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Monday, December 16th, 2024
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 3:00a | [Paleontology • 2024] Lishulong wangi • The largest sauropodomorph skull from the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation of China
The Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation of China has long been recognized for its diverse early-diverging sauropodomorph dinosaurs, with eight genera and ten species, representing more than half the Laurasian records. In this paper, we describe a new genus and species of non-sauropodan sauropodomorph, Lishulong wangi gen. et sp. nov., from Yunnan Province in southwestern China. This new taxon is represented by a partial skeleton including the skull and nine articulated cervical vertebrae, which differs from other Lufeng forms in both cranial and cervical characteristics. It bears several autapomorphies of the nasal process, the maxillary neurovascular foramen, and the cervical neural spine. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that Lishulong is an early-diverging member of the Sauropodiformes, and the sister-taxon of Yunnanosaurus. Elucidating the novel osteology of Lishulong, it possessed the largest sauropodomorph cranial material currently identified from the Lufeng Formation, not only enriches the diversity of the Lufeng dinosaur assemblage, but also enhances our understanding of the character evolution in early-diverging sauropodiforms. Furthermore, information about paleobiogeographic distributions indicates that Early Jurassic sauropodomorphs, especially Chinese taxa, have maintained multiple dispersions and exchanges within Pangaea. 
Systematic Paleontology Dinosauria Owen, 1842 Saurischia Seeley, 1888 Sauropodomorpha von Huene, 1932 (sensu Sereno, 2007) Massopoda Yates, 2007 Sauropodiformes Sereno, 2007 (sensu McPhee et al., 2014) Lishulong wangi gen. et sp. nov. Holotype: LFGT-ZLJ0011. An associated partial skeleton that includes the cranium and mandible, and nine cervical vertebrae (axis and C3–C10) Differential diagnosis: A large non-sauropodan sauropodiform dinosaur with the following unique combination of character states (autapomorphies are indicated by an asterisk): width of the anteroventral process of nasal at its base less than that of its anterodorsal process*; size of the neurovascular foramen at the posterior end of the lateral maxillary row not larger than the others*; shape of the supraoccipital is semilunate and wider than high in posterior view; height to length ratio of the dentary greater than 0.2; lingual concavities of the teeth present; lateral expansion at the anterior region of the dorsal surface of the cervical neural spines*. Type locality and horizon: The specimen was discovered near the Jiudu Village in Konglongshan Town (formerly named Chuanjie Township), Lufeng County, Yunnan Province, China; and the upper-middle part of the Shawan Member of the Lufeng Formation (Fang et al., 2000), Lower Jurassic. Magnetostratigraphic analyses (Cheng et al., 2004; Huang et al., 2005) revealed the age to be Early Jurassic (late Sinemurian–Toarcian). Etymology: The generic name is from ‘Lishu’ (chestnut tree in Chinese spelling), the name of the locality where the specimen was found, and ‘long’ refers to a dragon (in Chinese spelling); this specific epithet is in honor of Mr. Zheng-Ju Wang, for his great contributions to the early discoveries of vertebrate fossils from Lufeng. Qian-Nan Zhang, Lei Jia, Tao Wang, Yu-Guang Zhang and Hai-Lu You. 2024. The largest sauropodomorph skull from the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation of China. PeerJ. 12:e18629 DOI: doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18629  | ||||||
| 6:59a | [Botany • 2023] Cedrela angusticarpa (Meliaceae) • A New Species and a new record for Cedrela in Ecuador: morphological, molecular, and distribution evidence
Abstract A new Cedrela (Meliaceae) species, Cedrela angusticarpa, is described through a combination of taxonomic, morphological, and molecular analyses. Cedrela kuelapensis, originally described as an endemic species of northern Peru, is also reported here as a new record for Ecuador. Cedrela angusticarpa has oblong or oblong-lanceolate glabrous leaflets, rounded at the base. Inflorescences are up to 70 cm long, and flowers present a cupuliform calyx with five regular teeth. Fruits are narrowly obovoid capsules. Through molecular analyses using nine microsatellite loci, it is evident that samples from C. angusticarpa form their own genetic cluster when compared to the most morphologically similar species, C. odorata, suggesting that they belong to a new separate species. Additionally, here we report that C. angusticarpa has a very narrow geographic range, recorded between 550 and 1300 m in elevation, and restricted to the relatively small areas of northwestern Ecuador. Climatic niche modelling techniques were used as a proxy for assessing potential distributions and habitat loss percentages for both C. angusticarpa and C. kuelapensis. Finally, IUCN Red List categories and criteria were applied to assess the conservation status of both Cedrela species analyzed here. Andes Mountain Range, Cedrela angusticarpa, Cedrela kuelapensis, “cedro”, endemic species, Eudicots
Cedrela angusticarpa W. Palacios, sp. nov. Diagnosis:— Cedrela angusticarpa is related to C. odorata. The distinctive characteristics of these species are: a) leaflets oblong to oblong-lanceolate, base obtuse or rounded, (8–)9–15 × (4–)5–6 (–7) cm in C. angusticarpa vs leaflets oblong, oblong-falcate, base usually strongly asymmetric and rounded on one side, acute or obtuse on the other, 7–14 × 2.5–4 cm in C. odorata; b) inflorescence a robust-erect panicle, 40–70 cm long in C .angusticarpa vs a curved panicle, 15–40 cm long in C. odorata; c) calyx with five teeth in C. angusticarpa vs calyx 2–3-lobed in C. odorata; d) fruits narrowly obovoid, 1.3–1.8 cm in diameter, base acute, sometimes slightly 5-angled when dry in C. angusticarpa vs fruits oblong or ellipsoid, 1.8–2.6 cm in diameter, base rounded or obtuse in C. odorata. Etymology:—The specific epithet refers to the narrow fruits recorded in this taxon, although the length is
equivalent to that of other species. Walter A. PALACIOS, Maria De Lourdes TORRES, Martina Albuja QUINTANA, Pacarina ASADOBAY, Juan IGLESIAS, Richard QUILLUPANGUI, Estefania ROJAS, Janeth SANTIANA, Augusto SOLA and Gonzalo RIVAS-TORRES. 2023. A New Species and a new record for Cedrela (Meliaceae, Sapindales) in Ecuador: morphological, molecular, and distribution evidence. Phytotaxa. 595(2); 127-138. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.595.2.1 | ||||||
| 8:07a | [Botany • 2023] Vincetoxicum sangyojarniae (Apocynaceae: Asclepiodoideae) • Molecular Phylogenetic and Morphological Analyses support Recognition of A New Species of Vincetoxicum from eastern Thailand
Abstract An unknown Vincetoxicum species has recently been discovered in eastern Thailand. It is a twiner that resembles in its morphology Vincetoxicum flexuosum s.l., a variable taxon widely occurring from tropical Asia to Australia. Morphological examination showed that despite similarities in growth habit, leaf shape, gross appearance of inflorescence structure and flower colour, these two elements exhibit substantial differences in both vegetative and floral characters that clearly distinguish one from the other, particularly shape of the flower bud and indumentum on the corolla lobes. In addition, we also evaluated phylogenetic relationships based on DNA sequence data for ITS, trnT-L, trnL and trnL-F markers of this new Vincetoxicum sp. with congeners (including, inter alia, new sequences of the two varieties recognized in Thailand of V. flexuosum s.l., i.e. var. flexuosum and var. tenue). The analyses demonstrated that the new Vincetoxicum sp. is not closely related to the taxa recognized in V. flexuosum s.l. Instead, it was retrieved as sister to a clade containing the African taxa, Vincetoxicum caffrum, Vincetoxicum lycioides and Vincetoxicum fleckii. Therefore, integrated analyses of morphology and molecular phylogeny revealed the new Vincetoxicum sp. to be a well-defined species clearly distinct from V. flexuosum s.l., as well as from all other known congeners. The morphological similarity between the new Vincetoxicum sp. and V. flexuosum s.l. likely resulted from convergence, leading to various taxonomic complications. We here describe it as a new species, Vincetoxicum sangyojarniae, sp. nov., and provide a detailed description, illustration and photographs. Moreover, as phylogenetic relationships revealed that V. flexuosum s.l. is not monophyletic in its actual circumscription, a taxonomic reconsideration of this taxon is suggested. Keywords: Convergence, Phylogeny, The Vincetoxicum flexuosum complex, Tylophora, Tylophorinae   Vincetoxicum sangyojarniae A.Kidyoo, sp. nov. —TYPE: Thailand, Surin Province, Muang district, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan Surin Campus, .... Etymology: The specific epithet ‘sangyojarniae’ is given in honour of Asst. Prof. Pacharaporn Sangyojarn, the senior botanist of the Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, who first discovered and drew our attention to the plant. Aroonrat Kidyoo and Manit Kidyoo. 2023. Molecular Phylogenetic and Morphological Analyses support Recognition of A New Species of Vincetoxicum (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae) from eastern Thailand. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 309, 27. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s00606-023-01866-y | ||||||
| 1:48p | [Ichthyology • 2023] Glyptothorax irroratus • A New Species of rheophilic catfish (Siluriformes: Sisoridae) from the Mekong River drainage
ABSTRACT Glyptothorax irroratus, a new species of sisorid catfish from the Mekong River drainage in Laos and China, is described. It differs from its Indochinese congeners in having both large and small tubercles arranged irregularly on the lateral surfaces of the body and by combinations of colour pattern, morphometry (with particular regards to the eye, body depth, adipose fin and caudal peduncle) and thoracic adhesive apparatus morphology. KEYWORDS: Sisoroidea, Sisorinae, Bagariini, Mekong River  Glyptothorax irroratus sp. nov. Etymology: The Latin adjective irroratus (-us, -a, -um) means covered with dew; in zoology used to mean besprinkled with drops or particles. This is used in allusion to the irregular tuberculation on the sides of the body and caudal peduncle. Heok Hee Ng and Maurice Kottelat. 2023. Glyptothorax irroratus, A New Species of rheophilic catfish from the Mekong River drainage (Actinopterygii: Siluriformes: Sisoridae). Journal of Natural History. 57(5-8); 358-371. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2023.2186278 | ||||||
| 11:44p | [Herpetology • 2024] Scutiger wolong • A New Species of Scutiger (Anura: Megophryidae) from Sichuan, China, previously misreported as S. chintingensis
Abstract Comprehensive surveys on the distribution of the endangered Chinting alpine toad (Scutiger chintingensis) were recently conducted, revealing important findings regarding its population characteristics. This study integrated morphological and molecular analyses to clarify the taxonomic status of these populations. Based on detailed morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses, the population from Wolong, Wenchuan County, Sichuan, China, is identified as a new species, which is formally described herein. The new species can be distinguished from all known congeners by a unique combination of following characteristics: (1) small body size, SVL 42.2–46.9 mm in adult males, SVL 54.3–56.3 in adult females; (2) vomerine ridges and vomerine teeth absent, maxillary teeth present; (3) internasal distance and interorbital distance relatively large; (4) subarticular tubercle absent on fingers and toes; (5) dorsal and lateral skin rough with densely-distributed horny spines in males, smooth and lacking black horny spines in females; (6) vocal sac absent in males; (7) pair of pectoral glands and pair of axillary glands present on chest in males, axillary gland about two-thirds pectoral gland in size; (8) in breeding males, pectoral glands and axillary glands covered by dense spines, belly rough with horny spines, nuptial spines present on dorsal and lateral surface of first and second fingers and inner side of third finger, dense spines on inner forelimb aligned, extending from wrist to near axilla. This study highlights the critical importance of accurate taxonomic identification, particularly for endangered species, as misidentifications can misguide subsequent biological research and conservation efforts. Keywords: conservation, diversity, phylogeny, Scutiger wolong sp. nov., taxonomy
Scutiger wolong sp. nov. Etymology: The specific name wolong is used as a noun in apposition and refers to Wolong Town, the type locality of this species. Common name: Wolong alpine toad (in English) wò lóng chǐ tū chán (卧龙齿突蟾 in Chinese). Zhi-Tong Lyu, Zong-Yuan Gao, Jun-Jie Huang, Di-Hao Wu, Dechun Jiang, Ke Jiang and Jia-tang Li. 2024. A New Species of Scutiger from Sichuan, China, previously misreported as S. chintingensis (Anura: Megophryidae). Asian Herpetological Research. DOI: doi.org/10.3724/ahr.2095-0357.2024.0049 |
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