Large-scale evolutionary trends of Acrochordiceratidae Arthaber, 1911 (Ammonoidea, Middle Triassic) and Cope's rule

Directed evolution of life through millions of years, such as increasing adult body size, is one of the most intriguing patterns displayed by fossil lineages. Processes and causes of such evolutionary trends are still poorly understood. Ammonoids (externally shelled marine cephalopods) are well known to have experienced repetitive morphological evolutionary trends of their adult size, shell geometry and ornamentation. This study analyses the evolutionary trends of the family Acrochordiceratidae Arthaber, 1911 from the Early to Middle Triassic (251228 Ma). Exceptionally large and bed-rock-controlled collections of this ammonoid family were obtained from strata of Anisian age (Middle Triassic) in north-west Nevada and north-east British Columbia. They enable quantitative and statistical analyses of its morphological evolutionary trends. This study demonstrates that the monophyletic clade Acrochordiceratidae underwent the classical evolute to involute evolutionary trend (i.e. increasing coiling of the shell), an increase in its shell adult size (conch diameter) and an increase in the indentation of its shell suture shape. These evolutionary trends are statistically robust and seem more or less gradual. Furthermore, they are nonrandom with the sustained shift in the mean, the minimum and the maximum of studied shell characters. These results can be classically interpreted as being constrained by the persistence and common selection pressure on this mostly anagenetic lineage characterized by relatively moderate evolutionary rates. Increasing involution of ammonites is traditionally interpreted by increasing adaptation mostly in terms of improved hydrodynamics. However, this trend in ammonoid geometry can also be explained as a case of Copes rule (increasing adult body size) instead of functional explanation of coiling, because both shell diameter and shell involution are two possible paths for ammonoids to accommodate size increase.

Redescrição e transferência do gênero Fregolia Gounelle, 1911 para Callidiopini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae)

Redescription and transference of the genus Fregolia Gounelle, 1911 to Callidiopini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae). The genus Fregolia is transferred from Cleomenini Lacordaire, 1869 to Callidiopini Lacordaire, 1869. The genus and its type species, Fregolia listropteroides Gounelle, 1911, the only known species to the genus, are redescribed including characters of the mouth pieces, endosternites, wing venation, and male and female terminalia.

Sobre Gymnocerus Audinet-Serville, 1835 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Anisocerini) e gêneros relacionados

On Gymnocerus Audinet-Serville, 1835 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Anisocerini) and related genera. The genus Gymnocerus Audinet-Serville, 1835 is characterized and a key to the related genera is added. New combinations: Gymnocerina cratosomoides (Bates, 1862), comb. nov. (from Gymnocerus) and Badenella gavisa (Lane, 1966), comb. nov. (from Chimboincola). New synonyms proposed: Badenella Lane, 1964 = Chimboincola Lane, 1966 syn. nov.; Gymnocerina cratosomoides (Bates, 1862) = Gymnocerus crassus Bates, 1862 syn. nov. = Gymnocerina sulfurea Lane, 1964 syn. nov. = Gymnocerina subsiciva Lane, 1964 syn. nov. = Gymnocerina spuria Lane, 1964 syn. nov. = Gymnocerina oliveirai Lane, 1964 syn. nov.; and Badenella badeni (Bates, 1875) = Gymnocerus badeni fuscus Franz, 1935 syn. nov. = Badenella laceyi Lane, 1964 syn. nov..

Uma nova espécie de Cladomorphus Gray, 1835 (Phasmatidae, Cladomorphinae) de Minas Gerais, Brasil

Cladomorphus trimariensis sp. nov. é descrita de Três Marias, Minas Gerais. A nova espécie difere de C. phyllinus Gray, 1835 principalmente pelo opérculo e placa micropilar do ovo, ausência de espinhos nas pernas médias e posteriores e pelas projeções distais nos tergos IV e V, que são menos desenvolvidas.