Yuhui Zhuang, Corentin Jouault, Vincent Perrichot, Bo Wang, Yu Liu, Qingqing Zhang
{"title":"Unveiling the diversity of iron maiden ants: morphological insights from two new Cretaceous species","authors":"Yuhui Zhuang, Corentin Jouault, Vincent Perrichot, Bo Wang, Yu Liu, Qingqing Zhang","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf044","url":null,"abstract":"The genus Zigrasimecia, also known as the iron maiden ant, represents a peculiar lineage spanning most of the Cretaceous period and characterized by armed mouthparts. Despite recent publications that have contributed to our understanding of the past diversity within this genus, its true extent remains underestimated and its morphological variations poorly comprehended. In this study, we introduce two new species of iron maiden ant, Zigrasimecia bellator sp. nov. and Zigrasimecia sinusoidal sp. nov. Using micro-computed tomography scanning and three-dimensional reconstruction techniques, we highlight their distinctive morphological features, particularly certain setae and microstructures of the body. Additionally, we present an updated identification key tailored for Zigrasimecia workers. Through comparative morphology, we propose hypotheses regarding the predatory behaviour of iron maiden ants. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the morphological diversity within this fascinating ant genus.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144193333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lihua Wang, James M Clark, Hongqing Li, Alex Ruebenstahl, Shundong Bi
{"title":"A new specimen of the early branching crocodyliform Platyognathus hsui extends the record of gobiosuchids back 67 million years","authors":"Lihua Wang, James M Clark, Hongqing Li, Alex Ruebenstahl, Shundong Bi","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf032","url":null,"abstract":"Crocodyliforms are poorly known from the Early Jurassic Lufeng Formation of China, and a new specimen of Platyognathus hsui is by far the most complete specimen yet known. It shares with the missing holotype and the neotype the very unusual features of a dentary caniniform that is polygonal in cross-section and the complete fusion of the dentary symphysis, and the new specimen provides four additional features diagnosing the species. Features such as a relatively broad rostrum and a posteroventrolateral process on the squamosal place it with taxa closer to extant crocodylians than are Orthosuchus and Protosuchus, as an early branching relative of the Gobiosuchidae. The oldest previous record of the gobiosuchid lineage was from the late Barremian stage of the Early Cretaceous, and this extends the fossil record of the lineage back by 67 Myr. We recognize a new superfamily, Gobiosuchoidea, to include Platyognathus hsui and gobiosuchids.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144193332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hongqing Li, Xu Xing, Juan Jiang, Jianrong Liu, Stephen L Brusatte, Shundong Bi
{"title":"New material of a non-averostran neotheropod dinosaur from the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation of Yunnan, south-western China","authors":"Hongqing Li, Xu Xing, Juan Jiang, Jianrong Liu, Stephen L Brusatte, Shundong Bi","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf034","url":null,"abstract":"Neotheropoda is the core clade of predatory dinosaurs that originated in the Triassic and became highly diversified and globally distributed by the Early Jurassic. Currently, six species of Neotheropoda have been described from Early Jurassic localities in Yunnan Province, south-western China. Here we describe a new specimen from the Lufeng Formation in central Yunnan, representing a non-coelophysoid, non-averostran neotheropod. Osteohistological analysis indicates the immaturity of the specimen. Computed tomography scans reveal the internal morphology of trunk vertebrae, implying a more developed postcranial skeletal pneumaticity in averostran-line neotheropods than previously thought. Phylogenetic analysis finds the new specimen as the closest sister-taxon to Averostra (Ceratosauria + Tetanurae). It does not form a unique subclade with the previously described Lufeng Formation taxa Shuangbaisaurus anlongbaoensis and Sinosaurus triassicus. Instead, Sh. anlongbaoensis and Si. triassicus are found as sister-taxa, indicating that the former may be a subjective junior synonym of the latter. Although the new specimen has a unique combination of character states, and a potential autapomorphy, we conservatively refrain from establishing a new taxon, due to its immature status and the lack of information on postcranial anatomy in other Yunnan theropods. Regardless, this specimen bridges a morphological gap between non-averostran and averostran theropods.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144176807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Francesco Paolo Faraone, Luca Vecchioni, Gabriele Giacalone, Calogero Muscarella, Matteo Riccardo Di Nicola, Marco Arculeo, Federico Marrone
{"title":"Patterns of genetic and phenotypic diversity of the Mediterranean banded centipede Scolopendra cingulata Latreille, 1829 (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha) in Sicily and adjacent areas","authors":"Francesco Paolo Faraone, Luca Vecchioni, Gabriele Giacalone, Calogero Muscarella, Matteo Riccardo Di Nicola, Marco Arculeo, Federico Marrone","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf031","url":null,"abstract":"The genus Scolopendra is a taxonomically complex group, with species displaying intricate evolutionary radiation across Mediterranean islands. The present work aims to explore the diversity patterns of the Mediterranean banded centipede S. cingulata across Sicily, some surrounding islands, and Southern Calabria, investigating its genetic (COI and 28S) and phenotypic variation. Through extensive sampling and the analysis of 92 COI sequences from 82 sampling sites, three distinct structured lineages were identified in the study area: Sicily/Malta (SM), Eastern Peloritani Mountains (EP), and Aspromonte (As). Conversely, 28S sequences did not reveal the same genetic structure observed in the COI, probably due to the occurrence of introgression phenomena. Morphological assessments showed significant variation among clades. Colour pattern analysis revealed distinguishable morphotypes among the three clades. SM juveniles exhibit a unique light morphotype, contrasting with the dark dichromatic morphotype common to As and EP juveniles. These findings seem to suggest multiple colonisation events and prolonged isolation periods in Sicily, which shaped the current diversity of S. cingulata on the island. The genetic distinctiveness and apparent parapatric distribution of SM and EP, with limited evidence of admixture, highlight the need for further studies to fully understand the evolutionary history and potential taxonomic implications for this taxon.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"48 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144176581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elisabete Malafaia, Pedro Dantas, Fernando Escaso, Pedro Mocho, Francisco Ortega
{"title":"Cranial osteology of a new specimen of Allosaurus Marsh, 1877 (Theropoda: Allosauridae) from the Upper Jurassic of Portugal and a specimen-level phylogenetic analysis of Allosaurus","authors":"Elisabete Malafaia, Pedro Dantas, Fernando Escaso, Pedro Mocho, Francisco Ortega","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf029","url":null,"abstract":"Allosaurus fragilis was first described in the Upper Jurassic of Portugal in 1999 based on a set of postcranial remains collected at the Andrés fossil site in Pombal. The description of a second species, Allosaurus europaeus, based on a posterior part of an articulated skull and a sequence of cervical vertebrae (ML 415) collected at Praia de Vale Frades in Lourinhã, has been controversial, and its validity has been challenged. A detailed description of a new sample of cranial fossil material collected at Andrés that can be confidentially attributed to Allosaurus is presented. In addition, a comprehensive phylogenetic assessment of the Morrison Formation fossil record of Allosaurus is also performed. This analysis indicates that only two valid Allosaurus species were present in the Late Jurassic ecosystems of North America: Allosaurus fragilis and Allosaurus jimmadseni. An emended diagnosis for Allosaurus fragilis is here proposed. The Portuguese specimens MNHN/UL.AND.#, ML 415, and MG 27804 are here interpreted as belonging to Allosaurus fragilis. This interpretation has important implications to better understand the evolutionary history of the theropod fauna of the Lusitanian Basin, supporting the existence of close biogeographic relationships between the landmasses on both sides of the proto-North Atlantic Ocean during the Kimmeridgian–Tithonian.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144153394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparative morphology of the internal structures of the mammalian cochlea","authors":"John Peacock","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf025","url":null,"abstract":"Therian mammals possess numerous unique morphological features in their auditory system. Many of these have been well studied in attempts to understand their functional importance, and some aspects of cochlear morphology have been shown to correlate with hearing ability across taxa. Among the unique features of the therian inner ear is the presence of bony structures supporting the sensory epithelia. While these have been implicated in the development of extended high-frequency hearing, their functional role remains unclear. In this study, I use micro-computed tomography (μCT) imaging to take quantitative measurements of the bony spiral laminae and cochlear scalae through the length of the basilar membrane. I present an analysis of the variation showing how these change from the cochlear base to the apex, and how they differ between clades. I find considerable variation in the structures between different clades, particularly in the area of the cochlear scalae which show differences between terrestrial and aquatic species. These results provide a broad survey demonstrating a diversity that could be further exploited to explore functional significance in more detail. A cursory comparison shows correlation between various morphological measures and hearing ability, with the dimensions of the basilar membrane appearing the most useful to make predictions.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144153392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Two new cavefish species of Triplophysa (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) from the karst subterranean rivers of Yunnan, China","authors":"Jianhan Cao, Shuang Song, Wenjing Yi, Hongmei Xiang, Hongfu Yang, Jie Li, Wansheng Jiang","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf033","url":null,"abstract":"Cavefish are of considerable interest owing to the remarkable adaptations for surviving in harsh subterranean conditions. These adaptations, often described as constructive traits or regressive features, reflect trade-offs in metabolic requirements and energy utilization in response to life in darkness. In this study, we describe two new cavefish species, Triplophysa yangi sp. nov. and Triplophysa wenshanensis sp. nov., from karst subterranean rivers in Yunnan Province, China. Triplophysa yangi is distinguished from its congeners by its bilaterally expanded anterior swim bladder chambers, which protrude from the enlarged bony capsule, distending the lateral body wall and becoming externally visible. Additionally, it has highly developed pectoral and pelvic fins with filamentous extensions. Triplophysa wenshanensis can be identified by its nearly cone-shaped head, triangular head profile, and light brown to flesh pink body colour with faint brown blotches. Molecular phylogenetic analysis places both species in the hypogean group of Triplophysa, increasing the number of cavefish species in this genus from 39 to 41. The most distinctive feature of T. yangi, its expanded anterior swim bladder chambers protruding beyond the enlarged bony capsules, might represent an innovative stygomorphic trait among Chinese cavefish. This trait is hypothesized to be associated with a unique energy-saving buoyancy mechanism, crucial for the ability of the species to remain suspended and survive in perpetual darkness.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144145496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Małgorzata Proćków, Kamila S Zając-Garlacz, Alain Bertrand
{"title":"When morphology meets molecules: diversity of dart-bearing Hygromia Risso, 1826 land snails (Gastropoda: Hygromiidae)","authors":"Małgorzata Proćków, Kamila S Zając-Garlacz, Alain Bertrand","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf003","url":null,"abstract":"The actual diversity of Hygromia land snails is unknown. Typically, three or four species were recognized based on morphology. Here, we applied an integrative taxonomic approach to assess species limits through combined analyses of shell and genital morphology, including love darts, as well as genetic data in 205 specimens from 90 localities across Europe. The results revealed two monophyletic groups of populations that were more similar in their shell morphology and differed in the size of the dart apparatus. They represented two subgenera with seven mtDNA clades. The subgenus Hygromia s.s. consisted of a nominal Hygromia cinctella. The subgenus Riedelia included: Hygromia limbata s.s. and its subspecies Hygromia limbata hylonomia, Hygromia tassyi and Hygromia pyrenaica sp. nov. The taxonomic status of two independently evolving lineages could not be resolved. Hygromia odeca and Hygromia veprium were synonymized with Hygromia limbata and Hygromia gofasi with Hygromia tassyi. No morphometric shell character alone ensured the determination of any Hygromia species and the microsculpture showed only minor differences. Among genitalia features, the appearance of a love dart had the greatest taxonomic value. Many recognized taxa were restricted to narrow territories, implying a complex evolutionary history of the genus in the Pyrenees and their foothills.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144122803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Takuya K Hosoki, Masaya Fukuda, Kohta Kubo, Fumie Fukuda
{"title":"Community science data highlight the vast colour pattern variations in the Japanese natricine snake (Rhabdophis tigrinus)","authors":"Takuya K Hosoki, Masaya Fukuda, Kohta Kubo, Fumie Fukuda","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf037","url":null,"abstract":"Colour pattern variations in animals range from a small number of discrete morphs to continuous variations. However, the possibility that the degree itself is shaped by bias produced by limited observations cannot be excluded. Through a community science approach, also known as citizen science, we refined the definitions of the colour pattern morphs of the Japanese natricine snake, Rhabdophis tigrinus. Despite the limited number of geographical observations, R. tigrinus has been classified into six distinct colour pattern morphs over the past decades: three region-specific morphs, two hypopigmented morphs, and one hyperpigmented morph. However, our newly collected community science images of R. tigrinus revealed that 123 colour pattern combinations of R. tigrinus have emerged across the Japanese Archipelago. The community science images with detailed geographical information also provided insights into the anti-predatory functions of R. tigrinus colour patterns through an association between blotch size and habitat temperature via the flicker-fusion effect. Our results highlight the advantages of using community science data in overcoming observational biases and investigating intraspecific colour pattern variations across a wide geographical range.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"85 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144088317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Karina Moreno, Sabrina Medrano, Terrence M Gosliner, Nerida G Wilson, Patrick J Krug, Ángel Valdés
{"title":"Phylogenetic systematics of the genus Cyerce (Mollusca: Heterobranchia: Sacoglossa: Caliphyllidae) from the Pacific and Indian oceans with descriptions of nine new species","authors":"Karina Moreno, Sabrina Medrano, Terrence M Gosliner, Nerida G Wilson, Patrick J Krug, Ángel Valdés","doi":"10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf030","url":null,"abstract":"The genus Cyerce Bergh, 1870 has been a model for the study of defensive strategies, including chemical defences, ceratal autotomy, and crypsis or aposematism. Specialization on different algae and diverse genital armatures also make Cyerce a useful system for investigating speciation by host shift versus sexual selection. Here, we review the genus Cyerce in the Pacific and Indian oceans using molecular and morphological data. Two mitochondrial genes (COI and 16S) and one nuclear gene (H3) were sequenced from 154 specimens, including representatives from the Atlantic Ocean. Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses were used to generate phylogenetic hypotheses. Species delimitation analyses performed on COI sequences recovered 17 genetically distinct Pacific and Indian Ocean species of Cyerce, 10 of which are new to science. Nine new species are named herein (C. takanoi sp. nov., C. katiae sp. nov., C. trowbridgeae sp. nov., C. blackburnae sp. nov., C. tutela sp. nov., C. basi sp. nov., C. whaapi sp. nov., C. goodheartae sp. nov., and C. liliuokalaniae sp. nov.). The 10th species, from the Red Sea, is not named due to the absence of internal anatomical data. These findings increase the species richness in Cyerce by about two-thirds, and demonstrate that even conspicuous taxa harbour considerable cryptic diversity.","PeriodicalId":49333,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society","volume":"233 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144083171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}