A recent study using new genetic sequencing techniques, called Ultra Conserved Elements (UCE), has reconstructed the «tree of life» for turtles. The new tree places turtles within the newly created group called Archelosauria that includes turtles, crocodiles, dinosaurs, and birds. This new group may be the largest vertebrate group «to ever receive a new scientific name». Using the huge amount of data, the scientists refute the older idea of turtles being closely related to lizards and snakes. Leer más.
Recent phylogenetic analysis of false geckos, genus Pseudogekko, revealed unrecognized diversity within these exceedingly rare and enigmatic Philippine forest geckos. Newly available genetic datasets revealed that two of the four currently recognized species are complexes of multiple, deeply divergent evolutionary lineages. Leer más.
The horned frog family, Ceratophryidae, currently comprises three genera and 12 extant species, distributed from the Caribbean lowlands to the Pampean grasslands. Horned frogs are fossorial species that are remarkable in terms of their adult and larval morphology, karyotype, behavior, and other aspects of their biology. Leer más.
Hallan en Escocia un nuevo reptil marino del Jurásico
Una nueva especie de reptil marino de la era Jurásica ha sido identificado a partir de fósiles encontrados en la isla escocesa de Skye. Leer más.
Los científicos ecuatorianos Jorge Brito, Diego Batallas y David Velalcázar (del Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales y la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador) describieron una nueva especie de rana que habita la meseta de la Cordillera del Cóndor, donde se desarrolló el conflicto bélico de Paquisha. Leer más.
