Combination Of Several Characters Research Articles

A new radiodont from the lower Cambrian (Series 2 Stage 3) Chengjiang Lagerstätte, South China informs the evolution of feeding structures in radiodonts

Radiodonts, a diverse clade of early Palaeozoic stem-group euarthropods, have provided critical information for understanding the evolution of this phylum, and were important constituents of marine ecosystems at this time. The well-known Chengjiang Lagerstätte (Cambrian Stage 3, c. 518 Ma) has yielded the highest known diversity of radiodonts of any Cambrian Konservat-Lagerstätten, and represents a crucial deposit for radiodont research. One important but generally overlooked Chengjiang radiodont taxon, previously identified as Anomalocaris sp. or Radiodont C, is herein designated as the type species of a new monotypic genus, Shucaris ankylosskelos gen. et sp. nov., based on dozens of specimens. Shucaris is distinctive for its combination of several characters, including the presence of two pairs of endites on its proximal-most claw podomere, posteriorly inward curved endites on claw podomeres 2–6, and, most strikingly, the coexistence of gnathobase-like structures and an oral cone. New material of Ramskoeldia consimilis records the first known oral cone in this species, confirming that oral cones and gnathobase-like structures co-occur in multiple radiodont taxa. Phylogenetic analyses retrieve Shucaris as either an early diverging member of Anomalocarididae or as sister to the clade Anomalocarididae + Amplectobeluidae. Moreover, our phylogenetic analyses also support the divergence between hurdiid and non-hurdiid radiodonts. https://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6989C81B-06B2-4AED-8297-3B200A6F8D69

Identification of Incung Characters (Kerinci) to Latin Characters Using Convolutional Neural Network

Incung script is a legacy of the Kerinci tribe located in Kerinci Regency, Jambi Province. On October 17, 2014, the Incung script was designated by the Ministry of Education and Culture as an intangible heritage property owned by Jambi Province. But in reality, the Incung script is almost extinct in society. This study aims to identify the characters of the Incung (Kerinci) script with the output in the form of Latin characters from the Incung script. The classification method used is the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) method. The dataset used as many as 1400 incung character images divided into 28 classes. In this study, an experiment was conducted to obtain the most optimal model. Showing the results using the CNN method during the training process that the accuracy of the training data reaches 99% and the accuracy of the testing data reaches 91% by using the optimal hyperparameters from the tests that have been done, namely batch size 32, epoch 100, and Adam's optimizer. It evaluates the CNN model using 80 images in words (a combination of several characters) with 4 test scenarios. It shows that the model can recognize image data from scanning printed books, digital writing test data, test data with images containing more than two characters, and check images with different font sizes

A Remarkable New Species of Euphorbia section Helioscopia (Euphorbia subgenus Esula, Euphorbiaceae) from Jiufeng Mountains in Fujian Province, Eastern China

Abstract— Euphorbia xiangxiui, a new species of Euphorbiaceae from Eastern China, supported by morphological and molecular evidence, is illustrated and described here. It can be distinguished from its closest relatives by the combination of several characters, including taller stature (up to 1.6 m), leaves of 5‐18 × 0.6‐3 cm in size, color of primary involucral leaves and cyathophylls changing from pink to rose, fading to green after fruiting, and four to six reniform-rounded concave glands. The molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on combined nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid ndhF sequences, further supports that E. xiangxiui should be placed in the East Asian Clade of Euphorbia subg. Esula sect. Helioscopia.

A nyctitheriid insectivore (Eulipotyphla, Mammalia) of Asian affinity from the early Eocene of India

ABSTRACT A new nyctitheriid (Indonyctia cambayensis gen. et sp. nov.) is described from an early Eocene (~55 Ma) marginal marine sequence (Cambay Shale) at Vastan Lignite Mine, Gujarat, western India. The new taxon is diagnosed by a unique combination of several characters including a single-rooted p2; a p4 with a tiny paraconid at the base but without a metaconid; weakly developed talonid basin; reduced p3 relative to p2 and p4; molar trigonid wider and much higher than talonid; hypoconulid nearly on midline; entoconid positioned anterolingual to hypoconulid; presence of precingulid and a larger and taller protoconid than metaconid. The Asian affinities of the Indian nyctitheriid are indicated by its structurally reduced, premolariform p4 with a weakly developed unicuspid talonid. In several respects, the Indian nyctitheriid is similar to Voltaia, a late Palaeocene taxon from Kazakhstan originally assigned to the Palaeoryctidae but later classified as a nyctitheriid. The presence of a nyctitheriid in the basal Eocene of India suggests a wider palaeogeographic distribution and complex dispersal of this Holarctic family. The Asian affinities of the Indian nyctitheriid suggest faunal exchanges between India and the Mainland Asia possibly via the Dras-Kohistan island arc around the Palaeocene-Eocene boundary (~56 Ma).

Description of the immature stages of the Neotropical whirligig beetle Gyrinus (Neogyrinus) rozei Ochs, 1953 (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae) and first report of the parasitoid wasp Melanosmicra sp. (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) on a Gyrinus species.

In most species of Gyrinidae, the immature stages are unknown, especially due to the difficulty in collecting the juveniles and assigning them to a particular species. Molecular association is a feasible technique that may solve this problem. Recent studies have used DNA sequence data, specifically the gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), to associate immature and adult stages, thus enabling the description of the former. The objectives of this study were (1) to describe and illustrate the immature stages of Gyrinus (Neogyrinus) rozei Ochs, 1953 including morphometric, chaetotaxic and bionomic information, and (2) to assess the usefulness of the gene COI to associate immatures and adults of Gyrinus. The studied specimens were collected in Roraima state, northern Brazil. The association of immature and adult stages was done either by rearing adults under laboratory conditions or by using DNA sequence data (COI). Eggs were described based on scanning electron microscopy; they are distinguished mainly by several features of chorion, micropyle and reticulation. Larvae of G. (N.) rozei can be distinguished from those of other Neotropical Gyrinidae by a combination of several characters, including the stipes with five robust hook-like additional setae on the dorsointernal margin, and the lacinia roughly hook-shaped. The pupa is similar to that of G. argentinus Steinhel, 1869, except for the number of setae on the body. The first record of the parasitoid wasp Melanosmicra sp. (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) on a Gyrinus species is also provided.

Especie nueva de Epimeria (Amphipoda: Epimeriidae) del Golfo de Panamá

Se describe una especie nueva perteneciente al género Epimeria de material colectado durante la expedición del B/I John Elliott Pillsbury en las aguas profundas del Golfo de Panamá. Esta nueva especie puede ser distinguida de las otras especies del género por la combinación de los siguientes caracteres: rostro largo, alcanza la mitad del artejo 2 de la antena 1; ojos ausentes; coxopodito 4 con margen anterovental casi recto dirigido hacia abajo; coxopodito 5 con esquina posteroventral puntiaguda extendiéndose hasta el pleonito 2; pleonitos 5?7 con dientes mediodorsales agudos dirigidos hacia atrás; margen posterior del telson, liso. Este es el primer registro de un representante de la familia Epimeriidae para el Golfo de Panamá.

Gyretes Brullé (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae) from Brazil: Morphology of eggs and early instars.

Taxonomic information regarding Gyrinidae is mostly based on adults, especially due to the difficulty in collecting immatures and assigning them to a particular species. Association between immatures and adults is sometimes difficult because closely related species can be found in the same habitat. To solve this problem a feasible technique is rearing under laboratory conditions. However, this method is challenging because larval survival rate is usually low, and emulation of natural conditions is difficult. Molecular techniques, especially the use of the COI gene, have been applied to identify species and to associate different life stages. However, in some species groups this marker has not been successful in distinguishing closely related species. The objectives of this study are to describe the egg and the first two instars of Gyretes nubilus Ochs, 1965 and the egg of G. minax Ochs, 1967 and to evaluate the utility of COI to associate immatures and adults. The association of these immature stages with adults was done either rearing adults under laboratory conditions or by using DNA sequence data (COI), corroborating the utility of this molecular marker to associate immature and adults in Gyretes. These immature stages are described, including chaetotaxic analysis of larvae for the first time for the genus Gyretes Brullé, 1835. The eggs are described based on scanning electron microscopy. The eggs are similar to those of other Gyrinidae genera in having a micropylar region in the anterior pole and a longitudinal fissure, and by the absence of an aeropyle, but they differ mainly in characters related to chorionic structure and reticulation. Larvae of Gyretes can be distinguished from those of the other Neotropical Gyrinidae genera by a combination of several characters, including the frontoclypeal seta FR3 short, presence of three conspicuous additional setae on lateral region of parietal (contiguous to stemmata), and posterior margin of lacinia smooth, with apex not indented.

A rare, articulated sturgeon (Chondrostei: Acipenseriformes) from the Upper Cretaceous of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada

Although fragmentary remains of sturgeon, such as scutes and pectoral spines, are relatively common in fossil deposits, articulated fossilized skeletons are rare in Upper Cretaceous sediments of North America. Currently, there are four extinct species referred to Acipenseridae reported from the Upper Cretaceous of North America; two of them (†Acipenser eruciferus and †A. albertensis) are of doubtful validity because they are based on isolated elements that are probably not diagnostic. Only two species, †Priscosturion longipinnis and †Protoscaphirhynchus squamosus, have been described based on articulated skeletons. In June 2016, an articulated sturgeon specimen was discovered in the Campanian Dinosaur Park Formation of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada. This specimen preserves the skull and anterior half to two-thirds of the body but is missing the pelvic, dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. This new specimen cannot be included in any of the previously named taxa, so we describe it here as a new genus and species, †Anchiacipenser acanthaspis. A combination of several characters allows us to diagnose the new sturgeon from Dinosaur Provincial Park as a new taxon, including the dermal cranial bones being strongly ornamented with straight and anastomosing ridges, the dorsal scutes being large and laterally expanded and bearing median spines, and the presence of an extensive cover of smaller dermal scales on the flanks. A phylogenetic analysis indicates that this new taxon belongs in Acipenseridae, although its precise relationships within this clade are not clear.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:854CE883-AB0A-4A21-93F2-54E308F95AB4Citation for this article: Sato, H., A. M. Murray, O. Vernygora, and P. J. Currie. 2018. A rare, articulated sturgeon (Chondrostei: Acipenseriformes) from the Upper Cretaceous of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2018.1488137.

A new species of Anthiadinae (Teleostei: Serranidae) from São Pedro and São Paulo Archipelago, Brazil, Equatorial Atlantic.

A new species of Anthiadinae, Odontanthias cauoh, is described from São Pedro and São Paulo Archipelago (SPSPA), Brazil, Equatorial Atlantic. The new species differs from its only Atlantic congener by a combination of several characters: pectoral-fin rays 20; total gill rakers on first arch 39; vomerine tooth patch with a posterior prolongation; pelvic fin not reaching base of last anal-fin ray; dorsal, anal and pelvic fins scaleless; and coloration (dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins mostly dark red). The record of the new species contributes to increase the fish endemism in SPSPA.

Redescription of Ecdyonurus (Ecdyonurus) russevi Braasch & Soldán, 1985 (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae).

This study is focussed on the redescription of Ecdyonurus (Ecdyonurus) russevi Braasch & Soldán on the basis of the type material (holotype and paratypes) and topotypes collected in the Strandzha Mts. (Bulgaria). Female imago and subimago, larva and egg of the species are described for the first time and the male imago is redescribed in detail. The features distinguishing the species from other representatives of the genus Ecdyonurus are presented. Ecdyonurus russevi differs by the combination of several characters in the colour pattern of abdominal terga and wings, colour of lateral portion of male eyes and male genitalia structure in adults; some overlap has been observed in the number of groups of setae, bristles and hair-like setae on maxillae and labial palps, shape of pronotal projection and colour of tarsi in larvae; and insignificant number of knob-terminated coiled threads on exochorion, with only a few such attachment elements on one pole in eggs. Biology and present distribution of the species are discussed.

Yoruba Language and Numerals’ Offline Interpreter Using Morphological and Template Matching

Yoruba as a language has passed through generation reformations making some of the old documents in the archive to be unreadable by the present readers. Apart from this, some Yoruba writers usually mixed English numerals while writing due to brevity and conciseness of English numerals compare to Yoruba numerals which are combination of several characters. Re-typing such historical documents may be time consuming, therefore a need for an efficient Optical Character Reader (OCR) which will not only effectively recognize Yoruba texts but also converts all the English numerals in the document to Yoruba numerals.Several Optical Character Reader (OCR) systems had been developed to recognize characters or texts of some languages such as English, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, however, despite the significant contribution of Yoruba language to historical documentation and communication, it was observed that there is no particular OCR system for the language. In this paper correlation and template matching techniques were used to develop an OCR for the recognition of Yoruba based texts and convert English numerals in the document to Yoruba numerals. Experimental results show the relatively high accuracy of the developed OCR when it was tested on all size Yoruba alphabets and numerals. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/telkomnika.v13i1.6782 Full Text: PDF

Yoruba Language and Numerals’ Offline Interpreter Using Morphological and Template Matching

<p>Yoruba as a language has passed through generation reformations making some of the old documents in the archive to be unreadable by the present generation readers. Apart from this, some Yoruba writers usually mixed English numerals while writing due to brevity and conciseness of English numeral compare to Yoruba numerals which are combination of several characters. Re-typing such historical documents may be time consuming, therefore a need for an efficient Optical Character Reader (OCR) which will not only effectively recognize Yoruba texts but also converts all the English numerals in the document to Yoruba numerals.Several Optical Character Reader (OCR) systems had been developed to recognize characters or texts of some languages such as English, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, however, despite the significant contribution of Yoruba language to historical documentation and communication, it was observed that there is no particular OCR system for the language. In this paper correlation and template matching techniques were used to develop an OCR for the recognition of Yoruba based texts and convert English numerals in the document to Yoruba numerals. Experimental results show the relatively high accuracy of the developed OCR when it was tested on all size Yoruba alphabets and numerals.</p>

Curidia nunoi sp. nov. (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Ochlesidae), a new benthic species from a tropical coral reef southern Gulf of Mexico

A new species of Curidia is described based on material collected from Sisal Coral Reef System, south-east Gulf of Mexico, Mexico. It is the eighth species of this genus described worldwide. Curidia nunoi sp. nov. is morphologically similar to C. wakabarae and C. andreae. Curidia nunoi sp. nov., however, differs from these two species by a combination of several characters, including: the posteroventral spine of peduncle articles 1 and 2 of antenna 1, the distoventral spine of peduncle article 4 of antenna 2, the distal margin of coxa of gnathopod 1, the dactylus of gnathopod 2, the inner and outer plates of maxilla 1, and the distal margin of telson. The global geographical distribution of the genus Curidia is mostly from tropical to subtropical seas; five species are documented in the southern hemisphere and three in the northern hemisphere. Only C. debrogania, C. monicae, and C. nunoi sp. nov. are restricted to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

Trichospirura aethiopican. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabdochonidae) fromMalacomys longipes(Rodentia: Muridae) in Gabon, first record of the genus in the Ethiopian Realm

Trichospirura aethiopica n. sp. is described from unidentified tubular structures (pancreatic ducts?) near the stomach of the murid Malacomys longipes Milne-Edwards, 1877 in Gabon. The extremely long and narrow buccal capsule, posterior position of the vulva, unequal spicules and absence of caudal alae readily identified the specimens as belonging to Trichospirura Smith & Chitwood, 1967, but a combination of several characters distinguished them from the described species in this genus. Males of the new species are characterized by the absence of precloacal papillae, the presence of four pairs of postcloacal papillae and a left spicule length of 165–200 μm. With only five nominal and one unnamed species, the host range of Trichospirura extends into the Neotropical, Indo-Malayan and Ethiopian Realms and comprises three classes of vertebrates, Amphibia, Reptilia and Mammalia, suggesting a larger species diversity than that currently recorded. Detection is difficult as predilection sites are often outside the gut lumen. It was noted that, irrespective of their geographic origin, species from mammals share certain characters (shorter left spicule and absence of precloacal papillae) that oppose them to those from amphibians and reptiles. A hypothesis for the origin of Trichospirura in mammals through a remote host-switching event in tupaiids in southern Asia, likely facilitated by the intermediate hosts, and for their subsequent migration to the Ethiopian and finally Neotropical Realm is proposed. Regarding the two species from anurans and saurians in the Antilles, one or two host-switching events are considered equally possible, based on morphological characters.

A new deep-water species ofEpimeria(Amphipoda: Gammaridea: Epimeriidae) from the continental slope of western Mexico

A new species of deep waterEpimeriais described based on material collected in 1526–1586 m depth during the TALUD X expedition in the central Gulf of California, Mexico. It is the sixth species of this genus reported for the East Pacific.Epimeria morroneisp. nov. is morphologically similar toE. norfanziLörz, 2011 (New Zealand, 1268 m depth) andE. coraJ.L. Barnard, 1971 (off Oregon, USA, 2086 m depth).Epimeria morroneisp. nov., however, differs from these two species by a combination of several characters, including: vestigial eyes; multidentate mandibular lacinia mobilis; a distinct setae arrangement in palm and dactylus of gnathopods 1–2; the shape and relative size of coxae 1–5; and the shape of the telson.

A specimen of Curculioninae (Curculionidae, Coleoptera) from the Lower Cretaceous, Araripe Basin, north‐eastern Brazil

Abstract: A specimen of Curculionidae (Curculioninae) is described as Arariperhinus monnei gen. et sp. nov. The specimen is preserved on a laminated limestone sample of the Crato Formation (Santana Group), Lower Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian), and was collected from a quarry near Nova Olinda, Chapada do Araripe, State of Ceará, Brazil. The genus is placed in the subfamily Curculioninae because of its strongly convex body and relatively slender rostrum, but mainly by its rounded eyes and lack of a prosternal sulcus and tibial spurs. The very prominent eyes in lateral view, a cylindrical rostrum and a straight posterior margin of ventrite II are strong indications that this fossil belongs to the tribe Anthonomini. However, the claws, which would resolve the exact placement of this fossil, are poorly preserved. Arariperhinus monnei gen. et sp. nov. is distinguishable by the combination of several characters and the first record of the family Curculionidae in the Santana Group; it is the oldest record of a member of the subfamily Curculioninae.

A new species of night lizard of the genus Lepidophyma (Squamata: Xantusiidae) from southern Puebla, México

A new species of Lepidophyma is described from the Sierra Negra in southern Puebla. This new species is known only from the type locality and is characterized by a combination of several characters (number of dorsal scales, total of femoral pores, number of lateral tubercles, number the dorsal interwhorls separated the whorls, number of the paravertebral rows, number of the toe lamellae and number of gulars). It lives between rocks in remnants of Tropical Evergreen Forest. The description of this new species increases the number of species in the genus to 19.

Revision of the genus Anonconotus Camerano, 1878 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) with description of A. pusillus sp. n. and A. baracunensis occidentalis ssp. n

occidentalis ssp. n. - The three species known to date are redescribed. The taxonomic importance of morphological characters is discussed; characters taken one by one are generally difficult to use, but the combination ofseveral characters can be used successfully for identification. No taxonomic change occurs in either A. alpinus alpinus (Yersin, 1858) or in A. a. italo-austriacus Nadig, 1987. A. apenninigenus (Targioni-Tozzetti, 1881) is redescribed; this species is shown to be limited to the Apennine mountains and is not present in the Alps as previously thought. The Alpine populations which were considered as A. apenninigenus actually belong to A. pusillus sp. n. (populations north of Susa Valley) and to A. baracunensis occidentalis ssp. n. (south of Susa Valley). A. b. baracunensis Nadig, 1987 is limited to a very small area near the Mon Viso Mountain. A distribution map shows the updated distribution ranges of these allopatric(-parapatric) taxa in the Alps and in the Apennine mountains.

A new species of Mesocyclops (Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Cyclopidae) from Southeastern Mexico

The taxonomical status of several neotropical species of Mesocyclops is still uncertain. Furthermore, several new species with a restricted distributional range have been described recently in this region. From littoral zooplankton samples collected in the lowlands of the State of Tabasco, Southeastern Mexico, male and female specimens of a previously unknown species of Mesocyclops were found. This new species is described herein based on both sexes and following the upgraded standards set for the taxonomic study of this genus, including SEM analysis. The new species differs from its congeners by a combination of several characters: the unique shape of the antennular hyaline membrane, the ornamentation of both maxillule and maxilla, the ornamentation of the fourth swimming leg, the shape and structure of the genital receptacle, and the ornamentation of the furcal rami. It is most closely related to other neotropical species such as M. meridianus Kiefer, 1926 and M. pseudomeridianus Defaye & Dussart, 1989. This is the eleventh species of Mesocyclops known from Mexico, and also the third new species described upon Mexican material. Due to the affinity of the Tabasco fauna with the Caribbean and the South American copepod faunas, the new species is expected to have a relatively wide geographical distribution in the neotropical region.

Two new species of Monstrilla (Copepoda: Monstrilloida) from Brazil

Several specimens of monstrilloid copepods were collected in different localities of Brazil between 1993 and 1997. The taxonomic analysis of these specimens yielded the identification of two new species of Monstrilla. The first one, M. careli sp. nov. can be distinguished by a combination of several characters, including its body proportions, with a very long cephalothorax, by the particularly long terminal segment of the antennules, by the structure of its fifth legs, and by the very long dorsal seta on the caudal rami. The second species, M. brasiliensis sp. nov. can be distinguished by the peculiar features of its fifth leg, with a patch of long and stout hair-like setae along its outer margin; it has also a notched protuberance near the antennule bases. It has a notch on the anterior protuberance of the genital somite, and a ventrally swollen cephalothorax. This species, together with M. inserta Scott bears a pair of enigmatic structures which are either modified sensillae or a vestigial postantennular appendage not previously described in the Monstrilloida.