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Arachnozoogeographical Analysis of the Boundary Between Eastern Palearctic and Indomalayan Region
Historia naturalis bulgarica, 23: 5-36, 2016 Arachnozoogeographical analysis of the boundary between Eastern Palearctic and Indomalayan Region Petar Beron Abstract: This study aims to test how the distribution of various orders of Arachnida follows the classical subdivision of Asia and where the transitional zone between the Eastern Palearctic (Holarctic Kingdom) and the Indomalayan Region (Paleotropic) is situated. This boundary includes Thar Desert, Karakorum, Himalaya, a band in Central China, the line north of Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands. The conclusion is that most families of Arachnida (90), excluding most of the representatives of Acari, are common for the Palearctic and Indomalayan Regions. There are no endemic orders or suborders in any of them. Regarding Arach- nida, their distribution does not justify the sharp difference between the two Kingdoms (Paleotropical and Holarctic) in Eastern Eurasia. The transitional zone (Sino-Japanese Realm) of Holt et al. (2013) also does not satisfy the criteria for outlining an area on the same footing as the Palearctic and Indomalayan Realms. Key words: Palearctic, Indomalayan, Arachnozoogeography, Arachnida According to the classical subdivision the region’s high mountains and plateaus. In southern Indomalayan Region is formed from the regions in Asia the boundary of the Palearctic is largely alti- Asia that are south of the Himalaya, and a zone in tudinal. The foothills of the Himalaya with average China. North of this “line” is the Palearctic (consist- altitude between about 2000 – 2500 m a.s.l. form the ing og different subregions). This “line” (transitional boundary between the Palearctic and Indomalaya zone) is separating two kingdoms, therefore the dif- Ecoregions. -
The Lithostratigraphy and Biostratigraphy of the Chalk Group (Upper Coniacian 1 to Upper Campanian) at Scratchell’S Bay and Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, UK
Manuscript Click here to view linked References The lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy of the Chalk Group (Upper Coniacian 1 to Upper Campanian) at Scratchell’s Bay and Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, UK. 2 3 Peter Hopson1*, Andrew Farrant1, Ian Wilkinson1, Mark Woods1 , Sev Kender1 4 2 5 and Sofie Jehle , 6 7 1 British Geological Survey, Sir Kingsley Dunham Centre, Nottingham, NG12 8 5GG. 9 2 10 University of Tübingen, Sigwartstraße 10, 72074 Tübingen, Germany 11 12 * corresponding author [email protected] 13 14 Keywords: Cretaceous, Isle of Wight, Chalk, lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, 15 16 17 Abstract 18 19 The Scratchell‟s Bay and southern Alum Bay sections, in the extreme west of the Isle 20 21 of Wight on the Needles promontory, cover the stratigraphically highest Chalk Group 22 formations available in southern England. They are relatively inaccessible, other than 23 by boat, and despite being a virtually unbroken succession they have not received the 24 attention afforded to the Whitecliff GCR (Geological Conservation Review series) 25 site at the eastern extremity of the island. A detailed account of the lithostratigraphy 26 27 of the strata in Scratchell‟s Bay is presented and integrated with macro and micro 28 biostratigraphical results for each formation present. Comparisons are made with 29 earlier work to provide a comprehensive description of the Seaford Chalk, Newhaven 30 Chalk, Culver Chalk and Portsdown Chalk formations for the Needles promontory. 31 32 33 The strata described are correlated with those seen in the Culver Down Cliffs – 34 Whitecliff Bay at the eastern end of the island that form the Whitecliff GCR site. -
Ecophenotypic Variation and Developmental Instability in the Late Cretaceous Echinoid Micraster Brevis (Irregularia; Spatangoida)
RESEARCH ARTICLE Ecophenotypic Variation and Developmental Instability in the Late Cretaceous Echinoid Micraster brevis (Irregularia; Spatangoida) Nils Schlüter* Georg-August University of Göttingen, Geoscience Centre, Department of Geobiology, Goldschmidtstr. 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany * [email protected] Abstract The Late Cretaceous echinoid genus Micraster (irregular echinoids, Spatangoida) is one of the most famous examples of a continuous evolutionary lineage in invertebrate palaeontol- ogy. The influence of the environment on the phenotype, however, was not tested so far. OPEN ACCESS This study analyses differences in phenotypical variations within three populations of Micra- Citation: Schlüter N (2016) Ecophenotypic Variation ster (Gibbaster) brevis from the early Coniacian, two from the Münsterland Cretaceous and Developmental Instability in the Late Cretaceous Basin (Germany) and one from the North Cantabrian Basin (Spain). The environments of Echinoid Micraster brevis (Irregularia; Spatangoida). the Spanish and the German sites differed by their sedimentary characteristics, which are PLoS ONE 11(2): e0148341. doi:10.1371/journal. pone.0148341 generally a crucial factor for morphological adaptations in echinoids. Most of the major phe- notypical variations (position of the ambitus, periproct and development of the subanal fas- Editor: Steffen Kiel, Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, SWEDEN ciole) among the populations can be linked to differences in their host sediments. These phenotypic variations are presumed to be an expression of phenotpic plasticiy, which has Received: November 11, 2015 not been considered in Micraster in previous studies. Two populations (Erwitte area, Ger- Accepted: January 15, 2016 many; Liencres area, Spain) were tested for stochastic variation (fluctuating asymmetry) Published: February 5, 2016 due to developmental instability, which was present in all studied traits. -
American Upper Cretaceous Echinoidea
American Upper Cretaceous Echinoidea By C. WYTHE COOKE A SHORTER CONTRIBUTION TO GENERAL GEOLOGY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 254-A Descriptions and illustrations of. Upper Cretaceous echinoids from the Coastal Plain and western interior of the Un!·ted States andfrom Guatemala UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1953 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Douglas McKay, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY W. E. Wrather, Director For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D. C. -Price $1.00 (paper cover) CONTENTS Page Page Abstract __________________________________________ _ 1 Systematic descriptions _______ ---- ____________ ------_ 4 Introduction ______________________________________ _ 1 References---------------------------------------- 38 Key to the genera of American Upper Cretaceous IndeX--------------------------------------------- 41 Echinoida _______________________________________ _ 4 ILLUSTRATIONS [Plates 1-16 follow index] PLATE 1. Cidaris, Salenia, Porosoma, Codiopsis, and Rachiosoma. 2. Pedinopsis. 3. Lanieria, Rachiosoma, Phymosoma, and Conulus. 4. Globator, Nucleopygns, Lefortia, Faujasia, and Pygurostoma. 5. Catopygus, Phyllobrissus, Clarkiella, and H ardouinia. 6-8. H ardouinia. 9. H olaster and Pseudananchys. 10. Echinocorys, Cardiaster, and H olaster. 11. Cardiaster, I somicraster, and Echinocorys. 12, 13. Hemiaster. 14. Cardiaster, H emiaster, and Linthia. 15. Proraster and Micraster. 16. Hemiaster, Barnumia, and Pygurostoma. Page -FIGURE 1. Stratigraphic location of some echinoid-bearing formations of the Coastal Plain_------------------------------ 2 IJ',[ AMERICAN UPPER CRETACEOUS ECHINOIDEA By C. WYTHE COOKE ABSTRACT Alabama Museum of Natural History at Tuscaloosa, Most of the 58 species (in 8 genera) of known Upper the Paleontological Research Laboratories at States-. Cretaceous echinoids are found in the Gulf series in the ville, North Carolina, and the University of Alberta at States from Texas to North Carolina. -
Forgotten Crocodile from the Kirtland Formation, San Juan Basin, New
posed that the narial cavities of Para- Wima1l- saurolophuswere vocal resonating chambers' Goniopholiskirtlandicus Apparently included with this material shippedto Wiman was a partial skull that lromthe Wiman describedas a new speciesof croc- forgottencrocodile odile, Goniopholis kirtlandicus. Wiman publisheda descriptionof G. kirtlandicusin Basin, 1932in the Bulletin of the GeologicalInstitute KirtlandFormation, San Juan of IJppsala. Notice of this specieshas not appearedin any Americanpublication. Klilin NewMexico (1955)presented a descriptionand illustration of the speciesin French, but essentially repeatedWiman (1932). byDonald L. Wolberg, Vertebrate Paleontologist, NewMexico Bureau of lVlinesand Mineral Resources, Socorro, NIM Localityinformation for Crocodilian bone, armor, and teeth are Goni o p holi s kir t landicus common in Late Cretaceous and Early Ter- The skeletalmaterial referred to Gonio- tiary deposits of the San Juan Basin and pholis kirtlandicus includesmost of the right elsewhere.In the Fruitland and Kirtland For- side of a skull, a squamosalfragment, and a mations of the San Juan Basin, Late Creta- portion of dorsal plate. The referral of the ceous crocodiles were important carnivores of dorsalplate probably represents an interpreta- the reconstructed stream and stream-bank tion of the proximity of the material when community (Wolberg, 1980). In the Kirtland found. Figs. I and 2, taken from Wiman Formation, a mesosuchian crocodile, Gonio- (1932),illustrate this material. pholis kirtlandicus, discovered by Charles H. Wiman(1932, p. 181)recorded the follow- Sternbergin the early 1920'sand not described ing locality data, provided by Sternberg: until 1932 by Carl Wiman, has been all but of Crocodile.Kirtland shalesa 100feet ignored since its description and referral. "Skull below the Ojo Alamo Sandstonein the blue Specimensreferred to other crocodilian genera cley. -
Chapter 2 Physical Characteristics of the Study Area
CHAPTER 2 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STUDY AREA 2.1. Location of study area The study area incorporates part of north Hertfordshire, south and mid- Bedfordshire as well as the southwest corner of Cambridgeshire and lies approximately 40 km north of London (Figure 1.1). Coverage of the area by British Geological Survey (BGS) 1:50,000 map sheets is shown in Figure 2.1. 2.2. Bedrock geology The strikes of the solid geological formations are approximately northeast- southwest across the study area (Figure 2.2). The solid geological succession is shown in Table 2.1. To the northwest of the Chiltern Hills the Gault Clay forms a rich agricultural landscape, representing a continuation of the Vale of Aylesbury. Beyond this, running approximately from Bow Brickhill (SP915343) to Gamlingay (TL234525) is a discontinuous ridge formed by the Woburn Sands Formation, part of the Lower Greensand. This prominent ‘Greensand Ridge’, rising to 170 m O.D. at Bow Brickhill, separates the Cretaceous clays from the Jurassic Oxford and Ampthill Clays to the northwest. The oldest formation is recorded in a borehole (TL23NE1) at Ashwell (TL286390), where Devonian strata were reached at a depth of 186.54 m, i.e. 93 m below O.D. (Smith, 1992). Lying just beyond the northern boundary of the present study area, north of the River Ouse, a borehole (TL15NE2) at Wyboston (TL175572) penetrated Ordovician rocks of Tremadoc age at a depth of approximately 230 m (Moorlock et al ., 2003). The Oxford Clay of the Upper Jurassic represents the oldest formation outcropping within the study area. -
Brains and Intelligence
BRAINS AND INTELLIGENCE The EQ or Encephalization Quotient is a simple way of measuring an animal's intelligence. EQ is the ratio of the brain weight of the animal to the brain weight of a "typical" animal of the same body weight. Assuming that smarter animals have larger brains to body ratios than less intelligent ones, this helps determine the relative intelligence of extinct animals. In general, warm-blooded animals (like mammals) have a higher EQ than cold-blooded ones (like reptiles and fish). Birds and mammals have brains that are about 10 times bigger than those of bony fish, amphibians, and reptiles of the same body size. The Least Intelligent Dinosaurs: The primitive dinosaurs belonging to the group sauropodomorpha (which included Massospondylus, Riojasaurus, and others) were among the least intelligent of the dinosaurs, with an EQ of about 0.05 (Hopson, 1980). Smartest Dinosaurs: The Troodontids (like Troödon) were probably the smartest dinosaurs, followed by the dromaeosaurid dinosaurs (the "raptors," which included Dromeosaurus, Velociraptor, Deinonychus, and others) had the highest EQ among the dinosaurs, about 5.8 (Hopson, 1980). The Encephalization Quotient was developed by the psychologist Harry J. Jerison in the 1970's. J. A. Hopson (a paleontologist from the University of Chicago) did further development of the EQ concept using brain casts of many dinosaurs. Hopson found that theropods (especially Troodontids) had higher EQ's than plant-eating dinosaurs. The lowest EQ's belonged to sauropods, ankylosaurs, and stegosaurids. A SECOND BRAIN? It used to be thought that the large sauropods (like Brachiosaurus and Apatosaurus) and the ornithischian Stegosaurus had a second brain. -
Review of the Pterodactyloid Pterosaur Coloborhynchus 219
Zitteliana An International Journal of Palaeontology and Geobiology Series B/Reihe B Abhandlungen der Bayerischen Staatssammlung für Pa lä on to lo gie und Geologie B28 DAVID W. E. HONE & ERIC BUFFETAUT (Eds) Flugsaurier: pterosaur papers in honour of Peter Wellnhofer CONTENTS/INHALT Dedication 3 PETER WELLNHOFER A short history of pterosaur research 7 KEVIN PADIAN Were pterosaur ancestors bipedal or quadrupedal?: Morphometric, functional, and phylogenetic considerations 21 DAVID W. E. HONE & MICHAEL J. BENTON Contrasting supertree and total-evidence methods: the origin of the pterosaurs 35 PAUL M. BARRETT, RICHARD J. BUTLER, NICHOLAS P. EDWARDS & ANDREW R. MILNER Pterosaur distribution in time and space: an atlas 61 LORNA STEEL The palaeohistology of pterosaur bone: an overview 109 S. CHRISTOPHER BENNETT Morphological evolution of the wing of pterosaurs: myology and function 127 MARK P. WITTON A new approach to determining pterosaur body mass and its implications for pterosaur fl ight 143 MICHAEL B. HABIB Comparative evidence for quadrupedal launch in pterosaurs 159 ROSS A. ELGIN, CARLOS A. GRAU, COLIN PALMER, DAVID W. E. HONE, DOUGLAS GREENWELL & MICHAEL J. BENTON Aerodynamic characters of the cranial crest in Pteranodon 167 DAVID M. MARTILL & MARK P. WITTON Catastrophic failure in a pterosaur skull from the Cretaceous Santana Formation of Brazil 175 MARTIN LOCKLEY, JERALD D. HARRIS & LAURA MITCHELL A global overview of pterosaur ichnology: tracksite distribution in space and time 185 DAVID M. UNWIN & D. CHARLES DEEMING Pterosaur eggshell structure and its implications for pterosaur reproductive biology 199 DAVID M. MARTILL, MARK P. WITTON & ANDREW GALE Possible azhdarchoid pterosaur remains from the Coniacian (Late Cretaceous) of England 209 TAISSA RODRIGUES & ALEXANDER W. -
The Dates of the Discovery of the First Peking Man Fossil Teeth
The Dates of the Discovery of the First Peking Man Fossil Teeth Qian WANG,LiSUN, and Jan Ove R. EBBESTAD ABSTRACT Four teeth of Peking Man from Zhoukoudian, excavated by Otto Zdansky in 1921 and 1923 and currently housed in the Museum of Evolution at Uppsala University, are among the most treasured finds in palaeoanthropology, not only because of their scientific value but also for their important historical and cultural significance. It is generally acknowledged that the first fossil evidence of Peking Man was two teeth unearthed by Zdansky during his excavations at Zhoukoudian in 1921 and 1923. However, the exact dates and details of their collection and identification have been documented inconsistently in the literature. We reexamine this matter and find that, due to incompleteness and ambiguity of early documentation of the discovery of the first Peking Man teeth, the facts surrounding their collection and identification remain uncertain. Had Zdansky documented and revealed his findings on the earliest occasion, the early history of Zhoukoudian and discoveries of first Peking Man fossils would have been more precisely known and the development of the field of palaeoanthropology in early twentieth century China would have been different. KEYWORDS: Peking Man, Zhoukoudian, tooth, Uppsala University. INTRODUCTION FOUR FOSSIL TEETH IDENTIFIED AS COMING FROM PEKING MAN were excavated by palaeontologist Otto Zdansky in 1921 and 1923 from Zhoukoudian deposits. They have been housed in the Museum of Evolution at Uppsala University in Sweden ever since. These four teeth are among the most treasured finds in palaeoanthropology, not only because of their scientific value but also for their historical and cultural significance. -
Distribution of Cave-Dwelling Pseudoscorpions (Arachnida) in Brazil
2019. Journal of Arachnology 47:110–123 Distribution of cave-dwelling pseudoscorpions (Arachnida) in Brazil Diego Monteiro Von Schimonsky1,2 and Maria Elina Bichuette1: 1Laborato´rio de Estudos Subterraˆneos – Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva – Universidade Federal de Sa˜o Carlos, Rodovia Washington Lu´ıs, km 235, Caixa Postal 676, CEP 13565-905, Sa˜o Carlos, Sa˜o Paulo, Brazil; 2Programa de Po´s-Graduac¸a˜o em Biologia Comparada, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Cieˆncias e Letras de Ribeira˜o Preto – Universidade de Sa˜o Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, CEP 14040-901, Bairro Monte Alegre, Ribeira˜o Preto, Sa˜o Paulo, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract. Pseudoscorpions are among the most diverse of the smaller arachnid orders, but there is relatively little information about the distribution of these tiny animals, especially in Neotropical caves. Here, we map the distribution of the pseudoscorpions in Brazilian caves and record 12 families and 22 genera based on collections analyzed over several years, totaling 239 caves from 13 states in Brazil. Among them, two families (Atemnidae and Geogarypidae) with three genera (Brazilatemnus Muchmore, 1975, Paratemnoides Harvey, 1991 and Geogarypus Chamberlin, 1930) are recorded for the first time in cave habitats as, well as seven other genera previously unknown for Brazilian caves (Olpiolum Beier, 1931, Pachyolpium Beier 1931, Tyrannochthonius Chamberlin, 1929, Lagynochthonius Beier, 1951, Neocheiridium Beier 1932, Ideoblothrus Balzan, 1892 and Heterolophus To¨mo¨sva´ry, 1884). These genera are from families already recorded in this habitat, which have their distributional ranges expanded for all other previously recorded genera. Additionally, we summarize records of Pseudoscorpiones based on previously published literature and our data for 314 caves. -
A Karyotype Study on the Pseudoscorpion Families Geogarypidae, Garypinidae and Olpiidae (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones)
Eur. J. Entomol. 103: 277–289, 2006 ISSN 1210-5759 A karyotype study on the pseudoscorpion families Geogarypidae, Garypinidae and Olpiidae (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) 1,2 2 3 4 FRANTIŠEK ŠġÁHLAVSKÝ , JIěÍ KRÁL , MARK S. HARVEY and CHARLES R. HADDAD 1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Viniþná 7, CZ-128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic; e-mail: [email protected] 2Laboratory of Arachnid Cytogenetics, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Viniþná 5, CZ-128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic; e-mail: [email protected] 3Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Western Australia 6986, Australia; e-mail: [email protected] 4Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; e-mail: [email protected] Key words. Pseudoscorpiones, Geogarypidae, Garypinidae, Olpiidae, karyotype, sex chromosomes, meiosis, chiasma frequency Abstract. The karyotypes of pseudoscorpions of three families, Geogarypidae, Garypinidae and Olpiidae (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpi- ones), were studied for the first time. Three species of the genus Geogarypus from the family Geogarypidae and 10 species belonging to 8 genera from the family Olpiidae were studied. In the genus Geogarypus the diploid chromosome numbers of males range from 15 to 23. In the family Olpiidae the male chromosome numbers vary greatly, from 7 to 23. The male karyotype of single studied member of the family Garypinidae, Garypinus dimidiatus, is composed of 33 chromosomes. It is proposed that the karyotype evolution of the families Geogarypidae and Olpiidae was characterised by a substantial decrease of chromosome numbers. -
A New Species of Coloborhynchus (Pterosauria, Ornithocheiridae) from the Mid- Cretaceous of North Africa
Accepted Manuscript A new species of Coloborhynchus (Pterosauria, Ornithocheiridae) from the mid- Cretaceous of North Africa Megan L. Jacobs, David M. Martill, Nizar Ibrahim, Nick Longrich PII: S0195-6671(18)30354-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2018.10.018 Reference: YCRES 3995 To appear in: Cretaceous Research Received Date: 28 August 2018 Revised Date: 18 October 2018 Accepted Date: 21 October 2018 Please cite this article as: Jacobs, M.L., Martill, D.M., Ibrahim, N., Longrich, N., A new species of Coloborhynchus (Pterosauria, Ornithocheiridae) from the mid-Cretaceous of North Africa, Cretaceous Research (2018), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2018.10.018. This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. 1 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 1 A new species of Coloborhynchus (Pterosauria, Ornithocheiridae) 2 from the mid-Cretaceous of North Africa 3 Megan L. Jacobs a* , David M. Martill a, Nizar Ibrahim a** , Nick Longrich b 4 a School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3QL, UK 5 b Department of Biology and Biochemistry and Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath 6 BA2 7AY, UK 7 *Corresponding author. Email address : [email protected] (M.L.