scholarly journals New remarkable Late Jurassic teleosts from southern Germany: Ascalaboidae n. fam., its content, morphology, and phylogenetic relationships

Fossil Record ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Arratia
Keyword(s):  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
Early Ontogeny ◽  
Sister Group Relationship ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Southern Germany ◽  
New Family ◽  
Fish Taxon ◽  
Primitive Forms

Abstract. Complete morphological descriptions, as preservation permits, are provided for a new Late Jurassic fish taxon (Ebertichthys ettlingensis n. gen. et n. sp.) and a revision of some morphological features of Ascalabos voithii Graf zu Münster from the Solnhofen limestones, southern Germany. A new family, Ascalaboidae, is erected to include the two species. The new family is supported by numerous synapomorphies, e.g., maxilla with external row of small conical teeth increasing in size posteriorly, absence of gular plate, low number of vertebrae (34 to 39), deep and narrow supracleithrum – deeper than opercle, and vertebral centrum formation of caudal region including paired chordacentra (pseudo-diplospondyly) that fuse in early ontogeny forming one chordacentrum that is later surrounded by an autocentrum. A phylogenetic analysis based on 173 characters and 42 taxa was performed. Following the phylogenetic hypothesis, the sister-group relationship [Ascalabos + Ebertichthys] + more advanced teleosts stands above the node of Leptolepis coryphaenoides plus more advanced teleosts and below the node of Tharsis plus more advanced teleosts, and the new taxa are interpreted as extinct and primitive forms within Teleostei. The new genus and species is endemic and restricted to one Upper Jurassic locality – Ettling – whereas Ascalabos is known from different localities in the Solnhofen limestones, with the exception of Ettling.

scholarly journals On a remarkable new species of <i>Tharsis</i>, a Late Jurassic teleostean fish from southern Germany: its morphology and phylogenetic relationships

Fossil Record ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria Arratia ◽  
Hans-Peter Schultze ◽  
Helmut Tischlinger
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Morphological Description ◽  
Sister Group Relationship ◽  
Southern Germany

Abstract. A complete morphological description, as preservation permits, is provided for a new Late Jurassic fish species (Tharsis elleri) together with a revision and comparison of some morphological features of Tharsis dubius, one of the most common species from the Solnhofen limestone, southern Germany. An emended diagnosis of the genus Tharsis – now including two species – is presented. The new species is characterized by a combination of morphological characters, such as the presence of a complete sclerotic ring formed by two bones placed anterior and posterior to the eye, a moderately short lower jaw with quadrate-mandibular articulation below the anterior half of the orbit, caudal vertebrae with neural and haemal arches fused to their respective vertebral centrum, and parapophyses fused to their respective centrum. A phylogenetic analysis based on 198 characters and 43 taxa is performed. Following the phylogenetic hypothesis, the sister-group relationship Ascalaboidae plus more advanced teleosts stands above the node of Leptolepis coryphaenoides. Both nodes have strong support among teleosts. The results confirm the inclusion of Ascalabos, Ebertichthys and Tharsis as members of this extinct family. Tharsis elleri n. sp. (LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6434E6F5-2DDD-48CF-A2B1-827495FE46E6, date: 13 December 2018) is so far restricted to one Upper Jurassic German locality – Wegscheid Quarry near Schernfeld, Eichstätt – whereas Tharsis dubius is known not only from Wegscheid Quarry, but also from different localities in the Upper Jurassic of Bavaria, Germany, and Cerin in France.

scholarly journals Discovery of a new family of amphibians from northeast India with ancient links to Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 279 (1737) ◽  
pp. 2396-2401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachunliu G. Kamei ◽  
Diego San Mauro ◽  
David J. Gower ◽  
Ines Van Bocxlaer ◽  
Emma Sherratt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Northeast India ◽  
Sister Group Relationship ◽  
New Family ◽  
Ancient Lineage ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Threatened Habitats

The limbless, primarily soil-dwelling and tropical caecilian amphibians (Gymnophiona) comprise the least known order of tetrapods. On the basis of unprecedented extensive fieldwork, we report the discovery of a previously overlooked, ancient lineage and radiation of caecilians from threatened habitats in the underexplored states of northeast India. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of mitogenomic and nuclear DNA sequences, and comparative cranial anatomy indicate an unexpected sister-group relationship with the exclusively African family Herpelidae. Relaxed molecular clock analyses indicate that these lineages diverged in the Early Cretaceous, about 140 Ma. The discovery adds a major branch to the amphibian tree of life and sheds light on both the evolution and biogeography of caecilians and the biotic history of northeast India—an area generally interpreted as a gateway between biodiversity hotspots rather than a distinct biogeographic unit with its own ancient endemics. Because of its distinctive morphology, inferred age and phylogenetic relationships, we recognize the newly discovered caecilian radiation as a new family of modern amphibians.

Visceral anatomy of the Malaysian snake genus Xenophidion, including a cladistic analysis and allocation to a new family (Serpentes: Xenophidiidae)

1998 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Van Wallach ◽  
Rainer Günther
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Neotropical Region ◽  
Sister Group Relationship ◽  
Internal Anatomy ◽  
New Family ◽  
Visceral Anatomy

AbstractThe internal anatomy of Xenophidion is described and compared with that of members of other snake families. A suite of primitive characters eliminates Xenophidion as a possible member of the Caenophidia; only two characters could conceivably suggest a relationship to the Caenophidia and both are examples of losses and thus of low phylogenetic value in assessing relationships. However, among lower snakes a sister group relationship is demonstrated with the Tropidophiidae of the Neotropical region. Besides possessing nearly identical viscera and topographical arrangement thereof, Xenophidion shares several characters with the Tropidophiidae. A new family is created to contain the genus, the Xenophidiidae. The Xenophidiidae share one synapomorphy with both the Tropidophiidae and Bolyeriidae. Therefore, it is proposed that these three families be united in the superfamily Tropidophioidea. A phylogenetic analysis of 52 characters results in the following preferred hypothesis of relationships: (Boinae, (((Bolyeria, Casarea), (Xenophidion, ((Exiliboa, Ungaliophis), (Trachyboa, Tropidophis)))), Acrochordus)).

scholarly journals A new stem turtle from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland: new insights into the evolution and palaeoecology of basal turtles

2008 ◽  
Vol 276 (1658) ◽  
pp. 879-886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jérémy Anquetin ◽  
Paul M Barrett ◽  
Marc E.H Jones ◽  
Scott Moore-Fay ◽  
Susan E Evans
Keyword(s):  
Middle Jurassic ◽  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Sister Group Relationship ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Crown Group ◽  
History Of ◽  
Isle Of Skye

The discovery of a new stem turtle from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) deposits of the Isle of Skye, Scotland, sheds new light on the early evolutionary history of Testudinata. Eileanchelys waldmani gen. et sp. nov. is known from cranial and postcranial material of several individuals and represents the most complete Middle Jurassic turtle described to date, bridging the morphological gap between basal turtles from the Late Triassic–Early Jurassic and crown-group turtles that diversify during the Late Jurassic. A phylogenetic analysis places the new taxon within the stem group of Testudines (crown-group turtles) and suggests a sister-group relationship between E. waldmani and Heckerochelys romani from the Middle Jurassic of Russia. Moreover, E. waldmani also demonstrates that stem turtles were ecologically diverse, as it may represent the earliest known aquatic turtle.

A phylogeny of Plesiosauria (Sauropterygia) and its bearing on the systematic status of Leptocleidus Andrews, 1922

Zootaxa ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1863 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
PATRICK S. DRUCKENMILLER ◽  
ANTHONY P. RUSSELL
Keyword(s):  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Sister Group Relationship ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Short Neck ◽  
Operational Taxonomic Units ◽  
Phylogenetic Hypotheses ◽  
The Uk

Leptocleidus Andrews, 1922 is a poorly known plesiosaur genus from Lower Cretaceous successions of the UK, South Africa, and Australia. Historically, there has been little consensus regarding its phylogenetic position within Plesiosauria, largely because of its seemingly aberrant combination of a relatively small skull and short neck. As a result, a diverse array of potential sister groups have been posited for Leptocleidus, including long-necked Cretaceous elasmosaurids, Early Jurassic “rhomaleosaurs”, and Middle to Late Jurassic pliosaurids. A cladistic analysis including Leptocleidus, and a new, apparently morphologically similar specimen from Alberta, TMP 94.122.01, was undertaken to assess their phylogenetic position within Plesiosauria. A character-taxon matrix was assembled afresh, consisting of 33 operational taxonomic units sampled broadly among plesiosaurs. 185 cranial and postcranial characters used in plesiosaur phylogenetics were critically reanalyzed, of which 152 were employed in the parsimony analysis. The results indicate a basal dichotomous split into the traditionally recognized pliosauroid and plesiosauroid clades. Nested within Pliosauroidea, a monophyletic Leptocleididae was recovered, consisting of L. superstes Andrews, 1922 and L. capensis (Andrews, 1911a). In contrast to earlier suggestions, Leptocleidus neither clusters with Rhomaleosaurus, which was found to be paraphyletic, nor with large-skulled pliosaurid taxa, such as Simolestes. Rather, a sister group relationship between Cretaceous Polycotylidae and Leptocleididae was recovered, which is here named Leptocleidoidea. Although TMP 94.122.01 is superficially similar to Leptocleidus, several discrete characters of the skull nest this new taxon within Polycotylidae. Compared to other phylogenetic hypotheses of plesiosaurs, these results are more congruent with respect to the stratigraphic distribution of leptocleidoids. A classification for Plesiosauria is presented.

scholarly journals Lophiobrycon weitzmani, a new genus and species of glandulocaudine fish (Characiformes: Characidae) from the rio Grande drainage, upper rio Paraná system, southeastern Brazil

2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo M. C. Castro ◽  
Alexandre C. Ribeiro ◽  
Ricardo C. Benine ◽  
Alex L. A. Melo
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Standard Length ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Sister Group Relationship ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Dorsal Fin ◽  
Adipose Fin

A new genus and species of glandulocaudine, Lophiobrycon weitzmani, is described based on specimens collected in headwater tributary streams of the rio Grande, upper rio Paraná system, State of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The inclusion of the new species in the phylogeny of the subfamily Glandulocaudinae proposed by Weitzman & Menezes (1998), reveals a sister group relationship between the new genus and the monophyletic group composed of Glandulocauda and Mimagoniates that currently form the tribe Glandulocaudini. The new species can be readily distinguished from all other species of the tribe by the autapomorphic presence in adult male individuals (with more than 23.9 mm standard length) of an adipose-fin whose base extends for almost the entire distance between the posterior terminus of the base of the dorsal fin and the base of the upper lobe of the caudal fin and averages approximately 25% standard length, along with the presence of globular expansions formed by the lepidotrichia and hypertrophied soft tissue in the middle portions of the first and second pectoral-fin rays. The diagnosis of the tribe Glandulocaudini is modified to accommodate the new genus.

A new rhamphorhynchid (Pterosauria: Rhamphorhynchidae) from the Middle/Upper Jurassic of Qinglong, Hebei Province, China

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3158 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
JUNCHANG LÜ ◽  
DAVID M. UNWIN ◽  
BO ZHAO ◽  
CHUNLING GAO ◽  
CAIZHI SHEN
Keyword(s):  
Late Jurassic ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
Hebei Province ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Skeletal Morphology ◽  
Unique Character ◽  
Distal Process ◽  
Nasal Process

A heavily compressed, but nearly complete fossil skeleton recovered from the Middle/Upper Jurassic Tiaojishan Forma-tion of Mutoudeng, Qinglong County, Hebei Province, China, represents a new genus and species of long-tailed pterosaur,Qinglongopterus guoi gen. et sp. nov. The holotype and only known specimen has an estimated forelimb length of 0.18m. The new taxon is distinguished by a relatively short skull, a remarkably short pteroid with a distinctive knob-like distalexpansion, and a prepubis with a relatively slender distal process. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that Qinglongopter-us is a member of Rhamphorhynchidae, exhibiting many of the unique character states found in members of this clade.Qinglongopterus is strikingly similar to Rhamphorhynchus and more closely related to this taxon than to any other rham-phorhynchine, this pairing is supported by morphometric data and several synapomorphies (short, broad nasal process ofthe maxilla; forelimb length more than four times that of the hind limb; wing-phalanx one more than twice the length ofthe tibia). Qinglongopterus demonstrates that the highly derived skeletal morphology of Rhamphorhynchus, known onlyfrom the latest Jurassic (Tithonian) of Europe, had already appeared by the start of the Late Jurassic. This hints at evolu-tionary stasis in Rhamphorhynchinae, a phenomenon seemingly also present in two other clades of basal pterosaurs,Anurognathidae and Scaphognathinae, and contrasting sharply with basal monofenestratans which appear to have undergone extensive evolutionary change during the same interval.

Jumping cockroaches (Blattaria, Skokidae fam. n.) from the Late Jurassic of Karatau in Kazakhstan

Biologia ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Vršanský
Keyword(s):  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
New Family ◽  
Karabastau Formation

AbstractThe jumping cockroach Skok svaba gen. et sp. n., characteristic of modern reproduction, is described from the Upper Jurassic Karabastau Formation in Kazakhstan, and attributed to a new family Skokidae. The finding demonstrates the immense plasticity of stem cockroaches from which eusocial termites and predatory mantises evolved.

scholarly journals The first definite record of a Valanginian ichthyosaur and its implications on the evolution of post-Liassic Ichthyosauria

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Fischer ◽  
Arnaud Clément ◽  
Myette Guiomar ◽  
Pascal Godefroit
Keyword(s):  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
Feeding Guild ◽  
Tooth Morphology ◽  
Southern Germany ◽  
Wear Pattern ◽  
First Occurrence

A complete ichthyosaur rostrum, with 124 associated teeth, was recently discovered in Laux-Montaux locality, department of Drôme, southeastern France. The associated belemnites and ammonites indicate a late Valanginian age (Neocomites peregrinus Zone, Olcostephanus nicklesi Subzone) for this fossil, which consequently represents the first diagnostic ichthyosaur ever reported from Valanginian strata. This spec- imen also represents the first occurrence of Aegirosaurus outside the Tithonian (Upper Jurassic) lithographic limestones of Bavaria (southern Germany). Tooth morphology and wear pattern suggest that Aegirosaurus belonged to the “Pierce II/ Generalist” feeding guild, which was hitherto not represented in post-Liassic ichthyosaurs. Most Late Jurassic ichthyosaurs actually crossed the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary.

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