American Museum Novitates
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The Novitates (Latin for "new acquaintances"), published continuously and numbered consecutively since 1921, are short papers that contain descriptions of new forms and reports in zoology, paleontology, and geology. New numbers are published at irregular intervals.
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Item Cephalopods from the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary interval on the Brazos River, Texas, and extinction of the ammonites (American Museum novitates, no. 3964)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-01-13) Witts, James D.; Landman, Neil H.; Garb, Matthew P.; Irizarry, Kayla M.; Larina, Ekaterina; Thibault, Nicolas; Razmjooei, Mohammed J.; Yancey, Thomas E.; Myers, Corinne E.We report on new collections of cephalopods (ammonites and nautilids) from the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) successions of the Corsicana and Kincaid formations exposed along the Brazos River in Falls County, Texas. An abundant fauna of eight species comprising four genera of ammonites is described from the Corsicana Formation, including Discoscaphites mullinaxorum n. sp. The presence of abundant aptychi (probably lower jaws) of Discoscaphites and Eubaculites, as well as juvenile specimens, indicates a living population that experienced little postmortem drift. The lytoceratid genus Gaudryceras is also reported for the first time from the Brazos River area. Presence of the index taxon Discoscaphites iris (Conrad, 1858) indicates that the fauna belongs to the D. iris Range Zone, the highest ammonite range zone in North America. Correlation with new and existing microfossil data indicates that the fauna represents the uppermost Maastrichtian, and comparison with published records further suggests that this is the most diverse D. iris Zone fauna yet reported from the Gulf and Atlantic Coastal Plains of North America. Three ammonite genera are recorded from the basal units of the K-Pg event deposit at Brazos, which likely represents deposition in the immediate aftermath of the Chicxulub impact event. A single specimen of the nautilid Eutrephoceras is reported from the Danian Kincaid Formation, less than 300 kyr after the K-Pg boundary. These data provide new information on the differing fate of these cephalopod groups during the K-Pg mass extinction and add to the picture of diverse and abundant Maastrichtian ammonite faunas prior to the Chicxulub impact event.Item A new dromaeosaurid from the Late Cretaceous Khulsan locality of Mongolia (American Museum novitates, no. 3965)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-01-13) Turner, Alan H. (Alan Hamilton); Montanari, Shaena A.; Norell, MarkA new dromaeosaurid dinosaur, Shri devi, from the Late Cretaceous deposit of the Barun Goyot Formation at Khulsan, Mongolia, is described here. The Barun Goyot Formation (herein referred to as the Barun Goyot) is stratigraphically intermediate between the overlying Nemegt Formation and the underlying Djadokhta Formation, where much of the dromaeosaurid diversity has been reported to date. Sediments of the Barun Goyot are typically considered Upper Campanian in age. Although dromaeosaurid remains have been noted to occur in the Barun Goyot for decades, descriptive and taxonomic work has never been completed for the material. The holotype specimen (IGM 100/980) consists of a partially articulated individual preserving the right hind limb; left tibiotarsus; pelvis; and adjacent cervical, dorsal, and caudal vertebrae. IGM 100/980 is referable to a clade with Velociraptor based on the presence of a distinct ambiens tubercle located proximally on the anterior face of the pubis, a well-developed anterior tuberosity proximally located on the ischium, and a rounded longitudinal ischial ridge. It is distinguishable from V. mongoliensis based on a weak fourth trochanter (shared with all other dromaeosaurids) and deep anterior pedicular fossae in the cervical vertebrae; epipophyses in the last four cervicals are not raised but are instead represented by rugose circular scars. A suite of axial and appendicular characters are diagnostic for the new species. New discoveries including Shri devi allow for an improved understanding of dromaeosaurid anatomy, as well as the temporal and regional variation of the dromaeosaurid fauna of Mongolia and Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol Autonomous Region, China), during the Late Cretaceous.Item A new dichromatic species of Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from the Nimba Mountains, Guinea (American Museum novitates, no. 3963)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-01-13) Simmons, Nancy B.; Flanders, J.; Bakwo Fils, E. M.; Parker, Guy; Suter, Jamison D.; Bamba, Seinan; Keita, Mamady Kobele; Morales, Ariadna E.; Frick, Winifred F.The genus Myotis is a diverse group of vespertilionid bats found on nearly every continent. One clade in this group, the subgenus Chrysopteron, is characterized by reddish to yellowish fur and, in some cases, visually striking dichromatic wing pigmentation. Here, we describe a new dichromatic species of Myotis (Chrysopteron) from the Nimba Mountains in Guinea. The new species is superficially similar to Myotis welwitschii, but phylogenetic analyses based on cytochrome b data indicated that it is actually more closely related to M. tricolor. Discovery of this new taxon increases the number of Myotis species known from mainland Africa to 11 species, although patterns of molecular divergence suggest that cryptic species in the Chrysopteron clade remain to be described. This discovery also highlights the critical importance of the Nimba Mountains as a center of bat diversity and endemism in sub-Saharan Africa.Item On the taxonomic identity of Pteronotus davyi incae Smith, 1972 (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae). (American Museum novitates, no. 3966)(New York, NY : American Museum of Natural History, 2021-03-09) Pavan, Ana Carolina; Cadenillas, Richard; Centty, Oscar; Pacheco, Víctor; Velasco, Paúl M.The subgenus Pteronotus (naked-backed bats) comprises three species, P. davyi, P. fulvus, and P. gymnonotus, which are distinguished from other members of the genus Pteronotus by wing membranes that are fused along the dorsal midline and by skulls with noticeably upturned rostrums. Pteronotus davyi currently includes two morphologically differentiated subspecies ecies, P. d. davyi and P. d. incae, with strikingly disjunct geographic ranges. Whereas the nominotypical form is found in Central America, the Caribbean coastal region of northern South America, and the Lesser Antilles, the subspecies P. d. incae is restricted to a small area in northwestern Peru; to date, the phylogenetic relationships of these nominal taxa have not been explored. In the present contribution, we employed analyses of mitochondrial gene sequences, morphometrics, and qualitative-morphological comparisons to provide new information on P. d. incae and place the taxon in a phylogenetic context. Our results suggest that the geographically disjunct populations of P. davyi are genetically very similar even though they are morphologically and ecologically distinct. Recognizing that speciation is a process with intermediate stages that merit formal recognition, we support the retention of incae as a valid subspecies of Pteronotus davyi.Item First report of biofluorescence in Arctic snailfishes and rare occurrence of multiple fluorescent colors in a single species. (American Museum novitates, no. 3967)(New York, NY : American Museum of Natural History, 2021-03-18) Gruber, David F.; Sparks, John S.Biofluorescence has recently been reported to be phylogenetically widespread and phenotypically variable across bony fishes, and is most common in tropical coral reef lineages. Here we provide the first documentation of prominent biofluorescence in Arctic fishes including two juvenile specimens of Liparis gibbus (variegated snailfish) collected from the coastal waters of Eastern Greenland, as well as an adult L. tunicatus (kelp snailfish) collected in the Bering Strait off of Little Diomede Island, AK. Observations of L. gibbus were made during nighttime dives within kelp forests in iceberg habitats in Southeastern Greenland in August 2019. The juvenile L. gibbus specimens exhibit both green (523-530 nm) and red (674-678 nm) biofluorescence on discrete anatomical areas, which provides a rare example of multiple fluorescent colors emitted from a single individual. Notably, the adult L. tunicatus emitted only red fluorescence in a bilaterally symmetrical pattern of discrete red dots and blotches. Potential weak green biofluorescence was also noted in a flatfish (Hippoglossoides platessoides) collected in Greenland, but in no other Arctic species. As the distribution and function of biofluorescence in marine fishes is further examined, this report adds context to its widespread geographical and environmental distributions, and shows that, although rare, biofluorescence does occur in Arctic fish lineages.Item On the supposed presence of Miocene Tayassuidae and Dromomerycinae (Mammalia, Cetartiodactyla) in South America. (American Museum novitates, no. 3968)(New York, NY : American Museum of Natural History, 2021-03-19) Gasparini, Germán M.; Dutra, Rodrigo Parisi; Perini, Fernando A.; Croft, Darin A.; Cozzuol, Mario A.; Missagia, Rafaela V.; Lucas, Spencer G.The earliest record of North American mammals in South America is significant for constraining the timing of intercontinental faunal interchange. At present, the oldest securely dated remains of a North American terrestrial mammal in South America pertain to a late Miocene procyonid; a few other North American mammal groups are present in late Miocene and early Pliocene outcrops in South America, but most are not recorded until the late Pliocene or Pleistocene, after the complete emergence of the Panamanian Isthmus. This long-established pattern has recently been called into question by reports of a proboscidean, two tayassuids, and a dromomerycine cervoid in supposed late Miocene deposits of Peruvian Amazon. In this contribution, we analyze the taxonomic identities and stratigraphic provenances of the tayassuid and dromomerycine fossils in detail. We conclude that these specimens are not distinguishable from modern tayassuids (Tayassu pecari and Dicotyles tajacu) and cervids, and that previous taxonomic identifications are based on misinterpretation of characters or inadequate specimens. In addition, there is insufficient evidence to support a late Miocene age for these terrestrial cetartiodactyl fossils; the stratigraphic provenance of the specimens is highly dubious, and the fossils are likely Quaternary in age.Item A revision of the didelphid marsupial genus Marmosa. Part 3, A new species from western Amazonia, with redescriptions of M. perplexa Anthony, 1922, and M. germana Thomas, 1904. (American Museum novitates, no. 3969)(New York, NY : American Museum of Natural History, 2021-04-01) Voss, Robert S.; Giarla, Thomas C.We describe a new species of woolly mouse opossum from northwestern Amazonia, Marmosa jansae, based on museum specimens previously misidentified either as M. germana Thomas, 1904, or as M. regina Thomas, 1898. Instead of being closely related to either of those species, M. jansae appears to be the sister taxon of M. perplexa Anthony, 1922, a trans-Andean species previously synonymized with M. phaea Thomas, 1899. We redescribe M. perplexa, which inhabits critically endangered evergreen and semideciduous forests in southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru. We also redescribe M. germana, an Amazonian species that has long been synonymized with M. regina, but which molecular analyses now suggest is the sister taxon of a trans-Andean species complex that includes M. alstoni (Allen, 1900). These results substantially clarify the long-confused taxonomy of woolly mouse opossums (subgenus Micoureus), provide new examples of sister-group relationships between upper-Amazonian and trans-Andean taxa, and raise interesting questions about congeneric diversity in northwestern Amazonia, where as many as six species of Marmosa might occur sympatrically.Item Total evidence phylogenetic analysis supports new morphological synapomorphies for Bovidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) (American Museum novitates, no. 3970)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-06-15) Calamari, Zachary T.Advances in gene sequencing technology have made it easier to generate large molecular datasets with novel DNA sequences for phylogenetic analysis. Because morphological data are difficult to collect and not required for molecular phylogenetic analyses, they are often excluded in studies of the systematic relationships of extant taxa. This fact is especially apparent in the Bovidae, the highly diverse, widespread clade of hoofed mammals most often characterized by the presence of permanent bony horn cores covered with keratin sheaths. Analyses of molecular data have reconstructed well-supported phylogenetic relationships within the clade. However, morphological data are also required to integrate fossil taxa into these studies, and may support different topologies when they are included in total evidence phylogenies. In this study, I performed a maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of a total evidence dataset including mitochondrial genomes, nine nuclear genes, and 196 morphological characters. The dataset comprises 156 species, 13 of which are fossil taxa, one of the most complete analyses of the family to date, and the first time many of the fossil species have been included in a total evidence analysis. Character optimizations on this topology produced seven synapomorphic morphological characters for Bovidae and multiple characters for each tribe. These analyses support the use of total evidence phylogenetics as a means of uncovering morphological characters that may serve as new synapomorphies and elucidate the systematic relationships of fossil species.Item Intratribal variation among mature larvae of stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) with descriptions of the eggs of 11 species (American Museum novitates, no. 3971)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-06-28) Rozen, Jerome G., Jr. (Jerome George), 1928-; Almeida, Eduardo A. B. (Eduardo Andrade Botelho); Smith, Corey Shepard; Jones, Lance EricThe abundant members of the Meliponini (stingless bees) are restricted to the tropics and subtropics worldwide. Because past studies of the anatomy of their mature larvae are limited, revealing little anatomical variation in the tribe, the current investigation attempts to examine this topic more thoroughly. Herein we describe the mature larvae of 30 species representing 16 genera of a total world fauna of perhaps 32 genera. Although the larvae of most taxa show little anatomical diversity, two species, Trigona (Duckeola) ghilianii Spinola and Trigona (Frieseomelitta) varia (Lepeletier), have mature larvae that differ remarkably in anatomical structure from those of other known stingless bees, and, further, their individual anatomies suggest a close evolutionary relationship. Larval evidence is presented indicating that Trichotrigona extranea (Camargo and Moure) is also related to these two taxa. Because eggs are often included in collections of bee larvae, this study adds descriptions of the eggs of 11 species of the Meliponini not previously characterized as well as a list of those that had been treated earlier.Item Karyotypes of coralsnakes (Reptilia: Elapidae) from the western hemisphere, with comments on intraspecific variation and centric fission of chromosomes (American Museum novitates, no. 3972)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-07-19) Cole, Charles J.Karyotypes are described for Micruroides euryxanthus from Arizona and Micrurus tener from Texas. These are compared with karyotypes of other elapids from around the world, which exhibit significant interspecific variation. The largest macrochromosome of M. euryxanthus, which is metacentric, is shared by only two other species of coralsnakes from the New World. This may be a shared ancestral chromosome homologous to the largest macrochromosome that occurs in most other snakes, including some of the Australian elapids. The karyotype of M. tener from Texas has a ZZ:ZW1W2 sex chromosome system, which differs from individuals of this species reported previously from Louisiana. Over the relatively young 35-million-year global history of the Elapidae, karyotypes appear to have varied more than those of most other snakes throughout a 140-million-year history.Item Total-evidence phylogeny of the New World Polistes Lepeletier, 1836, paper wasps (Vespidae, Polistinae, Polistini) (American Museum novitates, no. 3973)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-07-22) Somavilla, Alexandre; Santos, Bernardo F.; Andena, Sérgio Ricardo; Oliveira, Márcio Luiz; Carpenter, James M. (James Michael), 1956-The genus Polistes is one of the most species-rich and widely distributed groups of social wasps and a model taxon for studies of social behavior. Almost half the Polistes world fauna occurs in the New World, but their classification has been unstable due in part to the scarcity of phylogenetic studies. We investigated the phylogeny of the New World Polistes by combining a previously existing molecular dataset with a new morphological and behavioral matrix for 90 of the 93 New World species. All analyses support a single origin for the New World Polistes. All five traditionally defined New World subgenera (Aphanilopterus, Epicnemius, Fuscopolistes, Onerarius, and Palisotius) were monophyletic, but the relationships among them varied across datasets. Our results, with an expanded phenotypic dataset, improved taxonomic sampling, and enhanced clade support relative to previous studies, strongly support a classification based on five subgenera, which are all diagnosable groups supported by clear morphological synapomorphies. Hence, we propose the revalidation of previously proposed subgenera; we provide a taxonomic account of each subgenus and an identification key to all species of New World Polistes.Item Terrestrial isopods from Spanish amber (Crustacea: Oniscidea) : insights into the Cretaceous soil biota (American Museum novitates, no. 3974)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-08-06) Sánchez-García, Alba; Peñalver, Enrique; Martinez-Delclos, Xavier; Engel, Michael S.Terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Oniscidea) are a model group for studying the colonization of land. However, their fossil record is remarkably scarce and restricted to amber inclusions, and therefore amber deposits represent valuable windows to their past diversity and morphology. Here we present a new collection of 11 terrestrial isopod specimens preserved in Albian-aged amber from the Peñacerrada I outcrop, northern Spain, which collectively represent the most thoroughly documented fauna of Mesozoic Oniscidea. The three new genera and species identified belong to three of five major groups of the Oniscidea: Eoligiiscus tarraconensis, new genus and species (Ligiidae), Autrigoniscus resinicola, new genus and species (Synocheta: Trichoniscidae), and Heraclitus helenae, new genus and species (Crinocheta: Detonidae?). These taxa significantly expand the known fossil record of Oniscidea and demonstrate that considerable cladogenesis had already transpired by the Albian. The assemblage represents the earliest-known diversification of Oniscidea, extending direct evidence of terrestrialization in the group back to the late Early Cretaceous. These new taxa exhibit some characteristics that may inform hypotheses relating to general patterns of terrestrial isopod evolution. A discussion is provided about different aspects of the paleoecology and biology of the fossils compared to the Recent fauna. The new species indicate that Cretaceous isopods were a group of considerable adaptive diversity, exhibiting innovations analogous to what Recent isopods would exhibit 105 million years later.Item Four new species of “hooded tick-spiders” (Ricinulei, Ricinoididae) from South and Central America : with clarification of the identity of Cryptocellus leleupi Cooreman, 1976 (American Museum novitates, no. 3976)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-08-25) Botero-Trujillo, Ricardo; Carvalho, Leonardo S.; Florez Daza, Eduardo; Prendini, LorenzoThe Ricinulei Thorell, 1876, or “hooded tick-spiders,” are among the least studied arachnid orders. Knowledge of ricinuleid diversity has been slow to accumulate because these arachnids are underrepresented in biological collections. Despite an increase in the pace of new species descriptions in recent decades, the species richness of the order probably remains vastly underestimated. Large areas in some of the world’s most biodiverse countries are without a single record for the order, hence new records invariably turn out to be new species. The present contribution describes four new species of the mostly South American genus Cryptocellus Westwood, 1874: Cryptocellus canutama, sp. nov., and Cryptocellus jamari, sp. nov., from Brazil; Cryptocellus islacolon, sp. nov., from Panama; and Cryptocellus macagual, sp. nov., from Colombia. Additionally, a new diagnosis and description are provided for Cryptocellus leleupi Cooreman, 1976, long considered a nomen dubium. The known locality records of the five species and their putative relatives are mapped. The present contribution raises the number of Cryptocellus species to 45 and the number of extant species of Ricinulei to 101.Item The bacterial diversity lurking in protist cell cultures (American Museum novitates, no. 3975)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-08-25) Aponte, Ameris; Gyaltshen, Yangtsho; Burns, John A. (Biologist); Heiss, Aaron A.; Kim, Eunsoo; Warring, Sally D.Laboratory cultures of heterotrophic protists are often xenic, meaning that the culture contains more than one microbial organism. In this study, we analyzed genome-assembly data from cultures of four marine protist flagellates—the marine malawimonad Imasa heleensis, the undescribed mantamonad strain SRT-306, the discobid Ophirina amphinema, and the cryptist Palpitomonas bilix—specifically to search for genomes of cocultured bacteria. As no external bacteria have been added to the protist stock cultures, it is probable that the cocultured bacteria came from the original water samples from which the protists were isolated. At least some of these bacteria are consumed as a food source by the protists, all of which are obligate heterotrophs. From four separate metagenomic de novo assemblies for these mixed cultures, we identified 28 scaffolds, which BUSCO analyses suggest represent complete or near-complete bacterial genomes. These scaffolds range in length from 3,139,436 to 6,090,282 bp and encode 2873 to 5666 genes. Only eight of the 28 scaffolds corresponded to entries in the NCBI genome database, meaning that 20 of these scaffolds represent genomes from putatively novel bacterial species. Our findings highlight that data like these, which are often discarded or overlooked, can be a source of novel genomes and/or species.Item A revision of the genus Hermacha Simon, 1889 (Mygalomorphae: Entypesidae), in southern Africa with revalidation of Hermachola Hewitt, 1915, and Brachytheliscus Pocock, 1902. (American Museum novitates, no. 3977)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-09-02) Ríos-Tamayo, Duniesky; Engelbrecht, Ian; Goloboff, Pablo A.The southern African species of the mygalomorph spider genus Hermacha Simon, 1889, are revised. Eight species are redescribed: H. brevicauda Purcell, 1903; H. caudata Simon, 1889; H. evanescens Purcell, 1903; H. fulva Tucker, 1917; H. lanata Purcell, 1902; H. nigrispinosa Tucker, 1917; H. sericea Purcell, 1902; and H. tuckeri Raven, 1985. The female of H. sericea and the male of H. evanescens are described for the first time. Three new species are described: H. septemtrionalis, sp. nov., H. maraisae, sp. nov., and H. montana, sp. nov. On the basis of their genital morphology H. curvipes Purcell, 1902, and H. nigra Tucker, 1917, are considered incertae sedis. Pionothele capensis Zonstein, 2016, was found to be conspecific with H. brevicauda and is synonymized. The genera Brachytheliscus Pocock, 1902, and Hermachola Hewitt, 1915, are revalidated and redescribed. Hermacha capensis (Ausserer, 1871) and H. crudeni Hewitt, 1913, are transferred to Hermachola. Hermachola crudeni (Hewitt, 1913), originally described from a female, and Hermachola grahami Hewitt, 1915, originally described from a male, were found to be conspecific and synonymized. A new species, Hermachola lyleae, sp. nov., is also described. New morphological characters for the diagnoses of these genera and a dichotomous key for all species considered here are provided. Known distributions are mapped and, where available, ecological data are included. With the exception of H. caudata and H. mazoena Hewitt, 1915, all species are endemic to South Africa, but further survey work in neighboring countries is needed. This work substantially improves the taxonomy of this group of spiders and provides a foundation for further investigation of the diversity and relationships of species within the region.Item Description of a new species of rariphotic Parapercis (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae) from the Solomon Islands (American Museum novitates, no. 3978)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-09-30) Sparks, John S.; Chaloux, Nicholas; Schelly, Robert C.; Gruber, David F.; Sparks, Tate S.; Phillips, Brennan T.A new species belonging to the pinguipedid genus Parapercis is described herein from a single specimen collected via a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from rariphotic depths in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. Parapercis rota, new species, is readily distinguished from all other congeners by a unique pigmentation pattern comprising four large, rounded, orangish-olive saddles dorsally on the flank, each with a distinct, large, dorsomedial white spot completely enclosed within the saddles, plus a fifth saddle on the caudal peduncle with only a small white dorsomedial dot; 10 discrete broad, dark orangish-olive oval vertical bars below the lateral midline; a single row of dark spots on the soft dorsal fin; caudal fin lined dorsally and ventrally with stripes of yellowish-olive pigmentation extending the length of the fin; and two prominent dark brown to black spots at the caudal-fin base. ROV-based collecting systems are a promising and relatively affordable technology for studying ichthyological diversity on deeper reef habitats, particularly those beyond the reach of technical SCUBA. The discovery and description of P. rota adds to the growing number of Parapercis species that are known to occur in mesophotic and deeper waters.Item A new species of Histiotus Gervais, 1856 (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae), from the Pacific Coast of Northern Peru (American Museum novitates, no. 3979)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-10-13) Velazco, Paúl M.; Almeida, Francisca Cunha; Cláudio, Vinícius C.; Giménez, Analía L.; Giannini, Norberto P.The Pacific coastal desert of Peru harbors a unique bat fauna, including narrowly endemic taxa adapted to arid environments. This region was also the setting where several pre-Incan civilizations flourished. The Moche culture (100–850 CE) was one of those, with a rich and diverse material culture that included strikingly realistic ceramic representations of the regional flora and fauna. In particular, one Mochica pottery vessel is in the form of a bat that, based on external characteristics (large pinnae and tragus, pinnae connected by high band of membrane across the forehead, and lack of noseleaf), clearly represents an individual of the vespertilionid genus Histiotus. The morphological characteristics observed in this vessel, in addition to the area of influence of the Moche culture, suggests that this vessel depicts a species previously unknown to science that we describe here as new on the basis of two specimens obtained in 2012 in the Peruvian department of Piura. Our new species, Histiotus mochica, can be distinguished from other congeners by having unicolored dorsal fur, medial lobes of pinnae greater than 9.5 mm wide, and a well-developed (>4.3 mm high) transverse band of skin connecting the pinnae. Cytochrome b sequence data indicate that the new species is sister to H. humboldti from the Andes of Colombia and northern Ecuador. The new species is a medium-sized Histiotus that clusters with H. laephotis, H. velatus, and with small specimens of H. montanus in our multivariate analyses. With the description of H. mochica, the diversity of the genus increases to 11 species. We provide a key based on external characters of all known species of Histiotus.Item Two new Phenacogrammus (Characoidei; Alestidae) from the Ndzaa River (Mfimi-Lukenie basin) of central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo (American Museum novitates, no. 3980)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-11-03) Stiassny, Melanie L. J.; Alter, S. Elizabeth; Monsembula Iyaba, Raoul J. C.; Liyandja, Tobit L. D.Two new Phenacogrammus are described from the Ndzaa River, a small left-bank tributary of the Mfimi-Lukenie River in the central Congo basin. They share with P. deheyni, a congener endemic to the Cuvette Centrale to the north, a prominent anterior expansion of the first pleural rib; a feature interpreted here as a synapomorphy diagnostic for this species assemblage. The two new species are readily differentiated from P. deheyni based on differences in pigmentation patterning, a lower number of scales in longitudinal series (26–28 vs. 29–33) and a longer head length (m. 24.9% SL vs. 21.7 and 23.2% SL). Phenacogrammus flexus, new species, is distinguished from all congeners in the possession of 6 (vs. 7) supraneural bones, and a characteristic zigzag pattern of black pigmentation along and below the midline extending from the posterior border of the opercle to the base of the caudal peduncle. While no unambiguous morphological autapomorphies have been located to diagnose P. concolor, new species, it is nonetheless readily distinguished from all congeners, except P. deheyni and P. flexus, in the possession of a prominent anterior expansion of the first pleural rib. It differs from both P. deheyni and P. flexus in the absence of a dominant pigmentation patterning over the flanks and caudal peduncle. Additionally, it differs from P. flexus in a shallower body depth (m. 24.9% vs. 27.0% SL) and in the possession of 7 (vs. 6) supraneurals. The three species exhibit extensive divergence in mt-COI sequence (P. flexus vs. P. concolor 10.2%–11%; P. flexus vs deheyni 12.9%–13.5%; P. concolor vs. deheyni 11.3%–12.9%). Furthermore, analysis of shape variation utilizing geometric morphometrics indicates that each species differs significantly in body shape.Item A new Troglomorphic, leaf-litter scorpion from Ecuador (Troglotayosicidae: Troglotayosicus) (American Museum novitates, no. 3981)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-11-03) Botero-Trujillo, Ricardo; Ochoa, J. A. (José A.); Prendini, LorenzoFor several decades, Troglotayosicus Lourenço, 1981, remained an enigmatic, monotypic scorpion genus believed to be troglobitic. The discovery and description in recent years of several endogean species of the genus, inhabiting the leaf litter of tropical rainforests in Colombia and Ecuador, advanced knowledge about these scorpions. The known distribution of Troglotayosicus was considerably expanded along the Andes, and it was demonstrated that, despite the absence of median ocelli, the genus is composed primarily of species that inhabit leaf litter. In the present study, Troglotayosicus ballvei, sp. nov., is described from Sacha Huagra Lodge, adjacent to Archidona Municipality, in Napo Province, Ecuador, raising the number of Troglotayosicus species to six, three each in Colombia and Ecuador. An updated map of the known distribution of the genus is presented.Item A new dromaeosaurid (Dinosauria: Coelurosauria) from Khulsan, Central Mongolia (American Museum novitates, no. 3982)(American Museum of Natural History., 2021-11-08) Napoli, James G.; Ruebenstahl, Alexander; Bhullar, Bhart-Anjan S.; Turner, Alan H. (Alan Hamilton); Norell, MarkDromaeosaurid theropods represent a rare but important clade of nonavialan dinosaurs. Their close evolutionary relationship to modern birds has placed them at the center of paleontological research for the last several decades. Herein we describe a new species of dromaeosaurid—Kuru kulla, gen. et sp. nov.—based on a partial skeleton from the Late Cretaceous Khulsan locality (Barun Goyot Formation) of Mongolia. This species is diagnosed by several autapomorphies within Dromaeosauridae, including a sharp groove anterior and ventral to the narial fossa on the premaxilla, a posterolaterally directed hornlet on the posterodorsal process of the lacrimal, a deep surangular bearing two surangular foramina, and anteriorly displaced pleurocoels on the dorsal centra. The taxon is further characterized by a unique combination of characters, including a mediolaterally narrow metatarsal II, serrations on both carinae of the dentary teeth, hyposphenes that are widely separated but joined by a web of bone, and a lacrimal with a poorly developed boss on its lateral surface. Phylogenetic analysis finds Kuru kulla to be the sister taxon of Adasaurus mongoliensis, from the slightly later Nemegt Formation, with which it is united by three synapomorphies: a posterior surangular foramen that is ~30% the depth of the surangular, absence of a fourth trochanter of the femur, and thoracic centra that are markedly longer than their midpoint widths. The recognition of this taxon has important implications for common assumptions of Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystem structure and adds new data to a recently recognized pattern in dromaeosaurid faunal composition among Late Cretaceous localities in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol Autonomous Region, China).