Systematics and description of the lungfish genus Sagenodus from the Carboniferous of the UK

ABSTRACTThe Carboniferous lungfish genus Sagenodus is reviewed from all available British specimens and described in detail for the first time. We identify two species exclusive to the UK: Sagenodusinaequalis, the type species, deriving from the late Carboniferous (=Pennsylvanian); and Sagenodus quinquecostatus derived from the early Carboniferous (=Mississippian). The genus is probably the most widespread of the known Carboniferous lungfish genera, but the British species have not been formally described since their discovery in the mid–late 19th Century. This work will provide data to help resolve existing questions about the position of Sagenodus in the phylogeny of Palaeozoic lungfishes, and provide a template for the recognition of isolated elements in museum collections and the finds from recent and future field work. The early Carboniferous species, S. quinquecostatus, shows a so far unique functional mechanism in which the lower tooth plates appear to rotate relative to the upper plates during jaw closure, implying a kinetic function at the symphysis or jaw joint.

Primer estudio experimental sobre los efectos de la digestión en restos esqueléticos de murciélagos (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

Taphonomic studies dealing with small mammals do not usually consider bats. Therefore, the degree to which bat bones are modi? ed by predation and other taphonomic agents are largely unknown. Here we present the results obtained from a set of experiments developed to approach this issue, focusing initially on the e?ect of digestion. For this purpose several bat bones and teeth were exposed to HCl and to two di?erent proteolithic enzymes. The experiments showed that bat bones are altered by acidic and enzymatic attack in a similar way as the bones of other small mammals. However, some patterns were observed in the teeth that had not been previously described in other groups. Thus, both the intensity of alteration in a tooth and the way in which it advanced during the process varied depending on whether it was an upper or lower tooth, its size or its position in the tooth-row.

Parmaturus nigripalatum n. sp., a new species of deep-sea catshark (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) from Indonesia

Parmaturus nigripalatum, a new species of catshark of the genus Parmaturus is described from a single specimen collected from a deep-water shark longliner operating in south Sumbawa waters, Indonesia. This new species is distinguished from its closest geographic congener P. lanatus by having prominent enlarged caudal crests, well-developed labial furrows with the uppers and lowers of equal lengths, mouth roof blackish with dark pores, first dorsal fin origin more posteriorly positioned on body trunk, and much lower tooth counts than all other known Parmaturus species. This is the second Parmaturus species recorded from Indonesian waters.

A new species of the genus Cixius (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Cixiidae) from Krasnodar Territory

Cixius (Orinocixius) lermontovi sp. nov. is described from Black see coast of Krasnodar Territory of Russia. This is 6th species of the genus Cixius Latreille recorded from this region so far and 27th species for the fauna of Russia. The new species differs from all other species of the subgenus Orinocixius by small size (body length with wings) – 3.0 mm. C. (O.) lermontovi sp. nov. is closely related to C. (O.) cambricus China, 1935 and C. (O.) carniolicus Wagner, 1939 according to arrangement and size of phallotheca teeth and length of male anal tube, but well distinguished by body size and dark brown coloration of the head, pro-, and mesonotum. C. (O.) lermontovi sp. nov. is characterized by wide pygofer, with hind margins strongly convex, male anal tube 4 times as long as wide medially, phallotheca with two lateral areas of weak sclerotization, denticles ventrally and two lobe-shaped combs dorsally – left comb deeply concave proximally and right comb convex, 3 movable teeth are near to the base of the distal segment of penis – upper tooth large, directed upwards and lower tooth small, directed downwards on left side, one large tooth directed upwards on the right side, lower margin of phallotheca with two strong teeth proximally.

The anterior component of occlusal force and lower tooth movements

Σκοπός: Η αξιολόγηση της σχέσης της πρόσθιας συνιστώσας της μασητικής δύναμης (ΠΣΜΔ) με την εγγύς μετακίνηση των κάτω δοντιών.Μέθοδος: Το δείγμα αποτελείτο από 30 άτομα (μέση ηλικία: 21.5, τυπική απόκλιση: 2.7). Η ΠΣΜΔ υπολογίστηκε ως η αύξηση της δύναμης στο σημείο επαφής μεταξύ του κάτω πρώτου γομφίου και δευτέρου προγομφίου, κατά τη δήξη. Ο αισθητήρας μέτρησης της μασητικής δύναμης ήταν 4 χιλ. σε πάχος, ενώ ο αισθητήρας της μεσοδόντιας δύναμης ήταν 0.2 χιλ. Οι μετακινήσεις των δοντιών μετρήθηκαν στους 3 άξονες του χώρου με αλληλεπίθεση ψηφιακών εκμαγείων, τα οποία ελήφθησαν 4 ώρες μετά την τοποθέτηση διαχωριστικού ελαστικού δακτυλίου μεταξύ κάτω πρώτου γομφίου και δευτέρου προγομφίου. Έγιναν δύο ομάδες μετρήσεων, μία χωρίς και μία με εφαρμογή μασητικών δυνάμεων κατά την περίοδο των 4 ωρών.Αποτελέσματα: Η μέση τιμή της ΠΣΜΔ ήταν 20.59 N (τυπική απόκλιση: 4.60). Σημαντική μείωση της οδοντικής μετακίνησης παρατηρήθηκε με την εφαρμογή μασητικών δυνάμεων. Δεν παρατηρήθηκε συσχέτιση μεταξύ της εγγύς-άπω μετακίνησης του γομφίου και προγομφίου και του μεγέθους της ΠΣΜΔ (R2=0.033, 0.028).Συμπεράσματα: Δεν βρέθηκε συσχέτιση μεταξύ της εγγύς μετακίνησης των δοντιών και της ΠΣΜΔ. Μετά από συνεχή μάσηση, τα δόντια μετακινήθηκαν περισσότερο γλωσσικά και αυχενικά, καθώς και συμπλησίασαν, σε σχέση με την εφαρμογή διαχωριστικού χωρίς μάσηση.

New remains of von Meyer, 1837 (Crocodilia, Thalattosuchia) from the Kimmeridgian of Germany

The fourth complete skull of the marine crocodilian <i>Machimosaurus</i> von Meyer, 1837 is hereby described together with an associated complete mandible and disarticulated postcranial elements from the Kimmeridgian of Neuffen, Germany. Although the genus has been described fairly recently on the basis of two nearly complete skulls, their state of preservation did not allow a thorough examination of the entire skull anatomy. Here, we add new information with the description of nicely preserved cranial and mandibular elements of a single individual attributable to <i>Machimosaurus hugii</i> von Meyer, 1837. The diagnosis is updated for the genus and for the species <i>M. hugii</i> and challenges the validity of the second species <i>M. mosae</i> (Liénard, 1876). Moreover, previous assumption that <i>Steneosaurus obtusidens</i> Andrews, 1913 is a junior synonym of <i>Machimosaurus hugii</i> is not supported by our observations. Notably, <i>M. hugii</i> differs from <i>S. obtusidens</i> by a lower tooth count, the morphology of the dentition, the shape of the supratemporal fenestrae and the absence of an antorbital fenestra. Comparative anatomy and a phylogenetic analysis show that <i>Machimosaurus</i> is more closely related to the genus <i>Steneosaurus</i> than to <i>Teleosaurus cadomensis</i> (Lamouroux, 1820). <br><br> doi:<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mmng.201300009" target="_blank">10.1002/mmng.201300009</a>

A new glyptosaurine lizard from the earliest Eocene of Dormaal, Belgium

A new glyptosaurine lizard ?Placosaurus ragei, n. sp., is recognized as being distinct from Paraplacosauriops quercyi in having a lightly built dentary, incipient heterodont teeth, lower tooth count (19), and teeth that are more gracile compared to other European glyptosaurine lizards. ?Placosaurus ragei also differs from “Placosaurus” europaeus, which has a prominent homodont dentition and is more massive. A second specimen, an isolated, nearly complete parietal, partly covered with hexagonal and polygonal osteoderms, is referable to the European glyptosaurin Placosaurus and is provisionally referred to the species ?Placosaurus ragei. A third specimen, an incomplete right frontal fragment of an indeterminate “melanosaurin,” may represent a new taxon, or may be referable to the well-known Western European taxon Placosauriops. Taxa pertaining to both tribes (Glyptosaurini and “Melanosaurini”) of glyptosaurine lizards have been recovered from the lower Eocene deposits of Dormaal, Belgium. Their apparent sudden appearance is interpreted as marking entry into western Europe. The Dormaal locality has been correlated to reference level MP7 and thus is considered to be of early Eocene age. Glyptosaurine lizards probably dispersed into western Europe, from North America, through the Greenland bridge during late Paleocene/early Eocene time.

A new genus of ichneumonid flies of the subfamily Collyriinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from Syria and Israel

In the subfamily Collyriinae, a second genus of ichneumonid flies (Aubertiellagen. nov.) is established for Collyria nigricator Aubert, 1964 previously known only from Syria. The new genus differs from Collyria Schiødte, 1839 in having the mouth hollow much broader than face, malar space very short, lower tooth of mandible strongly elongate, and tergites 7 and 8 not enlarged and retracted into abdomen (these tergites are always modified and strongly projecting in Collyria). Key for both genera of the subfamily is given. Female of Aubertiella nigricator (Aubert, 1964), comb. nov., previously unknown, is described. This species is recorded from Israel for the first time.