scholarly journals A new genus and species of eomysticetid (Cetacea: Mysticeti) and a reinterpretation of ‘Mauicetus’ lophocephalus Marples, 1956: transitional baleen whales from the upper Oligocene of New Zealand

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Boessenecker ◽  
R. Ewan Fordyce

The early evolution of toothless baleen whales (Chaeomysticeti) remains elusive despite a robust record of Eocene-Oligocene archaeocetes and toothed mysticetes. Eomysticetids, a group of archaic longirostrine and putatively toothless baleen whales fill in a crucial morphological gap between well-known toothed mysticetes and more crownward Neogene Mysticeti. A historically important but perplexing cetacean is “Mauicetus” lophocephalus (upper Oligocene South Island, New Zealand). The discovery of new skulls and skeletons of eomysticetids from the Oligocene Kokoamu Greensand and Otekaike Limestone permit a redescription and modern reinterpretation of “Mauicetus” lophocephalus, and indicating that this species may have retained adult teeth. A new genus and species, Tokarahia kauaeroa, is erected on the basis of a well-preserved subadult to adult skull with mandibles, tympanoperiotics, and cervical and thoracic vertebrae, ribs, sternum, and forelimbs from the Otekaike Limestone (>25.2 Ma). “Mauicetus” lophocephalus is relatively similar and recombined as Tokarahia lophocephalus. Phylogenetic analysis supports inclusion of Tokarahia within the Eomysticetidae alongside Eomysticetus, Micromysticetus, Yamatocetus, and Tohoraata, and strongly supports monophyly of Eomysticetidae. Tokarahia lacked extreme rostral kinesis of extant Mysticeti and primitively retained a delicate archaeocete-like posterior mandible and synovial temporomandibular joint, suggesting that Tokarahia was capable of at most, limited lunge feeding in contrast to extant Balaenopteridae, and utilized an alternative as-yet unspecified feeding strategy.

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2773 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER K. TAYLOR

A morphological phylogenetic analysis is conducted of Australasian harvestmen previously included in the family Monoscutidae. Monophyly of Monoscutidae is not supported, and the subfamilies Monoscutinae and Megalopsalidinae are synonymised with the South American subfamily Enantiobuninae. Monoscutidae is re-synonymised with the family Neopilionidae. The analysis also demonstrates the polyphyly of species previously assigned to the genus Megalopsalis. Megalopsalis epizephyros new species, M. eremiotis new species, M. leptekes new species and M. pilliga new species are described and M. serritarsus and M. hoggi are redescribed, all from Australia. Hypomegalopsalis tanisphyros new genus and species is described from Western Australia. Megalopsalis linnaei is transferred to Tercentenarium new genus. Forsteropsalis new genus is established to include species from New Zealand (including Auckland Island): Macropsalis chiltoni (type species), Pantopsalis distincta, Macropsalis fabulosa, Pantopsalis grayi, Megalopsalis grimmetti, Megalopsalis inconstans, Megalopsalis marplesi, Megalopsalis nigra and Pantopsalis wattsi.


2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 695-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Jiménez-Sánchez ◽  
Robert L. Anstey ◽  
Beatriz Azanza

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adele H. Pentland ◽  
Stephen F. Poropat ◽  
Travis R. Tischler ◽  
Trish Sloan ◽  
Robert A. Elliott ◽  
...  

Abstract The Australian pterosaur record is poor by world standards, comprising fewer than 20 fragmentary specimens. Herein, we describe the new genus and species Ferrodraco lentoni gen. et sp. nov., based on the most complete pterosaur specimen ever found in Australia, and the first reported from the Winton Formation (Cenomanian–lower Turonian). The presence of premaxillary and mandibular crests, and spike-shaped teeth with subcircular bases, enable Ferrodraco to be referred to Anhangueria. Ferrodraco can be distinguished from all other anhanguerian pterosaurs based on two dental characters: the first premaxillary and mandibular tooth pairs are small; and the fourth–seventh tooth pairs are smaller than the third and eighth ones. Ferrodraco was included in a phylogenetic analysis of Pterosauria and resolved as the sister taxon to Mythunga camara (upper Albian Toolebuc Formation, Australia), with that clade occupying the most derived position within Ornithocheiridae. Ornithocheirus simus (Albian Cambridge Greensand, England), Coloborhynchus clavirostris (Valanginian Hastings Sands, England), and Tropeognathus mesembrinus (upper Aptian–lower Albian Romualdo Formation, Brazil) were resolved as successive sister taxa, which suggests that ornithocheirids were cosmopolitan during the Albian–Cenomanian. Furthermore, the stratigraphic age of Ferrodraco lentoni (Cenomanian–lower Turonian) implies that anhanguerians might have survived later in Australia than elsewhere.


Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3534 (1) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
JELLE S. ZIJLSTRA

A collection of 17 isolated rodent molars from a cave in the eastern part of Duivelsklip, Curaçao, Dutch West Indies, isdescribed as Dushimys larsi, new genus and species. The new species is characterized by relatively large size, broad mo-lars, absence of mesolophid and presence of anterolophid and anterolabial cingulum on m3, absence of metaloph on M3,and m2 with three roots. Phylogenetic analysis could not conclusively resolve the position of the new species, and it isprovisionally regarded as a representative of an otherwise unknown oryzomyine genus. The material is likely middle Pleistocene in age.


Nematology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerrie Davies ◽  
Zeng Qi Zhao ◽  
Brett Alexander ◽  
Ian Riley

AbstractA new genus and species of anguinid nematode, Litylenchus coprosma gen. n., sp. n., was recovered from leaves of Coprosma repens A. Rich. from an amenity planting in Wellington, New Zealand. The genus is characterised by having slender males and slender or semi-obese females, pharynx with a weak non-muscular median bulb, a terminal bulb containing the pharyngeal glands, female with a single gonad having a quadricolumella and post-uterine sac; male with arcuate spicules and the bursa arising 1-2 anal body diam. anterior to the cloacal aperture and extending nearly to the tail tip, and does not induce galls, only foliar chlorosis. The species is characterised by having a short, robust stylet with conus forming ca 40% of stylet length and three well developed rounded knobs, secretory/excretory pore opening posterior to the nerve ring, terminal bulb abutting the intestine, and tail tip of variable form. Molecular phylogeny of near full length small subunit, D2/D3 expansion segments of the large subunit and internal transcribed spacer rRNA genes support the description of L. coprosma gen. n., sp. n. as a new genus and species.


1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 1397 ◽  
Author(s):  
HES Clark ◽  
DG McKnight

Damnaster tasmani, gen. et sp. nov., belonging in the deep-water asteroid family Porcellanasteridae, is described from five stations (nine specimens) to the west of New Zealand, between 35° and 46° S, 156° and 167° E, in depths of 1647 - 4868 m.


Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1118 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
LIZA GOMEZ-DAGLIO ◽  
ROBERT VAN SYOC

A new genus and species, Lissaclita melaniae (Tetraclitidae), is described from the Gulf of California, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Lissaclita has a secondarily divided single row of parietal tubes without septa, lack of tubes in the radii, diametric shell growth, and a membranous basis. This combination of characters does not agree with any currently described subfamily within the Tetraclitidae. Lacking a detailed phylogenetic analysis of the entire family, we place the new genus in the Tetraclitidae without assigning it to a subfamily.


Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1461 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
SERGEY A. BELOKOBYLSKIJ ◽  
ALEJANDRO ZALDIVAR-RIVERÓN ◽  
VIRGINIA LEÓN-REGAGNON ◽  
DONALD L.J. QUICKE

A new genus and species of Lysitermini, Atritermus pedestris Belokobylskij, Zaldivar-Riverón & Quicke, are described from Madagascar. The taxonomic placement of the new genus within Lysiterminae is discussed based on a phylogenetic analysis using 28S rDNA gene sequences. A key to world genera of Lysitermini is provided.Un nuevo género y especie de Lysitermini, Atritermus pedestris Belokobylskij, Zaldivar-Riverón & Quicke, son descritos para Madagascar. La ubicación taxonómica del nuevo género dentro de Lysiterminae es discutida con base en un análisis filogenético usando secuencias del gen ribosomal 28S. Se presenta una clave para los géneros de Lysitermini del mundo.


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