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Tuesday, January 21st, 2025
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| 3:27a | [Paleontology • 2024] Timorebestia koprii • A Giant Stem-group Chaetognath
Abstract Chaetognaths, with their characteristic grasping spines, are the oldest known pelagic predators, found in the lowest Cambrian (Terreneuvian). Here, we describe a large stem chaetognath, Timorebestia koprii gen. et sp. nov., from the lower Cambrian Sirius Passet Lagerstätte, which exhibits lateral and caudal fins, a distinct head region with long antennae and a jaw apparatus similar to Amiskwia sagittiformis. Amiskwia has previously been interpreted as a total-group chaetognathiferan, as either a stem-chaetognath or gnathostomulid. We show that T. koprii shares a ventral ganglion with chaetognaths to the exclusion of other animal groups, firmly placing these fossils on the chaetognath stem. The large size (up to 30 cm) and gut contents in T. koprii suggest that early chaetognaths occupied a higher trophic position in pelagic food chains than today.
Systematic paleontology Unranked clade Spiralia Scleip, 1929 Unranked clade Chaetognathifera Bekkouche and Gąsiorowski, 2022 Phylum Chaetognatha Leuckart, 1854 (stem group) Timorebestia koprii gen. et sp. nov. Diagnosis for genus and species: Wide-bodied “amiskwiiform” with lateral fins along most of the trunk length. The body and the lateral fins taper distally and terminate in a well-developed rounded caudal fin. Distinct fin rays are present with no rayless zone separating the trunk and tail fins. Anterior region of trunk tapers markedly into a short head bearing a pair of long antennae, which are about half the length of the body. An internal jaw apparatus in the anterior trunk region consists of a pair of larger subtriangular elements connected by a symphysis, a pair of blunt anterior elements, and a single anterior, presumed ventral/basal, plate. Longitudinal muscles occurring in discrete bands are present in the trunk with additional sparse and delicate outer circular/transverse muscles. The digestive tract extends from the trunk-head transition and terminates anterior to the caudal fin with no septum separating the caudal region from the trunk. Locality and horizon: T. koprii occurs in several horizons at the main Lagerstätte locality in Sirius Passet, ..., Peary Land, North Greenland. Collections from which material is derived have been focused on an exposed section that totals 12 m, with collection focused on a particular fossiliferous interval between 5 and 7 m. Etymology: Genus name: Timor, (Latin) for causing fear or dread and bestia (Latin), meaning beast. The species name is after Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) for their support of the past, and ongoing, field expeditions to Sirius Passet.
Tae-Yoon S. Park, Morten Lunde Nielsen, Luke A. Parry, Martin Vinther Sørensen, Mirinae Lee, ... and Jakob Vinther. 2024. A GIANT STEM-GROUP CHAETOGNATH. SCIENCE ADVANCES. 10(1); DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi6678 | ||||||||||
| 8:47a | [Botany • 2021] Aloe uigensis (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae) • A New Species from northwestern Angola
Abstract A new species of Aloe, A. uigensis (Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae), is described from northwestern Angola. It is a non-proliferous, single-stemmed species that bears narrowly elongated, acuminate racemes with orange to pale reddish flowers. Aloe uigensis is compared to some long-known as well as recently described species of Aloe from Angola, but does not have close relatives with which it can be confused in the country. Ambuila, inselbergs, limestone rocks, taxonomy, Uíge, Monocots Aloe uigensis Gideon F. Sm. & T. Lautenschl. 2021, sp. nov. Etymology:— Aloe uigensis is named for the province of Uíge in northern Angola, from where the type specimen was collected. Gideon F. SMITH and Thea LAUTENSCHLÄGER. 2021. Aloe uigensis (Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae), A New Species from northwestern Angola. Phytotaxa. 521(3); 227-231. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.521.3.8 https://tu-dresden.de/tu-dresden/newspor | ||||||||||
| 9:48a | [Herpetology • 2025] Scincella chengduensis • Hidden Urban Biodiversity: A New Species of the Genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China
Abstract The genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950, belonging to the family Scincidae, exhibits considerable morphological convergence, complicating species delimitation and resulting in underestimated diversity. Currently, 41 species are formally recognized in this genus, although this figure likely underestimates its true richness. In this study, a new species of the genus Scincella, Scincella chengduensis sp. nov., is described from urban and suburban areas of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China. Morphological features and phylogenetic analyses confirmed that the new species is distinct from all previously recognized congeners. The new species can be clearly distinguished by a combination of the following unique characters: (1) slender, medium-sized body, snout-vent length 28.4–43.2 mm; (2) infralabials seven, rarely six; (3) supraciliaries six or seven; (4) tympanum deeply recessed without lobules, tympanum diameters equal to or exceeding palpebral disc diameters; (5) midbody scale-row counts 23; (6) dorsal scales smooth, slightly enlarged, paravertebral scale-row counts 57–60, ventral scale-row counts 42–44, gulars 21–22; (7) upper edge of lateral longitudinal stripes relatively straight, four rows of dorsal scales in middle; (8) enlarged, undivided lamellae beneath finger IV 8–9, enlarged, undivided lamellae beneath toe IV 10–12; (9) ventral surface densely covered with dark spots; (10) grayish-brown, irregular dorsal stripes 2–3, black dorsolateral stripes from posterior corner of eye to lateral side of tail. This discovery underscores the underestimated diversity of Scincella in China and highlights the importance of urban habitats as reservoirs of hidden biodiversity. A diagnostic key to the Scincella species of China is also provided. Keywords: phylogeny; morphology; Scincella chengduensis sp. nov.; taxonomy; herpetological diversity
Scincella chengduensis sp. nov. Jia, Ren, Jiang, & Li Diagnosis. Scincella chengduensis sp. nov. can be clearly distinguished by a combination of the following unique characters: (1) slender, medium-sized body, snout-vent length 28.4–43.2 mm; (2) infralabials seven, rarely six; (3) supraciliaries six or seven; (4) tympanum deeply recessed without lobules, tympanum diameters equal to or exceeding palpebral disc diameters; (5) midbody scale-row counts 23; (6) dorsal scales smooth, slightly enlarged, paravertebral scale-row counts 57–60, ventral scale-row counts 42–44, gulars 21–22; (7) upper edge of lateral longitudinal stripes relatively straight, four rows of dorsal scales in middle; (8) enlarged, undivided lamellae beneath finger IV 8–9, enlarged, undivided lamellae beneath toe IV 10–12; (9) ventral surface densely covered with dark spots; (10) grayish-brown, irregular dorsal stripes 2–3, black dorsolateral stripes from posterior corner of eye to lateral side of tail. Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the type locality Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province and an important urban center in western China known for its high biodiversity. Reflecting its geographic distribution in Chengdu, the proposed common name is “Chengdu ground skink” in English and “Chéng Dū Huá Xī (成都滑蜥)” in Chinese. Ru-Wan Jia, Zong-Yuan Gao, Di-Hao Wu,Guan-Qi Wang, Gang Liu, Min Liu, Ke Jiang, De-Chun Jiang, Jin-Long Ren and Jia-Tang Li. 2025. Hidden Urban Biodiversity: A New Species of the Genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China. Animals. 15(2), 232. DOI: doi.org/10.3390/ani15020232 Simple Summary: Urban biodiversity is often underestimated, yet new discoveries continue to reveal previously unrecognized species within these environments. This study describes a new species of the genus Scincella, Scincella chengduensis sp. nov., from the urban and suburban landscapes of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. Integrating detailed morphological comparisons and genetic analyses, this species was determined to be distinct from all known skinks in the region. This discovery underscores the role of Chengdu as a biodiversity reservoir, even amidst rapid urbanization. Furthermore, this study highlights the resilience of species in fragmented and human-altered habitats, emphasizing the importance of urban environments for biodiversity research. The discovery of Scincella chengduensis sp. nov. expands the known diversity of skinks and stresses the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts in urban areas. These findings provide valuable insights for managing urban biodiversity and guiding conservation strategies in cities undergoing rapid development.   | ||||||||||
| 10:28a | [Botany • 2025] Agapetes hongheensis (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae) • A New Species from Yunnan, China
Abstract Agapetes hongheensis, a new species of Ericaceae from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. This new species resembles A. mannii and A. hosseana, but differs from the former by its linear or narrowly oblong and bullate leaf blade with a strongly recurved leaf margin and obvious reticulate veinlets adaxially, and larger flowers with yellow green and glabrous corollas and longer stamens, and can be distinguished from the latter by having glabrous twigs, linear or narrowly oblong leaf blades, yellow green corollas and exerted style. Key words: Morphology, pollen, taxonomy, Vaccinieae
Agapetes hongheensis Y.H. Tong & C.Y. Zou, sp. nov. Diagnosis: Agapetes hongheensis is similar to A. mannii Hemsl. (Fig. 2) and A. hosseana Diels, but differs from the former by its linear or narrowly oblong and bullate leaf blade with a strongly recurved margin (Fig. 1B, C) and obvious reticulate veinlets adaxially (Fig. 1J, K), and larger flowers with yellow green and glabrous internal surface of the corollas, and can be distinguished from the latter by having glabrous twigs, linear or narrowly oblong leaf blades, yellow green corollas and exerted style. Etymology: The species epithet denotes where it was found, viz. Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Chun-Yu Zou, Bing-Mou Wang, Yu-Song Huang and Yi-Hua Tong. 2025. Agapetes hongheensis (Ericaceae), A New Species from Yunnan, China. PhytoKeys. 251: 167-174. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.251.137015 |
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