The middle ear of the skull of birds: the Pelecaniformes and Ciconiiformes

The anatomy of the middle ear region of the skull is described for the families of the Avian orders Pelecaniformes and Ciconiiformes. Emphasis is placed on the foramina and paths of the nerves and blood vessels. The morphology of the basicranium and quadrate is also discussed. Comparative analyses of the characters are used to assess taxonomic conclusions.
Extant Pelecaniformes consist of six families, four of which are monogenic: Phaethontidae, Pelecanidae, Anhingidae and Fregatidae; one is composed of two genera: Sulidae; and the last has three genera: Phalacrocoracidae. Several years ago a relationship was suggested which would ally the Phaethontidae and the Fregatidae. While these families share several non middle ear characters the anatomy of the middle ear is not compatible with any particular relationship. Indeed, several obvious differences are described. The data presented here are consistent with the idea that the Phaethontidae and the Fregatidae each form a separate group of Pelecaniform birds, with the rest of the families forming a third group. Several differences in the middle ear region of the species of Anhingidae suggest that the family may be composed of two genera.
While sharing many Ciconiiform characters the Ciconiidae have been shown not to be as closely related to the Ardeidae as they are to other families of Ciconiiformes. In addition, evidence is presented to support the recent idea that the three species of ibis (I. ibis, I. cinereus and I. leucocephalus ) be united within the genus Mycteria. Also supported is the notion that Balaeniceps is Pelecaniform in character, and not Ciconiiform.     

论拟贯众属的系统位置

综合形态学、叶表皮解剖学、孢粉学、分子系统学及生物地理学的证据,认为拟贯众属被置于鳞毛蕨科的处理是错误的。多方面证据支持这个属与叉蕨科的一些属有着较近的亲缘关系,我们建议将拟贯众属从鳞毛蕨科中移出而暂时置于叉蕨科内。     

Multiple origin of the tropical forest tree family Icacinaceae

Analyses of DNA sequences from four genes (ndhF, rbcL, atpB, and 18S rDNA) and morphological data show that the members of the tropical forest tree family Icacinaceae do not have a common origin. All of the genera earlier placed in Icacinaceae are euasterids but placed in the following three different orders: Garryales, Aquifoliales, and Apiales. Icacina and related genera are members of Garryales and, pending more data, are still best treated as Icacinaceae (sensu stricto). The genera related to Aquifoliales are placed in Cardiopteridaceae and a new family, Stemonuraceae. The genus Pennantia is a member of Apiales and the family Pennantiaceae is recognized. Morphological characters delimiting these groups are discussed. Twenty-six new ndhF sequences were obtained for the study (25 from former Icacinaceae and 1 from Cardiopteris).     

Molecular systematics of the Sordariales: the order and the family Lasiosphaeriaceae redefined

The Sordariales is a taxonomically diverse group that has contained from seven to 14 families in recent years. The largest family is the Lasiosphaer-iaceae, which has contained between 33 and 53 genera, depending on the chosen classification. To determine the affinities and taxonomic placement of the Lasiosphaeriaceae and other families in the Sordariales, taxa representing every family in the Sordariales and most of the genera in the Lasiosphaeriaceae were targeted for phylogenetic analysis using partial sequences of the large-subunit (LSU) nrDNA. Based on molecular data, only genera within the families Chaetomiaceae, Lasiosphaeriaceae and Sordariaceae are retained within the redefined Sordariales. The order is a coherent group with morphologies that vary along well-defined lines, including large ascomata with large-celled membraneous or coriaceous walls and ascospores that show variation on a distinctive developmental theme, often with appendages or sheaths. The paraphyletic chaetomiaceous complex and the strongly supported Sordariaceae are nested among taxa traditionally placed in the Lasiosphaeriaceae. Analyses also indicate that 11 genera belong in the paraphyletic lasiosphaeriaceous complex. These taxa share a similar developmental pattern in their ascospore morphology that extends to the Sordariales as a whole. Based on these similarities in morphology, 13 additional genera are retained within the lasiosphaeriaceous complex and more than 35 genera have relationships in the order overall. Based on LSU data, 17 genera that have been assigned to the Lasiosphaeriaceae sensu lato are transferred to other families outside the Sordariales and 22 additional genera with differing morphologies subsequently are transferred out of the order. Two new orders, Coniochaetales and Chaetosphaeriales, are recognized for the families Coniochaetaceae and Chaetosphaeriaceae respectively. The Boliniaceae is accepted in the Boliniales, and the Nitschkiaceae is accepted in the Coronophorales. Annulatascaceae and Cephalothecaceae are placed in Sordariomycetidae inc. sed., and Batistiaceae is placed in the Euascomycetes inc. sed.     

梧桐科一些属的分类位置探讨

梧桐科（Ｓｔｅｒｃｕｌｉａｃｅａｅ）是锦葵目中的一个多型科,科的特征比较比样化。自从Ｅ．Ｐ．Ｖｅｎｔｅｎａｔ（１８３０）建立该科以来,对于该科范围和包含的属种数目,各国学者至今尚存在各种不同的看法。作者认为,火桐属（Ｅｒｙｔｈｒｏｐｓｉｓ）应当从梧桐属（Ｆｉｒｍｉａｎａ）中分出成为单独的属;午时花属（Ｐｅｎｔａｐｅｔｅｓ）不应归入锦葵科（Ｍａｌｖａｃｅａｅ）,应当置于梧桐科;田麻属（Ｃｏｒｃｈｏｒ     

睡莲科的系统发育:核糖体DNA ITS区序列证据

以金鱼藻Ceratophyllum demersum为外类群,使用PAUP4.0b4A软件对睡莲科Nymphaeaceae植物7属11个代表种的ITS区序列进行了系统发育分析。采用最大简约法分析获得了3个最简约树,步长为1125,一致性指数(CI)和维持性指数(RI)值分别为0.7618和0.7214。利用3个最简约树获取严格一致树。结果表明:(1)莲属Nelumbo位于系统树的基部,自展支持率为100%,可从睡莲科中独立出来成立莲科Nelumbonaceae和莲目Nelumbonales;(2)萍蓬草属Nuphar是一单系类群,位于分支Ⅱ的基部,并和睡莲科其他属(不包括莲属)植物聚在一起构成姐妹群,故萍蓬草属仍应置于睡莲科中;(3)水盾草属Cabomba和莼菜属Brasenia聚成一小支并构成姐妹群,自展支持率为99%,说明这两属之间亲缘关系较近;(4)睡莲属和芡实属Euryale、王莲属Victoria聚成一小支并构成姐妹群,自展支持率为94%,说明三者亲缘关系较近,仍应置于睡莲科中。     

Molecular phylogeny of the cyrtophorid ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Phyllopharyngea)

Evolutionary relationships of cyrtophorian ciliates are poorly known because molecular data of most groups within this subclass are lacking. In the present work, the SS rRNA genes belonging to 17 genera, 7 families of Cyrtophoria were sequenced and phylogenetic trees were constructed to assess their inter-generic relationships. The results indicated: (1) the assignment of cyrtophorians into two orders is consistently confirmed in all topologies; (2) the order Dysteriida is an outlined monophyletic assemblage while Chlamydodontida is paraphyletic with three separate monophyletic families; (3) Microxysma, which is currently assigned within the family Hartmannulidae, should be transferred to the family Dysteriidae; (4) the systematic position of Plesiotrichopidae remains unclear, yet the two genera that were placed in this family before, Pithites and Trochochilodon, should be transferred to Chlamydodontida; (5) a new family, Pithitidae n. fam., based on the type genus Pithites was suggested; and (6) the sequence of Isochona sp., the only available data of Chonotrichia so far, is probably from a misidentified species. In addition, three group I introns of SS rRNA gene were discovered in Aegyriana oliva, among which Aol.S516 is the first IE group intron reported in ciliates.     

Phylogeny of the Nymphaeaceae inferred from

The Nymphaeaceae are one of the most important taxa for understanding the origin and evolution of primitive angiosperms due to its basal position in the cladograms of the angiosperms recently given based both on several gene sequences and on morphological characters, but phylogenetic relationships within the family have not as yet been resolved. The sequences of nrDNA ITS region of 11 species representing seven genera of the Nymphaeaceae and one outgroup, Ceratophyllum demersum, were used to reconstruct the phylogeny of the family using PAUP4.0b4A. Three most parsimonious trees (Length=1125, CI=0.7618 and RI=0.7214) were obtained. In the consensus tree: (1) Nelumbo was basal to the other genera with a bootstrap value of 100% and occupied an isolated position, so it could be separated from the Nymphaeaceae and placed in its own family, Nelumbonaceae, and its own order, Nelumbonales; (2) Nuphar was monophyletic, nested in the basal position of clade II and was strongly supported to be the sister group of the other genera (excluding Nelumbo) of the Nymphaeaceae, suggesting that its traditional inclusion in the Nymphaeaceae should be maintained; (3) Cabomba and Brasenia were sister group and formed a subclade with a bootstrap value of 99%, indicating their close affinity; (4) Nymphaea was strongly supported to be the sister group of a subclade comprising Euryale and Victoria with a bootstrap value of 94%, indicating that they should be placed in the Nymphaeaceae.     

A first phylogenetic analysis of Giant Pill-Millipedes (Diplopoda: Sphaerotheriida), a new model Gondwanan taxon, with special emphasis on island gigantism

The phylogeny of the Giant Pill-Millipedes, order Sphaerotheriida, is investigated using a new morphological character matrix comprising 89 characters. The majority of these characters are employed for the first time in millipedes. All trees obtained agree on the monophyletic status of the Sphaerotheriida and several of its tribes, each restricted to a modern land mass. The species from Madagascar displaying island gigantism do not form a monophyletic group. The classic division of Giant Pill-Millipedes into two families, Sphaerotheriidae and Zephronidae, was not reflected in the analysis. The genus Procyliosoma is the sister-group to all other Sphaerotheriida, rendering the family Sphaerotheriidae paraphyletic. A new family-level classification of Giant Pill-Millipedes, based on the current phylogeny, is introduced. The new family Procyliosomatidae contains only the genus Procyliosoma , distributed in Australia and New Zealand. The family Zephronidae remains unchanged, while the family Sphaerotheriidae now incorporates only the African Giant Pill-Millipede genera. All genera from southern India and Madagascar form a monophyletic group and are placed in the new family Arthrosphaeridae. The Malagasy genus Sphaeromimus is more closely related to the Indian Arthrosphaera species than to other genera from Madagascar. A biogeographical analysis identifies the group as a Gondwana taxon (with a notable absence from South America). The current phylogeny of Giant Pill-Millipede families mirrors perfectly the suggested break-up of Gondwana fragments 160–90 Ma. No evidence for a dispersal event could be found, highlighting the importance of Giant Pill-Millipedes as a potential model taxon.     

A numerical study of the Australian earthworm genera Cryptodrilus Fletcher and Trinephrus Beddard, with a new genus (Megascolecidae:Oligochaeta)

Species of Cryptodrilus and Trinephrus , South-east Australian genera previously suppressed as synonyms of Notoscolex , are redescribed. The affinities of the species of the Cryptodrilus-Trinephrus complex, both within the complex and with other groupings, are determined from considerations of general anatomy complemented by a taxonometric comparison of setal intervals in the species studied. It is concluded that Cryptodrilus must be re-established as an independent genus to include, in addition to the type-species (C. rusticus) , all species of Eastern Australia and Tasmania previously referred to Trinephrus. A key to all constituent species is provided and three species-groups are recognized. Cryptodrilus is unique in the Oligochaeta in having multiple excretory bladders in a segment, a condition hitherto unknown. Megascolides diaphanus Spencer, an avesiculate species from Victoria resembling Cryptodrilus in replication of nephridia, is shown to merit recognition of a new monotypic genus, Pseudocryptodrilus. Both Cryptodrilus and Pseudocryptodrilus are shown from the taxonometric study to have perionychine affinities, having close relationships with the vesiculate Plutellus sensu stricto and the avesiculate Simsia respectively. They show only low affinities with dichogastrine genera, represented by the type-species of Notoscolex and Megascolides. Pseudocryptodrilus is assignable to the Perionychini as previously defined but inclusion of Cryptodrilus would require emendment of the definition of the tribe to include total absence of holonephry, a step deferred pending further investigations. The validity of dividing Notoscolex into separate genera on the basis of the excretory system is confirmed. Association (in the Tribe Dichogastrini) of meronephric genera with tubular prostates (formerly placed in the family Octochaetidae) with those with racemose prostates (formerly the family Megascolecidae) receives strong support.     

基于12S rRNA基因的鹳形目系统发生关系

采用分子系统学的方法探讨鹳形目5个科之间的系统发生关系.文中测出鹳形目鸟类7种mtDNA 12SrRNA基因全序列,并结合来自Genbank的鹳形目另外7个物种及原鸡的同源区序列,经Clustal W软件对位排列后共1 009位点,包含405个变异位点,其中多态性位点381个,260个简约信息位点.基于上述序列数据,以原鸡为外群,使用距离邻接法、最大简约法、最大似然法及贝叶斯法分别重建了鹳形目5科14种的系统发生树.重建的系统发生树显示,内群中的14个种聚合为4支:鹮科构成第一支,聚在系统树的基部;锤头鹳科与鲸头鹳科聚为一支;鹭科和鹳科各自聚成一支.在比较不同建树方法的结果并进行合意树分析后认为:在鹳形目的系统发生中,鹮科可能是最早分化出的一支;锤头鹳科与鲸头鹳科之间的亲缘关系最近,它们祖先与鹭科、鹳科之间的分歧在时间上可能非常接近.鹳形目5个科之间的系统关系可以表示为:(鹮科,(鹭科,鹳科,(锤头鹳科,鲸头鹳科))).     

The hypochilomorph spiders

A group of five genera of spiders has in the past been placed in a special sub-order the Hypo-chilomorpha, lying between the Mygalomorpha and the Araneomorpha. In general they resemble the araneomorphs, but they share some primitive characters, notably the presence of two pairs of lungs. Four of them, Hypochilus, Ectatosticta, Hickmania and Austrochilus have a cribellum, while Gradungula does not. In attempting to determine their relationships, their internal anatomy is here compared with that of the members of the three main suborders, Liphis-tiomorpha, Mygalomorpha and Araneomorpha. The conclusion arrived at is that these genera belong to the Araneomorpha, and that there should not be a suborder Hypochilomorpha. Hypochilus and Ectatosticta are very similar and are placed in the family Hypochilidae, while the other three are placed in individual families. Within the Araneomorpha there seem to be two evolutionary lines. In one, the Cribellata, the anterior median spinnerets of the ancestor remained functional and became the cribellum. In the other, the Ecribellata, the anterior median spinnerets lost their function and became vestigial or absent. The most primitive cribel-late family is the Hypochilidae, while the Gradungulidae is the most primitive ecribellate one, at least with respect to its lungs and heart.     

Evolution of pipoid frogs:intergeneric relationships of the aquatic frog family Pipidae (Anura)

The 27 species of the aquatic frog family Pipidae are currently arranged in four genera: Xenopus (15 species), Hymenochirus (four species), and the poorly known genus Pseudhymenochirus (one species) occur in Africa; Pipa (seven species) is found in South America and lower Central America. Despite extensive work on the biology of Xenopus from various disciplines, the evolutionary relationships of Xenopus to other pipids have not been resolved. Phylogenetic analyis of morphological features of pipid frogs indicates that, contrary to earlier opinions, Hymenochirus and Pipa are closest relatives (sister-groups); these genera are placed in the subfamily Pipinae. Also, the currently recognized species of Xenopus do not form a natural group; the species tropicalis and epitropicalis are more closely related to Hymenochirus + Pipa than to the remaining species of Xenopus . The two discordant species are transferred to the genus Silurana , which is relegated to the new subfamily Siluraninae; it is the sister-group of the Pipinae. The remaining species of Xenopus constitute a monophyletic group that is placed in the subfamily Xenopodinae as the sister-group of the other genera of pipids.     

The phylogenetic relationships of the Early Miocene stork Grallavis edwardsi,with comments on the interrelationships of living Ciconiidae (Aves)

The fossil record of storks (Aves, Ciconiidae) includes a relatively large number of specimens from the Middle Eocene onwards, but no taxon is as well represented as Grallavis edwardsi form the Early Miocene of the Allier region in central France. Despite this, the phylogenetic placement of G. edwardsi among other storks has remained elusive not least because of the lack of a robust phylogenetic framework for living storks. To find out how G. edwardsi relates to recent Ciconiidae, we performed a phylogenetic analysis based on osteological features including all living genus‐level taxa of the Ciconiidae. We show that the previously reported similarities to the extant taxa Ephippiorhynchus and Jabiru are based on plesiomorphic features, and our analysis supports a sister group relationship between Grallavis edwardsi and Leptoptilos. Our results are also consistent with a basal divergence within Ciconiidae between Mycteria and Anastomus, which are among the smallest storks, and all other storks. A sister group relationship between storks of the genus Ciconia and all large storks (Leptoptilini) is recovered albeit with weak support, which may be due to homoplastic features linked to their large size. Grallavis edwardsi possessed several osteological adaptations suited for scavenging, and despite lacking some derived traits characteristic of Leptoptilos, it is likely to have been a precursor of large marabou and adjutant storks.     

Interspecific delimitation and phylogenetic origin of Pugionium(Brassicaceae)

Pugionium(Brassicaceae)is a small genus that occurs in central Asian deserts.The interspecific delimitation and taxonomic treatments of this genus are disputed and its phylogenetic origin remains unknown. In the present study,we examined these issues based on morphological and molecular data obtained for the first time.We used statistical methods to examine inter-and intraspecific morphological variations.The results suggest that only two species,namely P.dolabratum and P.cornutum,can be warranted for all examined populations and specimens,whereas three species(P.calcaratum,P.cristatum,and P.pterocarpum)should be incorporated into P. dolabratum.This delimitation was further supported by the molecular data:all populations of P.dolabratum,P. calcaratum,P.cristatum,and P.pterocarpum shared the same internal transcribed spacer genotype,whereas those from P.cornutum had another type.Phylogenetic analyses of Pugionium and representative genera of Brassicaceae based on ndhF sequences suggest that this genus is sister to the genus Megacarpaea,which,together,comprise a well-supported lineage with Farsetia,Lobularia,Iberis,and Ionopsidium,whereas the two other genera that were previously suggested to be closely related to this genus(Isatis and Bunias)were placed in the other lineages.We further discuss the origin of Pugionium and suggest that it probably originated in central Asia when the climate became drier from the late Miocene.     

Interspecific delimitation and phylogenetic origin of Pugionium (Brassicaceae)

Pugionium (Brassicaceae) is a small genus that occurs in central Asian deserts. The interspecific delimitation and taxonomic treatments of this genus are disputed and its phylogenetic origin remains unknown.In the present study, we examined these issues based on morphological and molecular data obtained for the first time. We used statistical methods to examine inter- and intraspecific morphological variations. The results suggest that only two species, namely P. dolabratum and P cornutum, can be warranted for all examined populations and specimens, whereas three species (P. calcaratum, P. cristatum, and R pterocarpum) should be incorporated into P.dolabratum. This delimitation was further supported by the molecular data: all populations of P. dolabratum, P.calcaratum, P. cristatum, and P. pterocarpum shared the same internal transcribed spacer genotype, whereas those from P. cornutum had another type. Phylogenetic analyses of Pugionium and representative genera of Brassicaceae based on ndhF sequences suggest that this genus is sister to the genus Megacarpaea, which, together, comprise a well-supported lineage with Farsetia, Lobularia, Iberis, and Ionopsidium, whereas the two other genera that were previously suggested to be closely related to this genus (Isatis and Bunias) were placed in the other lineages. We further discuss the origin of Pugionium and suggest that it probably originated in central Asia when the climate became drier from the late Miocene.     

Oligocene eel from the Frauenweiler site (Germany)

A new genus and species Deutschenchelys micklichi gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Lower Oligocene of Germany (Frauenweiler site, near Rauenberg town, Baden-Württemberg) and placed, to some extent provisionally, due to the incompletely preserved specimen, into the family Moringuidae. The new genus is compared to a wide range of recent families of the order Anguilliformes and to other genera of the family Moringuidae. It is concluded that the recent genera of Moringuidae probably diverged earlier than the Oligocene.