Diatom testing is conducted in forensic medicine primarily to support the diagnosis of drowning. In our previous study, a large number of diatoms, potentially originating from methomyl, were detected in the lungs of a cat found dead under circumstances suggestive of methomyl poisoning, but not involving drowning or submersion. In the present study, we collected human and animal cases suspected of methomyl poisoning, where the bodies showed no evidence of drowning or submersion. Diatom tests were performed both quantitatively and qualitatively on the gastric contents, lungs, liver, kidney, and fur samples. Quantitative analysis using light microscopy revealed a large number of Stephanodiscus spp., the same genus of diatoms found in methomyl-containing insecticides, in the gastric contents and in some of the lung samples. Although qualitative analysis with electron microscopy did not enable species-level identification, the observed Stephanodiscus spp. were presumed to be fossil species derived from diatomaceous earth. Since diatomaceous earth is sometimes added as a carrier or diluent to concentrate the active ingredient in insecticides, it is possible that diatoms may be present in the bodies of individuals that died from methomyl poisoning. Therefore, relying solely on the quantity of diatoms may result in false-positive diagnoses of drowning. To avoid such misinterpretation, it is essential to perform qualitative analyses to assess the species composition of the diatoms in addition to quantitative assessment.

The evolutionary history of Fagus is incompletely understood. A unique association of leaves and reproductive structures of Fagus from the Miocene of South China extends our knowledge of morphological variability of Fagus in the geologic past and informs patterns in the evolution of beeches. Leaves preserved as impressions are described and compared to leaves of extant and fossil analogues. Features of the compressions of staminate flower and cupules studied with SEM are compared with those of extant Fagus. Pollen preserved in situ and adhered to leaf cuticles is studied with LM, SEM, and TEM (in situ pollen) and compared with fossil and extant species. The new association of Fagus fossils identified in the Miocene of South China is the most complex such association recognized to date worldwide. Leaves of F. tengxianensis sp. nov. and cupules of F. aculeata sp. nov. display a mosaic combination of features characteristic of some extant and fossil Asian species of the Fagus subgenus Fagus. The staminate flower of F. glabra sp. nov. differs from those of all Fagus species in lacking trichomes and its sepals completely covering the stamens. The in situ pollen differs from other Fagus fossil pollen studied with SEM, and is similar to pollen of extant F. longipetiolata. The evolutionary history of Fagus is now expanded with a unique Miocene association of leaves and reproductive structures from South China, some of which show similarities with extant and fossil Asian species, while others are distinct from any extant species. These fossils demonstrate that Fagus subgenus Fagus existed in South China as early as the Miocene and suggest that Fagus leaves and female reproductive structures have been in a morphological stasis at least since the Eocene, while staminate flowers were more labile.

Pollination is the most common insect-plant mutualism, binding them in a co-evolutionary framework. Historic evidence of this interaction can be partly inferred from time-calibrated molecular phylogenies of plant and insect lineages or directly from fossils. Fossils providing such evidence are sparse and only a few fossiliferous localities offer adequate preservation of both flowers and insects. We screened fossil flowers and bees from the Late Oligocene (Chattian) of Enspel, Germany, using white and fluorescent light, followed by palynological sampling and detailed investigation. Flowers are identified via pollen and floral morphology in comparison with modern taxa. The bumble bees are described and placed into a morphological framework with extant congeners. The pollination biology of extant Tilia is summarized and complemented by field observations. We report the new fossil species Tilia magnasepala C. Geier et Schönenb. sp. nov. (Tilioideae, Malvaceae), Bombus (Kronobombus) messegus Engel et Wappler, sp. nov., and Bombus (Timebombus) palaeocrater Engel et Wappler, sp. nov. (Apidae: Bombini). The presence of the same Tilia pollen in situ in flowers and adhering to the exterior of the bumble bees provides direct evidence for their interaction and the role of Bombus as a pollinator for Tilia by at least the Late Oligocene and persisting to the present.

How the intricate mammalian cochlea evolved, and its functional implications, remain only partly understood. Here, we explore cochlear morphology across 101 extant and fossil species of the mammalian grand order Euarchonta using micro-computed tomography, three-dimensional geometric morphometrics and phylogenetic comparative analyses. We find substantial shape variation across taxa, likely driven by an interplay between evolutionary history, morphological constraints and potentially functional demands, although these remain difficult to interpret. Evolutionary models suggest the rate of cochlear shape evolution was heterogeneous, with some lineages showing particularly high rates, likely linked with adaptive selection pressures (e.g. tarsiers, Cercopithecus). Ancestral state reconstructions reveal lemuriforms retain the ancestral strepsirrhine cochlear shape—conical with around 2½ turns—while lorisiforms exhibit a derived cylindrical cochlea with increased coiling. The highly coiled cochlea of tarsiers reflects cranial constraints and functional demands, particularly for high-frequency hearing. In anthropoids, platyrrhines nest within catarrhine variation. Among the latter, cercopithecins trend towards increased coiling, whereas colobines and hominoids retain less coiled shapes. Finally, while body size has little effect on cochlear shape, its interaction with cochlear length predicts the number of turns, supporting the theory that cochlear coiling enabled the development of a longer basilar membrane within a small petrous space.

The late Permian Xuanwei Formation represents the last refuge Paleozoic fern-dominated Cathaysian (Gigantopteris) flora before its demise in the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. It contains two Noeggerathiales progymnosperm fertile shoots, but unequivocal Noeggerathiales leaves have not been identified. Co-occurring once-pinnate megaphyllous leaves of Plagiozamites oblongifolius, previously interpreted as cycad gymnosperms from morphology and epidermal characters, have also been considered as possible Noeggerathiales fronds based on their distinctive Ω-shaped rachis bundles and four rows of pinnules comprising two rows of large pinnules and two rows of small pinnules. We investigate newly collected P. oblongifolius leaves from the Xuanwei Formation to determine their affinity, accurately characterise species composition, elucidate features to distinguish the leaves of Noeggerathiales and cycads, and consider convergent evolution in these two systematically diverse plant orders. We examined the morphology and anatomy of Plagiozamites oblongifolius leaves using the acetate peel technique, and transmitted light and scanning electron microscopy. The leaves have two rows of large pinnules, two rows of small pinnules, and epidermal characters consistent with Noeggerathiales. From these we identify three new species of the Noeggerathiales genus Paratingia, extending their stratigraphic range to the late Permian. Paratingia leaves are distinct from Plagiozamites cycad leaves, of which at least two species co-occur in the Xuanwei Formation, which have two rows of pinnules and different epidermal characters. Results emphasise parallel evolution in leaf form and anatomy among Noeggerathiales progymnosperms and cycads, which despite superficial resemblance, are distinguished through gross morphology, rachis anatomy, and epidermal characters. Our findings highlight complexities in accurately identifying fossil species from incomplete data and help clarify species richness and extinction magnitude in Cathaysia through the Paleozoic-Mesozoic transition.

A new species, Firkantus storozhenkoi Manukyan, sp. nov., is described from the late Eocene Baltic amber. A key to five fossil species of Pimplinae known from the Baltic amber is provided.

The integration of extant and extinct species is essential to understand 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. Based 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. Ancestral-state inferences of six of the 24 endocarp characters are changed when fossils are integrated. The endocarp of the most recent common ancestor of Cissampelideae was with the unbroken short raised transversal ridges lower than unspiny dorsal crest. Within Cissampelideae, the broken transversal ridge is derived from the unbroken transversal ridge, columnar protuberance is derived from the long raised transversal ridge, and the long raised transversal ridge are derived from the short raised transversal ridge. Endocarp transversal ridges of Cissampelideae show evolutionary trends of becoming fragmented and more elevated, which may be related to the adaptation of 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.

Neoprocoela edentata is a fossil anuran collected in Scarritt Pocket, Patagonia, Argentina. This locality provided the first described pre-Neogene batrachofauna of South America, which is also one of the few known to include representatives of extant taxa. Neoprocoela edentata shows an unusual combination of characters, and it has alternatively been related to Bufonidae or to a polyphyletic assemblage including Calyptocephalellidae and Telmatobiidae. In this article, we redescribe the single specimen of N. edentata, complementing the examination with micro-CT scan reconstructions, and expanding its original description. This results in a combination of character states unique to Bufonidae, allowing us to confidently assign N. edentata to this family. Then, we performed a total evidence phylogenetic analysis, including molecular and osteological data, to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of N. edentata within Bufonidae. This species was recovered in a strongly supported clade with the extant genus Nannophryne; thus, Neoprocoela is considered a junior synonym of this genus, retaining edentata as a valid species. Finally, considering the geographic and stratigraphic provenance of the fossil remains, we discuss its value as evidence of the early evolution of South American toads and as an absolute-age calibration point, something relatively unusual for neobatrachian fossil species of that age.

Tetraponera Smith, 1852, a large ant genus comprising 87 extant and seven fossil species, is primarily distributed in the Afrotropical, Oriental, and Australasian regions. A new species, T. sirindhornae Yodprasit, Tasen & Jaitrong, sp. nov., is described from southern Thailand based on worker, dealate queen, and male castes. The new species exhibits worker dimorphism and is morphologically similar to T. binghami (Forel, 1902), T. connectens Ward, 2001, and T. notabilis Ward, 2001 in possessing an elongated head, but differs by the presence of a distinct mandibular gap between masticatory margins when the mandibles are closed (in the case of major worker and queen). The new species was found nesting in a dead rubber tree branch on a tree within a rubber plantation near a stream.

A new fossil honey bee Apis (Apis) aibaisp. nov. was discovered in the Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene lacustrine deposit in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Fossil species are identified based on their distinct forewing venation, thick, lighter-colored abdomens, and hind legs. Honeybee fossils exhibit a highly uneven distribution across time. Fossil species are primarily derived from older Oligocene-Miocene deposits, mostly in Europe and China, while fossils of a few modern species have been recovered from younger Pleistocene and Holocene deposits. Apis (Apis) aibaisp. nov. bridges the gap between older and younger fossil records. Additionally, this species represents the most recent extinct honey bee and the oldest known record of the subgenus Apis.

ABSTRACT Trichomeriaceae, the most common sooty mold family under Chaetothyriales, are most common in tropical to subtropical regions worldwide. However, no trichomeriaceous fossil fungi have been reported until now. Here, we report for the first time trichomeriaceous fossil fungi on cuticle fragments of a compressed angiosperm (cf. Fagaceae) leaf recovered from the middle Siwalik (late Miocene; ca. 12–8 Ma) flora of Himachal Himalaya. They are characterized by superficial, septate, cylindrical hyphae; circular, setiferous ascostromata; a 3-septate ascospore; and a 3-armed stauroconidium. The above significant morphological attributes reveal a close resemblance of the Siwalik fungi with modern Trichomerium (Eurotiomycetes: Chaeothyriales: Trichomeriaceae). Here, we describe two new fossil species, namely, Trichomerium palaeoindicum Kundu & Khan, sp. nov. (sexual morph), and T. palaeostauroconidium Kundu & Khan, sp. nov. (asexual morph). Additionally, we discuss their paleoecological significance in terms of the present-day ecological conditions of modern analogues. These new findings play a great role in the evolutionary context and diversification of the Trichomeriaceae in time and space.

BackgroundThe wing veins of known fossil and living phorids are reduced, making them difficult to homologise. Consequently, different interpretations have led to much confusion over the years. However, veins are crucial for phylogenetic and taxonomy studies, especially for fossils. We addressed these challenges by studying Cretaceous specimens, which exhibit fewer reductions in wing veins compared to modern fauna, along with post-Cretaceous specimens that display recent wing patterns. Furthermore, we examined related families such as Ironomyiidae, Platypezidae, Opetiidae, and Lonchopteridae to show wing similarities to the Phoridae.ResultsWe propose two wing models that include the majority of veins found in each taxon. The early model (Phoridae sensu lato, including Sciadocerinae + “†Prioriphorinae”) consists of most Cretaceous species, except †Metopina goeleti from New Jersey amber, which displays a recent pattern. The recent model (Phoridae sensu stricto, i.e. Euphorida) is present in the majority of recent phorids. Based on this new interpretation, we re-evaluate three holotypes of Phoridae: †Euliphora grimaldii, †Prioriphora schroederhohenwarthi, and †Ulrichophora lobata. Additionally, we described a Phoridae specimen belonging to †Prioriphora in the Fouras-Bois Vert amber (France) and a new genus within the Ironomyiidae family in the San Just amber (Spain).ConclusionThe newly proposed wing models facilitate rapid identification of Phoridae wing veins based on their degree of reduction. The two newly described specimens are the first records of these taxa in their respective localities.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-025-02376-8.

The Indian bush rat (Golunda ellioti) is the only extant representative of the genus Golunda. The genus, however, was much more diverse and widely distributed in the past, with fossil specimens recovered in West Asia, East Africa, and the Indian subcontinent. In this study, we report a new species of Golunda from Mohand (ML1), Saharanpur District of Uttar Pradesh, India. We describe morphological differences in the dentition between this new species and other members of the genus, and discuss the implications of its evolutionary history. The new species is characterized by comparatively small molars, with less elongated and moderately inclined cusps. The fossils come from the upper part of the section at the level of 1760 m, which corresponds to the time frame between the chrons C3n.3r and C3n.3n, about 4.9 Ma depending on the paleomagnetic time scale. Therefore, the fossil locality falls in the pre-Pinjor Upper Siwaliks of India, suggesting an Early Pliocene age rather than the Late Miocene age as inferred by earlier workers. The newly discovered species of Golunda predates fossil African species of the genus, supporting the hypothesis that Golunda may have originated in the Indian subcontinent rather than in Africa.

A comprehensive and annotated catalogue of the earwigs (Insecta: Dermaptera) that inhabit Mexico was compiled. Six families were recorded: Anisolabididae with 4 genera and 5 species; Forficulidae with 9 genera and 23 species; Haplodiplatyidae with 1 genus and 3 species; Labiduridae with 1 genus and 1 species; Pygidicranidae with 1 genus and 1 species; and Spongiphoridae with 7 genera and 21 species; totaling 23 genera and 54 species. Additionally, 5 fossil species are listed, in 3 current genera and 1 fossil genus, belonging to the families Haplodiplatyidae (1 species) and Spongiphoridae (4 species). Finally, 14 records were considered dubious for the country. The states with the most species of earwigs recorded are Veracruz with 30 species, Morelos with 10 species and Guerrero with 9 species; no records are known from Campeche and Tlaxcala. The original descriptions of Ancistrogaster burri Kirby, 1903 and Paracosmia gulosa (Scudder 1876) (Forficulidae) were revisited. Given the lack of type material and that the descriptions were deemed too vague to accurately identify them, these taxa are hereby relegated as nomina dubia.

A comprehensive worldwide checklist of the family Discolomatidae (Coleoptera: Coccinelloidea) is presented. A total of 499 species and 9 subspecies, including one fossil species, across 16 genera are listed. Aphanocephalus takaoensis nom. nov. is given for A. sauteri John, 1971 (nec A. pubescens sauteri John, 1956). Aphanocephalus superbus Pal, 1996 is transferred to the genus Parafallia Arrow, 1939.

Sponges have thrived in diverse environmental conditions since the early Cambrian until today. However, little is known about how their adaptive capability and strategies have been shaped throughout evolutionary history. Here, we explore this question based on a new leptomitid sponge fossil from the Cambrian Stage 4. The family Leptomitidae was an abundant sponge group inhabiting Cambrian soft substrates but significantly declined thereafter. The new species exhibits a sophisticated set of morphological characteristics adaptive to a shallow siliciclastic environment, which are unprecedented among leptomitids. These include (i) a robust body wall woven by spirally twisted monaxonic spicules; (ii) a thick stub-like root tuft for anchoring; (iii) spicules radiating out from the sponge body to prevent clogging and sinking; and (iv) the inferred capability to close the osculum against unfavourable stimuli. Nevertheless, the new fossil species maintains a leptomitid body plan and lacks modularity and morphological plasticity, the two common and critical attributes in extant sponges to enhance flexibility and resilience in changing environmental conditions. This juxtaposition of evolutionary innovation and structural conservatism offers a compelling case for further exploration of the evolutionary mechanisms that shaped early sponge lineages.

ABSTRACT Two new species of Ptychopteridae are described: Proptychopterina asticta sp. nov. and Eoptychoptera pilosa sp. nov. from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, China. These two new species not only enrich the diversity of fossil insects in the Daohugou area, but also show some the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, China. These two new species not only enrich the diversity of fossil insects in the Daohugou area, but also show some new features, such as part of the structures of the female terminalia, and long spines on legs, not described in the known fossil species of Ptychopteridae. Moreover, the palaeogeographic distributions of Proptychopterina and Eoptychoptera are discussed, and distribution maps are provided. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:228F3E20-5E71-492C-B780-F40E0B6E993F urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A8892A34-CCCD-449C-A6C5-A54959678EED

Based on an inclusion in Baltic amber, the first extinct species of the genus Danae Reiche and the second species of the subfamily Endomychinae from the Eocene is described and illustrated. The new fossil species, D. sembanata sp. nov., is compared with related extant and morphologically close extinct taxa. General rarity of endomychid specimens in Baltic amber is briefly discussed.

Abstract Investigating forms specialized for their ecology (i.e. ecomorphs) is a major theme in ecology and evolution. Among the remarkable ecomorphs, those associated with fossorial habits have received increasing attention in vertebrates, but less so in invertebrates. Here, we focus on cockroaches, insects whose burrowing ecomorphs have long been observed but never formally investigated at a large taxonomic scale. Our goal is to characterize different cockroach ecomorphs, with a particular focus on fossorial organisms in the broadest sense, that is, including cockroaches digging galleries and feeding in deadwood. The study of these wood‐eating species is particularly important because of the role of this diet in the evolution of eusociality in Blattodea (i.e. cockroaches and termites). We used two sets of morphological data while taking into account the phylogenetic relationships of 62 species of cockroaches, sampled from nine families and covering three fossorial (hollow trunk, sand, dead wood) and two non‐fossorial microhabitats (litter and under bark). The first set of data corresponded to linear measurements for 13 morphological traits, while the second set comprised 3D models of pronotums obtained by photogrammetry and microtomography and analysed by geometric morphometrics. To account for shared ancestry between species, phylogenetic comparative analyses were then carried out, including predictive analyses for six species whose microhabitat are unknown. We identified morphological differences associated with different burrowing lifestyles while highlighting the importance of considering shared ancestry. Among the most discriminating morphological traits are body length and anterior tibial spine length, which distinguish species burrowing in deadwood from those digging in sand. 3D analyses of the pronotum also revealed interesting differences related to the microhabitat. Despite the ability to characterize ecomorphs from both sets of data, predictive analyses, which would be particularly valuable for all the living and fossil species whose microhabitats is unknown—that is, the vast majority of cockroach species‐need further refinement. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Hornworts are rarely found in the fossil record, so each new find provides important insights regarding their evolution and diversity. Here we revisit a controversial genus, Notothylacites, described from the Late Cretaceous of Central Europe, which has liverwort morphology, but bears hornwort spores. The fossil material was originally studied in 1970 by Pacltová using pollen preparation techniques. Using a single grain method, we extracted the spores from the preparation matrix, and observed them with SEM. For comparison, we studied the spores of the extant hornwort genus Notothylas. We reinterpret the original N. filiformis holotype as a conglomerate of two fossils: a hornwort, Notothylacites, and a liverwort, which we designate as a new species Ricciopsis pacltovae. Notothylacites filiformis was lectotypified, using material from seven slides and the original drawing, which emphasized a key character - a sporangium with apical longitudinal dehiscence slit containing psilate, trilete spores. Ricciopsis pacltovae, erected based on comparisons to seven already described species, is a liverwort that closely resembles extant Riccia, with a prostrate circular thallus consisting of dichotomously branched, linear segments, up to six dichotomies per branch, each branch with a pronounced narrow medial sulcus. These and other morphological traits distinguish it from previously described species in the genus. Notothylacites filiformis is reinterpreted as one of the rare examples of a fossil hornwort sporophyte. Gametophyte material previously assigned to N. filiformis is assigned to a new fossil liverwort species, Ricciopsis pacltovae. Hornworts frequently grow on wet soil together with Riccia liverworts. The co-occurrence of the two fossil species further highlights the presence of bryophyte diversity in the Late Cretaceous that mirrors extant ecological associations. This study corrects decades of taxonomic confusion, demonstrating how taphonomic mixing can mislead interpretations, and emphasizes the importance of re-examining collections with modern methods.