Morphology and phylogenetic relationships of a new eschrichtiid genus (Cetacea: Mysticeti) from the Early Pliocene of northern Italy

A new eschrichtiid, Eschrichtioides gastaldii gen. nov., comb. nov. , is established based on a specimen previously assigned to Balaenoptera gastaldii Portis, 1885. The holotype is from the Early Pliocene of north-east Italy. It represents a fossil mysticete closely related to the living grey whale, Eschrichtius robustus . Comparative morphology and phylogenetic analysis support the monophyly of Eschrichtiidae and Cetotherium -like mysticetes and a sister group relationship between this clade and Balaenopteridae. Eschrichtiid fossils previously described are all from the Pleistocene and Late Pliocene while Eschrichtioides gastaldii is from the Early Pliocene. The recognition of this new eschrichtiid genus suggests that the Mediterranean trophic web of the Early Pliocene was more complex than at present and that the Neogene mysticete family-level biodiversity of the Mediterranean was higher than that currently observed in this basin.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 153 , 161–186.     

A new genus of Mantispidae (Insecta: Neuroptera) from the Eocene of Germany, with a review of the fossil record and palaeobiogeography of the family

A new mantispid genus and species Symphrasites eocenicus gen. sp. nov. is described from the Middle Eocene of the Messel Pit fossil site, Germany. It has been placed, with confidence, in the subfamily Symphrasinae, the fossils of which were previously unknown. A review of the known fossil species of Mantispidae is provided, and their systematic placements are discussed. Liassochrysa stigmatica Ansorge & Schlüter, 1990 is assigned to Mantispidae, and therefore Liassochrysidae is a new synonym of Mantispidae; a second, more complete specimen of Mesomantispa sibirica Makarkin, 1997 is described from the Early Cretaceous Baissa locality, Russia; Mantispidiptera Grimaldi, 2000 is excluded from the family; Vectispa Lambkin, 1986 is referred to subfamily Mantispinae; and the assignment of Whalfera Engel, 2004 to Rhachiberothidae is validated. The origin and palaeobiogeography of the mantispids are briefly discussed: the concept of ousted relicts – which assumes that former widely distributed taxa were replaced with groups originating in the tropics – is assumed to best explain the present distribution of the family.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 149 , 701–716.     

First record of fossil Mesozoic Ctenopoda (Crustacea, Cladocera)

Pre-Pleistocene representatives of the crustacean order Ctenopoda Sars, 1865 are unknown. Here we describe Mesozoic fossil specimens of ctenopods from two localities in Mongolia: Khotont (Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary, about 145 Mya) and Khutel Khara (Lower Cretaceous, about 129 Mya). All specimens apparently belonged to the tribe Latonini Korovchinsky, 1986 of the subfamily Sidinae Baird, 1850. At the Khotont site, ctenopods were the most numerous microscopic animal fossils. We assigned these cladocerans to a new genus and species Archelatona zherikhini gen. nov., sp. nov. Our findings support a pre-Cretaceous origin for cladocerans.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 146 , 269–274.     

Systematics of the bryozoan genus Macropora (Cheilostomata)

Macropora is a distinctive genus of anascan cheilostomes. All species have large zooids with an extensive cryptocystal frontal shield perforated by numerous pores through which parietal muscle strands pass. Also characteristic of Macropora are the calcified opercula closing the d -shaped orifice, avicularia resembling autozooids but having slightly enlarged, typically crenulated opercula/mandibles, and large ovicells that are often costate. This mostly Australasian genus has a documented fossil record stretching back to the Eocene. Here we revise the generic diagnosis of Macropora and describe eight new species from New Zealand (three Recent: M. nodulosa sp. nov. , M. filifera sp. nov. and M. carlosi sp. nov. ; five fossil: M. septispinosa sp. nov. , M. similis sp. nov. , M. pittensis sp. nov. , M. leeae sp. nov. and M. bullata sp. nov. ) and one new species from Japan ( M. mawatariorum sp. nov. ), the only species known with certainty to occur in the northern hemisphere. New observations are given for some previously described species, several of which are illustrated using SEM for the first time. The northern hemisphere Upper Cretaceous species Monoporella exsculpta (Marsson), showing features allowing it to be placed tentatively in the stem-group of Macropora , is redescribed. Attempts to resolve the phylogenetic relationships of species within Macropora were hampered by the relatively few morphological characters compared with the number of species, and it proved impossible to obtain a phylogeny robust to slight changes in taxon and/or character inclusion. The favoured cladogram has poor bootstrap and Bremer support, and its stratigraphical and biogeographical congruences are low.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 153 , 115–146.     

Taxonomic position of and generic distinction between Parepactophanes Kunz, 1935 and Taurocletodes Kunz, 1975 (Copepoda, Canthocamptidae incertae sedis), with description of a new species from the Black Sea

Both sexes of a new species of Taurocletodes Kunz, 1975 (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Canthocamptidae incertae sedis ) are described from sandy beaches along the Black Sea coast of Turkey. The genus Taurocletodes is removed from its synonymy with Parepactophanes Kunz, 1935 and re-instated as a valid genus, accommodating the type species T. dubius (Noodt, 1958) comb. nov. and T. tumenae sp. nov. Both genera can be differentiated by major differences in the segmentation of P1–P3 endopods, the absence/presence of penicillate setae on P1 endopod, the number of outer spines on P2–P4 exp-3, the armature of P2–P4 endopods and the sexual dimorphism of P2 endopod and P3 exopod. T. tumenae sp. nov. and T. dubius are morphologically very similar, differing in morphometric characters related to the endopodal segmentation of P1 and P4, and armature of the male P5. The controversial taxonomic status of Parepactophanes and Taurocletodes within the family Canthocamptidae is discussed.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 140 , 469−486.     

Curtisia (Cornales) from the Eocene of Europe and its phytogeographical significance

Fossil remains of Curtisia Aiton (Cornales) are recognized for the first time from the Tertiary of Europe, based on early Eocene anatomically preserved fruits from the London Clay and Poole Formations of southern England. The modern distribution of this monotypic genus is limited to the cape of South Africa. Curtisia quadrilocularis (Reid & Chandler) comb. nov. fruits have globose tetralocular endocarps composed of isodiametric sclereids with a single seed per locule, a prominent axial vascular canal, apical placentation, and four germination valves. All of these characters, as well as size, correspond to extant Curtisia . Although many fossil taxa from the Eocene of Europe have been shown to have their closest extant relatives in Asia, this occurrence of Curtisia highlights Tertiary floristic exchange between Europe and Africa. The newly recognized fossil occurrences suggest a Laurasian origin for Curtisia , in conformity with the fossil record for several other genera of the Cornales. In addition, our rejection of the former assignment of this species to Leucopogon causes us to question whether Epacridaceae were present in the Tertiary of Europe.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 127–134.     

Late Miocene Carnivora from Chad: Lutrinae (Mustelidae)

We describe extensive Late Miocene fossil Lutrinae from Toros-Menalla, Chad. A minimum of four species are present in this fossiliferous area. Such a large number of species, diverse in size and dental morphology, is significant and unique in the fossil record of the subfamily Lutrinae in the Neogene of Africa. Two new taxa are described, Sivaonyx beyi sp. nov. and Djourabus dabba gen. nov. sp. nov. ; the two other species, which are represented by more fragmentary remains, are assigned to Lutrinae indet. aff. Torolutra sp. and Lutrinae indet. aff. Aonyx sp. Sivaonyx beyi is the best known of the species. It is represented by many dental remains and a subcomplete skeleton. Postcranial characters of this species are not particularly specialized. It is interpreted here as a terrestrial predator with poorly developed aquatic adaptations. Fossils of otters are known from ten different localities at Toros-Menalla, each of which yielded a single individual of one or two species. The presence of four morphologically distinct otters in the area is indicative of a palaeoenvironment with a relatively well-developed freshwater system of lakes and/or rivers.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 152 , 793–846.     

Revision of the New Caledonian endemic genus Gracilipsodes (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae: Grumichellini)

The taxonomy and systematics of the New Caledonian endemic caddisfly genus Gracilipsodes Sykora, 1967 (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae: Grumichellini) are reviewed. Seven new species represented by males are described and illustrated: Gracilipsodes aoupiniensis sp. nov. , Gracilipsodes aureus sp. nov. , Gracilipsodes aurorus sp. nov. , Gracilipsodes grandis sp. nov. , Gracilipsodes koghiensis sp. nov. , Gracilipsodes lanceolatus sp. nov. , and Gracilipsodes robustus sp. nov. Molecular phylogenetic analyses are applied to discern the relationships among the species of the genus and their closest relatives, based on sequence characters from the nuclear gene translation elongation factor-1α (EF-1α) and the three mitochondrial genes cytochrome oxidase I (COI), COII, and ribosomal large subunit (16S). The data are analyzed using parsimony and Bayesian inference, revealing a monophyletic Gracilipsodes with the eastern Australian monotypic genus Triplexa as its closest relative. Gracilipsodes is in turn divided into two major lineages.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 153 , 425–452.     

A distinctive new species of Viola (Violaceae) from Yunnan, China

A new species of Viola (Violaceae) from north-western Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. Viola dimorphophylla Y. S. Chen & Q. E. Yang sp. nov. is endemic to Zhongdian County, north-western Yunnan, and is very easily distinguishable from all other Chinese species of the genus by having obviously dimorphic leaves, with the basal ones being long petiolate, undivided and widely cordate, and the cauline ones sessile, linear and verticillate.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 149 , 115–119.     

Brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from La Réunion and the systematic position of Ophiocanops Koehler, 1922

The ophiuroid fauna of La Réunion, Indian Ocean, is still incompletely known. We report 13 different species from coral reefs, including five new records and a probably undescribed species of Amphioplus , which increases the number of ophiuroids known from La Réunion to 25. The most important find consists of three individuals of a previously unknown representative of the genus Ophiocanops . Originally placed in Ophiomyxidae, its systematic position has long been debated, with some authors advocating a placement with the otherwise extinct Palaeozoic Oegophiurida, based on the absence of several skeletal characters. The new species, O. multispina sp. nov. , shows intermediate characters between its previously only known congener, O. fugiens , and the ophiomyxid Renetheo felli . The three species appear to represent a line of taxa with progressively reduced skeleton instead of an ancient condition. We propose to transfer Ophiocanops back to the Ophiomyxidae, to synonymize Renetheo with Ophiocanops , and to invalidate the Ophiocanopidae, for which there is no autapomorphy-based support. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 153 , 545–560.     

Generic delimitation and a new infrageneric system in the genus Holcoglossum (Orchidaceae: Aeridinae)

Based on herbarium and field observations, we confirm the generic delimitation of Holcoglossum and present a new infrageneric system for the genus. Our work supports Holcoglossum as a natural group including H. amesianum (Rchb.f.) Christenson and H. subulifolium (Rchb.f.) Christenson. The new infrageneric system of Holcoglossum includes two subgenera: Holcoglossum subgen. Brachycentron subgen. nov. and Holcoglossum subgen. Holcoglossum , the latter comprising two new sections, Holcoglossum sect. Holcoglossum and Holcoglossum sect. Sorotylos .  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 149 , 465–468.     

A new Coryphoid palm genus from Madagascar

Tahina J.Dransf. & Rakotoarinivo, gen. nov. (Arecaceae) is described as a new genus from north-western Madagascar, with a single species T. spectabilis J.Dransf. & Rakotoarinivo, sp. nov. Tahina is included within tribe Chuniophoeniceae of subfamily Coryphoideae, based on the strictly tubular imbricate rachilla bracts, the flowers grouped in cincinni with tubular bracteoles, and the stalk-like base to the corolla. This position is corroborated by evidence from plastid DNA. Lamina anatomy is discussed in detail, and similarities with and differences from the other members of Chuniophoeniceae are discussed. Based on the ecological characteristics of the single locality, predictions are made on where else it may occur in Madagascar.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 79–91.     

Monophyly and phylogenetic placement of the spider genus Labulla Simon, 1884 (Araneae, Linyphiidae) and description of the new genus Pecado

The genus Labulla Simon is circumscribed in phylogenetic terms to include the species Labulla thoracica (Wider), L. flahaulti Simon and L. machadoi sp. nov. The genital anatomy of the genus is described in detail and the taxonomy of the genus is reviewed. The monophyly of Labulla is supported by numerous morphological apomorphies of the male palp and female epigynum. Based on a cladistic analysis, a new genus, Pecado gen. nov. , is erected to place Labulla impudica Denis, from Northern Africa. Lepthyphantes insularis Saito and ' Labulla ' nepula Tikader, both formerly included in Labulla , are not congeneric with the type species of Labulla .  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 143 , 359–404.     

Systematics of the spider genus Metabus O. P.-Cambridge, 1899 (Araneoidea: Tetragnathidae) with additions to the tetragnathid fauna of Chile and comments on the phylogeny of Tetragnathidae

The spider genus Metabus (Tetragnathidae) previously included nine species: the type M. gravidus O. P.-Cambridge, 1899 – junior synonym of Leucauge ocellata (Keyserling) – from Central America and eight species from Chile. In this paper, the classification of the Metabus species-complex is revised, and two new genera, with three new species and five new combinations, are described. Allende gen. nov. is created for four Chilean species not congeneric with the type of Metabus : the type A. puyehuensis sp. nov. , A. patagiatus (Simon) comb. nov. , A. nigrohumeralis (F. O. P.-Cambridge) comb. nov. and A. longipes (Nicolet) comb. nov. Further additions to the Chilean fauna are under the new genus Mollemeta gen. nov. – created for M. edwardsi (Simon) comb. nov. – and three new species of Chrysometa : C. acinosa sp. nov. , C. levii sp. nov. and C. maitae sp. nov. Metabus now includes four species: M. ocellatus (Keyserling) comb. nov. , M. debilis (O. P.-Cambridge) comb. nov. , M. ebanoverde sp. nov. and M. conacyt sp. nov. All of these species were included in a phylogenetic analysis of 38 tetragnathid and 12 orbicularian outgroup terminals scored for 105 morphological and behavioural characters. The results suggest that Metabus as previously circumscribed is polyphyletic. The phylogenetic relationships within tetragnathids are briefly discussed. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 151 , 285–335.     

A peculiar climbing Megalonychidae from the Pleistocene of Peru and its implication for sloth history

The Xenarthra, particularly the Tardigrada, are with the Notoungulata and Marsupialia among the most diversified South American mammals. Lujanian South American Land Mammal Age localities from the coastal Piedra Escrita site and Andean Casa del Diablo Cave, Peru, have yielded three specimens of the Megalonychidae Diabolotherium nordenskioldi gen. nov. This singular fossil sloth exhibits a peculiar mosaic of cranial and postcranial characters. Some are considered convergent with those of other sloths (e.g. 5/4 quadrangular teeth, characteristic of Megatheriidae), whereas others clearly indicate climbing capabilities distinct from the suspensory mode of extant sloths. The arboreal mode of life of D. nordenskioldi is suggested by considerable mobility of the elbow, hip, and ankle joints, a posteriorly convex ulna with an olecranon shorter than in fossorial taxa, a radial notch that faces more anteriorly than in other fossil sloths and forms an obtuse angle with the coronoid process (which increases the range of pronation–supination), a proximodistally compressed scaphoid, and a wide range of digital flexion. D. nordenskioldi underscores the great adaptability of Tardigrada: an arboreally adapted form is now added to the already known terrestrial, subarboreal, and aquatic (marine and freshwater) fossil sloths. A preliminary phylogenetic analysis of the Tardigrada confirmed the monophyly of Megatherioidea, Nothrotheriidae, Megatheriidae, and Megalonychidae, in which Diabolotherium is strongly nested.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 149 , 179–235.     

A new polypterid fish: Polypterus faraou sp. nov. (Cladistia, Polypteridae) from the Late Miocene, Toros-Menalla, Chad

Polypterus faraou sp. nov. (Cladistia, Polypteridae) from the Late Miocene of Toros-Menalla (western Djourab, Chad) is described on the basis of a subcomplete articulated skeleton preserved in three dimensions. This is the first time such a complete fossil polypterid skeleton has been described. It is the only verifiable fossil record for the genus Polypterus . P. faraou closely resembles P. bichir and P. endlicheri , extant fish found in the Chad–Chari system. Intrarelationships among the polypterids are not yet resolved: however, P. faraou shows a primitive shape of the body and a primitive shape of the opening of the lateral line on the scales, similar to that of three living species ( P. bichir , P. endlicheri and P. ansorgii ).  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 146 , 227–237.     

A new species of Arabis (Brassicaceae) from inner Anatolia

A new species of Arabis L., A. erikii Mutlu sp. nov. , is described and illustrated. The species is restricted to inner Anatolia, south-west of Sivas. It grows on steppes. Diagnostic morphological characters are given for discrimination from the most similar taxa.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 145 , 251–256.