Extant Specimens Research Articles

The coelacanth: Can a "living fossil" have active transposable elements in its genome?

The coelacanth has long been regarded as a "living fossil," with extant specimens looking very similar to fossils dating back to the Cretaceous period. The hypothesis of a slowly or even not evolving genome has been proposed to account for this apparent morphological stasis. While this assumption seems to be sustained by different evolutionary analyses on protein-coding genes, recent studies on transposable elements have provided more conflicting results. Indeed, the coelacanth genome contains many transposable elements and has been shaped by several major bursts of transposition during evolution. In addition, comparison of orthologous genomic regions from the genomes of the 2 extant coelacanth species L. chalumnae and L. menadoensis revealed multiple species-specific insertions, indicating transposable element recent activity and contribution to post-speciation genome divergence. These observations, which do not support the genome stasis hypothesis, challenge either the impact of transposable elements on organismal evolution or the status of the coelacanth as a "living fossil." Closer inspection of fossil and molecular data indicate that, even if coelacanths might evolve more slowly than some other lineages due to demographic and/or ecological factors, this variation is still in the range of a "non-fossil" vertebrate species.

History of the extant museum specimens of the Faroese white-speckled raven

The white-speckled raven, a colour aberration of the Faroese raven Corvus corax varius Brünnich, 1764 , has occurred on the Faroe Islands since at least the Middle Ages, and was always prized by collectors. In the second half of the nineteenth century while the Faroese raven population as a whole was suffering intense persecution, pied individuals were even more severely hunted, and were extinct by the beginning of the twentieth century. Details of twenty six specimens found in museum collections are given in this paper, as well as an overview of collectors on the Faroes who may have collected specimens.

Interspecies insertion polymorphism analysis reveals recent activity of transposable elements in extant coelacanths.

Coelacanths are lobe-finned fish represented by two extant species, Latimeria chalumnae in South Africa and Comoros and L. menadoensis in Indonesia. Due to their intermediate phylogenetic position between ray-finned fish and tetrapods in the vertebrate lineage, they are of great interest from an evolutionary point of view. In addition, extant specimens look similar to 300 million-year-old fossils; because of their apparent slowly evolving morphology, coelacanths have been often described as « living fossils ». As an underlying cause of such a morphological stasis, several authors have proposed a slow evolution of the coelacanth genome. Accordingly, sequencing of the L. chalumnae genome has revealed a globally low substitution rate for protein-coding regions compared to other vertebrates. However, genome and gene evolution can also be influenced by transposable elements, which form a major and dynamic part of vertebrate genomes through their ability to move, duplicate and recombine. In this work, we have searched for evidence of transposition activity in coelacanth genomes through the comparative analysis of orthologous genomic regions from both Latimeria species. Comparison of 5.7 Mb (0.2%) of the L. chalumnae genome with orthologous Bacterial Artificial Chromosome clones from L. menadoensis allowed the identification of 27 species-specific transposable element insertions, with a strong relative contribution of CR1 non-LTR retrotransposons. Species-specific homologous recombination between the long terminal repeats of a new coelacanth endogenous retrovirus was also detected. Our analysis suggests that transposon activity is responsible for at least 0.6% of genome divergence between both Latimeria species. Taken together, this study demonstrates that coelacanth genomes are not evolutionary inert: they contain recently active transposable elements, which have significantly contributed to post-speciation genome divergence in Latimeria.

The sevenfold-fivefold-threefold litany of the saints in the Leofric Missal and beyond

AbstractThe brief litany of saints in the Leofric Missal is the oldest complete extant specimen of the sevenfold-fivefold-threefold prayer used for baptism on Holy Saturday. This continental innovation became widespread in Anglo-Saxon England, and was used in Ireland into the twelfth century. The petitions of this special form, probably from an English source, appear in the brief litany of the Corpus Irish Missal, alongside invocations either standardized by the scribe or adapted from a continental source. Through the evolution of the sevenfold-fivefold-threefold litany over time and across cultures, we see concrete evidence of the patterns of cultural transmission that shaped early medieval Europe.

The dispersion and detection patterns of mtDNA-assigned red fox Vulpes vulpes scats in Tasmania are anomalous.

Summary Models used for resource allocation in eradication programmes must be based on replicated data of known quality and have proven predictive accuracy, or they may provide a false indication of species presence and/or distribution. In the absence of data corroborating the presence of extant foxes Vulpes vulpes in Tasmania, a habitat‐specific model based upon mtDNA data (Sarre et al. 2012. Journal Applied Ecology, 50, 459–468) implied that foxes were widespread. Overall, 61 of 9940 (0·6%) surveyed scats were assigned as mtDNA fox positive by the fox eradication programme (FEP).We investigated the spatiotemporal distribution of the 61 mtDNA‐assigned fox scats and modelled the probability of replicating scat detection in independent surveys using detection dogs based upon empirically derived probabilities of scat detection success obtained by the FEP using imported fox scats.In a prior mainland study, fox genotypes were recurrently detected in a consecutive four‐day pool of scats. In Tasmania, only three contemporaneously collected scat pairs of unknown genotype were detected by the FEP within an area corresponding to a conservatively large mainland fox home range (639 ha) in a decade. Nearest neighbour pairs were widely spaced (mean = 7·0 km; circular area = 153 km2) and generated after a mean of 281 days.The majority of assigned mtDNA positive scats were found in urban and peri‐urban environments corresponding to small mainland fox home ranges (30–45 ha) that imply higher scat density and more certain replication. Using the lowest empirically determined scat detection success for dogs, the failure to replicate fox scat detection on 34 of 36 occasions in a large (639 ha) home range is highly improbable (P = 0·00001) and suggestive of Type I error. Synthesis and applications. Type I error, which may have various sources, should be considered when scat mtDNA data are few, accumulated over many years, uncorroborated by observations of extant specimens, inadequately replicated in independent surveys within an expected spatiotemporal scale and reported in geographically isolated environments unlikely to have been colonized.

History and status of the Ghost Orchid (Epipogium aphyllum, Orchidaceae) in England

This paper provides a full and detailed summary of the occurrence of the Ghost Orchid (Epipogium aphyllum Sw.) in England, from its initial discovery in 1854 to the present day. Phenology and frequency of occurrence is covered, along with a description of habitat and other ecological requirements. All known records are listed, along with details of the initial discovery for each. A list of uncorroborated records is included to encourage observers to complete the picture of its occurrence. Details for all extant herbarium specimens are listed. The species’ exact requirements are discussed, along with its potential future occurrence in Britain.

Thecamoebians from Late Permian Gondwana sediments of peninsular India

The evolutionary history of thecamoebians (testate amoebae) extends back to the Neoproterozoic Era. However, until now, these have had a restricted, discontinuous and modest record across the world. The studied sediment of Raniganj Formation (Godavari Graben), Andhra Pradesh, India has been assigned as Late Permian on the basis of co-occurring age-diagnostic Late Permian palynomorphs. About sixteen thecamoebian species and one taxon incertae sedis have been recorded here in the palynological slides on the basis of shell morphology and morphometry. Out of these, five belong to the family Arcellidae, seven to Centropyxidae, two to Trigonopyxidae, one to Difflugiidae, one to Plagiopyxidae, and one is regarded incertae sedis. The morphometric characteristics of fossil forms resemble their corresponding extant species studied from ecologically diverse fresh water wetlands in India. In general, the ratio of shell diameter and aperture diameter of Late Permian fossil and extant specimens show significant correlation in all the studied species. Except that, the ratio of shell length and breadth is the distinguishing feature between Centropyxis aerophila and C. aerophila ‘sylvatica’, rather than the ratio of shell length and longest diameter of the shell aperture in both fossil and extant forms. The study elucidates the minimal morphological evolution in thecamoebians and their survival during mass extinction periods and stressful environmental conditions over the geological timescale.

The second known specimen of Monodelphis unistriata (Wagner) (Mammalia: Didelphimorphia), with redescription of the species and phylogenetic analysis.

Very little information exists relevant to the species grouping and phylogenetic relationships of the opossum genus Monodelphis Burnett. Of the clearly distinct named species, the least information is available for M. unistriata (Wagner), one of the world's most poorly known species of mammals. Extant specimens consist of the Brazilian holotype of a skin now without a skull and dating from almost 200 years ago, and a second specimen with skin and incomplete skull dating from over a hundred years ago and from Argentina. The most recent published notes on the holotype date from well over half a century ago and, all told, such notes, the earliest dating from 1842, add up to a highly fragmentary and contradictory picture. No observations whatsoever have ever been published for the second and more complete specimen. Also, no hypotheses have ever been made concerning the intrageneric affinities of M. unistriata and such affinities have also been obscure throughout the genus. Herein, we provide a detailed redescription of M. unistriata, the first published images of specimens, and the first account, beyond the previous few most vague and incomplete remarks, of the morphology of the skull. In an effort to ascertain the phylogenetic affinities of M. unistriata, we performed a combined molecular (cytochrome b) and nonmolecular (postcranial, cranial, integument, and karyotypic characters) parsimony analysis incorporating 27 species of didelphids, including 11 of Monodelphis. Our results strongly support the monophyly of Monodelphis, and place M. unistriata as sister group to M. iheringi, among the included species.

Skull Geometric Morphometrics and Paleoecology of Santacrucian (Late Early Miocene; Patagonia) Native Ungulates (Astrapotheria, Litopterna, and Notoungulata)

Three orders of South American extinct native ungulates are recorded from the Santa Cruz Formation along the Atlantic coast of Patagonia: Notoungulata (Adinotherium Ameghino, Nesodon Owen, Interatherium Ameghino, Protypotherium Ameghino, Hegetotherium Ameghino, and Pachyrukhos Ameghino), Litopterna (Theosodon Ameghino, Anisolophus Burmeister, Tetramerorhinus Ameghino, Diadiaphorus Ameghino, and Thoatheriurn Ameghino), and Astrapotheria (Astrapotherium Burmeister). An ecomorphological study based on geometric morphometries of the masticatory apparatus was performed. The reference sample included 618 extant specimens of the orders Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Hyracoidea, and Diprotodontia. Thirty six cranial and 27 mandibular three-dimensional landmarks were digitized. Allometric scaling, principal component analyses, and phylogenetic generalized estimating equations on the cranium and mandible were preformed. Analyses of cranial shape show strong phylogenetic constraints, whereas the mandibular analyses show a functional pattern related to habitat/ diet and hypsodonty. The extant brachydont ungulates from closed habitats show a more elongated and narrower mandibular symphysis with a lower mandibular corpus, than hypsodont, open habitat species. The latter have short symphyses with a high, curved mandibular corpus. This morphological pattern was also present among Santacrucian ungulates, allowing characterization of notoungulates mainly as open habitats dwellers, with some taxa foraging on grass (Protypotherium, Interatherium), and others on grass and leaves {Hegetotherium, Pachyrukhos, and Adinotheriurn), depending on the availability. Nesodon may have dwelled in mixed habitats and had a mixed feeding behavior, while small proterotheriids {Anisolophus and Thoatheriurn) may have fed predominantly on dicotyledonous plants. The remaining litopterns {Tetramerorhinus, Diadiaphorus, and Theosodon) and Astrapotherium may have foraged in closed habitats and fed on dicotyledonous plants.

SKULL GEOMETRIC MORPHOMETRICS AND PALEOECOLOGY OF SANTACRUCIAN (LATE EARLY MIOCENE; PATAGONIA) NATIVE UNGULATES (ASTRAPOTHERIA, LITOPTERNA, AND NOTOUNGULATA)

Three orders of South American extinct native ungulates are recorded from the Santa Cruz Formation along the Atlantic coast of Patagonia: the Notoungulata (Adinotherium, Nesodon, Interatherium, Protypotherium, Hegetotherium and Pachyrukhos), the Litopterna (Theosodon, Anisolophus, Tetramerorhinus, Diadiaphorus and Thoatherium) and the Astrapotheria (Astrapotherium). This work is an ecomorphologic study of these taxa based on geometric morphometrics of the masticatory apparatus. As a reference sample, 618 extant specimens of the orders Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Hyracoidea and Diprotodontia were included. Thirty-six cranial and 27 mandibular three-dimensional landmarks were digitized. Allometric scaling, principal component analyses, and phylogenetic generalized estimating equations on the cranium and mandible were preformed separately. The cranial analyses show strong phylogenetic constrains, whereas the mandibular analyses show a functional pattern related to habitat-diet and hypsodonty. The extant brachydont and closed habitat ungulates show a more elongated and narrower mandibular symphysis with a lower mandibular corpus, than hypsodont, open habitat species. The latter have short symphyses with a high, curved mandibular corpus. This general pattern was was also present among Santacrucian ungulates, which permit characterization of the notoungulates mainly as open habitats dwellers, with some foraging on grass (Protypotherium, Interatherium), and others on grass and leaves (Hegetotherium, Pachyrukhos and Adinotherium), depending on the availability. Nesodon may have dwelled in mixed habitats and had a mixed feeding behavior, while small proterotheriids (Anisolophus and Thoatherium) may have fed predominantly on dicotyledonous plants. The remaining litopterns (Tetramerorhinus, Diadiaphorus and Theosodon) and Astrapotherium may have foraged in closed habitats and fed on dicotyledonous plants.

Historical Specimens of Boreal Owls from Montana

For most of the 20th century, the North American breeding range of the Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) was thought to be confined to Canada and Alaska (AOU 1957). Breeding was first suspected south of Canada in the summer of 1963, when Baldwin and Koplin (1966) found 2 recently fledged juveniles in Colorado. We now know that Boreal Owls are relatively common permanent residents in high-elevation coniferous forests of the western US from the Canadian border south to northern New Mexico (Hayward and others 1987; Stahlecker and Duncan 1996). To further clarify Boreal Owl distribution in the northern Rockies, Holt and others (1987) published what they believed was the 2nd confirmed specimen record from Montana, an adult female found dead along Camas Creek in Glacier National Park on 28 February 1986. Holt and others (1987) also reported that the first extant Montana specimen was a road kill salvaged near Bozeman in September 1964. They did not mention a specimen taken near Columbia Falls, Montana, in 1902 (Saunders 1921). Holt and Ermatinger (1989) subsequently listed the 1902 record in their summary of Boreal Owl occurrences in Montana, but they neglected to report that the record was a specimen. To my knowledge, the only explicit mention of the 1902 specimen since the species was found nesting south of Canada was by Kuchel and Garrott (1975: 21), who stated that ‘‘the specimen is not now known to exist.’’ The specimen in question was a male taken at Columbia Falls by ES Bryant on 9 December 1902 and placed in the personal collection of Louis B Bishop (Saunders 1921: 69). While examining the bird collection at the Field Museum of Natural History, I found the Bryant specimen (FMNH 138321). Moreover, at Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology, I found an earlier Boreal Owl specimen from Montana that has completely escaped notice in the literature: a male collected by Robert S Williams along the Missouri River near Great Falls on 23 September 1889 (MCZ 186684). This bird is by far the oldest Boreal Owl specimen from Montana and is among the oldest ever taken in a Rocky Mountain state. Accordingly, the purported 2nd Montana specimen of Holt and others (1987) was at least the 4th such specimen, and the 1st specimen known for the state was obtained in 1889, not 1964.

Understanding Eocene primate palaeobiology using a comprehensive analysis of living primate ecology, biology and behaviour

The comparative method is central to interpretations of Eocene primate palaeobiology. This method rests upon a thorough study of analogous living forms. With a rapidly increasing knowledge of such forms, most notably the Malagasy lemurs, our ability to advance the study of Eocene primate ecology, biology and behaviour far exceeds that of even just a few years ago. Here we present such a comparison. Based on our data collected from both living lemurs and extant lemur skeletal specimens, we are able to make a number of comparisons that provide insight into middle Eocene primate ecology and palaeobiology. At the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar, omnivorous living ring-tailed lemurs that feed on large, hard and tough fruits display a pattern of frequent post-canine tooth wear laterality (62 %) when compared to sympatric, folivorous Verreaux’s sifaka (4 %). Our results indicate that Notharctus does not display a high frequency of tooth wear laterality (7 %), indicating folivory without processing large, hard fruits with its postcanines. Our data on Notharctus tooth wear also indicate, similar to living ring-tailed lemurs at Beza Mahafaly, that numerous individuals (21 %) survived long enough to experience heavy tooth wear, contrary to the assumption that heavy tooth wear leads to the rapid death of the individual. Finally, our data on trauma and injury from a living lemur population suggest that the reported wrist injury in Darwinius masillae (i.e. “Ida”) did not necessarily lead to her death, as numerous ring-tailed lemurs at Beza Mahafaly survive with similar or even more traumatic injuries and maintain the ability to climb. Thus, our data from living primates provide a broad comparative framework for interpreting the ecology, biology and behaviour of Eocene forms.

The Taxonomic Status of Jean-Jacques Kieffer's Type Specimens of Afrotropical Cecidomyiidae (Diptera)

ABSTRACT Holotypes and syntypes of cecidomyiid genera and species described from the Seychelles and East Africa by J.-J. Kieffer in the early 20th century are held in the collections of the Natural History Museum, London and the Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France. All are specimens caught in flight, so without associated biological data and most are unidentifiable females. Many are in poor condition and inadequate for detailed study and are of little assistance in advancing understanding of the Afrotropical Cecidomyiidae fauna. Following examination of all extant specimens, 16 genera and 59 species are listed and assigned to nomina dubia. Six other species that are represented by holotypes or syntypes that still have intact genitalia (which may possibly be recognised in future revisionary studies), are also listed.

Defense in shallow-water invertebrates at oceanic islands vs. the mainland coast

AB Aquatic Biology Contact the journal Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections AB 15:159-166 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00411 Defense in shallow-water invertebrates at oceanic islands vs. the mainland coast João Filipe da Cruz1,*, Gonçalo Calado1,2 1Faculdade de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal 2IMAR, Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus da Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal *Email: joaofilipecruz@gmail.com ABSTRACT: Islands are often considered natural laboratories and thus excellent models for testing theories on adaptive radiation. To date, most studies have focused on terrestrial ecosystems. In a comparative study between island populations and their mainland counterparts, Vermeij (2004, Frontiers of biogeography, p 239−254), using published data, argued that shallow-water marine shelled molluscs are better defended against predation along continents than on oceanic islands, possibly due to a lower predation pressure on islands. Here we evaluate this hypothesis, using shallow-water marine gastropods from the Azores and the Portuguese mainland as models (the island species Columbella adansoni and the mainland species C. rustica, and populations of Stramonita haemastoma from both study areas). Pleistocene S. haemastoma fossils from the Azores were also analyzed. Specimens were measured for defense-related shell characteristics and compared (island vs. mainland populations) using principal component analysis and Mann-Whitney tests. The results revealed that Azorean C. adansoni possess significantly thicker and wider shells with a narrower aperture than mainland C. rustica, which present a lighter shell and a higher spire. Comparisons of island and mainland S. haemastoma indicate that the Azorean population is lighter, with a wider aperture, thicker lip, and lower spire. The comparison of Azorean S. haemastoma fossils and extant specimens showed significantly narrower apertures and thicker lips in Pleistocene shells. Despite some evidence supporting the arguments used by Vermeij, our analysis failed to conclusively support this hypothesis as a whole. KEY WORDS: Evolution on islands · Predatory impact · Island biogeography · Columbella adansoni · Columbella rustica · Stramonita haemastoma Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: da Cruz JF, Calado G (2012) Defense in shallow-water invertebrates at oceanic islands vs. the mainland coast. Aquat Biol 15:159-166. https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00411 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in AB Vol. 15, No. 2. Online publication date: May 15, 2012 Print ISSN: 1864-7782; Online ISSN: 1864-7790 Copyright © 2012 Inter-Research.

A Holocene moss species preserved in lake sediment core and the present moss diversity at Schirmacher Oasis, Antarctica

AbstractThe sub-fossil mossPohlia nutansis recorded from lake sediment cores at Schirmacher Oasis, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. It was isolated from 160–162 cm depth of a sediment core. Radiocarbon (14C) dates by accelerator mass spectrometry confirmed its age to be 10.65 kyrbp. The preserved Holocene sub-fossil moss includes delicate leaves, axes and rhizoids and matches perfectly the extant specimens ofP. nutans.This is the first record of this sub-fossil from Dronning Maud Land, although the species is common as present-day flora in other parts of the Antarctic. The present status of the moss flora of Schirmacher Oasis is also discussed, including its diversity, ecology and biogeography.

Species History Masks the Effects of Human-Induced Range Loss – Unexpected Genetic Diversity in the Endangered Giant Mayfly Palingenia longicauda

Freshwater biodiversity has declined dramatically in Europe in recent decades. Because of massive habitat pollution and morphological degradation of water bodies, many once widespread species persist in small fractions of their original range. These range contractions are generally believed to be accompanied by loss of intraspecific genetic diversity, due to the reduction of effective population sizes and the extinction of regional genetic lineages. We aimed to assess the loss of genetic diversity and its significance for future potential reintroduction of the long-tailed mayfly Palingenia longicauda (Olivier), which experienced approximately 98% range loss during the past century. Analysis of 936 bp of mitochondrial DNA of 245 extant specimens across the current range revealed a surprisingly large number of haplotypes (87), and a high level of haplotype diversity (). In contrast, historic specimens (6) from the lost range (Rhine catchment) were not differentiated from the extant Rába population (, ), despite considerable geographic distance separating the two rivers. These observations can be explained by an overlap of the current with the historic (Pleistocene) refugia of the species. Most likely, the massive recent range loss mainly affected the range which was occupied by rapid post-glacial dispersal. We conclude that massive range losses do not necessarily coincide with genetic impoverishment and that a species' history must be considered when estimating loss of genetic diversity. The assessment of spatial genetic structures and prior phylogeographic information seems essential to conserve once widespread species.

On the Identity of the First Rhinoceros Owned by of the Dublin Zoo (†1865); Genetic Characterisation of a Poorly Preserved Museum Specimen

Understanding past and present genetic diversity within endangered species is crucial for the identification of evolutionary significant units (ESUs) and subsequent conservational decisions. Direct access to genetic diversity of extinct populations can only be gained from (sub)fossils or specimens housed in natural history collections. With probably less than 50 extant specimens, the Javan rhinoceros, Rhinoceros sondaicus, is a critically endangered species. It is rare even in museum collections, thus each newly discovered specimen is of conservation importance. Although the Indian (Rhinoceros unicornis) and Javan rhinoceros differ in size, skinfolds and skin texture, the two have been confused on several occasions in the recorded history of both species. Examples can be found in textbooks, zoological gardens and museums. As for the latter, identification of mounted specimens can be compromised by among other factors poor preservation of the skin. An example of such an ambiguous specimen is the Dublin Zoo rhinoceros ($1865) housed in the Zoological Museum at Trinity College Dublin. Ever since it was mounted, it has borne a name plate that claims it represents a specimen of R. unicornis, but this is not necessarily supported by a number of morphological characters. With this study, we determine the identity of this one-and-a-half century old specimen by DNA sequencing a fragment of mitochondrial Cytochrome B.

Fossil thrips of the family Uzelothripidae suggest 53 million years of morphological and ecological stability

The new fossil thrips Uzelothrips eocenicus P. Nel and A. Nel sp. nov. (Thysanoptera: Uzelothripidae) is described from two lowermost Eocene amber-preserved specimens (one macropterous and one apterous). The family Uzelothripidae is only known so far from a single extant species, Uzelothrips scabrosus. The fossils differ from the extant species only by the antennal segments III and IV, which appear distinctly separated instead of being fused as in the in the extant U. scabrosus. Dark-coloured hyphae and conidia of the Dothideomycetes (Ascomycota) which are likely to belong to the sooty moulds (Capnodiales) are attached to the apterous fossil specimen. We consider this arthropod-fungus association not to be accidental since these fungi are also found in extant specimens of these uzelothripids, suggesting very specific long-term interactions and strong habitat specificity.

New fossil records of Tapirus (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from Brazil, with a critical analysis of intra-generic diversity assessments based on lower molar size variability

A large set of South American fossils belonging to the genus Tapirus has been described on the basis of differences in size and proportions of lower molariform teeth. Nevertheless, the reliability of dental proportions for the diagnosis of fossil tapir species is controversial. In this paper, we describe new fossil material of Tapirus from the Quaternary of Serra da Bodoquena, Southwestern Brazil, comparing it to other fossil and extant specimens of the genus by means of multivariate morphometric analyses of lower molariform teeth linear dimensions. The results of Principal Component Analyses indicate that some of the extant and extinct material attributed to Tapirus fall within the range of variation in size and proportions of lower molariform teeth exhibited by recent species of the genus. Therefore, part of the fossil material attributed to new species or to Tapirus sp. may be referable to the extant species Tapirus terrestris. We conclude that the sole use of lower molariform teeth size and proportions to erect new species of Tapirus may not be reliable, and therefore we advocate caution when describing fossil tapirs exclusively based on these criteria.

Applications of imaging methodologies to paleoanthropology: Beneficial results relating to the preservation, management and development of collections

The limited number of unearthed fossils and their accessibility are factors that hinder paleoanthropological studies. Original remains, but also osteological collections of extant specimens, have to be curated in optimal and adapted environments, and direct manipulation needs to be limited in order to preserve this irreplaceable patrimony. Imaging methodologies have recently provided ways for innovative advances in the preservation of these collections, as well as offering new perspectives to museographic displays and original scientific studies. Here, we describe recent examples of developments obtained from imaging methodologies and discuss methodological and ethical implications of these new “virtual” collections. Undeniably, “virtual anthropology” is an additional tool in our large set of analytical possibilities and for curators, with its specific constraints related to the particular nature of the analysed material. Finally, we suggest some possible guidelines for the optimisation of the preservation, management and development of collections while preserving their scientific exploitation.