Fossil Robinia wood from the western United States

A collection of petrified wood from the Lower Pliocene Ogallala Formation in western Oklahoma was examined. All specimens appear to be of the same taxon and exhibit features of extant Robinia species. To date, four fossil wood species of Robinia have been described. The relationship of Robinioxylon zuriensis Falqui to Robinia is doubtful because of the lack of diagnostic critical features. The remaining three, Robinia alexanderi Webber, Robinia breweri Prakash, Barghoorn and Scott, and Robinioxylon zirkelii (Platen) Müller-Stoll and Mädel do show affinity to Robinia and all have been noted as structurally similar to R. pseudoacacia. The Oklahoma woods and these three fossil species show considerable overlap in quantitative features and are identical in qualitative features. Examination of different sections (and specimens) of extant Robinia pseudoacacia wood reveals quantitative and qualitative variation similar to that found amongst the petrified woods. Robinia alexanderi, Webber, R. breweri Prakash, Barghoorn and Scott, R. zirkelii (Platen) Müller-Stoll and Mädel, and the Oklahoma specimens are considered to be conspecific as the differences between these fossil wood species are no different from those accounted for by variation within a single living species, R. pseudoacacia.     

First identification of Decennatherium Crusafont, 1952 (Mammalia,Ruminantia, Pecora) in the Siwaliks of Pakistan

Previously undescribed remains of a new large giraffid have been identified from the late Miocene Siwaliks Hills of the Potwar Plateau in Pakistan. This taxon is very intimately related to the late Miocene giraffid genus Decennatherium, previously only certainly identified in the Iberian Peninsula, and with some possible remains assigned to Decennatherium crusafonti from Aliäbäd (Iran). The new material collected in the Siwaliks Hills shows a high morphological similarity with the Spanish remains of the genus, especially the early Vallesian Decennatherium pachecoi. Two previously undescribed ossicone fragments from the same area are also described and identified as cf. Decennatherium. These findings represent the easternmost occurrence of the genus Decennatherium and show a late Miocene migration of the genus throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Southern Asia.     

Systematics and phylogenetic species delimitation within Polinices s.l. (Caenogastropoda: Naticidae) based on molecular data and shell morphology

Here, we present the first phylogenetic analysis of a group of species taxonomically assigned to Polinices sensu latu (Naticidae, Gastropoda) based on molecular data sets. Polinices s.l. represents a speciose group of the infaunal gastropod family Naticidae, including species that have often been assigned to subgenera of Polinices [e.g. P. (Neverita), P. (Euspira), P. (Conuber) and P. (Mammilla)] based on conchological data. The results of our molecular phylogenetic analysis confirm the validity of five genera, Conuber, Polinices, Mammilla, Euspira and Neverita, including four that have been used previously mainly as subgenera of Polinices s.l. Our results furthermore indicate a close relationship of members of the Polinicinae to Sinum??a genus traditionally placed in the naticid subfamily Sininae. We furthermore present conchological analyses to determine the validity of shell characters used traditionally in species designation in the genus Polinices. Our data reveal several characters (e.g. protoconch, operculum colour, parietal callus) to be informative, while many characters show a high degree of homoplasy (e.g. umbilicus, shell form). Among the species arranged in the genus Polinices s.s., four conchologically very similar taxa often subsumed under the common Indo-Pacific species P. mammilla are separated distinctly in phylogenetic analyses. Despite their striking conchological similarities, none of these four taxa are related directly to each other. Additional conchological analyses of available name-bearing type specimens and type figures reveal the four ??mammilla??-like white Polinices species to include true P. mammilla and three additional species, which could be assigned to P. constanti (replacement name for P. dubius), P. jukesii and possibly P. tawhitirahia, based on protoconch and operculum characteristics.     

Le genre Postepithyris makridin (térébratulidés,brachiopodes) dans l'oxfordien et le kimméridgien Français

The questions relating to the type-species of genus PostepithyrisMakridin and to its systematic position within Terebratulids are discussed.The French species are described: besides the type-species P. cincta (Cotteau) from Upper Oxfordian, two species from Inferior Kimmeridgian can be included in this genus: P. minor (Douvillé) and P. dubisensis nov. sp.A new subspecies P. cincta mosensis nov., recently discovered in Oxfordian from East of the Paris Basin, can also be assigned to the genus.Postepithyris did not evolve through a single special facies: the species could supported different environmental conditions.     

Further evidence on the origin of the cultivated winged bean,Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC. (Fabaceae): Chromosome numbers and the presence of a host-specific fungus

Further evidence on the origin of the cultivated winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.) is presented. Recent evidence concerning chromosome numbers of previously unavailable species in the genus and observational evidence of false rust (Synchytrium psophocarpi (Rac.) Gäumann) onP. grandiflorus Wilczek in Zaïre is discussed. Consideration includes previously published studies on morphology and cytology to support an African center of origin and points toP. grandiflorus as the progenitor species of the cultivated winged bean.     

Echinochara triplicata sp. nov. (Clavatoraceae,fossil Charophyta) from the Lower Albian of Tunisia

Echinochara Peck, 1957 is a poorly known charophyte genus from the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous of the United States and Europe. Its fossil record is currently limited to two species, Echinochara spinosa Peck, 1957 and Echinochara peckii (Mädler, 1952) nov. comb. Grambast, 1956 emend. Schudack, 1993, which have obscure phylogenetic relationships. A third species of this genus, Echinochara triplicata nov. sp., is described here from the Lower Albian of Jebel Koumine (Central Tunisia) and is hypothesized to derive from the Barremian-Aptian morphotypes of Echinochara peckii. The new species represents the first record of the genus in Africa and its more recent record worldwide. It occurs along with the clavatoraceans: Clavator harrisii zavialensis and Atopochara trivolvis trivolvis and provides an additional tool for the biostratigraphic characterization of non-marine Albian of Europe and North Africa.     

Electric Organ Discharges of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyphomyrus petherici</Emphasis> (Mormyridae,Osteoglossiformes) from the White Nile Basin

The waveform and some characteristics of the electric organ discharges have been studied in 11 individuals of Cyphomyrus petherici, the only representative of the genus in the Nilotic fauna. The discharge is characterized by three to five phases with a prevalence of the second phase in terms of the relative amplitude and a wide variability of the total duration of discharge (from 212 to 558 μs). The comparison of the discharges of the species under study with those in the congeneric species and representatives of the genus Pollimyrus (which previously encompassed C. petherici) demonstrates a general similarity of the C. petherici discharges with those of Cyphomyrus, but not Pollimyrus. This is in agreement with the correspondence of the discharge characteristics observed in other mormyrids to the phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of the species.     

PALEOCENE DICOTYLEDONOUS TREES FROM BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK,TEXAS: VARIABILITY IN WOOD TYPES COMMON IN THE LATE CRETACEOUS AND EARLY TERTIARY,AND ECOLOGICAL INFERENCES

Paraphyllanthoxylon abbottii n. sp. and cf. Plataninium haydenii Felix from the Paleocene Black Peaks Formation, Big Bend National Park, Texas, are the first Paleocene dicotyledonous woods described from North America. Both represent wood types common in the Cretaceous. There are 30 logs of Paraphyllanthoxylon abbottii; it is rare that a single locality has such as large number of petrified dicotyledonous logs with a similar structural pattern, and the variability in mature wood structure can be documented. Paraphyllanthoxylon abbottii has a combination of features that occurs in many dicotyledonous families, but it is most similar to genera of Burseraceae. The Big Bend Paraphyllanthoxylon trees lack distinct growth rings, which suggests they grew in a climate without marked seasonality; they have high (10–74) vulnerability indices; such high values occur in extant tropical trees. The type species of Paraphyllanthoxylon, P. arizonense Bailey was reexamined, and its quantitative features are described. Aplectotremas Serlin of Albian age from the Edwards Limestone has anatomy like Paraphyllanthoxylon, and most probably is wood from a tree. The wood designated cf. Plataninium haydenii Felix resembles extant Platanaceae but differs in having exclusively scalariform perforation plates. Comparison of this wood with other platanoid woods suggests that in platanoid woods there has been a shortening of vessel elements and a decrease in the frequency of scalariform perforation plates from the Cretaceous through the Tertiary. These changes are consistent with the Baileyan model for specialization in tracheary elements.     

A parasitic wasp of the platygastrid family (Platygastroidea, Platygastridae, Sceliotrachelinae) first recorded in the Rovno amber (Eocene of Ukraine)

A new platygastrid species, Platystasius gracilis sp. nov., from an inclusion in Upper Eocene Rovno amber is described. The new species is assigned to the genus Platystasius Nixon, 1937. The morphological characteristics of the new species are described, and comparative analysis of the inclusion and a representative of the Recent fauna are provided.     

Review of the North American Tarphiota Casey, with a description of a new seashore-inhabiting Atheta species exhibiting convergent characteristics (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae)

A review of the North American species of the genus Tarphiota Casey is presented. Three species are recognized: T. densa (Moore), T. fucicola (Mäklin), and T. geniculata (Mäklin). They occur on the sandy beaches of the Pacific coast. A new coastal species of Atheta, found on the seashore and exhibiting certain convergent characteristics to Tarphiota, is described from the Atlantic coast: A. novaescotiae Klimaszewski and Majka, sp. nov. All Canadian species are provided with diagnoses, genitalic illustrations and digital photos of their habitus in dorsal and lateral view. A key is presented to distinguish the species. New data on the natural history of A. novaescotiae are presented and briefly discussed.     

G-banding homologies of some Australian rodents

G-banding comparisons of 26 species in 10 genera of three tribes of Australian rodents show that at least one representative of each of the three tribes has autosomal complements that are indistinguishable on G-banding, implying unusually high conservation of karyotypes. Three genera (Pseudomys, Notomys, and Mastacomys) are distinguished karyotypically by a reciprocal translocation, one genus (Uromys) by a tandem fusion, and one genus (Zyzomys) by a radically altered karyotype. The only other rearrangements identified from G-banding are pericentric inversions, all 12 of which involve breaks in the proximal area.     

A new clupeid genus (pisces, clupeiformes, clupeidae) from the Sarmatian of the Eastern Paratethys, Krasnodar Region

Two collections of clupeid fishes, which have previously been assigned to the species Sardinella sardinites (Heckel, 1850), from the Lower and Middle Sarmatian of the Pshekha River Basin (Western Ciscaucasia, Krasnodar Region) were studied. A new genus, Illusionella gen. nov., with two species, I. tsurevica sp. nov. and I. pshekhensis sp. nov., was described based on morphological characteristics. They are the most abundant species in Sarmatian fish assemblages of the Psekups-Belaya interfluve.     

Discovery of a Charophyte locality and Biostratigraphy of the continental Eocene deposits of Oued Méridja (southwestern Algeria)

The continental deposits of Oued Méridja area (west of Bechar, southwestern Algeria) have been assigned by previous authors to the early Eocene on the basis of lacustrine gastropod fauna (Pseudoceratodes). This study reports new paleontological and biostratigraphic data from the Oued Méridja section. Recent field investigations resulted in the discovery of an important charophyte assemblage, composed of five species belonging to four genera: Maedleriella cristellata, Maedleriella aff. cristellata, Harrisichara aff. leptocera, Peckichara disermas and? Gyrogona sp. This association allows to suggest a late Thanetian to early Ypresian age for this locality.     

Argentinean native wood species: Physical and mechanical characterization of some Prosopis species and Acacia aroma (Leguminosae; Mimosoideae)

One of the problems in marketing the wood of Prosopis and Acacia is the lack of standardization of its qualities. The aim of this paper was to obtain a preliminary detection of some properties of the wood of four species of the genus Prosopis and one species from Acacia grown in Argentina. To accomplish this objective, the content of extractives and some physical and mechanical characteristics were analyzed.The density ρ₁₂ of all the species indicates that these woods range from heavy to very heavy (?0.69 g/cm³). The total volumetric shrinkage values are low, less than 10%, for all species. The parallel compression strength and the shear strength for all the species indicate a very resistant wood (?46.93 MPa and ?18.35 MPa, respectively). Brinell hardness was higher than 5 kg/mm² in all cases. The species with less content of extractives is P. ruscifolia (approximately 9% of anhydrous mass) whereas A. aroma was the one with the greatest content (approximately 25% of anhydrous mass in the heartwood).     

Desmaninae (Talpidae, Mammalia) from the Pliocene of Tollo de Chiclana (Guadix Basin, Southern Spain): Considerations on the phylogeny of the genus Archaeodesmana

The fossil Desmaninae (water-moles) from the Pliocene continental deposits of Tollo de Chiclana (Guadix Basin, Southern Spain) are described. A new species, Archaeodesmana elvirae, is defined from the locality of Tollo de Chiclana-1 (upper Ruscinian). This species is characterized by relatively small canines and premolars (except the P4) and large P4 and molars, besides several morphological features. The presence of Archaeodesmana brailloni is reported from the locality of Tollo de Chiclana-1B (uppermost Ruscinian). A small sample assigned to the genus Archaeodesmana is described from the lower Villafranchian site of Tollo de Chiclana-3, which cannot be determined at the specific level. The phylogenetic relationships between the different species of Archaeodesmana are reconsidered in the light of the recent findings, which support the idea of a more complex phylogeny than previously proposed for this genus. The populations from the Guadix Basin, previously assigned to Dibolia dekkersi (= Archaeodesmana getica), are here considered to belong to a different (unnamed) species, which is the ancestor of A. elvirae. On the other hand, the new species A. elvirae is proposed as the ancestor of A. brailloni.     

Wood and bark anatomy of Hypocalyptus support its isolated taxonomic position in Leguminosae

The wood and bark anatomy of all three species of Hypocalyptus from the monotypic South African endemic tribe Hypocalypteae were studied. Despite large morphological differences (especially in habit) the species were found to be similar in wood and bark structure. Discontinuities are quantitative only, relating mainly to differences in growth form between H. oxalidifolius, a short-lived shrublet, and the two other species, H. coluteoides and H. sophoroides, both of which are erect shrubs or small trees of up to 6 m tall. Hypocalyptus wood has a mesomorphic structure with vessels solitary or in small groups, reflecting relatively moist habitats in fynbos vegetation. In contrast to many genera of Leguminosae for which data are available, crystals are absent from the wood. This is the first report of tanniniferous tubes in the wood of Leguminosae (previously reported only in Myristicaceae and a genus from Ulmaceae). The presence of tanniniferous tubes and the absence of crystals in all three species of Hypocalyptus underline the isolated position of the genus and support its tribal status.     

Palaeeudyptes klekowskii, the best-preserved penguin skeleton from the Eocene–Oligocene of Antarctica: Taxonomic and evolutionary remarks

A new fossil penguin skeleton from the La Meseta Formation collected at the locality DPV 13/84 (Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula) from the crinoid horizon located 40 m above the base of the 145 m-thick Submeseta Allomember (Late Eocene–Early Oligocene?) is described. The specimen is assigned to the species Palaeeudyptes klekowskii Myrcha, Tatur and del Valle, 1990; it is the most complete penguin skeleton ever recovered from Antarctica. Discoveries like this one are significant for the study of the anatomy and evolution of penguins, in particular regarding the Antarctic species included in the genus Palaeeudyptes Huxley, 1859. P. klekowskii closely resembles its smaller congeneric species P. gunnari ( Wiman, 1905), with only the relative concavity of the margo medialis distinguishing the tarsometatarsi of both taxa. However, the results of a geometric morphometric analysis show some intra- and inter-specific variations, making possible the systematic assignment of the majority of the specimens. Size variation is congruent with the presence of two different species.