Generic Assignment Research Articles

Umbilicosphaera jordanii Bown 2005 from the Paleogene of Tanzania: confirmation of generic assignment and a Paleocene origination for the family Calcidiscaceae.

<i>Umbilicosphaera jordanii</i> Bown 2005 from the Paleogene of Tanzania: confirmation of generic assignment and a Paleocene origination for the family Calcidiscaceae.

New insights on the Paleogene dinoflagellate cyst genera Enneadocysta and Licracysta gen. nov. based on material from offshore eastern Canada and southern Argentina

Enneadocysta is a biostratigraphically important Paleogene dinoflagellate cyst genus. Its original interpretation as a partiform gonyaulacoid (thus belonging to the gonyaulacalean suborder Cladopyxiineae) was based on the presence of two antapical processes. Another Paleogene genus, Areosphaeridium , is similar, at least superficially, to Enneadocysta , but has a single antapical process, placing it in the sexiform gonyaulacalean suborder Gonyaulacineae. The morphology of a new species of Enneadocysta from offshore eastern Canada, Enneadocysta magna , shows that the two antapical processes of the genus (unlike processes reflecting other plate series) are penitabular, not mesotabular, and indicates that the genus is gonyaulacinean, not cladopyxiinean. This new interpretation, as well as new material from southern Argentina, confirms the generic assignment of the Southern Hemisphere species Enneadocysta dictyostila (emended) and a new species, Enneadocysta brevistila . A new genus and species, Licracysta corymbus , from offshore eastern Canada is intermediate in morphology between Enneadocysta and Cleistosphaeridium and strongly suggests an assignment for all three genera to the gonyaulacinean family Areoligeraceae. The new combination Licracysta ? semicirculata is questionably proposed, and the descriptive terms licrate, dolabrate, entire clypeate, ragged clypeate, intratabular, mesotabular, obtabular, contabular and nontabular are either proposed as new or reviewed.

SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE DOCUMENTATION OF THE LOST HOLOTYPES OF MORNOD, 1949: THALMANNINELLA REICHELI AND ROTALIPORA MONTSALVENSIS

The species Globotruncana (Rotalipora) reicheli and Gobotruncana (Rotalipora) montsalvensis , were established in 1949 by Mornod. The two holotypes were figured only by drawings and the specimens were never made publicly available. Since their first description, these two species have acquired great importance as biostratigraphic markers. However, holotypes had been considered as lost and neotypes were established and described. Recently, these holotypes were discovered. We present here for the first time Scanning Electron Microscope images of the holotypes and compare them with the original drawings and neotypes to highlight possible similarities and differences. Generic assignment is made following a recent emendation for the polyphyletic group of rotaliporids, with the generic attribution as follows: Thalmanninella reicheli (Mornod) and Rotalipora montsalvensis Mornod.

Phylogeny and classification of Ochlerotatus and allied taxa (Diptera: Culicidae: Aedini) based on morphological data from all life stages

The phylogenetic relationships and generic assignments of ‘Ochlerotatus’ and related taxa of uncertain taxonomic position in the classification of Aedini previously proposed by the authors in 2004 and 2006 are explored using 297 characters from eggs, fourth-instar larvae, pupae, adults and immature habitat coded for 158 exemplar species. The ingroup comprises 54 species and the outgroup includes four non-aedine species and 100 aedine species, 21 of which were previously classified as incertae sedis. Data are analysed in a total-evidence approach using implied weighting. The analysis produced 158 most parsimonious cladograms. The strict consensus tree (SCT) corroborates the monophyly of the 30 generic-level taxa recognized previously that are included in the analysis. Overall, the results show remarkable congruence with those obtained previously despite differences in the taxa and morphological characters analysed in this and the two previous studies. All species of Ochlerotatus s.s., subgenus ‘Ochlerotatus’sensu auctorum, Geoskusea, Levua, Pseudoskusea and Rhinoskusea included in the analysis fall within a single clade that is treated as genus Ochlerotatus; thus, the last four taxa are restored to their previous subgeneric rank within this genus. Nine additional subgenera, of which four are new, are proposed for monophyletic clades of Ochlerotatus species based on the strength of character support and application of the principle of equivalent rank. Acartomyia stat. nov., Culicelsa stat. nov., Gilesia stat. nov., Protoculex stat. nov. and Chrysoconops stat. nov. are resurrected from synonymy with Ochlerotatus; and Empihals subgen. nov. (type species: Culex vigilax Skuse), Pholeomyia subgen. nov. (type species: Aedes calcariae Marks), Buvirilia subgen. nov. (type species: Aedes edgari Stone & Rosen) and Sallumia subgen. nov. (type species: Aedes hortator Dyar & Knab) are described as new. The sister group of Ochlerotatus includes a number of species that were previously regarded as incertae sedis in ‘Oc. (Finlaya)’ and ‘Oc. (Protomacleaya)’. Based on previous observations, refined relationships and new character support, three additional genera are recognized for species previously included in ‘Finlaya’, i.e. Danielsia stat. nov. (type species: Danielsia albotaeniata Leicester), Luius gen. nov. (type species: Aedes fengi Edwards) and Hopkinsius gen. nov. (type species: Aedes ingrami Edwards). Additionally, Alloeomyia subgen. nov. (type species: Culex pseudotaeniatus Giles) and Yamada subgen. nov. (type species: Aedes seoulensis Yamada) are introduced as subgenera of Collessius and Hopkinsius, respectively. As is usual with generic-level groups of Aedini, the newly recognized genera and subgenera are polythetic taxa that are diagnosed by unique combinations of characters. The analysis corroborates the previous observation that ‘Oc. (Protomacleaya)’ is a polyphyletic assemblage of species. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 153, 29–114.

Phylogeny and classification of Finlaya and allied taxa (Diptera: Culicidae: Aedini) based on morphological data from all life stages

The phylogenetic relationships and generic assignments of ‘Ochlerotatus’ and related taxa of uncertain taxonomic position in the classification of Aedini previously proposed by the authors in 2004 and 2006 are explored using 297 characters from eggs, fourth-instar larvae, pupae, adults and immature habitat coded for 158 exemplar species. The ingroup comprises 54 species and the outgroup includes four non-aedine species and 100 aedine species, 21 of which were previously classified as incertae sedis. Data are analysed in a total-evidence approach using implied weighting. The analysis produced 158 most parsimonious cladograms. The strict consensus tree (SCT) corroborates the monophyly of the 30 generic-level taxa recognized previously that are included in the analysis. Overall, the results show remarkable congruence with those obtained previously despite differences in the taxa and morphological characters analysed in this and the two previous studies. All species of Ochlerotatus s.s., subgenus ‘Ochlerotatus’sensu auctorum, Geoskusea, Levua, Pseudoskusea and Rhinoskusea included in the analysis fall within a single clade that is treated as genus Ochlerotatus; thus, the last four taxa are restored to their previous subgeneric rank within this genus. Nine additional subgenera, of which four are new, are proposed for monophyletic clades of Ochlerotatus species based on the strength of character support and application of the principle of equivalent rank. Acartomyia stat. nov., Culicelsa stat. nov., Gilesia stat. nov., Protoculex stat. nov. and Chrysoconops stat. nov. are resurrected from synonymy with Ochlerotatus; and Empihals subgen. nov. (type species: Culex vigilax Skuse), Pholeomyia subgen. nov. (type species: Aedes calcariae Marks), Buvirilia subgen. nov. (type species: Aedes edgari Stone & Rosen) and Sallumia subgen. nov. (type species: Aedes hortator Dyar & Knab) are described as new. The sister group of Ochlerotatus includes a number of species that were previously regarded as incertae sedis in ‘Oc. (Finlaya)’ and ‘Oc. (Protomacleaya)’. Based on previous observations, refined relationships and new character support, three additional genera are recognized for species previously included in ‘Finlaya’, i.e. Danielsia stat. nov. (type species: Danielsia albotaeniata Leicester), Luius gen. nov. (type species: Aedes fengi Edwards) and Hopkinsius gen. nov. (type species: Aedes ingrami Edwards). Additionally, Alloeomyia subgen. nov. (type species: Culex pseudotaeniatus Giles) and Yamada subgen. nov. (type species: Aedes seoulensis Yamada) are introduced as subgenera of Collessius and Hopkinsius, respectively. As is usual with generic-level groups of Aedini, the newly recognized genera and subgenera are polythetic taxa that are diagnosed by unique combinations of characters. The analysis corroborates the previous observation that ‘Oc. (Protomacleaya)’ is a polyphyletic assemblage of species. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 153, 29–114.

A chronological catalog of the New World species of Scolopendra L., 1758 (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Scolopendridae)

Since 1758, 140 names have been erected for, transferred into, or assigned to species of Scolopendra occurring in the New World. One hundred sixteen are from definite, though sometimes vague, type localities; 18 are for nominal species without type localities; three lack standing in nomenclature and are invalid; and three are nomina nuda. To facilitate future studies and determining synonymies, these names are cataloged in chronological order in four listings plus a summary roster of senior names and junior subjective synonyms. Additional rosters cite primary homonyms needing rectification and species needing neotypes — ones with revisitable type localities, ones with unknown or overly generalized type localities that cannot be rechecked, and ones whose type specimens may still exist. The Mexican species, S. robusta Kraepelin, 1903, inadvertently reduced to subspecific status under S. gigantea L., 1758, in a popularized booklet, is returned to full specific status and deleted from Colombia, and S. punctiscuta Wood, 1861, is placed in synonymy under S. heros Girard, 1853, which is deleted from India. Scolopendra sumichrasti Saussure, 1860, &amp; S. olmeca Humbert &amp; Saussure, 1969, are possible synonyms of S. pomacea C. L. Koch, 1847. The synonymy of S. viridilimbata Daday, 1891, under S. polymorpha Wood, 1861, is accepted, and the following established synonymies are confirmed: under S. alternans Leach, 1815 — S. sagraea Gervais, 1837, S. cubensis Saussure, 1860, S. complanata, S. multispinata, &amp; S. grayi, all by Newport, 1844, and S. torquata &amp; S. testacea, both by Wood, 1861; under S. subspinipes Leach, 1815 — S. sexspinosa Newport, 1844, and S. placea &amp; S. lutea, both by Newport, 1845; under S. morsitans L., 1758, S. brandtiana Gervais, 1837, and S. pella Wood, 1861; and under S. viridicornis Newport, 1844, S. punctidens Newport, 1844. The following generic assignments are confirmed: S. lobidens Newport, 1844, in Cormocephalus Newport, 1845; and S. cormocephalina Kohlrausch, 1878, S. longipleura Silvestri, 1895, and S. chilensis &amp; S. pallida, both by Gervais, 1847, in Hemiscolopendra Kraepelin, 1903. Scolopendra viridicornis Newport, 1844, a plausible inhabitant of Guyana, is deleted from Cuba and the Lesser Antilles. The publication date of S. alternans Leach, previously thought to be 1813, is corrected to 1815, and that of S. arthrorhabdoides Ribaut, previously cited as both 1912 and 1914, is established as 1913.

A model of reconstruction for the oral apparatus of the Ordovician conodont genus Protopanderodus Lindström, 1971

ABSTRACTElements of the Ordovician conodont genus Protopanderodus have been investigated in order to provide a model of reconstruction for its oral apparatus. In total, 4,202 elements from the five named species representing this genus in the Swedish Middle Ordovician are included in this study: P. rectus, P. parvibasis, P. graeai, P. robustus and P. calceatus. The well-preserved specimens were studied in detail for identification of distinct element types and calculations were made to determine element ratios and minimum number of elements in a single apparatus. Three element groups, M, S and P, were recognised for all five species and their relative ratio is indicative of apparatuses consisting of at least 21 elements. However, the number of element types and their distribution varies between the species. The four bicostate species, P. rectus, P. parvibasis, P. graeai and P. robustus, have similar morphological characters and are believed to belong to the same evolutionary lineage. They possessed apparatuses consisting of M, Sa, Sb1, Sb2, Sc, Pa and Pb elements. By contrast, the multicostate species P. calceatus is morphologically different and had an apparatus consisting of M1, M2, Sa, Sb, Sc, “Sd”, Pa, Pb1 and Pb2 elements. These differences indicate that P. calceatus is not so closely related to the other species, possibly representing a separate evolutionary lineage, and may warrant an exclusive generic assignment.

TROPICAL MARSH AND SAVANNA OF THE LATE PLEISTOCENE IN NORTHEASTERN SONORA, MEXICO

Abstract We recovered Pleistocene fossils from a lava-dammed river deposit along the Rio de Moctezuma in northeastern Sonora, at 29°41′N, 109°39′W, and 605 m elevation. Today the region is semiarid, with a foothills thornscrub community. The impoundment that resulted from the lava dam produced a short-lived marsh with an adjacent savanna. The extraordinary fauna is both diverse and rich, and includes ostracods, mollusks, fish, amphibians, turtles, a crocodilian, snakes, lizards, birds, and mammals, many with tropical affinities today. Most of the animals are either extralimital to the setting today or extinct. The recovery of Bison dictates a Rancholabrean Land Mammal Age for the fauna; a preliminary 40Ar/39Ar age suggests that the deposit is between 570,000 and 310,000 years old. The occurrence of cf. Crocodylus acutus (a crocodilian; generic assignment uncertain) and Pampatherium, the giant armadillo, is unique in the northern interior Sonora setting. We speculate that a well-developed riparian corridor...

New genera of Early Devonian calceoloid corals from Australia and France

Two new Early Devonian genera and species of the family Calceolidae, phylum Cnidaria, are erected; these are Richtereola disruptus n. gen., n. sp., from the Emsian ( perbonus conodont zone) of the Taemas area, NSW, Australia and from the Emsian Izarne Formation ( gronbergi conodont zone) of the Montagne Noire, southern France; and Savageola unicus n. gen., n. sp. from the Lochkovian ( eurekaensis conodont zone) Mandagery Park Formation at Manildra, NSW, Australia. These taxa are essentially defined on opercular characters; well-preserved opercula are essential for confident generic assignment of calceoloid material. Savageola is known only from eastern Australia, but Richtereola is known from the Early Devonian of eastern Australia, southern France, South China (where it is represented by Calceola sandalina naningensis) and north Vietnam.

A new species of Hoplacephala Macquart (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) from Namibia, with a discussion of generic monophyly

A new species, Hoplacephala oryx sp. nov., is described from Namibia, Khorixas district. The male is characterized by a remarkably elongated pair of straight frontal setae and a tuft of lanceolate marginal setae on abdominal tergite 4. Generic assignment is argued from a cladistic analysis, and the monophyly of Hoplacephala Macquart is shown to be corroborated by the autapomorphic pattern of strong katepisternal setae.

A Molecular Phylogeny of Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) With Insights Into Early Biogeographic History

AbstractThe phylogeny of kingfishers was reconstructed by comparing mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences representing 38 ingroup species. Analysis of the combined data and the nuclear data alone recovered the Alcedininae as the basal lineage in the family. This basal arrangement, and support for many relationships within the three subfamilies, allows discussion of biogeographic issues. The Australian region and Pacific islands display the highest diversity of kingfishers, but this diversity is not a reflection of a long history in the region. Rather, high diversity and endemism in the Australian region is inferred to result from relatively recent radiations from southern Asia. The most parsimonious explanation for the origin of New World taxa is two dispersal events from the Old World. Within the large Halcyon radiation, the phylogeny is well resolved and allows evaluation of generic assignments. The phylogeny supports splitting Todiramphus from Halcyon. Todiramphus and Syma are sister taxa, as are Halcyon and Pelargopsis. Thus, merging or retaining those genera is a more subjective decision. Although not fully resolved, relationships within the alcedinines indicate that Ceyx and Alcedo, as currently delimited, are not natural groups.Phylogénie Moléculaire des Alcedinidae avec un Aperçu de l'Histoire Biogéographique Ancienne

Redescription and re‐evaluation of the taxonomic status of the Neotropical copepod Diaptomus falcifer Daday, 1905 (Calanoida: Diaptomidae)

Diaptomus sensu lato falcifer Daday is one of the several species of Neotropical diaptomids without a precise generic assignment and for which available descriptions are fragmentary and incomplete. On the basis of populations from Argentina and Paraguay, “Diaptomus” falcifer Daday is redescribed. The variability of several diagnostic features is quantified and discussed. Moreover, several hitherto unknown aspects of the morphology are described. Relocation of Daday's species to the genus Argyrodiaptomus Brehm, and its synonymy with A. argentinus Wright are suggested.

Dietzia cinnamea sp. nov., a novel species isolated from a perianal swab of a patient with a bone marrow transplant

The taxonomic status of a bacterium isolated from a perianal swab of a patient with a bone marrow transplant was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Chemotaxonomic investigations revealed the presence of cell wall chemotype IV, short chain mycolic acids that co-migrated with those extracted from members of the genus Dietzia, and a dihydrogenated menaquinone with eight isoprene units as the predominant menaquinone. Generic assignment was confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that this isolate constitutes a distinct phyletic line within the genus Dietzia, displaying 97.5-98.7% sequence similarity with Dietzia species with validly published names. The isolate could be distinguished from the type strain of Dietzia maris (1.6% sequence divergence) and other species of the genus Dietzia by DNA-DNA hybridization, as well as by using a set of biochemical tests. Genotypic and phenotypic data show that the strain merits classification as a novel species of the genus Dietzia for which the name Dietzia cinnamea sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is IMMIB RIV-399T (= DSM 44904T = CCUG 50875T).

Two new Ophiostoma species lacking conidial states isolated from bark beetles and bark beetle-infested Abies species in Japan

Two ophiostomatoid fungi without conidiophores and conidia were isolated from bark beetles and bark beetle-infested Abies spp. The teleomorph characters were similar to species of Ophiostoma, but the absence of the conidial stage hampered their exact generic assignment. Detailed morphological observations and molecular analysis clarified their generic affiliation. Consequently, they were placed in the genus Ophiostoma , but their morphology and DNA sequences did not coincide with any other species of Ophiostoma. Here, we propose these two species as Ophiostoma aoshimae sp. nov. and Ophiostoma rectangulosporium sp. nov. The former species is characterized by perithecial necks ornamented with projections and ellipsoid to oblong ascospores, and the latter species is characterized by perithecial necks ornamented with rectangular ascospores and white colonies.

The phylogeny of the genus Lasioserica inferred from adult morphology - implications on the evolution of montane fauna of the south Asian orogenic belt (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini)

The species of Lasioserica are highly diversified within the south Asian orogenic belt, such as the Himalaya, south-eastern Tibet and the mountains of northern Indochina. The study presents a preliminary phylogeny of Lasioserica based on adult morphology. Sixty-one species were examined for the cladistic analysis based on parsimony using successive approximations weighting and including 84 characters. As a result of the phylogenetic hypothesis on Lasioserica elaborated here, the taxonomic definition of Lasioserica and the validity of Amiserica are questionable and need to be revised. Taxonomic conclusions are here limited so far to the genus assignment of Amiserica antennalis (Nomura 1974) comb. n. The cladistic analysis revealed a large monophyletic clade of Lasioserica containing almost all species assigned to this group so far. Among this monophylum the following pattern have become evident: (1) a number of ancestral lineages from the eastern Himalaya and Indochina, (2) a large clade with almost exclusively Himalayan species and (3) one clade with only Chinese and Indochinese taxa. Based on this topology we may suggest that the more recent evolution of Lasioserica was more independent in these two major regions (Himalaya/Indochina). There is comparatively good evidence from range positions of closely related species for allopatric geographical speciation in Lasioserica with the majority of closely related central Himalayan species occurring allopatrically or parapatrically. The tree topology does not permit conclusions whether speciation progressed more often from east to west or vice versa. More easterly distributed lineages in the Himalaya seem to contrast this pattern with a greater part of closely related species occurring sympatrically. Since cumulative ranges of the major lineages of the Himalayan clade overlap in all respects, diversification of the almost strictly Himalayan clade of Lasioserica should be attributed to a rather long and persistent evolution within the Himalaya.

Williamsia deligens sp. nov., isolated from human blood

The taxonomic status of two bacterial strains isolated from human blood was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Chemotaxonomic investigations revealed the presence of cell-wall chemotype IV, short-chain mycolic acids that co-migrated with those extracted from members of the genus Williamsia and that produce C(16 : 0) and C(18 : 0) fatty acids on pyrolysis GC, and dihydrogenated menaquinone with nine isoprene units as the predominant isoprenologue. The generic assignment was confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that these isolates constitute a distinct phyletic line within the genus Williamsia, displaying 96.2 and 97.2 % sequence similarities to Williamsia muralis and Williamsia maris, respectively. The two isolates could be distinguished from the type strains of the latter species on the basis of several phenotypic traits. The genotypic and phenotypic data show that the strains merit classification as a novel species of Williamsia, for which the name Williamsia deligens sp. nov. is proposed, with type strain IMMIB RIV-956T (= DSM 44902T = CCUG 50873T).

Redescription of the holotype of Placosaurus rugosus gervais 1848–1852 (Squamata, Anguidae, Glyptosaurinae) from the Eocene of France and a revision of the genus

ABSTRACT The European-Asian taxon Placosaurus is a distinct glyptosaurine lizard that differs from the North American glyptosaurine genera Glyptosaurus, Helodermoides, Paraglyptosaurus, and Proglyptosaurus. Presently, species of Placosaurus can only be discriminated based on frontal morphology. Three species are recognized: Placosaurus rugosus Gervais, 1848–1952, Placosaurus estesi, sp. nov., and Placosaurus mongoliensis, all based on frontal material. Although the Asian species P. mongoliensis is retained in the genus Placosaurus, we consider this taxonomic assignment tentative. The species P. cayluxi, P. galliae, P. gaudryi, and P. margariticeps are considered nomina dubia. “Placosaurus” europaeus, based on a dentary with teeth, is tentatively retained in the genus Placosaurus but this generic assignment is equivocal. The species “P.” quercyi pertains to a new ‘melanosaurin’ and not to Placosaurus.

CLADID CRINOID (ECHINODERMATA) ANAL CONDITIONS: A TERMINOLOGY PROBLEM AND PROPOSED SOLUTION

Abstract: Analysis of anal plates of type species of most cladid crinoid genera (excluding codiacrinid and some gasterocomacids) recognizes four catagories of anal plating conditions designated: Parioplax, Menoplax, Mesoplax and Opioplax. These four plating conditions are subdivided into 23 anal subconditions. These various anal conditions reflect recognized general evolutionary trends within all orders of the cladids. This corrects, describes more precisely, and replaces the widely used terms ‘primitive’ and ‘advanced’ to describe anal conditions, either of which can occur in older or younger cladid crinoids. The morphological terms primanal, secundanal and tertanal should be used in place of the terms radianal, anal X and right tube plate, respectively, in most cladid and flexible crinoids. Anal X should be used only for those genera for which it has been demonstrated that the primanal was resorbed or migrated out of the cup. In most genera having cups with a single anal this rectifies the misnomer of referring to the single anal as anal X when it is actually the primanal that has migrated into the position previously occupied by the secundanal, pushing the secundanal out of the cup. The origin of cladid anals is not considered homologous to camerate anals, but the use of similar terms for descriptive purposes is given precedence over use of a misnomer. Recognition of the anal‐plate positions and clarification of anal‐plate homologies are important in cladid phylogenetic analysis. Results of this study strongly support punctuated and mosaic evolution within the anal‐plate series of cladid crinoids. Application of the new terminology further implies that the classification of some polyphyletic genera and families may be the result of convergence, wherein greater emphasis has been placed on the anal condition for genus or family assignment than has been placed on other equally significant morphological features.

A MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF KINGFISHERS (ALCEDINIDAE) WITH INSIGHTS INTO EARLY BIOGEOGRAPHIC HISTORY

Abstract The phylogeny of kingfishers was reconstructed by comparing mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences representing 38 ingroup species. Analysis of the combined data and the nuclear data alone recovered the Alcedininae as the basal lineage in the family. This basal arrangement, and support for many relationships within the three subfamilies, allows discussion of biogeographic issues. The Australian region and Pacific islands display the highest diversity of kingfishers, but this diversity is not a reflection of a long history in the region. Rather, high diversity and endemism in the Australian region is inferred to result from relatively recent radiations from southern Asia. The most parsimonious explanation for the origin of New World taxa is two dispersal events from the Old World. Within the large Halcyon radiation, the phylogeny is well resolved and allows evaluation of generic assignments. The phylogeny supports splitting Todiramphus from Halcyon. Todiramphus and Syma are sister taxa, as are Ha...

Eoshumardia (Trilobita, Cambrian), a junior synonym of Koldinioidia

Well-preserved internal and external moulds of a shumardiid species are described from the late Furongian (Late Cambrian) “Fengshan Formation” at Poben, Napo, southwestern Guangxi, which is close to the type locality of Shumardia orientalis, the type species of Eoshumardia. All features observed on the internal moulds indicate that the new material is definitely S. orientalis, whereas the morphology of the external moulds indicates that S. orientalis should be referred to Koldinioidia. The change of generic assignment of the type species means that Eoshumardia is a junior synonym of Koldinioidia.