Taxonomic review of two fossil crocodylians from the Cenozoic of South America and its implications for the crocodylian fauna of the continent

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4656 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-486
Author(s):  
GIOVANNE M. CIDADE ◽  
DANIEL FORTIER ◽  
ASCANIO DANIEL RINCÓN ◽  
ANNIE SCHMALTZ HSIOU
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Junior Synonym ◽  
Diverse Group ◽  
Taxonomic Review ◽  
Nomen Dubium ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
The World

The crocodylomorph fauna of the Cenozoic of South America is one of the richest and most diverse in the world. The most diverse group within that fauna is Alligatoroidea, with nearly all of its species belonging to the Caimaninae clade. Many of the fossil alligatoroid species from the Cenozoic of South America were proposed based on very incomplete remains, and as a result their validity requires revision. Two such species are Balanerodus logimus Langston, 1965, from the middle Miocene of Colombia and Peru, and Caiman venezuelensis Fortier & Rincón, 2012, from the Pliocene-Pleistocene of Venezuela. This study has performed a thorough review of the taxonomic status of these two alligatoroid species, concluding that B. logimus is a nomen dubium and that Ca. venezuelensis is a junior synonym of the extant species Ca. crocodilus. This review offers a significantly more accurate scenario for alligatoroid diversity in the Cenozoic of South America in different epochs such as the Miocene and Pleistocene. Additionally, the record of Ca. crocodilus from the Pleistocene of Venezuela is the first fossil record that can be assigned to this species. 

On the validity and taxonomic status of Crypturellus obsoletus griseiventris (Salvadori, 1895) and C. o. hypochraceus (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1938) (Aves, Tinamidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4951 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-341
Author(s):  
VITOR GOMES ◽  
LUÍS FÁBIO SILVEIRA
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Junior Synonym ◽  
Taxonomic Review ◽  
Full Species ◽  
Morphological Diagnosis ◽  
Obsoletus Complex

The nine currently recognized subspecies in the Brown Tinamou (Crypturellus obsoletus) complex are disjunctly widespread in South America, and at least three of them occur in Brazil. Morphological diagnosis of most of these taxa is imprecise, in contrast with consistent vocal differences described in the literature. We conducted a taxonomic review of two Amazonian taxa, C. o. griseiventris and C. o. hypochraceus, using morphological, morphometric, and vocal characters. Our results indicate that C. o. hypochraceus (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1938) is a junior synonym of C. o. griseiventris (Salvadori, 1895), and that Crypturellus griseiventris (Salvadori, 1895) must be treated as a full species, based on unique and fully diagnosable plumage and vocal patterns. 

Taxonomic review of Epicadinus Simon, 1895 (Araneae: Thomisidae) 

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4459 (2) ◽  
pp. 201 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDRÉ WANDERLEY DO PRADO ◽  
RENNER LUIZ CERQUEIRA BAPTISTA ◽  
MIGUEL MACHADO
Keyword(s):  
French Guiana ◽  
The Other ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Variable Size ◽  
Size And Shape ◽  
Taxonomic Review ◽  
Nomen Dubium ◽  
The World ◽  
Senior Synonym

The genus Epicadinus Simon, 1895 can easily be distinguished from the other Neotropical Stephanopines by their abundant and robust setiferous tubercles, topped by elongated macrosetae, which cover most of the tegument. Additionally, the genus can be recognized by a pair of conical ocular mounds above the ALE, the anterior eye row very recurved, posterior one slightly procurved; carapace flattened and without tubercles, and opisthosoma with three conical projections (“tubercles”) of variable size and shape. This work is a taxonomic review of the 12 valid species of Epicadinus as listed in version 19 of the World Spider Catalogue (2018), whose hitherto known distribution included few records from Brazil, French Guiana, Bolivia and Peru, and only one from Mexico. Four valid species are recognized: Epicadinus biocellatus Mello-Leitão, 1929; E. trispinosus (Taczanowski, 1872) [with two junior synonyms E. trifidus (Pickard-Cambridge, 1893) syn. nov. and E. cornutus (Taczanowski, 1872) syn. nov.]; E. spinipes (Blackwall, 1862) [with two junior synonyms E. albimaculatus Mello-Leitão, 1929 syn. nov. and E. gavensis Soares, 1946 syn. nov]; and E. villosus [with two junior synonyms E. helenae Piza, 1936 syn. nov. and E. marmoratus Mello-Leitão, 1947 syn. nov.]. Epicadinus polyophthalmus Mello-Leitão, 1929 and Epicadinus tuberculatus Petrunkevitch, 1910 are transferred to Epicadus. Epicadus polyophthalmus (Mello-Leitão, 1929) comb. nov. is considered a nomen dubium. Epicadus tuberculatus (Petrunkevitch, 1910) comb. nov. is a senior synonym of Epicadus pustulosus (Mello-Leitão, 1929) syn. nov. 

Basilotritus uheni, a new cetacean (Cetacea, Basilosauridae) from the late middle Eocene of eastern Europe

2013 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavel Gol'din ◽  
Evgenij Zvonok
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
South America ◽  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Middle Eocene ◽  
World Ocean ◽  
Diverse Group ◽  
The World ◽  
Nomina Dubia

A new basal basilosaurid cetacean, Basilotritus uheni n. gen. n. sp., comes from the late middle Eocene (Bartonian) of Ukraine. It is the earliest dated record of a cetacean from Eastern Europe. The tympanic bulla of Basilotritus uheni shares basilosaurid synapomorphies but possesses unusual traits inherited from protocetids. Cetaceans related to Basilotritus uheni and referred to as Eocetus or “Eocetus” have been recorded from Africa, Europe, North America and South America. “Eocetus” wardii from North America is recombined as Basilotritus wardii. Platyosphys paulsonii and Platyosphys einori from Ukraine are considered as nomina dubia; specimens prior referred to as Platyosphys sp. are similar or related to Basilotritus. Other records of the Eocene cetaceans from Ukraine and south Russia are identified as Basilotritus or related genera. Early basilosaurids are demonstrated to be a paraphyletic, morphologically and geographically diverse group of the genera that colonized the world ocean as late as in Bartonian age and were probably the ancestors of Neoceti, as well as of more derived basilosaurids.

THE BIOGEOGRAPHY OF CANADIAN GRYLLOPTERA AND ORTHOPTERA

1989 ◽  
Vol 121 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 389-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.R. Vickery
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Neotropical Region ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Land Bridge ◽  
Recent Immigrants ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
The World ◽  
Land Mass ◽  
Orthopteroid Insects

AbstractThe saltatorial orthopteroid insects did not originate in North America. Five avenues of entry were utilized in migration from other parts of the world. These were: (1) ancestral forms migrated to this region in Pangaean times when all continents formed a single land mass; (2) later in time, taxa migrated from Europe when Eurasia and North America were still joined, or later via an Atlantic land bridge; (3) ancestral forms migrated northward from the Neotropical region before the separation of the two continents or, much later, when the two continents became rejoined; (4) later arriving taxa entered North America during the Pleistocene via a Beringian land bridge; (5) some species are very recent immigrants, either because of the activities of man or by migration into Canadian territory from the south.The fossil record is very incomplete. It indicates past climatic conditions, but is of limited assistance concerning extant taxa.Pleistocene glaciation had a profound effect upon the distribution of extant species. Many species were forced to move southward to escape the advancing ice. Some species probably were eliminated. It is clear that most of the extant species have migrated northward since the recession of the Wisconsin glacier.

scholarly journals The first fossil skull of an anteater (Vermilingua, Myrmecophagidae) from northern South America, a taxonomic reassessment of Neotamandua and a discussion of the myrmecophagid diversification

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Jiménez-Lara ◽  
Jhon González
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
South American ◽  
Ecological Constraints ◽  
History Of ◽  
Northern South America ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
History Of The South ◽  
Species Inquirendae

AbstractThe evolutionary history of the South American anteaters, Vermilingua, is incompletely known as consequence of the fragmentary and geographically biased nature of the fossil record of this group. Neotamandua borealis is the only recorded extinct species from northern South America, specifically from the Middle Miocene of La Venta area, southwestern Colombia. A new genus and species of myrmecophagid for La Venta, Gen. et sp. nov., is here described based on a new partial skull. Additionally, given that the co-occurrent species of Gen. et sp. nov., N. borealis, was originally referred to as Neotamandua, the taxonomic status of this genus is revised. The morphological and taxonomic analyses of these taxa indicate that Gen. et sp. nov. may be related to Tamandua and that the justification of the generic assignments of the species referred to as Neotamandua is weak or insufficient. Two species previously referred to as Neotamandua (N. magna and N.? australis) were designated as species inquirendae and new diagnostic information for the redefined genus and its type species, N. conspicua, is provided. Together, these results suggest that the diversification of Myrmecophagidae was taxonomically and biogeographically more complex than what has been proposed so far. Considering the new evidence, it is proposed a synthetic model on the diversification of these xenartrans during the late Cenozoic based on the probable relationships between their intrinsic ecological constraints and some major abiotic changes in the Americas.

The taxonomic status of Merychippus insignis Leidy

1986 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 1277-1280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Evander
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Type Specimen ◽  
Ancestral Group ◽  
The Many

The genus Merychippus was erected by Leidy (1857), who named as the type species Merychippus insignis. The type specimen of M. insignis is an immature and incomplete maxilla containing a broken dp2 and a dp3. The type comes from the Bijou Hills of South Dakota, probably from the Barstovian (middle Miocene) Fort Randall Formation of South Bijou Hill in Charles Mix County (Skinner and Taylor, 1967), but possibly from the overlying undifferentiated Ogallala Formation, or possibly from North Bijou Hill in Brule County. Despite this enigmatic type, the species M. insignis has frequently been identified in the fossil record, and the genus Merychippus has grown to include all mesodont horses (Stirton, 1940). Conceptually, the taxon Merychippus is considered a horizontal grade rather than a vertical clade (Simpson, 1945, p. 18). As a horizontal concept, the genus Merychippus derived importance as the ancestral group for the many Mio-Pliocene lineages of hypsodont horses. Today, as horse classification is remodeled along cladistic lines, the taxon Merychippus derives importance from its early naming. Several distinctive horse clades extend upward from a middle Miocene radiation (Stirton, 1940; Quinn, 1955). If M. insignis can be placed within one of these clades, then it is likely that the clade will bear the generic nomen Merychippus because of the antiquity of the name.

scholarly journals Middle Miocene Uruguaytheriinae (Mammalia, Astrapotheria) from Peruvian Amazonia and a review of the astrapotheriid fossil record in northern South America

Geodiversitas ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyrielle Goillot ◽  
Pierre-Olivier Antoine ◽  
Julia Tejada ◽  
François Pujos ◽  
Rodolfo Salas Gismondi
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Northern South America ◽  
Peruvian Amazonia

Symplocos Fruits from the Pliocene of Colombia

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 416-421
Author(s):  
Steven R. Manchester ◽  
Terry A. Lott ◽  
Fabiany Herrera ◽  
Henry Hooghiemstra ◽  
Vincent M. Wijninga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
South America ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Late Eocene ◽  
The North ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Voucher Specimens ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic Data ◽  
Key Characters

Abstract— Fossil fruits of Symplocos (Ericales: Symplocaceae) are here recognized from the Pliocene of Guasca, Colombia, based on specimens formerly attributed to Cordia (Cordiaceae, Boraginales). Symplocos vera (Berry) comb. nov. is represented by 19 lignitized fruits. The fossils are recognized as belonging to Symplocos primarily by their woody endocarps that are apically truncate and that possess 3 to 5 apical germination pores and locules, and a central vascular canal extending the length of the endocarp. In several key characters they are highly congruent with the endocarps of the extant Neotropical clade S. ser. Symplocos. Some of the extant species in the series are variably 3- to 5-locular; 4-locular endocarps are otherwise rare in Symplocos, and 5-locular endocarps appear to be unique to this series. Symplocos vera is the only specifically named record of fossil Symplocos fruits with accessible voucher specimens from South America. The younger Neogene age of the fossils relative to those attributed to S. ser. Symplocos from the late Eocene of Texas, along with a report of Colombian fossil endocarps from the middle Miocene, supports the North America to South America migration inferred for this clade from molecular phylogenetic data.

Taxonomic status of some species of Aspidostomatidae (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata) from the Oligocene and Miocene of Patagonia (Argentina)

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 432-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandro M. Pérez ◽  
Juan López-Gappa ◽  
Miguel Griffin
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Early Miocene ◽  
New Combination ◽  
Late Oligocene ◽  
Santa Cruz ◽  
New Material

AbstractThe bryozoan genus Aspidostoma Hincks, 1881 has been regarded as the only representative of the Aspidostomatidae Jullien, 1888 in Argentina to date. Its type species, Aspidostoma giganteum (Busk, 1854), is presently distributed in the Magellanic Region (Argentina and Chile) and has been recorded in Oligocene and Miocene fossil deposits of Santa Cruz and Chubut, respectively. New material from San Julián (late Oligocene), Monte León (early Miocene), Chenque (early to middle Miocene), and Puerto Madryn (late Miocene) formations suggests, however, that A. giganteum is not represented in the fossil record. Material from Puerto Madryn Formation previously regarded as A. giganteum is here recognized as Aspidostoma roveretoi new species. Aspidostoma ortmanni Canu, 1904 is revalidated for the species from the San Julián Formation. Aspidostoma armatum new species and Aspidostoma tehuelche new species are introduced for material from the Monte León and Chenque formations, respectively. Aspidostoma incrustans Canu, 1908, from the early Miocene, is redescribed. Melychocella Gordon and Taylor, 1999, which differs from Aspidostoma in having vicarious avicularia and lacking a median ridge and a quadrangular process proximal to the opesia-orifice, is so far represented by three Paleogene species from the Chatham Islands (Southwest Pacific). The material from Monte León allowed us to transfer Aspidostoma flammulum Canu, 1908 to Melychocella, resulting in the new combination Melychocella flammula (Canu, 1908). Melychocella biperforata new species is described from the lower Miocene Monte León and Chenque formations. The presence of Melychocella in the Neogene of Patagonia extends its geographic distribution and its temporal range.UUID: http://zoobank.org/d84df2d8-cab2-4e74-82b8-7c67d938a58f

scholarly journals Valanginian occurrence of Pelomedusoides turtles in northern South America: revision of this hypothesis based on a new fossil remain

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9810
Author(s):  
Edwin-Alberto Cadena
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Early Cretaceous ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Diverse Group ◽  
Fossil Remains ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Northern South America ◽  
Phylogenetic Hypotheses

Pelomedusoides constitutes the most diverse group of Mesozoic and Cenozoic side-necked turtles. However, when it originated is still being poorly known and controversial. Fossil remains from the Early Cretaceous (Valanginian) Rosa Blanca Formation of Colombia were described almost a decade ago as potentially belonging to Podocnemidoidea (a large subclade inside Pelomedusoides) and representing one of the earliest records of this group of turtles. Here, I revise this hypothesis based on a new fragmentary specimen from the Rosa Blanca Formation, represented by a right portion of the shell bridge, including the mesoplastron and most of peripherals 5 to 7. The equidimensional shape of the mesoplatron allows me to support its attribution as belonging to Pelomedusoides, a group to which the previously podocnemidoid material is also attributed here. Although the Valanginian pelomesudoid material from Colombia is still too fragmentary as to be considered the earliest indisputable record of the Pelomedusoides clade, their occurrence is at least in agreement with current molecular phylogenetic hypotheses that suggest they split from Chelidae during the Jurassic and should occur in the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous fossil record.

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