National Museum of Natural History
Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, ParisNot a member yet
10296 research outputs found
Sort by
Quelle connaissance les Minoens avaient-ils des éléphants ? Les râpes de Phaistos et les défenses de Zakros
No full textLa présente étude s’appuie sur deux observations: la présence d’un type de vaisselle minoenne à Phaistos et Agia Triada, et l’examen des défenses d’éléphants retrouvées dans les réserves du Palais de Zakros, trois sites en Crète. L’analyse des caractéristiques de ces objets nous a permis de développer deux hypothèses. La première concerne un type de vaisselle appelé « grater ». Il s’agit de coupes comportant un élément servant de râpe. La forme et la surface de la râpe rappellent étonnamment la forme et le dessin de la surface masticatrice des molaires d’éléphant. Ceci nous a conduit à revoir les éléphants fossiles de cette île et à rechercher le degré de similitude entre les molaires d’éléphant et les râpes de Phaistos et Agia Triada, qui datent de c. 1800-1700 BC. La seconde hypothèse se rapporte à la provenance de l’ivoire d’éléphant, utilisée en Crète à partir d’environ 1600 BC. Les Minoens ont utilisé l’ivoire pour fabriquer de nombreux objets précieux (sceaux, plaquettes, figurines, statuettes…), mais son origine reste inconnue. Que peuvent dire à ce propos les défenses d’éléphant brutes trouvées à Zakros? La comparaison de leur morphologie avec celle des éléphants fossiles de Crète et actuels d’Asie et d’Afrique, ainsi que l’examen des données paléontologiques, archéologiques, iconographiques et épigraphiques, nous permettent de suggérer l’attribution des défenses de Zakros à Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 qui a vécu au Levant jusque vers 1200 BC. Ce résultat mériterait d’être étayé par des analyses microstructurales et isotopiques.The present study is based on two observations: the presence of a type of Minoan vessel at Phaistos and Agia Triada, and the elephant tusks found in the storeroom of the Palace of Zakros, three sites in Crete. The examination of these objects allowed us to develop two hypotheses. The first concerns the cups called “grater”, which include inside an element that served as rasp. The shape and surface of the rasp are surprisingly reminiscent of the outline and the design of the masticatory surface of elephant molars. This led us to revisit the fossil elephants of this island and to look for the degree of similarity between the elephant molars and the design of some rasps from Phaistos and Agia Triada, dating from c. 1800-1700 BC. The second hypothesis relates to the provenance of elephant ivory, used in Crete from c. 1600 BC to manufacture many precious objects (seals, plaques, figurines, statuettes, etc.), based on the raw elephant tusks found in a storeroom at Zakros, and dated to 1500-1450 BC. The morphological comparison of these tusks with those of fossil elephants from Crete and the extant species from Asia and Africa, as well as the examination of palaeontological, archaeological, iconographic and epigraphic data, allow us to suggest the attribution of the tusks of Zakros to Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 which lived in the Levant until around 1200 BC. This affinity would deserve to be supported by microstructural and isotopic analyses.</p
ERRATUM <i>Naturae</i> 2025 (1). Date de publication : 15 janvier 2025. Les serpents « sentinelles » de la qualité des habitats : vers une meilleure prise en compte des vipères dans les espaces naturels gérés
No full textLes légendes des Figures 3 et 5 comportaient des erreurs. Nous présentons ici les figures et les légendes corrigées associées.The legends for Figures 3 and 5 contained errors. We show here the figures and their corrected legends.</p
Les Lutrinae (Mustelidae, Carnivora, Mammalia) des dépôts du Miocène supérieur au Pléistocène inférieur du Pakistan
No full textDu nouveau matériel dentaire bien conservé de la sous-famille des Lutrinae (Mustelidae, Carnivora) comprenant des prémolaires supérieures et inférieures, ainsi que des molaires, a été découvert dans les régions de Hasnot, Padhri et Bhimber des Siwaliks du Pakistan. Trois spécimens sont décrits dans cette étude : une m1 collectée dans les dépôts pléistocènes de Bhimber est attribuée à Enhydriodon cf. falconeri, une quatrième prémolaire supérieure (P4) trouvée à Hasnot (7 à 5,3 Ma) est si unique – elle présente des bords/parois externes arrondis, un cingulum lingual basal droit au niveau du bord mésial, un postparacrista court et une concavité buccale moindre, une absence de mini-cuspide entre le proto- et l’hypocône – qu’elle nous a permis de créer une espèce nouvelle, Sivaonyx sarwari n. sp., et une quatrième prémolaire inférieure isolée (p4) collectée à Padhri (7-5,5 Ma) est décrite comme Sivaonyx bathygnathus (Lydekker, 1884). Parmi ces taxons, Enhydriodon falconeri est signalé pour la première fois dans les dépôts pléistocènes des Siwaliks, tandis que Sivaonyx sarwari n. sp. représente la plus petite espèce du genre. Les spécimens étudiés viennent s’ajouter aux rares enregistrements d’espèces de mustélidés et remettent également en question le rythme évolutif de certaines espèces de loutres des Siwaliks proposé par des études antérieures.Well-preserved new dental material of subfamily Lutrinae (Mustelidae, Carnivora) comprising of upper and lower premolars and molar were recovered from the Hasnot, Padhri, Bhimber areas of the Siwaliks of Pakistan. Three specimens are described in this study: an m1 collected from Pleistocene deposits of Bhimber is attributed to Enhydriodon cf. falconeri, an upper fourth premolar (P4) recovered from Hasnot (7 to 5.3 Ma) is so unique in having round borders/external walls, basal lingual cingulum is straight at mesial border, postparacrista short and having less buccal concavity, lack a cusplet between proto- and hypocone that it allowed us to create a species, Sivaonyx sarwari n. sp., and an isolated lower fourth premolar (p4) collected from Padhri (7-5.5 Ma) is described as Sivaonyx bathygnathus. Among these, Enhydriodon falconeri is reported for the first time from the Pleistocene deposits of the Siwaliks, while Sivaonyx sarwari n. sp. represents the smallest species of the genus. The present specimens add to the records of the rare mustelid species and also challenge the evolutionary time transgression of some Siwalik lutrine species proposed by previous studies.</p
Two new species of <i>Crassitegula</i> (Sebdeniaceae, Sebdeniales, Rhodophyta) extend the diversity and biogeographic range of the genus to the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas
No full textCrassitegula (Sebdeniaceae, Sebdeniales) is a relatively new genus of red algae, currently consisting of three species, that was first described based on a western Atlantic species in 2006. In the present paper, two species of Crassitegula are newly described from the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas, both being first detected using COI-5P barcoding, then followed by phylogenetic analysis. Crassitegula bouchetii L.Le Gall & C.W.Schneid. sp. nov. and C. garyi L.Le Gall & C.W.Schneid. sp. nov. represent the fourth and fifth species in the genus, which, prior to this study, has been confined to Bermuda (western Atlantic) and Lord Howe Island (Australia). Crassitegula garyi, from France, Corsica and Italy in the north-central Mediterranean, has a strap-shaped habit reminiscent in part of C. walsinghamii C.W.Schneid., C.E.Lane & G.W.Saunders and C. laciniata C.W.Schneid., Popolizio & C.E.Lane, whereas C. bouchettii is presently known only as small, peltate, kidney-shaped blades that possibly represent immature specimens.</p
Variabilité technologique de l’Hoabinhien : l’exemple de la production lithique sur plaquette du site de Doi Pha Kan (Thaïlande du Nord)
No full textCette étude propose une analyse technologique et morphométrique de la singulière industrie lithique du site de Doi Pha Kan, daté de 13 300 à 12 800 cal BP, dans le Nord de la Thaïlande, pendant la période Hoabinhienne (qui s’étend globalement du Pléistocène supérieur final à l’Holocène moyen). Bien que cet assemblage présente des similitudes avec ceux des sites hoabinhiens « typiques », des écarts significatifs en ce qui concerne les méthodes de production, les types d’outils ciblés et surtout la présence singulière de chaînes opératoires visant à produire une diversité d’outils sur plaquette. Néanmoins, l’étude écarte l’existence d’une population distincte au sein du monde hoabinhien, indiquant une évolution vers des outils plus légers et composites, qui pourraient représenter une trajectoire moderne ou la phase finale de la culture hoabinhienne. L’étude explore également l’influence potentielle des fluctuations climatiques à la fin du Pléistocène supérieur sur les comportements humains et l’évolution de la diversité humaine moderne en Asie du Sud-Est. Toutefois, le cadre paléoenvironnemental tropical régional étant limité en données, et, par ailleurs, peu contrasté saisonnièrement dans un monde sans hiver, il est difficile d’établir un lien direct à ce stade. Enfin, ce travail souligne la nécessité de poursuivre les recherches et la collaboration interdisciplinaire dans la perspective d’une compréhension globale de la paléoécologie humaine dans la région ainsi que des adaptations techniques innovantes.This research examines the unique lithic technology at the Doi Pha Kan site dated 13 300 to 12 800 calBP in Northern Thailand during the Hoabinhian period (which globally extends from the final Late Pleistocene to Mid Holocene) by means of a technological and morpho-metric analysis. While it shares similarities with typical Hoabinhian assemblages, significant deviations in reduction methods, targeted tool types, and the singular presence of reduction sequences dedicated to the production of a diversity of slab tools. Nevertheless, the study blanks the existence of a distinct population within the Hoabinhian world, indicating a shift towards lighter, composite tools, which may represent a modern trajectory or the final phase of the Hoabinhian culture. The study also explores the potential influence of climatic fluctuations at the end of the Late Pleistocene on human behaviors and the evolution of modern human diversity in Southeast Asia. However, due to limited available paleoenvironmental data and data with a few seasonal contrasts in the tropics within a world without winter, a direct connection remains elusive for the moment. The study underscores the need for further research and interdisciplinary collaboration for comprehensive understanding of human paleoecology in the region as well as innovative technical adaptation.</p
<i>Papaverodinia</i>, a new genus with three new species from the north and northeast of Brazil collected in the canopy (Diptera: Odiniidae)
No full textPapaverodinia gen. nov. (Odiniidae: Traginopinae) is described from Brazil, with three new species, P. chiquinhamum gen. et sp. nov. (type species) (from Amazonas, Maranhão, Pará and Piauí), P. canalesi gen. et sp. nov. (from Ceará and Maranhão) and P. willkeniae gen. et sp. nov. (from Amazonas). The genus is characterized by a unique combination of diagnostic features: body predominantly brown to black; lunule arched with central black pubescent spot; scutellum with several marginal setulae; posterior intra-alar setae present; male tergite 6 absent; epandrium about 3.5 × as short as high; inner surstylus thin and positioned below the outer surstylus; outer surstylus enormously dilated at the distal end.</p
A new genus and species of Deraeocorinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) from Brunei Darussalam with emphasis on the stridulatory mechanism
No full textEmnicoris silesianus Taszakowski, Kim & Gierlasiński gen. et sp. nov. (Deraeocorinae: Deraeocorini) is described from Brunei Darussalam. Morphological characters of the new genus and species are provided with photographs and SEM micrographs. Male and female genital structures are presented. Additionally, the uniqueness of its morphological features is discussed in the context of the tribal placement of this new genus. The stridulatory device (embolial stridulitrum and metafemoral plectra) of the new taxon is documented. The unique stridulation mechanisms of Surinamellini (Deraeocorinae) are reported and described for the first time.</p
A phylogenetic analysis based on morphology reveals the placement of <i>Lycomesus</i> Zaragoza-Caballero & González-Ramírez, 2019 and <i>Lyconotus</i> Green, 1949 within Lycini (Coleoptera: Lycidae), with the description of a new genus from North America
No full textLycini are a species-rich tribe within the Lycinae, which are distributed across all biogeographic regions worldwide. Current classification of Lycini has been based exclusively on molecular evidence, and the North American species have been poorly represented. The placement of Lycomesus Zaragoza-Caballero & González-Ramírez, 2019 and Lyconotus Green, 1949 remains uncertain. In order to elucidate the phylogenetic position of these genera within the North American genera and to propose morphological characters that support them, we conducted phylogenetic analyses using parsimony and model-based approaches. Our morphology-based dataset included 91 adult characters from representatives of five genera and 33 species of the Lycini genera of the New and Old Worlds. We propose a new classification of the North American Lycini, consistent with the phylogenetic hypotheses. This includes the following taxa: Lycomesus Zaragoza-Caballero & González-Ramírez, 2019, Lyconotus Green, 1949 stat. rev., Lycorectus González-Ramírez & Zaragoza-Caballero gen. nov., Neolycus Bourgeois, 1883 and Rhyncheros LeConte, 1881. Additionally, we provide a key and diagnoses for all North American Lycini genera, as well as the morphological characters of males and females that define these genera. Our results indicate the necessity for a phylogenetic analysis that incorporates South American Lycini. This will enable a more precise generic classification of American Lycini.</p
Deux nouvelles espèces et nouveaux signalements de <i>Catapagurus</i> A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura, Paguridae) du sud-ouest du Pacifique
No full textDeux nouvelles espèces du genre Catapagurus A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 du Pacifique occidental sont décrites. La répartition horizontale de deux autres espèces est, par ailleurs, considérablement étendue vers l’est : jusqu’aux îles Fidji pour C. franklinae McLaughlin, 2004, connu auparavant de la mer de Corail, de la mer de Tasman et de Nouvelle-Calédonie ; et pour C. tanimbarensis McLaughlin, 1997, connu auparavant des îles Kei et Tanimbar et d’Indonésie.Two new species of the genus Catapagurus A. Milne-Edwards, 1880, C. poupini n. sp. and C. thysanodactylus n. sp., from the western pacific are fully described and compared with their morphological closest congeners. The horizontal distribution of two others species is considerably expanded eastward to the Fiji Islands, for C. franklinae McLaughlin, 2004 (previously known from the Coral and ­Tasman Seas, and New Caledonia); and for C. tanimbarensis McLaughlin, 1997, previously known from the Kai and Tanimbar Islands and Indonesia.</p
High diversity and new species of meiofaunal Nerillidae (Annelida) in subtidal sediments and anchialine caves of the East China Sea
No full textNerillidae is the most species-rich, meiofaunal, annelid family, but little is known about its diversity and distribution in the Northwest Pacific. Four sampling campaigns to Jeju Island, South Korea, and the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, retrieved an unexpectedly high diversity of about 17 nerillid species in subtidal and submarine cave localities of the East China sea, with only Nipponerilla irabuensis Worsaae, Hansen & Fujita in Worsaae et al., 2021 previously described. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods were performed on datasets of concatenated gene sequences (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, COI, and H3) comprising a total of 55 terminals from 11 different genera of Nerillidae. Integrating detailed morphological assessments (light-, scanning electron-, and confocal laser scanning microscopy) with molecular analyses, we here describe seven new species and a new genus, Cirrinerilla gen. nov. None of the species show geographical overlap between South Korea and the Ryukyu Islands, possibly due to oceanographic and anchialine dispersal barriers and poor dispersal capabilities of Nerillidae. However, two congeneric terminals of Meganerilla and two of Leptonerilla from different islands of the Ryukyus show relatively high molecular similarity, suggesting recent vicariance of these populations (or species). The anchialine caves hold a remarkably high diversity of nerillids compared to coastal subtidal localities, supporting a preadaptation of Nerillidae to these isolated habitats under freshwater influence. This study underlines the need for further exploration of the unique anchialine habitats as well as additional subtidal meiofauna surveys in the East China Sea, for shedding further light on benthic diversifications and colonizations in this region.</p