A unique Valanginian paleoenvironment at an iron ore deposit near Zengővárkony (Mecsek Mts, South Hungary), and a possible genetic model

Abstract The spatially restricted Early Valanginian iron ore (limonite) and manganese deposit at Zengõvárkony (Mecsek Mts, southern Hungary) contains a rich, strongly limonitized, remarkably large-sized (specimens are 30–70% larger than those at their type localities) brachiopod-dominated (mainly Lacunosella and Nucleata) megafauna and a diverse crustacean microfauna, which indicates a shallow, nutrient-rich environment possibly linked to an uplifted block, and/or a hydrothermal vent

Four new species of <I>Heteromysis</I> (Crustacea: Mysida) from public aquaria in Hawaii, Florida, and Western to Central Europe

Four new species of the subgenus Heteromysis (Olivemysis) were detected in material from (sub)-tropical aquaria in six public aquarium institutions around the globe. Modifications of pleopods by spines represent the strongest structural complex used for differentiation within this subgenus: male pleopods 1–4 modified in H. smithsoniana sp. nov., male pleopods 2–4 plus female pleopod 2 in H. hornimani sp. nov. and H. waikikensis sp. nov. Additional important diagnostic characters are provided by the antennulae, uropods, and telson. The male of H. sixi sp. nov. represents a very rare case within the genus Heteromysis by having only pleopod 2 modified by flagellate spines. The definition of the subgenus Olivemysis is modified in order to include H. sixi sp. nov. A summary of pleopod modifi cations in the genus Heteromysis and a key to the species of the subgenus Olivemysis are given. The here described new taxa more than double the number of Heteromysis species known from aquaria yet unknown in nature from three to seven.</p

Four new species of Heteromysis (Crustacea: Mysida) from public aquaria in Hawaii, Florida, and Western to Central Europe

Four new species of the subgenus Heteromysis (Olivemysis) were detected in material from (sub)-tropical aquaria in six public aquarium institutions around the globe. Modifications of pleopods by spines represent the strongest structural complex used for differentiation within this subgenus: male pleopods 1–4 modified in H. smithsoniana sp. nov., male pleopods 2–4 plus female pleopod 2 in H. hornimani sp. nov. and H. waikikensis sp. nov. Additional important diagnostic characters are provided by the antennulae, uropods, and telson. The male of H. sixi sp. nov. represents a very rare case within the genus Heteromysis by having only pleopod 2 modified by flagellate spines. The definition of the subgenus Olivemysis is modified in order to include H. sixi sp. nov. A summary of pleopod modifications in the genus Heteromysis and a key to the species of the subgenus Olivemysis are given. The here described new taxa more than double the number of Heteromysis species known from aquaria yet unknown in nature from three to seven

Cranial morphology of the orectolobiform shark, Chiloscyllium punctatum Müller & Henle, 1838

Elasmobranchs, comprising sharks, skates, and rays, have a long evolutionary history extending back into the Palaeozoic. They are characterized by various unique traits including a predominantly cartilaginous skeleton, superficial prismatic phosphatic layer, and permanent tooth replacement. Moreover, they exhibit a more or less marked sexual dimorphism. Especially the morphology of the chondrocranium and the elements of the whole cranial region of extant and extinct chondrichthyans can provide valuable information about corresponding functions, e.g. the feeding apparatus might reflect the diet of the animals. However, studies on sexual dimorphisms are lacking in orectolobiform sharks, therefore, little is known about possible sexual dimorphic characters in the cranial region in this group. For this reason, we present in this study a comprehensive morphological description of the cranial region of the brownbanded bamboo shark Chiloscyllium punctatum Müller & Henle, 1838, with a special focus on its sexual dimorphic characters. Our results reveal clear morphological differences in both sexes of the examined C. punctatum specimens, particularly in the chondrocranium and the mandibular arch. The female specimen shows a comparatively more robust and compact morphology of the chondrocranium. This pattern is also evident in the mandibular arch, especially in the palatoquadrate. The present study is the first to describe the morphology of an orectolobiform shark species in detail using both manual dissection and micro-CT data. The resulting data furthermore provide a starting point for pending studies and are intended to be a first step in a series of comparative studies on the morphology of the cranial region of orectolobiform sharks, including the determination of possible sexual dimorphic characteristics

Cranial morphology of the orectolobiform shark, Chiloscyllium punctatum Müller & Henle, 1838

Elasmobranchs, comprising sharks, skates, and rays, have a long evolutionary history extending back into the Palaeozoic. They are characterized by various unique traits including a predominantly cartilaginous skeleton, superficial prismatic phosphatic layer, and permanent tooth replacement. Moreover, they exhibit a more or less marked sexual dimorphism. Especially the morphology of the chondrocranium and the elements of the whole cranial region of extant and extinct chondrichthyans can provide valuable information about corresponding functions, e.g. the feeding apparatus might reflect the diet of the animals. However, studies on sexual dimorphisms are lacking in orectolobiform sharks, therefore, little is known about possible sexual dimorphic characters in the cranial region in this group. For this reason, we present in this study a comprehensive morphological description of the cranial region of the brownbanded bamboo shark Chiloscyllium punctatum Müller & Henle, 1838, with a special focus on its sexual dimorphic characters. Our results reveal clear morphological differences in both sexes of the examined C. punctatum specimens, particularly in the chondrocranium and the mandibular arch. The female specimen shows a comparatively more robust and compact morphology of the chondrocranium. This pattern is also evident in the mandibular arch, especially in the palatoquadrate. The present study is the first to describe the morphology of an orectolobiform shark species in detail using both manual dissection and micro-CT data. The resulting data furthermore provide a starting point for pending studies and are intended to be a first step in a series of comparative studies on the morphology of the cranial region of orectolobiform sharks, including the determination of possible sexual dimorphic characteristics

Three new species of <em>Heteromysis</em> (Crustacea: Mysida) from coral reef aquaria in Florida and Central Europe

International audienceThree new species of the genus Heteromysis S.I. Smith, 1873 (tribus Heteromysini), are described from a rich stock of mysids obtained on request from the international community of professional aquarium keepers. The 18S rDNA and COI sequences of the three species were distinct from each other and also from other sequences published in DNA databases. Heteromysis (Olivemysis) schoenbrunnensis sp. nov. is morphologically characterized within the subgenus Olivemysis based on the structure of the first and second antennae, male pleopods, uropods, and telson. Heteromysis (Heteromysis) gulfarii sp. nov. is outstanding within the subgenus Heteromysis by sexually dimorphic modified setae on the antennular trunk. These setae are non-dimorphic in the very similar Heteromysis (Heteromysis) korntalensis sp. nov. Both species H. gulfarii and to a lesser degree also H. korntalensis show modified eyes, subquadrate in dorsal view, eyestalks anteriorly tapering in lateral view; small, well-developed cornea implanted laterally on modified eyestalk. Apart from eye structure H. gulfarii and H. korntalensis clearly fall morphologically within the nominotypical subgenus Heteromysis

What's left in the tank? Identification of non-ascribed aquarium's coral collections with DNA barcodes as part of an integrated diagnostic approach

The unprecedented threats to coral reef ecosystems from global climate change require an urgent response from the aquarium community, which is becoming an increasingly vital coral conservation resource. Unfortunately, many hermatypic corals in aquaria are not identified to species level, which hinders assessment of their conservation significance. Traditional methods of species identification using morphology can be challenging, especially to non-taxonomists. DNA barcoding is an option for species identification of Scleractinian corals, especially when used in concert with morphology-based assessment. This study uses DNA barcodes to try to identify aquarium specimens of the diverse reef-forming genus Acropora from 127 samples. We identified to our best current knowledge, to species name 44% of the analysed samples and provided provisional identification for 80% of them (101/127, in the form of a list of species names with associate confidence values). We highlighted a sampling bias in public nucleotide sequences repertories (e.g. GenBank) towards more charismatic and more studied species, even inside a well-studied genus like Acropora. In addition, we showed a potential "single observer" effect with over a quarter of the reference sequences used for these identifications coming from the same study. We propose the use of barcoding and query matching as an additional tool for taxonomic experts and general aquarists, as an additional tool to increase their chances of making high confidence species-level identifications. We produce a standardised and easily repeatable methodology to increase the capacity of aquariums and other facilities to assess non-ascribed species, emphasising the value of integrating this approach with morphological identification optimising usage of authoritative identification guides and expert opinion. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12686-021-01250-3