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Thursday, June 9th, 2022
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 4:01a | [Botany • 2021] Begonia lanuzaensis (Begoniaceae, sect. Petermannia) • A New Species from Surigao del Sur, Mindanao Island, Philippines
Abstract Begonia lanuzaensis from Mt. Nabuywang, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, is described as a new species endemic to the Philippines. B. lanuzaensis is allied to B. mindanaensis and B. agusanensis in having oblanceolate leaves with short petioles and four-tepalled staminate flowers but is distinct in having glabrous stems and petioles; bigger, triangular and glabrous stipules and larger leaves. Key words: Begonia, endemic, monoecious, Mindanao, Surigao del Sur, taxonomy
 Begonia lanuzaensis Blasco, Rubite, Cortes & Alejandro, sp. nov. Sect. Petermannia Diagnosis:—Begonia lanuzaensis is similar to B. mindanaensis Warb. in its habit with arching stems, oblanceolate leaves with short petioles, and four–tepalled staminate flowers. However, the new species differs in having larger leaves (18–20 × 7–9 cm, not 7–10 ×2–4 cm) with tiny pink bristles on the margin (vs. without bristles), glabrous stipules (vs. pubescent), glabrous stems (vs scabrid), and female flowers with 4 tepals (vs. 5). It superficially resembles B. agusanensis Merr. in having erect stems and leaves with short petioles, but differs in leaf shape (base obliquely acute, not obliquely cordate) and male flowers solitary in the axils (not in many flowered cymes on a long peduncle). Etymology:—The specific epithet “lanuzaensis” is derived from the type locality. Distribution and ecology:—Endemic to the Province of Surigao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines. It grows on shady, moist rocky slopes along sides of small streams. Freddie A. Blasco, Rosario R. Rubite, Junelito C. Cortes, Grecebio Jonathan D. Alejandro. 2021. Begonia lanuzaensis (sect. Petermannia, Begoniaceae) A New Species from Surigao del Sur, Mindanao Island, Philippines. Phytotaxa. 523(3); 203-207. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.523.3.1 facebook.com/ProjectBiodiverCitizen/photos/3120951351522999  | ||||||
| 5:08a | [Paleontology • 2022] First Definitive Record of Abelisauridae (Theropoda: Ceratosauria) from the Cretaceous Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt
Abstract Numerous non-avian theropod dinosaur fossils have been reported from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt, but unambiguous materials of Abelisauridae have yet to be documented. Here we report Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center (MUVP) specimen 477, an isolated, well-preserved tenth cervical vertebra of a medium-sized abelisaurid from the Bahariya Formation. The new vertebra shows affinities with those of other Upper Cretaceous abelisaurids from Madagascar and South America, such as Majungasaurus crenatissimus, Carnotaurus sastrei, Viavenator exxoni and a generically indeterminate Patagonian specimen (Museo Padre Molina specimen 99). Phylogenetic analysis recovers the Bahariya form within Abelisauridae, either in a polytomy of all included abelisaurids (strict consensus tree) or as an early branching member of the otherwise South American clade Brachyrostra (50% majority rule consensus tree). MUVP 477, therefore, represents the first confirmed abelisaurid fossil from the Bahariya Formation and the oldest definitive record of the clade from Egypt and northeastern Africa more generally. The new vertebra demonstrates the wide geographical distribution of Abelisauridae across North Africa during the middle Cretaceous and augments the already extraordinarily diverse large-bodied theropod assemblage of the Bahariya Formation, a record that also includes representatives of Spinosauridae, Carcharodontosauridae and Bahariasauridae. Keywords: Abelisauridae, Egypt, Africa, Cretaceous, Bahariya Formation 
Conclusion: The cervical vertebra (MUVP 477) described herein represents the first confirmed fossil of Abelisauridae from the Bahariya Formation, establishing it as the oldest definitive record of this theropod clade from Egypt and northeastern Africa more generally. The new vertebra demonstrates the wide geographical distribution of abelisaurids across North Africa during the middle Cretaceous and augments the already extraordinarily diverse large-bodied non-avian theropod record of the Bahariya Formation, a unit that also preserves representatives of Spinosauridae, Carcharodontosauridae and Bahariasauridae. This abelisaurid/spinosaurid/carcharodontosau Belal S. Salem, Matthew C. Lamanna, Patrick M. O'Connor, Gamal M. El-Qot, Fatma Shaker, Wael A. Thabet, Sanaa El-Sayed and Hesham M. Sallam. 2022. First Definitive Record of Abelisauridae (Theropoda: Ceratosauria) from the Cretaceous Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt. R. Soc. open sci. 9220106. DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220106 Hesham Sallam Leads Egyptian Team’s Discovery of Bizarre Meat-Eating Dinosaur in Egypt’s Bahariya Oasis | ||||||
| 2:41p | [Ichthyology • 2022] Akysis patrator • Plugging the Gap: Description of A New Akysis Species (Siluriformes: Akysidae) represents A New Record of the Genus from the Mae Klong Drainage in western Thailand
A new species of sisoroid catfish in the genus Akysis is described from the Mae Klong drainage in western Thailand, marking the first record of this genus there. Akysis patrator, new species, can be distinguished from congeners in having the adipose fin preceded by a long, low ridge contacting the base of the last dorsal-fin ray and a colour pattern of a light brown body with a chocolate brown reticulate pattern on its sides.   Akysis patrator Heok Hee Ng, Parinya Pawangkhanant and Chatmongkon Suwannapoom. 2022. Plugging the Gap: Description of A New Akysis Species represents A New Record of the Genus from the Mae Klong Drainage in western Thailand (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Akysidae). Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters. DOI: 10.23788/IEF-1186  | ||||||
| 2:57p | [Paleontology • 2022] A European Giant: A Large Spinosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Vectis Formation (Wealden Group, Early Cretaceous), UK
Abstract Postcranial elements (cervical, sacral and caudal vertebrae, as well as ilium, rib and limb bone fragments) belonging to a gigantic tetanuran theropod were recovered from the basal unit (the White Rock Sandstone equivalent) of the Vectis Formation near Compton Chine, on the southwest coast of the Isle of Wight. These remains appear to pertain to the same individual, with enormous dimensions similar to those of the Spinosaurus holotype and exceeding those of the largest European theropods previously reported. A combination of features—including the presence of spinodiapophyseal webbing on an anterior caudal vertebra—suggest that this is a member of Spinosauridae, though a lack of convincing autapomorphies precludes the identification of a new taxon. Phylogenetic analysis supports spinosaurid affinities but we were unable to determine a more precise position within the clade weak support for a position within Spinosaurinae or an early-diverging position within Spinosauridae were found in some data runs. Bioerosion in the form of curved tubes is evident on several pieces, potentially related to harvesting behaviour by coleopteran bioeroders. This is the first spinosaurid reported from the Vectis Formation and the youngest British material referred to the clade. This Vectis Formation spinosaurid is unusual in that the majority of dinosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous units of the Wealden Supergroup are from the fluviolacustrine deposits of the underlying Barremian Wessex Formation. In contrast, the lagoonal facies of the upper Barremian–lower Aptian Vectis Formation only rarely yield dinosaur material. Our conclusions are in keeping with previous studies that emphasise western Europe as a pivotal region within spinosaurid origination and diversification.  Chris T. Barker, Jeremy A.F. Lockwood, Darren Naish, Sophie Brown, Amy Hart, Ethan Tulloch and Neil J. Gostling. 2022. A European Giant: A Large Spinosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Vectis Formation (Wealden Group, Early Cretaceous), UK. PeerJ. 10:e13543. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13543 |
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