Nomenclatural changes in some sea cucumbers with the erection of a new genus and description of a Thyone ?juvenile (?n. sp.) from the Gulf of California (Echinodermata:Holothuroidea:Dendrochirotida)

This paper includes several nomenclatural changes in dendrochirotid holothuroids, mostly based on materials from the USNM. These include the erection of a new genus Pseudostolus for two Indo-Pacific Stolus species [(S. kilberti Rajpal & Thandar, 1999 and S. rapax Koehler & Vaney (1908)], re-assignment of Havelockia uniannulatus (Sluiter, 1914), Thyone pseudofusus Deichmann 1930, T. parafusus Deichmann, 1941 and T. axiologa H.L. Clark, 1938, to the genus Stolus, and re-assignment of Havelockia nozawai (Mitsukuri, 1912) and Thyone adinopoda Pawson & Miller, 1981 to the genus Sclerothyone Thandar, 1989. In addition, a lectotype is designated for (T. vilis Sluiter, 1901), based on the study of type material at the ZMUA. The Caribbean Stolus cognatus is also described and commented on and a single, perhaps juvenile specimen from the Gulf of California is described as Thyone ? n. sp.

New record of the Red Shoulder Wrasse, Stethojulis bandanensis (Bleeker, 1851) (Perciformes, Labridae), from Korea

A single female juvenile specimen of Stethojulis bandanensis (Bleeker, 1851) was collected from Korea. The specimen is characterized by the 14 pectoral fin rays, the orange-red spot on upper pectoral fin base, and two small light-blue-edged black dots on the caudal peduncle. This species is the third species of the genus Stethojulis Günther, 1861 in Korea, and the newly proposed Korean name for the species is “Ju-hwang-jeom-mu-ji-gae-nol-lae-gi”.

The True Identity of Putative Tooth Alveoli in a Cenozoic Crown Bird, the Gastornithid Omorhamphus

All extant birds are toothless, and recent molecular evidence suggests that edentulism in extant birds is the product of a single evolutionary transition to toothlessness on the line to crown birds in the Cretaceous. However, a fossil crown bird premaxilla from the Palaeogene of North America (assigned to the gastornithid Omorhamphus storchii) has been interpreted as bearing alveoli for teeth, an observation that would cast doubt on a single loss of teeth preceding the extant avian radiation. However, the identity of these putative alveoli has never been reinvestigated in detail. Here, we re-examine this problematic juvenile specimen, using non-invasive x-ray microtomography, enabling the assessment of the true identity of the large, alveolus-like pits on the ventral side of this premaxilla. Although superficially alveolus-like, we illustrate that these pits represent openings of large neurovascular canals communicating with both the medullary cavity as well as other canals opening along the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the upper jaw, and that none of these openings appear to represent tooth alveoli. Further, we demonstrate that claims of an adult gastornithid specimen (Gastornis parisiensis) exhibiting tooth alveoli are similarly unfounded. By rejecting the hypothesis of dentition in these gastornithids, we eliminate any lingering uncertainty regarding the persistence of teeth within the avian crown group. We illustrate the presence of similar large vascular openings along the ventral surface of the beak of juvenile Gastornis russelli/parisiensis, and smaller versions in the juvenile premaxillae of Sylviornis neocaledoniae. We suggest that the large vascular canals in gastornithid specimens such as O. storchii are a feature associated with rapid growth of the juvenile beak, allowing the attainment of a large and dorsoventrally deep beak early in ontogeny. This may have enabled young gastornithids to become autonomous early, consistent with a presumably precocial developmental strategy.

A Juvenile Specimen of Archaeorhynchus Sheds New Light on the Ontogeny of Basal Euornithines

The ontogenetic development of extant birds is characterized by rapid growth, bone fusion and an early onset of flight ability. In contrast, little is known about how these ontogenetic traits evolved in the bird stem lineage, and the available data pertains primarily to Enantiornithes. Here, we describe an almost complete skeleton of a juvenile euornithine bird (LNTU-WLMP-18) from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation (Aptian), which was discovered near Lamadong Town (Jianchang County, Liaoning, China). Despite its completeness, bone preservation is rather poor. Thus, to increase the contrast between bone tissue and matrix, we used cyan-red-based autofluorescence photography. The specimen is more or less articulated and exposed in ventral aspect. The jaws are edentulous, the coracoid bears a procoracoid process, and the ischium lacks a proximodorsal process. The pedal unguals are short and barely curved, indicating a ground-dwelling lifestyle. Feathers, including long primaries, are present as carbonized traces. Several characters indicate that LNTU-WLMP-18 is a juvenile: the bone surface has a coarsely striated texture and no fusion is evident between the carpals and metacarpals, between the tibia and the astragalus and calcaneum, or among the metatarsals. Although juvenile characters have the potential to impede accurate identification of the specimen, morphological comparisons and cladistic analysis identify LNTU-WLMP-18 as most likely referable to the basal euornithine Archaeorhynchus, which would make the specimen the first juvenile bird from the Jehol Group that could be assigned to a specific taxon. Based on its size and the incomplete ossification of the bone surface, LNTU-WLMP-18 represents the smallest and therefore youngest known individual of this genus. A statistical comparison of limb proportions shows that the forelimbs of LNTU-WLMP-18 are significantly shorter than the hindlimbs, while the forelimbs are longer than the hindlimbs in subadult and adult individuals. This is different from the situation in some Enantiornithes, in which the forelimbs exceed the length of the hindlimbs even in hatchlings. Similar to Enantiornithes, Archaeorhynchus probably exhibit an early onset of flight ability, as indicated by the extensive wing plumage in LNTU-WLMP-18. Finally, the lack of gastroliths in the visceral cavity might indicate a dietary shift in Archaeorhynchus during ontogeny. As a small-bodied, ground-dwelling, seed-eating bird with a precocial ontogeny, Archaeorhynchus filled an ecological niche that later allowed early crown birds to survive the K-Pg mass extinction.

First Record of Pseudotolithus senegallus (Cuvier, 1830) in the Mediterranean Sea

This article firstly records Pseudotolithus senegallus (Cuvier, 1830) species in the Mediterranean Sea. juvenile specimen of Pseudotolithus senegallus (Cuvier, 1830) with total length 15.5 cm and total weight 37 g, was obtained by experimental bottom trawling using commercial bottom trawler (stretched mesh size: 15 mm; duration time: four hours; location: east of Suez Canal main stream in the Mediterranean, off Port Said). Opercle lining jet black, showing through a dark blotch externally. Axils of pectoral-fin base dark, distal portion of caudal fin darkish whereas anal and pelvic fins are yellowish. Gas bladder with a pair of arborescent appendages, dividing into short anterior branches and a dozen or so long tubular posterior appendages along sides of bladder beyond its tip. I suggest the method of introduction to the Mediterranean waters is ballast water of ships as it is recorded only from Mauritania to Angola on the western coast of Africa.

Revision of the genera Vinciguerria and †Eovinciguerria from the Oligocene of Romania (Central Paratethys) – comments on selected characters

Five species of the genus Vinciguerria (namely † V. macarovicii, † V. praeattenuata, † V. tal- giensis, † V. obscura, and † V. merklini) were described and/or recorded from Romania. Most of the Eocene and Oligocene fossil species of this genus from the Central and Eastern Paratethys were later grouped in two genera († Sytchewskia and † Eovinciguerria), mainly due to the morphology of the caudal skeleton. A systematic revision of the vinciguerrid phosichthyids from the Oligocene deposits of Piatra-Neamt, Romania (Central Paratethys) is presented herein. Based on the character analysis and relationships of the recent phosichthyid genera, we consider the genus † Eovinciguerria to be invalid and we re-establish the validity of the genus Vinciguerria for the Oligocene species. Morphological comparisons of the original material with well- preserved specimens of † V. obscura from Liten ice (Czech Republic) and contemporary representatives allow us to recognize that † V. macarovicii is a synonym of † V. obscura. Moreover, † V. merklini recorded from the Oligocene deposits of Piatra-Neamt (Romania) represents a juvenile specimen of † V. obscura, contrary to what was previously postulated.

First record of a mermithid worm (Nematoda, Mermithidae) parasitizing a third instar nymph of Triatoma sordida (Stål, 1859) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) from Mato Grosso, Brazil

A juvenile specimen of a mermithid (Nematoda) was found parasitizing a third instar nymph of Triatoma sordida from Mato Grosso, Brazil. This is the first record of mermithid parasitism in a triatomine species. The Mermithidae represents a family of nematodes that are specialized insect parasites. Entomonematodes are one of the highly influential agents regulating the population dynamics of insects. This report introduces the opportunity to think about mermithids as a possible candidate for use as triatomine biological control.

A new species of the deuterostome Herpetogaster from the early Cambrian Chengjiang biota of South China

The Cambrian radiation represents a key time period in the history of life. Here, we add to the mounting evidence accumulating on the nature of deuterostomes from this time period through description of a new species of stalked deuterostome, Herpetogaster haiyanensis nov. sp., from the lower Cambrian (series 2, stage 3) Chengjiang biota of China. This represents the first occurrence of the genus in Gondwana, the first juvenile specimen, and the oldest specimens to date. Herpetogaster haiyanensis nov. sp. differs from H. collinsi Caron et al. (2010) in having a stolon that is separated into an outer and inner layer, the segmentation of the body and in the shape and number of branches of the tentacles. The new species reiterates earlier suggestions of deuterostome affinities of the genus―it appears closely related to Phlogites and then successively more distantly related to Cotyledon and Eldonia―and may have fed on hyolithids.