A new Diplura species from Georgia caves, Plusiocampa (Plusiocampa) imereti (Diplura, Campodeidae), with morphological and molecular data

A new dipluran species, Plusiocampa (Plusiocampa) imereti Sendra & Barjadze sp. nov., from the deep zone in three caves in the Imereti region, Georgia, is described. This new troglobitic Plusiocampa is an addition to four others known Diplura from around the Black Sea region, two Dydimocampa and two Plusiocampa s. str. The present study also provides the first CO1 sequences for the Plusiocampinae taxa and the first molecular data for cave-dwelling Plusiocampa species. Although bootstrap values were low, the maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree grouped Plusiocampa (P.) imereti Sendra & Barjadze sp. nov. with two Plusiocampa s. str. species from Eastern Europe. Morphologically, P. (P.…

Dinosaur bonebed amber from an original swamp forest soil

AbstractDinosaur bonebeds with amber content, yet scarce, offer a superior wealth and quality of data on ancient terrestrial ecosystems. However, the preserved palaeodiversity and/or taphonomic characteristics of these exceptional localities had hitherto limited their palaeobiological potential. Here we describe the amber from the Lower Cretaceous dinosaur bonebed of Ariño (Teruel, Spain) using a multidisciplinary approach. Amber is found in both a root layer with amber strictly in situ and a litter layer namely composed of aerial pieces unusually rich in bioinclusions, encompassing 11 insect orders, arachnids, and a few plant and vertebrate remains, including a feather. Additional palaeont…

The taxonomic impediment:A shortage of taxonomists, not the lack of technical approaches

Early Cretaceous termites in amber from northern Spain (Isoptera)

Abstract Two virtually complete termites in Lower Cretaceous amber from the Penacerrada I outcrop, Spain, are described and figured, representing the most well-preserved Isoptera yet discovered from the Albian stage. The material is described as Ithytermes montoyai gen. et sp. nov., and is similar in many details to the slightly younger Krishnatermes yoddha Engel, Barden, and Grimaldi from northern Myanmar amber. Given the presence of distinct soldiers in this grade of Cretaceous termites, it is likely that I. montoyai also exhibited such a tripartite caste system. In addition to the type material of I. montoyai, two fragmentary termites are recorded for the first time in Albian amber from …

Campodeidae (Hexapoda: Diplura) from Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia, with the description of a remarkable new genus and species

Samples collected in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, have revealed a hitherto unknown diversity of Campodeidae (Diplura) in soil and cave habitats, including a new genus and species, Kyrgyzstancampa sanare Sendra & Ferreira gen. et sp. nov., Turkmenocampa edaphica Sendra & Sánchez-García sp. nov. and a previously recognized soil-dwelling species, Campodea (Dicampa) catalana Denis, 1930. Kyrgyzstancampa sanare Sendra & Ferreira gen. et sp. nov. was collected in the deep zone of an interesting geological and cultural cave, Ak-Turpak Cave, located near the western margin of Kadamjay District, Batken Province. This genus belongs to the subfamily Campodeinae, sharing the morphology of the …

New evidence for an Anatolian bridge: Colonization of Euromediterranean lands by cave-adapted Plusiocampinae (Diplura, Campodeidae), with establishment of a new genus

A new genus of Plusiocampinae (Diplura, Campodeidae), Anatoliacampa diclensis Sendra, Tusun & Satar gen. et sp. nov., is described from specimens found in the Southeastern Anatolian Peninsula in Dicle cave (Bozaba village, Dicle district, Diyarbakır province, Turkey). Based on its morphological characteristics and molecular analysis, the new taxon undoubtedly belongs to the well-established subfamily Plusiocampinae and occupies, like most species of the subfamily, cave habitats. Anatoliacampa diclensis has two important features: its unique pretarsus and the abundant distribution of urosternal macrosetae. The finding of this new taxon is of high palaeogeographic interest, as it provides new…