Eohypopterygiopsis dominicensis, a new genus and species, and Pyrrhobryum spiniforme from the Miocene of the Dominican Republic

Abstract

A strange moss is illustrated and described from Dominican amber (Miocene). It is densely triseriate foliate with ligulate lateral leaves which are strongly auriculate at base and small costate ventral leaves. A similar combination of characters is found in the Hypopterygiaceae, however, no extant species of this family matches the fossil. It is therefore described as Eophypopterygiopsis dominicensis J.-P. ,Frahm as new species in a new (possibly extinct) genus. In addition, the pantropical Pyrrhobryum spiniforme (Hedw.) Mitt. is recorded from Dominican amber for the first time, and Calyptothecium duplicatum (Schwaegr.) Broth. as well as a species of Homalia are reported.