A new species of Halisaurus from the Late Cretaceous phosphates of Morocco, and the phylogenetical relationships of the Halisaurinae (Squamata: Mosasauridae)

A new species of the basal mosasaurid Halisaurus from the Late Cretaceous (Late Maastrichtian) of the Oulad Abdoun Phosphate Basin of Morocco is described on the basis of both cranial and postcranial remains. H. arambourgi sp. nov. is characterized by unique features of the nares, frontal, parietal, girdle and limb bones. A phylogenetical analysis supports the monophyletic status of Halisaurus ; H. platyspondylus (Maastrichtian, New Jersey), H. ortliebi (Maastrichtian, Belgium) and H. arambourgi form an unresolved polytomy. This study does not support the attribution of ' Halisaurus ' sternbergii (Santonian, Kansas) to Halisaurus nor to any known genus. A new genus, Eonatator , is proposed for the reception of this species, Eonatator sternbergii comb. nov. The new taxon Halisaurinae ( Halisaurus  +  Eonatator ) is the sister-group of more advanced mosasaurids (Natantia). Halisaurines are defined by the shape of the lateral premaxilla–maxilla suture; an oblique contact plane between the parietal and the supratemporal; a preaxial ridge present on the distal two-thirds of the radius length; and tibia and fibula long and slender with slightly expanded extremities.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 143 , 447–472.     

Mitochondrial gene rearrangements suggest a new genus in the subfamily Cantharinae (Coleoptera)

The Cephalomalthinus semifumatus species group, referred to as the “semifumatus” group henceforth, is interesting because of its heterogeneous morphology resembling either Cephalomalthinus Pic, 1921 or Rhagonycha Eschscholtz, 1830. To elucidate its phylogenetic status, mitochondrial genomes of four species of the “semifumatus” group, 11 Cephalomalthinus species, and 11 Rhagonycha species were sequenced and examined. All analysed mitogenomes were similar with respect to genome size, nucleotide composition, and AT content. Surprisingly, a rearrangement of the trnW-trnC and trnY genes was detected in the “semifumatus” group, presumably caused by tandem duplication and random loss events. Furthermore, genetic distance analyses showed that the proximity of the “semifumatus” group to Cephalomalthinus and to Rhagonycha was comparable to that between the latter two. Moreover, the produced phylogeny strongly supported the monophyly of the “semifumatus” group, and molecular clock analyses dated its divergence from Cephalomalthinus to 32.52 Ma. Thus, the new genus Amphimorphus gen. nov. is suggested to comprise the “semifumatus” group, in which the observed gene rearrangement was a synapomorphy. Moreover, morphological evidence regarding the unique structure of the aedeagus supported this separation. These results indicate that mitochondrial gene rearrangement provide important phylogenetic implications for revising Cephalomalthinus, a speciose genus that is puzzling in the morphology-based taxonomy.     

Qiniella,a new orthoclad genus from China (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Quiniella lii gen. nov., sp. nov. from China is describedas male imago. The genus share bare eyes, wing and squama and extended costa with most members of the Parakiefferiella group sensu S\sgmaelig;ther (1983), and the absence of a scutaltubercle, hump or microtrichial tuft and strongly developedvirga with Krenosmittia Thienemann & Krüger, but isamong other distinguished by a unique trifid gonostylus. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Taxonomy of Oncaeidae (Copepoda,Poecilostomatoida) from the Red Sea. III. Morphology and phylogenetic position of Oncaea subtilis Giesbrecht, 1892

Both sexes of Oncaea subtilis Giesbrecht, 1892, a small oncaeid species commonly occurring in temperate and tropical regions, are redescribed on the basis of material from the Red Sea. It is placed in a new monotypic genus, Monothula, on the basis of the loss of the outer spine on the third segment of the endopod of legs 2–4, and the presence of a single dorsal egg-sac, which is attached medially to the genital double-somite. The latter character is unique among oncaeids. The geographical distribution of M. subtilis comb. nov. is reviewed, and additional taxonomic data based on material from the eastern Mediterranean, the Arabian Sea and the eastern Indian Ocean are presented. The phylogenetic relationships of M. subtilis within the Oncaeidae are discussed.     

Keraladiaptomus rangareddyi a new genus and new species of Diaptominae (Copepoda,Calanoida, Diaptomidae) from a temporary pond in Mattam,Kerala State,India

Calanoid copepods, belonging to the new genus and species Keraladiaptomus rangareddyi, were collected from temporary ponds in Kerala State, India. The new genus belongs to the family Diaptomidae, subfamily Diaptominae. It is described in detail and its affinity to the related genera, Arctodiaptomus Kiefer, 1932 and Eodiaptomus Kiefer, 1932, discussed.     

A revised classification of the Sphacelariales (Phaeophyceae) inferred from a psbC and rbcL based phylogeny

Phylogenetic relationships within the brown algal order Sphacelariales and with its sister group were investigated using chloroplast-encoded psbC and rbcL DNA sequences. A pilot study with 21 non-sphacelarialeans, representing nine orders (and some incertae sedis taxa), showed a strongly supported monophyly of the Sphacelariales with its sister taxa Phaeostrophion irregulare, Bodanella lauterborni and Heribaudiella fluviatilis. These three taxa were selected as outgroup for further analyses including DNA sequences of 30 sphacelarialean specimens representing all but two of the recognized genera (Phloiocaulon and Ptilopogon were not sampled). Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood trees showed some incongruence with Maximum Parsimony trees. Trees based on rbcL showed some incongruence with trees based on psbC and combined alignments. Phylogenetic results were used as the basis for a newly proposed classification of the Sphacelariales that reflects evolutionary history. The Sphacelariales is subdivided into four families: Cladostephaceae (monotypic), Sphacelariaceae, Stypocaulaceae, and a newly created monotypic family Sphacelodermaceae to incorporate Sphaceloderma caespitula, comb. nov. (former Sphacelaria caespitula). Sphacelaria radicans is transferred to a newly created genus Protohalopteris and classified in the Stypocaulaceae, which also contains the two unsampled genera Phloiocaulon and Ptilopogon as well as the genus Halopteris. The genera Stypocaulon and monotypic Alethocladus were merged with Halopteris. The Sphacelariaceae were subdivided into six genera including Sphacelaria (consisting only of the former subgenus Propagulifera) and the monotypic Sphacella. Herpodiscus durvillaeae, Sphacelaria pulvinata and the Sphacelaria subgenera Bracteata and Reinkea were merged in an emended Herpodiscus. A new genus Sphacelorbus was created for Sphacelaria nana. Battersia was reinstated for Sphacelaria mirabilis and the subgenus Pseudochaetopteris, except for Sphacelaria plumosa for which Chaetopteris was reinstated.     

A new genus of Cyrtoscydmini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae) from Japan

Rutaraphes shikokuensis gen. et sp. nov. is described from Shikoku, Japan. The new taxon belongs to a group of genera characterized by the lateral sutures demarcating the submentum and is most similar to Neuraphes and Scydmoraphes. Morphological structures of Rutaraphes are illustrated and possible affinities with other genera of Cyrtoscydmini are discussed. Keys to identification of Palearctic and Japanese genera of Cyrtoscydmini are given. Including Rutaraphes, 14 genera of Scydmaeninae are currently known to occur in Japan.     

New contributions to the Cyrtophoria ciliates (Protista,Ciliophora): Establishment of new taxa and phylogenetic analyses using two ribosomal genes

Periphytic ciliates play a vital role in the material cycle and energy flow of microbial food web, however, their taxonomy and biodiversity are inadequately studied given their high species richness. Two new and one little known species, viz. Derouxella lembodes gen. et sp. nov., Cyrtophoron multivacuolatum sp. nov., and Cyrtophoron apsheronica Aliev, 1991, collected from coastal waters of China, were investigated using modern methods. Derouxella gen. nov. can be recognized by having dorsoventrally flattened body, a podite, one fragmented preoral kinety, two parallel circumoral kineties, and somatic kineties progressively shortened from right to left. Morphological classification and phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA (nSSU rRNA) and mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal RNA (mtSSU rRNA) gene sequence data inferred that Derouxella gen. nov. occupies an intermediate position between Hartmannulidae and Dysteriidae. Cyrtophoron multivacuolatum sp. nov. is characterized by large body size, the numbers of somatic kineties and nematodesmal rods, and having numerous contractile vacuoles. The genus Cyrtophoron and the poorly known species C. apsheronica were redefined. Even with the addition of newly obtained nSSU rRNA and mtSSU rRNA gene sequences of Cyrtophoron, the family Chlamydodontidae was still recovered as a monophyletic group, the monophyly of Cyrtophoron was supported too.     

MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY,ULTRASTRUCTURE, AND TAXONOMIC REVISION OF CHLOROGONIUM (CHLOROPHYTA): EMENDATION OF CHLOROGONIUM AND DESCRIPTION OF GUNGNIR GEN. NOV. AND RUSALKA GEN. NOV.1

We examined the molecular phylogeny and ultrastructure of Chlorogonium and related species to establish the natural taxonomy at the generic level. Phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA and RUBISCO LSU (rbcL) gene sequences revealed two separate clades of Chlorogonium from which Chlorogonium (Cg.) fusiforme Matv. was robustly separated. One clade comprised Cg. neglectum Pascher and Cg. kasakii Nozaki, whereas the other clade included the type species Cg. euchlorum (Ehrenb.) Ehrenb., Cg. elongatum (P. A. Dang.) Francé, and Cg. capillatum Nozaki, M. Watanabe et Aizawa. On the basis of unique ultrastructural characteristics, we described Gungnir Nakada gen. nov. comprising three species: G. neglectum (Pascher) Nakada comb. nov., G. mantoniae (H. Ettl) Nakada comb. nov., and G. kasakii (Nozaki) Nakada comb. nov. We also emended Chlorogonium as a monophyletic genus composed of Cg. euchlorum, Cg. elongatum, and Cg. capillatum. Because Cg. fusiforme was distinguished from the redefined Chlorogonium and Gungnir by the structure of its starch plate, which is associated with pyrenoids, we reclassified this species as Rusalka fusiformis (Matv.) Nakada gen. et comb. nov.     

A new therian mammal from the Rhaetic locality of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port (France)

In this paper a new taxon of Kuehneotheriidae is described and diagnosed, mainly by comparison with the genus Kuehneotherium . By its greater age and its more primitive evolutionary state, Woutersia mirabilis gen. et sp. nov. is a particularly interesting element of the fauna and enlarges the concept of the Kuehneotheriidae.
Dans cet article est dAecrit et défini un nouveau taxon de Kuehneotheriidés, Woutersia mirabilis gen. et sp. nov., par comparaison avec Kuehneotherium . Son âge plus ancien et son stade évolution considéré comme plus primitif en font un élément particuliérement intéressant, qui élargit en outre le concept des Kuehneotheriidés.     

Spiders of the genus Lachesana and a new storenoid genus from Israel (Araneae: Zodariidae)

Zodariid spiders of two genera in Israel are revised. The genus Lachesana is represented by two species. Only one male of these was ever depicted while the females of both and their hitherto unknown retreats were never described. Pax gen. nov. has been erected to accommodate five species, some of which have formerly been placed in Slorena, Selamia or Habronestes . Diagnostic characters of the West Mediterranean Selamia and the Australian Habronestes are newly illustrated. No drawings of Pax libani and P. islamita were ever published; the male of the latter is described here for the first time. Pax palmonii sp. nov. and P. engediensis sp. nov. are described and affinities of all taxa are discussed. Illustrations, records of distribution and keys to the species are provided.     

A UNIQUELY CALCIFIED BROWN ALGA FROM HAWAII: NEWHOUSIA IMBRICATA GEN. ET SP. NOV. (DICTYOTALES,PHAEOPHYCEAE)1

An encrusting brown alga from subtidal habitats around the island of Oahu (Hawaiian Islands) represents only the second genus of the class Phaeophyceae to form calcium carbonate, which it deposits primarily as both extracellular and intracellular aragonite, admixed with small (3.3%) amounts of calcite. Plants form expanses 15–100+ cm in extent consisting of horizontally aligned imbricating tiers of distromatic blades 1–4 mm in diameter that are separated from one another by cementing layers of extracellular aragonite, the tiers forming stacks of dozens of laminae and anchored to coral substrata by a basement layer that adheres tightly without haptera or rhizoids. The hypodermal layer of each blade consists of lightly pigmented rectilinear cells bearing either one or two smaller deeply pigmented epidermal cells in cross‐sectional profiles and three or four in long‐sectional profiles, the cells of both layers becoming encased in rigid carbonate skeletons laid down in their outer wall matrices. The successive tiers become stacked by either overgrowing marginal proliferations or new blade primordia that arise from the hypodermal layer of surface laminae and initially spread centrifugally by means of continuous marginal meristems. Neither plurilocular nor unilocular reproductive structures are known. The alga is described as the new genus and species Newhousia imbricata Kraft, G.W. Saunders, Abbott et Haroun and is assigned on the basis of small subunit rDNA gene sequence analyses to the order Dictyotales, family Dictyotaceae, within a strongly supported monophyletic clade that includes Distromium, Lobophora, and Zonaria.     

球革螨科一新属记述（蜱螨亚纲：革螨股）

记述了球革螨科一新属Mirabulbus gen. nov.,包括2种：秦巴异球螨M. qinbaensis sp. nov.和亚东异球螨M.yadongensis (Ma et Wang,1997)。     

A new genus of miniaturized and pug-nosed gecko from South America (Sphaerodactylidae: Gekkota)

Sphaerodactyl geckos comprise five genera distributed across Central and South America and the Caribbean. We estimated phylogenetic relationships among sphaerodactyl genera using both separate and combined analyses of seven nuclear genes. Relationships among genera were incongruent at different loci and phylogenies were characterized by short, in some cases zero length, internal branches and poor phylogenetic support at most nodes. We recovered a polyphyletic Coleodactylus, with Coleodactylus amazonicus being deeply divergent from the remaining Coleodactylus species sampled. The C. amazonicus lineage possessed unique codon deletions in the genes PTPN12 and RBMX while the remaining Coleodactylus species had unique codon deletions in RAG1. Topology tests could not reject a monophyletic Coleodactylus, but we show that short internal branch lengths decreased the accuracy of topology tests because there were not enough data along short branches to support one phylogenetic hypothesis over another. Morphological data corroborated results of the molecular phylogeny, with Coleodactylus exhibiting substantial morphological heterogeneity. We identified a suite of unique craniofacial features that differentiate C. amazonicus not only from other Coleodactylus species, but also from all other geckos. We describe this novel sphaerodactyl lineage as a new genus, Chatogekko gen. nov. We present a detailed osteology of Chatogekko, characterizing osteological correlates of miniaturization that provide a framework for future studies in sphaerodactyl systematics and biology.