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Article Reference Extension of the phasmid genus Presbistus to Cambodia with a new species and notes on genitalia and captive breeding (Phasmida, Aschiphasmatidae, Aschiphasmatinae)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022 OA
Inproceedings Reference Brain evolution of early placental mammals: the impact of the end-Cretaceous mass extinction on the the neurosensory system of our distant relatives
The end-Cretaceous mass extinction, 66 million years ago, profoundly reshaped the biodiversity of our planet. After likely originating in the Cretaceous, placental mammals (species giving live birth to well-developed young) survived the extinction and quickly diversified in the ensuing Paleocene. Compared to Mesozoic species, extant placentals have advanced neurosensory abilities, enabled by a proportionally large brain with an expanded neocortex. This brain construction was acquired by the Eocene, but its origins, and how its evolution relates to extinction survivorship and recovery, are unclear, because little is known about the neurosensory systems of Paleocene species. We used high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scanning to build digital brain models in 29 extinct placentals (including 23 from the Paleocene). We added these to data from the literature to construct a database of 98 taxa, from the Jurassic to the Eocene, which we assessed in a phylogenetic context. We find that the Phylogenetic Encephalization Quotient (PEQ), a measure of relative brain size, increased in the Cretaceous along branches leading to Placentalia, but then decreased in Paleocene clades (taeniodonts, phenacodontids, pantodonts, periptychids, and arctocyonids). Later, during the Eocene, the PEQ increased independently in all crown groups (e.g., euarchontoglirans and laurasiatherians). The Paleocene decline in PEQ was driven by body mass increasing much more rapidly after the extinction than brain volume. The neocortex remained small, relative to the rest of the brain, in Paleocene taxa and expanded independently in Eocene crown groups. The relative size of the olfactory bulbs, however, remained relatively stable over time, except for a major decrease in Euarchontoglires and some Eocene artiodactyls, while the petrosal lobules (associated with eye movement coordination) decreased in size in Laurasiatheria but increased in Euarchontoglires. Our results indicate that an enlarged, modern-style brain was not instrumental to the survival of placental mammal ancestors at the end-Cretaceous, nor to their radiation in the Paleocene. Instead, opening of new ecological niches post-extinction promoted the diversification of larger body sizes, while brain and neocortex sizes lagged behind. The independent increase in PEQ in Eocene crown groups is related to the expansion of the neocortex, possibly a response to ecological specialization as environments changed, long after the extinction. Funding Sources Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, European Research Council Starting Grant, National Science Foundation, Belgian Science Policy Office, DMNS No Walls Community Initiative.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2020
Inproceedings Reference Phylogenetic position of Olbitherium (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) based on new material from the early Eocene Wutu Formation
The genus Olbitherium was originally described in 2004 from the early Eocene of the Wutu Formation in China as a ‘perissodactyl-like’ archaic ungulate. Described material of Olbitherium consists of partial dentaries with lower cheek teeth, isolated upper molars, and an isolated upper premolar. Subsequent collaborative fieldwork by Belgian and Chinese researchers discovered new material including a partial skull, the anterior portion of the dentary, and associated postcrania. In their general form, the skull and postcrania are similar to those of early perissodactyls. The new material provides a more complete picture of the upper dentition, and the anterior dentary demonstrates the presence of three lower incisors and a large canine, both ancestral features for perissodactyls. A phylogenetic analysis was conducted to test the affinities of Olbitherium, using a matrix of 321 characters and 72 taxa of placental mammals emphasizing perissodactyls and other ungulates. The results produced four shortest trees of 1981 steps. In all four trees, Olbitherium is the sister-taxon to all perissodactyls except Ghazijhippus. In contrast, when scoring was restricted to the originally described material, the results produced 16 shortest trees of 1970 steps, and Olbitherium nests well within Perissodactyla as sister-taxon to a clade including Lambdotherium and the brontotheriids Eotitanops and Palaeosyops. The new material not only supports the identification of Olbitherium as a perissodactyl, but it also suggests that it is significant for understanding the ancestral perissodactyl morphotype. Funding Sources U.S. National Science Foundation (DEB1456826), Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (2009DFA32210), and Belgian Science Policy Office (BL/36/C54).
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2020
Article Reference Population dynamics and demographic history of Eurasian collared lemmings
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Article Reference Chromosomal inversions from an initial ecotypic divergence drive a gradual repeated radiation of Galápagos beetles
Island faunas exhibit some of the most iconic examples where similar forms repeatedly evolve within different islands. Yet, whether these deterministic evolutionary trajectories within islands are driven by an initial, singular divergence and the subsequent exchange of individuals and adaptive genetic variation between islands remains unclear. Here, we study a gradual, repeated evolution of low-dispersive highland ecotypes from a dispersive lowland ecotype of Calosoma beetles along the island progression of the Galápagos. We show that repeated highland adaptation involved selection on multiple shared alleles within extensive chromosomal inversions that originated from an initial adaptation event on the oldest island. These highland inversions first spread through dispersal of highland individuals. Subsequent admixture with the lowland ecotype resulted in polymorphic dispersive populations from which the highland populations evolved on the youngest islands. Our findings emphasize the significance of an ancient divergence in driving repeated evolution and highlight how a mixed contribution of inter-island colonization and within-island evolution can shape parallel species communities.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2023
Article Reference Annotated type catalogue of Orthalicoidea (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in the Natural History Museum, London: A supplement
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024
Article Reference De rivierkreeft vogelvrij verklaard?
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2024
Inproceedings Reference From toad to frog: osteological description and taxonomic reattribution of the 'mummified' holotype of Bufo servatus, an Eocene anuran, based on micro-CT examination
The Quercy Phosphorites are a set of Eocene-Oligocene deposits from South-West France that yielded numerous vertebrate fossils, including amphibians, mostly as isolated bones. However, in 1873, several exceptional amphibian specimens were discovered, with the external surface of the unmineralized tissues preserved, and were commonly referred as “mummies”. In the 19th century, they were described without any knowledge of their internal anatomy. Since 2012, we have started scanning these “mummies”, revealing the preserved internal soft tissues and articulated skeleton. A first specimen was attributed in 2013 to Thaumastosaurus gezei and we here present our results from the tomography of a second “mummified” anuran, previously identified as Bufo servatus. The tomography showed a preserved articulated skeleton, and its osteological characteristics are similar to the first scanned anuran “mummy”, representing different ontogenetic stages. Both are now both attributed to Thaumastosaurus servatus nov. comb. The new anatomical information is used to assess the affinities of T. servatus, which appears to belong to the Pyxicephalidae, an African anuran clade. Thaumastosaurus thus represents both the oldest occurrence of this clade in the fossil record and its first occurrence outside of Africa. Its presence in Europe highlights a faunistic exchange with Africa during the Eocene, also documented for several clade of squamates. The presence of this African herpetofauna in Europe might be linked to the warmer climate during the Eocene. However, most of this herpetofauna, including Thaumastosaurus, disappeared from the region around an extinction event (named the “Grande Coupure”) that took place around the Eocene/Oligocene transition (~34 Ma).
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021
Inproceedings Reference La mystérieuse couleuvre Taumastophis de l'Eocène inférieur de l'Inde
La Formation du Shale de Cambay, visible dans les mines de lignite de Vastan, Mangrol et Tadkeswhar au Gujarat, dans l’ouest de l’Inde, a livré une riche faune yprésienne de vertébrés incluant des serpents madtsoïdes, palaeophiidés, booidés et colubroïdes. Ces derniers sont particulièrement abondants mais leurs affinités systématiques sont difficiles à résoudre. Une étude plus détaillée du serpent colubroïde Thaumastophis missiaeni a été entreprise (Zaher et al., 2021). Celle-ci révèle la présence sur ces sites de vertèbres troncales antérieures, moyennes et postérieures ainsi que quelques vertèbres caudales. La combinaison de caractères vertébraux cénophidiens et colubroïdes primitifs et dérivés confirme que Thaumastophis est à la base des Colubriformes. Il en serait le plus ancien représentant connu tandis que Procerophis, découvert dans les mêmes niveaux, peut être considéré comme un Colubriformes dérivé. Par ailleurs, Thaumastophis partage avec le serpent Renenutet enmerwer, connu de l’Eocène supérieur d’Egypte, la combinaison unique des caractères vertébraux suivants: processus prézygapophysénaux bien développés, présence de foramens parazygapophysénaux, épines neurales hautes sur les vertèbres troncales moyennes et postérieures, épines neurales envahissant le tectum zygosphénien, régions para- et diapophysaires distinctes, hypapophyses présentes sur les vertèbres troncales antérieures, vertèbres caudales avec haemapophyses laminaires étendues, cotyle déprimé. Ceci suggère un échange faunique entre l’Inde et l’Afrique du Nord, en passant par la marge la plus au Sud de la Neothethys. Une nouvelle famille des Thaumastophiidae peut donc être proposée incluant le genre Thaumastophis et Renenutet sur base de leur morphologie vertébrale dérivée. Financements Les missions de terrain et la recherche associée ont été financées par la Leakey Foundation; la National Geographic Society; le Département des Sciences et Technologies du gouvernement Indien; le Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, Inde; le projet PalEurAfrica de la Politique Scientifique fédérale belge; le Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico; le Coordenação de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior; la Fundaçáo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo. Références Zaher H., Folie A., Quadros A.B., Rana R.S., Kumar K., Rose K.D., Fahmy M. & Smith T., 2021. Additional vertebral material of Thaumastophis (Serpentes: Caenophidia) from the early Eocene of India provides new insights on the early diversification of colubroidean snakes. Geobios, 66-67: in press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geobios.2020.06.009.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021
Inproceedings Reference Et le crapaud devint grenouille : Description ostéologique et réattribution taxonomique de Bufo servatus, une "momie" des Phosphorites du Quercy
Les Phosphorites du Quercy sont un ensemble de sites datant de l’Eocène et de l’Oligocène du Sud-Ouest de la France. Ils sont connus pour leurs nombreux restes fossiles, dont des amphibiens, majoritairement représentés sous forme d’ossements isolés. Cependant, en 1873, plusieurs spécimens d’amphibiens à préservation exceptionnelle furent découverts. Montrant l’aspect des tissus externes (peau, yeux...), ces spécimens furent dès l’origine considérés comme des momies naturelles. Durant le 19ème siècle, ils ont été décrits sans aucune connaissance de leur anatomie interne. Depuis 2012, nous avons commencé à tomographier ces momies, révélant des structures internes telles que des tissus mous internes et un squelette articulé. Un premier spécimen a été attribué en 2013 à Thaumastosaurus gezei et nous présentons ici les résultats de la tomographie d’un second anoure momifié, jusqu’ici identifié comme Bufo servatus. La tomographie a révélé un squelette articulé dont les caractéristiques ostéologiques sont similaires à celles du premier anoure momifié, bien qu’il représente un stade ontogénétique différent. Les deux momies sont attribuées à Thaumastosaurus servatus nov. comb. Les nouvelles informations anatomiques sont utilisées pour préciser les affinités phylogénétiques de Thaumastosaurus, qui serait placé au sein des Pyxicephalidés, un clade d’anoures africain. Thaumastosaurus représenterait dès lors à la fois la plus ancienne occurrence du clade dans le registre fossile mais aussi sa première occurrence hors d’Afrique. Sa présence en Europe souligne un potentiel échange faunique avec l’Afrique durant l’Eocène ou même dès le Paléocène. La présence de ce représentant d’un clade africain dans l’herpétofaune européenne est peut-être liée au climat chaud durant l’Eocène. Cependant, la plus grande partie de cette herpétofaune, dont Thaumastosaurus, disparait d’Europe durant le renouvellement faunique de la Grande Coupure, autour de la transition Eocène/Oligocène (~34 Ma).
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021