An evolutional special case in the lower Orthorrhapha: some attractive fossil flies from the Middle Jurassic of China (Insecta: Diptera: Brachycera)

More than ten extinct Lower Brachycera families have been discovered throughout the world. These fossil records are of great significance in piecing together jigsaw puzzles of evolution for the Order Diptera. However, the distinct systematic relationships of the Diptera, one of the four largest orders, remain obscure. Herein, we erect a new family to enhance our systematic understanding of the Diptera. The Uranorhagionidae fam. nov. is a bewildering new extinct family comprising two new genera, Uranorhagio gen. nov. and Strenorhagio gen. nov. , and five new species, Uranorhagio daohugouensis sp. nov. , Strenorhagio deviatus sp. nov. , Strenorhagio grimaldi sp. nov. , Strenorhagio asymmetricus sp. nov. , and Strenorhagio conjugovenius sp. nov. , from the Middle Jurassic of China. Members of the new family are moderate to large in size and robust in shape. This family possesses a peculiar shape of vein R₂₊₃, the basal part of which is strongly fornical and nearly geniculate, and has the crossvein r–m at variable position. Furthermore, the Uranorhagionidae fam. nov. exhibits a mixture of distinct characters of two families in two disparate superfamilies, i.e. Rhagionemestriidae (Nemestrinoidea) and Rhagionidae (Tabanoidea), thus suggesting that this family might be in an inclusive position in dipteran phylogeny. We tentatively place this new family as a member of Tabanoidea, pending the discovery of more fossil specimens and further study. The comparison between the new family and other relative families will be discussed. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 158 , 563–572.     

THE FINE STRUCTURE AND SCALE FORMATION OF CHRYSOLEPIDOMONAS DENDROLEPIDOTA GEN. ET. SP. NOV.(CHRYSOLEPIDOMONADACEAE FAM. NOV., CHRYSOPHYCEAE)1

Chrysolepidomonas gen. nov. is described for single-celled monads with two flagella, a single chloroplast, and distinctive canistrate and dendritic scales. The type species, Chrysolepidomonas dendrolepidota sp. nov., is described for the first time. The canistrate scales bear eight “bumps” on the top surface, and the dendriticscales have a tapered base with a quatrifid tip. These organic scales are formed in the Golgi apparatus and storred in a scale reservoir. The scale reservoir is bounded on two sides by the R₁ and R₂ in microtubular roots of the basal apparatus. The cyst (=stomatocyst, statospore) forms endogenously by means of a silica deposition vesicle. The outer cyst surface is smooth, and the pore region is unornamented. Two other organisms bearing canistrate and dendritic scales, previously assigned to the genus Sphaleromants, are transferred to the genus Chrysolepidomonas. They are C.angalica sp. nov. and C. marine(Pienaar) comb. nov. The distinguishing features of Chrysolepidomonas and Sphaleromantis are discussed. A new family, Chrysolepidomonadceae fam. noc., is described for flagellates covered with organic scales.     

Etheliaceae fam. nov. (Gigartinales,Rhodophyta), with a clarification of the generitype of Ethelia and the addition of six novel species from warm waters

Based upon COI‐5P, LSU rDNA, and rbcL sequence data and morphological characteristics, six new members of the noncalcified crustose genus of red algae Ethelia are described in a new family, Etheliaceae (Gigartinales), sister to the recently described Ptilocladiopsidaceae. The novel species are described from subtropical to tropical Atlantic and Indo‐Pacific Ocean basins; E. mucronata sp. nov. and E. denizotii sp. nov. from southern and northern Western Australia respectively, E. wilcei sp. nov. from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands of Australia, E. suluensis sp. nov. from the Philippines, E. umbricola sp. nov. from Bermuda and E. kraftii sp. nov. from Lord Howe Island, Australia. The generitype, Ethelia biradiata, originally reported from the Seychelles, Indian Ocean, is added to the Western Australian flora.     

Biogeography,autecology, and phylogeny of Percolomonads based on newly described species

Percolomonads (Heterolobosea) are aquatic heterotrophic flagellates frequently found in saline waters up to hypersaline environments. We isolated and cultivated seven strains of percolomonad flagellates from marine waters and sediments as well as from a hypersaline inland lake in the Atacama Desert. Morphological characterizations, comprising light and scanning electron microscopy, revealed only slight differences between the strains mainly limited to the cell shape, length of flagella, and length of the ventral feeding groove. Phylogenetic analyses of the 18S and 28S rDNA genes showed the formation of three fully supported clades within the Percolomonadida: the Percolomonadidae, the Barbeliidae fam. nov. and the Lulaidae fam. nov. We describe two new families (Barbeliidae fam. nov., Lulaidae fam. nov.), a new genus (Nonamonas gen. nov.), and five new species (Percolomonas adaptabilis sp. nov., Lula levis sp. nov., Barbelia pacifica sp. nov., Nonamonas montiensis gen. et sp. nov., Nonamonas santamariensis gen. et sp. nov.). Salinity experiments showed that P. adaptabilis sp. nov. from the Atlantic was better adapted to high salinities than all other investigated strains. Moreover, comparisons of our cultivation-based approach with environmental sequencing studies showed that P. adaptabilis sp. nov. seems to be globally distributed in marine surface waters while other species seem to be more locally restricted.     

A new family of Cambrian rhynchonelliformean brachiopods (Order Naukatida) with an aberrant coral‐like morphology

Tomteluva perturbata gen. et sp. nov. and Nasakia thulensis gen. et sp. nov., two new rhynchonelliformean brachiopod taxa, are described from carbonate beds from the lower middle Cambrian (Series 3, Stage 5) basinal Stephen Formation, Canada, and the upper lower Cambrian (Series 2, Stage 4) Henson Gletscher Formation, North Greenland, respectively. The two taxa are characterized by an unusual coral‐like morphology typified by a high conical ventral valve with an anteriorly curved umbo and a tube‐like structure inside the ventral valve, interpreted as pedicle tube. Both resemble the problematic late middle Cambrian (Drumian) species Anomalocalyx cawoodi Brock from Australia, whose systematic affiliation is controversial. Together, the three genera are interpreted as representatives of a new family of rhynchonelliformean brachiopods, the Tomteluvidae fam. nov., which is interpreted as an aberrant or derived taxon within the Order Naukatida. Convergence between the Tomteluvidae and the coralla of small solitary Cambrian coralimorphs, as well as the late Palaeozoic reef‐building richthofenioid brachiopods, might indicate adaptation to a similar life habits and environments. However, their small size (length 4 mm), well‐developed pedicle and perfect morphological symmetry make it more likely that tomteluvids lived attached to frondose algae or sponges, above the seafloor, in a similar fashion to the acrotretoid brachiopods with which they show a high degree of morphological convergence. Morphological features of the pedicle tube of N. thulensis suggest that the tomteluvid pedicle is homologous to that in modern rhynchonelliformean brachiopods. This is the first evidence of the pedicle type within the Naukatida and represents the oldest confirmation of a rhynchonellate pedicle.     

A NEW SPECIES OF DICERORHINUS (RHINOCEROTIDAE) FROM THE PLIO‐PLEISTOCENE OF MYANMAR

Abstract: A skull and mandible of the new species Dicerorhinus gwebinensis sp. nov. of Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) is described. The material is collected from the upper part of the Irrawaddy sediments (Plio‐Pleistocene) in central Myanmar. D. gwebinensis sp. nov. is morphologically more similar to the extant species D. sumatrensis (Sumatran rhinoceros) than to other species of the genus but differs from D. sumatrensis in having the comparatively shorter nasal, the more concave dorsal profile of the skull, the more elevated occiput and presence of molar crista in M3/. This is the first discovery of Dicerorhinus in the upper Miocene to lower Pleistocene of the Indian subcontinent and Mainland Southeast Asia, and fills the chronological and geographical gap of this lineage in Asia. The Dicerorhinus clade probably migrated into Southeast Asia from East Asia by the Pliocene or early Pleistocene. This hypothesis is supported by the scarcity or absence of this clade in the Neogene mammalian fauna of the Indian Subcontinent.     

FURTHER STUDIES OF PRESUMEDLY PRIMITIVE GREEN ALGAE,INCLUDING THE DESCRIPTION OF PEDINOPHYCEAE CLASS. NOV. AND RESULTOR GEN. NOV.1

The tiny jumping flagellate originally described as Pedinomonas mikron Throndsen was isolated into pure culture from Australian waters and its ultrastructure critically examined. Pedinomonas mikron differs in behavior and in features of the flagellar apparatus from P. minor, the type species from freshwater, and is referred to the new genus Resultor. The two genera are closely related and form the new class Pedinophyceae, which is characterized by features of the flagellar apparatus, mitosis, and cytokinesis. The flagella show the 11/5 orientation otherwise characteristic of Ulvophyceae and Pleurastrophyceae, but they are arranged end to end as in the Chlorophyceae. The flagellar root system is asymmetric and includes a rhizoplast that emerges from the base of one flagellum but subsequently associates with a microtubular root from the second basal body. Mitosis studied previously by Pickett-Heaps and Ott in Pedinomonas is closed, unlike in other green algae, and the spindle is persistent. No phycoplast or phragmoplast is formed during cytokinesis. The eyespot of the Pedinophyceae is located at the opposite end of the cell from the flagella and adjacent to the pyrenoid, as in the most primitive members of the Prasinophyceae. Members of the Pedinophyceae lack prasinoxanthin and Mg 2,4D, characteristic of certain other primitive green algae. The primitive green algae include the classes Prasinophyceae and Pedinophyceae. Micromonadophyceae Mattox et Stewart is considered a synonym of Prasinophyceae. Two new orders are established, Pedinomonadales, containing all known members of the Pedinophyceae, and Scourfieldiales, with the single family Scourfieldiaceae fam. nov. and the single genus Scourfieldia.     

Six new species of the genus Dicranosepsis Duda (Diptera, Sepsidae) from Vietnam, with a revised key to the species

The flies of the genus Dicranosepsis from Vietnam were investigated and classified taxonomically. Six new species (D. longa sp. nov., D. kurahashii sp. nov., D. monoseta sp. nov., D. sinuosa sp. nov., D. barbata sp. nov., and D. vietnamensis sp. nov.) are described and illustrated. Dicranosepsis is redefined and a revised key to the species is also provided.     

Description of a new diatom genus Dorofeyukea gen. nov. with remarks on phylogeny of the family Stauroneidaceae

Type material of Navicula kotschyi was studied, and this species was transferred to Dorofeyukea gen. nov. as D. kotschyi comb. nov. Dorofeyukea was described on the basis of DNA sequence and morphological data. Additional species assigned to this genus that were previously included in Navicula include: D. ancisa comb. nov., D. grimmei comb. nov., D. ivatoensis comb. nov., D. orangiana comb. nov., D. rostellata comb. nov. & stat. nov., D. savannahiana comb. nov., D. tenuipunctata comb. nov., and D. texana comb. nov. All Dorofeyukea species share the same morphological features, including having a narrow stauroid fascia surrounded by 1–3 irregularly shortened striae, uniseriate, and weakly radiate striae, circular, or rectangular puncta in the striae that are covered internally by dome‐shaped hymenes, presence of a pseudoseptum at each apex and absence of septa. Partial DNA sequences of SSU and rbcL loci show Dorofeuykae belongs to the clade of stauroneioid diatoms together with Stauroneis, Prestauroneis, Craticula, Karayevia, Madinithidium, Fistulifera, Parlibellus, and, possibly, Schizostauron. A new species from the monoraphid genus Madinithidium, M. vietnamica sp. nov., was described based on valve and chloroplast morphology as well as DNA sequence data.     

Morphology and Phylogeny of Two Novel Pleurostomatids (Ciliophora,Litostomatea), Establishing a New Genus

Pleurostomatida Schewiakoff, 1896 is a cosmopolitan order of ciliates. In the present study, we investigated two new pleurostomatid species, Apolitonotus lynni gen. et sp. nov. and Protolitonotus clampi sp. nov., with state‐of‐the‐art methods. Apolitonotus lynni lacks its oral extrusomes and its right kineties form an anterior semi‐suture near the dorsal margin. Based on these two features, the new genus Apolitonotus was established within the Protolitonotidae Wu et al., 2017. Protolitonotus clampi differs from its congeners by its size of 80–130 × 15–30 μm, 4–6 left, and 9–11 right kineties, extrusomes arranged along the oral slit, and two macronuclear nodules. Because Litonotus antarcticus possesses an anterior semi‐suture and oral extrusomes, it was transferred to the genus Protolitonotus, becoming P. antarctius comb. nov. (basionym Litonotus antarcticus Song and Wilbert, 2002). Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA sequences suggest a sister group relationship of P. clampi and the family Kentrophyllidae, and A. lynni is adelphotaxon to Litonotus gracilis, both within the order Pleurostomatida. Based on the new findings, an improved diagnosis for Protolitonotus was also provided.     

Taxonomy,morphology and phylogeny of Late Cretaceous spirulid coleoids (Cephalopoda) from Greenland and Canada

Abstract: Groenlandibelus rosenkrantzi from the Maastrichtian of Greenland has long been thought to constitute an early representative of spirulid coleoids. This study shows that this view must be reassessed, at least in part. A re‐investigation of the types and of material recorded subsequently has revealed that none of these specimens is conspecific with the holotype of G. rosenkrantzi. Cyrtobelus birkelundae gen. nov, sp. nov. differs from the type of G. rosenkrantzi in having lower chambers and in lacking an apically elongated sheath. The longiconic phragmocone of G. rosenkrantzi has more features in common with the presumed spirulid genus Naefia. A specimen described in detail by J. A. Jeletzky in the mid 1960s as ‘G. rosenkrantzi’ is designated holotype of C. birkelundae sp. nov., which means that internal phragmocone features are still unknown in G. rosenkrantzi. Cyrtobelus hornbyense gen. nov, sp. nov. from the Campanian of western Canada constitutes the first record of early spirulids from the northeast Pacific, being based on seventeen extraordinarily well‐preserved phragmocones. This species differs from C. birkelundae sp. nov. only in the width of the siphuncular tube. The presence of a caecum, a nacre‐less conotheca that represents the continuation of the protoconch conotheca, conothecal flaps that anchor the mural parts of the septa, and a thin investment‐like sheath are characters shared only with Recent Spirula. In particular, the unusual protoconch architecture of Cyrtobelus gen. nov. challenges a phylogenetic origin within bactritoid‐like coleoids.     

Erecting a new family for Spirostyliferina,a truncatelloidean microgastropod,and further insights into truncatelloidean phylogeny

Microgastropods in the subclass Caenogastropoda are diverse and species‐rich and often exhibit similar morphologies across families, posing difficulties for species identification. Spirostyliferina Bandel, 2006 is a microgastropod genus that has been placed in the family Litiopidae associated with algae and seagrass across the tropical Indo‐Pacific and with only one known member to date (Spirostyliferina lizardensis Bandel, 2006). There are uncertainties surrounding the familial assignment of Spirostyliferina however, due to its unique shell with spiral zigzag ridges, unique pitted protoconch and a lack of molecular data for phylogenetic analysis. This study aims to resolve the position of Spirostyliferina within the Caenogastropoda by employing a multilocus data set for phylogenetic reconstruction, and scanning electron microscopy and micro‐computed tomography for morphological analysis. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenies of 56 species, 30 families and six superfamilies of Caenogastropoda recovered Spirostyliferina within the Truncatelloidea. Spirostyliferina had no affinity with any existing truncatelloidean families, and therefore, the family Spirostyliferinidae fam. nov. is proposed for this genus. The genus Hoenselaaria Moolenbeek, 2009 was synonymized with Spirostyliferina in this study (monotypic Hoenselaaria wareni Moolenbeek, 2009). Spirostyliferinidae is diagnosed by heavy pitted microsculpture on protoconch I and intermittent spiral zigzag ridges on the teleoconch. The unpegged corneous operculum and taenioglossate radula of Spirostyliferina appear similar to other truncatelloideans, confirming the position of Spirostyliferina as a monotypic clade within the Truncatelloidea. In all, this study advances the taxonomic status of a microgastropod with a minute size and rarity that presents significant challenges to its collection and study.     

华模蛛科——采自中国的蜘蛛目一新科(蛛形纲,蜘蛛目)

记述了采自我国云南西双版纳雨林的1新科,华模蛛科Sinopimoidae fam.nov.,1新属,华模蛛属Sinopimoa gen.nov.,1新种,双色华模蛛Sinopimoa bicolor sp.nov..模式标本保存在中国科学院动物研究所.     

On the taxonomical position of Lessardia Saldarriaga et Taylor within the family Podolampadaceae Lindemann (Dinophyceae)

The position of the dinoflagellate Lessardia elongata Saldarriaga et Taylor within the family Podolampadaceae Lindemann (Dinophyceae) is reviewed. Most members of this family are very homogeneous with an overwhelming uniformity not only in plate pattern but also in appearance, distribution and nutrition. Lessar‐dia's plate formula is: In contrast, other members of the family Podolampadaceae have this plate formula: The main differences in the plate pattern are found in the hypotheca. The presence of three antapical plates instead of just one antapical plate should place Lessardia in a different family than the Podolampadaceae. Other differences are discussed here in more detail and the creation of a new family, to contain Lessardia, Lessardiaceae Carbonell‐Moore fam. nov., is proposed.     

New evolutionary evidence of Grylloblattida from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, north-east China (Insecta, Polyneoptera)

The small modern insect order Grylloblattida has an abundant fossil record during the Late Palaeozoic and the Mesozoicirca. The relationships between these fossil taxa and the modern grylloblattids remain unclear because most of them are based on isolated wings or have poorly preserved body features. Modern grylloblattids are wingless insects. The new grylloblattid family Plesioblattogryllidae fam. nov. is erected for the new genus and species Plesioblattogryllus magnificus gen. nov., sp. nov. , from the Middle Jurassic of north-eastern China. The well-preserved specimen provides further evidence that could support its close relationships with the modern grylloblattids: (1) several very similar head structures, e.g. developed laciniae with inner row of setae, maxillary palps segmented into five, labial palps segmented into three, large labrum, and morphology of antenna; (2) paired eoplantulae on tarsomeres 1–4; (3) long ovipositor and large eggs comparable with those of modern taxa. The new genus has strongly developed mandibles with sharp pointed apical teeth and strong marginal teeth, and strong hook-like fore claws with basal teeth, suggesting it was carnivorous. The major differences between the extinct and extant Grylloblattida, such as the lack of wings, the eyes and ocelli either degenerated or absent, and the thorax degenerated in the modern forms, are probably related to their adaptation to their life under rocks and rock-crawler habits.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 152 , 17–24.     

Emended description of the genus Rhodothalassium Imhoff et al., 1998 and proposal of Rhodothalassiaceae fam. nov. and Rhodothalassiales ord. nov

Five strains (JA325, JA389, JA473, JA563 and JA582) of Gram stain-negative, vibrioid to spiral shaped, phototrophic purple bacteria were isolated from solar salterns of India. All strains contained bacteriochlorophyll-a and carotenoids of the spirilloxanthin series as photosynthetic pigments. C_18:1ω7c, C_18:1ω7c 11-methyl and C_16:0 were the major fatty acids of all strains. Diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), ornithine lipid (OL), an unidentified phospholipid (PL), and an unidentified aminolipid (AL) were the major polar lipids of all the strains. According to 16S rRNA gene sequences, all strains clustered phylogenetically with the only species of the genus Rhodothalassium (99.8–99.3% sequence similarity) but only strains JA325 and JA563 were distinctly related (60 + 1.5% DNA–DNA hybridization [DDH]) to the type strain Rhodothalassium salexigens DSM 2132^T. However, the genotypic data of strains JA325 and JA563 was not supported because of a large number of phenotypic differences compared to the type strain, therefore, it is proposed that all five newly isolated strains were R. salexigens-like strains. In addition, phylogenetically, the Rhodothalassium clade represented a distinct lineage and formed a deep branch with less than 90% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to other orders of the Alphaproteobacteria, and characteristic phenotypic properties also distinguished these bacteria from other purple non-sulfur bacteria. Therefore, the novel family Rhodothalassiaceae fam. nov. and the novel order Rhodothalassiales ord. nov. are proposed for the distinct phyletic line represented by the genus Rhodothalassium.     

Systematic revision of Aluntiini Emeljanov, 1979 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Dictyopharidae: Dictyopharinae): reclassification,phylogenetic analysis,and biogeography

The dictyopharid planthopper tribe Aluntiini s.l. is revised and reclassified into two tribes: Aluntiini s.s. and Arjunini Song & Szwedo trib. nov. The tribe Aluntiini s.s. includes five genera: Aluntia Stål, 1866; D endrophora Melichar, 1903 stat. rev. ; Dictyomorpha Melichar, 1912; Indodictyophara Liang & Song, 2012; and Madagascaritia Song & Liang gen. nov. The new tribe Arjunini comprises two genera – Arjuna Muir, 1934 and Pippax Emeljanov, 2008 – both moved from Aluntiini s.l. Four new species – A luntia longicephalica Song & Szwedo sp. nov. , Madagascaritia angusta Song & Liang sp. nov. , Arjuna maai Song & Wang sp. nov. , and Arjuna muiri Song & Wang sp. nov. – are described. A morphologically based phylogenetic analysis is undertaken for Aluntiini, Arjunini, and the representatives of Dictyopharini, Hastini, Orthopagini, and the fossil Worskaitini within Dictyopharinae, all distributed in the Old World. A matrix of 129 characters of the habitus, coloration, head, thorax, and male and female genitalia of the adults was used for the cladistic analysis. The phylogenetic results show that Aluntiini s.l. as placed in Dictyopharidae is well supported, but it is distinctly paraphyletic and should be separated into two unambiguous tribes. A palaeotropical distribution pattern displayed by Aluntiini is suggested. The origin and diversification of Aluntiini are discussed preliminarily. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

NEW MARINE MEMBERS OF THE GENUS HEMISELMIS (CRYPTOMONADALES,CRYPTOPHYCEAE)1

Cryptomonads are a ubiquitous and diverse assemblage of aquatic flagellates. The relatively obscure genus Hemiselmis includes some of the smallest of these cells. This genus contained only two species until 1967, when Butcher described seven new marine species mainly on the basis of observations with the light microscope. However, from these seven taxa, only H. amylifera and H. oculata were validly published. Additionally, the features Butcher used to distinguish species have since been questioned, and the taxonomy within Hemiselmis has remained clouded due to the difficulty in unambiguously applying his classification and validating many of his species. As a result, marine strains are often placed into one of three species—H. rufescens Parke, H. virescens Droop, or the invalid H. brunnescens Butcher—based on cell color alone. Here we applied microscopic and molecular tools to 13 publicly available Hemiselmis strains in an effort to clarify species boundaries. SEM failed to provide sufficient morphological variation to distinguish species of Hemiselmis, and results from LM did not correlate with clades found using both molecular phylogenetic and nucleomorph genome karyotype analysis, indicating a high degree of morphological plasticity within species. On the basis of molecular characters and collection geography we recognize four new marine species of Hemiselmis—H. cryptochromatica sp. nov., H. andersenii sp. nov., H. pacifica sp. nov., and H. tepida sp. nov.—from the waters around North America.