A New Species of the Family Smicripidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) from Rovno Amber

ABSTRACTThe first record of the tribe Paussini Latreille is reported based on a specimen from late Eocene Rovno amber. It is the first known close relative of the genus Eohomopterus (subtribe Carabidomemnina) in the Old World. The recent and Neogene distribution of Eohomopterus is Neotropical, with extant representatives in Ecuador, Brazil and the West Indies, and extinct species in Dominican and Mexican amber. The occurrence of the Neotropical Carabidomemnina in Rovno amber and the presence of the Oriental Protopaussini in Dominican amber are of significant interest as evidence of the probable transarctic migrations of their ant host in the early Eocene.

Schildia Aldrich, 1923, a distinctive and rarely collected genus of Leptogastrinae (Diptera: Asilidae), is revised. Ten species are recognized, of which four are new to science. The nine extant species are Afrotropical, Neotropical and Oriental in distribution. The extant Neotropical species are Schildia alphus Martin, 1975, Schildia caliginosa sp.n. (Ecuador and Venezuela), Schildia fragilis (Carrera, 1944), Schildia guatemalae Martin, 1975, Schildia gracillima (Walker, 1855), Schildia jamaicensis Farr, 1963, and Schildia microthorax Aldrich, 1923. The only extant Afrotropical species, Schildia adina sp.n., is described from extant and subfossilized specimens (Malagasy copal) from south-western Madagascar. The extant Oriental species, Schildia malaya sp.n., is described from northern Malaysia. One extinct species, Schildia martini sp.n., is newly described from Dominican amber. Two new synonyms are proposed: Schildia ocellata Martin, 1975 is a junior synonym of Schildia gracillima and Schildia zonae Martin, 1975 is synonymized with Schildia fragilis. Redescriptions and descriptions of the genus and all extant and extinct species are provided. An identification key to the extant and extinct species is presented. Illustrations, photographs, and scanning electron micrographs are provided to support the descriptions and key. Distribution, biogeography, occurrence in biodiversity hotspots, seasonal incidence and biology are discussed.

The fossil representatives of the family Resinacaridae (Acari: Heterostigmata) from the Late Eocene Rovno amber are reviewed. Three new species are described in the genus Resinacarus Vitzthum, namely, R. longipilis sp. nov., R. vitzthumi sp. nov., and R. striatus sp. nov. A new genus and species, Pararesinacarus krczali gen. and sp. nov. are also described. The extant species Pararesinacarus aradii (Krczal) comb. nov. was moved from Resinacarus. All active stages of the extant type species of the genus Resinacarus, R. resinatus Vitzthum, are redescribed based on type material. A key to genera and species of Resinacaridae is also provided.

Coelomycetes in Dominican and Mexican amber

The genus Zelkova (Ulmaceae) has occurred in Europe and Southwest Asia since the Eocene represented mostly by the fossil species Z. zelkovifolia. Currently, relict populations of Z. abelicea, Z. sicula and Z. carpinifolia can be found in Crete, Sicily and the Euxino-Hyrcanian province, respectively. To reveal relationships between extinct and extant Zelkova species, we compared fossil Miocene leaves of Z. zelkovifolia and leaves of extant species using morphological leaf characteristics and statistical methods (Tukey’s test, discrimination analysis, principal component analysis, agglomeration). The fossil leaves of Z. zelkovifolia appeared more variable and generally intermediate between all three extant species. The lowest level of significant differences was found between Z. zelkovifolia and Z. abelicea in the leaves from fertile shoots and between Z. zelkovifolia and Z. sicula leaves from vegetative long shoots. The intermediate positions of fossil leaves of Z. zelkovifolia between leaves of Z. abelicea, Z. sicula and Z. carpinifolia could indicate that the extinct species was an ancestor of all three extant taxa. Consequently, this result suggests divergence between Z. abelicea, Z. sicula and Z. carpinifolia no earlier than the late Miocene and/or during the Pliocene.

Two new genera and species of gall midges are described from Lower-Middle Miocene amber, based on males, which have binodose flagellomeres possessing long looplike sensorial filae: Mexicanodiplosis katyae gen. et sp. nov. (Coquillettomyiidi, Karshomyiini) from Mexican amber, and Ipsseptemmyiarossi gen. et sp. nov. (Aphidoletidi, Bremiini) from Dominican amber. Coquillettomyiidi were previously unknown from fossil resins. An undescribed species of the genus Bremia was previously found in Mexican amber. This is the first gall midge to be described from Dominican amber. Altogether, including the new taxa, 11 species and eight genera of Cecidomyiinae with binodose flagellomeres were found in Mexican amber (five genera, five species), Dominican amber and Rovno amber (one genus, one species each), and Baltic amber (one genus, three species).

Cannabaceae (Urticalean Rosids clade) is a small family with ten genera and a wide distribution in tropical and temperate regions worldwide. A complete understanding of the history of the lineage is fundamental to the integration of its fossil record, which needs to be better documented in low latitudes of North America. This work recognizes a new species, Aphananthe manchesteri Hernández-Damián, Rubalcava-Knoth et Cevallos- Ferriz sp. nov. (Cannabaceae), from the Miocene amber deposits of Simojovel de Allende, Chiapas, Mexico, based on a flower analyzed with reflected light and CT-scanning. Flowers of Cannabaceae are generally staminate or pistillate and small; staminate flowers have five sepals and opposite five stamens, and a pubescent pistillode, such as the fossil. However, the presence of three unguiculate and two ovate sepals with a puberulent surface are characteristics that allow its recognition as Aphananthe, the fossil is morphologically similar to Aphananthe monoica, an extant species that grows along the Pacific coast of Mexico. The presence of Aphananthe manchesteri sp. nov. in southern Mexico during the middle-early Miocene, ~23–15 Ma ago, supports the history of the lineage in lowlatitude North America, representing an expansion of the Boreotropical Flora. It adds to the taxonomical diversity of angiosperms preserved in Mexican amber, comparable with amber deposits from the Dominican Republic, where another anemophilous extinct species member of the Urticalean Rosids clade has been reported. This coincidence further supports the development of similar plant communities between these fossiliferous localities.

Based on male and female fossil beetle remains recorded in the Pilauco deposits (northern Chilean Patagonia), a new and extinct dung beetle genus and species from an upper Pleistocene sequence (16.4 to 12.8 kyr BP) namely, Gomphocopris ashworthi gen. et sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Homocoprini) is described and illustrated. The morphological analysis of these fossil remains suggest that this extinct genus and species are placed into the tribe Homocoprini due to presence of supplementary carina in the lateral area in the pronotum. Moreover, this new taxon is separated from the extant Homocoprini species by the absence hypomeral carina (well developed in all extant species); cephalic horn in males with a distinct posterior projection apically (absent in the extant species), and the unique shapes and disposition of the pronotal lobes in major male and female. We suggest that this dung beetle genus and species became extinct in the late Pleistocene to early Holocene as a consequence of the drastic environmental changes, and the extinction of most of the large mammals, which were the organisms that provided feces for the development of their larvae.

BackgroundAncient protein sequences are increasingly used to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships between extinct and extant mammalian taxa. Here, we apply these recent developments to Middle Pleistocene bone specimens of the rhinoceros genus Stephanorhinus. No biomolecular sequence data is currently available for this genus, leaving phylogenetic hypotheses on its evolutionary relationships to extant and extinct rhinoceroses untested. Furthermore, recent phylogenies based on Rhinocerotidae (partial or complete) mitochondrial DNA sequences differ in the placement of the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis). Therefore, studies utilising ancient protein sequences from Middle Pleistocene contexts have the potential to provide further insights into the phylogenetic relationships between extant and extinct species, including Stephanorhinus and Dicerorhinus.MethodsZooMS screening (zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry) was performed on several Late and Middle Pleistocene specimens from the genus Stephanorhinus, subsequently followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to obtain ancient protein sequences from a Middle Pleistocene Stephanorhinus specimen. We performed parallel analysis on a Late Pleistocene woolly rhinoceros specimen and extant species of rhinoceroses, resulting in the availability of protein sequence data for five extant species and two extinct genera. Phylogenetic analysis additionally included all extant Perissodactyla genera (Equus, Tapirus), and was conducted using Bayesian (MrBayes) and maximum-likelihood (RAxML) methods.ResultsVarious ancient proteins were identified in both the Middle and Late Pleistocene rhinoceros samples. Protein degradation and proteome complexity are consistent with an endogenous origin of the identified proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of informative proteins resolved the Perissodactyla phylogeny in agreement with previous studies in regards to the placement of the families Equidae, Tapiridae, and Rhinocerotidae. Stephanorhinus is shown to be most closely related to the genera Coelodonta and Dicerorhinus. The protein sequence data further places the Sumatran rhino in a clade together with the genus Rhinoceros, opposed to forming a clade with the black and white rhinoceros species.DiscussionThe first biomolecular dataset available for Stephanorhinus places this genus together with the extinct genus Coelodonta and the extant genus Dicerorhinus. This is in agreement with morphological studies, although we are unable to resolve the order of divergence between these genera based on the protein sequences available. Our data supports the placement of the genus Dicerorhinus in a clade together with extant Rhinoceros species. Finally, the availability of protein sequence data for both extinct European rhinoceros genera allows future investigations into their geographic distribution and extinction chronologies.

Background and AimsThe integration of extant and extinct species is essential to understand the character evolution of organisms. However, the effect of incorporating fossil information on inferring evolutionary patterns of morphological characters is still poorly understood. Here, we used Cissampelideae, a tribe of pantropical lianas with rich fossil records, to provide new insights into the role of fossils in the inference of character evolution.MethodsBased on seven DNA regions and 24 endocarp characters, we reconstructed a dated phylogeny for 39 extant and 11 fossil species of Cissampelideae. For comparison, we also reconstructed a dated phylogeny for only extant species. Within the dated phylogenetic frameworks, we then reconstructed the evolutionary patterns of endocarp characters in the tribe.Key ResultsAncestral-state inferences of 6 of the 24 endocarp characters are changed when fossils are integrated. The endocarp of the most recent common ancestor of Cissampelideae had unbroken short raised transverse ridges lower than the unspiny dorsal crest. Within Cissampelideae, the broken transverse ridge is derived from the unbroken transverse ridge, the columnar protuberance is derived from the long raised transverse ridge, and the long raised transverse ridge is derived from the short raised transverse ridge.ConclusionsEndocarp transverse ridges of Cissampelideae show evolutionary trends of becoming fragmented and more elevated, which may be related to adaptation to limestone karst environments. This study highlights that fossil species have played important roles in recording morphological character evolution and showcases the necessity of integrating fossil and extant taxa to improve the inference of character evolution.

The evolutionary history of large carnivorous mammals through the Ice Age have been investigated for the Italian peninsula. No endemisms are recorded in the mainland of Italy and large carnivore species composition reflected the similar fauna of European continent. Morpho-ecological adaptation of extinct Plio-Pleistocene species have been investigated throughout temporal PaleoCommunities (9 PCOMs – spanning 3.2 to 0.3 Ma) with statistical accuracy. Trophic apparatus of extant and extinct species was investigated with a geometric morphometric analysis of mandible shape while locomotory habits were assessed using long bone indices. The mandible shape analysis performed on extant Carnivora taxa confirms their morphological differences due principally to taxonomic affiliation (family). Although, when phylogenetic history is controlled with comparative methods, significant differences still to occur among taxa with different diets and between small and large forms (threshold posed at 7 kilograms). Interestingly, both mandibular regions (corpus and ascending ramus) are informative of Carnivora ecological adaptations and they result integrated at a macroevolutionary scale. This survey allows to consider geometric morphometric as a reliable technique to apply on fossil mandibles. Feeding habits have been predicted with a good degree of accuracy in several PlioPleistocene large carnivores on the basis of mandible shape data. The latter data –selecting only the corpus regionhave been considered also to perform a morphospace comparison between large carnivore guilds of Italian PCOMs and extant guilds representative of five mainland ecosystems worldwide. Disparity values computed for mandibular corpus shape of Plio-Pleistocene guilds did not differ significantly from extant guilds. Morphological variability in mandible shape is negatively influenced by number of species in each guild as well as number of prey confirming that ecomorph specialization does not occur at the extreme region of morphospace. Long bone proportions of Plio-Pleistocene large carnivores are grouped in the variability of extant species. Although some phenomena of morphological convergences occur among extinct and extant taxa because of similar locomotor adaptation (e.g. cursorial) and same body size constraint. These morphoecological data were also used to predict the relative adaptability of Plio-Pleistocene species to certain habitats (grassland and tropical). The macroecological analysis of presence/absence data confirms the striking relationship between the abundances of both predators and their prey thought Ice Age. On the other hand no morphoecological coordinate changes occurs between predators and their prey. It is noteworthy that large carnivores are overrepresented in the Italian fossil record and became rarer from Galerian to the Aurelian (also because of a possible interaction with human activities). A GIS model was then computed to compare large mammal communities toward Plio-Pleistocene in Italy. Structural changes occurred in large herbivore communities from Villafranchian through the Aurelian because of climate changes. On the other hand, the spatial structure of large carnivore communities was more affected by their prey during the Villafranchian, while in the Galerian and Aurelian there was a greater influence of uncontrolled factors like climate and human activity as well.

Generally, the species is considered to be the only naturally occurring taxon. However, species recognized and defined using different species delimitation criteria cannot readily be compared, impacting studies of biodiversity through Deep Time. This comparability issue is particularly marked when comparing extant with extinct species because the only available data for species delimitation in fossils are derived from their preserved morphology, which is generally restricted to osteology in vertebrates. Here, we quantify intraspecific, intrageneric, and intergeneric osteological variability in extant species of lacertid lizards using pairwise dissimilarity scores based on a data set of 253 discrete osteological characters for 99 specimens referred to 24 species. Variability is always significantly lower intraspecifically than between individuals belonging to distinct species of a single genus, which is in turn significantly lower than intergeneric variability. Average values of intraspecific variability and associated standard deviations are consistent (with few exceptions), with an overall average within a species of 0.208 changes per character scored. Application of the same methods to six extinct lacertid species (represented by 40 fossil specimens) revealed that intraspecific osteological variability is inconsistent, which can at least in part be attributed to different researchers having unequal expectations of the skeletal dissimilarity within species units. Such a divergent interpretation of intraspecific and interspecific variability among extant and extinct species reinforces the incomparability of the species unit. Lacertidae is an example where extant species recognized and defined based on a number of delimitation criteria show comparable and consistent intraspecific osteological variability. Here, as well as in equivalent cases, application of those skeletal dissimilarity values to paleontological species delimitation potentially provides a way to ameliorate inconsistencies created by the use of morphology to define species. [Intraspecific variation; Lacertidae; morphological disparity; osteology; species delimitation; taxonomic bias.].

Nothofagus trees are undoubtedly one of the most distinctive elements in the Andean region. With an exclusive distribution in the Southern Hemisphere, they play a relevant evolutionary role in reconstructing the phylogeny and biogeographical history of austral biotas. In this study, we assembled a phylogenetic matrix that integrates morphological and molecular evidence, incorporating both extant and extinct taxa of Nothofagus. On the basis of this phylogeny, we examined the evolutionary patterns of morphological traits previously used in taxon delimitation and tested whether proposed synapomorphies support species-level relationships, particularly among Andean taxa. The integrative phylogeny confirms evolutionary links between extant and extinct species, highlighting the importance of assessing leaf morphological characters when analysing extinct and extant species together. Differences in foliar features such as margin, serrations and venation are evident between primitive and more recently diverged clades. The venation pattern is one of the most informative traits, offering valuable insights into evolutionary processes and the responses of plants to environmental conditions. This research provides insights into the ancestral relationships within the genus Nothofagus and helps to elucidate its history, particularly in the Andean region.

Introduction: The genus Agassizia in Mexico is represented both in the fossil record with the species Agassizia regia† during the Miocene of Chiapas and in the extant species Agassizia excentrica on the Atlantic coast and Agassizia scrobiculata on the Pacific coast. Qualitative diagnosis and descriptions make it hard to distinguish morphological boundaries between species, especially in groups with fossils and recent representatives, increasing the level of complexity by having samples of disparate qualities and quantities. Objective: We propose the use of little explored statistical methods in the comparison of paleontological and biological populations. This methodology allowed us to resolve issues of missing values in a morphometric data set for the genus Agassizia. Methods: Using samples recently collected and specimens already housed in collections, we explore a routine of recovery of missing data MICE and the numerical and graphic analyses PERMANOVA, PCA, and SIMPER to compare morphometric parameters between these species for recognizing diagnostic characters. Results: Our results show a clear morphological difference in the length of the ambulacrum II and the length and width of the periproct and peristome structures, these being greater in A. scrobiculata, with a consistent pattern in both population samples not previously described. Conclusions: Quantitative morphometric comparisons can be an assertive and complementary tool to determine distinctive differentiation characteristics in species of the same genus. Comparative morphology reviews should be an ongoing exercise to keep taxonomic knowledge on both extinct and extant species up to date. Our research encourage the scientific community studying fossil populations to utilize quantitative and multivariate methods to strengthen their investigations.

The ant genus Pristomyrmex Mayr (subfamily Myrmicinae) comprises about 60 extant species, distributed almost exceptionally throughout the tropics except for Central and South America. Single known fossil species from this genus, P. rasnitsyni Dlussky et Radchenko, was previously described from the Late Eocene Scandinavian amber. Here we described two new extinct species: P. elmesi sp. nov. (worker) from the Rovno amber, and P. archaios sp. nov. (male) from the Bitterfeld amber. P. elmesi differs from P. rasnitsyni by the somewhat smaller size (2.4 mm vs. 3 mm), by the slightly elongated, not transversal head (HL/HW 1.02 vs. 0.95), by the somewhat longer antennal scape (SL/HL 0.75 and SL/HW 0.77 vs. 0.72 and 0.68, respectively), by the much shorter, straight and thin propodeal spines (ESL/HW 0.12 vs. 0.25), by the absence of meadial tooth on the anterior cypeal margin, by the another type of mandibular dentation, and by the longer mesosoma. Male of P. archaios differs from all extant species by the presence of two closed cells, 1r 2r and mcu, on the forewing, while forewing of the modern species has only one closed cell, 1r 2r. We consider such kind of forewing venation as the plesiomorphy compare to extant Pristomyrmex species.