Paleogene Land Mammal Faunas of South America; a Response to Global Climatic Changes and Indigenous Floral Diversity

An appraisal of Paleogene floral and land mammal faunal dynamics in South America suggests that both biotic elements responded at rate and extent generally comparable to that portrayed by the global climate pattern of the interval. A major difference in the South American record is the initial as well as subsequent much greater diversity of both Neotropical and Austral floras relative to North American counterparts. Conversely, the concurrent mammal faunas in South America did not match, much less exceed, the diversity seen to the north. It appears unlikely that this difference is solely due to the virtual absence of immigrants subsequent to the initial dispersal of mammals to South America, and cannot be explained solely by the different collecting histories of the two regions. Possible roles played by non-mammalian vertebrates in niche exploitation remain to be explored. The Paleogene floras of Patagonia and Chile show a climatic pattern that approximates that of North America, with an increase in both Mean Annual Temperature (MAT) and Mean Annual Precipitation (MAP) from the Paleocene into the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO), although the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is not recognized in the available data set. Post-EECO temperatures declined in both regions, but more so in the north than the south, which also retained a higher rate of precipitation. The South American Paleogene mammal faunas developed gradual, but distinct, changes in composition and diversity as the EECO was approached, but actually declined somewhat during its peak, contrary to the record in North America. At about 40 Ma, a post-EECO decline was recovered in both hemispheres, but the South American record achieved its greatest diversity then, rather than at the peak of the EECO as in the north. This post-EECO faunal turnover apparently was a response to the changing conditions when global climate was deteriorating toward the Oligocene. Under the progressively more temperate to seasonally arid conditions in South America, this turnover reflected a major change from the more archaic, and more tropical to subtropical-adapted mammals, to the beginning of the ultimately modern South American fauna, achieved completely by the Eocene-Oligocene transition. Interestingly, hypsodonty was achieved by South American cursorial mammals about 15–20 m.y. earlier than in North America. In addition to being composed of essentially different groups of mammals, those of the South American continent seem to have responded to the climatic changes associated with the ECCO and subsequent conditions in a pattern that was initially comparable to, but subsequently different from, their North American counterparts.     

First Clarkforkian Equivalent Land Mammal Age in the Latest Paleocene Basal Sparnacian Facies of Europe: Fauna,Flora, Paleoenvironment and (Bio)stratigraphy

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is correlated with the first occurrences of earliest modern mammals in the Northern Hemisphere. The latest Paleocene Clarkforkian North American Land Mammal Age, that has yielded rodents and carnivorans, is the only exception to this rule. However, until now no pre-PETM localities have yielded modern mammals in Europe or Asia. We report the first Clarkforkian equivalent Land Mammal Age in the latest Paleocene deposits of the basal Sparnacian facies at Rivecourt, in the north-central part of the Paris Basin. The new terrestrial vertebrate and macroflora assemblages are analyzed through a multidisciplinary study including sedimentologic, stratigraphic, isotopic, and palynological aspects in order to reconstruct the paleoenvironment and to evaluate biochronologic and paleogeographic implications. The mammals are moderately diverse and not abundant, contrary to turtles and champsosaurs. The macroflora is exceptional in preservation and diversity with numerous angiosperms represented by flowers, fruits, seeds and wood preserved as lignite material, revealing an abundance of Arecaceae, Betulaceae, Icacinaceae, Menispermaceae, Vitaceae and probably Cornaceae. Results indicate a Late Paleocene age based on carbon isotope data, palynology and vertebrate occurrences such as the choristoderan Champsosaurus, the arctocyonid Arctocyon, and the plesiadapid Plesiadapis tricuspidens. However, several mammal species compare better with the earliest Eocene. Among these, the particular louisinid Teilhardimys musculus, also recorded from the latest Paleocene of the Spanish Pyrenees, suggests a younger age than the typical MP6 reference level. Nevertheless, the most important aspect of the Rivecourt fauna is the presence of dental remains of a rodent and a “miacid” carnivoran, attesting to the presence of two modern mammalian orders in the latest Paleocene of Europe. Interestingly, these two groups are also the only modern groups recorded from the latest Paleocene of North America, making Rivecourt the first direct equivalent to the Clarkforkian Land Mammal Age outside of North America.     

A new Purpleheart (Peltogyne,Caesalpiniaceae) from South Bahian Atlantic Forest (Brazil)

Peltogyne chrysopis, an emergent tree of Bahian Atlantic Forest notable for subsessile, globose flowers with rudimentary solid hypanthium, densely white-velutious, sepals and ovary, and planocompressed, elliptic-suborbicular fruits narrowly winged along the short seminiferous suture, is described and figured. A key to species ofPeltogyne, known from the state of Bahia is provided.     

A synopsis of the late Miocene Mammal Fauna of Samos Island,Aegean Sea,Greece

As one of the oldest known Eurasian fossil vertebrate localities, Samos late Miocene fauna attracted the interest of specialists by its richness and overall importance. Nevertheless, crucial taxonomical questions and chronological problems obscured its value. The detailed study of the local stratigraphy, the collection of new fossil material and its study, the revision of the old collections and the updated magneto-chronology of the fossiliferous deposits permited to re-discuss most of the problems in a special volume edited in 2009 by Koufos and Nagel and to provide a clearer and more precise idea about the Samos fauna and its age. A synopsis of this work is given here. The systematic study of the new collection (～1200 identified specimens) allows the determination of 42 species from three fossil horizons, ranging from the upper part of early Turolian (MN11) to the end of middle Turolian (MN12). Taxonomic novelties are the presence of the carnivore genus Protictitherium found for the first time in Samos, the establishment of the new name Skoufotragus for Pachytragus Schlosser with the new species Skoufotragus zemalisorum, and the amended morphology of Pseudomeriones and Urmiatherium. Additionally six Hipparion and four Gazella species were recognized and a better morphometric distinction between Samotherium boissieri and Samotherium major was performed. This study also improved the correlation of the old fossiliferous sites with the new ones and with the local stratigraphy of the Mytilinii Basin, while precise ages have been obtained for the mammal localities. The new data together with the old collections indicate the presence in Samos of four chronologically successive mammal assemblages reflecting a “four stages-of-evolution” scheme. The Turolian palaeoenvironment of Samos is determined as an open bushland with thick grassy-floor of C3 graminoids with possible increase of the open and dry character from the beginning to the end of Middle Turolian. The Samos mammal faunas are palaeobiogeographically closer to the Asian ones than to those from the Greek mainland.     

New and noteworthy South American species of Agalinis (Scrophulariaceae)

Agalinis bandeirensis is a Brazilian species distinguished by linear bracts, short pedicels, and villous stamens.Agalinis ramulifera, from southern Brazil, is distinguished by many, short, leafy branches and small flowers.Agalinis linarioides subsp.rojasi, from Paraguay, is distinguished by paniculate inflorescences, short calyx lobes, and broad corollas.Gerardia bangii, G. digitalis, andG. meyeniana are recognized as species ofAgalinis and appropriate transfers are made.     

A New Species Of The Late Triassic Rhynchosaur Hyperodapedon From The Santa Maria Formation Of South Brazil

A new rhynchosaur, Hyperodapedon huenei sp. nov., is described from the Upper Triassic Santa Maria Formation of the Paraná Basin, Brazil. The holotype is an almost complete skull and mandible, collected at Inhamandá, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The diagnosis of the genus Hyperodapedon Huxley is revised to include not only H. huxleyi Lydekker and H. gordoni Huxley (as generally accepted), but also the new species described here, various specimens usually assigned to ' Scaphonyx fischeri ' Woodward, and ' S '. sanjuanensis Sill. H. huenei sp. nov. exhibits a number of plesiomorphic features and appears to be the least derived species of Hyperodapedon , forming a sister taxon to the remaining members of the genus. A preliminary phylogenetic analysis for the more derived rhynchosaurs is presented. ' Scaphonyx ' sulcognathus Azevedo and Schultz represents the sister taxon of Hyperodapedon , while ' Rhynchosaurus ' spenceri Benton is considered to be a more derived Middle Triassic rhynchosaur. key words : Rhynchosauria, Hyperodapedon , Triassic, Brazil.     

A new species of Mimosa sect. Mimosa (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae) from Southern Brazil

A new species of Mimosa section Mimosa, Mimosa eurystegia, which is apparently endemic to Paraná in southern Brazil, is described and illustrated. This species is distinguished by plurinerved leaflets and papyraceous, plurinerved, orbicular, amplexicaul stipules. Morphological distinctiveness of this new Mimosa and its relationships with allied species are discussed. Phenological, geographical and ecological data are presented, in addition to a key to the species of Mimosa subser. Sparsae.     

Kaempferia sawanensis (Zingiberaceae ) , A New Species from Southern Laos

A new species of Kaempferia from Southern Laos, K.sawanensis, is described and illustrated. Relationship of this new species with other taxa is discussed.     

A new species of Brachysiphon (Penaeaceae) from the Southern Cape, South Africa

A new chasmophitic species of Brachysiphon, B. microphyllum from the dry interior mountain ranges of the Southern Cape is described.     

A New Species of Acrodipsas Sands (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from Southern New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory

Acrodipsas aurata sp.n. from the Blue Mountains, the southern highlands of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory is described, figured and contrasted with the polymorphic A. cuprea (Sands) with which it has been previously considered to be con-specific. A. aurata is assigned to the myrmecophila species-group, based on leg morphology. Nine species are now recognised in the genus Acrodipsas Sands.     

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.     

Additions to South American Senecioneae (Asteraceae)

Three new Peruvian species belonging to the tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae) are described, illustrated and their relationships discussed:Gynoxys colanensis, G. lopezii, andPentacalia barbourii.     

Introduction of the African Catfish Clarias gariepinus (BURCHELL, 1822) into Southern Brazil

We record here the introduction of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus into the Guaraguaçu River basin in Paraná State, Brazil, an area with an extremely rich endemic fish fauna, including many catfishes. C. gariepinus was introduced as escapees from ponds built for recreational angling. These catfishes are very large and hard predators, thus posing serious potential for impact on the native fish fauna. The impact of C. gariepinus needs study with emphasis on finding means for controlling its spread.     

A prime inference on genetic diversity (RAPDs) in the marine fish Atherinella brasiliensis (Teleostei,Atherinopsidae) from Southern Brazil

Da Silva Cortinhas, M. C., Glienke, C., Prioli, A. J., Noleto, R. B., Matoso, D. A. and Cestari, M. M. 2010. A prime inference on genetic diversity (RAPDs) in the marine fish Atherinella brasiliensis (Teleostei, Atherinopsidae) from Southern Brazil. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91 : 242–248 As a result of the importance of Atherinella brasiliensis in estuarine environments, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to verify the genetic diversity in A. brasiliensis from two different places in Paranaguá Bay (Paraná State) and one from the Conceição Lagoon (Santa Catarina State). Cytogenetic data have shown a high karyotypic diversity in some populations, although in others this peculiarity demonstrates rearrangements such as heterochromatinization. In the present study, a low level of genetic structuring between the samples from Conceição Lagoon compared with the others was observed through principal coordinate analysis (PCO), analysis of molecular variance and Mantel test according to 79 RAPD markers. As this specie does not perform horizontal migration and the individuals of Conceição Lagoon are isolated, three hypotheses are proposed to explain the results: (i) similar environments may show homogeneous populations not depending on the geographical distance, (ii) because vicariant events that formed the bays occurred in a recent period, the fragmentation effects over the structuring of the genetic diversity may still be low and not totally detectable by the RAPD technique and (iii) the isolation time or the number of generations may not be enough to promote a possible differentiation and genetic structuring between the specimens of these three places. The specimens of these places present a low level of differentiation and genetic structuring so we can consider them as a unique homogeneous population.     

Palaeoecology of the Aptian Santana Formation (Northeastern Brazil)

In the interior of northeastern Brazil there occurs the Santana Formation of Aptian age, composed lithologically of three members: Crato — an alternation of thin limestones and shales; Ipubi — gypsum; and Romualdo — almost pure limestone. The formation is very fossiliferous; pollen, plant remains, ostracodes, conchostracans, mollusks, echinoids, fishes and a few reptiles. The fishes and reptiles occur in limestone concretions. All data on sediment character and on fossils have been considered together for the interpretation of the palaeoenvironment of the formation.It was concluded that at the time of the Crato Member the deposition occurred in shallow lakes and swamps. Later (Ipubi Member), a marine invasion took place during a time of dry climate, causing anhydrite precipitation. Gradually the connection with the sea became obstructed so that the environment at the end of the depositional period became once more one of fresh water (Romualdo Member). Faunal assemblages and sediments point to a fairly great supply of river water during the whole time of basin deposition, under warm and dry climatic conditions. The connection with the sea persisted for a rather short period.     

A synopsis of the South American taxa of Fabronia (Fabroniaceae)

The genusFabronia in South America is found to represent five taxa:F. ciliaris var.ciliaris, F. ciliaris var.wrightii,F. ciliaris var.polycarpa,F. macroblepharis andF. jamesonii. Synonymy, brief discussion, illustrations and a key are provided.Fabronia enervis Herz., hom. illeg., is the basis for the new genusMahua.     

甘肃南部异蝽科昆虫调查及区系初步研究(半翅目:异蝽科)

本文报道了2007～2010年间采自甘肃南部的半翅目异蝽科标本,经鉴定共有3属20种。本次调查所得的种类中,以东亚分布型为最多,约占全部种属的2/3,东洋分布型约占1/4,古北分布型本次调查所得的种类最少,只占1/10左右。说明甘肃南部具有较强的东亚区系特色,反映了此地区地处生物地理学中极具中国固有特色的东亚区系发祥地——中国中部和中西部地区的地理特点。其中有甘肃省新纪录7种,分别是光华异蝽Tessaromerus licenti Yang,亮壮异蝽Urochela distincta Distant,短壮异蝽Urochela falloui Reuter,黑足壮异蝽Urochela rubra Yang,褐壮异蝽Uroechla punctata Hsiaoet Ching,绿娇异蝽Urostylis genevae Maa和匙突娇异蝽Urostylis striicornis Scott。