North American Taxa Research Articles

An Assortment of Woody Plants Produced in the Manor of Nové Dvory at the Turn of the 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup> Centuries: North American Taxa

The noble family of Chotek began with the realization of extensive landscaping in their manor of Nové Dvory at the end of the 18th century. Lists of woody plants produced for these purposes and for sale were preserved from the years 1794, 1800 and 1814. 276 taxa of foreign woody plants in the current concept, permanently cultivated outdoors, have been identified in all three lists at least to the level of the species. 91 taxa come from North America, with 81 being the first documented place of their presence in the territory of the Czech Republic. All North American taxa are natural, none of them originated in culture.

The taxonomy, chronostratigraphy and paleobiogeography of glyptosaurine lizards (Glyptosaurinae, Anguidae)

Glyptosaurine lizards (Glyptosaurinae, Anguidae) are an extinct group of heavily armored lizards known from North America, Europe and Asia. Glyptosaurine lizards, taxa that possess fully developed tuberculated dermal armor, appear to have been established in North America by late early Puercan time (To3). “Proxestops,” a taxon distinguished by a combination of vermiculate and tuberculated osteoderm sculpturing, is considered to be a non-glyptosaurine, a sister taxon of the Glyptosaurinae. Known from only fragmentary remains, its wide chronostratigraphic distribution suggests that “Proxestops” is a form genus that, in all probability, represents more than one taxon, that ranges from the middle Paleocene to the early Eocene of North America. Moreover, the taxa Odaxosaurus piger, Parodaxosaurus sanjuanensis and “Proxestops” are best considered “proto-glyptosaurines”. “Melanosaurins” and glyptosaurins were well-established by the early Eocene, especially in North America, and are here documented by their type species and chronostratigraphic levels. Both tribes are present in Europe (MP7), too, but the record is not as estensive as that of North America. The North American taxon Gaultia silvaticus (Wa0) is transitional between a “melanosaurin” and glyptosaurin. Because it lacks the well-defined hexagonal osteoderms that characterize the Glyptosaurini, it is removed from that group and considered to be a “melanosaurin”. The “melanosaurin” taxon “Xestops” savagei (Wa4–Wa6) cannot be referred to Xestops (Br2) based on non-corresponding elements and because superficial similarity does not justify assignment to this taxon. Arpadosaurus sepulchralis (Wa6?), whose holotype is a fragmentary right frontal, is considered a subjective junior synonym of A. gazinorum, based on minor differences in the epidermal scale pattern that probably represent individual variation. “Glyptosaurus” agmodon (Wa6?), based on a partial right maxilla, cannot be referred to Glyptosaurus (sensu stricto), and the material upon which this taxon is based bears strong resemblance to material identified as cf. “?Paraglyptosaurus” yatkolai (Wa5–Wa6). “Glyptosaurus” rhodinos (Wa5) is based on an incomplete parietal, and its reference to Glyptosaurus is considered problematic. Eoglyptosaurus donohoei (Wa7) is probably valid and is re-established here. Glyptosaurus (sensu stricto) is known solely from the middle Eocene (Br2) by G. sylvestris. Dimetoposaurus wyomingensis (Br3) is removed from Xestops vagans because its synonymy was based on superficial similarities. Helodermoides tuberculatus, the largest and last glyptosaurin (Ch3), is restricted to the Chadronian of North America. Only the “melanosaurin” Peltosaurus granulosus (Or2–Or3), which includes the species P. abbotti, seems to have crossed the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, and appears to be largely restricted to the Orellan, but extended into the Arikareean. European glyptosaurines are also represented by both glyptosaurins and “melanosaurins” early in the Eocene (MP7). Placosauriops-like “melanosaurins” are known from Dormaal (MP7), and the glyptosaurin taxon?Placosaurus ragei occurs at the same level. “Placosauriops abderhaldeni” has been identified from the Grube Messel (MP11), but this assignment remains dubious because the species has not been adequately diagnosed, and the holotype species is from the Geiseltal (MP13), which is some 4.5 million years younger. Placosauriops weigelti (MP13) is the only valid species of this genus. Paraxestops stehlini (MP14) is not referable to the North American taxon Xestops, and its relationship to Placosauriops has not been studied. The late Eocene glyptosaurins Placosaurus estesi (MP17) and P. rugosus (MP18) are the last glyptosaurines known from Europe and appear to have gone extinct at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, casulties perhaps of the “Grande Coupure”. Asian glyptosaurines are known solely from one species, Stenoplacosaurus mongoliensis, from the middle Eocene (Sharamurunian) of China. Glyptosaurines most likely originated in North America, diversified by late Paleocene time, and rapidly spread across the North Atlantic into Europe by the early Eocene. Both “melanosaurins” and glyptosaurins took a foothold in Europe by the early Neustrian, but the glyptosaurins, aside from one occurrence (Dormaal, MP7), were conspicuously absent for most of Neustrian through early Robiacian time. In North America, glyptosaurins diversified during the early and middle Eocene, while in Europe small “melanosaurins” were a prominent part of the paleoherpetofauna, and glyptosaurins are unknown for most of the Neustrian through the Geiseltalian, in both the fossilferous Lagerstätten of Messel and Geiseltal. Stenoplacosaurus is the only known glyptosaurin glyptosaurine from Asia, and its abrupt appearance during the late Eocene suggests the possiblity of a Beringian dispersal from North America into Asia.

Edaphosauridae (Synapsida, Eupelycosauria) from Europe and their relationship to North American representatives

A recent discovery from the Carboniferous–Permian transition of the southwest German Saar–Nahe Basin has revealed a medium-sized edaphosaurid skeleton. It is described as Remigiomontanus robustus gen. et sp. nov. Apart from a largely complete dorsal column, showing the typical hyper-elongated spines with lateral tuberculation, few other elements are preserved. Although lacking certain autapomorphies, the unique character combination of this new form strongly suggests an intermediate position between Ianthasaurus and Edaphosaurus. This study presents a revision of the complete European material of Edaphosauridae, counting the newly named genus Bohemiclavulus (type species Naosaurus mirabilis Fritsch, 1895), and a confirmation that Edaphosaurus credneri is an indeterminate juvenile of this most derived genus. Further fragments include a second young juvenile from the Dohlen Basin, east Germany, the lost spine set of Ramodondron from Boskovice Basin, Czech Republic, and a poorly preserved specimen from Autun, France, for which its hitherto parareptilian classification is debated. A renewed dataset is used to carry out a phylogenetic analysis. Exhaustive comparisons allow for a deeper understanding of back sail characters, which on the other hand hamper a phylogenetic resolution for both European and North American taxa. Previously reconstructed faunal provinces of edaphosaurid distribution are not evident from the present knowledge.

Ancestral range reconstruction of remote oceanic island species of Plantago (Plantaginaceae) reveals differing scales and modes of dispersal.

AimThe aim of this study was to resolve the phylogenetic placement of island taxa, reconstruct ancestral origins and resolve competing hypotheses of dispersal patterns and biogeographical histories for oceanic island endemic taxa within subgenus Plantago (Plantaginaceae).LocationJuan Fernández Islands, the Auckland Islands, Lord Howe Island, New Amsterdam Island, New Zealand, Tasmania, Falkland Islands, Rapa Iti and the Hawaiian Islands.TaxonIsland endemics within Plantago (Plantaginaceae), a globally distributed taxonomic group comprising approximately 250 species.MethodsWe use Bayesian phylogenetic and divergence time analyses and historical biogeographical analysis of molecular sequence data to infer the ancestral origins of the oceanic island species in Plantago.ResultsTaxa within subgenus Plantago form clades based on geographic proximities and challenge previous phylogenetic relationships and classification based on morphology. We infer that biogeographic histories of oceanic island taxa from multiple islands were shaped by dispersal at different scales and possibly by different types of birds. The highly remote Hawaiian Islands and Rapa Iti were colonized from North American taxa in a pattern corresponding to known migration routes of large marine birds, rather than from New Zealand as previously hypothesized. The island endemics of Juan Fernández, the Falkland Islands, Lord Howe, Auckland Islands and New Zealand are found to have sources in the nearest continental areas. The analyses confirm recent speciation within subgenus Plantago – which is particularly heightened in island lineages in Hawaii and Rapa Iti – but show slightly older divergence times than previous molecular dating studies.Main conclusionsUsing molecular data to infer ancestral ranges for plants with uncertain taxonomic relationships can greatly improve our understanding of biogeographical histories and help elucidate origins, dispersal modes and routes in widespread lineages with complex distribution patterns such as Plantago. We improve understanding of important floristic exchange areas between continents and islands as a result of long‐distance dispersal. We infer that a combination of both stepping stone dispersal and extreme long‐distance dispersal can shape insular floras, and that multiple floristic areas can be the sources of closely related island taxa. However, despite the successful dispersal of Plantago, radiation in island archipelagos is generally limited suggesting specific traits may limit diversification.

A revision of the genus Psathyrella, with a focus on subsection Spadiceogriseae.

Specimens belonging to taxa traditionally assigned to the subsection Spadiceogriseae of the genus Psathyrella were analyzed both morphologically and molecularly. Samples included mainly European collections, selected GenBank accessions, and specimens of various North American taxa described by Smith (1972) and deposited at the Herbarium of the University of Michigan (MICH). Three additional taxa from Africa and Central America were also included. Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood analyses of two loci (ITS and Tef-1α) independently and together supported the monophyletic nature of the subsection Spadiceogriseae, and identified nine statistically supported clades within the subsection. North American and European species often fell within the same clade, suggesting a relatively recent origin of the subsection or human induced intercontinental movement. While this study determines for the first time that the presence of a white veil is diagnostic for the entire subsection, very few morphological traits were associated with individual clades, but clades were often distinctively different in terms of habitat association, suggesting that trophic interactions may have driven the evolution of this group of fungi. Combined, morphological and DNA analyses revealed both expected and unexpected synonymies. The new combinations P. vesiculosa, P. ochrofulva and P. sanjuanensis are proposed, and the new species P. rogersiae is described. New information is provided on the taxonomic status and distribution of several species including P. agrariella, P. albescens, P. atrifolia, P. bivelata, P. fatua, P. kauffmanii, P. aff. kauffmanii, P. incondita, P. infida, P. nitens, P. niveobadia, P. phegophila, P. pseudocorrugis sensu Kits van Waveren, P. subnuda. In total, 13 synonymies were proposed. Based on DNA data, five species of uncertain validity were confirmed as valid, while six species may be ambiguous and may require an in-depth re-analysis. The information gathered in this study was used to generate a key to the species of the subsection Spadiceogriseae.

Identifying and naming the currently known diversity of the genus Hydnum, with an emphasis on European and North American taxa

ABSTRACTIn this study, 49 species of Hydnum are recognized worldwide. Twenty-two of them are described here as new species. Epitypes are proposed for H. repandum and H. rufescens. The majority of the species are currently known only from a single continent. The barcodes produced in this study are deposited in the RefSeq database and used as a basis to name species hypotheses in UNITE. Eleven infrageneric clades recovered in a phylogenetic analysis are supported by morphological characteristics and formally recognized: subgenera Alba, Hydnum, Pallida, and Rufescentia; sections Hydnum, Olympica, Magnorufescentia, and Rufescentia; and subsections Mulsicoloria, Rufescentia, and Tenuiformia.

Coryphopteris simulata (Thelypteridaceae), A New Combination For The Massachusetts Fern

Previous hypotheses on the evolutionary affinities of the eastern North American fern species most recently recognized as Parathelypteris simulata have included hybrid origin from North American progenitors and disjunctions with east Asian species. Recent phylogenetic evidence indicates that Parathelypteris sensu Ching is not monophyletic and that its species belong to two distinct clades, each of which includes members of other widely recognized genera: one of these clades includes the type of Parathelypteris, and the second includes southeast Asian and Pacific species of the more recently recognized genus Coryphopteris along with some temperate Asian species of Parathelypteris. Newly generated rbcL data representing the North American taxon Parathelypteris simulata places it in the Coryphopteris clade, as well. In consideration of ecological and phylogenetic evidence, the new combination Coryphopteris simulata is proposed.

A new ornithomimosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Trinity Group of Arkansas

ABSTRACTWhereas ornithomimosaurs (ostrich-mimic dinosaurs) are well known from Asia during the Early Cretaceous, they are less well known from this time in North America. Represented by a single specimen consisting of pedal elements, a new North American taxon, Arkansaurus fridayi, gen. et sp. nov., consists of a nearly complete right foot, recovered from the Lower Cretaceous (Albian–Aptian) Trinity Group of Arkansas. Arkansaurus fridayi can be distinguished from other ornithomimosaurs based on differentiated pedal unguals, a laterally compressed third metatarsal that is ovoid in proximal view, and a distal ungual with a very weak flexor tubercle, lacking spurs. The condition of this third metatarsal suggests that Arkansaurus fridayi is more basal than Asiatic ornithomimosaurs of similar age, but consistent with older North American forms. This specimen provides knowledge of a poorly understood radiation of ornithomimosaurs in Appalachia and is the only known saurischian dinosaurian fossil from the state of Arkansas.http://zoobank.org:pub:EB6910D3-A66D-43FE-A2F6-3BFF4A7B347CCitation for this article: Hunt, R. K., and J. H. Quinn. 2018. A new ornithomimosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Trinity Group of Arkansas. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2017.1421209.

A new alvarezsaurid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Qiupa Formation of Luanchuan, Henan Province, central China

ABSTRACT An alvarezsaurid dinosaur skeleton was discovered from the Late Cretaceous Qiupa Formation of Luanchuan, Henan Province of central China. It represents a new alvarezsaurid dinosaur Qiupanykus zhangi gen. et sp. nov. A phylogenetic analysis recovers Qiupanykus nested within the unresolved clade, which includes Asian and north American taxa. The skeleton of the new specimen is preserved in association with eggshells. The eggshell morphologies show that these eggs belong to oviraptorid eggs, skeletal remains of which were discovered from the same area. The alvarezsaurid skeleton associated with eggshell fragments may indicate that these eggs were broken by the strong thumb-claws of the former and that alvarezsaurid dinosaurs may be egg-eaters.

Molecular confirmation of Leucoagaricus idae-fragum (Agaricales, Agaricaceae), and notes on its morphological variability

Leucoagaricus idae-fragum, a nice and very rare pink-lilac lepiotoid species originally described from France, was put into synonymy with the North American taxon Lepiota decorata by Vellinga (2006), only on a morphological basis. In this paper, the independent position of L. idae-fragum from L. decorata is pointed out, based upon the phylogenetic analysis of the nrITS sequences obtained from recently collected specimens of L. idae-fragum from three Italian areas, and from the holotype collection. Morphological investigations of all these collections revealed high variability in shape of the cheilocystidia, spores, inconstant ammonia reaction, characters which have always been considered to be quite stable within a single species and traditionally used for discriminating among species in Leucoagaricus. Full descriptions, with illustrations of fresh basidiomes and of the main macro- and micromorphological features are provided together with a comparison with allied species.

Taxonomy of 'Euconnus complex'. Part XVI. Alloconophron Franz transferred to Anhoraeomorphus Franz as subgenus, with notes on systematic position of Noctophus Casey (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae).

Based on examination of type species, Alloconophron, previously a subgenus of Euconnus, is placed as a subgenus of Anhoraeomorphus, resulting in Anhoraeomorphus (Alloconophron) grucheti (Franz) comb. n. and Anhoraeomorphus (Alloconophron) impressifrons (Franz) comb. n. All species of Anhoraeomorphus are known to occur in Madagascar. Noctophus stat. rest., a North American taxon originally described as a genus and later placed as a subgenus of Euconnus, is restituted as genus and redefined. Noctophus is morphologically surprisingly similar to Anhoraeomorphus, it also shares many structures with the Australo-Pacific Sciacharis. As Noctophus is known from one species represented by a single female holotype only, and the maxillary palps of this specimen are missing, the proposed placement of Noctophus is tentative and requires further study based on complete male specimens.

Phylogeographic and population insights of the Asian common toad (Bufo gargarizans) in Korea and China: population isolation and expansions as response to the ice ages.

The effects of ice ages on speciation have been well documented for many European and North American taxa. In contrast, very few studies have addressed the consequences of such environmental and topographical changes in North East Asian species. More precisely, the Korean Peninsula offers a unique model to assess patterns and processes of speciation as it hosts the northern- and eastern-most distribution limit of some widespread Asian taxa. Despite this, studies addressing phylogeographic patterns and population genetics in the peninsula and surrounding countries are few and studies for most families are lacking. Here we inferred the phylogenetic relationships of the common toad (Bufo gargarizans) from South Korea and their North East Asian counterpart populations, based on mitochondrial data. Korean B. gargarizans GenBank BLASTs matched few individuals from nearby China, but the presence of a Korean clade suggests isolation on the Korean Peninsula, previous to the last glacial maximum, linked to sea level resurgence. Molecular clock calibrations within this group were used to date the divergence between clades and their relationship to paleo-climatic events in the area. Lack of genetic structure among South Korean populations and strong homogeneity between the Korean and some Chinese localities suggest weak isolation and recent expansion. Geographical projection of continuous coalescent maximum-clade-credibility trees shows an original Chinese expansion towards the Korean Peninsula through the Yellow Sea circa two million years ago with colonisation events dating circa 800 thousand years ago (K. y. a.). Following this colonisation, the data point to outgoing Korean Peninsula dispersal events throughout different periods, towards the North through land, and West through land bridge formations over the Yellow Sea during sea level falls. In accordance, demographic analyses revealed a population expansion in the Koran Peninsula circa 300 K. y. a., likely attributed to glacial cycle fluctuations.

New plesiosaurian specimens (Reptilia, Plesiosauria) from the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) of Goulmima (Southern Morocco)

Two new plesiosaurian specimens coming from lower Turonian deposits of Goulmima in Morocco are described. The three-dimensional digital reconstructions of both specimens provide details about their skull roof, mandible and atlas-axis complex. In addition, computed tomography allows to reconstruct their braincase, which is a part of the skull poorly known among plesiosaurians due to either poor preservation and/or insufficient preparation, but that offers a large number of characters used in phylogenetical analyses. After descriptions and comparisons, the two specimens D1-8213 and MNHN F-GOU14 are assigned to Libonectes morgani and to an undetermined Polycotylidae, respectively. The presence of the North American taxon Libonectes morgani in the deposits of Goulmima confirms a trans-Atlantic faunal connectivity at that time and that Elasmosauridae were able to exploit the open marine environment for dispersion. Polycotylids have already been described from Goulmima; however, the typical preservation of these specimens in nodules prevented their preparation and the access to their internal anatomy. Here, the use of X-ray computed tomography shows the strong interest to use such a technique and provide new anatomical details.

The mylodontine ground sloth Glossotherium tropicorum from the late Pleistocene of Ecuador and Peru

AbstractNew mylodontine (Xenarthra, Pilosa) sloth remains from the late Pleistocene tar seep localities of Corralito (Ecuador) and Talara (Peru) are described, and the taxonomic history of the extinct ground sloth genus Glossotherium is reviewed. Based on the new material and comparisons with Glossotherium robustum, Glossotherium wegneri, and the North American taxon, Paramylodon harlani, the species Glossotherium tropicorum is considered to be valid and a new definition of its diagnostic characters is provided. Glossotherium tropicorum is similar in size to Glossotherium robustum and Glossotherium wegneri but differs in several respects from these species, such as having a more elongated and slender skull. In this respect it more closely resembles Paramylodon harlani in North America, which is also similar in size. Glossotherium tropicorum is one of two mylodontine sloths found in the upper Pleistocene of north‐western South America, the other being Glossotherium wegneri. While both are present in this region their individual distributions did not overlap and the two species have not been recovered together in a fauna. The distribution of Glossotherium tropicorum is restricted to lowland coastal areas whereas Glossotherium wegneri is found inland and in the highland areas of the Andes, suggesting significant differences in their ecology.

A new genus for North American Cicadetta species (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)

The generic classification of cicadas within the globally distributed tribe Cicadettini (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) has been challenging due to their often conservative morphology. A recent molecular analysis has indicated that the six North American taxa currently classified in Cicadetta are unrelated to the European type species of Cicadetta, C. montana Scopoli. Here we identify a set of diagnostic morphological characters for a new genus, which we distinguish from its closest relatives in Eurasia and Australasia.

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the north-temperate Labrador Teas (Ericaceae: Rhododendron Subsect. Ledum) suggests a complex genetic history

The Labrador teas are a group of nearly circumboreal shrubs or sub-shrubs inhabiting damp habitats. The 4–7 currently recognized species are classified within Rhododendron subg. Rhododendron section Rhododendron subsect. Ledum. In floral characters, these species are extremely similar. In vegetative characters, species limits in the Labrador teas have been difficult to determine because many of the traditionally used morphological characters vary continually across the geographic range. This study investigated evolutionary history and preliminary consideration of some species boundaries in the Labrador teas using DNA sequence data from five molecular markers to generate a preliminary phylogeny of R. subsect. Ledum. Data were analyzed using Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian methods. The nuclear data indicate a monophyletic subsect. Ledum, but chloroplast data indicate that the North American taxa have an evolutionary history separate from the European and Asian taxa, suggesting that one or both lineages of subsect. Ledum may be of hybrid origin. Additionally, our analyses suggest that taxa combined in recent treatments (i.e. Rhododendron tomentosum) represent separate lineages and should be recognized as distinct instead of included within more broadly defined species, however our current level of sampling cannot completely resolve this issue. This study lays the groundwork for future phylogenetic studies within subsect. Ledum, illustrating the need to sample more intensively across taxa in order to capture what appears to be a complex genetic and biogeographic history.

Inoceramid bivalves from the Coniacian (Upper Cretaceous) of the Staffhorst shaft (Lower Saxony, Germany) – Stratigraphical significance of a unique succession

The Staffhorst shaft (Lower Saxony, Germany) ranks amongst the critical sections for documentation of the inoceramid record of the Euramerican Coniacian Stage (Upper Cretaceous). In spite of a number of disadvantages (i.e., interval sampling and stratigraphical gaps), this section does provide details of the inoceramid distribution across insufficiently known substage boundary intervals of the Coniacian. The lower–middle Coniacian boundary is marked by the Inoceramus gibbosus Zone, at the top of the lower Coniacian, followed by the Volviceramus koeneni Zone of the lower middle Coniacian. The zone of I. gibbosus Schlüter, 1877 succeeds the Cremnoceramus-dominated lower Coniacian and usually is missing in the Euramerican biogeographic region. In addition to the index species, the V. koeneni Zone is characterised by Volviceramus exogyroides (Meek and Hayden, 1862), a North American taxon that was poorly documented in Europe hitherto. The base of the upper Coniacian is best documented by the common appearance of Sphenoceramus subcardissoides (Schlüter, 1877) and of Magadiceramus subquadratus (Schlüter, 1887). Inoceramus fasciculatus Heine, 1929, and the stratigraphically earliest ‘sphenoceramids’, are good proxies for this boundary. The record from the Staffhorst shaft confirms and supplements recent reports on the inoceramid succession of the Coniacian across the entire Euramerican biogeographic region.

Two new species of Sabulina (Caryophyllaceae) from Washington State, U.S.A.

Sabulina basaltica and Sabulina sororia (Caryophyllaceae) are described as new species endemic to Washington State, U.S.A. Sabulina basaltica is restricted to high-elevation, basalt rocks in the northeastern Olympic Mountains, and Sabulina sororia to high-elevation, dunite rocks of the Twin Sisters Range in the North Cascade Mountains. Both were previously confused with Sabulina rossii (formerly called Arenaria rossii or Minuartia rossii). Their recognition as distinct species is supported by morphological and molecular characters and disjunct geographic distributions. Both are illustrated, mapped and compared to related species. We also present a molecular phylogeny of Sabulina based on nuclear ITS and plastid trnQ-rps16 DNA with increased sampling of North American taxa. The phylogeny resolves a single clade containing all glabrous, perennial, North American Sabulina taxa including Sabulina rossii and both of the new species.

A new species of cottontail rabbit (Lagomorpha: Leporidae: Sylvilagus) from Suriname, with comments on the taxonomy of allied taxa from northern South America

Of the 19 currently recognized species of Sylvilagus Gray, 1867, 15 inhabit North America, and only 5 are recognized in South America: S. brasiliensis Linnaeus, 1758 (throughout most of the continent); S. varynaensis Durant and Guevara, 2001, restricted to the southern lowlands of Venezuela (states of Barinas, Portuguesa, and Guarico); S. andinus (Thomas, 1897) from the Andean paramos of Ecuador and potentially in a sporadic manner to the Colombian and Venezuelan paramos; and S. tapetillus Thomas, 1913, from the coastal plain in the region of Rio de Janeiro. In addition to these, putative subspecies of S. floridanus, primarily a North American taxon, nominally are recognized from the grassland plains areas of northwestern South America east of the Andes. While S. varynaensis and S. tapetillus are monotypic, S. brasiliensis contains at least 37 named taxa in synonymy, distributed in various habitats; S. andinus requires further study. As a result of the recent description of a neotype for S. brasiliensis, it is now possible to assess species limits and begin the process of illuminating formerly obscured biological diversity in South American cottontails. Here, I describe a new species of Sylvilagus from the lowlands of western Suriname, and excise S. sanctaemartaeHershkovitz, 1950 from synonymy with S. brasiliensis.Version of Record, first published online May 17, 2017, with fixed content and layout in compliance with Art. 8.1.3.2 ICZN.

Genome Size Variation in Elms (Ulmus spp.) and Related Genera

Elms (Ulmus spp.) are iconic street and landscape trees, but their use is currently limited by susceptibility to disease, especially Dutch elm disease (DED). Improved access to disease-resistant germplasm will be of great benefit for ongoing breeding and selection programs, but these programs have been limited historically by uncertain relationships among Ulmus species, especially the North American species and their putative Old World relatives. Estimates of genome size from 28 species representing both subgenera of Ulmus (subg. Ulmus and subg. Oreoptelea) and six species in the related small genera Zelkova, Hemiptelea, and Planera were estimated using flow cytometry. Genome-size estimates were calibrated using seven elms with known chromosome counts. Results strongly supported the subgeneric classification of Wiegrefe et al. Monoploid genome size was found to be quite constant within the subgenera of Ulmus they recognized and within the small genera, and polyploidy is uncommon in these plants. However, there are consistent differences in genome size between the subgenera of Ulmus and between them and the smaller genera, and these differences can be used to place species in their proper taxon, knowledge which can be useful in identifying disease-resistant germplasm that may be compatible with Ulmus americana and other North American taxa. Two Asian species that have sometimes been considered to be related to North American species now placed in subg. Oreoptelea were tested. The Himalayan Ulmus villosa has a much smaller genome than either of the subgenera, indicating that its relationship with other elms is rather remote. It may be a source of novel genes in Ulmus, but our results indicate it is not close to U. americana or other New World species. In contrast, results from the rare Chinese species Ulmus elongata support its placement in subg. Oreoptelea. It is the only close relative of the North American elms that is native to Asia, where DED is believed to have originated, and its response to DED infection should be evaluated.