scholarly journals Brittle stars from the Lower Cretaceous of Patagonia: first ophiuroid articulated remains for the Mesozoic of South America

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 421
Author(s):  
Diana Fernández ◽  
Luciana Giachetti ◽  
Sabine Stöhr ◽  
Ben Thuy ◽  
Damián Pérez ◽  
...  

The first articulated remains of ophiuroids for the Mesozoic of South America are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Neuquén Basin, Argentina. The taxonomic analysis allows the assignment of the material described herein to the extinct genus Ophiopetra. The specimens belong to a new species, but considering the poor preservation, a new name is not introduced, as it would be based on an incomplete diagnosis. Certain characteristics (e.g., the diameter of the disc, the width/height ratio of the vertebrae) suggest that these ophiuroids are paedomorphic specimens. In light of the latest classification of the Ophiuroidea, and new insights on the spine articulation microstructure of Ophiopetra lithographica presented herein, a transfer of Ophiopetra to the family Ophionereididae within the order Amphilepidida is proposed. This material expands the palaeogeographic record of this genus, since it represents the first remains of Ophiopetra described in the Southern Hemisphere. It is also the first Cretaceous record of the genus worldwide.

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 027-029
Author(s):  
YU-MING LIU ◽  
DI-YING HUANG

Ptychopteridae is an ancient and rather diverse nematoceran family with three extant and 12 fossil genera subdivided into 80 extinct species belonging to five subfamilies (Eskov & Lukashevich, 2015; Lukashevich, 2019, 2020; Liu & Huang, 2020). Several undescribed ptychopterid larvae from the Upper Triassic of Germany represent the oldest record of the family (Barth et al., 2011). Crenoptychoptera Kalugina, 1985, an extinct genus belonging to the subfamily Eoptychopterinae Handlirsch, 1906, includes seven described species. All these species were recorded from the Lower Jurassic to the Lower Cretaceous of Eurasia: C. dobbertinensis Ansorge, 1998 from the Lower Jurassic of the Former Clay in Germany (Lukashevich et al., 1998), C. conspecta Lukashevich, 1995 from the Lower Jurassic of Ust-Baley in Russia (Lukashevich, 1995), the type species C. antica Kalugina, 1985 and C. defossa Kalugina, 1985 from the Middle Jurassic of the Kubekovo in Russia (Kalugina & Kovalev, 1985), C. bavarica Krzemiński & Ansorge, 1995 from the Upper Jurassic of Wegscheid in Germany (Krzemiński & Ansorge, 1995), C. liturata Lukashevich, 2011 from Upper Jurassic of Shar Teg in Mongolia, and C. gronskayae Kalugina, 1989 from the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous of Kempendyay in Russia (Kalugina, 1989; Lukashevich, 2011). Three species discovered from the Daohugou beds of China have been assigned to Crenoptychoptera (Hao et al., 2009), but a following study suggested that they should be placed in Axymyiidae (Zhang, 2010).


The osteology of Ornithosuchus is described in some detail. This study is largely based on material discussed by previous workers, but also takes into account specimens hitherto undescribed. It is considered that the species O. taylori Broom 1913 is invalid, being based on larger individuals of the form previously named O. woodwardi by Newton (1894). Furthermore, evidence is presented to show that specimens previously described by Huxley (1877) and Walker (1961) as Dasygnathus longidens are also referable to Ornithosuchus . It is concluded that but one species is present in the material, the correct name for which is Ornithosuchus longidens (Huxley). At least eleven individuals are present with skulls ranging from about 50 to 450 mm in length. Observations on the smaller members of this series suggest that changes in the shape and proportions of the skull took place with growth in a similar manner to those seen in living crocodiles. In the light of new information concerning the osteology of Ornithosuchus it is considered that this reptile is a primitive carnosaur, occupying a position very close to the ancestry of the Jurassic and Cretaceous members of this group. An examination of descriptions and figures of Triassic reptiles referred by von Huene (1932) and later authors to the Carnosauria has led to the conclusion that the great bulk of this material is more properly allocated to the Prosauropoda, and that the only Triassic carnosaurs known at the present time, apart from Ornithosuchus , are Teratosaurus and Sinosaurus , these two names being here used in a restricted sense. It is suggested that Ornithosuchus is close to the common ancestry of both the Megalosauridae and the Tyrannosauridae, and the derivation of the skull patterns of these forms from that of Ornithosuchus is discussed. Additional fenestrations marginal to the preorbital fossa and in the surangular of advanced carnosaurs are held to be related to the development of the pterygoid musculature rather than to the need to lighten the skull. In the course of a brief review of the Carnosauria the view is put forward that Acrocanthosaurus is a Lower Cretaceous representative of the tyrannosaur group, using this term in a broad sense, and is perhaps related to the Cenomanian Spinosaurus and the Wealden Altispinax . As a result of examination of English megalosaurian material, the name Eustreptospondylus oxoniensis gen. et sp.nov. is proposed for the Oxford specimen previously known as ‘ Streptospondylus’ cuvieri , and Metriacanthosaurus gen.nov. for Megalosaurus parkeri . The incomplete cranium from Dives figured by Piveteau (1923) is made the type of a new species, E. divesensis , to which certain other carnosaurian material from Normandy is provisionally allocated. Following Chakravarti (1935), the endoskeletal elements included by Matley (1923) in the type material of the Indian nodosaur Lametasaurus are held to belong to one or other of the two carnosaurs Indosuchus and Indosaurus, but the numerous scutes are not thought to be carnosaurian and the name Lametasaurus is here restricted to them. It is suggested that Indosuchus from the ? Turonian is a tyrannosaund. On the other hand Ceratosaurus and Proceratosaurus are regarded as coelurosaurs. A modified classification of the Infra-order Carnosauria is given, in which two main groups are recognized; Superfamily Megalosauroidea to include the Megalosauridae, and Superfamily Tyrannosauroidea to include the Ornithosuchidae (restricted), Spinosauridae and Tyrannosauridae.


1927 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. O. Morgan

The classification of the Trematode family Opisthorchiidæ presents some difficulties to the systematist. These difficulties arise partly from the fact that a number of the existing species appear to lack any real morphological characters by which they can be differentiated, slight variations in measurements, together with a difference in host, having been considered sufficient to justify the making of new species. This view has resulted in the placing of undue importance on somewhat minor differences when they do occur in other species, such differences being considered sufficient for creating new genera.The systematist is further confronted with the difficulty of forming definite opinions on the systematic position of some of the species made by earlier workers. Their descriptions and figures are often inadequate owing to the fact that characters which, in the past, were considered of minor importance are now given much closer attention. Examples of the confusion which has arisen from such a position will be referred to in this paper.


Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2980 (1) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
GUSTAVO SILVA DE MIRANDA ◽  
ALESSANDRO PONCE DE LEÃO GIUPPONI

A new species of the genus Charinus—C. vulgaris— is described from Porto Velho, Rondônia. This is the first record of the family Charinidae from the Brazilian Amazonia and of a synanthropic species in South America. Additionally, two new records of the genus for Brazil are made and a key to the Brazilian species of the genus is given.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4392 (3) ◽  
pp. 469
Author(s):  
FARIBA MOZAFFARIAN ◽  
THIERRY BOURGOIN ◽  
MICHAEL R. WILSON

The first part of this paper provides a historical review of the classification of the family Tettigometridae, including the description of a new tribe, Plesiometrini trib. nov. to accommodate three Afrotropical genera of the subfamily Tettigometrinae. The name Nototettigometra Muir 1924, is proposed to replace Hilda Kirkaldy 1900, homonym of Hilda Hörnes & Auinger 1884, and corresponding new combinations are given, including Nototettigometrinae nom. subst. to replace Hildinae Fennah 1952. An identification key to suprageneric taxa of Tettigometridae including both male and female characters is provided. In the second part, 18 tettigometrid species are recorded from Iran. A new species, Tettigometra (Tettigometra) parihana sp. nov. is described. Tettigometra (Metroplaca) longicornis and Tettigometra (Tettigometra) impressifrons are reported as new records for the Iranian fauna. An identification key and distribution maps are provided for the Iran fauna. 


2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Fang ◽  
Haichun Zhang ◽  
Bo Wang ◽  
Daran Zheng

A new species of the family Prophalangopsidae, Ashanga borealis sp.n., is described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Fomation (Liaoning Province, P.R. China). The male forewing of the new species is similar to that of the Middle/Upper Jurassic species Ashanga clara Zherikhin 1985, but differs from it in possessing a forewing arched anterior margin, RS branching more basally, and MP + CuA1 with more branches. The fossil record of Chifengiinae is reviewed.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 184 (5) ◽  
pp. 290
Author(s):  
José Luis Marcelo Peña ◽  
MARIO TOMAZELLO FILHO

The family Magnoliaceae Jussieu (1789: 280) in South America includes a total of 50 species. Thirty species are listed for Colombia, ten for Ecuador, eight for Peru, three each for Brazil and Venezuela, and one for Bolivia (Lozano-Contreras, 1994; Nee, 1994; Dillon & Sanchez, 2009; Arroyo & Pérez 2013; Marcelo-Peña & Arroyo 2013; Vázquez et al. 2013). The following species are currently known to occur in Peru: Magnolia rimachii (Lozano 1994: 104) Govaerts (1996: 71), M. amazonica (Ducke 1915: 11) Govaerts (1996: 70), M. bankardiorum Dillon & Sánchez-Vega (2009: 7), M. jaenensis Marcelo-Peña (2013: 110), M. manguillo Marcelo-Peña & Arroyo (2013: 113), M. elfina Vázquez (2012: 100), M. gentryi Vázquez (2012: 104) and M. peruviana Vázquez.(2012: 117).


MycoKeys ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 83 ◽  
pp. 1-37
Author(s):  
Sihan Long ◽  
Lili Liu ◽  
Yinhui Pi ◽  
Youpeng Wu ◽  
Yan Lin ◽  
...  

In this study, fungal specimens of the family Diatrypaceae were collected from karst areas in Guizhou, Hainan and Yunnan Provinces, China. Morpho-molecular analyses confirmed that these new collections comprise a new genus Pseudodiatrype, three new species (Diatrype lancangensis, Diatrypella pseudooregonensis and Eutypa cerasi), a new combination (Diatrypella oregonensis), two new records (Allodiatrype thailandica and Diatrypella vulgaris) from China and two other known species (Neoeutypella baoshanensis and Paraeutypella citricola). The new taxa are introduced, based on multi-gene phylogenetic analyses (ITS, β-tubulin), as well as morphological analyses. The new genus Pseudodiatrype is characterised by its wart-like stromata with 5–20 ascomata immersed in one stroma and the endostroma composed of thin black outer and inner layers of large white cells with thin, powdery, yellowish cells. These characteristics separate this genus from two similar genera Allodiatrype and Diatrype. Based on morphological as well as phylogenetic analyses, Diatrype lancangensis is introduced as a new species of Diatrype. The stromata of Diatrype lancangensis are similar to those of D. subundulata and D. undulate, but the ascospores are larger. Based on phylogenetic analyses, Diatrype oregonensis is transferred to the genus Diatrypella as Diatrypella oregonensis while Diatrypella pseudooregonensis is introduced as a new species of Diatrypella with 8 spores in an ascus. In addition, multi-gene phylogenetic analyses show that Eutypa cerasi is closely related to E. lata, but the ascomata and asci of Eutypa cerasi are smaller. The polyphyletic nature of some genera of Diatrypaceae has led to confusion in the classification of the family, thus we discuss whether the number of ascospores per asci can still be used as a basis for classification.


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4958 (1) ◽  
pp. 702-712
Author(s):  
MARCOS ROCA-CUSACHS ◽  
MERCEDES PARIS ◽  
ALMA MOHAGAN ◽  
SUNGHOON JUNG

A new species of Urostylididae from the Philippine islands (Mindanao) is herein described. This new species, similar to Urolabida bipunctata Stål, 1871, differs from the latter in the shape of the external male genitalia. Urolabida bipunctata and the new species, Urolabida graziae Roca-Cusachs, sp. nov., are extremely similar in external appearance, and fit into the (incomplete) description of genus Urolabida Westwood, 1837. The examination and comparison with the type specimens of other Urostylididae species, especially the male genital capsule, clearly separates this two species from Urolabida tenera Westwood, 1837, the type species of the genus Urolabida, however the taxonomy of this group is not resolved and needs a deep revision, therefore we refrain from description of a new genus-group taxon here. Additionally, images of the type specimens of Urolabida tenera, Urostylis histrionica Westwood, 1837, and Urostylis punctigera Westwood, 1837, are provided and discussion on the current systematics and classification of the family, and particularly of genus Urolabida are also given. 


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