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Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022
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| 3:31p | [Herpetology • 2021] Hemiphyllodactylus zalonicus • The Phylogeny of Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with A Description of A New Species from the Mangin Range, Sagaing Region, northern Myanmar
ABSTRACT Phylogenetic analyses of the 49 nominal species of the gekkonid genus Hemiphyllodactylus based on the mitochondrial gene NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 and its flanking tRNAs resulted in a strongly supported tree composed of a number of regionally localised monophyletic lineages consistent with previous genus-wide analyses. One such lineage from Western Indochina is composed of three previously recognised clades plus an additional species from southern Thailand. An integrative taxonomic analysis of one of these clades (clade 3 from Western Yunnan, China) recovered a new species from the Mangin Mountain Range that represents the third independent origin of Hemiphyllodactylus in Myanmar (not counting the widespread parthenogenetic H. typus). Hemiphyllodactylus zalonicus sp. nov. from Mt. Zalon, Sagaing Region, is the first species of Hemiphyllodactyus known from the northern part of Ayeyarwady Basin and bears a 15.0–18.9% uncorrected sequence divergence from other clade members as well as having discretely non-overlapping meristic and mensural differences. This discovery brings the total number of Hemiphyllodactylus in Myanmar to at least 11 species. KEYWORDS: Integrative taxonomy, Hemiphyllodactylus zalonicus sp. nov., Indochina, phylogeny, Ayeyarwady Basin, Burma 
Hemiphyllodactylus zalonicus sp. nov.    L. Lee Grismer, May Thu Chit, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Roman A. Nazarov, Than Zaw and Nikolay A. Poyarkov. 2021. The Phylogeny of Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with A Description of A New Species from the Mangin Range, Sagaing Region, northern Myanmar. Journal of Natural History. 54(29-30); 1913-1931. DO: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1833095  | ||||||
| 3:33p | [Herpetology • 2022] Acanthocercus ceriacoi • All in All It’s Just Another Branch in The Tree: A New Species of Acanthocercus Fitzinger, 1843 (Squamata: Agamidae), from Angola
Abstract Recent integrative taxonomic studies of the agamid genus Acanthocercus Fitzinger, 1843 have shown that Angola harbors three different taxa, all within the Acanthocercus atricollis (Smith, 1849) species complex—A. cyanocephalus (Falk, 1925) in the northeastern parts of the country, A. margaritae Wagner et al. 2021 in the southern regions, and an unnamed species in the central and northwestern parts of Angola. Using the previously published molecular data as evidence of phylogenetic support and newly collected morphological, meristic and coloration data, we here describe this unnamed lineage as a new species. The new species is morphologically very similar to A. cyanocephalus, but it can easily be differentiated from the latter by the coloration pattern of displaying males, with a blue coloration restricted to the head region, and by its inferior scale counts compared to other species of the A. atricollis complex group. As reported in other studies in this group, male breeding coloration is an effective trait for diagnosing these morphologically conserved species. This description raises the number of Acanthocercus species recognized to 15 and is another contribution revealing the rich but still incompletely described herpetological diversity of Angola. Keywords: Reptilia, Africa, taxonomy, new species, morphology, coloration pattern, tree agama  Acanthocercus ceriacoi Mariana P. Marques, Diogo Parrinha, Bruna S. Santos, Suzana Bandeira, Brett O. Butler, Ana Carolina A. Sousa, Aaron M. Bauer and Philipp Wagner. 2022. All in All It’s Just Another Branch in The Tree: A New Species of Acanthocercus Fitzinger, 1843 (Squamata: Agamidae), from Angola. Zootaxa. 5099(2); 221-243. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5099.2.4 | ||||||
| 4:06p | [Diplopoda • 2022] Combining Mitochondrial DNA and Morphological Data to Delineate Four New Millipede Species and Provisional Assignment to the Genus Apeuthes Hoffman & Keeton (Spirobolida: Pachybolidae: Trigoniulinae)
Abstract Hitherto, the millipede genus Apeuthes (family Pachybolidae, subfamily Trigoniulinae) was only known from three species described in Vietnam based on morphological characters. The present study uses two partial mitochondrial gene fragments (cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA) and morphology to define four new Apeuthes species from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam: A. fimbriatus, sp. nov., A. longeligulatus, sp. nov., A. pollex, sp. nov. and ?A. spininavis, sp. nov. The intraspecific COI sequence divergence of two Apeuthes species is 3–7% (mean: 5%) and the interspecific divergence of five species is 11–16% (mean: 13.7%). All members of the genus share unique male characters, viz the posterior gonopod telopodite with several dentate, serrate or tuberculate lamellae in a boat-like cavity or a boat-like cavity covered with spines. The delimitation of the four new species is supported by the congruence between mitochondrial DNA and morphological data. However, while the monophyly of Trigoniulinae is well supported, the relationships within this subfamily, and particularly among Apeuthes species, including the monophyly of Apeuthes, lack strong support. Therefore assignment of the four new species, and particularly of ?A. spininavis sp. nov., to the genus Apeuthes is tentative and awaits a comprehensive revision of the group. Keywords: DNA barcoding, Malaysia, mitochondrial DNA, monotypic genera, phylogeny, species delineation, Thailand, Trigoniulinae, Vietnam. Class DIPLOPODA de Blainville in Gervais, 1844 Order SPIROBOLIDA Bollman, 1893 Suborder TRIGONIULIDEA Attems, 1909 Family PACHYBOLIDAE Cook, 1897 Subfamily TRIGONIULINAE Attems, 1909 Genus Apeuthes Hoffman & Keeton, 1960 Apeuthes Attems, 1938; invalidly proposed (as subgenus of Eucarlia Brölemann, 1913) Type species: Eucarlia (Apeuthes) maculata Attems, 1938 Included species: Apeuthes eydouxii (Gervais, 1847) (formerly Iulus eydouxii Gervais, 1847 and Eucarlia (Apeuthes) charactopyga Attems, 1938), Apeuthes exustus (Attems, 1938) (formerly Eucarlia (Apeuthes) exusta Attems, 1938), Apeuthes maculatus (Attems, 1938) (formerly Eucarlia (Apeuthes) maculata Attems, 1938), Apeuthes fimbriatus, sp. nov., Apeuthes longeligulatus, sp. nov., Apeuthes pollex, sp. nov., ?Apeuthes spininavis, sp. nov. Diagnosis: A genus of the pachybolid subfamily Trigoniulinae defined by having posterior gonopod telopodite with several dentate, serrate or tuberculate lamellae in a boat-like cavity (Attems 1938) or a boat-like cavity covered with spines (diagnostic extension provisionally added here to better accommodate ?A. spininavis, sp. nov., see Discussion). Distribution: Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Apeuthes fimbriatus, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Differing from all other species in the genus by having a triangular mesal sternal process of anterior gonopod, not reaching so far as the tip of coxae (Fig. 3a, d). Anterior gonopod telopodite far overreaching coxa, distally bifid, forming a butterfly-like structure (Fig. 3b, e). Posterior gonopods apically with rounded and spiny lamellae, one above the other (Fig. 3f–h). Distribution: Da Nang Province, Vietnam (Fig. 9). Etymology: The specific name is a Latin adjective, meaning ‘fringed’ and referring to the fringed lamella on the posterior gonopod. Apeuthes longeligulatus, sp. nov. Diagnosis Differing from all other species in the genus by having a narrow mesal sternal process of anterior gonopod, protruding slightly higher than coxae (Fig. 4a, d). Anterior gonopod telopodite distally bifid (Fig. 4b, e). Posterior gonopods apically with several flattened lamellae in a boat-like cavity (Fig. 4c, f–i). Distribution: Sa Kaeo and Trad provinces, Thailand (Fig. 9). Etymology: The specific name is a Latin adjective, meaning ‘with a long tongue’ and referring to the sternal process of the anterior gonopod.
Apeuthes pollex, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Differing from all other species in the genus by having coxa of anterior gonopod distinctly concave for accommodation of telopodite (Fig. 5b, e). Anterior gonopod telopodite protruding slightly over coxa, apically abruptly narrowed, ending in one slender process (Fig. 5b, e). Posterior gonopods apically with a rounded lobe, with serrated lamellae mesally and with a thumb-like process basally (Fig. 5c, f, g). Distribution: Krabi and Phang-Nga provinces, Thailand (Fig. 9). Etymology: The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, meaning ‘thumb’ and referring to the thumb-like basal process on the posterior gonopod. ?Apeuthes spininavis, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Anterior gonopods with broad, triangular mesal sternal process (Fig. 6a, d). Similar in this respect to A. pollex, sp. nov. Differing from all other Apeuthes species by having posterior gonopods that are apically abruptly narrowed, forming a pointed lobe (Fig. 6c, f–h), and with a mesal margin forming a deep boat-like cavity covered with spines (Fig. 6h, i) and without a conical process at mesal margin of posterior gonopod telopodite. Distribution: Johor and Perak provinces, Malaysia (Fig. 9). Etymology: The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, ‘spiny boat’, referring to the shape and texture of the posterior gonopod telopodite. Note: ?Apeuthes spininavis, sp. nov. shares several characters with other species in the genus Apeuthes. However, it differs from all of other species of Apeuthes by the absence of a conical process covered with spinules midway on the mesal margin of the posterior gonopod telopodite. Hence, for the time being, we only tentatively assign this species to Apeuthes and refer it to as ?Apeuthes spininavis, sp. nov. Piyatida Pimvichai, Somsak Panha and Thierry Backeljau. 2022. Combining Mitochondrial DNA and Morphological Data to Delineate Four New Millipede Species and Provisional Assignment to the Genus Apeuthes Hoffman & Keeton (Diplopoda: Spirobolida: Pachybolidae: T ***งานวิจัยใหม่: กิ้งกือกระบอกเล็ก 4 ชนิดใหม่ของโลก สกุล ????????????????????ℎ???????? จากเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้*** 1. กิ้งกือกระบอกเล็กดานัง ????????????????? 2. กิ้งกือกระบอกเล็กตะวันออก ?????????????? 3. กิ้งกือกระบอกเล็กภาคใต้ ???????????????? 4. กิ้งกือกระบอกเล็กมาเลเซีย ?????????????? | ||||||
| 4:40p | [Paleontology • 2022] Dearc sgiathanach • A Skeleton from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland illuminates An Earlier Origin of Large Pterosaurs
Highlights: • A new pterosaur genus and species from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland is described • It is represented by a well-preserved fossil skeleton, including the brain endocast • It was not fully grown when it died and would have had a wingspan of >2.5 m • Pterosaurs evolved to a considerably larger size earlier than previously recognized Summary Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to evolve flight and include the largest flying animals in Earth history. While some of the last-surviving species were the size of airplanes, pterosaurs were long thought to be restricted to small body sizes (wingspans ca. <1.8–1.6 m) from their Triassic origins through the Jurassic, before increasing in size when derived long-skulled and short-tailed pterodactyloids lived alongside a diversity of birds in the Cretaceous. We report a new spectacularly preserved three-dimensional skeleton from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland, which we assign to a new genus and species: Dearc sgiathanach gen. et sp. nov. Its wingspan is estimated at >2.5 m, and bone histology shows it was a juvenile-subadult still actively growing when it died, making it the largest known Jurassic pterosaur represented by a well-preserved skeleton. A review of fragmentary specimens from the Middle Jurassic of England demonstrates that a diversity of pterosaurs was capable of reaching larger sizes at this time but have hitherto been concealed by a poor fossil record. Phylogenetic analysis places D. sgiathanach in a clade of basal long-tailed non-monofenestratan pterosaurs, in a subclade of larger-bodied species (Angustinaripterini) with elongate skulls convergent in some aspects with pterodactyloids.6 Far from a static prologue to the Cretaceous, the Middle Jurassic was a key interval in pterosaur evolution, in which some non-pterodactyloids diversified and experimented with larger sizes, concurrent with or perhaps earlier than the origin of birds. Keywords: pterosaur, Jurassic, Scotland, Isle of Skye, wingspan, paleontology, evolution, fossil, histology, phylogeny
  Pterosauria Owen, 1842 Breviquartossa Unwin, 2003 Rhamphorhynchidae Seeley, 1870 Rhamphorhynchinae Seeley, 1870 Angustinaripterini He, 1983 Included species: Angustinaripterus longicephalus, Sericipterus wucaiwanensis, and Dearc sgiathanach (below). Diagnosis: Group of rhamphorhynchine pterosaurs sharing a low and elongate skull (height-to-length ratio < 0.2); large antorbital fenestra (20%–35% skull length and >80% orbit dorsoventral height); lacrimal process of jugal nearly perpendicularly inclined (90°–110°) to jugal body; strongly inclined quadrate (130°–140° relative to maxilla long axis); cervical vertebrae with considerable change in length-to-width ratio across the neck (1.8 to 1.2, from anterior to posterior); humeral diaphysis slender with muscle scar tubercle.      Dearc n. gen. Dearc sgiathanach sp. nov. Etymology: Scottish Gaelic, with the double meaning of “winged reptile” and “reptile from Skye,” paying homage to pterosaurs (winged reptiles) and the Gaelic name for Skye (An t-Eilean Sgitheanach, the “winged isle”). Phonetic pronunciation: jark ski-an-ach. Holotype: NMS (National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh) G.2021.6.1-4, a three-dimensionally preserved articulated skeleton, lacking anterior and dorsal portions of the cranium, left manus, portions of the wings, hindlimb elements, and the distal tail. The fossil was separated into four slabs during preparation: the main slab contains the majority of bones, exposed in dorsal view (NMS G.2021.6.1), and the main counter slab contains bones exposed ventrally (NMS G.2021.6.3). An additional block contains a wing phalanx (NMS G.2021.6.4). The skull and anterior cervical vertebrae (NMS G.2021.6.2) were separated from the main slab for X-ray computed microtomography (μCT) (Figure 2). Diagnosis: Dearc sgiathanach is a rhamphorhynchine pterosaur with the following autapomorphies: tri-tubular vomers with “trident-shaped” precapillary contact, pre-choana depression on the palatal surface of the maxilla, enlarged optic lobes expanded anteroposteriorly, and fourth metatarsal more robust (diameter 2.5×) than mt1-3.  
Natalia Jagielska, Michael O’Sullivan, Gregory F. Funston, Ian B. Butler, Thomas J. Challands, Neil D.L. Clark, Nicholas C. Fraser, Amelia Penny, Dugald A. Ross, Mark Wilkinson and Stephen L. Brusatte. 2022. A Skeleton from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland illuminates An Earlier Origin of Large Pterosaurs. Current Biology. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.01.073  |
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