On the marine sister groups of the freshwater crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura)

Freshwater crab sister group relationships with marine eubrachyuran families were investigated. A morphology-based cladistic analysis was conducted on representatives of the freshwater crab families Deckeniidae, Gecarcinucidae, Parathelphusidae, Potamidae, Potamonautidae, Pseudothelphusidae, and Trichodactylidae using a disparate assemblage of marine heterotreme and thoracotreme brachyurans as possible sister groups. The monophyly of the freshwater crabs sensu lato is falsified. The family Trichodactylidae and the marine portunid subfamily Carcininae form basal groups within the superfamily Portunoidea. The monophyly of the Pseudothelphusidae and the Paleotropical freshwater crab families is supported, and this clade is the sister group of the Thoracotremata (Gecarcinidae, Grapsidae s.l., and Ocypodoidea). The origin, groundplan, and diversification of freshwater crabs are discussed in the context of previously published scenarios of their evolution.     

Ultrastructural Studies on a Model Tintinnid – Schmidingerella meunieri (Kofoid & Campbell, 1929) Agatha & Strüder‐Kypke, 2012 (Ciliophora). II. The Oral Apparatus

The ultrastructure of the oral apparatus is supposed to be significant for elucidating more recent common ancestry and might thus provide support for particular groupings of oligotrichean ciliates. The transmission electron microscopical study on mainly cryofixed Schmidingerella meunieri specimens provides the first detailed data for tintinnids and Oligotrichea in general. Ten new characters are included into the cladistic analysis. These features together with the very limited body of literature suggest that substantial changes in the oral ultrastructure correlate only with the formation of a circular adoral zone in choreotrichids. Despite homoplasious morphological and ontogenetic adaptations to the planktonic lifestyle in halteriid hypotrichs and oligotrichids, their oral apparatuses generally retain the plesiomorphic ultrastructure of the Perilemmaphora. The highly complex ultrastructure of the adoral zone is thus able to accomplish an extension in the zone's functionality without obvious changes; only the position of the adoral zone at the apical cell portion together with a globular to obconical cell shape are apparently crucial. Merely, minute apomorphies characterise the Oligotrichea and tintinnids, respectively. Tintinnids with derived somatic ciliary patterns possess distinct microtubular bundles connecting the oral apparatus with the myoneme in the peduncle.     

Skeletal morphology and the phylogeny of skuas (Aves: Charadriiformes,Stercorariidae)

The skuas (Aves: Charadriiformes, Stercorariidae) consist of two assemblages. On the basis of size, plumage, and distributional similarities, each of the two assemblages has long been considered monophyletic, and this traditional hypothesis has commonly been manifested in the recognition of two genera, Stercorarius and Catharacta; conversely, more recently collected molecular and ectoparasite evidence yields an alternative hypothesis, in which one member of Stercorarius, Stercorarius pomarinus, is more closely related to the forms in Catharacta than to the other Stercorarius sp. In this study we used skeletal morphology to test the competing hypotheses of skua phylogeny. Cladistic analysis of 141 osteological characters provided strong support for the molecular/ectoparasite hypothesis. However, those skeletal data did not support a sister‐taxon relationship between S. pomarinus and Catharacta skua, as inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence data; instead, they resolved pomarinus as the sister of a monophyletic Catharacta. Additionally, our skeletal evidence did not support a sister‐group relationship between skuas and auks, as constraining skua/auk monophyly increased the tree length by nearly 5%. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 157 , 612–621.     

Phylogeny and biogeography of the Vitrinidae (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora)

The phylogeny of the Vitrinidae is reconstructed in a cladistic analysis based on characters of the genitalia, the copulation behaviour and the radula. The genera with an atrial stimulator turned out to be the earliest branches of the Vitrinidae, whereas the genera with a glandula amatoria form a monophyletic, taxonomically apomorphic group. The differences between the proposed phylogeny and previous hypotheses are discussed. The ancestral areas of the Vitrinidae and its sister group, the limacoid slugs Boettgerillidae–Limacidae–Agriolimacidae, are estimated using weighted ancestral area analysis. The Vitrinidae and the limacoid slugs might have originated by a vicariance event between Central Europe and the Near East. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 134 , 347–358.     

瘿绵蚜科系统发育研究（同翅目：蚜总科）

采用支序分析的方法对瘿绵蚜科的系统发育进行了探讨。研究结果表明,传统的倍蚜族Schlechtendalini、五节根蚜族Fordini和瘿绵蚜族Pemphigini 是单系群,传统的 卷叶绵蚜族Prociphilini 和四脉绵蚜族Tetraneurini是并系群。在瘿绵蚜科的三个亚科中,瘿绵蚜亚科与五节根蚜亚科亲缘关系比与绵蚜亚科更近。另外,根据支序分析结果,建议将丽绵蚜属Formosaphis从瘿绵蚜亚科移入五节根蚜亚科中。     

Phylogenetic analysis and revision of the linyphiid spider genus Solenysa (Araneae: Linyphiidae: Erigoninae)

In this paper we carry out a taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the linyphiid spider genus Solenysa Simon, 1894. A total of 12 species is treated here, including five new species collected from China and Japan: Solenysa akihisai Tu sp. nov., Solenysa lanyuensis Tu sp. nov., Solenysa retractilis Tu sp. nov., Solenysa tianmushana Tu sp. nov. , and Solenysa yangmingshana Tu sp. nov. Solenysa circularis Gao, Zhu & Sha, 1993 is a junior synonym of Solenysa protrudens Gao, Zhu & Sha, 1993. We have assembled two different character matrices to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of Solenysa. In the first matrix (Matrix 1), five representative species of Solenysa were added to the morphological dataset of Miller & Hormiga to test the monophyly of the genus and its placement within Linyphiidae. The genitalic structures and somatic morphology of Solenysa were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy for the first time. To infer the species‐level phylogenetic relationships of Solenysa we produced a second matrix (Matrix 2) that includes all 12 Solenysa species and six outgroup species chosen from the results of the analysis of the first matrix. The two most parsimonious trees from the analysis of Matrix 1 support the monophyly of Solenysa and its placement within the ‘Distal Erigonines’ clade. The single most parsimonious tree resulting from the analysis of the second matrix suggests that the Solenysa clade includes four monophyletic groups, each group represented by a distinct genitalic pattern. The morphology of Solenysa, both somatic and genitalic, is highly autapomorphic. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 161 , 484–530.     

Évolution des caractères technologiques et typologiques des industries lithiques dans la stratigraphie de la Caune de l'Arago

The thick Quaternary deposits of the Caune de l’Arago (Pyrénées-Orientales, France) are dated to between 690 000 and 90 000 years old. At least fifteen different archeostratigraphical units have been identified within these deposits, each corresponding to distinct prehistoric occupations. Numerous stone tools made from several different rock types, have been discovered in each unit. The tools present specific characteristics concerning the choice of raw materials, the typology, and the technology used to produce them. Morpho-technological study of the different components of the assemblage contributes to a better understanding of the debitage methods used for their production. Each raw material is considered individually in order to ascertain its origin in the environment, its typological role and the technology applied during its exploitation. Defining production systems leads to the characterisation of the assemblages from each unit. When compared, they reveal common elements, as well as differences, suggesting evolutionary trends. Some observations are also made concerning the extent to which changing uses of the site may have influenced the general morphology of each assemblage, therefore taking into account exterior factors. Analysis of this rich stone tool assemblage helps to situate the Caune de l’Arago industry within the larger evolutionary context of the Lower Paleolithic in Mediterranean Europe.     

Redescription of Antetintinnidium mucicola (Claparède and Lachmann, 1858) nov. gen., nov. comb. (Alveolata,Ciliophora, Tintinnina)

Tintinnid ciliates have traditionally been described and classified exclusively based on their lorica features. Although information on the cell characters is urgently needed for a natural classification, more molecular than cytological data has been accumulated over recent years. Apparently, the tintinnids developed in the marine environment and entered freshwater several times independently. Typical freshwater tintinnids belong to the genera Tintinnidium and Membranicola. The species are comparatively well‐known regarding their morphology and characterised by two unusual de novo originating ciliary rows, the ventral organelles. In contrast, the cell features in the marine/brackish Tintinnidium species, specifically their somatic ciliary patterns, are insufficiently known or not known at all. Therefore, the morphology of a common marine/brackish representative, Tintinnidium mucicola, is redescribed based on live observation and protargol‐stained material. Furthermore, biogeographical and autecological data of the species are compiled from literature and own records. The phylogenetic relationships of T. mucicola are inferred and the diversity of the family Tintinnidiidae is assessed from 18S rDNA sequences. The study shows that T. mucicola is not only molecularly distinct, but also characterised by many plesiomorphic features, for instance, it does not possess a verifiable homologue to the ventral organelles. Hence, a new genus, Antetintinnidium nov. gen., is established for T. mucicola. The new insights into the diversity of Tintinnidiidae shed light on the early evolution of tintinnids and might provide clues on their adaptions to freshwater.     

Phylogeny of the Anopliidae (Brachiopoda: Chonetidina)

The Anopliidae is one of the most diverse families in the brachiopod suborder Chonetidina. All previous attempts to work out the phylogeny and taxonomy of this family assume that the group is monophyletic. Great phylogenetic significance has been placed on the presence or absence of a single key feature, such as radial external ornament or accessory lateral septa of the brachial valve. In order to evaluate previous classifications of the family and the characters on which they are based, we performed a cladistic analysis of 23 anopliid taxa, two outgroup taxa, Rugosochonetes and Waagenites and three problematic taxa, Trichochonetes, Airtonia and Davoustia whose inclusion within the Anopliidae has been controversial. A single most parsimonious tree was obtained, with a length of 157, CI=0.28 and RI=0.47. The results do not support previous bipartite divisions of the family. In addition, the analysis is inconsistent with the presumption of monophyly for this family. Rather, it supports restriction of the Anopliidae to a clade united by small adult length, removing several large taxa from the family and confirming the non‐anopliid status of Airtonia and Davoustia.     

THE PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF SALTUSAPHIDINAE (HOMOPTERA:DREPANOSIPHIDAE)*

Abstract Phylogenetic analysis of Saltusaphidinae (Homoptera: Aphidoidea: Drepanosiphidae) was made by using 10 generic, 17 adult and 2 embryo characters. The results suggest alternative hypotheses: (1) Allaphis should be a subgenus of Thripsaphis; (2) Peltaphis should be an independent genus; (3) Stenaphis should be a subgenus of Subsaltusaphis; (4) monophyly of Sminthuraphis; and (5) phylogenetic relationships of Neveskyella, Subsaltusaphis, Saltusaphis and Iziphya. In order to resolve the argued position of Macropodaphis Remaudiere and Davatchi, 1958, Phyllaphidinae, Saltusaphidinae and Macropodaphis were taken as in-group members, 6 morphological characters and host-plant character were used. The result shows that Macropodaphis should be in a new subfamily Macropodaphidinae, and Macropodaphidinae and Saltusaphidinae should be sister groups.     

跳蚜亚科(Saltusaphidinae)系统发育分析(同翅目:斑蚜科)(英文)

选取形态及胚胎学特征,采用支序分析的方法对跳蚜亚科的系统发育进行了探讨。研究结果表明,Allaphis应作为蓟马蚜属Thripsaphis的一个亚属,Peltaphis应作为独立的属存在。Stenaphis应作为亚跳蚜属Subsallusaphis的一个亚属,粗腿蚜属Macropodaphis应建立一个新的亚科,该新亚科建议为粗腿蚜亚科Macropodaphinae。蓟马蚜属和毛斑蓟马蚜属Trichocallis为一对姐妹群,并且为较原始的类群。田鼠尾跳蚜属Sminhuraphis为单系类群,并与蓟马蚜属和毛斑蓟马蚜属具有共同的起源。聂跳蚜属Neveskyella和依跳蚜属Iziphya为一对姐妹类群,它们与跳蚜属Saltusaphis具有共同的祖先。亚跳蚜属与聂跳蚜属、依跳蚜属和跳蚜属有共同的起源,但较后三者原始。所有属之中,依跳蚜属相对较为进化。     

Monophyly and phylogeny of cuckoos (Aves, Cuculidae) inferred from osteological characters

A reanalysis of 32 characters from the literature previously deemed diagnostic of the Cuculidae revealed only five to be synapomorphic. I subsequently examined skeletons from 54 avian families and identified nine additional synapomorphies that supported cuckoo monophyly. My cladistic analysis of 33 cuculid genera using 135 skeletal characters differs markedly from currently accepted taxonomies. The most striking deviation is the placement of both New and Old World parasitic cuckoos in the Cuculinae, supporting the evolution of brood parasitism in a single event rather than three times as previously proposed. Unlike earlier classifications, the Cuculinae also includes the facultative parasites Coccyzus. This, suggests that the ancestral Coccyzus was an obligate parasite, and is consistent with the many behavioral adaptations to parasitism exhibited by this genus. Other changes include the placement of three subfamilies, comprising non-parasitic, terrestrial cuckoos of Old World (Centropodinae and Carpococcystinae) and New World (Neomorphinae) distribution, in basal positions on the tree. Nineteen characters support a sister relationship between the Hoatzin ( Opisthocamus hoatzin Müller) and turacos (Musophagidae), and not cuckoos. Three synapomorphies of the os carpi ulnare were found to unite the Cuculidae, turacos, and the Hoatzin, suggesting that these three diverse taxa may constitute a monophyletic group.     

Enamel microstructure defines a major Paleogene hippopotamoid clade: the Merycopotamini (Cetartiodactyla,Hippopotamoidea)

We present new material of the selenodont anthracothere Hemimeryx blanfordi from the Oligocene deposits of the Bugti Hills (Balochistan, Pakistan), collected between 1999 and 2002. This is the first undisputed Oligocene occurrence of the species, previously known from the early Miocene of Pakistan. Investigation of the molar enamel microstructure reveals a surprising mono-zonal Schmelzmuster, already detected in some middle to Late miocene selenedont anthracotheres. We include this observation combined with a morphological revision of H. blanfordi and a cladistic assessment of the dental evidence, to propose a new phylogenetic hypothesis regarding Hemimeryx and its close relatives. We confirm the clade including advanced bothriodontines, which we erect to a tribe rank and name Merycopotamini. The South Asian origin of Merycopotamini is consistent with hypothesized subsequent dispersal events of Merycopotamini from Asia to Africa.     

Donńees morphologiques, histochimiques et microanalytiques sur l'élaboration du tube organominéral d'Alvinella pompejana, Polychète des sources hydrothermales, et leurs implications Phylogénétiques

Vovelle, J. & Gaill, F. 1986. Données morphologiques, histochimiques et microanalytiques sur l'élaboration du tube organominéral d' Alvinella pompejana , Polychète des sources hydrothermales, et leurs implications Phylogénétiques. [Morphological, histochemical and microanalytical data on the elaboration of the organomineral tube of Alvinella pompejana , a polychaete from hydrothermal vents, and its phylogenetic implications.]
The material elaborated by Alvinellu pompejuna Desbruyères & Laubier, 1980, a polychaete worm from hydrothermal vents in the East Pacific, to build up its tube originates from an anterior ventral 'glandular shield'. Mucocytes rich in sulphated glycosaminoglycan provide an accessory component, but the bulk is formed from homogeneous granules, secreted by the deep 'main' cells of this shield. The organic part of the granules, as demonstrated by histochemistry, is proteinaceous, while the mineral part, as proved by microanalysis, includes phosphorus, calcium, iron and in smaller amounts magnesium and zinc. The material of the tube shows an increase in the ratio iron-calcium. Phosphorus may be bound to the organic part, but there is no sulphur present in it. In the laminated tube, scanning electron microscopy and microanalysis detect an enrichment in heterogeneous components of different constitution (balls and crystals). Silica, pointed out as characteristic of fossil worm tubes but absent in secretions, is not of endogenous origin. The original composition of the Alvinella tube can thus be related to that of other examples of the order Terebellida who live in a less drastic environment.     

Systematic relationships of the palaeogene family Presbyornithidae (Aves: Anseriformes)

The early Tertiary (Paleocene and Eocene) family Presbyornithidae is one of the most completely known group of fossil birds. Essentially all parts of the skeleton are represented in the fossil record, allowing a thorough analysis of the phylogenetic position of the family. Forty-two families of nonpasserine birds representing the orders Ciconiiformes, Anseriformes, Galliformes, Gruiformes and Charadriiformes, were included in a cladistic analysis of 71 skeletal characters. The previously suggested anseriform affinity of the Presbyornithidae was confirmed. Furthermore, the family proved to be closer to the Anatidae than to the Anhimidae or Anseranatidae. The many postcranial similarities with certain charadriiform birds as the Burhinidae, obviously are plesiomorphies. By this observation, a better undestanding of character evolution in nonpasserine skeletal morphology is gained. The often suggested close relationship of anseriform and galliform birds is not confirmed by osteology. Instead, the Anseriformes and the Phoenicopteridae form a monophyletic clade that is the sister to the remaining ciconiiform birds. This result renders the Ciconiiformes sensu Wetmore (1960) polyphyletic.     

Phylogeny and co-speciation in feather mites of the subfamily Avenzoariinae (Analgoidea: Avenzoariidae)

A cladistic analysis of phylogenetic relationships is carried out for the feather mite subfamily Avenzoariinae. The analysis is made at two different taxonomic levels, for 19 genera of the all family Avenzoariidae and for taxa of species rank for the Avenzoaria and Bychovskiata generic groups. A subsequent comparative analysis of phylogenetic hypotheseis for the subfamily Avenzoariinae and recently accepted phylogenetic hypotheses of the shorebirds Charadriiformes indicates co-speciation of feather mites with their hosts. As a result of the comparative analysis it is suggested, that the subfamily Avenzoariinae originated from an ancestor of the order Charadriiformes and co-speciated with this host order. The expected pattern of parallel evolution is disturbed by different evolutionary events, such as host shifts, extinction of mites and differential evolutionary rates of mite lineages in different phyletic branches of feather parasites.     

A systematic assessment of Ophionella (Apocynaceae; Asclepiadoideae; Stapelieae)

An assessment of characters is carried out for Ophionella Bruyns to establish that it is monophyletic. It is also shown that Pectinaria sensu lata is paraphyletic. Two species are recognized: O. arcuata (N.E. Br.) Bruyns and O. willowmorensis Bruyns sp. nov. The status of O. arcuata var. mirkinii (Piians) Bruyns is changed to O. arcuata subsp. mirkinii (Pillans) Bruyns stat. nov.