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New data on the earliest known arsinoitheriid embrithopod (Mammalia, Paenungulata), Namatherium Pickford, Senut, Morales, Mein & Sanchez, 2008 from the middle Eocene of Namibia

Geodiversitas 47 (8)

We here describe and interpret recently discovered material of the embrithopod mammal Namatherium blackcrowense Pickford, Senut, Morales, Mein & Sanchez, 2008 from the Lutetian Black Crow locality, in Namibia, a species previously only known from the holotype. The new specimen, a distal part of a skull including the petrosals, complements the holotype well and allows a virtual reconstruction of a large part of the skull of N. blackcrowense.

Ursidae (Carnivora, Mammalia) from Tunel Wielki Cave (southern Poland)

Comptes Rendus Palevol 24 (14)

The presence of two ursids, Ursus deningeri hercynicus Rode, 1935 and Ursus arctos taubachensis Rode, 1935, was documented from the Tunel Wielki Cave. Of them, Ursus deningeri hercynicus is represented by almost all skeletal elements, with the predominance of isolated teeth, metapodials and phalanges. The analysis performed shows that the remains of this bear subspecies from Tunel Wielki have intermediate morphological features and metric values between individuals recorded in the materials from the early-mid (MIS 19-13) and late Middle Pleistocene (MIS 12-9) localities. A set of features suggests a more recent geological age than MIS 19-13.

Confirming a new species of Amalthea D’Archino & W.A.Nelson (Halymeniales, Rhodophyta) from the mesophotic zone of Hawai‘i through taxogenomics

Cryptogamie, Algologie 46 (1)

The order Halymeniales represents a significant number of species in the mesophotic red algal flora of Hawai‘i, with numerous undescribed taxa. The cultivation and restoration of species in the Halymeniales in Hawai‘i, particularly members of Grateloupia C.Agardh and Halymenia C.Agardh, have focused substantial attention on these taxa, highlighting uncertainty in the genetic diversity within this group. In this study, we adopt a taxogenomic approach integrating taxonomic, phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses. We present the first report of the genus Amalthea D’Archino & W.A.Nelson in Hawai‘i, focusing on the species description of Amalthea mahilanii F.P.Cabrera & A.R.Sherwood, sp. nov.

Bilan des connaissances sur la flore, la fonge et les habitats naturels de l’archipel de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon

Naturae 2025 (6)

The archipelago of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, with an area of 240 km², consists of three main islands, Saint-Pierre, as well as Miquelon and Langlade, joined by an isthmus since the 18th century. Located at the latitude of Nantes, this archipelago benefits from subarctic climatic conditions due to the influence of the cold current of Labrador. The first botanical surveys in this territory date from the early 19th century. They have been regularly continued since and have made it possible to carry out fairly complete inventories of vascular flora, bryophytes, algae, fungi and lichens, the updated lists of which are presented on the naturespm website and included in the National Natural Heritage Inventory (INPN).

Madagascar, the real Treasure Island! Malagasy uncharted diversity of a rare ancient lineage of armored harvestmen (Opiliones, Laniatores, Buemarinoidae)

Zoosystema 47 (14)

Buemarinoidae Karaman, 2019 is an ancient lineage of armored harvestmen that comprises six genera with a widely disjunct distribution: Arbasus (Simon, 1911) from some caves in France, Buemarinoa Roewer, 1956, from some caves in Sardinia, Italy, Flavonuncia Lawrence, 1959, endemic to Madagascar, Fumontana Shear, 1977, found in the southern Appalachians, United States, Turonychus Derkarabetian Prieto & Giribet, 2021, from a cave in Spain and Phocyx Porto, Monnod & Pérez-González, 2024, from Australia.

Late Eocene-early Oligocene snakes from the Transylvanian Basin (Romania)

Comptes Rendus Palevol 24 (13)

We report herein the fossil record of snakes recovered from one late Eocene (Priabonian) and two early Oligocene (Rupelian) localities from western Romania. The only late Eocene fossil vertebrate site with snake content is Treznea, which yielded a small sized booid snake assigned to Ungaliophiidae indet. The early Oligocene locality of Cetățuia Hill, Cluj-Napoca, documents an ungaliophiid (cf. ­Messelophis variatus Baszio, 2004), while that of Suceag 1 yielded an ungaliophiid (cf. M. variatus), a member of Alethinophidia incertae sedis (Falseryx cf. neervelpensis) and an indeterminate alethinophidian snake.

Four new species of Atrichopogon Kieffer, 1906 (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) from Peruvian Amazonia and a key of Neotropical species of this genus with pigmented wings

Zoosystema 47 (13)

Four new Neotropical species of the biting midge genus Atrichopogon Kieffer, 1906 (Ceratopogonidae, Forcipomyiinae) with distinctive pigmented wings are described, photographed and illustrated from males and females collected at light in the Department of Cuzco in southern Peru. Atrichopogon (Atrichopogon) tricuspis Rossi, Marino & Spinelli, n. sp. can be distinguished by the pair of bunches of setae in the posterior margin of the scutum, with a heavily sclerotized spermatheca in female and lacking of secondary sexual dimorphism in male; Atrichopogon (Atrichopogon) trochantispina Rossi, Marino & Spinelli, n. sp.

Vulnérabilité des habitats subalpins face aux changements climatiques : suivi des syrphidés (Diptera) dans la Réserve naturelle nationale des Hauts de Chartreuse (France, Isère) entre 2008 et 2020

Naturae 2025 (5)

As part of the management plan for the Hauts de Chartreuse National Nature Reserve (Savoie-Isère, France), surveillance of the syrphid fauna (Diptera) was initiated in 2008, with the sampling programme repeated in 2019-2020. Sampling was conducted using four Malaise traps, on two remarkable sites in high-altitude habitats (subalpine grassland/heath and mountain pine forest). A significant reduction in species richness and diversity was observed at one site (Mont Granier) over the decade between surveys, while at the other (Dent de Crolles) both parameters were more stable. But at both sites there were clear changes in species composition between the two surveys, the changes exhibiting similar characteristics on each site.

Heirs without descendants, but not without consequences

Comptes Rendus Palevol 23 (12)

In 1967, Camille Arambourg and Yves Coppens reported the discovery of an edentulous adult mandible from the Lower Omo Valley in Ethiopia. A year later they made it the type specimen of Paraustralopithecus aethiopicus (Arambourg & Coppens, 1968), claiming its morphology differed from other early hominins, including Paranthropus boisei (Robinson, 1960). Most researchers now include the type specimen and the hypodigm in the genus Paranthropus Broom, 1938 as either a separate species, or as part of an inclusive interpretation of P. boisei (i.e., P. boisei sensu lato). After briefly reviewing what is known about P. boisei and P.

Reporting marine mammal strandings in Uruguay: a characterization of people’s perceptions, interests and motivations

Anthropozoologica 60 (5)

In recent decades, human impacts on marine ecosystems have become more evident, shaping public perceptions and wildlife management practices. Marine mammals, often seen as charismatic and flagship species, attract attention due to their conservation status and frequent strandings. In Uruguay, where pinniped and cetacean strandings are common, public awareness and knowledge about stranding response is limited. Coastal citizens who use the coast as a recreational area, are often the first to detect a stranding, so their response (or lack of response), the reporting, and the quality of information mostly depend on them. To address this, a Stranding Network project was launched in 2018, focusing on outreach and data collection.

New aquatic vertebrate and ichnological remains from the Upper Carboniferous of Decazeville (Aveyron, France): implications for the paleofauna of the French Variscan basins

Comptes Rendus Palevol 24 (11)

The Decazeville Basin (Aveyron, France) is an Upper Carboniferous intra-Variscan basin of the ­southern part of the French Massif Central. Its geology and paleontological content (fauna and flora) have been the subject of regular studies before and during its coal mining activities, but unfortunately not since they ceased: no fossil from the Decazeville Basin has been described over the past 50 years. Recent fieldwork at the La Découverte locality led to the rediscovery of a vertebrate-rich deposit in the Bourran Formation, of which we describe new material here. This material consists of numerous specimens including new skeletal remains of the xenacanthiform Orthacanthus sp. and the acrolepid cf. Progyrolepis, two taxa never before reported in the Decazeville Basin.