The first dinosaur remains from the Upper Cretaceous of Hungary (Csehbánya Formation, Bakony Mts)

The first dinosaur remains are described from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Csehbánya Formation, Iharkút, Bakony Mts, Hungary. Eight teeth of herbivorous dinosaurs (Rhabdodontidae indet. Nodosauridae indet.) and four teeth belonging to Theropoda indet. are presented. There are also hundreds of fish, frog, turtle and crocodile bones and teeth embedded in fluvial sand of an alluvial plain. Palaeobiogeographic connections towards Provence, the eastern Alps, and southern Carpathians indicate that the Adriatic microplate bearing the fossiliferous succession was an island temporarily connected to the European continent during Late Cretaceous time.     

Geochemical study of vertebrate fossils from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Csehbánya Formation (Hungary): Evidence for a freshwater habitat of mosasaurs and pycnodont fish

The diverse vertebrate remains from the Upper Cretaceous freshwater settings at Iharkút, Hungary, contain two fossil groups, Pycnodontiformes fish and Mosasauridae that are almost exclusively known from marine palaeo-environments. Hence, their appearance in alluvial sediments is very unusual. Trace element and isotope compositions of the remains have been analyzed to investigate the taphonomy and the ecological differences among the different fossil groups present at Iharkút.All examined fossils have undergone post-depositional diagenetic alteration, which resulted in high concentrations of REE, U, and Fe, together with almost complete homogenization of δ¹⁸O_CO3 values. Similar REE patterns in different fossils suggest a common origin for all remains, hence the discovered species most likely lived in the same local ecosystem. Despite partial diagenetic overprinting, the δ¹⁸O_PO4 values of the fossils indicate sufficient taxon-specific isotopic diversity to permit some broad conclusions on the palaeo-environment of the fossils. In particular, it is apparent that the isotopic composition of the Pycnodontiformes fish and Mosasauridae remains is most compatible with a freshwater palaeo-habitat and incompatible with a marine palaeo-environment. In addition, the Sr concentration and isotope data indicate that the Pycnodontiformes and Mosasauridae likely lived predominantly in a freshwater environment and were not simply occasional visitors to the Iharkút river ecosystem.Regarding other fossil groups, high δ¹⁸O_PO4 values of Alligatoroidea and Iharkutosuchus teeth suggest that these small crocodile species might have inhabited swamps and ponds where the water was relatively rich in ¹⁸O due to evaporation.     

Reappraisal of the Genus Tapirus (Perissodactyla, Tapiridae): Systematics and Phylogenetic Affinities of the South American Tapirs

The record of the genus Tapirus in South America is associated with the faunistic events of the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI). The taxon is considered an immigrant of Holarctic origin. Although remains are scarce and incomplete during the Pleistocene, an analysis of these materials allowed us to consider valid seven fossil species : Tapirus tarijensis, T. cristatellus, T. greslebini, T. rioplatensis, T. oliverasi, T. mesopotamicus, and T. rondoniensis. A phylogenetic analysis was carried out in order to elucidate the relationships of the American fossil and extant species. Our result is consistent with a paraphyletic hypothesis for South American tapirs and suggests that a second dispersal event would have occurred from South America to North America, of a form closely related to T. cristatellus, resulting in the derived forms of North America.     

Ordovician phyllocarids (Arthropoda; Crustacea) from Argentina

New phyllocarids are described from the Ordovician (early Arenig to lower Caradoc) of the Precordillera and Eastern Cordillera of Argentina, namelyCaryocaris delicatus n. sp.,Caryocaris sp. 1, ?Caryocaris sp. 2,Pumilocaris granulosus n. gen., n. sp., ?Pumilocaris sp. and an undetermined form. They all occur in graptolite-bearing shales. A critical review of the South American phyllocarids formerly described in the literature is made andCaryocaris delicatus n. sp. (Llanvirn) is compared with congeneric species known from the Ordovician (Tremadoc-Caradoc) of North America, Europe, China and Australia. The presence ofCaryocaris in South America is therefore attested, which confirms the view that the genus had a worldwide distribution in the lower Ordovician in relation with a possible pelagic lifestyle. A new definition ofCaryocaris is proposed and the former subdivision of the genus [C. (Caryocaris) andC. (Rhinopterocarys)] abandoned. A set of original characters (e.g. lack of rostral plate, short leaflike furcal rami, short telson, extremely thin carapace) strongly indicates thatCaryocaris lies outside the Ceratiocarididae and may form the basis of a new taxonomic unit.     

New remains of Hyaenodontidae (Creodonta,Mammalia) from the Oligocene of Central Mongolia

New specimens of hyaenodontid creodonts are described which were unearthed in Mongolia by the Austrian–Mongolian Paleontological expeditions. Five taxa are identified: Hyaenodon eminus, Hyaenodon pervagus, Hyaenodon cf. incertus, Hyaenodon cf. mongoliensis, and cf. Hyaenodon gigas. Hitherto unknown morphological details are reported for most of these species. The implications to systematic of the species and the genus Hyaenodon are discussed. These Hyaenodon remains suggest a separate evolutionary lineage, with different species in Europe and Asia, even if the genus is also known from contemporary faunas of Europe and North America.     

A remarkable short-snouted horned dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous (late Campanian) of southern Laramidia

The fossil record of centrosaurine ceratopsids is largely restricted to the northern region of western North America (Alberta, Montana and Alaska). Exceptions consist of single taxa from Utah (Diabloceratops) and China (Sinoceratops), plus otherwise fragmentary remains from the southern Western Interior of North America. Here, we describe a remarkable new taxon, Nasutoceratops titusi n. gen. et sp., from the late Campanian Kaiparowits Formation of Utah, represented by multiple specimens, including a nearly complete skull and partial postcranial skeleton. Autapomorphies include an enlarged narial region, pneumatic nasal ornamentation, abbreviated snout and elongate, rostrolaterally directed supraorbital horncores. The subrectangular parietosquamosal frill is relatively unadorned and broadest in the mid-region. A phylogenetic analysis indicates that Nasutoceratops is the sister taxon to Avaceratops, and that a previously unknown subclade of centrosaurines branched off early in the group''s history and persisted for several million years during the late Campanian. As the first well-represented southern centrosaurine comparable in age to the bulk of northern forms, Nasutoceratops provides strong support for the provincialism hypothesis, which posits that Laramidia—the western landmass formed by inundation of the central region of North America by the Western Interior Seaway—hosted at least two coeval dinosaur communities for over a million years of late Campanian time.     

A review of mites of the subfamily Picobiinae Johnston & Kethley, 1973 (Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) from North American birds

The fauna of ectoparasitic mites of the subfamily Picobiinae (Acari: Syringophilidae) associated with birds of the North America is revised. A new genus, Charadriineopicobia n. g. is proposed for two quill mite species, Ch. calidris n. sp. from Calidris alba (Pallas) (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae) and Ch. leucophaeus (Skoracki, Hendricks & Spicer, 2010) n. comb. from Leucophaeus atricilla Linnaeus (Charadriiformes: Laridae). The new genus differs from the closely related Neopicobia Skoracki, 2011 by the presence of one pair of setae in pseudanal series and by clearly discernible chambers in each lateral branch of the peritremes, in both sexes. Additionally, a new species of Picobia Haller, 1878, P. hylocichlae n. sp., parasitising Hylocichla mustelina (Gmelin) (Passeriformes: Turdidae), is described. The species of picobiine mites presently recorded from North America are summarised.     

The Megophthalmidia (Diptera,Mycetophilidae) of North America including eight new species

Megophthalmidia Dziedzicki is a small leiine genus (Mycetophilidae) with seven species described from the Neotropics and ten species from the Palearctic region. Two species of Megophthalmidia have been reported for North America. Recent collecting of Mycetophilidae in California and Arizona, however, shows current North American diversity of Megophthalmidia is at least on par to other regions of the world. Eight new species of Megophthalmidia are described here, increasing the number of Nearctic Megophthalmidia species to nine. Included is a particularly atypical member of the genus, M. saskia sp. n., which expands the genus concept of Megophthalmidia. Of the two species previously recorded for North America, only one actually belongs in the genus. Megophthalmidia occidentalis Johannsen, is fully described and illustrated. The other named species, M. marceda (Sherman) is illustrated and transferred to the genus Ectrepesthoneura Enderlein. A lectotype is designated for this species. A key to the species of Megophthalmidia of North America is provided. The biology of these flies is not yet known. Three of the new Megophthalmidia species – M. lenimenta, M. misericordia, and M. radiata – are only known to occur within small protected areas within the California State Park and UC Natural Reserve systems.     

The Genus Malenchus (Nematoda:Tylenchida) with Descriptions of Two Species from Michigan

Malenchus truncatus n. sp. and M. bryanti n. sp. from Michigan are describes and presented es the first record of Malenchus in North America. M. acarayensis Andrassy, 1968 is recorded and males of this species described. Notes on the geographical distribution of Malenchus and a key to the species are given.     

Ammonoid biostratigraphy of the Middle Triassic Latemar platform (Dolomites, Italy) and its correlation with Nevada and Canada

An extensive study of the ammonoid fauna occurring in the lagoonal facies of a Middle Triassic isolated carbonate platform (Latemar platform, Dolomites, Italy) has been undertaken, and ammonoids from selected coeval successions (Punta Zonia, Marmolada, Rio Sacuz) have been illustrated. Ammonoids from Latemar have been collected in 20 distinct horizons (storm deposits) within the ca. 500 m thick lagoonal succession of the platform, thus providing a biostratigraphy of a series which is unusually expanded for this time interval, close to the Anisian-Ladinian boundary. Contrary to general opinion, some ammonoids of the Latemar and other coeval carbonate platforms of the Dolomites (Marmolada, Cernera), in particular Aplococeras avisianum, Lecanites misanii, Celtites spp., and Paranevadites sp., are also present in nearby basinal series. The same taxa have been found in North American localities deposited at the opposite margin of Panthalassa. The homotaxis of these ammonoids in North America and Latemar allow to establish a global scale correlation between the Southern Alps and North America with the highest resolution to date possible. In the context of this study, Aplococeras transiens n. sp. and Esinoceras nerinae n. sp are established.     

The first cupedine beetle from Burmese amber (Coleoptera: Cupedidae)

A rare archaic beetle, Mallecupes qingqingae gen. et sp. n., (Insecta: Coleoptera: Archostemata: Cupedidae) is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. It shows affinity with Paracupes found in South America today and ‘Paracupes’ found in North America during the Cretaceous. Archostemata are diverse in Burmese amber.     

Population studies in Goodyera (Orchidaceae) with emphasis on the hybrid origin of G. Tesselata

Morphological, cytological, and paper Chromatographic studies of populations from northern Michigan and examination of herbarium specimens from throughout North America were used to clarify the relationships ofGoodyera oblongifolia, G. repens var.ophioides, andG. tesselata. A canonical analysis of morphological data from mixed populations of these three species depictsG. tesselata as intermediate betweenG. oblongifolia andG. repens var.ophioides. The latter two species are diploid (2n = 30) andG. tesselata is tetraploid (2n = 60). Triploids (2n = ca. 45) were found in two mixed-species populations in northern Michigan.Goodyera tesselata produces three phenolic compounds present inG. oblongifolia and five different compounds present inG. repens var.ophioides. The range ofG. tesselata is confined to glaciated territory (except for two stations) in northeastern North America where the postglacially produced ranges ofG. oblongifolia andG. repens var.ophioides overlap. However,G. tesselata is quite abundant in areas outside the region of sympatry of the other two species. Based on this evidence, it is postulated thatG. tesselata is an allotetraploid species which resulted from hybridization betweenG. oblongifolia andG. repens var.ophioides during early post-Pleistocene. The slightly earlier blooming season ofG. tesselata may have been selected for to provide a measure of reproductive isolation between the tetraploid and its parents and to adapt the new species to the rather short growing season of northeastern North America.     

The species of Coleosporium (Pucciniales) on Solidago in North America

Species of Coleosporium (Pucciniales) are rust fungi that typically alternate between pines and angiosperms. In North America, species of Coleosporium often infect Solidago (goldenrods), although their taxonomy on these hosts is unresolved. Joseph. C. Arthur and George B. Cummins regarded these as a single species, Coleosporium solidaginis (fide Arthur) or C. asterum (fide Cummins), but later inoculation studies demonstrated the presence of more than one species, distinguishable by their aecial hosts. A more recent taxonomic study of Coleosporium found that specimens on Solidago identified as C. asterum in North America were not conspecific with the type, which is from Japan, prompting the present study. Herein, we conducted a systematic study on ca. 60 collections of Coleosporium infecting species of Asteraceae from North America using regions of ribosomal DNA and morphology of teliospores and basidia. Our data indicate at least three species of Coleosporium occur on Solidago in North America, C. solidaginis, C. montanum comb. nov., which is proposed for the taxon that has commonly been identified as C. asterum in North America, and C. delicatulum, all of which can be differentiated by morphology of their basidia. In addition, the challenges of marker selection for molecular barcoding of rust fungi is discussed.     

The taxonomy,chronostratigraphy and paleobiogeography of glyptosaurine lizards (Glyptosaurinae,Anguidae)

Glyptosaurine lizards (Glyptosaurinae, Anguidae) are an extinct group of heavily armored lizards known from North America, Europe and Asia. Glyptosaurine lizards, taxa that possess fully developed tuberculated dermal armor, appear to have been established in North America by late early Puercan time (To3). “Proxestops,” a taxon distinguished by a combination of vermiculate and tuberculated osteoderm sculpturing, is considered to be a non-glyptosaurine, a sister taxon of the Glyptosaurinae. Known from only fragmentary remains, its wide chronostratigraphic distribution suggests that “Proxestops” is a form genus that, in all probability, represents more than one taxon, that ranges from the middle Paleocene to the early Eocene of North America. Moreover, the taxa Odaxosaurus piger, Parodaxosaurus sanjuanensis and “Proxestops” are best considered “proto-glyptosaurines”. “Melanosaurins” and glyptosaurins were well-established by the early Eocene, especially in North America, and are here documented by their type species and chronostratigraphic levels. Both tribes are present in Europe (MP7), too, but the record is not as estensive as that of North America. The North American taxon Gaultia silvaticus (Wa0) is transitional between a “melanosaurin” and glyptosaurin. Because it lacks the well-defined hexagonal osteoderms that characterize the Glyptosaurini, it is removed from that group and considered to be a “melanosaurin”. The “melanosaurin” taxon “Xestops” savagei (Wa4–Wa6) cannot be referred to Xestops (Br2) based on non-corresponding elements and because superficial similarity does not justify assignment to this taxon. Arpadosaurus sepulchralis (Wa6?), whose holotype is a fragmentary right frontal, is considered a subjective junior synonym of A. gazinorum, based on minor differences in the epidermal scale pattern that probably represent individual variation. “Glyptosaurus” agmodon (Wa6?), based on a partial right maxilla, cannot be referred to Glyptosaurus (sensu stricto), and the material upon which this taxon is based bears strong resemblance to material identified as cf. “?Paraglyptosaurus” yatkolai (Wa5–Wa6). “Glyptosaurus” rhodinos (Wa5) is based on an incomplete parietal, and its reference to Glyptosaurus is considered problematic. Eoglyptosaurus donohoei (Wa7) is probably valid and is re-established here. Glyptosaurus (sensu stricto) is known solely from the middle Eocene (Br2) by G. sylvestris. Dimetoposaurus wyomingensis (Br3) is removed from Xestops vagans because its synonymy was based on superficial similarities. Helodermoides tuberculatus, the largest and last glyptosaurin (Ch3), is restricted to the Chadronian of North America. Only the “melanosaurin” Peltosaurus granulosus (Or2–Or3), which includes the species P. abbotti, seems to have crossed the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, and appears to be largely restricted to the Orellan, but extended into the Arikareean. European glyptosaurines are also represented by both glyptosaurins and “melanosaurins” early in the Eocene (MP7). Placosauriops-like “melanosaurins” are known from Dormaal (MP7), and the glyptosaurin taxon?Placosaurus ragei occurs at the same level. “Placosauriops abderhaldeni” has been identified from the Grube Messel (MP11), but this assignment remains dubious because the species has not been adequately diagnosed, and the holotype species is from the Geiseltal (MP13), which is some 4.5 million years younger. Placosauriops weigelti (MP13) is the only valid species of this genus. Paraxestops stehlini (MP14) is not referable to the North American taxon Xestops, and its relationship to Placosauriops has not been studied. The late Eocene glyptosaurins Placosaurus estesi (MP17) and P. rugosus (MP18) are the last glyptosaurines known from Europe and appear to have gone extinct at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, casulties perhaps of the “Grande Coupure”. Asian glyptosaurines are known solely from one species, Stenoplacosaurus mongoliensis, from the middle Eocene (Sharamurunian) of China. Glyptosaurines most likely originated in North America, diversified by late Paleocene time, and rapidly spread across the North Atlantic into Europe by the early Eocene. Both “melanosaurins” and glyptosaurins took a foothold in Europe by the early Neustrian, but the glyptosaurins, aside from one occurrence (Dormaal, MP7), were conspicuously absent for most of Neustrian through early Robiacian time. In North America, glyptosaurins diversified during the early and middle Eocene, while in Europe small “melanosaurins” were a prominent part of the paleoherpetofauna, and glyptosaurins are unknown for most of the Neustrian through the Geiseltalian, in both the fossilferous Lagerstätten of Messel and Geiseltal. Stenoplacosaurus is the only known glyptosaurin glyptosaurine from Asia, and its abrupt appearance during the late Eocene suggests the possiblity of a Beringian dispersal from North America into Asia.     

A Continent-Wide Migratory Divide in North American Breeding Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica)

Populations of most North American aerial insectivores have undergone steep population declines over the past 40 years but the relative importance of factors operating on breeding, wintering, or stopover sites remains unknown. We used archival light-level geolocators to track the phenology, movements and winter locations of barn swallows (Hirdundo rustica; n = 27) from populations across North America to determine their migratory connectivity. We identified an east-west continental migratory divide for barn swallows with birds from western regions (Washington State, USA (n = 8) and Saskatchewan, Canada (n = 5)) traveling shorter distances to wintering areas ranging from Oregon to northern Colombia than eastern populations (Ontario (n = 3) and New Brunswick (n = 10), Canada) which wintered in South America south of the Amazon basin. A single swallow from a stable population in Alabama shared a similar migration route to eastern barn swallows but wintered farther north in northeast Brazil indicating a potential leap frog pattern migratory among eastern birds. Six of 9 (67%) birds from the two eastern populations and Alabama underwent a loop migration west of fall migration routes including around the Gulf of Mexico travelling a mean of 2,224 km and 722 km longer on spring migration, respectively. Longer migration distances, including the requirement to cross the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico and subsequent shorter sedentary wintering periods, may exacerbate declines for populations breeding in northeastern North America.     

A taxonomic study of campylopus schimperi and C. subulatus (Bryopsida: Dicranaceae) in North America

Campylopus schimperi is known in North America from Oaxaca, Colorado, British Columbia, Yukon, Alaska, Baffin Island, Gaspé Peninsula, and Newfoundland, and reported from Greenland. No specimens of the previously reported C. subulatus were found from North America and this species should be excluded from the North American bryophyte flora. A quantitative study and critical review of the characters distinguishing these two species indicate that leaf laminal cell shape and length, and costal anatomy are the most definitive taxonomic features. The distributional range of C. schimperi in North America suggests a close association with unglaciated areas and hypothesized glacial refugia.     

Genetic divergence analysis of the Common Barn Owl Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769) and the Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan, 1763) from southern Chile using COI sequence

In this paper new mitochondrial COI sequences of Common Barn Owl Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769) and Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan, 1763) from southern Chile are reported and compared with sequences from other parts of the World. The intraspecific genetic divergence (mean p-distance) was 4.6 to 5.5% for the Common Barn Owl in comparison with specimens from northern Europe and Australasia and 3.1% for the Short-eared Owl with respect to samples from north America, northern Europe and northern Asia. Phylogenetic analyses revealed three distinctive groups for the Common Barn Owl: (i) South America (Chile and Argentina) plus Central and North America, (ii) northern Europe and (iii) Australasia, and two distinctive groups for the Short-eared Owl: (i) South America (Chile and Argentina) and (ii) north America plus northern Europe and northern Asia. The level of genetic divergence observed in both species exceeds the upper limit of intraspecific comparisons reported previously for Strigiformes. Therefore, this suggests that further research is needed to assess the taxonomic status, particularly for the Chilean populations that, to date, have been identified as belonging to these species through traditional taxonomy.     

Two Naturally Occurring Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Variants of Neodiprion sertifer Geoffr. (Hymenoptera; Diprionidae)

Two isolates of Neodiprion sertifer (Geoffr.) nuclear polyhedrosis virus from Britain and North America were compared using three biochemical techniques. Alkaline protease assays of polyhedra revealed the presence of endogenous enzyme activity in the British isolate but not in the North American isolate. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of virus particle structural polypeptides revealed only minor differences, with the exception that the North American virus was contaminated with polyhedral protein. The restriction endonucleases SalI, HindIII, and HpaII were used as a definitive method of distinguishing the two variants, with all endonucleases achieving this to a greater or lesser extent. The possible significance of all of these observations is discussed in terms of their possible influence on the registration and field application of this virus.