scholarly journals Australia’s prehistoric ‘swamp king’: revision of the Plio-Pleistocene crocodylian genus Pallimnarchus de Vis, 1886

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10466
Author(s):  
Jorgo Ristevski ◽  
Adam M. Yates ◽  
Gilbert J. Price ◽  
Ralph E. Molnar ◽  
Vera Weisbecker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Late Nineteenth Century ◽  
Local Fauna ◽  
Comprehensive Description ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Size Disparity ◽  
Southeast Queensland ◽  
Formal Recognition

The crocodylian fossil record from the Cenozoic of Australasia is notable for its rich taxonomic diversity, and is primarily represented by members of the clade Mekosuchinae. Reports of crocodylian fossils from Australia date back to the late nineteenth century. In 1886, Charles Walter de Vis proposed the name Pallimnarchus pollens for crocodylian fossils from southeast Queensland—the first binomen given to an extinct crocodylian taxon from Australia. Pallimnarchus has come to be regarded as a large, broad-snouted crocodylian from Australia’s Plio-Pleistocene, and numerous specimens, few of which are sufficiently complete, have been assigned to it by several authors throughout the twentieth century. In the late 1990s, the genus was expanded to include a second species, Pallimnarchus gracilis. Unfortunately, the original syntype series described as Pallimnarchus pollens is very fragmentary and derives from more than one taxon, while a large part of the subsequently selected lectotype specimen is missing. Because descriptions and illustrations of the complete lectotype do not reveal any autapomorphic features, we propose that Pallimnarchus pollens should be regarded as a nomen dubium. Following this decision, the fossil material previously referred to Pallimnarchus is of uncertain taxonomic placement. A partial skull, formerly assigned to Pallimnarchus pollens and known as ‘Geoff Vincent’s specimen’, possesses many features of diagnostic value and is therefore used as basis to erect a new genus and species—Paludirex vincenti gen. et sp. nov. A comprehensive description is given for the osteology of ‘Geoff Vincent’s specimen’ as well as aspects of its palaeoneurology, the latter being a first for an extinct Australian crocodyliform. The newly named genus is characterized by a unique combination of premaxillary features such as a distinctive arching of the anterior alveolar processes of the premaxillae, a peculiar arrangement of the first two premaxillary alveoli and a large size disparity between the 3rd and 4th premaxillary alveoli. These features presently allow formal recognition of two species within the genus, Paludirex vincenti and Paludirex gracilis comb. nov., with the former having comparatively more robust rostral proportions than the latter. The Paludirex vincenti holotype comes from the Pliocene Chinchilla Sand of the Darling Downs, south-eastern Queensland, whereas the material assigned to Paludirex gracilis is from the Pleistocene of Terrace Site Local Fauna, Riversleigh, northwest Queensland. Phylogenetic analyses recover Paludirex vincenti as a mekosuchine, although further cladistic assessments are needed to better understand the relationships within the clade.

Phaeosphaeria chinensis sp. nov. (Phaeosphaeriaceae) with an asexual/sexual morph connection from GuangDong Province, China

Phytotaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 419 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
KE-KE ZHANG ◽  
SINANG HONGSANAN ◽  
DANUSHKA S. TENNAKOON ◽  
SHENG-LI TIAN ◽  
NING XIE
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Bayesian Inference ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Guangdong Province ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Bootstrap Support ◽  
Comprehensive Description ◽  
High Bootstrap ◽  
Asexual Morphs

Phaeosphaeria chinensis sp. nov. was found on dead leaves, collected from Guangdong Province, China. Morphology of the new species was compared with other Phaeosphaeria species and related genera of Phaeosphaeriaceae. Phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, SSU and TEF-1 sequence data based on maximum parsimony (MP), maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) revealed that P. chinensis as a distinct species within the Phaeosphaeria with high bootstrap support. The comparison of the new species with other Phaeosphaeria species and a comprehensive description and micrographs are provided. The linkage of sexual and asexual morphs of the new species is also showed.

New and noteworthy Melanoleuca (Pluteaceae) from Pakistan

Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 311 (2) ◽  
pp. 175 ◽  
Author(s):  
FARZANA NAWAZ ◽  
SANA JABEEN ◽  
ABDUL NASIR KHALID
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Asian Continent ◽  
Comprehensive Description ◽  
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

Melanoleuca dirensis sp.nov. is described in conjunction with M. graminicola from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses rightly place the new species in the genus Melanoleuca. A comprehensive description, photographs and comparison with similar species are provided. The discovery of M. graminicola from Pakistan is phytogeographically significant and extends its distribution to the Asian continent.

Morphological and molecular characterisation of Paralongidorus francolambertii sp. n. (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from Serbia

Nematology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 681-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
László Barsi ◽  
Francesca De Luca
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
The Body ◽  
Likelihood Method ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
28S Rrna ◽  
Sister Relationship ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Tilia Tomentosa ◽  
Amphidial Fovea ◽  
Cuticular Layer

Paralongidorus francolambertii sp. n., a bisexual species found in the rhizosphere of silver lime (Tilia tomentosa) and common juniper (Juniperus communis), is described. The species is characterised by its medium to large size (L = 5.86-8.29 mm) and slender body (a = 143-197), a lip region flattened with rounded profile, clearly offset from the body by a deep constriction, a narrow neck between the head and body, a shoulder-like body posterior to the neck, a stirrup-shaped amphidial fovea, with conspicuous slit-like aperture, lying on the lateral cuticular collar, a moderately long odontostyle ca 140 μm long, a guide ring located at ca 28 μm from anterior end, a tail terminus with thickened outer cuticular layer in both sexes, and males with spicules ca 52 μm long. The D2-D3 expansion domains of the 28S rRNA gene and the ITS-containing region of P. francolambertii sp. n. were amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses by using the Maximum Likelihood method showed that P. francolambertii sp. n. had a sister relationship with P. rex and that all Paralongidorus species formed a well-supported group.

New pterosaur tracks (Pteraichnidae) from the Late Cretaceous Uhangri Formation, southwestern Korea

2002 ◽  
Vol 139 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
KOO-GEUN HWANG ◽  
MIN HUH ◽  
MARTIN G. LOCKLEY ◽  
DAVID M. UNWIN ◽  
JOANNA L. WRIGHT
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Upper Cretaceous ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
The South ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Size Disparity ◽  
First Occurrence

Numerous footprints of dinosaurs, pterosaurs and birds, together with arthropod tracks, have been discovered in the upper Cretaceous Uhangri Formation which crops out along the south-western coastline of South Korea. This ichnofauna contains the first pterosaur tracks reported from Asia. The digitigrade tridactyl manus impressions exhibit features of a typical pterosaur hand print. The pes impressions, however, show features that are different from pterosaur footprints reported previously: there is no visible trace of impressions of individual digits, and the toes are triangular or rounded in shape distally without distinct claw impressions. As these features clearly distinguish the Uhangri tracks from Pteraichnus and Purbeckopus, we assign them to a new genus, Haenamichnus which accommodates the new ichnospecies, Haenamichnus uhangriensis. The prints are five to six times larger than those of Pteraichnus, and are currently the largest pterosaur ichnites known. They show virtually no trace of the 5th phalange of the pes, indicating that they were made by pterodactyloids; moreover, features of the tracks suggest that they can be attributed to azhdarchids, the commonest pterosaur of the Late Cretaceous. The longest pterosaur trackway yet known from any track site (length 7.3 m) and consisting of 14 pairs of foot impressions, was also found in the Uhangri Formation and suggests that azhdarchids, at least, were competent terrestrial locomotors. The fossil track site at Uhangri represents the first occurrence of the tracks of pterosaurs, dinosaurs and web-footed birds all on the same level. This demonstrates that pterosaurs and birds visited the same habitat, but the large size disparity suggests that they occupied different ecological niches.

Description of a new endemic species of mountain lizard from Northwestern Spain: Iberolacerta galani sp. nov. (Squamata : Lacertidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1240 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
OSCAR ARRIBAS ◽  
SALVADOR CARRANZA ◽  
GAETANO ODIERNA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Posterior Part ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
12S Rrna ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Lacertid Lizards ◽  
Northwestern Spain

A new species of Iberolacerta is described from the Montes de León (northwest Iberia). This new species, Iberolacerta galani sp. nov., is characterized by its relatively large size, high number of blue ocelli on the shoulders and the relatively frequent contact or near-contact between the supranasal and the first loreal scale, the fairly straight squamosal bone (only curved on its posterior part), a unique karyotype in Iberolacerta combining 2n=36 chromosomes, an L-type NOR and differentiated W and Z sex chromosomes, and unique mitochondrial DNA sequences for the cytochrome b and 12S rRNA genes. The correlation analyses show that morphology in general, but especially scalation, is strongly correlated with the amount of precipitation during the months of lizard activity, which suggests that these are not good taxonomic characters, and that other characters apparently independent of the climate like for instance osteological, karyological and DNA features are much more reliable in delimiting species boundaries in Iberolacerta. According to our phylogenetic analyses, I. galani nov. is part of a very well supported clade that originated around 2.5 mya and also includes I. monticola and I. martinezricai. Phylogeny suggests I.martinezricai might be the sister taxon to I. galani nov. from which it split approximately 2 mya, at the beginning of the Pleistocene. The clade containing I. galani nov., I. martinezricai and I. monticola was probably widely distributed across western Iberia during moderately cool and moist phases of the Pleistocene, but it was probably restricted to its present range as a result of the general temperature increase during the Holocene and competition with other lacertid lizards. Iberolacerta galani nov. is endemic to the Montes de León, where it is isolated from the other species of the “monticola-group” by the Duero and Miño-Sil Rivers, but particularly by the Bibei river valley.

Acritarchs and microfossils from the Mesoproterozoic Bangemall Group, northwestern Australia

1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 744-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Buick ◽  
Andrew H. Knoll
Keyword(s):  
New Genus ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Benthic Habitats ◽  
Thin Walls ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Numerical Abundance ◽  
Northwestern Australia ◽  
Shallow Subtidal ◽  
The Common

Three microfossil assemblages occur in the Mesoproterozoic Bangemall Group (1625-1000 Ma) of northwestern Australia, each occupying a different environmental and taphonomic setting. In peritidal environments, benthic prokaryotic filaments and spheroids of matting habit and small size were permineralized by early diagenetic silicification of stromatolitic carbonates. In shallow subtidal environments, benthic filaments of large size and nonmatting habit and planktonic sphaeromorph acritarchs with thin walls and moderate dimensions were compressed in mildly kerogenous shale. In deeper subtidal environments, planktonic megasphaeromorph acritarchs with thick walls were initially entombed in concretionary nodules in highly kerogenous shale and then permineralized by silica during later diagenesis. Taxonomic diversity and numerical abundance evidently decrease offshore. The three assemblages have typical Mesoproterozoic aspects: peritidal benthic habitats were dominated by Siphonophycus-Sphaerophycus-Eosynechococcus-Myxococcoides-Palaeopleurocapsa, shallow subtidal settings were occupied by Siphonophycus-Leiosphaeridia-Pterospermopsimorpha-Satka, and offshore plankton consisted solely of very large chuarid acritarchs. Because of its taphonomic restriction to mid-intertidal stromatolites, the peritidal assemblage can be equated in microenvironment with a similar assemblage in the Neoproterozoic Draken Conglomerate, suggesting that ecological stasis at the community level can last for intervals up to 900 million years. In the deeper subtidal assemblage, the common chuarid has an unusual mode of preservation, in three dimensions in early diagenetic concretions, revealing that it possesses a thick multilamellate wall. Because of this distinctive ultrastructure, the new genus Crassicorium is erected for these fossils, which are among the oldest indubitable eukaryotes. Very large (34-55 μm in diameter) filaments from shallow subtidal habitats are assigned to the emended species Siphonophycus punctatum.

Monochaetia sinensis sp. nov. from Yunnan Province in China

Phytotaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 375 (1) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
NIMALI I. DE SILVA ◽  
SAJEEWA S. N. MAHARACHCHIKUMBURA ◽  
DARBHE J. BHAT ◽  
RUNGTIWA PHOOKAMSAK ◽  
ABDULLAH M. Al-SADI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Yunnan Province ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Dead Leaf ◽  
Comprehensive Description ◽  
Sister Clade ◽  
Apical Appendage

This study embodies description of a novel Monochaetia species, from dead leaf of a Quercus sp. collected from Lijiang in Yunnan Province, China. Morphologically, it conforms to the characters of Monochaetia by presence of single apical and basal appendage on the conidia. The new species forms a sister clade to M. ilexae in the combined LSU-ITS and TUB2 sequence data based phylogenetic analyses and remain distinct from the latter species in having larger conidia, long apical appendage, long basal appendage and long conidiogenous cells. Therefore, we introduce Monochaetia sinensis as a novel taxon with a comprehensive description and illustration.

Cf. Wortmania from the early Paleocene of Montana and an evaluation of the fossil record of the initial diversification of the Taeniodonta (Mammalia)

2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Clemens
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Future Research ◽  
San Juan ◽  
Local Fauna ◽  
San Juan Basin ◽  
The North ◽  
Early Paleocene ◽  
Land Mammal ◽  
Channel Deposits

The Garbani Channel deposits, part of the Tullock Formation exposed in northeastern Montana, have yielded a large sample of vertebrates that probably lived during the Puercan 3 North American Land Mammal Age (NALMA). Four fossils in this sample — three isolated teeth and a medial phalanx — document the presence of a stylinodontid taeniodont, cf. Wortmania. Discovery of cf. Wortmania in the Tullock Formation extends the documented range of taeniodonts during Puercan 3 approximately 500 miles (800 km) northward from the San Juan Basin, New Mexico. Evaluation of the oldest records of taeniodonts, from the Lancian, Puercan, and Torrejonian NALMAs, highlights biases warranting future research. Recent phylogenetic analyses that resulted in numerous ghost lineages indicate that the available fossil record is far from complete. They open the possibility that the origin and initial radiation of taeniodonts occurred in areas yet to be sampled and their first occurrences might reflect immigration of invasive species. The available fossil record of taeniodonts is biased with significantly more abundant and complete specimens discovered in the San Juan Basin than at localities to the north. This bias is also apparent in the available samples of two other lineages of large Puercan mammals, the multituberculate Taeniolabis and the “triisodontid” Eoconodon. Where they occur, taeniodonts are relatively rare members of any local fauna. Is their rarity a product of an ecological bias or a reflection of decreasing population size related to increasing body size?

The last Labyrinthodont? A new brachyopoid (Amphibia, Temnospondyli) from the early Jurassic Evergreen formation of Queensland, Australia

1983 ◽  
Vol 303 (1113) ◽  
pp. 1-62 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New Genus ◽  
Neck Region ◽  
Early Jurassic ◽  
Postcranial Skeleton ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Lower Jaw ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Right ◽  
Southeast Queensland

Remains of a fossil amphibian have been recovered from an ironstone layer in the Upper Evergreen Formation, dated as late Liassic, of southeast Queensland. Extraction of the skeleton from the very hard matrix has presented a number of problem s which are discussed. The find is an almost complete skull and mandible connected to an articulated postcranial skeleton which is missing only some ribs, the right hind leg and the distal portions of the other limbs and tail. The remains are those of a temnospondyl labyrinthodont described as a new genus and species of the family Chigutisauridae. The new form is notable for its very large size (total length estimated to be in excess of 2.5 m), relatively large marginal dentition, with unique lance-shaped tooth tips, the presence of minute denticles associated with the palate and mandible, a well developed atlas showing a strong link with the axis, neorhachitomous vertebrae that lack ossified pleurocentra and have low, heavily built neural spines, a neck region and a narrow dermal pectoral girdle associated with unreduced limbs. The discovery of this chigutisaur provides the first unequivocal evidence that labyrinthodonts survived beyond the end of the Triassic. T he status of two previously described doubtful Jurassic forms is reviewed. Austropelor Longman, 1941, from the Early Jurassic Marburg Sandstone of southeast Queensland, is confirmed as a fragm ent of temnospondyl lower jaw , probably attributable to the superfamily Brachyopoidea, and there is no longer any reason to consider the earlier suggestion that it is a reworked Triassic fossil. Cyrtura Jaekel, 1904, from the Late Jurassic Solnhofen Shale of Germany, is considered not to be a labyrinthodont, but its exact relationships are uncertain. The unsatisfactory nature of the higher taxonomy of the Temnospondyli is noted. The superfamily Brachyopoidea is reviewed and the family Kourerpetontidae is removed from it, membership of the superfamily thereby being restricted to the Brachyopidae (Late Permian to Middle Triassic) and Chigutisauridae (Early Triassic to Early Jurassic). Diagnoses for the superfamily and its two included families are provided. The relationships of the better characterized members of the two families are examined and a phylogeny based on shared derived character states is proposed. The analysis of relationships indicates that Brachyops allos Howie, 1972 shares few of the characters diagnostic of the type of Brachyops (B. laticeps Owen, 1855), and a new genus is proposed. The diversity of Australia’s brachyopoids, including the presence of the most primitive and earliest-known members of each of the included families, suggests that the superfamily originated in Australia.

scholarly journals Trypanosoma culicavium sp. nov., an avian trypanosome transmitted by Culex mosquitoes

2012 ◽  
Vol 62 (Pt_3) ◽  
pp. 745-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Votýpka ◽  
Jana Szabová ◽  
Jana Rádrová ◽  
Lenka Zídková ◽  
Milena Svobodová
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Ficedula Albicollis ◽  
Small Subunit Rrna ◽  
Comprehensive Description ◽  
Dehydrogenase Gene ◽  
Natural Hosts ◽  
Mosquito Females

A novel avian trypanosome, Trypanosoma culicavium sp. nov., isolated from Culex mosquitoes, is described on the basis of naturally and experimentally infected vectors and bird hosts, localization in the vector, morphological characters and molecular data. This study provides the first comprehensive description of a trypanosome species transmitted by mosquitoes, in which parasites form plugs and rosettes on the stomodeal valve. Trypanosomes occurred as long epimastigotes and short trypomastigotes in vectors and culture and as long trypomastigotes in birds. Transmission of parasites to bird hosts was achieved exclusively by ingestion of experimentally infected Culex mosquito females by canaries (Serinus canaria), but not by Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica), nor by the bite of infected vectors, nor by ingestion of parasites from laboratory cultures. Transmission experiments and the identity of isolates from collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) and Culex mosquitoes suggests that the natural hosts of T. culicavium are insectivorous songbirds (Passeriformes). Phylogenetic analyses of small-subunit rRNA and glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene sequences demonstrated that T. culicavium sp. nov. is more related to Trypanosoma corvi than to other avian trypanosomes (e.g. Trypanosoma avium and Trypanosoma bennetti).

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