Taxonomic Priority Research Articles

Phycosiphon incertum revisited: Anconichnus horizontalis is its junior subjective synonym

Comparisons between Phycosiphon incertum Fischer-Ooster (1858) and Anconichnus horizontalis Kern (1978) show that these two monotypic ichnogenera do not differ significantly in geometry, size, sediment fill, and environmental occurrence. Therefore, taxonomic priority has to be given to Phycosiphon and Anconichnus becomes a subjective junior synonym. The trace fossil is a small, highly lobed spreite structure produced by a zoned backfill consisting of a pale mantle and dark core. In a few cases, a meniscate structure is visible in the core. The spreite sediment is an extension of the mantle material; it commonly is poorly visible. The spreite-producing behavior may be locally interrupted, leaving a single tube of backfill. The spatial arrangement of the trace fossils seems to depend on the host sediment; in muddy and homogeneous material the lobes tend to be oriented randomly, including vertically, whereas in laminated sand and silty sediments they tend to lie parallel to bedding. This latter orientation is exaggerated by compaction. Textural differences between host sediment and spreite or mantle may be subtle and not always evident. Observations in modern sediments are in agreement with the type material of both ichnogenera.

Mansonella ozzardi: A Redescription with Comments on Its Taxonomic Relationships *

Mansonella ozzardi is redescribed from adult worms collected from the subcutaneous tissues of patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) infected with a Haitian strain of the filaria. The worms are small and very slender; females measure about 49 mm in length by 0.15 mm in diameter and males, 26 by 0.07 mm. Haitian (Caribbean) and Colombian (Amazon) forms of the filaria are morphologically identical, as are their microfilariae. Mansonella is most closely related to Tetrapetalonema. Based on taxonomic priority the latter becomes a synonym of Mansonella. As a consequence, T. perstans and T. streptocerca of man in Africa are designated as M. perstans (Manson, 1891) n. comb. and M. streptocerca (Macfie and Corson, 1922) n. comb. Further, M. ozzardi is most closely related to the species M. llewellyni (Price, 1962) n. comb., a parasite of the raccoon, and M. interstitium (Price, 1962) n. comb. found in squirrels, both in North America.

On the adaptive pattern of "Ramapithecus".

A reconstruction of the adaptive pattern of the Miocene hominoid "Ramapithecus," supported by comparative data and morphological comparisons, is presented. It is based upon the completely known dentition, inferior portion of the face, and on the paleoecology and geographic distribution of "Ramapithecus" bearing deposits. The known adaptive and morphological patterns of the "Ramapithecus" species are almost indistinguishable from those of the contemporary species of Sivapithecus, which has taxonomic priority. The "Ramapithecus" species are therefore referred to Sivapithecus, a dryopithecine genus which apparently radiated throughout Eurasia and Africa during the Middle Miocene.