Spine anatomy reveals the diversity of catfish through time: a case study of Synodontis (Siluriformes)

Synodontis (Mochokidae, Siluriformes) is a freshwater catfish endemic to Africa. The 118 extant species are present in almost all hydrographic basins. Some species are restricted to a single stream, whereas others have a vast distribution. Synodontis is known in the fossil record since the Miocene, and its history depends on the connections among African basins through time. The identification of species in the fossil record is essential to reconstruct this historical pattern. Catfish pectoral and dorsal spines are robust, they preserve well and they form most of the fossil remains for the genus Synodontis. Unfortunately, the criteria for the identification of extant Synodontis species are not applicable to fossil specimens. Here, we define 11 original morphological characters that permit to discriminate four extant species from the Chad-Chari hydrographic system. Six of these characters are defined on pectoral spines and five on dorsal spines. We then show that these characters can be used successfully for identifying fossil specimens. In particular, we present a case study in which we identify Synodontis cf. schall and Brachysynodontis cf. batensoda in the hominid-bearing sector Toros-Menalla (Late Miocene, northern Chad). We show that spine anatomy can be a powerful tool to recognise catfish species through time and thus to identify historical diversity pattern.     

Prenatal diagnosis of a homologous Robertsonian translocation involving chromosome 15

We report the prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with a de novo Robertsonian translocation: 45,XY,der(15;15)(q10;q10). Although Robertsonian translocations are common chromosomal rearrangements, those involving homologous chromosomes are infrequent. Since chromosome 15 is imprinted, uniparental disomy (UPD) is a concern when chromosomal rearrangements involving chromosome 15 are identified. In the present case, UPD studies showed normal biparental inheritance. In contrast to the fact that most homologous acrocentric rearrangements are isochromosomes, these results indicate postzygotic formation of a Robertsonian translocation between biparentally inherited chromosomes 15. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prenatal diagnosis in two cases of de novo complex balanced chromosomal rearrangements. Three-year follow-up in one case

We report two cases of apparently balanced complex de novo chromosomal rearrangements (BCCR) detected prenatally at 17 weeks and 10 weeks of gestation, respectively. Chromosomes were studied using GTG-banding and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). In one case four chromosomes and in the other case three chromosomes were involved in the rearrangements. One of the pregnancies was terminated and no external or internal abnormalities were detected at autopsy. The other pregnancy continued to term. Level III ultrasound examination showed no abnormalities. The child is now 3 years old and has neither congenital anomalies nor evidence of delayed psychomotor development.     

High bat (Chiroptera) diversity in the Early Eocene of India

The geographic origin of bats is still unknown, and fossils of earliest bats are rare and poorly diversified, with, maybe, the exception of Europe. The earliest bats are recorded from the Early Eocene of North America, Europe, North Africa and Australia where they seem to appear suddenly and simultaneously. Until now, the oldest record in Asia was from the Middle Eocene. In this paper, we report the discovery of the oldest bat fauna of Asia dating from the Early Eocene of the Cambay Formation at Vastan Lignite Mine in Western India. The fossil taxa are described on the basis of well-preserved fragments of dentaries and lower teeth. The fauna is highly diversified and is represented by seven species belonging to seven genera and at least four families. Two genera and five species are new. Three species exhibit very primitive dental characters, whereas four others indicate more advanced states. Unexpectedly, this fauna presents strong affinities with the European faunas from the French Paris Basin and the German Messel locality. This could result from the limited fossil record of bats in Asia, but could also suggest new palaeobiogeographic scenarios involving the relative position of India during the Early Eocene.     

Hummingbird with modern feathering: an exceptionally well-preserved Oligocene fossil from southern France

Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) today have an exclusively New World distribution, but their pre-Pleistocene fossil record comes from Europe only. In this study, we describe an exceptionally preserved fossil hummingbird from the early Oligocene of southeastern France. The specimen is articulated, with a completely preserved beak and feathering. Osteological characters allow to identify it as Eurotrochilus sp. This genus is a stem group representative of Trochilidae and was recently described from the early Oligocene of southern Germany. The new fossil reveals that these European Trochilidae were remarkably modern in size, skeletal proportions and the shape of the wing, tail and beak and hyoid bones. These features confirm the early acquisition of the abilities of hovering and nectarivory in hummingbirds, probably before the Oligocene. In several morphological characteristics, they resemble members of the 'true hummingbirds' (subfamily Trochilinae) and differ from hermits (Phaethornithinae). These features, which include a short and square tail and a moderately long, almost straight beak, appear to be primitive within the family Trochilidae.     

Juvenile morphology: A clue to the origins of the most mysterious of mysticetes?

The origin of the pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata) has long been one of the most vexing conundrums of marine mammal evolution. The extremely disparate skeletal structure of Caperea and a patchy fossil record have left morphology and molecules at odds: whereas most morphological analyses ally Caperea with right whales (Balaenidae), most molecular studies instead suggest a close relationship with rorquals (Balaenopteridae) and grey whales (Eschrichtiidae). The morphological evidence supporting a Caperea-balaenid clade consists of several shared features of the skull and mandible, as traditionally observed in adult individuals. Here, we show that at least two of these features, the ascending process of the maxilla and the coronoid process, arise from substantially different precursors early during ontogeny and therefore likely do not represent genuine synapomorphies. Both of these juvenile morphologies have adult counterparts in the fossil record, thus indicating that the ontogenetic variation in the living species may be a genuine reflection of differing ancestral states. This new evidence contradicts previous morphological hypotheses on the origins of Caperea and may help to reconcile morphological and molecular evidence.     

元古宙—寒武纪疑源类的辐射演化、绝灭作用与海洋地球化学演变——兼论扬子区元古宙—奥陶纪疑源类的演化

通过对目前全世界元古宙———寒武纪地层中的浮游植物 (疑源类 )的统计 ,发现在新元古代晚期和早、中寒武世相对较短的时间间隔内发生了一系列的微体植物 (疑源类 )辐射和绝灭事件。而这些辐射和绝灭事件又与早期后生生物的辐射、绝灭都有密切的镜像关系。通过对古海洋的δ13 C、87Sr/ 86Sr研究 ,发现元古宙—寒武纪浮游植物 (疑源类 )的辐射演化、绝灭作用与古海洋环境变化有着密切的关系 ,即生物辐射时期 ,δ13 C、　87Sr/ 86Sr呈现高异常 ;生物绝灭时期 ,δ13 C、87Sr/ 86Sr呈现低异常 ;冰期δ13 C呈现明显的负异常。     

生物卵化石研究进展简述

卵生是动物界最普遍的繁殖方式,卵的孵化对繁殖季节突发的气候变化响应敏感,孵化成败又与生物种群数量变动和群落演替密切相关,因此卵化石具有重要的古生物学、古气候学、古生态学研究价值。但由于卵生动物种类十分丰富,卵形态特征多样,研究领域广泛,有必要总结梳理卵化石的研究进展。本文通过对主要卵生动物类群卵的形态特征,以及卵化石在古生物学、古气候学、古生态学方面研究进展的回顾,发现卵化石的研究主要集中在脊椎动物类群,为脊椎动物演化提供了重要证据,但是由于脊椎动物卵化石通常难以建立连续的长序列记录,其古生态学和古气候学研究极为不足。然而,无脊椎动物卵化石由于数量丰富,具有统计意义,其在古生态学、古气候学研究领域具有重要意义,但是其在古生物学,包括种属鉴定等方面的研究需要加强。在无脊椎动物中,蜗牛及其卵化石在黄土-古土壤地层中保存丰富且地层分布连续,最有可能建立卵化石的长序列。通过现代过程研究,明确蜗牛卵的气候指示意义,建立第四纪蜗牛卵化石长序列,发挥蜗牛卵化石的古气候学和古生态学研究价值,是亟需开展的研究工作。     

Earliest and first Northern Hemispheric hoatzin fossils substantiate Old World origin of a “Neotropic endemic”

The recent identification of hoatzins (Opisthocomiformes) in the Miocene of Africa showed part of the evolution of these birds, which are now only found in South America, to have taken place outside the Neotropic region. Here, we describe a new fossil species from the late Eocene of France, which constitutes the earliest fossil record of hoatzins and the first one from the Northern Hemisphere. Protoazin parisiensis gen. et sp. nov. is more closely related to South American Opisthocomiformes than the African taxon Namibiavis and substantiates an Old World origin of hoatzins, as well as a relictual distribution of the single extant species. Although recognition of hoatzins in Europe may challenge their presumed transatlantic dispersal, there are still no North American fossils in support of an alternative, Northern Hemispheric, dispersal route. In addition to Opisthocomiformes, other avian taxa are known from the Cenozoic of Europe, the extant representatives of which are only found in South America. Recognition of hoatzins in the early Cenozoic of Europe is of particular significance because Opisthocomiformes have a fossil record in sub-Saharan Africa, which supports the hypothesis that extinction of at least some of these “South American” groups outside the Neotropic region was not primarily due to climatic factors.     

Characterization of marker chromosomes by microdissection and fluorescence in situ hybridization

We characterized by microdissection and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) two marker chromosomes: (1) a de novo, acrocentric marker chromosome detected in 88 per cent of the amniotic fluid cells of one of two physically and developmentally normal twins; and (2) a metacentric marker chromosome present in a phenotypically normal female. Analysis of FISH probes developed from the marker chromosomes indicated that the marker chromosomes in cases 1 and 2 were del(14)(q11) and a derivative chromosome from a Robertsonian translocation, respectively. Microdissection in combination with FISH may prove to be a valuable technique in determining the chromosomal origin of de novo marker chromosomes and unbalanced structural rearrangements detected during prenatal diagnosis.     

The outcome of pregnancy and prenatal chromosomal diagnosis of fetuses in couples including a translocation carrier

In order to evaluate the relation between chromosomal translocation and the outcome of pregnancy, 50 couples were examined. Subjects consisted of 35 couples that included a reciprocal translocation carrier; 13 included a Robertsonian translocation carrier and 2 included a carrier of a mosaic reciprocal translocation. The reasons for performing chromosomal examinations were mainly infertility and abnormality of neonates. The rates of miscarriages and neonatal abnormalities in prior pregnancies were significantly higher than the birth rate of morphologically normal newborns. The presence of a translocation is closely related to reproductive failure because of the chromosomal imbalance. However, prenatal chromosomal examination after the 15th gestational week in subsequent pregnancies revealed that almost half of the fetuses showed normal karyotypes and only 12.8 per cent of the fetuses showed a chromosomal imbalance. Many chromosomally imbalanced fetuses are spontaneously aborted before amniocentesis. The risk of chromosomal imbalance is relatively low in prenatal diagnosis, but partial trisomies of small rearrangements tend to be preserved.     

A chicken-sized crane precursor from the early Oligocene of France

A skeleton of a chicken-sized crane precursor is described from the Lower Oligocene of the Lubéron in Southern France. Parvigrus pohli gen. et sp. nov. is the most substantial Paleogene fossil record of the Grues (Aramidae [limpkin] + Gruidae [cranes]), and among its oldest representatives. The fossil species is classified in the new taxon Parvigruidae, which is shown to be the sister group of extant Grues. It is the first fossil record of a stem lineage representative of the Grues and, among others, differs from modern Grues in its smaller size, shorter beak, and rail-like limb proportions. Size increase in the stem lineage of the Gruidae may be related to the spread of grasslands during the Oligocene and Miocene. Occurrence of stem lineage Grues in the Lower Oligocene of Europe is in concordance with the fact that there is no evidence for the presence of crown group members of modern avian “families” in pre-Oligocene fossil deposits. Electronic Supplementary Material  Supplementary material is available for this article at     

梅江上游水环境问题及五华县可持续发展的对策

文章对2002年-2008年梅江上游五华县境内水环境和水文调查数据进行了分析,结果表明:梅江上游五华段水体中铁、锰元素超标严重,同时存在着一定的有机污染,造成了水生生物的种类和数量不断减少,影响了五华县域经济可持续发展;五华河近30年的河床演变,水土流失问题依然存在,主槽下切的程度有逐年增加的趋势,跟上游来水、来沙条件及水沙关系变异、小水电、无序挖沙等人类活动等密切相关。最后从环境管理、污染源防治和区域综合整治等方面提出了相应的对策。     

Brainy stuff of long-gone dogs: a reappraisal of the supposed Canis endocranial cast from the Pliocene of Poland

The pre-Quaternary fossil record of Canis in the Old World is scarce, and the first appearance of this genus in Europe remains an enigma. Amongst the oldest fossils assigned to this genus, there is a natural cast of the brain (endocast) collected in W??e 1, Poland, from Pliocene deposits dated between 3.3 and 4.0 Ma. We reexamined this specimen and found that it differs from the brain of Canis in having its region medial to the coronal sulcus heart-shaped in dorsal view, its region rostral to the presylvian sulcus shorter and less constricted laterally, and its cerebellum less overlapped by the cerebrum and lacking a lateral twist of the posterior vermis. We identified this fossil, as well as another fossil canid endocast from W??e 1, as representing the raccoon dog genus Nyctereutes. The previously reported presence of Canis in W??e 1 is therefore not confirmed. Specifically, both endocasts can be referred to N. donnezani because this is the only species of Nyctereutes that has been recognised in this locality on the basis of craniomandibular and dental fossils. Our study represents a taxonomic application of comparative neuroanatomical and palaeoneurological data, an approach that may become increasingly useful with the growing knowledge of the endocranial morphology of fossil mammals.     

床板珊瑚形珊瑚的数值分类研究

本文系统地论述了床板珊瑚形珊瑚的数值分类研究。实际工作是在传统“属”一级分类的基础上,对种一级的代表性化石标本进行的。作者根据数值分类的要求,在深入研究前人对各种的化石标本所作大量文字描述的基础上,提取有效的鉴定特征作为分类性状,然后对这些性状进行编码和标度,采用加权明氏距离估计任意两化石标本之间的相似性,最后根据每个属各种的化石标本间的相似性,利用系统聚类法实现对种的重新厘定。     

Snake fangs from the Lower Miocene of Germany: evolutionary stability of perfect weapons

There is a general consensus that most of today’s nonvenomous snakes are descendants of venomous snakes that lost their venomous capabilities secondarily. This implies that the evolutionary history of venomous snakes and their venom apparatus should be older than the current evidence from the fossil record. We compared some of the oldest-known fossil snake fangs from the Lower Miocene of Germany with those of modern viperids and elapids and found their morphology to be indistinguishable from the modern forms. The primary function of recent elapid and viperid snake fangs is to facilitate the extremely rapid, stab-like application of highly toxic venoms. Our findings therefore indicate that the other components of the venom-delivery system of Early Miocene vipers and elapids were also highly developed, and that these snakes used their venom in the same way as their modern relatives. Thus, the fossil record supports the view that snakes used their venoms to rapidly subdue prey long before the mid-Tertiary onset of the global environmental changes that seem to have supported the successful radiation of venomous snakes.     

A giant termite from the Late Miocene of Styria, Austria (Isoptera)

A giant termite is described and figured from the Late Miocene of the Styrian Basin in southeastern Austria. Gyatermes styriensis gen. n. et sp. n. is represented by a relatively complete forewing, with basal scale. The fossil approximates in size the largest of all termites today and is the largest fossil termite on record. The presence of this species in the Late Miocene fauna of Europe indicates that climatic conditions were appropriate for the persistence of species and colonies requiring relatively stable, warm conditions. The genus is primitive in overall features but shares some similarity with the dampwood termites.     

The earliest occurrence of the steppe pika (Ochotona pusilla) in Europe near the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary

The steppe pika (Ochotona pusilla), a representative of the lagomorph family Ochotonidae, is restricted today to Kazakhstan and Russia. This subspecies-rich form belongs to a morphologically distinct, monospecific group of relatively small pikas, inhabiting steppe-like habitat. In the fossil record, it serves as a bioindicator of dry, grassland environment. The steppe pika was abundant and widespread in Europe during the Last Glaciation, and its unquestionable presence has been reported there since the middle Pleistocene. A new discovery of O. pusilla, from the Kielniki 3B locality (Poland), dated to the latest Pliocene, moves back the species appearance in Europe about one million years, almost coeval with its first record from the late Pliocene of Kazakhstan. Presence of such a typical steppe inhabitant as O. pusilla indicates significant climate change towards more arid, continental conditions, which started influencing Europe at 2.6 Ma. We present the first reliable record of the earliest O. pusilla entry deep into Europe in the latest Pliocene.     

A review of early gadiform evolution and diversification: first record of a rattail fish skull (Gadiformes, Macrouridae) from the Eocene of Antarctica, with otoliths preserved in situ

Codfishes, the Gadiformes, are quite abundant in modern temperate and polar waters with a fossil record ranging back into the Palaeogene. The oldest records are from the Danian and Selandian of Europe and South Australia. The bipolar distribution early in their evolutionary history implies that their origin must have occurred quite early in the Palaeocene, or even in the Late Cretaceous with subsequent rapid diversification. By the Eocene, gadiforms were highly abundant and widespread. With the exception of gadiforms, no Eocene Antarctic teleostean group is present in the modern Antarctic fauna. Here, we review the early evolution and diversification of gadiforms in general and of macrouroids in particular. We also describe the undoubtedly oldest skeletal macrourid specimen with otoliths preserved in situ. It is the first definitive record of this group from the Eocene of Antarctica filling a gap in its stratigraphic distribution. The fossil record of gadiforms in general and macrouroids in particular indicates that the origin of both was in shallow shelf environments but with adaptations to deep-water settings early in their evolution. While gadoids seemingly originated in the earliest Palaeogene and rapidly experienced a first major radiation event in the eastern North Atlantic and/or North Sea Basin, macrouroids evolved in the Southern Ocean and migrated northwards into the South Atlantic before the establishment of the circum-Antarctic current and subsequent isolation of the Antarctic fish fauna. These two timely and regional separated adaptive radiation events in the Palaeogene gave rise to their modern taxonomic diversity and global distribution.