贵州兴义中三叠统法郎组竹杆坡段Lariosaurus一新种

记述了贵州兴义法郎组竹杆坡段鸥龙的一新种──兴义鸥龙(Ｌａｒｉｏｓａｕｒｕｓ ｘｉｎｇｙｉｅｎｓｉｓ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．)。兴义鸥龙以其上颞孔是眼眶长度的两倍,顶骨平台细长而不收缩,肱骨缺失外髁沟和旋后肌突,及肱骨短于股骨而有别于鸥龙的其他种。兴义鸥龙与意大利拉丁晚期的Ｌａｒｉｏｓａｕｒｎｓｖａｌｃｅｒｅｓｉｉ最为相似。依据脊椎动物的对比,法郎组竹杆坡段的时代应为中三叠世晚期。     

The forgotten remains of a leptocleidid plesiosaur (Sauropterygia: Plesiosauroidea) from the Early Cretaceous of Gronau (Münsterland, Westphalia, Germany)

Gronausaurus wegneri n. gen. n. sp. represents a newly discovered leptocleidid sauropterygian based on one individual from the Early Cretaceous (Berriasian) of Gronau in Westphalia, Germany. The holotype and only known specimen consists of a skeleton, which lacks most of the dermal skull bones, a large number of cervical vertebrae and distal limb elements. Gronausaurus wegneri is unique in having distinct cavities, the subdiapophyseal fossae, below the transverse processes of the pectoral and anterior dorsal vertebrae, that probably stabilised the bones against tensile forces of the rotator and levator muscles in the living animal.     

Developmental mechanisms of macroevolutionary change in the tetrapod axis: A case study of Sauropterygia

Understanding how developmental processes change on macroevolutionary timescales to generate body plan disparity is fundamental to the study of vertebrate evolution. Adult morphology of the vertebral column directly reflects the mechanisms that generate vertebral counts (somitogenesis) and their regionalisation (homeotic effects) during embryonic development. Sauropterygians were a group of Mesozoic marine reptiles that exhibited an extremely high disparity of presacral vertebral/somite counts. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, we demonstrate that somitogenesis and homeotic effects evolved in a co‐ordinated way among sauropterygians, contrasting with the wider pattern in tetrapods, in which somitogenetic and homeotic shifts are uncorrelated. Changes in sauropterygian body proportions were primarily enabled by homeotic shifts, with a lesser, but important, contribution from differences in postpatterning growth among somites. High body plan plasticity was present in Triassic sauropterygians and was maintained among their Jurassic and Cretaceous descendants. The extreme disparity in the body plan of plesiosaurian sauropterygians did not result from accelerated rates of evolutionary change in neck length, but instead reflect this ancestral versatility of sauropterygian axial development. Our results highlight variation in modes of axial development among tetrapods, and show that heterogeneous statistical models can uncover novel macroevolutionary patterns for animal body plans and the developmental mechanisms that control them.     

Paraplacodus and the phylogeny of the Placodontia (Reptilia: Sauropterygia)

The skeletal anatomy of Paraplacodus broilii Peyer from the Grenzbitumen-horizon (Anisian-Ladinian boundary) of Monte San Giorgio (Switzerland) is described and compared with that of other placodonts. Paraplacodus is found to share a number of potential synapomorphies with Placodus which could potentially corroborate the monophyly of the Placodontoidea, but Placodus also shares an number of potential synapomorphies with the armored placodonts (Cyamodontoidea) which are absent in Paraplacodus. Parsimony analysis rejects the monophyly of the Placodontoidea, and places Paraplacodus at the root of the placodont tree, as the sister-taxon of all the other representatives of the clade. This correlates with a configuration of the temporal region of the skull that suggest the loss of the lower temporal arch in a diapsid skull. The loss of the lower temporal arch is therefore recognized as a sauropterygian synapomorphy, and might even be a lepidosauromorph synapomorphy.     

New information on Bobosaurus forojuliensis (Reptilia: Sauropterygia): implications for plesiosaurian evolution

Preparation of the holotype specimen of Bobosaurus forojuliensis, a large sauropterygian from the lower Carnian of northeastern Italy, revealed new morphological data relevant in establishing its phylogenetic affinities among pistosauroid taxa and its relationships with plesiosaurians. Inclusion of B. forojuliensis in two phylogenetic analyses focusing, respectively, on sauropterygians and pistosauroids agreed in placing the Italian taxon as closer to plesiosaurians than to other pistosauroids. The phylogenetic interpretation of Bobosaurus was not biased by assumptions on character weighting, is consistent with its relatively younger age compared to most pistosauroids, extends the fossil record of the plesiosaurian basal lineage back to the Carnian and supports the earliest diversification of the clade during the Late Triassic in agreement with the record of several distinct lineages of rhomaleosaurids, plesiosauroids and pliosauroids in the lowermost Jurassic. Bobosaurus shows that the evolution of the plesiosaurian body plan from the ancestral pistosauroid grade was a step-wise process, and that some of the vertebral and appendicular specialisations of Jurassic and Cretaceous plesiosaurians had already developed in the earliest Late Triassic.     

The status ofAnarosaurus multidentatus von Huene (Reptilia,Sauropterygia), from the lower anisian of the lechtaler alps (Arlberg,Austria)

The holotype ofAnarosaurus multidentatus von Huene (1958) from the lowermost Anisian of the Austrian Alps is redescribed and referred to the genusCymatosaurus. Eusauropterygian characters shared byA. multidentatus are the elongated and broadened Symphysis, and the contours of the lower jaw suggesting the presence of a constricted snout. Morphological details of the lower jaw Symphysis showA. multidentatus to be close toCymatosaurus among stem-group sauropterygians.Cymatosaurus multidentatus is the only representative of its genus known so far from the Alpine Triassic, and it represents the earliest known sauropterygian from the Alpine Triassic.     

A new specimen of the Triassic pistosauroid Yunguisaurus,with implications for the origin of Plesiosauria (Reptilia,Sauropterygia)

An adult skeleton of the pistosauroid sauropterygian Yunguisaurus liae reveals a number of morphological features not observed in the holotype, such as the complete morphology of the skull roof, stapes, atlas and axis, ventral view of the postcranium, and nearly complete limbs and tail. Size and morphological differences between the two specimens are mostly regarded as ontogenetic variation, and newly added data did not affect the phylogenetic relationships with other pistosauroids significantly. The number of mesopodia (11 carpals and 8 tarsals) exceeds that known in any other Triassic marine reptiles and does not serve as a precursor of the plesiosaurian pattern with fewer mesopodia of different topology; it demonstrates variability of the limb morphology among the Triassic pistosauroids. The pectoral girdles of Corosaurus, Augustasaurus and Yunguisaurus may indicate early stages of the adaptation towards the plesiosaurian style of paraxial limb movements with ventroposterior power stroke.     

Bone abnormalities in the middle Anisian marine sauropsids from Winterswijk

While the occurrence of skeletal pathologies in Middle Triassic marine reptiles has been poorly documented until now, massive accumulations of bone remains from the Germanic Basin provide the opportunities for documentation. Herein, we describe skeletal abnormalities in the Middle Triassic bone material from the Vossenveld Formation of Winterswijk, the Netherlands. The aim of the study is to distinguish in the studied bones pathologies resulting from malady or trauma and taphonomic alterations. Furthermore, an attempt was made to assess on how the pathologies also represent paleoecological data. Our survey led to the identification of one broken and healed bone, one case of abnormal coossification, and one case of posttraumatic fibro-osseous dysplasia. While the latter two pathologies give little insight into the ecology and function of the affected animals, the fractured dentary is attributed to Nothosaurus marchicus, a common sauropterygian macropredator. It proves that the individual survived long enough to heal, despite the injury hampering its hunting potential. One abnormally shaped humerus is interpreted as postmortem taphonomic deformation, emphasizing the necessity of utilization of detailed diagnostics to distinguish actual paleopathologies from nonbiological distortion.     

A Carapace-Like Bony ‘Body Tube’ in an Early Triassic Marine Reptile and the Onset of Marine Tetrapod Predation

Parahupehsuchus longus is a new species of marine reptile from the Lower Triassic of Yuan’an County, Hubei Province, China. It is unique among vertebrates for having a body wall that is completely surrounded by a bony tube, about 50 cm long and 6.5 cm deep, comprising overlapping ribs and gastralia. This tube and bony ossicles on the back are best interpreted as anti-predatory features, suggesting that there was predation pressure upon marine tetrapods in the Early Triassic. There is at least one sauropterygian that is sufficiently large to feed on Parahupehsuchus in the Nanzhang-Yuan’an fauna, together with six more species of potential prey marine reptiles with various degrees of body protection. Modern predators of marine tetrapods belong to the highest trophic levels in the marine ecosystem but such predators did not always exist through geologic time. The indication of marine-tetrapod feeding in the Nanzhang-Yuan’an fauna suggests that such a trophic level emerged for the first time in the Early Triassic. The recovery from the end-Permian extinction probably proceeded faster than traditionally thought for marine predators. Parahupehsuchus has superficially turtle-like features, namely expanded ribs without intercostal space, very short transverse processes, and a dorsal outgrowth from the neural spine. However, these features are structurally different from their turtle counterparts. Phylogeny suggests that they are convergent with the condition in turtles, which has a fundamentally different body plan that involves the folding of the body wall. Expanded ribs without intercostal space evolved at least twice and probably even more among reptiles.     

PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG PAPER WASP SOCIAL PARASITES AND THEIR HOSTS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE; POLISTINAE)

Abstract— Cladistic analyses of data from allozyme polymorphisms in paper wasp social parasites and their hosts do not support the hypothesis that social parasites are most closely related to their hosts. Electrophoretic data are adduced for nine species of Polistes , including all three known species of social parasites ( Sulcopolistes ) and their hosts. Three different coding methods are investigated; in no case do the social parasites cluster most closely with their hosts. Rather, there is limited evidence that they form a monophyletic group. However, formal taxonomic recognition of Sulcopolistes is not justified, as it renders Polistes sensu stricto paraphyletic. Although the social parasites are not most closely related to their hosts, hosts and parasites belong in the same subgenus and share many characteristics that may have facilitated the exploitation and deception practised by the parasites on the hosts.     

基于ITS和matK序列的獐牙菜亚族 (龙胆科龙胆族)分子系统学

为探讨獐牙菜亚族（subtribe Swertiinae）各属之间和一些属内的系统关系,本研究选取了该亚族14属68种1变种,采用最大简约法（maximum parsimony）和贝叶斯法（Bayesian inference）对样品核基因ITS和叶绿体基因matK的两个片段进行独立和联合分析。结果显示：Bartonia位于亚族的最基部;喉毛花属（Comastoma）、肋柱花属（Lomatogonium）和假龙胆属（Gentianella）都非单系,处于同一个较为进化的分支中;獐牙菜属折皱组（Swertia sect. Rugosa）和獐牙菜组（S. sect. Swertia）亲缘关系最近,宽丝组（S. sect. Platynema）和藏獐牙菜组（S. sect. Kingdon Wardia）亲缘关系最近;口药花属（Jaeschkea）与獐牙菜属多枝组（S. sect. Ophelia）的大籽獐牙菜（Smacrosperma）亲缘关系最近。同时讨论了獐牙菜亚族形态分类与分子数据不一致的原因。     

Adult sex ratio,sexual dimorphism and sexual selection in a Mesozoic reptile

The evolutionary history of sexual selection in the geologic past is poorly documented based on quantification, largely because of difficulty in sexing fossil specimens. Even such essential ecological parameters as adult sex ratio (ASR) and sexual size dimorphism (SSD) are rarely quantified, despite their implications for sexual selection. To enable their estimation, we propose a method for unbiased sex identification based on sexual shape dimorphism, using size-independent principal components of phenotypic data. We applied the method to test sexual selection in Keichousaurus hui, a Middle Triassic (about 237 Ma) sauropterygian with an unusually large sample size for a fossil reptile. Keichousaurus hui exhibited SSD biased towards males, as in the majority of extant reptiles, to a minor degree (sexual dimorphism index −0.087). The ASR is about 60% females, suggesting higher mortality of males over females. Both values support sexual selection of males in this species. The method may be applied to other fossil species. We also used the Gompertz allometric equation to study the sexual shape dimorphism of K. hui and found that two sexes had largely homogeneous phenotypes at birth except in the humeral width, contrary to previous suggestions derived from the standard allometric equation.     

Molecular evidence for a terrestrial origin of snakes

Biologists have debated the origin of snakes since the nineteenth century. One hypothesis suggests that snakes are most closely related to terrestrial lizards, and reduced their limbs on land. An alternative hypothesis proposes that snakes are most closely related to Cretaceous marine lizards, such as mosasaurs, and reduced their limbs in water. A presumed close relationship between living monitor lizards, believed to be close relatives of the extinct mosasaurs, and snakes has bolstered the marine origin hypothesis. Here, we show that DNA sequence evidence does not support a close relationship between snakes and monitor lizards, and thus supports a terrestrial origin of snakes.     

Archaebacterial Relationships of the Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase Gene Reveal Mosaicism of Giardia intestinalis Core Metabolism

A gene encoding a putative GTP-specific phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase has been cloned and sequenced from the type I amitochondriate protist Giardia intestinalis. The deduced amino acid sequence is related most closely to homologs from hyperthermophilic archaebacteria and only more distantly to homologs from Eubacteria and Metazoa. Most enzymes of Giardia core metabolism, however, are related more closely to eubacterial and metazoan homologs. An archaebacterial relationship has been noted previously for the unusual acetyl-CoA synthetase (ADP-forming) of this organism. The results suggest that phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and acetyl-CoA synthetase have been acquired from different sources than most enzymes of Giardia core metabolism.     

Six New Species of Dobsonflies from Venezuela (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Corydalinae)

Six new species of dobsonflies (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Corydalinae) from Venezuela are described and illustrated, two in the Neotropical genus Chloronia and four within the New World genus Corydalus. Chloronia contains 15 previously described species. The new species Chloronia gaianii and C. marthae, each from the southern tepui and Andean regions, appear to be most closely related to C. hieroglyphica (Rambur) and C. mirifica Navás, respectively. Corydalus contains 30 previously described species. The new species Corydalus clavijoi, of Andean affinity, appears most closely related to C. tesselatus Stitz; C. crossi, from Auyán-tepuí, might be closely related to C. nubilus Erichson; and both C. hayashii and C. mayri, from westernmost Guayana Shield area and Aracamuni tepuis, respectively, clearly belong in the distinct and monophyletic C. arpi Navás species group. Keys for identification of the Venezuelan species of both genera are provided.     

Leukocyte isolation by sedimentation: the effect of rouleau-promoting agents on leukocyte differential count.

The rouleau-promoting agents dextran and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were used to accelerate erythrocyte sedimentation in order to harvest the leukocyte rich plasma (LRP). The objective of the work was to determine if agent concentration or blood: agent ratio had any effect on the leukocyte differential count and if so at what agent concentration and agent:blood ratio did the LRP leukocyte differential count most closely match the whole blood leukocyte differential count. With both sedimentation agents the data clearly indicate that both parameters effect LRP differential counts and that low concentrations of sedimentation agents are most important in obtaining LRP differential counts which most closely match the whole blood differential counts.     

Life‐history strategies indicate live‐bearing in Nothosaurus (Sauropterygia)

In Sauropterygia, a diverse group of Mesozoic marine reptiles, fossil evidence of viviparity (live‐bearing) only exists for Pachypleurosauria and Plesiosauria, and was assumed to also be the case for nothosaurs. Previous studies have successfully applied an extant squamate model to sauropterygian life‐history traits. In extant squamates, oviparity and viviparity are associated with differences in life‐history trait combinations. We establish growth curves for Nothosaurus specimens based on their humeral histology. We then analyse life‐history traits derived from these curves and compare inferred traits to those of modern squamates and pachypleurosaurs to assess their reproduction mode. We show that birth to adult size ratios (i.e. birth size divided by the mother's size) provide good estimates of clutch sizes in extant squamates and in viviparous extinct marine reptiles, but these ratios cannot discriminate viviparous and oviparous squamates. Thus, large ratios do not indicate viviparity in fossil taxa to which the extant squamate model is applicable. Applying differences in birth size, age at maturation, and maximum longevity that are observed between extant viviparous and oviparous squamates to our Nothosaurus sample, we identified 7 out of 24 specimens as being potentially viviparous. Conversely, they suggested oviparity for many nothosaurs but also for many pachypleurosaur samples. Under the assumption that the entire clade Pachypleurosauria was viviparous, the majority of nothosaurs would also have been viviparous as they comprised trait combinations similar to those seen in pachypleurosaurs. Overall, this suggests that within nothosaurs and pachypleurosaurs both reproduction modes existed in different taxa.     

Evolutionary relatedness of some primate models of Plasmodium

Primate--and, specifically, monkey--malaria infections are commonly used for understanding the pathology of and immune response to the human disease because they are thought to resemble most closely the host-parasite relationship found in humans. Plasmodium cynomolgi is used extensively as a model for the human parasite, P. vivax, and P. knowlesi is used primarily as a model for the development of erythrocytic-stage vaccines. Both of these simian parasites can naturally infect man, resulting in mildly symptomatic episodes of the disease. The phylogenetic relationship between these two simian parasites and previously characterized Plasmodium species, including P. vivax, was examined by comparison of the asexually expressed small- subunit ribosomal RNA genes. Our analysis confirmed that P. vivax is most closely related to P. cynomolgi and that it remains an appropriate model of the human pathogen. Furthermore, with P. knowlesi and P. fragile, these two species form a group of closely related species, distant from other Plasmodium species. What is considered to be the most ancient of the human malaria pathogens, P. malariae, was also included in the analysis and does not group at all with other simian or human parasites.      

The relationships of Heberdenia bahamensis and H. penduliflora (Myrsinaceae)

A morphological and anatomical investigation is presented of the two species of Heberdenia, H. bahamensis (Macaronesia) and H. penduliflora (Mexico). A cladistic analysis including 27 taxa of the Myrsinaceae and using Jacquinia (Theophrastaceae) and Manilkara (Sapotaceae) as outgroup was performed to provide a hypothesis of the relationships of the two species of Heberdenia. It was concluded that H. bahamensis and H. penduliflora are not more closely related to each other than either is to many other species of the Myrsinaceae, and that they should not be referred to the same genus. Heberdenia bahamensis appears to be most closely related to the Old World genera Pleiomeris, Embelia , and Grenacheria , whereas H. penduliflora is nested within Ardisia s. L , possibly being most closely related to the segregate genus Gentlea. It is suggested that H. penduliflora is probably best referred to a genus of its own.     

Biogeography in the Death Valley region: evidence from springsnails (Hydrobiidae: Tryonia)

Allozyme and mitochondrial DNA variation were analysed to examine evolution of the nine species of springsnails (genus Tryonia) living in the Death Valley system (Owens and Amargosa basins) of southeastern California and southwestern Nevada. Both allozyme and mtDNA evidence indicate that this highly endemic fauna is non-monophyletic. Species from the upper Amargosa basin comprise a clade most closely related to snails living in the Colorado basin. Snails from the lower Amargosa basin (Death Valley trough) reflect a complex evolutionary history and two of these species are more closely related to an estuarine species from western California than to other snails of the region. These results indicate a commonality of pattern with the well-studied Death Valley pupfishes (Cyprinodon), which also are non-monophyletic and include species that are most closely related to Colorado basin congeners. These biogeographic patterns are interpreted within the context of a recently proposed model for the early history of the lower Colorado River.