scholarly journals Ovipositor and mouthparts in a fossil insect support a novel ecological role for early orthopterans in Pennsylvanian forests

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Chen ◽  
Jun-Jie Gu ◽  
Qiang Yang ◽  
Dong Ren ◽  
Alexander Blanke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Geometric Morphometrics ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Uptake System ◽  
Ecological Role ◽  
Food Uptake ◽  
Fossil Insect ◽  
Early Diversification ◽  
Plant Foliage ◽  
Recent Species

Lobeattid insects represented a high portion of the earliest known, Pennsylvanian insect faunas. However, their systematic affinities and their role as foliage feeders which severely influenced their ecosystems remain debated. We investigated hundreds of samples of a new lobeattid species from the Xiaheyan locality using Reflectance Transforming Imaging combined with geometric morphometrics in order to assess its morphology, infer its ecological role, and phylogenetic position. Ctenoptilus frequens sp. nov. possessed a sword-shaped ovipositor whose valves interlocked by two ball-and-socket mechanisms. This unambiguously supports lobeattids as stem-relatives of all Orthoptera (crickets, grasshoppers, katydids). Given the herein presented and other remains, it follows that this group experienced an early diversification coupled with high levels of abundance. The ovipositor shape additionally indicates that ground was the preferred substrate for eggs. Visible mouthparts made it possible to assess the efficiency of the mandibular food uptake system in comparison to a wide array of recent species. The new species was omnivorous which explains the paucity of external damage on contemporaneous plant foliage.

scholarly journals Ovipositor and mouthparts in a fossil insect support a novel ecological role for early orthopterans in 300 million years old forests

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Chen ◽  
Jun-Jie Gu ◽  
Qiang Yang ◽  
Dong Ren ◽  
Alexander Blanke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Wing Venation ◽  
Uptake System ◽  
Ecological Role ◽  
Insect Fauna ◽  
Fossil Insect ◽  
Early Diversification ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
Plant Foliage

A high portion of the earliest known insect fauna is composed of the so-called ‘lobeattid insects’, whose systematic affinities and role as foliage feeders remain debated. We investigated hundreds of samples of a new lobeattid species from the Xiaheyan locality using a combination of photographic techniques, including reflectance transforming imaging, geometric morphometrics, and biomechanics to document its morphology, and infer its phylogenetic position and ecological role. Ctenoptilus frequens sp. nov. possessed a sword-shaped ovipositor with valves interlocked by two ball-and-socket mechanisms, lacked jumping hind-legs, and certain wing venation features. This combination of characters unambiguously supports lobeattids as stem relatives of all living Orthoptera (crickets, grasshoppers, katydids). Given the herein presented and other remains, it follows that this group experienced an early diversification and, additionally, occurred in high individual numbers. The ovipositor shape indicates that ground was the preferred substrate for eggs. Visible mouthparts made it possible to assess the efficiency of the mandibular food uptake system in comparison to a wide array of extant species. The new species was likely omnivorous which explains the paucity of external damage on contemporaneous plant foliage.

Paepalanthus fabianeae (Eriocaulaceae): A New Microendemic Species from a Morphologically Coherent Clade

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 794-801
Author(s):  
Caroline Oliveira Andrino ◽  
Marcelo Fragomeni Simon ◽  
Jair Eustáquio Quintino Faria ◽  
André Luiz da Costa Moreira ◽  
Paulo Takeo Sano
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Infrageneric Classification ◽  
Espinhaço Range ◽  
Nuclear Its ◽  
Two Populations

Abstract—We describe and illustrate Paepalanthus fabianeae, a new species of Eriocaulaceae from the central portion of the Espinhaço Range in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Previous phylogenetic evidence based on analyses of nuclear (ITS and ETS) and plastid (trnL-trnF and psba-trnH) sequences revealed P. fabianeae as belonging to a strongly supported and morphologically coherent clade containing five other species, all of them microendemic, restricted to the Espinhaço range. Due to the infrageneric classification of Paepalanthus being highly artificial, we preferred not assigning P. fabianeae to any infrageneric group. Paepalanthus fabianeae is known from two populations growing in campos rupestres (highland rocky fields) in the meridional Espinhaço Range. The species is characterized by pseudodichotomously branched stems, small, linear, recurved, and reflexed leaves, urceolate capitula, and bifid stigmas. Illustrations, photos, the phylogenetic position, and a detailed description, as well as comments on habitat, morphology, and affinities with similar species are provided. The restricted area of occurrence allied with threats to the quality of the habitat, mainly due to quartzite mining, justifies the preliminary classification of the new species in the Critically Endangered (CR) category using the guidelines and criteria of the IUCN Red List.

A new species of lambdarina (rhynchonellida, brachiopoda) from the viséan of central sudetes (Poland) and its phylogenetic position

2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolanta Muszer
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Morphological Features ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Tropical Waters ◽  
Marginal Seas ◽  
Sw Poland ◽  
A New Species

Abstract A new species of micromorphic articulate brachiopod (Rhynchonellida) Lambdarina jugowiensis sp. nov., from the upper Visean (Sokolec Beds) of central Sudetes, SW Poland, is described. The studied specimens are calcified, what makes them unique in respect of their state of preservation. The material is represented by a full range of growth stages; from brephic to gerontic. Based on its morphological features and the palaeogeographical distribution of all its known species, two main evolutionary lines are proposed for the genus; the Australian and the European ones. Lambdarina was widely distributed in the equatorial-tropical waters of marginal seas of the Palaeotethys Ocean, mostly during Mississippian time.

Soil and litter nematode diversity of Mount Hamiguitan, the Philippines, with description of Bicirronema hamiguitanense n. sp. (Rhabditida: Bicirronematidae)

Nematology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Qing ◽  
Wim Bert ◽  
Hanne Steel ◽  
Joeseph Quisado ◽  
Irma Tandingan De Ley
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Species Status ◽  
Diagnostic Features ◽  
Lateral Field ◽  
Nematode Diversity ◽  
Common Group

The nematode diversity in soil and litter was investigated on Mount Hamiguitan, the Philippines, along four eco-habitats from elevations of 75-1600 m a.s.l. A total of 155 and 467 nematodes were identified to 39 and 62 genera from litter and soil, respectively. The nematode assemblages and diversity did not show any relation to eco-habitat or elevation. Bacterivorous nematodes were the most common group (37.5%). Acrobeloides was most abundant from the soil and Aphelenchoides from the litter. Bicirronema hamiguitanense n. sp. is herein described based on morphology, morphometrics and molecular data. The new species has the following diagnostic features: a wide lateral field one-fifth of its body diam. with four incisures forming two ornamented ridges; gubernaculum with proximal thickening; spicules (35-38 μm) and gubernaculum (18-20 μm) longer than B. caledoniense; and with 37 molecular autapomorphies supporting its new species status. The phylogenetic position of the new species within Cephalobomorpha is discussed.

Biodiversity in the Andean Mountains: Two new rain frogs of the genus Pristimantis (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the northern Cordillera Central in Colombia

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5040 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-364
Author(s):  
MAURICIO RIVERA-CORREA ◽  
GUSTAVO A. GONZÁLEZ-DURÁN ◽  
ANA M. SALDARRIAGA-GÓMEZ ◽  
SEBASTIÁN DUARTE-MARÍN
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Species Delimitation ◽  
Intraspecific Diversity ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Diversity Studies ◽  
First Time ◽  
Central Cordillera

Frequent biodiversity sampling and monitoring programs often lead to relevant taxonomic findings. Here, as a product of different field expeditions to two places in the northern Andes, we discover and describe two new species of rain frogs of the genus Pristimantis from the cloud forests of the Central Cordillera of Colombia. Pristimantis chocolatebari sp. nov. is diagnosed by having the following character states: dentigerous process of vomer triangular, snout large and protruding, dorsum smooth, vocal slits and vocal sac present, groin and hidden part of the thighs yellow. Pristimantis carylae sp. nov. is diagnosed by having iris copper red, dentigerous process of vomer oval, snout short and rounded, dorsum finely shagreen with scattered tubercles, double nuptial pad in males, groin and hidden part of thighs pink. We also infer, for the first time, the phylogenetic position of P. permixtus, P. platychilus, and two candidate new species. In addition, we emphasize not to use genetic distance as the only source of evidence for species delimitation, considering the high intraspecific diversity found in one of the species described here. Finally, we highlight the relevance of different habitat and ecosystem conservation strategies to promote amphibian diversity studies in the Andes.  

Another New Bent-toed Gecko, genus Cyrtodactylus Gray 1837 (Squamata: Gekkonidae), from Borneo

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5026 (2) ◽  
pp. 286-300
Author(s):  
AWAL RIYANTO ◽  
MUHAMMAD ALIF FAUZI ◽  
IRVAN SIDIK ◽  
MUMPUNI ◽  
MOHAMMAD IRHAM ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Dorsal Surface ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
Upper Arm ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Dorsal Tubercle

To reveal the diversity of Indonesian bent-toed geckos, we pay attention to Kalimantan (Borneo)—an island which has received less attention than other Indonesian islands such as Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, the Moluccas, and the Lesser Sunda archipelagos. About 30 years after Hikida (1990) described three new Cyrtodactylus from Borneo, four more species were described, namely C. limajalur and C. muluensis in 2019, and C. hantu and C. miriensis in 2021, all by Davis et al. Through examination of the collection at MZB and three addition specimens collected from Tawau, we found several undescribed species, one of which we describe here. This new species is easily differentiated from all other congeners by the combination of the following characters: maximum SVL of at least 65.8 mm; no tubercles on dorsal surface of upper arm; tubercles present in the ventrolateral body folds; 28–30 paravertebral tubercles; 17–20 longitudinal dorsal tubercle rows; 39–46 ventral scale rows at midbody; 17–19 subdigital lamellae on fourth toe; precloacal pit with 5–7 pores in males arranged in a wide Λ-shape but absent in females; no enlarged transverse median subcaudals; paired dark brown semilunar-shaped markings on the upper nape. Further study is needed to reveal its molecular phylogenetic position and biogeographical history.  

New genus and new species of Pentatomidae from Borneo (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4958 (1) ◽  
pp. 560-569
Author(s):  
MARCOS ROCA-CUSACHS ◽  
DAVID. A. RIDER ◽  
SUNGHOON JUNG
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Structure Comparison ◽  
Or Groups ◽  
Two New Species

A new genus, Graziasternum gen. nov., with two new species, Graziasternum graziae sp. nov. and Graziasternum joceliae sp. nov. are described. According to external thoracic and genital structures, this new genus is considered to be the closest extant relative known to the genus Placosternum Amyot & Serville. Discussion of its possible phylogenetic position based on structure comparison, with the discussion on the importance of the characteristics of the thoracic sterna, the genital structures with other genera or groups of genera that share similar structures is given. Additionally, the two new species are keyed and illustrated. 

No longer endemic to Africa: Kribiodosis Kieffer, 1921 (Diptera, Chironomidae) new to Oriental China with a phylogeny and expanded adult generic diagnoses

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5072 (6) ◽  
pp. 560-574
Author(s):  
WU HAN ◽  
JIE LIU ◽  
YIFAN LUO ◽  
HONGQU TANG
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Generic Diagnosis ◽  
Likelihood Methods ◽  
Core Member ◽  
Maximum Likelihood Methods ◽  
African Genus

Kribiodosis Kieffer, 1921, an African genus of Chironomini (Diptera: Chironomidae), is newly recorded from the Oriental region through a new species K. cantonensis sp. n. Detailed descriptions of the male, female and a DNA barcode are provided. With the inclusion of the new species bearing scutal tubercle and fused tibial comb, the generic diagnosis needs revision and expansion. The phylogenetic position of Kribiodosis within the tribe Chironomini is explored based on five concatenated genetic makers (18S, 28S, CAD1, CAD4 and COI-3P) using both mixed-model Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods. Kribiodosis is placed as a core member of the Microtendipes group but its precise sister group remains unclear. Inclusion of the analysis of Nilodosis Kieffer, another Chironomini genus with an African-Oriental distribution, reveals an unexpected robust position as sister to a large and diverse inclusive group of many Chironomini.  

Phylogenetic approaches reveal a new sterile lichen in the genus Loxospora (Sarrameanales, Ascomycota) in Poland

Phytotaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 348 (3) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
BEATA GUZOW-KRZEMIŃSKA ◽  
ANNA ŁUBEK ◽  
DARIUSZ KUBIAK ◽  
EMILIA OSSOWSKA ◽  
MARTIN KUKWA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Molecular Approaches

Loxospora cristinae sp. nov. is a sterile corticolous lichen characterized by sorediate, thin, smooth, folded, cracked-areolate and non-verruculose to partly verruculose thalli, soralia soon becoming confluent and the production of 2’-O-methylperlatolic acid. The new species is similar to the recently described L. assateaguensis and L. confusa, which are also sterile and contain 2’-O-methylperlatolic acid. Loxospora assateaguensis can be readily distinguished from the new species by the thallus, which is distinctly verruculose almost from the edge and pustular, and the circular soralia developing apically on the thalline verrucae, and from L. confusa by the presence of granular isidia. The distinction of all three species and their phylogenetic position are also corroborated by molecular approaches using mtSSU and ITS markers. The new species has been found so far only in well preserved forests in Poland.

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