Cetacean remains from the Neogene of northwestern Venezuela

Cetacean remains from two different stratigraphic units exposed in Falcon State, northwestern Venezuela, are described. The first record is derived from the Lower Miocene Cantaure Formation and the second from the Lower Pliocene Punta Gavilán Formation, The two specimens are identified as an indeterminate species of a platanistoid Squalodelphinidae, and an indeterminate cetothere or balaenopterid, respectively.      

A new species of Gaimanophis (Serpentes,Boidae) from the Miocene of northwestern Argentina with remarks on the Neogene boids of South America

Gaimanophis is an extinct boid genus represented so far by a single species (Gaimanophis tenuis) known by isolated vertebrae from the early Miocene of Patagonia. In this paper, a new species of Gaimanophis is described from the India Muerta Formation (late Miocene) of Tucumán province (Argentina). Gaimanophis powelli sp. nov. distinguishes itself from G. tenuis mainly in its larger size, prezygapophyses less slanting, neural spine shorter dorsally than ventrally, and zygosphene straight bearing an anteriorly protruding tongue. This record indicates a wider temporal and geographical distribution of the genus from the early Miocene of Patagonia to the late Miocene of northwestern Argentina. The recognition of a new species of boid in South America increases the known diversity of this group. Although boids have inhabited in this territory since the Paleocene, fossils belonging to the group only show a glimpse of the real past diversity in the continent.     

The genus Taxodium (Cupressaceae) in the Palaeogene and Neogene of Central Europe

Fossil remains of Taxodium from upper Eocene to lower Miocene localities in Germany, the Czech Republic and Russia are investigated to reconsider taxonomic concepts. It is demonstrated that all material belongs to one species which is named Taxodium dubium (Sternberg) Heer emend. Using the whole-plant concept, T. dubium is considered as a synthetic species comprising foliage, seed cones, seeds, and male cones with pollen in situ. Shared identity of T. dubium and the wood morpho-taxon Taxodioxylon taxodii Gothan is assumed. Taxodium dubium underwent evolutionary changes through the Oligocene expressed mainly in changes of the cone scale ornamentation. To designate this intraspecific variation taxonomically two morpho-formae are distinguished: T. dubium forma heerii (Dorofeev) Kunzmann, Kva?ek, Mai et Walther stat. nov. et emend. and T. dubium forma dubium. Simultaneous intraspecific variations in leaf morphology and leaf epidermal anatomy are missing. Taxodium dubium occurs from the late Eocene to late Miocene in the (Atlantic-) Boreal province sensu Mai of Central Europe and from the late Oligocene to late Pliocene in the Transeuropean Paratethys province sensu Mai.     

中国新近纪几种稀有啮齿动物

30多年来,中国新近纪堆积物中发现了大量的小哺乳动物化石,但一些种类的材料很少,而且仅在个别地点出现,在动物群中常以未定属、种记述.详细描述了4种罕见的啮齿动物,其中3种,泗洪豪鼠(Sayimys sihongensis)、亚洲别齿始鼠(Apeomys asiaticus)和新来鼠(未定种)(Neocometes sp.)发现于江苏泗洪早中新世下草湾组,一种,细小云南始鼠(Yuneomys pusillus)产自云南禄丰晚中新世石灰坝组.与欧亚或北美有关材料的比较研究表明,江苏泗洪标本无法归入相关属的任何已知种,因此被确定了两个新种(S.sihongensis和A.asiaticus);禄丰原归入Leptodontomys pusillus的标本与该属的特征不符,被指定为新属Ynueomys.泗洪的A.asiaticus和Neocometes sp.分别代表该属在亚洲和中国的首次记录;它们与S.sihongensis在亚洲远东地区的出现,增加了我们对这些稀有动物地理分布和欧亚古生物地理关系的知识.禄丰的新属Yuneomys与共生的Plesieomys和Heteroeomys属同为丘齿型始鼠类,可能都属热带或亚热带森林型动物;在禄丰动物群中缺少脊齿型始鼠类,与华北动物群的组成不同,似乎表明华南和华北始鼠动物群在中新世期间已有明显的分异,进而支持这一时期亚洲出现了不同生态区系的设想.     

中国新近纪几种稀有啮齿动物（英文）

30多年来,中国新近纪堆积物中发现了大量的小哺乳动物化石,但一些种类的材料很少,而且仅在个别地点出现,在动物群中常以未定属、种记述。详细描述了4种罕见的啮齿动物,其中3种,泗洪豪鼠(Sayimys sihongensis)、亚洲别齿始鼠(Apeomys asiaticus)和新来鼠(未定种)(Neocometes sp.)发现于江苏泗洪早中新世下草湾组,一种,细小云南始鼠(Yuneomys pusillus)产自云南禄丰晚中新世石灰坝组。与欧亚或北美有关材料的比较研究表明,江苏泗洪标本无法归入相关属的任何已知种,因此被确定了两个新种(S.sihongensis和A.asiaticus);禄丰原归入Leptodontomys pusillus的标本与该属的特征不符,被指定为新属Ynueomys。泗洪的A.asiaticus和Neocometes sp.分别代表该属在亚洲和中国的首次记录;它们与S.sihongensis在亚洲远东地区的出现,增加了我们对这些稀有动物地理分布和欧亚古生物地理关系的知识。禄丰的新属Yuneomys与共生的Plesieomys和Heteroeomys属同为丘齿型始鼠类,可能都属热带或亚热带森林型动物;在禄丰动物群中缺少脊齿型始鼠类,与华北动物群的组成不同,似乎表明华南和华北始鼠动物群在中新世期间已有明显的分异,进而支持这一时期亚洲出现了不同生态区系的设想。     

Phylogenetic relationships in brown argus butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Aricia) from northwestern Europe

Lycaenid butterflies of the Aricia agestisartaxerxes complex pose an unresolved taxonomic and conservation problem in northwestern Europe. Two key issues require resolution: (i) how many species of Aricia occur in northwestern Europe and what are their distributions?; (ii) how is the morphological variation observed in northwestern Europe best explained? We investigated phylogenetic relationships and phylogeographic patterns in this species group using mitochondrial and nuclear markers in comparison with morphological variation. A 325 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochromeb gene was sequenced from 179 individuals representing 18 populations from the UK and Scandinavia. Seventeen enzymecoding loci were analysed from 538 individuals from the same populations. Highly congruent phylogenies between mitochondrial and allozyme markers demonstrate that the sample is composed of two closely related species, A. agestis and A. artaxerxes. Both marker types also suggest that Scottish and northern Scandinavian A. artaxerxes populations are conspecific, and consequently do not support the endemic status of A. artaxerxes in the UK. The subspecies division of British populations of A. artaxerxes is also not supported by phylogenetic analyses. Allozyme and mitochondrial analyses cluster two populations from the Peak District, UK, differently. The former suggests that they are A. artaxerxes whilst the latter suggests they are A. agestis. Further research is required to find the reason for this disagreement, which could be associated with the different dynamics of nuclear and mitochondrial genes across a hybrid zone between the two species. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2002, 75 , 27–37.     

A new Hyphoderma from Europe

The new species Hyphoderma tibia (Aphyllophorales, Basidiomycotina) is described and illustrated using drawings and scanning electron microscope.     

A palm-tree and Sciadopitys swamp-forest from the Neogene of Bresse (eastern France)

During the Tertiary, a thick sedimentary sequence was accumulated in the Bresse Basin, including some lignite that was locally excavated. Although the palynology of this lignite is relatively well known, the fossil plant macroremains were only poorly studied. Well-preserved material from a new Upper Pliocene (Reuverian) outcrop is reported herein. It allows for palaeoecological and biogeographical reinterpretation. The flora, which includes palm-trees and umbrella pine, is interpreted as a ‘Sequoia-Moor’, i.e. an acidophilic swamp-forest type that had never been evidenced from both micro- and macroremains in France.     

A new Trillium (Liliaceae) from the northwestern United States

A new species,Trillium parviflorum, is described inTrillium subgen.Phyllantherum Raf.Trillium parviflorum is easily distinguished fromT. albidum Freeman, which it superficially resembles, by its overall smaller size, much smaller linear-lanceolate petals, clove-like fragrance, and dark maroon fruit.     

A new Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae) from northwestern Arizona

Penstemon distans, belonging to sect.Cristati (Rydb.) Pennell and known only from the southeastern edge of the Shivwits Plateau, Mohave Co., Arizona, is described, illustrated and discussed.     

A new Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae) from northwestern Nevada

Penstemon floribundus, belonging to sect.Saccanthera (Benth.) A. Gray and known only from the western edge of the Jackson Mountains, Humboldt Co., Nevada, is described, illustrated, and discussed.     

A new family of inarticulate brachiopods from the Lower Cambrian of northwestern Mongolia

A new genus of calcareous-shelled brachiopods, Egyngolella, with E. lenae sp. nov. selected as the type species, is described from the upper part of the Egiin Gol Formation, Atdabanian Stage, Lower Cambrian of northwestern Mongolia and is assigned to a new family that is tentatively placed in the order Obolellida. E. lenae sp. nov. is characterized by an unusual combination of features typical for different, sometimes widely divergent brachiopod lineages.     

A basal ceratopsian with transitional features from the Late Jurassic of northwestern China

Although the Ceratopsia and Pachycephalosauria, two major ornithischian groups, are united as the Marginocephalia, few synapomorphies have been identified due to their highly specialized body-plans. Several studies have linked the Heterodontosauridae with either the Ceratopsia or Marginocephalia, but evidence for these relationships is weak, leading most recent studies to consider the Heterodontosauridae as the basal member of another major ornithischian radiation, the Ornithopoda. Here, we report on a new basal ceratopsian dinosaur, Yinlong downsi gen. et. sp. nov. from the Late Jurassic upper part of the Shishugou Formation of Xinjiang, China. This new ceratopsian displays a series of features transitional between more derived ceratopsians and other ornithischians, shares numerous derived similarities with both the heterodontosaurids and pachycephalosaurians and provides strong evidence supporting a monophyletic Marginocephalia and its close relationship to the Heterodontosauridae. Character distributions along the marginocephalian lineage reveal that, compared to the bipedal Pachycephalosauria, which retained a primitive post-cranial body-plan, the dominantly quadrupedal ceratopsians lost many marginocephalian features and evolved their own characters early in their evolution.     

Revision of Lyonothamnus A. Gray (Rosaceae) from the Neogene of Western North America

Lyonothamnus Gray is a monotypic genus of evergreen trees endemic to California's Channel Islands. There is one species, L. floribundus, with two subspecies, ssp. floribundus and ssp. asplenifolius. Subspecies floribundus has simple and entire-margined leaves, while leaves of ssp. asplenifolius are pinnate and composed of three to seven primary segments. Despite its restricted modern occurrence, three fossil species have been described from Neogene paleofloras in the far western United States. Lyonothamnus mohavensis Axelrod is known from California; L. parvifolius (Axelrod) Wolfe and L. cedrusensis Axelrod, from Nevada. However, the size ranges used to segregate these species were all found to fall within the range of L. parvifolius from Stewart Valley, Nevada. Study of intact leaves reveals that the combination of (1) number of primary segments, (2) length of primary segments, (3) number of medial secondary segments per primary segment, and (4) lengths and widths of medial secondary segments is important in segregating species. Using these characters, L. parvifolius and L. wolfei Erwin et Schorn sp. nov. are recognized from Nevada and Oregon, and two species, L. mohavensis and L. axelrodii Erwin et Schorn sp. nov., from California. This renewed taxonomy within an updated temporal framework provides an important first step toward understanding the evolution, diversity, paleoecology, and paleobiogeographic history of this unusual member of the Rosaceae.     

A new species of cymopterus (Umbelliferae) from northwestern Wyoming

Cymopterus evertii, from Park and Hot Springs counties, Wyoming, is described as new. It appears to be a derivative taxon from what has been calledC. bipinnatus. Data are presented justifying the relegation of the latter name to synonymy underC. nivalis. A key is provided for distinguishingC. evertii from its presumed closest relatives.     

A new species of Urvillea (Sapindaceae) from northwestern Venezuela

The new speciesUrvillea venezuelensis, from northwestern Venezuela, is described, illustrated, and compared to its putative closest relativeU. dasycarpa. Additionally micromorphological characters of pollen grains are described. The new species belongs toUrvillea sectionStenelytron, which is characterized by compressed fruit locules.     

A new species of Jaltomata (Solanaceae) from northwestern Peru

Jaltomata whalenii, a rare species endemic to the Río San Benito drainage in the department of Cajamarca, Perú, is described and illustrated. The delimitation and relationships of the genusJaltomata are briefly discussed.     

Biochemical genetic variation in populations of Larus argentatus and Larus fuscus in northwestern Europe

The techniques of biochemical population genetics were used to examine the relationships between two apparently closely related species and their component subspecies which form the Larus argentatus/fuscus species complex in northwest Europe. The systematics and taxonomy of these populations in this part of the circum-polar ring are complex and it was thought that this type of analysis might clarify the taxonomic relationships. Samples were obtained from breeding colonies along a transect from northern France (47°N), through Britain to arctic Norway (70°N), with additional samples from the Camargue on the Mediterranean coast (42°N). Twenty-one enzyme systems were examined using starch gel electrophoresis. No interspecific differences were found and only one locus (glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase) was polymorphic. There were no allelic differences within geographical groups of populations, although there were some differences between some of the subspecies. The low levels of heterozygosity ( H = 0.0081 and H = 0.0031) are considered to arise from a combination of two factors: the low levels of heterozygosity which appear to be characteristic of birds and population effects. Furthermore, no interspecific differences were detected ( I = 0.999) indicating the morphological changes rather than changes at structural gene loci may have been more important in speciation.     

A new fossil bird from the Early Cretaceous of Gansu Province,northwestern China

We report on the discovery of an Early Cretaceous bird from northwestern Gansu Province, in northwestern China. Represented by a nearly complete left wing and shoulder girdle the size of a rock dove, the new bird was quarried from laminated yellowish mudstones of the Xiagou Formation (Xinminpu Group) near Changma, in the Jiuquan area. These deposits have previously yielded the only known specimen of Gansus yumenensis, a basal ornithuromorph represented by the distal half of a hind limb with long and slender digits. Several derived characters of the new occurrence supports its allocation within Enantiornithes: (1) a convex lateral margin of the coracoid, (2) a minor metacarpal that projects distally more than the major metacarpal and (3) a proximal phalanx of the major digit longer than the intermediate (second) phalanx. The general proportions of the wing suggest it was a flier comparable to most other known enantiornithine birds. Although, direct comparisons between the new fossil and Gansus are not possible, phylogenetic based inferences supports their placement into two different clades. While the new fossil falls definitively within the enantiornithines, G. Yumenensis falls within the ornithuromorphs. The new occurrence thus adds to the taxonomic diversity of Early Cretaceous birds from Gansu Province in particular and central Asia in general.