scholarly journals A parasitic coevolution since the Miocene revealed by phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray microtomography and the study of natural history collections

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Perreau ◽  
Danny Haelewaters ◽  
Paul Tafforeau
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Phase Contrast ◽  
Parasitic Fungus ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Fossil Species ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Phylogenetic Relations ◽  
Dominican Amber ◽  
Natural History Collections ◽  
Extant Species

AbstractThe discovery of a new fossil species of the Caribbeo-Mexican genus Proptomaphaginus (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Cholevinae) from Dominican amber, associated with a new fossil parasitic fungus in the genus Columnomyces (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales), triggered an investigation of extant species of Proptomaphaginus and revealed the long-enduring parasitic association between these two genera. This effort resulted in the description of the fossil species †Proptomaphaginus alleni sp. nov., and one fossil and two extant species of Columnomyces, selectively associated with species of Proptomaphaginus: †Columnomyces electri sp. nov. associated with the fossil †Proptomaphaginus alleni in Dominican amber, Columnomyces hispaniolensis sp. nov. with the extant Proptomaphaginus hispaniolensis (endemic of Hispaniola), and Columnomyces peckii sp. nov. with the extant Proptomaphaginus puertoricensis (endemic of Puerto Rico). Based on biogeography, our current understanding is that the Caribbean species of Proptomaphaginus and their parasitic species of Columnomyces have coevolved since the Miocene. This is the first occurrence of such a coevolution between a genus of parasitic fungus and a genus of Coleoptera. The phylogenetic relations among Proptomaphaginus species are also addressed based on a parsimony analysis. Fossil specimens were observed by propagation phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray microtomography (PPC-SRμCT) and extant specimens were obtained through the study of preserved dried, pinned insects, attesting for the importance of (i) technological advancement and (ii) natural history collections in the study of microparasitic relationships.

First South American record of the rare ichneumonoid subfamily Masoninae van Achterberg (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea: Ichneumonidae) with description of a new species from Brazil

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4664 (4) ◽  
pp. 587-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
DONALD L.J. QUICKE ◽  
JÚLIO CEZAR MÁRIO CHAUL ◽  
BUNTIKA A. BUTCHER
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
South America ◽  
South American ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
Fossil Species ◽  
Cosmopolitan Distribution ◽  
Dominican Amber ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
A New Species

Masona popeye Quicke & Chaul sp. n. is described from Brazil, and differentiated from other species of the genus. Described extant species of Masona are known from Australia and south eastern U.S.A. (Georgia and Florida including the Key Islands). Two undescribed species are known from Tanzania and Cambodia. The new species is therefore the first representative of the subfamily Masoninae van Achterberg from South America, demonstrating the completely cosmopolitan distribution of this very poorly known group. The new species most closely resembles a fossil species, M. pyriceps van Achterberg, 2001, from Dominican amber with which it shares the plesiomorphic presence of a scutellum. 

scholarly journals Cretaciella sorianoae gen. et sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Cholevinae, Oritocatopini), Anophthalmic Species from Albian Amber of the Escucha Formation (Alava, Spain)

Geosciences ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Perreau
Keyword(s):  
Phase Contrast ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
Internal Structures ◽  
Sub Saharan

Cretaciella sorianoae gen. et sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Cholevinae, Oritocatopini) from Albian amber of the Escucha Formation (Alava, Spain) is described and illustrated. This is the first species of Leiodidae from Alava amber and the first Cholevinae from Cretaceous amber. External and internal structures are investigated by propagation phase contrast X-ray microtomography. Based on both external and genital structures, Cretaciella is tentatively placed in the tribe Oritocatopini, the extant species of which occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. This specimen has no visible eyes or hind wings, which suggests an adaptation to subterranean or at least to soil litter environments. The biogeography of the tribe is succinctly discussed.

scholarly journals Description of a new genus and two new species of Leiodidae (Coleoptera) from Baltic amber using phase contrast synchrotron X-ray microtomography

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3455 (1) ◽  
pp. 81 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHEL PERREAU
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Phase Contrast ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Evolutionary Relationship ◽  
Baltic Amber ◽  
Fossil Species ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Internal Morphology ◽  
Two New Species

A new genus and two new amber fossil species of Leiodidae are described: Catops perkovskyi sp. n. (CholevinaeCholevini) and Tafforeus cainosternus gen. n., sp. n. (Leiodinae Pseudoliodini); using virtual dissection by propagationphase contrast synchrotron X-ray microtomography, which allows for visualization of the genital structures in a non-invasive way. The external and internal morphology of the new species is compared to that of the extant related species.Putative evolutionary relationship between Tafforeus and the genus Cainosternum Notman, 1921, and their placement in the tribe Pseudoliodini are discussed.

The jumping plant-lice of the Neotropical genus Tainarys (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) associated with Anacardiaceae

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4232 (4) ◽  
pp. 535 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL BURCKHARDT ◽  
DALVA L. QUEIROZ
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
South American ◽  
Fossil Species ◽  
Dominican Amber ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
East West

The Neotropical psyllid genus Tainarys Brèthes, 1920 is revised to include 14 extant and one fossil species from Dominican amber. Eight species are described as new, viz. Tainarys aroeira sp. nov., T. atra sp. nov., T. hapla sp. nov., T. myracrodrui sp. nov., T. nigricornis sp. nov., T. didyma sp. nov. and T. orientalis sp. nov. from Brazil, the last two also from Uruguay, as well as T. lozadai sp. nov. from Peru. The fifth instar immatures are described for nine species. †Vicinilura Klimaszewski, 1996, erected for the fossil †V. reposta Klimaszewski, 1996 and previously synonymised with Leurolophus Tuthill, 1942, is synonymised here (syn. nov.) with Tainarys and †V. reposta is transferred to become †Tainarys reposta (Klimaszewski), comb. nov. The descriptions are supplemented by illustrations and keys for the identification of adults and immatures. Phylogenetic relationships between species are investigated with a cladistic analysis using 22 adult and six immature morphological characters. The analysis resulted in a single most parsimonious, fully resolved tree. The fossil species is nested within the genus rather than being the sister taxon of the remainder of species. The extant species are restricted to the subtropical and temperate parts of South America. Three pairs of sister clades display an east‒west South American and one a midwest‒southern Brazilian geographical vicariance. Host plants are confirmed for nine and likely for another four species. They are Astronium, Haplorhus, Myracrodruon, Schinopsis and Schinus (Anacardiaceae). All Tainarys species appear to be oligophagous inducing irregular leaf curls on their hosts. 

scholarly journals The first record of Brentidae (Coleoptera) in Eocene Rovno amber with description of a new fossil species of <i>Toxorhynchus</i> Scudder, 1893

Fossil Record ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andris Bukejs ◽  
Andrei A. Legalov
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
First Record ◽  
Rovno Amber ◽  
Upper Eocene ◽  
Fossil Species ◽  
Lower Miocene ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Dominican Amber ◽  
Eastern Hemisphere ◽  
The Family

Abstract. A new pear-shaped weevil, Toxorhynchus europeoeocenicus Bukejs et Legalov, sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Brentidae: Apioninae), is described from upper Eocene Rovno amber using X-ray microcomputed tomography (µCT). The new fossil species differs from the extinct Toxorhynchus robustus Poinar et Legalov, 2015 (Dominican amber, lower Miocene) in the larger body size, narrower elytral striae, and wider pronotum. It is the first record of the family Brentidae in Rovno amber and the first record of the genus Toxorhynchus in the eastern hemisphere (urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8FB7B299-EE75-4556-B4EA-203A3CBED84C).

Diverse Milichiella Giglio-Tos (Diptera: Milichiidae) in Miocene Dominican amber

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26
Author(s):  
Irina Brake
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
First Record ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Fossil Species ◽  
Dominican Amber ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
The Family ◽  
First Descriptions

AbstractSeven new species of Milichiella are described from Dominican amber: M. archaia n. sp., M. dolichosurstyla n. sp., M. dominicana n. sp., M. hennigi n. sp., M. margaretae n. sp., M. quadrisetosa n. sp., and M. theodori n. sp. These species represent the first record of the sub-family Milichiinae in amber and the first descriptions of the family in Dominican amber. The fossil species differ from extant species only in species-level details except M. archaia, which probably belongs to the stemline of Milichiella + Ulia.

scholarly journals A minute fossil phoretic mite recovered by phase-contrast X-ray computed tomography

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason A. Dunlop ◽  
Stefan Wirth ◽  
David Penney ◽  
Andrew McNeil ◽  
Robert S. Bradley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Phase Contrast ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Three Dimensional Model ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
Minimum Age ◽  
X Ray Computed ◽  
Body Fossil

High-resolution phase-contrast X-ray computed tomography (CT) reveals the phoretic deutonymph of a fossil astigmatid mite (Acariformes: Astigmata) attached to a spider's carapace (Araneae: Dysderidae) in Eocene (44–49 Myr ago) Baltic amber. Details of appendages and a sucker plate were resolved, and the resulting three-dimensional model demonstrates the potential of tomography to recover morphological characters of systematic significance from even the tiniest amber inclusions without the need for a synchrotron. Astigmatids have an extremely sparse palaeontological record. We confirm one of the few convincing fossils, potentially the oldest record of Histiostomatidae. At 176 µm long, we believe this to be the smallest arthropod in amber to be CT-scanned as a complete body fossil, extending the boundaries for what can be recovered using this technique. We also demonstrate a minimum age for the evolution of phoretic behaviour among their deutonymphs, an ecological trait used by extant species to disperse into favourable environments. The occurrence of the fossil on a spider is noteworthy, as modern histiostomatids tend to favour other arthropods as carriers.

scholarly journals The polycentropodid genus <i>Cernotina</i> (Insecta, Trichoptera) in Miocene Dominican amber

Fossil Record ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-133
Author(s):  
Wilfried Wichard ◽  
Christian Neumann
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Species ◽  
Caribbean Islands ◽  
Dominican Amber ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Caribbean

Abstract. A new polycentropodid caddisfly species is described from Miocene Dominican amber. The family Polycentropodidae is therefore represented in the Dominican amber with two species belonging to the genus Cernotina: C. pulchra Wichard, 2007, and C. fossilinova sp. nov. The endemic C. danieli Flint &amp; Sykora, 2004, is the only representative of the genus occurring on Hispaniola today and is similar to the two fossil species. On the Caribbean islands altogether six extant species of the genus Cernotina are registered.

scholarly journals A New Record of Recent Brachiopods: Digitizing the National Natural History Collections, The Hebrew University Of Jerusalem

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yael Leshno Afriat ◽  
Henk Mienis
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
New Record ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Fossil Species ◽  
Natural History Collections ◽  
New Information ◽  
Hebrew University ◽  
Recent Brachiopods

Brachiopods (lamp-shells) are a group of macrobenthic invertebrates with a remarkably long fossil record that encompasses deep time to modern-day oceans with over 12,000 species reported in the fossil record. In contrast, today brachiopods form a relatively small independent phylum among the invertebrates that includes only ca. 350 living species. Brachiopods are commonly used to examine faunal response to changes in the depositional environment across space and time. The extinct fossil species are compared to their counterparts from modern settings in order to find associations between ecological and morphological traits and past environmental conditions. Thus, collecting data on living brachiopods and studying their ecological preferences is crucial to the understanding of ancient environments. Until today, only scarce information has been published on extant brachiopods in the Levantine Basin off the coast of Israel. The current curatorial state of collections from the area prevents us from realizing their full scientific potential. We present new information concerning brachiopods collected in the Eastern Mediterranean and stored in the Mollusc Collection of the National Natural History Collections, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The collection is based on personal contributions and material collected by the Sea Fisheries Research Station during annual surveys carried out along the coast of Israel. As a first step, we estimated the size of the collection to contain ca. 355 samples of brachiopods of an unknown number of species. Notable contributions to the brachiopod collection include the Giorgio S. Coen and the Arthur Blok collections. Giorgio S. Coen, an enthusiastic malacologist, donated his private collection in 1951. The collection includes samples given to Coen by the distinguished Marchese di Monterosato, and contains ca. 230 samples of recent worldwide brachiopods. So far we have recognized type material of at least four taxa in the Coen collection. In addition, the Arthur Blok collection was donated in 1974 and includes ca. 65 samples of recent brachiopods. Due to the limited number of extant species, new records of living brachiopods should prove to be an important contribution to future studies in biogeography, phylogeny and the study of paleoenvironments. Our preliminary results show species occurrences in undocumented depths and habitats of the Eastern Mediterranean, and points to higher estimation of diversity in the Eastern Mediterranean than previously assumed. The order of magnitude difference in species diversity between extant and fossil brachiopods means our new information on life modes and habitats of recent species may have a significant effect on paleoecological reconstruction of their fossil counterparts. Thus, our new record of recent Levantine brachiopods can improve their use as reliable proxies for reconstructing environmental conditions throughout the fossil record.

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