Osteology, relationships and functional morphology of Weigeltisaurus jaekeli (Diapsida, Weigeltisauridae) based on a complete skeleton from the Upper Permian Kupferschiefer of Germany

Background Weigeltisauridae is a clade of small-bodied diapsids characterized by a horned cranial frill, slender trunk and limbs, and a patagium supported by elongated bony rods. Partial skeletons and fragments are definitively known only from upper Permian (Lopingian) rocks in England, Germany, Madagascar and Russia. Despite these discoveries, there have been few detailed descriptions of weigeltisaurid skeletons, and the homologies of many skeletal elements—especially the rods supporting the patagium—remain the subject of controversy. Materials & Methods Here, we provide a detailed description of a nearly complete skeleton of Weigeltisaurus jaekeli from the upper Permian (Lopingian: Wuchiapingian) Kupferschiefer of Lower Saxony, Germany. Briefly addressed by past authors, the skeleton preserves a nearly complete skull, postcranial axial skeleton, appendicular skeleton, and patagial supports. Through comparisons with extant and fossil diapsids, we examine the hypotheses for the homologies of the patagial rods. To examine the phylogenetic position of Weigeltisauridae and characterize the morphology of the clade, we integrate the material and other weigeltisaurids into a parsimony-based phylogenetic analysis focused on Permo-Triassic non-saurian Diapsida and early Sauria (61 taxa, 339 characters). Results We recognize a number of intriguing anatomical features in the weigeltisaurid skeleton described here, including hollow horns on the post-temporal arch, lanceolate teeth in the posterior portion of the maxilla, the absence of a bony arch connecting the postorbital and squamosal bones, elongate and slender phalanges that resemble those of extant arboreal squamates, and patagial rods that are positioned superficial to the lateral one third of the gastral basket. Our phylogenetic study recovers a monophyletic Weigeltisauridae including Coelurosauravus elivensis, Weigeltisaurus jaekeli, and Rautiania spp. The clade is recovered as the sister taxon to Drepanosauromorpha outside of Sauria (=Lepidosauria + Archosauria). Conclusions Our anatomical observations and phylogenetic analysis show variety of plesiomorphic diapsid characters and apomorphies of Weigeltisauridae in the specimen described here. We corroborate the hypothesis that the patagial ossifications are dermal bones unrelated to the axial skeleton. The gliding apparatus of weigeltisaurids was constructed from dermal elements unknown in other known gliding diapsids. SMNK-PAL 2882 and other weigeltisaurid specimens highlight the high morphological disparity of Paleozoic diapsids already prior to their radiation in the early Mesozoic.

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The enigmatic diapsid Acerosodontosaurus piveteaui (Reptilia: Neodiapsida) from the Upper Permian of Madagascar and the paraphyly of “younginiform” reptiles

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences ◽

10.1139/e09-038 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 46 (9) ◽

pp. 651-661 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Constanze Bickelmann ◽

Johannes Müller ◽

Robert R. Reisz

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Data Matrix ◽

Upper Permian ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Ancestral Condition ◽

Phylogenetic Data ◽

First Time ◽

Evolutionary Lineages

A restudy of the Upper Permian diapsid Acerosodontosaurus piveteaui from Madagascar indicates that the bone formerly identified as the quadratojugal is a fragment of a rib. This in turn implies that, in contrast to previous studies, the lower temporal arcade must be considered incomplete and derived relative to the ancestral condition. Since the phylogenetic position of Acerosodontosaurus is poorly understood, the taxon was entered into a modified phylogenetic data matrix of diapsid reptiles, and the purported monophyly of “Younginiformes” was tested for the first time by including all potential members of the clade as separate taxa, as well as other taxa from the same deposits. The results of the phylogenetic analysis do not support the monophyly of “younginiform” reptiles. Instead, most taxa cluster unresolved at the base of Neodiapsida, a finding that has important implications for the understanding of early diapsid evolution because it suggests that early neodiapsids represent several distinct evolutionary lineages. Acerosodontosaurus and Hovasaurus do form a clade, a finding consistent with the stratigraphic age and biogeography of these taxa.

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A New and Expanded Phylogenetic Analysis of Hyptidinae (Ocimeae-Lamiaceae)

Systematic Botany ◽

10.1600/036364421x16370109698542 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 46 (4) ◽

pp. 1086-1094

Author(s):

José Floriano Barêa Pastore ◽

Guilherme Medeiros Antar ◽

Arthur de Souza Soares ◽

Félix Forest ◽

Raymond Mervyn Harley

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

New Combination ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Phylogenetic Study ◽

Generic Delimitation ◽

Taxonomic Changes ◽

Plastid Markers ◽

Pollen Release ◽

Almost All ◽

Explosive Mechanism

Abstract— Hyptidinae, ca. 400 species, is an important component of Neotropical vegetation formations. Members of the subtribe possess flowers arranged in variously modified bracteolate cymes and nutlets with an expanded areole and all share a unique explosive mechanism of pollen release, except for Asterohyptis. In a recent phylogenetic study, the group had its generic delimitations rearranged with the recognition of 19 genera in the subtribe. Although the previous phylogenetic analysis covered almost all the higher taxa in the subtribe, it lacked a broader sampling at the species level. Here we present a new expanded phylogenetic analysis for the subtribe comprising 153 accessions of Hyptidinae sequenced for the nuclear nrITS, nrETS, and waxy regions and the plastid markers trnL-F, trnS-G, trnD-T, and matK. Our results widely support the previous phylogenetic results with some changes in the support and relationship between genera. It also uncovers the need for a new combination of Eriope machrisae in Hypenia and the phylogenetic position of Hyptis sect. Rhytidea, which was demonstrated to be part of Mesosphaerum. The generic delimitation in Hyptidinae is discussed, and we recommend that further studies with more markers are needed to confirm the monophyly of Hyptidendron and Mesosphaerum, as well as to support taxonomic changes on the infrageneric delimitation within Hyptis s. s.

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A Molecular Phylogenetic Study of the Genus Phedimus for Tracing the Origin of “Tottori Fujita” Cultivars

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants9020254 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 254 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sung Kyung Han ◽

Tae Hoon Kim ◽

Jung Sung Kim

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Phylogenetic Tree ◽

Genetic Background ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Cultivated Plants ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Phylogenetic Study ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Backbone Tree

It is very important to confirm and understand the genetic background of cultivated plants used in multiple applications. The genetic background is the history of crossing between maternal and paternal plants to generate a cultivated plant. If the plant in question was generated from a simple origin and not complicated crossing, we can easily confirm the history using a phylogenetic tree based on molecular data. This study was conducted to trace the origin of “Tottori Fujita 1gou” and “Tottori Fujita 2gou”, which are registered as cultivars originating from Phedimus kamtschaticus. To investigate the phylogenetic position of these cultivars, the backbone tree of the genus Phedimus needed to be further constructed because it retains inarticulate phylogenetic relationships among the wild species. We performed molecular phylogenetic analysis for P. kamtschaticus, Phedimus takesimensis, Phedimus aizoon, and Phedimus middendorffianus, which are assumed as the species of origin for “Tottori Fujita 1gou” and “Tottori Fujita 2gou”. The molecular phylogenetic tree based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and psbA-trnH sequences showed the monophyly of the genus Phedimus, with P. takesimensis forming a single clade. However, P. kamtschaticus and P. aizoon were scattered in the tree. It was verified that “Tottori Fujita 1gou” and “Tottori Fujita 2gou” were embedded in a clade with P. takesimensis and not P. kamtschaticus. Therefore, origination from P. takesimensis was strongly supported. Based on these results, molecular phylogenetic analysis is suggested as a powerful tool for clearly tracing the origin of cultivated plants.

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Diversity of pathogenic Pseudomonas isolated from citrus in Tunisia

AMB Express ◽

10.1186/s13568-020-01134-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Maroua Oueslati ◽

Magdalena Mulet ◽

Mohamed Zouaoui ◽

Charlotte Chandeysson ◽

Jorge Lalucat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Pseudomonas Syringae ◽

Ice Nucleation ◽

Phylogenetic Study ◽

Future Studies ◽

Citrus Orchards ◽

First Time ◽

New Cultivars

Abstract The damages observed in Tunisian citrus orchards have prompted studies on the Pseudomonas spp. responsible for blast and black pit. Prospective orchards between 2015 and 2017 showed that the diseases rapidly spread geographically and to new cultivars. A screening of Pseudomonas spp. isolated from symptomatic trees revealed their wide diversity according to phylogenetic analysis of their housekeeping rpoD and cts genes. The majority of strains were affiliated to Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Phylogroup PG02b), previously described in Tunisia. However, they exhibited various BOX-PCR fingerprints and were not clonal. This work demonstrated, for the first time in Tunisia, the involvement of Pseudomonas cerasi (PG02a) and Pseudomonas congelans (PG02c). The latter did not show significant pathogenicity on citrus, but was pathogenic on cantaloupe and active for ice nucleation that could play a role in the disease. A comparative phylogenetic study of citrus pathogens from Iran, Montenegro and Tunisia revealed that P. syringae (PG02b) strains are closely related but again not clonal. Interestingly P. cerasi (PG02a) was isolated in two countries and seems to outspread. However, its role in the diseases is not fully understood and it should be monitored in future studies. The diversity of pathogenic Pseudomonas spp. and the extension of the diseases highlight that they have become complex and synergistic. It opens questions about which factors favor diseases and how to fight against them efficiently and with sustainable means.

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New olenelline trilobites from the Northwest Territories, Canada, and the phylogenetic placement of Judomia absita Fritz, 1973

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2918.1.2 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2918 (1) ◽

pp. 15 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

I. WESLEY GAPP ◽

BRUCE S. LIEBERMAN ◽

MICHAEL C. POPE ◽

KELLY A. DILLIARD

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

New Species ◽

Northwest Territories ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Geographic Range ◽

Early Cambrian ◽

Phylogenetic Placement ◽

The Subject ◽

Three New Species ◽

One New Species

The Early Cambrian olenelline trilobites are a diverse clade and have been the subject of several phylogenetic analyses. Here, three new species of Bradyfallotaspis Fritz, 1972 (B. coriae, B. nicolascagei, and B. sekwiensis) and one new species of Nevadia Walcott, 1910 (N. saupeae) are described from the Sekwi Formation of the Mackenzie Mountains, Northwest Territories, Canada. In addition, new specimens potentially referable to Nevadia ovalis McMenamin, 1987 were recovered that may expand that species’ geographic range, which was thought to be restricted to Sonora, Mexico. The results of a phylogenetic analysis incorporating several olenelline taxa, including Judomia absita Fritz, 1973 from the Sekwi Formation, are also presented herein. This species has been assigned to various olenelline genera, including Judomia Lermontova, 1951 and Paranevadella Palmer & Repina, 1993. Phylogenetic analysis suggests this species is closely related to Judomia tera Lazarenko, 1960 from Siberia. This phylogenetic relationship provides further support for the hypothesis that a close biogeographic relationship existed between Laurentia and Siberia during the Cambrian.

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Contribution to the Morphology of a Pine Web-spinning Sawfly, Cephalcia marginata Middlekauff (Hymenoptera: Pamphiliidae)

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent87382-9 ◽

1955 ◽

Vol 87 (9) ◽

pp. 382-399 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

I. Rivard

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Morphological Studies ◽

The Family ◽

The Subject

In studies of sawflies, the family Pamphiliidae has been much neglected especially from the morphological stand point. Yuasa (1922) made a study of the larvae, but the genus Cephalcia was dealt with rather briefly. Ross (1937) and Benson (1945) made comparative morphological studies of the adults and showed the phylogenetic position of the family. More recently, Middlekauff (1953) published a description of Cephalcia marginata, a pine web-spinning sawfly which was the subject of the present study.

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Gout in the Axial Skeleton

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.080374 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 609-613 ◽

Cited By ~ 66

Author(s):

RUKMINI M. KONATALAPALLI ◽

PAUL J. DEMARCO ◽

JAMES S. JELINEK ◽

MARK MURPHEY ◽

MICHAEL GIBSON ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Facet Joint ◽

Case Reports ◽

Case Series ◽

Lumbar Vertebrae ◽

Axial Skeleton ◽

Ct Images ◽

Common Finding ◽

Appendicular Skeleton ◽

Pars Interarticularis ◽

A Prospective Study

Objective.Gout typically affects the peripheral joints of the appendicular skeleton and rarely involves the axial joints. The literature on axial gout is limited to case reports and case series. This preliminary study was conducted to identify the frequency and characteristics of axial gout.Methods.Six hundred thirty medical records with ICD codes 274.0, 274.82, and 274.9 for peripheral gout were reviewed. Ninety-two patients had clinical or crystal-proven gout, of which 64 had prior computed tomography (CT) images of the spine performed for various medical reasons. These CT images were reviewed for features of axial gout, which include vertebral erosions mainly at the discovertebral junction and the facet joints, deposits of tophi, and erosions in the vertebral body, epidural space, ligamentum flavum and pars interarticularis.Results.Nine of the 64 patients had radiographic changes suggestive of axial gout. Lumbar vertebrae were most commonly involved, with facet joint erosions being the most common finding. Isolated involvement of the sacroiliac joints was seen in 2 patients. Axial gout had been diagnosed clinically in only one patient.Conclusion.Radiologic changes of axial gout were more common than recognized clinically, with a frequency of 14%. Since not all patients had CT images, it is possible that the frequency of axial involvement was even greater. A prospective study is needed to further define this process.

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Molecular phylogeny of Pemphiginae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) inferred from nuclear gene EF-1α sequences

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485308005828 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 98 (5) ◽

pp. 499-507 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

H.C. Zhang ◽

G.X. Qiao

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Molecular Phylogeny ◽

Host Specificity ◽

Nuclear Gene ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Phylogenetic Study ◽

Primary Host ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic Study ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic

AbstractThree traditional tribes of Fordini, Pemphigini and Eriosomatini comprise Pemphiginae, and there are two subtribes in Fordini and Pemphigini, respectively. Most of the species in this subfamily live heteroecious holocyclic lives with distinct primary host specificity. The three tribes of Pemphigini (except Prociphilina), Eriosomatini and Fordini use three families of plants, Salicaceae (Populus), Ulmaceae (Ulums) and Anacardiaceae (Pistacia and Rhus), as primary hosts, respectively, and form galls on them. Therefore, the Pemphigids are well known as gall makers, and their galls can be divided into true galls and pseudo-galls in type. We performed the first molecular phylogenetic study of Pemphiginae based on molecular data (EF-1α sequences). Results show that Pemphiginae is probably not a monophylum, but the monophyly of Fordini is supported robustly. The monophyly of Pemphigini is not supported, and two subtribes in it, Pemphigina and Prociphilina, are suggested to be raised to tribal level, equal with Fordini and Eriosomatini. The molecular phylogenetic analysis does not show definite relationships among the four tribes of Pemphiginae, as in the previous phylogenetic study based on morphology. It seems that the four tribes radiated at nearly the same time and then evolved independently. Based on this, we can speculate that galls originated independently four times in the four tribes, and there is no evidence to support that true galls are preceded by pseudo-galls, as in the case of thrips and willow sawflies.

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OnProphocaandLeptophoca(Pinnipedia, Phocidae) from the Miocene of the North Atlantic realm: redescription, phylogenetic affinities and paleobiogeographic implications

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.3024 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. e3024 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Leonard Dewaele ◽

Olivier Lambert ◽

Stephen Louwye

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Middle Miocene ◽

New Combination ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Appendicular Skeleton ◽

Original Diagnosis ◽

Sediment Samples ◽

The North ◽

The North Sea ◽

Phylogenetic Affinities

BackgroundProphocaandLeptophocarepresent the oldest known genera of phocine seals, dating from the latest early to middle Miocene. Originally,Prophoca rousseauiandProphoca proximawere described based on fragmentary remains from the Miocene of Belgium. However, several researchers contested the union ofProphoca rousseauiandProphoca proximainto one genus, without providing evidence. The stratigraphic context ofProphocaremained poorly constrained due to the lack of precise data associated with the original specimens collected in the area of Antwerp (north of Belgium).MethodsProphocaandLeptophocaare redescribed and their phylogenetic position among Phocidae is reassessed using PAUP. Dinoflagellate biostratigraphy has been carried out on sediment samples associated with specimens fromProphocaandLeptophocato elucidate their approximate ages.ResultsWhereas the speciesProphoca rousseauiis redescribed,Prophoca proximais considered synonymous toLeptophoca lenis, with the proposal of a new combinationLeptophoca proxima(Van Beneden, 1877). Sediment samples from specimens of both taxa have been dated to the late Langhian–early Serravallian (middle Miocene). Following a reinvestigation ofLeptophoca amphiatlantica, characters from the original diagnosis are questioned and the specimens ofLeptophoca amphiatlanticaare consideredLeptophocacf.L. proxima. In a phylogenetic analysis,Prophoca rousseauiandLeptophoca proximaconstitute early branching stem-phocines.DiscussionLeptophoca proximafrom the North Sea Basin is younger than the oldest known find ofLeptophoca proximafrom North America, which does not contradict the hypothesis that Phocinae originated along the east coast of North America during the late early Miocene, followed by dispersal to Europe shortly after. Morphological features of the appendicular skeleton indicate thatProphoca rousseauiandLeptophoca proximahave archaic locomotory modes, retaining a more prominent use of the fore flipper for aquatic propulsion than extant Phocidae.

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A fresh look at Cladarosymblema narrienense, a tetrapodomorph fish (Sarcopterygii: Megalichthyidae) from the Carboniferous of Australia, illuminated via X-ray tomography

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.12597 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e12597

Author(s):

Alice M. Clement ◽

Richard Cloutier ◽

Jing Lu ◽

Egon Perilli ◽

Anton Maksimenko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Original Description ◽

Sister Group ◽

Axial Skeleton ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Micro Computed Tomography ◽

Holotype Specimen ◽

Freshwater Swamp ◽

The Family ◽

First Time ◽

Detailed Work

Background The megalichthyids are one of several clades of extinct tetrapodomorph fish that lived throughout the Devonian–Permian periods. They are advanced “osteolepidid-grade” fishes that lived in freshwater swamp and lake environments, with some taxa growing to very large sizes. They bear cosmine-covered bones and a large premaxillary tusk that lies lingually to a row of small teeth. Diagnosis of the family remains controversial with various authors revising it several times in recent works. There are fewer than 10 genera known globally, and only one member definitively identified from Gondwana. Cladarosymblema narrienense Fox et al. 1995 was described from the Lower Carboniferous Raymond Formation in Queensland, Australia, on the basis of several well-preserved specimens. Despite this detailed work, several aspects of its anatomy remain undescribed. Methods Two especially well-preserved 3D fossils of Cladarosymblema narrienense, including the holotype specimen, are scanned using synchrotron or micro-computed tomography (µCT), and 3D modelled using specialist segmentation and visualisation software. New anatomical detail, in particular internal anatomy, is revealed for the first time in this taxon. A novel phylogenetic matrix, adapted from other recent work on tetrapodomorphs, is used to clarify the interrelationships of the megalichthyids and confirm the phylogenetic position of C. narrienense. Results Never before seen morphological details of the palate, hyoid arch, basibranchial skeleton, pectoral girdle and axial skeleton are revealed and described. Several additional features are confirmed or updated from the original description. Moreover, the first full, virtual cranial endocast of any tetrapodomorph fish is presented and described, giving insight into the early neural adaptations in this group. Phylogenetic analysis confirms the monophyly of the Megalichthyidae with seven genera included (Askerichthys, Cladarosymblema, Ectosteorhachis, Mahalalepis, Megalichthys, Palatinichthys, and Sengoerichthys). The position of the megalichthyids as sister group to canowindrids, crownward of “osteolepidids” (e.g.,Osteolepis and Gogonasus), but below “tristichopterids” such as Eusthenopteron is confirmed, but our findings suggest further work is required to resolve megalichthyid interrelationships.

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