Reconsidering the status and affinities of the ornithischian dinosaur Tatisaurus oehleri Simmons, 1965

The early Mesozoic fossil fauna collected from the Lower Lufeng Formation of Yunnan Province, China, has attracted considerable interest and attention since its discovery in the late 1930s. Its importance reflected a combination of its comparatively remote geographical position and, more particularly, the similarities of its fauna compared with approximately contemporary discoveries from Europe, North and South America, and southern Africa. The fragmentary and poorly preserved Lufeng ornithischian dinosaur Tatisaurus oehleri was described in 1965 and proved taxonomically and systematically enigmatic from the start. Originally assigned, with some noted ambivalence, to the basal ('primitive') group of ornithischians known as hypsilophodontids, since 1965 Tatisaurus has been variously ignored, assigned to a more rigorously defined Hypsilophodontidae, referred to both of the armoured (thyreophoran) ornithischian dinosaur clades (Stegosauria and Ankylosauria), or referred to a more basal position within the thyreophoran lineage. In 1996 the holotype of Tatisaurus was renamed Scelidosaurus oehleri , and the genus Scelidosaurus was proposed as an index fossil of the ' Scelidosaurus biochron' with the potential to be used for the global stratigraphic correlation of Early Jurassic (early Sinemurian) rocks. Because of this chequered history Tatisaurus oehleri Simmons, 1965 has been re-examined and is redescribed so that its taxonomic status and systematic position could be reassessed. Tatisaurus is identified as a basal thyreophoran (armoured ornithischian dinosaur); there is no basis for amalgamating it in synonymy with the genus Scelidosaurus , and the proposed creation of a ' Scelidosaurus biochron' for the purposes of biostratigraphic correlation of Lower Jurassic outcrops has no utility whatever. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 150 , 865–874.     

Bauhinia larsenii, a fossil legume from Guangxi, China

Fossil leaves and a branch with a leaf and a pod attached have been discovered from Ningming County, Guangxi Autonomous Region, China, and are described as Bauhinia larsenii sp. nov. (Leguminosae: Cercideae). The strata from which the Bauhinia fossils were collected, namely the Ningming Formation, were dated as Late Eocene–Oligocene based on a combination of pollen, fauna and flora. The affinity of the new species to Bauhinia section Micralvesia subsection Viridescentes species is also discussed.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 147 , 437–440.     

The anatomy of the basal ornithischian dinosaur Eocursor parvus from the lower Elliot Formation (Late Triassic) of South Africa

Ornithischia is a morphologically and taxonomically diverse clade of dinosaurs that originated during the Late Triassic and were the dominant large‐bodied herbivores in many Cretaceous ecosystems. The early evolution of ornithischian dinosaurs is poorly understood, as a result in part of a paucity of fossil specimens, particularly during the Triassic. The most complete Triassic ornithischian dinosaur yet discovered is Eocursor parvus from the lower Elliot Formation (Late Triassic: Norian–Rhaetian) of Free State, South Africa, represented by a partial skull and relatively complete postcranial skeleton. Here, the anatomy of Eocursor is described in detail for the first time, and detailed comparisons are provided to other basal ornithischian taxa. Eocursor is a small‐bodied taxon (approximately 1 m in length) that possesses a plesiomorphic dentition consisting of unworn leaf‐shaped crowns, a proportionally large manus with similarities to heterodontosaurids, a pelvis that contains an intriguing mix of plesiomorphic and derived character states, and elongate distal hindlimbs suggesting well‐developed cursorial ability. The ontogenetic status of the holotype material is uncertain. Eocursor may represent the sister taxon to Genasauria, the clade that includes most of ornithischian diversity, although this phylogenetic position is partially dependent upon the uncertain phylogenetic position of the enigmatic and controversial clade Heterodontosauridae. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 160 , 648–684.     

Two new basal crocodylomorph archosaurs from the Lower Jurassic and the monophyly of the Sphenosuchia

We report on and name two new taxa of basal crocodylomorph archosaurs from the Lower Jurassic, Litargosuchus leptorhynchus gen. et sp. nov. , from the upper Elliot Formation (Stormberg Group) of South Africa, and Kayentasuchus walkeri gen. et sp. nov. , from the Kayenta Formation (Glen Canyon Group) of Arizona, USA. Examination of this material led to a reconsideration of basal crocodylomorph interrelationships. A phylogenetic analysis found no support for the monophyly of Sphenosuchia.  © 2002 The Linnean Society of London. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 136 , 77–95.     

A primitive ornithischian dinosaur from the Late Triassic of South Africa, and the early evolution and diversification of Ornithischia

Although the group played an important role in the evolution of Late Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystems, the early evolutionary history of the ornithischian dinosaurs remains poorly understood. Here, we report on a new primitive ornithischian, Eocursor parvus gen. et sp. nov., from the Late Triassic (?Norian) Lower Elliot Formation of South Africa. Eocursor is known from a single specimen comprising substantial cranial and postcranial material and represents the most complete Triassic member of Ornithischia, providing the earliest evidence for the acquisition of many key ornithischian postcranial characters, including an opisthopubic pelvis. A new phylogenetic analysis positions this taxon near the base of Ornithischia, as the sister taxon to the important and diverse clade Genasauria. The problematic clade Heterodontosauridae is also positioned basal to Genasauria, suggesting that an enlarged grasping manus may represent a plesiomorphic ornithischian condition. This analysis provides additional phylogenetic support for limited ornithischian diversity during the Late Triassic, and suggests that several major ornithischian clades may have originated later than generally believed. There are few morphological differences between Late Triassic and Early Jurassic ornithischians, supporting previous suggestions that the Early Jurassic ornithischian radiation may simply represent the filling of vacant ecological space following Late Triassic terrestrial extinctions.     

A giant rhinocerotoid (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from the Late Oligocene of north-central Anatolia (Turkey)

A giant rhinocerotoid is described for the first time south of the Black Sea, in Turkey. The single specimen, a fragmentary radius referred to Paraceratherium sp., originates from conglomerates nearby at Gözükizilli, in the Çankiri–Çorum Tertiary basin. These layers correspond to the Lower member of the Kizilirmak Formation. The same locality (Gözükizilli-2) yields also the small rhinocerotid Protaceratherium sp., cf. P. albigense (Roman, 1912). Three other mammal localities (Gözükizilli-1, in the Lower Member of the formation, with several rodent species; Tepe 641 and Kizilirmak, in the Upper Member, with a diversified micro- and macro-mammal fauna) allow us to refer the Kizilirmak Formation as a whole to the Late Oligocene. All the observed taxa have strong Asian and/or European affinities, which precludes any geographical insulation for this part of Anatolia during the Late Oligocene.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 152 , 581–592.     

Orobanche icterica (Orobanchaceae) revisited

Orobanche icterica Pau, frequently regarded as a synonym for O. elatior Sutton, is lectotypified on Pau's original material from the herbarium of the Real Jardín Botánico in Madrid (MA 115079!). Its morphology is described with special emphasis on those characters which distinguish it from O. elatior. O. icterica is mainly found in the east of the Iberian Peninsula and sporadically in the south and north-west. It is considered to be close to O. elatior but deserving recognition at specific level.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 117–124.     

The Late Triassic pseudosuchian Revueltosaurus callenderi and its implications for the diversity of early ornithischian dinosaurs

A new discovery of skeletons of Revueltosaurus callenderi from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation of Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona clearly shows that Revueltosaurus is not an ornithischian dinosaur as previously supposed. Features such as the presence of a postfrontal, crocodile-normal ankle and paramedian osteoderms with anterior bars place R. callenderi within the Pseudosuchia, closer to crocodylomorphs than to dinosaurs. Therefore, dental characters previously used to place Revueltosaurus within the Ornithischia evolved convergently among other archosaur taxa, and cannot be used to diagnose ornithischian dinosaur teeth. As a result, all other putative North American Late Triassic ornithischians, which are all based exclusively on teeth, are cast into doubt. The only reasonably well-confirmed Late Triassic ornithischians worldwide are Pisanosaurus mertii and an unnamed heterodontosaurid from Argentina. This considerably changes the understanding of early dinosaur diversity, distribution and evolution in the Late Triassic.     

A Late Jurassic salamander (Amphibia: Caudata) from the Morrison Formation of North America

Despite some remarkable recent discoveries, the Mesozoic fossil record of salamanders remains limited, particularly for the Jurassic. Here we describe the first articulated salamander skeleton from the Jurassic of Euramerica, recovered from Upper Jurassic deposits of the Morrison Formation, Dinosaur National Monument, USA. The specimen was studied using both conventional methods and high-resolution computed tomography. It shows a combination of primitive and derived character states that distinguish it from all known Mesozoic salamanders and which permit the erection of a new genus and species, Iridotriton hechti . The derived states (including the presence of spinal nerve foramina in the tail) suggest a position on the stem of the Salamandroidea. Together with microvertebrate material from Britain, Portugal, and North America, this specimen confirms the presence of both stem- and crown-group salamanders in Euramerica from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) onwards, paralleling their evolution in Central and eastern Asia. This, in turn, provides qualified support for the current vicariance model of salamander evolution whereby basal caudates on an undivided Laurasian plate became separated into two populations by the incursion of the Turgai Sea in the Middle Jurassic, yielding Cryptobranchoidea in Asia and Salamandroidea in Euramerica.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London , Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 143 , 599−616.     

A new choristodere (Reptilia: Diapsida) from the Lower Cretaceous of western Liaoning Province, China, and phylogenetic relationships of Monjurosuchidae

The publication of the scientific name Monjurosuchus splendens in 1940 documented the first tetrapod fossil of the later world-renowned Jehol Biota. For more than half a century since this discovery, however, Monjurosuchus has remained as a monotypic genus of the family Monjurosuchidae, and the relationships of the family with choristoderes have not been correctly recognized until quite recently. In this paper, a new monjurosuchid is named and described based on a nearly complete skull and postcranial skeleton from the Early Cretaceous Chiufotang Formation exposed near Chaoyang, western Liaoning Province, China. This new material documents the first occurrence of monjurosuchid choristoderes outside the type Lingyuan area, and extends the geological range of the family from the Yixian Formation to the younger Chiufotang Formation. Cladistic analyses were conducted with inclusion of monjurosuchids, and the results support the placement of the family Monjurosuchidae as a primitive clade outside the Neochoristodera. A new classification scheme is proposed for choristoderes on the basis of the recovered phylogenetic framework of the group.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 145 , 427–444.     

A new species of Tetraxylopteris (Aneurophytales) from the Devonian of Venezuela

Recent investigations of the Middle and Upper Devonian Campo Chico Formation, north-west Venezuela, led to the discovery of a new aneurophytalean progymnosperm, Tetraxylopteris reposana sp. nov. The fossils allow the most detailed morphological outline of a species of Tetraxylopteris Beck to date, and indicate there was more variation within the genus than yet recognized. Tetraxylopteris reposana was probably a bushy plant which formed dense interlocking thickets. Its morphology highlights the similarity between Tetraxylopteris and Proteokalon Scheckler & Banks, and the potential synonymy of these taxa is discussed . Furthermore, there is a morphological continuum between the fertile organs of Tetraxylopteris and Rellimia Leclercq & Bonamo. As the first definitive documentation of Tetraxylopteris in Gondwana, this study indicates aneurophytalean progymnosperms were more widespread than formerly understood. The diversity of the Campo Chico Formation floras and similarity of their composition to northern palaeocontinent assemblages (e.g. the Catskills Clastic Wedge) support the concept of a largely uniform worldwide vegetation.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 275–303.     

A new species of Oxalis section Corniculatae (Oxalidaceae) from the Balearic islands

A new species, Oxalis ferae Llorens, Gil & Cardona (Oxalidaceae) from the Balearic islands (Spain) is described and illustrated. It is considered to be endemic to Mallorca. The morphological differences between the more closely related taxa of Oxalis section Corniculatae are discussed. IUCN threatened category and observations on the ecology of the populations are noted.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 489–493.     

A new spineless species of Vella (Brassicaceae) from the high mountains of south-eastern Spain

Vella castrilensis sp. nov. is described from the high mountains of Granada and Jaén provinces (south-eastern Iberian Peninsula), where it grows on calcareous soils. It is a hexaploid (2 n  = 68) spineless dwarf shrub, woody at the base, with oblong-lanceolate, entire to shallowly dentate leaves and fruit with an acute tongue-shaped stylar segment and strongly reticulate-nerved valves. The characteristic unique combination of vegetative, karyological and reproductive features of V. castrilensis is not present in any described taxon of the genus, and warrants recognition at the species rank. Affinities and differences with other related taxa are discussed. Phylogenetic, biogeographical, bioclimatic, ecological data and conservation proposals are also reported.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 149 , 121–128.     

The Rubiaceae of São Tomé e Príncipe (Gulf of Guinea): taxonomy and conservation

A synoptic treatment of the Rubiaceae of São Tomé e Príncipe (Gulf of Guinea) is presented based on herbarium collections kept at BM, COI, K and LISC. There are 36 genera and 64 species of Rubiaceae represented in the flora of São Tomé e Príncipe. Identification keys are provided for genera, species and infraspecific taxa. A new combination is made in Chassalia . Twenty-nine taxa are endemic to these islands, two of which are also endemic to Annobon. The conservation status of the endemic taxa is assessed and IUCN categories of threat are proposed for ten taxa. Nineteen taxa of Rubiaceae are considered under threat in São Tomé e Príncipe and ten are considered nearly threatened.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 149 , 85–114.     

A new species of Selaginella from Hainan Island, China, with a key to the Hainan species

Selaginella hainanensis X.C.Zhang & Noot. sp. nov. , a new species from Hainan Island, South China, is described and illustrated. Diagnostic notes and a key to the species distributed in Hainan are also provided.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 323–327.     

A new traversodontid cynodont from the Santa Maria Formation (Ladinian-Carnian) of southern Brazil, with a phylogenetic analysis of Gondwanan traversodontids

The Traversodontidae is a Triassic family of nonmammalian cynodonts, recorded worldwide, characterized by its bucco-lingually expanded postcanines. A recently discovered fauna in the locality of Santa Cruz do Sul, corresponding to the Santa Maria Formation of the Brazilian Middle/Upper Triassic (Ladinian/Carnian), is made up exclusively of nonmammalian cynodonts with an abundance of traversodontids. A new taxon, Santacruzodon hopsoni gen. et sp. nov . , the most commonly recorded traversodontid cynodont in the fauna, is described here. It is diagnosed by an autapomorphy, a very large posterolabial cusp in the upper postcanine, representing more than half of the labial crest, and a suite of traits present in other traversodontids. Among these features are the descendent flange of the jugal developed as a ball-shaped projection, also known in the Madagascan traversodontid Dadadon isaloi , and the presence of symmetrical incisors with numerous mesial and distal marginal cuspules, feature shared with the North American taxon Arctotraversodon plemmyridon . A phylogenetic analysis of traversodontids from Gondwana, based on a data matrix of 28 characters (mostly dental) and 15 terminals (13 traversodontids, including the new species, plus Diademodon and Trirachodon ) was performed. The new traversodontid appears as the sister taxon of Dadadon . A monophyletic Carnian group composed of Exaeretodon , Menadon and Scalenodontoides , with the Carnian Gomphodontosuchus , and the Ladinian Massetognathus as successive outgroups is also supported. In line with a recent phylogenetic hypothesis, a nonmonophyletic relationship for Scalenodon 'species' from the Anisian Manda beds also results from our analysis. Based on the cladogram obtained, morphological trends of change in the dentition of traversodontids throughout the Triassic are suggested.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 139 , 529−545.     

The species of Papilionidae and Pieridae (Lepidoptera) described by Cramer and Stoll and their putative type material in the Natural History Museum in London

A history is presented of specimens of Papilionidae and Pieridae in the Natural History Museum, London that are thought to include types of species described by Cramer and Stoll in ' De Uitlandsche Kapellen '. Background details on the publication and associated persons are also provided. The authenticity of the specimens is discussed together with a list of all the material available. Details of homonymy and synonymy are presented as discussed. Lectotypes are designated for Papilio alcmeone Cramer, 1777 , and Papilio antonoe Cramer, 1777 .  © 2005 The Natural History Museum, London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 145 , 283–337.     

Fruits and seeds of Ruppia (Potamogetonaceae) from the Pliocene of Yushe Basin, Shanxi, northern China and their ecological implications

Numerous fruits and seeds of Ruppia are reported from the Upper Pliocene (2.3–3.5 Myr ago) Zhangcun Formation in Yushe Basin, Shanxi, northern China. They are the first fossil Ruppia from China and demonstrate the importance of fruit and seed fossils in recording genera not represented by fossil leaves. These Ruppia are characterized by possessing a small oval endocarp, smooth endocarp surface, distinct elliptical external depressions, distinct apical mucro, slightly curved seed shape and conspicuous globose hilum. A new species, R. yushensis Zhao, Collinson and Li, is described from these endocarp and seed features. Comparison with the two European Miocene species, R. palaeomaritima Negru and R. maritime-miocenica Szafer, indicates the existence at that time of three different geographical and stratigraphical species. R. yushensis constitutes the first Pliocene record of Ruppia and extends the range of fossils of this genus from Europe to eastern Asia. R. yushensis is the only aquatic plant in the uppermost middle part of the Zhangcun Formation. This monotypic occurrence indicates a brackish, clear, tranquil and shallow lake in this region in the Late Pliocene. The smooth endocarp surface further suggests a warm temperate or temperate palaeoclimate.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 145 , 317–329.     

Ontogenesis of internal secretory cells in leaves of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae)

Internal secretory cells may be morphologically indistinguishable from their neighbours except for the presence of secreted material, or they may differ to such an extent that could be classified as secretory idioblasts. Several authors have reported the presence of glandular trichomes secreting essential oil in Verbenaceae, including Lantana . However, none have reported internal secretory cells. Anatomical and histochemical methods applied to Lantana camara leaves revealed the occurrence of internal secretory cells whose ontogenesis and chemical nature are described in this paper. According to leaf developmental analysis, L. camara secretory cells originated from the ground meristem, started to differentiate in the third node leaves, and were actively secreting in the fourth node leaves. The content of the secretory cells was of a lipidic nature, and a terpenoid essence of their secretion was also identified. Based upon differences in size and shape from neighbouring cells and on detection of nonvolatile terpenes, they were confirmed as true internal secretory idioblasts.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 427–431.