Phylogenetic systematics of the gondwanan Empis macrorrhyncha group (Diptera,Empididae, Empidinae)

The Empis macrorrhyncha group (Diptera: Empididae) from cool to warm temperate areas of South America and Australia is diagnosed and cladistically analysed, and five new species, Empis animosa sp.n. , E. austera sp.n. , E. maculosa sp.n. , E. occidentalis sp.n. and E. pedivillosula sp.n. , are described. Cladistic analysis of 23 adult morphological characters for 14 species of the group generated a single tree of 28 steps (CI = 0.82; RI = 0.93). Monophyly was established on the basis of a single apomorphy, possession of a bilobed cercus of the male hypopygium. Three main clades were inferred: clade 1 included three Patagonian and a single southwestern Australian species; clade 2 included two species from southeastern Australia; clade 3 included a large Patagonian group of five species and a single southeastern Australian species. The E. fulvicollis complex (clade 1) is a sister‐group of the E. macrorrhyncha complex (clades 2 + 3). A provisional historical biogeographic hypothesis is advanced correlating the appearance of the South American and Australian sister lineages with the timing of the break‐up of Gondwana.     

A NEW SPECIES OF MOERITHERIUM (PROBOSCIDEA, MAMMALIA) FROM THE EOCENE OF ALGERIA: NEW PERSPECTIVES ON THE ANCESTRAL MORPHOTYPE OF THE GENUS

Abstract:  A new species of Moeritherium (Proboscidea, Mammalia), M. chehbeurameuri sp. nov., is described from remains discovered in the early late Eocene locality of Bir El Ater, Algeria. Although mainly represented by isolated teeth, it shows distinct synapomorphies which justify its attribution to the genus Moeritherium , together with exclusive features that led to the creation of the new species. The main characteristic of this new taxon is the almost complete lophodonty shown by its molars, while Moeritherium is commonly regarded as a bunolophodont to bunodont taxon. In addition to this lophodonty, this new taxon shows anatomical features as yet unknown for the genus, but often met within lophodont early proboscidean taxa such as Phosphatherium escuilliei and Numidotherium koholense . Although a revision of the whole genus Moeritherium is outside the scope of this paper, the main controversies and discussion about the definition of species within the genus Moeritherium are discussed. The surprising lophodonty of M. chehbeurameuri , together with its small size, its early late Eocene age and the weak molarization of its P₃ support the hypothesis of a lophodont hypothetical ancestor for moeritheres, and therefore strengthen the growing hypothesis of a lophodont dental ancestral morphotype for proboscideans.     

Chemical Composition of Viscin Mucilage from Three Mistletoe Species--A comparison

The viscin of mistletoes is a unique tissue which serves toprovide strong adherence of the seed of the parasite to thehost branch. The viscin mucilage of three species, Phoradendroncalifornicum and Arceuthobium americanum (Viscaceae) and Phthirusapyrifolia (Loranthaceae), was analysed. The major componentof the mucilage of Pho. californicum and A. americanum was polysaccharidic;of this, neutral sugars comprised the largest portion, but substantialamounts of uronic acids and proteins were also present. Xyloseand arabinose were the most abundant of the neutral sugars,and analysis showed glycine to be the most abundant amino acidas well as the presence of higher-than-average amounts of histidine.In contrast, in the mucilage of Pht. pyrifolia glucose was themost abundant neutral sugar and the protein content was substantiallyhigher. Based on the differences in composition observed amongthe different species the future use of viscin components astaxonomic markers is suggested. Viscin mucilage, mistletoes, Arceuthobium americanum, Phthirusa pyrifolia, Phoradendron californicum, g.l.c., amino acid analysis     

Evolution of the tooth enamel microstructure in the earliest proboscideans (Mammalia)

Microstructural features of the mammalian tooth enamel are rarely used to construct phylogenies, although macromorphological characters of the dentition figure prominently in phylogenetic analysis. In order to test the phylogenetic significance of the enamel microstructures, we investigate here the earliest proboscideans recently found in the Early Palaeogene of Africa (e.g. Phosphatherium , Daouitherium , Khamsaconus , and Numidotherium ). The results are discussed in the light of the recent advances concerning the intra- and interordinal relationships of the Proboscidea. We also consider other basal paenungulates such as 'anthracobunids', embrithopods, and hyraxes. The analysed microstructures suggest that the enamel ancestral morphotype of paenungulates was primitive for eutherian mammals, consisting in radial enamel. Some basal proboscideans developed decussations of prisms in Hunter-Schreger bands (HSB), as did most of the medium to large-sized mammals. More evolved proboscideans developed very complex enamel, the 3-D enamel, which represents an apomorphy for the group. The three-layered Schmelzmuster, typical of the elephantoids (3-D enamel, HSB, and radial enamel), is acquired during the late Eocene with the enigmatic ' Numidotherium ' savagei . This species is here considered as an advanced proboscidean along with Moeritherium -Deinotheriidae-Elephantiformes. The peculiar enamel of elephantoids arose step by step. Although homoplasy and mosaic evolution occur, the enamel microstructures represent an important source of new dental characters for phylogenetic reconstructions. As macromorphological characters testified, the diversity of the enamel microstructures observed in the various basal proboscideans illustrates an unexpected early diversity of the order in Africa.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 149 , 611–628.     

Phylogeny of the lacebugs (Insecta: Heteroptera: Tingidae) using morphological and molecular data

A phylogeny of the Tingidae is provided on the basis of parsimony analysis with pre‐alignment as well as with direct optimization of 2018 bp from five loci (COI, Leu‐tRNA, COII, 16S and 28S) and a set of 30 morphological characters. The results obtained with either direct optimization or pre‐alignment methods of parsimony clearly show that Cantacaderinae are sister group to (Phatnominae + Tinginae). Several apomorphies, retrieved in different studies, characterize Cantacaderinae, Phatnominae and Tinginae, but only one characterizes the grouping of Phatnominae + Tinginae. In addition, no clear tribal division as currently used was highlighted within the Tinginae. The results are discussed in the light of earlier morphologically based hypotheses.