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Monday, January 27th, 2025
| Time | Event | ||||||
| 8:08a | [Paleontology • 2022] Geiseleptes delfinoi • A New Gecko (Squamata: Gekkota) from the Eocene of Geiseltal (Germany) implies long-term persistence of European Sphaerodactylidae
Abstract Gekkota (geckos and pygopods) constitute a diverse and early diverging clade of squamates, but their highly fragmentary fossil record allows only limited insights into their evolutionary history. Even long-known classic Palaeogene Lagerstätten, such as the Eocene Messel and Geiseltal, remained uninformative for gecko evolution. Here we describe an articulated near-complete crown-gekkotan skull from the Eocene of Geiseltal. The skull represents one of the most complete and oldest fossil geckos from the Cenozoic and warrants the naming of a new taxon, Geiseleptes delfinoi gen. et sp. nov. Parsimony analysis of an expanded morphological dataset that comprehensively samples fossil geckos recovers at least two lineages in the Palaeogene of Europe: Gekkonidae and Sphaerodactylidae. Further clades may have been present but require further support. The new species, together with several other European extinct taxa, belongs to the extant clade Sphaerodactylidae. Published molecular phylogenies imply a European dispersal from Africa for the clade, and G. delfinoi constrains the timing of this event to no later than the middle Eocene. Within Sphaerodactylidae, several Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene species form the stem-lineage of the extant Mediterranean-endemic Euleptes europaea of which G. delfinoi is the oldest representative. We here define the new clade Euleptinae for this group. Euleptine geckos had an unusually long evolutionary history in Cenozoic Europe and may represent one of the very few vertebrate clades with a persistent presence since the early Palaeogene, indicating extreme adaptability. As the oldest known crown-sphaerodactylid, G. delfinoi represents an important fossil calibration for divergence dating analyses of geckos. Keywords: Palaeogene, Europe, phylogeny, Sphaerodactylidae, lizard, gecko   Geiseleptes delfinoi gen. et sp. nov.  Andrea Villa, Oliver Wings and Márton Rabi. 2022. A New Gecko (Squamata, Gekkota) from the Eocene of Geiseltal (Germany) implies long-term persistence of European Sphaerodactylidae. Papers in Palaeontology. 8(3); e1434. DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1434 phys.org/news/2022-06-history-european-g | ||||||
| 9:35a | [Funga • 2025] Cyathus hiloensis (Basidiomycota: Nidulariaceae) • A new species in the Hawaiian Archipelago
ABSTRACT This study focuses on expanding knowledge of Cyathus species in the Hawaiian archipelago through the description of a newly discovered species from Hilo, the largest town in Hawaii County. Based on morphological and molecular data, Cyathus hiloensis is proposed as new taxon within the pallidum group. A comprehensive description of its distinguishing features is provided, along with a detailed comparison to closely related taxa. KEYWORDS: Biodiversity, Hawaiian archipelago, Pacific Ocean, taxonomy, systematic  Jefferson dos S. Góis, Rhudson H.S.F. da Cruz, Iuri G. Baseia and Kentaro Hosaka. 2025. A new species Cyathus hiloensis (Nidulariaceae, Basidiomycota) in the Hawaiian Archipelago. New Zealand Journal of Botany. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2025.2454602  | ||||||
| 2:07p | [Entomology • 2024] Isoplectron bicolor, I. virgatum, Praecantrix silvatica, P. saxicola, etc. • Revision of the New Zealand Cave Wētā Genus Isoplectron (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae), with synonymy of Petrotettix and Setascutum, and the Description of A
Abstract The New Zealand cave wētā genus Isoplectron was first described by Hutton (1896) and included two species, Isoplectron armatum and I. calcaratum. Two more species, I. cochleatum and I. aciculatum, were described by Karny in 1935 and in 1937, respectively. The species I. cochleatum was later moved to the genus Pharmacus Pictet & de Saussure, 1893. Here we clarify the status and appearance of all known species of Isoplectron, and of other closely related cave wētā. Based on morphology and mtDNA sequences we determine that the genera Petrotettix Richards, 1972 and Setascutum Richards, 1972, belong in Isoplectron, and are thus synonymised with the latter. We also infer that Isoplectron aciculatum Karny, 1937 does not hold species rank, and that it should be considered a subspecies of Isoplectron armatum instead. The male of Isoplectron pallidum (Richards, 1972) comb. nov. and the female of Isoplectron armatum aciculatum Karny, 1937 are described here for the first time. Using molecular data, we also establish that two new species that are morphologically similar to Isoplectron are in fact more closely related to Pharmacus. These species are assigned to a new genus, Praecantrix gen. nov. We describe seven new species and two new subspecies of New Zealand rhaphidophorids belonging to the genera Isoplectron Hutton, 1896 and Praecantrix: Isoplectron bicolor sp. nov., I. maculatum sp. nov., I. virgatum sp. nov., I. ferratum sp. nov., I. parallelum sp. nov., Praecantrix silvatica silvatica gen., sp. et subsp. nov., P. silvatica lutea gen., sp. et subsp. nov. and P. saxicola gen. et sp. nov. Species demoted to subspecies rank: Isoplectron aciculatum Karny, 1937 becomes Isoplectron armatum aciculatum Karny, 1937. New combinations: Setascutum pallidum Richards, 1972 becomes Isoplectron pallidum (Richards, 1972) comb. nov.; Petrotettix serratus Richards, 1972 becomes Isoplectron serratum (Richards, 1972) comb. nov. New synonyms: Isoplectron calcaratum Hutton, 1896 = Isoplectron armatum Hutton, 1896 syn. nov.; Setascutum ohauensis Richards, 1972 = Isoplectron armatum Hutton, 1896 syn. nov.; Petrotettix spinosus Richards, 1972 = Isoplectron serratum (Richards, 1972) syn. nov.; Petrotettix cupolaensis Richards, 1972 = Isoplectron serratum (Richards, 1972) syn. nov.; Petrotettix nigripes Richards, 1972 = Isoplectron serratum (Richards, 1972) syn. nov. Keywords: cave cricket, Isoplectron, Praecantrix, Rhaphidophoridae, New Zealand, systematics
 Danilo Hegg, Mary Morgan-Richards and Steven A. Trewick. 2024. Revision of the New Zealand Cave Wētā Genus Isoplectron Hutton (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae), with synonymy of Petrotettix Richards and Setascutum Richards, and the Description of A New Genus. European Journal of Taxonomy, 971(1), 1–75. DOI: doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2024.971.2761 | ||||||
| 3:17p | [Diplopoda • 2024] Skleroprotopus change, S. incisodentatus, S. megistus, S. tiankeng, etc. • Molecular Phylogenetic and Morphological Studies reveal increased Species Diversity in the Millipede Genus Skleroprotopus Attems, 1901 (Julida: Mongoliulidae)
Abstract A taxonomic study of the genus Skleroprotopus Attems, 1901 from nine provinces in China was conducted utilizing morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The results reveal thirteen new species, i.e. Skleroprotopus yutiantianae sp. nov., S. tiankeng sp. nov., S. megistus sp. nov., S. penglai sp. nov., S. longissimus sp. nov., S. genjudi sp. nov., S. laiyuanensis sp. nov., S. longiflagellatus sp. nov., S. change sp. nov., S. ampullaceus sp. nov., S. incisodentatus sp. nov., S. multistriatus sp. nov., and S. conicus sp. nov. This significantly enriches the diversity of Skleroprotopus in China, bringing it to a total of 18 species. With the exception of S. yutiantianae sp. nov., all these species were collected in caves. In terms of their degree of adaptation to the cave environment, the latter six species are presumed troglophiles, while the others are likely troglobites. DNA-barcoding based on the COI mitochondrial gene is documented for the first time in this genus. The specific p-distances between Skleroprotopus species range from 6.6–17.0%, while intraspecific p-distances are only 0.2–1.4%. Additionally, the morphological features of male leg-pair 1, the penis and leg-pair 7 are also discussed. Keywords: barcoding, cave, diversity, new species, phylogeny
Skleroprotopus tiankeng sp. nov. Holotype male (SCAU), China, Shaanxi Province, Hanzhong City, Nanzheng District, Cave Xigoutiankeng Dong, ..., 850 m, .... Diagnosis: Differs from congeners mostly based on the following combination of characters: (1) penis much longer than coxae 2 (Fig. 5I); (2) male leg 7 with a very small coxal process, lower than the telopodite (Fig. 5E); (3) anterior gonopod (Fig. 5G, H) with a large and foot-shaped like coxal process, carrying a broadened membranous lobe, outer margin with a triangular protrusion, and a relatively thick flagellum. — In addition, this new species differs from all other species analyzed in a >10.3% uncorrected p-distance of the COI barcoding gene. Etymology: The species is named after its type locality that is the Hanzhong sinkhole group, a geological wonder composed of multiple heavenly pits. “Tiankeng” in Chinese “天坑”, a noun in apposition. Skleroprotopus megistus sp. nov. Diagnosis: Differs from congeners mostly based on the following combination of characters: (1) telopoditomere 3 of male leg 1 particularly broad and bulging in the middle (Fig. 6E); (2) penis subequal in height to coxae 2 (Fig. 6F); (3) coxal process of male leg 7 very small, lower than the telopodite (Fig. 6D); (4) anterior gonopod with a long coxal process carrying a highly developed, axe-shaped, membranous lobe (Fig. 6I). — In addition, this new species differs from all other species analyzed in a >10.3% uncorrected p-distance of the COI barcoding gene. Etymology: Latinised Greek “megistus” is meaning “large”. The specific epithet refers to the male leg-pair 1 being particularly large; adjective. Skleroprotopus change sp. nov. Holotype male (SCAU), China, Hubei Province, Xianning City, Xian’an District, Chang’e Scenic Park, Cave Feixian Dong, ..., 160 m, ... Diagnosis: Differs from congeners mostly based on the following combination of characters: (1) telopoditomere 4 of male leg 1 rounded, with a small mesal hump (Fig. 8E); (2) penis slightly longer than male coxae 2 (Fig. 8D); (3) male leg 7 with a very small coxal process and a 4-segmented telopodite (Fig. 8F); (4) anterior gonopod (Fig. 8G, H) with a very long coxal process carrying a somewhat broadened and dentated membranous lobe. — In addition, this new species differs from all other Skleroprotopus species analyzed in uncorrected p-distances ranging from between 6.6% (compared to S. longiflagellatus sp. nov.) and 15.6% (compared to S. longissimus sp. nov.). Etymology: The specific epithet is primarily derived from its type locality, which is named after Chang’e. She is the fairy of the moon palace in the ancient Chinese mythology. “Change” in Chinese “嫦娥”, a noun in apposition. Skleroprotopus incisodentatus sp. nov. Diagnosis: Differs from congeners mostly based on the following combination of characters: (1) telopoditomere 4 of male leg 1 with a small mesal hump (Fig. 13D); (2) penis slightly higher than coxae 2 (Fig. 13C); (3) male leg 7 with a very small coxal process, much lower than telopodite, which is made up of 4 segments and a claw (Fig. 13F); (4) anterior gonopod (Fig. 13E, I) with a very long coxal process carrying a narrow, lower, membranous lobe, distally with a vague indentation. — In addition, this new species differs from all other species analyzed in a >8.0% uncorrected p-distance of the COI barcoding gene. Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the distally vague indentation of a membranous lobe of anterior gonopod; adjective. . . . Rong Chen, Yi Zhao, Sergei Golovatch and Wei-Xin Liu. 2024. Molecular Phylogenetic and Morphological Studies reveal increased Species Diversity in the Millipede Genus Skleroprotopus Attems, 1901 in China (Julida: Mongoliulidae). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny. 82: 659-691. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/asp.82.e136751 |
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