A new genus of Bothremydidae (Chelonii,Pleurodira) in the Cretaceous of Southwestern Europe

Although the Bothremydidae are the most abundant and diverse group of turtles in the Upper Cretaceous fauna of Europe, the record attributed to the genus Elochelys was, until now, quite scarce. However, the revision of the specimens previously attributed to this taxon and the analysis of new material from the Spanish record significantly increase our knowledge of these turtles. Evaluation of the morphological variability, affecting many characters that have been considered diagnostic until now and comparisons with other members of the node Bothremydini, allow us to amend the diagnosis of the genus Elochelys, recognising Elochelys perfecta as a valid single species and reassigning its other representative, “Elochelys” convenarum, to the new genus Iberoccitanemys.     

Miocene honey bees from the Randeck Maar of southwestern Germany (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

The Miocene Randeck Maar (southwestern Germany) is one of the only sites with abundant material of fossil honey bees. The fauna has been the focus of much scrutiny by early authors who recognized multiple species or subspecies within the fauna. The history of work on the Randeck Maar is briefly reviewed and these fossils placed into context with other Tertiary and living species of the genus Apis Linnaeus (Apinae: Apini). Previously unrecorded specimens from Randeck Maar were compared with earlier series in an attempt to evaluate the observed variation. A morphometric analysis of forewing venation angles across representative Recent and Tertiary species of Apis as well as various non-Apini controls was undertaken to evaluate the distribution of variation in fossil honey bees. The resulting dendrogram shows considerable variation concerning the wing venation of Miocene Apini, but intergradation of other morphological characters reveals no clear pattern of separate species. This suggests that a single, highly variable species was present in Europe during the Miocene. The pattern also supports the notion that the multiple species and subspecies proposed by earlier authors for the Randeck Maar honey bee fauna are not valid, and all are accordingly recognized as Apis armbrusteri Zeuner.     

Les Pseudholaster (Echinoidea,Holasteroida) du Crétacé de France

In the order of Holasteroida, the fossil record highlights a contradiction between the genus Pseudholaster that appears in the Aptian, whose plastron is prostostern close to the Jurassic ancestors and the genus Holaster, which appears in the Valanginian, whose meridostern plastron appears more derived. This inconsistency can be explained by the ignorance of the plastronal architecture on the part of the early authors. A review of the species of Pseudholaster from the Cretaceous period of France was therefore carried out. The objective was to statistically determine the discriminating morphological characters, and to study the modifications of the architecture of the interambulacrum 5 of the French species belonging to this genus, as well as to the species included in the genus Holaster incorrectly by earlier authors. This review of the species of the genus Pseudholaster begins with a study of the ontogeny of the species Holaster intermedius Münster in Goldfuss, 1826–1833, first representative of the genus Pseudholaster, which appears in the Hauterivian in the Parisian and Rhodano-vocontian basins. The modifications during growth concern the overall shape, but also the plastron architecture: the number of plastron plates increases while the number of plates located between the peristome and the periproct remains fixed. The plastron of this species is protosternal and not meridosternal as Lambert pointed out. The labrum is cupuliform in contact with the second sternal 5a2 by a narrow digitation. However, this arrangement differs from that observed on a protosternal breastplate. This apomorphism of the plastron plate pattern, called “labrotaxienne”, is found in all the Pseudholaster studied, and the study of the architecture of the interambulacrum 5 also reveals a gradual decrease in the number of preanal plates between the oldest (Hauterivian) and the younger (Cenomanian-Lower Turonian) species studied. Most of the French species have been revised, with some synonyms. A new species, P. neraudeaui, is the last known Pseudholaster dated from the upper Cenomanian and lower Turonian of southwestern France. Our study illustrates the evolution of the genus Pseudholaster between the Hauterivian and the early Turonian in France. The interest of the study is to show that the appearance of the genus Pseudholaster is older than that of the genus Holaster. Pseuholaster intermedius, of Hauterivian age, possesses a derived protostern plastron called here “labrotaxien” and not meridostern as defined historically by Lambert, and to reveal that the number of preanals decreases over geological time. This data is essential for future phylogenetic studies. On a palaeobiogeographical level, the study reveals the expansion of the genus Pseudholaster during early Cretaceous in western Europe, with diversification during the Albian, its disappearance during late Cenomanian in the Paris basin while it still persists in the Aquitain basin, its predilection for circalitoral environments.     

A Phylogenetic Analysis of Ilyocryptus Sars, 1862 (Cladocera: Ilyocryptidae)

Kotov and Štifter (2006) revised the taxonomy of the genus Ilyocryptus Sars, 1862 (Branchiopoda: Anomopoda: Ilyocryptidae) and concluded that 28 species can be recognized as valid for the world fauna. In order to test phylogenetic relationships between the species and to contribute to a better understanding of the genus, a cladistic (using branch‐and‐bound search) analysis was conducted for 25 Ilyocryptus species (two of them with two subspecies). In total, 32 morphological characters were used. An evolutionary‐morphological interpretation of the results was also made. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Ilyocryptus elegans is an earlier derived member of the genus, while other species are separated into two main branches: agilis ‐ and sordidus ‐lines (without reference to type of moulting). Species with incomplete moulting and species with complete moulting do not form separate clusters, suggesting an independent origin of incomplete moulting within different species groups. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Who lives where? Molecular and morphometric analyses clarify which <Emphasis Type="Italic">Unio</Emphasis> species (Unionida,Mollusca) inhabit the southwestern Palearctic

Many doubts still exist about which freshwater mussel Unio species inhabit Northwest Africa. While some authors refer to the presence of Unio delphinus in the Atlantic North African basins of Morocco, a recent International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessment performed on Moroccan Unio species, recognised the existence of a distinct species, Unio foucauldianus, with a critically endangered conservation status. The present study delivered new genetic, morphological, and geographical distribution data on two Unio species (i.e. U. delphinus and U. foucauldianus) greatly increasing the almost non-existent data on these taxa. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis revealed two highly supported geographically concordant clades, which diverged by 3.2?±?0.6 % (uncorrected p distance): the first distributed across Iberia and corresponding to U. delphinus, and the second distributed across Morocco, corresponding to U. foucauldianus. These results were corroborated by the analysis of ten newly developed microsatellite loci as well as shell morphometry. We suggest that the IUCN critically endangered conservation status of U. foucauldianus should be revised and probably down-listed since its actual distribution is much wider than previously described. Phylogenetic relationships with the other Unio species were resolved, showing that U. delphinus and U. foucauldianus fall inside the pictorum lineage. The estimated molecular rate reported herein (0.265?±?0.06 % per million years) represents the first for the Unionida and could be used as a reference in future studies.     

Checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera,Formicidae) of the Solomon Islands and a new survey of Makira Island

The intent of this paper is to facilitate future research of the Solomon Islands ant fauna by providing the first comprehensively researched species inventory in over 75 years. The species list presented here includes the names of all ant species recorded from the islands that are available in the literature together with specimen records from several museum collections and new records from our 2008 Makira field expedition. All the names of described species presented are valid in accordance with the most recent Formicidae classification. In total, the checklist is composed of 237 species and subspecies (including 30 morphospecies) in 59 genera representing nine subfamilies. We report that the recent field expedition added 67 new species records to Makira and 28 new species records to the Solomon Islands. Our research recovered species occurrence records for 32 individual islands and five island groups. The five islands with the highest number of recorded species are: Makira (142 spp.), Guadalcanal (107 spp.), Malaita (70 spp.), Santa Isabel (68 spp.), and Rennell (66 spp.). Based on our results, we discuss the taxonomic composition of the archipelago’s ant fauna, which islands are most in need of additional sampling, and the importance of establishing biodiversity baselines before environmental threats such as the invasive ant Wasmannia auropunctata cause irrevocable harm to the native biodiversity.     

The “miacids” (Carnivoraformes,Mammalia) from the Early Eocene locality of Le Quesnoy (MP7, France); first occurrence of Vassacyon in Europe

We describe here “miacid” taxa from the Early Eocene Paris Basin locality of Le Quesnoy (Oise, France). We describe the new species Vassacyon taxidiotis, the first European record of this genus. The other “miacids” identified from Le Quesnoy are Miacis latouri and Gracilocyon solei. The P4 of G. solei is described here for the first time. Its morphology (e.g., wide protocone, short postmetacrista) supports a close relationship with Miacis rundlei from Abbey Wood (MP8 + 9, England). The latter species is therefore classified as Gracilocyon rundlei. Three new tooth positions are known for Miacis latouri: P4, p4 and m2. They support its reference to Miacis. These specimens imply that the European species is more basal than the North American species. The fauna from Le Quesnoy shares with Dormaal the presence of Miacis latouri and Gracilocyon solei, but the “miacid” fauna from Le Quesnoy also contains Vassacyon taxidiotis. The presence in Le Quesnoy of the two former taxa supports a reference to MP7 level of the French locality. The presence of three distinct genera in European localities show that the “Miacidae” were diversified in Europe, as previously observed in North America. The genera Gracilocyon, Miacis, and Vassacyon probably dispersed from Europe to North America during the Palaeocene/Eocene boundary.     

Molecules and morphology suggest cryptic species diversity and an overall complex taxonomy of fish scale geckos, genus Geckolepis

The current classification of the Malagasy-Comoroan geckos of the genus Geckolepis recognizes three valid species and is based on morphological differences only. Species allocation of individuals is difficult, mainly because of the insufficiently known degree of variation and the frequent partial loss of the integument in preserved specimens. Here we study Geckolepis specimens from almost their entire known range. We combine molecular and morphological data to estimate species richness in the genus, and to assess the taxonomic validity of the morphological differences proposed. Analyses of mitochondrial (12S, ND4) and nuclear (RAG1, CMOS) gene sequences support three major clades in addition to the morphologically distinct G. polylepis (included for 12S only), and the presence of various divergent lineages within these clades, some occurring in sympatry. Among lineages, the external morphology seems to be comparatively conservative, and differences are faint in many cases. For each major lineage, we summarize the most diagnostic morphological characters that distinguish it from other lineages. The combined molecular and morphological data strongly indicate the presence of highly divergent lineages, three of which are tentatively referred to the names Geckolepis maculata, G. polylepis and G. typica, whereas three other major lineages are considered Confirmed Candidate Species. Among the remaining lineages, differentiation is shallower, and these may qualify for Deep Conspecific Lineages. In conclusion, our analysis provides evidence for an underestimation of species richness in the genus and a complex evolutionary history, not reflected by current Geckolepis species-level taxonomy.     

Decouverte du genre Iowaphyllum (Tetracoralliaire) dans un biostrome eodevonien du Cotentin

After a few remarks on the coral fauna in deposits near La Roquelle in Cotentin, the genus Iowaphyllum is identifiedfor the first time in France. One species (I. bohemicum) is described here; it brings new paleogeographic and stratigraphic data.     

Zonocypris digitalis (Ostracoda, Crustacea), nouvelle espèce du Fuvélien (Campanien continental) de Provence (sud-est France)

Many specimens of non-marine Ostracodes, especially the new species Zonocypris digitalis were recovered from continental deposits of fuvelian (Campanian) age at Auriol (Provence, south-east France). First species of that genus described in the Cretaceous of southern Europe, Z. digitalis is associated with Charophytes and mainly Gastropodes remains, thus providing confirmation of the datation proposed and age of the studied outcrops. Z. digitalis may be integrated within the current biostratigraphic scale which is accepted as valid for the non-marine Upper Cretaceous of the above mentioned area.     

Deux nouveaux gisements a otolithes de teleosteens,dont une espece nouvelle,dans l'Aquitanien continental du Midi de la France

The continental Aquitanian of Southern France has yielded an otolith fauna containing seven species pertaining to the Umbridae and Cyprinodontoidei. One new species is here introduced: genus Cyprinodontidarum feistae. Such an assemblage indicates lacustrine deposition with possibly lagoonal influence. Two zones have been established: a first one, corresponding to the Lower and Middle Aquitanian is characterized by Prolebias praecursor; the second one, representing the Upper Aquitanian, is more diversified and characterized by genus Cyprinodontidarum angulosus.     

New insights into and limitations of the molecular phylogeny in the taxon-rich land snail genus Montenegrina (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Clausiliidae)

Rock-dwelling gastropods are usually patchily distributed in limestone habitats, presumably have low active and passive dispersal ability and often represent narrow-ranged endemic taxa. Their current taxonomy is predominantly shell morphology based, and it remains unknown whether the morphologically differentiated and geographically separated populations represent phylogenetic clades. In this study, we analysed the hyperdiverse, terrestrial door snail genus Montenegrina. Based on the current taxonomy defined by shell morphology, it contains 29 species and 106 subspecies distributed in the Balkan region. The constructed phylogenetic tree using three mitochondrial markers was used to test whether it agrees with the current taxonomy. In this comprehensive tree, about half of the species and subspecies are monophyletic. Some of the paraphylies could be reasonably resolved by taxonomic changes; that is, some subspecies should be reassigned or raised to species level. Other incongruencies probably arose due to introgression even between distant clades. The histone genes turned out to be unsuitable for elucidating the phylogeny of Montenegrina. In the species-delimitation tests, considerably more molecular operational taxonomic units were delimited than the number of presently described species. The present data indicate that (a) shell morphology-based taxonomy and taxon recognition can be problematic in such a large and morphologically highly variable genus; (b) the potential error due to incomplete sampling presents a problem in a genus as variable as Montenegrina; (c) multi-locus analyses should be conducted to arrive at a better basis for species delimitation; and (d) integrative approaches including genetic as well as morphological/anatomical data from a comprehensive geographic sample are necessary.     

Diploid and Tetraploid Cytotypes of Centaurea stoebe (Asteraceae) in Central Europe: Morphological Differentiation and Cytotype Distribution Patterns

The taxomically critical species Centaurea stoebe is represented in Central Europe by a diploid (2n?=?18) and a tetraploid (2n?=?36) cytotype. Their morphological differentiation and taxonomic treatment is still controversial. Karyological (chromosome numbers and flow cytometric measurements) and multivariate morphometric analyses were used here to address cytotype distribution patterns and their morphological differentiation. Material from 38 localities (771 individuals) in Slovakia, Hungary and Austria, including type localities of the names traditionally applied to the different cytotypes, was sampled and evaluated using both morphometric and karyological approaches. The morphological tendency towards cytotype differentiation is evident only at a population level, and is blurred at the level of individual plants. Diploid populations prevail in the area studied, as well as throughout Europe; mixed-cytotype populations were also found. The present data, namely the weak morphological distinction, largely sympatric occurrence of the cytotypes, and the existence of mixed-cytotype populations, favour taxonomic treatment as a single species, without recognition of infraspecific units.     

Contrasted Genetic Diversity,Relevance of Climate and Host Plants,and Comments on the Taxonomic Problems of the Genus Picoa (Pyronemataceae,Pezizales)

The species concept within the genus Picoa Vittad. is here revisited in light of new molecular and ecological data obtained from samples collected throughout the Mediterranean basin. Two highly diverse widespread clades and four additional minor lineages were significantly supported by three genes dataset (ITS, 28s LSU and RPB2) inferences for 70 specimens. The two widespread clades occur in very different geographical and ecological areas associated with exclusive host plants in the genus Helianthemum. SEM study of spore surface morphology in these lineages revealed the existence of smooth ascospores in the majority of these clades. However the most frequent lineage in Europe and coastal North Africa displayed either smooth or verrucose spores. Hence this morphological criterion cannot be reliably used to discriminate between the different clades. In addition, SEM observations made on ascospores from several original collections of P. juniperi and P. lefebvrei supported the hypothesis that ornamentation depends on the degree of maturity in some of these lineages. Geographical and ecological, rather than morphological data are here suggested as the most useful characters to separate the different lineages in Picoa. Further studies focusing on these features are needed before the names P. juniperi and P. lefebvrei can be unambiguously linked with the genetic lineages observed.     

Revision of the genus Parasapyga Turner (Hymenoptera,Sapygidae), with the description of two new species

Two new species, Parasapyga boschi sp. n. from Vietnam and P. yvonnae sp. n. from Indonesia are described. Parasapyga walshae van der Vecht, 1940, is treated as a valid species instead of a subspecies of P. moelleri Turner, 1910. A key to the species of the genus is added and all species are illustrated.     

The first archaeobotanical evidence of Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach) in late 12th–mid 13th century a.d. France

Macroscopic charred remains of Spinacia oleracea L. (Amaranthaceae) have been found in the Pyrenean village of Montaillou, France, in several contexts of a house dated to the end 12th–mid 13th century a.d. This is the first archaeobotanical record of this vegetable in France and the earliest European archaeobotanical material so far found. The paper presents the morphological criteria used for identifying the charred remains of the species. After a review of archaeobotanical finds in Europe, hypotheses on the economic status of this vegetable, which is unknown as a wild plant in Europe, are discussed with reference to medieval written and illuminated sources and to archaeological deposits. It appears that Spinacia was first introduced into France from Moorish Spain where it was cultivated at least since the 11th century. The French evidence of Spinacia thus represents a milestone in the history and geographic diffusion of this vegetable into temperate Europe.     

A review of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Teretriorhynchites</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Rhynchitidae) from the Russian fauna

The genus Teretriorhynchites, subgenera Aphlorhynchites and Teretriorhynchites s. str., and four species (T. pubescens, T. amabilis, T. hirticollis, and T. caeruleus) from the Russian fauna are redescribed. Keys to the subgenera, species, and subspecies are given. The data on trophic associations of species of this genus are summarized.     

A Mitochondrial Phylogeny and Biogeographical Scenario for Asiatic Water Shrews of the Genus Chimarrogale: Implications for Taxonomy and Low-Latitude Migration Routes

The six species and three subspecies in the genus Chimarrogale (Soricomorpha: Soricidae) are commonly referred to as Asiatic water shrews. The Chimarrogale are the most widely distributed group of Nectogaline shrews, extending throughout the Oriental region and Japan. Because of the limited numbers of specimens available for study, the phylogenetic relationships and biogeographical history of this genus have not been comprehensively discussed. We used mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences to estimate phylogenetic relationships and divergence times among four Chimarrogale species, including all three subspecies of Chimarrogale himalayica. We also conducted a species delimitation analysis and tested two alternative migration scenarios in Asia through species distribution modeling and a reconstruction of the ancestral distribution. Here, we present the first proposed hypothesis regarding the Asiatic water shrew phylogeny and reveal ten putative species within the four recognized species. Distinct phylogenetic statuses of Chimarrogale phaeura, Chimarrogale platycephala, and Chimarrogale styani were confirmed. Chimarrogale himalayica was strongly supported as paraphyletic. We suggest that three subspecies of Chimarrogale himalayica should be reconsidered as distinct species. However, these suggestions must be considered with caution because only a single locus of a mtDNA gene was used. Four additional putative species, possibly distributed in central southwestern China and Taiwan, are currently undescribed; therefore, comprehensive morphological analyses are warranted to test their taxonomic statuses. The estimated molecular divergence times indicated that rapid speciation occurred during the early Pliocene, and current distribution patterns may have been affected by global cooling during the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary. Reconstruction of the ancestral distribution and species distribution modeling for Asiatic water shrews revealed a low-latitude migration route over which ancestral Chimarrogale migrated from Europe via Central Asia to their current distribution. Our results demonstrated that Asiatic water shrews could have evolved throughout the low-latitude migration route from Europe to East and Southeast Asia.     

Selected subspecies names from Richter,Plantae Europeae,Vol. 1, 1890

The bookK. Richter, Plantae europeae, Vol. 1, 1890, is analyzed from the viewpoint of nomenclature of subspecies names. 264 subspecies names interesting from the standpoint of contemporary taxonomy and nomenclature are selected from the total number of 840 subspecies names for a commented list. Seventeen important cases are dealt with separately in greater detail. Eleven new nomenclatural combinations (two for species, nine for subspecies) are proposed in the Appendix. Types for two generic names (Acorellus Palla andJuncellus C. B. Clarke) are proposed. A new term “parabasionym” is applied for names establishing the priority of infraspecific epithets in the rank in question. The need to respect the newly accepted principle of priority of autonymic subspecies names at proposing new nomenclatural combinations is stressed. Examples ofRichter’s subspecies names having priority, subspecies names with necessary changes in their authorship and names having a possible importance as parabasionyms are enumerated in separate lists.