The phylogenetic affinities and morphological peculiarities of the bird-like dinosaur Borogovia gracilicrus from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia

Borogovia gracilicrus is a small-bodied theropod dinosaur from the Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) Nemegt Formation of southern Mongolia. The taxon is based on a single fragmentary specimen preserving only the distal part of the hindlimbs. The morphology of Borogovia shows a peculiar combination of features, some of which are traditionally considered troodontid synapomorphies and others which are unusual for Troodontidae but are shared with other maniraptoran clades. In particular, the second toe of B. gracilicrus differs from other troodontids in lacking some of the features which contribute to the specialized ‘sickle-clawed’ second toe, here termed the ‘falciphoran condition’, shared with dromaeosaurids and some other paravians, such as the strongly compressed and falciform ungual. Phylogeny reconstructions intended to explore the affinities of Borogovia consistently support its referral within a subclade of troodontids including all Late Cretaceous taxa. The placement of Borogovia is not significantly affected by its unusual combinations of hindlimb features or by the homoplasy of the elements forming the falciphoran condition. Borogovia is supported as a valid taxon and is distinct from the other Nemegt troodontids, Tochisaurus and Zanabazar. The lack of a falciform ungual, and the distinctive morphology of the second toe in B. gracilicrus are interpreted as a derived specialization among Troodontidae and not as retention of the plesiomorphic condition of non-paravian theropods.

Multivariate analysis of geographic variation in Darevskia clarkorum (Darevsky & Vedmederja, 1977), correlation with geographic and climatic parameters, and true status of Darevskia dryada (Darevsky & Tuniyev, 1997)

All the Turkish populations studied, both those previously assigned to D. dryada (Subaşı and Yoldere villages, near Hopa) and those attributed to D. clarkorum (the largest sample studied so far, 177 specimens in total), are indistinguishable from each other and therefore must all be ascribed to the natural variability of a monotypic D. clarkorum. The Georgian specimens from the Type Locality of D. dryada (Charnaly river gorge, Chevachauri district) are clearly different, so that taxon cannot be considered a simple synonym for D. clarkorum, but as a valid taxon, although its proper status (more probably as a subspecies of D. clarkorum), is yet to be clarified. It is a highly threatened population, so studies should be done in vivo or with as low intrusiveness as possible. Darevskia dryada is clearly larger (SVL) than any D. clarkorum studied, with strongly longer heads and pilei in adult males (and hence more teeth in dentary bone), and higher dorsalia counts. There also seem to be (but need to be studied in a larger sample) more longitudinal rows of temporal scales between tympanic and parietal plates, a tendency to have more supralabial scales; comparatively smaller values for longitudinal rows of scales on the ventral surface of the thigh between the femoral pores and the outer row of enlarged scales, and higher collaria, and circumanalia scales. Other differences in femoralia and gularia are also reflected in Darevsky & Tuniyev’s (1997) tables and should also be investigated with more Georgian specimens. Two supposed discriminant characters, the frontonasal index and the presence of developed masseteric, are not valid. The frontonasal index does not discriminate both taxa; D dryada specimens fall inside the variation of D. clarkorum for this character. Also the presence of a developed masseteric plate is supposed to be rare if at all in D. clarkorum but always present in D. dryada; however, it appears in nearly 75% of D. clarkorum studied and in all D. dyada, so is also no longer valid for taxa discrimination. Although very similar, D. clarkorum and D. dryada are morphologically different, and genetic studies (as the unpublished results mentioned by Fu, 1999) do not make the provenance of the specimens clear, and hence the correct identification of the supposed specimens of D. dryada used. There are no geographical clines in D. clarkorum. However, as stated by Schmidtler et al. (2002), there is an inverse relationship between altitude and dorsalia values in D. clarkorum. Both the general differentiation between populations and the scalation (dorsalia) appear statistically correlated with the altitude and also with latitude (being both factors not strictly the same). The correlation seems to be stronger with morphology in general (multiple scalation characters and head biometry) than only with dorsalia. In the case of the general differentiation among samples, it is also significantly correlated with temperatures during the activity period (April-September) and with precipitation during incubation (July-August). As these climatic parameters of temperature and precipitation are not directly correlated with the dorsalia variation, the relation with altitude (and perhaps latitude) must be linked to some other climatic parameter not studied here, perhaps solar radiation or evapotranspiration.

New and little-known digger wasps (Hymenoptera: Ampulicidae, Sphecidae, Crabronidae) from Russia

New additions to the knowledge of digger wasps (Ampulicidae, Sphecidae, Crabronidae) in Russia are provided. Tachysphex loktionovi Mokrousov & Proshchalykin, sp. nov. is described from Tyva Republic. Five species of digger wasps are reported from Russia for the first time: Hoplammophila clypeata (Mocsáry, 1883) (Sphecidae), Tachysphex desertorum F. Morawitz, 1894, T. mongolicus Kohl, 1898, Tachytes argenteus Gussakovskij, 1933, and Trypoxylon albipes F. Smith, 1856 (Crabronidae). Misidentified Tachysphex speciosissimus Morice, 1897 (=T. gussakovskii Pulawski, 1971) is excluded from the fauna of Russia. Hitherto unknown male of Tachysphex mongolicus Kohl, 1898, stat. resurr. is described and regarded as a valid taxon. New synonymy is proposed for T. mongolicus Kohl, 1898 = T. abditus Kohl, 1898, syn. nov. Diagnosis for male of Dolichurus haemorrhous A. Costa, 1886 is updated. New regional records for seven species are recorded. The known fauna of Russia currently numbers three families, 87 genera and 694 species of digger wasps. In addition Tachytes argenteus Gussakovskij, 1933 is reported for the first time from Uzbekistan and Cyprus, and Trypoxylon beaumonti Antropov, 1991 is newly recorded from Ukraine.

New distributional data for the northern forestfly, Lednia borealis Baumann and Kondratieff, 2010 (Plecoptera: Nemouridae), Washington, USA

ABSTRACTThe northern forestfly, Lednia borealis (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) is a rare montane stonefly believed to be endemic to Washington. The species, first recognized as a valid taxon in 2010, is the only member of the genus Lednia known from the state. Like other species in its genus, it is found in mid- to high-elevation cold water habitat, including lakes, glacial-fed streams, and rheocrenes (channelized springs). Lednia species in general appear to be rare or at least rarely collected. Because of their reliance on alpine and subalpine habitat, Lednia may be especially vulnerable to threats associated with climate change. However, relatively little is known about this species, and distribution data are scarce. From 2015 to 2019, 94 sites were surveyed in order to document unmapped populations of Lednia borealis to improve range and distributional information from montane areas of Washington State. In this paper, we share locations of L. borealis documented to date, including collections from eight newly documented Lednia sites in the Mt. Baker and Glacier Peak Wildernesses in the Cascade Mountains of Washington, and report recent COI barcoding results. We also provide updated details on the species’ distribution, highlight a confirmed habitat association with glacial edge meltwater, and provide recommendations for future surveys.

The braincase of Bissektipelta archibaldi — new insights into endocranial osteology, vasculature, and paleoneurobiology of ankylosaurian dinosaurs

We describe in detail three braincases of the ankylosaur Bissektipelta archibaldi from the Late Cretaceous (Turonian) of Uzbekistan with the aid of computed tomography, segmentation, and 3D modeling. Bissektipelta archibaldi is confirmed as a valid taxon and attributed to Ankylosaurinae based on the results of a phylogenetic analysis. The topographic relationships between the elements forming the braincase are determined using a newly referred specimen with preserved sutures, which is an exceedingly rare condition for ankylosaurs. The mesethmoid appears to be a separate ossification in the newly referred specimen ZIN PH 281/16. We revise and discuss features of the neurocranial osteology in Ankylosauria and propose new diagnostic characters for a number of its subclades. We present a 3D model of the braincase vasculature of Bissektipelta and comment on vascular patterns of armored dinosaurs. A complex vascular network piercing the skull roof and the wall of the braincase is reported for ankylosaurs for the first time. We imply the presence of a lepidosaur-like dorsal head vein and the venous parietal sinus in the adductor cavity of Bissektipelta. We suggest that the presence of the dorsal head vein in dinosaurs is a plesiomorphic diapsid trait, and extant archosaur groups independently lost the vessel. A study of two complete endocranial casts of Bissektipelta allowed us to compare endocranial anatomy within Ankylosauria and infer an extremely developed sense of smell, a keen sense of hearing at lower frequencies (100–3000 Hz), and the presence of physiological mechanisms for precise temperature control of neurosensory tissues at least in derived ankylosaurids.

MAASTRICHTIAN LARGER BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA FROM THE ARABIAN PLATE SENSU LATO: NEW DATA FROM SOMALIA, TURKEY, AND IRAN

Larger benthic foraminifera from the upper Maastrichtian Auradu Formation of Somalia exhibit striking matches with the assemblages from the time-equivalent Tarbur Formation of Iran and other, but less well studied lithostratigraphic units in SE Turkey (e.g., Garzan Fm.). Some taxa, among also new ones, described from Somalia need taxonomic updates (revision, synonymy, re-instatement). Dukhania? cherchii Luger is considered a junior synonym of Acordiella? tarburensis Schlagintweit & Rashidi, and Pseudorbitolina schroederi Luger is re-instated and considered a valid taxon, different from the Campanian P. marthae Douvillé of the western Tethyan domain. The genus Cyclopsinella Galloway is reported for the first time from the upper Maastrichtian of Iran.

Aphaneramma kokeni (von Huene, 1920), a lonchorhynchine trematosaurid (Amphibia: Temnospondyli) from the Lower Triassic of Pakistan

The type and only known specimen of the lonchorhynchine trematosaurid Aphaneramma kokeni (von Huene, 1920) from the Mianwali Formation (Lower Triassic, Dienerian) of Chiddru, Punjab, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is redescribed. It is demonstrated that A. kokeni is a valid taxon clearly distinct from other nominal species of the genus and a new diagnosis is provided. The preorbital region of A. kokeni differs considerably from other Aphaneramma species by the small external exposure of the lacrimal, which is almost completely overlapped by the prefrontal, as in some other trematosaurs such as Cosgriffius, Wantzosaurus and Trematolestes. It also differs in the arrangement of the postorbital dermal skull bones, particularly the short postfrontal, lack (or almost so) of a postfrontal-supratemporal contact and the posteriorly extensive frontals, as well as a unique dentition on the ectopterygoid. Phylogenetic analysis places the species in a monophyletic genus Aphaneramma, in a polytomy with the other two nominal species of the genus.

Notes on the Carpophilus Stephens (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) of Australia, with a new species from Victoria

A new species of the genus Carpophilus Stephens is described from Australia. This species is currently placed in the subgenus Myothorax Murray, although the group is in need of formal revision. A diagnosis is given to distinguish the new species from all other species of Myothorax in Australia. Additionally, a discussion of type material from Carpophilus described by MacLeay is added with formal lectotype designations for Carpophilus aterrimus MacLeay and Carpophilus pilipennis MacLeay. Taxonomic notes are also given for Carpophilus aterrimus MacLeay, while Carpophilus planatus Murray is removed from synonymy and treated as a valid taxon.

Revision of the Late Jurassic deep-water teleosauroid crocodylomorph Teleosaurus megarhinus Hulke, 1871 and evidence of pelagic adaptations in Teleosauroidea

Teleosauroids were a successful group of semi-aquatic crocodylomorphs that were an integral part of coastal marine/lagoonal faunas during the Jurassic. Their fossil record suggests that the group declined in diversity and abundance in deep water deposits during the Late Jurassic. One of the few known teleosauroid species from the deeper water horizons of the well-known Kimmeridge Clay Formation is ‘Teleosaurus’ megarhinus Hulke, 1871, a poorly studied, gracile longirostrine form. The holotype is an incomplete snout from the Aulacostephanus autissiodorensis Sub-Boreal ammonite Zone of Kimmeridge, England. The only other referred specimen is an almost complete skull from the slightly older A. eudoxus Sub-Boreal ammonite Zone of Quercy, France. Recently, the validity of this species has been called into question. Here we re-describe the holotype as well as the referred French specimen and another incomplete teleosauroid, DORCM G.05067i-v (an anterior rostrum with three osteoderms and an isolated tooth crown), from the same horizon and locality as the holotype. We demonstrate that all specimens are referable to ‘Teleosaurus’ megarhinus and that the species is indeed a valid taxon, which we assign to a new monotypic genus, Bathysuchus. In our phylogenetic analysis, the latest iteration of the ongoing Crocodylomorph SuperMatrix Project, Bathysuchus megarhinus is found as sister taxon to Aeolodon priscus within a subclade containing Mycterosuchus nasutus and Teleosaurus cadomensis. Notably Bathysuchus has an extreme reduction in dermatocranial ornamentation and osteoderm size, thickness and ornamentation. These features are mirrored in Aeolodon priscus, a species with a well-preserved post-cranial skeleton and a similar shallow and inconspicuous dermal ornamentation. Based on these morphological features, and sedimentological evidence, we hypothesise that the Bathysuchus + Aeolodon clade is the first known teleosauroid lineage that evolved a more pelagic lifestyle.