Integrative taxonomy of the Plain-backed Thrush(Zoothera mollissima)complex(Aves,Turdidae)reveals cryptic species,including a new species

Background: The Plain-backed Thrush Zoothera mollissima breeds in the Himalayas and mountains of central China. It was long considered conspecific with the Long-tailed Thrush Zoothera dixoni, until these were shown to be broadly sympatric.Methods: We revise the Z. mollissima–Z. dixoni complex by integrating morphological, acoustic, genetic(two mitochondrial and two nuclear markers), ecological and distributional datasets.Results: In earlier field observations, we noted two very different song types of "Plain-backed" Thrush segregated by breeding habitat and elevation. Further integrative analyses congruently identify three groups: an alpine breeder in the Himalayas and Sichuan, China("Alpine Thrush"); a forest breeder in the eastern Himalayas and northwest Yunnan(at least), China("Himalayan Forest Thrush"); and a forest breeder in central Sichuan("Sichuan Forest Thrush"). Alpine and Himalayan Forest Thrushes are broadly sympatric, but segregated by habitat and altitude, and the same is probably true also for Alpine and Sichuan Forest Thrushes. These three groups differ markedly in morphology and songs. In addition, DNA sequence data from three non-breeding specimens from Yunnan indicate that yet another lineage exists("Yunnan Thrush"). However, we find no consistent morphological differences from Alpine Thrush, and its breeding range is unknown. Molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that all four groups diverged at least a few million years ago, and identify Alpine Thrush and the putative "Yunnan Thrush" as sisters, and the two forest taxa as sisters. Cytochrome b divergences among the four Z. mollissima sensu lato(s.l.) clades are similar to those between any of them and Z. dixoni, and exceed that between the two congeneric outgroup species. We lectotypify the name Oreocincla rostrata Hodgson, 1845 with the Z. mollissima sensu stricto(s.s.) specimen long considered its type. No available name unambiguously pertains to the Himalayan Forest Thrush.Conclusions: The Plain-backed Thrush Z. mollissima s.l. comprises at least three species: Alpine Thrush Z. mollissima s.s., with a widespread alpine breeding distribution; Sichuan Forest Thrush Z. griseiceps, breeding in central Sichuan forests; and Himalayan Forest Thrush, breeding in the eastern Himalayas and northwest Yunnan(at least), which is described herein as a new species. "Yunnan Thrush" requires further study.

Huanansaurus ganzhouensis,a new oviraptorid dinosaur from southern China

With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the China Geological Survey,Professor LüJunchang at the Institute of Geology,Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences,who led the international group,reported a new oviraptorid dinosaur Huanansaurus ganzhouensis from the Late Cretaceous of Southern China,which was published in Scientific Reports(2015,5:11490).

NEW MIDDLE TRIASSIC NOTOSTRACA (CRUSTACEA) FROM TOKSUN COUNTY, NORTH XINJIANG

The fossils of one new genus and three new species described in this paper were collected from the grey-brownish sandstone of the Kelamayi Formation （克拉玛依组） （Xiaoquangou Group） in Toksun County （托克逊）, North Xinjiang. In age the formation may be referred to as the Middle Triassic （T2K）; and the fossils, a new Middle Triassic Notostraca （Crustacea）. They are Xinjiangiops suni g.s.n., Xin. Keerjianensis and Xin. tuokexunensis g.s.n.

PALEOBOTANY

20091176 Li Jianguo(Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Nanjing 210008,China); Zhang Yiyong Cretaceous and Paleogene Palynological Successions at Zhongba,Tibet and Its Significance(Acta Geologica Sinica, ISSN0001-5717,CN11-1951/P,82(5), 2008,p.584-593,2 illus.,2 plates,60 refs.)