A new longirostrine dyrosaurid (Crocodylomorpha,Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Paleocene of north‐eastern Colombia: biogeographic and behavioural implications for New‐World Dyrosauridae

Abstract: Fossils of dyrosaurid crocodyliforms are limited in South America, with only three previously diagnosed taxa including the short‐snouted Cerrejonisuchus improcerus from the Paleocene Cerrejón Formation of north‐eastern Colombia. Here we describe a second dyrosaurid from the Cerrejón Formation, Acherontisuchus guajiraensis gen. et sp. nov., based on three partial mandibles, maxillary fragments, teeth, and referred postcrania. The mandible has a reduced seventh alveolus and laterally depressed retroarticular process, both diagnostic characteristics of Dyrosauridae. Acherontisuchus guajiraensis is distinct among known dyrosaurids in having a unique combination of craniomandibular characteristics, and postcranial morphology that suggests it may have occupied a more placid, fluvial habitat than most known Old‐World dyrosaurids. Results from a cladistic analysis of Dyrosauridae, using 82 primarily cranial and mandibular characters, support an unresolved relationship between A. guajiraensis and a combination of New‐ and Old‐World dyrosaurids including Hyposaurus rogersii, Congosaurus bequaerti, Atlantosuchus coupatezi, Guarinisuchus munizi, Rhabdognathus keiniensis and Rhabdognathus aslerensis. Our results are consistent with an African origin for Dyrosauridae with multiple dispersals into the New World during the Late Cretaceous and a transition from marine habitats in ancestral taxa to more fluvial habitats in more derived taxa.     

A new Palaeocene Megalopidae (Teleostei,Elopomorpha) from the phosphate basins of Morocco

Abstract

A new Megalopidae (Teleostei, Elopomorpha, Elopiformes), Protarpon boualii sp. nov., is described on the basis of two neurocrania gathered from the Lower Palaeocene (Danian) beds of the Oulad Abdoun basin, in Morocco. Its inclusion in the family Megalopidae and the genus Protarpon is supported by the L-shaped pterotics, the flat skull roof, the well developed epiotic processes and the roofed dilatator fossae. It differs from Protarpon priscus and P. oblongus from the Ypresian of the London Clay Formation (England) mainly by the proportions of the subtemporal and the post-temporal fossa openings, the proportions of skull roof bones and its larger size. Protarpon boualii sp. nov. represents the first fossil occurrence of a megalopid in North Africa. Its close phylogenetic relationships with forms from the London Clay Formation highlight the strong biogeographical affinities between the faunas of these two localities during the Palaeocene-Eocene period.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D5FEE8B3-B220-461F-B635-31DD7F2CF921     

A new species of Dasypodidae (Xenarthra: Cingulata) from the late Miocene of northwestern South America: implications in the Dasypodini phylogeny and diversity

A new species of dasypodid armadillo (Xenarthra, Cingulata), Anadasypus aequatorianus, from the late Miocene of Ecuador is described. The remains were collected in sediments of the Letrero Formation, Nabón Basin, which is part of several intermontane basins related to Andean uplift. The genus represents the oldest record of Dasypodini, which also encompasses Propraopus (Pleistocene–early Holocene) and Dasypus (?Miocene–Recent). The new species is based on several osteoderms, which show more derived features than Anadasypus hondanus, from the middle Miocene of Colombia. In order to test the affinities of A. aequatorianus within Dasypodini, we conducted a cladistic analysis of 24 morphological characters for 10 taxa. The most parsimonious tree supports the generic attribution of the new species and places Anadasypus basal to Propraopus and Dasypus, agreeing with the stratigraphic evidence. The faunas from tropical Andean areas differ noticeably from the better-known assemblages of the classic South American sequences. In the case of dasypodines, their geochronological distribution shows that they were historically restricted to tropical and subtropical environments and the main cladogenetic events of the group probably occurred at lower latitudes. In this context, the taxon described herein fills important temporal and geographic gaps of early Neogene armadillos from intertropical areas.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9DC76603-D831-4E68-BE55-90113228E0F4     

Fossil water striders in Cretaceous French amber (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha: Mesoveliidae and Veliidae)

Fossil gerromorphan bugs from the Cretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian boundary) amber of Charentes, SW France, are reviewed. A larva described by Perrichot et al. (2005) as incertae familiae within the Gerromorpha is now placed in the Mesoveliidae. Three new genera and species are also described and illustrated: Emilianovelia audax Solórzano Kraemer & Perrichot, gen. et sp.n. , and Malenavelia videris Solórzano Kraemer & Perrichot, gen. et sp.n. , which are placed in the Mesoveliidae: Mesoveliinae; and Arcantivelia petraudi Solórzano Kraemer & Perrichot, gen. et sp.n. , which is the first Mesozoic member of the Veliinae. The relationships between these fossils and their palaeoecology are discussed. The new discoveries confirm the antiquity of the semi‐aquatic gerromorphans, particularly the clade (Veliidae + Gerridae). The habitat is described as aquatic and likely marine‐influenced, yet adaptation to a fully marine habitat in these gerromorphans remains difficult to establish. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F8C034B8-7BD0-4C03-B8FC-CD81D75C7001 .     

A new oospecies of Similifaveoloolithidae from the Xiuning Basin,Late Cretaceous of Anhui,China

Well-preserved dinosaur eggs from the Cretaceous Huizhou Formation in the Xiuning Basin, Anhui Province, China, are analysed in this paper. We describe a new oospecies, Similifaveoloolithus qiyunshanensis, based on several distinct characters of external morphology, size, eggshell thickness, and internal microstructure. Radial sections of this new oospecies show branched eggshell units with a fused layer near the outer surface, while numerous irregular pores and cones constitute a honeycomb pattern in tangential sections. The discovery of S. qiyunshanensis expands the distribution of Similifaveoloolithidae dinosaur eggs in China and provides new fossils for researching dinosaur eggshell formation mechanisms which are different from those of the currently known oofamilies. The dinosaur-egg-bearing strata in the Huizhou Formation have been dated to the early Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) on the basis of a similar dinosaur egg assemblage in the Tiantai Basin in Zhejiang Province. The eggs described in this paper are thought to have been laid in a buried nest while enrichment of trace elements in eggshells may have been caused by their ingestion into the body of the dinosaur producer. We suggest that the paleoclimate of this habitat was semi-arid to arid and that this environment was favourable for the preservation of eggs.http://zoobank.org/LSIDurn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9D63A51F-5A4B-4249-901D-42A33E9FA933     

Fish-otoliths from the early Miocene of the Castillo Formation,Venezuela: a view into the proto-Caribbean teleostean assemblages

We describe the otolith assemblage from the early Miocene (Burdigalian) exposures of the Castillo Formation at the Cerro La Cruz locality (Falcón Basin, Lara State, northwestern Venezuela). The samples were obtained through surface and bulk sampling at distinct stratigraphic levels of the study area. The otolith assemblage from Cerro La Cruz includes 14 families, 25 genera and 30 taxa, of which 20 are reported for first time from the Castillo Formation. These include two new sciaenid taxa, Ctenosciaena angusticaudata nov. sp. and Pareques laraensis nov. sp. The Castillo Formation otolith assemblage represent fishes typical of shallow and near-shore and coral reef associated environments as characterized primarily by a high taxonomic diversity and abundance of Sciaenidae, and the lack of mesopelagic families (Myctophidae). The faunal composition of Cerro La Cruz is similar to other chronological equivalent sedimentary units along the proto-Caribbean area (Pirabas and Cantaure formations; Brazil and Venezuela respectively), though the Castillo Formation fish fauna shows lower taxonomic diversity, suggesting some heterogeneity of the coastal and near shore marine environments along the southern portion of the proto-Caribbean.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B79F51B8-BC35-4119-8957-84544286868D     

The oldest known avian eggshell,Plagioolithus fukuiensis,from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Barremian) Kitadani Formation,Fukui, Japan

Fossil record of Early Cretaceous birds may be geographically biased, and eggs and eggshells predating the Late Cretaceous were unknown. Here, we report the oldest known bird eggshell (FPDM-V-0009175) collected from the upper Barremian Kitadani Formation in Katsuyama City, Fukui, Japan. The Kitadani Formation likely represents fluvial environments. Thin-section and scanning electron microscope analyses revealed diagnostic characters of FPDM-V-0009175, including thin (0.44 mm) shell, smooth external surface, non-branching and narrow pore canals with relatively constant width, three structural layers, oblique crystal orientation from vertical in the external layer, and mammillary to continuous to external layer thickness ratio of 1:1:0.44. These characters allow assignment of FPDM-V-0009175 to a new oogenus and oospecies, Plagioolithus fukuiensis, and suggest it belonging to a bird. The three-layered eggshell structure is seen in extant and extinct birds, Plagioolithus fukuiensis, and non-avian theropods. Therefore, such structure may be plesiomorphic among theropods, appearing in the late Barremian or earlier. As the first bird body fossil from the Mesozoic of Japan, Plagioohlithus fukuiensis suggests extensive distribution and abundance of birds in the Barremian East Asia. Plagioolithus fukuiensis indicates that the late-Barremian birds inhabited and reproduced in the fluvial environments within a basin located along the eastern margin of the Asian continent.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:90A8CCE8-57F7-473C-855C-B2CCE2BBD1A2     

Phylogeny of Evanioidea (Hymenoptera,Apocrita), with descriptions of new Mesozoic species from China and Myanmar

The phylogeny of the superfamily Evanioidea is presented using morphology and DNA sequence data of selected extant and fossil genera by employing two phylogenetic methods, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. Based on our new results, the monophyly of Evanioidea is corroborated. Evanioidea, Anomopterellidae, Othniodellithidae, Andreneliidae and Evaniidae are monophyletic families, while Praeaulacidae, Aulacidae, Baissidae and Gasteruptiidae are paraphyletic families. In addition, four new genera (Sinuevania gen.n. , Curtevania gen.n. , Exilaulacus gen.n. , Heterobaissa gen.n. ) with five new species (Sinuevania mira sp.n. , Curtevania enervia sp.n. , Exilaulacus loculatus sp.n. , Exilaulacus latus sp.n. , Heterobaissa apetiola sp.n. ), and five additionally new species (Newjersevania longa sp.n. , Newjersevania brevis sp.n. , Cretevania tenuis sp.n. , Cretevania venae sp.n. , Praeaulacus rectus sp.n. ) and one new combination [Cretevania mitis (Li, Shih & Ren, 2014a) comb.n. ] are described based on well‐preserved fossils from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation in Inner Mongolia, China, the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Liaoning, and mid‐Cretaceous amber from Myanmar. This study documents the diversification of one major lineage of the mid‐Mesozoic parasitoid revolution that dramatically changed food‐web relationships in terrestrial ecosystems. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CBC04ADA‐0176‐402D‐9B43‐E1B3CDA080E1 .     

A surprisingly derived hydrometrid (Hemiptera,Gerromorpha) from the Crato Formation,Early Cretaceous of Brazil

In the present paper, we review the fossil record of the Hydrometridae (Hemiptera, Gerromorpha) and present a new species from the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation of Northeastern Brazil, Christometra paradoxa gen. et sp. nov. This species is based on a new specimen (a female), as well as a previously figured one (a male), providing a rare case of preservation of sexually dimorphic features in the fossil record. This is the third species coming from this deposit, which is Aptian-Albian in age and the oldest deposit to have yielded hydrometrids so far. Only five other Mesozoic species are known, being slightly younger in age (Cenomanian). So far, phylogenetic analyses have recovered Cretaceous hydrometrids as basal relative to Cenozoic genera but, Christometra paradoxa exhibits several advanced characteristics that unite it in a clade together with the extant genera Hydrometra and Bacillometroides, in a more derived position than any previously known fossil hydrometrid.

The present publication is registered in the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (Zoobank), under the registration number http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3CFA88AB-3CBC-4CCC-8196-698ECC863947. The registration number for the nomenclatural act of the genus is http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:84744426-1259-4864-8E3F-E43E0DAB2021, and that of the species is http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:23700AB2-F7AD-4F50-A5E7-CB28868079B2.     

A new piscivorous ornithuromorph from the Jehol Biota

We report on a new species of basal ornithuromorph bird, Piscivoravis liigen. et sp. nov., based on a well-preserved and nearly complete specimen from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in western Liaoning Province, northeastern China. The new specimen preserves several unique anatomical features previously unreported in Early Cretaceous ornithuromorphs, such as a robust furcula with strongly tapered omal tips, a broad sternum without craniocaudal elongation and large and strongly curved manual unguals. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Piscivoravis is more derived than Archaeorynchus, but in a basal polytomy with Jianchangornis, Patagopteryx, and the clade including all more derived ornithuromorphs. The preserved wing and tail feathers provide new information on feather diversity and evolution in Early Cretaceous ornithuromorphs. The preservation of fish bones ventral to the dentary and in the stomach provides direct evidence that the new species was piscivorous – previously only reported in Yanornis, and as in some living birds, was capable of moving food bidirectionally through the alimentary canal.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:92F23126-9E89-4E51-9700-C6608E0D66EB     

Late Quaternary caviomorph rodents (Rodentia: Hystricognathi) from the Serra da Capivara,northeastern Brazil,with description of a new taxon

In this paper, fossil rodents (Hystricognathi: Caviomorpha) from the late Quaternary of the southwestern State of Piauí, northeastern Brazil, are described. The material comes from archaeological/palaeontological sites located in the region of the Serra da Capivara. The late Quaternary taxa of this region include Galea Meyen, 1832, Kerodon rupestris Wied-Neuwied, 1820, Hydrochoeridae indet., Dasyprocta Illiger, 1811, cf. Myocastor Kerr, 1792, Thrichomys Trouessart, 1880, Phyllomys Lund, 1839, Coendou magnus Lund, 1839 and a new taxon with chinchilloid affinities. The Coendou magnus and cf. Myocastor material represents the northernmost records of these taxa. The unexpected presence of a new extinct taxon contributes to the understanding of the ancient rodent faunas from South America. Today, the studied area is located within the Caatinga Biome but some of the fossil taxa, such as Hydrochoeridae and cf. Myocastor, indicate wetter environments and permanent water bodies during the late Pleistocene–early Holocene.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:92711BC3-8997-4474-A8AF-83DF4F91BB48     

Three new species of Zerconidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Turkey

Three new species, Zercon afyonensis sp. n., Zercon karacamehmeti sp. n. and Zercon soguticus sp. n., are described and illustrated based on samples collected in the Inner Aegean Region. The similarities and differences between the related species are discussed.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3FA1701A-A243-4E45-8AE9-FCB733CC56A6     

A new genus of hell ants from the Cretaceous (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Haidomyrmecini) with a novel head structure

An unusual Cretaceous trap jaw ant is described from Burmese amber dated to the Late Cretaceous. Linguamyrmex vladi gen.n. sp.n. is distinguished by an unusual suite of morphological characters indicating specialized predatory behaviour and an adaptive strategy no longer found among modern ant lineages. The clypeus, highly modified as in other closely related haidomyrmecine hell ants, is equipped with a paddle‐like projection similar to Ceratomyrmex. X‐ray imaging reveals that this clypeal paddle is reinforced, most probably with sequestered metals. Presumably this fortified clypeal structure was utilized in tandem with scythe‐like mandibles to pin and potentially puncture soft‐bodied prey. This unique taxon, which stresses the diversity of stem‐group ants, is discussed in the context of modern and other Cretaceous trap jaw ant species. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:40D636A3‐4D88‐470A‐BC5B‐85ABFD1A49E2 .     

Three new species of Crenitis Bedel, 1881 from South Africa,with a revised key to African species (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)

Three new species of Crenitis Bedel, 1881 are described from South Africa; C. castellus sp.n. and C. rupestris sp. n. from the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg, and C. quagga sp.n. from the Western Cape Province. All three new species were found in madicolous habitats, which appear to be characteristic for a number of species of the genus. A revised key to African species of Crenitis is included.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:18BE876C-46CB-4AD5-9BB0-EA6F8D711F09     

New fossils from China elucidating the phylogeny of Praesiricidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera)

A new subfamily of Praesiricidae (Pamphilioidea), Decorisiricinae subfam.n. , is erected based on three new genera: Decorisiricius gen.n. , Limbisiricius gen.n. and Brevisiricius gen.n. Two new species – Decorisiricius patulus gen. et sp.n. and D. longus sp.n. – from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation and three species –Limbisiricius aequalis gen. et sp.n. , Limbisiricius complanatus sp.n. and Brevisiricius partialis gen. et sp.n. – from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation, are described. Based on these well‐preserved new fossil specimens and previously published data, the nonmonophyly of Praesiricidae is confirmed and the phylogenetic relationships of species of Praesiricidae are analysed for the first time. Two main clades within Praesiricidae are recognized from the cladistic analysis: Decorisiricinae subfam.n. forms a monophyletic lineage, with the remaining members of Praesiricidae plus Megalodontes (Megalodontesidae) forming its sister group. The two subfamilies Archoxyelydinae and Praesiricinae are discarded with no strong supported synapomorphic characters based on phylogenetic research. A key to all genera of Praesiricidae is provided. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:38D703ED‐127A‐4DB0‐8153‐8D78AF4AC212 .     

Diverse oxyporine rove beetles from the Early Cretaceous of China (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Two new genera and species, Protoxyporus grandis gen. et sp.n. and Cretoxyporus extraneus gen. et sp.n. , are described and figured on the basis of two well‐preserved impression fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China. The two genera display a combination of traits that are diagnostic of the extant staphylinid subfamily Oxyporinae: large and prominent mandibles, distinctly separated mesocoxae, abdominal tergites III–VII each with a pair of basolateral ridges, and abdominal intersegmental membranes with ‘brick‐wall’ pattern. Protoxyporus differs from extant Oxyporus in retaining the following plesiomorphic features: an elongate intercoxal process (or longitudinal carina) between metacoxae, relatively narrowly separated mesocoxae, less developed metaventral anterior process, and long infraorbital ridges. Cretoxyporus is morphologically very similar to Oxyporus, but retains distinct elongate infraorbital ridges. The discovery of two new oxyporine genera suggests that the early oxyporines were more diverse and their evolutionary history more complicated than previously documented. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:11503976‐D577‐45D2‐ACCB‐8226782EF817 .     

Long‐proboscid brachyceran flies in Cretaceous amber (Diptera: Stratiomyomorpha: Zhangsolvidae)

The monophyletic family Zhangsolvidae comprises stout‐bodied brachyceran flies with a long proboscis and occurring only in the Cretaceous, originally known in shale from the Early Cretaceous Laiyang Formation (Fm.) in China (Zhangsolva Nagatomi & Yang), subsequently from limestones of the Early Cretaceous Crato Fm. of Brazil. Cratomyoides Wilkommen is synonymized with Cratomyia Mazzarolo & Amorim, both from the Crato Fm.; Cratomyiidae is synonymized with Zhangsolvidae. Two genera and three species of Zhangsolvidae are described: Buccinatormyia magnifica Arillo, Peñalver & Pérez‐de la Fuente, gen. et sp.n. and B. soplaensis Arillo, Peñalver & Pérez‐de la Fuente, sp.n. , in Albian amber from Las Peñosas Fm. in Spain; and Linguatormyia teletacta Grimaldi, gen. et sp.n. , in Upper Albian–Lower Cenomanian amber from Hukawng Valley in Myanmar. Buccinatormyia soplaensis and Linguatormyia teletacta are unique among all Brachycera, extant or extinct, by their remarkably long, flagellate antennae, about 1.6× the body length in the latter species. A phylogenetic analysis of 52 morphological characters for 35 taxa is presented, 11 taxa being Cretaceous species, which supports placement of the family within Stratiomyomorpha, although not to any particular family within the infraorder. This published work has been registered in Zoobank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F32CF887‐7C37‐45D5‐BD6B‐135FE9B729A7 .     

A new species of Plesiodimylus (Dimylidae,Eulipotyphla, Mammalia) from the Early Miocene of Spain

Abstract

We report a new dimylid species, Plesiodimylus ilercavonicus sp. nov., from the Early Miocene locality of Mas d’Antolino B-5 (Ribesalbes-Alcora, Castelló, Spain). This new species of Plesiodimylus is an amblyodont form of the genus and exhibits some primitive characters. The phylogenetic and palaeoenvironmental implications of this southern occurrence of Plesiodimylus in Lower Miocene sediments are discussed.

http://zoobank.org/lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E78DB979-6552-4BE2-BEC9-FA2EA05B7B39     

On the genus Sunius Curtis, 1829 of Turkey III. Four new species from western Anatolia,Turkey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae)

Four new micropterous species of the genus Sunius Curtis, 1829 are described and illustrated from western Anatolia: Sunius akdaghensis sp. n. from Kütahya province, Sunius ciceki sp. n. from Bal?kesir province, Sunius ozgeni sp. n. and Sunius cagatayi sp. n. from Denizli province. Additional records are presented for three species. The genus Sunius is now represented in Turkey by 36 species.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F3808D28-65E9-4619-A350-781C971701EC