Taxonomy

We describe an extinct new genus and new species of the glassfish family Ambassidae Klunzinger, 1870 (Teleostei), Limnodapalis insolitus gen. et sp. nov., from a Lower Oligocene (Rupelian) freshwater deposit at Raljin (Babušnica Basin, Serbia). A characteristic feature of this species is the unique shape of the lower and upper jaws, which distinguishes it from all known fossil and extant Ambassidae. The tooth-bearing elements (premaxilla and dentary) have anteriorly concavities that are lined with strong, conical, pointed teeth with slightly curved tips. This specialization of the jaws suggests a unique feeding mode, presumably lepidophagy (scale eating). Limnodapalis insolitus gen. et sp. nov. is possibly the oldest known lepidophagous fish. It occurred in a lacustrine habitat during the Lower Oligocene. The skeleton of the single specimen is incomplete, but important diagnostic characters such as the serration of the preopercle (it carries a row of narrow serrations that increase in length ventrally), and the first preorbital (it carries four long and strong spine-like serrations) are well preserved. The internal structure of the fin spines is compartmentalized, which is typically for fossil and extant Ambassidae. The otolith is narrow and elongated, the narrowest of all known fossil and extant ambassid species.

The Andes harbor extraordinary species richness, but a substantial proportion of their biodiversity remains insufficiently documented. Among their most diverse lineages are lizards of the family Gymnophthalmidae, whose diversity remains underestimated. Here, we assess the phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of a poorly known group of cercosaurine lizards from the eastern slopes of the central Peruvian Andes. We examined preserved specimens from the departments of Pasco and Huánuco and obtained DNA sequences of one nuclear (c-mos) and four mitochondrial markers (12S, 16S, ND4, and Cytb). These sequences were combined with data retrieved from GenBank to assemble a multilocus matrix of 2290 base pairs representing 153 terminal taxa. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred under a maximum-likelihood approach. The six focal specimens formed a clade within Cercosaurini, with strong support (UFBoot = 100) for its phylogenetic placement and monophyly. This new clade is distinguished from closely related genera by a distinctive combination of external morphological characters, including the presence of precloacal pores and the third subocular extending ventrally between the supralabial scales. Based on the congruence between molecular and morphological evidence, we describe Perusaurus gen. nov., transfer Petracola labioocularis to the new genus as Perusaurus labioocularis comb. nov., and based on morphological evidence, we also transfer Proctoporus laudahnae to Perusaurus laudahnae comb. nov. The clade also includes at least two species awaiting formal description. The recognition of Perusaurus demonstrates that the evolutionary diversity of Cercosaurinae in the Peruvian Andes remains considerably underestimated.

The genus Pseudophilothrips harbors Liothrips-like species in which seta S2 on the ninth abdominal segment in males is as long as seta S1. Thirteen species are included in the genus, most of which are restricted to Central and South America. During a recent visit to North Chagrin Reservation in Mayfield Ohio a Liothrips-like thrips was observed on northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin (L.) Blume) showing symptoms of decline. Evaluation of the insect showed it represents a new species, here described as Pseudophilothrips linderaphagos n. sp. This is the first member of Pseudophilothrips described from the USA. In addition to describing the new species, we provide descriptive notes for Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood), Pseudophilothrips perseae (Watson) and Pseudophilothrips varicornis (Hood). We also provide an identification key to all members of the genus Pseudophilothrips, short diagnoses for all species and present a hypothetical scenario of the origin of species groups.