Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
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Les insectivores s.s. (Mammalia, Lipotyphla) de la transition Paléocène-Eocène de Dormaal (MP7, Belgique): implications biochronologiques et Paléogéographiques
- Au moins sept espèces d'insectivores Lipotyphla appartenant à cinq genres et à trois familles sont présentes à Dormaal. Deux espèces de Remiculus, R. cf. deutschi et R. delsatei n. sp.. sont décrites ainsi que deux formes laissées en nomenclature ouverte. Les variabilités intraspécifiques de Macrocranion vandebroeki, M. germonpreae, Leptacodon dormaalensis et Wyonycteris richardi sont traitées et les comparaisons avec les insectivores des autres gisements europeens et américains, d'âge proche, sont réalisées et interprétees en termes de lignées évolutives. Les faunes américaines présentant le plus de similitudes avec celle de Dormaal sont les faunes de Willwood Formation (Wyoming) situées entre les niveaux du Clarkforkien 3 et du Wasatchien 1.
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Quartairgeologische Kaart en Toelichting Veurne-Roeselare (1/50.000). Vlaamse Overheid, 39p
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Mammal bearing conglomerate. Meudon section
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Agaristoxylon garennicum Gerrienne et al., gen. et sp. nov. an arborescnet Ericacae from the Belgium Upper Paleocene: palaeoenvironmental implications
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The Dormaal Sands and the Palaeocene/Eocene boundary in Belgium
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Les élasmobranches de la transition Paléocène-Eocène de Dormaal (Belgique): implications biostratigraphiques et paléobiogéographiques
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Mammals from the Paleocene-Eocene transition in Belgium (Tienen Formation, MP7): Paleobiogeographical and biostratigraphical implications
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The creodonts (mammalia, Ferae) from the Paleocene-Eocene transition in Belgium (Tienen Formation, MP7)
- Study of the dental remains of creodont mammals from the Paleocene-Eocene transition in Belgium (Tienen Formation, reference-level MP7) allows seven species to be recognized, four of which belong to the family Hyaenodontidae and three to the Oxyaenidae. The four hyaenodontid species, which are new to science, present numerous symplesiomorphic characteristics. They represent the oldest hyaenodontids of northern Europe and are shown to be the most primitive representatives of the sub-family Hyaenodontinae known so far. They are closely related to the oldest North American species but the morphological differences between them demonstrate that they are not vicariant species. Thus, the Belgian species could be at the origin of the American hyaenodontid lineages or belong to lineages already distinct but recently differentiated from common ancestors slightly older than both of these species groups. As for oxyaenids, their dental morphology shows that they could originate from the North American Paleocene lineages, although their small size does not support this hypothesis. The smallest Belgian creodont, Prototomus minimus n. sp. is remarkable in that it may present sexual dimorphism in mandibular morphology.
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A new species of Kriptobaatar (Multituberculata): the first Late Cretaceous mammal from Inner Mongolia (P.R. China)
- Multituberculates are the best represented mammals of the Late Cretaceous in Asia and most of them are from Outer Mongolia. The djadochtatherioidean multituberculate Kr)ptobaut~im- andihuensis n. sp. is described on the basis of two skulls froin the Upper Cretaccous localiiy of Bayan Mandaliu (Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China). The main characters that differentiate it from tlie type species K. dashzevegi Kielan-Jaworowska, 1970 are: the base of the zygomatic arch situated at the level of tlie anterior root of the P4 and the narrow anterior extent of the orbit, the "V" shape of the palatoinaxillary suture between the tlvo major palatine fonmina, the high and thick part of the dentary under the mandibular diastema. the long and low part of the dentary iinder the mandibular notch, the anteroposteriorly short coronoid process. the presence of 5 cusps on the middle row of Ml and on the labial row of ml, the long p4. the Iiigh ratio p4:ml length, and the robust il. The presence of this species in lnner Mongolia extends the palacogeographical distribution area of the djadochtatherioideans to the soutliern part of the Gobi Basin. Neveiiheless, morphological differences between K. tnandahitensis from lnner Mongolia and K. dushzevegi from Outer Mongolia suggest a palaeogeographical isolation within the Djadochtatherioidea group during the Campanian.
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Diversity of the adapisoriculid mammals from the early Palaeocene of Hainin, Belgium
- Adapisoriculidae are an enigmatic group of small mammals known from the late Cretaceous of India, and from the early Palaeocene to early Eocene of Europe and Africa. Based on their primitive dental morphology, they have been classified as didelphids, nyctitheriids, leptictids, mixodectids, tupaiids, and palaeoryctids. While the latest hypothesis based on dental morphology suggests an affinity with Lipotyphla, postcranial remains indicate a close relationship with Euarchonta. Here, we present new adapisoriculid dental remains from the early Palaeocene locality of Hainin (Belgium). Adapisoriculidae are particularly abundant in Hainin, where they represent about one third of the mammalian fauna, offering new insights into both their specific and generic phylogenetic interrelationships. We describe three new species (Afrodon gheerbranti sp. nov., Bustylus folieae sp. nov. and Proremiculus lagnauxi gen. et sp. nov.) and document the previously unknown lower dentition of Bustylus marandati. The diversity of dental morphologies observed in the Hainin fauna suggests different interrelationships than previously suggested. In particular, the genus Proremiculus is considered morphologically intermediate between Afrodon and Remiculus, and the latter is no longer recognised as the sister group of Adapisoriculus. Although the highest diversity of adapisoriculids occurs in Europe, the oldest and most primitive members of the family were found in India and Africa, respectively. The geographic origin of the family could thus be located in any of these three continents, depending on the importance attributed to each of these factors. The coexistence of primitive and derived adapisoriculids at Hainin might indicate a very quick diversification in Europe, probably starting around the K−T boundary.
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A new exceptional vertebrate site from the Late Cretaceous of the Hateg Basin (Romania)
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New species of Macrocranion (Mammalia, Lipotyphla) from the earliest Eocene of North America and its biogeographic implications
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Fruits and seeds from the Tienen Formation at Dormaal, Palaeocene–Eocene transition in eastern Belgium
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The archaic beaked whale Ninoziphius platyrostris: clues on the evolutionary history of the family Ziphiidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti)
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Parallel phenotypic evolution in a wolf spider radiation on Galápagos.
- Within island archipelagos, repeated ecological settings may lead to radiations wherein similar niches are recurrently occupied. Although it has been shown that species with common habitat requirements share particular traits, it remains relatively unexplored to what extent this may lead to the repeated evolution of almost identical phenotypes (phenocopies) and how this correlates with traits subjected to sexual selection. Exploring divergence patterns of ecological and sexual relevant traits within spiders seem promising to enhance our understanding of the relative role of natural and sexual selection. Here, we conduct a detailed morphological analysis on a large set of genital and non-genital traits (morphometrics, colour pattern) within a radiation of the wolf spider genus Hogna Simon, 1885 on Galápagos and interpret these data, taking into account their known phylogenetic relationship. Our results show that recurrent environmental gradients have led to the parallel evolution of almost identical phenotypes, which not only proves that natural selection has driven morphological divergence, but also suggests that a similar genetic or developmental basis most likely underlies this divergence. Among-species variation in genital traits in contrast rather reflects the phylogenetic relationships on Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal. The combination of these data indicate that speciation in this system is driven by the combined effect of ecological mechanisms and allopatric divergence in sexual traits.
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Arthropod diversity in a tropical forest
- Most eukaryotic organisms are arthropods. Yet, their diversity in rich terrestrial ecosystems is still unknown. Here we produce tangible estimates of the total species richness of arthropods in a tropical rainforest. Using a comprehensive range of structured protocols, we sampled the phylogenetic breadth of arthropod taxa from the soil to the forest canopy in the San Lorenzo forest, Panama. We collected 6144 arthropod species from 0.48 hectare and extrapolated total species richness to larger areas on the basis of competing models. The whole 6000-hectare forest reserve most likely sustains 25,000 arthropod species. Notably, just 1 hectare of rainforest yields 60\% of the arthropod biodiversity held in the wider landscape. Models based on plant diversity fitted the accumulated species richness of both herbivore and nonherbivore taxa exceptionally well. This lends credence to global estimates of arthropod biodiversity developed from plant models.
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Black-banded Owl Ciccaba huhula near Podocarpus National Park, southern Ecuador
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Differential response of ants to nutrient addition in a tropical Brown Food Web
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Distribution and diversity of the cryptic ant genus Oxyepoecus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in Paraguay, with descriptions of two new species.
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Do Soil Properties Affect Subterranean Ant Distribution at a Small Spatial Scale?
