Stukalinia, a new substitute generic name for fossil crinoid Lobocrinus Stukalina non Wachsmuth and Springer 1897 (Echinodermata: Crinoidea)

A new generic name, Stukalinia nom. nov., is proposed for a fossil Ordoviacian crinoid that currently has the preoccupied fossil generic name Lobocrinus Stukalina 1982 non Wachsmuth and Springer (1897), along with a new family name, Stukaliniidae nom. nov., instead of the illegitimate family name Lobocrinidae Stukalina (1982).     

Two ants (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) from the Late Pliocene of Willershausen, Germany, with a nomenclatural note on the genus Camponotites

Two species of the genus Camponotites (Formicidae, Formicinae) are described from the Late Pliocene deposits of Willershausen, Lower Saxony, northern Germany: C. silvestris Steinbach, 1967, and C. steinbachi n. sp. The generic name Camponotites has been established for fossil (Tertiary) ants independently by Steinbach (Bericht der Naturhistorischen Gesellschaft zu Hannover 111:95–102, 1967) and by Dlussky (Trudy paleontologi?eskogo instituta, akademiâ nauk SSSR, 1981), each for materials of different stratigraphical and geographical origin. Though poorly described, Camponotites Steinbach, 1967, and the single included (type) species C. silvestris Steinbach, 1967 (a monotypic species from the Late Pliocene of Willershausen), were based upon indication in the sense of the ICZN. Therefore, both the generic and specific names are valid and available. Camponotites Dlussky, 1981 (and its type species C. macropterus Dlussky, 1981) were certainly introduced correctly and are therefore available, too; but due to its homonymy the generic name is not valid. The revision shows that in this rare case both generic names are not only homonyms but also synonyms.     

Thanetian gastropods from the Mesopotamian high folded zone in northern Iraq

An assemblage of gastropods from the Thanetian of the Kolosh Formation from the Zakho region in northern Iraq is documented for the first time. The ten species represent the families Campanilidae Douvillé 1904, Potamididae H. & A. Adams 1854, Batillariidae Thiele 1929, Thiaridae Gill 1871, Pachychilidae Fischer & Crosse 1892, Cerithiidae Fleming 1822 and Pseudolividae de Gregorio 1880, suggesting a littoral to shallow sublittoral depositional environment. Six of the species are new and five are formally described as new species. At least seven species are also known from the Thanetian and/or Early Ypresian of the Ankara region in Turkey. Only a single species occurs also in the Paleocene of the Paris Basin. No relation to Paleocene and Eocene faunas of Pakistan and India is detectable. This points to a considerably bioprovincialism along the northern coast of the Tethys. Consequently we suppose the existence of an Anatolian Province in the Thanetian/Ypresian Mediterranean Region of the Tethys Realm, represented by rather homogeneous mollusc faunas from western Turkey and northern Iraq. Campanile zakhoense nov. sp., Pyrazopsis hexagonpyramidalis nov. sp., Pachymelania islamogluae nov. sp., “Faunus” dominicii nov. sp. and Pseudoaluco mesopotamicus nov. sp. are introduced as new species. Varicipotamides Pacaud & Harzhauser nov. nom. is proposed as the replacement name for Exechestoma Cossmann (1889) non Brandt (1837).     

Proposal to replace the illegitimate genus name Prescottia Jones et al. 2013 with the genus name Prescottella gen. nov. and to replace the illegitimate combination Prescottia equi Jones et al. 2013 with Prescottella equi comb. nov

Recently we proposed that Rhodococcus equi (Magnusson 1923) Goodfellow and Alderson 1977 be transferred to a novel genus, Prescottia, as Prescottia equi comb. nov. However, in accordance with Principle 2 and Rule 51b(4) of the Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision), the bacterial genus name Prescottia Jones et al. 2013 is deemed illegitimate as this name has been used previously for a plant genus within the family Orchidaceae. Consequently, a new genus name, Prescottella gen. nov. is proposed for the bacterial taxon and a new combination Prescottella equi comb. nov. is proposed for the type species.     

Name change for the diplobathrid camerate crinoid Acanthocrinus spinosus Südkamp 2007 from the lower Devonian Hunsrück Slate (Germany)

Südkamp (Paläontologische Zeitschrift 81:181–204, 2007: 198; Figs. 15A, B) described and figured the diplobathrid camerate crinoid Acanthocrinus spinosus n. sp. from the lower Devonian Hunsrück Slate of Karschheck quarry near Oberkirn, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. However, this name is preoccupied by Rhodocrinus (=Acanthocrinus Goldring 1926) spinosus Hall 1862 and therefore is invalid. A replacement name is proposed as Acanthocrinus multispina nom. nov.     

Taxonomic review of Kyphosus (Pisces: Kyphosidae) in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans

The taxonomy of the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific species of Kyphosus is reviewed with K. bosquii (Lacepède 1802), K. incisor (Cuvier 1831), K. analogus (Gill 1862) and K. elegans (Peters 1869) considered valid, and K. atlanticus sp. nov. newly described. Kyphosus bosquii and K. atlanticus are both characterized by 12 dorsal- and 11 anal-fin soft rays, but differ in the number of longitudinal scale rows along the midbody (61–66, mode 63 vs. 50–56, mode 54). Kyphosus incisor and K. analogus, characterized by 14 dorsal- and 13 anal-fin soft rays, similarly differ from each other in midbody longitudinal scale row counts (57–64, mode 60 vs. 68–74, mode 70 or 72). Kyphosus elegans is characterized by 13 dorsal- and 12 anal-fin soft rays, and 51–57 midbody longitudinal scale rows. Kyphosus bosquii, K. atlanticus and K. incisor are distributed in the Atlantic Ocean, K. analogus and K. elegans occurring in the Eastern Pacific. The holotype of Pimelepterus flavolineatus Poey 1866, here regarded as a junior synonym of K. incisor, was located within a collection of Cuban fishes donated to the Smithsonian Institution by Poey in 1873. A neotype is designated here for K. analogus. Pimelepterus gallveii Cunningham 1910, Kyphosus palpebrosus Miranda-Ribeiro 1919 and K. metzelaari Jordan and Evermann 1927 are recognized as junior synonyms of K. bosquii. Pimelepterus sandwicensis Sauvage 1880 is a junior synonym of K. elegans. Perca saltatrix Linnaeus 1758, together with the replacement name Perca sectatrix Linnaeus 1766, is regarded as nomina dubia.     

Redescriptions and reestablishments of some species belonging to the genus Prionospio (Polychaeta,Spionidae) and descriptions of three new species

Available type material of Prionospio heterobranchia Moore, 1907, P. (Prionospio) texana Hartman, 1951, P. spongicola Wesenberg-Lund, 1958 and P. (P.) newportensis Reish, 1959, as well as newly collected material from the Southern Gulf of Mexico and Chetumal Bay in the Caribbean Sea, was examined. Several important differences were found between P. heterobranchia, P. (Prionospio) texana, P. spongicola and P. (P.) newportensis, and as a result, these three species are removed from synonymy with P. heterobranchia Moore, 1907, and redescribed and reinstated as valid species. In addition, three new species were identified and described: P. caribensis sp. nov., P. rosariae sp. nov. and P. jamaicensis sp. nov. A key to all species of Prionospio with five pairs of branchiae is provided.     

First report of Namurian insects (Palaeodictyoptera; Megasecoptera; “basal Neoptera”) from the Küchenberg near Fr?ndenberg/Ruhr (Germany)

Several new remains of fossil insects from the Late Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian: Namurian?B or C) of the Fr?ndenberg/Ruhr Region (Unna District, Western Germany) are described. They comprise seven wing fragments of Homaloneura berenice Brauckmann and Gr?ning, 1998 (Palaeodictyoptera: Spilapteridae), a species which is better and more completely known from the Konservat-Lagerst?tte Hagen-Vorhalle (Namurian?B: Marsdenian) with at least three specimens. Two additional wing fragments belong to Bechala sommeri gen. et sp. nov. (Megasecoptera: Bechalidae fam. nov.). Together with Brodioptera stricklani Nelson and Tidwell, 1987 (Brodiopteridae; earliest Namurian, Kinderscoutian; Utah, USA), Sylvohymen peckae Brauckmann, 1988 and S.?pintoi Brauckmann et?al., 2003 (both: Bardohymenidae; Namurian?B, Marsdenian, Hagen-Vorhalle, Germany), and Xenoptera riojaensis Pinto, 1986 (Xenopteridae; probably late Namurian or early Westphalian; Malanzán, La Rioja, Argentina) they belong to the most ancient members of the Megasecoptera. Both of these species from Küchenberg have a striking specific color pattern. The holotype of B.?sommeri gen. et sp. nov. exhibits both a very fine woven archedictyon and well-developed, cell-forming cross-veins. This combination is appraised to be very plesiomorphic. Additionally, one isolated wing fragment of Kochopteron hoffmannorum Brauckmann, 1984 (??basal Neoptera??) is preserved. The Fr?ndenberg wings were deposited in a mainly limnic/terrestrial environment and have been most probably transported by eolian and/or fluviatile processes.     

Scotiadiscus nom. nov., a replacement name forActinodiscus Smith & Paul, 1982 (Cyclocystoidea), preoccupied byActinodiscus de Blainville, 1830 (Anthozoa)

A replacement name,Scotiadiscus nom. nov., is proposed for the Ordovician cyclocystoid genusActinodiscus Smith & Paul, 1982 (Echinodermata). The name was preoccupied byActinodiscus de Blainville, 1830 (Anthozoa).     

The end of a long controversy: systematics of the genus Limenandra (Mollusca: Nudibranchia: Aeolidiidae)

Limenandra Haefelfinger and Stamm 1958 is a small genus within the Aeolidiidae with, until this paper, only two species: Limenandra nodosa Haefelfinger and Stamm 1958 and Limenandra fusiformis Baba 1949. Although most recent authors have regarded Limenandra as a junior synonym of Baeolidia Bergh 1888, recent molecular studies have demonstrated its monophyletic status and have rejected the circumtropical distribution attributed to the type species, L. nodosa. The present paper reviews the previously known species of Limenandra with additional morphological data and describes three new species: Limenandra barnosii sp. nov. and Limenandra rosanae sp. nov. from the Indo-Pacific are easily distinguished from all other Limenandra species by their vivid and bright colour patterns, while Limenandra confusa sp. nov., also from the Indo-Pacific, is very similar to the Atlantic and Mediterranean L. nodosa. The five species differ in colouration, the size and ornamentation of the cerata, the rhinophorial papillae, details of the reproductive system and the number of salivary glands. Additionally, Limenandra can be easily distinguished from other Aeolidiidae based on differences in the radular and receptaculum seminis morphology.     

The (Paleo)Geography of Evolution: Making Sense of Changing Biology and Changing Continents

During the voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle, Charles Darwin quickly realized that geographic isolation led to significant changes in the adaptation of local flora and fauna (Darwin 1859). Genetic isolation is one of the well-known mechanisms by which adaptation (allopatric speciation) can occur (Palumbi, Annu Rev Ecol Syst 25:547?C72, 1994; Ricklefs, J Avian Biol 33:207?C11, 2002; Burns et al., Evolution 56:1240?C52, 2002; Hendry et al., Science 290:516?C8, 2009). Evolutionary changes can also occur when landmasses converge or are ??bridged.?? An important and relatively recent (Pliocene Epoch) example known as the ??Great American Biotic Interchange?? allowed for the migration of previously isolated species into new ecological niches between North and South America (Webb 1985, Ann Mo Bot Gard 93:245?C57, 2006; Kirby and MacFadden, Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 228:193?C202, 2005). Geographic isolation (vicariance) or geographic merging (geodispersal) can occur for a variety of reasons (sea level rise, splitting of continents, mountain building). In addition, the growth of a large supercontinent (or breakup) may change the climatic zonation on the globe and form a different type of barrier for species migration. This short review paper focuses on changing paleogeography throughout the Phanerozoic and the close ties between paleogeography and the evolutionary history of life on Earth.     

Icriocarcinidae: a family of portunoid crabs from the Upper Cretaceous of North America

Icriocarcininae ?tev?i?, 2005, an extinct North American subfamily of portunoid decapods, is elevated to family level to contain two Late Cretaceous genera—Icriocarcinus Bishop, 1988, from the Pacific Coast, and Branchiocarcinus Feldmann and Vega, 1995, from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coast Plain. The family is centered on Icriocarcinus xestos Bishop, 1988, described from the Late Campanian of Baja California. Closely allied with this species are: “Eryma” flecta Rathbun, 1926, originally described from the latest Campanian of Tennessee and now known to occur throughout the Maastrichtian of the adjoining Mississippi; Branchiocarcinus cornatus Feldmann and Vega, 1995, from the Maastrichtian of San Luis Potosí, Mexico; and undescribed material from the latest Maastrichtian of New Jersey. The Gulf and Atlantic populations compose a single new species—Branchiocarcinus flectus (Rathbun). Provisionally regarded as a lobster, on the basis of a single, eroded chela, B. flectus is now known from complete bodies found at several locations in the eastern US. The additional material also clarifies the identity of B. cornatus, which is based on a distorted external mold of a lone dorsal carapace. Members of the family lack the typical portunoid flattened fifth pereiopod but share other characters that enable placement within the Portunoidea.     

Dasyclad-like problematic fossils from the lower Cambrian of North Greenland

The problematic fossil Kordesphecia nyeboensis gen. et sp. nov. from the lower Cambrian of North Greenland resembles the slightly younger, putative dasycladalean alga Amgaella Korde, 1957 in terms of its spirally arranged rhombic cells and central cavity. It differs in adding new cells through the sequential addition of roofing plates (‘shingles’) to pre-existing cell rows rather than encrusting lateral branches in dasycladalean fashion, in which character it seems comparable to the contemporaneous Lenaella Korde, 1959) from Siberia of unknown affinity. Kordesphecia is classified as incertae sedis but may be a stem-group dasycladalean.     

Europrotomus (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda: Strombidae): a new Middle Miocene European strombid genus (Revision of Euprotomus Gill, 1870. Part 4)

The medium-sized, strongly ornamented nominal species Strombus schroeckingeri H?rnes in Hoernes & Auinger, 1884 is well known from Langhian deposits of the Paratethys Sea. Its traditional generic affiliation in the literature with Euprotomus Gill, 1870, implicated a biogeographic relation of the Paratethys and the proto-Mediterranean with the Neogene Indo-West-Pacific region. This relation, however, is problematic because the Tethys Seaway was already closed or a very shallow, strongly evaporitic passage at that time. Despite its superficial similarity with extant genera of the IWP region, the genus is unrelated to all known strombid genera and represents a new genus, which is introduced herein as Europrotomus nov. gen. The genus comprises only one or maybe two species, which occur in the European Middle Miocene geological record. No ancestors are known so far. This sudden occurrence is discussed as immigration from an adjacent bioprovince rather than as a result of autochthonous evolution. Hypothetically, such a biogeographic source area might have been established along the coasts of tropical West Africa??a scenario that is already documented for Pleistocene times.     

A new species of the sleeper goby (Gobioidei,Eleotridae) from the České Středohoří Mountains (Czech Republic,Oligocene) and analysis of the validity of the family Pirskeniidae

A new species of gobioid fish Pirskenius Obrhelová, 1961 (P. radoni sp. nov.) is described from Oligocene strata of the ?eské St?edoho?í Mountains and compared with related species. The new species is characterized by a unique combination of characters that allow it to be separated from P. diatomaceus Obrhelová, 1961. The taxonomic position of the genus Pirskenius is discussed, and its affinity to the family Eleotridae is indicated. The new record documents, together with P. diatomaceus, the oldest known skeletal record of the Eleotridae.     

Leucothoid and Maerid Amphipods (Crustacea) from deep regions of the North Atlantic

From amphipod collections from the deep Norwegian Sea, three species are here redescribed: Maera loveni (Bruzelius 1859) (Maeridae), Leucothoe aff. spinicarpa (Abildgaard, 1789) and L. uschakovi Gurjanova, 1951 (Leucothoidae). A key to all Atlantic and Mediterranean Leucothoe species (males only) is provided.     

An analysis of a ‘community-driven’ reconstruction of the human metabolic network

Following a strategy similar to that used in baker’s yeast (Herrgård et al. Nat Biotechnol 26:1155–1160, 2008). A consensus yeast metabolic network obtained from a community approach to systems biology (Herrgård et al. 2008; Dobson et al. BMC Syst Biol 4:145, 2010). Further developments towards a genome-scale metabolic model of yeast (Dobson et al. 2010; Heavner et al. BMC Syst Biol 6:55, 2012). Yeast 5—an expanded reconstruction of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolic network (Heavner et al. 2012) and in Salmonella typhimurium (Thiele et al. BMC Syst Biol 5:8, 2011). A community effort towards a knowledge-base and mathematical model of the human pathogen Salmonella typhimurium LT2 (Thiele et al. 2011), a recent paper (Thiele et al. Nat Biotechnol 31:419–425, 2013). A community-driven global reconstruction of human metabolism (Thiele et al. 2013) described a much improved ‘community consensus’ reconstruction of the human metabolic network, called Recon 2, and the authors (that include the present ones) have made it freely available via a database at http://humanmetabolism.org/ and in SBML format at Biomodels (http://identifiers.org/biomodels.db/MODEL1109130000). This short analysis summarises the main findings, and suggests some approaches that will be able to exploit the availability of this model to advantage.     

A new Pliocene mollusk fauna from Mejillones, northern Chile

A new Pliocene (3.4 Ma) mollusk fauna from Mejillones Peninsula, northern Chile is described and compared with the Pliocene La Cueva fauna of little constrained age from central Chile and some species from the Huenteguapi Sandstone overlying the Ranquil Formation on Arauco Peninsula, south central Chile. Preliminary correlation is based on faunal similarities. A total of 45 taxa were identified, of which Cyclocardia kieli sp. nov. is new to science. New combinations are Macron escalonia (Vermeij and DeVries, 1997), Austrofusus steinmanni (Möricke, 1896) and Leukoma antiqua (King, 1832). For several species, the oldest occurrences and range extensions are reported. Co-occurrence of warm water taxa, previously assigned to MIS 11, and typical Pliocene taxa on Mejillones cannot be confirmed. Pliocene and Pleistocene mollusk faunas from Mejillones are listed for comparison.