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Thursday, May 8th, 2025
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| 4:05a | [Paleontology • 2025] Rise of the King: Gondwanan Origins and Evolution of Megaraptoran Dinosaurs
Abstract Late Cretaceous Earth was dominated by theropods such as tyrannosauroids and megaraptorans; however, it is unclear how these clades diversified and grew to massive proportions. This study aimed to conduct a biogeographical analysis and test climate as a potential mechanism for the increase in size. We used published phylogenetic matrices with the R package BioGeoBears to test different biogeographical hypotheses for both clades. We mapped body mass (BM) and body length against known climate data to test this potential hypothesis. Continental-scale variance did not drive tyrannosauroid biogeography and instead widespread ancestral populations, sympatric speciation and localized extinctions throughout these clades constricted geographic range. Both patterns were supported by statistical analyses. This biogeographical model also indicates the ancestor of the clade Tarbosaurus and Tyrannosaurus was present in both Asia and Laramidia, and therefore the ancestor of Tyrannosaurus came from Asia. Statistical data illustrated no correlation between Mean Annual Temperature (MAT) and BM but potential climatic shifts may be associated with gigantism in derived megaraptorids and eutyrannosaurians. This biogeographical model implies megaraptorans may have had a cosmopolitan distribution prior to the splitting of Laurasia and Gondwana. Also, gigantism in these clades may be associated with climatic shifts in the Late Cretaceous. Keywords: Biogeography, Late Cretaceous, Megaraptora, Tyrannosauroidea
Cassius Morrison, Charlie Roger Scherer, Ezekiel V. O’Callaghan, Collin Layton, Colin Boisvert, Mauro Aranciaga Rolando, Leroy Durrant, Pedro Salas, Steven J. R. Allain and Samuel J. L. Gascoigne. 2025. Rise of the King: Gondwanan Origins and Evolution of Megaraptoran Dinosaurs. R. Soc. Open Sci. 12: 242238. DOI: doi.org/10.1098/rsos.242238 [07 May 2025] facebook.com/isacassius.alamin/posts/101 | ||||||
| 7:40a | [Botany • 2022] Elaphoglossum matogrossense (Dryopteridaceae) • A New and Threatened Species from Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Summary Elaphoglossum matogrossense, a new species from central-western Brazil, is here described and illustrated. It belongs to Elaphoglossum section Lepidoglossa, which is often characterised by conspicuously scaly leaves and non-subulate scales with acicular, one-celled, non-glandular teeth. The new species was first collected c. 35 years ago. It is characterised by short-creeping stems, orangish to brown stem scales, moderately to densely scaly leaves, short petioles, and narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate laminae with round apices and gradually decurrent bases. Elaphoglossum matogrossense is known only from the Chapada dos Guimarães National Park and is here considered critically endangered. We provide a description, taxonomic and ecological comments, conservation status assessment, geographic distribution, phenology, and illustrations for this new species. Key Words: Cerrado, endangered, fern, Lepidoglossa, new species, pteridophyte, taxonomy
Elaphoglossum matogrossense F.B.Matos & A.Vasco sp. nov. Etymology. The specific epithet matogrossense refers to the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, from where the new species was discovered. Fernando B. Matos and Alejandra Vasco. 2022. Elaphoglossum matogrossense (Dryopteridaceae), A New and Threatened Species from Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Kew Bulletin. 77; 721–728. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s12225-022-10043-2 [29 July 2022] | ||||||
| 7:51a | [Entomology • 2018] Eumorphobotys concavuncus & E. horakae • Revision of the Genus Eumorphobotys (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Pyraustinae) with Descriptions of Two New Species
Abstract The genus Eumorphobotys Munroe & Mutuura (1969) comprises two species that have been found in southern China. Two new species, E. concavuncus sp. n. and E. horakae sp. n., are described from southwest China. In appearance, this genus also resembles Calamochrous Lederer, 1863, Sclerocona Meyrick, 1890, Prodasycnemis Warren, 1892, and Loxoneptera Hampson, 1896. In order to evaluate the generic placement of the new taxa, the phylogeny of Eumorphobotys species and several species representing the potential related genera based on sequence data of COI, 16S rRNA, EF-1α and 28S rRNA gene regions were reconstructed and the taxonomy of these genera based on morphological characters was re-assessed. The results are as follows: (i) the monophyly of Eumorphobotys is well supported; (ii) Loxoneptera is paraphyletic. Two species of Calamochrous were recovered as terminal lineages within Loxoneptera; (iii) the clade comprising species of Loxoneptera and Calamochrous is in the sister position to Eumorphobotys with a robust support; (iv) species of Loxoneptera and Calamochrous resemble Eumorphobotys in the wing shape and the porrect labial palpus but differ in genitalia structures. The relationships of these genera are discussed; (v) two new species, E. concavuncus sp. n. and E. horakae sp. n., are described, Calamochrous obscuralis (Caradja, 1925) syn. n. is synonymized with E. eumorphalis (Caradja, 1925) based on the male genitalia and the adults and genitalia of all species (except the female of E. horakae sp. n.) are illustrated. Keywords: Lepidoptera, Loxoneptera, identification key, systematics, genitalia, molecular phylogeny, new synonyms, China   Kai Chen, Dandan Zhang and Mihai Stănescu. 2018. Revision of the Genus Eumorphobotys with Descriptions of Two New Species (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Pyraustinae). Zootaxa. 4472(3); 489–504. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4472.3.4 | ||||||
| 7:54a | [Entomology • 2019] Emphylica crassihamata • Revision of the Genus Emphylica Turner, 1913 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Pyraustinae) based on Morphology and Molecular Data
Abstract
Moths of the genus Emphylica Turner, 1913 resemble species of Achyra Guenée, 1849, Loxostege Hübner, 1825 and Sitochroa Hübner, 1825 in having a conical frons. In order to examine the monophyly of Emphylica, and its relationship to other genera with a conical frons, a molecular phylogenetic framework is reconstructed based on sequence data of COI, 16S rRNA, 28S rRNA, EF-1α and Wg gene regions. The results robustly support the monophyly of Emphylica. Achyra + (Loxostege + Sitochroa) is in a sister position to Emphylica. A new species, E. crassihamata sp. n., is described from Southern China and two new combinations, E. diaphana (Caradja & Meyrick, 1934), comb. n. and E. cruoralis (Warren, 1895), comb. n., are proposed. An identification key based on males is provided for all Emphylica species. The adult habitus and genitalia of all species are figured.
Keywords: Achyra, China, conical frons, Loxostege, molecular phylogeny, new combinations, new species, Sitochroa
Kai Chen, Qingming Liu, Jianhua Jin and Dandan Zhang. 2019. Revision of the Genus Emphylica Turner, 1913 based on Morphology and Molecular Data (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Pyraustinae). ZooKeys. 836: 113-133. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.836.32796
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