A primitive protostegid from Australia and early sea turtle evolution

Sea turtles (Chelonioidea) are a prominent group of modern marine reptiles whose early history is poorly understood. Analysis of exceptionally well preserved fossils of Bouliachelys suteri gen. et sp. nov. a large-bodied basal protostegid (primitive chelonioid) from the Early Cretaceous (Albian) of Australia, indicates that early sea turtles were both larger and more diverse than previously thought. The analysis implies at least five distinct sea turtle lineages existed around 100 million years ago. Currently, the postcranially primitive Ctenochelys and Toxochelys are interpreted as crown-group sea turtles closely related to living cheloniids (e.g. Chelonia); in contrast, the new phylogeny suggests that they are transitional (intermediate stem-taxa) between continental testudines and derived, pelagic chelonioids.     

A new genus of broad-winged moths of the family Cryptolechiidae (Acryptolechia,Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea) from southeastern Asia

The new genus, Acryptolechia (Lepidoptera, Cryptolechiidae), with the type species Cryptolechia malacobyrsa Meyrick, 1921 is described. The differences between this species and the type species of the genus Cryptolechia, Zeller 1852 (C. straminella Zeller, 1852) are shown. The genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 is the closest to the new one. In addition to the type species, the new genus includes Acryptolechia facunda (Meyrick, 1910) comb. n. from India and A. torophanes (Meyrick, 1935) comb. n. from China.     

A new Early Permian reptile and its significance in early diapsid evolution

The initial stages of evolution of Diapsida (the large clade that includes not only snakes, lizards, crocodiles and birds, but also dinosaurs and numerous other extinct taxa) is clouded by an exceedingly poor Palaeozoic fossil record. Previous studies had indicated a 38 Myr gap between the first appearance of the oldest diapsid clade (Araeoscelidia), ca 304 million years ago (Ma), and that of its sister group in the Middle Permian (ca 266 Ma). Two new reptile skulls from the Richards Spur locality, Lower Permian of Oklahoma, represent a new diapsid reptile: Orovenator mayorum n. gen. et sp. A phylogenetic analysis identifies O. mayorum as the oldest and most basal member of the araeoscelidian sister group. As Richards Spur has recently been dated to 289 Ma, the new diapsid neatly spans the above gap by appearing 15 Myr after the origin of Diapsida. The presence of O. mayorum at Richards Spur, which records a diverse upland fauna, suggests that initial stages in the evolution of non-araeoscelidian diapsids may have been tied to upland environments. This hypothesis is consonant with the overall scant record for non-araeoscelidian diapsids during the Permian Period, when the well-known terrestrial vertebrate communities are preserved almost exclusively in lowland deltaic, flood plain and lacustrine sedimentary rocks.     

A new genus of primitive Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from eastern Australia, with a revised diagnosis of nepticulid subfamilies

Roscidotoga, a new genus of Nepticulidae, is described. Three new species– R. callicomae, R. eucryphiae and R. sapphiripes –are described, all from rainforest in eastern Australia. Adults, genitalia, larvae, pupal exuviae and mines are illustrated. The larvae are leaf-miners on the Gondwanan plant families Cunoniaceae, Eucryphiaceae and Elaeocarpaceae. The systematic position of the genus is discussed: it is assigned to the subfamily Pectinivalvinae and considered to represent the sister-group of Pectinivalva Scoble, which likewise appears to be endemic to Australia. A revised diagnosis of the two nepticulid subfamilies is presented.     

Juraphididae,a new family of aphids and its significance in aphid evolution

A revision of the Jurassic aphid family Genaphididae revealed that the type genus Genaphis did not have the characteristics usually attributed to this family. This discovery led to a series of taxonomic decisions. The diagnosis of the family Genaphididae is emended. The genera Aphaorus, Juraphis and Pterotella are moved to the Juraphididae, fam.n. The new family is included in the superfamily Palaeoaphidoidea. Additionally, two new species, Juraphis karataviensis sp.n. and Pterotella shartegensis sp.n. , are described. Phylogenetic relationships among the taxa of Juraphididae, the position of the family, and the distribution and palaeoecology of the taxa are discussed. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:411C1D8C‐AA45‐4311‐AA2D‐4469E44B6EDF .     

A molecular phylogeny for the leaf-roller moths (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and its implications for classification and life history evolution

Background

Tortricidae, one of the largest families of microlepidopterans, comprise about 10,000 described species worldwide, including important pests, biological control agents and experimental models. Understanding of tortricid phylogeny, the basis for a predictive classification, is currently provisional. We present the first detailed molecular estimate of relationships across the tribes and subfamilies of Tortricidae, assess its concordance with previous morphological evidence, and re-examine postulated evolutionary trends in host plant use and biogeography.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We sequenced up to five nuclear genes (6,633 bp) in each of 52 tortricids spanning all three subfamilies and 19 of the 22 tribes, plus up to 14 additional genes, for a total of 14,826 bp, in 29 of those taxa plus all 14 outgroup taxa. Maximum likelihood analyses yield trees that, within Tortricidae, differ little among data sets and character treatments and are nearly always strongly supported at all levels of divergence. Support for several nodes was greatly increased by the additional 14 genes sequenced in just 29 of 52 tortricids, with no evidence of phylogenetic artifacts from deliberately incomplete gene sampling. There is strong support for the monophyly of Tortricinae and of Olethreutinae, and for grouping of these to the exclusion of Chlidanotinae. Relationships among tribes are robustly resolved in Tortricinae and mostly so in Olethreutinae. Feeding habit (internal versus external) is strongly conserved on the phylogeny. Within Tortricinae, a clade characterized by eggs being deposited in large clusters, in contrast to singly or in small batches, has markedly elevated incidence of polyphagous species. The five earliest-branching tortricid lineages are all species-poor tribes with mainly southern/tropical distributions, consistent with a hypothesized Gondwanan origin for the family.

Conclusions/Significance

We present the first robustly supported phylogeny for Tortricidae, and a revised classification in which all of the sampled tribes are now monophyletic.     

Abundance and detection of feral cats decreases after severe fire on Kangaroo Island,Australia

Predation by feral cats (Felis catus) has caused the extinction of many native species in Australia and globally. There is growing evidence that the impacts of feral cats can be amplified in post-fire environments, as cats are drawn to hunt in or around recently burnt areas and are also more effective hunters in open habitats. In 2018–2019, we established arrays of camera traps to estimate the abundance of feral cats on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Much of the island (including five of our seven survey sites) was subsequently burnt in a severe wildfire (December 2019–February 2020). We re-sampled the sites 3–8 months post-fire (seven sites) and 11–12 months post-fire (three sites). At two unburnt sites sampled post-fire, it was possible to produce density estimates of cats using a spatially explicit capture–recapture approach. Where estimating density was not possible (due to low detections or individual cats not being distinguishable), the number of individuals and percentage of trap nights with detections was compared between the sampling periods. Some low-level cat control occurred within 2 km of three of the seven arrays (all within the burn scar) within 3 months of the fire. Across the five burnt sites, there was a decline in cat detections post-fire (including those without post-fire cat control). At 3–8 months post-fire, there was, on average, a 57% reduction in the number of individual cats, and a 65% reduction in the number of nights with cat detections, relative to pre-fire levels. Although cat detections declined following the fire, reduced population sizes of prey species and reduced cover as a result of the fire might still mean that cat predation is a threat to some surviving prey species. Management that reduces feral cat predation pressure on wildlife following wildfire should enhance the likelihood of post-fire wildlife persistence and recovery.     

Five new species of flat moths (Lepidoptera,Depressariidae) from Russia and neighboring countries

Five new species are described: Agonopterix vladimirisp. n. from the Russian Far East, A. kopetdagellasp. n. from Turkmenistan, Exaeretia terskeellasp. n. from Kyrgyzstan, Depressaria pastukhovisp. n. from Southern Kazakhstan, and D. khorogellasp. n. from Tajikistan. Types of the new species are deposited in the collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg.     

Confronting a tough issue: Fertility control and translocation for over-abundant Koalas on Kangaroo Island, South Australia

How does society influence the management of an introduced native mammal that is destroying its own habitat – especially when that animal is considered threatened on parts of the mainland, is aesthetically pleasing, and is important to the tourism industry? If control through sterilization and translocation is part of the answer, what lessons can be learned from this program?     

A bizarre new toothed mysticete (Cetacea) from Australia and the early evolution of baleen whales

Extant baleen whales (Cetacea, Mysticeti) are all large filter-feeding marine mammals that lack teeth as adults, instead possessing baleen, and feed on small marine animals in bulk. The early evolution of these superlative mammals, and their unique feeding method, has hitherto remained enigmatic. Here, I report a new toothed mysticete from the Late Oligocene of Australia that is more archaic than any previously described. Unlike all other mysticetes, this new whale was small, had enormous eyes and lacked derived adaptations for bulk filter-feeding. Several morphological features suggest that this mysticete was a macrophagous predator, being convergent on some Mesozoic marine reptiles and the extant leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx). It thus refutes the notions that all stem mysticetes were filter-feeders, and that the origins and initial radiation of mysticetes was linked to the evolution of filter-feeding. Mysticetes evidently radiated into a variety of disparate forms and feeding ecologies before the evolution of baleen or filter-feeding. The phylogenetic context of the new whale indicates that basal mysticetes were macrophagous predators that did not employ filter-feeding or echolocation, and that the evolution of characters associated with bulk filter-feeding was gradual.     

The ascaphins: a family of antimicrobial peptides from the skin secretions of the most primitive extant frog, Ascaphus truei

The tailed frog Ascaphus truei occupies a unique position in phylogeny as the most primitive extant anuran and is regarded as the sister taxon to the clade of all other living frogs. Eight structurally related peptides, termed ascaphins 1-8, were isolated from norepinephrine-stimulated skin secretions of A. truei and were shown to possess differential growth inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Ascaphins 2-7 may be represented by the consensus amino acid sequence GX2DX2KGAAKX3KTVAX2IANX.COOH whereas ascaphin-1 (GFRDVLKGAAKAFVKTVAGHIAN.NH2) and ascaphin-8 (GFKDLLKGAAKALVKTVLF.NH2) contain a C-terminally alpha-amidated residue. The ascaphins show no appreciable structural similarity with other families of antimicrobial peptides from frog skin but display limited sequence identity with the cationic, amphipathic alpha-helical peptides pandinin 1 and opistoporin 1, isolated from the venoms of African scorpions. Ascaphin-8 shows the highest potency against a range of pathogenic microorganisms but has the greatest haemolytic activity. The data indicate that the host defence strategy of using antimicrobial peptides in skin secretions arose early in the evolution of anurans.     

Phylogeny, systematics and evolution of mimetic wing patterns of Eterusia moths (Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae, Chalcosiinae)

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to investigate the phylogeny, systematics and evolution of the mimetic wing patterns of Eterusia, a day-flying moth genus that exhibits great morphological diversity, as well as the highest insular differentiation in eastern Asia and which has the most chaotic taxonomic history in the family Zygaenidae. We examined the wing patterns of the insects involved using visible and ultraviolet light (both reflectance and fluorescence). The phylogeny of thirty-four taxa, including all the recognized species of Eterusia plus two species of Soritia as outgroups, was reconstructed based on eighty adult morphological characters, including forty-one derived from colour patterns. Phylogenetic relationships based on the whole dataset revealed that (1) the most current concept of Eterusia is monophyletic, and (2) different types of mimetic pattern show different levels of phylogenetic conservation. To investigate the evolution of their colour patterns we inactivated all the relevant characters and reconstructed another phylogeny, which was found to differ significantly from the one based on the whole character set in the position of the E. risa species group. We used these phylogenetic hypotheses to test evolutionary predictions based on conventional Müllerian mimicry and quasi-Batesian mimicry dynamics. The results of permutation–tail–probability tests showed that the coloration characters are phylogenetically conserved, thus justifying a Müllerian interpretation. However, when comparing the observed topologies with hypothetical trees constrained to fit perfect Müllerian or quasi-Batesian scenarios using the Kishino–Hasegawa test, the observed phylogenies were more consistent with the phylogenetic prediction of quasi-Batesian mimicry. Therefore, we consider that applying these two phylogenetic methods to justify mimicry models may not always be practical. Finally, the taxonomy of Eterusia is revised. In total, two new species (E. austrochinensis, E. guanxiana), one new subspecies (E. risa palawanica) and four new synonyms (E. lativitta and E. fasciata of E. sublutea, E. coelestina of E. subcyanea, E. angustipennis gaedei of E. angustipennis angustipennis) are established.     

A primitive ornithischian dinosaur from the Late Triassic of South Africa, and the early evolution and diversification of Ornithischia

Although the group played an important role in the evolution of Late Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystems, the early evolutionary history of the ornithischian dinosaurs remains poorly understood. Here, we report on a new primitive ornithischian, Eocursor parvus gen. et sp. nov., from the Late Triassic (?Norian) Lower Elliot Formation of South Africa. Eocursor is known from a single specimen comprising substantial cranial and postcranial material and represents the most complete Triassic member of Ornithischia, providing the earliest evidence for the acquisition of many key ornithischian postcranial characters, including an opisthopubic pelvis. A new phylogenetic analysis positions this taxon near the base of Ornithischia, as the sister taxon to the important and diverse clade Genasauria. The problematic clade Heterodontosauridae is also positioned basal to Genasauria, suggesting that an enlarged grasping manus may represent a plesiomorphic ornithischian condition. This analysis provides additional phylogenetic support for limited ornithischian diversity during the Late Triassic, and suggests that several major ornithischian clades may have originated later than generally believed. There are few morphological differences between Late Triassic and Early Jurassic ornithischians, supporting previous suggestions that the Early Jurassic ornithischian radiation may simply represent the filling of vacant ecological space following Late Triassic terrestrial extinctions.     

A molecular phylogeny for the oldest (nonditrysian) lineages of extant Lepidoptera,with implications for classification,comparative morphology and life‐history evolution

Within the insect order Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), the so‐called nonditrysian superfamilies are mostly species‐poor but highly divergent, offering numerous synapomorphies and strong morphological evidence for deep divergences. Uncertainties remain, however, and tests of the widely accepted morphological framework using other evidence are desirable. The goal of this paper is to test previous hypotheses of nonditrysian phylogeny against a data set consisting of 61 nonditrysian species plus 20 representative Ditrysia and eight outgroups (Trichoptera), nearly all sequenced for 19 nuclear genes (up to 14 700 bp total). We compare our results in detail with those from previous studies of nonditrysians, and review the morphological evidence for and against each grouping The major conclusions are as follows. (i) There is very strong support for Lepidoptera minus Micropterigidae and Agathiphagidae, here termed Angiospermivora, but no definitive resolution of the position of Agathiphagidae, although support is strongest for alliance with Micropterigidae, consistent with another recent molecular study. (ii) There is very strong support for Glossata, which excludes Heterobathmiidae, but weak support for relationships among major homoneurous clades. Eriocraniidae diverge first, corroborating the morphological clade Coelolepida, but the morphological clades Myoglossata and Neolepidoptera are never monophyletic in the molecular trees; both are contradicted by strong support for Lophocoronoidea + Hepialoidea, the latter here including Mnesarchaeoidea syn.n. (iii) The surprising grouping of Acanthopteroctetidae + Neopseustidae, although weakly supported here, is consistent with another recent molecular study. (iv) Heteroneura is very strongly supported, as is a basal split of this clade into Nepticuloidea + Eulepidoptera. Relationships within Nepticuloidea accord closely with recent studies based on fewer genes but many more taxa. (v) Eulepidoptera are split into a very strongly supported clade consisting of Tischeriidae + Palaephatidae + Ditrysia, here termed Euheteroneura, and a moderately supported clade uniting Andesianidae with Adeloidea. (vi) Relationships within Adeloidea are strongly resolved and Tridentaformidae fam.n. is described for the heretofore problematic genus Tridentaforma Davis, which is strongly supported in an isolated position within the clade. (vii) Within Euheteroneura, the molecular evidence is conflicting with respect to the sister group to Ditrysia, but strongly supports paraphyly of Palaephatidae. We decline to change the classification, however, because of strong morphological evidence supporting palaephatid monophyly. (viii) We review the life histories and larval feeding habits of all nonditrysian families and assess the implications of our results for hypotheses about early lepidopteran phytophagy. The first host record for Neopseustidae, which needs confirmation, suggests that larvae of this family may be parasitoids. This published work has been registered in ZooBank: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C17BB79B‐EF8F‐4925‐AFA0‐2FEF8AC32876 .     

Early-Middle Pleistocene leaves of extinct and extant Proteaceae from western Tasmania, Australia

Fossil leaves of six species of Proteaceae which are no longer native to Tasmania occur in Early Pleistocene sediments at Regatta Point, western Tasmania, Australia. These species probably became extinct during the Early or Middle Pleistocene as the direct or indirect result of glacial/interglacial cycles. Only one extinct species of Proteaceae is known from younger sediments. Leaves of another four species which can be confidently assigned to extant Tasmanian species, and from an extant genus also occur in these sediments. Another extant species occurs in Early Pleistocene sediments at the Huskisson/Marionoak Divide, western Tasmania, and another extant species occurs in Early-Middle Pleistocene sediments at Regatta Point. These fossils imply that the number of species and of genera of Proteaceae in western Tasmania has not increased since the Early Pleistocene, and may have declined. More species of Banksia and Telopea and at least as many species of Orites occurred in Early Pleistocene western Tasmania than now occur in that region. The presence of extant species in the Early Pleistocene suggests that the turnover time of many proteaceous species is of the order of millions of years. Two new species, Telopea strahanensis and Orites truncata , are proposed.     

Systematics and evolution of the cutworm moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): evidence from two protein-coding nuclear genes

Abstract. A broad molecular systematic survey of Noctuidae was undertaken to test recent hypotheses on the problematic definitions and relationships of the subfamilies, with special emphasis on the ‘trifines.’ An initial hypothesis of noctuid classification to the subtribal level was synthesized from recent reviews, and then sampled as broadly as possible. Concatenated sequences for the nuclear genes elongation factor‐1α (EF‐1α; 1200 bp) and dopa decarboxylase (DDC; 700–1100 bp) were analysed for a total of 146 exemplar species, twice that of a previous study. Trees were estimated using likelihood, distance, and both equally weighted and ‘six‐parameter’ parsimony. Of the 144 possible nodes, bootstrap support (BP) was ≥ 50% for ～80, and ≥ 80% for ～60. There was very strong support (BP ≥ 90%) for an ‘L.A.Q.’ clade encompassing nearly all quadrifine noctuids plus Arctiidae and Lymantriidae, decisively rendering Noctuidae paraphyletic. We present a new classification for Noctuoidea in which Noctuidae sensu stricto is restricted to trifines; most quadrifine subfamilies are raised to full families. Within the ‘L.A.Q.’ clade, Aganainae and Herminiinae were strongly grouped, but other relationships were weakly supported, probably due to limited taxon sampling. Nolidae and Euteliinae + Stictopterinae are generally grouped with the ‘L.A.Q.’ clade, but with weak support. All analyses favour the broadest definitions proposed for the trifine clade (our Noctuidae sensu stricto) although support is not strong, except that the exemplar of Eustrotiinae: Eublemmini is placed securely in the ‘L.A.Q.’ clade. Numerous recent proposals for dismantling and recombining the ‘Hampsonian’ traditional trifine subfamilies are strongly supported, most notably a broadly defined ‘true cutworm’ clade (Noctuinae s.l.), encompassing the greater part of the traditional subfamilies Amphipyrinae, Cuculliinae, Hadeninae and Noctuinae s.s. (BP ≥ 95%). Within this clade there is strong support for Apameini s.s.+ Xylenini s.l. and for Noctuinae s.s. and divisions thereof, but little support for monophyly or subdivision of Hadeninae. Noctuinae s.l. invariably are allied with Heliothinae, scattered remnants of the traditional Amphipyrinae, and several smaller groups in a broader ‘pest clade’, albeit with weak support. Relationships among the remaining ‘lower’ trifines are not strongly resolved. Mapping of a preliminary synopsis of species diversities, host use patterns and latitudinal distributions on the phylogeny suggests that the diversification of trifines may have been promoted, to a degree unique among Macrolepidoptera, by the Tertiary expansion of seasonal, open habitats and their associated herbaceous floras.     

A new ripiphorid beetle from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber sheds light on early evolution of the extant subfamily Ripidiinae (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae)

Fossils belonging to Ripidiinae are rare. Here, we describe and figure a remarkable new genus and species of Ripidiinae, Protoripidius burmiticus gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Cretaceous amber of Myanmar. Protoripidius can be placed in the extant subfamily Ripidiinae based on the widely separated and abbreviated elytra (in male), unfolded hind wings, simple claws and the absence of tibial spurs. Protoripidius bears many transitional features shedding new light on the relationships of the two extant tribes of Ripidiinae. The discovery also highlights the palaeodiversity of the subfamily Ripidiinae in the mid-Cretaceous.