The world’s tiniest land snails from Laos and Vietnam (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Hypselostomatidae)

Two new, extremely small land snail species, Angustopila coprologos Páll-Gergely, Jochum & Hunyadi n. sp. and Angustopila psammion Páll-Gergely, Vermeulen & Anker n. sp. are described from northern Vietnam and northern Laos, respectively. The former is characterized by a rough surface sculpture and bears tiny mud granules arranged in a pattern of radial lines on its shell surface. The latter species is the new global record-holder of the tiniest land snail title, with a shell width of 0.6–0.68 mm and a shell height of 0.46–0.57 mm. These measurements surpass the former records of Angustopila pallgergelyi and Acmella nana.

Pollen Morphological Investigations of Salvia L. In Southeastern of Turkey and Its Taxonomic Implication

In this study, the pollen morphology and exine structure of nine species of the genus Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) were investigated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Six micromorphological characters (pollen shape, polar length, equatorial width, exine and intine thickness, colpus length and colpus width) of pollen grains of Salvia have been identified. The palynological observations revealed that pollen grains of most studied taxa of Salvia were suboblate shape and possess hekzacolpate aperture. Tectal surface sculpture was a good criterion to identify particular taxa from Salvia. The pollen of which is characterized by reticulate, the pollen ornamentation was similar in all studied taxa. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 28(2): 395-403, 2021 (December)

Notes on the Morphology and Systematic Position of Archaeolus Lin, 1986, from the Jurassic of South China (Coleoptera: Elateroidea)

The morphology of the Jurassic fossil Archaeolus funestus Lin, 1986, which was previously placed in the extinct click-beetle subfamily Protagrypninae (Coleoptera: Elateridae), is revised based on a re-examination of the type specimen. The validity of Protagrypninae is discussed and further questioned, partly based on the newly observed characters in A. funestus, including the surface sculpture of the mesoventrite. A possible Throscidae affinity of monotypic Archaeolus Lin, 1986, as suggested in a recent study, is further critically reviewed.

A molecular phylogeny of Geotrochus and Trochomorpha species (Gastropoda: Trochomorphidae) in Sabah, Malaysia reveals convergent evolution of shell morphology driven by environmental influences

There are currently eleven Geotrochus and four Trochomorpha species in Sabah. The primary diagnostic character that separates the two genera is the intensity of sculpture on the shell upper surface. All Trochomorpha species have a coarse nodular sculpture while Geotrochus species has a non-nodular sculpture or smooth shell. However, it is known that shell characters are often evolutionary labile with high plasticity in response to environmental factors. Hence, identifying the phylogenetic and ecological determinants for the shell characters will shed light on the shell-based taxonomy. This study aims to estimate the phylogenetic relationship between Geotrochus and Trochomorpha species in Sabah based in two mitochondrial genes (COI, 16S) and one nuclear gene (ITS) and also to examine the influence of temperature, elevation and annual precipitation on the coarseness of shell upper surface sculpture and shell sizes of the species of both genera. Additionally, we also investigated the phylogenetic signal of the shell characters. The phylogenetic analysis showed that Geotrochus and Trochomorpha species are not reciprocally monophyletic. The phylogenetic signal test suggested that shell size and upper surface sculpture are homoplastic, and these shell traits are strongly influenced by elevation and annual precipitation, particularly at the cloud zone of Mount Kinabalu. The highland species of both genera have a coarser shell surface than lowland species. The shell and aperture width decrease with increasing elevation and annual precipitation. In the view of finding above, the current taxonomy of Geotrochus and Trochmorpha in this region and elsewhere that based on shell characters need to be revised with sufficient specimens throughout the distribution range of the two genera.

Revision of the Ipsviciidae of the Late Triassic of Queensland (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Scytinopteroidea)

Ipsvicia Tillyard, 1919, and Ipsviciopsis Tillyard, 1922, in Tillyard’s new family, Ipsviciidae, were two of the most impressive insects from the Denmark Hill locality of the Late Triassic (Norian) Blackstone Formation, Ipswich Coal Measures, south-eastern Queensland. Substantial new material, including several fragmentary body specimens, from the Dinmore locality in the same formation, has enabled a revision of the two genera, with the following results: Ipsvicia jonesi Tillyard, 1919 (= Ipsvicia maculata Tillyard, 1919, syn. nov., = Ipsvicia acutipennis Tillyard, 1919, syn. nov.), Ipsviciopsis elegans Tillyard, 1922 (= Ipsviciopsis magna Tillyard, 1922, syn. nov.). The tegmen of Ipsviciopsis is distinguished from that of Ipsvicia on its narrower shape and less convex costal margin, simpler surface sculpture, longer basal cell, sinuous R, only slightly angulate CuA, and sinuous base of 1A. The tegmina of both I. jonesi and I. elegans are noteworthy for their variability in apical venation and shape of the apex, with no two specimens quite the same. The tegmen of I. jonesi has extraordinary surface sculpture comprising patches of fine tubercles set in a coarser tuberculate/punctate groundmass, the patches extremely variable in shape and pattern, again with no two specimens the same. A new diagnosis of the Ipsviciidae has identified the unique form of the distal portion of Sc (dSc—a long groove running along the costal space and crossed by many costal veinlets), the complex and highly variable apical venation, and the simple CuA, as the most distinctive characters. Analysis of all previous taxa which have been referred to the Ipsviciidae restricts the family to the Middle to Late Triassic, with records from Australia, China, France, Germany, Japan and Kyrgyzstan, and with one Early Jurassic record from Kyrgyzstan. Ipsvicia langenbergensis Barth, Ansorge et Brauckmann, 2011, from the Late Triassic of Germany meets the diagnosis of Ipsviciopsis and is transferred as Ipsviciopsis langenbergensis (Barth, Ansorge et Brauckmann, 2011) comb. nov. All previous Permian records of the family have now been transferred to other families of the Scyctinopteroidea, and there are also numerous additional unconfirmed Triassic records. The new body specimens of both Ipsvicia and Ipsviciopsis show that the ipsviciids where robust hemipterans with tough, coriaceous, fairly flatly-folded tegmina, with a large, shield-like, highly sculptured pronotum covering all but the mesoscutellum, and apparently much of the head. The body form is not dissimilar to ground-dwelling cockroaches, or more especially some ground-dwelling moist environment Heteroptera, such as the nepomorph family Gelastocoridae. This body form, as well as their frequent occurrence among the rich Dicroidium-dominant flood plain and swamp flora of the Dinmore locality, where they represent nearly 20% of the preserved insect fauna (cockroaches represent 25%), suggest that the ipsviciids were ground-dwelling insects of moisture-rich floral environments.

Conchological and molecular analysis of the “non-scaly” Bornean Georissa with descriptions of three new species (Gastropoda, Neritimorpha, Hydrocenidae)

The Bornean representatives of the genus Georissa (Hydrocenidae) have small, dextral, conical, calcareous shells consisting of ca. three teleoconch whorls. Our recent study on the Georissa of Malaysian Borneo has revealed high intra- and inter-specific variation in the “scaly” group (a group of species with striking scale-like surface sculpture). The present study on the “non-scaly” Georissa is the continuation of the species revision for the genus. The “non-scaly” species are also diverse in shell sculptures. This informal group comprises Georissa with subtle spiral and/or radial sculpture. The combination of detailed conchological assessment and molecular analyses provides clear distinctions for each of the species. Conchological, molecular, and biogeographic details are presented for 16 species of “non-scaly” Georissa. Three of these are new to science, namely Georissacorrugatasp. n., Georissainsulaesp. n., and Georissatrusmadisp. n.

The shell morphology of the latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) trionychid turtle Helopanoplia distincta

Background Helopanoplia distincta is an extinct soft-shelled turtle (Pan-Trionychidae) for which the type specimen is a fragmentary costal and the inguinal notch portion of the left hypoplastron from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Lance Formation of Wyoming, USA that bear a distinct surface sculpture pattern consisting of raised tubercles. Over the course of the past few decades, a number of additional, fragmentary specimens from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Hell Creek Formation of Montana and North Dakota have been referred to this taxon based on the presence of these tubercles, but a more complete understanding of the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of this distinctive soft-shelled turtle is still outstanding. Methods We here figure and describe shell remains of eight fossils referable to Helopanoplia distincta from the Hell Creek Formation of Montana and North Dakota that, in combination, document nearly all aspects of the shell morphology of this taxon. We furthermore explore the relationships of this fossil turtle by inserting it into a modified phylogenetic analysis of pan-trionychid relationships. Results The new fossil material thoroughly supports the validity of Helopanoplia distincta. In addition to its unique surface sculpture pattern, this turtle can be diagnosed relative to all other named pan-trionychids by the presence of a distinct corner along the margin of costals II, the complete covering of costal ribs I–VI by metaplastic bone, midline contact of the main plastral elements, hyoplastral shoulder, presence of a lateral, upturned margin on the hyo/hypoplastron that is covered dorsally and laterally by sculptured metaplastic bone, a single, lateral hyoplastral process, and the apomorphic presence of fine scallops along the margin of costals VIII, formation of a laterally embraced, rounded nuchal, anteriorly rounded costals I, distally expanded costals II, and narrow costals VII. A phylogenetic analysis places Helopanoplia distincta as sister to the clade formed by Plastomenus thomasii and Hutchemys spp., thereby confirming its identity as a plastomenid. The vast majority of Helopanoplia distincta material has been recovered from fine-grained overbank deposits, thereby supporting the hypothesis that this turtle favored ponded waters.

Morphological Study of Pollen Grains and Seeds in Eight Species from the Family Cruciferae in Iraq

The shape dimensions and characteristics of pollen grains and seeds have importance in distinguish among species. Therefore, the present study included morphological characteristics of pollen grains and seeds for eight species belonging to eight genera of the family Brassicaceae and these species are: Alliaria petiolata (M.Bieb) Cavara et Grand, Aubrieta parviflora Boiss, Cardamine hirsuta L., Crambe orientalis L., Eromobium aegyptiacum (Spreng.) Schweinf.et Asch.ex Boiss., Parlatoria cakiloidea Boiss., Sterigmostemum sulphureum (Banksetsol.) Bornm. Neotorularia torulosa (Desf.) Hedge & J. Leonard. The pollen grains were studied in morphological and full measurements were taken, the study showed that the majority of the pollen grains was tricolpate and shape was determined to be prolate, sub prolate and prolate spheroidal. In terms of size, the pollen grains of the studied species varied between small size, medium size, the basic surface pattern of the studied pollen grains was reticulate. The study showed that the morphological characteristics of the seeds varied in shape between oblong-elliptic, lenticular- discoid, ovoid, suborbicular and obovoid. The location of hillum was a difference between terminal and basal position and the surface sculpture of the seed surface varied between a longitudinal striate prominent, faintly reticulate, reticulate, pustular, faintly reticulate and pustular and a smooth. The seeds also varied in color and dimensions, existence of wing in the studied species.

Seed morphology of 12 taxa of the genus Thalictrum L. (Thalictroideae, Ranunculaceae) and its systematic implication

The seed morphology and anatomy of 12 species, representing five sections of Thalictrum, were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM) to evaluate seed features for use in systematic analysis. Considerable differences were observed in seed surface micromorphology and seed coat characteristics both among and within sections of the genus. MANOVA, MDA, and cluster analysis were used to unravel the morphology of seeds among the species. The characteristic seed features for species were found to be seed shape, size, testa thickness, exotestal cells and seed surface sculpture. The results indicated that the most prevalent seed coat sculpture among the studied species was reticulate and some species were reticulate at the margin and rugose in the center. Seed surface was without ornamentation and epidermal cells were mostly polygonal, rectangular or irregularly shaped. The testa thickness varied from two to six cell layers, and the exotesta was well characterized and rectangular to tangentially elongate in most of the species, except T. simplex and T. uchiyamae in which exotesta was poorly represented. It has been observed that species with a non-reticulate or poorly developed reticulate surface sculpture have a less protected seed coat and vice versa. The results of this study indicated that seed morphological features do not, in general, provide strong support to the sectional division of the genus, but that species within sections shared some comparable seed features.