First freshwater gastropod preserved in amber suggests long-distance dispersal during the Cretaceous Period

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Tingting Yu ◽  
Thomas A. Neubauer ◽  
Adrienne Jochum

Abstract Burmese amber continues to provide unique insights into the terrestrial biota inhabiting tropical equatorial forests during mid-Cretaceous time. In contrast to the large amount and great diversity of terrestrial species retrieved so far, aquatic biota constitute rare inclusions. Here we describe the first freshwater snail ever preserved in amber. The new species Galba prima sp. nov. belongs in the family Lymnaeidae, today a diverse and near globally distributed family. Its inclusion in terrestrial amber is probably a result of the amphibious lifestyle typical of modern representatives of the genus. The finding of a freshwater snail on the Burma Terrane, back then an island situated at some 1500 km from mainland Asia, has implications for the dispersal mechanisms of Mesozoic lymnaeids. The Cenomanian species precedes the evolution of waterfowl, which are today considered a main vector for long-distance dispersal. In their absence, we discuss several hypotheses to explain the disjunct occurrence of the new species.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
George O. Poinar, Jr. ◽  
Fernando E. Vega ◽  
Andrei A. Legalov

In this article, a new species of the genus Amberophytum Yu, Slipinski et Pang, 2019 of the family Cerophytidae from mid- Cretaceous Burmese amber is described and illustrated. The new species, A. maculatum s.n. differs from A. birmanicum Yu, Slipinski et Pang, 2019 in the smaller body size, shorter metatarsomere 1, and more convex body. A key to the species of the genus Amberophytum is presented.


2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 515-559
Author(s):  
Gothamie WEERAKOON ◽  
André APTROOT ◽  
Robert LÜCKING ◽  
Omal ARACHCHIGE ◽  
Siril WIJESUNDARA

AbstractWe provide an updated survey for Sri Lanka of species of Graphis sensu Staiger, recently divided into Graphis s. str. and Allographa, including brief descriptions and a key to all 124 species currently known. Six new species are described: Allographa bambusicola Weerakoon, Lücking & Aptroot, a bambusicolous Allographa with entire labia, a laterally carbonized excipulum, 80–100 × 15–17 µm large, muriform ascospores and a rather thick, irregularly verrucose lateral thalline margin of the lirellae; A. weerasooriyana Weerakoon, Arachchige & Lücking, a corticolous Allographa resembling A. rustica Kremp. in overall anatomy and chemistry, but with a verrucose thalline margin of the lirellae and labia not distinctly raised above the thalline margin; Graphis flosculifera Weerakoon, Lücking & Aptroot, a corticolous Graphis resembling G. insulana but differing in the unique disposition of the lirellae and the slightly more elongate ascospores; G. rajapakshana Weerakoon, Lücking & Aptroot, a corticolous Graphis resembling G. desquamescens, including in ascospore size, but with lirellae with a distinct lateral thalline margin; G. rimosothallina Weerakoon, Lücking & Aptroot, a corticolous Graphis with a thick, uneven, rimose thallus and Fissurina-like lirellae, a completely carbonized excipulum and transversely 7-septate ascospores, 32–37 × 8–10 µm; and G. thunsinhalayensis Weerakoon, Arachchige & Lücking, a corticolous Graphis resembling G. subalbostriata but with smaller ascospores and lacking white lines between the striae of the labia. We also validate the name G. verrucoserpens Lücking. A total of 106 species are reported here for the first time from Sri Lanka. A biogeographical comparison with two other well-sampled countries (Costa Rica and Thailand) revealed a significantly higher similarity in species composition with Costa Rica than between Thailand and Costa Rica, suggesting a potential signature of the ‘biotic ferry’ hypothesis, that is the migration of lineages from Gondwana (partly corresponding to the modern Neotropics) via the north-eastwards drifting Indian subcontinent and subsequent interchange with Laurasia (partly corresponding to the modern eastern Paleotropics). However, the evolutionary timeline of the clades involved does not support this hypothesis and suggests an alternative explanation of geologically more recent mid- to long-distance dispersal.


2013 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders TEHLER ◽  
Damien ERTZ ◽  
Martin IRESTEDT

AbstractDirina (Roccellaceae, Arthoniales) is a monophyletic genus of crustose, saxicolous or corticolous lichenized fungi. Twenty-four species are accepted in the genus, including nine new species: Dirina angolana, D. arabica, D. astridae, D. canariensis, D. indica, D. madagascariensis, D. pacifica, D. pallescens and D. sorocarpa. A phylogenetic hypothesis is presented based on data from four molecular markers, β-tubulin, ITS 1 and 2, nuLSU and RPB2, including all recognized Dirina species worldwide. New combinations proposed include Dirina badia for Roccellina badia, Dirina jamesii for Roccellina jamesii, Dirina candida for Chiodecton candidum and Dirina teichiodes for Lecidea teichiodes. Two species are reinstated: Dirina approximata and D. monothalamia (as a new name of Chiodecton africanum). Asexual morphs described earlier at the rank forma are no longer recognized as taxonomic units viz., Dirina catalinariae f. sorediata, D. insulana f. sorediata, D. massiliensis f. sorediata, D. paradoxa ssp. paradoxa f. sorediata and D. massiliensis f. aponina. One species, Dirina calcicola, is transferred to Fulvophyton and two other species, Dirina insulae-howensis and Dirina neozelandica, are transferred to Schismatomma. Dirina follmannii is not accepted in Dirina and placed as incertae sedis. A key to the species of Dirina is provided. Vicariance through plate tectonics and continental drift versus long distance dispersal to explain biogeographical patterns is discussed.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4407 (3) ◽  
pp. 427
Author(s):  
SHAN LIN ◽  
YUNZHI YAO ◽  
DONG REN

A new genus and species of the extinct family Weitschatidae, Criniverticillus longicumulus gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha), is described and illustrated from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The new species is based on a fossil specimen with complete body, wings and antennae. The family diagnosis is updated to include similarities between Criniverticillus, Pseudoweitschatus and Weitschatus. An identification key to species of Weitschatidae is provided. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4320 (3) ◽  
pp. 597 ◽  
Author(s):  
PAVEL SROKA ◽  
ANDRÉ NEL

A new fossil species of the family Compsocidae, namely Burmacompsocus coniugans sp. nov. is described from Late Cretaceous Burmese amber. Diagnostic characters separating the new species from the previously known representatives of the genus are discussed. Details of mouthparts and genitalia are described for the genus for the first time. The discovery of the new species supports the hypothesis of higher Compsocidae diversity existing in the past compared with the present. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5072 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-87
Author(s):  
FEIYANG LIANG ◽  
XINGYUE LIU

A new psocodean species of the family Psyllipsocidae, namely Psyllipsocus yangi sp. n., is described from the Burmese amber. This is the third species of Psyllipsocus from the Burmese amber and is the first Cretaceous Psyllipsocus species with a conical sensillum in mx2. Detailed description of the characters of mouthparts and genitalia are provided. The present finding suggests that Sinopsyllipsocus is a probable synonym of Psyllipsocus.  


Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2650 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
MATTHEW J. COLLOFF

Three new species of oribatid mite belonging to the genus Crotonia are described: one from Lord Howe Island (C. gorgonia sp. nov.) and two (C. norfolkensis sp. nov. and C. utricularia sp. nov.) from Norfolk Island, South-west Pacific. Crotonia gorgonia sp. nov. belongs to the Capistrata species group which reaches its highest diversity in Australia but is absent from New Zealand. Crotonia norfolkensis sp. nov. is a member of the Cophinaria group, recorded from Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia, but with closest morphological similarity to C. brachyrostrum (Hammer, 1966) from New Zealand. Crotonia utricularia sp. nov. belongs to the Unguifera group, which reaches its highest diversity in New Zealand, is absent from Australia, and is present on Vanuatu and the Marquesas. The distribution of members of the species-groups of Crotonia in the south-western Pacific indicates that the species from Lord Howe Island has affinities with species from Australia, while the species from Norfolk Island are both most similar to species from New Zealand, and represents further evidence of the capacity of Crotonia spp. for long-distance dispersal to oceanic islands.


Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 206
Author(s):  
Wiesław Krzemiński ◽  
Iwona Kania-Kłosok ◽  
Ewa Krzemińska ◽  
Jan Ševčík ◽  
Agnieszka Soszyńska-Maj

A new subfamily Drinosinae (Diptera, Limoniidae) is established with two fossil genera, Drinosa and Decessia gen. nov. with one new species, Decessia podenasi gen. et sp. nov. from Cretaceous Burmese amber. Additional description of Drinosa prisca is based on new material. A new subfamily shows unique reduction of radial veins combined with complete set of medial veins.


Author(s):  
Wolfram Mey ◽  
Wilfried Wichard ◽  
Patrick Müller ◽  
Bo Wang

During examination of new material of Burmese amber three individuals of Tarachoptera were discovered. The inclusions are sufficiently well preserved and allow identification and description of these rare, fossil insects. The species belong to the family Tarachocelidae and are described as Kinitocelis macroptera spec. nov. (†) and Retortocelis spicipalpia spec. nov. (†). The species and their preservations are described in detail, and photos and line drawings are provided for wing venation, head, mouthparts, and abdomen. The hitherto described species of Tarachoptera are summarized in a checklist.   Taxonomic acts Kinitocelis macroptera Mey & Wichard, spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E0B1624A-C69E-4B53-851F-4368AC21C614Retortocelis spicipalpia Mey & Wichard, spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9778E7E2-EEFE-4DC5-B891-54DF114D525C


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