A New Skull of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hyaenictis</Emphasis> Gaudry, 1861 (Carnivora,Hyaenidae) Shows Incipient Adaptations to Durophagy

The European Miocene records a wide diversity of hyaenid ecomorphotypes represented by multiple genera. Among these, Hyaenictis Gaudry, 1861, is one of the least known. This genus includes four species from the late Miocene and Pliocene of the Old World, but in Europe Hyaenictis is only represented by two species, recorded by scarce and fragmentary remains: Hyaenictis graeca Gaudry, 1861, from Pikermi (MN12; Greece) and Hyaenictis almerai Villalta Comella and Crusafont Pairó, 1948, from Sant Miquel de Toudell (MN10; Vallès-Penedès Basin, NE Iberia). Here, we describe a new skull of Hyaenictis aff. almerai from the Vallès-Penedès site of Ronda Oest Sabadell Sector D (MN10), representing the most complete European specimen of the genus. In the presence of m2 and virtual lack of m1 metaconid, the described cranium more closely resembles Hyaenictis rather than any other medium- to large-sized European hyaenid. However, the new skull does not fit well with previously known Hyaenictis species, more closely resembling the bone-cracking Adcrocuta Kretzoi, 1938, in the development of premolar accessory cuspids and the possession of relatively broad cheek teeth. These and other features (strong mandibular muscular insertions and enamel microstructure) denote more durophagous adaptations than previously documented in Hyaenictis (considered a cursorial/dog-like hyaena), and favor the inclusion of H. aff. almerai in the transitional bone-cracking hyaenid ecomorphotype.     

The identity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zamia katzeriana</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Z. verschaffeltii</Emphasis> (Zamiaceae)

The morphological variation of recently described species (also the older taxa) of Zamia distributed within southeastern Mexico that have wide, coriaceous leaflets is analyzed. The complex is designated as the Z. katzeriana species complex in reference to an historic collection of this name, which is also the earliest named species in the complex. The complex consists of Z. cremnophila, Z. lacandona, Z. splendens and Z. purpurea. During the 1990’s, Z. splendens was separately synonymized under Z. katzeriana and Z. verschaffeltii, both collected in Mexico by German collectors during the 18th century, but the precise locality is unknown. Information concerning the incomplete holotype of Z. verschaffeltii is particularly ambiguous, and the possible type locality suggested by Schuster, Socorro, is imprecise, thus generating taxonomic confusion. Morphometric characterization and discriminant analysis of the contemporary and historic collections (i.e., Z. katzeriana and Z. verschaffeltii) included all the known populations (11) and individuals (115) of the complex throughout its range. The results show that Z. verschaffeltii is not morphometrically related to any of the species in the complex and that Z. splendens should be considered a synonym of Z. katzeriana.

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Resumen  En este artículo se caracteriza la variación morfológica de las especies de un complejo de Zamia, que presentan folíolos anchos y coriáceos con distribución en el sureste de México, la mayoría de reciente descripción. El complejo es denominado Z. katzeriana, por una colección histórica de este nombre, y consiste de Z. cremnophila, Z. lacandona, Z. splendens y Z. purpurea. Zamia splendens fue sinonimizada separadamente bajo dos colecciones históricas Z. katzeriana y Z. verschaffeltii, de las cuales se desconoce con exactitud su lugar de procedencia, excepto que fueron colectadas en México por botánicos alemanes del siglo XVIII. La información, en especial sobre el holotipo incompleto de Z. verschaffeltii es muy ambigua y la posible localidad tipo mencionada por Schuster, Socorro, es imprecisa, lo cual ha generado confusiones taxonómicas. La caracterización de la variación morfométrica incluyó a todas las poblaciones (11) e individuos (115) conocidas actualmente para el complejo en todo su rango de distribución en México. El análisis discriminante incluyendo a las colecciones históricas, determina que Z. verschaffeltii no está relacionado morfométricamente con ninguna especie del complejo y Z. katzeriana está estrechamente correlacionada con Z. splendens.

     

Cranial shape variation in jacarean caimanines (Crocodylia,Alligatoroidea) and its implications in the taxonomic status of extinct species: The case of Melanosuchus fisheri

Melanosuchus niger (Crocodylia, Alligatoroidea) is one of the six living caimanine species widely distributed throughout the Amazon River basin today. Although there is only one extant species of Melanosuchus, fossil material assigned to this genus, represented by M. fisheri, has been reported from the late Miocene in South America. However, the validity of this taxon has been questioned and a recent investigation indicates that the referred specimen of M. fisheri (MCZ 4336) actually belongs to Globidentosuchus brachyrostris, while those diagnostic characters present in the holotype (MCNC 243) fall into the spectrum of intraspecific variation of M. niger. Here, we compare the skull shape of the holotype of M. fisheri with the ontogenetic series of the four jacarean species (M. niger, Caiman yacare, Caiman crocodilus, and Caiman latirostris) using 2D‐geometric morphometric analyses in two different views. The analyses indicate that MCNC 243 falls into the morphospace of M. niger and C. latirostris. Despite strong shape similarities between juveniles of C. latirostris and MCNC 243, further anatomical comparisons reveal notable differences between them. In contrast, no concrete anatomical differences can be found between MCNC 243 and M. niger, although shape analyses indicate that MCNC 243 is relatively robust for its size. Thus, this study is able to confirm that the genus Melanosuchus was present in the late Miocene, but it still remains unclear if MCNC 243 should be treated as a junior synonym or probably a sister species of M. niger. Its Miocene age favors the second option, but as the shape analyses were also not able to extract any diagnostic characters, it should be retained as Melanosuchus cf. niger.     

The genus Potamolithus Pilsbry, 1896 (Gastropoda: Tateidae) on the Somuncurá Plateau,Patagonia, Argentina

The genus Potamolithus (Gastropoda: Tateidae) is endemic to South America where it is distributed mainly in the Ribeira, Itajaí-açú and Jacuhy Rivers in southern Brazil and the Uruguay River, part of the Paraná and Río de la Plata drainage systems. An exception to the pattern of distribution is Potamolithus valchetensis Miquel, 1998, which is endemic to the Valcheta Stream, Somuncurá Plateau, Patagonia, Argentina. Here we provide a review of Potamolithus from this plateau based on new samples and review of material deposited in collections. A new species, Potamolithus elenae, is named. The shell, head-foot, penis, pallial organs and radula are described. Differences between the new species and P. valchetensis include details in the shell, radula, body pigmentation and penis. A phylogeny using mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I is provided which shows that Potamolithus is related to species in New Caledonia (Australasia), suggesting that the Tateidae has a Gondwanan distribution.     

铃子香属——华中植物区系一新记录属

首次报道了小叶铃子香分布于华中地区(湖北省),小叶铃子香植物以往仅在中国西部(陕西和甘肃省)有分布,这也是铃子香属在华中地区的首次分布记录。此发现为进一步阐明该属的生物地理起源和进化提供了新的证据。     

The bivalved arthropods Isoxys and Tuzoia with soft‐part preservation from the Lower Cambrian Emu Bay Shale Lagerstätte (Kangaroo Island,Australia)

Abstract: Abundant material from a new quarry excavated in the lower Cambrian Emu Bay Shale (Kangaroo Island, South Australia) and, particularly, the preservation of soft‐bodied features previously unknown from this Burgess Shale‐type locality, permit the revision of two bivalved arthropod taxa described in the late 1970s, Isoxys communis and Tuzoia australis. The collections have also produced fossils belonging to two new species: Isoxys glaessneri and Tuzoia sp. Among the soft parts preserved in these taxa are stalked eyes, digestive structures and cephalic and trunk appendages, rivalling in quality and quantity those described from better‐known Lagerstätten, notably the lower Cambrian Chengjiang fauna of China and the middle Cambrian Burgess Shale of Canada.     

On Asian ornithopods (Dinosauria: Ornithischia). 4. Probactrosaurus Rozhdestvensky, 1966

The genus Probactrosaurus was first established for material discovered by a joint Russian/Chinese expedition to the Chinese autonomous region of Neimongol (Inner Mongolia). Fossils were collected at a site named Maorty (= Maortu). Material attributable to ornithopod dinosaurs was considered sufficiently distinct to permit the definition of two species of the new genus: Probactrosaurus gobiensis and P. alashanicus. The former species was based on a considerable quantity of skeletal material, much of which is still to be found in the collections of the Palaeontological Institute (PIN), Moscow. The latter was based on far less well‐preserved specimens, including a holotype (a posterior skull roof) that can no longer be found in the collections of the PIN and which, along with other materials, was reportedly returned to the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, Beijing. Some remnants of the original material attributed to P. alashanicus have been located in the PIN collections. Both taxa, established by A. K. Rozhdestvensky, are re‐described using all of the available material collected during the early Sino‐Soviet expeditions. Probactrosaurus alashanicus is considered to be a junior subjective synonym of P. gobiensis. Further comparisons are made with the recently described species Probactrosaurus mazongshanensis Lu, 1997. The latter does not appear to be referable to the genus Probactrosaurus. Probactrosaurus is a gracile ornithopod (ranging between 4 and 6 m in length). The skull is unadorned by any form of cranial crest; however, the premaxillary beak is deflected ventrally and the dentition is similar to that seen in more derived hadrosaurid ornithopods. The postcranial skeleton is notable for its gracility, in particular the elongate forearm and manus, and the retention of a small, conical pollex spine. Systematic analysis suggests that P. gobiensis is a derived non‐hadrosaurid iguanodontian ornithopod and the basal sister‐taxon to the clade Hadrosauridae. The phylogeny of currently known iguanodontians is reviewed. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2002, 136 , 113–144.     

The coralline genera Sporolithon and Heydrichia (Sporolithales,Rhodophyta) clarified by sequencing type material of their generitypes and other species

Interspecific systematics in the red algal order Sporolithales remains problematic. To re‐evaluate its species, DNA analyses were performed on historical type material and recently collected specimens assigned to the two genera Sporolithon and Heydrichia. Partial rbcL sequences from the lectotype specimens of Sporolithon ptychoides (the generitype species) and Sporolithon molle, both from El Tor, Egypt, are exact matches to field‐collected topotype specimens. Sporolithon crassum and Sporolithon erythraeum also have the same type locality; material of the former appears to no longer exist, and we were unable to PCR amplify DNA from the latter. A new species, Sporolithon eltorensis, is described from the same type locality. We have not found any morpho‐anatomical characters that distinguish these three species. No sequenced specimens reported as S. ptychoides from other parts of the world represent this species, and likely reports of S. ptychoides and S. molle based on morpho‐anatomy are incorrect. A partial rbcL sequence from the holotype of Sporolithon dimotum indicates it is not a synonym of S. ptychoides, and data from the holotype of S. episporum confirm its specific recognition. DNA sequences from topotype material of Heydrichia woelkerlingii, the generitype species, and isotype material of Heydrichia cerasina confirm that these are distinct species; the taxon reported to be H. woelkerlingii from New Zealand is likely an undescribed species. Type specimens of all other Sporolithon and Heydrichia species need to be sequenced to confirm that they are distinct species; morpho‐anatomical studies have proved inadequate for this task.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Utricularia</Emphasis> (Lentibulariaceae) from Guerrero,Mexico

Utricularia regia is described and illustrated. It occurs in the Sierra Madre del Sur region of Guerrero, Mexico, and belongs to section Psyllosperma; a key to differentiate the species of sect. Psyllosperma is included. The new species is similar to Utricularia hintonii and U. petersoniae, from which it differs in the unusual division of the upper lip of the corolla into four lobes and its peculiar coloration pattern. A table comparing the differences among these three species is presented. Utricularia regia adds a new, narrowly endemic species to the flora of Guerrero, Mexico.

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Resumen  Se describe e ilustra como especie nueva para la ciencia a Utricularia regia a partir de ejemplares procedentes del estado de Guerrero, México. La nueva especie se ubica en la sección Psyllosperma y está mejor relacionada con Utricularia hintonii y U. petersoniae; de las que se diferencia por la división del labio superior de la corola en cuatro lóbulos y por su peculiar coloración; se presenta una tabla en la que se comparan más ampliamente estas tres especies y se incluye también una clave para diferenciar las especies de la sección Psyllosperma. Utricularia regia agrega un elemento endémico más a la flora de Guerrero y de México.

     

The most basal beaked whale Ninoziphius platyrostris Muizon, 1983: clues on the evolutionary history of the family Ziphiidae (Cetacea: Odontoceti)

Ninoziphius platyrostris, from the late Neogene of Peru, is one of the best‐known fossil beaked whales (Odontoceti: Ziphiidae), with a holotype including the skull with ear bones, mandibles, teeth, and postcranial elements. Furthermore, based on several characters, including a complete functional upper and lower dentition, it is usually considered as one of the most archaic ziphiids. However, the poorly preserved dorsal portion of the holotype skull has led to unresolved phylogenetic relationships. With the addition of two newly prepared skulls from the same Peruvian locality we redescribed N. platyrostris. In the light of recent ziphiid discoveries, an emended diagnosis of the species is proposed here. In our cladistic analysis Ninoziphius is the most basal stem ziphiid. Newly observed or reassessed morphological traits allow functional and ecological considerations. The morphology of the oral apparatus suggests that Ninoziphius was less specialized for suction feeding than most extant ziphiids. Tooth wear in the holotype may indicate benthic feeding. Although the vertebral column of Ninoziphius corresponds to less developed locomotor abilities for deep dives, its cranial morphology does not provide definitive arguments for an echolocation system less efficient than in deep diving extant ziphiids. Finally, the phylogenetic tree produced was used to detail the evolutionary history of several major ziphiid features (dental reduction, development of mandibular tusks, and increased body size). © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Morphological and molecular studies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hyphodermella</Emphasis> in the Western Mediterranean area

The genus Hyphodermella was studied based on material from the western Mediterranean area (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Morocco) where the following three species have been recognized: H. corrugata (Fr.) J. Erikss. & Ryvarden, widely distributed, H. densa Melo & Hjortstam, only known from Portugal, and H. rosae (Bres.) Nakasone described from Italy. Twenty-one new ITS nrDNA sequences from these species, including the holotype collection of H. rosae and the paratype of H. densa, were aligned with one obtained from GenBank. The molecular results show that these collections are distributed in two highly supported monophyletic clades: one corresponds to H. corrugata, and the other one with H. densa and H. rosae collections. Morphological studies, including the type collections of the three taxa, show significant differences between the clades if we take into account the size of basidia and spores. The present study confirms H. corrugata as an independent species of H. rosae and H. densa, and that H. densa and H. rosae are conspecific; consequently, H. densa is a synonym of H. rosae. This last species is widely distributed in the Mediterranean area (France, Italy, Spain and Portugal) and as frequent as H. corrugata. Comments are offered on sequencing the barcode from types and well-annotated specimens.     

Distribution,host plant affiliation,phenology, and phylogeny of walnut‐infesting Rhagoletis flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Mexico

Many taxa of Nearctic origin have diversified in the subtropical highlands of Mexico. In particular, flies in the genus Rhagoletis have undergone episodes of isolation and gene flow during Pleistocene glaciations and post‐glacial times that have produced lineage differentiation and reproductive isolation. To reach a better understanding of the phylogeography of the genus Rhagoletis, a host plant survey of the walnut‐infesting Rhagoletis suavis species group was conducted across sixteen states comprising 34 different collecting sites in Mexico over a 9‐year period. Five species of Juglans were found to be infested by three species of walnut‐attacking Rhagoletis flies. Several species of parasitoids were also recovered from collections, but in contrast to their walnut fly hosts, they revealed little evidence for host or geographic subdivision. There was no consistent difference in mean eclosion time between walnut fly species or populations associated with different host walnuts in Mexico, unlike the case for other Rhagoletis species, in which allochronic isolation arising from variation in diapause timing is a major ecological adaptation, reproductively isolating flies. We compare the distribution of R. suavis flies in Mexico with those of other Rhagoletis species attacking hawthorns and cherries, and discuss its implications for population divergence and speciation. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 110 , 765–779.     

Satellite‐derived NDVI,LST, and climatic factors driving the distribution and abundance of Anopheles mosquitoes in a former malarious area in northwest Argentina

Distribution and abundance of disease vectors are directly related to climatic conditions and environmental changes. Remote sensing data have been used for monitoring environmental conditions influencing spatial patterns of vector‐borne diseases. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) obtained from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and climatic factors (temperature, humidity, wind velocity, and accumulated rainfall) on the distribution and abundance of Anopheles species in northwestern Argentina using Poisson regression analyses. Samples were collected from December, 2001 to December, 2005 at three localities, Aguas Blancas, El Oculto and San Ramón de la Nueva Orán. We collected 11,206 adult Anopheles species, with the major abundance observed at El Oculto (59.11%), followed by Aguas Blancas (22.10%) and San Ramón de la Nueva Orán (18.79%). Anopheles pseudopunctipennis was the most abundant species at El Oculto, Anopheles argyritarsis predominated in Aguas Blancas, and Anopheles strodei in San Ramón de la Nueva Orán. Samples were collected throughout the sampling period, with the highest peaks during the spring seasons. LST and mean temperature appear to be the most important variables determining the distribution patterns and major abundance of An. pseudopunctipennis and An. argyritarsis within malarious areas.     

Length–weight relationship of six notothenioid species from sub‐Antarctic waters (Beagle Channel,Argentina)

This study presents length‐weight relationships (LWR) for six species of fishes of the Suborder Notothenioidei that inhabit the sub‐Antarctic waters of the Beagle Channel (Argentina). These species represent five of the nine families of this Suborder. The specimens belong to historical fish collections in the area (from 1987 to 1990) using gill and trammel nets. All species but Eleginops maclovinus had no previous LWR estimates. The coefficient of determination (r²) ranged from 0.91 to 0.99 and b values ranged from 2.74 to 3.2. Harpagifer bispinis was the only species with a b value lower than three. This information is useful to predict the weight from the length data and to provide insights into the ecology of sub‐Antarctic nototheniod fish.