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Gilen gen. nov. (type species G. orientalis sp. nov.) from South East Asia is described and illustrated. The new taxon has a produced mid-longitudinal facial projection, which differentiates it from all other known genera of Ichneumonidae. It belongs to the tribe Perilissini in the subfamily Ctenopelmatinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) and is recorded from Laos, Northern Thailand and Vietnam.

Facial prognathism and projection are important characteristics in human evolution but their three-dimensional (3D) architectonic relationships to basicranial morphology are not clear. We used geometric morphometrics and measured 51 3D-landmarks in a comparative sample of modern humans (N = 78) and fossil Pleistocene hominins (N = 10) to investigate the spatial features of covariation between basicranial and facial elements. The study reveals complex morphological integration patterns in craniofacial evolution of Middle and Late Pleistocene hominins. A downwards-orientated cranial base correlates with alveolar maxillary prognathism, relatively larger faces, and relatively larger distances between the anterior cranial base and the frontal bone (projection). This upper facial projection correlates with increased overall relative size of the maxillary alveolar process. Vertical facial height is associated with tall nasal cavities and is accommodated by an elevated anterior cranial base, possibly because of relations between the cribriform and the nasal cavity in relation to body size and energetics. Variation in upper- and mid-facial projection can further be produced by basicranial topology in which the midline base and nasal cavity are shifted anteriorly relative to retracted lateral parts of the base and the face. The zygomatics and the middle cranial fossae act together as bilateral vertical systems that are either projected or retracted relative to the midline facial elements, causing either midfacial flatness or midfacial projection correspondingly. We propose that facial flatness and facial projection reflect classical principles of craniofacial growth counterparts, while facial orientation relative to the basicranium as well as facial proportions reflect the complex interplay of head-body integration in the light of encephalization and body size decrease in Middle to Late Pleistocene hominin evolution. Developmental and evolutionary patterns of integration may only partially overlap morphologically, and traditional concepts taken from research on two-dimensional (2D) lateral X-rays and sections have led to oversimplified and overly mechanistic models of basicranial evolution., This research has been funded by CGL2012-37279 and CGL2012-36682 (MINECO, Spain).

Measurements of prominence of the facial skeleton may be made from the ear opening, to divide projection of the profile into segments. The figures show that the position of the origin of the masseter muscle, relative to the temporo-mandibular joint, is similar in Neanderthals and moderns. The characteristic midfacial projection and forward placement of the dentition of Neanderthals lies in the anterior section of the total profile, explaining the typical retreating malar-maxillary conformation of Neanderthals. Some other late Pleistocene specimens are intermediate in these relations, while European and North African individuals have the form of modern crania., La mesure de la proéminence du squelette facial peut être faite à partir du conduit auditif externe, en divisant la projection du profil en segments. On peut ainsi montrer que la position de l'insertion du muscle masséter, relativement à l'articulation temporo-mandibulaire. est similaire entre Néandertaliens et Modernes. La projection de la face moyenne et l'avancée des dents, caractéristiques des Néandertaliens, sont le fait de la portion antérieure du profil total, expliquant la conformation typique des Néandertaliens, avec retrait maxillo-malaire. Quelques autres spécimens du Pleistocene récent sont intermédiaires pour ces caractères, alors que ceux des Européens et des Nord-Africains ont la forme du crâne moderne., Howells W. W. Profils crâniens du Pleistocene récent et ancien (en anglais). In: Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d'anthropologie de Paris, XIII° Série. Tome 9 fascicule 4, 1982. pp. 333-337.