The phenetic affinities of Rungwecebus kipunji

The kipunji, a recently discovered primate endemic to Tanzania's Southern Highlands and Udzungwa Mountains, was initially referred to the mangabey genus Lophocebus (Cercopithecinae: Papionini), but subsequent molecular analyses showed it to be more closely related to Papio. Its consequent referral to a new genus, Rungwecebus, has met with skepticism among papionin researchers, who have questioned both the robustness of the phylogenetic results and the kipunji's morphological distinctiveness. This circumstance has been exacerbated by the immaturity of the single available specimen (FMNH 187122), an M1-stage juvenile. Therefore, a geometric morphometric analysis of juvenile papionin cranial shape was used to explore the kipunji's phenetic affinities and evaluate morphological support for its separation from Lophocebus. Three-dimensional craniometric landmarks and semi-landmarks were collected on a sample of 124 subadult (dp4-M2 stage) cercopithecid crania. Traditional interlandmark distances were compared and a variety of multivariate statistical shape analyses were performed for the zygomaxillary region (diagnostic in mangabeys) and the cranium as a whole. Raw and size-adjusted interlandmark distances show the kipunji to have a relatively taller, shorter neurocranium and broader face and cranial base than is seen in M1-stage Lophocebus. Principal components and cluster analyses consistently unite the two Lophocebus species but group the kipunji with Cercocebus and/or Macaca. Morphological distances (Mahalanobis D²) between the kipunji and Lophocebus species are comparable to distances between recognized papionin genera. Discriminant function analyses suggest phenetic affinities between the kipunji and Cercocebus/Macaca and do not support the kipunji's classification to Lophocebus or to any other papionin taxon. In canonical plots, the kipunji occupies a region intermediate between macaques and African papionins or groups with Cercocebus, suggesting that it retains basal papionin shape characteristics. In shape comparisons among M1-stage papionins, the kipunji cranium is distinguished from Lophocebus by its relatively unrestricted suborbital fossa, more parasagittally oriented zygomatic arches, and longer auditory tube and from all papionins by its relatively tall, short neurocranium, broad face and cranial base, short nasals, dished nasal profile, and dorsally oriented rostrum. The kipunji is thus a cranially diagnosable phenon with a unique combination of cranial traits that cannot be accommodated within Lophocebus as currently defined. Based upon these results, Rungwecebus appears to be a valid and useful nomen that accurately reflects the morphological diversity of African papionins.     

Ontogeny and homoplasy in the papionin monkey face

SUMMARY Recent molecular research has provided a consistent estimate of phylogeny for the living papionin monkeys (Cercocebus, Lophocebus, Macaca, Mandrillus, Papio, and Theropithecus). This phylogeny differs from morphological phylogenies regarding the relationships of the mangabeys (Cercocebus and Lophocebus) and baboons (Mandrillus, Papio, and Theropithecus). Under the likely assumption that the molecular estimate is correct, the incongruence between the molecular and morphological data sets indicates that the latter include numerous homoplasies. Knowledge of how these homoplasies emerge through development is important for understanding the morphological evolution of the living papionins, and also for reconstructing the phylogenetic relationships and adaptations of their fossil relatives. Accordingly, we have used geometric morphometric techniques and the molecular phylogeny to investigate the ontogeny of a key area of morphological homoplasy in papionins, the face. Two analyses were carried out. The first compared allometric vectors of Cercocebus, Lophocebus, Macaca, Mandrillus, and Papio to determine which of the facial resemblances among the genera are homoplasic and which are plesiomorphic. The second analysis focused on early post‐natal facial form in order to establish whether the facial homoplasies exhibited by the adult papionins are to some degree present early in the post‐natal period or whether they develop only later in ontogeny. The results of our analyses go some way to resolving the debate over which papionin genera display homoplasic facial similarities. They strongly suggest that the homoplasic facial similarities are exhibited by Mandrillus and Papio and not by Cercocebus and Lophocebus, which share the putative primitive state with Macaca. Our results also indicate that Mandrillus and Papio achieve their homoplasic similarities in facial form not through simple extension of the ancestral allometric trajectory but through a combination of an extension of allometry into larger size ranges and a change in direction of allometry away from the ancestral trajectory. Thus, the face of Mandrillus is not simply a hypermorphic version of the face of its sister taxon, Cercocebus, and the face of Papio is not merely a scaled‐up version of the face of its sister taxon, Lophocebus. Lastly, our results show that facial homoplasy is not restricted to adult papionins; it is also manifest in infant and juvenile papionins. This suggests that the homoplasic facial similarities between Mandrillus and Papio are unlikely to be a result of sexual selection.     

A Voucher Specimen for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macaca munzala</Emphasis>: Interspecific Affinities,Evolution, and Conservation of a Newly Discovered Primate

Sinha, A., Datta, A., Madhusudan, M. D., & Mishra, C. (2005. Macaca munzala: A new species from western Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India. International Journal of Primatology, 26, 977–989) discovered Arunachal macaques (Macaca munzala), a species new to science, in the eastern Himalaya of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India. They depicted the holotype and paratypes of the species in photographs, and a specimen of the species had been unavailable for preservation and examination. In March 2005, we obtained an entire specimen of an adult male Macaca munzala, which we propose as a voucher specimen for the species. We provide detailed morphological and anatomical measurements of the specimen and examine its affinities with other macaques. Macaca munzala appears to be unique among macaques in craniodental size and structure, baculum, and aspects of caudal structure, while exhibiting affinities with the other members of the sinica-group to which it belongs. We summarize our insights on the origins and phylogeny of Macaca munzala. Finally, we review the current conservation status of the macaques, which are threatened by extensive hunting in the only 2 districts of Arunachal Pradesh where they are documented to occur.     

Plio-Pleistocene cercopithecids from Kanam East, western Kenya

This paper describes cercopithecid craniodental and postcranial fossils recovered by L. S. B. Leakey at Kanam East, Kenya during the early 1930s. These fossil monkeys have been generally assumed to have been derived from early Pliocene horizons, but their exact geographical and stratigraphical provenience is unknown. Although the question of the evolutionary significance of these specimens must await the recovery of more securely dated material from Kanam East, some general conclusions can be drawn concerning their taxonomic affinities and paleobiology. Based on comparative studies of the craniodental material, at least three extant genera are represented—Colobus,Lophocebus, andCercopithecus. The postcranial fossils include a number of hindlimb specimens, as well as the manubrium of a sternum and a caudal vertebra. Identification of the postcranial remains to particular genera is not possible, but they are similar in morphology to modern arboreal and semiterrestrial cercopithecid monkeys of small to medium size. It is evident that Kanam East had a diverse cercopithecid community, similar to those found today in forested and woodland habitats, and this may be of some significance in reconstructing the paleoecology of the site. Because the fossil record of most extant cercopithecid genera is rather sparse at Plio-Pleistocene sites in Africa, Kanam East represents one of only a few sites that has yielded material that can be assigned toColobus,Lophocebus, orCercopithecus. The fossil monkeys from the site, therefore, provide additional evidence to help reconstruct the paleobiology, as well as the patterns of species diversity and community structure that characterized the cercopithecid radiation during the Plio-Pleistocene.     

西藏紫草科1新记录属——微果草属

该文报道了西藏地区紫草科1新记录属微果草属(Microcaryum)及1新记录种微果草(Microcaryum pygmaeum (Clarke)Johnst.)。该种发现于西藏隆子县,生于海拔约5 000 m的高山草甸。研究了其外部形态、小坚果微形态及花粉形态,并与形态相近种毛果草 （Lasiocaryum densiflorum (Duthie)Johnst.） 进行了比较。凭证标本保存于北京师范大学动植物标本馆植物标本室(BNU)。     

Generic level relationships of the papionini (cercopithecoidea)

Phylogenetic hypotheses for the Old World monkey tribe Papionini based on molecular data are incongruent with those inferred from previous morphological analyses. Morphologists have often inferred a close relationship between Mandrillus and Papio based on their overall similarity. Theropithecus has been variously proposed to be either quite distantly related to these two genera, their sister taxon, or anywhere in between. Molecular and chromosomal analyses on the other hand unambiguously group Theropithecus and Papio together to the exclusion of Mandrillus. Additionally, molecular and chromosomal analyses reveal that mangabeys (Cerocebus) are paraphyletic. Morphologists have acknowledged this possibility resurrecting the genus name Lophocebus for one group of mangabeys. A review and reanalysis of the morphological characters put forth by various researchers find little to contradict the consensus phylogeny derived from analysis of chromosomal banding, nuclear RNA restriction mapping, alpha and beta hemoglobin sequences, albumin and transferrin microcomplement fixation, DNA-DNA hybridization, repetitive DNA patterns, immunodiffusion, hemoglobin and adenylate kinase isozymes, and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II DNA sequences. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

云雾算盘子(叶下珠科)分类小记

云雾算盘子(Glochidion nubigenum Hook. f.)于1988年被描述为中国分布新记录种,但同时所引证的凭证标本(李渤生、程树志4533;采于西藏墨脱)实际属于米什米算盘子(G. mishmiense Hook. f.),而《中国植物志》及Flora of China等分类学著作中关于云雾算盘子的形态特征描述与上述凭证标本及云雾算盘子原始形态描述均不符,因此前人关于云雾算盘子在中国的分布记录属于标本鉴定错误所致。近期在西藏日喀则市亚东县的野外考察中发现了真正的云雾算盘子野生居群,证实中国确实有该种分布,故对该种在中国的地理分布区信息予以修正,并提供了该种详细的形态特征描述与野外活体图片。     

Phylogenetic and population systematics of the Mangabeys (primates: Cercopithecoidea)

On the basis of original craniological studies, it is concluded that recently published claims based on blood proteins that the Mangabeys are diphletic are valid, and it is proposed to divide them into two distinct genera:Cercocebus (with three species:torquatus (includingatys),agilis, andgaleritus), which belongs to the Cercocebini but has a somewhat isolated position in this tribe, andLophocebus (with one species,albigena: includingaterrimus as a subspecies), which is closer toPapio. The inter-relationships within each genus are discussed, with particular reference to the problem of subspeciesvs. allopatric species. A new subspecies is named and described,Lophocebus albigena osmani, and the anomalous position of the poorly-known subspeciesL.a. opdenboschi is extensively discussed.     

Cardicola aurata sp. n. (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae) from Mediterranean Sparus aurata L. (Teleostei: Sparidae) and its unexpected phylogenetic relationship with Paradeontacylix McIntosh, 1934

A new sanguinicolid trematode, Cardicola aurata sp. n., is described from gilthead seabream Sparus aurata L., from off the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The morphology of C. aurata sp. n. generally agrees with the diagnosis of the genus, however, in contrast to all other reported Cardicola spp. the male pore is located sub-medially at the posterior end of the body instead of sinistrally before the posterior end of the body. Based on a comparison of the morphology as well as partial 28S and ITS2 rDNA sequence data from the present species with that from closely related species, it was decided to emend the diagnosis of Cardicola rather than create a new genus, as the aberrant position of the male pore is likely to be an autapomorphy. The phylogenetic analyses revealed a close relationship between Cardicola and Paradeontacylix, two genera with considerable morphological differences; C. aurata sp. n. occupies a position intermediate to these genera. Thus, a morphological comparison of Cardicola, Paradeontacylix and Braya, a genus which is morphologically similar to Cardicola but clusters basal to the Cardicola/Paradeontacylix clade, was conducted. The results of this comparison showed that despite large differences with regard to body shape, the organisation of the internal organs is very similar in species of Cardicola and Paradeontacylix. The synopsis of morphological data and molecular phylogeny allows for interpretations regarding the importance of different morphological features for the phylogenetic inference of the Sanguinicolidae.     

北京唇形科一新记录属——龙头草属

该文报道了发现于北京市密云区的1种被子植物新记录——荨麻叶龙头草[Meehania urticifolia(Miq.)Makino],其所隶属的龙头草属(Meehania Britton)为北京分布新记录。描述了荨麻叶龙头草的形态特征与生境,凭证标本藏于浙江大学标本馆(HZU)。荨麻叶龙头草于1899年首次发现于日本,是东北亚分布植物,此前在中国仅分布于东北。北京云蒙山发现的分布点,显然是该种目前在中国分布最西的分布点,可能于冰川期从东北亚迁移而来。     

亮花芒毛苣苔在中国的发现及近缘种花粉形态研究

该文报道了中国苦苣苔科(Gesneriaceae)植物分布新记录种,即亮花芒毛苣苔(Aeschynanthus fulgens Wall. exR. Br.),同时描述了该新记录种的分类学特征,并提供了该新记录种的引证标本和图片。此外,还比较了该新记录种与束花芒毛苣苔(A. hookeri C. B. Clarke)的花粉形态特征,发现二者花粉形态及纹饰存在显著差异。凭证标本保存在河南农业大学植物标本馆(HEAC)中。     

Additional materials of Myanmarpithecus yarshensis (Amphipithecidae, Primates) from the middle Eocene Pondaung Formation

Myanmarpithecus yarshensis is an amphipithecid primate from the middle Eocene Pondaung Formation in Myanmar. It was previously known based on maxillary fragments with P⁴–M³ and mandibular fragments with C–P₃ and M_2–3. This study reports new materials for the genus, including a humeral head fragment, a lingual fragment of the right M², a lingual fragment of the right M³, and a left I¹. These new materials were collected from approximately the same point, and likely belonged to the same individual. The upper molar morphology and size of the new materials show similarity to those of the type specimen, indicating that the new materials can be assigned to M. yarshensis. The humeral head is the first postcranial element that is associated with dental materials for amphipithecids. The morphological similarity between the previously reported larger humerus and this specimen confirms the assignment of the former specimen to Amphipithecidae and suggests common locomotor adaptations in the family. The upper central incisor is large relative to the molar fragments, but is within the variation among extant platyrrhines. The tooth is spatulate-shaped and high crowned, and lacks the mesial process, indicating similarity to I¹ of haplorhines and clear differences from that of adapoids. It has been suggested that amphipithecids, including Myanmarpithecus, have affinities with notharctine adapoids, but the morphology of I¹ does not support the notharctine hypothesis of the Amphipithecidae.     

A reassessment of the taxonomic status and phyletic relationships of Papio baringensis and Papio quadratirostris (Primates: Cercopithecidae)

Comparison of the skulls of Papio baringensis Leakey 1969 from the Chemeron Formation and P. quadratirostris Iwamoto 1982 from the Usno Formation with those of Theropithecus gelada, T. brumpti, T. darti, T. oswaldi, and several species of Papio indicate that the species from Chemeron and Usno exhibit all, or most, respectively, of the shared derived characters of Theropithecus. We propose that they be removed from Papio and placed in Theropithecus as T. baringensis and T. quadratirostris. Comparison of the specimens of T. baringensis and T. quadratirostris with those of T. brumpti indicate that the former two species have some of the derived characters of T. brumpti but are primitive in others. We propose that the three species form the following phyletic lineage: T. baringensis-T. quadratirostris-T. brumpti. With these referrals, there are now six species of the genus Theropithecus. Based on geologic grounds, the specimens from Chemeron are about 4.0 million years (m.y.), that from Usno between 3.3 and 3.4 m.y., and those of T. brumpti between 2.0 and 2.8 m.y. in age. We also show that the most complete specimen of Papio sp. nov. from Olduval Gorge belongs to T. oswaldi. With the removal of these specimens from Papio, the East African fossil record of this genus, apart from isolated teeth, comprises only 21 specimens, while that of Theropithecus comprises at least 300 specimens.     

Fossil papio cranium from !Ncumtsa (Koanaka) Hills, western Ngamiland, Botswana

Three fossils, a cranium of Papio, a cercopithecid frontal bone, and a mandible of juvenile Papio, have been recovered from cave deposits in the !Ncumtsa (Koanaka) Hills of western Ngamiland, Botswana. These specimens are significant because well‐preserved crania of Papio are extremely rare in the fossil record outside of South Africa and because this is the first report of fossil primate cranial remains from Botswana. Thermoluminescence dating of surrounding cave matrix indicates an age of ≥317 ± 114 ka, within the Middle Pleistocene, although it may be older. Based on univariate and multivariate analyses, the adult !Ncumtsa specimen falls within the range of variation seen in extant forms of Papio, yet is distinct from any living species/subspecies and represents a new taxon, named here as a new subspecies of Papio hamadryas—Papio hamadryas botswanae. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mycogloea nipponica - the first known teleomorph in the heterobasidiomycetous yeast genus Kurtzmanomyces

A culture was obtained from a spore print of a basidiocarp of Mycogloea nipponica collected in Taiwan. A yeast stage and basidia identical to those of M. nipponica developed in laboratory media. The Taiwanese specimen of M. nipponica and its yeast anamorph were characterised in the present study. Comparative morphological, molecular, and ultrastructural studies indicated that the yeast stage can be assigned to the genus Kurtzmanomyces. The revealed connection between the sexual species Mycogloea nipponica and the asexual genus Kurtzmanomyces demonstrates the importance of anamorphic characteristics in the modern systematics of heterobasidiomycetous fungi. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Molecular and ultrastructural characterization of two ascomycetes found on sunken wood off Vanuatu Islands in the deep Pacific Ocean

A new genus of a deep-sea ascomycete with one new species, Alisea longicolla, is described based on analyses of 18S and 28S rDNA sequences and morphological characters. A. longicolla was found together with Oceanitis scuticella, on small twigs and sugar cane debris trawled from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean off Vanuatu Islands. Molecular and morphological characters indicate that both fungi are members of Halosphaeriaceae. Within this family, O. scuticella is phylogenetically related to Ascosalsum and shares similar ascospore morphology and appendage ontogeny. The genus Ascosalsum is considered congeneric with Oceanitis and Ascosalsum cincinnatulum, Ascosalsum unicaudatum and Ascosalsum viscidulum are transferred to Oceanitis, an earlier generic name.     

Models of ontogenetic allometry in cladoceran morphology studies

Ontogenetic variation of morphological traits in cladocerans is usually analysed by a simple allometry function. We found that common cyclomorphic and inducible traits in Bosmina and Daphnia sometimes deviate from simple allometry, however. Consequently, simple allometric analysis may at times be inadequate since important aspects of the ontogenetic development may not be revealed. We suggest that other allometric models should be used more extensively in ontogenetic studies of cladocerans morphology. Especially, complex allometric functions may help analyse the effects of size-selective predation on morphological defence traits when predators prefer prey of intermediate size. Guest editor: Piet Spaak Cladocera: Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Cladocera     

西藏合叶苔属新资料

该文在对中国西藏色季拉山苔藓植物野外采集和鉴定的基础上,报道了西藏合叶苔属新资料。结果表明:合叶苔属植物共有13种,其中西藏新记录种2种,即厚边合叶苔(Scapania carinthiaca J.B. Jack)和东亚合叶苔(S. orientalis Steph. ex K. Müller);此外,还有色季拉山新记录种9种,分别为多胞合叶苔(S. apiculata Spruce)、刺边合叶苔(S. ciliata Sande Lac.)、短合叶苔[S. curta (Mart) Dumort.]、长尖合叶苔[S. glaucocephala (Taylor) Austin]、林地合叶苔[S. nemorea (L.) Grolle]、尼泊尔合叶苔(S. nepalensis Nees)、小合叶苔(S. parvifolia Warnst.)、弯瓣合叶苔(S. parvitexta Steph.)、粗疣合叶苔(S. verrucosa Heeg.)。同时,还对其中厚边合叶苔、东亚合叶苔和长尖合叶苔的形态特征和地理分布进行了描述,并提供了主要形态特征的照片。凭证标本存放于中国农业大学标本室(BAU)中。     

中国苦苣苔科一新记录属——四轮苣苔属

该文报道了中国苦苣苔科(Gesneriaceae)一新记录属——四轮苣苔属(Tetraphyllum Griff. ex C. B. Clarke)。该新记录属,即四轮苣苔属仅有3种,其中密花四轮苣苔[T. confertiflorum(Drake)B. L. Burtt]在我国首次记录。该研究提供了该属的形态描述和分种区别特征,并提供了该种的详细形态描述及彩色照片。凭证标本馆藏于广西植物研究所标本馆(IBK)和上海辰山植物标本馆(CSH)。