Since 2004, the early Eocene Vastan lignite mine (Cambay Shale Formation, Gujarat, Western India) has yielded a rich herpetofauna with frogs, snakes, and lizards (Rage et al., 2008; Folie et al., 2013; Rana et al., 2013). But it is only in January 2012 that the first crocodylomorph remains were retrieved all together in one very thin lens of a few meters width. This small collection includes 4 teeth, 3 fragmentary vertebrae, 1 fragmentary femur, and 2 metapodials. All the teeth are characterized by being distinctly elongated and labiolingually compressed. When well preserved, the mesiodistal carinae bear distinct serrations of the enamel (the ziphodont condition). The largest crown available is estimated to be at least 30 mm tall. In labial or lingual view, the outline of the crown is rather symmetrical. On the other hand, the smallest tooth is asymmetrical being curved in labial view with a nearly straight distal margin and a convex mesial margin. The fragmentary vertebrae share a slightly amphicoelous condition of the centrum. The largest centrum is 32.9 mm long and the neurocentral suture not clearly visible. A modest but well visible hypapophysis is placed close to the anterior edge of the centrum of both these vertebrae. The fragmentary left femur is represented by a proximal portion 45.0 mm long, extending from the totally eroded epiphysis to slightly distally to the fourth trochanter. The largest diameter at the level of the trochanter is 11.6 mm. The ziphodont crocodylomorph teeth reported from a few Paleogene localities of the Indian subcontinent have been referred to both Pristichampsinae and Sebecosuchidae (Sahni & Srivastava, 1976; Buffettaut, 1978; Sahni et al., 1978; Gupta & Kumar, 2013). However, the latter taxon is considered absent in the Tertiary of Asia and amphyplatian vertebrae found in association with ziphodont teeth have been referred to dyrosaurids (Buffettaut, 1978; Turner & Calvo, 2005). Although non-eusuchian crocodylomorphs are restricted to two groups in the Paleogene (Dyrosauridae and Sebecosuchia), our limited knowledge of their postcranial anatomy renders identification of fragmentary remains difficult. Different hypotheses for the identity of the crocodylomorph remains from Vastan are presented.
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Brittle and basket stars (ophiuroids) are one of five extant classes of the phylum Echinodermata and have a fossil record dating back almost 500 million years to the Early Ordovician. Today they remain diverse and widespread, with over 260 described genera and over 2 000 extant species globally, more than any other class of echinoderm. Ophiuroid species are found across all marine habitats from the intertidal shore to the abyss. In southern Africa, the ophiuroid fauna has been studied extensively by a number of authors and is relatively well-known. The last published review of the southern African Ophiuroidea however was by Clark and Courtman-Stock in 1976. It included 101 species reported from within the boundaries of South Africa. In the 40 years since that publication the number of species has risen to 136. This identification guide, which is the nineteenth volume of the series Abc Taxa includes a taxonomic key to all 136 species, and gives key references, distribution maps, diagnoses, scaled photographs (where possible), and a synthesis of known ecological and depth information for each. The guide is designed to be comprehensive, well-illustrated and easy to use for both naturalists and professional biologists. Taxonomic terms, morphological characteristics and technical expressions are defined and described in detail, with illustrations to clarify some aspects of the terminology. A checklist of all species in the region is also included, and indicates which species are endemic (33), for which we report significant range extensions (23), which have been recorded as new to the South African fauna (28) since the previous monograph of Clark and Courtman-Stock (1976) and which have undergone taxonomic revisions since that time (28). This contribution delivers a copiously illustrated overview of the volume and details how it has been diffused in South Africa and beyond.
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Today, the so-called taxonomic impediment, i.e., the lack of taxonomic (inclusive of genetic) information, taxonomic and curatorial expertise, and infrastructure in many parts of the world, means that accessing and generating taxonomic information remains extremely difficult. To alter this trend, the Convention on Biological Diversity installed the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI) and endorsed it with an operational program of work. Its objectives are to remedy the knowledge gaps in our taxonomic system, increase the number of well-trained taxonomists and curators, optimize the infrastructure needed to do sound taxonomic research, significantly improve access to taxonomic collections, data, and metadata, and, thereby, to improve decision- making in conservation of biodiversity. To speed up taxonomic capacity building the Belgian GTI Focal Point has established the series Abc Taxa (www.abctaxa.be), a toll-free information highway between experts and novices. It is believed that this artery will speed up the construction of taxonomic capacity, as it does not evoke the expensive, long-term teacher-apprentice relationships previously utilized to install operational, high-quality taxonomists and collection managers. Since 2005, 19 volumes have been released with subjects as diverse as taxonomy of sea cucumbers of the Comoros, good practices in collection management of mollusc collections, taxonomy of the amphibians of Cuba and of Guyana, taxonomy of algae of Sri Lanka, bee taxonomy in sub-Saharan Africa, mushroom taxonomy of Central Africa, introduction to the taxonomy of mites, taxonomy of invasive succulents of South Africa, taxonomy of the sawflies of southern Africa, taxonomy of the diatoms of the Congo, taxonomy of fish parasites of African Freshwater fishes and taxonomy of the brittle and basket stars of South Africa. This contribution briefly details the scope and aims of Abc Taxa, demonstrates the value of the series for development, and acts as a call for future manuscripts.
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