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Thursday, April 18th, 2024
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| 2:19a | [Paleontology • 2024] Ichthyotitan severnensis • The Last Giants: New Evidence for Giant Late Triassic (Rhaetian) ichthyosaurs from the UK
Abstract Giant ichthyosaurs with body length estimates exceeding 20 m were present in the latest Triassic of the UK. Here we report on the discovery of a second surangular from the lower jaw of a giant ichthyosaur from Somerset, UK. The new find is comparable in size and morphology to a specimen from Lilstock, Somerset, described in 2018, but it is more complete and better preserved. Both finds are from the uppermost Triassic Westbury Mudstone Formation (Rhaetian), but the new specimen comes from Blue Anchor, approximately 10 km west along the coast from Lilstock. The more complete surangular would have been >2 m long, from an individual with a body length estimated at ~25 m. The identification of two specimens with the same unique morphology and from the same geologic age and geographic location warrants the erection of a new genus and species, Ichthyotitan severnensis gen. et sp. nov. Thin sections of the new specimen revealed the same histological features already observed in similar giant ichthyosaurian specimens. Our data also supports the previous suggestion of an atypical osteogenesis in the lower jaws of giant ichthyosaurs. The geological age and giant size of the specimens suggest shastasaurid affinities, but the material is too incomplete for a definitive referral. Ichthyotitan severnensis gen. et sp. nov., is the first-named giant ichthyosaur from the Rhaetian and probably represents the largest marine reptile formally described. 
Systematic palaeontology Ichthyopterygia Owen, 1840 Ichthyosauria de Blainville, 1835 ?Merriamosauria Motani, 1999 ?Shastasauridae Merriam, 1902 Ichthyotitan severnensis gen. et sp. nov. Diagnosis: Giant, probable shastasaurid ichthyosaur distinguished by the presence of the following unique characters of the surangular: upturned, almost 90 degree angle bend at posterior end; subcircular cross section morphology of the shaft at the position of the coronoid, oblong in Shonisaurus; minor eminence of coronoid process in lateral view, compared with prominent projection in Shonisaurus; bulbous coronoid process displaced laterally and only occupying half of the width of the dorsal surface; massively developed dorsoventral M.A.M.E. ridge; spatulate shaped posterior end; and possibly dorsoventral height of posterior end in adults being more than 20% larger than in either Shonisaurus popularis or Shonisaurus sikanniensis. Holotype: BRSMG Cg3178, a large right surangular comprising the posterior end and parts of the middle and anterior sections. Referred material: BRSMG Cg2488, a large left surangular comprising the posterior end and a portion of the shaft. Type locality and horizon: The type specimen was collected from the Upper Triassic Westbury Mudstone Formation (latest Rhaetian) at Blue Anchor, Somerset, UK. The referred specimen was collected from the Upper Triassic Westbury Mudstone Formation (latest Rhaetian) 0.8 m below the junction with the Cotham Formation, at Lilstock, Somerset, UK. Etymology: Giant fish lizard of the Severn. Ichthys derived from Greek meaning fish, taken from ichthyosaur meaning “fish lizard”, and -titan (Greek for giant), after the large size. Severn after the River Severn Estuary, Somerset, UK, where the remains were discovered and Latin -ensis pertaining to the location.   Dean R. Lomax, Paul de la Salle, Marcello Perillo, Justin Reynolds, Ruby Reynolds and James F. Waldron. 2024. The Last Giants: New Evidence for Giant Late Triassic (Rhaetian) ichthyosaurs from the UK. PLoS ONE. 19(4): e0300289. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300289 | ||||||||
| 6:18a | [Herpetology • 2024] Boa atlantica • The Good, the Bad and the Boa: An unexpected New Species of A True Boa revealed by morphological and molecular evidence
Abstract Snakes of the genus Boa are outstanding elements of the New World biota with a broad sociological influence on pop culture. Historically, several taxa have been recognized in the past 300 years, being mostly described in the early days of binomial nomenclature. As a rule, these taxa were recognized based on a suite of phenotypic characters mainly those from the external morphology. However, there is a huge disagreement with respect to the current taxonomy and available molecular phylogenies. In order to reconcile both lines of evidence, we investigate the phylogenetic reconstruction (using mitochondrial and nuclear genes) of the genus in parallel to the detailed study of some phenotypic systems from a geographically representative sample of the cis-Andean mainland Boa constrictor. We used cyt-b only (744bp) from 73 samples, and cyt-b, ND4, NTF3, and ODC partial sequences (in a total of 2305 bp) from 35 samples, comprising nine currently recognized taxa (species or subspecies), to infer phylogenetic relationships of boas. Topologies recovered along all the analyses and genetic distances obtained allied to a unique combination of morphological traits (colouration, pholidosis, meristic, morphometric, and male genitalia features) allowed us to recognize B. constrictor lato sensu, B. nebulosa, B. occidentalis, B. orophias and a distinct lineage from the eastern coast of Brazil, which we describe here as a new species, diagnosing it from the previously recognized taxa. Finally, we discuss the minimally necessary changes in the taxonomy of Boa constrictor complex; the value of some usually disregarded phenotypic character system; and we highlight the urgency of continuing environmental policy to preserve one of the most impacted Brazilian hotspots, the Atlantic Forest, which represents an ecoregion full of endemism.  
Boa atlantica sp. nov. Diagnosis. Boa atlantica sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other congeners by the following unique combination of characters: (i) ventrals 228–243; (ii) subcaudals 47–58 in males, and 31–56 in females; (iii) anterior dorsal scale rows 51–66; (iv) midbody dorsal scale rows 69–90; (v) posterior dorsal scale rows 42–54; (vi) dorsal body spots 17–23; (vii) tail spots 4–6 in males, 2–6 in females; (viii) longitudinal head stripe usually continuous; (ix) head stripe without lateral projections; (x) elliptical, circular or double-oval dorsal interspots; (xi) posterior dorsal interspots not blotched; (xii) no change in dorsal spots towards the tail; (xiii) lateral ocelli dark brown, black or faint reddish, white bordered; (xiv) belly cream with tones of orange, brown and black, scattered of black dots and large groups of black spots; (xv) belly with progressive darkening towards the tail; (xvi) black spots on ventral surface of tail. Etymology: The species epithet atlantica is a Latin adjective that refers to the Atlantic coast but mainly the Atlantic Forest ecoregion, the homeland of several endemic species, including this new Boa. The preservation of this biome is crucial for conservation, nonetheless, it has been suffering deforestation since the colonial times and only 12% of it remains standing. This situation is under serious threat since the past Brazilian policies lack empathy for conservation issues and seem to foster deforestation even further.
Rodrigo Castellari Gonzalez, Lorena Corina Bezerra de Lima, Paulo Passos and Maria José J. Silva. 2024. The Good, the Bad and the Boa: An unexpected New Species of A True Boa revealed by morphological and molecular evidence. PLoS ONE. 19(4): e0298159. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298159 | ||||||||
| 7:45a | [Ichthyology • 2024] Schindleria nana • A New extremely progenetic gobiid fish Species (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae) from Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Abstract Here, we describe a new species of Schindleria, Schindleria nana, from Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The new species belongs to the long dorsal-fin type (LDF) of Schindleria and is the first very small (‘dwarf’) LDF species (< 13 mm TL) to be described. It is characterized by an elongate and narrow body; a dorsal fin longer than the anal fin (predorsal-fin length 63.3% of SL: preanal-fin length 72.1% of SL); a long, relatively narrow head (head width 46.2% of head length) with a straight profile; small and round eyes (24.9% of head length); a large postorbital distance (52% of head length); a narrow, slender pectoral radial plate (width at origin 46.4%, maximum width 57.0% of pectoral radial plate length); 16 dorsal-fin rays; 11-12 anal-fin rays; first anal-fin ray ventral to the sixth dorsal-fin ray; six procurrent rays gradually increasing in length, last ray elongated, twice the length of the penultimate ray; premaxilla with tiny, conical, densely set teeth; dentary with zero teeth in the holotype and with two teeth on the left dentary and five teeth on the right dentary in the adult paratype; females with few (approx. 4-7) but very large eggs (3.4-3.9% of SL); urogenital papilla inconspicuous, de facto just an urogenital opening; swim bladder not pigmented; black eyes; no other external pigmentation on the body. KEYWORDS: Coral reefs, Indo-Pacific, Miniaturization, new species, progenesis, taxonomy
Schindleria nana Diagnosis: The new species S. nana stands out from its congeners because it is the first small-sized species (< 10 mm SL) in the LDF species group and the first LDF Schindleria with only a few (4-7) and very large eggs (3.1-3.6% of SL) (Figs. 3, 4A). It differs from its congeners in the combination of the following characters: body elongated, slender, and not pigmented in preserved specimens; tail (postabdominal region) distinctly shorter than abdomen; origin of the dorsal fin distinctly anterior to origin of the anal fin (LDF type); predorsal-fin length 63.1-63.5% of SL; preanal-fin length 71.2-73.0% of SL; body depth at the origin of the anal-fin 5.9-6.6% of SL; head length 14.4-15.6% of SL; head depth 7.8-8.1% of SL; eye diameter 3.3-3.6% of SL and 23.1-26.1% of the head length; pectoral radial plate length 5.6-5.8% of SL; maximum width of the pectoral radial plate 3.2-3.3% of SL and 56.9-57.1% of pectoral radial plate length; depth of the hypural late 66.7% of the urostyle length; 16 dorsal-fin rays; 13 anal-fin rays, first anal-fin ray positioned below the 5-6th dorsal-fin ray; six procurrent rays; swim-bladder not pigmented; continuous row of small, conical teeth on premaxillary but zero teeth on the dentary of the holotype or five teeth (right) plus two isolated teeth (left) in the dentary of the paratype. .... Etymology: The specific name ‘nana’ (from the Latin ‘nanus’ – dwarf) refers to the small size of this species. Harald Ahnelt, Oliver Macek and Vanessa Robitzch. 2024. Schindleria nana, A New extremely progenetic gobiid fish Species (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Gobiidae) from Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. J. of Vertebrate Biology. 73: 23112.1-17. DOI: 10.25225/jvb.23112 | ||||||||
| 11:02a | [Funga • 2024] Catalogue of Fungi in China 1. New Taxa of Plant-inhabiting Fungi:— Cremeoefibula hengduanensis, Crepidotus tomentellus, Xylaria pteridicola, etc.
ABSTRACT China has a huge area of diverse landscapes and is believed to conceive incredibly high fungal diversity. To systematically and promptly report Chinese fungal species, we initiate the series of Catalogue of fungi in China here. In the first paper of this series, we focus on plant-inhabiting fungi. A total of 33 new taxa are described all over China. These taxa include two new genera, viz. Cremeoefibula and Nothopucciniastrum, 18 new species, viz. Annulohypoxylon lancangensis, Ascotaiwania coffeae, Clitocella neofallax, Coleopuccinia yunnanensis, Cremeoefibula hengduanensis, Crepidotus furcaticystidiosus, C. tomentellus, Diachea macroverrucosa, Helicogloea hangzhouensis, Hyalopsora caprearum, Nemania polymorpha, Phanerochaetella austrosinensis, Physalacria tianzhongshanensis, Setophaeosphaeria panlongensis, Subulicystidium boreale, Trechispora subaraneosa, Vikalpa dujuanhuensis, and Xylaria pteridicola, and 13 new combinations, viz. Nothopucciniastrum actinidiae, N. boehmeriae, N. coriariae, N. corni, N. coryli, N. fagi, N. kusanoi, N. hikosanense, N. hydrangeae-petiolaris, N. miyabeanum, N. styracinum, N. tiliae, and N. yoshinagae. The morphological characteristics and phylogenetic evidence are used to support the establishment of these new taxa and the accuracy of their taxonomic placements. We hope that the series of Catalogue of fungi in China will contribute to Chinese fungal diversity and promote the significance of recording new fungal taxa from China. KEYWORDS: 2 new genera, 18 new species, 13 new combinations, ascomycetes, basidiomycetes, slime moulds
Shi-Liang Liu, Peng Zhao, Lei Cai, Shan Shen, Hao-Wen Wei, Qin Na, et al. 2024. Catalogue of Fungi in China 1. New Taxa of Plant-inhabiting Fungi. Mycology: An International Journal on Fungal Biology. DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2024.2316066 | ||||||||
| 11:41a | [Entomology • 2022] Paleogene Forest Fragmentation and Out-of-Africa Dispersal explain Radiation of the Paleotropical Dung Beetle tribe Epactoidini trib. nov. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)
Abstract Paleotropical clades with largely disjunct distributions are ideal models for biogeographic reconstructions. The dung beetle genera Grebennikovius Mlambo, Scholtz & Deschodt, Epactoides Olsouffief and Ochicanthon Vaz-de-Mello are distributed in Tanzania, Madagascar and Réunion, and the Oriental region, respectively. We combine morphology and molecular dataset to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships between these taxa. Our analyses corroborate previous hypotheses of monophyly of the group, which is here described as new tribe Epactoidini trib. nov. Grebennikovius is recovered as sister to Epactoides, while Ochicanthon emerges as sister to them both. The disjunct distribution of our focal clade is unusual within the subfamily Scarabaeinae. Bayesian divergence time estimates and ancestral range reconstructions indicate an African origin of the crown group of the tribe Epactoidini trib. nov. in the early mid Eocene, ca. 46 Ma. The divergence between Epactoides and its sister is dated to 32.3 Ma, while the crown age for the genus Ochicanthon is dated to 27 Ma. We investigate the factors that may have shaped the current distribution of the tribe Epactoidini trib. nov. The formation of the Gomphotherium landbridge, along with favourable environmental conditions would have allowed dry-intolerant organisms, such as Ochicanthon, to disperse out of Africa. Remarkable climatic stability of the Eastern Arc Mountains was critical for the retention of the monotypic genus Grebennikovius. We suggest two subsequent overwater dispersal events: the migration of the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of Epactoides from Africa to Madagascar (32.3–29.5 Ma); the lately dispersal of the MRCA of the today's extinct Epactoides giganteus Rossini, Vaz-de-Mello & Montreuil to Réunion island from Madagascar (3.4 Ma). We suggest that the high potential of dispersal of Epactoidini trib. nov. dung beetles and the strict association to forest habitat might have triggered two major radiations, one in Madagascar and one in the Oriental Region. Keywords: biogeography, evolution, phylogenetics Epactoidini trib. nov. Type genus: Epactoides Olsouffief, 1947 Genera: Epactoides Olsouffief, 1947 Grebennikovius Mlambo et al., 2019 Ochicanthon Vaz-de-Mello, 2003. Distribution: Tanzania (Uluguru Mountains); Madagascar; Réunion Island; Oriental Region: from southern India to southern Philippines. Diagnosis: The tribe Epactoidini is supported by the following diagnostic characters (Figure 2): (i) elytra with 9–10 striae; (ii) besides epipleural carina, elytra with one or two additional lateral carinas; (iii) endophallus without frontolateral peripheral (FLP) endophallite; (iv) radial posterior (RP1) sclerite of hindwings (when present) approaches the posterior side the radial anterior (RA4) sclerite. 
  Michele Rossini, Vasily Grebennikov, Thomas Merrien, Andreia Miraldo, Heidi Viljanen and Sergei Tarasov. 2022. Paleogene Forest Fragmentation and Out-of-Africa Dispersal explain Radiation of the Paleotropical Dung Beetle tribe Epactoidini trib. nov. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae). Systematic Entomology. DOI: 10.1111/syen.12564  | ||||||||
| 3:02p | [Entomology • 2023] Phragmacossia bozanoi • A New Species (Lepidoptera: Cossidae: Zeuzerinae) from southern Greece with some notes on Phragmataecia and Phragmacossia
Abstract The taxonomic relationship between the genera Phragmataecia Newman, 1850 and Phragmacossia Schawerda, 1924 is considered. Diagnostic characters and distribution of the species Phragmataecia castaneae (Hübner, 1790), Phragmataecia albida (Erschoff, 1874), Phragmacossia ariana (Grum-Grshimailo, 1899), Phragmacossia territa (Staudinger, 1879), and Phragmacossia minos Reisser, 1963 are studied in detail. A new species, Phragmacossia bozanoi sp. n., is described from the Peloponnese Peninsula and the South Greek mainland. Lepidoptera, biodiversity, Central Asia, Crete, fauna, Middle east, new species for europe, Peloponnes, taxonomy
Aidas Saldaitis, Alexey M. Prozorov, Günter C. Müller, Roman V. Yakovlev. 2023. Phragmacossia bozanoi—A New Species from southern Greece with some notes on Phragmataecia and Phragmacossia (Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Zeuzerinae). Zootaxa. 5374(2); 211-228. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5374.2.3 | ||||||||
| 3:05p | [Entomology • 2024] Becquartina bicolor • Discovery of the Cicada Genus Becquartina Kato, 1940 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae) in India with the Description of A New Species from Meghalaya
Abstract The genus Becquartina Kato, 1940 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) is reported for the first time from India with a new species, Becquartina bicolor sp. nov., along with records of two distinct colour forms, from the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya and located within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity hotspot. This paper provides an account of its natural history and bioacoustics. The present discovery extends the distributional range of the genus Becquartina from Southeast Asia into Northeast India and increases the total number of known Becquartina species to seven. Hemiptera, Indo-Burma Biodiversity hotspot, cicada, species discovery, natural history, Meghalaya, India  Vivek Sarkar, Rodeson Thangkhiew, Cuckoo Mahapatra, Pratyush P. Mohapatra, Manoj V. Nair and Sudhanya R. Hajong. 2024. Discovery of the Cicada Genus Becquartina Kato, 1940 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae) in India with the Description of A New Species from Meghalaya. Zootaxa. 5432(1); 96-108. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5432.1.7 | ||||||||
| 7:15p | [Paleontology • 2024] A Reassessment of the historical Fossil Findings from Bahia State (Northeast Brazil) reveals A diversified Dinosaur Fauna in the Lower Cretaceous of South America
ABSTRACT Supposed dinosaur remains were collected between 1859 and 1906 in the Lower Cretaceous Recôncavo Basin (Northeast Brazil). Since these materials remained undescribed, and most were considered lost. Recently, some of these historical specimens were rediscovered in the Natural History Museum of London, providing an opportunity to revisit them after 160 years. The specimens come from five different sites, corresponding to the Massacará (Berriasian-Barremian) and Ilhas (Valanginian-Barremian) groups. Identified bones comprise mainly isolated vertebral centra from ornithopods, sauropods, and theropods. Appendicular remains include a theropod pedal phalanx, humerus, and distal half of a left femur with elasmarian affinities. Despite their fragmentary nature, these specimens represent the earliest dinosaur bones discovered in South America, enhancing our understanding of the Cretaceous dinosaur faunas in Northeast Brazil. The dinosaur assemblage in the Recôncavo Basin resembles coeval units in Northeast Brazil, such as the Rio do Peixe Basin, where ornithopods coexist with sauropods and theropods. This study confirms the presence of ornithischian dinosaurs in Brazil based on osteological evidence, expanding their biogeographic and temporal range before the continental rifting between South America and Africa. Additionally, these findings reinforce the fossiliferous potential of Cretaceous deposits in Bahia State, which have been underexplored since their initial discoveries. KEYWORDS: Recôncavo Basin, Massacará Group, Ilhas Group, Ornithischia, Sauropoda, Theropoda    
 Dinosauria Owen Citation1842 Ornithischia Seeley Citation1888 Genasauria Sereno Citation1986 Neornithischia Cooper Citation1985 Cerapoda Sereno Citation1986 Ornithopoda Marsh Citation1881 Elasmaria Calvo et al. Citation2007 Tietasaura gen. nov. Etymology: The generic epithet is a combination of Tieta (nickname for Antonieta in Portuguese) and -saura (σαύρα), the genitive form of -saurus and meaning lizard in ancient Greek. The name Tieta honours the main character from the homonymous novel ‘Tieta do Agreste’ by the famous author Jorge Amado, who was born in Bahia and lived in Salvador City. The name Antonieta further means ‘priceless’, alluding to the value of Tietasaura derbyiana sp. nov. as the first nominal ornithischian species from Brazil. Tietasaura derbyiana sp. nov. Etymology: The specific epithet is an eponym honouring Orville A. Derby (1851–1915), founder and the first director from Brazilian Mineralogical and Geological Commission (Serviço Geológico e Mineralógico do Brasil, nowadays SGB), being also the former director of the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro (MN) and one of the pioneers of palaeontology in the Recôncavo Basin. Despite all tragedies in his life and the blatant lack of governmental support, Derby valiantly fought for the scientific progress of the Brazilian geosciences. Holotype: NHM-PV R.3424, represented by a distal half of a small left femur. Diagnosis: Small sized elasmarian ornithopod exhibiting an unique combination of character states on the femur (putative autapomorphies marked with an asterisk): presence of a marked anterior linea muscularis followed by several longitudinal striae converging distally towards the intercondylar extensor groove; broad but shallow intercondylar extensor groove; stout supracondylar ridges that extends medially; fibular supracondylar ridge sinuous and bearing a lateral fossa*; hemispherical distal femoral condyles in the posterior view, being the tibial condyle twice as large as fibular condyle; distinct prominent crest in the median margin of the tibial condyle*; fibular condyle with straight lateral margin and continuous in the distal view, lacking an indentation formed by a condyloid (rectangular) process; presence of an offset condylid, medial to the fibular condyle; broad and deep intercondylar flexor fossa, subtriangular in shape and much extending into the diaphysis. Type locality and horizon: The holotype of Tietasaura derbyiana was recovered at a beach near the Plataforma Station (Locality 3), Salvador City, Bahia State. The shale facies outcropping in this locality are associated with the Valanginian – Hauterivian Marfim Formation (Ilhas Group, Recôncavo Basin). ... Kamila L. N. Bandeira, Bruno A. Navarro, Rodrigo V. Pêgas, Natan S. Brilhante, Arthur S. Brum, Lucy G. de Souza, Rafael C. da Silva and Valéria Gallo. 2024. A Reassessment of the historical Fossil Findings from Bahia State (Northeast Brazil) reveals A diversified Dinosaur Fauna in the Lower Cretaceous of South America. Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology. DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2024.2318406 Researchgate.net/publication/379778273_fossil_findings_from_Bahia_NE_Brazil  |
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