In previous studies investigating the genus Xanthoparmelia, thirteen different species have been reported from South Korea alone. However, there currently has been no revisional study performed until now. To explore the genus Xanthoparmelia, a phenotypic analysis was performed based on morphological, anatomical and chemical characters, while an investigation of Xanthoparmelia phylogeny was base...

Molecular phylogenetic analyses of 18S rDNA (SSU) gene sequences confirm the placement of Crusticorallina gen. nov. in Corallinoideae, the first nongeniculate genus in an otherwise geniculate subfamily. Crusticorallina is distinguished from all other coralline genera by the following suite of morpho-anatomical characters: (i) sunken, uniporate gametangial and bi/tetrasporangial conceptacles, (i...

Fossil organisms offer our only direct insight into how the distinctive body plans of extant organisms were assembled. However, realizing the potential evolutionary significance of fossils can be hampered by controversy over their interpretation. Here, as a guide to evaluating palaeontological debates, we outline the process and pitfalls of fossil interpretation. The physical remains of controv...

The present redescription of Diplodonta portesiana (d'Orbigny, 1846) is the first part of the revision of this genus in the East Atlantic. This species, despite being common in the Atlantic coast, remains poorly known. A detailed shell and anatomical study was conducted based not only on specimens from the type locality's vicinities but also on samples from other regions. Diagnostic characters ...

An incomplete dinosaur skeleton, including a partial skull, recently discovered from the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation of Yunnan, China, is here reported. Apart its small size, little anatomical evidence supports, priori, non-adult status this new sauropodomorph specimen but osteohistological analyses suggest that it fast-growing juvenile. This represents only second occurrence juvenile non-s...

An interactive animation system is presented for constructing layered character models with simulated elastic components. The system, called LEMAN (Layered Elastic Model ANimation), allows three-dimensional animated characters to be built up from successive layers of skeleton, muscle, fat and skin in a completely interactive, direct-manipulation environment, using a variety of input devices. Us...

Parodiolyra is a member of Olyreae, a tribe of herbaceous bamboo species within the Poaceae. The genus has five species, four of which were previously regarded as belonging to Olyra L. Parodiolyra has a Neotropical distribution and only two species occur on forests in Eastern Brazil: P. micrantha (Kunth) Zuloaga & Davidse and P. ramosissima (Trin.) Soderstr. & Zuloaga, the first widely distribu...

Species-diagnostic anatomical characters of fleshflies are not known for most immature stages or even adults, and an existing key may be incomplete or difûcult for nonspecialists to use. The use of sarcophagids for PMI estimations has been greatly hampered by their highly similar morphological characters. DNA-based method can be used as a supplemental means of morphological method in identifica...

In Cuba, several Biomphalaria species have been reported such as B. orbignyi, B. schrammi, B. helophila, B. havanensis and B. peregrina; only the latter three are considered as potential hosts of Schistosoma mansoni. The specific identification of Biomphalaria species is based on anatomical and morphological characters of genital organs and shells. The correct identification of these snails is ...

The family Oscarellidae is one of the two families in the class Homoscleromorpha (phylum Porifera) and is characterized by the absence of a skeleton and the presence of a specific mitochondrial gene, tatC. This family currently encompasses sponges in two genera: Oscarella with 17 described species and Pseudocorticium with one described species. Although sponges in this group are relatively well...