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Thursday, January 25th, 2024
| Time | Event | ||||
| 8:34a | [Paleontology • 2024] Kwatisuchus rosai • Interrelationships Among early Triassic Faunas of Western Gondwana and Laurasia as illuminated by A New South American benthosuchid temnospondyl (Temnospondyli: Stereospondyli: Benthosuchidae)
Abstract The End-Permian Mass Extinction marked a critical turning point in Earth's history, and the biological recovery that followed the crisis led to the emergence of several modern vertebrate and invertebrate taxa. Even considering the importance of the Early Triassic biotic recovery for the evolution of modern faunas and floras, our knowledge of this event is still hindered by the sparse sampling of crucial geological formations. This leaves our understanding of Early Triassic ecosystems fundamentally biased toward productive and historically well-explored geological units. Recent surveys in poorly known Gondwanan localities, such as those within the Sanga do Cabral Formation in southern Brazil, have unveiled insights into Early Triassic terrestrial ecosystems, shedding light on a diverse and previously unknown tetrapod fauna. Here, we report the discovery of a new temnospondyl genus and species in the Lower Triassic Sanga do Cabral Formation. The new taxon can be confidently assigned to the Benthosuchidae, a stereospondyl clade with a distribution previously restricted to the East European Platform. Phylogenetic analysis confirms the relationship of the new genus to the trematosaurian lineage, being closely related to the genus Benthosuchus. Our results raise questions about the biogeographical history of stereospondyls after the End-Permian Mass Extinction and suggest a potential connection between Russian and South American Early Triassic faunas. Further investigations are needed to thoroughly explore the potential dispersal routes that may explain this seemingly unusual biogeographical pattern. Keywords: biogeography, Lower Triassic, Sanga do Cabral Formation, Stereospondyli   Kwatisuchus rosai    Felipe L. Pinheiro, Estevan Eltink, Voltaire D. Paes-Neto, Arielli F. Machado, Tiago R. Simões and Stephanie E. Pierce. 2024. Interrelationships Among early Triassic Faunas of Western Gondwana and Laurasia as illuminated by A New South American benthosuchid temnospondyl. The Anatomical Record. DOI: 10.1002/ar.25384 Descoberta: Anfíbio gigante mais antigo que dinossauros é encontrado no Rio Grande do Sul Novo animal mostra semelhança entre faunas do Brasil e Rússia | ||||
| 10:20a | [Botany • 2024] Ophiorrhiza ravifolia (Rubiaceae: Ophiorrhizeae) • A New endemic Species discovered in Naga-Kabasalan Protected Landscape, Zamboanga Peninsula, southwestern Philippines
Abstract Continued extensive field exploration in Zamboanga Peninsula (Philippines) revealed a new endemic Ophiorrhiza species, which is herein described from Naga-Kabasalan Protected Landscape (NKPL) of Zamboanga Sibugay. The species is unique among Philippine Ophiorrhiza by having leaf lamina with gray to silver gray abaxial surface. The new species is morphologically similar to O. pubescens and O. erythropilosa by having hairy overall morphology, but it is easily distinguished by having a creeping to decumbent habit and inconspicuous, membranous bracts. A detailed description, color photographs, phenology, geographical distribution, habitat and IUCN conservation status are provided in this paper. Keywords: biodiversity, Mindanao, Ophiorrhizeae, taxonomy, Zamboanga Sibugay  Mark Arcebal K. Naive and Grecebio Jonathan D. Alejandro. 2024. Ophiorrhiza ravifolia (Rubiaceae), A New endemic Species discovered in Naga-Kabasalan Protected Landscape (NKPL), Zamboanga Peninsula, southwestern Philippines. Nordic Journal of Botany. e04311. DOI: 10.1111/njb.04311  | ||||
| 10:41a | [Botany • 2024] Bulbophyllum barcelonae & B. pelseri (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) • Two New Species of Bulbophyllum sect. Polymeres from Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed Forest Reserve, Luzon Island, Philippines
Abstract Two new species of Bulbophyllum, B. barcelonae and B. pelseri are described here from the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed Forest Reserve, Luzon Island, Philippines. Bulbophyllum barcelonae resembles B. charisae, but differs by having smaller vegetative parts, ovate petals with a rounded apex, and a labellum with two ridges that are strongly angled outwards the adaxial surface, rounded proximal crests, and a canaliculate abaxial surface. Bulbophyllum pelseri resembles B. aureobrunneum but differs by having caducous sheath covering the pseudobulbs, punctulate leaf surface, shorter leaves, absence of transverse callus in median portion of labellum, median portion with short, rounded ridge, rounded apex, and triangular stelidia. These discoveries increase to 207, the known species of Bulbophyllum in the Philippines. Keywords: Asparagales, biodiversity, Dendrobieae, Epidendroideae, Malesia, taxonomy   Abigail L. Garrino, Jayson A. Mansibang, Jamie Ann M. Aumentado, Yu Pin Ang, Leonardo C. Udasco Jr, Jean Marie Diego, John Charles Altomonte, Maverick N. Tamayo, Liezel M. Magtoto and Rene Alfred Anton Bustamante. 2024. Two New Species of Bulbophyllum (Orchidaceae, sect. Polymeres) from Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed Forest Reserve, Luzon Island, Philippines. Nordic Journal of Botany, e04187. DOI: 10.1111/njb.04187 | ||||
| 10:54a | [Paleontology • 2024] Eoneophron infernalis • A New oviraptorosaur (Theropoda: Oviraptorosauria: Caenagnathidae) from the end-Maastrichtian Hell Creek Formation of North America
Abstract Caenagnathidae is a clade of derived, Late Cretaceous oviraptorosaurian theropods from Asia and North America. Because their remains are rare and often fragmentary, caenagnathid diversity is poorly understood. Anzu wyliei is the only caenagnathid species currently described from the late Maastrichtian Hell Creek Formation of the USA and is also among the largest and most completely preserved North American caenagnathids. Smaller, less complete caenagnathid material has long been known from the Hell Creek Formation, but it is unclear whether these are juvenile representatives of Anzu or if they represent distinct, unnamed taxa. Here, we describe a relatively small caenagnathid hindlimb from the Hell Creek Formation, and conduct osteohistological analysis to assess its maturity. Histological data and morphological differences from Anzu wyliei and other caenagnathids allow us to conclude that this specimen represents a new species of caenagnathid from the Hell Creek Formation, with a smaller adult body size than Anzu. This new taxon is also distinct from other small caenagnathid material previously described from the area, potentially indicating the coexistence of three distinct caenagnathid species in the Hell Creek Formation. These results show that caenagnathid diversity in the Hell Creek ecosystem has been underestimated. Systematic paleontology Theropoda Marsh 1878 Oviraptorosauria Barsbold 1976 Caenagnathidae Sternberg 1940  Eoneophron gen. nov. Eoneophron infernalis sp. nov. Holotype: CM 96523, partial hindlimb including right femur, right tibia and astragalocalcaneum, a right metatarsal III, and a right metatarsal IV. Diagnosis: Caenagnathid oviraptorosaur diagnosed by the following combination of traits (autapomorphies are denoted with an asterisk): femoral head directed dorsomedially, rather than perpendicular to the shaft; astragalocalcaneum fused to tibia*, metatarsal III with well-developed posterior cruciate ridges continuous with the distal condyle; distal condyle of metatarsal III transversely wider than anteroposteriorly deep, with medial portion of condyle larger than lateral portion; proximal end of metatarsals III and IV project posteriorly to form proximal protuberance; distal tarsal IV coossified with the proximal end of metatarsal IV at maturity; shaft of metatarsal IV with well-developed oblique longitudinal ridge on anterior surface extending along the distal three-quarters of the shaft*. Etymology: Genus name derived from the Ancient Greek “eo”–meaning “dawn,” and from the genus name of the Egyptian vulture, Neophron, sometimes referred to as the “pharaoh’s chicken.” The species name derives from Latin for Hell, in reference to the Hell Creek Formation. Together the taxon name equates to “Pharaoh’s dawn chicken from Hell.” Locality and horizon: Collected from exposures of the upper Maastrichtian Hell Creek Formation, Meade County, South Dakota, United States of America. The specimen was prepared prior to acquisition, but matrix remains adhered to some areas, such as the proximal portion of the tibia and anterodistal region of the femur. These sediments resemble those of typical floodplain deposits such as siltstones with organic material as seen elsewhere in the Hell Creek Formation (KLAW, pers. obs.).
Kyle L. Atkins-Weltman, D. Jade Simon, Holly N. Woodward, Gregory F. Funston and Eric Snively. 2024. A New oviraptorosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the end-Maastrichtian Hell Creek Formation of North America. PLoS ONE. 19(1): e0294901. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294901 |
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