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Sunday, August 21st, 2022
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| 3:10a | [Mammalogy • 2022] Miniopterus phillipsi • DNA Barcoding and Morphological Analyses Reveal A Cryptic Species of Miniopterus (Chiroptera: Miniopteridae) from India and Sri Lanka
Abstract The genus Miniopterus is a monophyletic assemblage of many species characterized by remarkably conservative morphology. The number of recognized species has more than doubled over the last two decades, mainly with newly recognized Afrotropical and Malagasy species. A molecular phylogenetic analysis based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) revealed a monophyletic clade of Miniopterus from Sri Lanka and southern India that is distinct from the other known taxa of this genus. The mean uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence among the three gene sequences of this new Miniopterus lineage was 0.83% (range 0.4–1.2%) and between this and other sampled taxa was 12.7% (range 8.5–15.9%). This lineage was also distinctive in craniodental morphometrics and hence it is herein described as a new species. The newly described species is easily distinguished by its external and cranial dimensions from its smaller (M. pusillus) and larger (M. magnater) congeners in India and Sri Lanka. It is also somewhat smaller than M. fuliginosus in both external and cranial dimensions. This is the first description of a new Miniopterus species from Asia in six decades and from India and Sri Lanka in eight decades. Our study highlights the importance of using both genetic and morphometric analyses in taxonomic studies on South Asian bats. KEYWORDS: cryptic species, cytochrome oxidase 1, DNA barcode, Miniopteridae, Morphometrics, South Asia, taxonomy
Family Miniopteridae Dobson, 1875 Genus Miniopterus Bonaparte, 1837 Miniopterus phillipsi sp. nov. Phillips's Long fingered Bat Synonymy: Miniopterus schreibersii Blanford, 1891 (in part): not Vespertilio schreibersii Kuhl, 1817. Miniopterus fuliginosus Tian et al., 2004 (in part): not Vespertilio fuliginosus Hodgson, 1835. Diagnosis: Miniopterus phillipsi sp. nov. is distinguished by its intermediate size from both smaller and larger congeners in India and Sri Lanka. M. pusillus is much smaller than M. phillipsi sp. nov. in the external measurements TIB (< 18 mm), FA (< 43 mm), d3m (< 40 mm), d4m (< 38 mm) and d5m (< 36 mm) and in skull length (GSKL < 14.7 mm). M. phillipsi sp. nov. is distinguished from M. magnater by the latter's larger external measurements (HB > 56 mm and d3m > 46 mm) and skull size (GLSK > 16.4 mm — Tables 3 and 4). The new species is generally smaller than M. fuliginosus in both external and cranial dimensions, although there is slight overlap (Figs. 5–7). There are significant differences between M. phillipsi sp. nov. and M. fuliginosus in GSKL (P < 0.001), ZYW (P = 0.026), MAW (P < 0.001), BCW (P = 0.046), LW (P = 0.001), ML (P = 0.001), M3–M3 (P = 0.002), C–M3 (P = 0.002), I1–M3 (P = 0.001) and i1–m3 (P < 0.001). In all of these craniodental characters, M. fuliginosus is larger than M. phillipsi sp. nov. (Tables 4 and 5). Miniopterus phillipsi sp. nov. also differs significantly from M. fuliginosus in the ratio of tibia to forearm length (TIB/FA; P = 0.002) and the ratio of second phalanx of third digit to third metacarpal (d3mp2/d3m; P = 0.023). In M. phillipsi sp. nov., TIB/FA ratio is usually higher (median: 42.16%, range: 41.1–43.9%) than in M. fuliginosus (40.78%, 39.6–42.1%), whereas d3mp2/d3m ratio is lower (83.27%, 79.3–90.4% versus 88.55%, 81.6–90.9%, respectively). The tragus of M. phillipsi sp. nov. is medium-sized in both length and width. The tragus of M. magnater is longer, broader, and more pointed towards the tip than the other three species in India and Sri Lanka. The middle of the tragus is much broader than its base and tip in M. magnater (slightly broader in M. phillipsi sp. nov.). The tragus of M. fuliginosus has parallel margins along most of its length, as does that of M. pusillus. However, the tragus of M. pusillus is shorter in length and barely curved forward compared to the other three species (Fig. 8). Etymology: This species is named after W. W. A. Phillips (William Watt Addison Phillips, 1892–1981) in recognition of his immense contributions to studies on the mammals of Sri Lanka and South Asia. Phillips was born and grew up in England and he was a nature lover since his childhood. He was a tea planter by profession and came to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1911. Tharaka Kusuminda, Amani Mannakkara, Kanishka D. B. Ukuwela, Sergei V. Kruskop, Chamara J. Amarasinghe, Uttam Saikia, Parvathy Venugopal, Mathisha Karunarathna, Rajika Gamage, Manuel Ruedi, Gábor Csorba, Wipula B. Yapa and Bruce D. Patterson. 2022. DNA Barcoding and Morphological Analyses Reveal A Cryptic Species of Miniopterus from India and Sri Lanka. Acta Chiropterologica. 24(1);1-17. DOI: 10.3161/15081109ACC2022.24.1.001 | ||||||||
| 8:41a | [Ichthyology • 2022] Functional Trade-offs Asymmetrically Promote Phenotypic Evolution
Abstract Trade-offs are thought to bias evolution and are core features of many anatomical systems. Therefore, trade-offs may have far-reaching macroevolutionary consequences, including patterns of morphological, functional, and ecological diversity. Jaws, like many complex anatomical systems, are comprised of elements involved in biomechanical trade-offs. We test the impact of a core mechanical trade-off, transmission of velocity versus force (i.e., mechanical advantage), on rates of jaw evolution in Neotropical cichlids. Across 130 species representing a wide array of feeding ecologies, we find that the velocity-force trade-off impacts evolution of the surrounding jaw system. Specifically, rates of jaw evolution are faster at functional extremes than in more functionally intermediate or unspecialized jaws. Yet, surprisingly, the effect on jaw evolution is uneven across the extremes of the velocity-force continuum. Rates of jaw evolution are 4 to 10-fold faster in velocity-modified jaws, whereas force-modified jaws are 7 to 18-fold faster, compared to unspecialized jaws, depending on the extent of specialization. Further, we find that a more extreme mechanical trade-off resulted in faster rates of jaw evolution. The velocity-force trade-off reflects a gradient from specialization on capture-intensive (e.g., evasive or buried) to processing-intensive prey (e.g., attached or shelled), respectively. The velocity extreme of the trade-off is characterized by large magnitudes of trait change leading to functionally divergent specialists and ecological stasis. By contrast, the force extreme of the trade-off is characterized by enhanced ecological lability made possible by phenotypes more readily co-opted for different feeding ecologies. This asymmetry of macroevolutionary outcomes along each extreme is likely the result of an enhanced utility of the pharyngeal jaw system as force-modified oral jaws are adapted for prey that require intensive processing (e.g., algae, detritus, and molluscs). The velocity-force trade-off, a fundamental feature of many anatomical systems, promotes rapid phenotypic evolution of the surrounding jaw system in a canonical continental adaptive radiation. Considering that the velocity-force trade-off is an inherent feature of all jaw systems that involve a lower element that rotates at a joint, spanning the vast majority of vertebrates, our results may be widely applicable across the tree of life. [adaptive radiation; constraint; decoupling; jaws; macroevolution; specialization] Edward D. Burress and Martha M. Muñoz. 2022. Functional Trade-offs Asymmetrically Promote Phenotypic Evolution. Systematic Biology. syac058. DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syac058 | ||||||||
| 8:43a | [Ichthyology • 2022] Pseudolaguvia meghalayaensis • A New Diminutive Sisorid Catfish of the Genus Pseudolaguvia (Siluriformes: Erethistidae) from Northeastern India
Abstract Pseudolaguvia meghalayaensis, a new diminutive sisorid catfish, is described from the confluence of Rongkil and Rongdal streams (tributaries of the Brahmaputra River) in Meghalaya, India. It is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters: striae in thoracic adhesive apparatus strongly anastomosing and break up into small rounded plaques posteromedially, smooth anterior edge of dorsal spine, 8 branched pectoral-fin rays, supraoccipital spine not reaching nuchal shield, pectoral-fin length 17.1–20.1% standard length (SL), predorsal length 40.4–43.8% SL, preanal length 71.1–73.1% SL, body depth at anus 15.6–18.1% SL, anal-fin base length 12.2–12.7% SL, and post adipose fin length12.3–12.6% SL. Keywords: Pisces, New Pseudolaguvia, Sisoridae, Rongkil stream, Rongdal stream, Brahmaputra River basin, Meghalaya
Yumnam Lokeshwor and Pringranchi Dokgre Marak. 2022. Pseudolaguvia meghalayaensis, A New Diminutive Sisorid Catfish (Teleostei: Siluriformes) from Northeastern India. Zootaxa. 5175(3); 367-376. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5175.3.3 | ||||||||
| 9:36a | [Botany • 2022] Pilea danxiaensis (Urticaceae) • A New Species in the Danxia Landform from Guangdong, China including A Description of the Entire Chloroplast Genome
Abstract Pilea danxiaensis L.F.Fu, A.K.Monro & Y.G.Wei, a new species of Urticaceae from Danxia landform, Guangdong, China, is described and photographed. Phylogenetic analyses based on three DNA regions (ITS, trnL-F and rbcL) suggest that the new species belongs to P. sect. Pilea. Within the section, the new species is morphologically most similar to P. sinocrassifolia and P. peploides. Plastid genome and ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences of the new species are assembled and annotated. The plastid genome is 151,857 bp in length and comprises two inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,307 bp separated by a large single-copy of 82,836 bp and a small single-copy of 18,407 bp. A total of 113 functional genes are recovered, comprising 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. A global conservation assessment suggests that P. danxiaensis should be classified as of Least Concern (LC). Keywords: Danxia landscape, new taxon, plastome, taxonomy
Pilea danxiaensis L.F.Fu, A.K.Monro & Y.G.Wei, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Most similar to Pilea sinocrassifolia C.J.Chen from which it can be distinguished by the longer stipule (1.3–1.5 mm versus 1 mm), petiole (2–8 mm versus 0.2–0.6 mm) and staminate peduncle (8–25 mm versus 1.5–7 mm). Distribution and habitat: Pilea danxiaensis L.F.Fu, A.K.Monro & Y.G.Wei is known from a single locality in Renhua County, Shaoguan City, Guangdong, China, where it grows in a ravine on the Danxia landform, a petrographic geomorphology formed from Cretaceous sandstones and conglomerates. Etymology: The species epithet is named after the Danxia landform with which the species is associated. Vernacular name: dān xiá lěng shuǐ huā (Chinese pronunciation); 丹霞冷水花 (Chinese name). Long-Fei Fu, Chi Xiong, Alexandre K. Monro, Qiang Fan, Zai-Xiong Chen, Fang Wen, Zi-Bing Xin, Yi-Gang Wei and Wen-Bo Liao. 2022. Pilea danxiaensis (Urticaceae), A New Species in the Danxia Landform from Guangdong, China including A Description of the Entire Chloroplast Genome. PhytoKeys. 204: 109-119. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.204.86857  | ||||||||
| 9:57a | [Botany • 2022] Argostemma arachnosum (Rubiaceae: Argostemmateae) • Rediscovery and Amended Description of a Philippine endemic
Abstract Botanical exploration in 2021 in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines, resulted in the collection of Argostemma arachnosum Merr., an endemic species first described in 1922. This species was not reported and documented to exist elsewhere after its discovery. Here, we present an amended description of A. arachnosum. Colored photographs, distribution map, notes on its ecology and preliminary conservation status are also provided. Keywords: Argostemmateae, morphology, rediscovery, vulnerable, Zamboanga  Kean Roe F. Mazo and Christopher V. Famor. 2022. Rediscovery and Amended Description of a Philippine endemic Argostemma arachnosum (Rubiaceae). Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: 10.1111/njb.03688 Researchgate.net/publication/361935020_R | ||||||||
| 1:53p | [Paleontology • 2022] Gastroliths and Deinonychus Teeth associated with A Skeleton of Tenontosaurus from the Cloverly Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Montana, USA
Abstract Tenontosaurus tilletti was an abundant ornithischian dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of North America, commonly regarded as a ‘basal’ iguanodontian. Here, we describe a remarkably well-preserved specimen, comprising a near-complete skeleton and skull, from the Cloverly Formation, Montana, USA, currently housed at the University of Manchester Museum, UK. Found alongside the specimen were alleged gastroliths, cycad seeds, and teeth of the contemporaneous dromaeosaur Deinonychus antirrhopus, all of which were buried in an alleged ash. We assess the credibility of these claims, using X-ray CT scanning and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) respectively, and show that the ‘seeds’ are non-organic mineral concretions, and that the ‘ash’ is actually a lime mud with a silica content of approximately 7%. We confirm the identification of the Deinonychus teeth and the gastroliths, providing further evidence to support the long-standing assertion, originally made by John Ostrom in 1970, that Tenontosaurus was a common food item for Deinonychus. Keywords: Tenontosaurus, Cloverly Formation, Lower Cretaceous, Montanatrophic interaction, gastroliths, iguanodont
Systematic Palaeontology Ornithischia (Seeley, 1887) Neornithischia (Sereno, 1999) Ornithopoda (Marsh, 1881) Tenontosaurus tilletti (Ostrom, 1970) Holotype: AMNH 3040, partial skeleton lacking skull and forelimbs. Paratypes: YPM-PU 16338, a partial skeleton, and YPM 3456, a well-preserved skull and partial skeleton. ...  Conclusions: One of the challenges that palaeontologists are faced with is interpreting the behaviours of organisms preserved only in the fossil record. Studies often rely upon functional morphology to infer behaviour, especially through comparison with modern analogues. However, in rare occurrences, with some examples being more common than others, specimens are sometimes found with direct evidence of interactions, referred to as ‘frozen behaviour’ (Boucot 1990; Boucot and Poinar 2010; Radwanski and Radwanska 2009; Lomax 2021). MANCH LL.12275 represents one of the most complete and well-preserved specimens of Tenontosaurus tilletti currently known. The original documentation indicated that the specimen was found preserved in ash and with associated cycad seeds. Based on our analyses, we cannot confirm the preservation within a distinct ash layer (although there might have been a minor ash component), while the alleged plant seeds are herein identified as non-organic mineral concretions. The association of teeth of Deinonychus antirrhopus with the skeleton reinforces evidence for one of the most well-documented trophic relationships in the dinosaur fossil record. The gastroliths within the stomach cavity of the specimen also provides further evidence for the feeding habits of Tenontosaurus and is the first case of the use of gastroliths in a more derived ornithopod; it is also one of the geologically oldest examples of gastroliths found within an ornithopod. John R. Nudds, Dean R. Lomax and Jonathan P. Tennant. 2022. Gastroliths and Deinonychus Teeth associated with A Skeleton of Tenontosaurus from the Cloverly Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Montana, USA. Cretaceous Research. In Press, 105327. DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2022.105327  |
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