Analysis of samples of Hipparion(Mammalia,Perissodactyla) from the Concud localities,Turolian of Spain

Samples, mainly of isolated teeth, of Hipparion concudensePirlot from the Turolian fossil sites “Concud”. Cerro de la Garita, Barranco de las Calaveras, Concud III, Masia del Barbo, and Los Mansuetos, all in the Calatayud-Teruel area, Spain, are analysed and compared. The teeth from “Concud”, Cerro, and Masia are similar and larger than those from Barranco, Concud III, and Los Mansuetos, which between them are similar. A possible trend towards decrease in size is indicated. The stratigraphic position of these sites is briefly discussed.     

Révision de quatre espèces actuelles de Celleporaria (Bryozoa,Cheilostomata) décrites par de Lamarck en 1816

The bryozoa described by de Lamarck in 1816 are not well known. Four types of the Cellepora group have been found in the zoological collections of Museum d'Histoire naturelle in Paris: Celleporaria oculata, C. cristata, C. oliva and C. endivia. C. oculata is the type-species of the genus CelleporariaLamouroux, 1821. This revision confirms the synonymy of some species described subsequently.     

Relevance of phenotypic information for the taxonomy of not-yet-cultured microorganisms

To date, far less than 1% of the estimated global species of Bacteria and Archaea have been described and their names validly published. Aside from these quantitative limitations, our understanding of phenotypic and functional diversity of prokaryotes is also highly biased as not a single species has been described for 85 of the 118 phyla that are currently recognized. Due to recent advances in sequencing technology and capacity, metagenomic datasets accumulate at an increasing speed and new bacterial and archaeal genome sequences become available at a faster rate than newly described species. The growing gap between the diversity of Bacteria and Archaea held in pure culture and that detected by molecular methods has led to the proposal to establish a formal nomenclature for not-yet-cultured taxa primarily based on sequence information. According to this proposal, the concept of Candidatus species would be extended to groups of closely related genome sequences and their names validly published following established rules of bacterial nomenclature. The corresponding sequences would be deposited in public databases as the type. The suggested alterations of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes raise concerns regarding (1) the reliability and stability of nomenclature, (2) the technological and conceptual limitations as well as availability of reference genomes, (3) the information content of in silico functional predictions, and (4) the recognition of evolutionary units of microbial diversity. These challenges need to be overcome to arrive at a meaningful taxonomy of not-yet-cultured prokaryotes with so far poorly understood phenotypes.     

Systematics is crucial for the traditional Chinese medicinal studies and industry of macrofungi

Recently, it has been indicated that systematics is of no value to the traditional Chinese medicinal studies and industry of macrofungi. As a fungal taxonomist, I use three genera of the most famous medicinal macrofungi, viz. Sanghuangporus, Ganoderma and Ophiocordyceps, as examples to rebut this opinion. Generally, the well-established systematics are helpful in using correct Latin names for fungal species in medicinal studies; furthermore, the resulting medicinal functions can be exactly matched to a particular species; finally, the particular species can be applied for permissions of utilization in traditional Chinese medicinal industry. Therefore, systematics is crucial for unlocking the potential of macrofungi as valuable resources to be developed in the traditional Chinese medicinal studies and industry, and should continue to be of interest to not just fungal taxonomists but also biochemists, pharmacists and businessmen.     

Typification of the genus Dileptus Dujardin, 1841 (Ciliophora,Rhynchostomatia)

In their monograph of the dileptids, Vďačný and Foissner (2012) could not clarify the type species of the genus Dileptus Dujardin, 1841. Thus, they suggested that the problem be referred to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. However, recently we discovered that Dujardin (1841) has originally typified Dileptus with Amphileptus anser sensu Ehrenberg (1838) which is in fact a misidentified Amphileptus margaritifer Ehrenberg, 1833, a common species also originally classified in Dileptus. Under Article 70.3.2 of the Code, Dileptus margaritifer (Ehrenberg, 1833) Dujardin, 1841, thoroughly redescribed by Foissner et al. (1995), is now the type of Dileptus. This has the great advantages of historical continuity and that new combinations (names) are not required.     

Monographic treatment of Paraholosticha muscicola (Ciliophora,Keronopsidae), including morphological and molecular biological characterization of a brackish water population from Korea

Paraholosticha muscicola, type species of Paraholosticha Wenzel, inhabits mainly terrestrial habitats, but also freshwater. A brackish water population from Korea is described, the first record from such a habitat. Principal component analysis shows that this population is more similar to a terrestrial population from Denmark than to a population from Antarctic soil. Keronopsids have two strong morphological/ontogenetic apomorphies (frontal corona formed from anlagen I–III; division in cysts). However, the SSU rRNA sequence of the Korean population does not cluster with that of the Antarctic population in the phylogenetic tree, but both branch off consecutively and immediately before a mixture of other non-dorsomarginalian hypotrichs, including two further keronopsids. Furthermore, the keronopsids cluster in the phylogenetic network, providing phylogenetic conflicts, which cannot be exemplified in the conventional gene tree. To complete the picture of P. muscicola, we provide a detailed overview about nomenclature, history, taxonomy, and its geographic distribution. From the four synonyms proposed so far, we tentatively accept only P. lichenicola and P. ovata. Paraholosticha algivora is likewise very similar. Thus we propose to include these three taxa as members of the P. muscicola complex. Stylonethes sterkii and P. algivora are transferred to Paraholosticha Wenzel. A key to the Paraholosticha species is provided.     

Oxydromus Grube, 1855 reinstated over Ophiodromus Sars, 1862 (Polychaeta,Hesionidae)

The hesionid polychaete genera Oxydromus Grube, 1855 and Ophiodromus Sars, 1862 have been regarded as synonyms with the former considered as invalid since it was thought to be a junior homonym of Oxydromus Schlegel, 1854. However, Schlegel’s name is an incorrect subsequent spelling for Ocydromus Wagler, 1830 (Aves, Gruiformes, Rallidae) and is not an available name. Consequently, Oxydromus Grube, 1855 must be reinstated for this hesionid polychaete genus. A check-list of valid species of Oxydromus including 30 new combinations is provided.     

ISAG/IUIS-VIC Comparative MHC Nomenclature Committee report, 2005

Nomenclature for Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes and alleles in species other than humans and mice has historically been overseen either informally by groups generating sequences, or by formal nomenclature committees set up by the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG). The suggestion for a Comparative MHC Nomenclature Committee was made at the ISAG meeting held in Göttingen, Germany (2002), and the committee met for the first time at the Institute for Animal Health, Compton, UK in January 2003. To publicize its activity and extend its scope, the committee organized a workshop at the International Veterinary Immunology Symposium (IVIS) in Quebec (2004) where it was decided to affiliate with the Veterinary Immunology Committee (VIC) of the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS). The goals of the committee are to establish a common framework and guidelines for MHC nomenclature in any species; to demonstrate this in the form of a database that will ensure that in the future, researchers can easily access a source of validated MHC sequences for any species; to facilitate discussion on this area between existing groups and nomenclature committees. A further meeting of the committee was held in September 2005 in Glasgow, UK. This was attended by most of the existing committee members with some additional invited participants (Table 1). The aims of this meeting were to facilitate the inclusion of new species onto the database, to discuss extension, improvement and funding of the database, and to address a number of nomenclature issues raised at the previous workshop.     

Deux nouveaux genres de Rhynchonellides frasniens précédemment inclus dans le genre Calviaria (Brachiopoda)

The genus CalvinariaStainbrook, 1945 is beingsubdivided by the writer into the following two new genera: Plionoptycherhynchus n. gen. based on the type species P. exformosus n. gen., n. sp., and Lateralatirostrum n. gen. based on the type species L. athabascense (Kindle, 1924).These type species are proposed as indices ofzones in the upper part of the lower Frasnian stage.The writer wishes to point out the doubtful validity of palaeogeographic reconstructions undertaken on the basis of too comprehensively, and consequently poorly, defined genera. In this connection he points out that the form occuring in the Ardennes and attributed to Eifelian species Terebratula formosaSchnur, 1851 belongs actually to a different genus and species and is of a different age.     

The Lepidagathis hamiltoniana-collina complex (Acanthaceae) in Africa and Asia

The taxonomy, distribution and nomenclature of Lepidagathis species with basal inflorescences are discussed. The Indian species L. hamiltoniana is considered to be conspecific with the African L. collina which is reduced to subspecific status within L. hamiltoniana . The differences between these taxa and L. anobrya and L. rogersii are discussed. L. diversa is treated as a distinct species recognized by the inflorescences which occur at the upper nodes of the stem and by its falcate bracts.     

The genus Opisthacanthus Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Hormuridae), a remarkable Gondwanian group of scorpions

New comments are proposed on the geographic distribution of genus Opisthacanthus, and the Gondwanian model is further supported. The diversity of the genus is extraordinary in Madagascar, with the same number of species as in continental Africa, but sub-Saharan Africa is home to six out of the nine groups currently recognized of Opisthacanthus. Given the affinities of the Opisthacanthus groups and their current distribution, a center of origin in Africa could be favored for these ancient scorpions. The proposed Gondwana model suggests that the Madagascar Opisthacanthus are closer to those of the New World, which is consistent with the affinities observed in morphological characters. A new species, Opisthacanthus titanus sp. n., is described from the Torotorofotsy Forest, located in Eastern Madagascar. The new species shows affinities with both Opisthacanthus madagascariensis Kraepelin, 1894 known from dry regions in the western portion of the island and Opisthacanthus lavasoa Lourenço, Wilmé & Waeber, 2016 only known from the extreme southeast of the island. The new species and O. madagascariensis have similar external morphologies but the morphometric values are markedly distinct. Moreover, O. madagascariensis is exclusively found in spiny forest thickets and open woodlands, whereas the new species was found in the humid forest of Torotorofotsy. The total number of species in Madagascar is now raised to twelve. Biogeographical scenarios are also proposed to infer the origin of the Opisthacanthus and better understand its distribution in the New World, in Africa and Madagascar.     

The recent fossil turtle record of the central plain of Thailand reveals local extinctions

With more than 50 extant turtle species, Southeast Asia is currently a hotspot of turtle biodiversity. However, the distribution areas of most species are decreasing as a consequence of human activities. The causes of this decline are multiple: habitat and natural resources destruction, introduction of invasive species, hunting, etc. Historical data are however still lacking for a detailed understanding of that regional trend as well as for forecasting its evolution in the future. Indeed, while oral testimonies and text data can provide a rather good appreciation of the decline of biodiversity over the last few decades; nothing is known about the dynamic of turtle biodiversity over the Holocene. This lack of data is especially damaging in area where human activities are interacting for a long time with the wild fauna, as the central plain of Thailand, which is now dominated by agricultural landscape. In order to solve these issues, we investigated five Holocene localities in Thai central plain which provided assemblages of turtle remains ranging from Neolithic to Dvaravati periods (4000 to 1000 BP). The studied archaeological assemblages showed a very high species richness. Species such as Malayemys macrocephala, Cuora amboinensis, Heosemys annandalii, Heosemys grandis, Siebenrockiella crassicolis, Amyda ornata were among the most abundant. We also found several plates and a cranial material belonging to a species of the genus Batagur and tortoise remains including Indotestudo elongata and a few plates belonging to the genus Geochelone. The Batagur and Geochelone genera are absent from living turtle assemblages in the central plain but are present in Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia or Southern Thailand for Batagur and far in the West for Geochelone (Myanmar) respectively. Batagur is usually found in coastal areas and its disappearance from central plain is interpreted as resulting from the destruction of a fragile habitat and possibly from the rapid geomorphological evolution of the Chao-Phraya deltaic plain, the disappearance of tortoises could result from deforestation. Cutting traces showed that most turtles were used as food resources at these times, suggesting that turtle hunting was a common practise. Furthermore, occurrence of holes in the margin of the carapace of specimens from Kheed Khin (Saraburi Province) and Promthin Tai (Lopburi Province) suggests that turtles were sometimes kept captive alive or transported. This study shows that investigation of recent fossil localities allows for a better understanding of the role of past human populations in the alteration of the biodiversity through time, and for a more accurate estimation of the rates of species extinction.     

Le plus grand représentant du genre Eomys (Rodentia,Mammalia) de l'Oligocène de l'Europe: Eomys huerzeleri nov. sp.

Eomys huerzeleri, a new species of Eomyidae already recognized and named by H.G. Stehlin but never published is described and compared with Eomys majorFreudenberg. The stratigraphical range of both species is discussed.     

Microfaune du Paléocène de quelquessondages du Dôme du Sénégal occidental; observations sur les Ostracodes

The Paleocene of Western Senegal has shown amainly benthonic microfauna; the more characteristic elements of which are the Ostracoda: Cytherella (Cytherelloidea) aff. keijiMac Kenzie, Buntonia aff. attitogonensisApostolescu, Soudanella laciniosaApost., Quadracythere? lagaghiroboensisApost., Evisceratocythere cf. glabellaApost., Some of these species, which have been discovered in Senegal for the first time, have a large stratigraphic distribution. Effectively, they have been already found in Togo, Niger, Nigeria, even Lybia. Particularly, Soudanella laciniosa seems to be a very good Paleocene fossil at least in Africa, from the Mediterranean sea to the Gulf of Guinea. The benthonic Foraminifera are less abundant and badly preserved. In the same way as Ostracoda, they show species already known in the African Paleocene. The assemblage of the microfauna, in accordance with the sedimentological data, reveals the existence of a warm sea, in connection with the open sea, but very shallow, perhaps with periodical emersions (intertidal zone?).     

Cranial morphometrics and mitochondrial DNA sequences distinguish cryptic species of the longface emperor (Lethrinus olivaceus), an emblematic fish of Indo-West Pacific coral reefs

Range-wide morphometric variability (cranial measurements) and genetic variability (nucleotide sequences of the cytochrome b gene) were investigated in the longface emperor, Lethrinus olivaceus (Lethrinidae), an emblematic large predatory fish of Indo-West Pacific coral reefs. Two cranial morphotypes were observed, one present from the Indian Ocean to the Coral Triangle and the other one, from the Coral Triangle to the western Central Pacific. The two morphotypes are concordant with reciprocally monophyletic mitochondrial lineages separated by 9.5% net nucleotide distance. These results suggest an old evolutionary history for L. olivaceus, which consists of two distinct species (Lethrinus sp. A in the Indian Ocean and Coral Triangle, Lethrinus sp. B in the western Pacific Ocean), whose distribution ranges meet or overlap in the eastern part of the Coral Triangle, in Taiwan and in West Papua. Lethrinus sp. A comprises two distinct mitochondrial lineages separated by 1.7% net nucleotide distance, one exclusive to the populations from the Indian Ocean, the other exclusive to Coral Triangle populations. The latter observation might be explained by vicariance, whereby the two lineages have been isolated from one another on either side of the Sunda Shelf because of low sea level in the Pleistocene. To clarify the nomenclature of this species complex, we recommend sequencing a fragment of the cytochrome b gene of the holotypes of L. olivaceus and of its first junior synonyms L. rostratus and L. waigiensis.     

Les Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia,Perissodactyla) du Miocène terminal au Pleistoène supérieur d'Europe Occidentale comparés aux espèces actuelles: Tendances évolutives et relations phylogénétiques

In the five lineage constituted by the Aceratheriinae, Dicerorhininae, Dicerotinae, Rhinocerotinae and Teleoceratinae subfamilies, the evolutionary trends are analysed by statistical comparisons of specific samples of different ages; in several species it leads to the definition of successive evolutionary stages. A tentative phylogenetic interpretation is given.