A new species of Sclerocephalus with a fully ossified endocranium gives insight into braincase evolution in temnospondyls

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Rainer R. Schoch ◽  
Gabriela Sobral

Abstract The late Paleozoic temnospondyl Sclerocephalus formed an aquatic top predator in various central European lakes of the late Carboniferous and early Permian. Despite hundreds of specimens spanning a wide range of sizes, knowledge of the endocranium (braincase and palatoquadrate) remained very insufficient in Sclerocephalus and other stereospondylomorphs because even large skulls had unossified endocrania. A new specimen from a stratigraphically ancient deposit at St. Wendel in southwestern Germany is recognized as representing a new taxon, S. concordiae new species, and reveals a completely ossified endocranium. The sphenethmoid was completely ossified from the basisphenoid to the anterior ethmoid region, co-ossified with the parasphenoid, and the basipterygoid joint was fully established. The pterygoid bears a slender, S-shaped epipterygoid, which formed a robust pillar lateral to the braincase. The massive stapes was firmly sutured to the parasphenoid. In the temnospondyl endocranium, character evolution involved various changes in the epipterygoid region, which evolved distinct morphologies in each of the major clades. UUID: http://zoobank.org/5e6d2078-eacf-4467-84cf-a12efcae7c0b

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2271 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
GEOFF B PATTERSON ◽  
TRENT P BELL

A new species of alpine skink, Oligosoma judgei, is described from the Darran and Takitimu Mountains, South Island, New Zealand. This species is diagnosed on the basis of morphological, ecological, and genetic differentiation from the following congeners: O. pikitanga, O. acrinasum, O. infrapunctatum, O. otagense, O. taumakae, O. waimatense and O. grande. The new species is characterized by a black base colour with bright green or yellow dorsal speckles, a white belly with occasional black speckles, and distinctive head scalation. The conservation status of the new taxon appears secure due to the altitude and extensive habitat in the Darran Mountains and apparently wide range extending to the Takitimu Mountains.


2006 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy R. Young ◽  
Harald Andruleit

Abstract. A very distinctive new deep-photic coccolithophore is described from the NE Indian Ocean. The new species is trimorphic with: 200–300 body coccoliths bearing low spines attached by narrow stems to a basal narrow-rimmed placolith structure; up to 18 circum-flagellar coccoliths with tall sail-like spines; and up to 22 coccoliths with moderately elevated spines occurring both around the circum-flagellar coccoliths and antapically. These features make the coccolithophore unique and require placement in a new species and genus. The basal structure, however, shows similarities to a recently recognized group of narrow-rimmed placoliths. Hence, the new coccolithophore provides some support for this grouping as a significant addition to our understanding of coccolithophore biodiversity, and potentially an explanation for a set of anomalous molecular genetic results. In addition the new taxon provides further evidence that the deep-photic coccolithophore community is more diverse than has been assumed.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 333 (1) ◽  
pp. 108 ◽  
Author(s):  
BART VAN DE VIJVER ◽  
STEVEN DESSEIN

During a survey of the freshwater diatom flora of the sub-Antarctic region (Iles Kerguelen and Iles Crozet) in the southern Indian Ocean, an unknown Cyclotella taxon was observed that was formerly identified as the presumed cosmopolitan C. meneghinana. Detailed morphological analysis based on light and scanning electron microscopical observations and comparison with several similar Cyclotella taxa worldwide justified the description of this unknown taxon as a new species: Cyclotella deceusteriana sp. nov. The new taxon is characterized by the presence of marginal fultoportulae on every costa, hyaline furrows between the raised marginal parts on which the striae are located, 2, occasionally 1, 3 or 4 central fultoportulae and an entirely flat, smooth, relatively small central area. The new species is described and compared with other Cyclotella taxa. Notes on its distribution and ecology are added.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 501 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-161
Author(s):  
ER-HUAN ZANG ◽  
MING-XU ZHANG ◽  
WEN-LE WANG ◽  
CHUN-HONG ZHANG ◽  
MIN-HUI LI

In May 2020, a new taxon of Euphorbia, Euphorbiaceae was collected from a dry hillside of Dongsheng District, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia. The morphological characteristics of the specimens analyzed differ from those of the known Euphorbia species from this region; therefore, we suspected this may be a new species, and we set to analyze the ITS2 sequences of some Euphorbia species. The results show that the new taxon belongs to the sect. Esula of Euphorbia subg. Esula. It is similar to Euphorbia esula (description from Flora of China) but does not belong to the same species. Concomitantly, plant morphological data and pollen morphology results show significant differences between the new taxon, E. esula and E. caesia, a finding that supports the delimitation of this new taxon, which is named Euphorbia mongoliensis in accordance with its geographical distribution.


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4933 (4) ◽  
pp. 543-556
Author(s):  
PO-WEI CHEN ◽  
HUI-CONG XIE ◽  
XUE WU ◽  
CHU-ZE SHEN ◽  
ZHU-QING HE

There are 29 species or subspecies in genus Hexacentrus occurring in Asia, Africa and Australia. Because of its similar appearance, it is not easy to distinguish them by traditional methods. In this study, we collected samples and sequenced COI genes from wide range. By reconstructing the gene tree, we found one new species, H. formosanus Chen et He sp. nov., from Taiwan. The new species is similar to H. expansus or H. inflatissimus, but differs from the former in male Cu2 vein of left tegmina curved and slender, and spectrum of male left tegmina slender and subsquare; differs from the later by body size smaller and female tegmina narrow and short. The type specimens are deposited in National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung, Taiwan (NMNS). H. japonicus hareyamai is treated as species level, H. hareyamai stat. nov. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5047 (5) ◽  
pp. 531-546
Author(s):  
GIOVANNI A. CHAVES-PORTILLA ◽  
ERIKA NATHALIA SALAZAR ◽  
JOSÉ GIL-ACERO ◽  
ADRIANA DORADO-CORREA ◽  
ROBERTO MÁRQUEZ ◽  
...  

A new species of Andinobates (Dendrobatidae) is described from the East Andes of Colombia, just 37 km away from the Colombian capital, Bogotá. Andinobates supata sp. nov., represents the second known species of yellow Andinobates, and can be distinguished from the other, Andinobates tolimensis, by an unique combination of ventral and dorsal color patterns. Our phylogenetic analyses, based on ≈ 1120 bp from two mitochondrial markers (16S rRNA and cytochrome b) showed that this new taxon is sister to a clade formed by A. cassidyhornae, A. bombetes, A. opisthomelas, A. tolimensis and A. virolinensis. The new species appears to be restricted to a handful of small forest fragments (<10 ha) distributed in no more than 5 km2, between 1800–2000 m elevation, where the human activity is high. In addition, more than 90% of the original forest has been logged at the type locality, and its watersheds receive considerable agrochemical discharges. Altogether, the evidence suggests that this new species should be listed as Critically Endangered and should receive immediate attention regarding basic research and urgent conservation measures.  


Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 484 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-236
Author(s):  
FRANCESCO DOVANA ◽  
ENRICO BIZIO ◽  
MATTEO GARBELOTTO ◽  
GIULIANO FERISIN

The authors describe the macro- and microscopic features of Inocybe cervenianensis, a new taxon belonging to the genus Inocybe sensu stricto. The description is illustrated with photographs of the basidiomes in their natural habitat and photographs of the main microscopic features. Molecular data (nrITS and RPB2) support the recognition of this new species.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4526 (3) ◽  
pp. 381
Author(s):  
LYLIA BOUMENDJEL ◽  
NICOLAS RABET ◽  
MOUNIA AMAROUAYACHE

A new species of Chirocephalus collected in temporary freshwater ponds in Northeastern Algeria is described. Chirocephalus sanhadjaensis sp. nov. seems to be restricted to Ain-Magroun and Belkroun pools (Skikda Province). The most similar species is C. marchesonii Ruffo & Vesentini, 1957, which is endemic to Italy. The new taxon, belonging to the “diaphanus” species group of the genus Chirocephalus, is identifiable from all congeners primarily by the shape of the antennal appendages and that of the apex of the distal antennomere of the antennae. The resting eggs of C. sanhadjaensis sp. nov. are similar to those of C. diaphanus or C. salinus but are larger (448.24 ± 30.93 µm). The restricted distribution of this species confirms the high biological diversity of the area of the Guerbes-Sanhadja eco-complex. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4446 (4) ◽  
pp. 567
Author(s):  
REZA HOSSEINI ◽  
SAADI MOHAMMADI

A new species, Phytocoris (Eckerleinius) hawramanicum sp. nov is described from Iran. A revised dichotomous key to the species of subgenus Eckerleinius Wagner known in Iran and adjacent regions, illustrations of male genitalia and male habitus photographs of this new taxon are provided. Diagnosis of the new species is based on a comparison with other congeneric found from Iran and adjacent countries. The type specimens were deposited in the insect collection of the University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran. 


2014 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
VICTOR E. PAULIV ◽  
ELISEU V. DIAS ◽  
FERNANDO A. SEDOR ◽  
ANA MARIA RIBEIRO

The Brazilian records on Xenacanthiformes include teeth and cephalic spines from the Parnaíba, Amazonas and Paraná basins. This work describes a new species of Xenacanthidae, collected in an outcrop of Serrinha Member of Rio do Rasto Formation (Wordian to Wuchiapingian), Paraná Basin, municipality of Jacarezinho, State of Paraná. The teeth of the new species are two or three-cuspidated and the aboral surface show a smooth concavity and one rounded basal tubercle. The coronal surface presents one semi-spherical and subcircular coronal button, and also two lateral main cusps and one central (when present) with less than one fifth of the size of the lateral cusps in the labial portion. The lateral cusps are asymmetric or symmetric, rounded in transversal section, lanceolate in longitudinal section, devoid of lateral carinae and lateral serrations, and with few smooth cristae of enameloid. In optical microscope the teeth show a trabecular dentine (osteodentine) base, while the cusps are composed by orthodentine, and the pulp cavities are non-obliterated by trabecular dentine. The fossil assemblage in the same stratigraphical level and in the whole Rio do Rasto Formation indicates another freshwater record for xenacanthid sharks.


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