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Oreopithecus bambolii, from the Tusco-Sardinian archipelago, is the latest-known European Miocene ape and a longstanding evolutionary enigma, owing to its mosaic morphology. Its systematic position has been intensely debated, resulting in a broad spectrum of hypotheses, ranging from a dryopithecine great ape to a nyanzapithecid stem hominoid, a giant hylobatid, or even a pliopithecoid. We reassess these competing hypotheses based on new data from the bony labyrinth and teeth of a partial cranium (Bac 62) from Baccinello (8.3–7.7 Ma). Diffeomorphic deformation analysis of the semicircular canals (SCs) and vestibule, dental tissue proportions, and enamel-dentine junction shape were used to compare Oreopithecus with a sample of extant and extinct anthropoids. Our results confirm that the SCs and vestibule of Oreopithecus combine some derived crown hominoid synapomorphies and crown hylobatid-like characters with the retention of anthropoid symplesiomorphies that preclude a straightforward classification. In turn, the enamel-dentine junction shape of the upper molars markedly differs from that of dryopithecines and extant hominoids but only shows some similarities with that of pliopithecoids, while the analysis of tooth tissue proportions reveals thick enamel. Our results, combined with previous evidence based on cranial morphology, strongly argue against a close phylogenetic relationship with Miocene apes from Europe and do not particularly support a close relationship with hylobatids. Instead, they are more consistent with Oreopithecus being a derived stem hominoid, although the scarce available data for nyanzapithecids precludes adequately testing this hypothesis and some similarities with pliopithecoids remain intriguing and deserve further investigation.
Darwin wasps represent the most species-rich family of parasitoid wasps but remain strongly understudied, with many species yet to be formally described. This is especially the case for the subfamily Campopleginae, a group of koinobiont endoparasitoids of various holometabolan insect orders. We studied most Campopleginae specimens housed at three major Swiss natural history collections, including 1,046 specimens of Hyposoter. We identified 53 of the 71 Western Palaearctic Hyposoter species in Switzerland, including 46 first records, one of which we describe as a new species. Using abundance-based coverage estimators, we estimate 54–61 Hyposoter species in the country. We show that the genus is more species-rich at low altitude and that only three species can be considered as high-altitude specialists, as many show broad altitudinal ranges. We describe Hyposoter beaumonti sp. nov. from Western Switzerland and establish three new synonyms: Hyposoter monensis Galsworthy & Shaw, 2023 of Phobocampe nigra Sedivy, 2004 (syn. nov.), the former becoming the valid name because the latter becomes a secondary homonym of Hyposoter niger (Brullé, 1846), Hyposoter castaneus Galsworthy & Shaw, 2023 of Lemophagus curtus Townes, 1965 (syn. nov.), and Hyposoter caedator corsicator Aubert, 1960 of Hyposoter caedator (Gravenhorst, 1829) (syn. nov.). Our findings underscore the critical role of diversified sampling strategies—including along altitudinal gradients—and up-to-date taxonomic revisions. They also highlight the importance of digitizing and publishing collection data after accurate identification, thereby enhancing the accessibility of ecological and biological information stored in natural history collections for future research.
We describe a new fossil raccoon dog from the Late Pliocene site of Jradzor, Armenia, a key site to understand biogeographic connections and dispersal between Asia, Europe, and Africa. The specimens analysed here for the first time exhibit a mosaic of primitive and derived cranial and dental traits, distinguishing them from known taxa such as Nyctereutes tingi (e.g. elongated cranium, reduced subangular lobe), N. sinensis (e.g. molar proportions, sulcal pattern), and N. megamastoides (e.g. absence of squared M1 morphology). Virtual reconstruction of the endocranium reveals a unique sulcal and gyral pattern, including a parenthesis-shaped gyrus sigmoideus and a deeply developed sulcus pseudosylvius, placing it morphologically closer to Canini than extant Vulpini. Considering these features, we propose to ascribe it to a new Nyctereutes species. Morphometric and geometric morphometric analyses support its taxonomic distinctiveness and suggest ecological and behavioural affinities with jackal-like canids. Notably, the relative development of the rostral portion of the cerebrum implies a social structure more complex than that of extant Nyctereutes, suggesting the possibility of seasonal pack formation. Additionally, we reassess several neuroanatomical traits previously considered diagnostic, such as the cerebellar vermis and sulcus endomarginalis, revealing greater variability within Nyctereutes and challenging previous phylogenetic assumptions. These findings underscore the Pliocene diversification of the genus and highlight the Caucasus as a pivotal region in canid evolution. The erection of a new Nyctereutes species enriches our understanding of canid paleobiology and provides new perspectives on the evolutionary trajectories of hypocarnivorous canids.
The Savignia genus group includes nine morphologically complex yet similar genera where species were assigned based mainly on the cephalic lobes. Among these genera, males of Diplocephalus Bertkau, 1883, Savignia Blackwall, 1833 and Araeoncus Simon, 1884 show some of the most extraordinary cephalic lobes among dwarf spiders (Linyphiidae, Erigoninae). In this study we undertake the first phylogenetic analysis of the Savignia genus group. We use 269 morphological characters (175 newly defined) and 70 taxa (59 ingroup taxa) to reconstruct the relationships and evolutionary trends of cephalic lobes in this lineage. Our findings show that cephalic lobes with varying shapes and sizes appear in several Savignia genus group lineages, highlighting that it is not a good diagnostic character. The high support in several clades allows the redefinition of the genera Savignia, Diplocephalus, Araeoncus, Erigonella Dahl, 1901, Dicymbium Menge, 1868 and Glyphesis Simon, 1926 based on synapomorphies and leads to new species assignments. Our results also show that while genera are well supported, their interrelationships are not, suggesting that genera closely related with the Savignia genus group may need further revision. Simplified, the generic relationships of the Savignia genus group are Glyphesis (Dicymbium ((Erigonella (Hemistajus resurrected rank, Savignia)) (Diastanillus (Diplocephalus, Araeoncus))).
Anapleus pescheli sp. nov. (Italy: Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Sicilia; Greece: Central Greece, Peloponnesus) is herein described and figured and compared to three congeners from the Western Palaearctic Region. A key to species is given. Anapleus raddei (Reitter, 1877) is newly reported from Northern Macedonia and Anapleus jelineki Olexa, 1982 is new to Azerbaijan.
