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Monday, October 7th, 2024
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 8:34a | [Botany • 2024] Siphoneugena carolynae (Myrtaceae) • A New Species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Abstract This study describes Siphoneugena carolynae (Myrtaceae), a new species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The species inhabits inselberg forests and differs from all other species of Siphoneugena by the following exclusive combination of morphological characters: relatively long petioles, leaf blades chartaceous with midvein canaliculate adaxially, inflorescences in racemes with a markedly compressed and indistinguishable main axis, hypanthium markedly constricted above the ovary, calyx calyptrate, ovaries with two locules, each with four ovules, and cotyledons densely covered with foveolate glands. We herein provide taxonomic notes, morphological plates (derived from both fresh and dried material), and a distribution map. Regarding the conservation status, the new species is preliminarily assessed as Data Deficient (DD), but comments on population size and possible threats to the habitat are presented. 
Siphoneugena carolynae T.Fern. & J.M.A.Braga, sp. nov. Thiago Fernandes, Jair Eustáquio de Faria, Diana Kelly Dias Caldas, Marcelo da Costa Souza & João Marcelo Alvarenga Braga. 2024. Siphoneugena carolynae (Myrtaceae), A New Species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Brittonia. 76; 137–143. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s12228-024-09784-0 | ||||||
| 9:20a | [Botany • 2020] Oreocharis jasminina (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from mountain tops of Hainan Island, South China
Abstract A new species of Gesneriaceae, Oreocharis jasminina S.J.Ling, F.Wen & M.X. Ren from Hainan Island, south China, is highlighted and described. The new species is distinguished by its actinomorphic corolla, narrow floral tube and ovate anthers hidden in the floral tube. The new species also showed clear geographic and altitudinal isolation from the three currently-recognised Oreocharis species on the Island. Molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on nuclear ITS1/2 and plastid trnL-trnF sequences, supported the delimitation of the new species, which forms a single lineage with all the other Oreocharis species from Hainan Island. The roles of geographic and floral isolation in the evolution of the new species and its affinities are discussed. Keywords: Hainan Island, new taxon, Oreocharis
Oreocharis jasminina S.J.Ling, F.Wen & M.X. Ren, sp.nov. Diagnosis: Oreocharis jasminina has the closest phylogenetic relationship with O. dasyantha, O. dasyantha var. ferruginosa and O. flavida with very high support values, all being Hainan-endemic and monophyletic. O. jasminina can be easily distinguished from them by having: (1) a long and narrow floral tube (both O. dasyantha and O. dasyantha var. ferruginosa have conical floral tubes, O. flavida has campanulate-tubular floral tube); (2) yellow and actinomorphic corolla (both O. dasyantha and O. dasyantha var. ferruginosa are zygomorphic with orange-red to yellow corolla, O. flavida is actinomorphic with orange corolla); (3) didynamous stamens with ovate anthers hidden in the floral tube (both O. dasyantha and O. dasyantha var. ferruginosa have exposed didynamous stamens with ovate anthers, O. flavida has four equivalent stamens with horseshoe-shaped anthers included in the floral tube) (Table 1, Fig. 4). ... Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the yellow and narrowly tubular corolla of this new species. Vernacular name: 迎春花马铃苣苔 (Yíng Chūn Huā Mǎ Líng Jù Tái) is the Chinese name for Oreocharis jasminina, the first three characters meaning ‘winter jasmine’, indicating its similar floral syndromes to Jasminum nudiflorum Lindl. The last four characters are the Chinese name for Oreocharis. Shao-Jun Ling, Shu-Ping Guan, Fang Wen, Yu-Min Shui, Ming-Xun Ren. 2020. Oreocharis jasminina (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from mountain tops of Hainan Island, South China. In: Shui Y-M, Chen W-H, Ren M-X, Wen F, Hong X, Qiu Z-J, Wei Y-G, Kang M (Eds) Taxonomy of Gesneriaceae in China and Vietnam. PhytoKeys. 157: 121-135. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.157.50246 | ||||||
| 12:09p | [Paleontology • 2023] Melanedaphodon hovaneci • A New Carboniferous edaphosaurid (Synapsida: Edaphosauridae) and the Origin of Herbivory in Mammal Forerunners
Abstract Herbivory evolved independently in several tetrapod lineages during the Late Carboniferous and became more widespread throughout the Permian Period, eventually leading to the basic structure of modern terrestrial ecosystems. Here we report a new taxon of edaphosaurid synapsid based on two fossils recovered from the Moscovian-age cannel coal of Linton, Ohio, which we interpret as an omnivore–low-fibre herbivore. Melanedaphodon hovaneci gen. et sp. nov. provides the earliest record of an edaphosaurid to date and is one of the oldest known synapsids. Using high-resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography, we provide a comprehensive description of the new taxon that reveals similarities between Late Carboniferous and early Permian (Cisuralian) members of Edaphosauridae. The presence of large bulbous, cusped, marginal teeth alongside a moderately-developed palatal battery, distinguishes Melanedaphodon from all other known species of Edaphosauridae and suggests adaptations for processing tough plant material already appeared among the earliest synapsids. Furthermore, we propose that durophagy may have provided an early pathway to exploit plant resources in terrestrial ecosystems.
Systematic palaeontology Synapsida Osborn, 1903 Sphenacomorpha Ivakhnenko, 2003 sensu Spindler et al., 2015. Edaphosauridae Cope, 1882. Melanedaphodon hovaneci gen. et sp. nov. Diagnosis: An edaphosaurid synapsid with the following autapomorphies: long maxilla with 20 tooth positions; marginal dentition consisting of tall teeth with bulbous crowns that have pointed apices; and cutting edges of tooth crowns without serrations. Further differential diagnosis includes: an elongate pterygoid shared with Ianthasaurus but not Edaphosaurus. Palatal shagreen with enlarged teeth on the anterior (palatal) ramus of pterygoid shared with Ianthasaurus but not Edaphosaurus. Differs from Ianthasaurus but shares with Edaphosaurus in having a tooth battery instead of enlarged single tooth row on the transverse flange of the pterygoid. Differs from Gordodon in the absence of a diastema on the anterior end of the maxilla. Etymology: Generic name derived from the combination of the Greek ‘melanos’ meaning ‘black’ and ‘edaphon’ meaning ‘pavement’ and ‘odon’ meaning ‘tooth’, referring to the dense shagreen on the pterygoid and to the position of the taxon among Edaphosauridae. The specific epithet hovaneci honors George Hovanec who generously donated funds to facilitate the CT scanning of Linton fossils.
 Arjan Mann, Amy C. Henrici, Hans-Dieter Sues and Stephanie E. Pierce. 2023. A New Carboniferous edaphosaurid and the Origin of Herbivory in Mammal Forerunners. Scientific Reports. 13: 4459. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30626-8 |
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