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Thursday, March 20th, 2025
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| 4:02a | [Cnidaria • 2025] Parasphaerasclera mcfaddenae • A New Soft Coral Species (Octocorallia: Scleralcyonacea: Parasphaerascleridae) from the Gulf of Mexico
Abstract A new species of soft coral, Parasphaerasclera mcfaddenae (Octocorallia: Scleralcyonacea: Parasphaerascleridae), is described from mesophotic hardbottom habitats of the Gulf of Mexico, western North Atlantic Ocean. Previously, this family was only known from the tropical Indo-Pacific and South Africa; therefore, we extend the distribution of the family Parasphaerascleridae into the North Atlantic Ocean. This diminutive species differs from other parasphaerasclerids by a capitate growth form, non-retractile polyps, and presence of tuberculated spindles. Notably, this species was also detected in environmental (e)DNA samples from locations where it was not physically collected, highlighting the importance of both eDNA for biodiversity surveys as well as specimen collections for building comprehensive reference databases for eDNA analyses. Coelenterata, Parasphaerasclera, Scleralcyonacea, North Atlantic Ocean, eDNA, mesophotic reef
Parasphaerasclera mcfaddenae sp. nov. Andrea M. QUATTRINI, Declan MORRISSEY and Luke J. MCCARTIN. 2025. A New Soft Coral Species from the Gulf of Mexico (Octocorallia: Scleralcyonacea: Parasphaerascleridae). Zootaxa. 5601(3); 545-557. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5601.3.8 [2025-03-10] | ||||||
| 9:07a | [Botany • 2025] Chelonopsis guchengensis (Lamiaceae) • A New Species from Hubei Province in Central China
Abstract Chelonopsis is a small genus endemic to East Asia. In this study, a new species, C. guchengensis, from Nanhe National Nature Reserve, Gucheng County, Hubei Province is described and illustrated. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on two nuclear ribosomal DNA regions (ETS and ITS) and five plastid DNA markers (trnL intron, trnL-trnF, trnS-trnG, psbA-trnH, and rps16) were carried out to explore the phylogenetic position of the new species. A close relationship between the new species and C. giraldii is supported by molecular phylogenetic and morphological evidence. However, the two species can be easily distinguished from each other by mostly leaf and inflorescence morphology. Key words: Central China, Gomphostemmateae, Lamioideae, molecular phylogeny, taxonomy
Chelonopsis guchengensis X.Q.Liu, Z.C.Wei, Y.H.Xu, Y.X.Chen & J.Wen, sp. nov. Diagnosis. The new species is morphologically similar to C. giraldii but differs in having longer and wider leaves (ca. 2–10 cm × 1–5 cm vs ca. 2.5–4 cm × 1.8–2.5 cm), and different leaf shapes (leaf shape oblong-ovoid, base attenuate, margin serrate, apex caudate vs leaf shape ovate, base truncate, margin crenate, apex obtuse in C. giraldii) (Fig. 4). The main differences between C. guchengensis and other plants in the genus are as follows: leaf shape oblong-ovoid (vs lanceolate in C. chekiangensis and ovate in C. rosea and C. mollissima); usually 2-flowered, pedicel length 1.5 cm (vs 3-flowered or more, pedicel tight and nearly sessile in C. abbreviata); bracteoles linear-lanceolate, ca. 1.5 cm long (vs bracteole conspicuous, leaf lanceolate, ca. 2.5 cm long in C. bracteata); corolla purplish red (vs yellow in C. lichiangensis, C. odontochila and milky yellow in C. souliei); and calyx apex acuminate (vs gradually aristate in C. forrestii). Etymology. The new species is named after Gucheng County in Hubei, China where it is distributed. The Chinese name is given as“谷城铃子香”. Yuhan Xu, Zhengcai Wei, Qiang Fu, Chunlei Xiang, Zhengqun Deng, Houchao Liu, Yuxing Chen, Jun Wen and Xiuqun Liu. 2025. Chelonopsis guchengensis, A New Species of Lamiaceae from Hubei Province in Central China. PhytoKeys. 253: 331-342. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.253.145834 | ||||||
| 9:16a | [Paleontology • 2019] Portugalosuchus azenhae • A New Eusuchian Crocodylomorph from the Cenomanian (Late Cretaceous) of Portugal reveals Novel Implications on the Origin of Crocodylia
Abstract
The fossil record of Eusuchia extends back to the Early Cretaceous (Barremian), with the English species Hylaeochampsa vectiana being the oldest known representative of the clade so far. However, the eusuchian record from the Barremian to the Santonian is scarce and fragmentary worldwide. Here we described a new eusuchian crocodylomorph based on a partial skull and lower jaw from the Early Upper Cenomanian of the Tentugal Formation, in the Baixo Mondego region, west-central Portugal. The specimen exhibits a series of characters not seen in other taxa, allowing its assignment to a new genus and species named Portugalosuchus azenhae gen. et sp. nov. The results of a cladistic analysis place this specimen within Crocodylia, as the sister taxon to all other non-gavialoid crocodylians. Therefore, this Portuguese specimen represents the only well-documented and valid eusuchian species in the Cenomanian in Europe, and may be the oldest representative of Crocodylia known so far, helping to fill a gap in the fossil record of Eusuchia from the Barremian to the Campanian. In addition, the discovery of this new taxon sheds light on the radiation of Eusuchia and the origin of Crocodylia, which probably took place in Europe.
Crocodylomorpha, Eusuchia, phylogeny, systematics       
Octávio Mateus, Eduardo Puértolas-Pascual and Pedro M Callapez. 2019. A New Eusuchian Crocodylomorph from the Cenomanian (Late Cretaceous) of Portugal reveals Novel Implications on the Origin of Crocodylia. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, zly064. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zly064
Descoberto em Portugal o mais antigo crocodilo fóssil do mundo tsf.pt/sociedade/interior/descoberto-em-p
Portugalosuchus: Paleontólogos portugueses descobrem nova espécie: o mais antigo crocodilo fóssil conhecido dct.fct.unl.pt/investigacao/portugalosuc
Paleontólogos portugueses descobrem o mais antigo crocodilo fóssil do mundo em Tentúgal: observador.pt/2018/12/06/paleontologos-p
Paleontologia. O fóssil de crocodilo mais antigo do mundo é de Tentúgal publico.pt/2018/12/06/ciencia/noticia/fo
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| 3:26p | [Botany • 2025] Grewia kentingensis (Malvaceae: Grewioideae) • A New Species from Taiwan
Abstract Grewia kentingensis Y.H. Tseng, Chih Y.Chang & C.Y.Lin, sp. nov., a new species found on elevated coral reefs in southern Taiwan, is described. The species was previously misidentified as G. piscatorum Hance. Grewia kentingensis differs from G. piscatorum in its habit (procumbent vs. erect to ascending shrub), leaf length (<2 cm vs. up to 7 cm), breeding system (gynodioecious vs. trioecious), smaller flower diameter, fewer stamens, and smaller pollen grains. Color photographs, line drawings, and pollen images of the new species are provided. Additionally, a lectotype for G. piscatorum is designated and an identification key for the Grewia taxa of Taiwan is presented. Key words: Critically endangered, Grewia piscatorum Hance, pollen morphology, southern Taiwan, taxonomy
Grewia kentingensis Y.H. Tseng, Chih Y.Chang & C.Y.Lin, sp. nov. Chinese name. kěn-dīng-bǔ-yú-mù (墾丁捕魚木) Etymology. The species epithet kentingensis refers to the type locality of Kenting in Hengchun Peninsula, Pingtung County, Taiwan. Chou-Yi Lin, Chih-Yi Chang, Chiu-Mei Wang, Hsy-Yu Tzeng and Yen-Hsueh Tseng. 2025. Grewia kentingensis (Malvaceae, Grewioideae), A New Species from Taiwan. PhytoKeys. 253: 155-176. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.253.141785  | ||||||
| 4:41p | [Paleontology • 2025] Thaichelys ruchae • The Triassic Turtle of Thailand –Revision of ‘Proganochelys’ ruchae (Testudinata: Proterochersidae)
Abstract True turtles (Testudinata) appeared in the Norian (Late Triassic) and quickly attained a worldwide distribution and relatively high diversity. Their remains are currently known from that time from Asia, Europe, North America, and South America, and represent at least three separate clades. Whereas the generic and suprageneric attribution of comparatively well-preserved and studied European and South American taxa, such as Proganochelys quenstedtii, Proterochersis robusta and Proterochersis porebensis, Palaeochersis talampayensis, and Waluchelys cavitesta sparks no controversy, the more fragmentary and less common species have been variably considered representatives of separate genera or referred to already existing ones – most commonly, Proganochelys. This uncertainty is unfortunate, as it severely muddles the picture of the evolution, diversity, and geographical distribution of the earliest turtles. One such problematic species, coming from the Norian Huai Hin Lat Formation of Thailand, was described in 1980s as Proganochelys ruchae. However, this generic attribution was subsequently put into question and the recent increase of available Triassic turtle material allows to remove the species ruchae from Proganochelys to a new genus, Thaichelys gen. nov., and place it in the clade of Proterochersidae, together with Proterochersis spp., Keuperotesta limendorsa, and Chinlechelys i. As a result, the genus Proganochelys is considered here to be solely a central Pangean (modern-day European) taxon. Moreover, Thaichelys ruchae exhibits in some respects a transitional morphology between other Triassic taxa and Proterochersis spp., and may constitute a sister taxon to the grouping of Proterochersis spp. and Keuperotesta limendorsa from Europe. This, in turn, considering the lack of a Carnian record of pantestudinates outside of Asia, suggests that Thaichelys ruchae could represent an early radiation of the Proterochersidae which branched off before the Testudinata dispersed into the western Pangea. Systematic paleontology AMNIOTA Haeckel, 1866 sensu Laurin and Reisz, 2020 TESTUDINATA Klein, 1760 sensu ITNC et al., 2020 PROTEROCHERSIDAE Nopcsa, 1923 (converted clade name)
THAICHELYS Szczygielski et al. gen. nov. Etymology: Referring to Thailand, as the origin place of the described specimens, and incorporating -chelys (gr. Χέλυς, turtle): „Thai turtle”. Type and only species: Thaichelys ruchae (Broin, 1984) Thaichelys ruchae (Broin, 1984) comb. nov. Holotype: SM2015-1-001 (former TF 1440-6), incomplete left side of the anterior plastral lobe (Figs 6, 8A, 9). Type locality: Ban Suan Sawan Banana Farm, Si Chomphu, Khon Kaen, Thailand. Type horizon and age: Huai Hin Lat Formation, Late Triassic (Norian). Revised diagnosis: Testudinate characterized by a unique combination of characters: (1) carapace not reduced in thickness (unlike in Chinlechelys tenertesta, Palaeochersis talampayensis, and Waluchelys cavitesta); (2) pleurals with shelf-like, anteroposteriorly elongated bosses (unlike in Proganochelys quenstedtii); (3) three supramarginals present (unlike in Palaeochersis talampayensis, Proganochelys quenstedtii, and Waluchelys cavitesta); (4) bridge-level marginals (a) not wedging between the supramarginals (unlike in Proganochelys quenstedtii), (b) with anterolaterally projected, V-shaped in lateral view intermarginal sulci (unlike in Proganochelys quenstedtii), (c) with the dorsal exposition smaller ...
Tomasz Szczygielski, Dawid Dróżdż, Phornphen Chanthasit, Sita Manitkoon and Pitaksit Ditbanjong. 2025. The Triassic Turtle of Thailand –Revision of ‘Proganochelys’ ruchae. PLoS ONE. 20(3): DOI: doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316338 [March 19, 2025]  |
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