scholarly journals A new odontocete (Inioidea, Odontoceti) from the late Neogene of North Carolina, USA

Fossil Record ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-285
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Godfrey ◽  
Carolina S. Gutstein ◽  
Donald J. Morgan III
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Dorsal Surface ◽  
Western Hemisphere ◽  
New Combination ◽  
Cranial Morphology ◽  
Cranial Sutures ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Olfactory Bulbs ◽  
Late Neogene ◽  
The Family

Abstract. A new monotypic genus of Neogene odontocete (Isoninia borealis) is named on the basis of a partial skull (CMM-V-4061). The holotype was found on the riverbed of the Meherrin River (North Carolina, USA) and probably originated from the Miocene marine Eastover Formation. Deep interdigitation of the cranial sutures indicates that this individual was mature. The new taxon differs from all other delphinidans in the unique combination of the following characters: anteriorly retracted premaxillae and maxillae; premaxillae not contacting nasals; thick nasals with ventrolateral margins deeply imbedded within corresponding troughs in the frontals (this is an apomorphy); nasals with transversely convex dorsal surface; nearly symmetrical vertex; os suturarum (or interparietal or extra folds of the frontals) at the vertex; large dorsal infraorbital foramen level with the posterior margin of the external bony nares; and a postorbital recess on the ventrolateral face of the frontal below and behind the postorbital process of the frontal. This odontocete exhibits two small but pronounced concavities on the cerebral face of the frontal/presphenoid that are presumed to have held vestigial olfactory bulbs in life. Inioidea is only diagnosed by a single unequivocal synapomorphy: width across nasals and nares subequal. Isoninia shares this feature with other inioids and forms the basis for the placement of Isoninia within this clade. A relatively high vertex coupled with a supraoccipital that is deeply wedged between the frontals suggests placement of this new inioid species within the family Iniidae. This is the second inioid described from the Eastover Formation (the other being Meherrinia isoni). This new species adds new cranial morphology and a new combination of cranial characters to this taxonomically small but growing group of mostly marine and mostly Western Hemisphere odontocetes (urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E8B817CA-B250-42B3-9365-36EFBFE351C9).

scholarly journals A new physeteroid from the late Miocene of Peru expands the diversity of extinct dwarf and pygmy sperm whales (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Kogiidae)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto COLLARETA ◽  
Olivier LAMBERT ◽  
Christian de MUIZON ◽  
Aldo Marcelo BENITES PALOMINO ◽  
Mario URBINA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Late Miocene ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Dorsal Surface ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Sperm Whales ◽  
Southeastern Pacific ◽  
Pisco Formation ◽  
Late Neogene

Nowadays, the odontocete family Kogiidae is monotypic and only includes two species of diminutive relatives of the great sperm whale Physeter Linnaeus, 1758. Conversely, a growing body of extinct species indicates that kogiids were diverse and disparate during the late Neogene. The fossil record of Kogiidae is, to date, represented by several cranial specimens from Mio-Pliocene localities of the Northern Hemisphere, with the significant Southern Hemisphere exception of the Pisco Formation of Peru, from which two genera were known so far, including Scaphokogia Muizon, 1988, a highly idiosyncratic form characterised by a distinctly spoon-shaped dorsal surface of the neurocranium and a downturned semicylindrical rostrum, which is even placed in its own subfamily Scaphokogiinae. Here, we report on two skulls of Kogiidae from the Messinian (upper Miocene) portion of the Pisco Formation exposed in the East Pisco Basin. These two skulls are referred to the new taxon Platyscaphokogia landinii n. gen., n. sp., which our phylogenetic analysis recovers as sister group of Scaphokogia, within the subfamily Scaphokogiinae. Although Platyscaphokogia n. gen. shares with Scaphokogia a remarkably spoon-like dorsal aspect of the neurocranium, it retains a non-pachyostotic, dorsoventrally thin rostrum that distinctly points anteriorly; as such, Platyscaphokogia n. gen. might be regarded as testifying an early stage in the evolution of the scaphokogiine cranial anatomy. Morphofunctional and palaeoecological considerations allow for hypothesising that Platyscaphokogia n. gen. was a raptorial physeteroid that foraged along the water column in relatively open-sea palaeoenvironments. In conclusion, our finds expand the palaeodiversity of Kogiidae, as well as our knowledge on the late Miocene sperm whales of the southeastern Pacific, and further suggest that the fossil content of the East Pisco Basin is crucial for reconstructing the Neogene evolutionary history of physeteroids.

Infernovenator steenae, a new serpentine recumbirostran from the ‘Mazon Creek’ Lagerstätte further clarifies lysorophian origins

2019 ◽  
Vol 187 (2) ◽  
pp. 506-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjan Mann ◽  
Jason D Pardo ◽  
Hillary C Maddin
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Vertebral Column ◽  
Cranial Morphology ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Unique Combination ◽  
The Family ◽  
Mazon Creek

Abstract The Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian; 309–307 Mya) ‘Mazon Creek’ Lagerstätte produces some of the earliest tetrapod fossils of major Palaeozoic lineages. Previously, the Mazon Creek record of lysorophians was known from a single poorly preserved specimen consisting only of a partial vertebral column. Here we describe a new, virtually complete lysorophian genus and species, Infernovenator steenae gen. & sp. nov. on the basis of a unique combination of characters, including a near complete circumorbital series and the retention of a postfrontal. Parsimony-based phylogenetic analysis placed the new taxon in the family Molgophidae, as sister to Brachydectes newberryi. Those results and the more generalized cranial morphology present in Infernovenator further support a recumbirostran origin of Molgophidae. Co-occurrence of two morphologically and functionally distinct molgophids in the Early Moscovian suggests a rapid and underappreciated diversification of this family in the Early Pennsylvanian.

A new genus and species of groundwater isopod of the family Protojaniridae (Isopoda: Asellota: Gnathostenetroidoidea) from southern Chile

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4966 (5) ◽  
pp. 550-562
Author(s):  
JORGE PÉREZ-SCHULTHEISS ◽  
GEORGE D. F. WILSON
Keyword(s):  
New Genus ◽  
South American ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Southern Chile ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Family ◽  
Apical Lobe ◽  
Antennal Scale ◽  
Freshwater Springs

A new asellotan isopod of the family Protojaniridae Fresi, Idato & Scipione, 1980 is described from freshwater springs in the Osorno province, Los Lagos region, southern Chile. Wiyufiloides osornoensis gen. & sp. n. is the third South American protojanirid species and the first known groundwater isopod in Chile. The new genus and species is principally characterized by the presence of a vestigial antennal scale, a strongly subchelate pereiopod I and the absence of an apical lobe on the protopod of pleopod II. The new taxon is described in detail and figures are given. 

Ascospore sculpturing and generic concepts in the Testudinaceae (syn. Zopfiaceae)

1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Hawksworth
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
New Combination ◽  
The Family ◽  
First Time ◽  
Scanning Electron

Generic concepts in the Testudinaceae (Ascomycotina, Loculoascomycetes) are reviewed with particular emphasis on the sculpturing of the ascospores which has been examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the first time. A key to the nine genera accepted in the family is provided of which two are described as new: Ulospora for U. bilgramii comb.nov. (= Zopfia bilgramii D. Hawksw. et al.), the ascospores of which have three to six deep fissures in each cell, and Zopfiofoveola for Z. punctata comb.nov. (= Zopfia punctata D. Hawksw. & C. Booth), with distinctly and regularly foveolate ascospores. One further new combination is made: Rechingeriella boudieri comb.nov. (= Zopfia boudieri Arnaud). The positions of three additional genera referred to the family by earlier authors but which are excluded from it here are also briefly discussed.

Cranial morphology and systematics of an extraordinary sample of the Late Neogene dwarf tapir, Tapirus polkensis (Olsen)

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard C. Hulbert ◽  
Steven C. Wallace ◽  
Walter E. Klippel ◽  
Paul W. Parmalee
Keyword(s):  
Single Species ◽  
Relative Strength ◽  
Cranial Morphology ◽  
Linear Measurements ◽  
Average Mass ◽  
Gray Fossil Site ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
Late Neogene ◽  
Fossil Site ◽  
Almost All

The previously poorly known “Tapiravus” polkensis Olsen, 1960 (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Tapiridae) is now known from abundant, well preserved specimens from both the type area in central Florida and from the Gray Fossil Site (GFS) in eastern Tennessee. The latter has produced over 75 individuals, the greatest number of tapirids from a single fossil site, including many articulated skeletons. Almost all linear measurements taken on skulls, mandibles, and cheek teeth from GFS have coefficients of variation less than 10 (most between 3 and 7), indicating the presence of a single species. However, the sample reveals considerable intraspecific variation for a few key morphologic features, including development of the sagittal crest, outline shape of the nasals, and number and relative strength of lingual cusps on the P1. The Florida sample of T. polkensis is more limited, but has the same state as the GFS sample for all preserved characters of systematic significance, and while the Florida teeth are on average smaller (especially narrower lower cheek teeth), they fall either within or just below the observed range of the Gray Fossil Site population. The new material supports a reassignment of “Tapiravus” polkensis to the genus Tapirus, and demonstrates that the geologic age of the species is significantly younger than previously thought, Hemphillian rather than Barstovian. Tapirus polkensis is the smallest known North American Tapirus, and smaller than any of the extant species in the genus, with an estimated average mass of 125 kg.

Virola dominicana sp. nov. (Myristicaceae) from Dominican amber

Botany ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (8) ◽  
pp. 530-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Poinar ◽  
Royce Steeves
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
First Record ◽  
Western Hemisphere ◽  
Dominican Amber ◽  
The Family ◽  
Small Pollen ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Staminal Column

The Myristicaceae is a member of the early diverging angiosperm order Magnoliales; however, the family is poorly represented by fossil collections. We describe Virola dominicana sp. nov. (Myristicaceae), the first record of fossilized Myristicaceae flowers, from mid-Tertiary (45–15 million years ago) Dominican amber. The description is based on 24 male flowers in 17 pieces of amber, thus providing some indication of intraspecific variation, including a two-tepaled flower. Diagnostic characters of the new species are the long-simple or few-branched trichomes on the perianth margins, the small pollen grains, and a short staminal column. These fossils also show co-occurring insects, some of which could be Virola pollinators. It is speculated that V. dominicana disappeared from Hispaniola during the Pliocene–Pleistocene cooling events leaving no native members of the Myristicaceae in this region today. Additionally, these fossils demonstrate that Myristicaceae was present in the Western Hemisphere during the mid-Tertiary.

Flabelloporina, a new genus in the Porinaceae (Ascomycota, Ostropales), with the first record of F. squamulifera from Brazil

Phytotaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 358 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
PRISCYLLA NAYARA BEZERRA SOBREIRA ◽  
MARCELA EUGENIA DA SILVA CÁCERES ◽  
LEONOR COSTA MAIA ◽  
ROBERT LÜCKING
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
New Genus ◽  
First Record ◽  
Lichenized Fungi ◽  
New Combination ◽  
The Family ◽  
First Time

A new genus of lichenized fungi of the family Porinaceae is described, known from Costa Rica and Brazil. Flabelloporina Sobreira, M. Cáceres & Lücking is a thus far monospecific genus with an isolated position of its only species in the family, morphologically different from all other genera in Porinaceae. The genus is characterized by the production of numerous, flabelliform squamules on the surface of the thallus, together with black perithecia and transversally septate ascospores (with three septa in the only species). The new combination Flabelloporina squamulifera (Breuss, Lücking & Navarro) Sobreira, M. Cáceres & Lücking is proposed, based on Porina squamulifera Breuss, Lücking & Navarro, and the species is for the first time reported from Brazil.

THE NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF MASSALONGIA AND GENERIC RELATIONSHIPS

1963 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 1331-1346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aino Henssen
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Systematic Position ◽  
North American Species ◽  
New Combination ◽  
General Survey ◽  
The North ◽  
The Family ◽  
Generic Relationships

The systematic position of the genus Massalongia and the closely related genera Koerberia, Vestergrenopsis, and Placynthium in the family Peltigeraceae including lichens with hemiangiocarpic apothecia is discussed. The ontogeny of a hemiangiocarpic apothecium is described briefly. A key for the determination of the genera is provided.A general survey is given for the morphology and anatomy of the genus Massalongia. The two species, M. carnosa and M. microphylliza, are described in detail. The new combination M. microphylliza is made.

Mimaporia, a new genus of Epicopeiidae (Lepidoptera), with description of a new species from Vietnam

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4254 (5) ◽  
pp. 537 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHIA-HSUAN WEI ◽  
SHEN-HORN YEN
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Morphological Evidence ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
The Family ◽  
A New Species

The Epicopeiidae is a small geometroid family distributed in the East Palaearctic and Oriental regions. It exhibits high morphological diversity in body size and wing shape, while their wing patterns involve in various complex mimicry rings. In the present study, we attempted to describe a new genus, and a new species from Vietnam, with comments on two assumed congeneric novel species from China and India. To address its phylogenetic affinity, we reconstructed the phylogeny of the family by using sequence data of COI, EF-1α, and 28S gene regions obtained from seven genera of Epicopeiidae with Pseudobiston pinratanai as the outgroup. We also compared the morphology of the new taxon to other epicopeiid genera to affirm its taxonomic status. The results suggest that the undescribed taxon deserve a new genus, namely Mimaporia gen. n. The species from Vietnam, Mimaporia hmong sp. n., is described as new to science. Under different tree building strategies, the new genus is the sister group of either Chatamla Moore, 1881 or Parabraxas Leech, 1897. The morphological evidence, which was not included in phylogenetic analyses, however, suggests its potential affinity with Burmeia Minet, 2003. This study also provides the first, although preliminary, molecular phylogeny of the family on which the revised systematics and interpretation of character evolution can be based. 

scholarly journals A revision of the bees of the genus Andrena of the Western Hemisphere

2005 ◽  
Vol 37 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 65-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robbin W. Thorp ◽  
Wallace E. LaBerge
Keyword(s):  
Baja California ◽  
Dorsal Surface ◽  
Western Hemisphere ◽  
Main Character ◽  
Lateral Margins ◽  
Complete Bibliography

This work reports on a study of 1,200 specimens segregated into 9 species, 4 of which are new to science. One name is relegated to synonymy. The relationships within the subgenus and with other subgenera of Andrena are briefly discussed. The subgenus Hesperandrena was recognized and described by Timberlake in Lanham 1949 (p. 208) to include two previously described species, Andrena escondida Cockerell and Andrena baeriae Timberlake. These two species have in common a propodeum which, Timberlake described as having the dorsal surface, “... broad, gently curved and inclined from base to apex, without definite truncation, the lateral margins distinctly carinate and convexly arcuate.” This is the main character separating this subgenus (Fig. 4) from other subgenera of Andrena except that in the males of Hesperandrena the lateral margins of the propodeum are not carinate. Other characters are given in the description of the subgenus below. The species of this subgenus are very similar to one another and difficult to tell apart. The species are known only from California and Baja California. The reader is referred to earlier sections of this revision (LaBerge 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1986, 1987, 1989; LaBerge and Bouseman 1970, 1987; LaBerge and Ribble 1972, 1975; Bouseman and LaBerge 1979; Thorp 1969; Donovan 1977) for details of morphology and a more complete bibliography on the genus Andrena. No new terms have been introduced and the bibliography presented here includes only references cited. Published locality and floral records are included in the sections at the end of each species account.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document