A new family of cheilostome Bryozoa endemic to Antarctica

Five species of erect cheilostome Bryozoa from Antarctica are considered to constitute a new family, Eminooeciidae. A new genus Eminooecia is introduced for Hippadenella carsonae Rogick. Two new species are described in the genus Ioschizoporella Rogick.     

The peculiar Asian ghost moth genus Bipectilus Chu & Wang: taxonomy and systematic position (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae s.str.)

Abstract Bipectilus Chu & Wang, 1985, from China, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam is redescribed. Eight species are recognized in the genus; two were described previously ( Gorgopis unimacula Daniel and Bipectilus yunnanensis Chu & Wang) and six new species are named. A key to the males is provided and all species and their genitalia are described and illustrated. One new combination is established and one lectotype is designated. Observations on the cuticular anatomy of Bipectilus are presented. The monophyly of Bipectilus is supported by several autapomorphies but the genus also possesses many plesiomorphic traits including spurs on the hind tibia in some species. Bipectilus is placed in the Hepialidae s.str. and the autapomorphies of that taxon are summarized. It is concluded that Bipectilus represents an early lineage within the family, and possibly represents the sister-group of all other Hepialidae s.str. All Asian species originally placed in Gorgopis Hübner are removed from this endemic Afrotropical hepialid genus.     

Ademosynoides asiaticus Martynov, 1936, the earliest known member of an extant beetle family (Insecta, Coleoptera, Trachypachidae)

Fossil beetles are described from Kedrovka beds of the locality Babii Kamen’, Kuznetsk Basin, Siberia. According to different authors, this locality is dated to the terminal Permian or basal Triassic. SEM studies have shown that Ademosynoides asiaticus Martynov, 1936, described from this locality, should be placed in the family Trachypachidae, which makes it the earliest known extant family of beetles. In addition to the re-studied holotype, further material is described for this species; a new species of the same genus and a new genus and species of the same family are also described. As a result, almost 10% of the 78 beetle fossils known from this locality are identified as belonging to Trachypachidae. Unfortunately, the study of these beetles is complicated by the rather poor preservation quality and very small size of the majority of the fossils, which usually cannot be properly studied without using SEM. However, even in this case there is no full certainty that the results are absolutely reliable.     

New Deep-sea Leptognathiid Tanaids (Crustacea, Tanaidacea) from the North-east Atlantic

Three new genera ( Araphura, Leptognathioides and Stenotanais ) and six new species of tanaid crustaceans from below 1000 m depth in the north-east Atlantic are described. Two of the new species belong to the genus Leptognathiella Hansen, 1913, which is redescribed and removed from synonymy with Leptognathia Sars, 1882 ( sensu Lang 1968). These species are relatively common in the tanaid material examined and have a widespread distribution in the area under study, i.e. the Rockall Trough, Porcupine Seabight and Bay of Biscay. All six species are found at depths between 2070 and 2892 m. A further nine species previously belonging to the genus Leptognathia are removed to the new genera or to Leptognathiella. New records of Leptognathioides polita (Hansen, 1913) comb.n. and Leptognathiella abyssi (Hansen, 1913) have been obtained.     

Earliest record of a parapithecid anthropoid from the Jebel Qatrani formation, Northern Egypt

A fifth anthropoid (= anthropoidean, simian or simiiform) genus and species from the late Eocene Fayum Quarry L-41, Abuqatrania basiodontos gen. et sp. nov., further augments the already remarkable primate diversity from this locality and provides the first convincing extension of the enigmatic family Parapithecidae into the oldest productive vertebrate fossil-bearing stratum of the Jebel Qatrani Formation. A. basiodontos exhibits no clear autapomorphies nor any apomorphies that are shared exclusively with any other parapithecid species, and it is most parsimoniously interpreted as the sister taxon of a Qatrania-Parapithecus-Apidium clade. Reevaluation of two contemporaries of A. basiodontos, Serapia and Arsinoea, suggests that neither genus should be ranked as a basal parapithecid. Serapia is more derived than primitive parapithecids in the morphology of the lower fourth premolar and exhibits greater overall similarity to Proteopithecus in cusp placement and the shape and proportions of its lower teeth; accordingly, we place Serapia in the family Proteopithecidae. Arsinoea is much more problematic and does not fit well with any hitherto known Afro-Arabian anthropoid group; we place this genus in a new anthropoid family, Arsinoeidae.     

Four new species of southern African octocorals (Cnidaria: Alcyonacea), with a further diagnostic revision of the genus Alcyonium Linnaeus, 1758

Four new species of soft corals are described from the shallow sublittoral of southern Africa. Three of the species are referable to the genus Alcyonium Linnaeus, 1758 (family Alcyoniidae), although two of these possess growth forms that are atypical for most members of the genus. A revised diagnosis of the genus is therefore included. A new species in the family Nephtheidae is also described, this being referable to the genus Capnella Gray, 1869. All four species are from the region between the Cape of Good Hope Peninsula and the eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This is the region of the Agulhas Bank, an austroafrican biogeographic region that shows a high incidence of endemism with respect to the marine invertebrate fauna.     

A comparison of the stoloniferous octocorallian genera Scyphopodium, Stereotelesto, Bathytelesto and Rhodelinda, with the description of a new species from south eastern Africa (Anthozoa, Chavulariidae)

A new species of stoloniferous octocoral assignable to the genus Bathytelesto Bayer, 1981 is described from the Indian Ocean coast of southern Africa. The new taxon represents the fifth described species of the family Clavulariidae with rigid cylindrical or tubular anthosteles composed of inseparably-fused sclerites. Four genera are currenly in use to accommodate these species. However, only one of these ( Scyphopodium ) seems to be morphologically well differentiated from the rest. The other three ( Stereotelesto, Bathytelesto and Rhodelinda ) are here considered as nominal at present until more material representing all of the taxa can be accumulated and a detailed comparative examination made. Of these four genera, the new species is morphologically most closely aligned with the genus Bathytelesto .     

中国蕨科的数量分类研究

本文用聚类分析的方法,对中国蕨科23个种代表9个属做了数量分类研究,通过23OTUs×37个性状的原始数值矩阵标准化后,用欧氏距离系数计算相似性,采用WPGMA法进行聚类分析,以探索各属之间的系统位置和亲缘关系。其结果与我国植物学家经典分类处理基本上一致,并对粉背蕨属(Aleuritopteris)也做了修正,认为粉背蕨系(Ser.Farinosae)和银粉背蕨系(Sef.Argenteae)也可做为两个新属处理比较合理。另外对距离系数和结合线在类群划分申的作用进行了讨论和评价。     

A new genus of cardinalfishes (perciformes: Apogonidae) from the south China sea, with a discussion of the relationships between the families Apogonidae and Kurtidae

A new genus and species Kurtamia bykhovskyi gen. sp. nov., similar to the genus Archamia, but differing by presence of a foliiform-widened pleural ribs at the 5–9 vertebrae and combinations of certain other characters are described. Kurtamia and Archamia are considered as sister groups. The structures of pleural ribs and pterygophores of the anal-fin spiny rays in the new species have several similarities with those in the family Kurtidae, which should be considered close to Apogonidae. The relationships between Kurtamia, Apogonidae, and Kurtidae are considered.     

The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mollusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: the genus Glossodoris Ehrenbergh (= Casella, H. & A. Adams)

The genus Glossodoris Ehrenberg is reviewed and 28 species are placed in the genus. Seventeen species are fully described and of these, seven are named as new species. Four others are considered new to science, but insufficient material is available to name them. Published information on a further 11 species is included as is a discussion on phylogenetic trends within the genus.     

Ighermia, a new genus of the Asteraceae – Inuleae

An aberrant species of the genus Asteriscus (Asteraceae–Inuleae), A. pinifolius from SW Morocco, is here proposed to be removed and placed in a separate, monotypic genus Ighermia. The systematic position and morphology of the new genus are also discussed.     

Phylogeny and taxonomic revision of all genera of Conopidae (Diptera) based on morphological data

All global genera of the fly family Conopidae are revised here. A cladistic analysis of 117 morphological characters recorded from 154 species, including representatives of 59 genera and subgenera, recovers a phylogenetic hypothesis for the family. This hypothesis is used as the basis of a new classification for the family. Both Sicini and Zodionini are removed from Myopinae and elevated to subfamilial status. A new tribe, Thecophorini, is proposed within Myopinae to accommodate Thecophora, Scatoccemyia, and Pseudoconops. Two genera, Pseudomyopa and Parazodion, are removed from Dalmanniinae and placed in Myopinae and Zodioninae, respectively. Conopinae is divided into 11 tribes, seven of which are newly described (Asiconopini, Caenoconopini, Gyroconopini, Microconopini, Neoconopini, and Siniconopini). Some examined species are transferred to different or new genera and subgenera. A new genus, Schedophysoconops gen. nov. , and subgenus Asiconops (Aegloconops) subgen. nov. within Conopinae are described. A review of character evolution and phylogeography is included in light of the new classification. A catalogue of all genus‐group names is included with new emendations noted.     

The first record of the family Cleridae (Coleoptera): Shartegopsis miranda gen. et sp. nov. in the mesozoic (Shar-Teg, Upper Jurassic, Southwestern Mongolia)

A new genus and species of the family Cleridae, Shartegopsis miranda gen. et sp. nov., is described from Shar-Teg (southwestern Mongolia, Upper Jurassic). Judging by the characters that can be examined, it can probably belong to the subfamily Tillinae, and it is the earliest known member of the family. Mathesius liaoningensis Kolíbac et Huang, 2011 is considered closely related to species of the paleoendemic family Parandrexidae.     

The derivation, utility and implications of a divergence index for the fynbos genus Leucadendron (Proteaceae)

The derivation, utility, and implications of a divergence index for the fynbos genus Leucadendron (Proteaceae). The genus Leucadendron is useful for a phylogenetic study because it contains many species (79), is morphologically very diverse and appears to have diverged early on in the history of the family in Africa. Polarity of many characters was determined by outgroup analysis and the ontogenetic method. Exceptionally high levels of convergence made the determination of the phylogeny of the subsections problematic. An index, which is the sum of weight of all derived characters present in a species, was determined.
The genus should be removed from subfamily Aulacinae and placed closer to the Leucospermum 'alliance'. I suggest an arid temperate, shrub-like origin for the African Proteaceae, which is in contrast to some published viewS. Modifications to accepted concepts of fruit homology and evolutionary trends such as pollination and dispersal are presented for the family. The divergence index, if used as a 'morphological clock', appears to be useful for further biogeographic and ecological analyses.     

Serratotantulus chertoprudae gen. et sp. n. (Crustacea, Tantulocarida, Basipodellidae): A new tantulocaridan from the abyssal depths of the Indian Ocean

A single tantulus larva was found at the abyssal depth of the Indian Ocean attached to a harpacticoid host of the family Cletodidae. It represents a new genus and species of Tantulocarida, family Basipodellidae. Its ultrastructure was studied with SEM. This genus can be easily distinguished from the other genera of Basipodellidae by the pore pattern, bilobed oral disk with strong longitudinal ridges and the posterior projection of the cephalic shield. A morphological analysis of two related families Basipodellidae and Deothertridae shows that they represent polyphyletic taxa and need further revision.     

Studies in the Spore Morphology of Vittaria Smith

The spore morphology of 32 species of Vittaria Smith has been described. Spores are ellipsoidal or long ellipsoidal in polar view, and kidney-shaped in equatorial view, (18.2–65) × (39–110.5) × (19.5–52)μ in size, monolete, without perine. The stratification of exine which is generally 1.9–2.6 μ in thickness is distinct or indistinct. When it is distinct, the sexine is thicker than the nexine. The exine is generally orna- mented with indistinct granulose or vague sculpture, and with small verrucae in three species. In some species, there is a striate texture on the surface of the exine. As far as it goes, it is a very interesting phenomenon that has not been mentioned elsewhere in the literature of palynology. According to the references, the spores are trilete in a few species of this genus. But it is only monolete in our investigated meterial. Because the gross-morphology of plant in these genera of Vittariaceae is very similar to one anther, we raise the quastion whether the few species which have trilete spores really belong to this genus or to the other genus of Vittariaceae which have trilete, it may be further considered. On the basis of the spore types, Vittariaceae (E. B. Copeland, 1948) may be divided into two groups the one belongs to monolete spore type, and the other to trilete spore type. Based on morphology and anatomy of the plant, R. C. Ching (1940) separated out some genera which have trilete from Vittariaceae to establish a new family– Antrophyaceae, it is valuable to further exploration.