Proposal of Arktourella gen. nov., a new genus of the family Normanellidae Lang 1944 (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from the Province of Cortez

A new genus, Arktourella gen. nov., is proposed to accommodate a new member of the harpacticoid family Normanellidae, A. margarethae gen. et sp. nov., from a polluted estuary in north-western Mexico. The new genus was attributed to the laophontoidean family Normanellidae on account of the lack of outer spinous processes on the second antennulary segment, one abexopodal seta on the antennary allobasis, four setae on the one-segmented antennary exopod, endopod of first swimming leg two-segmented with first segment elongated and with two distal elements on second segment, endopods of second to fourth legs two-segmented, distal setae on the male second endopodal segment of second and third legs reduced, and outer spine of the male second endopodal segment of third leg fused to segment. The new, so far monotypic genus, differs from the other normanellid genera in the presence of four elements on the third exopodal segment of the first leg, and two outer spines on the third exopodal segment of second to fourth legs. No synapomorphies were observed for Arktourella gen. nov. and Normanella, but they are unique within the Normanellidae in that the mandibular basis and endopod are not fused. Maximum parsimony analysis and Bayesian inference using 59 morphological characters to assess the relationships between the genera of the family Normanellidae confirmed the affinity of Arktourella gen. nov. and Normanella, and their sister group relationship with Sagamiella. Paranaiara and Pseudocletodes were shown consistently to be closely related and are the sister taxa of Normanella-Arktourella gen. nov.-Sagamiella. Arktourella gen. nov., Paranaiara and Pseudocletodes share the presence of a large spinulose spine on the fifth and sixth segments of the female antennule, but its significance is not clear. Additionally, we propose a key to the genera of the Normanellidae.

Trichoderma dumbbelliforme sp. nov. an undescribed fungus of order Hypocreales from India

Trichoderma is an important genus of family Hypocreaceae, which contain nearly 375 known species. In current study, a new species Trichoderma dumbbelliforme collected from virgin forest soil of Nagaland and confirmed based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Morphologically, T. dumbbelliforme sp. nov. distinguished from other species of Trichoderma by producing nodules on sterile part of the conidiophores and pyriform to dumbbell shaped conidia with the size of 4.0–6.0×2.5–3.0µm and having two big guttulae at each end. Furthermore, the fungus was confirmed by molecular characterization using Translation elongation factor 1-α (tef-1) gene sequencing. The phylogenetic relationship was established for generated sequence and many related ex-type sequences downloaded from NCBI GenBank by maximum-parsimony analysis. Tef-1 sequence data clarified the phylogenetic affinity to clade-1 of Trichoderma as per new authoritative guide line on molecular identification of Trichoderma. Phylogenetically, this new species of Trichoderma closely related to T. crassum, T. spirale, T. sulawesense, T. longisporum, T. virens, T. gelatinosum and T. gliocladium species. Therefore, the morphological comparisons were done with closely related species viz., T. crassum and T. spirale which lead to the conclusion that the collected taxon is new to science.

A combined molecular and morphological phylogeny of the Loricariinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), with emphasis on the Harttiini and Farlowellini

We present a combined molecular and morphological phylogenetic analysis of the Loricariinae, with emphasis on the Harttiini (Cteniloricaria, Harttia, and Harttiella) and Farlowellini (Aposturisoma, Farlowella, Lamontichthys, Pterosturisoma, Sturisoma, and Sturisomatichthys). Character sampling comprised seven molecular markers (the mitochondrial Cytb, nd2, 12S and 16S, and the nuclear MyH6, RAG1 and RAG2) and 196 morphological characters. A total of 1,059 specimens, and 159 tissue samples were analized, representing 100 species. A Bayesian Inference analysis was performed using the concatenated data matrix, which is comprised of 6,819 characters. The Loricariinae were found to comprise the tribes (Hartiini (Loricariini, Farlowellini)), the latter two elevated from subtribes. A Maximum Parsimony analysis was also performed using the same data matrix in order to reveal phenotypical synapomorphies to diagnose each clade. Two MP trees were found with a length of 14,704 steps, consistency index of 0.29 and retention index of 0.61, which were summarized in a strict consensus tree. Harttiini includes (Harttiella (Cteniloricaria, Harttia), and Farlowellini includes (Lamontichthys (Pterosturisoma (Sturisoma (Sturisomatichthys, Farlowella)))). Aposturisoma was recovered nested within Farlowella and is synonymyzed to the latter. Sturisoma was corroborated as strictly cis-Andean, while Sturisomatichthys encompasses, besides the valid species already included in the genus, the trans-Andean species once belonging to Sturisoma sensu lato. Identification keys and phylogenetic diagnoses of family-group taxa and genera of both the Harttiini and the Farlowellini are provided.

Evidence for the dissolution of the Calyptra minuticornis novaepommeraniae (Strand) and C. minuticornis minuticornis (Guenée) sub-species distinction (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Erebidae)

The species Calyptra minuticornis is divided into two subspecies: C. minuticornis novaepommeraniae (Strand) and C. minuticornis minuticornis (Guenée) based on minor morphological differences, geographic distribution, and differential feeding behaviors in the adults. In this study, museum specimens were examined, including the holotypes of C. novaepommeraniae and C. minuticornis. A comprehensive distribution map was generated for C. minuticornis. A permutational multivariate analysis of variance provided some statistical evidence for minor differences between the male genitalic morphology. Additionally, the maximum parsimony analysis of the C. minuticornis subspecies complex resulted in a polytomy and did not represent natural groupings. From these results, it can be concluded that C. minuticornis novaepommeraniae and C. minuticornis minuticornis should be synonymized. A redescription of the species and a revised checklist for the genus is also provided. This includes synonymization of Wolframmeyia Behounek, Hacker & Speidel with Calyptra and evidence that Percalpe Berio is an unavailable name.

Maximum parsimony analysis of the effect of the environment on the evolution of galaxies

Context. Galaxy evolution and the effect of the environment are most often studied using scaling relations or regression analyses around a given property. However, these approaches do not take into account the complexity of the physics of the galaxies and their diversity. Aims. We here investigate the effect of the cluster environment on the evolution of galaxies through multivariate, unsupervised classification and phylogenetic analyses applied to two relatively large samples from the Wide-field Nearby Galaxy-cluster Survey (WINGS), one of cluster members and one of field galaxies (2624 and 1476 objects, respectively). Methods. These samples are the largest ones ever analysed with a phylogenetic approach in astrophysics. To be able to use the maximum parsimony (cladistics) method, we first performed a pre-clustering in 300 clusters with a hierarchical clustering technique, before applying it to these pre-clusters. All these computations used seven parameters: B − V, log(Re), nV, ⟨μ⟩e, Hβ, D4000, and log(M*). Results. We have obtained a tree for the combined samples and do not find different evolutionary paths for cluster and field galaxies. However, the cluster galaxies seem to have accelerated evolution in the sense that they are statistically more diversified from a primitive common ancestor. The separate analyses show a hint of a slightly more regular evolution of the variables for the cluster galaxies, which may indicate they are more homogeneous compared to field galaxies in the sense that the groups of the latter appear to have more specific properties. On the tree for the cluster galaxies, there is a separate branch that gathers rejuvenated or stripped-off groups of galaxies. This branch is clearly visible on the colour-magnitude diagram, going back from the red sequence towards the blue one. On this diagram, the distribution and the evolutionary paths of galaxies are strikingly different for the two samples. Globally, we do not find any dominant variable able to explain either the groups or the tree structures. Rather, co-evolution appears everywhere, and could depend itself on environment or mass. Conclusions. This study is another demonstration that unsupervised machine learning is able to go beyond simple scaling relations by taking into account several properties together. The phylogenetic approach is invaluable in tracing the evolutionary scenarios and projecting them onto any bivariate diagram without any a priori modelling. Our WINGS galaxies are all at low redshift, and we now need to go to higher redshfits to find more primitive galaxies and complete the map of the evolutionary paths of present day galaxies.

Description and phylogenetic placement of a new marine species of phytosaur (Archosauriformes: Phytosauria) from the Late Triassic of Austria

Phytosaurs are a group of carnivorous, semi-aquatic archosaurian reptiles that attained an almost global distribution during the Late Triassic. We here describe a new species of the phytosaur genus Mystriosuchus from the Norian Dachstein Limestone of Austria, from a marine lagoonal depositional environment. The new Austrian material comprises remains of at least four individuals of similar size (c. 4 m in total length) found in association but disarticulated, and includes one complete and two partial skulls and postcrania. All of these specimens apparently represent a single taxon, which is distinguished by numerous anatomical features from the two previously named Mystriosuchus species. Maximum parsimony analysis of a comprehensive morphological dataset provides strong statistical support for the phylogenetic position of the new Austrian taxon in Mystriosuchus, as the sister taxon to a clade comprising M. planirostris and M. westphali. Histological analysis suggests that the Austrian phytosaur specimens represent individuals that were at least eight years old at time of death, but which had not yet reached skeletal maturity. Taphonomic and palaeoenvironmental data suggest that these phytosaurs were living in the marine lagoon in which they were preserved, providing the strongest evidence to date of marine adaptations in phytosaurs.

Cranial anatomy of the predatory actinopterygian Brazilichthys macrognathus from the Permian (Cisuralian) Pedra de Fogo Formation, Parnaíba Basin, Brazil

ABSTRACTBrazilichthys macrognathus is the only named actinopterygian from the Permain (Cisuralian) Pedra de Fogo Formation of northeastern Brazil, where it is represented by a single three-dimensionally preserved but incompletely described skull of unclear systematic placement. We used X-ray computed microtomography (μ-CT) to better document its anatomy and phylogenetic affinities. μ-CT reveals parts of the internal skeleton. We correct errors in original description, including the number of infraorbital bones and the misidentification of the dermosphenotic as sclerotic ossifications. These reinterpretations of external anatomy are joined by new data on internal structure, including the palate, parasphenoid, and branchial and hyoid arches. A maximum parsimony analysis of anatomical data resolves Brazilichthys as a stem actinopterygian, crownward of all Devonian species. This placement is supported by the absence of a dermosphenotic posterior ramus and the presence of opercular process of the hyomandibula. A similar placement is suggested by a Bayesian analysis of this same dataset, although relationships throughout the tree are less resolved. Our results reject previous interpretations of Brazilichthys as a relative of Birgeriidae, a Triassic group consistently placed within the actinopterygian crown. Although Acrolepis is too poorly known to be included in our analysis, we also reject a close relationship between this taxon and Brazilichthys, as their only shared similarities appear to be broadly distributed among early actinopterygians.

New sharks and other chondrichthyans from the latest Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) of North America

Cretaceous aquatic ecosystems were amazingly diverse, containing most clades of extant aquatic vertebrates as well as an array of sharks and rays not present today. Here we report on the chondrichthyan fauna from the late Maastrichtian site that yielded the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton FMNH PF 2081 (“SUE”). Significant among the recovered fauna is an unidentified species of carcharhinid shark that adds to the fossil record of this family in the Cretaceous, aligning with estimates from molecular evidence of clade originations. Additionally, a new orectolobiform shark, here named Galagadon nordquistae n. gen. n. sp., is diagnosed on the basis on several autapomorphies from over two-dozen teeth. Common chondrichthyan species found at the “SUE” locality include Lonchidion selachos and Myledaphus pustulosus. Two phylogenetic analyses (Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Inference) based on twelve original dental character traits combined with 136 morphological traits from a prior study of 28 fossil and extant taxa, posited Galagadon n. gen. in two distinct positions: as part of a clade inclusive of the fossil species Cretorectolobus olsoni and Cederstroemia triangulata plus extant orectolobids from the Maximum Parsimony analysis; and as the sister taxon to all extant hemiscyllids from the Bayesian Inference. Model-based biogeographical reconstructions based on both optimal trees suggest rapid island hopping-style dispersal from the Western Pacific to the Western Interior Seaway of North America where Galagadon n. gen. lived. Alternatively, the next preferred model posits a broader, near-global distribution of Orectolobiformes with Galagadon n. gen. dispersing into its geographic position from this large ancestral range.UUID: http://zoobank.org/61e32ffc-4f87-4ff7-820d-0bb33a80f0a0

Notes on Indian species of Calvatia and Langermannia including Calvatia natarajanii sp. nov.

A new species, Calvatia natarajanii, is presented as well as brief notes on the distribution of Calvatia sensu stricto and Langermannia in India. Calvatia natarajanii is distinguished by basidiomes having yellowish white to orange-white exoperidium, brownish orange to grayish red, persistent endoperidium, grayish orange to brownish orange cottony gleba, persistent cellular subgleba and globose to subglobose, echinulate basidiospores. It is described, illustrated and compared with the closely related taxa C. cyathiformis, C. fragilis, C. rugosa, C. aff. rugosa, C. pyriformis, C. vinosa and C. rosacea. Maximum Parsimony analysis based on ITS sequences confirmed that C. natarajanii is closely related to C. fragilis and distinct from other morphologically similar species. In addition, a key to the species of Calvatia and Langermannia recorded in India is presented. Four species recognized under Calvatia are excluded from the key since their transfer to Lycoperdon.

Further dismemberment of Discocyrtus with description of a new Amazonian genus and a new subfamily of Gonyleptidae (Opiliones, Laniatores)

A group of Amazonian harvestmen is recognized and described as Amazochroma gen. nov. This taxon includes Discocyrtus carvalhoi Mello-Leitão, 1941 (type species), the only species of Discocyrtus previously thought to occur in Amazonia, and Amazochroma pedroi gen. et sp. nov., described here from the Brazilian states of Acre and Rondônia. New records are added for Amazochroma carvalhoi gen. et comb. nov, expanding its distribution from the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso northwards also to Pará and Amazonas in Brazil and additionally French Guiana and Suriname. Diagnostic features of Amazochroma gen. nov. include: trichromatic pattern of legs, dry marks on the dorsal scutum and base of legs and diastema in the row of macrosetae C of the penis ventral plate. A morphological maximum parsimony analysis (1022 scorings; 16 taxa; 64 characters) is performed to test whether Amazochroma gen. nov. is a member of Discocyrtus and if the traditional allocation of Discocyrtus in Pachylinae is defendable. A clade is retrieved containing three groups: (1) Mitobatinae, (2) Discocyrtus and (3) a clade containing Amazochroma gen. nov., Discocyrtanus and Roeweria, here described as a new subfamily of Gonyleptidae – Roeweriinae subfam. nov. Discocyrtanus Roewer, 1929 and Roeweria Mello-Leitão, 1923 are accordingly here transferred from Pachylinae to Roeweriinae subfam. nov.