Tibet, China where it occurs commonly but it is not mentioned in Chinese literature at all. In this paper, the authors also review the description and the literature history of M. aurantiaca from 1893 to the present. Musa aurantiaca Baker is typified here. 

Key words  Musa, Musa aurantiaca, Musaceae, Southeast Asia, wild banana.

Living specimen of Musa aurantiaca at XTBG. 

3 - inflorescence Photo: M. Häkkinen. ; insert - fruits

Häkkinen, M., and H. Väre. 2008. A taxonomic revision of Musa aurantiaca (Musaceae) in Southeast Asia. Journal of Systematics and Evolution (formerly Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica) 46: 89-92. http://www.plantsystematics.com/qikan/manage/wenzhang/aps07056.pdf

[Botany • 2004] Musa bauensis • A new species of the wild banana genus, Musa (Musaceae), from Borneo

Abstract

A new species of wild banana, Musa bauensis Häkkinen & Meekiong, is described and illustrated. It is from the Bau limestone area, Sarawak, East Malaysia.

A new species of the wild banana genus, Musa (Musaceae), from Borneo

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1017/S1477200004001434

[Paleontology • 2012] Siphusauctum gregarium • A New Stalked Filter-Feeder from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale, British Columbia, Canada

Abstract 

Burgess Shale-type deposits provide invaluable insights into the early evolution of body plans and the ecological structure of Cambrian communities, but a number of species, continue to defy phylogenetic interpretations. Here we extend this list to include a new soft-bodied animal, Siphusauctum gregarium n. gen. and n. sp., from the Tulip Beds (Campsite Cliff Shale Member, Burgess Shale Formation) of Mount Stephen (Yoho National Park, British Columbia). With 1,133 specimens collected, S. gregarium is clearly the most abundant animal from this locality.

This stalked animal (reaching at least 20 cm in length), has a large ovoid calyx connected to a narrow bilayered stem and a small flattened or bulb-like holdfast. The calyx is enclosed by a flexible sheath with six small openings at the base, and a central terminal anus near the top encircled by indistinct openings. A prominent organ, represented by six radially symmetrical segments with comb-like elements, surrounds an internal body cavity with a large stomach, conical median gut and straight intestine. Siphusauctum gregarium was probably an active filter-feeder, with water passing through the calyx openings, capturing food particles with its comb-like elements. It often occurs in large assemblages on single bedding planes suggesting a gregarious lifestyle, with the animal living in high tier clusters. These were probably buried en masse more or less in-situ by rapid mud flow events.

Siphusauctum gregarium resembles Dinomischus, another Cambrian enigmatic stalked animal. Principal points of comparison include a long stem with a calyx containing a visceral mass and bract-like elements, and a similar lifestyle albeit occupying different tiering levels. The presence in both animals of a digestive tract with a potential stomach and anus suggest a grade of organization within bilaterians, but relationships with extant phyla are not straightforward. Thus, the broader affinities of S. gregarium remain largely unconstrained.

The filter-feeder Siphusauctum lived 500 million years ago in clusters on the sea floor. CREDIT: © Royal Ontario Museum 

Lorna J. O'Brien & Jean-Bernard Caron 2012. A new stalked filter-feeder from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale, British Columbia, Canada. PLoS ONE 7 (1): e29233.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0029233

http://palaeoblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/siphusauctum-gregarium-from-burgess.html

http://www.livescience.com/18003-tulip-animal-fossil.html

[Paleontology • 2012] Jeholornis palmapenis • A new species of Jeholornis with complete caudal integument

http://paleoexhibit.blogspot.com/2011/11/jeholornis-palmapenis.html

The Early Cretaceous long bony-tailed bird Jeholornis prima displays characters both more basal than Archaeopteryx and more derived, exemplifying the mosaic distribution of advanced avian features that characterises early avian evolution and obfuscates attempts to understand early bird relationships. The current diversity of Jeholornithiformes is controversial, since multiple possibly synonymous genera were named simultaneously. Here, we provide the first definitive evidence of a second species belonging to this clade, and erect the new taxon J. palmapenis sp. nov. This new specimen reveals the tail integument of Jeholornithiformes, the morphology of which appears to have no aerodynamic benefit suggesting this clade evolved plumage patterns that were primarily for display.

Keywords: Jeholornis; feathers; rectrix; long-tailed birds; Jehol Group

Etymology: The Latin species name, palma meaning palm and penis meaning tail, refers to the palm tree like appearance of the preserved rectrices.

Figure 2. Camera lucida drawing of the (A) main slab SDM 20090109.1 and (B) counterslab SDM 20090109.2. Scale bars equal 10 cm.

Figure 5. Detailed photograph of the rectrices preserved in the counter slab of SDM 20090109.2. Scale bar equals 1 cm.

Jingmai K. O'Connor, Chengkai Sun, Xing Xu, Xiaolin Wang and Zhonghe Zhou. 2012. A new species of Jeholornis with complete caudal integument. Historical Biology 24 (1): 29-41.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2011.552720.

http://pan-aves.blogspot.com/2012/01/jeholornis-palmapenis-novy-dlouhoocasy.html

http://theropoddatabase.blogspot.com/2011/12/surprise-jeholornis-palmapenis-isnt.html

[Paleontology • 2003] Jeholornis compared to Archaeopteryx, with a new understanding of the earliest avian evolution

Abstract

The recently reported Jeholornis represents the only known bird with a complete long skeletal tail except for Archaeopteryx. Two newly discovered specimens referable to Jeholornis provide some important new information about its anatomy. The tail of Jeholornis is much longer than that of Archaeopteryx and comprises a maximum of 27 caudal vertebrae compared with only 23 in Archaeopteryx. More interestingly, the tail feathers are shaped more like those of dromaeosaurs than those of Archaeopteryx. We conclude that the common ancestor of birds must have a more primitive tail than that in Archaeopteryx, confirming the side branch position of Archaeopteryx in the early avian evolution. The synsacrum is composed of six sacrals, representing a transitional stage between Archaeopteryx and more advanced birds. The scapula of Jeholornis has a dorso-laterally exposed glenoid facet, and the coracoid has a supracoracoid foramen. The presence of a pair of fenestrae in the sternum of Jeholornis has further implications for the air-sac system in early birds.

Zhou, Z.-H., and Zhang, F.-C. 2003. Jeholornis compared to Archaeopteryx, with a new understanding of the earliest avian evolution. Naturwissenschaften, 90(5): 220-225. doi:10.1007/s00114-003-0416-5 

[Paleontology • 2002] Shenzhouraptor sinensis • An Early Cretaceous avialan bird from Western Liaoning, China

Shenzhouraptor sinensis fossil displayed in Hong Kong Science Museum

http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/热河鸟 

Abstract

The text describes a new specimen of the Avialae from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Fm. of Liaoning Province, China.  The specimen is edentulous, its forelimb is distinctly longer than its hind limb, the tail is composed of over 20 caudals, the furcula is U-shaped, and flight feathers exceed torso length.  These characters express a genuine ability for flight, such that the new specimen represents a transitional phase between the Dinosauria and Aves and is formally erected as Shenzhouraptor sinensis gen. et sp. nov.

Ji; Ji, Ji; You, Zhang; Zhang, Zhang; Yuan 2003. An Early Cretaceous avialan bird, Shenzhouraptor sinensis from Western Liaoning, China. Acta Geologica Sinica 77 (1): 21–27.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1755-6724.2003.tb00106.x/abstract

http://www.geosociety.org/geoventures/professionals/2007/Discoverypaper.pdf

http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/热河鸟 

[Paleontology • 2002] Jeholornis prima • A long-tailed, seed-eating bird from the Early Cretaceous of China

The lacustrine deposits of the Yixian and Jiufotang Formations in the Early Cretaceous Jehol Group in the western Liaoning area of northeast China are well known for preserving feathered dinosaurs, primitive birds and mammals. Here we report a large basal bird, Jeholornis prima gen. et sp. nov., from the Jiufotang Formation. This bird is distinctively different from other known birds of the Early Cretaceous period in retaining a long skeletal tail with unexpected elongated prezygopophyses and chevrons, resembling that of dromaeosaurids providing a further link between birds and non-avian theropods. Despite its basal position in early avian evolution, the advanced features of the pectoral girdle and the carpal trochlea of the carpometacarpus of Jeholornis indicate the capability of powerful flight. The dozens of beautifully preserved ovules of unknown plant taxa in the stomach represents direct evidence for seed-eating adaptation in birds of the Mesozoic era.

Zhou, Z.-H. and Zhang, F.-C. 2002. A long-tailed, seed-eating bird from the Early Cretaceous of China. Nature, 418(6896): 405-409. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature00930

[Ichthyology • 2009] Danionella priapus • a new species of miniature cyprinid fish (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from West Bengal, India

Abstract

Danionella priapus, a new species of sexually dimorphic miniature cyprinid from the Brahmaputra drainage in India, is distinguished from the other three species in the genus by the presence in adult males of a conical projection of the genital papilla situated between funnel-shaped pelvic fins, the number of anal- and pectoral-fin rays, and the position of insertion of the last anal-fin pterygiophore. It differs further from D. translucida and D. mirifica in details of the colour pattern, from D. dracula and D. mirifica in number of procurrent caudal-fin rays, from D. translucida in number of vertebrae and from D. dracula in several skeletal characters. Like the other species in the genus, D. priapus shows a developmentally truncated skeleton that is associated with several evolutionary morphological novelties. The present distribution of the Danionella species may be the result of a vicariance event in the early Miocene, when the tectonicuplift of eastern Tibet and the Indo-Burman ranges lead to the interruption of the palaeo-connection between the Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) and the upper Irrawaddy Rivers.

Key words: miniature fishes, developmental truncation, evolutionary novelty, vicariance

Dorsal and ventral view of the colour pattern of Danionella priapus head and anterior body. Holotype: BMNH 2009.9.9.1, male, 14.4mm SL. (Images: Ralf Britz, Natural History Museum)

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/collections/collecting/danionella-priapus/index.html

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/collections/collecting/danionella-priapus/taxonomy/index.html

http://ig-bssw.org/?p=1584

Britz, R. 2009. Danionella priapus, a new species of miniature cyprinid fish from West Bengal, India (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae). Zootaxa, 2277: 53–60.: http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2009/f/z02277p060f.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2009] Danionella dracula • Spectacular morphological novelty in a miniature cyprinid fish from northern Myanmar

Abstract

Danionella dracula is a new species of sexually dimorphic, miniature and highly developmentally truncated cyprinid fish. Compared with its close relative, the zebrafish Danio rerio, it lacks 44 bones or parts thereof and represents one of the most developmentally truncated vertebrates. Absence of the majority of bones appears to be due to developmental truncation via terminal deletion. In contrast to these larval-like features, D. dracula also shows several hyperossifications. Uniquely, among carp-like fishes, male D. dracula have a series of long, pointed odontoid processes on the jaws greatly resembling the jaw dentition of teleosts with true teeth. The anterior-most process in each jaw is extended as a canine-like fang projecting through the epithelium. True jaw teeth are absent from all 3700 species of cypriniforms and were lost at least in the Upper Eocene. It remains to be investigated, however, whether the conserved pathways to regulate tooth development in cypriniforms have been used in D. dracula to form and pattern the odontoid processes. This new species represents a remarkable example linking progenetic paedomorphosis via heterochronic change in developmental timing to the evolution of morphological novelties.

Keywords: Danionella, Cypriniformes, jaw teeth, miniaturization, developmental truncation, evolutionary novelty

Ralf Britz, Kevin W. Conway, Lukas Rüber. 2009. Spectacular morphological novelty in a miniature cyprinid fish, Danionella dracula n. sp. . The Royal Society. : http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2009.0141

NHM Species of the Day: Danionella dracula  

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/collections/collecting/danionella-dracula/index.html

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/staff-directory/zoology/r-britz/index.html

http://www.baanmaha.com/community/thread33829.html

[Ichthyology • 2003] Danionella mirifica • a new species of miniature fish (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae) from Upper Myanmar

An undescribed Danionella. Picture by Choy Heng Wah.
http://budak.blogs.com/the_annotated_budak/2006/01/paedocypris_pro.html

Danionella mirifica, new species, is distinguished from its only congener D. translucida in having a more elongate body (body depth 12.2-14.8 % SL vs. 18.5-24.4 % SL), 36-37 vertebrae (vs. 32-33), 17-20 anal-fin rays (vs. 12-14), a single ventromedian row of large melanophores between pelvic fins and tips of cleithra (vs. paired ventral paramedian rows of smaller melanophores between pelvics and tips of cleithra), and in lacking scattered small melanophores on ventrolateral side of abdomen (vs. presence of these melanophores). Although slightly larger than D. translucida, D. mirifica is still one of the smallest freshwater fishes.

Britz, Ralf. 2003. Danionella mirifica, a new species of miniature fish from Upper Myanmar (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae). Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters 14 (3): 217–222.  http://www.pfeil-verlag.de/04biol/pdf/ief14_3_03.pdf

[Ichthyology • 1986] Danionella translucida • a new genus and species of cyprinid fish from Burma, one of the Smallest Living Vertebrates

Abstract

Danionella translucida, a new genus and species of danioin cyprinid fishes, is described from Burma. Females are mature at 10–11 mm standard length, and the largest known specimen is only 12 mm. Ripe eggs are few in number and relatively large, 0.4–0.6 mm in diameter. Adults are scaleless and largely transparent, with a complex pattern of large melanophores on the ventral surface of the abdomen. Specializations observed in skeletal preparations include the danioin notch in the medial surface of the mandibles; a large maxillo-mandibulary cartilage; a cartilage (epibranchial 5?) uniting the branchial arches 4 and 5; pharyngeal bones with a single row of 4 tricuspid teeth; and pectoral, pelvic, and caudal fins with fewer rays than reported or observed in any other members of the family Cyprinidae.

Keywords:  Danioins - Transparency - Eggs - Skeletal anatomy - Alcian blue-alizarin red preparations - Danioin notch - Maxillo-mandibulary cartilage - Weberian apparatus - Cyprinid vertebral formulae

Roberts, Tyson R. 1986. "Danionella translucida, a new genus and species of cyprinid fish from Burma, one of the smallest living vertebrates". Environmental Biology of Fishes 16 (4): 231–241. doi:10.1007/BF00842977.  http://springerlink.com/content/k3h6537617ph1288

Photo: http://www.aquaportal.bg/site/news.php?id=90

[Ichthyology • 2007] Celestichthys margaritatus | Celestial Pearl Danio • a new genus and species of colourful minute Cyprinid fish (Pisces: Cypriniformes) from the Salween basin, northeast of Inle Lake, northern Myanmar

Celestichthys margaritatus | Celestial Pearl Danio

ABSTRACT

 Celestichthys margaritatus, a new genus and species of Danioinae, is described from a rapidly developing locality in the Salween basin about 70–80 km northeast of Inle Lake in northern Myanmar. Males and females are strikingly colouful. It is apparently most closely related to two danioins endemic to Inle, Microrasbora rubescens and “Microrasbora” erythromicron. The latter species may be congeneric with the new species. The new genus is identified as a danioin by specializations on its lower jaw and its numerous anal fin rays. The colouration, while highly distinctive, seems also to be characteristically danioin. The danioin notch (Roberts, 1986; Fang, 2003) is reduced or absent, but the danioin mandibular flap and bony knob (defined herein) are present. The anal fin has iii81/2–101/2 rays. In addition to its distinctive body spots and barred fins the new fish is distinguished from other species of danioins by the following combination of characters: snout and mouth extremely short; premaxillary with an elongate and very slender ascending process; mandible foreshortened; body deep, with rounded dorsal and anal fins; modal vertebral count 15+16=31; caudal fin moderately rather than deeply forked; principal caudal fin rays 9/8; scales vertically ovoid; and pharyngeal teeth conical, in three rows

KEY WORDS. – Hopong; principal caudal fin rays; danioin mandibular notch, knob, and pad; captive breeding.

Etymology. – The generic name Celestichthys, gender masculine, is from the Latin caelestis, “heavenly”; and Greek ichthys, masculine, “fish”. The species or trivial name margaritatus is Latin for “adorned with pearls.” Used as a noun in apposition.

Roberts, Tyson R. 2007. "The "celectial pearl danio", a new genus and species of colourful minute Cyprinid fish from Myanmar (Pisces: Cypriniformes)". The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 55 (1): 131–140. http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/55/55rbz131-140.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2008] Araiocypris batodes • a new genus and species of cyprinid fish (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae) from Northern Vietnam

Araiocypris batodes

Conway & Kottelat, 2008

Araiocypris batodes is a very small cyprinid fish endemic to Vietnam.
It is the only known member of its genus.

Conway WK, Kottelat M (2008) Araiocypris batodes, a new genus and species of cyprinid fish from Northern Vietnam (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae). Raffles Bull Zool. 56(1): 101– 105. http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/56/56rbz101-105.pdf