First record of Mesozoic scroll coprolites: classification,characteristics, elemental composition and probable producers

Multiple, small, cylindrical scroll coprolites having rounded and tapering ends and pertaining to a new ichnotaxon have been recovered from the Upper Triassic Tiki Formation of India. This is the first record of scroll coprolites from the Mesozoic. Based on cross‐sectional geometry, external surface textures, and internal morphology, these coprolites are subdivided into three morphotypes. The coprolites contain several kinds of undigested food material in the form of ganoid fish scales, teeth, lower jaw and skeletal remains of various osteichthyans, chondrichthyans, archosauriforms and indeterminate reptiles. These inclusions are embedded in the groundmass separated by thin mucosal layers. The groundmass contains abundant gas vesicles, and secondarily‐filled shrinkage cracks. EDS analysis shows that the overall composition of the coprolites reflects Ca, P, C and O, suggesting calcium phosphate mineralogy, though other elements such as Fe, Mn, Al, Si are present in lesser proportions. Based on their similarity with the scrolled faeces of extant euryhaline hammerhead sharks, it is deduced that these coprolites were produced by euryhaline hybodontid sharks. At least two hybodontid taxa, Lonchidion and Pristrisodus, show high prevalence in the Tiki vertebrate fauna, suggesting that these were the possible producers. As the coprolite inclusions contain remains of other aquatic animals, these carnivorous hybodonts constituted the dominant predators of the Tiki aquatic ecosystem.     

Coprolite morphotypes from the Upper Cretaceous of Sweden: novel views on an ancient ecosystem and implications for coprolite taphonomy

Eriksson, M.E., Lindgren, J., Chin, K. & Månsby, U. 2011: Coprolite morphotypes from the Upper Cretaceous of Sweden: novel views on an ancient ecosystem and implications for coprolite taphonomy. Lethaia, Vol. 44, pp. 455–468. Coprolites (fossilized faeces) are common, yet previously unreported, elements in the Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) shallow‐marine strata of Åsen, southern Sweden. They are associated with a diverse vertebrate fauna and comprise at least seven different morphotypes that suggest a variety of source animals. Their faecal origin is corroborated by several lines of evidence, including chemical composition (primarily calcium phosphate), external morphology and nature of the inclusions. Preservation in a fossil coquina, interpreted as a taphocoenosis, suggests early lithification promoted by rapid entombment. This would have prevented disintegration of the faecal matter and facilitated transportation and introduction to the host sediment. The coprofabrics can generally be correlated to specific gross morphologies, supporting a morphology‐determined coprolite classification. Moreover, having been deposited under presumably comparable taphonomic conditions, variations in coprofabrics infer differences in diet and/or digestive efficiency of the host animal. Size and morphology of the coprolites imply that most, if not all, were produced by vertebrates and the largest specimens infer a host animal of considerable size. Two spiralled coprolite morphotypes yield bone fragments and scales of bony fish, suggesting that the producers were piscivorous sharks. Other coprolites contain inclusions interpreted as the remains of shelled invertebrates, thus indicating that they may have derived from durophagous predators and/or scavengers. The occurrence of small scrapes, tracks and traces on several specimens suggest manipulation of the faeces by other (presumably coprophagous) organisms after deposition. The collective data from the Åsen coprolites provide new insights into a shallow‐water Late Cretaceous marine ecosystem hitherto known solely from body fossils. □ Coprolites, vertebrates, coprofabrics, taphonomy, trophic levels, Upper Cretaceous, Sweden.     

Morphological and genetic differences in ecologically distinct populations of Petrosia (Porifera, Demospongiae)

The taxonomic status of two sponge tnorphotypes living sympatrically in Mediterranean caves and usually ascribed to Petrosia ficiformis was elucidated on the basis of morphological, morphometric and genetic features. The two morphotypes, spherical and cylindrical, showed differences in the shape and size of spicules and in the morphology of the aquiferous system. Electrophoretic analyses demonstrated that the two morphotypes are reproductively independent and so they should be considered as distinct biological species. The spicular features allow attribution of the cylindrical morphotype to P.ficiformis and the spherical one to P. clavata. For these two species parasympatric speciation is proposed.     

Multi‐proxy analyses of Late Cretaceous coprolites from Germany

A total of 462 coprolites from three localities exposing Upper Cretaceous deposits in the Münster Basin, northwestern Germany, have been subjected to an array of analytical techniques, with the aim of elucidating ancient trophic structures and predator–prey interactions. The phosphatic composition, frequent bone inclusions, size and morphology collectively suggest that most, if not all, coprolites were produced by carnivorous (predatory or scavenging) vertebrates. The bone inclusions further indicate that the coprolite producers preyed principally upon fish. Putative host animals include bony fish, sharks and marine reptiles – all of which have been previously recorded from the Münster Basin. The presence of borings and other traces on several coprolites implies handling by coprophagous organisms. Remains of epibionts are also common, most of which have been identified as the encrusting bivalve Atreta. Palynological analyses of both the coprolites and host rocks reveal a sparse assemblage dominated by typical Late Cretaceous dinoflagellates, and with sub‐ordinate fern spores, conifer pollen grains and angiosperm pollen grains. The dinoflagellate key taxon Exochosphaeridium cenomaniense corroborates a Cenomanian age for the Plenus Marl, from which most studied coprolites derive. The findings of this study highlight the potential of a multi‐proxy approach when it comes to unravelling the origin, composition and importance of coprolites in palaeoecosystem analyses.     

Microbiota and food residues including possible evidence of pre‐mammalian hair in Upper Permian coprolites from Russia

Coprolites (fossil faeces) provide direct evidence on the diet of its producer and unique insights on ancient food webs and ecosystems. We describe the contents of seven coprolites, collected from the Late Permian Vyazniki site of the European part of Russia. Two coprolite morphotypes (A, B) contain remains of putative bacteria, cyanobacteria, fungi, protists, invertebrate eggs, arthropod elements, undigested bone and tooth fragments, fish scales and elongated hair‐like structures with hollow interiors. Content, size and shape of the coprolites together with the associated body fossil record suggest that the most probable scat‐producers were carnivorous tetrapods; the bone‐rich morphotype A reveals short food retention time and a fast metabolism and is therefore assigned to therapsid carnivores whereas morphotype B with rarer and degraded bones are assigned to archosauromorphs or other non‐therapsid carnivores. The general coprolite matrix contains abundant micron‐sized spheres and thin‐walled vesicles which are interpreted as oxide and phosphatic pseudomorphs after microbial cells. From analyses of the undigested bones, we infer that they represent remains of actinopterygian fish, a therapsid and unrecognizable parts of amphibians and/or reptiles. Additionally, hair‐like structures found in one coprolite specimen occur as diagenetically altered (oxide‐replaced) structures and moulds (or partly as pseudomorphs) in a microcrystalline carbonate‐fluoride‐bearing calcium phosphate. This suggests that the latest Permian therapsids probably were equipped with hair‐like integument or hairsuit. If true, this is by far the oldest evidence of this mammalian character in the stem group of mammals.     

A Rare Phaeodactylum tricornutum Cruciform Morphotype: Culture Conditions,Transformation and Unique Fatty Acid Characteristics

A rare Phaeodactylum tricornutum cruciform morphotype was obtained and stabilized with a proportion of more than 31.3% in L1 medium and is reported for the first time. Long-term culture and observation showed that the cruciform morphotype was capable of transforming to the oval form following the degeneration of arms by two processes. After three months of culture, four morphotypes existed in a relatively stable proportion in culture for six months (10.5% for oval, 11.3% for fusiform, 37.2% for triradiate and 41.0% for cruciform). Low temperature was particularly beneficial for cruciform cell formation. As the culture temperature decreased from 25°C to 10°C, the percentage of the cruciform morphotype increased from 39.1% to 55.3% approximately. The abundant cruciform cells endowed this strain with unique fatty acid characteristics. The strain cultured at 15°C showed both maximum content of neutral lipid in a single cell and total yield. The maximum content of fatty acid methyl esters was C16:1 for Phaeodactylum tricornutum cultured at four temperatures (43.82% to 50.82%), followed by C16:0 (20.47% to 22.65%). Unique fatty acid composition endowed this strain with excellent quality for biodiesel production.     

Observations on a cucullanid nematode of marine fishes from Taiwan Strait, Dichelyne (Cucullanellus) jialaris n. sp

During a helminthological examination of marine fishes from south of the Minnan-Taiwan Bank Fishing Ground, Taiwan Strait, Fujian, China, a new cucullanid nematode, Dichelyne (Cucullanellus) jialaris n. sp., was removed from the intestine of the red seabream, Pagrus major (Temminck & Schlegel, 1834). The new species differs from its congeners mainly in the following characters: body size medium but with relative long spicules of 1.01 mm (0.97-1.06) in length or 20.0% (18.21-21.8%) of the body length; proximal end of spicules somewhat expanded and distal end rounded; gubernaculum I-shaped, slightly narrow in the middle part, both ends rounded; both anterior and posterior cloaca lips round or oval, prominent and unequal in size. The anterior cloaca lip is at least 2 times larger than the posterior one. There is a conspicuous papilliform structure within the central of anterior and posterior cloacal lip. Vulva of female is not prominent, slightly postequatorial; distance from vulva to anterior end of body is 4.3 (3.0-5.5) mm or 58.0% (54.0-62.0%) of the body length. Considering the result of comparing the structure of so-called unpaired median papilla with the 10 pairs of caudal petiolated papillae in the body of the same individual. the papilliform structures are just a backstop for the cloacal lips, this new species represents the first record of a nematode of the Dichelyne, subgenus Cucullanellus in marine fishes of China Sea.     

贵州兴义中三叠世拉丁期兴义动物群粪化石

粪化石是重要的遗迹化石,其内含物信息可为讨论生物行为、生理、相互关系、古环境等提供重要证据,进而对恢复和重建地质历史时期的生态系统等有重要意义。本文首次报道了贵州省兴义市泥麦古剖面中三叠世拉丁期兴义动物群化石层第35自然层的7种不同形态的粪化石。通过观察粪化石的内含物情况,发现其主要由贵州龙骨骼和鱼鳞组成,极少含有无脊椎动物碎片,表明粪化石来源于非壳食性的肉食性动物。依据粪化石的尺寸、缺少螺旋结构及相对较小的内含物碎片等信息,排除动物源是无脊椎动物、大型肉食性鱼类及大型鱼龙类的可能。结合兴义动物群下部化石组合海生爬行类实体化石的信息,进一步推断所研究粪化石的动物源应为非鱼龙的海生爬行动物,很可能是幻龙类、鸥龙类或海龙类。本文报道的7种形态的粪化石显示该下部化石层中的海生爬行动物之间至少存在1级营养等级的差异,这为恢复和重建中三叠世拉丁期海洋生态系统提供了重要依据。另外微生物的参与及泥质含量较高的厌氧环境使得该层的粪化石保存完好。     

Variations of Mesozoic feathers: Insights from the morphogenesis of extant feather rachises

The rachises of extant feathers, composed of dense cortex and spongy internal medulla, are flexible and light, yet stiff enough to withstand the load required for flight, among other functions. Incomplete knowledge of early feathers prevents a full understanding of how cylindrical rachises have evolved. Bizarre feathers with unusually wide and flattened rachises, known as “rachis-dominated feathers” (RDFs), have been observed in fossil nonavian and avian theropods. Newly discovered RDFs embedded in early Late Cretaceous Burmese ambers (about 99 million year ago) suggest the unusually wide and flattened rachises mainly consist of a dorsal cortex, lacking a medulla and a ventral cortex. Coupled with findings on extant feather morphogenesis, known fossil RDFs were categorized into three morphotypes based on their rachidial configurations. For each morphotype, potential developmental scenarios were depicted by referring to the rachidial development in chickens, and relative stiffness of each morphotype was estimated through functional simulations. The results suggest rachises of RDFs are developmentally equivalent to a variety of immature stages of cylindrical rachises. Similar rachidial morphotypes documented in extant penguins suggest that the RDFs are not unique to Mesozoic theropods, although they are likely to have evolved independently in extant penguins.     

Morphological differences among three color morphotypes of Sebastes inermis (Scorpaenidae)

 Morphological differences among three color morphotypes occurring almost sympatrically (A, reddish type; B, blackish type; C, brownish type) of Sebastes inermis are clarified. Twenty-six morphometric characters and seven meristic characters were examined on about 20 specimens of each morphotype, 15 of the morphometric characters differing significantly. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the morphometric characters showed morphotype C to differ from the other two morphotypes. Canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) of the morphometric characters showed clear separation of each morphotype. Four meristic characters also differed significantly. Modes of pectoral fin ray counts of morphotypes A, B, and C were 15, 16, and 17, respectively, and the modes of anal fin ray counts of morphotypes B and C were 7 and 8, respectively. Many individuals of morphotype A had seven or eight anal fin rays. These differences suggested that the three morphotypes may be reproductively isolated from each other. Received: October 15, 2001 / Revised: March 14, 2002 / Accepted: April 9, 2002     

Chromosome study of hybrid and gynogenetic offspring of artificial crosses between members of the catfish families Clariidae and Pangasiidae

Synopsis Artificial hybridization between species of the catfish families Clariidae (Clarias macrocephalus) and Pangasiidae (Pangasius sutchi) resulted in first generation offspring comprising two intermediate morphotypes and one morphotype indistinguishable from its clariid parent. The two intermediate morphotypes apparently correspond to hybrid morphotypes 2 and 4 resulting from earlier hybridization experiments between the same parent species (Tarnchalanukit 1986). We did not obtain morphotypes 1 and 3. Chromosome spreads of the relatively pangasiid-like morphotype 2 reveal a diploid number of 57, presumably comprising one set of Clarias (n=27) and one of Pangasius (n=30) chromosomes. The relatively clariid-like morphotype 4 is a triploid with 84 chromosomes, presumably comprising two sets from Clarias (2n=54) and one from Pangasius (n=30). Finally, the morphotype indistinguishable from Clarias, is a diploid with 54 chromosomes, apparently arising from gynogenesis.     

Geography of dental polymorphism in the red fox Vulpes vulpes and its evolutionary implications

Frequency distributions of dental morphotype characters (groups of morphotypes from A to S) in 43 red fox Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) populations from the Holarctic region were analysed. Definite but different geographical gradients in morphotype dental patterns were found both in the Palearctic and Nearctic. In the Nearctic, a great number of characters present geographical gradient related to longitude whereas, in the Palearctic, gradient relates to latitude. Mean annual temperature and mean annual sum of precipitations play a significant role in shaping the geographical variation of morphotype characters. The shape of the teeth in the centre of the morphogenetic field is more heavily geo-climatically conditioned than the morphotype characters in the teeth at the ends of the cheek teeth field. There was an attempt to reconstruct the evolutionary changes in the morphotype dental pattern in the V. vulpes line. The morphotype pattern in the red fox dentition partially follows the phylogeographical evolutionary trends in Canidae in the northern hemisphere. However, the picture of morphotype variation is influenced by both earlier episodes of human interference (reintroductions of foxes in North America) and the recent phenomenon of heavy opportunism of the species.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 90 , 61–84.     

Genetic divergence between and within two color morphotypes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parapercis sexfasciata</Emphasis> (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae) from Tosa Bay,southern Japan

The anterior half of the mitochondrial DNA control region (mtCR) sequence (ca. 400 base pairs) was compared between two color morphotypes (A, B) of Parapercis sexfasciata from Tosa Bay, southern Japan, using 16 and 21 specimens, respectively. Intramorphotypic mtCR divergences were only 0.0–0.5% and 1.0–2.5% for morphotypes A and B, respectively. In contrast, intermorphotypic mtCR divergence was much greater, 12.7–14.0%. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis using a neighbor-joining algorithm, with P. multifasciata as an outgroup, showed that each morphotype was reciprocally monophyletic. These results and the distinct coloration and overlapping distribution indicate that the two color morphotypes of P. sexfasciata represent two distinct species. Mismatch distribution analysis suggested that both morphotypes had undergone population expansion; however, estimates of initial population sizes and mutational timescales suggested that morphotype B comprises historically larger and older populations than morphotype A.     

Differences in frost hardiness of two Norway spruce morphotypes growing at Mt. Brocken, Germany

Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) exhibits strong ecotypic variation along altitudinal gradients in morphological traits, e.g. slenderness of crowns or arrangement of second-order branches. We were interested whether montane and lowland morphotypes differ in a key trait for the survival in cold environments, i.e. frost hardiness, and asked: (i) are montane morphotypes more resistant to frost damage and (ii) do they have a lower risk of frost damage by late frosts in spring than lowland morphotypes?We used the electrolyte leakage-method to measure frost hardiness on a monthly basis from October 2006 to May 2007 in stands of the montane and lowland morphotypes at Mt. Brocken in the Harz Mountains, Germany.LT₅₀ (i.e. the temperature that results in 50% of maximum electrolyte leakage) was assessed by freezing treatments in a frost chamber and was significantly influenced by morphotype, month and minimum ambient temperatures. LT₅₀ was significantly lower in the montane than in the lowland morphotype, with −107 °C and −49 °C, respectively. However, the interactions between morphotype with minimum ambient temperature or month were not significant. Thus, as frost hardiness of the two morphotypes responded to temperature in the same way, both morphotypes can be supposed to be exposed to the same risk of frost damage during hardening in autumn and dehardening in spring.     

Sedimentological evidence for rooting structures in the Early Devonian Anglo-Welsh Basin (UK), with speculation on their producers

Rooting structures preserved as casts in alluvial deposits of the Lower Devonian Lower Old Red Sandstone occur more extensively than previously thought in the Anglo-Welsh Basin. Two rooting structure morphotypes are identified: morphotype 1 being predominantly horizontal, and morphotype 2 comprising vertical forms. Both morphotypes taper along their length, are oval in cross-section, branch, and can be linear or sinuous. Fills are heterolithic in nature. The rooting structures are observed in sediments deposited in a wide variety of environments including both low-sinuosity within-channel bar-tops and accretionary bar surfaces (inclined-heterolithic stratification); accretionary banks of sinuous ephemeral channels (inclined-heterolithic stratification); floodplains (including margins of shallow floodplain ponds) of both ephemeral and perennial river channels, and well-developed calcic Vertisols. Although a vascular plant origin to the rooting structures cannot be discounted, there is circumstantial evidence that the structures were produced by the enigmatic Prototaxites, recently reinterpreted as a giant fungus. It is possible that they represent underground aggregates (rhizomorphs or cords) of hyphae involved in anchorage and nutrient foraging. Organic matter associated with biofilms and crusts is hypothesized as a source of nutrients for the presumed saprotroph.     

Difference in antifungal activity of morphotypes of clavicipitaceous endophytes within and between species

In a previous study, a total of 484 endophytic fungi were isolated and purified from seven populations of Achnatherum sibiricum (L.) Keng collected at six geographical locations in Inner Mongolia, China. Based on growth rates as well as morphological characteristics, the isolates were classified into five morphotypes. Among them, morphotypes A, B and C were ascribed to the same species, Neotyphodium chisosum, based on ITS sequences. Morphotype E was identified as Epichloë amarillans. In the present study, four morphotypes, A, B, C and E, belonging to two species, were chosen for an in vitro pathogen trial. The results showed that both endophyte colonies and endophyte filtrate of all morphotypes could inhibit the mycelia growth and spore germination of the pathogen fungi tested. The magnitude of inhibition varied not only between species, but also among morphotypes of the same species. Overall, the antifungal ability of E. amarillans (morphotype E) was higher than that of N. chisosum. Within N. chisosum, the antifungal ability was highest in morphotype C, followed by morphotype A, and lowest in morphotype B. This variability suggests that different morphotypes might represent different genotypes of endophyte. The effect of endophyte infection on the host grass should be examined not only on the species level but also on the morphotype level to determine the possible interactions.     

萼花臂尾轮虫多态性及形态型转化

在实验室条件下研究了萼花臂尾轮虫3种形态型(双短侧棘刺、单短侧棘刺和无侧棘刺)个体之间的关系。从轮虫的培养水体中随机挑出若干3种形态型雌体的幼轮虫(龄长<24h),分别培养在正常培养液和晶囊轮虫培养液过滤液中。将实验轮虫的后代(F1代)置于200倍显微镜下检查其个体的形态型。实验结果表明,在正常培养液中,每种形态型轮虫个体都可以产生3种形态型的后代。当培养在晶囊轮虫培养液过滤液中时,这3种形态型轮虫的后代都具有2个显著增长的侧棘刺。此外,这3种形态型个体的轮虫能够共存于同一培养环境中,而且每种形态型个体的轮虫都具有3种生殖类型的雌体。由此推测萼花臂尾轮虫是一个由3种基础形态型个体组成的形态型轮虫复合体。     

Ongoing speciation within the Anastrepha fraterculus cryptic species complex: the case of the Andean morphotype

The Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) cryptic species complex is currently composed of seven taxonomically recognized morphotypes. Both, pre‐ and post‐zygotic isolation has been documented among four of these morphotypes, revealing that in fact they appear to be distinct biological entities. In order to progress in the full delimitation of species within the complex, we examined reproductive isolation between a Colombian population of the Andean morphotype and populations belonging to four other morphotypes spanning from Mexico to Argentina. Flies from the Andean morphotype exhibited strong pre‐zygotic mating isolation through temporal partitioning of mating activity. Post‐zygotic isolation was observed for crosses of males of all morphotypes and Andean morphotype females, yet most of the F1 hybrid ♂ × F1 hybrid ♀ self‐crosses showed normal levels of fertility, a finding suggesting a nuclear–cytoplasmic interaction according to previous studies. Overall, the Andean morphotype within the complex also appears to be a distinct biological entity. We discuss the implications of these findings for the understanding of speciation mechanisms in the Neotropical genus Anastrepha.     

A Redescription of an Eimerian Coccidian From the Flying Squirrel Glaucomys volans, Designating it Eimeria parasciurorum nov. sp.

SUMMARY. An eimerian coccidian is described from the flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans , in Florida. It is identified as the same eimerian described by Roudabush from the flying squirrel in Iowa as Eimeria sciurorum. Evidence is presented that Roudabush incorrectly identified the organism. It is renamed as E. parasciurorum nov. sp. Mature oocysts have mean measurements of 29 × 16°, an index of 1.82, are cylindrical with rounded ends, have a dual membrane, and no extra residual body. Oocysts are without micropyle. Four egg-shaped, mature sporocysts in the oocyst have mean measurements of 11.2 × 6.2°, an index of 1.81, contain an oval, granular, intraresidual body and two pyriform sporozoites 10 × 3.2°, index 3.11.