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The enigmatic ‘y-larvae’ (Thecostraca: Facetotecta) are microscopic marine planktonic crustaceans that were discovered more than a century ago, yet to this day their adults remain unknown. Despite occurring locally in large diversities, and therefore presumably being of ecological importance, only 17 species have been described globally, rendering it practically impossible to identify any y-larval specimen from any locality. The fact that species have been based on different life stages (nauplii and/or cyprids) further hampers identification. Y-larvae include many forms with planktotrophic (feeding) nauplii and even more with lecithotrophic (non-feeding) nauplii. At one coral-reef locality on the shore of Sesoko Island (Okinawa, Japan), extensive fieldwork in 2018 and 2019 confirmed an enormous taxonomic diversity of y-larvae there. Here, we present morphological diagnoses and an identification key for 34 lecithotrophic y-naupliar types (or morphospecies), which will correspond minimally to the same number of species when described. As a temporary measure, all are referred to by alphabetical parataxonomic designations, except for three that have been formally described already within the genus Hansenocaris Itô, 1985. To this should be added an additional 7–9 planktotrophic y-naupliar morphospecies, which are only treated briefly. Most often, y-larval taxonomy has been based on the cyprid stage, but the large morphological diversity of y-nauplii suggests that nauplii are at least as important for taxonomy. Lecithotrophic y-nauplii display a multitude of body shapes, the form-evolution of which is discussed here with reference to a recent molecular phylogeny of Facetotecta partly based on material from the same site. An indirect estimate of the relative abundances of all 34 lecithotrophic y-naupliar morphospecies is presented, based on laboratory-reared final-instar specimens. This treatment is intended as a step towards a proper taxonomy and a revised classification of Facetotecta, which will involve detailed descriptions of both nauplii and cyprids. Until such work progresses, the present overview of the y-naupliar fauna of a single Okinawan locality known to be a hotspot of y-larval diversity is offered as a baseline for further surveys of Facetotecta elsewhere in the Indo-West Pacific and beyond.

In this study, we restudied a rarely known oospecies from China, Stromatoolithus pinglingensis. Original materials from type locality Nanxiong, Guangdong Province as well as recently recovered materials from Shanyang, Shaanxi Province and Laiyang, Shandong Province are compared in this study. After detailed study about general and micro-structure of these eggshells, we are sure that this ootaxon cannot be placed within Spheroolithidae or any other oofamilies, though new oofamily cannot be erected due to lack of complete specimen. In the meantime, we reviewed some Spheroolithidae eggs from Asia, North America, and Europe. We propose that the Mongolia oospecies Spheroolithus maiasauroides is a synonym of Stromatoolithus pinglingensis. Eggs of Maiasaura, Spheroolithus albertensis from North America and Spheroolithus europaeus from Spain should be reassigned to Stromatoolithus. The Lower Cretaceous oospecies Guegoolithus turolensis from Spain should also be considered as ootaxon with close relationship to Stromatoolithus but not Spheroolithidae. The geographic distribution of Spheroolithidae may not be so wide as former researchers thought, and the producer of Spheroolithidae is back to unknown. The oogenus Stromatoolithus is associated with hadrosaurs, and may restrict to Hadrosauridae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dinosaur eggshells from Japan provide vital information about the relatively uncommon Early Cretaceous dinosaur eggs in Asia. Here, we describe a new Early Cretaceous dinosaur eggshell, Multifissoolithus shimonosekiensis from Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, southwestern Japan. The specimen was collected in 1965 from the Aptian-Albian Shimonoseki Subgroup and range in diameter approximately from 1 to 7 cm and in thickness from 3.4 to 4.7 mm. The external surface exhibits roughly parallel clefts diagnostic to the dongyangoolithid Multifissoolithus. Computed tomography images reveal complex internal cavities. Subcircular pore canals extend from the cavities. In radial thin section, the eggshell microstructure resembles prolatocanaliculate pore system with dendrospherulitic morphotype typical of the Dendroolithidae. Similar eggs are reported from Zhejiang, southern China and Gyeonggi, western South Korea, while M. shimonosekiensis differs from them in greater thickness and more extensively developed internal cavities. Microstructural similarity among the Dongyangoolithidae, Dendroolithidae, and Spheroolithidae may indicate their phylogenetically close relationship and deserves further studies. These eggs and M. shimonosekiensis commonly occur in the Aptian-Albian deposits and provide evidence for a shared oofauna in these regions. These eggs were likely laid by closely related dinosaur taxa and future exploration for the skeletal remains of such dinosaurs in the regions is desirable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants in Acorus have been used as herbal medicine by various linguistic groups for thousands of years. Arguments of taxonomy of Acorus among scientists resulted in confusions and misuses of Acorus plants. The present study used different methods to investigate the classification of the genus, based on folk taxonomy. The relationships among Acorus species were revealed through phylogenetic analyses by constructing the Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of two chloroplast regions (trnL-trnF and rbcL). All samples named with two so-called synonyms, Acorus macrospadiceus (Yamam.) F. N. Wei and Y. K. Li and Acorus tatarinowii Schott collected from different habitats, were clustered into separate groups, which revealed that they represented two independent species. Multivariate statistical analysis of metabolites from different Acorus populations were carried out based on UPLC-QTOF-MS data. Three independent analysis, principal component analysis, heat-map analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis, showed that A. macrospadiceus and A. tatarinowii are different from two recognized species in the genus, A. calamus L. and A. gramineus Aiton. The results of phylogenetics and chemotaxonomy, together with morphological and ecological evidences, were consistent with traditional knowledge of local people related to Acorus taxa, which proved the significance of parataxonomy. Multiple evidences including morphological, ecological, folk taxonomic, phylogenetic, and chemical taxonomic results suggested that there are four species in the genus Acorus.

Plants in Acorus have been used as herbal medicine by various linguistic groups for thousands of years. Arguments of taxonomy of Acorus among scientists resulted in confusions and misuses of Acorus plants. The present study used different methods to investigate the classification of the genus, based on folk taxonomy. The relationships among Acorus species were revealed through phylogenetic analyses by constructing the Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of two chloroplast regions (trnL-trnF and rbcL). All samples named with two so-called synonyms, Acorus macrospadiceus (Yamam.) F. N. Wei and Y. K. Li and Acorus tatarinowii Schott collected from different habitats, were clustered into separate groups, which revealed that they represented two independent species. Multivariate statistical analysis of metabolites from different Acorus populations were carried out based on UPLC-QTOF-MS data. Three independent analysis, principal component analysis, heat-map analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis, showed that A. macrospadiceus and A. tatarinowii are different from two recognized species in the genus, A. calamus L. and A. gramineus Aiton. The results of phylogenetics and chemotaxonomy, together with morphological and ecological evidences, were consistent with traditional knowledge of local people related to Acorus taxa, which proved the significance of parataxonomy. Multiple evidences including morphological, ecological, folk taxonomic, phylogenetic, and chemical taxonomic results suggested that there are four species in the genus Acorus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tournaisian stage (Lower Mississippian) is known as the golden age of crinoids. In S Belgium, Upper Tournaisian crinoidal limestones, locally called "Petit Granit", are known in the Condroz area (Ourthe Formation) and in the Soignies area (Soignies Member) where tens of quarries expose the crinoidal facies. An isopach map shows that the Ourthe Formation thins northward and westward, probably because of synsedimentary block faulting. Despite its apparent monotony, five crinoidal and peloidal microfacies are identified throughout the formation, and the size and preservation of the crinoid columnals vary vertically and laterally. The encrinite deposited as amalgamated tempestites that accumulated under fair-weather wave base. An estimation of the carbonate production rate was calculated and a value of c. 1200 cm/m.y is proposed for the Ourthe Fm. The density in individuals was lower in the Hainaut area possibly due to its deeper situation. The analysis of disarticulated crinoid columnals reveals that the crinoidal meadows were diverse with several taxa following a vertical tiering model to maximise the capture of particles from the water column. Beside the crinoids, the fauna was dominated by suspension feeders (brachiopods, bryozoans, tabulate and rugose corals) adapted to a weakly-agitated environment and a relatively soft ground. Rare nektonic and benthic macrophages (holocephalan chondrychthians, actinoceratoid cephalopods, palaechinids, and trilobites) show that the ecosystem was relatively complex despite a simple appearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In low intensity agri-ecosystems such as wet grassland habitats, the inclusion of invertebrates in conservation assessments and monitoring is usually limited to charismatic groups such as bees or butterflies. However, wet grasslands support a wide range of inveterate groups, some of which may exhibit limited movement not generally represented by more mobile groups such as those typically examined. The use of surrogate species which exemplify broader invertebrate diversity has been suggested as a possible means of including these overlooked invertebrates (such as Diptera) in conservation planning within these habitats. Based on collections made by Malaise trap, we utilized two families of Diptera (Sciomyzidae and Syrphidae) as indicators of a wider range of dipteran diversity (nine Diptera families identified to parataxonomic unit level [PUs]) in wet grassland habitats. We examined the role of environmental variability, spatial scale, and habitat type on patterns of cross-taxon congruence for all three assemblages. Both environmental correlation and community congruence were significantly stronger among assemblages when examined at low spatial scales, highlighting the need to examine dipteran groups at scales untypical of current agri-environmental assessments; namely field and farm level. Furthermore, when wet grasslands were differentiated into two habitat categories (sedge and rush dominated grasslands), the significance of the community congruence increased markedly. This correlation was particularly strong between Sciomyzidae and PUs which demonstrated similar differentiation based on habitat type, implying that assemblages which exhibit comparable ecological partitioning are more likely to be useful surrogates of one another. Correlations between richness, abundance and Shannon’s diversity were highly variable among groups, suggesting compositional analysis as the most appropriate examination of dipteran diversity for surrogacy studies. The results indicate that cross-assemblage congruence of Diptera is influenced by similarity of response to environmental variability, scale of observation, and examination of assemblages differentiated into appropriate habitat categories. The results illustrate the need to investigate invertebrate biodiversity surrogates at scales appropriate to the indicator groups and examine congruence among assemblages within specific habitat categories. Such an approach has the potential to maximise gamma diversity in areas where wet grasslands are under threat of intensification or abandonment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obtaining fundamental biodiversity metrics such as alpha, beta and gamma diversity for arthropods is often complicated by a lack of prior taxonomic information and/or taxonomic expertise, which can result in unreliable morphologically based estimates. We provide a set of standardized ecological and molecular sampling protocols that can be employed by researchers whose taxonomic skills may be limited, and where there may be a lack of robust a priori information regarding the regional pool of species. These protocols combine mass sampling of arthropods, classification of samples into parataxonomic units ( PUs) and selective sampling of individuals for mt DNA sequencing to infer biological species. We sampled ten lowland rainforest plots located on the volcanic oceanic island of Réunion (Mascarene archipelago) for spiders, a group with limited taxonomic and distributional data for this region. We classified adults and juveniles into PUs and then demonstrated the reconciliation of these units with presumed biological species using mt DNA sequence data, ecological data and distributional data. Because our species assignment protocol is not reliant upon prior taxonomic information, or taxonomic expertise, it minimizes the problem of the Linnean shortfall to yield diversity estimates that can be directly compared across independent studies. Field sampling can be extended to other arthropod groups and habitats by adapting our field sampling protocol accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines the utility of parataxonomic sorting (groupings of similar individuals, categorized by non-experts, relying on features of external morphology) using data from a study of beetle communities in four forest habitats in Nova Scotia, Canada. Alpha diversity and the Shannon-Weaver, Simpson, Berger-Parker, and Brillouin indices of diversity, derived from both taxonomic species and parataxonomic units, are compared and yield identical habitat rankings. Beta diversity rankings derived from both data sets do not differ although they produce slightly different rankings. The Elateridae, Curculionidae, Cantharidae, and Staphylinidae had particularly large numbers of “lumping” and “splitting” errors. Although the overall gross sorting error was only 14%, individual families of beetles had errors between 0% and 200% with an average error of 38%. The limitations of the parataxonomic approach are discussed; both in regard to the practical application of the concept, as well its theoretical basis. We note the spillover of this discourse to the subject of what constitutes a species and observe that this discussion has been misplaced due to the unfortunate confusion of the two usages of the term “morphospecies”.

Crocodiloid eggshell is considered to be one of the most conservative among amniotes. This contrasts with the high body diversity observed within the crocodylomorph lineage, which extebds from the Triassic to the present. This incongruence raises a fundamental question in palaeology: is the crocodylomorph eggshell structure that conservative, or are there variations in this structure that have been misidentified in the fossil record or remain undiscovered to taphonomic biases? In this paper we re-examine eggshells from the Barremian of northern Spain that were previously assigned to chelonians. We erect a new oogenus and oospecies, Mycomorphoolithus kohringi , characterized by thin eggshells with mushroom-shaped or inverted cone shell units with blocky extinction with smooth or slightly undulating outer surface, covered by a highly variable number of pores of irregular size and shape. These variations in the pore opening pattern are here interpreted as evidence of degradation of the eggshell during embryo development, a process that has only been described in modern alligatorids. After discarding its chelonian and dinosaurian affinities, we identify them as related to Krokolithidae, but with enough differences to justify exclusion from this oofamily. In addition, eggshells from the Berriasian of England previously reported as dinosaurian-spherulitic eggshells, are here assigned to undetermined oospecies of Mycomorphoolithus . Thus, the record of Mycomorphoolithus extends throughout most of the Lower Cretaceous. This long-surviving oogenus may represent eggshells of the non-eusuchian crocodylomorphs that are abundant in the microfossil sites where Mycomorphoolithus eggshells are found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trigonoolithus amoae oogen. et oosp. nov. is described on the basis of abundant eggshell fragments from the La Cantalera 1 site in the Early Cretaceous (early Barremian) Blesa Formation, Teruel Province, northern Spain. The surface ornamentation, the most diagnostic feature of the new oogenus, consists of closely spaced sub-triangular or rounded protuberances that have not previously been reported in any other ootaxon. The eggshells present three distinct layers, with a gradual transition between prismatic and mammillary layers, and a poorly developed external layer with progressive prismatic to external layer transition, a combination of characters that allows them to be assigned to Prismatoolithidae. Phylogenetic analyses based on oological characters place Trigonoolithus at the base of Prismatoolithidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early Cretaceous spheroolithid eggshells have always been extremely scarce, unlike their putative egg layers, ornithopod dinosaurs, which are ubiquitous in Early Cretaceous ecosystems. In this paper, we re-evaluate eggshells previously assigned to the oofamily Elongatoolithidae, an oofamily related to derived theropod dinosaurs (including maniraptorans and oviraptorids), and reassign them to the oofamily Spheroolithidae, on the basis of the lack of a squamatic ultrastructure, and the presence of a prolatocanaliculate pore system and undulating extinction, typical of spheroolithid eggshells. We erect a new oogenus, Guegoolithus to include material previously reported as Macroolithus turolensis Amo-Sanjuan, Canudo and Cuenca-Bescós 2000, and new material from several lower Barremian localities of the Maestrazgo Basin in Spain. Guegoolithus eggshells exhibit an acicular radial ultrastructure in the lower part of the shell units, which develops into a tabular radial ultrastructure in the upper part, giving an appearance of a two-layered eggshell in thin sections that is not seen in SEM pictures. These features fill the gap between the two-layered prismatic eggshell of ceratopsians and the prolatospherulitic ornithopod eggshell of derived hadrosaurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different aspects of using eggshell structure in description of fossil eggs and in phylogenetic analysis are critically discussed. One of the lines of discussion is that correct identification of the so-calledsquamatic ultrastructure(important feature of the spongy layer in ornithoid type of eggshell) is a key point for the results of the analysis. The complex biocrystalline nature of the so-called squamatic ultrastructure is under particular consideration. The other line concerns the use of parataxonomy and the role of structural typifications (eggshell basic types and morphotypes) as an adequate concise language for fossil egg description. The importance of these questions is illustrated on the examples of the last finds of Cretaceous eggs from the territory of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. Finally, some recommendations for the future development of paleoology are proposed. Development of the accessible photobase of all described oogenera and oospecies, with comparable illustrations of the eggs, eggshell surface and eggshell structure, is an important step in this direction. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A new assemblage of palaeoscolecid sclerites preserving all the details of the (para)speciesHadimopanella oezgueliGedik, 1977, including characteristic ornamentation, has been found in the Middle Cambrian Genestosa Member (Oville Formation) of the Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain. The assemblage of sclerites shows a great morphological variability enabling emendation of its diagnosis. Some of them exhibit erosive facets as a result of reworking preceding definitive burial. One key specimen has lateral slits along the marginal brim, which represent a crown of eroded tubercles, and may be classified out the (para) genusHadimopanella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We propose a “citizen scientist” approach to collecting lichen biodiversity data. [•] We use parataxonomic units (PUs) as species surrogates to estimate lichen diversity. [•] We compare data from expert collections to parataxonomic data. [•] The number of PUs did not differ significantly from the number of species. [•] We apply an occupancy model to estimate lichen richness from these data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Eleven crinoid columnal morphotypes of Mississippian and Pennsylvanian ages found in different stratigraphic levels of the Santiago (informal unit) and Ixtaltepec formations in outcrops in the Santiago Ixtaltepec region, municipality of Nochixtlan, Oaxaca, are reported and described. Axilinucrinus angustus is proposed as a new morphogenus and new morphospecies. Cyclocaudex insaturatus and Floricyclus welleri have been found in middle Mississippian (Meramecian-Chesterian?) strata from the upper member of the Santiago formation. Lomalegnum cf. L. hormidium, Axilinucrinus angustus and one indeterminate genus are present in middle-late Mississippian (Meramecian-Chesterian) strata of the Ixtaltepec Formation. Pentagonomischus cf. P. plebeius and Cyclocion distinctus occur in early-middle Pennsylvanian (Morrowan-Desmoinesian) strata of the Ixtaltepec Formation. Cylindrocauliscus fiski and Cyclocaudex typicus are morphotypes with a broad distribution throughout the carboniferous section of Nochixtlán. A strong similarity exists between all of the parataxa from Oaxaca and those reported from lower Mississippian-middle Pennsylvanian faunas of the Mid-Continent region of the central eastern United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Considering the pressures on tropical forests from deforestation and the recent expansion of harvesting through forest concessions in the Brazilian Amazon, it is imperative that forest management systems are scrutinized to ensure sustainability. One of the basic problems in forest management is the correct identification of species within the forest stand. While this is a well known issue, little consideration is given to how to mitigate this problem or its affects on management practices and conservation. This paper examines the current practice of forest inventories in the Brazilian Amazon, as part of the mandatory system of reduced impact logging (RIL), using extensive forest inventory verification. The results show that the RIL management plan implemented in the project area was based on a highly inaccurate forest inventory. At least 132 species or 43.5% of all species identified after botanical checking did not appear in the forest inventory and the common practice of matching vernacular names to scientific ones proved to be severely deficient. In contrast, a high percentage of field identifications based on local people''s expertise were correct. We suggest changes to current practices, including the training and use of parataxonomists, the collection of samples for verification, and stricter government control over current practices, which will achieve greater accuracy in data collection and forest management planning. Ultimately, we argue that in the current climate of extensive deforestation and forest use, it is essential that all aspects of RIL systems are reevaluated in order to achieve economic and ecological sustainability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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A single, atypical conchorhynch (calcitic tip of a cephalopod lower jaw), recovered from the uppermost Meerssen Member (Maastricht Formation, upper Maastrichtian) at the former ENCI-HeidelbergCement Group quarry, south of Maastricht, is described as a new parataxon, Conchorhynchus illustris sp. nov. The specimen can be differentiated from all previous conchorhynch records on account of its large size, elongated shape and, in particular, of the structure of its apical part which is smooth and forwardly elongated. During the Late Cretaceous, conchorhynchs formed part of the jaw apparatus of nautilids and of two ammonoid suborders, Phylloceratina and Lytoceratina. Since conchorhynchs are most often found separated from jaws, establishing to which group of cephalopods their bearer belonged can be complicated. Here, for the first time, we propose a set of morphological criteria to differentiate clearly between nautiloid and ammonoid conchorhynchs. Although Conchorhynchus illustris sp. nov. is distinct from all currently known nautilid conchorhynchs, the sum of its morphological features is indicative of assignment to that cephalopod group. The upper portion of the Maastricht Formation in the Maastricht area (Nekum and Meerssen members) has yielded internal and external moulds of shells of the nautilid Eutrephoceras and the hercoglossid Cimomia. The new conchorhynch type described herein most likely belonged to one of these shell-based taxa. Judging from its unusual shape, the feeding strategy of its bearer must have differed from that of modern nautilids, in that it held and pierced prey rather than crushed sturdy shells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring programs that assess species-richness and turnover are now regarded as essential to document biodiversity loss worldwide. Implementation of such programs is impeded by a general decrease in the number of skilled naturalists. Here we studied how morphotypes, instead of species, might be used by unskilled participants (referred to as ¿volunteers¿) to survey common plant communities. Our main questions were: (1) Can morphotypes be used as a robust estimator of species-richness (α-diversity) and assemblage turnover (β-diversity)? and (2) What is the robustness (reproducibility and repeatability) of such methods? Double inventories were performed on 150 plots in arable Weld margins, one by a non-expert using morphotypes, the other by a taxonomist using species. To test the robustness of morphotype identiWcation among participants, 20 additional plots were surveyed by eight volunteers using the same protocol. We showed that (1) the number of morphotypes identiWed by unskilled volunteers in a plot was always strongly correlated with species-richness. (2) Morphotypes were sensitive to diVerences among habitats but were less accurate than species to detect these diVerences. (3) Morphotype identiWcation varied signiWcantly within and between volunteers. Due to this lack of repeatability and reproducibility, parataxonomy cannot be considered a good surrogate for taxonomy. Nevertheless, assuming that morphotypes are identiWed with standardized methods, and that results are used only to evaluate gross species-richness but not species turnover, parataxonomy might be a valuable tool for rapid biodiversity assessment of common wild Xora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The ‘taxonomic impediment’ has led to a growing trend in ecology and conservation biology to use operational surrogates for species within the context of a particular research project. Because such ‘parataxonomic’ classifications are typically spatially limited in scope, we examined the influence of increasing spatial scale on the congruence of two such approaches with a more traditional taxonomic classification. Location Sturt National Park, north-western New South Wales, Australia. Methods Specimens of two ant genera, Camponotus and Rhytidoponera, were classified by three independent methods. The ‘parataxonomic’ classification assigned specimens to morphospecies without specialist taxonomic expertise; the ‘taxonomic’ classification assigned specimens to either described species or, where this was not possible, to operational taxonomic units (OTUs) using specialist taxonomic expertise; the ‘phenetic’ classification assigned specimens to putative species using a K-means partitioning algorithm on basic morphometric data. Specimens of each genus were pooled into ‘assemblages’, which were defined at multiple spatial scales using a nested sampling design. Congruence in the interspecimen relationships of the different classifications was tested for each assemblage using pair-wise Mantel correlations. Results Classification congruence tended to decrease with increasing spatial scale. There were, however, clear differences between the genera. Parataxonomic–taxonomic congruence was consistently greater for Camponotus, while phenetic–taxonomic congruence showed the opposite pattern. Conclusions Observed patterns in classification congruence are attributed to two principal causes: (i) within-species morphological variation, including ecotypic variation in Rhytidoponera and caste polymorphism in Camponotus; and (ii) a limit to the morphological similarity of potentially competing species at small spatial scales. Regardless of cause, the decline in agreement as the spatial scale of observation is increased has important implications for the measurement of biodiversity, particularly when comparing samples over regional, continental, and global scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phylogenetic analysis of reproductive and oological (egg) traits of theropod taxa allows determination of the sequence in which these traits evolved in Theropoda. Our results indicate that several avian reproductive traits, such as adults sitting on eggs, asymmetrical eggs, unornamented eggshell surface, and complex eggshell ultrastructure, were already present in non-avian maniraptorans, and could have evolved in more basal theropods. In addition, non-avian maniraptorans laid two eggs at a time and orientated their eggs subvertically or subhorizontally in their nests, features not retained by neornithine birds. Based on our cladistic analysis it is also possible to infer the phylogenetic affinity of ootaxa of unknown parentage: Protoceratopsidovum was laid by a maniraptoran more derived than oviraptorids, and Parvoolithus probably belonged to a Cretaceous bird. Finally, our analysis reveals that many of the high-level categories of egg parataxonomy (morphotypes and basic types) are unnatural groupings (i.e. non-monophyletic). We recommend that these high-level categories be abandoned because oofamilies are sufficient to categorize egg taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Journal of Applied Ecology (2004) 41, 175–180 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]