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Friday, September 8th, 2023
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| 1:03a | [Arachnida • 2023] Venomius tomhardyi • A New monotypic Genus of Australian Orb-weaving Spiders (Araneae: Araneidae)
Abstract A new monotypic Australian genus in the orb-weaving spider family Araneidae Clerck, 1757 is described, Venomius gen. nov., with V. tomhardyi sp. nov. as type species. Somatically, Venomius gen. nov. is similar to the typical leaf-curling orb-weaving spiders, such as Phonognatha Simon, 1894 or Leviana Framenau & Kuntner, 2022, due to a similar elongate cylindrical abdomen and colouration; however, the genital morphology of the new genus is very different. Most unusual are the presence of two strong macrosetae on the male pedipalp tibia. Male pedipalp sclerites are complex, with diagnostic characters including the tibial macrosetae and a keeled median and a rounded basal process on the stipes. The epigyne of females is wholly covered by the scape that has a short median process. Venomius tomhardyi gen. nov. et sp. nov. has been collected in southern Australia, from Tasmania to Western Australia, where it builds a circular, vertical orb-web. Spiders often hide in silk-lined hollows in branches of trees when disturbed during the day. Key Words: Australia, systematics, monotypy, taxonomy
Order Araneae Clerck, 1757 Family Araneidae Clerck, 1757 Venomius gen. nov. Diagnosis: Somatically, specimens of Venomius gen. nov. resemble those of Phonognatha due to the similar abdomen shape and colouration of both genera (elongate cylindrical with dark brown to black markings dorsally on paler area) (Figs 1A, B, 3A, B vs Kallal and Hormiga 2018, e.g., figs 12A, 13A, 17A, 20A). However, the genital morphology of Venomius gen. nov. is quite different from Phonognatha. Males do not have the genital synapomorphies of Phonognatha (i.e., the elongate conductor in which the embolus lies or the lack of a median apophysis; Kallal and Hormiga 2018, p. 1079) nor do females (epigyne without scape and lobed spermathecae). Similarly, the genital morphology is very different to that of Deliochus Simon, 1894 and Artiphex Kallal & Hormiga, 2022, the other representatives of the Phonognathinae Simon, 1894 (sensu Kallal et al. 2020)/Phonognathidae Simon, 1894 (sensu Kuntner et al. 2023) in Australia. ... Etymology: The new genus Venomius is named after the Marvel Comics’ character “Venom”, created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane, whose full first appearance was in “The Amazing Spider-Man #300” (published in May 1988), after an alien symbiote bonded with the character Eddie Brock. This genus-group name is a reference to the head of the character Venom, with conspicuous black spots, that resembles the abdomen of our species, specifically the male holotype (Fig. 1A). The gender of the genus-group name Venomius is masculine. Venomius tomhardyi sp. nov. Etymology: The species epithet is a patronym in reference to the English actor Edward Thomas “Tom” Hardy, who plays the character Eddie Brock and his alter-ego Venom in the super-hero films of the same name. Giullia de F. Rossi, Pedro de S. Castanheira, Renner L. C. Baptista and Volker W. Framenau. 2023. Venomius, A New monotypic Genus of Australian Orb-weaving Spiders (Araneae, Araneidae). Evolutionary Systematics. 7(2): 285-292. DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.7.110022 | ||||||
| 1:33a | [Paleontology • 2023] Chusaurus xiangensis • Rapid Neck Elongation in Sauropterygia (Reptilia: Diapsida) revealed by A New basal pachypleurosaur from the Lower Triassic of China
Abstract Neck elongation has appeared independently in several tetrapod groups, including giraffes and sauropod dinosaurs on land, birds and pterosaurs in the air, and sauropterygians (plesiosaurs and relatives) in the oceans. Long necks arose in Early Triassic sauropterygians, but the nature and rate of that elongation has not been documented. Here, we report a new species of pachypleurosaurid sauropterygian, Chusaurus xiangensis gen. et sp. nov., based on two new specimens from the Early Triassic Nanzhang-Yuan’an Fauna in the South China Block. The new species shows key features of its Middle Triassic relatives, but has a relatively short neck, measuring 0.48 of the trunk length, compared to > 0.8 from the Middle Triassic onwards. Comparative phylogenetic analysis shows that neck elongation occurred rapidly in all Triassic eosauropterygian lineages, probably driven by feeding pressure in a time of rapid re-establishment of new kinds of marine ecosystems. Keywords: Marine reptile, Eosauropterygia, Mesozoic, Body plan, Nanzhang-Yuan’an Fauna Superorder Sauropterygia Owen, 1860 Order Eosauropterygia Rieppel, 1994 Family Pachypleurosauridae Nopcsa, 1928
Genus Chusaurus, gen. nov. Chusaurus xiangensis gen. et sp. nov. Distribution: Olenekian (Early Triassic), South China. Type locality and horizon: Songshugou Village, Nanzhang County, Xiangyang City, Hubei Province, P. R. China. Member II of the Jialingjiang Formation; Spathian, late Olenekian, Early Triassic. Etymology: The generic name is derived from the Chu Kingdom in Chinese history, which dominated around the area of the fossil site. The specific epithet is derived from “Xiang”, referring to Xiangyang City where the fossil was discovered. Diagnosis: A small-sized pachypleurosaurid eosauropterygian with at least 17 cervical, 16 dorsal, 3 sacral, and about 40 caudal vertebrae; neck length about half the trunk length; pterygoid flanges well developed and longitudinally oriented; anteriormost caudal vertebral neural spines obviously heightened compared to presacral and sacral vertebrae; dorsal and anterior caudal ribs highly pachyostotic with expanding proximal end; posteriormost caudal ribs shortened and round; chevron well developed in the caudal region; clavicle short and stout; scapula elongate and without broadly expanded anterior portion; scapular blade is short and robust; coracoid without concave anteromedial margin; iliac blade well developed with a posterior process; little interspace between the manual and pedal digits; the proximal phalanges short and flattened; 6 maximum carpal and tarsal ossifications; manual phalangeal format 2-3-4-5-3; pedal phalangeal format 2-3-4-5-4.  Qi-Ling Liu, Long Cheng, Thomas L. Stubbs, Benjamin C. Moon, Michael J. Benton, Chun-Bo Yan and Li Tian. 2023. Rapid Neck Elongation in Sauropterygia (Reptilia: Diapsida) revealed by A New basal pachypleurosaur from the Lower Triassic of China. BMC Ecology and Evolution. 23: 44. DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02150-w phys.org/news/2023-09-plesiosaurs-n | ||||||
| 1:57a | [Ichthyology • 2023] Schistura palma • A New Species of Loach (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) from the Nam Ngiep Drainage, central Laos
Abstract Schistura palma, new species, is described from the middle Nam Ngiep drainage, central Laos. It is distinguished from all other species of Schistura in Southeast Asia by the combination of having a dorsal keel on the entire length of the caudal peduncle in small individuals that develops into a conspicuous crest in large ones; cheeks conspicuously swollen in large individuals; lips smooth or with short, shallow wrinkles, their free edge entire; 8½ branched dorsal-fin rays; 7–10 [commonly 8–9] uniformly dark brown bars on body; plain brown cheeks. It occurs in fast-flowing stretches of the main river and lower course of main tributaries. Key words. Cobitoidei, Schistura, Mekong basin, stone loach
Schistura palma, new species Diagnosis. Schistura palma is characterised among other
named species of Schistura sensu lato in Indochina by
the presence of a dorsal keel along the entire length of
the caudal peduncle in small individuals, that develops
into a conspicuous crest in large ones. A low keel or crest
exists in some other species of the genus, but in these it is
restricted to the posterior part of the caudal peduncle. Among
Southeast Asian species, such a crest extending along the
entire length of the caudal peduncle is known in S. porthos (Figs. 6, 7) from the Mekong drainage in northern Laos and
Xishuangbanna in China, and in S. alticrista (Fig. 8) from
the Salween drainage in Thailand. ... Etymology. From the Latin palma, the blade of an oar, an
allusion to the shape of the caudal peduncle and caudal fin
in large adults. A noun in apposition. Maurice Kottelat. 2023. Schistura palma, A New Species of Loach from the Nam Ngiep Drainage, central Laos (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae). RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 71; 520–530. | ||||||
| 2:03a | [Invertebrate • 2023] Metaphire songkhramensis, Amynthas sakonnakhonensis, A. auriculus & A. bantanensis • Four New Terrestrial Earthworm Species (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from the northeast Thailand
Abstract Earthworm specimens collected from Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom, northeast Thailand, were found to contain four new species in the family Megascolecidae, with one species in the genus Metaphire Sims & Easton, 1972, and the other three in the genus Amynthas Kinberg, 1867. These are herein named Metaphire songkhramensis Chanabun & Panha, sp. nov. in the sexthecal houlleti species group, and Amynthas sakonnakhonensis Chanabun & Panha, sp. nov., A. auriculus Chanabun & Panha, sp. nov., and A. bantanensis Chanabun & Panha, sp. nov. in the sexthecal aelianus species group. Metaphire songkhramensis Chanabun & Panha, sp. nov. occurs in dark clay soil of the oxbow lake of the river, Amynthas sakonnakhonensis Chanabun & Panha, sp. nov. occurs in wetland area, A. auriculus Chanabun & Panha, sp. nov. occurs in dark sandy loam habitats of mixed deciduous forest while the following species, A. bantanensis Chanabun & Panha, sp. nov. occurs in sandy loam habitats of paddy fields. Descriptions of the new species, including illustrations of the external and internal morphological characteristics, are provided. Key words: Amynthas, Metaphire, new species, taxonomy, Thailand
Ratmanee Chanabun, Anuwat Aoonkum, Teerapong Seesamut, Ueangfa Bantaowong and Somsak Panha. 2023. Four New Terrestrial Earthworm Species from the northeast Thailand (Oligochaeta, Megascolecidae). ZooKeys. 1176: 195-219. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1176.106517 | ||||||
| 4:01a | [Paleontology • 2023] Tyrannomimus fukuiensis • A New Theropod Dinosaur (Coelurosauria: Ornithomimosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous of Japan provides critical implications for the early Evolution of Ornithomimosaurs
Abstract Ornithomimosauria consists of the ostrich-mimic dinosaurs, most of which showing cursorial adaptations, that often exhibit features indicative of herbivory. Recent discoveries have greatly improved our knowledge of their evolutionary history, including the divergence into Ornithomimidae and Deinocheiridae in the Early Cretaceous, but the early part of their history remains obscured because their fossil remains are scarce in the Aptian–Albian sediments. In recent years, many isolated ornithomimosaur remains have been recovered from the Aptian Kitadani Formation of Fukui, central Japan. These remains represent multiple individuals that share some morphological features common to them but unknown in other ornithomimosaurs, suggesting a monospecific accumulation of a new taxon. As a result of the description and phylogenetic analysis, the Kitadani ornithomimosaur is recovered as a new genus and species Tyrannomimus fukuiensis, the earliest definitive deinocheirid that complements our knowledge to understand the early evolutionary history of Ornithomimosauria. Due to its osteological similarity to Tyrannomimus, a taxon previously considered an early tyrannosauroid based on fragmentary specimens, namely Aviatyrannis jurassica, may represent the earliest ornithomimosaur from the Upper Jurassic of Europe, significantly expanding the temporal and biogeographic range of Ornithomimosauria. This finding fills a 20-million-year ghost lineage of Ornithomimosauria implied by the presence of the oldest fossil record of Maniraptora from the Middle Jurassic and is consistent with the hypothesis that their biogeographic range was widespread before the Pangaean breakup in the Kimmeridgian.
Systematic paleontology Dinosauria Owen, 1842. Theropoda Marsh, 1881. Tetanurae Gauthier, 1986. Coelurosauria von Huene, 1920. Ornithomimosauria Barsbold, 1976. Tyrannomimus fukuiensis gen. et sp. nov. Etymology: The genus name is derived from its morphological resemblance with tyrannosauroids, in which the vertical ridge on the ilium has been regarded as a synapomorphy; the specific name is derived from Fukui, the prefecture where the type and referred specimens were found. Diagnosis: Based on the holotype, theropod dinosaur with following autapomorphies among ornithomimosaurs: deep dorsal tympanic recess with its bottom subdivided by an anteroposteriorly-oriented lamina; expanded spherical cavities within prezygocentrodiapophyseal, centrodiapophyseal and postzygocentrodiapophyseal fossae. Based on the referred specimens, deep anterolateral pit on proximal part of humerus can be another autapomorphy among ornithomimosaurs. However, this feature should be confirmed by additional specimens including humeri and some elements shared by the holotype. Tyrannomimus can be distinguished from penecontemporary Asian ornithomimosaurs by having the following features: from Harpymimus by having the deltopectoral crest shorter than the quarter of the humeral length, the muscle scar on the anterolateral margin of the deltopectoral crest, low and elongated ilium, and concave ventral margin of the postacetabular process; from Shenzhousaurus by having ventral grooves on anterior caudal centra, straighter manual unguals, and the lateral distal condyle of the femur extended further distally than the medial condyle that is flattened distally. Holotype: FPDM-V-11311, a disarticulated but associated skeleton including two parts of the braincase, several dorsal, sacral and caudal vertebrae, and fragments of ilium. Soki Hattori, Masateru Shibata, Soichiro Kawabe, Takuya Imai, Hiroshi Nishi and Yoichi Azuma. 2023. New Theropod Dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Japan provides critical implications for the early Evolution of Ornithomimosaurs. Scientific Reports. 13: 13842. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40804-3 | ||||||
| 9:10a | [Ichthyology • 2023] Incipient Speciation in Allopatric Etheostoma rupestre (Percidae: Etheostomatinae) Lineages, with the Description of Three New Subspecies
Abstract In recent years, new species descriptions for the North American darters have proliferated. Most species concepts accepted by contemporary ichthyologists require that a valid species be both monophyletic and diagnoseable, yet many lineages exhibit modal or range differences in morphological characteristics without individuals being diagnosable. Such scenarios present difficulties with regards to proper taxonomic recognition of divergent lineages and often prohibit appropriate conservation action. Following the example of recent authors, we provide meristic, geometric morphometric, and pigmentation data to support the recognition of three subspecies of Etheostoma rupestre, a species endemic to the Mobile Basin. These morphological data cohere with previous genetic work for E. rupestre. The nominate subspecies Etheostoma rupetsre rupestre (Tsai’s Rock Darter) is endemic to the Tombigbee River and Black Warrior River watersheds in Alabama and Mississippi and is characterized by having lower numbers of lateral blotches, lower range and mean of lateral line scales, lower modal number of scales above the lateral line, and lower degrees of nape squamation than other subspecies. Etheostoma rupestre piersoni (Shamrock Darter), ssp. nov., is endemic to the Cahaba and Alabama River Watersheds in Alabama and is characterized by intermediate counts of lateral blotches and higher scale counts and nape squamation than E. r. rupestre. Etheostoma rupestre uphapeense (Jade Darter), ssp. nov., is restricted to several small, disjunct populations in the Coosa and Tallapoosa watersheds in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Etheostoma r. uphapeense is characterized by having a higher mean number of lateral blotches than both other subspecies and higher scale counts than E. r. rupestre. While E. r. rupestre and E. r. piersoni are widespread and abundant within their respective ranges, E. r. uphapeense has a disjunct range and is often uncommon where it occurs. Etheostoma r. uphapeense should be monitored where it occurs to discern population trends. Key words: species concepts, Mobile Basin, endemism, Rock Darter, intraspecific diversity
Bryson G. Hilburn, Alexis M. Janosik and Carol E. Johnston. 2023. Incipient Speciation in Allopatric Etheostoma rupestre (Percidae: Etheostomatinae) Lineages, with the Description of Three New Subspecies. Zootaxa. 5343(2); 151-172. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5343.2.3 | ||||||
| 9:52a | [Botany • 2023 ] Hiptage stenopterum (Malpighiaceae) • A New Species from northwest Yunnan (China) based on Molecular and Morphological Data
Abstract Hiptage stenopterum K.Tan & M.X.Ren, a new species of Hiptage collected from a deep valley close to the Nujiang Gorge, northwest of Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated based on molecular and morphological data. The new species was found isolated in an entrenched valley of the Laowo River, a tributary of the Nujiang River, at the northern edge of the distribution range of the genus. H. stenopterum shares some morphological similarities with the narrowly endemic H. incurvatum and H. lushuiensis. However, H. stenopterum is easily distinguished by its oblanceolate lateral wing of winged mericarp, 10 to 12 calyx glands, and branchlets densely rusty tomentose. The new species status is also supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ribosome internal transcribed spacer (nrITS), which showed distinct systematic boundaries from the most morphologically similar species, H. incurvatum and their morphological relatives, H. lushuiensis. Key words: Flora of Yunnan, Hengduan Mountains, Hiptage, Malpighiaceae, taxonomy
 Hiptage stenopterum K.Tan & M.X.Ren, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Hiptage stenopterum is most similar to H. incurvatum K.Tan & M.X.Ren by branchlets densely rusty tomentose (vs white to grey sericeous), leaf blades with 2 glands near the base (vs 10–16 glands), 10(-12) calyx glands [vs 4 (-6)], the posterior lateral wing oblanceolate (vs ovate), anterior lateral wings straight, lanceolate to linear (vs arcuate back to the middle, lanceolate). Etymology: Its specific epithet reflects the long and narrow mericarp wings of Hiptage stenopterum. Vernacular name: Chinese: 狭翅风筝果(xiá chì fēng zhēng guǒ). The name’ xiá chì’ means its long and narrow wings, and ‘fēng zhēng gǔo’ is the Chinese name of Hiptage. Tong-Tong Zhang, Shu-Yun Yang, Ke Tan and Ming-Xun Ren. 2023. A New Species of Hiptage (Malpighiaceae) from northwest Yunnan (China) based on Molecular and Morphological Data. PhytoKeys. 232: 45-57. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.232.106675 | ||||||
| 10:25a | [PaleoBotany • 2023] Nichima gen. nov. (Alismataceae) based on Reproductive Structures from the Oligocene-Miocene of Mexico 
Abstract Premise of the study: Alismataceae, a sub-cosmopolitan 28 family with ca. 17 genera 29 and 113 species, is a large group of aquatic plants. Compression/impressions and bio-inclusions in amber support the documentation of the lineage in low-latitude North America. In Mexico, fossil aquatic plants have been infrequently documented. The new flowers recognize a group mainly known through fruits and seeds. Material and Method: Impression/compression reproductive structures from the Oligocene Los Ahuehuetes locality, Puebla, and bio-inclusions from the Miocene amber of Simojovel de Allende, Chiapas, Mexico, known through 150 samples. They are described and compared with extinct and extant taxa. A parsimony analysis based on 29 floral characters of 17 extant genera of the Alismataceae evaluates the relationship between the fossil material and their potential living relatives. Results: Nichima gen. nov. is a perfect, actinomorphic flower with an expanded receptacle, three persistent sepals with multi-vasculature, delicate and caducous petals, six stamens, and gynoecium composed of three to more superior carpels, maturing into achenes. These characteristics resemble flowers of Alismataceae. Nichima represents an extinct member of the family, with two new species, Nichima magalloniae L. Hern., Cevallos-Ferriz et Hernández-Damián sp. nov. and Nichima gonzalez-medranoi L. Hern., Cevallos-Ferriz et Hernández-Damián, sp. nov. Their phylogenetic position suggests affinity with a clade that includes Baldiella, Echinodorus, and Alisma. Conclusions: Reproductive structures from the Cenozoic of Mexico support the identification of a new extinct genus, Nichima, evidencing Alismataceae's extensive history in North America's low latitudes and suggests a southern extension of the Boreotropical Flora. Keywords: Botreotropical Flora, Cenozoic, Fossil, aquatic plant, Nichima, Statzia   Genus⎼ Nichima L.Hern., Cevallos-Ferriz et Hernández-Damián, gen. nov. Etymology⎼ The generic name refers to the word flower in Tzotzil, a Maya language spoken by the indigenous Tzotzil Maya people in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Generic diagnosis⎼ Bisexual trimerous flowers, extended receptacle; calyx aposepalous, three persistent sepals; corolla apopetalous, three, narrow to unguiculate at the base, caducous petals; stamens 6, filaments flat, widened and connate at the base, anthers latrorse, ovate; carpels 3-6, fused at the apex, but separated at maturity; style very short or wanting, terminal; stigma punctuate.
Luis Hernández-Sandoval, Sergio R. S. Cevallos-Ferriz and Ana L. Hernández-Damián. 2023. Nichima gen. nov. (Alismataceae) based on Reproductive Structures from the Oligocene-Miocene of Mexico. American Journal of Botany. DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16231 |
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