scholarly journals Bizarre morphology in extinct Eocene bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja Wedmann ◽  
Petr Kment ◽  
Luiz Alexandre Campos ◽  
Thomas Hörnschemeyer
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Disruptive Effect ◽  
Green River ◽  
Fossil Species ◽  
Additional Protection ◽  
Heteroptera Pentatomidae ◽  
Small Vertebrate ◽  
Predator Defence

Newly discovered fossil bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) from the Eocene of Messel (Germany) and Green River (North America) exhibit an exaggerated morphology including prominent spiny humeral and anterolateral angles of the pronotum and a spiny lateral abdominal margin. Especially the humeral angles are unique; they consist of expansive, rounded projections with strong spines, which is a rare trait among pentatomids. A hypothesis for the function of this extreme morphology is defence against small vertebrate predators, such as birds or reptiles. The same protuberances also produce a disruptive effect camouflaging the specimen in its environment and provide additional protection. Therefore, the extreme morphology provides primary as well as secondary anti-predator defence. The morphology of Eospinosus peterkulkai gen. et sp. nov. and E. greenriverensis sp. nov. resembles that of Triplatygini, which today occur exclusively in Madagascar, as well as that of Discocephalinae or Cyrtocorinae, which today occur in the Neotropics. Due to a lack of conclusive characters, it cannot be excluded that the fossil species may represent a case of remarkable convergence and are not related to either taxon. Phylogenetic analyses using parsimony as well as Bayesian algorithms confirmed that the new genus is a member of Pentatomidae, but could not solve its phylogenetic relationships within Pentatomidae.

The earliest mustelid in North America

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Paterson ◽  
Joshua X Samuels ◽  
Natalia Rybczynski ◽  
Michael J Ryan ◽  
Hillary C Maddin
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
North America ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Close Relative ◽  
Late Oligocene ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Holotype Specimen ◽  
John Day

Abstract Until now, the pre-Miocene fossil record of mustelids in North America has been restricted to specimens attributable to oligobunine taxa and isolated remains tentatively allocated to the genus Plesictis. In the present study, we report on a nearly complete cranium and a referred dentary of a new genus and species of mustelid. The specimens were recovered from the Turtle Cove and Kimberly Members of the John Day Formation, Oregon, USA. These excellently preserved specimens more confidently confirm the presence of mustelids in the Early and Late Oligocene (Early and Late Arikareean) of North America. Like the holotype specimen of ‘Plesictis’ julieni, the new species lacks an alisphenoid canal and a postprotocrista on the M1 (synapomorphies of Mustelidae), but retains a dorsally deep suprameatal fossa (a feature occasionally suggested to be unique to Procyonidae). Phylogenetic analyses, applying parsimony and Bayesian inference to combined molecular (five genes totalling 5490 bp) and morphological data, recover this new species of mustelid as sister-species to ‘Plesictis’ julieni. The results of these analyses reveal that the new genus is a close relative of other species of Plesictis and several taxa traditionally allied with Oligobuninae, thereby rendering Oligobuninae paraphyletic. We further discuss the significance of the relatively small size of this new mustelid as it relates to predictions based on increased aridification of the palaeoclimate and the expansion of open habitats in the Oligocene.

New sharks and other chondrichthyans from the latest Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) of North America

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 512-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry A. Gates ◽  
Eric Gorscak ◽  
Peter J. Makovicky
Keyword(s):  
Bayesian Inference ◽  
North America ◽  
Maximum Parsimony ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Maximum Parsimony Analysis ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Western Interior Seaway ◽  
Fossil Species ◽  
Aquatic Vertebrates ◽  
Unidentified Species

AbstractCretaceous aquatic ecosystems were amazingly diverse, containing most clades of extant aquatic vertebrates as well as an array of sharks and rays not present today. Here we report on the chondrichthyan fauna from the late Maastrichtian site that yielded the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton FMNH PF 2081 (“SUE”). Significant among the recovered fauna is an unidentified species of carcharhinid shark that adds to the fossil record of this family in the Cretaceous, aligning with estimates from molecular evidence of clade originations. Additionally, a new orectolobiform shark, here named Galagadon nordquistae n. gen. n. sp., is diagnosed on the basis on several autapomorphies from over two-dozen teeth. Common chondrichthyan species found at the “SUE” locality include Lonchidion selachos and Myledaphus pustulosus. Two phylogenetic analyses (Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Inference) based on twelve original dental character traits combined with 136 morphological traits from a prior study of 28 fossil and extant taxa, posited Galagadon n. gen. in two distinct positions: as part of a clade inclusive of the fossil species Cretorectolobus olsoni and Cederstroemia triangulata plus extant orectolobids from the Maximum Parsimony analysis; and as the sister taxon to all extant hemiscyllids from the Bayesian Inference. Model-based biogeographical reconstructions based on both optimal trees suggest rapid island hopping-style dispersal from the Western Pacific to the Western Interior Seaway of North America where Galagadon n. gen. lived. Alternatively, the next preferred model posits a broader, near-global distribution of Orectolobiformes with Galagadon n. gen. dispersing into its geographic position from this large ancestral range.UUID: http://zoobank.org/61e32ffc-4f87-4ff7-820d-0bb33a80f0a0

A FOSSIL IRONOMYIID FLY FROM CANADIAN AMBER (DIPTERA: IRONOMYIIDAE)

1973 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. McAlpine
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
North America ◽  
South America ◽  
Late Jurassic ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Fossil Species ◽  
Australian Species ◽  
The Family ◽  
Living Species ◽  
Cretaceous Period

AbstractCretonomyia pristina new genus and new species, a fossil fly in amber from Cedar Lake, Manitoba, is described and assigned to the Ironomyiidae. This fossil establishes that the family, heretofore known from a single Australian species, Ironomyia nigromaculata White, existed during Mesozoic times in North America. Comparison of the extinct species with the living species shows that the family appeared little different 73 million years ago than it does today. In points of difference, the fossil species usually shows the more primitive conditions. It is postulated that the family arose in North America in late Jurassic – early Cretaceous times, dispersed to South America late in the Cretaceous Period and thence to Australia via Antarctica while the latter three were contiguous — 43 million years ago.

A new chernetid pseudoscorpion from the Miocene Chiapas – Amber Lagerstätte, Mexico

2014 ◽  
Vol 51 (9) ◽  
pp. 902-908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Riquelme ◽  
Dulce F. Piedra-Jiménez ◽  
Víctor Córdova-Tabares ◽  
Bibiano Luna-Castro
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
North America ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Male Specimen ◽  
Fossil Species ◽  
Reflected Light ◽  
The Family ◽  
High Resolution Microscopy

Mayachernes maatiatus, a new genus and species of pseudoscorpion of the family Chernetidae (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpionida), is described from the Miocene Chiapas – Amber Lagerstätte, south of Mexico. This new fossil species represents an adult male specimen with hard–soft tissues preserved in great detail. It differs from all other living chernetids by a combination of diagnostic characters. Anatomical data were collected using high-resolution microscopy with regular to infrared-reflected light. Mayachernes maatiatus is the first newly described fossil species of pseudoscorpion from the Chiapas amber. This taxon also adds to knowledge of the Chernetidae diversity in the southernmost part of North America at the Neogene.

scholarly journals First record of the subfamily Sagrinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from the Eocene of North America

Fossil Record ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-139
Author(s):  
Andrei A. Legalov
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Type Species ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Middle Eocene ◽  
First Record ◽  
Green River Formation ◽  
Green River ◽  
The Family

Abstract. A new genus, Palaeatalasis gen. nov. (type species P. monrosi sp. nov.), from the tribe Megamerini (Chrysomelidae: Sagrinae) from the early-middle Eocene Green River Formation is described and illustrated. The new genus is similar to the Recent Atalasis Lacordaire, 1845 but differs from it in the subparallel sides of the pronotum, metafemora without teeth, and non-emarginate eyes. It differs from the Eocene Eosagra Haupt, 1950 in the large, convex, non-emarginate eyes, wide elytra, and transverse pronotum. The new genus is distinguished from the Paleocene Gallopsis Legalov, Kirejtshuk et Nel, 2019 in the wide forehead and convex eyes. It is the first record of the Sagrinae from North America and the fourth known species of the family Chrysomelidae from the Green River.

scholarly journals Emmanuelia, a new genus of lobarioid lichen-forming fungi (Ascomycota: Peltigerales): phylogeny and synopsis of accepted species

2020 ◽  
pp. 76-94
Author(s):  
Antoine Simon ◽  
Robert Lücking ◽  
Bibiana Moncada ◽  
Joel A. Mercado-Díaz ◽  
Frank Bungartz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
South American ◽  
South American Species ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer Region ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Previously Treated

The former family Lobariaceae, now included in Peltigeraceae as subfamily Lobarioideae, has undergone substantial changes in its generic classification in recent years, based on phylogenetic inferences highlighting the polyphyly of the speciose genera Lobaria, Pseudocyphellaria and Sticta. Here we introduce the new genus Emmanuelia, named in honor of Prof. Emmanuël Sérusiaux for his extensive work on the Peltigerales. Emmanuelia currently comprises twelve species. It is superficially similar to the lobarioid genus Ricasolia, but differs by its apothecia, rimmed by overarching and often crenulate to lobulate margins, with the parathecium (proper excipulum) and the amphithecium (thalline excipulum formed by the thallus cortex) apically separated and of a different structure. Also, ascospore dimensions and shape differ between the two genera, with the ascospores of Emmanuelia being longer and narrower. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using DNA nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and the small subunit of mitochondrial ribosomal DNA (mtSSU) confirm that Emmanuelia belongs to the Lobaria s.lat. clade and forms a monophyletic group sister to the lineage consisting of Dendriscosticta, Lobariella and Yoshimuriella. None of the available generic names of lobarioid lichens can be applied to this group, and consequently a new name is proposed for this new genus, which is typified with E. ravenelii comb. nov. Eleven other species are transferred to Emmanuelia: E. americana comb. nov., E. conformis comb. nov., E. cuprea comb. nov., E. elaeodes comb. nov., E. erosa comb. nov., E. excisa comb. nov., E. lobulifera comb. nov., E. ornata comb. nov., E. patinifera comb. nov., E. pseudolivacea comb. nov. and E. tenuis comb. nov. The genus is represented in North America by three species, including E. lobulifera, which is resurrected from synonymy with E. (Lobaria) tenuis, a South American species, and E. ornata, whose populations were previously treated under E. (Lobaria) ravenelii.

Early Paleozoic Hyolitha from North America: reexamination of Walcott's and Resser's type specimens

1988 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Mark Malinky
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Lower Cambrian ◽  
Type Species ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Early Paleozoic ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Middle Cambrian ◽  
Upper Cambrian ◽  
New Family ◽  
The Family

Concepts of the family Hyolithidae Nicholson fide Fisher and the genera Hyolithes Eichwald and Orthotheca Novak have been expanded through time to encompass a variety of morphologically dissimilar shells. The Hyolithidae is here considered to include only those hyolithid species which have a rounded (convex) dorsum; slopes on the dorsum are inflated, and the venter may be flat or slightly inflated. Hyolithes encompasses species which possess a low dorsum and a prominent longitudinal sulcus along each edge of the dorsum; the ligula is short and the apertural rim is flared. The emended concept of Orthotheca includes only those species of orthothecid hyoliths which have a subtriangular transverse outline and longitudinal lirae covering the shell on both dorsum and venter.Eighteen species of Hyolithes and one species of Orthotheca from the Appalachian region and Western Interior were reexamined in light of more modern taxonomic concepts and standards of quality for type material. Reexamination of type specimens of H. similis Walcott from the Lower Cambrian of Newfoundland, H. whitei Resser from the Lower Cambrian of Nevada, H. billingsi Walcott from the Lower Cambrian of Nevada, H. gallatinensis Resser from the Upper Cambrian of Wyoming, and H. partitus Resser from the Middle Cambrian of Alabama indicates that none of these species represents Hyolithes. Hyolithes similis is here included under the new genus Similotheca, in the new family Similothecidae. Hyolithes whitei is designated as the type species of the new genus Nevadotheca, to which H. billingsi may also belong. Hyolithes gallatinensis is referred to Burithes Missarzhevsky with question, and H. partitus may represent Joachimilites Marek. The type or types of H. attenuatus Walcott, H. cecrops Walcott, H. comptus Howell, H. cowanensis Resser, H. curticei Resser, H. idahoensis Resser, H. prolixus Resser, H. resseri Howell, H. shaleri Walcott, H. terranovicus Walcott, and H. wanneri Resser and Howell lack shells and/or other taxonomically important features such as a complete aperture, rendering the diagnoses of these species incomplete. Their names should only be used for the type specimens until better preserved topotypes become available for study. Morphology of the types of H.? corrugatus Walcott and “Orthotheca” sola Resser does not support placement in the Hyolitha; the affinities of these species are uncertain.

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